Abstrict An accumulator for an automotive air-conditioning system includes
a suction tube having an inlet leg, an outlet leg, and a bight therebetween.
A pickup filter is mounted to the bight of the suction tube and
cooperates with a desiccant bag. The pickup filter has a clasp circumscribing
a portion of the bight, wherein the clasp includes a flange extending
therefrom. The pickup filter further has a screen filter body extending
integrally and downwardly from the clasp. The desiccant bag includes
a flap extending from one end, wherein the flap includes an aperture
therethrough defining a locating edge at one end or side thereof.
The aperture of the desiccant bag mounts over the pickup filter
with the locating edge of the flap locating against a portion of
the clasp of the pickup filter to assist in retaining the desiccant
bag in position on the pickup filter.
Claims What is claimed is:
1. A desiccant bag adapted for use in an accumulator of an air-conditioning
system, said accumulator having a suction tube with an inlet leg,
an outlet leg, and a bight therebetween, said bight of said suction
tube having a pickup filter mounted thereto, said pickup filter
having a clasp and a filter body integrally extending from said
clasp, said desiccant bag comprising: a casing; a desiccant material
contained within said casing; and a flexible flap extending from
said casing, said flexible flap having an aperture therethrough,
said flexible flap further having a locating edge along periphery
and at one end of said aperture; whereby said aperture of said flexible
flap is mounted over said filter body of said pickup filter, and
said locating edge of said flexible flap locates against a portion
of said clasp of said pickup filter to locate and hold said desiccant
bag in position on said pickup filter.
2. The desiccant bag as claimed in claim 1 wherein a portion of
said casing is tucked between said inlet and outlet legs of said
suction tube, such that said casing does not require an external
fastening device to immobilize said desiccant bag.
3. The desiccant bag as claimed in claim 1 wherein said aperture
of said flexible flap can be toleranced at least plus/minus five
millimeters.
4. An accumulator for an air-conditioning system, said accumulator
comprising: a suction tube having an inlet leg, an outlet leg, and
a bight between said inlet leg and said outlet leg; a pickup filter
mounted to said bight of said suction tube, said pickup filter having
a clasp circumscribing a portion of said bight, said clasp having
a flange extending therefrom having a plurality of flange teeth
thereon, said pickup filter further having a filter body integrally
extending from said clasp; and a desiccant bag mounted to said pickup
filter, said desiccant bag having a flap extending from one end
thereof with an aperture therethrough, said flap having a locating
edge at one end of said aperture, said aperture of said desiccant
bag being mounted over said filter body of said pickup filter with
said locating edge of said flap contiguous said flange of said pickup
filter and registered in said plurality of flange teeth of said
flange to locate and retain said desiccant bag in position on said
pickup filter.
5. The accumulator as claimed in claim 4 wherein a portion of
said desiccant bag is tucked between said inlet leg and said outlet
leg of said suction tube such that said desiccant bag does not require
any external fastening device to immobilize said desiccant bag.
6. The accumulator as claimed in claim 4 wherein said aperture
of said desiccant bag can be toleranced at least plus/minus five
millimeters.
7. An accumulator for an air-conditioning system, said accumulator
comprising: a suction tube having an inlet leg, an outlet leg, and
a bight between said inlet leg and said outlet leg; a pickup filter
mounted to said bight of said suction tube, said pickup filter having
a clasp circumscribing a portion of said bight, said clasp having
a flange extending therefrom, said flange having a projection extending
therefrom, said pickup filter further having a filter body integrally
extending from said clasp; and a desiccant bag mounted to said pickup
filter, said desiccant bag having a flap extending from one end
thereof with an aperture therethrough, said flap having a locating
edge at one end of said aperture, said aperture of said desiccant
bag being mounted over said pickup filter with said locating edge
of said flap contiguous said flange of said pickup filter and trapped
behind said projection of said flange to locate and retain said
desiccant bag in position on said pickup filter.
8. The accumulator as claimed in claim 7 wherein a portion of
said desiccant bag is tucked between said inlet leg and said outlet
leg of said suction tube such that said desiccant bag does not require
any external fastening device to immobilize said desiccant bag.
