US5020331A — Refrigerant reclamation system

Claim 1

Independent Claim 188 words

A refrigerant reclamation system for a refrigeration system having a refrigerant therein, the system comprising: a pump for removing refrigerant from the refrigeration system, the pump having an inlet in fluid communication with the refrigerant in the refrigeration system and an outlet; a pneumatic motor for driving the pump, the motor having a gas inlet for receiving compressed gas and a gas outlet; a refrigerant heat exchanger for cooling refrigerant passing therethrough, the heat exchanger having an inlet in fluid communication with the outlet of the pump and an outlet; a compressed gas supply in fluid communication with the gas inlet of the pneumatic motor for driving the pneumatic motor to drive the pump so that refrigerant is removed from the refrigeration system and is passed through the heat exchanger; and gas dispersement means in fluid communication with the gas outlet of the pneumatic motor for dispersing gas exhausted from the gas outlet for impingement on the heat exchanger for cooling the refrigerant passing therethrough whereby the exhaust gas from the pneumatic motor is used to assist in changing the phase of the refrigerant from gas to liquid.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 188 words

A refrigerant reclamation system for a refrigeration system having a refrigerant therein, the system comprising: a pump for removing refrigerant from the refrigeration system, the pump having an inlet in fluid communication with the refrigerant in the refrigeration system and an outlet; a pneumatic motor for driving the pump, the motor having a gas inlet for receiving compressed gas and a gas outlet; a refrigerant heat exchanger for cooling refrigerant passing therethrough, the heat exchanger having an inlet in fluid communication with the outlet of the pump and an outlet; a compressed gas supply in fluid communication with the gas inlet of the pneumatic motor for driving the pneumatic motor to drive the pump so that refrigerant is removed from the refrigeration system and is passed through the heat exchanger; and gas dispersement means in fluid communication with the gas outlet of the pneumatic motor for dispersing gas exhausted from the gas outlet for impingement on the heat exchanger for cooling the refrigerant passing therethrough whereby the exhaust gas from the pneumatic motor is used to assist in changing the phase of the refrigerant from gas to liquid.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 43 words

The refrigerant reclamation system of claim 1, whereby the dispersement means comprises a manifold positioned proximate the heat exchanger in fluid communication with the gas outlet for generally evenly dispersing the gas exhausted from the pneumatic motor for impingement on the heat exchanger.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 50 words

The refrigerant reclamation system as recited in claim 2, wherein the dispersement means further includes fan means in fluid communication with the gas outlet and positioned proximate the heat exchanger and the manifold for promoting the flow of the gas dispersed from the manifold for impingement on the heat exchanger.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 71 words

The refrigerant reclamation system as recited in claim 3, whereby the fan means comprises a second pneumatic motor for driving a shaft having fan blades mounted thereon, the second pneumatic motor having a gas inlet in fluid communication with the gas outlet of the pneumatic motor of the pump and a gas outlet in fluid communication with the manifold, whereby the manifold and the second pneumatic motor are connected in parallel.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 47 words

The refrigerant reclamation system as recited in claim 4, further including valve means interconnected between the second pneumatic motor gas inlet and the gas outlet of the pneumatic motor of the pump for controlling the flow of gas to the gas inlet of the second pneumatic motor.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 47 words

The refrigerant reclamation system as recited in claim 1, wherein the dispersement means, pump and heat exchanger are positioned proximate each other so that gas exhausted from the dispersement means also impinges upon the pump to cool the pump and thereby further assist in cooling the refrigerant.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 41 words

The refrigerant reclamation system as recited in claim 1, further including a refrigerant recovery container for storing the refrigerant in a liquid phase, the container having an inlet in fluid communication with the heat exchanger outlet for receiving cooled refrigerant therefrom.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 49 words

The refrigerant reclamation system as recited in claim 1, wherein the pump has a first mode of operation for removing the refrigerant from the refrigeration system in a substantially liquid phase and second mode of operation for removing the refrigerant from the refrigeration system in a substantially gaseous phase.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 140 words

