US 12,270,583 B2
Distributor systems for heat exchangers
Pratik S. Deokar, Dallas, TX (US); Baojie Mu, Fort Smith, AR (US); and Chitra Sadanandan, Lewisville, TX (US)
Assigned to Rheem Manufacturing Company, Atlanta, GA (US)
Filed by Rheem Manufacturing Company, Atlanta, GA (US)
Filed on Dec. 7, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/543,974.
Prior Publication US 2023/0175749 A1, Jun. 8, 2023
Int. Cl. F25B 41/40 (2021.01); F25B 39/02 (2006.01); F25B 41/22 (2021.01); F25B 41/26 (2021.01); F25B 41/31 (2021.01); F25B 41/38 (2021.01)
CPC F25B 41/40 (2021.01) [F25B 39/02 (2013.01); F25B 41/22 (2021.01); F25B 41/26 (2021.01); F25B 41/38 (2021.01); F25B 41/31 (2021.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A header tube assembly comprising:
an outer tube having an open end with a first internal diameter and a closed end with a second internal diameter that is greater than the first internal diameter, the outer tube including a plurality of outer apertures extending through a sidewall of the outer tube, each of the plurality of outer apertures being configured to direct a flow of refrigerant between an internal volume of the outer tube and a corresponding refrigerant flow path of a heat exchanger, wherein the outer tube has a transition wall extending from the first internal diameter to a third internal diameter, wherein the outer tube has a tapered wall that tapers inwardly from the third internal diameter to the second internal diameter, and wherein the third internal diameter is a maximum internal diameter;
an inner tube located within the internal volume of the outer tube, the inner tube having (i) an open end proximate the open end of the outer tube, (ii) a closed end proximate the closed end of the outer tube, and (iii) an external diameter that is less than an internal diameter of the outer tube such that a gap exists between the inner tube and the outer tube, the inner tube including a plurality of inner apertures extending through a sidewall of the inner tube, each of the plurality of inner apertures being configured to permit refrigerant to flow therethrough between an internal volume of the inner tube and the gap, wherein the inner tube has a tapered wall that tapers inwardly from the open end to the closed end, and wherein a distance between the tapered wall of the inner tube and the tapered wall of the outer tube is defined by the gap; and
a flow valve disposed within the outer tube between the open end of the inner tube and the open end of the outer tube, the flow valve having an aperture extending therethrough, the aperture of the flow valve being at least partially aligned with the open end of the outer tube and the open end of the inner tube.