Combined Device Comprising An Internal Heat Exchanger And An Accumulator That Make Up An Air-Conditioning Loop

Abstract

The invention relates to a combined device ( 12 ) comprising a casing ( 17 ) accommodating at least an internal heat exchanger ( 5 ) and a storage zone ( 18 ). The storage zone ( 18 ) is delimited by at least an inferior wall ( 42 ). The inferior wall ( 42 ) is above the internal heat exchanger ( 5 ).

1 . A combined device ( 12 ) comprising a chamber ( 17 ) housing at least one internal heat exchanger ( 5 ) and an accumulation zone ( 18 ), the accumulation zone ( 18 ) being delimited by at least one lower wall ( 42 ), characterized in that the lower wall ( 42 ) is above the internal heat exchanger ( 5 ). 
   
   
       2 . A combined device ( 12 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the chamber ( 17 ) comprises an upper separator ( 19 ) and a lower separator ( 20 ) opposite one another, the upper separator ( 19 ) being equipped with a low-pressure inlet ( 15 ) and with a high-pressure outlet ( 14 ), and the lower separator ( 20 ) is equipped with a high-pressure inlet ( 13 ) and with a low-pressure outlet ( 16 ), the low-pressure inlet ( 15 ) being connected to the low-pressure outlet ( 16 ) by way of a low-pressure flow path ( 36 ) which passes through the combined device ( 12 ), the high-pressure inlet ( 13 ) being connected to the high-pressure outlet ( 14 ) by way of a high-pressure flow path ( 37 ) that passes through the combined device ( 12 ). 
   
   
       3 . A combined device ( 12 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the upper separator ( 19 ) is arranged as an upper cover ( 25 ) for closing off an upper opening ( 26 ) that the chamber ( 17 ) comprises, while and the lower separator ( 20 ) is arranged as a lower cover ( 27 ) for closing off a lower opening ( 28 ) that the chamber ( 17 ) likewise comprises. 
   
   
       4 . A combined device ( 12 ) according to  claim 2 , characterized in that the upper cover ( 25 ) is equipped with the low-pressure inlet ( 15 ) and with the high-pressure outlet ( 14 ), and the lower cover ( 27 ) is equipped with the high-pressure inlet ( 13 ) and with low-pressure outlet ( 16 ). 
   
   
       5 . A combined device ( 12 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the chamber ( 17 ) is a tube ( 29 ) housing a dividing separator ( 30 ) separating accumulation zone ( 18 ) from the internal heat exchanger ( 5 ), the dividing separator ( 30 ) constituting the lower wall ( 42 ). 
   
   
       6 . A combined device ( 12 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the chamber ( 17 ) is an upper receptacle ( 31 ) and a lower receptacle ( 32 ) joined together top to tail by way of their respective end walls ( 33 , 34 ), and an end wall ( 33 ) of the upper receptacle ( 31 ) constitutes the lower wall ( 42 ). 
   
   
       7 . A combined device ( 12 ) according to  claim 3 , characterized in that the chamber ( 17 ) also houses a separation zone ( 41 ) which adjoins the upper cover ( 25 ). 
   
   
       8 . A combined device ( 12 ) according to  claim 7 , characterized in that the accumulation zone ( 18 ) is interposed between the separation zone ( 41 ) and the lower wall ( 42 ). 
   
   
       9 . A combined device ( 12 ) according to  claim 2 , characterized in that a plate ( 44 ) is interposed between the separation zone ( 41 ) and the accumulation zone ( 18 ). 
   
   
       10 . A combined device ( 12 ) according to  claim 7 , characterized in that a space ( 45 ) is created between an edge ( 46 ) of the plate ( 44 ) and at least one side wall ( 43 ) delimiting the accumulation zone ( 18 ). 
   
   
       11 . A combined device ( 12 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the internal heat exchanger ( 5 ) comprises at least one flat tube wound upon itself. 
   
   
       12 . An air-conditioning loop ( 1 ) comprising a combined device ( 12 ) according to  claim 1 . 
   
   
       13 . An air-conditioning loop ( 1 ) according to  claim 12 , characterized in that when the combined device ( 12 ) is in the position of use on the air-conditioning loop ( 1 ), the accumulation zone ( 18 ) lies above the internal heat exchanger ( 5 ). 
   
   
       14 . An air-conditioning loop ( 1 ) according to  claim 12 , characterized in that the lower wall ( 42 ) constitutes a wall for receiving a refrigerant fluid in the liquid state coming from an evaporator ( 7 ) that the air-conditioning loop ( 1 ) comprises. 
   
   
       15 . (canceled) 
   
   
       16 . An air-conditioning loop ( 1 ) comprising a combined device ( 12 ) according to  claim 2 . 
   
   
       17 . An air-conditioning loop ( 1 ) according to  claim 16 , characterized in that the low-pressure flow path ( 36 ) makes up a low-pressure line (BP) of the air-conditioning loop ( 1 ), and the high-pressure flow path ( 37 ) makes up a high-pressure line (HP) of the air-conditioning loop ( 1 ).