US5077984A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Refrigerant handling unit
Assignee: Washington Research Foundation
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Filing: 1990-03-16
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Granted: 1992-01-07
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Expires: 2010-03-16
Abstract
Abstract A readily portable refrigerant handling unit for withdrawing, receiving, storing and optionally recharging the refrigerant of a down refrigeration system under repair or servicing or the like, the unit accommodating interchangeable refrigerant reclaim tanks provided with refrigerant porting systems connectable to various down systems for allowing the flow of refrigerant therebetween, the unit being constructed of a housing providing a cavity for removably receiving a reclaim tank, an openable closure on the housing and/or the tank for substantially thermally sealing the tank in the housing, access conduits or equivalent structure in the housing for allowing connection of the tank to the down system, and a cooling system and optionally a heating system in the housing adapted to selectively cool or heat the tank to withdraw or recharge the refrigerant respectively from or to the down system.
Inventors
- 👤 James H. Vance
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 11:45
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25B; F25B45/00; F25B2345/00; F25B2345/001; F25B2345/005; F25B2345/0052
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
132 words
A refrigerant handling unit for withdrawing the refrigerant of a down system, comprising refrigerant reclaim tank means having refrigerant porting means connectable to said down system for allowing the flow of refrigerant between it and said tank means, housing means, cavity means in said housing means having entry means opening through said housing means for allowing easy insertion into and removal from said cavity means of said tank means, openable closure means cooperable with said housing means for substantially thermally sealing said entry means, access means in said housing means for allowing fluid connection of said porting means to said down system, and cooling means in said housing means separate from but adjacent said tank means for cooling the same to withdraw said refrigerant from said down system to said tank means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
34 words
The unit of claim 1 wherein said cooling means is permanently affixed in said housing means at locations which allow said tank means to be readily removed from or installed in said cavity means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
57 words
The unit of claim 1 wherein said cooling means comprises a refrigeration system independent of said down system and having compressor means, condenser means, evaporator means, and chiller conduit means connected in series in a closed loop, said chiller conduit means adapted to lie in close proximity to portions of said tank means for chilling the same.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The unit of claim 3 wherein said refrigeration system is a combination refrigeration and heat pump to provide the cooling and heating of said tank means for withdrawing and recharging respectively the refrigerant of the down system.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The unit of claim 3 wherein tank heating means is provided for recharging said down system and comprises an electrical resistance heater located in close proximity to portions of said tank means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The unit of claim 1 wherein said tank means is provided with auxilliary porting means for selectively connecting said tank means to auxilliary equipment.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
68 words
The unit of claim 1 wherein said housing means comprises a generally box-like configuration having wall means providing floor means, top means, opposing side means, and opposing end means, cavity entry means in said wall means for allowing the insertion into or withdrawal from said cavity means of said tank means, and support means in said cavity means for slidably receiving said tank means through said entry means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The unit of claim 3 wherein said chiller conduit means extends adjacent to a substantial portion of the exterior surface of said tank means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The unit of claim 8 wherein said chiller conduit means comprises portions of the evaporator coil of a refrigeration system.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
The unit of claim 9 wherein heater means is provided and said portion of said evaporator coil and said heater means lie adjacent to different portions of the exterior surface of said tank means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
The unit of claim 7 wherein said tank means also has a generally box like configuration and a forward end wall thereof is providing with handle means for assisting in inserting and withdrawing of said tank means into and from said cavity means respectively.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
The unit of claim 1 wherein said closure means comprises door means hinged to said housing means and pivotal outwardly therefrom to allow said tank means to be moved through said entry means into and out of said cavity means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
The unit of claim 1 wherein said closure means comprises rim means on said tank means adapted to substantially thermally sealingly abut adjacent portions of said housing means which form said entry means upon full insertion of said tank means into said cavity means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
45 words
The unit of claim 1 wherein said access means comprises slot means in a portion of said wall means adjacent said entry means and opening toward said closure means to receive said porting means upon full insertion of said tank means into said cavity means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
56 words
The unit of claim 14 wherein said porting means comprises fluid conduit means affixed at one end to said tank means and extending at its other end outwardly through grommet means, said grommet means and said slot means being dimensioned to provide a sliding fit therebetween as said tank means is inserted into said cavity means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
66 words
The unit of claim 14 wherein said porting means comprises fluid conduit means affixed at one end to said tank means and adapted to extend at its other end outwardly through said slot means, and fluid flow control valve means positioned in said conduit and adapted to be positioned means externally of said housing means when said tank means is fully inserted into said cavity means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
The unit of claim 1 wherein said cooling means comprises portions of the evaporator coil of a refrigeration system and encircle a sheet metal cylinder into which said tank means is readily slidable.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
38 words
The unit of claim 17 wherein said access means comprises conduit segments perm anently installed through a wall portion of said housing means and adapted to be fluid connected to said porting means internally of said housing means.
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) | 1995-01-06 | 1995-07-08 | 1996-01-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-01-06 | 1999-07-08 | 2000-01-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-01-06 | 2003-07-08 | 2004-01-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |