Automatic refrigerant recovery, purification and recharge apparatus

Apparatus for recovery of refrigerant from an air conditioning system, comprising means for connection to the refrigerant-containing portion of said air-conditioning system;

• first pump means coupled at its inlet side to said connection means for producing a vacuum level at said connection means for effecting essentially complete recovery of said refrigerant and for producing a pressure at said first pump means outlet side for liquifying said refrigerant;
• evaporator means coupled intermediate said connection means and said pump means for vaporizing refrigerant in transit towards said pump means;
• condensor means coupled to the outlet side of said first pump means for liquifying said refrigerant under the pressure of said first pump means and at essentially ambient temperature;
• first tank means for receiving liquified condensate from said condenser means;
• first powered valve means movable between open and shut conditions an disposed intermediate said evaporator means and said connection means;
• second powered valve means movable between open and shut conditions and disposed intermediate said condenser means and said first tank means;
• and second pressure switch means disposed intermediate said condenser means and said first tank means for sensing the pressure thereat and operatively coupled to said first and second powered valve means for shutting said first and second powered valve means when the pressure sensed by said second switch means reaches a pre-selected level representative of a blockage in said apparatus.

Apparatus for recovery of refrigerant from an air conditioning system, comprising means for connection to the refrigerant-containing portion of said air-conditioning system;

• first pump means coupled at its inlet side to said connection means for producing a vacuum level at said connection means for effecting essentially complete recovery of said refrigerant and for producing a pressure at said first pump means outlet side for liquifying said refrigerant;
• evaporator means coupled intermediate said connection means and said pump means for vaporizing refrigerant in transit towards said pump means;
• condenser means coupled to the outlet side of said first pump means for liquifying said refrigerant under the pressure of said first pump means and at essentially ambient temperature;
• first tank means for receiving liquified condensate from said condenser means;
• first filter means coupled intermediate said evaporator means and said connection means for removing particulate matter and coalescing and removing oil from said refrigerant;
• and moisture detector means disposed intermediate said second filter means and said tank means for detecting moisture escaping from said second filter means and providing an alarm indication when said moisture reaches a pre-determined level.

Apparatus for recovery of refrigerant from an air conditioning system, comprising means for connection to the refrigerant-containing portion of said air-conditioning system;

• first pump means coupled at its inlet side to said connection means for producing a vacuum level at said connection means for effecting essentially complete recovery of said refrigerant and for producing a pressure at said first pump means outlet side for liquifying said refrigerant;
• evaporator means coupled intermediate said connection means and said pump means for vaporizing refrigerant in transit towards said pump means;
• condenser means coupled to the outlet side of said first pump means for liquifying said refrigerant under the pressure of said first pump means and at essentially ambient temperature;
• first tank means for receiving liquified condensate from said condenser means;
• and heat-exchanger means connecting said condenser and evaporator means, whereby the latent heat involved in condensation of said refrigerant in said condenser means may be utilized for evaporation of said refrigerant in said evaporator means, said heat-exchange means being an air-transport means for producing an airstream, said air-transport means being disposed for moving air to said evaporator means and thence to said condenser means.

Apparatus for recovery of refrigerant from an air conditioning system, comprising means for connection to the refrigerant-containing portion of said air-conditioning system;

• first pump means coupled at its inlet side to said connection means for producing a vacuum level at said connection means for effecting essentially complete recovery of said refrigerant and for producing a pressure at said first pump means outlet side for liquifying said refrigerant;
• evaporator means coupled intermediate said connection means and said pump means for vaporizing refrigerant in transit towards said pump means;
• condenser means coupled to the outlet side of said first pump means for liquifying said refrigerant under the pressure of said first pump means and at essentially ambient temperature;
• first tank means for receiving liquified condensate from said condenser means;
• second pump means coupled for transfer of refrigerant from an outlet of said first tank means to an air-conditioning system;
• vacuum pump means connectable to an air-conditioning system for evacuating same preparatory to adding refrigerant thereto;
• fourth powered valve means disposed intermediate said first tank means and said second pump means for controlling the flow of refrigerant therebetween;
• and fourth pressure switch means disposable intermediate said vacuum pump means and said air-conditioning system for sensing the pressure thereat and operatively coupled to said fourth powered valve means and said vacuum pump means for stopping said vacuum pump and opening said fourth powered valve means when the pressure sensed by said fourth pressure switch means drops to a pre-determined value.

Apparatus for recovery of refrigerant from an air-conditioning system, comprising means for connection to the refrigerant-containing portion of said air-conditioning system;

• first pump means coupled at its inlet side to said connection means for producing a vacuum level at said connection means for effecting essentially complete recovery of said refrigerant and for producing a pressure at said first pump means outlet side for liquifying said refrigerant;
• condenser means coupled to the outlet side of said first pump means for liquifying said refrigerant under the pressure of said first pump means and at essentially ambient temperature;
• first tank means for receiving liquified condensate from said condenser means;
• first powered valve means movable between open and shut conditions and disposed intermediate said pump means and said connection means;
• second powered valve means movable between open and shut conditions and disposed intermediate said condenser means and said first tank means;
• and first pressure switch means disposed intermediate said pump means and said connection means for sensing the pressure thereat and operatively connected to said first and second powered valve means for automatically shutting said first and second powered valve means when the sensed pressure drops to a pre-determined level representative of conclusion of refrigerant recovery.

Apparatus for recovery of refrigerant from an air conditioning system, comprising means for connection to the refrigerant-containing portion of said air-conditioning system;

• first pump means coupled at its inlet side to said connection means for producing a vacuum level at said connection means for effecting essentially complete recovery of said refrigerant and for producing a pressure at said first pump means outlet side for liquifying said refrigerant;
• condenser means coupled to the outlet side of said first pump means for liquifying said refrigerant under the pressure of said first pump means and at essentially ambient temperature;
• first tank means for receiving liquified condensate from said condenser means;
• first filter means coupled intermediate said pump means and said connection means for removing particulate matter and coalescing and removing oil from said refrigerant;
• and moisture detector means disposed intermediate said second filter means and said tank means for detecting moisture escaping from said second filter means and providing an alarm indication when said moisture reaches a pre-determined level.