Spx Corporation

Kent-moore Corporation

Other

Richard D. Parks

Kenneth W. Manz

Kenneth W Manz

Christopher M Powers

Roger D Shirley

Gary P Murray

Richard D Parks

Sandra Snyder

Charles E Dull

Gregg E Laukhuf

Walter D Murray

Daniel L Olds

Ralph C Lower

Sandra Sheehe

Anthony J Manz

Dennis W Hickman

Allan F Heisler, Ii

Mark E Ramsey

Ilya Reyzin

Apparatus for protecting a fluid sensor against excess fluid pressure that includes a manifold having an internal fluid passage and a fluid inlet for connecting the passage to a fluid system. A piston is disposed within the passage adjacent to one end of the passage, and a rod extends from the piston through the passage. A valve is coupled to the rod at a position spaced from the piston, and is cooperable with the passage for selectively terminating fluid flow through the passage. A fluid sensor may be mounted on the manifold for communicating with fluid in the passage at an end thereof adjacent to the valve and remote from the piston. A spring resiliently engages the piston and urges the piston, rod and valve toward the end of the passage to open the valve. Fluid pressure at the inlet sufficient to overcome forces applied to the piston by the spring functions to close the valve and thereby to isolate the sensor from the fluid inlet.

Over-pressure protection of a fluid sensor

In a refrigerant recovery system, a refrigerant compressor has an inlet for connection to a source of refrigerant to be recovered and an outlet for connection to a refrigerant storage container. A separator is connected in series with the compressor for separating lubricant from refrigerant either before or after passage of the refrigerant through the compressor. A valve or other suitable means is operatively connected between the inlet and outlet of the compressor for equalizing pressure across the compressor during non-operation of the compressor. A pressure sensor is coupled to the refrigerant recovery system and responsive to refrigerant pressure at the lubricant separator. A manual or automatic valve is coupled to a drain on the separator for draining lubricant from the separator during non-operation of the compressor when refrigerant pressure at the separator reaches a selected level during non-operation of the compressor.

Refrigerant handling with lubricant separation and draining

A refrigerant handling system that is particularly adapted for flammable or potentially flammable refrigerants that includes a compressor having an inlet for connection to a source of refrigerant, and a condenser connected to the outlet of the compressor for at least partially condensing refrigerant passing therethrough. An air motor is connected to a source of air under pressure for operating the compressor. The air from the motor exhaust is directed to the condenser for cooling the condenser and thereby enhancing extraction of heat from refrigerant passing through the condenser.

Refrigerant handling system and method especially for flammable and

Refrigerant is purified by circulating the refrigerant in a closed path from a first refrigerant container through a filter/dryer unit back to the first refrigerant container. Air and other non-condensibles are purged from the refrigerant in the first storage container during this refrigerant circulation process. Following the non-condensible purging operation, the refrigerant in the first container is transferred through a filter/dryer unit into a second refrigerant container. This second refrigerant container is evacuated prior to transferring the purified refrigerant thereto. Capacity of the filter/dryer unit is monitored, either by monitoring time of operation of the refrigerant pump or monitoring wetness of the circulated refrigerant with the sight gauge.

Method and apparatus for refrigerant purification

A refrigerant handling system that includes a chamber for holding refrigerant, and a refrigerant pump for directing refrigerant into the chamber so that the refrigerant collects in liquid phase at a lower portion of the chamber while air and other non-condensibles collect in vapor phase at the upper portion of the chamber over the refrigerant. Sensors are responsive to temperatures of the refrigerant entering the chamber and of the refrigerant collected in the lower portion of the chamber. Partial pressure of non-condensibles in the upper portion of the chamber is determined as a function of a difference between such temperatures, and the non-condensibles are purged from the upper portion of the chamber when such partial pressure reaches a selected threshold.

Refrigerant handling system and method with air purge and multiple

A refrigerant handling system that includes a refrigerant compressor having an inlet for connection to a source of refrigerant and an outlet for delivering refrigerant under pressure. A refrigerant/non-condensible separator is coupled to the compressor outlet. The separator includes a refrigerant conduit wound in a closed planar spiral, such that refrigerant flowing through the conduit is urged by centrifugal force against the radially outer wall portion of the conduit. Openings in the upper wall portion of the conduit vent air and other non-condensibles of lesser molecular weight than the refrigerant.

