Apparatus for charging absorption refrigeration systems

Claim 1

An apparatus for charging an absorption refrigeration system comprising: A. a charging tank adapted to contain absorbent solution and refrigerant vapor; B. first passage means adapted for connecting said charging tank to the high pressure side of an absorption refrigeration machine at a height at which it is desired to maintain a level of solution therein; C. second passage means adapted for connecting a location in said charging tank containing refrigerant vapor with the low pressure side of the refrigeration machine for supplying refrigerant vapor to the machine; D. third passage means adapted for connecting a location in said charging tank containing absorbent solution to the low pressure side of the absorption refrigeration machine for supplying absorbent solution to the machine; E. valve means associated with said second and third passage means for controlling the passage of fluid therethrough; F. sensing means responsive to the passage of liquid to the charging tank through said first passage means; and G. control means for automatically controlling said valve means in response to said sensing means, said control means opening said second passage means in response to the passage of liquid to the charging tank through said first passage means, and said control means closing said second passage and opening said first passage in response to the absence of the passage of liquid to the charging tank through said first passage means, whereby said apparatus is enabled to automatically establish a charge of solution in the absorption refrigeration machine when connected to the machine during operation thereof, by alternately withdrawing absorbent solution while adding refrigerant vapor and withdrawing refrigerant vapor while adding absorbent solution.

Claim 2

An apparatus for charging an absorption refrigeration system comprising: A. a charging tank adapted to contain absorbent solution and refrigerant vapor; B. first passage means adapted for connecting said charging tank to the high pressure side of an absorption refrigeration machine at a height at which it is desired to maintain a level of solution therein; C. second passage means adapted for connecting a location in said charging tank containing refrigerant vapor with the low pressure side of the refrigeration machine for supplying refrigerant vapor to the machine; D. third passage means adapted for connecting a location in said charging tank containing absorbent solution to the low pressure side of the absorption refrigeration machine for supplying absorbent solution to the machine; E. valve means associated with said second and third passage means for controlling the passage of fluid therethrough; F. sensing means responsive to the passage of liquid to the charging tank through said first passage means; and G. control means for automatically controlling said valve means in response to said sensing means, said control means opening said second passage means in response to the passage of liquid to the charging tank through said first passage means, and said control means closing said second passage and opening said first passage in response to the absence of the passage of liquid to the charging tank through said first passage means, whereby said apparatus is enabled to automatically establish a charge of solution in the absorption refrigeration machine when connected to the machine during operation thereof, by alternately withdrawing absorbent solution while adding refrigerant vapor and withdrawing refrigerant vapor while adding absorbent solution.

Claim 7

An apparatus for charging an absorption refrigeration machine comprising: A. a housing adapted to be detachably secured to and in communication with the vapor space in a charging tank containing absorbent solution and refrigerant vapor, said housing having a container disposed therein, said container having a drain orifice for draining the contents of said container into said housing for passage into the charging tank, said housing further having a tube extending therethrough adapted to extend into the charging tank below the level of absorbent solution in the tank; B. first restricted passage means adapted for connecting said container directly to a location on the high pressure side of an absorption refrigeration machine at a height thereon at which it is desired to maintain a level of solution therein; C. second restricted passage means adapted for connecting the interior of said housing with the low pressure side of the absorption refrigeration machine for supplying refrigerant vapor to the machine; D. third restricted passage means adapted for connecting the solution tube in said housing to the low pressure side of the absorption refrigeration machine for supplying solution to the machine; E. valve means disposed in said second and third passage means for controlling the flow of fluid through the passages; F. a sensing probe extending into said container for detecting the presence of a predetermined level of solution therein; and G. control means for automatically controlling said valve means in response to the condition sensed by said sensing means, said control means opening said second passage means and closing said third passage means in response to a level of solution in said container above said predetermined level, and said control means closing said second passage means and opening said third passage means in response to a liquid level in said container above said predetermined level, whereby said apparatus is enabled to automatically establish a charge of solution in the absorption refrigeration machine when connected to the machine during operation thereof, by alternately withdrawing absorbent solution while adding refrigerant vapor and withdrawing refrigerant vapor while adding absorbent solution.

Claim 8

An apparatus for charging an absorption refrigeration machine comprising: A. a housing adapted to be detachably secured to and in communication with the vapor space in a charging tank containing absorbent solution and refrigerant vapor, said housing having a container disposed therein, said container having a drain orifice for draining the contents of said container into said housing for passage into the charging tank, said housing further having a tube extending therethrough adapted to extend into the charging tank below the level of absorbent solution in the tank; B. first restricted passage means adapted for connecting said container directly to a location on the high pressure side of an absorption refrigeration machine at a height thereon at which it is desired to maintain a level of solution therein; C. second restricted passage means adapted for connecting the interior of said housing with the low pressure side of the absorption refrigeration machine for supplying refrigerant vapor to the machine; D. third restricted passage means adapted for connecting the solution tube in said housing to the low pressure side of the absorption refrigeration machine for supplying solution to the machine; E. valve means disposed in said second and third passage means for controlling the flow of fluid through the passages; F. a sensing probe extending into said container for detecting the presence of a predetermined level of solution therein; and G. control means for automatically controlling said valve means in response to the condition sensed by said sensing means, said control means opening said second passage means and closing said third passage means in response to a level of solution in said container above said predetermined level, and said control means closing said second passage means and opening said third passage means in response to a liquid level in said container above said predetermined level, whereby said apparatus is enabled to automatically establish a charge of solution in the absorption refrigeration machine when connected to the machine during operation thereof, by alternately withdrawing absorbent solution while adding refrigerant vapor and withdrawing refrigerant vapor while adding absorbent solution.