Oil separator for air conditioner

Abstract

An oil separator for an air conditioner includes a cylindrical housing; a refrigerant discharge pipe communicating with the housing for discharging refrigerant gas; an oil discharge pipe for circulating oil collected in the lower portion of the housing; and a refrigerant inflow pipe having one end facing the inner surface of a side wall of the housing in the tangential direction for supplying a refrigerant-oil mixture to the inside of the housing. An insertion hole, into which the refrigerant inflow pipe is inserted, is easily formed, the efficiency of the oil separator is increased, and noise and vibration generated from the oil separator is reduced.

1 . An oil separator for an air conditioner comprising: 
 a cylindrical housing;    a refrigerant inflow pipe for supplying a refrigerant-oil mixture to the inside of the housing;    a refrigerant discharge pipe for discharging refrigerant separated from the mixture to the outside of the oil separator; and    an oil discharge pipe for returning oil separated from the mixture to a compressor,    wherein one end of the refrigerant inflow pipe faces the inner surface of a side wall of the housing in the tangential direction.    
   
   
       2 . The oil separator as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the refrigerant inflow pipe is bent in a gentle curve at a portion thereof which is inserted into the housing.  
   
   
       3 . The oil separator as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the refrigerant inflow pipe is bent again in the reverse direction to the bent portion so that the refrigerant inflow pipe has an approximately “S” shape.  
   
   
       4 . The oil separator as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the refrigerant inflow pipe is inserted into a through hole, formed through the side wall of the housing, at a designated angle.  
   
   
       5 . The oil separator as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the refrigerant inflow pipe is inserted perpendicularly into a through hole formed through the side wall of the housing.  
   
   
       6 . The oil separator as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the refrigerant inflow pipe passes through the side wall of the housing and is divided into a plurality of branched pipes, and ends of the branched pipes are bent in the tangential direction towards the side wall.  
   
   
       7 . The oil separator as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the refrigerant inflow pipe is located at a position having a height corresponding to 70˜85% of the height of the housing.  
   
   
       8 . The oil separator as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the end of the refrigerant inflow pipe facing the inner surface of the side wall of the housing in the tangential direction is cut at a designated angle.  
   
   
       9 . The oil separator as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein a long side of the cut section of the end of the refrigerant inflow pipe contacts the inner surface of the side wall of the housing, and is fixed to the side wall.  
   
   
       10 . An oil separator for an air conditioner comprising: 
 a cylindrical housing;    a refrigerant inflow pipe for supplying a refrigerant-oil mixture to the inside of the housing;    a refrigerant discharge pipe for discharging refrigerant separated from the mixture to the outside of the oil separator; and    an oil discharge pipe for returning oil separated from the mixture to a compressor,    wherein the housing has a conical shape so that the housing is broadened from the upper portion thereof to the lower portion thereof.    
   
   
       11 . The oil separator as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein the side wall of the housing meets the vertical line at an angle of 30° or less.  
   
   
       12 . The oil separator as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein the refrigerant inflow pipe is located at a position having a height corresponding to 70˜85% of the height of the housing.  
   
   
       13 . An oil separator for an air conditioner comprising: 
 a cylindrical housing;    a refrigerant inflow pipe for supplying a refrigerant-oil mixture to the inside of the housing;    a refrigerant discharge pipe for discharging refrigerant separated from the mixture to the outside of the oil separator; and    an oil discharge pipe for returning oil separated from the mixture to a compressor,    wherein a plurality of fine pipes having a designated length are formed at one end of the refrigerant discharge pipe located in the housing and serve as a muffler for reducing noise in the housing.    
   
   
       14 . The oil separator as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein the fine pipes are formed by pressing a gas discharge pipe.  
   
   
       15 . The oil separator as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the designated angle is larger than 25° and smaller than 90°.