Oil separator

摘要

The present invention relates to an oil separator (10) for separating oil from a gaseous medium discharged by a compressor (72). The oil separator (10) includes an inlet (12) for communication with the discharge outlet of a compressor, and first and second outlets (14,16). The first outlet (14) allows separated refrigerant to escape the oil separator (10), and the second outlet (16) allows separated oil to escape the oil separator (10). A tortuous path (20) lies between the inlet (12) and a first outlet (14), and is comprised of one or more enlarged regions (22) and one or more narrow regions (26) that are angularly situated with each other. The walls of the tortuous path (20) provide surfaces (24,28) on which the oil contained within the gaseous medium can be impinged, and thereby separated from the gaseous medium. The oil separator (10) may also include a collection chamber (44) and drainage pathways (46) that communicate with the tortuous path (20). The oil separator (10) can be a separate body that is attached to a compressor (72), or may be integrally formed by a housing (74) of a compressor (72). <IMAGE>