Dual purpose refrigerant pressure vessel

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a refrigerant pressure vessel having multiple purposes as both an accumulator and a receiver. When the refrigerant pressure vessel is configured in a first, horizontal orientation, it functions as a receiver. When the refrigerant pressure vessel is configured in a second, vertical orientation, it functions as an accumulator.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dual purpose refrigerant pressure vessel comprising:
 a tubular body extending between a first end cap connected to a first end of the tubular body and a second end cap connected to a second end of the tubular body;   wherein the first end cap includes a first tube connected thereto and extending therethrough and including an internal portion disposed inside the tubular body and an external portion disposed outside the tubular body;   wherein the second end cap includes a second tube connected thereto and extending therethrough and including an internal portion disposed inside the tubular body and an external portion disposed outside the tubular body; and   wherein the internal portion of the first tube includes a distal end disposed adjacent the first end cap and the internal portion of the second tube includes a distal end disposed adjacent the first end cap.   
     
     
         2 . The dual purpose refrigerant pressure vessel of  claim 1 , wherein the internal portion of the second tube extends greater than a majority of a length along a longitudinal axis of the tubular body without contacting the first end cap. 
     
     
         3 . The dual purpose refrigerant pressure vessel of  claim 2 , wherein the internal portion of the first tube extends less than the majority of the length along the longitudinal axis of the tubular body. 
     
     
         4 . The dual purpose refrigerant pressure vessel of  claim 3 , wherein the distal end of the internal portion of the second tube extends along the longitudinal axis of the tubular body beyond the distal end of the internal portion of the first tube. 
     
     
         5 . The dual purpose refrigerant pressure vessel of  claim 4 , wherein the distal end of the internal portion of the second tube and the distal end of the internal portion of the first tube each comprise an angled configuration with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tubular body. 
     
     
         6 . The dual purpose refrigerant pressure vessel of  claim 1 , further comprising a mounting flange extending from the tubular body. 
     
     
         7 . The dual purpose refrigerant pressure vessel of  claim 6 , wherein, when the longitudinal axis of the tubular body is disposed in a vertical orientation the first end cap is disposed above the second end cap and a center of the first end cap and a center of the second end cap are aligned along the vertically disposed longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         8 . The dual purpose refrigerant pressure vessel of  claim 6 , wherein the tubular body is disposed in a horizontal orientation, the first end cap is disposed across from the second end cap and a center of the first end cap and a center of the second end cap are aligned along the horizontally disposed longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         9 . The dual purpose refrigerant pressure vessel of  claim 1 , wherein the internal portion of the second tube includes a passageway that extends through the second tube. 
     
     
         10 . The dual purpose refrigerant pressure vessel of  claim 9 , wherein the passageway is disposed adjacent the second end cap. 
     
     
         11 . A refrigerant pressure vessel comprising:
 a first end, a second end, and a perimeter wall extending therebetween,   a cavity defined within the first end, second end, and perimeter wall,   a first tube extending through the first end and into the cavity of the vessel,   a second tube extending through the second end and into the cavity of the vessel,   wherein, a portion of the second tube disposed within the cavity of the vessel has a length that is greater than a majority of a length of the perimeter wall along a longitudinal axis of the perimeter wall and has a distal free end that is disposed adjacent to without contacting the first end cap and is contiguous with a portion of the first tube within the cavity of the vessel.   
     
     
         12 . The refrigerant pressure vessel of  claim 11 , wherein the portion of the second tube disposed within the cavity extends greater than three quarters of the length between the second end and first end of the perimeter wall along the longitudinal axis of the perimeter wall. 
     
     
         13 . The refrigerant pressure vessel of  claim 12 , wherein the portion of the first tube disposed within the cavity extends the length between the first end and the distal free end of the second tube. 
     
     
         14 . The refrigerant pressure vessel of  claim 13 , wherein the portions of the first and second tubes disposed within the cavity have distal free ends with angled cuts facing opposing sides of the perimeter wall, the angled cuts being between 30 and 60 degrees. 
     
     
         15 . The refrigerant pressure vessel of  claim 11 , further comprising a passageway extending through an outer surface of the second tube, the passageway disposed adjacent to the second end of the refrigerant pressure vessel. 
     
     
         16 . The refrigerant pressure vessel of  claim 11 , wherein the refrigerant pressure vessel is integrally formed from a single piece of material. 
     
     
         17 . The refrigerant pressure vessel of  claim 11 , wherein the refrigerant pressure vessel is formed from a mixture of metals. 
     
     
         18 . The refrigerant pressure vessel of  claim 11 , wherein the refrigerant pressure vessel is formed from a hard plastic. 
     
     
         19 . The refrigerant pressure vessel of  claim 11 , further comprising a mounting surface. 
     
     
         20 . The refrigerant pressure vessel of  claim 19 , wherein the mounting surface is integrally formed with the perimeter wall.