Compressor head, internal discriminator, external discriminator, manifold design for refrigerant recovery apparatus and vacuum sensor

• US 6,779,350 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2003
• Issued: 08/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ritchie Engineering Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Ritchie Engineering Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Sliger, Keith, Plasek, Ronald A., Ramachandran, Ajit
• Primary Examiner(s): Jones, Melvin
• Application Number:
  US10/426,412
• Publication Number:
  US 20030188545A1
• Time in Patent Office: 482 Days
• Field of Search: 62/77, 62/85, 621/49, 622/92
• US Class Current: 62/77
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 39/02 Lubrication of machines or engines in general F01M
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 39/1006 the members being ball valves
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 39/125 Cylinder heads
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 39/16 Filtration; Moisture separation
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2345/006 characterised by charging or discharging valves
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2500/28 Means for preventing liquid refrigerant entering into the compressor
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/19 Pressures
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 45/00 Arrangements for charging or discharging refrigerant
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 21/10 by measuring variations in the heat conductivity of the medium, the pressure of which is to be measured

Abstract

The compressor head, internal and/or external discriminator, and manifold design in general utilize ball valves on the suction and discharge of a cylinder head in the recovery of refrigerant liquid and/or vapor. The device facilitates the flashing of liquid refrigerant pumped to the compressor which, in turn, assists to cool the compressor head. The flashing of liquid refrigerant to vapor also deters liquid transfer into the compressor enhancing performance thereof. The vapor passages within the discriminator, cylinder head and/or manifold are sized for receipt of spring actuated ball'"'"'s to open and/or close the vapor passages during suction and/or discharge of refrigerant vapor or liquid by the compressor.

Claims

1. A refrigerant recovery system comprising:

a) a refrigeration system having refrigerant in a liquid phase and a vapor phase;

b) a discriminator in communication with said refrigeration system, said discriminator comprising an internal chamber and a ball positioned in said internal chamber, said ball being constructed and arranged for buoyancy with respect to said liquid refrigerant to at least partially block said internal chamber upon exposure to said liquid refrigerant;

c) a compressor having a cylinder head in communication with said discriminator, said compressor being constructed and arranged to withdraw said refrigerant from said refrigeration system through said discriminator; and

d) a recovery device in communication with said cylinder head, said recovery device being constructed and arranged to hold said refrigerant as withdrawn from said refrigeration system as exiting said compressor.

2. The refrigeration recovery system according to claim 1 further comprising a manifold positioned between said refrigeration system and said discriminator, said manifold being in communication with said refrigeration system and said discriminator.

3. The refrigerant recovery system according to claim 2 wherein said discriminator is integral to said manifold.

4. The refrigerant recovery system according to claim 3 said manifold comprising an inlet and an outlet, the discriminator being positioned proximate to said outlet.

5. The refrigerant recovery system according to claim 3, wherein said refrigeration system is connected to said manifold by a first conduit.

6. The refrigerant recovery system according to claim 1, wherein said refrigeration system is connected to said discriminator by a first conduit.

7. The refrigerant recovery system according to claim 2, said cylinder head comprising an inlet and a discharge.

8. The refrigerant recovery system according to claim 7, wherein a second conduit connects said manifold to said inlet of said cylinder head.

9. The refrigerant recovery system according to claim 7, wherein said cylinder head has an internal inlet passage and an internal discharge passage.

10. The refrigerant recovery system according to claim 9, further comprising a first ball valve positioned in said inlet passage of said cylinder head.

11. The refrigerant recovery system according to claim 10, further comprising a second ball valve positioned in said discharge passage of said cylinder head.

12. The refrigerant recovery system according to claim 1, said discriminator further comprising a spring positioned in the internal chamber, said spring being constructed and arranged to actuate said ball away from a seat.

13. The refrigerant recovery system according to claim 12, wherein said ball has a level of buoyancy upon exposure to liquid refrigerant, said level of buoyancy exceeding the actuation of said spring for positioning of said ball within said seat.

