JPH0829022A - Accumulator for refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To prevent generation of bubbling sound or bursting sound when a refrigerator is stopped by providing a lubricant recovery pipe fixed to a flow-out pipe or the extension of a flow-in pipe in order to extract lubricant separated from a fluid in the inner space of a housing through the flow-out pipe. CONSTITUTION: An accumulator houses the gaseous mixture of refrigerant flowing out from an evaporator and lubricant in a housing 2 having an inner space 7. A flow-in pipe 20 is coupled with the lower section of the housing 2 to communicate with the inner space 7 and a flow-out pipe 22 is coupled with the upper section of the housing 2 to communicate with the inner space 7. A lubricant recovery pipe 24 is fixed to the extension 23 of the flow-in pipe 20 or the flow-out pipe 22 in order to extract lubricant standing on the bottom of the housing 2 to the flow-out pipe 22 through the lubricant recovery pipe 24. Since refrigerant does not flow backward to the flow-in pipe 20, generation of bubbling sound or bursting sound can be prevented.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an accumulator, and more particularly to a refrigerator accumulator capable of effectively recovering lubricating oil contained in a refrigerant between an evaporator and a compressor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Refrigerators used for refrigeration and freezing of various foods are well known as household appliances using a refrigeration cycle, in which a refrigerant compressed by a compressor is condensed by a condenser and then an evaporator is used. In this case, it is frozen or refrigerated by the heat of vaporization that is vaporized and absorbed again. In the refrigerator, in particular, the evaporator is also commonly called a cooler.

The refrigerant cooled by the evaporator is recovered by the compressor for the next cooling cycle. In this process, the refrigerant is in an unstable state in which gas and liquid are mixed, and therefore, this pipe is used. An accumulator will be installed in the passage to stabilize the refrigerant pressure.

A commonly used accumulator has a structure as shown in FIG.
An inflow pipe 4 connected to the evaporator is provided in the lower part of the housing 2 having the above structure in the form of a curved pipe, and an outflow pipe 6 connected to the compressor is provided in the upper part. The mixed fluid of the refrigerant and the lubricating oil that flows in from the evaporator due to the operating pressure generated by the operation of the compressor is ejected from the tip of the outflow pipe 6 and collides with the upper surface of the housing 2, whereby a considerable amount of the refrigerant is vaporized. The remaining liquid refrigerant 8 is sucked into the compressor and accumulates at the bottom of the housing 2. In this way, the accumulator serves as a kind of gas-liquid separator and stabilizes the pressure of the refrigerant.

However, not only the refrigerant 8 but also the lubricating oil 10 for lubricating the compressor and the like circulates in the refrigeration cycle, and the lubricating oil 10 and the liquid refrigerant 8 are in an incomplete mixed state. It will be accumulated in the lower part of the housing 2. In order to collect such lubricating oil 10, the inflow pipe 4 is formed with a recovery hole 12 for recovering the lubricating oil 10. During operation of the refrigerator, a part of the lubricating oil collected in the inflow pipe 4 is sucked into the outflow pipe 6 through the internal space 7 due to the flow velocity of the refrigerant passing through the inflow pipe 4. This is due to the Bernoulli principle.

However, since there is a gap between the inflow pipe 4 and the outflow pipe 6 and the flow velocity of the fluid, the recovery efficiency of the lubricating oil becomes relatively low.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, when the refrigerator is overcooled and the compressor stops operating, the lubricating oil and the liquid refrigerant flow back to the inflow pipe 4 through the recovery hole 12.
At this time, since the operation of the compressor is stopped, the temperature of the refrigerator rises and the refrigerant filled in the internal space 7 locally boiled unevenly. As a result, a pulsating pressure change occurs in the inflow pipe 4, and a liquid film 14 is formed across the inflow pipe 4 between the lubricating oil and the liquid refrigerant.

The liquid film 14 moves to the tip side of the inflow pipe 4 by the pulsating pressure due to the boiling of the refrigerant 8. When the liquid film 14 passes through the recovery hole 12, the liquid film 14
When the pressure to press becomes higher than the liquid pressure in the recovery hole 12, the vapor-phase refrigerant between the liquid films 14 flows into the liquid-state refrigerant 8 to form bubbles 18 and generate bubble noise. On the other hand, the liquid film 14 pushed to the tip of the inflow pipe 4 ruptures at the tip and generates a burst sound.

The bubble noise and the plosive noise are not so high in noise level as such, but they are generated only in a static state where the refrigerator is completely stopped, so that the user may leak water from the refrigerator. Or, they misunderstand that gas is leaking, making users anxious and requesting frequent repairs.

[0010]

In view of such conventional problems, the present invention provides an accumulator having excellent recovery efficiency of hydraulic oil, which does not generate bubble noise and burst noise when the refrigerator is stopped. The purpose is to

[0011]

The above-mentioned object of the present invention communicates with a housing having an internal space for containing therein a fluid in which a refrigerant and a lubricating oil are mixed, and the internal space of the housing. An inflow pipe having an extension part connected to a lower part of the housing and extending to an upper part of the housing, and an outflow pipe connected to an upper part of the housing so as to communicate with the inner space of the housing. And a refrigerator including a lubricating oil recovery pipe attached to the outflow pipe or the extension of the inflow pipe for extracting the lubricating oil separated from the fluid in the inner space of the housing through the outflow pipe. It is achieved by providing an accumulator for use.

