US3407936A - Spring loaded dryer - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 29, 1968 s. BALOGH SPRING LOADED DRYER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 7, 1965 INVENTOR STEPHEN BALOGH 0%0 0 o 0 mmw mmww ATTORNEY United States Patent SPRING LOADED DRYER Stephen Balogh, Lyons, N.Y., assignor to Parker-Hannifin Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed June 7, 1965, Ser. No. 462,139 Claims. (Cl. 210-282) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A refrigerant dryer is provided, having a tubular body and a cup-shaped desiccant retainer adhered to an inner wall of the 'body, with a spring retainer adhered to an opposite end of the body, having a spring engaged therewith and also engaged with the perforated disk, for compressing desiccant particles between the retainers and urging the same toward and into the cup-shaped retainer. The particles may be initially compressed by inserting a disk into the body, which is magnetically adhered to a magnetic rod, during the compacting of the particles, with the rod being then withdrawn and a spring inserted for engagement against the disk, that end of the body then being closed.

This invention relates to dryers adapted for use in refrigerating systems and to the method of making the same.

An object of the invention is to provide a dryer using loose desiccant particles and wherein the particles are compacted under spring pressure to prevent movement thereof which would otherwise produce powdering thereof.

Another object is to provide a dryer of the type described in which a screen for retaining the desiccant particles is anchored within a tubular shell inwardly and independently of the adjacent end structure of the shell.

Another object is to provide a dryer of the type described in which there is a screen near one end of a tubular shell for retaining the desiccant particles and there is a retainer near the other end of the shell for retaining a spring that applies compacting pressure to the desiccant particles, both the screen and retainer being anchored to the tube inwardly and independently of the end structure of the shell.

Another object is to provide a dryer comprising a onepiece tubular shell with a screen for retainingdesiccant particles anchored near one end thereof, spring means at the other end of the shell for compacting the desiccant beads, and with each end of the shell deformed for form- 'ing means whereby a conduit may be attached thereto.

Another object is to provide a method of making a dryer wherein desiccant retaining and compacting means are mounted within a tub-e and the ends of the tube are then deformed for providing inlet and outlet ports.

Another object is to provide a method of making a dryer wherein a desiccant retaining screen is anchored within a tube near one end thereof, desiccant particles are inserted, and a bafiie plate is then inserted through the other end of the tube by means of a magnetic plunger that holds the baffle plate normal to the axis of the tube while the baffle plate engages the desiccant particles for compacting the same.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a dryer that is sturdy and durable in construction, reliable and efficient in operation, and simple and inexpensive to -manufacture, assemble and utilize. Other objects will in part be obvious, and in part be "ice FIG. 2 is a slightly modified form of dryer construction.

FIG. 3 is a similar view showing a still further modified form of the invention, and,

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a preferred location of a dryer in a refrigerating system.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary section view showing an alternate method of anchoring the desiccant retainer screen within the tubular shell by means of split spring ring.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the split spring ring of FIG. 5, and

FIG. 7 is a view showing the method of initially compacting the desiccant particles.

With reference to FIG. 1, the dryer is generally indicated at 10 and consists of a tubular shell 11 with reduced ends 12 and 13. The shell is preferably made from a tube of uniform inside and outside diameter whose ends before such reduction are shown by the dotted lines in FIG. 1. The end 12 comprises the inlet having a relatively large opening 14, and an internal shoulder 15. An inlet conduit may be attached at the opening 14 in any desired conventional manner. The end 13 is provided with a restricted outlet opening 16.

Spaced from outlet end 13 is an annular screen holder 17 having a reverted outer fold 18 that clamps the upper edge of a cylindrical cup-shaped screen 19 having a cuplike portion 19 and a rim portion 19", that serves as a strainer and a desiccant retainer, there being a relatively large opening 20 in the base of screen holder 17. The latter is anchored in a fixed position within the bore of the tube, preferably by press fitting, but alternatively may be soldered, expanded, or otherwise secured to the wall of the tube. Furthermore, holder 17 is positioned a sufficient distance from end 13 to permit reducing of the latter without contacting screen 19.

