U.S. patent application number 14/616896 was filed with the patent office on 2015-08-13 for portable, refrigerant recovery unit with a condenser bypass mode.
This patent application is currently assigned to Gregory S. Sundheim. The applicant listed for this patent is Gregory S. Sundheim. Invention is credited to Robert M. Morris, Gregory S. Sundheim.
Application Number | 20150226471 14/616896 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 53774633 |
Filed Date | 2015-08-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150226471 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sundheim; Gregory S. ; et
al. |
August 13, 2015 |
PORTABLE, REFRIGERANT RECOVERY UNIT WITH A CONDENSER BYPASS
MODE
Abstract
A portable, refrigerant recovery unit to transfer refrigerant
from a refrigerant system to a storage tank. The recovery unit
includes a condenser bypass mode controlled by a valving
arrangement that can be employed when the cooling and phase change
functions of the condenser are not needed such as commonly exist
during the initial stages of the overall recovery process when the
refrigerant from the system may already be in liquid phase. In such
cases, the bypass mode avoids having the flow run through the
tubing and other plumbing of the condenser which otherwise would
add significant length (e.g., 2-3 feet or more) and resistance to
the flow through the recovery unit for a faster overall recovery
process. The valving arrangement of the recovery unit has a single
control knob and can be positioned in a plurality of modes
including off, condenser bypass, recovery, and condenser purge.
Inventors: |
Sundheim; Gregory S.;
(Englewood, CO) ; Morris; Robert M.; (Englewood,
CO) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Sundheim; Gregory S. |
Englewood |
CO |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Sundheim; Gregory S.
Englewood
CO
|
Family ID: |
53774633 |
Appl. No.: |
14/616896 |
Filed: |
February 9, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61938570 |
Feb 11, 2014 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
137/565.17 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25B 2345/002 20130101;
F25B 2345/0051 20130101; F25B 45/00 20130101; Y10T 137/86035
20150401 |
International
Class: |
F25B 45/00 20060101
F25B045/00 |
Claims
1. A portable, refrigerant recovery unit for transferring
refrigerant from a refrigerant system to a storage tank, said
recovery unit having an inlet line selectively connectable in fluid
communication to said system and an outlet line selectively
connectable in fluid communication to said storage tank, said
recovery unit further including at least a compressor and a
condenser and a valving arrangement to selectively establish at
least first and second flow paths through the recovery unit from
the inlet line thereof to the outlet line thereof with (a) said
first flow path running from said inlet line to and through the
compressor and to and through the condenser to said outlet line and
(b) said second flow path bypassing said condenser and running from
said inlet line to and through the compressor to said outlet line
without running through the condenser.
2. The recovery unit of claim 1 wherein said first flow path runs
in series from the inlet line to and through the compressor and the
condenser in a first direction to said outlet line.
3. The recovery unit of claim 2 wherein said valving arrangement
further selectively establishes a third flow path blocked from
fluid communication with the inlet line and running within said
recovery unit to and through the condenser in a second direction
opposite to said first direction and to and through the compressor
in said first direction to the outlet line to purge the
condenser.
4. The recovery unit of claim 3 wherein said valving arrangement
further selectively establishes an off position blocking flow
between the inlet line and outlet line of the recovery unit.
5. The recovery unit of claim 1 wherein said first and second flow
paths selectively run through at least one common valve having at
least one inlet port and two outlet ports, said common valve being
selectively positionable between at least first and second
positions with (a) the first position forming a portion of the
first flow path and placing the inlet port in fluid communication
with the outlet line of the recovery unit through one of the outlet
ports of the common valve and (b) the second position forming a
portion of the second flow path and placing the inlet port in fluid
communication with the outlet line of the recovery unit through the
second of the outlet ports of the common valve.
6. The recovery unit of claim 5 wherein the two outlet ports of the
common valve are in fluid communication with the inlet port and
each other.
7. The recovery unit of claim 5 wherein said common valve is a ball
valve having passages therethrough forming a T-shape having a stem
and two arms with the inlet port at the stem of the T-shape and the
outlet ports at the respective ends of the arms of the T-shape.