9. The accumulator as claimed in claim 7 wherein said aperture
of said desiccant bag can be toleranced at least plus/minus five
millimeters.
10. An accumulator for an air-conditioning system, said accumulator
comprising: a suction tube having an inlet leg, an outlet leg, and
a bight between said inlet leg and said outlet leg; a pickup filter
mounted to said bight of said suction tube, said pickup filter having
a clasp circumscribing a portion of said bight, said clasp having
a flange extending therefrom, said pickup filter further having
a filter body integrally extending from said clasp, said clasp further
having an integral clip extending curvilinearly along a portion
of said clasp on a side opposite of said flange; and a desiccant
bag mounted to said pickup filter, said desiccant bag having a flap
extending from one end thereof with an aperture therethrough, said
flap having a locating edge at one end of said aperture, said aperture
of said desiccant bag being mounted over said filter body of said
pickup filter with said locating edge of said flap located against
a portion of said clasp and entrapped thereto by said clip of said
pickup filter to locate and retain said desiccant bag in position
on said pickup filter.
11. The accumulator as claimed in claim 10 wherein a portion of
said desiccant bag is tucked between said inlet leg and said outlet
leg of said suction tube such that said desiccant bag does not require
any external fastening device to immobilize said desiccant bag.
12. The accumulator as claimed in claim 10 wherein said aperture
of said desiccant bag can be toleranced at least plus/minus five
millimeters.
13. A method of assembling a desiccant bag within an accumulator,
said method comprising the steps of: providing a suction tube having
an inlet leg, an outlet leg, and a bight between said inlet leg
and said outlet leg; providing a pickup filter mounted to said bight
of said suction tube, said pickup filter having a clasp circumscribing
a portion of said bight and having a flange extending therefrom,
said pickup filter further having a filter body integrally extending
from said clasp; providing a desiccant bag having a casing and a
flap extending from one end of said casing, said flap having an
aperture therethrough; locating said flap to a portion of said clasp
of said pickup filter; pulling said desiccant bag to further locate
said flap against said portion of said clasp of said pickup filter;
and wrapping said desiccant bag around said bight of said suction
tube such that said filter body of said pickup filter freely passes
through said aperture of said flap of said desiccant bag.
14. The method as claimed in claim 13 further comprising the step
of tucking said desiccant bag between said inlet leg and said outlet
leg of said suction tube to further retain said desiccant bag in
place within said accumulator.
15. An oil pickup filter adapted for attachment to a conduit and
for cooperation with a flexible flap of a desiccant bag, said oil
pickup filter comprising: a clasp engaging an outer diameter of
said conduit for securing said oil pickup filter to said conduit,
said clasp comprising a flange portion having a projection extending
away from said flange portion, said projection being adapted for
trapping said flexible flap of said desiccant bag; and a filter
body integral with said clasp and extending in a direction away
from said clasp, said filter body having an integral screen portion
extending in a direction away from said clasp.
16. An oil pickup filter adapted for attachment to a conduit and
for cooperation with a flexible flap of a desiccant bag, said oil
pickup filter comprising: a clasp engaging an outer diameter of
said conduit for securing said oil pickup filter to said conduit,
said clasp comprising an integral clip extending curvilinearly along
one side of said clasp; and a filter body integral with said clasp
and extending in a direction away from said clasp, said filter body
having an integral screen portion extending in a direction away
from said clasp.
17. An accumulator for an air-conditioning system, said accumulator
comprising: a suction tube having an inlet leg, an outlet leg, and
a bight between said inlet leg and said outlet leg; a pickup filter
mounted to said bight of said suction tube, said pickup filter having
a clasp circumscribing said bight, said pickup filter further having
a filter body extending in a direction away from said clasp; and
a desiccant bag mounted to said clasp of said pickup filter, said
desiccant bag having a flap extending from one end thereof with
an aperture therethrough, said flap having a locating edge at one
end of said aperture, said filter body extending through said aperture
and a portion of said flap being mounted to said clasp of said pickup
filter to retain said desiccant bag in position in said accumulator.
