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US 4,688,388 AGranted

Service station for refrigeration equipment

AssigneeKent-Moore Corporation

InventorsRalph C. Lower, Kenneth W. Manz, Gary P. Murray

Life of this patent

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Abstract Drawings Claims Description

Abstract

Apparatus for service and recharge of refrigeration equipment, with particular application to automotive air conditioning equipment. A vacuum pump, and oil and refrigerant charge containers are housed within a portable enclosure and configured for selective connection by electrically operated solenoid valves to refrigeration equipment under service. The refrigerant and oil containers are carried by a scale which provides electrical outputs signals as a function of weight of refrigerant and oil remaining in the containers. A microprocessor-based controller receives the scale signals and control signals from an operator panel for automatically cycling through vacuum, oil charge and refrigerant charge stages in a programmed mode of operation. The microprocessor-based controller includes facility for operator programming of the vacuum time and oil and refrigerant charge quantities, and for self- or operator-implemented diagnostics. Operating conditions and stages are displayed at all times to the operator.

Claims26

Dependent claims

Claim 1Apparatus for charging refrigeration equipment comprising vacuum and charging means · 322 wordsNo dependents Claim 2Apparatus for charging refrigeration equipment comprising vacuum and charging means · 246 wordsNo dependents Claim 3Apparatus for charging refrigeration equipment comprising vacuum and charging means · 300 words1 dependent Claim 5Apparatus for charging refrigeration equipment comprising vacuum and charging means · 235 words1 dependent Claim 7Apparatus for charging refrigeration equipment comprising vacuum and charging means · 291 wordsNo dependents Claim 8Apparatus for charging refrigeration equipment comprising vacuum and charging means · 228 wordsNo dependents Claim 9Apparatus for charging refrigeration equipment comprising vacuum and charging means · 317 wordsNo dependents Claim 10Apparatus for charging refrigeration equipment comprising vacuum and charging means · 239 wordsNo dependents Claim 11Apparatus for charging refrigeration equipment comprising vacuum and charging means · 266 words1 dependent Claim 13Apparatus for charging refrigeration equipment comprising vacuum and charging means · 259 wordsNo dependents Claim 14Apparatus for charging refrigeration equipment comprising vacuum and charging means · 284 wordsNo dependents Claim 15Apparatus for charging refrigeration equipment comprising vacuum and charging means · 244 words8 dependent Claim 24Apparatus for charging refrigeration equipment comprising vacuum and charging means · 246 wordsNo dependents Claim 25Apparatus for charging refrigeration equipment comprising vacuum and charging means · 281 words1 dependent

Apparatus for charging refrigeration equipment comprising

vacuum and charging means including a vacuum pump, a pressurized source of refrigerant and means for selectively connecting said vacuum pump and said pressurized refrigerant source to refrigeration equipment to be charged,
control means including means in an automatic mode of operation for connecting said vacuum pump to the refrigeration equipment in a first stage of said automatic mode for a preselected time duration, and for connecting said pressurized refrigerant source to the refrigeration equipment in a second stage of said automatic mode to transfer a preselected quantity of refrigerant to the refrigeration equipment,
data entry and sequence control means responsive to an operator, coupled to said control means and comprising an alphanumeric keypad having first keys associated with numeric data and second keys associated with sequence commands, said control means further including means in a programming mode of operation for receiving and storing data from said data entry and sequence control means indicative of said preselected time and said preselected quantity,
means coupled to said control means and to said data entry and sequence control means for selectively initiating said automatic and programming mode of operation,
sequence display means for indicating mode of operation of said control means to an operator and including means coordinated with said sequence command second keys for indicating to an operator ones of said sequence command second keys to be activated for transfer between said modes of operation, and
alphanumeric display means coupled to said control means, said control means including means for displaying said preselected time and quantity at said alphanumeric display means in said programming mode of operation, and means in said automatic mode of operation for initially displaying in each of said first and second stages a corresponding said preselected time and quantity at said alphanumeric display means and for thereafter decrementing said display as a function of operation to indicate progress of the corresponding said stage.