8. The recovery unit of claim 5 wherein said first and second flow
paths selectively run through at least a second common valve having
at least two inlet ports and one outlet port, said second common
valve being positioned upstream of the compressor in both said
first and second flow paths and being selectively positionable
between at least first and second positions with (a) the first
position forming a portion of the first flow path and placing one
of the inlet ports in fluid communication with the outlet line of
the recovery unit through the outlet port of the second common
valve and (b) the second position forming a portion of the second
flow path and placing the second of the inlet ports in fluid
communication with the outlet line of the recovery unit through the
outlet port of the second common valve.
9. The recovery unit of claim 8 wherein the two inlet ports of the
second common valve are in fluid communication with the outlet port
and each other.
10. The recovery unit of claim 8 wherein said second common valve
is a ball valve having passages therethrough intersecting
orthogonally and respectively forming the two inlet ports and one
outlet port.
11. The recovery unit of claim 8 wherein said second common valve
is upstream of the first mentioned common valve in both said first
and second flow paths and said first and second flow paths each run
through the second common valve and the first mentioned common
valve in the same direction.
12. The recovery unit of claim 1 wherein the first and second flow
paths respectively run through the compressor in the same
direction.
13. A portable, refrigerant recovery unit for selectively
transferring refrigerant from a refrigerant system to a storage
tank in a recovery mode and a push/pull mode, said recovery unit
having an inlet line and an outlet line, said storage tank having a
vapor port and a liquid port with said inlet line being selectively
connectable in fluid communication to said system and said outlet
line being selectively connectable in fluid communication to the
liquid port of said storage tank in said recovery mode and said
inlet line being selectively connectable in fluid communication to
the vapor port of said storage tank and said outlet line being
selectively connectable in fluid communication to said system in
said push/pull mode, said recovery unit further including at least
a compressor and a condenser and a valving arrangement to
selectively establish (i) at least a first flow path through the
recovery unit from the inlet line thereof to the outlet line
thereof in said recovery mode and (ii) a second flow path through
the recovery unit from the inlet line thereof to the outlet line
thereof in said push/pull mode with (a) said first flow path
running from said inlet line to and through the compressor and to
and through the condenser to said outlet line and (b) said second
flow path bypassing said condenser and running from said inlet line
to and through the compressor to said outlet line without running
through the condenser.
14. The recovery unit of claim 13 wherein said first flow path runs
in series from the inlet line to and through the compressor and the
condenser in a first direction to said outlet line.
15. The recovery unit of claim 13 wherein the first and second flow
paths respectively run in the same direction through the
compressor.
16. The recovery unit of claim 13 wherein said valving arrangement
further selectively establishes an off position blocking flow
between the inlet line and outlet line of the recovery unit in said
recovery and push/pull modes.
17. The recovery unit of claim 13 wherein said first and second
flow paths selectively run through at least one common valve having
at least one inlet port and two outlet ports, said common valve
being selectively positionable between at least first and second
positions with (a) the first position forming a portion of the
first flow path and placing the inlet port in fluid communication
with the outlet line of the recovery unit through one of the outlet
ports of the common valve and (b) the second position forming a
portion of the second flow path and placing the inlet port in fluid
communication with the outlet line of the recovery unit through the
second of the outlet ports of the common valve.
18. The recovery unit of claim 17 wherein said first and second
flow paths selectively run through at least a second common valve
having at least two inlet ports and one outlet port, said second
common valve being positioned upstream of the compressor in both
said first and second flow paths and being selectively positionable
between at least first and second positions with (a) the first
position forming a portion of the first flow path and placing one
of the inlet ports in fluid communication with the outlet line of
the recover/unit through the outlet port of the second common valve
and (b) the second position forming a portion of the second flow
path and placing the second of the inlet ports in fluid
communication with the outlet line of the recovery unit through the
outlet port of the second common valve
19. The recovery unit of claim 17 wherein said second common valve
is upstream of the first mentioned common valve in both the first
and second flow paths and said first and second flow paths each run
through the second common valve and the first mentioned common
valve in the same direction
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Patent Application Ser. No. 61/938,570 filed Feb. 11, 2014, which
is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] This invention relates to the field of portable, refrigerant
recovery units.
[0004] 2. Discussion of the Background
[0005] Portable, refrigerant recovery units are primarily used to
transfer refrigerant from a refrigerant system to a storage tank.
In this manner, the refrigerant can be removed from the system and
captured in the tank without undesirably escaping into the
atmosphere. Needed repairs or other services can then be performed
on the system.
