Apparatus for purification and recovery of refrigrant

Claim 2

A refrigerant purification and recovery apparatus for removing refrigerant from a refrigeration unit comprising: compressor means for compressing refrigerant gas; first conduit means for conducting refrigerant from the refrigeration unit to the compressor, said first conduit means having and upstream end and a downstream end, said first conduit upstream end including coupling means for coupling said first conduit in fluid communication with a refrigeration unit fluid circuit, said first conduit downstream end connected to a suction side of said compressor; condenser means for facilitating heat exchange from refrigerant within said condenser means to fluid external of said condenser means; second conduit means for conducting fluid from a high pressure side of said compressor to said condenser, said second conduit means having an upstream end and a downstream end, said second conduit means upstream end attached to said compressor and said second conduit means downstream end attached to said condenser; receiver vessel means for receiving and containing refrigerant at a pressure higher than an ambient pressure; third conduit means for conducting refrigerant from said condenser to said receiver vessel means, said third conduit means having an upstream end and a downstream end, said third conduit means upstream end connected to said condenser and said third conduit downstream end connected to said receiver vessel means; auxiliary condenser valve means having an open and a closed configuration for selectively blocking fluid flow at a point along said third conduit between said third conduit upstream end and said third conduit downstream end when said valve means is in said closed configuration; first releasable conduit connection means for making a fluid communicating connection to said third conduit at a point along said third conduit between said third conduit upstream end and said valve means; second releasable conduit connection means for making a fluid communicating connection to said third conduit at a point along said third conduit between said third conduit downstream end and said valve means; auxiliary condenser means for facilitating heat transfer between refrigerant within said auxiliary condenser means and a fluid external of said auxiliary condenser means, said auxiliary condenser means having an upstream end and a downstream end adapted to releasably connect with said first conduit connection means and said second conduit connection means, respectively, such that, when said auxiliary condenser upstream end is connected to said first conduit connection means and said auxiliary condenser downstream end is connected with said second conduit connection means, and said auxiliary condenser valve means is in said closed configuration, refrigerant flowing through said third conduit must flow through said auxiliary condenser.

Claim 3

A refrigerant purification and recovery apparatus as in claim 1 in which said first and second conduit connection means each comprise Schrader-type connectors.

Claim 4

A refrigerant purification and recovery apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising temperature sensing and signaling means for sensing and signaling when a temperature is higher than a predetermined temperature.

Claim 5

A refrigerant purification and recovery apparatus as in claim 3 in which the temperature is a temperature of said third conduit means.

Claim 6

A refrigerant purification and recovery apparatus for removing refrigerant from a refrigeration unit and for purifying the refrigerant removed from the refrigeration unit comprising: compressor means for compressing refrigerant gas; first conduit means for conducting refrigerant from the a fluid circuit of the refrigeration unit to the compressor, said first conduit means having an upstream end and a downstream end, said first conduit upstream end including coupling means for coupling said first conduit in fluid communication with the refrigeration unit fluid circuit, said first conduit downstream end connected to a suction side of said compressor; condenser means for facilitating heat exchange from refrigerant within said condenser means to fluid external of said condenser means; second conduit means for conducting fluid from a high pressure side of said compressor to said condenser, said second conduit means having an upstream end and a downstream end, said second conduit means upstream end attached to said compressor and said second conduit means downstream end attached to said condenser; receiver-separator vessel means for receiving and containing refrigerant at a pressure higher than an ambient pressure, said receiver-separator vessel means having an upper end portion and a lower end portion; third conduit means for conducting refrigerant from said condenser to said receiver-separator means, said third conduit means having an upstream end and a downstream end, said third conduit means upstream end connected to said condenser and said third conduit downstream end connected to said receiver-separator vessel means; pressure detection means for generating pressure indicative signals representative of a pressure within said upper end portion of said receiver-separator means; liquid detection means for detecting the presence of a liquid in said receiver-separator means at a position between said upper end portion and said lower end portion and generating a liquid-presence indicative signal indicative of the presence or absence of liquid; vent means for venting gas from said upper end portion of said receiver-separator means; drain means for draining liquid from said lower end portion of said receiver-separator means; control-signal means for receiving said pressure indicative signals and said liquid-presence indicative signals and generating a drain signal only when said pressure indicative signal is indicative of a pressure greater than a predetermined pressure and said liquid presence indicative signal is indicative of a liquid present, and generating a vent signal only when said pressure indicative signal is indicative of a pressure greater than a predetermined pressure and said liquid presence indicative signal is indicative of no liquid present; auxiliary condenser valve means having an open and a closed configuration for selectively blocking fluid flow at a point along said third conduit between said third conduit upstream end and said third conduit downstream end when said valve means is in said closed configuration; first releasable conduit connection means for making a fluid communicating connection to said third conduit at a point along said third conduit between said third conduit upstream end and said valve means; second releasable conduit connection means for making a fluid communicating connection to said third conduit at a point along said third conduit between said third conduit downstream end and said valve means; auxiliary condenser means for facilitating heat transfer between refrigerant within said auxiliary condenser means and a fluid external of said auxiliary condenser means, said auxiliary condenser means having an upstream end and a downstream end adapted to releasably connect with said first conduit connection means and said second conduit connection means, respectively, such that, when said auxiliary condenser upstream end is connected to said first conduit connection means and said auxiliary condenser downstream end is connected with said second conduit connection means, and said auxiliary condenser valve means is in said closed configuration, refrigerant flowing through said third conduit must flow through said auxiliary condenser.

