U.S. patent application number 11/289298 was filed with the patent office on 2006-06-22 for modular recovery apparatus and method.
Invention is credited to Gary Murray, Marc Rosone.
Application Number | 20060130510 11/289298 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36593997 |
Filed Date | 2006-06-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060130510 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Murray; Gary ; et
al. |
June 22, 2006 |
Modular recovery apparatus and method
Abstract
An apparatus and method for providing expandability to a
refrigeration servicing unit which includes one or more integrated
modules. The modules can communicate with the unit via a wired or
wireless connection. The modules can add functionality such as an
information module, a refrigerant identifier module, a
communication module, a bar code module, and a diagnostic
module.
Inventors: |
Murray; Gary; (Montpelier,
OH) ; Rosone; Marc; (Lakeville, MN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BAKER & HOSTETLER LLP
WASHINGTON SQUARE, SUITE 1100
1050 CONNECTICUT AVE. N.W.
WASHINGTON
DC
20036-5304
US
|
Family ID: |
36593997 |
Appl. No.: |
11/289298 |
Filed: |
November 30, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60631626 |
Nov 30, 2004 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/292 ; 62/475;
62/77 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60H 1/00585 20130101;
F25B 49/005 20130101; F25B 2345/002 20130101; F25B 2345/003
20130101; F25B 2345/001 20130101; F25B 45/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
062/292 ;
062/077; 062/475 |
International
Class: |
F25B 45/00 20060101
F25B045/00; F25B 43/04 20060101 F25B043/04 |
Claims
1. A refrigerant recovery unit for maintenance of a cooling system
of a vehicle, comprising: a recovery circuit configured to recover
refrigerant from the cooling system; a processor that communicates
with components of the recovery circuit; a housing configured to
house the components of the refrigerant recovery unit; and at least
one module that provides a function to the refrigerant recovery
unit and communicates with the processor.
2. The unit of claim 1 further comprising: a clean refrigerant
source; and a flushing circuit coupled to the recovery circuit and
the refrigerant source, the flushing circuit flushes clean
refrigerant through the recovery circuit, wherein the clean
refrigerant source and the flushing circuit are in communications
with the processor.
3. The unit of claim 1, wherein the communication between the
processor and the at least one module is through a wired
connection.
4. The unit of claim 3, wherein the wired connection can be one of
the following: USB, IEEE 1394, RS-485, RS-422, RS-232, RS-423,
parallel port, I2C, SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface), serial and a
combination thereof.
5. The unit of claim 1, wherein the communication between the
processor and the at least one module is through a wireless
connection.
6. The unit of claim 5, wherein the wireless connection can be one
of the following: Wi-Fi, infrared, Bluetooth, radio frequency,
other types of wireless connections and any combination
thereof.
7. The unit of claim 1, wherein the module is an information
module.
8. The unit of claim 1, wherein the module is a refrigerant
identifier module.
9. The unit of claim 1, wherein the module is a communication
module.
10. The unit of claim 1, wherein the module is a bar code
module.
11. The unit of claim 1, wherein the module is a diagnostic
module.
12. A refrigerant recovery system for maintenance of a cooling
system of a vehicle comprising: means for controlling components of
the refrigerant recovery system; means for recovering refrigerant
from the cooling system; means for providing functionality to the
refrigerant recovery system that communicates with the means for
controlling; and means for housing the components of the
refrigerant recovery system.
13. The system of claim 12, further comprising: means for providing
clean refrigerant source; and means for flushing coupled to the
means for recovery and means for providing clean refrigerant
source, the means for flushing flushes clean refrigerant through
the means for recovery, wherein the means for providing clean
refrigerant source and the means for flushing are in communications
with the means for controlling.
14. The system of claim 12, wherein the communication between the
means for controlling and the means for providing functionality is
through a wired or wireless connection.
15. The system of claim 14, wherein the wired connection can be one
of the following: USB, IEEE 1394, RS-485, RS-422, RS-232, RS-423,
parallel port, I2C, SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface), serial and a
combination thereof.
16. The system of claim 14, wherein the wireless connection can be
one of the following: Wi-Fi, infrared, Bluetooth, radio frequency,
other types of wireless connections and any combination
thereof.
17. The system of claim 12, wherein the means for providing
functionality is an information module.
18. The system of claim 12, wherein the means for providing
functionality is a refrigerant identifier module.
