[001] The present invention relates to a compressor which comprises a suction muffler that diminishes the noise generated due to the refrigerant fluid.

[002] The suction muffler in the hermetic compressors are used for the purpose of dampening the pressure waves generated as the valve plate opens and closes, and the piston makes a periodic compression-expansion movement while the compressor is operating, thereby decreasing the sound power level of the compressor. There are chambers, passage pipes and openings for the purpose of diminishing the sound power level within the geometry of the suction mufflers. Vortexes are formed while the refrigerant fluid flowing through the passage pipes are ejected into the chambers from the openings. Thus formed vortexes increase the sound power level.

[003] The American Patent no. US 6714582 describes the filters arranged in the outlet and the inlet channels of a hermetically closed compressor where the refrigerant flows, for removing impurities inthe oil mixed into the refrigerant and to further attenuate the noise generated from the flow of the refrigerant.

[004] In the Japanese Patents no. JP 60233383 and JP 61104171, the mufflers used in compressors having filters are described, which are arranged in the inlets where the refrigerant fluid enters into the muffler.

[005] The object of the present invention is the realization of a compressor which comprises a suction muffler that reduces the noise generated by the refrigerant fluid flowing therethrough to a minimum level by reducing its turbulence.

[006] The compressor realized in order to attain above mentioned aim of the present invention is shown in the attached figures, where:

[007] Figure 1 - is the sectional view of a compressor.

[008] Figure 2 - is the A - A sectional view of a suction muffler.

[009] Figures 3 to 7 - are the schematic views of alternative embodiments of the present invention.

[010] Figure 8 - is the schematic view of a flow regulator having flow channels with hexagonal sections.

[011] Figure 9 - is the schematic view of two flow regulators having flow channels with hexagonal sections and positioned in an eccentric manner with respect to each other.

[012] Elements shown in the figures are numbered as follows:

1. Compressor

2. Casing

3. Cylinder

4. Cylinder head

5. Suction muffler

6. Muffler shell

7. Muffler chamber

8. Suction orifice

9. Muffler head

10. Outlet orifice

11. Flow pipe

12. Gap

13. Flow channel

14. Flow regulator

[013] The compressor (1) comprises a casing (2) wherein the operating components are stored, a cylinder (3) for pumping the refrigerant fluid, a cylinder head (4) situated on the cylinder (3) for directing the sucked and pumped refrigerant fluid and a suction muffler (5) which provides the refrigerant fluid to reach the cylinder (3) without heating up, and the reduction of the noise resulting from the refrigerant fluid.

[014] The suction muffler (5) comprises a muffler shell (6) that forms its outer wall and stores the components in it, one or more muffler chambers (7) arranged within the muffler shell (6) and functioning for attenuating vibration , a suction orifice (8) allowing the inflow of the refrigerant fluid, a muffler head (9) which serves for mounting it on the cylinder head (4), an outlet orifice (10) situated on the muffler head (9) enabling the passage of the refrigerant fluid to the cylinder (3), one or more flow pipes (11) that pass through the muffler chambers (7) through which the refrigerant fluid flows, and one or more gaps (12) positioned over and/or between the flow pipes (11), serving to attenuate the pressure waves by dispersing the refrigerant fluid into the muffler chamber (7).

[015] The suction muffler (5) comprises one or more flow regulators (14) positioned in the flow pipe (11) in the flow path of the refrigerant fluid, which regulates the flow, reducing the level of turbulence by intervening in the velocity changes of the refrigerant fluid motion.

[016] The flow regulator (14) comprises more than one flow channels (13) through which the refrigerant fluid flows by spreading into more than one paths.

[017] The flow regulator (14) forces the velocity components of the motion of refrigerant fluid to come to the direction of the flow channels (13) by means of the walls bounding the flow channels (13). The velocity components of the motion of refrigerant fluid in different directions approach a minimum, and consequently the turbulence is reduced.

[018] The fluid, making a flow motion in different directions and entering from the inlet of the flow channel (13) due to the pipe structure and the certain length of the flow channels (13), collides on the inner walls and leaves the flow channel (13) in the

direction of the flow channel (13).

