Automotive Fluid Systems, Inc.

Jerry A Tack

Daniel F Kiblawi

John Dale Fisk

Steven J DeNolf

An accumulator and a method of manufacturing same for use in an air-conditioning system wherein the accumulator is manufactured having a seamless housing and a cartridge that incorporates an inlet passage, an outlet passage and a baffle member into an integral cartridge which is inserted in an open end of the housing during production and secured in place by clips caught by a shoulder formed in the housing. A connector is used to complete the outlet passage of the cartridge of the accumulator. The open end of the housing is spun-closed shut to provide a nearby seamless accumulator. In an alternative embodiment the housing is manufactured to have an open end and a closed end and a disk having inlet and outlet holes is welded or brazed to the open end.

Air-conditioning system accumulator and method of making same

An improved oil filter unit for attachment to a bight portion of a 'J' tube of an accumulator dehydrator includes a rigid, preferably metal pick-up tube or projection. The rigid projection prevents collapse of an extension of a disk held by the oil filter unit during assembly of the oil filter unit to the aperture in the 'J' tube. The rigid projection also includes an extended lower end which extends closer to the bottom of the accumulator to allow less oil to be in the accumulator for lubricating the compressor of the air-conditioning system, thereby realizing a significant cost savings compared to prior art accumulators.

Accumulator oil filter/orifice having an extended tube

An automotive-type air conditioning refrigerant fluid dryer assembly composed of a receiver tank and desiccant cup assembly that are configured to enhance the operation and durability of the refrigerant fluid dryer assembly, as well as facilitate its assembly. The receiver tank is formed to have a unitary construction. The desiccant cup is provided with a number of axially-spaced nib segments disposed adjacent its open end that form detents and a cap that is received in the open end of the cup such that a peripheral edge of the cap engages at least some of the nib segments so as to secure the cap to the cup. During assembly, the cap is pressed downward into the cup until contact is made with the desiccant within and is thereafter secured within the cup by the nib segments. As such, assembly of the cap with the cup involves a simple push-type operation, yet enables the cap to positively confine the desiccant within the cup, such that relative movement of the desiccant within the chamber is restricted. The cup assembly also includes a sealing lip for preventing blowby and assembly problems. As such, the dryer assembly of this invention utilizes a minimal number of components so as to reduce the number of joining operations required, while the desiccant cup assembly has an uncomplicated configuration that readily accommodates variations in fill level of the desiccant.

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Troy, MI, United States of America

Jerry A Tack