Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
wo 9~J~3~ Pr~s9~/0~8
., . 'I "
3 . FLEXIBt E G~S SA~vAGE CONTAI}~ERS
4 ANP PROCESS FOR us~ :
6 This applL a~io~ is a cor;ti~u~tion~ part of U-SN
7 39~ 4 filed August 16, 1989~ :
"'
cro.ss Reference to Related A~licatisn
~.
usS~ 07/371,785 ~ d June 21, 1989 (RI-6346AUs)
î 1 ralat~s ~ the general ~eld of re~o~ery of refrigerant3
12 and narr. . th~ same in~ren~cor as ~he present appl_cation
3 and emp}oys slaek-sided ac u~ulators which ~an be
~4 si~ilar to t~le bags used i~ the present ir~Yen~c~o~.
l S
17 Th0 ~ oss oS re~ige~n~ such ~ R-12 r~gerarlt
~8 ~rom refrigeration sys~cems, ~ar~iculaxly dur~ng
19 : s@r~ic~ ng o~ automoti~e a r s~di~icning systerns is the
s~:iect ~ mu~: pu~ic. conc~:rn at this ttme. A
~1 ~e~ at~on ser~t~ ce mechanic in sexvic~r~g the a~ r
22 condltioning sy~ ~em norma~ ly ~en~s the same ~ Durin$
23 V~Lt~, a sis~ amQ~ o:l~ R-12 vapor is los~ f~om
~4 ~he a~ ~os~ditionlng sys~e~n. There ~s a ~eed,
25 t~re~or~, to ~?rovid~ a pract~cal, simple, ef~ctive and
low cost rei~ er nt recoven~ a~d res~oration syste~
~,7 ~ which w~l~ all~w ~ch~ mechanic to ~t an au~o~ e a~
28 ~ondi~o~ ysl~ . wi~ ~ull . reco~e~ of t~ ~rapox
2~ con~ca~r~ed therein, to pr~Yid~ a ~yste~ wh$ch ~t least i~
3~ s :~a~y ~r~p~e~ . ta t~. 5i:ttls 0 the
31 aut4m~iv~ o~ llX~ ~ir cond~ ~ioning or re~ri~e~at~on
sys~em, w~h produces recl~imed refrt geran~ ~ e~ual
~3 ~ y ia co~pa~i son ~o Yir~in re~rig~xant, whieh is
3~ ~m~ll in 5i?!~3 ~ bu~ which wil~ b~ ~apab~a o~ o~?e~ating
wi~ch ~ch~ ~olwre o~ rlormal automoti~e al~ condi~ionin~
36 3~rv~ ~ opera~on.
37
emp~c5 ha~e ~e-e~ ma~e to produ~:~ an e~-~ec~i~re
39 x~rl~ran~ rec~v~ nd/or disposal, purif ica~ion and
~ch~:~r~ s~ed ~. ~ re~resentatiYe
W~ ~/U2~32
~ PCr/l~'S9OJ0~21
2 -2~
3 of such known syste~sa~e: U.S. 3,232,070; 4,285,206;
4 4,363,~22; ~,q41,330;4,47~,688; 4,~39,817; 4,5S4,792;
4,646,527; and 4,766,733.
7 These pa'cents disclose as aspects o~ such
8 refrigerant ~ecove~y sys~ems the employment of
a components su~h a~ ~ac~um pumps, oil separators,
10 co~den ers~ li~id reftigerarlt ~eceivers and
tl accumu~at~r5. U~fortunately, the systems ide~t~fi~d
t2 above are ch~racterized by compl~xity and high p~essure
13 oper~tion a~d are placJued with maintena~ce problems due
14- pa~ticula~ly to . the high pres~urP por~ions of the
~ ~ s~st~sn .