19. The system of claim 12, wherein the means for providing
functionality is a communication module.
20. The system of claim 12, wherein the means for providing
functionality is a bar code module.
21. The system of claim 12, wherein the means for providing
functionality is a diagnostic module.
22. A method of adding functionality to a refrigerant recovery
unit, comprising: providing the refrigerant recovery unit having a
recovery circuit configured to recover refrigerant from the cooling
system, a processor that communicates with components of the
recovery circuit, and a housing configured to house the components
of the refrigerant recovery unit; and adding at least one module to
expand the functionality of the refrigerant recovery unit.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to provisional U.S. patent
application entitled, MODULAR RECOVERY APPARATUS AND METHOD, filed
Nov. 30, 2004, having a Ser. No. 60/631,626, now pending, the
disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its
entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to an apparatus and
method for servicing refrigeration systems. More particularly, the
present invention relates to expandability of a refrigeration
servicing unit which includes integrated modules.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] In recent years, the maintenance of vehicle refrigerant
systems has been accomplished utilizing closed-circuit recovery
devices that prevent the discharge of refrigerant into the
atmosphere. Such systems are typically self-contained units with
the capability of recovering the refrigerant from the vehicle and
subsequently recharging the system.
[0004] As the units for recovery devices have developed and
additional requirements and capabilities increase, a wide range of
functions have been developed which may be implemented in some
preferred platforms of recovery devices. While providing some
enhanced capability, the development and incorporation of such
features on some recovery device platforms can been costly.
Additionally, it is not always clear from the outset as to what
specific capability to provide for a recovery device platform.
Thus, it is not always expedient to redesign or retrofit a recovery
device to include additional functionality after the original
design and/or delivery of a preferred platform. Furthermore, while
a particular platform functionally may be preferred by some, others
may prefer another kind of functionality designed and/or
implemented within the platform of a recovery device. Accordingly,
it is desirable to provide a method and apparatus that provide a
preferred design and expandability of a refrigeration servicing
unit.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The foregoing needs are met, to a great extent, by the
present invention, wherein in one aspect an apparatus is provided
that in some embodiments a refrigerant recovery system that is
adapted to receive modules in order to add functionality to the
recovery system.
[0006] In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention a
refrigerant recovery unit for maintenance of a cooling system of a
vehicle that can include a recovery circuit configured to recover
refrigerant from the cooling system, a processor that communicates
with components of the recovery circuit, a housing configured to
house the components of the refrigerant recovery unit, and at least
one module that can provide a function to the refrigerant recovery
unit and communicates with the processor.
[0007] In accordance with another embodiment of the present
invention, a refrigerant recovery system for maintenance of a
cooling system of a vehicle can include a means for controlling
components of the refrigerant recovery system, a means for
recovering refrigerant from the cooling system, a means for
providing functionality to the refrigerant recovery system that can
communicate with the means for controlling, and a means for housing
the components of the refrigerant recovery system.
[0008] Yet another embodiment according to the present invention
provides a method of adding functionality to a refrigerant recovery
unit that can provide the refrigerant recovery unit having a
recovery circuit configured to recover refrigerant from the cooling
system, a processor that can communicate with components of the
recovery circuit, and a housing configured to house the components
of the refrigerant recovery unit. The method can also add at least
one module to expand the functionality of the refrigerant recovery
unit.
[0009] There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, certain
embodiments of the invention in order that the detailed description
thereof herein may be better understood, and in order that the
present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There
are, of course, additional embodiments of the invention that will
be described below and which will form the subject matter of the
claims appended hereto.
[0010] In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment
of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the
invention is not limited in its application to the details of
construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in
the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The
invention is capable of embodiments in addition to those described
and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is
to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed
herein, as well as the abstract, are for the purpose of description
and should not be regarded as limiting.
[0011] As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the
conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be
utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods
and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present
invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded
as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not
depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a front elevational view, partly broken away, of a
refrigerant maintenance system for a vehicle which incorporates an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 2 is a schematic flow diagram of the refrigerant
maintenance system incorporated in the system shown in FIG. 1.
[0014] FIG. 3 illustrates the initial clear function diagram
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0015] FIG. 4 illustrates an automatic oil drain method according
to an embodiment of the invention.
