AU2002301460B2

AU2002301460B2 - Accumulator and fixing structure of desiccant in the same

Info

Publication number: AU2002301460B2
Application number: AU2002301460A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Yasunobu Ito; Shougo Makino
Original assignee: Denso Corp
Current assignee: Denso Corp
Priority date: 2001-10-12
Filing date: 2002-10-11
Publication date: 2005-02-10
Anticipated expiration: 2022-10-11
Also published as: JP2003121031A; JP3870744B2

Description

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION NAME OF APPLICANT(S): Denso Corporation ADDRESS FOR SERVICE: DAVIES COLLISON CAVE Patent Attorneys 1 Little Collins Street, Melbourne, 3000.

INVENTION TITLE: Accumulator and fixing structure of desiccant in the same The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- The present invention relates to an accumulator in a refrigerant cycle, which separates refrigerant into liquid refrigerant and gas refrigerant, stores the liquid refrigerant and sends the gas refrigerant to a compressor. More particularly, the present invention relates to a fixing structure of a desiccant in the accumulator.

Journal of DENSO technical disclosure No. 130-006 (published on January 15, 2001) proposes an accumulator shown in Fig. 11. In the accumulator, a U-shaped refrigerant outlet pipe 152 has an oil return hole 155 adjacent to a bottom portion 152c. A filter 156 is provided adjacent to the bottom portion 152c to remove foreign materials contained in the liquid refrigerant sucked in the outlet pipe 152 from the oil return hole 155. A desiccant 157 for adsorbing moisture in the refrigerant is provided between the bottom portion 152c and a bottom wall of the tank 150.

In the accumulator, the desiccant 157 between the bottom portion 152c and the bottom wall of the tank 150 is unstable and is likely to move due to vibration of a vehicle, resulting in froth on the surface of the liquid refrigerant. Further, a performance separating the refrigerant into the liquid refrigerant and gas refrigerant is likely to deteriorate.

-lA-

I

P:\OPER\ArI\2580288 Isp~.do-07/2/04 -2- In a case that a space between the bottom portion 152c and the bottom wall of the tank 150 is narrowed and the desiccant 157 is tightly sandwiched therebetween, pressure is applied onto the filter 156. As a result, the filter 156 is likely to be damaged.

Accordingly, one aspect of the present invention provides an accumulator comprising: a tank body in which refrigerant separates into liquid refrigerant and gas refrigerant and the liquid refrigerant is stored; a refrigerant inlet through which the refrigerant flows into the tank body; a refrigerant outlet pipe having a substantially Ushape, the U-shaped outlet pipe having a curved portion and a pair of leg portions respectively extending from each end of the curved portion, the outlet pipe being provided in the tank body such that the curved portion is adjacent to a bottom of the tank body, the outlet pipe having a gas refrigerant inlet portion formed at an upper end of one leg portion through which the gas refrigerant is drawn into the outlet pipe, a gas refrigerant discharge portion formed at an upper end of the other leg portion, and an oil return hole through which the liquid refrigerant and lubricating oil in the liquid refrigerant are drawn into the outlet pipe; a desiccant for adsorbing moisture in the tank body and having a substantially U-shaped form; and a string member for fastening the desiccant, wherein the desiccant is mounted on the curved portion in a substantially reversed U-shape from a top side without covering the oil return hole and fastened with the string r P:\OPER r[2580288 Ispa.doc-07/12/04 -3member, so that a main middle portion of the desiccant is interposed between and held by the pair of leg portions of the outlet pipe and both ends of the desiccant protrude downwardly from the curved portion of the outlet pipe.

Since the desiccant is securely fixed to the curved portion with the string member, movement of the desiccant due to vibration of a vehicle is decreased, thereby suppressing froth of the liquid refrigerant in the tank.

Since the desiccant is mounted on the curved portion other than the oil return hole, the liquid refrigerant and oil are smoothly drawn into the outlet pipe from the oil return hole. Further, the desiccant is entirely immersed in the liquid refrigerant. Accordingly, the oil is satisfactorily returned to a compressor, thereby improving durability of the compressor.

