JPH04208377A - Refrigerant state sensing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To positively and accurately decide a suitable refrigerant amount by providing an optical sensor which outputs an identification signal for identifying a gas/liquid mixed state from a liquid state as an electric signal, in a high pressure tube. CONSTITUTION:An optical sensor 8 has sensor elements 8a, 8b of light emitting and light receiving sides through a high pressure tube 5, and outputs an identification signal for identifying a gas/liquid mixed state from a liquid state in liquid state refrigerant in the tube 5 as an electric signal. Since the element 8a of the light receiving side is accurately different in a light receiving amount according to the refrigerant state, a reference value is previously set, and it can output an identification signal for identifying the gas/liquid mixed state from the liquid state as the electric signal. On the other hand, since the sensor 8 is provided in the tube 5 at a position corresponding to a charge port 7, it is effective in view of its space.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a refrigerant condition detection system for detecting an appropriate amount of refrigerant in a cooling device, and particularly relates to a refrigerant condition detection system used in a cooling device of an automobile or the like. .

[Prior Art] Conventionally, this type of refrigerant state detection system has been known to include a light source in a high-pressure piping section connecting a receiver dryer and an expansion valve that constitute a cooling circuit, as shown in, for example, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 62-30705. A light-emitting part that emits light and a light-receiving part that receives this light are arranged to face each other across a high-pressure piping part, and the amount of light that reaches the light-receiving part is visually displayed via an optical cable. , was determining the condition of the refrigerant.

By the way, the receiver dryer receives refrigerant that has passed through a compressor and a condenser and has become a high-pressure liquid, substantially separates the refrigerant into a liquid phase refrigerant component and a gas phase refrigerant component, and outputs the liquid phase refrigerant component.

At this time, if the amount of refrigerant in the cooling circuit is less than the reference value of the appropriate amount of refrigerant, the refrigerant in the high-pressure piping will be in a gas-liquid mixed state. As a result, the amount of light transmitted within the high-pressure piping is reduced compared to when the pipe is in a liquid state.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the conventional refrigerant condition detection system described above, the appropriate amount of refrigerant is determined by the visual judgment of the operator, which is greatly influenced by the operator's experience, and the refrigerant condition is stable and reliable. was difficult.

In particular, when a conventional refrigerant state detection system is used in an automobile or the like, the driver must visually check the system while driving, which is a dangerous act and can lead to unexpected accidents.

Therefore, in view of the above drawbacks, the present invention provides a refrigerant state detection system that can objectively and accurately determine the appropriate amount of refrigerant.

[Means for Solving the Problems] According to the present invention, a compressor that compresses manual refrigerant and outputs high-pressure gas refrigerant; a condenser that condenses the high-pressure gas refrigerant and outputs high-pressure liquid refrigerant; A receiver dryer receives high-pressure liquid refrigerant, substantially separates it into liquid-phase refrigerant and gas-phase refrigerant, and outputs the liquid-phase refrigerant, and expands the liquid-phase refrigerant to produce low-pressure low-temperature refrigerant. A refrigerant having an output expansion valve, a high-pressure piping section connecting the receiver dryer and the expansion valve, and an evaporator that evaporates the low-pressure low-temperature refrigerant and outputs the low-pressure liquid refrigerant to the compressor as the input refrigerant. In the refrigerant state detection system used in the circuit, the liquid phase refrigerant exhibits either a gas-liquid mixed state or a liquid state in the high-pressure piping section, and an identification is provided to distinguish between the gas-liquid mixed state and the liquid state. A refrigerant state detection system is obtained, characterized in that an optical sensor that outputs a signal as an electrical signal is provided in the high-pressure piping section.

Further, in the refrigerant state detection system, the optical sensor is provided in the high pressure pipe at a position corresponding to a charge port.

[Example] Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

As shown in Fig. 1, the refrigerant state detection system in an automobile cooling circuit includes a compressor 1 that compresses input refrigerant and outputs high-pressure gas refrigerant, and a compressor 1 that condenses the high-pressure gas refrigerant and outputs high-pressure liquid refrigerant. a condenser 2; a receiver dryer 3 that receives the high-pressure liquid refrigerant, substantially separates it into a liquid-phase refrigerant and a gas-phase refrigerant, and outputs the liquid-phase refrigerant;
An expansion valve 4 that expands the liquid phase refrigerant and outputs low-pressure low-temperature refrigerant, a high-pressure piping section 5 that connects the receiver dryer 3 and the expansion valve 4, and evaporates the low-pressure low-temperature refrigerant and inputs the low-pressure liquid refrigerant. Evaporator 6 outputs to compressor 1 as refrigerant
The refrigerant is supplied from the outside to the high-pressure piping section 5.
A charge port 7 for injection into the high pressure piping section 5 is provided at a predetermined position, and an optical sensor 8 is provided at this predetermined position.

As shown in FIG. 2, the optical sensor 8 is connected to a light emitting side and a light receiving side sensor element 8a via a high pressure piping section 5.

8b, and outputs an identification signal for identifying the gas-liquid mixed state and the liquid state of the liquid refrigerant in the high-pressure piping section 5 as an electric signal.

As shown in FIG. 3, the light sensor element 8a on the light-receiving side is preliminarily set to
By setting the reference value, an identification signal for identifying the gas-liquid mixed state and the liquid state can be output as an electrical signal.

On the other hand, since the optical sensor 8 is provided in the high pressure piping 5 at a position corresponding to the charge port 7, it is also effective in terms of space.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, it is possible to output an identification signal for distinguishing between a gas-liquid mixed state and a liquid state as an electric signal. can be determined. Furthermore.

Since it can detect bubbles, it can also be used to detect refrigerant leaks.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a refrigerant state detection system according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a partially implemented perspective view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a correlation between the refrigerant state and the amount of received light. It is a diagram. 1... Compressor, 2... Capacitor, 3...
Receiver dryer, 4... fat expansion valve, 5... high pressure piping section, 6... evaporator, 7... charge port, 8...
・Light sensor. Agent (7783) Patent attorney Noriyasu Ikeda

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1) a compressor that compresses input refrigerant and outputs high-pressure gas refrigerant; a condenser that condenses the high-pressure gas refrigerant and outputs high-pressure liquid refrigerant; receiving the high-pressure liquid refrigerant; a receiver dryer that substantially separates the refrigerant into a liquid-phase refrigerant and a gas-phase refrigerant and outputs the liquid-phase refrigerant; an expansion valve that expands the liquid-phase refrigerant and outputs a low-pressure low-temperature refrigerant; Refrigerant state detection used in a refrigerant circuit having a high-pressure piping section that connects a receiver dryer and the expansion valve, and an evaporator that evaporates the low-pressure low-temperature refrigerant and outputs the low-pressure liquid refrigerant to the compressor as the input refrigerant. In the system, the liquid-phase refrigerant exhibits either a gas-liquid mixed state or a liquid state in the high-pressure piping section, and outputs an identification signal that identifies the gas-liquid mixed state and the liquid state as an electrical signal. A refrigerant state detection system characterized in that an optical sensor is provided in the high pressure piping section. 2) In the refrigerant state detection system according to the first claim,
A refrigerant state detection system characterized in that the optical sensor is provided in the high pressure pipe at a position corresponding to a charge port.