The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 25, 2002
Filed:
Nov. 01, 1999
Arnold M. Hanson, Minneapolis, MN (US);
Badr Alossaimi, Prior Lake, MN (US);
Thomas D. Chandler, Coon Rapids, MN (US);
Century Mfg. Co., Bloomington, MN (US);
Abstract
An apparatus for recovering and recycling refrigerant is provided. The apparatus includes a separation unit, a compressor, and a receiver tank. The separation unit is provided for condensing compressed refrigerant and for vaporizing contaminated refrigerant. The separation unit includes a multichamber structure having a high pressure region and a low pressure region. The high pressure region includes a high pressure inlet for providing compressed refrigerant vapor to the high pressure region, a high pressure outlet for removing condensed refrigerant from the high pressure region, and a compressor oil outlet for removing compressor oil from the high pressure region. The low pressure region includes a low pressure inlet for introducing contaminated refrigerant into the low pressure region, a low pressure outlet for removing vaporized refrigerant from the low pressure region, and a refrigerant oil outlet for removing refrigerant oil from the low pressure region. The compressor is provided for compressing refrigerant from the low pressure outlet of the separation unit to provide compressed refrigerant for feeding to the high pressure inlet of the separation unit. The receiver tank is provided for receiving condensed refrigerant from the high pressure outlet of the separation unit. A method for recovering and recycling refrigerant is provided.