Apparatus for evacuating flowable media from discarded refrigerators and the like

US5031414A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• WALTER AG · DE

Inventors

• Hans-Peter Walter · Mettlach, DE
• Alfred Walter · Essen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 28, 1990
• Grant date: Jul 16, 1991
• Expiry date: Feb 28, 2010

Classification

• Technology area (CPC F): Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
• CPC primary: F25B2345/005
• WIPO field: Handling
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

Discarded refrigerators, freezers and like cooling units are relieved of confined supplies of coolant and/or lubricant by transporting them onto a tiltable platform which attracts the cooling units by suction and tilts them until the freshly tapped portion of the normally closed circuit for coolant or lubricant is located at the lowermost point of the circuit. The lubricant or coolant can be evacuated by a pump by way of a conduit which is connected to a tapping tool and discharges into a vessel. Alternatively, the coolant or lubricant is caused to flow from the tapped circuit by gravity to gather in a vessel beneath the tiltable platform. The transporting system for cooling units can employ trolleys and winches with suction cups which lift discarded cooling units from the gathering point for discarded cooling units and remove cooling units from the platform when the lubricant- or coolant-evacuating operation is completed. Several apparatus can be mounted in a common vehicle for transport to and from the locale which is selected for manipulation of discarded cooling units.