Refrigerant handling with centrifugal separation of non condensibles

A refrigerant handling system that includes an air purge chamber and a refrigerant pump for directing refrigerant into the air purge chamber so that the refrigerant collects in liquid phase at a lower portion of the chamber while air and other non-condensibles collect in the vapor space at the upper portion of the chamber over the liquid refrigerant. A purge valve is connected to the upper portion of the chamber for automatically or manually purging air and other non-condensibles from the chamber. A refrigerant outlet is positioned at the lower portion of the chamber for drawing liquid phase refrigerant from the chamber. Desiccant adsorbent material is disposed in a canister connected to the upper portion of the air purge chamber for adsorbing refrigerant vapor in air passing through the canister. The desiccant adsorption material thus prevents venting of refrigerant vapor with non-condensibles from the air purge chamber.

Refrigerant handling system and method with air purge and system

A thermoelectric refrigerant handling system that includes a chamber having an inlet path for receiving refrigerant from a source thereof and an outlet for delivering refrigerant in vapor phase. A thermoelectric element is operatively disposed between the chamber and the refrigerant inlet path, and is responsive to application of electrical energy for transferring heat from the inlet path to the chamber. In this way, heat is withdrawn from refrigerant at the inlet path and refrigerant is drawn into the inlet from the source, while heat is added to refrigerant in the chamber until the refrigerant is vaporized and driven by vapor pressure through the chamber outlet. A controller applies electrical energy to the thermoelectric element for transferring heat into the chamber to vaporize the refrigerant contained therein until the chamber is substantially empty of refrigerant, and then opens a valve to feed refrigerant from the inlet path to the chamber. In this way, refrigerant is drawn from the source through the inlet, and effectively pumped in vapor phase through the outlet of the chamber.

Thermoelectric refrigerant handling system

A system for recovering at least two different and incompatible types of refrigerant that includes a compressor having an inlet for connection through first and second parallel inlet paths to equipment under service, and an outlet for connection through first and second parallel outlet paths to refrigerant storage containers. The first inlet and outlet paths terminate in connector fittings of a first configuration, and the second inlet and outlet paths terminate in connector fittings of a second configuration different from the first. Solenoid valves are associated with the inlet and outlet paths, and are actuated alternately so that the inlet and outlet paths are not simultaneously connected to the compressor. The connector fittings are mounted on a panel that has a sliding door for selectively exposing either but not both sets of connector fittings. The chance of misconnection and mixing refrigerant types is thereby reduced.

Recovery of at least two different and incompatible refrigerant types

One or more properties of a refrigerant are analyzed by evacuating a refrigerant sample vessel, drawing a refrigerant vapor sample into the vessel, and condensing the refrigerant sample within the vessel for measurement and indication of one or more desired properties of the liquid refrigerant sample. By drawing the sample refrigerant in vapor phase rather than liquid phase, the sample will be relatively free of lubricant, particulate or water contamination. The sample vessel can be readily cleaned by simple evacuation in preparation for the next measurement cycle.

Method and apparatus for analyzing refrigerant properties

Apparatus for purification of refrigerant that includes a replaceable filter/dryer unit for removing water from refrigerant passing therethrough and having a predetermined water absorption capacity, and a compressor for pumping refrigerant through the filter/dryer unit. Refrigerant vapor pressure is measured at the compressor inlet, and mass flow rate of water in the refrigerant pumped through the filter/dryer unit is determined as a function of measured pressure. The mass flow rate of water so determined is monitored over time of operation of the refrigerant pump to determine when the mass of water in refrigerant pumped through the filter/dryer unit reaches the predetermined water absorption capacity of the unit. Filter status may be indicated to an operator and/or operation of the pump may be terminated.

Refrigerant filtation system with filter change indication

Refrigerant type is identified and determined by storing in electronic memory indicia representative of saturation pressure/temperature characteristics of a plurality of differing refrigerant types. A liquid refrigerant sample of unknown type is obtained and vaporized under controlled conditions of temperature and pressure. Refrigerant vapor temperature is measured at two different vapor pressures during the vaporization process, and such temperatures and pressures are then compared with the indicia prestored in memory. Two temperature readings at differing vapor pressures are sufficient to distinguish refrigerant type based upon the prestored saturation/temperature indicia.

Apparatus and method for identifying and distinguishing different

A refrigerant handling system that includes an air purge chamber and a refrigerant pump for directing refrigerant into the air purge chamber so that the refrigerant collects in liquid phase at a lower portion of the chamber while air and other non-condensibles collect in a vapor space at the upper portion of the chamber over the refrigerant. A purge valve is connected to the upper portion of the chamber for automatically or manually purging air and other non-condensibles from the chamber. A refrigerant outlet is positioned at the lower portion of the chamber for drawing liquid phase refrigerant from the chamber. A minimum level of liquid phase refrigerant is maintained in the lower portion of the chamber at the outlet isolating the outlet from the vapor space, and preventing removal of air and other non-condensibles from the chamber through the outlet.

Growing community of inventors

Paulding, OH, United States of America

Kenneth W Manz