Condenser for an air conditioner

Abstract

In a condenser for an air conditioning system, in particular for motor vehicles, comprising a condensing section (1b) and a supercooling section (1c) which is arranged above the condensing section, comprising an approximately tubular modulator (2) which is divided by a separating wall (2b) into a lower section (2c), which is connected to the condensing section (1b), and an upper section (2d), which is connected to the supercooling section (1c), comprising an ascending pipe (4) between the lower and upper sections of the modulator, and comprising a container (7) for desiccant in the lower section (2c) of the modulator, the modulator (2) is provided at the upper side with a plug (6), it being possible for the separating wall (2b) with the desiccant container to be removed upwards out of the modulator once the plug has been detached from the interchangeable unit.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a 371 U.S. National Stage of International Application No. PCT/EP2006/005295, filed Jun. 2, 2006. This application claims the benefit of German Application No. 10 2005 025 451.9, filed Jun. 2, 2005. The disclosures of the above applications are incorporated herein by reference.

The invention relates to a condenser for an air conditioner, in particular for motor vehicles.

It is known from EP 480 330 to construct a condenser for an air conditioner having a top condensing portion, through which gaseous refrigerant flows, and a supercooling portion arranged therebelow, through which the condensed liquid refrigerant flows which is routed to an expansion valve. Laterally at the condenser, which consists of a board-shaped tubular ribbed block, or at a distance therefrom, a tubular modulator is provided, in which a drying agent can be arranged for absorbing humidity contained in the refrigerant.

To enable the charge-air cooler to be arranged in the flow direction of the air in front of the condenser in the lower area thereof, as used in particular for diesel vehicles, a condenser is provided with a top supercooling portion, below which the condensing portion is arranged. In this way, the supercooling portion is not impacted by the heat emission of the charge-air cooler.

To simplify the assembly and maintenance of the condenser in the case of a condenser having a top supercooling portion, according to the invention a sealing plug is provided, preferably at the top end of the modulator. After removal of the sealing plug, a partition dividing the modulator into an upper and a lower portion, and a drying agent container mounted thereon, can be withdrawn upwards from the modulator, preferably together with a standpipe. Here, the partition with the drying agent container and the standpipe forms a replaceable unit inserted in the modulator, by means of which on the one hand the assembly of the condenser, and on the other hand its maintenance, is simplified and carried out with a low expenditure of time.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing, in which

FIG. 1 shows schematically a view of a condenser with a top supercooling portion and a replaceable unit in the laterally arranged modulator,

FIG. 2 a view of the condenser with the laterally arranged modulator and replaceable unit,

FIG. 3 embodiments of replaceable units for the modulator,

FIG. 4 a modified embodiment of the condenser,

FIG. 5 a practical embodiment of the replaceable unit, and

FIG. 6 a tool for withdrawing the replaceable unit from the modulator.

FIG. 1 shows a board-shaped condenser 1, having an approximately rectangular shape and constructed of horizontally extending ribbed tubes 1a for the refrigerant, wherein seen vertically to the plane of the drawing, air flows through the condenser between the ribbed tubes 1a. The condenser 1 has a lower condensing portion 1b, through which gaseous refrigerant flows, and thereabove, partitioned from the condensing portion 1b by a partition 1f, a supercooling portion 1c through which condensed liquid refrigerant flows. The gaseous refrigerant is supplied through an inlet opening 1d to a side of the condensing portion 1b and flows through the horizontal ribbed tubes 1a to an outlet opening 1e on the opposite side. Both the inlet opening 1d and the outlet opening 1e are arranged at a distance from the lower end of the condensing portion 1b. In the construction according to FIG. 1, to reduce the loss in pressure with respect to a flow guide formed in a serpentine shape in the condensing portion 1b, the gaseous refrigerant flows horizontally between inlet and outlet opening.

However, in the construction according to the invention, it is also possible to provide a serpentine-shaped gas guide in the condensing portion between inlet opening 1d and outlet opening 1e.

A modulator 2, formed tubular and preferably having a diameter in the order of magnitude of the thickness of the board-shaped condenser 1, is joined to the outlet opening 1e of the condensing portion 1b. This tubular modulator preferably extends over the height of the condenser 1, wherein a joining pipe 3 to the outlet opening 1e of the condensing portion 1b opens out at approximately the same height in the modulator 2 at 2a, so that a reservoir for liquid refrigerant is formed in the modulator below the mouth 2a, in which area refrigerant can collect.

The modulator 2 is divided by a partition 2b into a lower portion 2c and an upper portion 2d, wherein the partition 2b lies approximately on the level of the partition 1f between condensing portion 1b and supercooling portion 1c. The upper portion 2d of the modulator is joined by a joining pipe 3a to the supercooling portion 1c of the condenser 1. This joining pipe 3a is preferably located directly over the partitions 2b and 1f or in the lower area of the upper portion 2d of the modulator and in the lower area of the supercooling portion 1c of the condenser. A standpipe 4 leads through the partition 2b from the upper portion 2d of the modulator into the lower area of the lower portion 2c. The standpipe 4 preferably ends at a small distance from the bottom of the modulator 2. The condensed refrigerant is discharged from the supercooling portion 1c through an outlet opening 1g, from which a pipe (not shown) leads to an expansion valve. The refrigerant supplied from the condensing portion 1b through the standpipe 4 to the modulator is led upwards into the supercooling portion 1c, in which the liquid refrigerant undergoes systematic heat removal.

