US 5,493,869 AGranted

Recovery of at least two different and incompatible refrigerant types

AssigneeSPX Corporation

InventorsRoger D. Shirley, Gary P. Murray, Kenneth W. Manz

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A system for recovering at least two different and incompatible types of refrigerant that includes a compressor having an inlet for connection through first and second parallel inlet paths to equipment under service, and an outlet for connection through first and second parallel outlet paths to refrigerant storage containers. The first inlet and outlet paths terminate in connector fittings of a first configuration, and the second inlet and outlet paths terminate in connector fittings of a second configuration different from the first. Solenoid valves are associated with the inlet and outlet paths, and are actuated alternately so that the inlet and outlet paths are not simultaneously connected to the compressor. The connector fittings are mounted on a panel that has a sliding door for selectively exposing either but not both sets of connector fittings. The chance of misconnection and mixing refrigerant types is thereby reduced.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A system for recovering at least two different and incompatible types of refrigerant comprising:

refrigerant pump means having an inlet and an outlet,
first inlet means having first inlet connection means and first inlet valve means for connecting said inlet of said pump means to a source of one of said refrigerant types,
second inlet means having second inlet valve means and second inlet connection means for connecting said inlet of said pump means to a source of another of said refrigerant types,
first outlet means having first outlet connection means and first outlet valve means for connecting said outlet of said pump means to first refrigerant storage means,
second outlet means having second outlet connection means and second outlet valve means for connecting said outlet of said pump means to second refrigerant storage means, and
means for simultaneously operating said first and second inlet valve means, and said first and second outlet valve means, in a first mode in which all of said valve means are closed, a second mode in which said first inlet and outlet valve means are open and said second inlet and outlet valve means are closed, and a third mode in which said second inlet and outlet valve means are open and said first inlet and outlet valve means are closed,
said first and second inlet and outlet valve means comprising electrically operated valve means, and said valve-operating means comprising switch means responsive to an operator for selecting one of said first, second and third modes of operation.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.