Patent · US Expired

Air conditioner charging station with same refrigerant return and method

US4982576A · kind A · utility

54Cited by
18References
4Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 10, 1987
Grant dateJan 8, 1991
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 10, 2007

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF25B2345/007
  • WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

An air conditioner charging station withdraws refrigerant from an air conditioner, reclaims it by removing certain materials, and returns the reclaimed refrigerant to the same air conditioner from which it was withdrawn, and also provides new, make-up refrigerant to the air conditioner, in the amount necessary to make a full charge. A microprocessor provides a diagnostic capability, and includes tables of acceptable values of parameters, such as air discharge temperature, suction pressure, etc., for different automobile makes and air conditioner types; provision is made for adjusting the acceptable ranges of such values due to one or more ambient factors, of which ambient relative humidity may be one. The microprocessor, after comparing actual values to acceptable value ranges of the air conditioner operating values, displays possible causes of air conditioner malfunction on a video screen. Self-testing of both the microprocessor and associated electrical elements, and of mechanical elements such as conduits, valves and a scale is performed. The operator may command the microprocessor to display, in smaller print, a relatively large volume of detailed instructional material dealing…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.