A refrigeration reclamation system for a refrigeration system having a refrigerant therein, the system comprising: a pump for removing refrigerant from the refrigeration system, the pump having an inlet in fluid communication with the refrigerant in the refrigeration system and an outlet, the pump having a first mode of operation for removing the refrigerant from the refrigeration system in a substantially liquid phase and a second mode of operation for removing the refrigerant from the refrigeration system in a substantially gaseous phase; a motor for driving the pump; a refrigerant heat exchanger for cooling refrigerant passing therethrough, the heat exchanger having an inlet in fluid communication with the outlet of the pump and an outlet; means for driving the motor to drive the pump so that refrigerant is removed from the refrigeration system and is passed through the heat exchanger.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 140 words

A refrigeration reclamation system for a refrigeration system having a refrigerant therein, the system comprising: a pump for removing refrigerant from the refrigeration system, the pump having an inlet in fluid communication with the refrigerant in the refrigeration system and an outlet, the pump having a first mode of operation for removing the refrigerant from the refrigeration system in a substantially liquid phase and a second mode of operation for removing the refrigerant from the refrigeration system in a substantially gaseous phase; a motor for driving the pump; a refrigerant heat exchanger for cooling refrigerant passing therethrough, the heat exchanger having an inlet in fluid communication with the outlet of the pump and an outlet; means for driving the motor to drive the pump so that refrigerant is removed from the refrigeration system and is passed through the heat exchanger.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 85 words

The refrigerant reclamation system as recited in claim 9, wherein the pump is a double acting pump having a piston which reciprocates in a forward and rearward direction, such that when the pump is in the first mode of operation, the refrigerant is removed from the refrigeration system only when the piston moves in the forward direction and when the pump is in the second mode of operation, refrigerant is removed from the refrigeration system when the piston moves in the forward and rearward directions.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 27 words

The refrigerant reclamation system as recited in claim 10, wherein in the pump further includes selection means for selecting either the first or second mode of operation.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 15 words

The refrigerant reclamation system as recited in claim 9, wherein the motor is pneumatically driven.

Claim 15

Independent Claim 61 words

A method of reclaiming refrigerant from a refrigeration system having a refrigerant therein, the method comprising the steps of: removing refrigerant from the refrigeration system utilizing a pump driven by compressed gas; passing the removed refrigerant through a heat exchanger for cooling the removed refrigerant; and routing gas exhausted from the pump for impingement upon the heat exchanger for cooling thereof.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 39 words

The method as recited in claim 13, further including the step of: routing a portion of the gas exhausted from the pump to a pneumatic fan for providing a flow of cooling gas for impingement upon the heat exchanger.

Claim 17

Independent Claim 124 words

A method of removing a refrigerant from a refrigertion system containing a refrigerant which may be in either a liquid or a gaseous phase comprising the steps of: connecting to the refrigeration system a pump capable of operating in two modes, a first mode in which refrigerant is removed from the refrigeration system only during a first portion of the cycle of the pump, and a second mode in which refrigerant is removed from the refrigeration system during both the first and a second portion of the cycle of the pump; operating the pump in the first mode to remove refrigerant which is in a liquid phase; and operating the pump in the second mode to remove refrigerant which is in a gaseous phase.

Claim 18

Independent Claim 124 words

A method of removing a refrigerant from a refrigertion system containing a refrigerant which may be in either a liquid or a gaseous phase comprising the steps of: connecting to the refrigeration system a pump capable of operating in two modes, a first mode in which refrigerant is removed from the refrigeration system only during a first portion of the cycle of the pump, and a second mode in which refrigerant is removed from the refrigeration system during both the first and a second portion of the cycle of the pump; operating the pump in the first mode to remove refrigerant which is in a liquid phase; and operating the pump in the second mode to remove refrigerant which is in a gaseous phase.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1994-06-03	1994-12-03	1995-06-04	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1998-06-03	1998-12-03	1999-06-04	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2002-06-03	2002-12-03	2003-06-04	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Refrigerant reclamation system

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