Refrigeration system with a plate-type condenser and method for compacting it

Abstract

A refrigeration system with a plate-type condenser and a method for compacting it, to be applied to a refrigeration appliance presenting a compressor mounted in a hermetic shell ( 10 ), an evaporator coil ( 60 ), and a plate-type condenser ( 20 ). The refrigerant fluid coming from the compressor is supplied to a condenser tube ( 30 ), which is formed on a lower plate section ( 20 a ) and on an upper plate section ( 20 b ) of the condenser ( 20 ) and extends from the bottom to the top and back to the bottom. After manufacture, the lower plate section ( 20 a ) and the upper plate section ( 20 b ) are placed one over the other, the evaporator coil ( 60 ) is positioned by a suction tube ( 70 ) connected to the compressor.

1 . A refrigeration system including a compressor provided in a hermetic shell ( 10 ), having a discharge tube ( 12 ) for the high-pressure refrigerant fluid, which is supplied to a condenser tube ( 30 ) of a plate-type condenser  20  for transferring heat and then conducted to an evaporator coil ( 60 ) presenting a suction tube ( 70 ) that returns to a suction inlet ( 14 ) of the compressor, characterized in that the plate-type condenser ( 20 ) comprises a lower plate section ( 20   a ) and an upper plate section ( 20   b ) with a spacing ( 21 ) therebetween, onto which sections the condenser tube ( 30 ) is mounted in an entwined coil pattern, the lower plate section  20   a  and the upper plate section  20   b,  in a condition of the refrigeration system, being positioned one over the other in the same vertical plane, with the evaporator coil ( 60 ) being held by the suction tube ( 70 ) at or above the upper plate section ( 20   b ), and, in a second condition for reducing the dimension of the refrigeration system, the suction tube ( 70 ) is curved in order to lower the evaporator coil ( 60 ) that will be placed above the hermetic shell ( 10 ) and below the upper end of the lower plate section ( 20   a ), with the upper plate section ( 20   b ) being downwardly bent.  
   
   
       2 . The system as set forth in  claim 1 , characterized in that, in the second condition, the upper plate section ( 20   b ) is rearwardly bent to be substantially parallel to the lower plate section ( 20   a ).  
   
   
       3 . The system as set forth in  claim 1 , characterized in that, in the second condition, the upper plate section ( 20   b ) is bent to be substantially perpendicular to the lower plate section ( 20   a ) and to overlap the evaporator coil ( 60 ).  
   
   
       4 . The system as set forth in  claim 1 , characterized in that the condenser tube ( 30 ) on the lower plate section ( 20   a ) and on the upper plate section ( 20   b ) is formed with a first segment upwardly extending from the compressor, towards the top of the upper plate section ( 20   b ), and by a second segment downwardly extending toward the lower end of the lower plate section ( 20   a ), the median regions ( 31 ) of each of said first and second segments of the condenser tube ( 30 ), which are positioned across the spacing ( 21 ) between the lower plate section ( 20   a ) and an upper plate section ( 20   b ), being generally parallel.  
   
   
       5 . The system as set forth in  claim 1 , characterized in that it comprises a capillary tube ( 50 ) extending from the lower end of the lower plate section ( 20   a ) to the evaporator coil ( 60 ), and in said first condition of the refrigeration system, the suction tube ( 70 ) and the capillary tube are curved to allow the evaporator coil ( 60 ) to be lowered.  
   
   
       6 . The system as set forth in  claim 5 , characterized in that the suction tube ( 70 ) and the capillary tube ( 50 ) are curved in the form of a coil, which is provided above the hermetic shell ( 10 ) and below the upper end of the lower plate section ( 20   a ).  
   
   
       7 . Method to reduce the dimension of a refrigeration system including a compressor provided in a hermetic shell ( 10 ), having a discharge tube ( 12 ) for the high-pressure refrigerant, which is supplied to a condenser tube ( 30 ) of a plate-type condenser ( 20 ) for heat absorption, and thence to a capillary tube ( 50 ) and subsequently to an evaporator coil ( 50 ), and then to an evaporator coil ( 60 ) presenting a suction tube ( 70 ) which returns to a suction inlet of the compressor, characterized in that comprises the steps of: 
 forming the plate-type condenser ( 20 ) with a lower plate section ( 20   a ) and an upper plate section ( 20   b ) with a spacing ( 21 ) therebetween;    mounting the condenser tube ( 30 ) on the lower plate section ( 20   a ) and on the upper plate section ( 20   b ) in an entwined coil pattern;    positioning, in a first condition of the refrigeration system, the lower plate section ( 20   a ) and the upper plate section ( 20   b ) one over the other in the same vertical plane and affixing the evaporator coil ( 60 ) through the suction tube ( 70 ) at or above the upper plate section ( 20   b ); and    reducing, in a second condition of the refrigeration system, the dimension of said system, by curving the suction tube ( 70 ) in order to lower the evaporator coil ( 60 ) to a position above the hermetic shell ( 10 ) and below the upper end of the lower plate section ( 20   a ) downwardly bending the upper plate section ( 20   b ).    
   
   
       8 . The method as set forth in  claim 7 , characterized in that, in the second condition, the upper plate section ( 20   b ) is rearwardly bent in order to stay substantially parallel to the lower plate section ( 20   a ).  
   
   
       9 . The method as set forth in  claim 7 , characterized in that, in the second condition, the upper plate section ( 20   b ) is bent to remain substantially perpendicular to the lower plate section ( 20   a ) and to overlap the evaporator coil ( 60 ).  
   
   
       10 . The method as set forth in  claim 7 , characterized in that the condenser tube ( 30 ) on the lower plate section ( 20   a ) and on the upper plate section ( 20   b ) is formed with the first segment extending over the compressor, toward the top of the upper plate section ( 20   b ), and with the second segment downwardly extending toward the lower end of the lower plate section ( 20   a ), the median regions ( 31 ) of the first and the second segments of the condenser tube ( 30 ), which are provided across the spacing ( 21 ) between the lower plate section ( 20   a ) and the upper plate section ( 20   b ), being generally parallel.