WO2014102295A1

WO2014102295A1 - A cooling device comprising a damper

Info

Publication number: WO2014102295A1
Application number: PCT/EP2013/078013
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tolga Nurettin AYNUR; Erkan KARAKAYA; Husnu Kerpicci; Ozgun SAKALLI
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2012-12-27
Filing date: 2013-12-26
Publication date: 2014-07-03

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cooling device (1) comprising an evaporator (2), at least one capillary pipe (3) which provides the refrigerant fluid to be transmitted to the evaporator (2), an inlet pipe (4), one end of which is connected to the evaporator (2), and a connection pipe (5), in one end of which the capillary pipe (3) extends and the other end of which opens to the inlet pipe (4).

Description

A COOLING DEVICE COMPRISING A DAMPER

The present invention relates to a cooling device comprising a damper which reduces the noise originating from the fluid during the refrigeration cycle.

In the refrigeration circuits of cooling devices, capillary pipes are used in order to lower the pressure of the refrigerant fluid. In order to be able to carry the fluid, the pressure of which is lowered by means of the capillary pipes, to the evaporator, the fluid is required to be transferred to wider pipes. Noise is generated due to the vibration and turbulence originating from the sudden pressure difference during the transfer of the fluid from the capillary pipes with narrow cross-section to the pipes with wider cross-section. In the state of the art, utilization of porous dampers is known in order to absorb this disturbing sound which can be generally heard from the outside. However, relocation of the damper inside the pipe is possible by the effect of the movement and pressure of the fluid. In this situation, the damper cannot perform its function effectively.

In the state of the art European Patent Application No. EP0943879, a damper, which provides reduction in the noise originating from the refrigerant fluid, is disclosed, that is fixed between the capillary pipe and the pipe wherein at least some portion of the capillary pipe is located.

The aim of the present invention is the realization of a cooling device comprising a damper which reduces the noise originating from the fluid.

The cooling device realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof, comprises an evaporator, at least one capillary pipe which provides the refrigerant fluid to be carried to the evaporator by reducing the pressure thereof; an inlet pipe, one end of which is connected to the evaporator, and a connection pipe wherein at least some portion of the capillary pipe extends and which opens to the inlet pipe, and which provides the fluid to be carried to the inlet pipe through the capillary pipe by balancing the diameter difference between the capillary pipe and the inlet pipe. The cooling device of the present invention comprises a connection member which is mounted to the connection pipe end that is connected to the inlet pipe and which remains between the connection pipe and the inlet pipe when the connection pipe is placed into the inlet pipe, and a damper which is mounted onto the connection member and extends from the connection member towards the inside of the connection pipe, and which prevents the noise originating from the fluid. By means of the connection member, the damper can be fixed between two pipes with different diameters. Thus, the cavitation and vibration noise originating from the pressure change occurring during the fluid transfer between the pipes with different diameters is effectively dampened. The damper, which prevents the noise originating due to the change of physical characteristics of the fluid such as speed and pressure, is fixed between the inlet pipe and the connection pipe by means of the connection member and the damper is prevented from being dragged away by the movement of the fluid.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the damper is in frustoconical form and widens from the connection pipe towards the inlet pipe. While the fluid passes through the damper, its physical characteristics change slowly and properly. Thus, since no air bubbles are formed in the refrigerant and the sudden change of the fluid pressure is prevented, the noise originating from the bursting of the bubbles in the refrigerant, the turbulence and/or the vibration is prevented.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the ring-shaped connection member surrounds the cylinder-shaped damper. The damper is mounted onto the connection member. Thus, the connection member holds the damper firmly.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device comprises a flange which is located on the outer edge of the connection member so as to surround the connection member almost completely and wherein the connection pipe is seated such that the flange remains between the connection pipe and the inlet pipe; and a slit which is arranged so as to surround the inner edge of the connection member almost completely, wherein the damper is mounted and which enables the damper to be mounted to the connection member. The connection member is mounted onto the connection pipe such that the flange in indent form remains outside the connection pipe. Thus, the connection member is fixed between the inlet pipe mounted thereon and the connection pipe.

In a derivative of this embodiment, the connection member can be produced from a thermoplastic material which changes shape by melting as the temperature increases. Thus, the connection member melts during the joining of the connection pipe and the inlet pipe by a thermophysical process like welding and fills the gaps between the connection pipe and the inlet pipe.

In a derivative of this embodiment, the cooling device comprises at least one hole which is arranged on the connection member and enables the damper having a spiral wire configuration to be fixed onto the connection member after being fitted into the slit, and wherein the wires forming the damper enter. The spiral wires are fixed to the connection member by being mounted into the holes so as not to move inside the slit.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device comprises a log muffler wherein the capillary tube is placed and which provides reduction in the fluid noise. By means of the log muffler, the sound originating from the flow that occurs along the capillary pipe is insulated and the cooling device is provided to operate silently.

By means of the present invention, the damper, which prevents the formation of noise due to the flow and/or the change of the physical characteristics of the fluid, is provided to be fixed between the connection pipe and the inlet pipe, wherein the noise is high, by means of the connection member.

The cooling device realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:

Figure 1 – is the schematic view of the cooling device.

Figure 2 – is the perspective view of the capillary pipe, the connection pipe and the inlet pipe.

Figure 3 – is the cross-sectional view of the capillary pipe, the connection pipe and the inlet pipe.

Figure 4 – is the perspective view of the damper and the connection member.

Figure 5 – is the cross-sectional view of the damper and the connection member.

The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

Cooling device
Evaporator (not shown in the figures)
Capillary pipe
Inlet pipe
Connection pipe
Damper
Connection member
Flange
Slit
Hole

The cooling device (1) comprises an evaporator (2), at least one capillary pipe (3) which provides the refrigerant fluid to be transmitted to the evaporator (2), an inlet pipe (4), one end of which is connected to the evaporator (2), and a connection pipe (5), in one end of which the capillary pipe (3) extends and the other end of which opens to the inlet pipe (4). The cooling device (1) of the present invention comprises a connection member (7) which is placed into the connection pipe (5) and mounted to the end of the inlet pipe (4), and which remains between the connection pipe (5) and the inlet pipe (4) when the connection pipe (5) is placed into the inlet pipe (4), and a damper (6) which is mounted onto the connection member (7) and extends from the connection member (7) towards the inside of the connection pipe (5), and which prevents the noise originating from the fluid. The connection member (7) fixes and hence prevents the damper (6) from moving by the flow rate of the fluid. Thus, the damper (6) is fixed on the inlet pipe (4) wherein the acoustic energy of the fluid increases.

In a derivative of this embodiment, the damper (6) is porous. When the fluid fills in the pores of the damper (6), the flowing speed of the fluid decreases and generation of noise due to turbulence formation is prevented.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the damper (6) is frustoconical. By means of the form of the damper (6), the fluid, the speed of which increases while exiting the capillary pipe (3), slows down while moving forward inside the damper (6) and the acoustic energy thereof is decreased.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the ring-shaped connection member (7) is located on the damper (6) so as to surround the cylinder-shaped damper (6) almost completely. The connection member (7) is fitted to the end of the connection pipe (5) just like a plug. Thus, the damper (6) is mounted to the connection member (7) firmly.

In a derivative of this embodiment, the cooling device (1) comprises a flange (8) which is located on the outer edge of the connection member (7) along the connection member (7) and wherein the connection pipe (5) is seated such that the flange (8) remains between the connection pipe (5) and the inlet pipe (4); and a slit (9) which is located on the inner edge of the connection member (7) along the connection member (7), and wherein the damper (6) is placed and which provides the damper (6) to be fixed to the connection member (7). The damper (6) is joined with the connection member (7) by being inserted into the slit (9). The connection member (7) is fixed between the inlet pipe (4) and the connection pipe (5) by the edge of the inlet pipe (4) being placed into the flange (8).

In a derivative of this embodiment, the cooling device (1) comprises at least one hole (10) which is located on the connection member (7) and enables the damper (6) having a spiral wire configuration to be fixed onto the connection member (7), and wherein the spiral wires forming the damper (6) enter. The hole (10) fixes the damper (6) on the connection member (7) by limiting the movement of the damper (6) inside the slit (9).

By means of the present invention, in order to provide the efficient operation of the damper (6) which prevents the formation of noise originating from the fluid, the connection member (7) is realized which fixes the damper (6) in the area wherein the connection pipe (5) and the inlet pipe (4) are connected to each other. Thus, the cooling device (1) is provided to operate more silently.

Claims

A cooling device (1) comprising an evaporator (2), at least one capillary pipe (3) which provides the refrigerant fluid to be transmitted to the evaporator (2), an inlet pipe (4), one end of which is connected to the evaporator (2), and a connection pipe (5), in one end of which the capillary pipe (3) extends and the other end of which opens to the inlet pipe (4), characterized by a connection member (7) which is placed into the connection pipe (5) and mounted to the end of the inlet pipe (4), and which remains between the connection pipe (5) and the inlet pipe (4) when the connection pipe (5) is placed into the inlet pipe (4), and a damper (6) which is mounted onto the connection member (7) and extends from the connection member (7) towards the inside of the connection pipe (5), and which prevents the noise originating from the fluid.
A cooling device (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by the damper (6) that is in frustoconical form.
A cooling device (1) as in Claim 1 or 2, characterized by the ring-shaped connection member (7) that is located on the damper (6) so as to surround the cylinder-shaped damper (6) almost completely.
A cooling device (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by a flange (8) which is located on the outer edge of the connection member (7) along the connection member (7) and wherein the connection pipe (5) is seated such that the flange (8) remains between the connection pipe (5) and the inlet pipe (4); and a slit (9) which is located on the inner edge of the connection member (7) along the connection member (7), and wherein the damper (6) is placed and which provides the damper (6) to be fixed to the connection member (7).
A cooling device (1) as in Claim 4, characterized by at least one hole (10) which is located on the connection member (7) and provides the damper (6) to be fixed onto the connection member (7), and wherein the damper (6) enters.