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:
Dec. 07, 1999
Filed:
Aug. 04, 1997
Masao Kurachi, Ikoma-gun, JP;
Takashi Kaneko, Yamatotakada, JP;
Michiyoshi Kusaka, Osaka, JP;
Kazuo Nakatani, Kadoma, JP;
Masushita Refrigeration Company, Higashiosaka, JP;
Abstract
An air conditioning equipment is provided with an oil level equalizing system, which includes a plurality of low-pressure shell-type compressors communicating with a suction line through a plurality of branch portions, a plurality of connecting lines each communicating with a corresponding compressor shell at a location adjacent to a normal oil level in the shell, and an oil level equalizing line communicating with the plurality of connecting lines. The oil level equalizing system also includes a communication line, through which the suction line communicates with the oil level equalizing line at a location upstream of the plurality of branch portions with respect to a direction of flow of a refrigerant. This arrangement functions to increase the pressure within the oil level equalizing line to a value higher than that within the shell of each compressor. A gas/liquid separator for separating a gas refrigerant and a liquid refrigerant or an oil/gas separator for separating oil from the gas refrigerant may be provided in the suction line upstream of the plurality of branch portions. Alternatively, an accumulator may be provided.