[0016] FIG. 5 illustrates an electronic control unit in
communication with various components of the unit.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] An embodiment in accordance with the present invention
provides a method and apparatus for providing expandability and
functionality of a refrigeration servicing unit. Preferred
embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference
to the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals refer to
like parts throughout.
[0018] FIG. 1 is a front elevational view, partly broken away, of a
refrigerant maintenance system, which incorporates an embodiment of
the present invention. The maintenance system can be a
refrigeration servicing unit 10 that couples to and maintains a
cooling system such as, for example, a refrigerant circuit for a
vehicle's air conditioning system. The unit 10 can be configured as
a portable machine mounted within a cabinet or housing 12. The
housing 12 can be supported by a plurality of wheels 14, such that
it can be conveniently moved to the situs of a vehicle. Unit 10 can
include a recovery circuit for coupling to the vehicle's cooling
system. The recovery circuit can include a high pressure hose 16
with a coupling 17 which may be coupled, for instance, to a
vehicle's high pressure port. The recovery circuit can further
include a low pressure hose 18 having a coupling 19, which may be
coupled to a low pressure port of the vehicle's refrigerant
circuit. The front panel of the housing is shown broken away in
FIG. 1 to show the major elements of the system which are also
identified by similar numbers in the flow diagram of FIG. 2.
[0019] In one embodiment, the unit 10 can include an electronic
control unit 20 integrally including a microprocessor on a circuit
board 22 for controlling the electromechanical solenoid valves and
for receiving input information from the pressure sensors and
control switches of unit 10 so as to control the recovery and/or
flushing processes. A control panel 30 can further include an
on/off switch 31 and a display 32 for displaying the operational
status of the unit's 10 operation. The display 32 may be an LCD
display or other suitable electronic display coupled to the
microprocessor via a conventional input/output circuit. The control
panel 30 can further include a switch panel 34 having a
conventional keyboard 35 and a plurality of push-button switches 36
for controlling the operation of the unit 10 through its various
phases of operation and/or for selecting parameters for display.
Thus, the keyboard 35 in conjunction with the operational switches
36 and display 32 can allow an operator to enter the desired
operational parameters for the unit 10 according to manufacturer's
specifications for servicing an air conditioner unit in a
particular vehicle.
[0020] The input hoses 16 and 18 can be coupled to mechanical
pressure gauges 13 and 15, respectively, which can be mounted on
the front panel of the unit 10, as seen in FIG. 1. In addition,
electrical pressure transducers 13' and 15' can be coupled to the
hoses 16 and 18 as shown in FIG. 2, and can be further coupled to
the microprocessor through conventional input/output circuits to
provide the microprocessor with information as to the current
pressure in the hoses during operation of the unit. Gauges 13 and
15 may further provide the operator with a conventional analog
display of the pressure as well. A sight gauge 50 can be mounted to
a top surface 33 of housing 12, and a filter cartridge 52 can be
mounted to the housing 12 for filtering particulate material from
the refrigerant during the flushing cycle, as described in greater
detail below. The unit 10 can further include a compressor 60 and a
vacuum pump 70 disposed within the housing 12.
[0021] The unit 10 can also include a flushing circuit for
facilitating the internal clearing function of the unit 10. More
specifically, the flushing circuit can include a clean refrigerant
source. The source can be provided by a main tank 80 and a supply
tank 90 of clean refrigerant (FIG. 2). The main tank 80 and the
supply tank 90 can be disposed within the housing 12, for example,
mounted behind the front of housing 12 and on an extension of floor
35. The supply tank 90 may be utilized to supply additional
refrigerant to the main tank 80. Further disposed within the
housing 12 and forming a portion of the recovery circuit can be a
filtration system such as, for example, an oil separation system
coupled to or integrated with the recovery circuit and/or flushing
circuit for cleaning the recovered refrigerant. The oil separation
system can include an oil accumulator tank 100, and an oil
separator filter 110. The unit 10 can further include a fresh oil
canister 140, which can be mounted within the housing 12. A recover
oil container 142 can also be provided and mounted within the
housing 12 so as to receive oil drained from the accumulator tank
100. Having briefly described the major components in one
embodiment of the unit 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a more detailed
description of the system follows in connection with FIG. 2.
