FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a receiver drier for a refrigerant fluid circuit equipping a vehicle, in particular for a condenser within a motor vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Vehicles, in particular motor vehicles, are routinely equipped with a ventilation, heating and/or climate control installation, also called an air conditioning installation. An air conditioning installation of this kind is in particular dedicated to enhancing the comfort of the passenger compartment of the vehicle. The air conditioning installation cooperates with a closed circuit through which a refrigerant fluid circulates used by a heat exchanger that the air conditioning installation comprises for thermally treating air sent into the passenger compartment.

Successively in the direction of circulation of the refrigerant fluid through it, the refrigerant fluid circuit essentially comprises a compressor, a condenser, an expansion member and an evaporator. The refrigerant fluid in the gas phase is compressed by the compressor, transformed into the liquid phase in the condenser, expanded at low pressures by the expansion member and then transformed into the gas phase in the evaporator and routed again to the compressor.

In this context, the refrigerant fluid circuit comprises a refrigerant fluid receiver drier disposed between the condenser and the expansion member. The receiver drier provides a reserve of refrigerant fluid guaranteeing stable operation of the refrigerant fluid circuit over time. The receiver drier may also house a particle filter to retain any particles captured by the refrigerant fluid during its circulation through the refrigerant fluid circuit. The receiver drier may further house a material that absorbs moisture contained in the refrigerant fluid, hereinafter designated the desiccant.

The receiver drier essentially comprises a closed housing, preferably accommodating the particle filter and the desiccant. The housing is provided with a fluid inlet for admitting the refrigerant fluid to the interior of the housing and a fluid outlet for evacuating the refrigerant fluid from the housing after it has passed through the internal volume. Depending on different requirements with respect to the functions expected from the receiver drier, internal assembly may differ significantly between variants. On the other hands, there is a continuous trend regarding lowering the overall cost of the receiver drier.

The object of the present invention is to provide a cost effective and adaptable design of the receiver drier.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is, among others, a receiver drier for a condenser of a heat exchange fluid, comprising an elongated, cylindrical housing forming an internal volume with a first end with an inlet and a second end, opposite the first end, with an outlet, further comprising an internal assembly comprising a baffle dividing the internal volume of the housing so that on a first side of the baffle there is a first internal volume, and on a second side of the baffle there is a second internal volume, the baffle comprising a through-hole, a tube attached to the through-hole in the baffle from the first side, so that the fluid can travel through the tube from the first side of the baffle to the second side of the baffle, wherein the tube and the baffle are a single, integral part.

Preferably, the inlet is associated with the first internal volume, while the outlet is associated with the second internal volume.

Preferably, the tube is at its first end attached to the though-hole of the baffle, and at its second end it comprises a positioning device cooperating with the housing.

Preferably, the housing has a bottom cover, the positioning device being in contact with the bottom cover.

Preferably, the positioning device has a plurality of legs extending substantially perpendicularly from the tube. Preferably, at least one of the legs has a support portion extending between said leg and the tube obliquely with respect to their general axes of extension.

Preferably, the positioning device comprises a bottom filtering device for the heat exchange fluid.

Preferably, the bottom filtering device comprises a chamber forming a bottom filtering volume, the chamber having an inlet opening covered with a bottom filtering mesh and an outlet to which the second end of the tube is attached.

Preferably, the receiver drier comprises a top filtering device for the heat exchange fluid on the second side of the baffle.

Preferably, the top filtering device comprises a top cover supported on the baffle by side legs, thereby creating a top filtering volume, and further comprises a top filtering mesh surrounding the top filtering volume so that the heat exchange fluid entering the top filtering volume from the tube is forced to travel through the filtering mesh before exiting through the outlet.

Preferably, the tube extends eccentrically with respect to the housing.

Preferably, the receiver drier further comprises a desiccant pouch within the first volume.

Preferably, the desiccant pouch rests on the support portion.

Preferably, the tube comprises a hook, the desiccant pouch being attached to said hook.

Another object of the invention is a condenser comprising a receiver drier as described.