14. The refrigerant recovery system according to claim 13, said discriminator further comprising an exit passage, said ball at least partially blocking said exit passage upon exposure to liquid refrigerant.

15. The refrigerant recovery system according to claim 14, wherein said seat is positioned between said chamber and said exit passage.

16. The refrigerant recovery system according to claim 15, wherein said exit passage is in communication with said internal chamber.

17. The refrigerant recovery system according to claim 16, said spring being positioned at least partially within said exit passage and traversing said seat.

18. The refrigerant recovery system according to claim 1, said discriminator further comprising a retainer comprising a pair of opposite openings defining a lateral passage.

19. The refrigerant recovery system according to claim 12, said seat further comprising at least one rivulet, said rivulet being constructed and arranged to pass liquid refrigerant through said seat and around said ball when said ball is positioned in said seat.

20. A discriminator for a refrigerant recovery system, said discriminator comprising:

a) a external casing having an internal chamber, said internal chamber having a seat and an exit passage;

b) a ball positioned in said internal chamber, said ball having a buoyancy level, said ball being constructed and arrange for buoyancy with respect to liquid refrigerant within said internal chamber to at least partially block said exit passage upon exposure to said liquid refrigerant; and

c) a spring positioned in said internal chamber, said spring being constructed and arranged to actuate said ball away from said seat, wherein said buoyancy level of said ball upon exposure to liquid refrigerant exceeds the actuation of said spring for positioning of said ball within said seat.

21. The discriminator according to claim 20, wherein said seat is positioned between said chamber and said exit passage.

22. The discriminator according to claim 21, wherein said spring is positioned at least partially within said exit passage and said spring traverses said seat.

23. The discriminator according to claim 22, said discriminator further comprising a retainer comprising a pair of opposite openings defining a lateral passage, said retainer defining said internal chamber.

24. The discriminator according to claim 23, said seat further comprising at least one rivulet, said rivulet being constructed and arranged to pass liquid refrigerant through said seat and around said ball when said ball is positioned in said seat.

25. A cylinder head for a compressor for a refrigerant recovery system, said compressor being constructed and arranged to perform a suction stroke and a discharge stroke, said cylinder head comprising:

a) an inlet port, a discharge port, an inlet orifice, and a discharge orifice;

b) an inlet passage in communication with said inlet port and said inlet orifice;

c) a discharge passage in communication with said discharge port and said discharge orifice;

d) a first ball valve positioned in said inlet passage, said first ball valve comprising a first spring, a first ball, and a first seat proximate to said inlet port; and

e) a second ball valve positioned in said discharge passage, said second ball valve comprising a second spring, a second ball, and a second seat proximate to said discharge orifice, wherein said first spring is constructed and arranged to actuate said first ball against said first seat during said discharge stroke closing said inlet passage and said second spring being constructed and arranged to actuate said second ball against said second seat during said suction stroke closing said discharge passage.

26. The cylinder head according to claim 25, said first ball valve further comprising a third seat between said inlet port and said inlet orifice wherein said first spring is constructed and arranged to compress permitting positioning of said first ball proximate to said third seat during said suction stroke.

27. The cylinder head according to claim 26, said second ball valve further comprising a fourth seat proximate to said discharge port, wherein said second spring is constructed and arranged to compress permitting positioning of said second ball toward said fourth seat and opening said discharge passage during said discharge stroke.

28. A vacuum sensor comprising:

a first dual transistor IC including a first heating transistor which generates a fixed amount of heat and a second temperature measuring transistor which measures a corresponding temperature rise due to the heat generated in the first transistor, the second transistor being wired as a diode, the first dual transistor IC being thermally connected to a metal mass;

a second dual transistor IC including a third temperature measuring transistor which measures the ambient temperature of the metal mass, and a fourth transistor, the third transistor being wired as a diode;

a regulated DC power supply connected to the collector of the first transistor and the collector of the third transistor, which causes a forward voltage at the emitters of the second and third transistors which varies with temperature;

a computation circuit connected to the vacuum sensor;

whereby the difference between the forward voltages at the emitters of the second and third transistors is converted into a vacuum measurement.