[001] This invention relates to a compressor comprising a suction muffler, which minimizes the noise generated during circulation and heating up of the fluid in the re¬ frigeration cycle.

[002] In refrigerators, cooling is generally achieved by a refrigerant fluid, which circulates in a circuit comprising a condenser that transfers heat o the outer medium, an evaporator that absorbs heat, and a compressor. The condenser receives the high pressure fluid at the outlet of the compressor, and the fluid, depressurized through the capillary tube positioned at the outlet of the condenser, is transferred from the evaporator to the suction inlet of the compressor. In compressors utilized in this circuit, suction mufflers are used which allow the refrigerant fluid to reach the cylinder section without heating and avoid the noise that may be generated by the refrigerant fluid. The suction muffler is generally made of plastic and positioned on the cylinder head or between the cylinder head and the valve table. The sucked in refrigerant fluid reaches the cylinder section through the suction muffler, which has a portion in the cylinder head composing the suction manifold.

[003] It is of great importance for compressor efficiency that the refrigerant fluid coming from the evaporator is delivered to the cylinder with minimum heating and depres- surization as possible while the compressor is operating. The attenuation of pressure waves generated by both the time related motion of the piston and the valve movements is achieved within the mufflers. Since the heat transfer to the refrigerant within the muffler decreases the density of the refrigerant vapor, the cooling capacity of the compressor is reduced and the depressurization created in the line within the muffler increases the compressor inlet power.

[004] In the current state of the art, in the United States Patent no. US 6325600, a muffler is described which achieves thermal and acoustic insulation of the compressor suction and is placed inside or outside the compressor shell, attached by a flexible means so as not to contact the cylinder head.

[005] > '

[006] In the current state of the art, in the United States Patent no. US 5451727, a de¬ scription of a chamber on the shell is given, serving as a muffler, with inner and outer suction pipes connected to a suction muffler, which diminishes noise and heat transfer thereby achieving a high efficiency.

[007] In the current state of the art, in the United States Patent no. US 4531894, a spring coiled flexible suction pipe which connects the muffler and the compressor shell is described.

[008] In the current state of the art, in the United States Patent no. US 4242056, a de¬ scription is given for a capsule where the oil within the refrigerant fluid in the cooling cycle is separated and collected.

[009] The object of the present invention is to design a compressor comprising a suction muffler which minimizes noise, heat transfer and depressurization, and provides the oil contained within the refrigerant fluid in the cooling cycle to be separated from the re¬ frigerant fluid and collected.

[010] The compressor designed to fulfill the object of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:

[011] Figure 1- is the sectional view of a compressor comprising a suction muffler fixed inside a shell.

[012] Figure 2 - is the sectional view of a compressor comprising a suction muffler fixed outside a shell.

[013] Figure 3 - is the schematic side view of a suction muffler comprising a tube, which is connected to a suction chamber.

[014] Figure 4 - is the perspective view of the AA section of a suction muffler comprising only one tube.

[015] Figure 5 - is the schematic view of a suction muffler comprising two tubes placed one inside the other.

[016] Figure 6 - is the perspective view of the AA section of a suction muffler comprising two tubes.

[017] Elements shown in figures are numbered as follows:

1. Compressor

2. Cylinder

3. Cylinder head

4. Suction muffler

5. Valve table

6. Muffler exit orifice

7. Shell

8. Suction inlet

9. Tube

10. Pipe

11. Muffler chamber

12. Tube outlet

13. Hole

14. Tube inlet

15. Suction chamber

[018] In household appliances, preferably in refrigerators, the circulation of the re-

frigerant fluid used for cooling is achieved by a compressor (1).

[019] The compressor (1) comprises a shell (7) inside which components are assembled and are protected, a cylinder (2) inside the shell (7) which provides pumping of the re¬ frigerant fluid, a cylinder head (3) positioned above the cylinder (2) for circulating the sucked and pumped refrigerant fluid, a valve table (5) onto which the cylinder head (3) is positioned, a suction muffler (4) fixed on the shell (7) which by lowering the acoustic energy of the refrigerant fluid prevents the noise that may be generated by the refrigerant fluid, a suction chamber (15) attached to the cylinder head (3) which provides the unheated delivery of the refrigerant fluid with reduced acoustic energy to the cylinder (2), and a pipe (10) connecting the suction muffler (4) and the suction chamber (15), allowing passage of the refrigerant fluid, which is flexible, resistant to heat and pressure, and made of a material unaffected by substances like refrigerant fluid and oil.

[020] The suction muffler (4) comprises a muffler exit orifice (6) to which the pipe (10) is connected, at least one muffler chamber (11) inside which the acoustic energy of the refrigerant fluid is reduced, a tube (9) through which the refrigerant fluid is delivered, inserted into the muffler chamber (11), with one end outside the shell (7) and the other end inserted inside the shell so as to go through and open outside the suction chamber (11), and a suction inlet (8) through which a tube (9) is inserted, encompassing all.

[021] The tube (9) comprises a tube outlet (12) which opens into the muffler chamber

(11) so as to allow passage of the fluid inside to the muffler chamber (11), a hole (13) positioned at its end inserted inside the shell (7) so as to open to the outside of the muffler chamber (11), which enables the leaking of the oil contained within the re¬ frigerant fluid inside without accumulating and balancing the pressure between the inner volume of the shell (7) and itself and a tube inlet (14) on its end outside the shell (7) which allows the refrigerant fluid to enter it.

[022] The tube (9) that is inserted into the muffler chamber (11) which by means of the hole (13) opens into the muffler chamber (11), with the tube inlet (14) on one end outside the shell (7), the other end being outside the muffler chamber (11) so as to open inside the shell (7) by means of the tube outlet (12), helps to deliver the re¬ frigerant fluid.

[023] In the embodiment which is the object of the present invention, the refrigerant fluid received from outside the compressor (1) goes through the tube (9), enters the suction muffler (4) by means of the tube outlet (12) and out of the suction muffler (4) by means of the hole (13) thereby diffusing into the inner enclosure of the shell (7). The refrigerant fluid flowing from the tube outlet (12) reaches first the pipe (10) by means of the suction exit orifice (6) and then the suction chamber (15). Starting from the suction chamber (15), the refrigerant fluid goes through the cylinder head (3) and

reaches the cylinder (2) in this order and is pumped out of the compressor (1) by way of the cylinder (2), returning back to the circulation. [024] In one embodiment of the present invention, the suction muffler (4) comprises at least two tubes (9) placed one inside the other, which transfer the refrigerant fluid to one another, lowering the noise power level without increasing depressurizing. (Figure

5) [025] In another embodiment of the present invention, the suction muffler (4) comprises more than one tube (9), which receive the refrigerant fluid from one flow pipe and deliver to the suction chamber (11) each independently from the other. [026] With the embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to balance the pressure and at the same time cool the motor in the compressor (1) by delivering a certain amount of fresh refrigerant fluid into the shell (7) by changing the form and dimensions of the hole (13). [027] With the embodiment of the present invention, the flow of the refrigerant fluid is improved by balancing the pressure between the shell (7), the muffler chamber (11) and the tube (9), and noise is minimized by increasing the capacity of the compressor

(1) during the circulation of the refrigerant fluid.