[0022] FIG. 2 is a schematic flow diagram of the refrigerant
maintenance system incorporated in the system shown in FIG. 1. In a
refrigerant recovery operation, the hoses 16 and 18 can be coupled
to the vehicle and the recovery cycle can be initiated by the
opening of the dual back-to-back high pressure and low pressure
solenoids 150 and 152, respectively. This allows the refrigerant
within the vehicle to flow through conduits 154 through a check
valve 156 and a recovery valve 158 into a manifold 120. A low
pressure switch 160 can be configured to sense pressure in the
recovery circuit and provide an output signal to the microprocessor
through a suitably programmed interface circuit so as to detect
when the pressure of the recovered refrigerant is down to, for
example, 13 inches of mercury. The refrigerant can then flow
through the remainder of the recovery circuit, which can further
include valve 162 and conduit 166 into the accumulator tank 100
where it travels through an output conduit 168 through a water
separating molecular sieve 170 to an input of compressor 60.
Compressor 60 can draw the refrigerant through a valve 172 and
through the oil separating filter 110 which circulates compressor
oil back to the compressor through conduit 174 and oil return valve
176. A pressure transducer 178 can be coupled to the microprocessor
which can be further programmed to determine the upper pressure
limit of, for example, 435 p.s.i. to shut down the compressor in
the event the pressure becomes excessive for the unit 10. The
compressed refrigerant can exit the oil separator 110 and into the
remainder of the recovery circuit, which can further include a
conduit 180, a check valve 182 and a heating coil 102. The heating
coil 102 can assist in maintaining the temperature in accumulator
100 within a working range. The refrigerant can continue through
recovery circuit including through conduit 186 to a condenser 130
and next flows through check valve 188 and into the main tank 80.
With the main tank 80 holding clean refrigerant, a clean source of
refrigerant can be made available for the flushing operation. The
clean refrigerant source can be supplemented if needed by the
supply tank 90 coupled to the main tank 80.
[0023] The unit 10 can include means to flush the recovery circuit
with a source of clean refrigerant. More specifically, the flushing
circuit can be coupled to the recovery circuit and the main or
internal refrigerant storage tank 80 to flush the recovery circuit,
including the service hoses 16 and 18 and any associated solenoids,
with clean refrigerant so as to remove residual additives and oils
remaining in the circuit. Any additives and/or oils in the unit 10
can be further separated, for example, using the oil separator 110
and may be further drained and disposed appropriately.
[0024] The flushing operation can include determining that the
couplings 17 and 19 are disconnected from the vehicle so as to
prevent damage to the vehicle's air conditioning or cooling system.
For example, a sensor can be provided to detect when the couplings
17 and 19 are connected to a prescribed connection point on the
unit 10 and disconnected from a cooling system. Such connection may
be considered a "hose holder" connection (where the hoses can be
stored with the unit when not in use), for example. The sensor can
be further configured so as to disable the flushing operation upon
detecting a connection between the unit 10 and a cooling system.
Alternatively, the electronic control unit 20 can be configured or
programmed to prompt a technician that a flush process can be
initiated after detecting that the couplings 17 and 19 are not
connected to a vehicle.
[0025] For example, a pressure sensing operation can be configured
and provided in which high-side and low-side pressure transducers
13' and 15', respectively, determine the connectivity of unit 10 to
a vehicle for the recovery process as described above. In response,
various components such as low-side inlet, high-side inlet,
solenoids may be triggered to open so as to initiate and carry out
the recovery process. When the recovery process is complete, the
transducers 13' and 15' can sense vacuum pressure so as to initiate
the flushing operation of the recovery circuit and its associated
components.
[0026] As part of the flushing process, the recovery circuit can be
placed under a vacuum pressure. More specifically, the hoses 16 and
18 can be subjected to a vacuum to relieve any residual oils and/or
additives remaining therein. The flushing process can further
involve opening additional inlets and solenoids to initiate liquid
refrigerant from supply tanks, for instance, main tank 80 and/or
supply tank 90 coupled to main tank 80, through the flushing
circuit and into the recovery circuit. The flushing circuit can be
coupled to the recovery circuit at a joint such as, for example,
manifold 120 to continue to flush clean refrigerant through a
low-side charge solenoid out a low-side coupler and back into a
high-side coupler, through a high-side inlet recover solenoid and
into the system oil separator 110. The process is completed as
clean refrigerant is pumped through the compressor 60, the oil
separator 110 and back into the supply tank 90. The flush process
may be additionally repeated, for instance, including opening a
high-side charge solenoid and closing a low-side charge solenoid
with a high-side inlet closed and a low-side inlet opened in order
to flush a low-side inlet portion of the flushing and/or recovery
circuit.
