Cool Cruiser.(air conditioning accumulator from Parker Hannifin Corp. enhances PT Cruiser's sir conditioning system)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)

Design News, December, 2000 by Wiebusch, Bruce

DETROIT--Keeping passengers cool in the 2001 PT Cruiser was a design challenge involving efficiency. The 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine taking up only 148.2 [inch.sup.3] total volume necessitated designing a special air conditioning accumulator that would fit into a confined area.

The accumulator from Parker Hannifin Corp. (Lyon, NY) uses a patented helix design that improves oil circulation. "The helix design provides a swirling and stirring motion that helps keep the oil and refrigerant mixture consistent," says Cary Horamoto, engineering manager of Parker Hannifin's refrigeration and air conditioning division. Keeping the mixture consistent reduces the amount of oil needed for charging the system, creating a cost savings for DaimlerChrysler.