[0006] Efficiency and speed of operation of the recovery process
are critical factors as the faster the refrigerant can be
recovered, the faster the repairs or other services can be made to
the system and the faster it can be put back on line. Significant
productive and financial losses can then be minimized by putting
the refrigerant system back in use as quickly as possible be it to
prevent food spoilage in a grocery store setting or the shutdown of
a hospital or office building due to the lack of air conditioning.
Savings can also be realized in the efficient use of the time of
the personnel servicing the system.
[0007] With this and other goads in mind, the present invention was
developed. In it, a portable, refrigerant recovery unit is provided
which includes a mode of operation controlled by a multiple valve
manifold or valving arrangement that bypasses the condenser in the
recovery unit when the condenser is not needed to perform its
cooling and phase change functions. Such conditions can commonly
exist when the recovery process is first initiated and the recovery
unit is already pumping liquefied refrigerant from the system to
the storage tank. The valving arrangement of the recovery unit has
a single control knob for ease of operation and can be positioned
in a plurality of modes including off, condenser bypass, recovery,
and condenser purge.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] This invention involves a portable, refrigerant recovery
unit that efficiently and effectively operates to transfer
refrigerant from a refrigerant system to a storage tank as quickly
as possible. The recovery unit includes a condenser bypass mode
controlled by a multiple valve manifold or valving arrangement that
can be employed when the cooling and phase change functions of the
condenser are not needed. Such conditions can commonly exist during
the initial stages of the overall recovery process when the
refrigerant from the system may already be in liquid phase. In such
cases, the bypass mode avoids having the flow run through the
tubing and other plumbing of the condenser which otherwise would
add significant length (e.g., 2-3 feet or more) and resistance to
the flow through the recovery unit. The result is a significant
reduction in the time needed to perform the overall recovery
operation (e.g., 30 minutes versus 1.5 hours or more) and the
accompanying savings in time and cost to perform the repairs on the
system and get it back on line.
[0009] The valving arrangement of the recovery unit has a single
control knob and can be positioned in a plurality of modes
including off, condenser bypass, recovery, and condenser purge. The
condenser bypass mode is typically operated first after which the
recovery unit is switched to the recovery mode to complete the
transfer of the remaining refrigerant (which is typically mostly
vapor) from the refrigerant system to the storage tank. In this
recovery mode, the refrigerant does pass through the condenser of
the recovery unit to be cooled and condensed. A purge mode is also
provided in which the condenser can subsequently be cleared of any
residual refrigerant and the residual refrigerant safely confined
to the storage tank. The overall result of having the bypass mode
and the valving arrangement is a significant increase in the
efficiency and speed (e.g., 2-3 times or more faster) of the
overall recovery process.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the portable,
refrigerant recovery unit of the present invention.
[0011] FIG. 2 shows the recovery unit in a typical operating
arrangement to transfer refrigerant from a refrigerant system to a
storage tank.
[0012] FIGS. 3a-3c illustrate the operation of the recovery unit in
a recovery mode to transfer refrigerant from the refrigerant system
to the storage tank of FIG. 2.
[0013] FIGS. 4a-4d illustrate details of the multiple valve
manifold or valving arrangement of the recovery unit as positioned
to recover the refrigerant.
[0014] FIGS. 5a-5c illustrate the recovery unit in its off
position.
[0015] FIGS. 6a-6c illustrate details of the valving arrangement of
the recovery unit in its off position.
[0016] FIGS. 7a-7c illustrate the operation of the recovery unit in
a bypass mode that transfers refrigerant from the refrigerant
system to the storage tank of FIG. 2 without going through the
condenser of the recovery unit.
[0017] FIGS. 8a-8c illustrate details of the valving arrangement of
the recovery unit as positioned in the bypass mode of
operation.
[0018] FIGS. 9a-9c illustrate the operation of the recovery unit in
a purge mode to clear the condenser of any residual refrigerant and
transfer it safely to the storage tank of FIG. 2.
[0019] FIGS. 10a-10c illustrate details of the valving arrangement
of the recovery unit as positioned in the purge mode.
[0020] FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but with the recovery
unit in a push/pull configuration with the refrigerant system and
the storage tank.
