System for refrigerant charging with constant volume tank

• US 20060010898A1
• Filed: 07/16/2004
• Published: 01/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Snap-On Incorporated
• Inventors: Pfefferle, Dean P., Moller, Larry G., Meldahl, Kenneth R., Govekar, Craig F., Suharno, Anwar
• Granted Patent: US 7,905,095 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/292
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00585 Means for monitoring, testing or servicing the air-conditioning
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2309/06 Compression machines, plants or systems characterised by the refrigerant being carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2345/001 Charging refrigerant to a cycle
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2345/007 characterised by the weighing of refrigerant or oil
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2400/01 Heaters
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2400/08 Refrigeration machines, plants and systems having means for detecting the concentration of a refrigerant
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2500/19 Calculation of parameters
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 45/00 Arrangements for charging or discharging refrigerant

Abstract

A refrigerant charging system for charging a refrigeration system with refrigerant includes a refrigerant source, a storage vessel, input and output lines, and a device for detecting mass of refrigerant within the storage vessel. The input line fluidly connects the refrigerant source to the storage vessel, and the output line extends from the storage vessel and is adapted to connect to the refrigeration system. The system also includes an input control valve disposed between the storage vessel and the refrigerant source, and an output control valve disposed between the storage vessel and the refrigeration system. A heater is connected to the refrigerant source for raising the temperature of refrigerant within the refrigerant source. A method of charging a refrigeration system is also disclosed. The system and method are useful to charging the refrigerant system of an automotive vehicle, among others.

Claims

1. A refrigerant charging system for charging a refrigeration system with refrigerant, comprising:

a refrigerant source for supplying the refrigerant;

a storage vessel;

an input line fluidly connecting the refrigerant source to the storage vessel;

an output line extending from the storage vessel and adapted for connection to the refrigeration system; and

refrigerant mass detection means connected to the storage vessel for determining a mass of refrigerant within the storage vessel.

2. The refrigerant charging system according to claim 1, further comprising:

an input control valve disposed between the storage vessel and the refrigerant source, and

an output control valve disposed between the storage vessel and the refrigeration system.

3. The refrigerant charging system according to claim 1, further comprising a controller connected to the refrigerant mass detection means and the input and output control valves.

4. The refrigerant charging system according to claim 3, further comprising a heater connected to the refrigerant source and controlled by the controller.

5. The refrigerant charging system according to claim 4, wherein the heater is a electrically-adjusted resistance band.

6. The refrigerant charging system according to claim 1, further comprising a heater connected to the refrigerant source.

7. A refrigerant charging system for charging a refrigeration system with refrigerant, comprising:

a refrigerant source for supplying the refrigerant;

a storage vessel;

an input line fluidly connecting the refrigerant source to the storage vessel;

an output line extending from the storage vessel and adapted for connection to the refrigeration system; and

a pressure sensor and a temperature sensor configured and arranged to communicate with the refrigerant in the storage vessel.

8. A method of charging a refrigeration system with refrigerant;

comprising the steps of;

determining an initial mass of refrigerant for transferring into the storage vessel;

transferring refrigerant from a refrigerant source to a storage vessel;

verifying the initial mass of refrigerant in the storage vessel after refrigerant from the refrigerant source is transferred to the storage vessel;

transferring refrigerant from the storage vessel to the refrigeration system;

determining the mass of refrigerant transferred to the refrigeration system; and

comparing the calculated mass of refrigerant transferred to the refrigeration system with the determined mass of refrigerant for charging.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the mass of refrigerant transferred to the refrigeration system is determined by comparing the initial mass with a calculated remaining mass of refrigerant within the storage vessel.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising fluidly disconnecting the storage vessel from the refrigeration system prior to the determining of the remaining mass of refrigerant.

11. The method according to claim 8, wherein mass of refrigerant within the storage vessel is determined using a temperature and a pressure of the refrigerant in the storage vessel.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein during the determining of mass of refrigerant within the storage vessel, a volume of the storage vessel remains constant.

13. The method according to claim 8, further comprising fluidly disconnecting the refrigerant source from the storage vessel prior to the verifying of the initial mass of refrigerant.

14. The method according to claim 12, further comprising heating the refrigerant in the refrigerant source prior to disconnecting the refrigerant source from the storage vessel.

15. The method of according to claim 8, further comprising repeating the steps of transferring refrigerant from the refrigerant source to the storage vessel and transferring refrigerant from the storage vessel to the refrigeration system, if a total determined mass of refrigerant transferred to the refrigeration system does not equal the determined mass of refrigerant for charging.