In a preferred embodiment according to the present invention, the lubricating oil recovery pipe is characterized by comprising a capillary tube.
Further, the lubricating oil recovery pipe is characterized in that its lower end forms a loop. The outflow pipe includes a ring-shaped sleeve fitted inside the outflow pipe, and the sleeve has a groove on the outside thereof for holding the lubricating oil recovery pipe. The inflow pipe may include a support clamp for connecting the lubricating oil recovery pipe to an extension of the inflow pipe.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 3 shows an accumulator for a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention. The accumulator is a housing 2 having an internal space 7 for containing a mixed fluid of a refrigerant and a lubricating oil flowing out from an evaporator (not shown), and a lower part of the housing 2 so as to communicate with the internal space 7. It includes a connected inflow pipe 20 and an outflow pipe 22 connected to an upper portion of the housing 2 so as to communicate with the internal space 7. The inflow pipe 20 is connected to the evaporator, and the outflow pipe 2
2 is connected to a compressor (not shown). Further, the inflow pipe 20 has an extension portion 23 that extends to the vicinity of the upper portion of the housing 2 through the internal space 7. Extension part 2 of inflow pipe 20
3 is slightly bent at its end.

In such an accumulator structure, the mixed fluid of the lubricating oil and the refrigerant flowing out from the inflow pipe 20 collides with the upper surface inside the housing 2, and then a certain amount of the mixed fluid flows out by the action of the compressor. It is sucked into the compressor through the pipe 22, and a certain amount is filled in the internal space 7. Further, the mixed fluid of the lubricating oil in the liquid state and the refrigerant is collected at the bottom of the internal space 7 of the housing 2. In the accumulated mixed fluid, the lubricating oil 10 is located below the liquid refrigerant 8 while forming an incomplete boundary with the liquid refrigerant 8.

As shown in FIG. 3, a lubricating oil recovery pipe 24 is attached to the extension portion 23 of the inflow pipe 20 or the outflow pipe 22, and the lubricating oil recovery pipe 24 is accumulated at the bottom of the housing 2. The existing lubricating oil is extracted into the outflow pipe 22. One end of the lubricating oil recovery pipe 24 is located inside the outflow pipe 22, and the other end is placed near the bottom of the housing 2 so as to be submerged in the layer of the lubricating oil 10. The diameter of the lubricating oil recovery pipe 24 is smaller than the diameter of the inflow pipe 20 and the outflow pipe 22. Preferably, the lubricating oil recovery pipe 24 is preferably a capillary pipe capable of sending the laminated lubricating oil to the outflow pipe 22. In this case, since the lubricating oil 10 sufficiently fills the capillary tube 24, it is jetted into the outflow pipe 22 at the same time when the compressor operates. Preferably, the lubricating oil recovery pipe 24 will form a loop 26 in the lower portion thereof to prevent spouting of the impurities precipitated in the lower portion of the lubricating oil.

In the accumulator according to the present invention, when the compressor is not operating, generation of bubble noise or burst noise due to backflow of the lubricating oil 10 or the refrigerant 8 into the inflow pipe 20 is prevented.

On the other hand, when the compressor operates, the pressure on the upper side of the capillary tube 24 decreases when the gaseous refrigerant flows to the outflow tube 22 side, so that the lubricating oil 10 laminated in the internal space 7 moves through the capillary tube 24. After that, it is ejected to the outflow pipe 22 and gathers in the compressor. At this time, the lubricating oil 10 is directly sucked into the outflow pipe 22 through the capillary tube 24, so that the efficiency of collecting the lubricating oil in the compressor is improved.

In FIGS. 4 and 5, the capillary tube 24 is shown as the outflow tube 2.
2 and different ways of attaching to the extension 23 of the inflow pipe 20 are shown. In FIG. 4, the ring-shaped sleeve 28, which is tightly fitted inside the outflow tube, has a groove 30 on its outside for holding the capillary tube 24.

As shown in FIG. 5, the capillary tube 24 is fixed to the inflow tube 20 by a support clamp 32. Preferably, the support clamp 32 may have a groove 34 therein to retain the capillary tube 24. In addition, the capillary tube 24 is made of wire or band tape and is used as the inflow tube 20 or the outflow tube 22.
May be attached to.

FIG. 6 illustrates a second embodiment of the accumulator according to the present invention. In the illustrated embodiment, the inflow pipe 40 and the outflow pipe 42 are respectively connected to the upper part and the lower part of the housing 2 so as to communicate with the internal space 7. The tip of the inflow pipe 40 is bent toward the wall of the housing 2. The inflow pipe 42 extends from the bottom of the housing 2 to a level higher than a predetermined liquid level of the fluid located in the internal space 7. In such an accumulator, the mixed fluid of the lubricating oil and the refrigerant, which has entered the internal space 7 through the inflow pipe 40, is separated from each other, and the refrigerant in the gas state is supplied to the compressor through the outflow pipe 42, and in the liquid state. The lubricating oil 10 and the refrigerant 8 are accumulated at the bottom of the housing 2. On the other hand, the lubricating oil 10 forms an incomplete boundary with the liquid refrigerant 8 and is located below it.

As shown in FIG. 6, the outflow pipe 42 is provided with an inverted U-shaped lubricating oil recovery pipe 44 in order to recover the lubricating oil located in the internal space 7 to the compressor. . One end of the lubricating oil recovery pipe 44 is located adjacent to the bottom of the housing 2, and the other end is inserted into the outflow pipe 42. The inverted U-tube 44 is preferably fitted with a loop 46 to prevent impurities or contaminants from entering the outflow pipe 42.

According to the second embodiment of the present invention, the operation of the compressor causes the refrigerant in the gas state to flow into the outflow pipe 42, and the inflow of this refrigerant causes a pressure between the internal space 7 and the outflow pipe 42. The difference is triggered. Therefore, the lubricating oil laminated in the internal space 7 is easily absorbed into the outflow pipe 42, and the efficiency of collecting the lubricating oil to the compressor is improved.

When the compressor is stopped by overcooling the refrigerator, the inflow of the lubricating oil 10 and the refrigerant 8 into the outflow pipe 42 is stopped. At this time, since the refrigerant and the lubricating oil laminated in the internal space 7 are completely separated from each other, they do not flow into the outflow pipe 42 in the compressor stop mode. In addition, the inflow pipe 4
By locating 0 at the top of the housing 2, the refrigerant in the interior space 7 does not flow back into the inflow pipe 40, which prevents the formation of liquid films and bubbles in the inflow pipe 40. As a result, noise such as bubble noise or burst noise does not occur.
Further, when the liquid refrigerant boils in the internal space 7 due to the temperature rise of the accumulator, the evaporated and expanded refrigerant moves to the outflow pipe 42, which can reduce the occurrence of problems.

[0025]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the lubricating oil is directly sprayed into the outflow pipe, the recovery efficiency of the lubricating oil is extremely excellent, and the refrigerant does not flow back into the inflow pipe when the compressor is stopped.
The generation of noises such as bubble noise and plosive noise is basically prevented. Therefore, the present invention has a great effect on the comfortable and smooth operation of the refrigerator.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an accumulator according to the related art.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing an operating state of the accumulator of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of an accumulator according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing an embodiment in which a lubricating oil recovery pipe is attached to the inflow pipe and the outflow pipe of the accumulator of FIG.

5 is a schematic view showing an embodiment in which a lubricating oil recovery pipe is attached to the inflow pipe and the outflow pipe of the accumulator of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of an accumulator according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Housing 4 Inflow pipe 6 Outflow pipe 7 Internal space 8 Refrigerant 10 Lubricating oil 12 Recovery hole 14 Liquid film 18 Bubble 20 Inflow pipe 22 Outflow pipe 24 Support bracket 40 Inflow pipe 42 Outflow pipe 44 Support bracket

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. An accumulator for a refrigerator, comprising: a housing having an internal space for containing a fluid in which a refrigerant and a lubricating oil are mixed; and a lower part of the housing so as to communicate with the internal space of the housing. An inflow pipe connected to the housing and having an extension extending to the upper part of the housing; an outflow pipe connected to the upper part of the housing so as to communicate with the inner space of the housing; and the inner part of the housing. In order to extract the lubricating oil separated from the fluid in the space through the outflow pipe, a lubricating oil recovery pipe attached to the extension part of the outflow pipe or the inflow pipe, Accumulator. 2. The accumulator for a refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the lubricating oil recovery pipe is a capillary. 3. The refrigerator accumulator according to claim 1, wherein a lower end of the lubricating oil recovery pipe forms a loop. 4. The outflow pipe includes a ring-shaped sleeve fitted inside thereof, and the sleeve has a groove on the outside thereof for holding the lubricating oil recovery pipe. The refrigerator accumulator according to 1. 5. The refrigerator accumulator according to claim 1, wherein the inflow pipe includes a support clamp for connecting the lubricating oil recovery pipe to the extension of the inflow pipe. 6. An accumulator for a refrigerator, comprising: a housing having an internal space for containing a fluid in which a refrigerant and a lubricating oil are mixed; and an upper part of the housing so as to communicate with the internal space of the housing. An inflow pipe connected to the housing, one end of which is connected to the lower portion of the housing so as to communicate with the inner space of the housing, and the other end of which is located in the inner space from the lower portion of the housing. A refrigerator accumulator having an outflow pipe extending to a position higher than a predetermined liquid level. 7. A recovery pipe attached to the outflow pipe for extracting the lubricating oil separated from the fluid in the inner space of the housing through the outflow pipe. Refrigerator accumulator described in. 8. The lubricating oil recovery pipe has an inverted U shape, one end of which is located adjacent to the lower part of the housing in the internal space, and the other end of which is inside the outflow pipe. The refrigerator accumulator according to claim 7, wherein the refrigerator accumulator is located. 9. The refrigerator accumulator according to claim 8, wherein the inverted U-shaped tube forms a loop at one end thereof.