Apparatus for sampling the purity of refrigerant flowing through a refrigeration circuit

Apparatus for recovering compressible refrigerant from a refrigeration system, purifying the recovered refrigerant, and testing the purity of the recovered purified refrigerant comprising;

• compressor means for compressing gaseous refrigerant delivered thereto, said compressor means having a suction port and a discharge port;
• first conduit means for connecting the refrigeration system to said suction port of said compressor means;
• means for purifying the refrigerant passing through said first conduit means from the refrigeration system to said compressor means;
• condenser means for withdrawing heat from and at least partially condensing refrigerant passing therethrough, said condenser means having an inlet and an outlet;
• second conduit means for connecting said discharge port of said compressor means with said inlet of said condenser means;
• means for storing refrigerant;
• third conduit means for connecting said outlet of said condenser means with said means for storing refrigerant;
• fourth conduit means for connecting said means for storing refrigerant with said first conduit means upstream from said means for purifying;
• first valve means operable between open and shut conditions and disposed in first conduit means upstream from the connection of said fourth conduit with said first conduit means;
• fifth conduit means having one end thereof in fluid communication with said second conduit means for allowing withdrawal of a quantity of refrigerant therefrom;
• sixth conduit means having one end in fluid communication with said first conduit means downstream from said means for purifying;
• means for operably supporting a refrigerant purity sampling tube in sealed fluid flow communication with the other ends of said fifth and sixth conduit means to thereby establish a fluid flow interconnection therebetween;
• second valve means operable between an open and shut condition disposed in said fifth conduit means;
• third valve means operable between open and shut conditions and disposed in said sixth conduit;
• fourth valve means operable between open and shut conditions and disposed in said fourth conduit;
• means for energizing said compressor and for actuating said first valve means to an open condition and said second, third and fourth valve means to a closed condition to thereby operate the system in a refrigerant recovery mode;
• means for energizing said compressor and for operating said first valve to a closed position, said second valve to a closed position, said third valve to a closed position, and said fourth valve to an open position to thereby define a closed refrigerant circulation path defining a refrigerant purification mode of operation;
• and
• means for energizing said compressor, operating said first valve to a closed position, operating said fourth valve to an open position, operating said second valve to an open position and operating said third valve to an open position to thereby define a refrigerant circuit whereby refrigerant is passed through said refrigerant purity sampling tube in a refrigerant quality test mode of operation.