Claim 7

A refrigerant purification and recovery apparatus for removing refrigerant from a refrigeration unit and for purifying the refrigerant removed from the refrigeration unit comprising: compressor means for compressing refrigerant gas; first conduit means for conducting refrigerant from the a fluid circuit of the refrigeration unit to the compressor, said first conduit means having an upstream end and a downstream end, said first conduit upstream end including coupling means for coupling said first conduit in fluid communication with the refrigeration unit fluid circuit, said first conduit downstream end connected to a suction side of said compressor; condenser means for facilitating heat exchange from refrigerant within said condenser means to fluid external of said condenser means; second conduit means for conducting fluid from a high pressure side of said compressor to said condenser, said second conduit means having an upstream end and a downstream end, said second conduit means upstream end attached to said compressor and said second conduit means downstream end attached to said condenser; receiver-separator vessel means for receiving and containing refrigerant at a pressure higher than an ambient pressure, said receiver-separator vessel means having an upper end portion and a lower end portion; third conduit means for conducting refrigerant from said condenser to said receiver-separator means, said third conduit means having an upstream end and a downstream end, said third conduit means upstream end connected to said condenser and said third conduit downstream end connected to said receiver-separator vessel means; pressure detection means for generating pressure indicative signals representative of a pressure within said upper end portion of said receiver-separator means; liquid detection means for detecting the presence of a liquid in said receiver-separator means at a position between said upper end portion and said lower end portion and generating a liquid-presence indicative signal indicative of the presence or absence of liquid; vent means for venting gas from said upper end portion of said receiver-separator means; drain means for draining liquid from said lower end portion of said receiver-separator means; control-signal means for receiving said pressure indicative signals and said liquid-presence indicative signals and generating a drain signal only when said pressure indicative signal is indicative of a pressure greater than a predetermined pressure and said liquid presence indicative signal is indicative of a liquid present, and generating a vent signal only when said pressure indicative signal is indicative of a pressure greater than a predetermined pressure and said liquid presence indicative signal is indicative of no liquid present; auxiliary condenser valve means having an open and a closed configuration for selectively blocking fluid flow at a point along said third conduit between said third conduit upstream end and said third conduit downstream end when said valve means is in said closed configuration; first releasable conduit connection means for making a fluid communicating connection to said third conduit at a point along said third conduit between said third conduit upstream end and said valve means; second releasable conduit connection means for making a fluid communicating connection to said third conduit at a point along said third conduit between said third conduit downstream end and said valve means; auxiliary condenser means for facilitating heat transfer between refrigerant within said auxiliary condenser means and a fluid external of said auxiliary condenser means, said auxiliary condenser means having an upstream end and a downstream end adapted to releasably connect with said first conduit connection means and said second conduit connection means, respectively, such that, when said auxiliary condenser upstream end is connected to said first conduit connection means and said auxiliary condenser downstream end is connected with said second conduit connection means, and said auxiliary condenser valve means is in said closed configuration, refrigerant flowing through said third conduit must flow through said auxiliary condenser.

Claim 8

A refrigerant purification and recovery apparatus as in claim 5 in which said first and second conduit connection means each comprise Schrader-type connectors.

Claim 9

A refrigerant purification and recovery apparatus as in claim 5 further comprising temperature sensing and signaling means for sensing and signaling when a temperature is higher than a predetermined temperature.

Claim 10

A refrigerant purification and recovery apparatus as in claim 7 in which the temperature is a temperature of said third conduit means.