Another aspect of the present invention provides an accumulator comprising: a tank body in which refrigerant separates into liquid refrigerant and gas refrigerant and the liquid refrigerant is stored; a refrigerant inlet through which the refrigerant flows into the tank body; a refrigerant outlet pipe having a substantially Ushape, the U-shape outlet pipe having a curved portion and a pair of leg portions respectively extending from each end of the curved portion, the outlet pipe being provided in the tank body such that the curved portion is adjacent to a bottom of the tank body, the outlet pipe having a gas refrigerant inlet portion formed at an upper end of one leg portion through which

I

P:\OPER\ArI\2580288 Ispa.doc.07/12/04 -3Athe gas refrigerant is drawn into the outlet pipe, a gas refrigerant discharge portion formed at an upper end of the other leg portion, and an oil return hole through which the liquid refrigerant and lubricating oil in the liquid refrigerant are drawn into the outlet pipe, the oil return hole being located adjacent to the curved portion; a desiccant for adsorbing moisture in the tank body, the desiccant being mounted on the curved portion of the outlet pipe, so that a main middle portion of the desiccant is interposed between and held by the pair of leg portions of the outlet pipe; and a pressing means provided above the desiccant, wherein the pressing means presses the desiccant toward the curved portion of the outlet pipe.

A further aspect of the present invention provides an accumulator comprising: a tank body in which refrigerant separates into liquid refrigerant and gas refrigerant and the liquid refrigerant is stored; a refrigerant inlet through which the refrigerant flows into the tank body; a refrigerant outlet pipe having a substantially Ushape, the outlet pipe being provided in the tank body such that a curved portion is adjacent to a bottom of the tank body, the outlet pipe having a gas refrigerant inlet portion through which the gas refrigerant is drawn into the outlet pipe and an oil return hole through which the liquid refrigerant and lubricating oil in the liquid refrigerant are drawn into the outlet pipe, the gas refrigerant inlet portion being adjacent to an end of the outlet pipe, and the P:OPERIAri\2580288 Ispa.doc-07/12/04 -3Boil return hole being located adjacent to the curved portion; and a desiccant for adsorbing moisture in the tank body, wherein the desiccant has a bag containing moisture adsorbent, the bag has two through holes, and the desiccant is mounted on the curved portion such that the outlet pipe is located in the through holes.

A further aspect of the present invention provides an accumulator comprising: a tank body in which refrigerant is separated into liquid refrigerant and gas refrigerant and the liquid refrigerant is stored; an inlet and an outlet formed at an upper side of the tank body, so that the gas refrigerant is supplied into the tank body through the inlet; an outlet pipe having a substantially U-shaped form, which is arranged in the tank body and has a curved bottom portion and a pair of leg portions connected at respective ends to and extending vertically from respective ends of the curved bottom portion, the other end of one leg portion opening to an inside upper space of the tank body so that the gas refrigerant in the upper space is sucked into the outlet pipe from the other end, an oil return hole formed at the curved bottom portion of the outlet pipe, through which the liquid refrigerant and lubricating oil in the liquid refrigerant are drawn into the outlet pipe; a desiccant for adsorbing moisture in the tank body, the desiccant being mounted on the curved bottom portion of the outlet pipe, so that a main middle portion of the desiccant is interposed between and held by the pair of leg r P:\OPER\Arl2580288 Ispa.do-07/12/04 -3Cportions of the outlet pipe.

An object of at least one embodiment of the present invention is to provide an accumulator in which a desiccant is securely fixed.

Another object of at least one embodiment of the present invention is to fix a desiccant in an accumulator and to decrease damage to a filter.

A further object of at least one embodiment of the present invention is to provide a fixing structure for a desiccant in an accumulator, capable of improving oil return to a compressor.

Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, as set out below.

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a refrigerating cycle including an accumulator according to embodiments of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an accumulator according to the first embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the accumulator illustrating a cross-section of refrigerant inlet and outlet pipes according to the first embodiment of the present 0LO invention; Fig. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a fixing structure of a desiccant according to the first embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 5 is a schematic illustration of the desiccant while assembling on the outlet pipe, according to the first embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 6 is a schematic plan view of a desiccant according to the second embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 7 is a schematic plan view of a desiccant according to the third embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 8A is a schematic illustration of a pressing means of a desiccant according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 8B is a plan view of the pressing means, when viewed from a top, partially including a cross section of a refrigerant outlet pipe, according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention;

I

Fig. 9 is a schematic illustration of a pressing means of a desiccant according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 10A is a partial plan view of a desiccant according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 10B is a schematic illustration of the desiccant mounted on a refrigerant outlet pipe according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention; and Fig. 11 is a schematic illustration of an accumulator of a prior art.

[First embodiment] Fig. 1 is a schematic illustration of a refrigerating cycle. A compressor 1 is driven by a vehicular engine (not shown) through belt, pulley and the like. High-pressure gas refrigerant is discharged from the compressor 1 and introduced in a condenser 2. In the condenser 2, heat is exchanged between the refrigerant and outside air, so that the refrigerant is cooled and condensed.

The refrigerant, condensed in liquid, is introduced in a pressure reducing device 3 and decompressed so that the refrigerant becomes foggy gas-liquid two phase state. The pressure reducing device 3 has a fixed throttle such as capillary tube, orifice, and nozzle, variable throttle operated in accordance with condition, such as pressure and temperature, of the refrigerant in a refrigerating cycle highpressure side, or a combination of the fixed throttle and variable throttle.

The low-pressure refrigerant, decompressed in the pressure reducing device 3, is introduced in the evaporator 4.

The refrigerant absorbs heat of a blown air from an airconditioning blower (not shown) and evaporates in the evaporator 4. The evaporator 4 is provided in an airconditioning case (not shown) of an air-conditioning unit of a vehicular air-conditioning apparatus. Air cooled in the evaporator 4 is blown into a passenger compartment after its temperature is controlled in a heater core (not shown).

The refrigerant passed through the evaporator 4 is introduced in an accumulator 5. The refrigerant separates into gas refrigerant and liquid refrigerant in the accumulator The liquid refrigerant is stored at a bottom of a tank body of the accumulator 5. The gas refrigerant is sent to the compressor 1. Also, lubricating oil melted in the liquid refrigerant is sent to the compressor i.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the tank body 50 of the accumulator 5 is formed into a longitudinal cylindrical shape extending in a vertical direction of Fig. 2. The tank body has upper tank 50a and lower tank 50b. The upper and lower tanks 50a, 50b are made of metal such as aluminum. The upper and lower tanks 50a, 50b are joined together such as by welding.

A refrigerant inlet pipe 51 is inserted in the tank body through a through hole 50d formed on a top wall of the tank -6- P:'OPER\lI\2580288 Ispa.do-07/I2/04 -7body 50. The refrigerant from the outlet of the evaporator 4 flows into the tank body 50 through the inlet pipe 51. A refrigerant outlet pipe 52 is provided in the tank 50. The outlet pipe 52 is bent into a substantially U-shape. The outlet pipe 52 is placed in the tank body 50 such that a curved portion 52c is adjacent to the bottom of the tank body 50. A first end 52a of the outlet pipe 52 is pulled out of the tank 50 through a through hole 50c formed on the top wall of the tank body 50. The first end 52a communicates with an inlet of the compressor i.

A second end 52b of the outlet pipe 52 is located in an upper space in the tank body 50. The second end 52b is directly open in the space defined under the cup-shaped separation wall 53. The gas refrigerant in the upper space to the tank 50 is drawn into the outlet pipe 52 from the second end 52b.

The gas-liquid separation wall 53 is located in the upper space in the tank 50. The separation wall 53 is spaced from the open end 51a of the refrigerant inlet pipe 51 at a predetermined distance. The separation wall 53 is formed into a cup shape. A bottom wall 53a of the cup shape is curved such that a middle portion rises. A side wall 53b of the cup shape extend downwardly from an outer edge of the bottom wall 53a. The separation wall 53 is made of metal or resin. The separation wall 53 has a through hole 53c through which the first end 52a is passed. The separation wall 53 is fixed to the outlet pipe 52 at the through hole 53a. A space 54 is defined between the side wall 53b and an inner cylindrical wall of the tank body 50 to pass through the refrigerant.

The inlet pipe 51 and outlet pipe 52 are formed of metal such as aluminium. The inlet pipe 51 is fixed to the P:\OPER\MrI\2580288 Ispa.doc-O7/12/04 -8tank body 50 at the through hole 50d such as by welding.

The first end 52a of the outlet pipe 52 is fixed to the tank at the through hole 50c such as by welding.

The outlet pipe 52 has an oil return hole 55 on the bottom surface of the curved portion 52c. The oil return hole 55 is a circular hole having a diameter of substantially 1mm. A filter 56 is attached to the curved portion 52c to correspond to the oil return hole Lubricating oil stored in the lower portion of the tank body 50 is drawn into the outlet pipe 52 from the oil return hole through the filter 56. Because the lubricating oil is melted in the liquid refrigerant, the liquid refrigerant is drawn into the outlet pipe 52 through the oil return hole with the lubricating oil. Since foreign material contained in the refrigerant is removed by the filter 56, the oil return hole 55 is prevented from being clogged with the foreign material.

As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the filter 56 has a ring shape, for example. The filter 56 is engaged with or held on the outlet pipe 52. The filter 56 has a resinous mesh member. The mesh member is reinforced with reinforcement pieces 56a. The reinforcement pieces 56a are arranged at equal intervals of 120 degrees of the ring shape.

A desiccant 57 is provided adjacent to the curved portion 52c of the outlet pipe 52. Granular moisture adsorbent such as zeolite is contained in a bag member 57a.

The bag member 57a is made of flexible and air permeability cloth such as felt.

As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the desiccant 57 is mounted on the curved portion 52c from the top of the filter 56 in substantially a reversed U-shape. The filter 56 other than a lower portion is covered with the desiccant 57. Here, a P:\OPER\ArI\258028 lspa.doc-07/12/04 -9circumference L1 of the inner peripheral surface of the Ushaped desiccant 57 is greater than a circumference L2 of the outer peripheral surface of the ring-shaped filter 56.

In a state where the desiccant 57 is mounted on the filter 56 in the reversed U-shape, ends 57b, 57c of the desiccant 57 are projected from the filter 56 in a radially outward direction of the outlet pipe 52 at a predetermined length a.

Since the desiccant 57 is mounted on the curved portion 52c in the reversed U-shape from the top, the periphery of the oil return hole 55, which opens at the bottom surface of the curved portion 52c, is not covered with the desiccant 57. Therefore, the desiccant 57 does not disturb the entry of the lubricating oil into the oil return hole 57.

As shown in Fig. 4, a string member 58 is a fastening (band) member to fix the desiccant 57 to the curved portion 52c of the outlet pipe 52. The string member 58 is formed of such a resin. The string member 58 has a pipe-shaped hook portion 58a at an end (first end). The hook portion 58a has a hook nail on the inner surface.

The string member 58 is entirely wound around the outer peripheral surface of the desiccant 57. The opposite end (second end) of the string member 58 is inserted in the pipe-shaped hook portion 58a and is pulled so that a fastening force of the string 58 is applied on the desiccant 57 and the desiccant 57 is firmly fixed to the curved portion 52c.

Even when the fastening force of the second end of the string member 58 is released, since the nail portion of the hook portion 58a has dug into the second end, the string member 58 is not loosened. In Fig. 4, an unnecessary portion of the second end of the string member 58, which P:OPER \rI\2580288 Ispa.doc-07/12/04 protrudes from the hook portion 58a, has been already cut.

Next, effects and advantages of the first embodiment are described.

