Refrigerant charging system
AssigneeGerlach Industries
InventorJoseph T. Correia
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for charging a refrigeration system with a predetermined amount of refrigerant by weight. The apparatus includes a cylinder which is mounted on top of a strain gauge scale that is first filled from a source of refrigrant and then automatically discharged to fill a refrigeration system with a predetermined amount of refrigerant. The system includes solenoid operated valves which are automatically operated for loading the cylinder and charging the refrigeration system. A vacuum pump is also included in the circuit for placing the refrigeration system under a predetermined vacuum prior to the charging operation.
Claims8
A system for charging a refrigeration system with a predetermined weight of refrigerant from a supply of refrigerant comprising:
- a first conduit extending between said supply of refrigerant and said refrigeration system;
- a strain gauge scale;
- a cylinder carried on said strain gauge scale;
- a piston carried in said cylinder isolating an upper portion of said cylinder from a lower portion;
- means for diverting the flow of refrigerant from said first conduit into said upper portion of said cylinder depressing said piston a predetermined distance;
- means for disconnecting said supply of refrigerant from said first conduit;
- a pressurized source of air connected to said lower portion of said cylinder forcing said refrigerant out said top portion of said cylinder into said refrigeration system;
- means operably connected to said scale for disconnecting said refrigeration system from said first conduit upon a predetermined weight of refrigerant being transferred from said cylinder to said refrigeration system.
A method of charging a refrigeration system with a predetermined weight of refrigerant from a supply of refrigerant comprising:
- loading an upper portion of a cylinder which is carried on a strain gauge operated scale with said refrigerant depressing a piston carried therein to a predetermined position;
- said piston being depressed during loading of said upper portion of said cylinder until said piston activates a switch upon reaching said predetermined position which automatically stops the loading of said refrigerant into said upper portion of said cylinder and resets said strain gauge scale to zero;
- placing said refrigeration system under a vacuum;
- connecting said upper portion of said cylinder to said refrigeration system after said refrigeration system is placed under a vacuum;
- applying pressurized air to a lower portion of said cylinder forcing said piston upward in said cylinder and said refrigerant out said cylinder into said refrigeration system until a predetermined weight of refrigerant as measured by said strain gauge operated scale is loaded into said refrigeration system;
- and
- automatically stopping the flow of refrigerant into said refrigeration system when said strain gauge generates a signal indicating said predetermined weight of refrigerant has been loaded into said refrigeration system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.