[0027] During the recovery and flushing processes, an oil
separation system can be provided to separate oil from the
recovered refrigerant. The oil separation system can include the
accumulator 100 and oil separator 110, which comprises a generally
cylindrical tank as seen in FIG. 1. The separator 100 can have an
oil drain 104 at the bottom thereof (FIGS. 1 and 2), which can
further communicate with a conduit 105 coupled to an orifice 106
that can restrict oil flow. Orifice 106 can be configured as an
inline fitting, which is schematically shown in FIG. 2. Orifice 106
can have a diameter ranging from about 0.035'' to about 0.050'' and
preferably to about 0.042,'' and selected to limit the flow rate of
oil from accumulator 100 to an oil tank 142. The orifice 106 can be
configured, in connection with the control of oil drain solenoid
109 and check valve 108 to minimize or otherwise prevent the loss
of refrigerant. For example, a pressure sensing switch 107 and
electrically actuated oil drain solenoid 109 can be provided and
coupled to or in communication with microprocessor carried on
circuit board 22. The oil drain 104 can be coupled by conduit 113
to an oil separator associated with a refrigerant identifier
instrument, which can be integrated into the maintenance unit 10.
The refrigerant identifier instrument can identify the type of
refrigerant in the system.
[0028] FIG. 3 illustrates the initial clear function diagram 300
according to an embodiment of the invention. The clear function can
be programmed into the unit and executed by the processor. The
operator can initiate the clear or flush function by pressing a
clear button on the control panel at step 302. The microprocessor
through the sensors, described above, can sense whether the
couplings 17 and 19 are disconnected from a vehicle's cooling
system. If no or the couplings are still attached to the vehicle's
cooling system, the unit can warn the operator at step 306 to
disconnect the couplings from the vehicle's cooling system and
returns to step 302. If yes or the couplings are disconnected from
the vehicle's cooling system, the unit proceeds to step 308, where
the refrigerant remaining the hoses 16, 18 are recovered. At step
310, the unit determines if the hoses 16, 18 are in a vacuum in
order to recover any remaining refrigerant or contaminants, such as
oil. If no, then the unit returns to steps 308 and 310 until a
vacuum is detected. If yes, the unit proceeds to evacuate the hoses
16, 18. The vacuum operation can last for about 30 seconds, but can
last as long or as short as desired by the operator. At step 314,
the hoses 16, 18 are again charged with refrigerant so that any
remaining contaminants can be flushed from the hoses. Step 314 can
be operated for about 10 seconds, but can be operated as long or as
short as desired by the operator. Additionally, step 314 can be
repeated as needed to clear out any remaining contaminants. After,
step 314, the unit proceeds to step 316 to recover the refrigerant
from the hoses 16, 18. Again, at step, 318, the unit determines if
the hoses are in a vacuum. If no, then the unit returns to steps
316 and 318 until a vacuum is detected. If yes, the unit proceeds
to evacuate the hoses 16, 18. At step 320, the unit proceeds to the
oil drain function as described in FIG. 4.
[0029] FIG. 4 illustrates an automatic oil drain method 400
according to an embodiment of the invention. From the recovery and
flushing processes described above, the accumulator tank 100 holds
recovered oil from the vehicle's air conditioning system or other
refrigeration circuit being serviced. After the completion of the
flushing or clear function, the automatic oil drain subroutine 400
programmed into the unit and executed by the microprocessor can
begin, as indicated by block 402. Initially, the recycle solenoid
192 can be opened, as indicated at step 404, to pressurize the
system by allowing liquid refrigerant from tank 80 into the
accumulator tank 100. The microprocessor can further monitor the
oil drain pressure switch 107 at step 406 and close the recycle
solenoid 192 at step 408 (if pressure switch is open) once the oil
drain pressure switch detects a set pressure such as about 16
psi.
