Combined oil separator and muffler for refrigerant compressor

Abstract

A casing for use with a refrigerant compressor of an air conditioning unit in a vehicle is disclosed, wherein the casing facilitates a maximization of pressure pulsation attenuation and an oil separation of a refrigerant/oil mixture flowing therethrough, and a space required thereby is minimized.

1 . A casing for use with a refrigerant compressor comprising:
 a first chamber having an inlet in fluid communication with a source of a mixture of oil and refrigerant;   a second chamber having a drain formed therein, the second chamber in fluid communication with the first chamber;   a third chamber having an outlet, the third chamber in fluid communication with the second chamber; and   a flow guiding device for directing a flow of the mixture of oil and refrigerant from the first chamber to the second chamber and from the second chamber to the third chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The casing according to  claim 1 , wherein the second chamber and the third chamber are disposed adjacent the first chamber. 
     
     
         3 . The casing according to  claim 2 , wherein the flow guiding device includes a partition disposed between the first chamber and the third chamber and a funnel portion disposed between the first chamber and the second chamber. 
     
     
         4 . The casing according to  claim 3 , wherein an annular gap is formed between the funnel portion of the flow guiding device and a casing inner wall. 
     
     
         5 . The casing according to  claim 4 , wherein the flow guiding device includes a hollow interior portion for facilitating a flow of a refrigerant portion of the mixture of oil and refrigerant from the second chamber to the third chamber. 
     
     
         6 . The casing according to  claim 3 , wherein the partition creates a substantially fluid tight seal between the first chamber and the third chamber. 
     
     
         7 . The casing according to  claim 1 , wherein the flow guiding device is disposed coaxially with a longitudinal axis of the casing. 
     
     
         8 . The casing according to  claim 1 , further comprising an oil filter disposed in the second chamber for filtering an oil portion from the mixture of oil and refrigerant. 
     
     
         9 . The casing according to  claim 8 , wherein the oil filter is formed from a knitted fiber fabric material. 
     
     
         10 . The casing according to  claim 1 , wherein the drain is an oil drain for facilitating drainage of an oil portion of the mixture of oil and refrigerant from the casing. 
     
     
         11 . A casing for use with a refrigerant compressor comprising:
 a first chamber having an inlet in fluid communication with a source of a mixture of oil and refrigerant;   a second chamber disposed adjacent the first chamber, the second chamber including an oil drain formed therein for facilitating drainage of an oil portion of the mixture of oil and refrigerant from the casing;   a third chamber disposed adjacent the first chamber, the third chamber including an outlet for a refrigerant portion of the mixture of oil and refrigerant; and   a flow guiding device disposed in the first chamber, the flow guiding device including a partition disposed between the first chamber and the third chamber and a funnel portion disposed between the first chamber and the second chamber, wherein the partition creates a substantially fluid tight seal between the first chamber and the third chamber and an annular gap is formed between the funnel portion of the flow guiding device and a casing inner wall.   
     
     
         12 . The casing according to  claim 11 , wherein the oil drain is disposed at a lowest point of the second chamber with respect to gravity. 
     
     
         13 . The casing according to  claim 11 , wherein the flow guiding device includes a hollow interior portion for facilitating a flow of the refrigerant portion of the mixture of oil and refrigerant from the second chamber to the third chamber. 
     
     
         14 . The casing according to  claim 11 , wherein the flow guiding device is disposed coaxial with a longitudinal axis of the casing. 
     
     
         15 . The casing according to  claim 11 , further comprising an oil filter disposed in the second chamber for filtering the oil portion from the mixture of oil and refrigerant. 
     
     
         16 . The casing according to  claim 15 , wherein the oil filter is formed from a knitted fiber fabric material. 
     
     
         17 . A method for oil separation and pressure pulsation attenuation in a casing for a refrigerant compressor, the method comprising the steps of:
 causing a mixture of oil and refrigerant to enter a first chamber formed in the casing;   attenuating a pressure pulsation in the first chamber by a reflection of pressure waves within the first chamber;   causing the mixture of oil and refrigerant to flow into a second chamber;   attenuating the pressure pulsation in the second chamber by a reflection of pressure waves within the second chamber; and   separating an oil portion from a refrigerant portion of the mixture of oil and refrigerant.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein an oil filter disposed in the second chamber separates the oil portion from the mixture of oil and refrigerant. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 17 , further comprising the steps of:
 causing a refrigerant portion of the mixture of oil and refrigerant to flow into a hollow interior of a flow guiding device; and   attenuating the pressure pulsation in the hollow interior of the flow guiding device by a reflection of pressure waves within the hollow interior of the flow guiding device.   
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , further comprising the steps of:
 causing the refrigerant portion of the mixture of oil and refrigerant to flow into a third chamber; and   attenuating the pressure pulsation in the third chamber by a reflection of pressure waves within the third chamber.