Compressor oil recovering apparatus and multi-unit air conditioner equiped with the same

Abstract

A multi-unit air conditioner is disclosed. The multi-unit air conditioner includes an outdoor unit comprising at least two compressors, a plurality of indoor units connected to the outdoor unit, a plurality of oil separators each connected to an associated one of the compressors to separate oil from a refrigerant discharged from the associated compressor, an oil storage for storing the oil separated from each oil separator, a plurality of oil supplying tubes each having one end connected to the oil storage, and the other end connected to an associated one of the compressors to supply the oil stored in the oil storage to the associated compressor, and adjusters each arranged at an associated one of the oil supplying tubes to adjust an amount of oil supplied from the oil storage to an associated one of the compressors in accordance with an oil storage state of the associated compressor.

1 . A compressor oil recovering apparatus comprising: 
 a plurality of oil separators respectively connected to a plurality of compressors, each of the oil separators separating oil from a refrigerant discharged from an associated one of the compressors;    an oil storage for storing the oil separated from each of the oil separators; and    a plurality of oil supplying tubes each having one end connected to the oil storage, and the other end connected to an associated one of the compressors, each of the oil supplying tubes supplying the oil stored in the oil storage to the associated compressor.    
   
   
       2 . The compressor oil recovering apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 adjusters each arranged at an associated one of the oil supplying tubes, and adapted to adjust an amount of oil supplied from the oil storage to an associated one of the compressors in accordance with an oil storage state of the associated compressor.    
   
   
       3 . The compressor oil recovering apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein each of the adjusters comprises: 
 a float arranged in an associated one of the compressors, and adapted to sense a level of oil stored in the associated compressor; and    a float valve for controlling supply or cut-off of the oil supplied to the associated compressor, and an amount of the supplied oil, based on the sensed oil level.    
   
   
       4 . The compressor oil recovering apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the float valve is arranged at a position where an associated one of the oil supplying tubes is connected to the associated compressor.  
   
   
       5 . The compressor oil recovering apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein each of the adjusters comprises: 
 an oil sensor adapted to sense an amount of oil stored in an associated one of the compressors; and    a solenoid valve adapted to control supply or cut-off of the oil supplied to the associated compressor, and an amount of the supplied oil, based on the sensed oil amount.    
   
   
       6 . The compressor oil recovering apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the oil sensor is arranged in the associated compressor.  
   
   
       7 . The compressor oil recovering apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the solenoid valve is arranged at a position where an associated one of the oil supplying tubes is connected with the associated compressor.  
   
   
       8 . The compressor oil recovering apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 strainers respectively arranged at the oil supplying tubes, and adapted to filter the oil supplied to the compressors to remove foreign matter contained in the oil.    
   
   
       9 . The compressor oil recovering apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the oil storage is connected with the oil separators by a plurality of oil recovering tubes, respectively.  
   
   
       10 . The compressor oil recovering apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein at least one of the compressors comprises a variable-capacity compressor.  
   
   
       11 . A multi-unit air conditioner comprising: 
 an outdoor unit comprising a plurality of compressors, and an outdoor heat exchanger;    a plurality of indoor units connected to the outdoor unit, each of the indoor units comprising an indoor heat exchanger;    a plurality of oil separators respectively connected to the compressors, each of the oil separators separating oil from a refrigerant discharged from an associated one of the compressors;    an oil storage for storing the oil separated from each of the oil separators; and    a plurality of oil supplying tubes each having one end connected to the oil storage, and the other end connected to an associated one of the compressors, each of the oil supplying tubes supplying the oil stored in the oil storage to the associated compressor.    
   
   
       12 . The multi-unit air conditioner according to  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 an outdoor fan arranged in the outdoor unit, and adapted to suck outdoor air into the outdoor unit, and then to discharge the air from the outdoor unit to the atmosphere; and    indoor fans each arranged in an associated one of the indoor units, and adapted to suck air from a confined space into the associated indoor unit, and then to discharge the air from the associated indoor unit to the confined space.    
   
   
       13 . The multi-unit air conditioner according to  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 adjusters each arranged at an associated one of the oil supplying tubes, and adapted to adjust an amount of oil supplied from the oil storage to an associated one of the compressors in accordance with an oil storage state of the associated compressor.    
   
   
       14 . The multi-unit air conditioner according to  claim 13 , wherein each of the adjusters comprises: 
 a float arranged in an associated one of the compressors, and adapted to sense a level of oil stored in the associated compressor; and    a float valve for controlling supply or cut-off of the oil supplied to the associated compressor, and an amount of the supplied oil, based on the sensed oil level.    
   
   
       15 . The multi-unit air conditioner according to  claim 14 , wherein the float valve is arranged at a position where an associated one of the oil supplying tubes is connected with the associated compressor.  
   
   
       16 . The multi-unit air conditioner according to  claim 13 , wherein each of the adjusters comprises: 
 an oil sensor adapted to sense an amount of oil stored in an associated one of the compressors; and    a solenoid valve adapted to control supply or cut-off of the oil supplied to the associated compressor, and an amount of the supplied oil, based on the sensed oil amount.    
   
   
       17 . The multi-unit air conditioner according to  claim 16 , wherein the oil sensor is arranged in the associated compressor.  
   
   
       18 . The multi-unit air conditioner according to  claim 16 , wherein the solenoid valve is arranged at a position where an associated one of the oil supplying tubes is connected with the associated compressor.  
   
   
       19 . The multi-unit air conditioner according to  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 strainers respectively arranged at the oil supplying tubes, and adapted to filter the oil supplied to the compressors to remove foreign matter contained in the oil.    
   
   
       20 . The multi-unit air conditioner according to  claim 11 , wherein the oil storage comprises a storing container in which a single storing chamber is defined.  
   
   
       21 . The multi-unit air conditioner according to  claim 11 , wherein the oil storage is connected with the oil separators by a plurality of oil recovering tubes, respectively.  
   
   
       22 . The multi-unit air conditioner according to  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the compressors comprises a variable-capacity compressor.