Patent Grant
10683966
This application is the United States national phase of International Application No. PCT/CN2016/088870 filed Jul. 6, 2016, and claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 201510416012.7 filed Jul. 15, 2015, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated in their entirety reference.
The present application relates to the field of freezing, cold storage and refrigeration equipment, in particular to a liquid storage container.
In the industry of freezing, cold storage and refrigeration equipment, function of a liquid storage container for storing a liquid refrigerant is extremely important, especially for a condensing unit and a compressor unit, which units are provided respectively without an evaporator and a condenser. When the units are to be connected to the entire operating refrigeration system during the installation phase, all the required liquid refrigerant is stored in a liquid storage container. Thus, when designing and developing such units, the liquid storage container is especially important. When selecting a model in system design, the selection is usually made according to a volume. However, as a liquid storage container has a fixed volume and fixedly positioned inlet and outlet pipes, such that model selection is subject to some restriction, such that a model of liquid storage container cannot be used universally. Basically, each unit has to be provided with a specific liquid storage container, which is disadvantageous for the design and development of the entire system of a series of units. Moreover, as being restricted by positions of the inlet and outlet pipes, there is too much turning in the running direction of a pipeline, resulting in such problems as stress and strain going beyond the standards, etc.
In view of the above, the present application provides a liquid storage container having a port with an adjustable relative position.
Another object of the present application to provide a liquid storage container having a variable volume.
In order to realize this object, the present application takes a technical solution as the following:
A liquid storage container according to the present application, comprises: a first lid; a container body having an opening on one end, an interior of the container body and the lid forming a chamber, the opening end of the first lid and the opening end of the container body being rotatably connected; a first pipe and a second pipe communicating the chamber with the outside, wherein the first pipe is provided on the first lid, and the second pipe is provided on the container body.
By arranging such that the first lid is rotatably and sealingly connected on the container body with the first pipe being provided on the first lid, when the first lid is rotated with respect to the container body, position of the first pipe is changed with respect to the container body along with the first lid, and relative position of the two pipes is adjustable within 360 degrees. This arrangement is advantageous for the layout and design of the entire system, and allows a simple and beautiful pipe connection without too much turning in the running of a pipeline thereby.
In one embodiment, the liquid storage container as mentioned above further comprises a volume adjusting portion movable inside the chamber, the volume adjusting portion separating the chamber into a first chamber and a second chamber which are independent from one another, the first pipe and the second pipe being communicating the first chamber with the outside, and the first chamber having a volume variable by varying a position of the volume adjusting portion inside the chamber.
By providing the volume adjusting portion, the chamber is separated into a first chamber and a second chamber, the first chamber serving as a liquid storage portion, by varying a position of the volume adjusting portion, a volume of the liquid storage portion is adjustable.
In one embodiment, in the liquid storage container as mentioned above, the volume adjusting portion comprises a separator plate and an adjusting mechanism, the separator plate being provided movably inside the chamber, the adjusting mechanism being configured to drive the separator plate.
Preferably, in the liquid storage container as mentioned above, the adjusting mechanism comprises a guide mechanism and an elastic element, the guide mechanism being provided inside the chamber such that the separator plate is movable along the guide mechanism, the elastic element applying an elastic force to the separator plate so as to move the separator plate.
By providing the elastic element, the volume of the liquid storage portion is adjustable automatically according to a pressure of the liquid storage portion.
In one embodiment, in the liquid storage container as mentioned above, the adjusting mechanism comprises an adjusting screw, the adjusting screw having one end coupled to the separator plate and another end passing through the first lid and connected threadedly with the first lid through a threaded portion.
The adjusting screw and the separator plate are provided for allowing a position of the separator plate to be adjustable manually or automatically. When the adjusting screw is rotated by the threaded portion, the adjusting screw is movable axially relative to the first lid, so as to drive the separator plate to move axially, thereby to vary a volume of the first chamber and of the second chamber. The adjusting screw may be driven manually, or be driven by a drive mechanism, such as a motor or the like.
In one embodiment, in the liquid storage container as mentioned above, the adjusting screw is provided with a scale marking.
