Integrated parallel flow condenser receiver assembly

Abstract

Ease of service is provided in an integrated condenser (,) and receiver (,) including two nonhorizontal headers (,), a plurality of tubes (,) extending between the headers (,) to establish a plurality of hydraulically parallel flow pads between the headers (,); at least one partition (,) in each of the headers for causing refrigerant to make at least two passes, including an upstream pass and a downstream pass, through the condenser (,); and an elongated receiver (,) mounted on one of the headers (,). The elongated receiver (,) includes an interior chamber (,), an upper inlet (,) connected to a downstream side of the upstream pass for the flow of refrigerant form the upstream pass to the interior chamber (,), a lower liquid outlet (,) connected to an upstream side of the downstream pass for the flow of liquid refrigerant from the interior chamber (,) to the downstream pass, and a port (,) to allow access to interior chamber (,) for servicing the receiver (,). The port (,) includes a first nominally cylindrical interior surface (,), a second nominally cylindrical interior surface (,) spaced axially and radially outward from the first cylindrical interior surface (,), and a radially inwardly facing annular groove (,) in the second cylindrical surface (,). A plug (,) is provided and includes a nominally cylindrical exterior surface (,) and a radially outwardly facing annular groove (,) in the exterior surface mounting an annular seal (,). The plug (,) is removably received in the port (,) with the seal (,) mating with the first cylindrical surface (,) of the port (,). A retaining ring (,) is removably received in the annular groove (,) of the port (,) to releaseably retain the plug (,) in1 the port (,).