Oil separator and refrigerating cycle apparatus using the same

An oil separator to separate oil in a refrigerant that is discharged from a compressor and return the oil to the compressor, comprising:

• a tank, into which a refrigerant discharged from the compressor flows;
• a float having a hollow therein that is held vertically movably in the tank, the float moving up and down with a change of an oil level in the tank;
• and
• a valve unit to return oil in the tank to the compressor in accordance with up/down movement of the float,
• wherein the float includes equalizing means having a first end that opens at a bottom part in the float and a second end that opens outside of the float and above the oil level in the tank,
• wherein the float includes first and second float members each having a flange at an end face, the float members being welded at the flanges, and the equalizing means includes an equalizing path provided in the flanges.