18. The accumulator as claimed in claim 17 wherein said clasp
of said pickup filter comprises a flange extending therefrom, said
flange having a plurality of flange teeth thereon, said flap of
said desiccant bag having a locating edge defined by a portion of
said aperture, said flap mounting to said clasp with said locating
edge registered in said plurality of flange teeth.
19. The accumulator as claimed in claim 17 wherein said clasp
of said pickup filter comprises a flange extending therefrom, said
flange having a projection extending therefrom, said flap mounting
to said clasp with said locating edge located against a portion
of said flange behind said projection.
20. The accumulator as claimed in claim 17 wherein said clasp
of said pickup filter comprises a clip integrally extending curvilinearly
along a portion of said clasp, said flap of said desiccant bag having
a locating edge defined by a portion of said aperture, said flap
mounting to said clasp with said locating edge located against a
portion of said clasp between said clip and said clasp.
21. The accumulator as claimed in claim 17 wherein a portion of
said flap is entrapped between said clasp and said suction tube.
22. The accumulator as claimed in claim 21 wherein said clasp
of said pickup filter comprises an internal land portion, said flap
of said desiccant bag having a locating edge defined by a portion
of said aperture, said flap mounting to said clasp with said locating
edge located against said internal land portion between said clasp
and said suction tube.
Description BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to adsorbent units for
use with refrigeration system accumulators. More specifically, this
invention relates to a desiccant bag for use with an automotive
air-conditioning accumulator, wherein the desiccant bag integrally
fastens to a suction tube assembly by locating against a clasp portion
of an oil pickup filter that is mounted to a bight portion of the
suction tube.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is common to place an adsorbent unit in an accumulator of a
refrigeration system to adsorb moisture and impurities in the refrigerant.
An accumulator typically includes a housing having a closed bottom
end, and usually includes a J-shaped suction tube extending downwardly
toward the closed bottom end of the housing.
Adsorbent units typically mount in some fashion to the "J-tube"
and include a fabric bag having desiccant material therein. The
fabric bag typically includes a flap extending from the bag and
having an aperture therein. The aperture is usually placed over
one end of the J-tube to secure the bag in place within the housing.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4116649 to Cullen et al. teaches use
of a self-retaining adsorbent bag for use with an accumulator. Cullen
et al. disclose the bag as having a flexible flap with an aperture
therein for mounting over the end of a conduit. The fit or difference
in size between the diameter of the aperture and the diameter of
the conduit is specified as 0.005" (0.127 mm). Such a tight
fit makes it difficult to assemble the bag to the conduit.
Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 5802868 to Riemenschneider teaches an
improved saddle type adsorbent unit for use in a refrigerant receiver
of an air-conditioning system. Riemenschneider discloses a refrigerant
accumulator having a housing with a bottom wall, a sidewall, and
a U-shaped pipe having a return bend adjacent the bottom wall and
having first and second pipe portions extending upwardly from the
return bend along the sidewall. A filter body extends downwardly
from the return bend. An adsorbent unit is disposed within the housing
and includes first and second porous fabric adsorbent containers
having inner and outer end portions. A connecting member connects
the inner end portions of the first and second containers and is
positioned between the first and second pipe portions spaced away
from the return bend. A tab extends outwardly from the outer end
portion of the first container and has an aperture therein that
is force fit around the filter body. Unfortunately, the Riemenschneider
adsorbent unit involves a more expensive and more complicated saddlebag
unit. Furthermore, the filter body must be force fit through the
aperture in the bag to fasten the bag within the housing, and it
is not clear how the filter body is retained to the return bend.
In other examples, disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5837039 and 5914456
to LeConey et al., an adsorbent packet is adapted for positioning
within a housing having a fluid flow tube having a pair of legs
connected by a bight portion with a filter extending therefrom.
The absorbent packet is formed with identical first and second pouches
formed of tubular porous polyester felt material. Each of the pouches
include sealed upper ends fused together to form an intermediate
portion, and further include oppositely disposed sealed lower ends
having apertures formed therein. The pouches are adapted for disposing
the sealed lower ends in overlapping relation whereby the apertures
thereof are in registry one over the other mounted snugly fit to
the filter.
Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 6083303 to LeConey et al. discloses
an adsorbent packet for use in a canister having a tube disposed
therein with a filter housing protruding therefrom. The filter housing
includes a clasp portion circumscribing the tube and includes a
flange and filter media portion extending integrally downwardly
from the clasp portion. The adsorbent packet includes a flange portion
having an opening therein defined by a rigid collar portion that
is snap-fit to the filter media and flange portion of the filter
housing. Unfortunately, the LeConey et al. references, especially
the snap-fit arrangement of the `303 patent, require a tight fit
between the apertures of the adsorbent packets and the enlarged
flanges of the filter bodies that necessitates use of tight tolerances
so that the apertures will not pass back over the enlarged flange
once assembled. Additionally, the tight fits required by the LeConey
et al. references present an ergonomic problem wherein an assembler
must repeatedly exert significant force to snap-fit the adsorbent
packet to the filter, thereby potentially leading to repetitive
stress injuries. Finally, the difficulty in assembling the packet
to the filter results in a higher process cycle time, thereby increasing
manufacturing costs.
Accordingly, what is needed is a refrigerant vessel assembly having
a desiccant bag therein that integrally fastens to a portion of
a suction tube assembly. The desiccant bag economically assembles
to the suction tube without the need for a close tolerance fit therebetween
and without the need to force fit an aperture of the desiccant bag
to another component so as to avoid repetitive stress injuries during
assembly and to decrease cycle time of the manufacturing process
to reduce costs.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, a desiccant bag is provided
for use in an accumulator of an air-conditioning system for an automotive
vehicle. The accumulator is of the type that has a suction tube
with an inlet leg, an outlet leg, and a bight portion therebetween.
The bight portion of the suction tube has a pickup filter mounted
thereto that has a clasp circumscribing the suction tube and has
a filter body portion extending integrally from the clasp. The desiccant
bag includes a fabric casing, a desiccant material sealed within
the fabric casing, and a flexible flap extending from the fabric
casing. The flexible flap includes an aperture therethrough such
that the filter body portion of the pickup filter passes freely
therethrough so that a portion of the flexible flap mounts to a
portion of the clasp. The aperture may also define a locating edge
at one end thereof for locating against a portion of the clasp of
the pickup filter to hold the desiccant bag in position on the pickup
filter while the fabric casing is tucked between the legs of the
suction tube.
In another aspect of the present invention, an accumulator of an
air conditioning system for an automotive vehicle is provided. The
accumulator includes a suction tube that has an inlet leg, an outlet
leg, and a bight portion between the inlet and outlet legs. A pickup
filter is mounted to the bight portion of the suction tube and has
a clasp circumscribing a portion thereof, with the clasp having
a flange extending therefrom with flange teeth thereon. A body portion
integrally extends from the clasp with a desiccant bag being mounted
thereto. The desiccant bag includes a flap extending from one end
thereof, with the flap having an aperture therethrough such that
the filter body portion of the pickup filter passes freely therethrough
so that a portion of the flexible flap mounts to a portion of the
clasp. In several embodiments, the aperture may also define a locating
edge at one end thereof for locating against a portion of the clasp
of the pickup filter to hold the desiccant bag in position on the
pickup filter while the fabric casing is tucked between the legs
of the suction tube.