[0030] Switch 107 can be configured to open and close at
predetermined pressures, for example, to open at about 16 psi and
close at about 9 psi. Upon detecting approximately 16 psi pressure,
the microprocessor can receive a signal from the opening of switch
107 in order to open the oil drain solenoid 109, as performed in
step 410, thus allowing oil to drain through orifice 106 located at
the outlet of the accumulator tank. During the draining process,
the pressure begins to drop between the accumulator tank and the
oil drain pressure switch 107. The microprocessor can further
monitor the pressure switch 107 to determine when pressure drop
reaches 9 psi, as indicated by step 412, to provide a signal for
closing the oil drain solenoid 109, as indicated by step 414. Once
the oil drain solenoid is opened, the microprocessor can monitor
the state of the oil drain pressure switch 107 to determine whether
it is opened or closed, as indicated by block 412. If it remains
open, the drain solenoid stays open as the program cycles through
steps 410 and 412. Once the switch 107 closes indicating that 9 psi
has been reached, the oil drain solenoid 109 is closed, as
indicated by step 414. The program continues monitoring the oil
drain pressure switch 107, as indicated by step 416, to determine
whether it is open or closed. Once it opens again the drain
solenoid is opened, as indicated by the loop 417 back to step 410.
If the drain switch is not opened, the program determines, at step
418, if it has been at least three seconds since the oil drain
switch was closed. If not, the program cycles back to step 310,
continuing the draining process. If is has been three seconds or
longer since the oil drain switch has been closed, the automatic
oil drain sequence is completed, as indicated by step 420, and the
drain solenoid 109 remains closed.
[0031] The microprocessor can thus continue to monitor the status
of switch 107 and control the oil drain solenoid valve 109. By
using the rise time of the pressure, the amount of refrigerant loss
is kept to a minimum necessary only to push the recovered oil out
of the accumulator tank regardless of the amount of oil. The
pressure in the accumulator tank drops off relatively slowly until
the oil is pushed through the orifice, then very rapidly drops as
refrigerant vapor passes through, quickly ending the oil draining
process. The check valve 108 prevents the oil drain solenoid from
being forced open when there is a vacuum in the accumulator
tank.
[0032] Upon completion of the recovery and flushing cycles, an
operator can estimate the amount of oil accumulated in tank 142 and
injects the same estimated amount of oil from the fresh supply of
oil 140 through valve 141 (FIG. 2) and into the vehicle's air
conditioning system or other cooling system being serviced. The
electrically operated solenoid valve 141 may be controlled by the
microprocessor to meter a precise amount of oil through entry of
the fluid amount of oil necessary as entered by keyboard 35 based
upon the amount of recovered oil. The new oil is supplied to the
refrigerant circuit during the charging portion of the maintenance
cycle.
[0033] Thus, it is seen with the system of the present invention,
the recovered oil from a refrigerant circuit being serviced is
automatically drained from the separator/accumulator with a minimal
loss of refrigerant from the system, thereby providing an
environmentally appropriate recovery system which allows the
accurate determination of oil necessary to replace the recovered
oil from the system. It accomplishes this goal without operator
intervention, thereby greatly facilitating the collection or
recovered oil.
[0034] FIG. 5 illustrates an electronic control unit 20 in
communication with various components of the unit 10. Based upon
various communications with the components described above, the
electronic control unit 20 works to respond and direct further
instruction to additional components of the unit 10, accordingly.
The electronic control unit 20 may receive input signals from a
variety of components including, for example, an accumulator
pressure transducer 500, a pressure transducer 502, a high side
pressure transducer 504, a tank pressure sensor 506, a tank
temperature sensor 508 and an internal storage vessel 510. The
information provided by the aforementioned components allows the
unit 10 to operate properly. Additionally, the control unit 20 can
be powered 31 by an internal battery or by the current that powers
the unit 10.
[0035] The electronic control unit 20 also controls the display 32
and receives input from the operator via keyboard 35. Other
components such as a high pressure switch 514, a vacuum pump 516, a
compressor 518, solenoid valves 520 and/or a fan 522 can be
controlled or otherwise communicate with the control unit.
[0036] Expandability to the unit 10 can be provided via at least
one or more modules 512 that are adapted to interface with the
electronic control unit 20. The modules 512 may provide additional
functionality to the unit 10 to address a variety of issues.