At the opposite end of the tubular shell 11 a spring retainer 22 is press fitted within the bore of the shell. It has inwardly extending top wall 22 which is reverted downwardly as at 23 and has a relatively large inlet opening 24. A compression spring 25 has one end in engagement with rim 23 and its other end in engagement with a cup-shaped bafiie 26, the cylindrical wall of the baffle being a close sliding fit within the bore of the tubular shell so as to maintain the bottom wall of the bafile normal to the axis of the shell, such bottom wall having a plurality of perf0rations 27. Positioned between the screen 119 and the baffie 27 is a desiccant material generally indicated at 28, and comprised of closely packed particles 29, which serve to absorb water from refrigerant fluid passing through the dryer. The desiccant particles may 'be synthetic Zeolite, activated alumina, silica gel or the like, and the position of retainer 21 is selected so that tension of the. spring is regulated to pack the desiccant particles as tightly as possible without crushing. Also, spring retainer 21 is spaced a sufficient distance from the upper end of the tube, so as not to interfere with reducing of the same when forming opening 14.

In the preferred method of making the dryer, screen 19 is first attached to screen holder 17 by clamping the upper edge between the inner and outer folds of the holder. Holder 17, with the screen attached, is then press fitted within the bore of tube 11, whose ends at this time are not reduced, for anchoring the same at a location where screen 19 is spaced inwardly from the lower end of tube 11. Desiccant particles are then inserted from the upper end of the tube, followed by insertion of bafile 26 and spring 25. Baifie 26, which is preferably of brass, may be pressed against the desiccant particles by a rod (not shown), the close fit of the cylindrical portion of the baffie with the inside of the tube maintaining the bottom wall of the bafile perpendicular to the axis of the tube during this initial compacting of the desiccant. Spring retainer 21 is then press fitted within the bore of the tube in the position shown in FIG. 1, in which it compresses spring 25 to exert the desired pressure upon the desiccant particles via baffle 26. The ends 12 and 13 of the tube are then reduced so as to form inlet and outlet openings 14 and 16.

In variations of this method screen holder 17 with screen 19 attached may be pressed into tube 11 as aforesaid and lower end 13 reduced before insertion of the remaining components, or lower end 13 may be reduced prior to insertion of the screen and screen holder.

In the use and operation of the device the dryer is positioned as indicated in FIG. 4 at in the line 30 for refrigerant fluid which leads from the condenser 31. From the outlet 13 a line 32 extends to the expander 33, from which a line 34 leads to the compressor 35, and thence from the compressor, a line 36 leads back to condenser 31. There is thus provided a closed system, and the desiccant particles 29 serve to remove water from the refrigerant fluid. Perforated bafiie 26 stops any large particles of foreign matter in the refrigerant fluid from going downstream to the expander while screen 19, which is of fine mesh, serves to retain any particles of desiccant or small particles of foreign matter from going downstream.

FIG. 2 discloses a modified form of the dryer in which spring retainer 40 is in the form of a batfle in that it has small perforations 41 rather than the large opening 24 of spring retainer 22. Also baflle 43 is simply a flat disk with perforations 44 and whose periphery has a close clearance with the wall of tubular shell 10a. In this case, baflle 43 may be made of magnetic steel and inserted into tube 10a by means of a magnetic rod 46, as illustrated in FIG. 7. During such insertion baffle 43 adheres to rod 46 by magnetic attraction and remains in a plane perpendicular to the axis of tube 10a while compacting desiccant particles 29, thus leveling the upper surface 48 of the desiccant which may initially be irregular, as shown. Without such magnetic attraction baffle 43 would have to have a cylindrical skirt, as in the case of bafiie 26, to maintain it in the perpendicular position. After the desiccant has been initially compacted, plunger 47 is held against batfle 43 to hold the latter in position and rod 46 is raised, releasing it from the baffle. Rod 46 and plunger 47 are then withdrawn.