[0021] FIGS. 12a and 12b are schematic showings of other designs of
the valving arrangement controlling the flow paths through the
recovery unit.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0022] FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the portable,
refrigerant recovery unit 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2
illustrates the recovery unit 1 of the present invention in a
typical operating arrangement to transfer refrigerant from the
refrigerant system 2 to the storage tank 4. In this arrangement,
refrigerant from the system 2 is being delivered through the line 6
to the inlet line 3 of the recovery unit 1. From the inlet line 3
as shown in FIGS. 3a-3c, the refrigerant flows in series within the
recovery unit 1 in a first direction to and through the compressor
5 and to and through the condenser 7 to the outlet line 9 of the
recovery unit 1. The outlet line 9 in turn is in fluid
communication with the line 10 of FIG. 2 leading to the storage
tank 4.
[0023] In this operating recovery mode, the refrigerant passes
through the multiple valve manifold or valving arrangement 11 of
FIGS. 4a-4c. More specifically and with the control knob 13 on the
front panel of the recovery unit 1 of FIG. 2 in the position of
FIG. 2 and FIGS. 4a and 4b, the refrigerant passes as in FIGS.
3a-3c from the inlet line 3 through the valve 15 (see FIG. 3a and
also FIGS. 4b and 4c) to and through the compressor 5 and through
the valve 17 to the condenser 7. From the condenser 7, the
refrigerant subsequently flows through valve 19 to the outlet line
9 of the recovery unit 1 and on to the line 10 of FIG. 2 leading to
the storage tank 4.
[0024] As explained in more detail below, the valves 15, 17, 19,
and 21 of the valving arrangement 11 can be selectively positioned
to place the recovery unit 1 in four modes. In the mode of FIGS.
5a-5c and 6a-6c, the recovery unit 1 is closed off (see FIG. 5a)
from allowing any refrigerant to flow through it between the inlet
line 3 and the outlet line 9. The valve 15 in this off position
(FIG. 5a) is then positioned by the gearing arrangement 23, 25, 27,
and 29 (FIG. 6b) to prevent or block any incoming refrigerant from
passing from the inlet line 3 through the valve 15 into the
recovery unit 1.
[0025] Rotation of the single control knob 13 in FIG. 5b 180
degrees from the off position to the position of FIG. 3b will then
place the recovery unit 1 in the previously discussed recovery mode
of FIG. 3a-3c and 4a-4c. In doing so, the valves 15, 17, 19, and 21
of the valving arrangement 11 are rotated 180 degrees about their
respective rotational axes 15', 17', 19', and 21' (see FIG. 4c)
which are horizontal and parallel to each other in the orientation
shown in FIGS. 4a-4c. The rotation of each valve by the respective
rotating gear can be accomplished in any number of manners. In one
illustrated manner, a simple arrangement of a protruding flange or
key 31 is provided as shown in FIG. 4d on the back of each gear
that is received in a groove 33 in the respective valve (see FIG.
5a).
[0026] In conventional recovery units with condensers, the normal
operation is from the off position discussed above directly to the
recovery position also discussed above. However, in the present
invention and between the off and recovery positions of the control
knob 13 of FIGS. 2 is a novel condenser bypass position. In this
position as shown in FIGS. 7a-7c, the flow path through the
recovery unit 1 of the present invention bypasses the condenser 7.
In this manner, the refrigerant then flows directly from the inlet
line 3 to and through the compressor 5 to the outlet line 9 and
avoids the condenser 7 altogether (see also FIGS. 8a-8c).
[0027] That is and in contrast to other recovery units that always
have their flow pass through the condenser even under conditions
when the cooling and phase change functions of the condenser are
not needed (e.g., pumping only liquid refrigerant or small amounts
of vapor and in push/pull configurations), the present recovery
unit 1 allows the flow in such circumstances to run directly from
the inlet line 3 (see FIG. 7a) to the compressor 5 to the outlet
line 9. In this manner and under such circumstances that can
commonly exist during the initial stages of an overall recovery
process, the bypass mode avoids having the flow run through the
tubing and other plumbing of the condenser which otherwise would
add significant length (e.g., 2-3 feet or more) and resistance to
the flow through the recovery unit 1. Once this bypass mode is
completed, the recovery unit 1 can then be switched to the recovery
mode of FIGS. 3a-3c and 4a-4c to complete the transfer of the
remaining refrigerant (which is typically mostly vapor) from the
refrigerant system 2 of FIG. 2 to the storage tank 4. In this
recovery mode, the refrigerant does pass through the condenser 7 of
the recovery unit 1 to be cooled and condensed. The overall result
of having the bypass mode prior to the recovery mode is a
significant increase in the efficiency and speed (e.g., 2-3 times
or more faster) of the overall recovery process (e.g., moving 8-12
gallons/minute versus 4 gallons/minute).
