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US 6,145,332 AGranted
Apparatus for protecting pumps against cavitation
AssigneeDTE Energy Technologies, Inc.
InventorRobert E. Hyde
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus for protecting a liquid refrigerant pump from damage due to cavitation and loss of lubrication by inclusion of means for detecting the presence of vaporized refrigerant at the pump inlet and deactivating the pump in response thereto.
Claims8
In a vapor-compression refrigeration apparatus utilizing a fluid refrigerant and comprising a compressor, a condenser, a liquid refrigerant pump, an expansion device, and an evaporator, the improvement comprising:
- vapor detection means for detecting the presence of vapor at or near the inlet of said liquid refrigerant pump and for deactivating said pump in response to the detection of vapor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.