Spx Corporation

Bosch Automotive Service Solutions Inc.

Kent-Moore Corporation

Robinair Division

Robert Boschgmbh

Service Solutions U.S. LLC

Gary P Murray

William C Brown

Walter D Murray

Mark McMasters

Kenneth W Manz

Gregg E Laukhuf

Dylan M Lundberg

Ralph C Lower

Don A Bulla

Byron J Dunham

Roger D Shirley

Travis John Bakker

Scott Peder Opsahl

Daniel L Olds

Richard D Parks

Charles E Dull

Harold E Lyons

Anthony Thompson

Todd J Arend

Allan F Heisler, Ii

Tim Gorski

Mark D Pfleeger

Robert J Punches

Bill Brown

William Brown

Larry Lageson

A sensor device, system, and method for monitoring the internal pressure and temperature of a refrigerant tank during a recovery operation to control a purge operation of the tank based on the conditions thereof during the recovery operation. The sensor device, system, and method further utilize an external temperature sensor, the external temperature sensor operable to indicate that it is properly positioned on the surface of the tank.

Tank temperature probe with positional sensor

An air conditioning service system includes a discharge unit including a discharge vessel, a vacuum pump fluidly connected to the discharge vessel, a scale configured to sense a weight of the discharge unit, a first valve arranged in an input line configured to fluidly connect the discharge vessel to an air conditioning system, and a vent valve arranged in a vent line and configured to fluidly connect the discharge vessel to the atmosphere. A controller operates the vacuum pump to evacuate the discharge vessel, obtains an evacuated weight of the discharge unit, operates the first valve to open to fill the discharge vessel with refrigerant, obtains a filled weight of the discharge unit, operates the vent valve to vent refrigerant from the discharge vessel, obtains a vented weight of the discharge unit, and determines a mass of refrigerant vented based upon the stored evacuated, filled, and vented weights.

System and method for venting refrigerant from an air conditioning system

A method and charging apparatus for adding refrigerant to refrigerant system are provided. The disclosure includes thermally conditioning the interior of the service hoses of a refrigerant recovery unit used to charge refrigerant. The conditioning may be based on one or more temperature reading(s) and/or based on a function and may be achieved by a heater along the length of the hose, recirculating refrigerant, and/or through a parallel line of heated liquid.

Temperature controlled service hoses for improved refrigerant charge accuracy

A method and charging apparatus for adding refrigerant to an air conditioning system are provided. The method includes calculating a temperature differential by measuring a first temperature of a refrigerant inside of a refrigerant container and measuring a second temperature either at the air conditioning system or the ambient temperature. The method further includes using the temperature differential to calculate a compensation amount of refrigerant to add to a previously determined recommended amount of refrigerant based on the type of air conditioning system being charged.

System and method for improving charge accuracy by temperature compensation

An apparatus and method are provided in order to verify the calibration on the fluid handling system. A magnet coupled to the scale is used to attach a precalibrated weight so that a controller in the system can determine if the scale needs to be calibrated. This way a storage tank does not need to be removed in order to check the calibration of the scale. The system can be locked down if the calibration is not within the predetermined calibration tolerance.

Method and apparatus for verifying scale calibration

A method and apparatus for ensuring a user to change a filter dryer of a refrigerant recovery unit having a refrigerant determining module that is configured to determine a condition of the refrigerant or an amount of refrigerant that has passed through the filter dryer, or a condition of the filter dryer, an alert device that notifies the user to change the filter dryer in response to the condition, a pressure module that regulates the pressure in the filter dryer, and a pressure-sensing device that is configured to detect a change of pressure in response to filter dryer maintenance. The refrigerant recovery unit is disabled from recovering refrigerant when the refrigerant determining module determines that the filter dryer needs to be replaced, and it is activated in response to the change of pressure detected by the pressure-sensing device.

Method and apparatus for refrigerant recovery unit filter dryer maintenance

A refrigerant recovery unit is provided that can recover and recharge refrigerant. The unit is further configured with a pair of service hoses and a refrigerant control circuit operable to receive and transport the refrigerant between the hoses and the storage vessel and to process the refrigerant to substantially remove contaminants from the refrigerant. A fluid connector is provided in fluid communication with the hoses to enable the refrigerant to flow between the hoses and to establish a closed loop through the refrigerant control circuit, and a controller is operatively connected to the refrigerant control circuit and configured to control a flow of the refrigerant through the refrigerant control circuit and through the fluid connector.

Apparatus to clear oil from the hoses and front end of a recovery recharge machine

An apparatus and method providing a refrigeration servicing system that comprises a clean refrigerant source, a recovery circuit and a flushing circuit. The recovery circuit can be configured to recover refrigerant from a cooling system. After recovery cycle is completed, the flushing circuit that is coupled to the recovery circuit can flush clean refrigerant through the recovery circuit. A housing can be provided and configured to house the refrigerant source, the recovery circuit and the flushing circuit.

Internal clearing function for a refrigerant recovery/recharge machine

A refrigerant recovery unit is provided that can clear oil from an oil inject path in order to prepare the unit to switch over to a different kind of oil. The refrigerant recovery unit includes an oil inject circuit that receives an oil from the oil bottle into the refrigerant system. The refrigerant recovery circuit is coupled in fluid communication with the oil inject circuit. The refrigerant recovery circuit is operable to receive and transfer a fluid drawn through the oil inject circuit. A controller is operatively connected to the refrigerant recovery circuit and to the oil inject circuit so that as the fluid is drawn through the oil inject circuit a quantity of the oil in the oil inject circuit is removed.

Method and apparatus for clearing oil inject circuit for changing oil types

A refrigerant recovery unit that diverts blended refrigerant withdrawn out of a refrigerant system to an external tank outside the refrigerant recovery unit for reclamation includes a recovery circuit coupled on one end to the refrigerant system and coupled on another end to the external tank, a controller in communication with the recovery circuit for controlling a transfer of the refrigerant withdrawn from the refrigerant system to the external tank, and a valve operatively engaged with the controller and the recovery circuit and operable to transfer the refrigerant withdrawn from the refrigerant system to the external tank for recycling or reclamation.

Method for recovery and recharge of blend refrigerants with blend sent for reclamation

A recovery apparatus, system and method, including a compressor to evacuate a gas or liquid from a system during a first phase and a second phase of a recovery process, and a vacuum pump to evacuate the gas or liquid during the second phase. A memory stores one or more correlation relations to determine a predetermined second variable recovery time for the second phase to evacuate the system to a second predetermined level related to a first recovery time to evacuate the vessel or system to a first predetermined level during the first phase, and a processor to determine the second variable recovery time, based on the one or more correlation relations and the first recovery time, and selectively control the compressor and the vacuum pump to evacuate the gas or liquid from the vessel or system to the first and second predetermined levels.

Growing community of inventors

Montpelier, OH, United States of America

Gary P Murray