Condenser cartridge, in particular for an air-conditioning unit for vehicles

Abstract

 A condenser cartridge, in particular of an air-conditioning unit for vehicles, which can be inserted axially in an end of a cylindrical collector tube (11), comprises a cylindrical cap (12), suitable for making the seal inside the collector tube (11), and a casing (13) for a drying means that carries a filtering element (15) at one end, in which the cap (12) and the casing (13) are coupled through a ball-and-socket joint (16).

Description

[0001] The present invention refers to a condenser cartridge, in particular of an air-conditioning unit for vehicles.

[0002] An air-conditioning unit for vehicles comprises, amongst other things, a condenser, a drying means for removing particles of water from the cooling liquid and a filtering element for holding impurities that may be present in the cooling liquid.

[0003] It is know commonplace to integrate the drying means and the filtering element directly inside a collector tube of the condenser.

[0004] The so-called condenser equipped with integrated dehydrating filter therefore has the task of removing water particles from the cooling liquid, filtering impurities that may be present in the cooling liquid and acting as an accumulator for a certain amount of liquid. The drying means, which must be replaced after a certain period of operation of the air-conditioning unit, can be contained in a rigid casing or else in a permeable bag.

[0005] The collector tube is therefore provided at one of its cylindrical ends with a removable cap, which makes a hermetic seal during the operation of the unit and allows access to the internal components for maintenance.

[0006] The cylindrical caps are therefore, for example, generally equipped with at least one seat for the insertion of a rubber sealing ring, or O-ring, which makes the seal against the inside of the wall of the collector tube.

[0007] Moreover, it is known to arrange an elastic safety element to keep the cap stably in position in the cylindrical tube during the operation of the condenser. The elastic safety element, for example consisting of a Seeger ring, is positioned on the top of the cap itself in engagement against the inner wall of the collector tube.

[0008] The removable caps for collector tubes can either be separate from the casing containing the drying means or possibly joined to it through a spacer shaft, rigidly connected, or else made integrally, with the cap and coupled with the cartridge.

[0009] Cartridges made in such a way occupy the entire height of the collector tube and are positioned in axis with respect to it on the bottom, at the cap and at a separator ring that divides the inlet portion of the fluid into the collector tube from the outlet portion.

[0010] Such cartridges do not carry out an optimal positioning between the cartridge and the collector tube. Indeed, both of the components must currently be produced with a high precision of dimensions to make a correct seal of the intermediate ring on the inner wall of the collector tube, an indispensable condition for the correct operation of the air-conditioning unit.

[0011] Moreover, the described cartridges with integrated cap, which occupy the entire height of the tube, significantly reduce the useful volume for the cooling fluid.

[0012] In addition, known cartridges require a spacer shaft that shall be of greater length the smaller the size of the casing containing the drying means. Long spacer shafts represent a waste of material, a reduction of the useful volume for the cooling fluid and increase the aforementioned problems of positioning of the cartridge inside the collector tube.

[0013] The purpose of the present invention is that of making a condenser cartridge, in particular of an air-conditioning unit for vehicles that overcomes the quoted drawbacks.

[0014] Another purpose of the present invention is that of making a cartridge that improves the performance of the unit.

[0015] Another purpose of the present invention is that of making a cartridge that is particularly simple and functional, with low production and assembly costs.

[0016] These purpose according to the present invention are accomplished by making a condenser cartridge, in particular of an air-conditioning unit for vehicles as outlined in claim 1.

[0017] Further characteristics of a cartridge are object of the dependent claims.

[0018] The characteristics and advantages of a condenser cartridge, in particular of an air-conditioning unit for vehicles according to the present invention shall become clearer from the following description, given as an example and not limiting purposes, referring to the attached schematic drawings in which:

figure 1 is a top side view of the cartridge according to the present invention mounted inside a collector tube shown in section;

figures 2 and 3 show an enlarged and partially sectioned detail of the cartridge of figure 1;

figure 4 shows a further cartridge according to the present invention provided with a permeable bag containing the drying means.

[0019] With reference to the figures, a condenser cartridge, in particular of an air-conditioning unit for vehicles is shown, wholly indicated with 10.

[0020] In figures 1 and 4 the cartridge 10 is shown inserted axially in an end of a cylindrical collector tube 11, stably coupled through suitable known supports with an end of a condenser, not shown.

[0021] The cartridge 10, shown in figure 1, comprises a cylindrical cap 12, which makes the seal inside the collector tube 11, and a casing 13 that contains a drying means.

