Refrigerant recovery and purification apparatus with telecommunication monitoring facilitation device

A refrigerant recovery apparatus for recovering refrigerant from a refrigeration unit comprising:

• means for controlling said recovery of refrigerant including:
• parameter sensing means for sensing a value of a parameter indicative of operation of the apparatus and generating a signal indicative of the parameter value;
• telephone answering means for responding to a ring signal on a telephone line and establishing a telephone connection with a telephone communication device over the line;
• telephone signaling means for transmitting a signal over a telephone line to a telephone communication device;
• and,
• controller means for receiving said parameter value indicative signal and causing said telephone signaling means to transmit a signal to the telephone communication device indicative of the parameter value.

An apparatus for recovering refrigerant from a refrigeration unit comprising:

• compressor means for compressing refrigerant;
• first conduit means for conducting refrigerant from a fluid circuit of the refrigeration unit to said compressor means, said first conduit means having an upstream end and a downstream end, said first conduit upstream end including coupling means for coupling said first conduit in fluid communication with the refrigeration unit fluid circuit, said first conduit downstream end connected to a suction side of said compressor means;
• second conduit means for conducting fluid from a high pressure side of said compressor means to a refrigerant storage vessel, said second conduit means having an upstream end and a downstream end, said second conduit means upstream end attached to said compressor means and said second conduit means downstream end including coupling means for coupling said second conduit in fluid communication with a refrigerant storage vessel;
• pressure sensing means for sensing a pressure of fluid within said first conduit means and generating a signal indicative of the pressure;
• telephone dialer means for dialing a telephone number and establishing a telephone connection with a telephone communication device responding to the number dialed;
• telephone signaling means for transmitting a signal over a telephone line to a telephone communication device;
• and,
• controller means for receiving said pressure indicative signal and, when said signal is indicative of a pressure less than a predetermined pressure, causing said telephone dialer to dial a telephone number and establish telephone communication with a telephone communication device and, upon establishment of such communication, causing said telephone signaling device to transmit a signal to the telephone communication device.

An apparatus for recovering refrigerant from a refrigeration unit comprising:

• compressor means for compressing refrigerant;
• first conduit means for conducting refrigerant from a fluid circuit of the refrigeration unit to said compressor means, said first conduit means having an upstream end and a downstream end, said first conduit upstream end including coupling means for coupling said first conduit in fluid communication with the refrigeration unit fluid circuit, said first conduit downstream end connected to a suction side of said compressor means;
• second conduit means for conducting fluid from a high pressure side of said compressor means to a refrigerant storage vessel, said second conduit means having an upstream end and a downstream end, said second conduit means upstream end attached to said compressor means and said second conduit means downstream end including coupling means for coupling said second conduit in fluid communication with a refrigerant storage vessel;
• pressure sensing means for sensing a pressure of fluid within said second conduit means and generating a signal indicative of the pressure;
• telephone dialer means for dialing a telephone number and establishing a telephone connection with a telephone communication device responding to the number dialed;
• telephone signaling means for transmitting a signal over a telephone line to a telephone communication device;
• and,
• controller means for receiving said pressure indicative signal and, when said signal is indicative of a pressure greater than a predetermined pressure, causing said telephone dialer to dial a telephone number and establish telephone communication with a telephone communication device and, upon establishment of such communication, causing said telephone signaling device to transmit a signal to the telephone communication device.

A refrigerant recovery apparatus for removing refrigerant from a refrigeration unit comprising:

• a fluid channel with an upstream end adapted to be coupled in fluid communication with a fluid circuit of a refrigeration system and a downstream end in fluid communication with a compressor;
• liquid sensing means for sensing a presence of a liquid in said fluid channel and generating an alarm signal indicative of such presence;
• telephone dialer means for dialing a telephone number and establishing a telephone connection with a telephone communication device responding to the number dialed;
• telephone signaling means for transmitting a signal over a telephone line to a telephone communication device;
• and,
• controller means for receiving said alarm signal and, upon receiving said signal, causing said telephone dialer to dial a telephone number and establish telephone communication with a telephone communication device and, upon establishment of such communication, causing said telephone signaling device to transmit a signal to the telephone communication device.

A refrigerant recovery apparatus for removing refrigerant from a refrigeration unit, the apparatus including a fluid channel with an upstream end having a coupler for coupling the channel in fluid communication with a fluid circuit of the refrigeration unit, a downstream end having a coupler for coupling the channel in fluid communication with a refrigerant storage vessel, comprising:

• fluid flow measuring means for measuring a cumulative amount of fluid flowing through the channel;
• signaling means for generating a cumulative flow signal;
• control means for causing said signaling means to generate said signal once said measuring means has measured a cumulative flow amount equal to a predetermined cumulative flow amount;
• telephone dialer means for dialing a telephone number and establishing a telephone connection with a telephone communication device responding to the number dialed;
• telephone signaling means for transmitting a signal over a telephone line to a telephone communication device;
• and,
• controller means for receiving said cumulative flow signal and, upon receipt of said signal, causing said telephone dialer to dial a telephone number and establish telephone communication with a telephone communication device and, upon establishment of such communication, causing said telephone signaling device to transmit a signal to the telephone communication device.