In one embodiment, the liquid storage container as mentioned above comprises a pressure regulating means for regulating pressure of the second chamber.
In one embodiment, in the liquid storage container as mentioned above, a connection holder is provided on the container body.
In one embodiment, in the liquid storage container as mentioned above, an end of the first lid is provided externally with a threaded portion, a stopper boss is provided on an outer circumference of the container body, a nut disposed on an outer circumference of the stopper boss, the stopper boss limiting a axial position of the nut, the nut being threadedly connected with a threaded portion of the first lid.
In one embodiment, in the liquid storage container as mentioned above, a sealing ring is provided between the first lid and the container body.
In one embodiment, in the liquid storage container as mentioned above, the first lid is rotatably and sealingly connected with the container body by means of a thread.
In one embodiment, in the liquid storage container as mentioned above, in an operating state, ports of the first pipe and the second pipe inside the chamber are positioned at substantially the same level.
In one embodiment, in the liquid storage container as mentioned above, the container body comprises a second lid and a cylindrical body having an opening on each end, at a first opening end of the cylindrical body, the first lid being rotatably and sealingly connected with the cylindrical body, and at a second opening end of the cylindrical body, the second lid being rotatably and sealingly connected with the cylindrical body, the second pipe being provided on the second lid.
By providing the second lid and by providing the second pipe on the second lid, positions of the first pipe and the second pipe relative to the cylindrical body are adjustable, and in the case where the holder is mounted at a fixed position with respect to the cylindrical body, positions of the two pipes may also be easily adjustable such that operation connecting pipeline with the liquid storage container is more convenient.
In one embodiment, in the liquid storage container as mentioned above, the first lid and/or the second lid are/is rotatably and sealingly connected with the cylindrical body by means of a thread.
In an operating state, ports of the first pipe and the second pipe inside the chamber are positioned at substantially the same level, such that there is no need to distinguish which of the first pipe and the second pipe should serve as an inlet pipe and which thereof should serve as an outlet pipe, which may facilitate connecting pipeline of the entire system. Productivity is greatly increased as inlet and outlet pipes may not be distinguished.
In one embodiment, in the liquid storage container as mentioned above, relative position of ports of the first pipe and the second pipe in communication with the outside is variable along with relative rotation of the first lid and the second lid.
By arranging such that the ports of the first pipe and the second pipe in communication with the outside are offset from axes of rotation of the lids, such as in a fashion that the ports are provided on side walls of the lids, the ports of the first pipe and the second pipe in communication with the outside are rotatable along with the lids and positions of ports are variable with respect to the cylindrical body.
In one embodiment, in the liquid storage container as mentioned above, a sealing ring is provided between at least one of the lids and the cylindrical body, an end of the lid is provided externally with a threaded portion, a stopper boss is provided on an outer circumference of the cylindrical body, a nut disposed on an outer circumference of the stopper boss, the stopper boss limiting a axial position of the nut, the nut being threadedly connected with a threaded portion of the lid.
Some embodiments in the present application have advantageous effects as the following:
1. Positions of the inlet and outlet pipes are adjustable in any angle within 360° which is advantageous for the layout and design of the entire system, and allows a simple and beautiful pipeline connection without too much turning in the running of a pipeline thereby.
2. With an adjustable volume, there is no need to provide each unit model with a specific liquid storage container.
3. Costs are saved, as a single liquid storage container may be used universally for the entire series of units;
4. The volume adjusting mechanism is provided with a scale marking such that the volume of the liquid storage portion may be adjusted easily and rapidly to a designated volume.
By the below description of the embodiments according to the present application with reference to the drawings thereof, the above-mentioned and further objects, features and advantages of the present application will become more clear, in the drawings:
The present application will be described below with reference to the embodiments, but the present application is not limited to these embodiments. Some specific details are described in detail in the following detailed description of the present application. For those skilled in the art, the present application may be understood without reference to these details. In order to avoid obscuring the essence of the present application, commonly known methods are not described in detail.
