US5022230A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for reclaiming a refrigerant
Assignee: KELTIC FINANCIAL PARTNERS LP
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Filing: 1990-05-31
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Granted: 1991-06-11
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Expires: 2010-05-31
Abstract
Abstract A portable refrigerant recovery and reclamation apparatus and method for removing and reclaiming fluorocarbon refrigerants from refrigeration systems through a closed loop preventing exposure of the refrigerant to the atmosphere. A refrigerant is drawn by suction to a boiler chamber, vaporized, condensed, filtered and recycled.
Inventors
- 👤 James J. Todack
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 11:26
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25B; F25B45/00; F25B2345/00; F25B2345/002
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
160 words
A refrigerant reclamation apparatus comprising, a refrigerant boiler having a refrigerant inlet for admitting contaminated refrigerant into the boiler, and having a vapor outlet, a compressor having a suction inlet and a pressure outlet, said suction inlet connected to the vapor outlet of the boiler for lowering the pressure in the boiler for drawing refrigerant into the boiler from the refrigerant inlet and for vaporizing the refrigerant in the boiler, a condenser connected to the pressure outlet of the compressor receiving a heated compressed refrigerant vapor, said condenser being in a heat exchange relationship with the boiler for heating the boiler and cooling the heated compressed vapor from the compressor to a condensated liquid, a sump connected to the condenser for receiving the condensed liquids, and a non-condensable gas purge chamber connected to the top of the condenser for receiving non-condensable gases, said purge chamber positioned in a heat exchange relationship with boiler for condensing any refrigerant in the chamber.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
160 words
A refrigerant reclamation apparatus comprising, a refrigerant boiler having a refrigerant inlet for admitting contaminated refrigerant into the boiler, and having a vapor outlet, a compressor having a suction inlet and a pressure outlet, said suction inlet connected to the vapor outlet of the boiler for lowering the pressure in the boiler for drawing refrigerant into the boiler from the refrigerant inlet and for vaporizing the refrigerant in the boiler, a condenser connected to the pressure outlet of the compressor receiving a heated compressed refrigerant vapor, said condenser being in a heat exchange relationship with the boiler for heating the boiler and cooling the heated compressed vapor from the compressor to a condensated liquid, a sump connected to the condenser for receiving the condensed liquids, and a non-condensable gas purge chamber connected to the top of the condenser for receiving non-condensable gases, said purge chamber positioned in a heat exchange relationship with boiler for condensing any refrigerant in the chamber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
The apparatus of claim 1 including, a cooling coil positioned in the purge chamber for receiving and vaporizing part of the condensed refrigerant, said cooling coil connected to the boiler for transmitting the vaporized refrigerant to the boiler, and a gas outlet in the top of the purge chamber for release of non-condensable gases.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 2 including, a liquid float assembly connected to the cooling coil for controlling the liquid refrigerant leaving the purge chamber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 1 including a recycling circuit connected between the sump and the boiler for recycling and purifying the refrigerant.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 1 including a housing positioned about the boiler, said housing surrounding the boiler and forming the condenser, purge chamber and sump.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 1 including, a sump sub-cooler coil including a cooling coil in the sump, said cooling coil connected between the sump and the boiler, whereby the liquid refrigerant in the sump vaporizes and cools the sump.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 1 including, a second condenser connected to the pressure outlet of the compressor upstream of the first condenser.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 1 including, an inlet line having a sight glass connected to the refrigerant inlet, an outlet line connected to the sump for receiving reclaimed condensed liquids,
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
said inlet line and said outlet line adapted to be connected to a refrigerant source for continuously reclaiming refrigerant.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
111 words
The method of reclaiming a refrigerant through a closed process preventing release of the refrigerant to the environment comprising, withdrawing the refrigerant from a refrigeration system and into a boiler, lowering the pressure in the boiler by suction sufficiently to vaporize the refrigerant at a temperature of between approximately 10° F. and -15° F. while insufficient to vaporize oil, most acids, and most of the water, removing the vaporized refrigerant from the boiler and compressing the vaporized refrigerant increasing the temperature, passing the heated vaporized refrigerant in a heat exchange relationship with the boiler heating the boiler and condensing the vaporized refrigerant, and recharging the refrigeration system with the condensed refrigerant.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
98 words
The method of reclaiming a refrigerant through a closed process preventing release of the refrigerant to the environment comprising, withdrawing the refrigerant from a refrigeration system and into a boiler, lowering the pressure in the boiler by suction sufficiently to vaporize the refrigerant, removing the vaporized refrigerant from the boiler and compressing the vaporized refrigerant increasing the temperature, passing the heated vaporized refrigerant in a heat exchange relationship with the boiler heating the boiler and condensing the vaporized refrigerant, collecting and removing any non-condensable gases from the condensed refrigerant, and recharging the refrigeration system with the condensed refrigerant.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 10 including, passing the non-condensable gases in a heat exchange relationship with the boiler for condensing and extracting any refrigerant therefrom.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 11 including, vaporizing any extracted refrigerant and returning it to the boiler.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 9 including, cooling the heated vaporized refrigerant prior to the heat exchange passage with the boiler.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 9 including, cooling the condensed refrigerant by vaporizing part of the refrigerant, and inserting the vaporized part into the boiler.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 9 including recycling part of the condensed refrigerant for further purifying the refrigerant.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
101 words
The method of separating large quantities of non-condensable gases from high pressure refrigerants from a refrigeration system comprising, extracting a quantity of refrigerant from the system and placing the extracted refrigerant in a boiler, lowering the pressure in the boiler to vaporize the refrigerant, compressing the vaporized refrigerant, passing the compressed refrigerant in a heat exchange relationship with the boiler in a closed loop, thereby lowering the temperature of the refrigerant, flowing non-condensable gases from the system into the boiler and separating any refrigerant from the non-condensable gases, and withdrawing, compressing, cooling, collecting, and removing the non-condensable gases from the refrigerant.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
101 words
The method of separating large quantities of non-condensable gases from high pressure refrigerants from a refrigeration system comprising, extracting a quantity of refrigerant from the system and placing the extracted refrigerant in a boiler, lowering the pressure in the boiler to vaporize the refrigerant, compressing the vaporized refrigerant, passing the compressed refrigerant in a heat exchange relationship with the boiler in a closed loop, thereby lowering the temperature of the refrigerant, flowing non-condensable gases from the system into the boiler and separating any refrigerant from the non-condensable gases, and withdrawing, compressing, cooling, collecting, and removing the non-condensable gases from the refrigerant.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-06-10 | 1994-12-10 | 1995-06-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-06-10 | 1998-12-10 | 1999-06-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-06-10 | 2002-12-10 | 2003-06-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |