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US 5,005,369 AGranted
Refrigerant purification with automatic air purge
AssigneeKent-Moore Corporation
InventorKenneth W. Manz
Life of this patent
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AssigneeKent-Moore Corporation
InventorKenneth W. Manz
Estimating the term…
A system for purification of refrigerant within a storage container includes a filter/dryer for removing contaminants' from refrigerant passing therethrough, and a refrigerant pump connected to the storage container to circulate refrigerant in a closed path from the container through the filter/dryer and return the refrigerant to the container. The system configuration is such that the refrigerant is in liquid phase in at least a portion of the closed path. A pressure-differential valve has an inlet coupled to a purge port on the container for receiving air captured within the container. Container air pressure at the valve inlet is fed to one side of a flexible diaphragm. Circulating liquid refrigerant is passed in heat transfer contact with a sealed enclosure containing liquid refrigerant, so that the refrigerant within the enclosure is at saturation pressure and acts on the opposing side of the diaphragm in conjunction with a valve spring. The diaphragm is coupled to a valve element that lifts from a valve seat to connect the valve inlet to an outlet, and thereby vent air from within the storage container, whenever container air pressure exceeds refrigerant saturation pressure by a threshold that is determined in part by the valve spring.
In a refrigerant handling system that includes a refrigerant storage container having separate liquid, vapor and purge ports and means releasably connected to said container for feeding liquid refrigerant to said vapor port so as to capture air in said container over said refrigerant, said refrigerant being characterized by a liquid/vapor saturation pressure that varies as a function of refrigerant temperature, means coupled to said purge port for purging air captured in said container comprising:
A system for purification of refrigerant within a storage container that includes means for removing contaminates from refrigerant passing therethrough, refrigerant pump means, means for releasably connecting said pump means and said contaminant-removing means to said container to circulate refrigerant in a closed path from said container to said contaminant-removing means and returning said refrigerant to said container, said refrigerant being in liquid phase in at least a portion of said closed path, and means for purging air captured within said container comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.