At the lower end of the standpipe 4, a filter 5 can be provided (FIGS. 1, 4, 3b and 3c), through which refrigerant flows before being conveyed through the standpipe into the supercooling portion 1c. It is also possible to arrange the filter at the upper end of the standpipe 4 or at the upper portion 2d, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3a and 5, wherein the filter located at the top is designated by 5′.

FIG. 2 schematically shows a construction in which the filter 5′ is arranged between the outlet opening of the standpipe 4 and the joining opening 2e to the supercooling portion 1c, such that the refrigerant rising up through the standpipe 4 must flow through the filter 5′ on its way to the supercooling portion 1c.

FIG. 2 schematically shows an embodiment in which the modulator 2 is attached directly at the lateral face of the condenser 1, so that the modulator 2 is divided from the condensing portion 1b and the supercooling portion 1c of the condenser only by a partition. In this case, a joining pipe 3, 3a between the individual portions of the condenser and the modulator is omitted, so that only a joining opening 1e between condensing portion 1b and lower portion 2c of the modulator and a joining opening 2e between upper portion 2d of the modulator and supercooling portion 1c of the condenser remain in the common partition.

The modulator 2 is sealed at the top by a sealing plug 6 which can be screwed into the tubular modulator, for example, by means of a thread. The partition 2b can be provided with a handle bracket 2f (FIG. 3b, 3c) or another means which facilitates the withdrawal of the partition 2b from the modulator after removal of the sealing plug 6. The partition 2b is provided on the outer circumference with a sealing ring, so that the upper portion 2d is sealed with respect to the lower portion 2c in the modulator. This partition 2b is joined to the standpipe 4 and a receptacle, for example a bag 7 or a cartridge for drying agent, so that these components 2b, 4, 5 and 7 form a replaceable unit which can be withdrawn from the modulator 2 from above after releasing the sealing plug 6. The seal on the outer circumference of the partition 2b is preferably joined to the modulator 2 in such a way that it can be removed therefrom with the replaceable unit, so that it can be replaced if necessary. However, it is also possible to provide a seal in the modulator 2, into which the partition 2b is inserted. In the construction with a seal at the partition 2b, a seal seat is preferably provided on the inner circumference of the modulator 2.

The bag 7 with drying agent can be hung at the lower side of the partition 2b or detachably fixed on the circumference of the standpipe 4.

For reinsertion, the replaceable unit can be inserted into the modulator and then the modulator can be sealed by the sealing plug 6. According to another embodiment, a spacer for the partition can be provided at the sealing plug 6, and after insertion of the replaceable unit and tightening of the sealing plug, this spacer positions the partition 2b with the seal on its circumference in the predetermined position, wherein the partition abuts at a seal seat in the modulator.

FIG. 3 shows different constructions of replaceable units. According to FIGS. 3a and 3c, a bag 7 is hung on a hook 4a fixed to the standpipe 4. In the embodiment according to FIG. 3b, a mounting bracket 4b into which the bag 7 can be inserted is formed at the standpipe 4.

FIG. 3 c shows an embodiment with a curved standpipe 4′ or a standpipe provided with a salient, wherein the bag 7 is hung on a hook at the standpipe 4′. By means of this configuration, the diameter of the modulator 2 can be kept small. Instead of a hook, a clip connection can also be provided between bag 7 and standpipe 4 or partition 2b.

It is also possible to provide a cable clip or a similar fixing means to join the bag 7 to the standpipe 4.

According to FIG. 3d, a tubular bag 7′ or a tubular cartridge for drying agent can be provided, through the middle of which the standpipe 4 extends, so that the tubular bag 7′ with drying agent can be displaced from below up onto the standpipe 4. As a retainer, a disc 4d can be screwed onto the lower end of the standpipe 4. In this embodiment, the filter 5 with the disc 4d is detachably joined to the standpipe 4.

According to a further embodiment, the receptacle 7 with drying agent can be fixedly joined to the standpipe, wherein only the drying agent in the receptacle is replaceable or wherein the receptacle 7 is replaceable with the standpipe and filter 5, when the drying agent is to be replaced.

FIG. 4 shows a modified construction, in which the pipe 3′ leading from the outlet opening 1e to the modulator 2 at a distance from the bottom of the condensing portion, opens into the lower area of the modulator at 2a′. In this construction, too, a reservoir for liquid refrigerant is formed in the modulator up to the level of the outlet opening 1e at the supercooling portion.