BRIEF DESCRITPTION OF DRAWINGS

Examples of the invention will be apparent from and described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows a conventional condenser with a receiver drier;

Fig. 2 shows an isometric view with a partial cross-section of the receiver drier according to one example;

Fig. 3 shows an example of an internal assembly of the receiver drier;

Fig. 4 shows another example of an internal assembly of the receiver drier;

Fig. 5 shows a closer view of one of the ends of the internal assembly of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 shows yet another example of an internal assembly of the receiver drier;

Fig. 7 shows a closer view of one of the ends of the internal assembly of Fig. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Fig. 1 shows a conventional condenser 2 with a receiver drier 1 according to the invention. The refrigerant is entering the heat exchanger through inlet 3, travels through a first pass of tubes to the inlet of the receiver drier, and then exits the receiver drier and returns through a second pass of tubes. Subsequently, it exits the heat exchanger through outlet 4.

Fig. 2 shows an isometric view with a partial cross-section of the receiver drier according to one example. The receiver drier 1 comprises an elongated, cylindrical housing 100. The housing 100 forms an internal volume with a first end 1 10 with an inlet 1 11 and a second end 120, opposite the first end 110, with an outlet 121. The receiver drier 1 further comprises an internal assembly 200 comprising a baffle 210 dividing the internal volume of the housing 100 so that on a first side 210a of the baffle 210 there is a first internal volume Va, and on a second side 210b of the baffle 210 there is a second internal volume Vb. The baffle 210 comprises a through-hole 213. A tube 220 is attached to the through-hole 213 in the baffle 210 from the first side 210a, so that the fluid can travel through the tube 220 from the first side 210a of the baffle 210 to the second side 210b of the baffle 210. The tube 220 and the baffle 210 are a single, integral part. This allows to lower the costs of the assembly. The inlet 111 is associated with the first internal volume Va, while the outlet 121 is associated with the second internal volume Vb. The receiver drier may further comprise a desiccant pouch 270 within the first volume Va.

Fig. 3 shows an example of an internal assembly 200 of the receiver drier 1 . The tube 220 is at its first end attached to the though-hole 213 of the baffle 210, and at its second end it comprises a positioning device 230 cooperating with the housing 100.

In one variant, the receiver drier 1 may comprise a top filtering device 260 for the heat exchange fluid on the second side of the baffle 210. The top filtering device 260 comprises a top cover 261 supported on the baffle 210 by side legs 262, thereby creating a top filtering volume Vfa. It further comprises a top filtering mesh 263 surrounding, e.g. by being attached to the side legs 262, the top filtering volume Vfa so that the heat exchange fluid entering the top filtering volume Vfa from the tube 220 is forced to travel through the filtering mesh 263 before exiting through the outlet 121 .

The internal assembly 200 may comprise top distancing means 264 for immobilizing the internal assembly 200 with respect to the housing 100.

Preferably, the tube 220 extends eccentrically with respect to the housing 100.

The housing 100 may have a bottom cover 102. The positioning device 230 is then in contact with the bottom cover 102. The positioning device 230 may comprise a plurality of legs 231 , 232, 233 extending substantially perpendicularly from the tube 220. At least one of the legs 231 , 232, 233 may have a support portion 234 extending between said leg 231 , 232, 233 and the tube 220 obliquely with respect to their general axes of extension. The desiccant pouch 270 may then rest on the support portion 234.

The housing may also have a top cover 103. The top cover 103 may be removable or permanently fixed. In case of removable top cover 103, the receiver drier and its inner parts may be subject to servicing.

Fig. 4 shows another example of an internal assembly of the receiver drier. In this option, there is no filtering device present in the receiver drier. The baffle 210 may comprise a baffle spacing means 211 for distancing and/or mounting the desiccant pouch 270. Fig. 5 shows a closer view of one of the ends of the internal assembly of Fig. 4. One or more legs 231 , 231 , 233 may form an arch with a spacing 235 located underneath to facilitate flow of the refrigerant within the internal volume. Additional protrusion 236 may be present to balance the assembly on the bottom cover 102.

Fig. 6 shows yet another example of an internal assembly of the receiver drier. The tube 220 may comprise a hook 221 . The desiccant pouch may then be 270 attached to, e.g. hanged from, said hook 221 .

The positioning device 230 may comprise a bottom filtering device 250 for the heat exchange fluid. Fig. 7 shows a closer view of one of the ends of the internal assembly of Fig. 6. In this example, the bottom filtering device 250 comprises a chamber 251 forming a bottom filtering volume Vfb. The chamber 251 has an inlet opening 252 covered with a bottom filtering mesh 253 and an outlet 254 to which the second end of the tube 220 is attached. The bottom filtering mesh 253 may be spread between inner protrusions 255.

In one example, the receiver drier comprising both the top filtering device 260 and the bottom filtering device 230.

Other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to the advantage.