Liquid modulator

Abstract

A compression refrigeration system having means to pass the low pressure gas from the evaporator in heat exchange relationship with the high pressure liquid passing from the condenser to the expansion valve. The low pressure gas is passed in heat exchange relationship around the external casing of the receiver/drier, to maintain the receiver/drier at a lower temperature, assist in ensuring that the low pressure gas does not contain any unvaporized liquid, and to cool the high pressure liquid before passage to the expansion valve.

I claim: 
     
       1. A receiver/drier for a compression refrigeration system having a compressor, evaporator, condenser and expansion valve, said receiver/drier having a hollow body, end caps closing said hollow body, one of said end caps having an inlet and outlet for passage of high pressure liquid therethrough from the condenser to the expansion valve, said outlet having an outlet tube extending through said body to terminate at an end adjacent the other of said end cap, said end of said tube being expanded to form an inlet covered by a screen, a bag of desiccant situated in said body adjacent said outlet tube to absorb moisture in said liquid, the opening of said enlarged end being closely spaced from said other end cap to prevent blockage by the desiccant bag, an outer casing surrounding and spaced from said body to form a fluid chamber about said body, an inlet in said one end cap to receive fluid from the evaporator to flow into said fluid chamber, an outlet in said other end cap to deliver fluid to the compressor, whereby high pressure fluid and low pressure gas are in heat exchange relationships through the body of the receiver/drier. 
     
     
       2. A receiver/drier as defined in claim 1, characterised in said body and casing being sealed in grooves in said end caps by clamping bolts bridging said end caps to compress said body and casing against sealing rings in said grooves.  .Iadd. 
     
     
       3.  A receiver/drier for a compression refrigeration system having a compressor, evaporator, condenser and expansion valve, said receiver/drier being adapted to be connected between said condenser and said expansion valve, and comprising   a hollow body,   end caps closing said hollow body,   the upper one of said end caps having an inlet for connection to said condenser to receive liquified refrigerant therefrom, and an outlet for connection to said expansion valve for discharge of liquified refrigerant thereto for expansion and vaporization in said evaporator,   the lower one of said caps comprising a bottom closure without openings,   an outlet tube secured in said outlet and extending through said hollow body with an open end adjacent to said lower closed end cap,   means supporting a dessicant material inside said hollow body in the space around said outlet tube to absorb moisture in the liquid refrigerant passing therethrough,   an outer casing surrounding and sealed to said hollow body in spaced relation thereto to define an annular chamber in heat exchange relation with said hollow body,   an inlet in a wall of said outer casing for connection to the outlet side of said evaporator to receive cold, expanded refrigerant fluid therefrom,   an outlet in a wall of said outer casing for connection to the inlet side of said compressor, whereby hot, high pressure refrigerant liquid and cold, refrigerant gas are conducted in heat exchange relation through said hollow body and said annular chamber, respectively. .Iaddend. .Iadd.   
     
     
       4.  A receiver/drier for a compression refrigeration system as defined in claim 3 in which said end caps are sealed to both said body and said outer casing and form the sealed connection therebetween. .Iaddend. .Iadd.5. A receiver/drier for a compression refrigeration system as defined in claim 3 in which   said dessicant supporting means comprises a pair of screens positioned laterally in longitudinally spaced relation in said hollow body and surrounding said outlet tube, and dessicant being supported therebetween. .Iaddend. .Iadd.6. A receiver/drier for a compression refrigeration system as defined in claim 3 in which   said dessicant supporting means comprises a bag filled with dessicant and wedged between said outlet tube and the wall of said hollow body. .Iaddend. .Iadd.7. A receiver/drier for a compression refrigeration system as defined in claim 3 in which   said end caps are sealed to both said body and said outer casing and form the sealed connection therebetween, and   said dessicant supporting means comprises a pair of screens positioned laterally in longitudinally spaced relation in said hollow body and surrounding said outlet tube, and dessicant being supported therebetween. .Iaddend. .Iadd.8. A receiver/drier for a compression refrigeration system as defined in claim 3 in which   said end caps are sealed to both said body and said outer casing and form the sealed connection therebetween, and   said dessicant supporting means comprises a pair of screens positioned laterally in longitudinally spaced relation in said hollow body and surrounding said outlet tube, and dessicant being supported therebetween.   
     
     
        .Iaddend. .Iadd.9.  A compression refrigeration system comprising a compressor, evaporator, condenser and expansion valve, and a receiver/drier connected between said condenser and said expansion valve, said receiver/drier comprising   a hollow body,   end caps closing said hollow body,   the upper one of said end caps having an inlet connected to said condenser to receive liquified refrigerant therefrom, and an outlet connected to said expansion valve for discharge of liquified refrigerant thereto for expansion and vaporization in said evaporator,   the lower one of said caps comprising a bottom end closure without openings,   an outlet tube secured in said outlet and extending through said hollow body with an open end adjacent to said lower closed end cap,   means supporting a dessicant material inside said hollow body in the space around said outlet tube to absorb moisture in the liquid refrigerant passing therethrough,   an outer casing surrounding and sealed to said hollow body in spaced relation thereto to define an annular chamber in heat exchange relation with said hollow body,   an inlet in a wall of said outer casing connected to the outlet side of said evaporator to receive cold, expanded refrigerant fluid therefrom, and   an outlet in a wall of said outer casing connected to the inlet side of said compressor, whereby hot, high pressure refrigerant liquid and cold, refrigerant gas are conducted in heat exchange relation through said   
     
     
        hollow body and said annular chamber, respectively. .Iaddend. .Iadd.10.  A compression refrigeration system including a receiver/drier as defined in claim 9 in which said end caps are sealed to both said body and said outer casing and form the sealed connection therebetween. .Iaddend. .Iadd.11. A compression refrigeration system including a receiver/drier as defined in claim 9 in which   said dessicant supporting means comprises a pair of screens positioned laterally in longitudinally spaced relation in said hollow body and surrounding said outlet tube, and dessicant being supported therebetween. .Iaddend. .Iadd.12. A compression refrigeration system including a receiver/drier as defined in claim 9 in which   said dessicant supporting means comprises a bag filled with dessicant and wedged between said outlet tube and the wall of said hollow body. .Iaddend. .Iadd.13. A compression refrigeration system including a receiver/drier as defined in claim 9 in which   said end caps are sealed to both said body and said outer casing and form the sealed connection therebetween, and   said dessicant supporting means comprises a pair of screens positioned laterally in longitudinally spaced relation in said hollow body and surrounding said outlet tube, and dessicant being supported therebetween. .Iaddend. .Iadd.14. A compression refrigeration system including a receiver/drier as defined in claim 9 in which   said end caps are sealed to both said body and said outer casing and form the sealed connection therebetween, and   said dessicant supporting means comprises a pair of screens positioned laterally in longitudinally spaced relation in said hollow body and surrounding said outlet tube, and dessicant being supported therebetween. .Iaddend. .Iadd.15. A compression refrigeration system including a receiver/drier as defined in claim 14 in which   said outlet tube has said open end expanded to form an inlet covered by a screen and spaced sufficiently close to said other end cap to prevent blockage by said dessicant bag. .Iaddend. .Iadd.16. A compression refrigeration system including a receiver/drier as defined in claim 15 in which   said end caps each have concentric grooves with sealing rings therein in which the ends of said body and said casing are sealed, and   a plurality of clamping bolts interconnecting said end caps to releasably secure the same in a compressively sealed relation against said sealing rings in said grooves. .Iaddend.