1. Robert Bosch Engineering and Business Solutions Limited

2. Robert Bosch India Limited.

3. Robert Bosch GmbH

Title: An Accumulator for a Refrigerant Recovery and Recharge Device Priority application no.4569/CHE/2011 dated 26/12/2011

FIELD OF THE INVENTIO

This invention relates to an accumulator to a refrigerant recovery and recharge device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Refrigeration equipments are widely used in many applications including air conditioning systems, refrigerators and the like. These refrigeration equipments use one or a combination of refrigerants such as water, oils, industrial refrigerants and the like. Refrigerant recovery and recharge devices are connected to refrigeration equipments for maintenance of the refrigeration equipments. While servicing refrigeration equipment three particular tasks are involved viz (i) recovery of the refrigerant from the refrigeration equipment, (ii) evacuation of air and moisture from the refrigeration equipment and (iii) refilling or recharging the refrigeration equipment with clean refrigerant.

The refrigerant recovery device is usually a stand alone device which is connected to the refrigeration equipment while the refrigeration equipment is being serviced. The refrigerant recovery device comprises at least, a valve block, a compressor and a tank. The valve bl6ck comprises valves, which are usually solenoid or manual valves. The valves in the valve block can be switched from a closed position to an open position to establish a connection between the refrigerant recovery device and the refrigeration equipment. The compressor is a device which is capable of recovering the refrigerant from the refrigeration equipment and vapours based on the pressure difference between refrigeration equipment and the refrigerant recovery and recharge device. The tank is used to store the recovered refrigerant. The refrigerant recovery and recharge device have a plurality of refrigerant flow paths for recovering refrigerant and recharging refrigerant.

The refrigerant recovery and recharge device also comprises components such as accumulator or liquefier, filters, oil separators and the like. In the older generations of refrigerant recovery and recharge devices components such as accumulator, filters, oil separators were located conveniently in the refrigerant recovery path of the refrigerant recovery and recharge device. In the new generations of refrigerant recovery and recharge devices the accumulator, filters, oil separators and the like are fitted to a manifold block. A manifold block is a one or more piece component usually made of aluminium. The manifold block is made such that more than one component of the refrigerant recovery and recharge device can be fitted onto it so that the space required to accommodate these components individually is saved. Additionally, new generation has the better performance characteristics in terms of recovery efficiency and accuracy. The manifold block has a plurality of internal channels to channelize the flow of the refrigerant being recovered to the various components fitted to the manifold block.

For fitting the components such as accumulator, filters and the like are fitted to the manifold block has to be specially prepared with different types and sizes of holes in the manifold block. Further machining is required on the manifold block with particular type of threading for each hole. Amongst the components that are fitted to the manifold block, the fitting of the accumulator and working of the accumulator is the most critical. The accumulator body generally has a cylindrical geometry but it can have any other shape. The accumulator has two ends, a first end of the accumulator fits into the manifold block, while the second end of the kept closed by welding an end cap. A heating coil is located inside the accumulator. The heating coil has to be removed from the accumulator for maintenance and service from time to time.

One known method of fitting the accumulator as mentioned above is by providing threads on the outer surface of the accumulator and by providing matching threading on the inner surface of the manifold block. For this purpose a special recess has to be made in the manifold block. The disadvantage of this method is that both the manifold block and the accumulator have to be machined in a manner such that fitting of the accumulator to the manifold block is made possible. This increases the cost of installation of manifold block and accumulator. Since threading has to be provided in the manifold block the size of the manifold block which has to be used should be large.

Further if the threading is not done properly there is a possibility accumulator is not fitted properly to the manifold block. Another disadvantage of having to specially machine the manifold block by providing a recess is that width and hence the strength of the manifold reduces. There is a possibility that the reduced width and strength of the manifold will not be suitable for fitting of other components such as filters and the like.