In a further aspect of the present invention, a method of assembling
the desiccant bag within the accumulator is disclosed. The method
includes the following steps: providing a suction tube having an
inlet leg, an outlet leg, and a bight portion between the inlet
and outlet legs; providing a pickup filter mounted to the bight
portion of the suction tube, the pickup filter having a clasp circumscribing
a portion of the bight portion and having a flange extending therefrom,
the pickup filter further having a body portion connected with the
clasp; providing a desiccant bag having a casing and a flap extending
from one end of the casing, the flap having an aperture therethrough;
locating the flap of the desiccant bag to a portion of the clasp
of the pickup filter; pulling the desiccant bag such that the flap
further locates to the clasp of the pickup filter; wrapping the
desiccant bag around the bight portion of the suction tube such
that the body portion of the pickup filer passes freely through
the aperture; and tucking the desiccant bag between the inlet and
outlet legs of the suction tube to further retain the desiccant
bag in place within the accumulator.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to allow
greater dimensional variation between components, particularly between
an aperture of a desiccant bag and a corresponding attachment feature
on a suction tube, so as to reduce assembly time and cost. Therefore,
there is no need for tight tolerances on components and tight fits
between the components. Specifically, the present invention eliminates
the need to forcibly snap fit a tab aperture of a desiccant bag
over a sensitive pickup filter screen. Rather, a locating edge of
the tab aperture firmly engages a portion of the clasp of the pickup
filter and is pulled tightly thereagainst to assist in retaining
the desiccant bag to the suction tube. The desiccant bag of the
present invention is more completely retained to the suction tube
when a casing of the bag is tucked between the legs of the suction
tube.
It is another object of the present invention to immobilize a desiccant
bag in the proper location between the legs of the J-tube in order
to protect the bag from abrasion from rubbing against sidewalls
of a housing, and to protect the bag from contact with the sidewalls
and any associated heat that is generated during the manufacturing
process.
It is still another object of the invention to provide an easily
serviceable or replaceable self-retaining desiccant bag for an accumulator
that does not require any external straps, ties, wires, or clips
to retain the bag in place and does not require any specially cutout
geometry to be embossed or formed in the fabric casing.
It is yet another object of the invention to provide an accumulator
and self-retaining desiccant bag for use with a standard pickup
filter.
It is a further object to provide a self-retaining desiccant bag
for an accumulator that locates more positively to a pickup filter,
and is more robust to staying in place in comparison to prior art
designs.
It is still a further object to provide a self-retaining desiccant
bag that does not require force fitting a filter through an aperture
in the desiccant bag.
It is yet a further object to provide a self-retaining desiccant
bag that is easier to assemble to an associated accumulator in order
to reduce repetitive stress injury, reduce cycle time, and thereby
reduce manufacturing costs to achieve a more economical accumulator.
These objects and other features, aspects, and advantages of this
invention will be more apparent after a reading of the following
detailed description and appended claims taken in conjunction with
the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an accumulator according to an
embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a plan view of a desiccant bag according to the preferred
embodiment of the present invention, showing desiccant material
and the thickness of the bag in broken view;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the present
invention, showing a flap of the desiccant bag unlocked from a clasp
of a pickup filter;
FIG. 4 is also an enlarged perspective view of the portion of the
present invention of FIG. 3 showing the flap of the desiccant bag
being curled over the clasp of the pickup filter;
FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of the portion of the
present invention of FIG. 4 taken along lines 5--5 thereof and showing
the flap of the desiccant bag interlocked with the clasp of the
pickup filter;
FIG. 6A is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the preferred
embodiment of the present invention, showing the flap of the desiccant
bag interlocked to a clasp of a preferred pickup filter;
FIG. 6B is a partial cross-sectional view of FIG. 6A;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a portion of the accumulator of
FIG. 6A showing the desiccant bag initially located to the clasp
of the preferred pickup filter;
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a portion of the accumulator of
Fig 6A showing the desiccant bag being wrapped clockwise with respect
to a suction tube;
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a portion of the preferred accumulator
of FIG. 6A showing the casing of the desiccant bag being tucked
between legs of the suction tube to more completely retain the desiccant
bag within the accumulator;
FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment of
the pickup filter of the present invention showing a clip portion
extending curvilinearly along a clasp of the pickup filter;
FIG. 11 is a side view of an alternate embodiment of the accumulator
of the present invention showing the flexible flap of the desiccant
bag retained to the clasp of the pickup filter of FIG. 10; and
FIG. 12 is a partial cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment
of the present invention, showing the flap of the desiccant bag
mounted to an interior portion of the clasp.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
In general, a desiccant bag assembled within an accumulator assembly
is disclosed. While the present invention will be described below
in detail with respect to accumulators of automotive vehicle air-conditioning
systems, the present invention is also well suited to any other
refrigeration system. Accordingly, the present invention is not
limited to the automotive field. Further, though not shown in the
figures included herewith but well known to one of ordinary skill
in the art of refrigeration systems, a typical refrigeration system
includes: a compressor, the output of which flows to a condenser
through a liquid line with an orifice tube, then to an evaporator,
and then to an accumulator, and finally back to the compressor.
