RECEIVER/DRIER FOR A REFRIGERANT FLUID CIRCUIT EQUIPPING A VEHICLE, IN PARTICULAR A MOTOR VEHICLE

Abstract

The invention concerns a receiver/drier (6) adapted to have pass through it a refrigerant fluid (FR) of a refrigerant fluid (FR) circuit (1) for a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle. The receiver/drier (6) comprises a closed housing (10) provided with a fluid inlet (14) for admission of the refrigerant fluid (FR) to the interior of the housing (10) and with a fluid outlet (15) for evacuation of the refrigerant fluid (FR) from the housing (10). The housing (10) accommodates at least one desiccant (16) and at least one particle filter (17a, 17b, 17c). The receiver/drier (6) is provided with a phase separation device (18) between a liquid phase and a gas phase of the refrigerant fluid (FR) admitted to the interior of the housing (10).

Claims

1. A receiver/drier adapted to have pass through it a refrigerant fluid of a refrigerant fluid circuit for a motor vehicle, the receiver/drier comprising: a closed housing provided with a fluid inlet for admission of the refrigerant fluid to an interior of the housing and with a fluid outlet for evacuation of the refrigerant fluid from the housing, the housing accommodating at least one desiccant and at least one particle filter; and a phase separation device between a liquid phase and a gas phase of the refrigerant fluid admitted to the interior of the housing.

2. The receiver/drier according to claim 1, in which the phase separation device is arranged as at least one ramp for centrifugal circulation of the refrigerant fluid inside the housing.

3. The receiver/drier according to claim 1, in which the phase separation device is provided in the housing between the fluid inlet and the desiccant.

4. The receiver/drier according to claim 2, in which the phase separation device is configured as at least one helix with multiple turns, each of the turns producing successively along the axis of the helix a ramp for centrifugal circulation of the refrigerant fluid inside the housing.

5. The receiver/drier according to claim 4, in which the axis of the helix is centred on a longitudinal axis along which the housing extends between a first end of the housing provided with the fluid inlet and a bottom of the receiver/drier delimiting a fluid reserve for the storage of a quantity of refrigerant fluid (FR) inside the housing.

6. The receiver/drier according to claim 4, in which the helix is formed by a body attached to the interior of the housing.

7. The receiver/drier according to claim 6, in which the body includes, along the axis of the helix, a drainage channel for the refrigerant fluid in the liquid state leading to the bottom of the receiver/drier.

8. The receiver/drier according to claim 4, in which the helix is produced in the wall of the housing.

9. The receiver/drier according to claim 1, in which at least one cap for closing the housing is provided with the fluid inlet and/or the fluid outlet.

10. A heat exchanger for a refrigerant fluid circuit, comprising: a receiver/drier through which a refrigerant fluid of the refrigerant fluid circuit passes, the receiver/drier comprising: a closed housing provided with a fluid inlet for admission of the refrigerant fluid to an interior of the housing and with a fluid outlet for evacuation of the refrigerant fluid from the housing, the housing accommodating at least one desiccant and at least one particle filter; and a phase separation device between a liquid phase and a gas phase of the refrigerant fluid admitted to the interior of the housing.

11. The heat exchanger according to claim 10 used as a condenser of a refrigerant fluid (FR) circuit.

12. A refrigerant fluid circuit of a vehicle, comprising: a receiver/drier between a condenser and an expansion member that the refrigerant fluid circuit comprises, the receiver/driver comprising: a closed housing provided with a fluid inlet for admission of the refrigerant fluid to an interior of the housing and with a fluid outlet for evacuation of the refrigerant fluid from the housing, the housing accommodating at least one desiccant and at least one particle filter; and a phase separation device between a liquid phase and a gas phase of the refrigerant fluid admitted to the interior of the housing.

Description

[0048] Other features, details and advantages of the invention will emerge more clearly on reading the description given hereinafter by way of illustrative example with reference to the figures of the appended drawings in which:

[0049] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a refrigerant fluid circuit illustrating the context of the invention,

[0050] FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are perspective views of a receiver/drier in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention, respectively in an exploded view and when assembled,

[0051] FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 are views in axial section of a receiver/drier in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention, respectively in an exploded view and when assembled.

[0052] It must first be noted that the figures disclose the invention in detail for the purposes of execution of the invention. Said figures and their detailed descriptions can of course if necessary serve to define the invention better.

[0053] In FIG. 1, a refrigerant fluid FR circuit 1 is configured to equip a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle. The circuit 1 is a closed circuit in which the refrigerant fluid FR circulates and is subjected to successive changes of phase between a gas phase and a liquid phase when it travels around the circuit 1. A circuit 1 of this kind is in particular used for an air conditioning installation dedicated to improving the comfort of the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

[0054] In the embodiment shown, the circuit 1 essentially comprises, successively in the direction S1 of circulation of the refrigerant fluid FR around the circuit 1, a compressor 2, a condenser 3 or gas cooler, an expansion member 4, in particular a thermostatic expansion valve, and at least one heat exchanger 5.

[0055] The heat exchanger 5 is in particular an equipment unit of the air conditioning installation configured as a heat exchanger and/or an evaporator. The heat exchanger 5 is dedicated to the heat treatment of a flow of air through it, before the flow of air is sent to the passenger compartment of the vehicle by the air conditioning installation.

[0056] A receiver/drier 6 of the refrigerant fluid FR is placed on the circuit 1 between the condenser 3 and the expansion member 4. The receiver/drier 6 provides a reserve of refrigerant fluid FR and desiccation and/or filtering of the refrigerant fluid FR circulating inside the circuit 1.

[0057] In the example shown, the receiver/drier 6 is integrated into the condenser 3 and disposed between two passes Pa1, Pa2 of the refrigerant fluid FR inside the condenser 3.

[0058] A first pass Pal cools the refrigerant fluid FR before it is admitted to the interior of the receiver/drier 6. The refrigerant fluid FR then flows inside the dehydrating cylinder 6 and is then evacuated to the second pass Pa2. The refrigerant fluid FR is then cooled again as it circulates through the second pass Pa2, and is then sent to expansion member 4.

[0059] According to a variant, the receiver/drier 6 can also be placed on a pipe 7 of the circuit 1 connecting an opening 8 for evacuation of the refrigerant fluid FR out of the condenser 3 and an opening 9 for admission of the refrigerant fluid FR into the expansion member 4.

[0060] The example of a minimal architecture of the circuit 1 shown in FIG. 1 is given by way of illustration and is not restricting on the scope of the invention, given the various potential architectures of the circuit 1.

[0061] In FIGS. 2 to 4, a receiver/drier 6 according to the invention comprises a housing 10 extending along a longitudinal axis A1. The housing 10 in particular comprises a circular wall 11 around the longitudinal axis A1. The longitudinal ends 10a, 10b of the housing 10 are open to the exterior of the housing 10 and are closed by caps 12a, 12b that are attached to and/or integral with the housing 10, for example by cementing them together.

[0062] In the situation in particular where the caps are removably attached to the housing, at least one seal 13a, 13b preferably surrounds conjointly the wall 11 of the housing 10 and at least one of the caps 12a, 12b where they are cemented together, as shown for example in FIGS. 3 and 4.

[0063] At least one of the caps 12a, 12b is provided with a fluid inlet 14 for the admission of the refrigerant fluid FR to the interior of the housing 10 and/or a fluid outlet 15 for the evacuation of the refrigerant fluid FR from the housing 10.

[0064] The housing 10 houses a cartridge 16 of desiccant, in other words a desiccating material having the property of absorbing moisture, and at least one particle filter 17a, 17b, 17c. The desiccant 16 makes it possible to capture moisture and the particle filter or filters 17a, 17b, 17c make(s) it possible to retain the impurities that the refrigerant fluid FR is liable to contain following its circulation through the circuit 1.

[0065] The refrigerant fluid FR admitted to the interior of the housing 10 following its at least partial passage through the condenser 3 is in the diphasic state between a mainly liquid phase and a gas phase.

[0066] In this context, the receiver/drier 6 is equipped with a phase separation device 18 between a liquid phase and a gas phase of the refrigerant fluid FR, resulting in evacuation of the refrigerant fluid FR from the housing 10 totally in the liquid phase.