Another known method of fitting the accumulator to the manifold block is by providing an external flange on the manifold block. The external flange protrudes from the manifold block. The first end of the accumulator is welded to the external flange located external to the manifold block. The disadvantage of using an external flange is that another extra component is required to fit the accumulator to the manifold block. This increases the size and weight of the manifold block. This increases the cost of installation of the accumulator to the manifold block. Also there is a possibility that if the welding between the external flange and the accumulator is not done properly then the accumulator will not remain fitted to the manifold block.

Another disadvantage of using a manifold block and accumulator known in the state of the art is that for servicing and maintenance of the heating coil the entire accumulator has to be removed from the manifold block. This increases the service time and the maintenance cost. The machining on the manifold block has to be done in a manner such that the components of the heating coil can removed and serviced. This results in a larger cost of manifold block.

It is an object of this invention is to overcome the disadvantages of the state of the art by using an accumulator in accordance with this invention. ADVANTAGES OF THIS INVENTION

The advantages of the accumulator as claimed in the independent claims are as follows. The accumulator is provided with an internal flange which allows easy installation of the accumulator to the manifold block. For fitting the accumulator to the manifold block there is no need to special machining to the manifold block. This ensures that the strength of the manifold block is maintained. This also reduces the cost of specially machining the manifold block for fitting the accumulator. The end cap of the accumulator is removably fitted which allows easy access to the heating coil inside the accumulator. This ensures that the internal components of the accumulator has be easily serviced and maintained.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

Different modes of the invention are disclosed in detail in the description and illustrated in the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 illustrates an accumulator for a refrigerant recovery and recharge device; and

Figure 2 illustrates the accumulator of figure 1 being fitted to a manifold block. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Figure 1 illustrates an accumulator for refrigerant recovery and recharge device. The accumulator 10 comprises a body 16, a flange 18 and an end cap 20. The body 16 of the accumulator has a cylindrical geometry but the concept can be extended to any shape of the accumulator as shown in the figure. The body 16 comprises a first end and a second end. The first end of the accumulator 10 is adapted to be fitted to the manifold block 14. The flange 18 is located internal to the body 16 of the accumulator 10. At the other end of the accumulator is provided an end cap 20. The end cap can be removably fitted to the second end of the accumulator body 16.

Pluralities of holes are provided on the flange 18. The pluralities of holes on the flange 18 have respective holes on the manifold. The pluralities of holes have threads along the internal surface so as to accommodate a bolt. The bolts ensure that the accumulator is rigidly fit to the accumulator. On the outer surface of the second end of the accumulator body 16 threading is provided so that the end cap 20 is removably fitted to the bod 16.

In accordance with the accumulator 10 design in accordance with this invention, since there is no use of any external flange it is possible to reduce the width of the manifold block 14 to the size of the outer diameter of the accumulator 10. This enables the reduction in height of the manifold block 14. The reduction in height of the manifold block 14 ensures that the amount of material required to manufacture the manifold block is less as. compared to the manifold blocks known in the state of the art. This reduces the overall cost of the manifold block 14 that can be used in a refrigerant recovery and recharge device.

A O-ring type of seating arrangement is provided along the surface where the accumulator 10 and the manifold block 14 meet and along the top surface of the flange 18 of the accumulator. The O-ring type seating arrangement ensures that there is no leakage.

While servicing and maintenance of the heating coil of the accumulator the end cap 20 can be easily removed, through the removably fitted end cap 20. Thus for servicing the heating coil the entire accumulator assembly need not be dismantled from the refrigerant recovery and recharge device.

The flange 18 is welded to the first end of the accumulator which ensures that there is a rigid connection. The flange 18 may have taper threading for accommodating the bolt which is used to fit the accumulator 10 to the manifold block. Size and shape of the flange can be tailored in a manner such that it has the same shape as that of the heating coil.

It must be understood that the embodiments mentioned above is only descriptive and for better understanding of the invention. It does not limit the scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is only limited by the claims. Many modifications and changes in the embodiments mentioned above are envisages and lie within the scope of this invention.