Refrigerant recovery and charging device

A method of recovering refrigerant from a totally separate and independent cooling system being serviced of the type having a compressor for circulating a compressible refrigerant in a closed, pressurized system between a condenser and an evaporator to provide a cooling effect, the method of servicing comprising the steps of:

• connecting a storage container having an interior and having a fill port to said totally separate and independent closed, pressurized system by connecting a fluid conduit between said fill port and said totally separate and independent closed, pressurized system;
• providing heat exchange coils located within said storage container interior, said heat exchange coils being connected to a refrigeration unit distinct from the system being serviced for circulating compressible refrigerant through said coils;
• and
• cooling the interior of said storage container by circulating refrigerant through said heat exchange coils located within said storage container interior to thereby create a low pressure atmosphere within said storage container and to maintain a pressure gradient between said storage container and said totally separate and independent closed, pressurized system to draw refrigerant from said totally separate and independent closed, pressurized system into said storage container.

A method of servicing the refrigerant in a vehicle air conditioning system of the type having a compressor for circulating a compressible refrigerant in a closed, pressurized system between a condenser and an evaporator to provide a cooling effect, the servicing method comprising the steps of:

• providing a storage container with a fill port and with heat exchange coils located within said storage container, said heat exchange coils being connected to a refrigeration system distinct from the system being serviced for circulating refrigerant through said heat exchanged coils to cool the interior of said container;
• connecting said container fill port to the totally separate and independent air conditioning system to be serviced by a fluid conduit having a supply valve thereon;
• opening the supply valve to communicate the totally separate and independent closed, pressurized system to said storage container and allowing the pressure within said container to equalize with the pressure within said closed system;
• circulating refrigerant through said heat exchange coils to cool the interior of said container and provide a low pressure atmosphere therein to draw refrigerant from said totally separate and independent vehicle air conditioning system into said container;
• closing said supply valve in said fluid conduit to trap the refrigerant recovered from said vehicle air conditioning system being serviced within said storage container;
• and
• shutting off the flow of refrigerant through said heat exchange coils.