US 5,471,848 AGranted

Refrigerant recovery and purification method and apparatus

OwnerThomas O. Major, Jack E. Major, Jr.inventors

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A refrigerant recovery apparatus for removing refrigerant from a refrigeration unit includes a pump for pumping refrigerant gas. A first channel for conducting refrigerant from a fluid circuit of a refrigeration unit to the pump has an upstream end with a coupler for coupling the first channel in fluid communication with a refrigeration unit fluid circuit. The first channel downstream end is connected to the pump's suction side. A second channel for conducting fluid from the pump to a refrigerant storage container has an upstream end connected to the high-pressure side of the pump and a downstream end with a coupler for coupling the second channel in fluid communication with a refrigerant storage vessel. The recovery unit further includes a fluid vessel, a first fluid communication path for placing the vessel in fluid communication with the first fluid channel, and a second fluid communication path for placing the vessel in fluid communication with the second fluid channel. A controller opens and closes first and second valves to selectively block the first and second fluid communication paths, respectively. The controller has a first mode in which the first fluid path is open and the second fluid path is closed and a second mode in which the first path is closed and the second path is open.

Claims15

Dependent claims

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

pump means for pumping refrigerant has:
first channel means for conducting refrigerant from a fluid circuit of the refrigeration unit to said pump means, said first channel means having an upstream end and a downstream end, said first channel means upstream end including coupling means for coupling said first channel means in fluid communication with a refrigeration unit fluid circuit, said first channel means downstream end connected to a suction side of said pump means:
second channel means for conducting fluid from a high pressure side of said pump means to a refrigerant storage container, said second channel means having an upstream end and a downstream end, said second channel means upstream end connected to a high-pressure side of said pump means, said second channel means downstream end including coupling means for coupling said second channel means in fluid communication with a refrigerant storage vessel:
vessel means for containing a fluid:
first vessel fluid communication path means for placing said vessel means in fluid communication with said first fluid channel means:
second vessel fluid communication path means for placing said vessel means in fluid communication with said second florid channel means:
first blocking means for selectively blocking said first fluid communication path means, said first blocking means having an open position in which fluid communication is established and a closed position in which fluid communication is not established;
second blocking means for selectively, blocking said second fluid communication path means, said second blocking means having an open position in which fluid communication is established and a closed position in which fluid communication is not established:
and,
control means for opening and closing said first and second blocking means, said control means having a first mode in which said first blocking means is open and said second blocking means is closed and a second mode in which said first blocking means is closed and said second blocking means is open.

7 more elements

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

pump means for pumping refrigerant gas;
first channel means for conducting refrigerant from a fluid circuit of the refrigeration unit to said pump means, said first channel means having an upstream end and a downstream end, said first channel means upstream end including coupling means for coupling said first channel means in fluid communication with a refrigeration unit fluid circuit, said first channel means downstream end connected to a suction side of said pump means;
second channel means four conducting fluid from a high pressure side port of said pump means to a primary refrigerant storage container, said second channel means having an upstream end and a downstream end, said second channel means upstream end connected to a high-pressure side of said pump means, said second channel means downstream end including coupling means for coupling said, second channel means in fluid communication with a primary refrigerant storage container;
bifurcated conduit means for alternatively placing a secondary refrigerant storage container in fluid communication with said first fluid channel means or placing the secondary refrigerant storage container in fluid communication with said second fluid channel means, said bifurcated conduit means comprising a trunk end and first and second branch ends, said trunk end including coupling means for coupling said bifurcated conduit means in fluid communication with a secondary refrigerant storage container, said first bifurcated end attached in fluid communication to said first channel means, said second bifurcated end attached in fluid communication with said second channel means at an attachment point, and further comprising selection means for selecting between a first and second mode such that fluid communication is established between said trunk end and said first branch end put not between said trunk end and said second branch end when the first mode is selected and fluid communication is established between said trunk end and said second branch end but not between said trunk end and said first branch end when the second mode is selected;
and,
valve means for selectively blocking said second channel means at a point between said attachment point and said downstream end, said valve means having a first mode in which fluid communication is established between said attachment point and said downstream end and a second mode in which fluid communication between said attachment point and said downstream end is blocked.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.