As one embodiment, the liquid storage container according to the present application further comprises a volume adjusting portion which, as shown in
Besides the structure of the volume adjusting portion as shown in
In one embodiment, the container body 2 is provided with a connecting holder 4 configured to fix and mount the container body 2. The connecting holder may be connected by welding or by other means.
In one embodiment, as shown in
In this regard, as one embodiment, the container body 2 is designed into a structure having separate parts, comprising a cylindrical body 22 having an opening on each end and a second lid 21. As shown in
Further, in one embodiment, ports 71 and 81 of the first pipe and the second pipe positioned inside the chamber are at the same level, in order to further improve the versatility of the liquid storage container and the convenience of the connection. For example, in
Besides, in one embodiment, in order to prevent the second chamber 10 from exhibiting an overly high pressure or an overly low pressure so to affect the adjustment of the first chamber 9 when a volume adjustment is made to the first chamber 9, the second chamber 10 may be provided with a pressure regulating means such as a pressure regulating valve or a small hole may be provided in the second chamber 10, so as to adjust timely a pressure of the second chamber when the second chamber 10 exhibits on an overly low or high pressure, such that the volume of the first chamber 9 may be adjusted successively.
Besides, it needs to be noted that name and position arrangement for the first lid, the second lid, the first chamber, the second chamber, the first pipe, the second pipe and the volume adjusting portion is not limited to that as shown in
In addition, it will be understood by a person skilled in the art that the drawings provided herein are for illustrative purposes and that the drawings are not necessarily to scale.
At the same time, it should be understood that exemplary embodiments are provided so that this disclosure is complete and scope thereof is fully conveyed to a person skilled in the art. A number of specific details (e.g., specific parts, examples of devices) are given to provide a thorough understanding of the present disclosure. A person skilled in the art will understand that the exemplary embodiments may be implemented in many different forms without taking the specific details, and that the exemplary embodiments should not be construed as limiting the scope of the disclosure. In some exemplary embodiments, commonly known device structures and commonly known techniques are not described in detail.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing only a particular exemplary embodiment and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “one”; and “the” may also be intended to include the plural form unless it is indicated specifically otherwise in the context. The terms “comprise”, “include” and “have” are inclusive and thus clearly indicate the presence of the features, entireties, elements and/or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, entireties, elements, components, and/or combinations thereof.
When an element or layer is referred to as being “on” on another element or layer, “joined”, “connected to” or “coupled to” another element or layer, it may be directly on another element or layer, be directly joined, connected or coupled to another element or layer, or there may be an intermediate element or layer. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly” on another element or layer, “directly joined to”, “directly connected” or “directly coupled to” another element or layer, there may be no intermediate element or layer. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a similar manner (e.g., “between” and “directly between”, “adjacent” and “directly adjacent”, etc.). As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any or all of the combinations of one or more associated items.
Although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be used only to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another element, region, layer, or sector. Terminology such as “first”, “second”, and other numerical terms are not used to mean order or sequence unless it is indicated specifically in the context. Thus, the first element, component, region, layer, or section discussed below may be referred to as a second element, component, region, layer, or section without departing from the teachings of the exemplary embodiment. Besides, in the description of the present application, the meaning of “plural” is two or more, unless otherwise specified.
Space-related terms such as “inside”, “outside”, “under”, “below”, “lower portion”, “above”, “upper portion” and the like are used herein to describe the relationship of an element or feature to another element or feature as illustrated in a figure. It will be understood that spatially related terms may be intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use other than the orientation depicted in the drawing. For example, if the device in the figure is reversed, the element described as being “below” or “under” the other element will then be positioned “above” the other element or feature. Thus, the exemplary term “below” can include both the top and bottom orientations. The device may be oriented (rotated 90 degrees or otherwise) in other ways, and spatially related terms used herein should be interpreted accordingly.
The above-mentioned is merely preferred embodiments of the present application and is not intended to limit the present application, and for those skilled in the art, the present application may have various variations and modifications. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, and the like within the spirit and principles of the present application are intended to be included within the scope of the present application.
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| WO2017/008665 | 1/19/2017 | WO | A |
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