Filter/separator for a vehicle air conditioning system

Claim 1

A filter/separator for a vehicle air conditioning system comprising a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, an evaporator, a blower for feeding fresh air, and piping for connecting said filter/separator, said compressor, said condenser, said expansion valve, and said evaporator and for receiving coolant, said filter/separator comprising: an outer container and an inner container, a first chamber being defined between said outer and inner containers, a second chamber being defined by said inner container, said first chamber being filled with said coolant; an inlet being formed in a wall of said outer container and communicating said condenser with said first chamber, a first tube extending in and through a wall of said inner container with a first end thereof located in said first chamber and a second end thereof communicating with said expansion valve, a filtering means being provided in said first chamber between said inlet and said first end of said first tube for filtering water and other undesired articles carried by said coolant; a second tube having a first end communicating with said evaporator and a second end in said second chamber, a substantially hook-like separation tube being provided in the inner container with a first end thereof in a lower portion of said second chamber and a second end thereof communicating with said compressor, an aperture being formed on a lowermost portion of said separation tube through which liquid gas is passable to said second chamber.