[0022] According to what is known, the casing 13 can comprise a rigid containment element provided with a portion equipped with a plurality of holes, or openings 14 for the passage of the cooling fluid through the drying means, as shown in figure 1, or else it can comprise a bag that is permeable to the cooling fluid applied to the filtering element 15 according to that which is depicted in figure 4.

[0023] The casing 13 also carries, at one of its ends, a filtering element 15 that holds possible impurities contained in the cooling liquid.

[0024] In the cartridge 10, according to the present invention, the cap 12 and the casing 13 are coupled through a ball-and-socket joint 16.

[0025] The ball-and-socket joint 16, in the example shown in the figures, comprises a first portion 17, or spherical element, made integrally at one end of the casing 13 and a second portion 18, or matching socket, made integrally on the inner surface of the cap 12.

[0026] The ball-and-socket joint 16, and in particular the spherical element 17, is made on the casing 13 close to the end carrying the filtering element 15.

[0027] Between the filtering element 15 and the portion of casing 13 provided with openings 14, as well as the permeable bag, a perimetric 0-ring 23 is arranged that, in the example shown, is formed integrally on the outer wall of the casing 13, but which could also be made integral with the collector tube 11.

[0028] According to what is shown in figure 1, the cartridge 10 according to the present invention is inserted from the bottom towards the top in the lower end of the collector tube 11. An elastic safety ring 21 is arranged in contact with the outer surface of the cap and in engagement against the inner wall of the collector tube 11 to ensure the seal of the cap 12 in operating conditions.

[0029] The cap 12, which makes a seal against the inner wall of the tube 11, supports the casing 13 of the cartridge 10 arranged with the filtering element 15 in the lower part of the tube 11.

[0030] Moreover, with the cartridge 10 mounted, the separator ring 23 is also positioned making a seal against the inner wall of the tube 11 and divides the collector tube in a watertight manner into two separate chambers.

[0031] Indeed, the cooling fluid coming from the condenser enters through the upper inlet opening 19 into an upper chamber in which the portion of casing 13 provided with openings 14 is immersed. Then the fluid, through the openings 14, reaches the inside of the casing 13 where it meets the drying means contained. The fluid then goes out from the lower part of the casing 13 through the filtering element 15 and fills the lower chamber of the collector tube 11, from which it comes out through a lower outlet opening 20.

[0032] As exemplified in figure 1, projecting centring elements 22 can also be foreseen on the casing 13 of the cartridge 10, to guide the positioning of the cartridge 10 itself in the collector tube 11.

[0033] The condenser cartridge, in particular of an air-conditioning unit for vehicles object of the present invention has the advantage, when mounted in the tube, of adapting to it even in the presence of possible size imperfections ensuring a better seal of the separator ring.

[0034] The cartridge object of the present invention is advantageously used in condenser tubes open at the lower end, in which the filtering part must be arranged close to the lower part of the tube.

[0035] Moreover, the cartridge according to the present invention can advantageously be made in small sizes.

Claims

1. Condenser cartridge, in particular of an air-conditioning unit for vehicles, which can be inserted axially in an end of a cylindrical collector tube (11), comprising a cylindrical cap (12), suitable for making the seal inside said collector tube (11), and a casing (13) for a drying means that carries a filtering element (15) at one end, characterized in that said cap (12) and said casing (13) are coupled through a ball-and-socket joint (16).

2. Cartridge according to claim 1, characterised in that said ball-and-socket joint (16) comprises a first portion (17), or spherical element, made integrally at one end of said casing (13) and a second portion (18), or matching socket, made integrally on the inner surface of said cap (12).

3. Cartridge according to claim 1, characterised in that said ball-and-socket joint (16) is made on said casing (13) close to said end carrying the filtering element (15).

4. Cartridge according to claim 1, characterised in that said casing (13) comprises a rigid containment element integral with said filtering element (15) provided with a plurality of holes or openings (14).

5. Cartridge according to claim 4, characterised in that a portion of said casing (13) provided with openings (14) is separated with respect to said filtering element (15) by a perimetric ring (23).

6. Cartridge according to claim 1, characterised in that said casing (13) comprises a bag that is permeable to the cooling fluid connected to said filtering element (15).

7. Cartridge according to claim 6, characterised in that said permeable bag is separated with respect to said filtering element (15) by a perimetric ring (23).

8. Cartridge according to claims 5 or 7, characterised in that said perimetric ring (23) is formed integrally on the outer wall of said casing (13).

9. Cartridge according to claim 1, characterised in that said casing (13) carries a plurality of projecting centring elements (22) on an outer part.

Drawing