[0067] In the embodiments shown, the phase separation device 18 more particularly forms at least one ramp 19 for centrifugal circulation of the refrigerant fluid FR inside the housing 10, from the fluid inlet 14 to a bottom 20 of the receiver/drier 6. The ramp or ramps 19 in particular extend(s) in the direction of the bottom 20 of the receiver/drier 6 around a longitudinal axis A1 with an inclination relative to the longitudinal axis A1. A single continuous ramp 19 can be formed in the phase separation device 18.

[0068] The ramp 19 delimits inside the housing 10 a guide channel 21 for the refrigerant fluid FR, forming a spiral for driving the refrigerant fluid FR by centrifugal force from the fluid inlet 14 to the bottom 20 of the receiver/drier 6.

[0069] The fluid inlet 14 is in particular provided via a first cap 12a disposed vertically in line with the bottom 20 of the receiver/drier 6 in the operating state of the receiver/drier 6 as shown in the figures.

[0070] The concept of vertical alignment is therefore relative to the operating state of the receiver/drier 6, in which the longitudinal axis A1 is oriented along the gravity axis so that the refrigerant fluid FR flows along the phase separation device 18 vertically in line with a fluid reserve 22 dedicated to the storage of a quantity of refrigerant fluid FR inside the receiver/drier 6. The bottom 20 of the receiver/drier 6 is provided by a second cap 12b for closing the housing 10 that delimits at least partially the fluid reserve 22.

[0071] In the embodiments shown, the ramp 19 is formed by the turns of a helix 23 arranged inside the housing 10. The helix 23 and the housing 10 are coaxial, the axis A2 of the helix 23 and the longitudinal axis A1 preferably coinciding. The channel 21 is delimited between the turns of the helix 23 and the interior face 24 of the wall 11 of the housing 10.

[0072] The ramp or ramps 19 formed by the turns of the helix 23 preferably extend(s) between the fluid inlet 14 and the desiccant cartridge 16 and/or also preferably the particle filter or filters 17a, 17b, 17c in the direction S2 of circulation of the refrigerant fluid FR inside the housing 10.

[0073] An axial median opening 25a, 25b through the helix 23 enables draining of the refrigerant fluid FR in the liquid phase, which circulates successively inside the channel 21 toward the bottom 20 of the receiver/drier 6, and to be more specific toward the desiccant cartridge 16. There is therefore obtained inside the housing 10 a separation of phases of the refrigerant fluid FR between its liquid phase and its gas phase, before its evacuation from the housing 10 via the fluid outlet 15.

[0074] In the example shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the housing 10 is formed by drawing a metal sheet along the longitudinal axis A1, the first cap 12a being integral with the housing 10 by being produced from the metal sheet during the drawing operation. The second cap 12b is cemented to the housing 10 by and provided with the fluid outlet 15, the first cap 12a being provided with the fluid inlet 14.

[0075] The housing 10 houses the desiccant cartridge 16 and the two particle filters 17a, 17b, which are disk shaped. The particle filters 17a, 17b are disposed on either side of the desiccant cartridge 16 along the longitudinal axis A1. The particle filters 17a, 17b are potentially housed inside the desiccant cartridge 16.

[0076] The phase separation device 18 is formed of a body 26 produced from a rolled and drawn metal sheet conferring on it its helix 23 configuration. The body 26 is attached to the interior of the housing 10 by being fixed, for example cemented, in position on its wall 11 between the first cap 12a and the desiccant cartridge 16.

[0077] The turns of the helix 23 are configured as funnels encouraging the flow of the refrigerant fluid FR in the liquid phase toward the opening referred to above, the latter here taking the form of a drainage channel 25a for the refrigerant fluid FR, into which each of the turns of the helix 23 discharges. The drainage channel 25a is formed in the axial zone of the body 26 and extends along the longitudinal axis A1.

[0078] In the example shown, the fluid inlet 14 is provided by a fluid inlet tube 14a passing through the wall 11 of the housing 10 with an orientation T1 transverse to its longitudinal axis A1. As can be seen in FIG. 3, the wall of the inlet tube 14a includes an opening 14b disposed near the wall 11 of the housing, which produces a fluid passage oriented along the longitudinal axis A1 to guide the refrigerant fluid FR to the helix 23. The second cap 12b includes an orifice 27 for admission of the refrigerant fluid FR to the fluid reserve 22 delimited by the second cap 17b, which in the embodiment shown includes the fluid outlet 15 oriented along the longitudinal axis A1.