Claim 11

A refrigerant purification and recovery apparatus as in claim 7 further comprising vent signal disabling means for preventing said control-signal means from generating a vent signal when the temperature is higher than the predetermined temperature.

Claim 12

A refrigerant purification and recovery apparatus for removing refrigerant from a refrigeration unit and for purifying the refrigerant removed from the refrigeration unit comprising: compressor means for compressing refrigerant gas; first conduit means for conducting refrigerant from the a fluid circuit of the refrigeration unit to the compressor, said first conduit means having an upstream end and a downstream end, said first conduit upstream end including coupling means for coupling said first conduit in fluid communication with the refrigeration unit fluid circuit, said first conduit downstream end connected to a suction side of said compressor; condenser means for facilitating heat exchange from refrigerant within said condenser means to fluid external of said condenser means; second conduit means for conducting fluid from a high pressure side of said compressor to said condenser, said second conduit means having an upstream end and a downstream end, said second conduit means upstream end attached to said compressor and said second conduit means downstream end attached to said condenser; receiver-separator vessel means for receiving and containing refrigerant at a pressure higher than an ambient pressure, said receiver-separator vessel means having an upper end portion and a lower end portion; third conduit means for conducting refrigerant from said condenser to said receiver-separator means, said third conduit means having an upstream end and a downstream end, said third conduit means upstream end connected to said condenser and said third conduit downstream end connected to said receiver-separator means; pressure detection means for generating pressure indicative signals representative of a pressure within said upper end portion of said receiver-separator means; liquid detection means for detecting the presence of a liquid in said receiver-separator means at a position between said upper end portion and said lower end portion and generating a liquid-presence indicative signal indicative of the presence or absence of liquid; vent means for venting gas from said upper end portion of said receiver-separator means; drain means for draining liquid from said lower end portion of said receiver-separator means; temperature sensing means for generating temperature indicative signals representative of a sensed temperature; control-signal means for receiving said pressure indicative signals, said liquid-presence indicative signals and said temperature indicative signals and generating a drain signal only when said pressure indicative signal is indicative of a pressure greater than a predetermined pressure and said liquid presence indicative signal is indicative of a liquid present, and generating a vent signal only when said pressure indicative signal is indicative of a pressure greater than a predetermined pressure, said liquid presence indicative signal is indicative of no liquid present and said temperature indicative signal is indicative of a temperature less than a predetermined temperature.

Claim 13

A refrigerant purification and recovery apparatus for removing refrigerant from a refrigeration unit and for purifying the refrigerant removed from the refrigeration unit comprising: compressor means for compressing refrigerant gas; first conduit means for conducting refrigerant from the a fluid circuit of the refrigeration unit to the compressor, said first conduit means having an upstream end and a downstream end, said first conduit upstream end including coupling means for coupling said first conduit in fluid communication with the refrigeration unit fluid circuit, said first conduit downstream end connected to a suction side of said compressor; condenser means for facilitating heat exchange from refrigerant within said condenser means to fluid external of said condenser means; second conduit means for conducting fluid from a high pressure side of said compressor to said condenser, said second conduit means having an upstream end and a downstream end, said second conduit means upstream end attached to said compressor and said second conduit means downstream end attached to said condenser; receiver-separator vessel means for receiving and containing refrigerant at a pressure higher than an ambient pressure, said receiver-separator vessel means having an upper end portion and a lower end portion; third conduit means for conducting refrigerant from said condenser to said receiver-separator means, said third conduit means having an upstream end and a downstream end, said third conduit means upstream end connected to said condenser and said third conduit downstream end connected to said receiver-separator means; pressure detection means for generating pressure indicative signals representative of a pressure within said upper end portion of said receiver-separator means; liquid detection means for detecting the presence of a liquid in said receiver-separator means at a position between said upper end portion and said lower end portion and generating a liquid-presence indicative signal indicative of the presence or absence of liquid; vent means for venting gas from said upper end portion of said receiver-separator means; drain means for draining liquid from said lower end portion of said receiver-separator means; temperature sensing means for generating temperature indicative signals representative of a sensed temperature; control-signal means for receiving said pressure indicative signals, said liquid-presence indicative signals and said temperature indicative signals and generating a drain signal only when said pressure indicative signal is indicative of a pressure greater than a predetermined pressure and said liquid presence indicative signal is indicative of a liquid present, and generating a vent signal only when said pressure indicative signal is indicative of a pressure greater than a predetermined pressure, said liquid presence indicative signal is indicative of no liquid present and said temperature indicative signal is indicative of a temperature less than a predetermined temperature.