FIG. 3 discloses a further modified form of the invention including a tube 10b within which is contained desiccant 28b which is retained between cup-shaped screen 1% attached to screen holder 17b and baffle 43a pressed by spring 42a which butts against Spring retainer 40. In this modification the ends are specially adapted for systems employing more than one inlet and outlet. Where two outlet tubes are employed for example, the end is flattened as at 50, and centrally crimped as at 51 to provide two central outlet openings 52. The opposite end or inlet end may be similarly flattened as at 53 and crimped as at 54 in three positions, longitudinally of the tube, to provide four separate tubular passages 55 which may be connected to several inlets as desired. Obviously any number of inlet or outlet conduits may be provided in accordance with the specific system with which the device is adapted to be utilized.

FIG. 5 illustrates an optional method of anchoring a cup-shaped screen 190, which corresponds to screen 19 of FIG. 1, within tubular shell 110. In this case a split spring ring 57 exerts radially outward pressure to clamp the upper rim of screen 19c against the inner wall of shell 11c. The latter may have an outwardly formed head 58 for receiving the ring 57 and screen rim, although such bead 58 is not required in all instances.

provided an improved spring loaded dryer which accomplishes all the objects of this invention, and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as many modifications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. The method of making a dryer com-prising inserting and anchoring a perforated retainer within a tube near one end thereof, inserting desiccant material in the tube against said retainer, inserting a perforated baflie of magnetic material into the other end of the tube and pressing it against the desiccant material by means of a magnetized rod to which said baflie is magnetically adhered, separating the rod from the baflie and withdrawing the rod from the tube while the baffle remains in place against the desiccant material, inserting a spring means against the baffle, and providing an inlet port at said other end of the tube.

2. The method of making a dryer comprising inserting and anchoring a perforated desiccant retainer within a tube inwardly of the end thereof, inserting desiccant material into the tube against said retainer, inserting a disk against the desiccant material and compacting the latter with said disk, said disk being magnetically adhered to a rod, releasing the rod from the disk and withdrawing the rod from the tube, inserting a spring against the disk, inserting and anchoring a spring retainer in the tube in a position compressing the spring whereby the disk exerts compacting presure upon the desiccant material, and deforming both ends of the tube radially inwardly to form ports communicating with the interior of the tube.

3. A dryer comprising a tubular shell having a cylindrical body between a pair of ports for fluid flow, a cupshaped desiccant retainer fixed to the shell bore near one end thereof, said retainer having a cylindrical perforated wall spaced from said bore and having a closed end facing said one end of the shell, a spring retainer fixed to the shell near the other end thereof, a movable perforated bafile spaced inwardly of the spring retainer, loose desiccant particles in the shell between said baffle and said cup-shaped retainer and filling the latter, and a spring between the spring retainer and baflie and forcing the batfle against the desiccant particles to compact the same.

4. The dryer of claim 3 in which said spring is coil shaped and has a diameter substantially that of the bore whereby subtantially all fluid passing through said shell passes into the spring at one end thereof and passes out of the spring at the other end thereof.

5. The dryer of claim 3 in which said cup-shaped retainer has a rigid rim at the open end thereof press-fitted to the shell, said cylindrical wall of the cup-shaped retainer extending a substantial distance from said rim toward said one end of the shell to provide substantial flow area through said cylindrical wall for said fluid.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,666,529 1/1954 Landwier 210-352 2,686,596 8/1954 Storms 210446 X 3,175,342 3/1965 Balogh 210266 X 152,889 7/1874 Whitley 210-480 2,190,305 2/1940 Auberschek 2l0352 X 2,283,989 5/1942 Henry 210-352 X 3,254,771 6/1966 Sicard 210-266 SAMIH N. ZAHARNA, Primary Examiner.

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