Receiver assembly and heat pump system having the same

Abstract

An accumulator assembly and a heat pump system. The accumulator assembly comprises: an accumulator tank body, wherein an inlet and outlet port is disposed at the bottom of the tank body and is flush therewith; and a connecting pipe, having a first end connected to the inlet and outlet port, and a second end for connection to an air conditioning system. According to the accumulator assembly of the present invention, because the inlet and outlet port is flush with the bottom of the accumulator tank body, in the case in where all the refrigerant is needed for the operation of the system, refrigerant and lubricating oil accumulated within the accumulator tank body can be completely drained from the tank body, thus ensuring sufficient refrigerant to satisfy load demand while simultaneously ensuring sufficient lubricating oil to satisfy the lubrication requirements of the compressor.

1 . An accumulator assembly, characterized in comprising:
 an accumulator tank body, wherein an inlet and outlet port is disposed at the bottom of the tank body and is flush therewith; and   a connecting pipe, having a first end connected to the inlet and outlet port, and a second end for connection to an air conditioning system.   
     
     
         2 . The accumulator assembly as recited in  claim 1 , characterized in that the inlet and outlet port is disposed at a lowest point of the bottom of the accumulator tank body. 
     
     
         3 . The accumulator assembly as recited in  claim 1 , characterized in that the inlet and outlet port is disposed at a center point of the bottom of the accumulator tank body. 
     
     
         4 . The accumulator assembly as recited in  claim 1 , characterized in that the accumulator tank body has a level bottom. 
     
     
         5 . The accumulator assembly as recited in  claim 1 , characterized in that the connecting pipe is welded to the inlet and outlet port. 
     
     
         6 . The accumulator assembly as recited in  claim 1 , characterized in that the inlet and outlet port is provided with an arcuate flow guiding surface. 
     
     
         7 . The accumulator assembly as recited in  claim 1 , characterized in further comprising the connecting pipe being a round pipe. 
     
     
         8 . A heat pump system, characterized in comprising an accumulator assembly, said accumulator assembly comprising: an accumulator tank body, wherein an inlet and outlet port is disposed at the bottom of the tank body and is flush therewith; and a connecting pipe, having a first end connected to the inlet and outlet port, and a second end connected downwardly to the heat pump system. 
     
     
         9 . The heat pump system as recited in  claim 8 , characterized in further comprising a heat exchange circuit having a compressor exhaust port, a four-way valve assembly, a condenser, a throttling member, an accumulator assembly, an evaporator and a compressor suction port, sequentially connected via pipes;
 wherein, the four-way valve assembly is capable of switching the flow direction to enable a cooling mode and a heating mode;   in the cooling mode, the refrigerant medium is circulated from the compressor exhaust port to the compressor suction port via the four-way valve assembly, condenser, throttling member, accumulator assembly, and evaporator; and/or   in the heating mode, the refrigerant medium circulates from the compressor exhaust port to the compressor suction port via the four-way valve assembly, evaporator, accumulator assembly, throttling member, and condenser.   
     
     
         10 . The heat pump system as recited in  claim 9 , characterized in that the condenser has a volume greater than that of the evaporator, wherein:
 in the cooling mode, the connecting pipe serves as a drain pipe, and a portion of the refrigerant flows out of the accumulator tank body;   in the heating mode, the connecting pipe serves as a liquid inlet pipe, and a portion of the refrigerant flows into the accumulator tank body.