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AssigneeSPX Corporation
InventorsKenneth W. Manz, Christopher M. Powers, Gregg E. Laukhuf
Estimating the term…
A refrigerant recovery system includes a compressor and an evaporator connected to the compressor inlet for evaporating refrigerant passing therethrough to the compressor inlet from refrigerant equipment under service. A sensor is coupled to the system input for detecting presence of liquid phase refrigerant. A valve is connected to the compressor inlet in parallel with the evaporator for bypassing refrigerant from the evaporator to the compressor inlet when the sensor indicates that liquid refrigerant is absent at the system input. The liquid refrigerant sensor takes the form of an open canister between the system input and the evaporator, and a liquid level sensor coupled to the canister for sensing level of liquid refrigerant collected within the canister. A solenoid valve is connected in parallel with the evaporator, and is responsive to the liquid level sensor for opening the valve and bypassing the evaporator in the absence of liquid refrigerant within the canister. In this way, when input refrigerant is already in vapor phase, such refrigerant is bypassed to the compressor inlet, eliminating undesirable superheating of the refrigerant within the evaporator.
A refrigerant handling system that includes a compressor having an inlet and an outlet, means coupled to said compressor inlet for evaporating refrigerant passing therethrough, input means for connecting said evaporating means to a source of refrigerant, means coupled to said input means for determining presence of liquid refrigerant at said input means, and means connected between said input means and said compressor inlet in parallel with said evaporating means for bypassing refrigerant from said evaporating means to said compressor inlet when liquid refrigerant is absent at said input means,
A refrigerant handling system that includes a compressor having an inlet and an outlet, means coupled to said compressor inlet for evaporating refrigerant passing therethrough, input means for connecting said evaporating means to a source of refrigerant, means coupled to said input means for determining presence of liquid refrigerant at said input means, and means connected between said input means and said compressor inlet in parallel with said evaporating means for bypassing refrigerant from said evaporating means to said compressor inlet when liquid refrigerant is absent at said input means, said refrigerant bypassing means comprising a refrigerant valve and means for opening said valve in the absence of liquid refrigerant at said input means.
A refrigerant recovery system that includes a refrigerant compressor having an inlet and an outlet, input means for connection to refrigeration equipment from which refrigerant is to be recovered, means connected between said input means and said compressor inlet for evaporating refrigerant passing therethrough, a refrigerant storage container, condenser means coupled between said compressor outlet and said storage container for at least partially condensing refrigerant fed to said storage container, means coupled to said input means for detecting absence of liquid refrigerant at said input means, and means coupled to said absence-detecting means for selectively controlling flow of refrigerant from said input means to said compressor inlet.
A refrigerant handling system that includes a compressor having an inlet and an outlet, input means for connection to a source of refrigerant, refrigerant evaporator means including means having an open internal volume coupled to said compressor inlet, refrigerant condenser means including a refrigerant coil disposed within a lower portion of said volume, first liquid refrigerant level detection means coupled to said volume for detecting a level of refrigerant at an upper end of said coil covering said coil, and flow control means disposed between said input means and said volume and responsive to said level-detecting means for restricting flow of refrigerant to said volume while maintaining level of liquid refrigerant covering said coil for optimum heat exchange with said coil.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.