We claim:
1. A suction muffler for a hermetic sealed reciprocating compressor which comprises (i) a muffling chamber having a body of a synthetic polymeric material and (ii) a synthetic polymeric perforated tube passing through the muffling chamber carrying refrigerant fluid from the suction tube of the compressor to the suction port on the valve plate of a cylinder in which a piston reciprocates.
2. A suction muffler for a hermetic reciprocating compressor as claimed in claim 1, in which the diameter of the perforated tube varies from 0.1 to 1.
3. A suction muffler for a hermetic reciprocating compressor as claimed in claim 1, in which the number of perforations in the perforated tube vary from 4 to 120.
4. A suction muffler for a hermetically sealed compressor as claimed in claim 1 , in which the diameter of the perforations of the muffler tube vary from 0.01 to 0.25
5. A suction muffler for a hermetically sealed compressor as claimed in claim 1, in which a drain hole is provided at the bottom of the muffler chamber to drain lubricating oil present along with refrigerant fluid flowing through the muffler.
6. A suction muffler for a hermetically sealed compressor as claimed in claim 1, in which the perforated tube diverges at least 10 percent along its length from its inlet to its outlet.
7. A suction muffler for a hermetically sealed compressor as claimed in claim 1, in which the perforated tube and the muffling chamber are integrally molded as two separate halves joined together by bonding or ultrasonic welding.
8. A suction muffler for a hermetically sealed compressor as claimed in claim 1, in which the perforated tube has a projection tongue near its outlet end for mounting the muffler in a complementary slot formed in the cylinder head such that the muffler outlet is in fluid tight communication with the suction port on the valve plate.
8. A method of mounting a muffler directly in a cylinder head of a hermetically sealed compressor comprising the steps of:
i forming a projection tongue on the muffler tube;
ii forming a slot on the cylinder head complementary to the projection formed on the muffler tube; and
iii mounting the muffler in the cylinder head by press fitting the projection on the muffler tube into the slot in the cylinder head.
9. A hermetically sealed compressor which comprises a motor compressor assembly mounted in a shell which includes a cylinder head and a muffler in which the muffler is fitted to the cylinder head by means of a male projection formed on the muffler tube and a complementary slot formation provided in the cylinder head and clamped over by the pressure of a valve plate.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A method of providing a retrofit component for an appliance comprising the steps of:
removing a mechanical component from an appliance; and
replacing the removed mechanical component with a new mechanical component that is operable to provide power to a separate electrical device.
2. The method of providing a retrofit component as claimed in claim 1, further comprising another step of providing an interface for receiving power.
3. The method of providing a retrofit component as claimed in claim 1, further comprising another step of providing an electrical service.
4. The method of providing a retrofit component as claimed in claim 1, further comprising another consumer electronic device independently operable from said new mechanical component.
5. The method of providing a retrofit component as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of offering said new mechanical component for sale to a customer.
6. The method of providing a retrofit component as claimed in claim 1, wherein said separate electrical device is a portable consumer electric device.
7. The method of providing a retrofit component as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of supplying documentation about the retrofit component to a customer.
8. The method of providing a retrofit component as claimed in claim 1, wherein said new mechanical component has a function that is in addition to a function of the mechanical component.
9. The method of providing a retrofit component as claimed in claim 1, wherein the new mechanical component is one of a handle, a hinge, an appliance surface, trim component, drip pan, ice dispenser, and badge.
10. A method of providing a retrofit component for an appliance comprising the steps of:
offering a retrofit component for sale to a customer;
supplying the retrofit component to a customer; and
wherein the retrofit component is a mechanical component that is configured to have a consumer electronic device associated therewith.
11. The method of providing a retrofit component as claimed in claim 10, further comprising the step of supplying information to a customer about how to install the retrofit component.
12. The method of providing a retrofit component as claimed in claim 10, wherein the retrofit component is one of a handle, trim member, water dispenser, a hinge, an appliance surface, and a logo.
13. The method of providing a retrofit component as claimed in claim 10, further comprising the step of providing an electrical source in communication with said retrofit component.
14. The method of providing a retrofit component as claimed in claim 10, further comprising the step of providing another consumer electric device.
15. A method of providing a retrofit component for a host comprising the steps of:
removing a mechanical component from a host; and
replacing the removed mechanical component with a new mechanical component that is operable to provide power to a consumer electronic device.
16. The method of providing a retrofit component as claimed in claim 15, wherein said host is an appliance.
17. The method of providing a retrofit component as claimed in claim 15, wherein said new mechanical component includes an adapter for receiving said consumer electronic device.
18. The method of providing a retrofit component as claimed in claim 15, further comprising the step of providing an electrical source in communication with said new mechanical component.
19. The method of providing a retrofit component as claimed in claim 15, further comprising the step of providing instructions to a consumer so as to inform the consumer on how to replace the removed mechanical component with a new mechanical component.
20. The method of providing a retrofit component as claimed in claim 15, further comprising the step of providing another consumer electronic device that receives a service from said new mechanical component.
21. A method of providing a retrofit component for a component of an appliance having a useful function comprising the steps of:
offering a retrofit component for sale to a customer;
supplying the retrofit component to a customer;
supplying information to a customer about how to install the retrofit component; and
wherein the retrofit component supplies the useful function and a different user function unrelated to the appliance.
22. The method of claim 21 wherein the useful function is one of delivering media content, component holding, component charging, and component storage.
23. The method of claim 22 further comprising the steps of:
offering other components for sale that can be affixed to the retrofit component;
supplying the other components to a customer; and
supplying information to a customer about how to affix the other component to the retrofit component.