3 more elements

Apparatus for charging refrigeration equipment comprising

vacuum and charging means including a vacuum pump, a pressurized source of refrigerant and means for selectively connecting said vacuum pump and said pressurized refrigerant source to refrigeration equipment to be charged,
control means including means in an automatic mode of operation for connecting said vacuum pump to the refrigeration equipment in a first stage of said automatic mode for a preselected time duration, and for connecting said pressurized refrigerant source to the refrigeration equipment in a second stage of said automatic mode to transfer a preselected quantity of refrigerant to the refrigeration equipment,
data entry and sequence control means responsive to an operator and coupled to said control means, said control means further including means in a programming mode of operation for receiving and storing data from said data entry and sequence control means indicative of said preselected time and said preselected quantity,
means coupled to said control means and to said data entry and sequence control means for selectively initiating said automatic and programming modes of operation, and
alphanumeric display means coupled to said control means, said control means including means for displaying said preselected time and quantity at said alphanumeric display means in said programming mode of operation, and means for initially displaying in each of said first and second stages a corresponding said preselected time and quantity, and for thereafter decrementing said display as a function of operation to indicate progress of the corresponding said stage.

2 more elements

Apparatus for charging refrigeration equipment comprising

vacuum and charging means including a vacuum pump, a pressurized source of refrigerant and means for selectively connecting said vacuum pump and said pressurized refrigerant source to refrigeration equipment to be charged,
control means including means in an automatic mode of operation for connecting said vacuum pump to the refrigeration equipment in a first stage of said automatic mode for a preselected time duration, and for connecting said pressurized refrigerant source to the refrigeration equipment in a second stage of said automatic mode to transfer a preselected quantity of refrigerant to the refrigeration equipment,
data entry and sequence control means responsive to an operator, coupled to said control means and comprising an alphanumeric keypad having first keys associated with numeric data and second keys associated with sequence commands, said control means further including means in a programming mode of operation for receiving and storing data from said data entry and sequence control means indicative of said preselected time and said preselected quantity,
means coupled to said control means and to said data entry and sequence control means for selectively initiating said automatic and programming modes of operation,
sequence display means for indicating mode of operation of said control means to an operator and including means coordinated with said sequence command second keys for indicating to an operator ones of said sequence command second keys to be activated for transfer between said modes of operation, and
alphanumeric display means coupled to said control means, said control means including means for displaying said preselected time and quantity at said alphanumeric display means in both said automatic and said programming modes of operation, means for detecting malfunction of said apparatus, and means for displaying an error message at said alphanumeric display means corresponding to the detected malfunction.

3 more elements

Apparatus for charging refrigeration equipment comprising

vacuum and charging means including a vacuum pump, a pressurized source of refrigerant and means for selectively connecting said vacuum pump and said pressurized refrigerant source to refrigeration equipment to be charged,
control means including means in an automatic mode of operation for connecting said vacuum pump to the refrigeration equipment in a first stage of said automatic mode for a preselected time duration, and for connecting said pressurized refrigerant source to the refrigeration equipment in a second stage of said automatic mode to transfer a preselected quantity of refrigerant to the refrigeration equipment,
data entry and sequence control means responsive to an operator and coupled to said control means, said control means further including means in a programming mode of operation for receiving and storing data from said data entry and sequence control means indicative of said preselected time and said preselected quantity,
means coupled to said control means and to said data entry and sequence control means for selectively initiating said automatic and programming modes of operation, and
alphanumeric display means coupled to said control means, said control means including means for displaying said preselected time and quantity at said alphanumeric display means in both said automatic and said programming modes of operation, means for detecting malfunction of said apparatus, and means for displaying an error message at said alphanumeric display means corresponding to the detected malfunction.

2 more elements

Apparatus for charging refrigeration equipment comprising

vacuum and charging means including a vacuum pump, a pressurized source of refrigerant and means for selectively connecting said vacuum pump and said pressurized refrigerant source to refrigeration equipment to be charged,
control means including means in an automatic mode of operation for connecting said vacuum pump to the refrigeration equipment in a first stage of said automatic mode for a preselected time duration, and for connecting said pressurized refrigerant source to the refrigeration equipment in a second stage of said automatic mode to transfer a preselected quantity of refrigerant to the refrigeration equipment,
data entry and sequence control means responsive to an operator, coupled to said control means and comprising an alphanumeric keypad having first keys associated with numeric data and second keys associated with sequence commands, said control means further including means in a programming mode of operation for receiving and storing data from said data entry and sequence control means indicative of said preselected time and said preselected quantity,
means coupled to said control means and to said data entry and sequence control means for selectively initiating said automatic and programming modes of operation,
sequence display means for indicating mode of operation of said control means to an operator and including means coordinated with said sequence command keys for indicating to an operator ones of said sequence command second keys to be activated for transfer between said modes of operation, and
alphanumeric display means coupled to said control means, said control means including means for displaying said preselected time and quantity at said alphanumeric display means in both said automatic and said programming modes of operation, and means for indicating at said alphanumeric display means completion of said automatic mode of operation.