Referring now in detail to the Figures, there is shown in FIG.
2 a desiccant bag 20 according to the preferred embodiment of the
present invention. The desiccant bag 20 includes a fabric pouch
or casing 22 for containing loose desiccant material 24 as shown.
The desiccant bag 20 may be constructed in accordance with any method
known in the art, and from any material, such as a polyester felt.
The loose desiccant material 24 may be composed of any type of adsorbent
such as a silicate gel, alumino-silicate, alumina, calcium sulfate,
activated charcoal, or any other desired compound in bead, pellet,
or granular form. A flexible flap 26 extends longitudinally from
the fabric casing 22 and includes an aperture 28 therethrough. The
flexible flap 26 also includes a locating edge 30 at one side or
end of the aperture 28 and includes a radius 32 at the end opposite
the locating edge 30. It is preferred that the locating edge 30
be straight as shown, but it should be understood that any geometry
might be used for the aperture 28. The flexible flap 26 further
includes beveled edges 34 on opposite sides thereof.
FIG. 1 illustrates an accumulator 10 according to one embodiment
of the present invention. The accumulator 10 includes a cylindrical
housing 50 having a spun closed end 52 as shown in phantom line.
A cover 54 is welded or otherwise sealingly connected to an end
of the housing 50 opposite of the spun closed end 52. The cover
54 includes an inlet opening 56 and an outlet opening 58 therethrough.
A J-shaped or U-shaped suction tube or conduit 70 includes an outlet
leg 72 in communication with the outlet opening 58 of the cover
54 an inlet leg 74 in communication with the interior of the accumulator
10 and a bight 76 between the inlet and outlet legs 74 and 72.
A baffle 80 is mounted between the cover 54 and the inlet leg 74
of the suction tube 70 to direct incoming refrigerant flow toward
the inner surface of the housing 50. Accordingly, the inlet leg
74 is positioned directly underneath the baffle 80 to shield against
refrigerant flow incoming through the inlet opening 56 of the cover
54.
An oil pickup tube and filter body assembly, a.k.a. a pickup filter
90 is mounted to the suction tube 70 at the bight 76 thereof, as
is well known in the art. As best shown in FIG. 5 the pickup filter
90 has a clamp or clasp 92 that circumscribes the bight 76 of the
suction tube 70 and has a filter body or screen body 98 extending
integrally in a downward direction from the clasp 92. The clasp
92 includes a flange 94 extending transversely from the longitudinal
axis of the screen body 98 and including serrations or flange teeth
96 thereon. The flange teeth 96 may take the form of a single projection,
a sloped surface, or any other similar feature and are not limited
to only serration types of features. Any pickup filter 90 may be
used with the present invention, as will be apparent to those skilled
in the art.
Referring again to FIG. 1 the fabric casing 22 of the desiccant
bag 20 is sandwiched between the inlet and outlet legs 74 and 72
of the suction tube 70. The desiccant bag 20 also includes the flexible
flap 26 that extends from the fabric casing 22. The flexible flap
26 mounts around the pickup filter 90 and fixedly secures the desiccant
bag 20 in place to the suction tube 70.
