US 4,698,983 AGranted

Modified compressor unit

OwnerRuben Hechavarriainventor

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Abstract

A system for the emptying, replenishing and testing of oil maintained within an oil reservoir of a crank case of a compressor unit having an external casing for purposes of housing the compressor motor wherein the interior of the casing is maintained under a positive pressure due to refrigerant entering the casing as it returns from the evaporator. An access valve is disposed on a free end of a conduit having the opposite end thereof disposed in direct access to oil within the oil reservoir. A valve opening structure, when applied to the access valve will position it in an open or flow allowing position, allowing the oil within the casing to pass through the conduit and out through the access valve due to the positive pressure within the casing. The oil may be replaced by securing a liquid pump in fluid communication to the conduit so as to force the access valve open. Upon the pressurized input, from the pump, oil flows back into the oil reservoir against the internal pressure within the casing.

An assembly for the removal and replacement of oil from an oil reservoir of a crank case of a compressor unit used in a refrigerator or air conditioning system, said assembly comprising:

(a) a casing having a fluid tight construction and including a hollow interior maintained under a positive pressure and housing an oil reservoir therein,
(b) a conduit means mounted on said casing and having an elongated configuration for establishing fluid communication between oil within said oil reservoir and the exterior of said casing,
(c) said conduit means including a first end disposed within said hollow interior of said casing in submerged relation to said oil reservoir and in direct access to the oil therein,
(d) said conduit means including a second end disposed exteriorly of said casing, said conduit means defining a fluid access to said oil reservoir from the exterior of said casing,
(e) valve means secured to said second end of said conduit means exteriorly of said casing for regulating fluid flow into and out of said casing through said conduit and to and from said oil reservoir,
(f) said valve means normally oriented in a closed position for maintenance of said positive pressure within said hollow interior of said casing and selectively positionable into an open position,
(g) access means removably connectable to said valve means for positioning thereof into said open position, said open position allowing a two-way fluid flow through said valve means and said conduit means,
(h) said access means comprising a valve opening structure removably attachable to said valve means and positioning said valve means in said open position when so attached,
(i) a portable pump means disposed exteriorly of said casing and connected to said valve opening structure and said pump means further interconnectable between said valve means through said valve opening structure and an oil supply for directing oil from said supply into said casing against said positive pressure therein when said valve means is in said open position, and
(j) said positive pressure within said hollow interior of said casing forcing oil flow therefrom through said conduit means and said valve means when said valve means is in said open position and unattached to said pump means.

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Abstract

Claims9