US 5,327,735 AGranted

Refrigerant reclaiming and recycling system with evaporator chill bath

AssigneeThe Youngstown Research & Development Co.

InventorBobby L. Hatton

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Abstract

The present invention relates to a refrigerant recycling and reclaiming system capable of removing refrigerant from a refrigeration machine for filtering and reclaiming of the refrigerant, whereupon the refrigerant can be either stored or reintroduced into the refrigeration machine and reused rather than being lost to the atmosphere or otherwise wasted. The recycling and reclaiming system of the present invention is characterized in that it includes an evaporator and/or refrigerant storage tank which are contained within a thermal barrier, typically a water bath, which permits the system to operate at lower temperatures and pressures than systems heretofore known in the art. Lower temperatures and pressures in turn require a much smaller horsepower compressor unit resulting in a decrease in the physical size and operating cost of the system.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A refrigerant recovery apparatus for recovering compressible refrigerant from a refrigeration system having a high pressure side and a low pressure side comprising:

first fluid carrying line means, a first end of said first line means adapted for fluid communication with the high pressure side of the refrigeration system and a second end of said first line means adapted for fluid communication with a compressor means;
second fluid carrying line means, a first end of said second line means being in fluid communication with said compressor means and a second end of said second line means adapted for fluid communication with an evaporator means and refrigerant storage means;
a thermal barrier means surrounding said evaporator means and said storage means wherein said thermal barrier means further comprises a means to retain at least one of water, air or ice interiorly of said thermal barrier means and exteriorly of said evaporator means, to thereby assist in reducing the temperature within said evaporator means and said storage means;
third fluid carrying line means, a first end of said third line means adapted for fluid communication with said evaporator means and a second end of said third line means adapted for fluid communication with said first line means;
and
fourth fluid carrying line means, a first end of said fourth line means adapted for fluid communication with said second line means downstream of said compressor means and a second end of said fourth line means adapted for fluid communication with the low pressure side of the refrigeration system to re-introduce refrigerant into the refrigeration system.

3 more elements

An apparatus for recovering compressible refrigerant from a refrigeration system having a high pressure side and a low pressure side comprising:

first fluid carrying line means, a first end of said first line means adapted for fluid communication with the high pressure side of the refrigeration system and a second end of said first line means adapted for fluid communication with a compressor means, said first line means comprising in successive downstream sequence:
first check valve;
refrigerant inlet valve;
low pressure refrigerant gauge;
suction filter;
low-pressure oil separator;
suction line accumulator;
first tee connector;
and
said compressor means;
second fluid carrying line means, a first end of said second line means being in fluid communication with said compressor means and a second end of said second line means adapted for fluid communication with an evaporator/storage means, said second line means comprising in successive downstream sequence:
condenser means;
high pressure cutout switch;
liquid/oil separator;
moisture/acid filter;
moisture indicator;
second tee connector;
evaporator shut-off valve;
cap tube assembly;
and
evaporator means;
third fluid carrying line means, a first end of said third line means adapted for fluid communication with said evaporator means and a second end of said third line means adapted for fluid communication with said first tee connector;
and
fourth fluid carrying line means, a first end of said fourth line means adapted for fluid communication with said second tee connector and a second end of said fourth line means adapted for fluid communication with the low pressure side of the refrigeration system to re-introduce refrigerant into the refrigeration system, said fourth line means comprising in successive downstream sequence:
high pressure gauge;
refrigerant outlet valve;
and
second check valve.

25 more elements

A refrigerant recycling and reclaiming system for removing refrigerant from a refrigeration machine, cleansing said refrigerant of contaminants and converting said refrigerant to a liquid state for storage or subsequent return to said refrigeration machine, comprising in fluid combination:

a first means for transferring said refrigerant from said refrigeration machine to said recycling and reclaiming system;
a check valve downstream of said first means;
a refrigeration inlet valve (RIV) downstream of said check valve;
a low pressure refrigerant gauge downstream of said RIV;
a suction filter downstream of said low pressure refrigerant gauge;
a first tee downstream of said low pressure refrigerant gauge, wherein said tee receives the flow of said refrigerant from either said suction filter or from an evaporator;
a low pressure cutout switch downstream of said suction filter;
an accumulator downstream of said low pressure cutout switch;
a compressor means downstream of said accumulator;
a condenser means downstream of said compressor;
a high pressure cutout switch downstream of said condenser;
a liquid/oil separator downstream of said high pressure cutout switch;
a liquid filter downstream of said high pressure cutout switch;
a moisture indicator downstream of said high pressure cutout switch;
a second tee downstream of said high pressure cutout switch wherein said second tee permits the directing of said refrigerant to either a high pressure gauge or an evaporator shut-off valve downstream of said second tee;
a refrigeration outlet valve downstream of said high pressure gauge;
a check valve downstream of said refrigeration outlet valve;
a second means for transferring said refrigerant from said recycling and reclaiming system to said refrigeration means;
a cap tube assembly downstream of said evaporator shut-off valve;
an evaporator downstream of said expansion valve;
a fluid communication line downstream of said evaporator wherein said line directs said refrigerant to said first tee;
a tank surrounding said evaporator, wherein said tank forms an insulated thermal barrier around said evaporator and wherein said tank is capable of retaining a liquid to form a water-like bath surrounding said evaporator;
and
an agitator contained with said tank.

21 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.