US 12,264,856 B2
Condenser subassembly with integrated flash tank
Xavier-Pierre Nicolas Bouquet, Montluel (FR)
Assigned to CARRIER CORPORATION, Palm Beach Gardens, FL (US)
Filed by Carrier Corporation, Palm Beach Gardens, FL (US)
Filed on Dec. 24, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/133,866.
Claims priority of application No. 20173152 (EP), filed on May 6, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0348809 A1, Nov. 11, 2021
Int. Cl. F25B 39/04 (2006.01); F25B 13/00 (2006.01)
CPC F25B 39/04 (2013.01) [F25B 13/00 (2013.01); F25B 2400/13 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A condenser subassembly for providing an economizer function in a refrigeration circuit, the condenser subassembly comprising:
a condenser chamber;
a flash tank chamber;
a housing, wherein the housing defines a vessel, the vessel comprising the condenser chamber and the flash tank chamber, wherein the condenser chamber and the flash tank chamber are separated from one another by a partition in the vessel; and
an expansion device positioned inside of the vessel and coupled with a liquid duct from the condenser chamber to the flash tank chamber, wherein the expansion device is arranged to pass condensed refrigerant from the condenser chamber to the flash tank chamber;
wherein the expansion device is an internal float valve comprising:
a float inside the flash tank chamber;
a closing part inside the flash tank chamber defining an orifice through which refrigerant can flow from the condenser chamber to the flash tank chamber; and
a pivoting arm connected to the float on one end and to the closing part on another end; and
wherein the float, the pivoting arm and the closing part are configured to close the orifice when a liquid level in the flash tank chamber rises and to open the orifice when the liquid level in the flash tank chamber lowers.