John J Reilly

US Patent:

56784155, Oct 21, 1997

Filed:

Jan 18, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/588596

Inventors:

Bryan M. Peckjian - Huntington Valley PA
Joseph P. Doyle - Malvern PA
John H. Reilly - Rosemont PA

Assignee:

National Refrigeration Products - Bensalem PA

International Classification:

F25B 4500

US Classification:

62149

Abstract:

A refrigerant recovery apparatus for transferring refrigerant from a first container to a second container includes a compressor having a suction side and a discharge side, a condenser coupled with the discharge side of the compressor and first and second refrigerant inlets and first and second refrigerant outlets. The first and second refrigerant inlets are in fluid communication with the suction side of the compressor. A liquid/vapor switch is suitably positioned between the first refrigerant inlet and the suction side of the compressor to detect whether refrigerant passing through the first refrigerant inlet is in a liquid state or a vapor state. First and second refrigerant outlets are in fluid communication with the discharge and suction sides of the compressor, respectively. The first refrigerant inlet is in fluid communication with the first refrigerant outlet, bypassing the condenser and the compressor. A plurality of valves are controlled automatically by the liquid/vapor switch to transfer liquid refrigerant directly to the second container, bypassing the compressor and condenser, and to pass vaporized refrigerant from the first container through the compressor and condenser and into the second container.