[0028] Completing the description of the operating modes of the
recovery unit 1 of the present invention and after the recovery
mode of FIGS. 3a-3c and 4a-4c is finished, the control knob 13 can
be additionally rotated to the purge position illustrated in FIGS.
9a-9c and 10a-10c. In this purge position, the condenser 7 can then
be cleared of any residual refrigerant and the residual refrigerant
safely confined to the storage tank 4. In doing so, the flow path
through the condenser 7 is in a direction opposite to the flow path
of the recovery mode of FIG. 3a through the condenser 7. However,
the direction of the flow through the compressor 5 in the purge
mode is still in the same direction as in the recovery mode.
[0029] Although described above in a different order of operation
for clarity, the normal sequence of operation of the recovery unit
1 is from being off (FIG. 6a) to condenser bypass (FIG. 7a) to
recovery (FIG. 3a) to purge (FIG. 9a) and back to off (FIG. 4a).
Nevertheless, the recovery unit 1 can be operated in difference
sequences if desired or beneficial (e.g., if one mode is
interrupted before completion and it is desirable that it be
resumed out of the normal order).
[0030] Referring again to the recovery and bypass operational modes
of FIGS. 3a and 7a, the flows in these two modes pass through the
common, three-ported ball valve 17 (see also FIGS. 4c and 8c). More
specifically and in the recovery mode of FIGS. 3a and 4c, the
refrigerant flows through the recovery unit 1 along a first path
from the inlet line 3 to and through the compressor 5 and to and
through the condenser 7 to the outlet line 9. In doing so, the flow
of this first path runs through the valve 17 with the valve 17 (see
FIG. 4c) selectively positioned so the flow enters the inlet port
41 of the valve 17 and exits through the outlet port 41'. In
contrast and in the bypass mode of FIGS. 7a and 8c, the refrigerant
flows through the recovery unit 1 along a second path from the
inlet line 3 to and through the compressor 5 to the outlet line 9
and avoiding the condenser 7. In doing so, the flow of this second
path runs through the valve 17 with this common valve 17 (see FIG.
8c) selectively positioned so the flow enters the inlet port 41 of
the valve 17 and exits through the second outlet port 41''. The
passages in the common valve 17 (FIG. 8c) then form a T-shape with
the inlet port 41 at the bottom or stem of the T and the outlet
ports 41' and 41'' respectively at the ends of the arms of the T.
The two outlet ports 41' and 41'' are in fluid communication with
the inlet port 41 and each other. in operation, one of outlet ports
41' and 41'' is then selectively blocked off within its bearing
depending upon the rotational positioning of the common valve 17 in
FIGS. 4c and 8c. The use of the common valve 17 to selectively
accommodate the first and second flow paths of the recovery and
bypass modes adds to the simplicity of the design and operation of
the multiple valve manifold 11.
[0031] Further adding to this simplicity is the use of a second
common valve at 15 upstream of the compressor 5 in FIGS. 4c and 8c.
This second common valve 15 also selectively accommodates the first
and second flow paths of the recovery and bypass modes. The second
common valve 15 is similarly a three-ported ball valve with an
outlet port 43 and two inlet ports 43' and 43''. This is in
contrast to the common valve 17 that has a single inlet port and
two outlet ports. In operation, the flow of the first path in the
recovery mode runs through the valve 15 with the valve 15 (see FIG.
4c) selectively positioned so the flow enters the inlet port 43' of
the valve 15 and exits through the outlet port 43. In the bypass
mode of FIGS. 7a and 8c, the refrigerant then flows through the
recovery unit 1 along the second path from the inlet line 3 to and
through the compressor 5 to the outlet line 9 and avoiding the
condenser 7. In doing so, the flow of this second path runs through
the valve 15 with the common valve 15 (see FIG. 8c) selectively
positioned so the flow enters the second inlet port 43'' of the
valve 15 and exits through the outlet port 43. As shown, the
intersecting passages in the common valve 15 can be orthogonal to
each other with the two inlet ports 43' and 43'' in fluid
communication with the outlet port 43 and each other. In operation,
one of inlet ports 43' and 43'' is then selectively blocked off
within its bearing depending upon the rotational positioning of the
common valve 15 in FIGS. 4c and 8c.