3 more elements

Apparatus for charging refrigeration equipment comprising

vacuum and charging means including a vacuum pump, a pressurized source of refrigerant and means for selectively connecting said vacuum pump and said pressurized refrigerant source to refrigeration equipment to be charged,
control means including means in an automatic mode of operation for connecting said vacuum pump to the refrigeration equipment in a first stage of said automatic mode for a preselected time duration, and for connecting said pressurized refrigerant source to the refrigerator equipment in a second stage of said automatic mode to transfer a preselected quantity of refrigerant to the refrigeration equipment,
data entry and sequence control means responsive to an operator and coupled to said control means, said control means further including means in a programming mode of operation for receiving and storing data from said data entry and sequence control means indicative of said preselected time and said preselected quantity,
means coupled to said control means and to said data entry and sequence control means for selectively initiating said automatic and programming modes of operation, and
alphanumeric display means coupled to said control means, said control means including means for displaying said preselected time and quantity at said alphanumeric display means in both said automatic and said programming modes of operation, and means for indicating at said alphanumeric display means completion of said automatic control mode of operation.

2 more elements

Apparatus for charging refrigeration equipment comprising

vacuum and charging means including a vacuum pump, a pressurized source of refrigerant and means for selectively connecting said vacuum pump and said pressurized refrigerant source to refrigeration equipment to be charged,
control means including means in an automatic mode of operation for connecting said vacuum pump to the refrigeration equipment in a first stage of said automatic mode for a preselected time duration, and for connecting said pressurized refrigerant source to the refrigeration equipment in a second stage of said automatic mode to transfer a preselected quantity of refrigerant to the refrigeration equipment,
data entry and sequence control means responsive to an operator, coupled to said control means and comprising an alphanumeric keypad having first keys associated with numeric data and second keys associated with sequence commands, said control means further including means in a programming mode of operation for receiving and storing data from said data entry and sequence control means indicative of said preselected time and said preselected quantity,
means coupled to said control means and to said data entry and sequence control means for selectively initiating said automatic and programming modes of operation,
sequence display means for indicating mode of operation of said control means to an operator and including means coordinated with said sequence command second keys for indicating to an operator ones of said sequence command second keys to be activated for transfer between said modes of operation, and
alphanumeric display means coupled to said control means, said control means including means for displaying said preselected time and quantity at said alphanumeric display means in both said automatic and said programming modes of operation, and means distinct from said means operable in said automatic mode and responsive to said second keys for coupling said refrigerant source to the refrigeration equipment to transfer a predetermined quantity of refrigerant to the equipment independently of said automatic mode.

3 more elements

Apparatus for charging refrigeration equipment comprising

vacuum and charging means including a vacuum pump, a pressurized source of refrigerant and means for selectively connecting said vacuum pump and said pressurized refrigerant source to refrigeration equipment to be charged,
control means including means in an automatic mode of operation for connecting said vacuum pump to the refrigeration equipment in a first stage of said automatic mode for a preselected time duration, and for connecting said pressurized refrigerant source to the refrigeration equipment in a second stage of said automatic mode to transfer a preselected quantity of refrigerant to the refrigeration equipment,
data entry and sequence control means responsive to an operator, coupled to said control means and comprising an alphanumeric keypad having first keys associated with numeric data and second keys associated with sequence commands, said control means further including means in a programming mode of operation for receiving and storing data from said data entry and sequence control means indicative of said preselected time and said preselected quantity, and
means coupled to said control means and to said data entry and sequence control means for selectively initiating said automatic and programming modes of operation,
said control means further comprising means distinct from said means operable in said automatic mode and responsive to said second keys for coupling said refrigerant source to the refrigeration equipment to transfer a predetermined quantity of refrigerant to the equipment independently of said automatic mode.

