Sealed system for an appliance

Abstract

A sealed system for an appliance is provided. The sealed system includes a capillary tube for directing refrigerant from a condenser of the sealed system to an evaporator of the sealed system. A suction side conduit assembly is mounted to the capillary tube. The suction side conduit assembly includes multiple conduits or passages for directing refrigerant from the evaporator to a compressor of the sealed system. The suction side conduit assembly can assist with transferring heat from the refrigerant within the capillary tube without substantially reducing a pressure of the refrigerant within the suction side conduit assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sealed system for an appliance, comprising:
 a compressor configured for increasing a pressure of a refrigerant;   a condenser connected in series to the compressor such that the condenser receives the refrigerant from the compressor, the condenser configured for transferring heat from the refrigerant;   a capillary tube;   an evaporator configured for transferring heat to the refrigerant, the capillary tube extending between and fluidly connecting the condenser and the evaporator such that the capillary tube directs the refrigerant from the condenser to the evaporator; and   a suction side conduit assembly extending between and fluidly connecting the evaporator and the compressor such that the suction side conduit assembly directs the refrigerant from the evaporator to the compressor, the suction side conduit assembly comprising
 a first conduit mounted to the capillary tube, the first conduit configured for directing refrigerant therethrough; and 
 a second conduit mounted to the capillary tube, the second conduit configured for directing refrigerant therethrough. 
   
     
     
         2 . The sealed system of  claim 1 , wherein the capillary tube has a substantially circular cross-section in a plane that is perpendicular to an axial direction of the capillary tube. 
     
     
         3 . The sealed system of  claim 2 , wherein the substantially circular cross-section of the capillary tube has an outer diameter, the outer diameter of the substantially circular cross-section being less than about one eighth of an inch and greater than about one fourteenth of an inch. 
     
     
         4 . The sealed system of  claim 1 , wherein the second conduit is spaced apart from the first conduit on the capillary tube. 
     
     
         5 . The sealed system of  claim 1 , wherein the suction side conduit assembly further comprises a shrink-wrap tube encompassing the capillary tube, the first conduit and the second conduit in order to mount the first and second conduits to the capillary tube. 
     
     
         6 . The sealed system of  claim 1 , wherein the first conduit and the second conduit are brazed to the capillary tube in order to mount the first and second conduits to the capillary tube. 
     
     
         7 . The sealed system of  claim 1 , wherein the capillary tube, the first conduit and the second conduit comprise copper tubing. 
     
     
         8 . The sealed system of  claim 1 , wherein the suction side conduit assembly further comprises a third conduit mounted to the capillary tube, the third conduit configured for directing refrigerant therethrough. 
     
     
         9 . A sealed system for an appliance, comprising:
 a compressor configured for increasing a pressure of a refrigerant;   a condenser connected in series to the compressor such that the condenser receives the refrigerant from the compressor, the condenser configured for transferring heat from the refrigerant;   a capillary tube;   an evaporator configured for transferring heat to the refrigerant, the capillary tube extending between and fluidly connecting the condenser and the evaporator such that the capillary tube directs the refrigerant from the condenser to the evaporator; and   a suction side conduit assembly extending between and fluidly connecting the evaporator and the compressor such that the suction side conduit assembly directs the refrigerant from the evaporator to the compressor, the suction side conduit assembly comprising
 a main body defining a plurality of passages, each passage of the plurality of passages configured for directing refrigerant therethrough; and 
 a clip mounted to an outer surface of the main body, the clip defining a channel, the capillary tube disposed in the channel of the clip such that the clip mounts the capillary tube to the main body. 
   
     
     
         10 . The sealed system of  claim 9 , wherein the capillary tube has a substantially circular cross-section in a plane that is perpendicular to an axial direction of the capillary tube. 
     
     
         11 . The sealed system of  claim 10 , wherein the substantially circular cross-section of the capillary tube has an outer diameter, the outer diameter of the substantially circular cross-section being less than about one eighth of an inch and greater than about one fourteenth of an inch. 
     
     
         12 . The sealed system of  claim 9 , wherein the main body and the clip are extruded from a material such that the clip is integral with the main body. 
     
     
         13 . The sealed system of  claim 12 , wherein the main body and the clip comprise extruded aluminum and the capillary tube comprises copper tubing. 
     
     
         14 . The sealed system of  claim 9 , wherein the clip comprises a first wing and a second wing, the first and second wings extending away from the outer surface of the main body, the first and second wings defining the channel of the clip therebetween, the capillary tube disposed between the first and second wings. 
     
     
         15 . The sealed system of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of passages comprises at least five passages. 
     
     
         16 . The sealed system of  claim 9 , wherein at least one passage of the plurality of passages has a substantially rounded rectangular cross-section in a plane that is perpendicular to an axial direction of the main body. 
     
     
         17 . The sealed system of  claim 9 , wherein the main body extends linearly between a first portion and a second portion, the main body defining a length between about the first portion of the main body and the second portion of the main body, the length of the main body being less than about six feet and greater than about six inches. 
     
     
         18 . A sealed system for an appliance, comprising:
 a compressor configured for increasing a pressure of a refrigerant;   a condenser connected in series to the compressor such that the condenser receives the refrigerant from the compressor, the condenser configured for transferring heat from the refrigerant;   a capillary tube;   an evaporator configured for transferring heat to the refrigerant, the capillary tube extending between and fluidly connecting the condenser and the evaporator such that the capillary tube directs the refrigerant from the condenser to the evaporator; and   means for directing the refrigerant from the evaporator to the compressor without substantially reducing a pressure of the refrigerant and for transferring heat from the refrigerant within the capillary tube.