The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 16, 1995
Filed:
Mar. 21, 1994
William L Waldschmidt, Farmington, MN (US);
William P Maxwell, Burnsville, MN (US);
Bruce E McClellan, Richfield, MN (US);
Thermo King Corporation, Minneapolis, MN (US);
Abstract
A refrigerant receiver tank assembly having a refrigerant inlet flow path for receiving refrigerant from a condenser coil and a refrigerant outlet flow path for supplying refrigerant to an evaporator coil. The receiver tank assembly includes a tank and a manifold which define a closed space for holding a supply level of liquid refrigerant. The refrigerant inlet flow path includes an outlet opening in the closed space, and an inlet opening. The manifold defines the refrigerant outlet flow path, with the refrigerant outlet flow path having an inlet opening in the closed space, and first and second outlet openings. A pick-up tube is disposed in the closed space having a first end connected to the inlet opening of the refrigerant outlet flow path and a second end disposed below the level of liquid refrigerant in the closed space. A controllable valve is mounted on the manifold which selectively controls flow of refrigerant to a predetermined outlet opening of the refrigerant outlet flow path. In a preferred embodiment, an additional tubular member is disposed in the closed space having a first end connected to the refrigerant inlet flow path and a second end disposed above the liquid level the refrigerant. The second end of the pickup tube and the second end of the additional tube are respectively disposed below and above the level of liquid refrigerant in predetermined horizontal and vertical orientations of the receiver tank assembly.