FIG. 3 illustrates wrapping the flexible flap 26 of the desiccant
bag 20 freely over the screen body 98 (not shown in FIG. 1) and
in position, ready to be engaged with the clasp 92 of the pickup
filter 90 (shown in FIG. 1). As shown, the flexible flap 26 is in
a free state and is unlocked from the clasp 92 of the pickup filter
90 and the fabric casing 22 is tucked between the outlet and inlet
legs 72 and 74 of the suction tube 70. FIG. 4 illustrates the flexible
flap 26 of the desiccant bag 20 curled, from its state of rest as
shown in FIG. 3 upward over the clasp 92 of the pickup filter 90
so that the locating edge 30 of the flexible flap 26 is engageable
with the flange teeth 96 of the clasp 92. FIG. 5 illustrates the
flexible flap 26 fully mounted to the pickup filter 90 where the
locating edge 30 of the flexible flap 26 is registered in the flange
teeth 96 of the clasp 92 such that the flexible flap 26 is interlocked
therewith. Accordingly, the flexible flap 26 is interlocked to the
clasp 92 and the fabric casing 22 is sandwiched within the legs
of the suction tube 70 to integrally fasten the desiccant bag 20
to the suction tube 70. Thus, the desiccant bag 20 can be characterized
as a self-retaining component.
FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate a portion of an accumulator 110 according
to the preferred embodiment of the present invention wherein a pickup
filter 190 has a clasp 192 that circumscribes the bight 76 of the
suction tube 70 and has a screen portion or filter body 198 extending
integrally downwardly from the clasp 192. The filter body 198 includes
a flange or shoulder 198a proximate the clasp 192 and a screen 198b
disposed on the other side of the shoulder 198a away from the clasp
192. The clasp 192 includes a flange 194 extending transversely
from the longitudinal axis of the filter body 198 and the flange
194 has flange teeth 196 thereon. Preferably, the flange 194 includes
a projection 195 extending upwardly therefrom. The projection 195
traps the flexible flap 26 so that the flexible flap 26 will not
slip off the flange 194 when the locating edge 30 of the flexible
flap is contiguous or mounted against the flange 194. Accordingly,
the flexible flap 26 is interlocked to the clasp 192 and the fabric
casing 22 is sandwiched between the legs of the suction tube 70
to integrally fasten the desiccant bag 20 to the suction tube 70.
FIGS. 7 through 9 illustrate a preferred method of assembling the
accumulator 110 that includes the following steps: providing the
above-mentioned hardware incorporating the preferred pickup filter
190 of FIGS. 6A and 6B; placing the flexible flap 26 of the desiccant
bag 20 over the clasp 192 of the pickup filter 190 between the projection
195 and the inlet and outlet tubes 74 and 72 of the suction tube
70 so that the locating edge 30 of the flexible flap 26 is registered
in the flange teeth 196 (shown in FIG. 6B) of the clasp 192 of the
pickup filter 190; wrapping the desiccant bag 20 around the bight
76 of the suction tube 70 such that the aperture 28 of the flexible
flap 26 of the desiccant bag 20 locates over the filter body 198
of the pickup filter 190; and tucking the fabric casing 22 of the
desiccant bag 20 between the inlet and outlet legs 74 and 72 to
integrally fasten the desiccant bag 20 within the accumulator 110.
These steps can be performed in any other order if desired.
FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10 shows an alternative pickup filter 290 that has a clasp
292 and a screen portion or filter body 298 extending integrally
downwardly from the clasp 292. The filter body 298 includes a shoulder
298a proximate the clasp 292 and a screen 298b disposed on the other
side of the shoulder 298a away from the clasp 292. The clasp 292
includes a flange 294 extending transversely from the longitudinal
axis of the filter body 298. A resilient integral arm or clip 299
is disposed substantially opposite of the flange 294 and extends
curvilinearly along one adjacent side of the clasp 292 from a land
293 between the filter body 298 and one side of the clasp 292.
As shown in an accumulator 210 depicted in FIG. 11 the clip 299
effectively traps the flexible flap 26 of the desiccant bag 20 between
the clip 299 and an adjacent side 292A of the clasp 292. Due to
the resiliency of the clip 299 the flexible flap 26 fits between
the clip 299 and the adjacent side 292A of the clasp 292 under an
interference fit condition so that the flexible flap 26 will not
slip off the clasp 292 when the locating edge 30 of the flexible
flap 26 is contiguous or mounted thereto. The flexible flap 26 is
first placed over the clasp 292 such that the filter body 298 and
clasp 292 of the pickup filter 290 extend freely through the aperture
(not shown) in the flexible flap 26. One end of the flexible flap
26 is then slipped over the clip 299 located between the clip 299
and the adjacent side 292A of the clasp 292 and pulled with respect
thereto such that the locating edge 30 locates against the land
293 of the clasp 292. The fabric casing 22 of the desiccant bag
20 is then wrapped around and tucked between the legs of the suction
tube 70. Accordingly, the flexible flap 26 is interlocked to the
clasp 292 and the fabric casing 22 is sandwiched within the legs
of the suction tube 70 to integrally fasten the desiccant bag 20
to the suction tube 70.