2 more elements

Apparatus for charging refrigeration equipment comprising

vacuum and charging means including a vacuum pump, a pressurized source of oil, a pressurized source of refrigerant and means for selectively connecting said vacuum pump and said pressurized oil and refrigerant sources to refrigeration equipment to be charged;
an alphanumeric keypad mounted on an operator panel, said keypad containing a plurality of numeric data and sequence control keys;
an alphanumeric display mounted on said panel;
and
control means including means in an automatic mode of operation for connecting said vacuum pump to the refrigeration equipment in a first stage of said automatic mode for a preselected time duration, for connecting said pressurized oil source to the refrigerator equipment in a second stage of said automatic mode to transfer a preselected quantity of oil under pressure to the refrigeration equipment, and for connecting said pressurized refrigerant source to the refrigeration equipment in a third stage of said automatic mode to transfer a preselected quantity of refrigerant to the refrigeration equipment,
means coupled to said keypad in a programming mode of operation for receiving and storing data indicative of said preselected time and said preselected quantities,
means coupled to said alphanumeric display means for displaying said preselected time and said preselected quantities at said display means in both said automatic and said programming modes of operation, said sequence control keys including means coupled to said control means for selectively initiating said automatic and programming modes of operation,
means for detecting malfunction of said apparatus, and
means for displaying an error message at said alphanumeric display means corresponding to the detected malfunction.

6 more elements

Apparatus for charging refrigeration equipment comprising

vacuum and charging means including a vacuum pump, a pressurized source of oil, a pressurized source of refrigerant and means for selectively connecting said vacuum pump and said pressurized oil and refrigerant sources to refrigeration equipment to be charged;
an alphanumeric keypad mounted on an operator panel, said keypad containing a plurality of numeric data and sequence control keys;
an alphanumeric display mounted on said panel;
and
control means including means in an automatic mode of operation for connecting said vacuum pump to the refrigeration equipment in a first stage of said automatic mode for a preselected time duration, for connecting said pressurized oil source to the refrigeration equipment in a second stage of said automatic mode to transfer a preselected quantity of oil under pressure to the refrigeration equipment, and for connecting said pressurized refrigerant source to the refrigeration equipment in a third stage of said automatic mode to transfer a preselected quantity of refrigerant to the refrigeration equipment,
means coupled to said keypad in a programming mode of operation for receiving and storing data indicative of said preselected time and said preselected quantities,
means coupled to said alphanumeric display means for displaying said preselected time and said preselected quantities at said display means in both said automatic and said programming modes of operation, and
means for indicating at said alphanumeric display means completion of said automatic control mode of operation, said sequence control keys including means coupled to said control means for selectively initiating said automatic and programming modes of operation.

5 more elements

Apparatus for charging refrigeration equipment comprising

vacuum and charging means including a vacuum pump, a pressurized source of oil, a pressurized source of refrigerant and means for selectively connecting said vacuum pump and said pressurized oil and refrigerant sources to refrigeration equipment to be charged;
an alphanumeric keypad mounted on an operator panel, said keypad containing a plurality of numeric data and sequence control keys;
an alphanumeric display mounted on said panel;
and
control means including means in an automatic mode of operation for connecting said vacuum pump to the refrigeration equipment in a first stage of said automatic mode for a preselected time duration, for connecting said pressurized oil source to the refrigeration equipment in a second stage of said automatic mode to transfer a preselected quantity of oil under pressure to the refrigeration equipment, and for connecting said pressurized refrigerant source to the refrigeration equipment in a third stage of said automatic mode to transfer a preselected quantity of refrigerant to the refrigeration equipment,
means coupled to said keypad in a programming mode of operation for receiving and storing data indicative of said preselected time and said preselected quantities,
means coupled to said alphanumeric display means for displaying said preselected time and said preselected quantities at said display means in both said automatic and said programming modes of operation, said sequence control keys including means coupled to said control means for selectively initiating said automatic and programming modes of operation, and
means distinct from said means operable in said automatic mode and responsive to said sequence control keys for coupling said refrigerant source to the refrigeration equipment to transfer a predetermined quantity of refrigerant to the equipment independently of said automatic mode.

