Receiver/drier for a refrigerant fluid circuit equipping a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention concerns a receiver/drier (6) adapted to have pass through it a refrigerant fluid (FR) of a refrigerant fluid (FR) circuit (1) for a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle. The receiver/drier (6) comprises a closed housing (10) provided with a fluid inlet (14) for admission of the refrigerant fluid (FR) to the interior of the housing (10) and with a fluid outlet (15) for evacuation of the refrigerant fluid (FR) from the housing (10). The housing (10) accommodates at least one desiccant (16) and at least one particle filter (17a, 17b, 17c). The receiver/drier (6) is provided with a phase separation device (18) between a liquid phase and a gas phase of the refrigerant fluid (FR) admitted to the interior of the housing (10).

1 . A receiver/drier adapted to have pass through it a refrigerant fluid of a refrigerant fluid circuit for a motor vehicle, the receiver/drier comprising:
 a closed housing provided with a fluid inlet for admission of the refrigerant fluid to an interior of the housing and with a fluid outlet for evacuation of the refrigerant fluid from the housing,   the housing accommodating at least one desiccant and at least one particle filter; and   a phase separation device between a liquid phase and a gas phase of the refrigerant fluid admitted to the interior of the housing.   
     
     
         2 . The receiver/drier according to  claim 1 , in which the phase separation device is arranged as at least one ramp for centrifugal circulation of the refrigerant fluid inside the housing. 
     
     
         3 . The receiver/drier according to  claim 1 , in which the phase separation device is provided in the housing between the fluid inlet and the desiccant. 
     
     
         4 . The receiver/drier according to  claim 2 , in which the phase separation device is configured as at least one helix with multiple turns, each of the turns producing successively along the axis of the helix a ramp for centrifugal circulation of the refrigerant fluid inside the housing. 
     
     
         5 . The receiver/drier according to  claim 4 , in which the axis of the helix is centred on a longitudinal axis along which the housing extends between a first end of the housing provided with the fluid inlet and a bottom of the receiver/drier delimiting a fluid reserve for the storage of a quantity of refrigerant fluid (FR) inside the housing. 
     
     
         6 . The receiver/drier according to  claim 4 , in which the helix is formed by a body attached to the interior of the housing. 
     
     
         7 . The receiver/drier according to  claim 6 , in which the body includes, along the axis of the helix, a drainage channel for the refrigerant fluid in the liquid state leading to the bottom of the receiver/drier. 
     
     
         8 . The receiver/drier according to  claim 4 , in which the helix is produced in the wall of the housing. 
     
     
         9 . The receiver/drier according to  claim 1 , in which at least one cap for closing the housing is provided with the fluid inlet and/or the fluid outlet. 
     
     
         10 . A heat exchanger for a refrigerant fluid circuit, comprising:
 a receiver/drier through which a refrigerant fluid of the refrigerant fluid circuit passes, the receiver/drier comprising:
 a closed housing provided with a fluid inlet for admission of the refrigerant fluid to an interior of the housing and with a fluid outlet for evacuation of the refrigerant fluid from the housing, 
 the housing accommodating at least one desiccant and at least one particle filter; and 
   a phase separation device between a liquid phase and a gas phase of the refrigerant fluid admitted to the interior of the housing.   
     
     
         11 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 10  used as a condenser of a refrigerant fluid (FR) circuit. 
     
     
         12 . A refrigerant fluid circuit of a vehicle, comprising:
 a receiver/drier between a condenser and an expansion member that the refrigerant fluid circuit comprises, the
 receiver/driver comprising:
 a closed housing provided with a fluid inlet for admission of the refrigerant fluid to an interior of the housing and with a fluid outlet for evacuation of the refrigerant fluid from the housing, the housing accommodating at least one desiccant and at least one particle filter; and 
 a phase separation device between a liquid phase and a gas phase of the refrigerant fluid admitted to the interior of the housing.