Referring now to the alternative embodiment of FIG. 12 a pickup
filter 90' is disclosed that is slightly modified from the pickup
filter 90 of FIG. 5. It is contemplated, however, that the pickup
filter of FIG. 5 can be adapted for use with the alternative fastening
arrangement of FIG. 12. In any case, the pickup filter 90' has a
clasp 92' that circumscribes the bight 76 of the suction tube 70
and has a screen body 98' extending downward from the clasp 92'.
The clasp 92' includes a flange 94' extending transversely from
the longitudinal axis of the screen body 98'. As before, the fabric
casing 22 of the desiccant bag 20 is sandwiched between the inlet
and outlet legs 74 and 72 of the suction tube 70. The desiccant
bag 20 also includes the flexible flap 26 that extends from the
fabric casing 22.
The flexible flap 26 mounts to the clasp 92' of the pickup filter
90', wherein a portion of the flexible flap 26 is entrapped between
the clasp 92' and the suction tube 70. The clasp 92' of the pickup
filter 90' has an internal land portion 93', and the flexible flap
26 of the desiccant bag 20 has a locating edge 30 defined by a portion
of the aperture 28. The flexible flap 26 mounts to the clasp 92'
with the locating edge 30 being located against the internal land
portion 93' between the clasp 92' and the suction tube 70. This
is accomplished with the following steps: assembling the pickup
filter 90' to the suction tube 70 with the clasp 92' open; locating
the locating edge 30 of the desiccant bag 20 to the internal land
portion 93'; closing or interlocking the clasp 92' together over
the flexible flap 26; and wrapping the desiccant bag 20 between
the legs of the suction tube 70. Thus, it is possible to use a standard
"off the shelf" pickup filter with the desiccant bag 20
of the present invention to achieve an inherent and integral fastening
arrangement.
From the above, it can be appreciated that a significant advantage
of the present invention is that, in contrast with the prior art,
greater tolerances between the aperture of the desiccant bag and
the pickup filter may be used. Greater tolerances permit easier
manufacture of the components, which necessarily results in less
expensive components.
Additionally, the aperture may include a tolerance of up to plus
or minus five millimeters, in contrast with the prior art aperture
that requires plus or minus 0.25 millimeters. This twenty-fold increase
in tolerance is possible because the fastening arrangement of the
present invention is not dependent upon a diametric interference
fit, as with the LeConey et al. references. There, the diametric
interference fit must be toleranced very tightly such that the aperture
of the flexible flap will not easily pass back over the periphery
of the flange of the pickup filter after it has been assembled.
With the present invention, a diametric interference fit fastening
arrangement is not used. Instead, an edge locating and interlocking
type of fit is used, which is inherently more forgiving in terms
of tolerances required. Only one edge of the aperture is relied
upon for interlocking the flap to the pickup filter. Thus, the location
of that edge, in contrast with an overall opening dimension of the
aperture, is all that need be controlled in production thereof.
Therefore, the exact location of the edge may vary greatly and will
not detrimentally affect the fastening of the desiccant bag to the
suction tube. In contrast, the opening dimension of the apertures
of the prior art may not vary similarly, and indeed must be controlled
very closely with very tight tolerances.
While the present invention has been described in terms of a preferred
embodiment, it is apparent that other forms could be adopted by
one skilled in the art. For example, the exact geometry of the flap
and the aperture may be varied as well as the geometry of the corresponding
flange of the clasp of the pickup filter. An example of an oil pickup
filter similar to the pickup filter of the present invention is
disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5970738 and is incorporated by reference
herein. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is to be
limited only by the following claims.
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