The desiccant 57 is mounted on the curved portion 52c from the top of the filter 56 in the reversed U-shape and fastened thereon with the string member 58. Therefore, the desiccant 57 is securely fixed to the curved portion 52c.

Since the movement of the desiccant 57 due to vibration of the vehicle is decreased, the top surface of the refrigerant in the tank 50 is prevented from frothing.

The inner circumference L1 of the reversed U-shaped desiccant 57 is greater than the outer circumference L2 of the ring-shaped filter 56. Therefore, when the desiccant 57 is mounted on the curved portion 52c in the reversed Ushape, the ends 57b, 57c of the desiccant 57 protrude downwardly from the filter 56 at the length a. Therefore, when the string member 58 is fastened around the desiccant 57, it is decreased that the string member 58 contacts with the filter 56. That is, it is decreased that the fastening force of the string member 58 is directly applied to the filter 56.

Accordingly, even in a structure where the desiccant 57 is mounted on the filter 56 and fastened with the string member 58, the filter 56 is prevented from being damaged due to the fastening force of the string member 58, thereby ensuring filtering performance of the filter 56.

Since the desiccant 57 is mounted on the curved portion 52 from the top of the filter 56 in the reversed U-shape, the lower portion of the filter 56 and the periphery of the oil return hole 55 are not covered with the desiccant 57.

Therefore, the liquid refrigerant and lubricating oil in the tank body 50 are smoothly drawn in the outlet pipe 52 through the lower portion of the filter 56 and the oil return hole Since the desiccant 57 is mounted on the curved portion 52c in the reversed U-shape, the desiccant 57 is entirely immersed in the liquid refrigerant in the tank body 50. In a case that the desiccant 57 is exposed in the gas refrigerant region in the upper space of the tank body 50, the oil is caught and stored in the desiccant 57. Since the oil does not move into the liquid refrigerant in the lower space of the tank body 50, the oil caught in the desiccant 57 does not return to the compressor 1. This results in poor lubrication of the compressor 1.

On the other hand, in the first embodiment, since the desiccant 57 is entirely immersed in the liquid refrigerant, -11even if the oil is temporarily caught in the desiccant 57, the oil is returned to the compressor 1 through the liquid refrigerant, thereby maintaining lubrication of the compressor i. Further, since the desiccant 57 is mounted in the reversed U-shape, even when the desiccant 57 is located adjacent to the bottom of the tank body 50, the moisture adsorbent amount is adequately ensured.

[Second embodiment] As shown in Fig. 6, string members 258 are integrated with the longitudinal ends of the bag 57a of the desiccant 57 in advance. After the desiccant 57 is mounted on the curved portion 52c in the substantially reversed U-shape in a manner similar to the first embodiment, the string member 258 are tied so that the desiccant 57 is securely fixed to the curved portion 52c of the U-shaped outlet pipe 52.

[Third embodiment] As shown in Fig. 7, a string member 358 is integrated with the longitudinal end of the bag 57a of the desiccant 57 in advance. The string member 358 has a tape-like hook member 358b, such as a hook and loop fastener, at the end.

After the desiccant 57 is mounted on the curved portion 52c in the reversed U-shape, the hook member 358b is hooked on the surface of the bag 57a while tightening the string member 358, so that desiccant 57 is securely fixed to the curved portion 52c.

[Fourth embodiment] In the first to the third embodiments, the desiccant 57 -12is fixed to the curved portion 52c by applying the fastening force of the string members 58, 258, 358 directly to the desiccant 57. However, in the fourth embodiment, the desiccant 57 is held on the curved portion 52c without directly receiving the fastening force.

As shown in Figs. 8A and 8B, the ring-shaped filter 56 is engaged with the curved portion 52c of the outlet pipe 52 and the desiccant 57 is mounted on the curved portion 52c from the top of the filter 56 in the reversed U-shape. The string member 58 is tied between pipe portions (straight portions) 52d, 52e of the outlet pipe 52 above the desiccant 57. The pipe portions 52d, 52e are portions other than the curved portion 52c and substantially straight in the U-shaped pipe 52.

As shown in Fig. 8B, the string member 58 is crossed and looped between the straight portions 52d, 52e. The desiccant 57 is pressed toward the upper wall of the curved portion 52c with the cross-looped string member 58. Therefore, the desiccant 57 is firmly held on the curved portion 52c. That is, the cross-looped string member 58 provides a pressing means of the desiccant 57.

Here, projections or recesses can be formed on the surfaces of the straight portions 52d, 52e, and the string member 58 can be hooked on the projections or recesses. In this case, the string member 58 is securely positioned.

[Fifth embodiment] As shown in Fig. 9, a pressing member 59 having a plate shape is used instead of the string member 58. Similar to the -13fourth embodiment, the desiccant 57 is pressed toward the upper wall of the curved portion 52c with the pressing member 59, thereby held on the curved portion 52c.

The plate-shaped pressing member 59 is made of metal or resin. In the case that the pressing member 59 is made of metal, an end of the pressing member 59 is fixed to one of the straight portions 52d, 52e, such as by welding, brazing and clamping. In the case that the pressing member 59 is made of resin, the end of the pressing member 59 is fixed to one of the straight portions 52d, 52e such as with a press-hook structure using resiliency of the resin.

[Sixth embodiment] In the sixth embodiment, the desiccant 57 is held on the curved portion 52c with a means different from those of the first to fifth embodiments.

As shown in Fig. 10A, two through holes 57b are formed in a bag member 57a of the desiccant 57 in the substantially middle portion. After the ring-shaped filter 56 is engaged with the curved portion 52c, the straight portion 52d, 52e of the outlet pipe 52 are inserted in the through holes 57b, so that the desiccant 57 is mounted on the curved portion 52c in the reversed U-shape, as shown in Fig. The accumulator 5 of the present invention is not limited to use for a vehicle, but used for various purposes.

The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the -14invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that that prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia.

Claims

1. An accumulator comprising: a tank body in which refrigerant separates into liquid refrigerant and gas refrigerant and the liquid refrigerant is stored; a refrigerant inlet through which the refrigerant flows into the tank body; a refrigerant outlet pipe having a substantially U- shape, the U-shaped outlet pipe having a curved portion and a pair of leg portions respectively extending from each end of the curved portion, the outlet pipe being provided in the tank body such that the curved portion is adjacent to a bottom of the tank body, the outlet pipe having a gas refrigerant inlet portion formed at an upper end of one leg portion through which the gas refrigerant is drawn into the outlet pipe, a gas refrigerant discharge portion formed at an upper end of the other leg portion, and an oil return hole through which the liquid refrigerant and lubricating oil in the liquid refrigerant are drawn into the outlet pipe; a desiccant for adsorbing moisture in the tank body and having a substantially U-shaped form; and a string member for fastening the desiccant, wherein the desiccant is mounted on the curved portion in a substantially reversed U-shape from a top side without covering the oil return hole and fastened with the string member, so that a main middle portion of the desiccant is interposed between and held by the pair of leg portions of the outlet pipe and both ends of the desiccant protrude downwardly from the curved portion of the outlet pipe. P:'OPERr \2580288 Isp.doc-07/2/04 -17-

2. The accumulator according to claim i, further comprising a filter for filtering the liquid refrigerant and oil drawn into the outlet pipe through the oil return hole, wherein the filter is located to correspond to the oil return hole.

3. The accumulator according to claim 2, wherein the desiccant has a first end and a second end, and the first end and second end are located further than the filter from the outlet pipe in a radial direction when the desiccant is placed on the curved portion.

4. The accumulator according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the filter has a ring shape and is held on the curved portion of the outlet pipe.

The accumulator according to claim 4, wherein an inner circumference of the reversed U-shaped desiccant is longer than an outer circumference of the ring-shaped filter.

6. The accumulator according to any one of claims 1 to wherein the string member and the desiccant are separate and the string member is wound around the desiccant.

