Accumulator assembly, refrigeration system having an accumulator assembly, and method of limiting accumilation of compressor oil in same

Abstract

A refrigeration system, such as a stand-alone ice maker assembly, having a vapor-compression refrigeration cycle. The refrigeration system includes an accumulator having an inlet receiving refrigerant discharged from the evaporator, a first outlet substantially discharging gas refrigerant to the compressor, and a second outlet substantially discharging oil from the accumulator. The refrigeration system also includes a valve having an inlet receiving the discharged oil from the accumulator and an outlet discharging oil from the valve to the compressor, and a controller to control the valve between an open state and a closed state. Also disclosed are a method of limiting accumulation of compressor oil in an accumulator assembly of a refrigeration system and a stand-alone ice maker assembly having the refrigeration system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A refrigeration system comprising a vapor-compression refrigeration cycle having an expansion device, an evaporator, a compressor, and a condenser generally coupled in cycle via tubing and to work a refrigerant carried by the tubing, the refrigeration system further comprising:
 an accumulator having an inlet receiving refrigerant discharged from the evaporator, a first outlet substantially discharging gas refrigerant to the compressor, and a second outlet substantially discharging oil from the accumulator;   a valve having an inlet receiving the discharged oil from the accumulator and an outlet discharging oil from the valve to the compressor; and   a controller to control the valve between an open state and a closed state.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein the tubing includes a tube coupling the second outlet of the accumulator to the inlet of the valve. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein the tubing comprises:
 a T section;   a first tube coupling the outlet of the valve to a first inlet port of the T section;   a second tube coupling the first outlet of the accumulator to a second inlet port of the T section; and   a third tube coupling an outlet port of the T section to the compressor,   wherein the T section mixes the discharged oil with the discharged gas refrigerant.   
     
     
         4 . The refrigeration system of  claim 3 , wherein the tubing includes a fourth tube coupling the second outlet of the accumulator to the inlet of the valve. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein the accumulator is a copper-spun type accumulator. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein the accumulator has a body height and a body width orthogonal to the body width, and wherein the body height is substantially greater than the body width. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigeration system of  claim 6 , wherein the accumulator is substantially cylindrical and the body width is a diameter of the accumulator. 
     
     
         8 . The refrigeration system of  claim 6 , wherein the accumulator has a defined orientation with respect to gravity when coupled in cycle, and wherein the body height is substantially in line with gravity. 
     
     
         9 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein the refrigeration system further comprises a first fan in thermal communication with the evaporator, a second fan in thermal communication with the condenser, or the first fan and the second fan, and wherein the controller further controls the first fan, the second fan, or the first fan and the second fan. 
     
     
         10 . An ice maker assembly including the refrigeration system of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         11 . A method of controlling the refrigeration system of  claim 1 , the method comprising:
 opening the valve to cause an oil mixture to flow from the accumulator to the compressor; and   closing the valve to prevent the oil mixture flowing from the accumulator to the compressor.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 opening the expansion device to cause a greater amount of a refrigerant mixture to flow through the cycle; and   closing the expansion device to prevent a lesser amount of a refrigerant mixture from flowing through the cycle.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the refrigerant mixture includes a substantial amount of vapor refrigerant, the oil mixture includes a substantial amount of oil. 
     
     
         14 . A stand-alone ice maker assembly comprising:
 an evaporator sleeve or mold to receive water;   a water source to provide water to the evaporator sleeve or mold;   a refrigeration system comprising a vapor-compression refrigeration cycle having an expansion device, an evaporator coupled to the evaporator sleeve or mold to draw heat from the water to freeze the water, a compressor, and a condenser generally coupled in cycle via tubing and to work a refrigerant carried by the tubing, the refrigeration system further comprising:
 an accumulator having an inlet receiving refrigerant discharged from the evaporator, a first outlet substantially discharging gas refrigerant to the compressor, and a second outlet substantially discharging oil; 
 a valve having an inlet receiving the discharged oil from the accumulator and an outlet discharging oil from the valve to the compressor; and 
 a controller to control the valve between an open state and a closed state. 
   
     
     
         15 . The ice maker assembly of  claim 14 , wherein an amount of refrigerant for the refrigeration system is less than twenty pounds. 
     
     
         16 . The ice maker assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the accumulator is a copper-spun type accumulator. 
     
     
         17 . The ice maker assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the accumulator has a body height and a body width orthogonal to the body width, and wherein the body height is substantially greater than the body width. 
     
     
         18 . A method of limiting accumulation of compressor oil in an accumulator assembly of a refrigeration system, the accumulator assembly including an accumulator, a valve in fluid communication with the accumulator, and a controller in electrical communication with the valve, the method comprising:
 receiving a refrigerant mixture through the accumulator, the refrigerant mixture comprising substantial vapor refrigerant, minimal liquid refrigerant, and minimal compressor oil;   accumulating liquid refrigerant and compressor oil with the accumulator;   opening the valve with the controller to cause an oil to flow from the accumulator to a compressor of the refrigeration system; and   closing the valve with the controller to prevent the oil flowing from the accumulator to the compressor.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the opening of the valve is for a time period and an initiating of the opening of the valve is based on a runtime of the refrigeration system. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the accumulator assembly includes a sensor, and wherein the opening of the valve and/or the closing of the valve is based on a parameter sensed by the sensor.