5 more elements

Apparatus for charging refrigeration equipment comprising

vacuum and charging means including a vacuum pump, a pressurized source of refrigerant and means for selectively connecting said vacuum pump and said pressurized refrigerant source to refrigeration equipment to be charged,
control means including means in an automatic mode of operation for connecting said vacuum pump to the refrigeration equipment in a first stage of said automatic mode for a preselected time duration, and for connecting said pressurized refrigerant source to the refrigeration equipment in a second stage of said automatic mode to transfer a preselected quantity of refrigerant to the refrigeration equipment,
data entry and sequence control means responsive to an operator, coupled to said control means and comprising an alphanumeric keypad having first keys associated with numeric data and second keys associated with sequence commands, said control means further including means in a programming mode of operation for receiving and storing data from said data entry and sequence control means indicative of said preselected time and said preselected quantity,
means coupled to said control means and to said data entry and sequence control means for selectively initiating said automatic and programming modes of operation, and
sequence display means for indicating mode of operation of said control means to an operator, said sequence display means including means coordinated with said sequence command second keys for indicating to an operator ones of said sequence command second keys to be activated for transfer between said modes of operation.

2 more elements

Apparatus for charging refrigeration equipment comprising

vacuum and charging means including a vacuum pump, a pressurized source of refrigerant and means for selectively connecting said vacuum pump and said pressurized refrigerant source to refrigeration equipment to be charged,
control means including means in an automatic mode of operation for connecting said vacuum pump to the refrigeration equipment in a first stage of said automatic mode for a preselected time duration, and for connecting said pressurized refrigerant source to the refrigeration equipment in a second stage of said automatic mode to transfer a preselected quantity of refrigerant to the refrigeration equipment,
data entry and sequence control means responsive to an operator and coupled to said control means, said control means further including means in a programming mode of operation for receiving and storing data from said data entry and sequence control means indicative of said preselected time and said preselected quantity, and
means coupled to said control means and to said data entry and sequence control means for selectively initiating said automatic and programming modes of operation,
said control means including means for displaying said preselected time and quantity in both said automatic and said programming modes of operation, means for receiving and storing said data in successive stages of said programming mode corresponding to said successive stages in said automatic mode, and means in said programming mode for selectively reviewing said data in a sequence corresponding to said successive stages and for selectively reprogramming said data.

2 more elements

Apparatus for charging refrigeration equipment comprising

vacuum and charging means including a vacuum pump, a pressurized source of refrigerant and means for selectively connecting said vacuum pump and said pressurized refrigerant source to refrigeration equipment to be charged,
control means including means in an automatic mode of operation for connecting said vacuum pump to the refrigeration equipment in a first stage of said automatic mode for a preselected time duration, and for connecting said pressurized refrigerant source to the refrigeration equipment in a second stage of said automatic mode to transfer a preselected quantity of refrigerant to the refrigeration equipment,
data entry and sequence control means responsive to an operator and coupled to said control means, said control means further including means in a programming mode of operation for receiving and storing data from said data entry and sequence control means indicative of said preselected time and said preselected quantity,
means coupled to said control means and to said data entry and sequence control means for selectively initiating said automatic and programming modes of operation,
alphanumeric display means coupled to said control means, said control means including means for displaying said preselected time and quantity at said alphanumeric display means in both said automatic and said programming modes of operation, and
scale means for providing to said control means signals indicative of weight on said scale means, said refrigerant source being mounted on said scale means, and means responsive to operator activation for initiating a scale test mode of operation,
said control means including means operable in said scale test mode of operation and responsive to said weight-indicative signals for indicating weight on said scale means at said alphanumeric display means.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 06/728,589Filed 29 Apr 1985
Granted: 25 Aug 1987
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

F25B 45/00
Arrangements for charging or discharging refrigerant
B60H 1/00585
Details, e.g. mounting arrangements, desaeration devices: means for monitoring, testing or servicing the air-conditioning
F25B 2345/001
Details for charging or discharging refrigerants; Service stations therefor: charging refrigerant to a cycle
F25B 2345/003
Details for charging or discharging refrigerants; Service stations therefor: control issues for charging or collecting refrigerant to or from a cycle

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