7. The accumulator according to any one of claims 1 to wherein the string member is integrated with the desiccant.

8. An accumulator comprising: a tank body in which refrigerant separates into liquid refrigerant and gas refrigerant and the liquid refrigerant is stored; a refrigerant inlet through which the refrigerant flows I P:\OPER.rI\2580288 Ispa.do-07/12/04 -18- into the tank body; a refrigerant outlet pipe having a substantially U- shape, the U-shape outlet pipe having a curved portion and a pair of leg portions respectively extending from each end of the curved portion, the outlet pipe being provided in the tank body such that the curved portion is adjacent to a bottom of the tank body, the outlet pipe having a gas refrigerant inlet portion formed at an upper end of one leg portion through which the gas refrigerant is drawn into the outlet pipe, a gas refrigerant discharge portion formed at an upper end of the other leg portion, and an oil return hole through which the liquid refrigerant and lubricating oil in the liquid refrigerant are drawn into the outlet pipe, the oil return hole being located adjacent to the curved portion; a desiccant for adsorbing moisture in the tank body, the desiccant being mounted on the curved portion of the outlet pipe, so that a main middle portion of the desiccant is interposed between and held by the pair of leg portions of the outlet pipe; and a pressing means provided above the desiccant, wherein the pressing means presses the desiccant toward the curved portion of the outlet pipe.

9. The accumulator according to claim 8, wherein the pressing means is a string member fastened across substantially straight portions of the U-shaped outlet pipe.

10. The accumulator according to claim 8, wherein the pressing means is a plate member fixed to the outlet pipe. P:'OPER\ArI\2580288 Ispa.do-07/2/04 -19-

11. An accumulator comprising: a tank body in which refrigerant separates into liquid refrigerant and gas refrigerant and the liquid refrigerant is stored; a refrigerant inlet through which the refrigerant flows into the tank body; a refrigerant outlet pipe having a substantially U- shaped, the outlet pipe being provided in the tank body such that a curved portion is adjacent to a bottom of the tank body, the outlet pipe having a gas refrigerant inlet portion through which the gas refrigerant is drawn into the outlet pipe and an oil return hole through which the liquid refrigerant and lubricating oil in the liquid refrigerant are drawn into the outlet pipe, the gas refrigerant inlet portion being adjacent to an end of the outlet pipe, and the oil return hole being located adjacent to the curved portion; and a desiccant for adsorbing moisture in the tank body, wherein the desiccant has a bag containing moisture adsorbent, the bag has two through holes, and the desiccant is mounted on the curved portion such that the outlet pipe is located in the through holes.

12. The accumulator according to claim 11, further comprising a filter for filtering the liquid refrigerant and the oil, wherein the filter is mounted on the curved portion to correspond to the oil return hole.

13. The accumulator according to claim 12, wherein the desiccant is mounted on the curved portion from a top of the filter in a reversed U-shape without covering the oil return hole. P:\OPER r\2580288 Isp.doc-07/1/0S

14. An accumulator comprising: a tank body in which refrigerant is separated into liquid refrigerant and gas refrigerant and the liquid refrigerant is stored; an inlet and an outlet formed at an upper side of the tank body, so that the gas refrigerant is supplied into the tank body through the inlet; an outlet pipe having a substantially U-shaped form, which is arranged in the tank body and has a curved bottom portion and a pair of leg portions connected at respective ends to and extending vertically from respective ends of the curved bottom portion, the other end of one leg portion opening to an inside upper space of the tank body so that the gas refrigerant in the upper space is sucked into the outlet pipe from the other end, an oil return hole formed at the curved bottom portion of the outlet pipe, through which the liquid refrigerant and lubricating oil in the liquid refrigerant are drawn into the outlet pipe; a desiccant for adsorbing moisture in the tank body, the desiccant being mounted on the curved bottom portion of the outlet pipe, so that a main middle portion of the desiccant is interposed between and held by the pair of leg portions of the outlet pipe. An accumulator substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1-10 and/or Examples. Dated this 7th day of January, 2005 Denso Corporation by DAVIES COLLISON CAVE Patent Attorneys for the applicant(s)