Packaging of replaceable desiccant in an accumulator or receiver dryer

摘要

A pressure vessel housing that can be brazed and leak tested before adding desiccant material, eliminating the risk of damaging desiccant bags during assembly. The desiccant is added to the housing of the pressure vessel through an existing inlet opening in the top of the accumulator housing, thereby eliminating the potential for damage to the desiccant and the desiccant container while maintaining the integrity of the housing because no additional openings in the housing are required to access the desiccant material. A screen permanently mounted inside the pressure vessel supports the loose desiccant material and another screen removably attached to the inlet opening provides access to the loose desiccant material housed within the pressure vessel. A method of making the pressure vessel allows the accumulator assembly to be leak tested before the desiccant is added, reducing scrap and allowing repair of accumulator assemblies.