US3884663A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Refrigerator system with refrigerant expansion through capillary tubes of adjustable length
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-05-06
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Granted: 1975-05-20
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Expires: 1994-05-06
Abstract
Abstract A refrigerant system with mechanical compression and refrigeration cycle wherein the refrigerant is expanded through a set of capillary tubes of which the length is adjustable in response to a temperature transducer located within the evaporator section of the system. The means for regulating the capillary tubes length comprises a threaded cylinder slidably received within a tube, the trough of the screw thread functioning as a capillary tube. The system further comprises a trap means for capturing any liquid refrigerant escaping through the capillary tubes when the compressor is not running and for circulating the captured liquid refrigerant when the compressor is re-started.
Inventors
- 👤 Ettore Funaro
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 01:38
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25B; F25B1/00; F25B41/00; F25B41/30; F25B41/385
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
268 words
A refrigerator system with mechanical compression and refrigeration cycle comprising a compressor, a condenser connected to a discharge line, an evaporator connected to the suction line to compressor and a set of capillary expansion tubes in parallel to one the other between said condenser and said evaporator, which system further comprises a receiver tank connected to the outlet of condenser which receiver is provided with an outlet pipe of which the open end terminates at nearly the bottom of the receiver and which passes through the top thereof to communicate with a regulating device comprising at least a capillary tube of which the length is adjusted to fit the temperature changes of said evaporator the outlet of said regulating device being connected to one end of said set of capillary tubes of which the other end communicates with a vertical manifold; a siphon being provided At the lower end of said manifold; a collector tank being connected to said siphon at the lowermost point thereof through a check valve and through a capillary tube of which one end terminates at nearly the bottom of said tank and at the other end communicates with said siphon at a point higher than said lowermost point and located between the latter and the condenser; said system being further provided with a first solenoid controlled valve located between said regulating device and said set of fixed capillary tubes which valves is open when the compressor is running and with a second solenoid controlled valve located between said check valve and said siphon which valve is open when the compressor is not running.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
268 words
A refrigerator system with mechanical compression and refrigeration cycle comprising a compressor, a condenser connected to a discharge line, an evaporator connected to the suction line to compressor and a set of capillary expansion tubes in parallel to one the other between said condenser and said evaporator, which system further comprises a receiver tank connected to the outlet of condenser which receiver is provided with an outlet pipe of which the open end terminates at nearly the bottom of the receiver and which passes through the top thereof to communicate with a regulating device comprising at least a capillary tube of which the length is adjusted to fit the temperature changes of said evaporator the outlet of said regulating device being connected to one end of said set of capillary tubes of which the other end communicates with a vertical manifold; a siphon being provided At the lower end of said manifold; a collector tank being connected to said siphon at the lowermost point thereof through a check valve and through a capillary tube of which one end terminates at nearly the bottom of said tank and at the other end communicates with said siphon at a point higher than said lowermost point and located between the latter and the condenser; said system being further provided with a first solenoid controlled valve located between said regulating device and said set of fixed capillary tubes which valves is open when the compressor is running and with a second solenoid controlled valve located between said check valve and said siphon which valve is open when the compressor is not running.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
186 words
A refrigerator system according to claim 1, wherein said regulating device comprises a solid cylinder of which two opposed end portions separate by a central portion of smaller diameter are threaded; which cylinder is slidably received with precision fitting into a tube of substantially the same length, said tube being provided with two peripheral rows of through holes which communicate with the space between the central section of smaller diameter of said cylinder when the latter is longitudinally centered with respect to said tube, the center section of said tube being enclosed within a cylindrical sleeve which extends at both ends beyond said rows of holes and which defines a fluid tight space around said tube which space communicates with said set of capillary tubes; said tube being closed at one end by a chamber defining cap the other end of said cylinder being open to the inner space of a housing wherein an electromechanism is contained for moving said cylinder in response to changes of the condenser temperature, said chamber and said inner space being both connected to said outlet pipe from the receiver tank.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
145 words
A refrigerator system according to claim 2 wherein said electromechanism for moving said cylinder comprises a motor of which the shaft has a threaded extension which engages a threaded bore through a transverse arm of which one end is firmly attached to an extension of said cylinder and the other end is firmly attached to the slider of a potentiometer, the resistance of the latter being included in a Wheatstone bridge as one of the two resistances of a branch thereof while the corresponding resistance of the other branch of the bridge comprises a sensing element of the condenser temperature and the remaining resistances of the bridge are resistances of fixed value, the output of the bridge being connected to a pair of relays adapted for starting the compressor motor in either direction in accordance with the direction of the output current from the bridge.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
A refrigerator system according to claim 3 wherein said temperature sensing element has a negative coefficient of resistance that is its resistance decreases when the temperature increases.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-05-19 | 1978-11-18 | 1979-05-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-19 | 1982-11-18 | 1983-05-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-19 | 1986-11-18 | 1987-05-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |