Method and apparatus for improving the charge accuracy of a refrigerant recovery unit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9447998-B2
Application number	US-201313797132-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 12, 2013
Priority date	Mar 12, 2013
Publication date	Sep 20, 2016
Grant date	Sep 20, 2016

Abstract

A refrigerant recovery unit with improved charging accuracy is provided. In some embodiments, the contamination of charging refrigerant can be prevented while also providing greater refrigerant flow control. In addition, methods associated therewith for servicing refrigerant containing refrigeration systems are provided. In some aspects, the methods include steps that can be used to achieve more accurate assessments of the refrigerant that is charged into the refrigeration systems during servicing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A refrigerant recovery unit, the unit comprising:
first and second service hoses configured to charge a refrigerant into a refrigerant system, wherein the first and second service hoses each having a hose fill valve at an end;
a refrigerant container storing the refrigerant, said refrigerant container being in fluid communication with the first and second service hoses;
a scale for measuring a weight of the refrigerant container;
first and second recirculating hoses configured to recirculate the refrigerant contained in the first and second service hoses from a connection at each of the hose fill valves to a component configured to purge vapor refrigerant so that the refrigerant contained in the first and second service hoses is liquid refrigerant before the refrigerant is charged into the refrigerant system; and
a controller configured to open a charge solenoid and activate a first time delay function of 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 seconds such that the refrigerant from the refrigerant container fills the first and second service hoses up to the hose fill valves and the first and second recirculating hoses up to a recirculating valve;
wherein the recirculating valve is configured to allow the refrigerant from the first and second recirculating hoses to reach the component; and
wherein the controller is further configured to, after the first time delay, open the recirculating valve such that vapor refrigerant is purged from the first and second service hoses via the first and second recirculating hoses.

2. The refrigerant recovery unit of claim 1 , wherein the first and second service hoses and the first and second recirculating hoses share a refrigerant flow path conduit portion.

3. The refrigerant recovery unit of claim 1 , wherein the first and second service hoses and the first and second recirculating hoses have separate parallel flow path conduits portions.

4. The refrigerant recovery unit of claim 1 , wherein diameters of the first and second service hoses are relatively smaller than diameters of the first and second recirculating hoses to increase charge accuracy of the refrigerant recovery unit.

5. The refrigerant recovery unit of claim 1 , wherein the first and second recirculating hoses are in fluid connection with a flow path conduit leading into an oil separator of the refrigerant recovery unit, the oil separator is the component capable of purging vapor refrigerant.

6. The refrigerant recovery unit of claim 1 , wherein the first and second recirculating hoses are in fluid connection with a flow path conduit leading into the refrigerant container of the refrigerant recovery unit.

7. The refrigerant recovery unit of claim 1 , further comprising a control system in logical communication a diagnostic tool that communicates with the refrigeration system, the control system configured to receive a diagnostic trouble code.

8. The refrigerant recovery unit of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to activate a second time delay function to keep the recirculating valve when opened to remain open in order to remove vapor refrigerant from the first and second service hoses.

9. The refrigerant recovery unit of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to activate a second time delay function of 4 or 5 seconds to allow the recirculating valve to remain open to allow removal of vapor refrigerant from the first and second service hoses.

10. The refrigerant recovery unit of claim 9 , wherein the controller after the second time delay is further configured to take, with the scale, a first measurement of the refrigerant container and a second measurement of the refrigerant container after charging the refrigerant system with refrigerant.

11. The refrigerant recovery unit of claim 1 , further comprising a connector interface configured to receive a cable connected to a data link connector of the refrigerant system to diagnose the refrigerant system.

12. The refrigerant recovery unit of claim 1 , wherein the first time delay function is 2 seconds.

13. The refrigerant recovery unit of claim 1 , wherein the first time delay function is 3 seconds.

14. The refrigerant recovery unit of claim 1 , wherein the first time delay function is 4 seconds.

15. The refrigerant recovery unit of claim 1 , wherein the first time delay function is 5 seconds.

16. A refrigerant recovery unit, the unit comprising:
first and second service hoses each connected to a hose fill valve;
first and second recirculating hoses in fluid connection with the first and second service hoses, wherein the first and second recirculating hoses are configured to recirculate a refrigerant contained in the first and second service hoses to a component configured to purge vapor refrigerant so that the refrigerant contained in the first and second service hoses is liquid refrigerant before the refrigerant is charged into a refrigerant system;
a scale for measuring refrigerant in a refrigerant tank;
a control system configured to communicate with a diagnostic tool that communicates with the refrigeration system, the control system further configured to receive a diagnostic trouble code; and
a controller configured to open a charge solenoid and activate a first time delay function of 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 seconds such that the refrigerant from refrigerant container fills the first and second service hoses up to the hose fill valves and the first and second recirculating hoses up to a recirculating valve;
wherein the recirculating valve is configured to allow the refrigerant from the first and second recirculating hoses to reach the component; and
wherein the controller is further configured to, after the first time delay, open the recirculating valve such that the vapor refrigerant is purged from the first and second service hoses via the first and second recirculating hoses.

17. The refrigerant recovery unit of claim 16 , wherein diameters of the first and second service hoses are relatively smaller than diameters of the first and second recirculating hoses to increase charge accuracy of the refrigerant recovery unit.

18. The refrigerant recovery unit of claim 16 , wherein the controller is further configured to activate a second time delay function to keep the recirculating valve when opened to remain open in order to remove vapor refrigerant from the first and second service hoses.

19. The refrigerant recovery unit of claim 9 , wherein the first time delay function is 2 second and the second time delay function is 5 seconds.

20. The refrigerant recovery unit of claim 16 , wherein the controller is further configured to activate a second time delay function of 4 or 5 seconds to allow the recirculating valve to remain open to allow removal of vapor refrigerant from the first and second service hoses.

21. The refrigerant recovery unit of claim 20 , wherein the first time delay function is 2 seconds and the second time delay function is 5 seconds.

22. The refrigerant recovery unit of claim 20 , wherein the controller after the second time delay is further configured to take, with the scale, a first measurement of the refrigerant tank and a second measurement of the refrigerant tank after charging the refrigerant system with refrigerant.

23. The refrigerant recovery unit of claim 16 , further comprising a connector interface configured to receive a cable connected to a data link connector of the refrigerant system to diagnose the refrigerant system.

24.

Assignees

• Service Solutions Us Llc
• Bosch Automotive Service Solutions Inc

Inventors

• Mcmasters Mark
• Lundberg Dylan
• Brown William

Classifications

• B60H1/00585

  Means for monitoring, testing or servicing the air-conditioning · CPC title

• F25B2345/003

  Control issues for charging or collecting refrigerant to or from a cycle · CPC title

• F25B45/00 Primary

  Arrangements for charging or discharging refrigerant · CPC title

• F25B2345/007

  characterised by the weighing of refrigerant or oil · CPC title

• F25B2345/006

  characterised by charging or discharging valves · CPC title