[0032] The common valve 17 offers the further advantage in the
purge mode of FIGS. 9a and 10c by selectively accommodating a third
flow path in which the condenser 7 can be cleared of any residual
refrigerant and the residual refrigerant safely confined to the
storage tank 4 of FIG. 2. In this purge mode, the valve 15 upstream
of the inlet line 3 in FIGS. 9a and 10c is closed to the inlet line
3. The flow through the condenser 7 is then reversed to pass from
the closed valve 19 to and through the condenser 7 and to and
through the compressor 5 to the outlet line 9. In doing so, the
flow of this third path runs through the valve 17 with the common
valve 17 (see FIG. 10c) selectively positioned so the flow enters
the inlet port 41 of the valve 17 and exits through the first
outlet port 41'.
[0033] It is noted that in a push/pull operating configuration of
the recovery unit 1 as in FIG. 11 with the connections of the inlet
and outlet lines reversed (i.e., the inlet line 3 selectively
connected in fluid communication with the vapor port 12 of the
storage tank 4 via line 14 and the outlet line 9 selectively
connected in fluid communication with the system 2 via line 16),
the flow path through the recovery unit 1 would be set as in the
bypass mode of FIGS. 7a-7c and 8a-8c. The flow would then be from
the vapor port 12 of the storage tank 4 to the inlet line 3 to and
through the compressor 5 to the outlet line 9 and on to the system
2 with the additional line 18 of FIG. 11 connected between the
system 2 and the liquid port 20 of the storage tank 4. In this
manner, the recovery unit 1 is used to create a siphon to blow or
push the refrigerant out of the system 2 while simultaneously
pulling or sucking the refrigerant into the storage tank 4. Such
push/pull configurations are useful for initially recovering large
amounts of liquid refrigerant from the system 2. However, unlike
other recovery units with condensers, the vapor from the storage
tank 4 does not pass through the condenser 7 of the recovery unit 1
of the present invention where it would be undesirably cooled or
condensed to a liquid in the push/pull configuration of FIG. 11.
Rather, it stays as a vapor at relatively high pressure as it
further acquires latent heat from the compressor 5 as it runs
through it and is compressed. The flow through the recovery unit 1
in such an alignment then runs directly from the inlet line 3 (see
FIG. 7a) to the compressor 5 to the outlet line 9. As in the
previously discussed bypass mode, the flow path of the push/pull
configuration additionally avoids having the vapor from the storage
tank 4 run through the tubing and other plumbing of the condenser
which otherwise would add significant length (e.g., 2-3 feet or
more) and resistance to the flow through the recovery unit 1. In
this manner, the overall result of having these bypass modes is a
significant increase in the efficiency and speed of the overall
recovery process when a push/pull mode is used in addition to the
modes of FIGS. 1-10c.
[0034] FIGS. 12a and 12b schematically show other designs of the
valving arrangement controlling the flow paths through the recovery
unit. In the embodiment of FIG. 12a, the same functions as in FIGS.
1-11 are performed but using only three valves (i.e., a two-way
valve at 51, a three-way valve at 53, and a four-way valve at 55).
The embodiment of FIG. 12b is even further simplified by using only
two valves (i.e., the two-way valve at 57 and a six-ported ball
valve at 59) to perform the same functions as in FIGS. 1-11.
[0035] It is specifically noted that the condenser 7 of the present
invention in all of the illustrated embodiments could be made as a
physically integral part with the other parts (e.g., compressor 5)
of the recovery unit 1. The parts would then essentially be fixed
relative to each other within a common casing. However, the
condenser 7 could also be a separable part of the recovery unit 1
if desired so that it could, for example, be physically separated
from the other parts and submerged in ice water or other exterior
cooing media. Although separable, the flow paths to and from the
condenser 7 and through the recovery unit 1 and its other parts
would still be as illustrated in the various modes discussed
above.
[0036] The above disclosure sets forth a number of embodiments of
the present invention described in detail with respect to the
accompanying drawings. Those skilled in this art will appreciate
that various changes, modifications, other structural arrangements,
and other embodiments could be practiced under the teachings of the
present invention without departing from the scope of this
invention as set forth in the following claims. In particular, it
is noted that the word substantially is utilized herein to
represent the inherent degree of uncertainty that may be attributed
to any quantitative comparison, value, measurement or other
representation. This term is also utilized herein to represent the
degree by which a quantitative representation may vary from a
stated reference without resulting in a change in the basic
function of the subject matter involved.
* * * * *