[019] In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the flow regulators (14) are positioned at the outlet of the flow pipe (11) just before the gap (12) and/or at the inlet of another flow pipe (11) just after gap (12).

[020] In one embodiment of the present invention, the suction muffler (5) comprises more than one, preferably two flow regulators (14) on the flow path of the refrigerant fluid, positioned one after the other. In this embodiment, the flow irregularities that can't be eliminated in the first flow regulator (14) on the flow path of the refrigerant fluid, are eliminated in the second flow regulator (14).

[021] In the above mentioned embodiment, more than one flow regulators (14) are positioned adjacently, and eccentrically with respect to each other in the flow direction of the flow channels (3), such that the flow passing from one flow regulator (14) to the other is deviated (Figure 3). Consequently, the fluid leaving the flow channel (13) of one flow regulator (14) meets with the walls of the flow channel (13) of the other flow regulator (14) and the refrigerant fluid is forced to flow around these walls, spreading into more than one paths. When the flow regulators (14) are positioned eccentrically, the reduction of turbulence can be achieved by two adjacently situated flow regulators (14) having much shorter flow channels (13) than that of, for example, one flow regulator (14) having long flow channels (13).

[022] In another embodiment of the present invention, the flow regulator (14) has inclined flow channels (13) (Figure 4). In this embodiment, the refrigerant fluid, for example,leaving the straight flow channel (13) of a flow regulator (14), meets with the inclined flow channels (13) of the other flow regulator (14) and is forced to flow by the walls along the inclined flow channels (13) reducing its turbulence level.

[023] In a different embodiment of the present invention, the flow regulator (14) is positioned behind the flow pipe (11) with the same distance (A) as that of the flow pipe (11) outlet (Figure 5). In this embodiment, the refrigerant fluid leaving the flow regulator (14) flows through the flow pipe (11) along the distance (A) until reaching the gap (12), and its turbulence level is reduced along the distance (A) within the inner walls of the flow pipe (11) outlet.

[024] In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the flow regulator (14) is positioned after the flow pipe (11) with the same distance (B) as that of the flow pipe (11) inlet (Figure 6). In this embodiment, the refrigerant fluid entering the flow pipe (11) from the gap (12), flows through the flow pipe (11) as long as distance (B) until reaching the flow regulator (14) and its turbulence level is reduced along the distance (B) within the inner walls of the flow pipe (11) inlet.

[025] In another embodiment of the present invention, there exists a distance (D) between the two flow regulators (14) that are situated at the end of the flow pipe (11), which

contribute to the reduction of the turbulence level (Figure 7). In this embodiment, the turbulence of the refrigerant fluid leaving the first flow regulator (14) continues decreasing along this distance (D) and the turbulence is reduced to the lowest level in the second flow regulator (14).

[026] In another embodiment of the present invention, the walls of the flow channels (13) have a hexagonal shape (Figure 8). In this embodiment, the walls of the flow channels (13) occupy a minimum area and the reduction in the flow rate of the refrigerant fluid flowing through the flow channels (13) is prevented.

[027] The refrigerant fluid circulating in the cooling cycle enters the suction muffler (5) through the suction orifice (8) and continues its motion in the first flow pipe (11) it enters. It goes through the flow regulator (14) situated at the outlet of the flow pipe (11) before leaving the flow pipe (11) and reaching the gap (12), and leaves the flow pipe (11) with reduced turbulence level. The particles in the compressor (1) oil mixed into the refrigerant fluid can block the flow paths during the cooling cycle. Therefore, filters are positioned in the flow path in the suction muffler (5), preferably before the flow regulators (14) and the particles are prevented from clogging the flow regulators (14). The refrigerant fluid that reaches the gap (12) with some of it dispersed in the suction chamber (7), passes through the flow regulator (14) while entering the next flow pipe (11) it comes across and the turbulence that increases a little in the gap (12) is again brought to the desired level within the second flow pipe (11).

[028] The flow regulator (14) reduces the turbulence level of the flow by geometrically decreasing the high velocity alterations of the fluid moving along the flow pipes (11) in the suction muffler (5) and contributes in the reduction of the noise power level.