Accumulator, compressor, and refrigeration cycle apparatus

Abstract

An accumulator includes: a container; a partition plate dividing an internal space of the container into a refrigerant introduction chamber and a refrigerant discharge chamber; an inlet pipe including an inlet flow channel connected to the refrigerant introduction chamber; at least one communication pipe including a communication flow channel passing through the partition plate to connect the refrigerant introduction chamber with the refrigerant discharge chamber; and at least one outlet pipe including an outlet flow channel connected to the refrigerant discharge chamber. The communication pipe includes at least one introduction-side refrigerating machine oil return hole disposed in the refrigerant introduction chamber. The outlet pipe includes at least one discharge-side refrigerating machine oil return hole disposed in the refrigerant discharge chamber. Oil returning capability of the discharge-side refrigerating machine oil return hole is higher than that of the introduction-side refrigerating machine oil return hole.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An accumulator comprising:
 a container;   a partition plate that is disposed inside the container, and divides an internal space of the container into a refrigerant introduction chamber and a refrigerant discharge chamber;   an inlet pipe that is fixed to the container and includes an inlet flow channel connected to the refrigerant introduction chamber;   at least one communication pipe including a communication flow channel that passes through the partition plate to connect the refrigerant introduction chamber with the refrigerant discharge chamber; and   at least one outlet pipe that is fixed to the container and includes an outlet flow channel connected to the refrigerant discharge chamber, wherein   the at least one communication pipe includes an outlet opening disposed in the refrigerant discharge chamber and at least one introduction-side refrigerating machine oil return hole disposed in the refrigerant introduction chamber,   the at least one outlet pipe includes an inlet opening disposed in the refrigerant discharge chamber and at least one discharge-side refrigerating machine oil return hole disposed in the refrigerant discharge chamber, and   oil returning capability of the at least one discharge-side refrigerating machine oil return hole is higher than oil returning capability of the at least one introduction-side refrigerating machine oil return hole.   
     
     
         2 . The accumulator according to  claim 1 , wherein
 a sum total of a cross-sectional area of the communication flow channel is larger than a sum total of a cross-sectional area of the outlet flow channel,   a distance from an inlet opening of the at least one communication pipe to the at least one introduction-side refrigerating machine oil return hole is longer than a distance from the inlet opening of the at least one outlet pipe to the at least one discharge-side refrigerating machine oil return hole, and   a sum total of an opening area of the discharge-side refrigerating machine oil return hole is equal to or larger than a sum total of an opening area of the introduction-side refrigerating machine oil return hole.   
     
     
         3 . The accumulator according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the at least one introduction-side refrigerating machine oil return hole includes a plurality of the introduction-side refrigerating machine oil return holes,   the at least one discharge-side refrigerating machine oil return hole includes a plurality of the discharge-side refrigerating machine oil return holes, and   the number of the discharge-side refrigerating machine oil return holes is larger than the number of the introduction-side refrigerating machine oil return holes.   
     
     
         4 . The accumulator according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one outlet pipe includes at least one second discharge-side refrigerating machine oil return hole that is placed to be closer to the inlet opening of the at least one outlet pipe than the at least one discharge-side refrigerating machine oil return hole. 
     
     
         5 . The accumulator according to  claim 4 , wherein a plurality of the second discharge-side refrigerating machine oil return holes is arranged in an extending direction of the at least one outlet pipe, and the second discharge-side refrigerating machine oil return hole closer to the inlet opening of the at least one outlet pipe has a larger opening area. 
     
     
         6 . The accumulator according to  claim 4  that can be installed so as to
 place the inlet opening of the at least one outlet pipe above the outlet opening of the at least one communication pipe, and prevent the inlet opening of the at least one outlet pipe from overlapping the outlet opening of the at least one communication pipe in a vertical direction, and 
 place the second discharge-side refrigerating machine oil return hole below the outlet opening of the communication pipe. 
 
     
     
         7 . The accumulator according to  claim 4  that can be installed so as to
 place the inlet opening of the at least one outlet pipe above the outlet opening of the at least one communication pipe, and prevent the inlet opening of the at least one outlet pipe from overlapping the outlet opening of the at least one communication pipe in a vertical direction, and 
 place the second discharge-side refrigerating machine oil return hole above the outlet opening of the communication pipe. 
 
     
     
         8 . A compressor comprising:
 a sealed container;   a compression mechanism housed in the sealed container;   an electric motor that is housed in the sealed container and generates driving force of the compression mechanism; and   the accumulator according to  claim 1  that is placed outside the sealed container and connected to a suction side of the compression mechanism.   
     
     
         9 . A refrigeration cycle apparatus comprising:
 the compressor according to claim  8 ;   a radiator;   an expansion device;   a heat absorber; and   refrigerant piping that connects the compressor, the radiator, the expansion device, and the heat absorber to circulate a refrigerant.   
     
     
         10 . The accumulator according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the at least one introduction-side refrigerating machine oil return hole includes a plurality of the introduction-side refrigerating machine oil return holes,   the at least one discharge-side refrigerating machine oil return hole includes a plurality of the discharge-side refrigerating machine oil return holes, and   the number of the discharge-side refrigerating machine oil return holes is larger than the number of the introduction-side refrigerating machine oil return holes.   
     
     
         11 . The accumulator according to  claim 2 , wherein the at least one outlet pipe includes at least one second discharge-side refrigerating machine oil return hole that is placed to be closer to the inlet opening of the at least one outlet pipe than the at least one discharge-side refrigerating machine oil return hole. 
     
     
         12 . The accumulator according to  claim 3 , wherein the at least one outlet pipe includes at least one second discharge-side refrigerating machine oil return hole that is placed to be closer to the inlet opening of the at least one outlet pipe than the at least one discharge-side refrigerating machine oil return hole. 
     
     
         13 . The accumulator according to  claim 5  that can be installed so as to
 place the inlet opening of the at least one outlet pipe above the outlet opening of the at least one communication pipe, and prevent the inlet opening of the at least one outlet pipe from overlapping the outlet opening of the at least one communication pipe in a vertical direction, and 
 place the second discharge-side refrigerating machine oil return hole below the outlet opening of the communication pipe. 
 
     
     
         14 . The accumulator according to  claim 5  that can be installed so as to
 place the inlet opening of the at least one outlet pipe above the outlet opening of the at least one communication pipe, and prevent the inlet opening of the at least one outlet pipe from overlapping the outlet opening of the at least one communication pipe in a vertical direction, and 
 place the second discharge-side refrigerating machine oil return hole above the outlet opening of the communication pipe.