[0079] Thus, as shown in FIG. 3, the refrigerant fluid FR is admitted to the interior of the housing 10 via the inlet tube 14a transversely to the longitudinal axis A1, and is then guided by the inlet tube 14a toward the opening 14b and therefore toward the helix 23. The refrigerant fluid FR then circulates along the helix 23 and is progressively directed in the liquid phase toward the drainage channel 25a, which discharges vertically in line with the desiccant cartridge 16.

[0080] The refrigerant fluid FR then passes through the desiccant cartridge 16 and the particle filters 17a, 17b, is then admitted into the fluid reserve 22 via the admission orifice 27 and is then evacuated from the housing 10 through the fluid outlet 15.

[0081] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the wall 11 of the housing 10 is formed for example by moulding or by rolling a metal sheet and closing it on itself by welding together its longitudinal edges. Each of the caps 12a, 12b is formed of attached elements that are fixed to the housing, at least one of the gaps 12a, 12b being cemented to the housing 10 and/or removably attached to the housing 10.

[0082] The fluid inlet 14 is produced through the first cap 12a, for example being formed by drilling the first cap 12a. The fluid inlet 14 includes a first section 14c oriented along the longitudinal axis A1, the first section 14c being extended by a second section 14d that extends with an orientation T1 transverse to the longitudinal axis A1 and discharges toward the helix 23.

[0083] The fluid outlet 15 is produced through the first cap 12a and oriented along the longitudinal axis A1. The fluid outlet 15 is connected to the fluid reserve 23 by a dip tube 28 that is preferably provided with a particle filter 17c.

[0084] The base separation device 18 is integral with the wall 11 of the housing 10, the helix 23 being formed in the material of the wall 11 of the housing 10. The helix 23 can be formed during the moulding of the housing 10 and/or by machining the wall 11 of the housing 10. Each of the channels 21 formed by the turns of the helix 23 then discharges into the opening of the housing 10 referred to above, which here produces a chamber 25b for draining the liquid phase refrigerant fluid FR to the fluid reserve 22.

[0085] Downstream of the drainage chamber 25b in the direction S2 of circulation of the refrigerant fluid FR inside the housing 10, the axial opening of the housing 10 produces a space 25c to receive the desiccant cartridge 16 and extends the drainage chamber 25b toward the fluid reserve 22.

[0086] Thus as shown in FIG. 5, the refrigerant fluid FR is admitted to the interior of the housing 10 along the longitudinal axis A1 via the first section 14c of the fluid inlet 14, and is then directed transversely toward the helix 23. The refrigerant fluid FR then circulates along the helix 23, being progressively directed in the liquid phase toward the drainage chamber 25b which conveys the refrigerant fluid FR to the desiccant cartridge 16. The refrigerant fluid FR then passes through the desiccant cartridge 16, is then admitted into the fluid reserve 22, and is then evacuated from the housing 10 via the dip tube 28.

[0087] It is to be noted in the various examples shown that the fluid inlet 14 and/or the fluid outlet 15 can be individually oriented essentially along the longitudinal axis A1 and/or transversely T1 to the longitudinal axis A1. In one example, the inlet tube 14a can be positioned tangentially to the interior phase 24 of the wall 11 of the housing 10. A disposition of this kind makes it possible to encourage the commencement of centrifugal circulation of the refrigerant fluid on entering the ramp. Generally speaking, the fluid inlet 14 and the fluid outlet 15 can be oriented in any direction relative to the longitudinal axis Al discharging toward the helix 23.

[0088] Thus the ways of connecting the receiver/drier 6 to the circuit 1 and/or to the condenser 3 can be organized freely, without affecting the separation of phases of the refrigerant fluid FR between its liquid phase and its gas phase produced by the phase separation device 18, and therefore without affecting the obtaining of evacuation from the receiver/drier 6 of the refrigerant fluid FR completely in the liquid phase.