Modified hose flush device and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9470443-B2
Application number	US-201313827316-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 14, 2013
Priority date	Mar 14, 2013
Publication date	Oct 18, 2016
Grant date	Oct 18, 2016

Abstract

A refrigerant recovery system includes a refrigerant storage unit, a refrigerant charge path, a flushing path, a processor, and a memory. The refrigerant storage unit is configured to store a refrigerant. The refrigerant charge path is configured to convey the refrigerant to a refrigeration system to recharge the refrigeration system with the refrigerant. The refrigerant charge path includes a first and second service coupler and a first and second service hose. The service hoses are in fluid communication with the respective service couplers. The flushing path is configured to receive a flow of refrigerant for flushing the refrigeration charge path. The flushing path includes a first and second flushing coupler. The processor is configured to control the refrigerant recovery system to provide a flow of the refrigerant from the storage unit, through the refrigerant charge path, and to the flushing path.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A refrigerant recovery system, comprising:
a refrigerant storage unit configured to store a refrigerant;
a refrigerant charge path configured to convey the refrigerant to a refrigeration system to recharge the refrigeration system with the refrigerant, the refrigerant charge path including:
a first service coupler disposed at a high side of the refrigeration charge path;
a first service hose in fluid communication with the first service coupler;
a second service coupler disposed at a low side of the refrigeration charge path; and
a second service hose in fluid communication with the second service coupler;

a flushing path configured to receive a flow of refrigerant for flushing the refrigeration charge path, the flushing path including:
a first flushing coupler in fluid communication with the first service hose; and
a second flushing coupler in fluid communication with the second service hose;

a processor configured to control the refrigerant recovery system to provide a flow of the refrigerant from the storage unit, through the refrigerant charge path, and to the flushing path, wherein the first flushing coupler and the second flushing coupler are in fluid communication with a vacuum source, and wherein the flow of the refrigerant from the first service hose is conveyed directly to the vacuum source without entering the second service hose and the flow of the refrigerant from the second service hose is conveyed directly to the vacuum source without entering the first service hose; and
a memory to store diagnostic software and operating software to operate the refrigerant recovery system.

2. The refrigerant recovery system according to claim 1 , wherein the refrigerant recovery system is configured to recover refrigerant from the refrigeration system.

3. The refrigerant recovery system according to claim 1 , wherein the refrigerant storage unit is configured to supply the refrigerant to the refrigerant charge path and the refrigerant is substantially free of water and lubricant.

4. The refrigerant recovery system according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an input interface configured to receive an input from a user; and
a display configured to display information to the user.

5. The refrigerant recovery system according to claim 1 , wherein the first service hose and the second service hose are configured to fluidly connect the refrigerant recovery system to the refrigeration system.

6. The refrigerant recovery system according to claim 1 , wherein the refrigeration system is disposed in a vehicle.

7. A refrigerant recovery unit, comprising:
a refrigerant storage unit configured to store a refrigerant;
a refrigerant charge path configured to convey the refrigerant to a refrigeration system to recharge the refrigeration system with the refrigerant, the refrigerant charge path including:
a first service coupler disposed at a high side of the refrigeration charge path; and
a second service coupler disposed at a low side of the refrigeration charge path;

a flushing path configured to receive a flow of refrigerant for flushing the refrigeration charge path, the flushing path including:
a first flushing coupler in fluid communication with the first service coupler; and
a second flushing coupler in fluid communication with the second service coupler;

a processor configured to control the refrigerant recovery unit to provide a flow of the refrigerant from the storage unit, through the refrigerant charge path, and to the flushing path, wherein the first flushing coupler and the second flushing coupler are in fluid communication with a vacuum source, and wherein the flow of the refrigerant from a first service hose is conveyed directly to the vacuum source without entering a second service hose and the flow of the refrigerant from the second service hose is conveyed directly to the vacuum source without entering the first service hose; and
a memory to store diagnostic software and operating software to operate the refrigerant recovery unit.

8. The refrigerant recovery unit according to claim 7 , wherein the first service hose in fluid communication with the first service coupler and the first flushing coupler; and
a second service hose in fluid communication with the second service coupler and the second flushing coupler.

9. The refrigerant recovery unit according to claim 8 , wherein the first service hose and the second service hose are configured to fluidly connect the refrigerant recovery system to the refrigeration system.

10. The refrigerant recovery unit according to claim 7 , wherein the refrigerant recovery unit is configured to recover refrigerant from the refrigeration system.

11. The refrigerant recovery unit according to claim 7 , wherein the refrigerant storage unit is configured to supply the refrigerant to the refrigerant charge path and the refrigerant is substantially free of water and lubricant.

12. The refrigerant recovery unit according to claim 7 , further comprising:
an input interface configured to receive an input from a user; and
a display configured to display information to the user.

13. A refrigerant recovery unit, comprising:
a refrigerant storage unit configured to store a refrigerant;
a refrigerant charge path configured to convey the refrigerant to a refrigeration system to recharge the refrigeration system with the refrigerant, the refrigerant charge path including:
a single controllable valve disposed between the refrigerant storage unit and the refrigerant charge path;
a first service coupler disposed at a high side of the refrigerant charge path; and
a second service coupler disposed at a low side of the refrigerant charge path;

a flushing path configured to receive a flow of refrigerant for flushing the refrigerant charge path, the flushing path including:
a first flushing coupler in fluid communication with the first service coupler; and
a second flushing coupler in fluid communication with the second service coupler;

a processor configured to control the single controllable valve to provide a flow of the refrigerant from the storage unit, through the refrigerant charge path, and to the flushing path, wherein the first flushing coupler and the second flushing coupler are in fluid communication with a vacuum source, and wherein the flow of the refrigerant from a first service hose is conveyed directly to the vacuum source without entering a second service hose and the flow of the refrigerant from a second service hose is conveyed directly to the vacuum source without entering the first service hose; and
a memory to store diagnostic software and operating software to operate the refrigerant recovery unit.

14. A method of flushing a refrigeration recovery system, the method comprising the stems of:
fluidly connecting a refrigerant charge path to a first service hose;
fluidly connecting the refrigerant charge path to a second service hose;
fluidly connecting the first service hose to a first flushing coupler of a flushing path;
fluidly connecting the second service hose to a second flushing coupler of the flushing path;
controlling a valve with a processor in the refrigerant recovery system to provide a flow of a refrigerant to flush the charge path, the first service hose, and the second service hose, wherein the first flushing coupler and the second flushing coupler are in fluid communication with a vacuum source and wherein the flow of the refrigerant from the first service hose is conveyed directly to the vacuum source without entering the second service hose and the flow of the refrigerant from the second service hose is convey

Assignees

• Service Solutions Us Llc
• Bosch Automotive Service Solutions Inc

Inventors

• Brown William
• Mcmasters Mark
• Lundberg Dylan

Classifications

• F25B2345/006

  characterised by charging or discharging valves · CPC title

• F25B2345/001

  Charging refrigerant to a cycle · CPC title

• F25B2345/003

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

• F25B2345/005

  Service stations therefor · CPC title

• F25B2345/002

  Collecting refrigerant from a cycle · CPC title