The advantage of arranging the outlet opening 1e at a distance over the bottom of the modulator 2 for forming a reservoir for liquid refrigerant in the modulator, consists in that backflow of liquid refrigerant into the condensing portion is prevented when the air conditioner is not in use. Such a backflow of liquid refrigerant in the non-operative state of the air conditioner could lead to damage on re-operation.

The advantage of the replaceable unit lies mainly in the possibility of exchanging the components filter 5 and standpipe 4, which are at risk of fouling. On exchanging the replaceable unit, the pressure loss on the refrigerant side can be reduced, which is caused mainly by the outlet opening 1e at the condensing portion and is increased by fouling of the standpipe 4 and the filter 5. It is above all when the filter 5 is arranged at the upper end of the standpipe 4, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3a and 5, that deposits can occur in the area of the standpipe 4, which can be quickly removed by means of an exchange.

FIG. 5 shows a practical embodiment of a replaceable unit, wherein for identical or corresponding components, the same reference numerals are used as in the preceding Figures. In this embodiment, a cage-shaped filter housing 50 is arranged over the partition 2b, and a sealing ring 51 is provided between the filter housing and the partition 2b, to ensure sealing between the upper and lower portion in the modulator. The filter housing 50, which is laterally open for discharging the refrigerant, is fixedly joined to the partition 2b and the standpipe 4. In this construction, the partition 2b can be formed integrally with the filter housing 50. The sealing ring 51 can be inserted in a circumferential groove between partition 2b and filter housing 50. The filter housing 50 can, for example, be constructed of an upper disc 50a and a lower disc 50b, which are joined to one another by stays 50c.

The filter housing 50 can be provided with a handle means 2f. Preferably, recesses are provided on the upper side of the filter housing 50, in which for example resilient hooks 61 of an extraction tool 60 can be snap-inserted when the sealing plug 6 is removed from the modulator 2. The hooks engage a shoulder in the recess in the filter housing, so that the replaceable unit can be withdrawn upwards from the modulator 2 by means of the tool 60.

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of such a tool 60, whose hook 61 is arranged in a U-shape and is resiliently deformable in the radial direction for engaging a shoulder in the filter housing 50 for withdrawal. However, a tool formed in another way can also be provided.

The replaceable unit comprises at least the partition 2b and the receptacle 7 with the drying agent. Preferably, the standpipe 4 with the filter 5 is also integrated into the replaceable unit.

It is also possible to form the replaceable unit in two parts, so that after removing the sealing plug, first one part, for example, the partition, is withdrawn from the modulator, and then the further members are removed from the modulator.

An embodiment is also possible in which a sealing plug is provided at the lower side of the modulator 2, so that after releasing the sealing plug, the replaceable unit can be withdrawn downwards from the modulator. Here, the standpipe 4, for example, can serve as a handle means by which the partition can be removed from the modulator. However, it is also possible to have a handle bracket protruding downwards as a handle means. For such an embodiment, it is also preferable to provide a stop at which the partition or a member of the replaceable unit abuts on insertion.

Claims

1. A condenser for an air conditioner, in particular for motor vehicles, comprising a condensing portion and a supercooling portion arranged over the condensing portion, and an approximately tubular modulator partitioned by a partition into a lower portion joined to the condensing portion and an upper portion joined to the supercooling portion, a standpipe between the lower and upper portions of the modulator and a drying agent receptacle below the partition in the lower portion of the modulator, wherein the modulator is provided with a sealing plug and the partition with the drying agent receptacle is removable from the modulator after releasing the sealing plug.

2. The condenser according to claim 1, wherein the standpipe is joined to the partition.

3. The condenser according to claim 1, wherein a handle means is joined to the partition, by means of which, after removing the sealing plug the partition can be withdrawn from the modulator.

4. The condenser according to, claim 1, wherein at the partition a seal is provided, which is removable from the modulator with the partition.

5. The condenser according to claim 1, wherein at the lower end of the standpipe or in the upper portion of the modulator, a filter is provided at the standpipe.

6. The condenser according to claim 1, wherein a filter housing is fixed over the partition.

7. The condenser according to claim 6, wherein the filter housing has on the upper side an engagement means for a tool for withdrawing the replaceable unit formed by the filter housing the partition and the standpipe.

8. The condenser according to claim 1, wherein the drying agent contained in a bag is detachably fixed at the standpipe.

9. A condenser for an air conditioner, in particular for motor vehicles, comprising a condensing portion and a supercooling portion arranged over the condensing portion, and an approximately tubular modulator, which is divided by a partition into a lower portion joined to the condensing portion, and an upper portion joined to the supercooling portion, anda standpipe between the lower and upper portions of the modulator, wherein a connection between the modulator and the condensing portion or an outlet opening at the condensing portion is arranged at a distance over the bottom of the modulator, for forming a reservoir for the refrigerant in the modulator.

10. The condenser according to claim 9, wherein the condensing portion has ribbed tubes extending horizontally, through which the flow of gaseous refrigerant is led horizontally in the whole of the condensing portion.