[0037] The modules 512 can be configured to mate with the housing
12 either on an outside or an inside portion. The connection
between modules 512 and the control unit 20 can be any
mechanical/electrical connection and can include a cable connection
or direct integral connection with the housing. Some examples of
connections can include USB (Universal Serial Bus), Firewire (IEEE
1394), RS-485, RS-422, RS-232, RS-423, parallel port, 12C (standard
Inter-IC (integrated circuit) bus), SPI (Serial Peripheral
Interface), serial, wirelessly (as discussed below) or any
combination thereof. Any communication protocol or connections can
be utilized with the present invention in order for the modules 512
to communicate with the control unit 20. The communication can be
one or bi-directional depending on the module.
[0038] The modules 512 can provide additional functionality to the
unit 10, for instance, via the electronic control unit 20. An
example of functionality may include a communication module that
connects to a remote device, such as a diagnostic service tool
(scan tool, etc.), a personal digital assistant, a personal
computer, a bar code reader, a network (including the internet).
The connection may be done through a wired connection or
wirelessly, such as Wi-Fi, infrared, Bluetooth, radio frequency,
other types of wireless connections or any combination thereof.
Data (amount of recovered refrigerant and other data) can be
transmitted to the remote device for further analysis or storage.
Additionally, software updates may be transmitted to the unit 10 or
other types of information can be exchanged with the unit 10 via
the communication module.
[0039] Another example of a module can include an information
module that provides user installable software upgrades, and access
to a database or information. The software upgrades can add
functionality to the unit, such as software related to automatic
clear function, as described above. The information module can also
provide software update in order to update firmware to the unit 10.
The database can be an up-to-date database so that the operator can
access air condition system diagnostic database and the information
contained in the database can be displayed on the display. The
information can also include information of a new type of
refrigerant being used in newer model vehicles and can advise the
operator as to how to recover the new refrigerant. The information
module can provide any type of information or data as needed by the
operator.
[0040] Still another example of a module includes a refrigerant
identifier. The refrigerant identifier can be added to the unit so
that the type of refrigerant that is in the cooling system being
serviced can be correctly identified so that the correct
refrigerant can be added back into the cooling system. The
refrigerant identifier can determine, for example, E.P.A., S.N.A.P
approved refrigerants, R12, R134a, R22, HC and air.
[0041] A further example of a module can include a connection for a
printer. The printer connection can be a wired connection, such as
a parallel port, firewire port, a USB port or other printer wired
connection. Additionally, the printer can communicate with the unit
10 via a wireless connection, such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or other
wireless communication protocols. By connecting the unit 10 to a
printer, the information collected during the service of the
cooling system can be provided to the operator. The printer can
also be used to print any other information desired by the
operator.
[0042] The module can add bar code functionality to the unit 10.
The module can be a bar code reader or bar code generator. The unit
through the bar code module can retrieve information stored on the
bar code, such as, for example, the refrigerant used in the cooling
system under service or the vehicle model under service.
Additionally, the module can also generate its own bar code that
contains any information desired by the operator. The unit 10 can
print out a bar code label through the use of the printer module or
a built in printer connection on the unit 10.
[0043] The module can include a diagnostic scan module to run
diagnostic tests of the cooling system under test. The diagnostic
module with the assistant of the control unit can run diagnostic
tests to determine if the cooling system components or if the unit
10 components, such as vacuum pressure, are working properly.
[0044] The aforementioned modules 512 are exemplary and do not
preclude additional modules or kinds of modules for performing
additional functions from being added to the unit 10 of the present
invention.
[0045] Thus the electronic control unit 20 will perform in
accordance with the kind of module 512 integrated with the unit 10.
Additional components such as the high pressure switch 514, the
vacuum pump 516, the compressor 518 solenoid valves 520 and/or the
fan 522 may also be affected based upon control signals received
from the electronic control unit 20 in accordance with module
integration.
[0046] By having the unit 10 capable of receiving the modules, the
unit can have flexibility for the customer and the provider. The
unit 10 can be updated with new software functionality or firmware
with the modules. Additionally, the customer can purchase a basic
unit 10 and then later add the desired functionality(ies) depending
on his budget. Additionally new features can be added without
having to rewire the unit or reprogram the control unit.
[0047] The many features and advantages of the invention are
apparent from the detailed specification, and thus, it is intended
by the appended claims to cover all such features and advantages of
the invention which fall within the true spirit and scope of the
invention. Further, since numerous modifications and variations
will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired
to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation
illustrated and described, and accordingly, all suitable
modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within
the scope of the invention.
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