1 ~;
It ~s ~e~e~o~e ~n o~ct af t~e pr2Se~t ~n~entien
~8 ~o pro~ide~ a~ ~pro~d, low cost, s~mplet ~e~tially
19 a~no ph~ic p~essure oper~ted r~fr~ ~er~nt recov~ry ~nd
o~a~o~ syst~ which ope~ates pEimarily as a d~rec~
2t condensation process, which has pa~ticular applica~ion
22 ~0 sertt~ cing automsti~r~ air c:orldi~io~in~ s~stems, bu~ ~s
23 ~t liml~ed th~reto, ~ a~d wh~c~ e advantageously
em~Ioye~ ~ ~er~ n~ ~a4ms ref;r~ ~er~tors ~r systems;
~,~ uslr~g ~ 12 as r~f ~igerant, a~d whieh ~Yiates t:h~
~S problems discussed a~oye wit~ r~sp~c~ to th~ ~now~ p~ior
27 a~t.
28
29 A11 ~ tho pr~o~ at~ ts to recover ~rIg~ra32t
~ h~ r.~i . ~ ~ f~ ;e~
31 ~xte~s~ Ye ap~aratus to ~æ ~rou~ht to the s~te where the
3~ rer~ran'c is 'co b~ ~lYaged, or t~t ~h~ re~rigeratior~
b~g se~icad . has co ~ b~:oug~t to a ce~t-al
3~ rec:laimir~g sys~em~ pre~ene inYsntion, ~y ~ts use o~
~prox~ely ~o~pher~c ~ressur~, ba~s wh~ may be
3~ ch~r re~sabl2 or ev~n disposa~l~, pe~nits a
~7 x~rig~r~ n S~rlJio~ er~ eer ~o ~ a r u~e~ ~ éhe
b~ at var~ous l~catlons wh~r~ re~rigerar~t ~ s to ~e
3~ s~lv~g~d, a~ exampl~, at ~he end o~ hi s wor3~lng
~ ~y, r ~ ~Le-~e ~asEs ~o ~ cen~ral re:Erig~ratcion
., ,, ,, , , . , ~ . : . -
" ~
. X~)4Z59~
~ . .,
WO 9t~932
., PCI'~l'S~0J0
2 _~_
3 recovery system wher~ the re~rigerant may be conder~sed
4 ~nd pu~if ied or reuse .
6 Anoe}~er m~th~d which was used in the past o~
7 r~covering ~ef~ige~an~ was to ~ill small p~essure
~resselS wi~h the r~ eranl; by comp~e~sing the
g r~ri~exant l~to th~ pressu~e vessels th~ou~h the action
of th~ csmpresso~ on the ref ri~eration u~it ~rom which
11 the re~ri~r~r~t is being withdrawrl or by acocio~ of a
2 lîquid pump o~ a vac~Lm pump. As a~yorl~ connected wi_h
13 li~uified c~mpzesses gas handl~ng knows, ovex-filling o~
4 any pressu~e vessel 1~ always o~ concern. Pxessure
~: r~l~ef d~ri~s~ re no~ aîw~ e~ e~ ~ may~ fal t~ ,~
~ open aftes years of h~rd handl~ng in and o~t o trucks,
7 cor~t~inati cm ` ~y gre~ ~OSl~, etc.
18 Th~refore, the poss~billt~r o hyd~stat~c ~up~ur~ a~sd
g ~-: even: e~plosio~ is alwa~rs prese~t when a~ pr~ssu~e -ressel
20 ~ is being fL~ed. T~is: d~nger is ~reatly extenuated when
~ the~ flllir~g~ s ~b~lng~ dor~e in the ~1~ld ur~der adverse
c:rc:u~ns~a~ces ~and ~e~exally with~ue any weighlng deY~ce,
3 ~: ot~ y~ ~y lxd~;tly~ ex erienced personnel. ~ .
25 ~ `an o~e ~ o~ ~ch~ prese~t i~vent~ to pro~Jide
26 ~ ~ a ~ fe,: l~w cost, si~ple, e5s~ntla~1y a~o~ph~r~c
z~ pressure: re~i~r~t xeG~ ss~ a~s
28 : need.:: for ~ri~.~ siv~, ~ buL~y ~ ~uip~ to: ~he
9 :: lo~a~ior~ ~om~: w~'~ch t~ ref~i~es~nt is to; ~ sal~age~
~ ~ A~lo1:~L~9: C~.~S; ~LS. :~9.,~.ClYi~e. a~ rec~ S~ste~ whic~ ;
is ll~t and small which can be ~ou~h~ t~ t:he salv~@
32 s~e." 5~111 a j~o'ch~x , ~ct is ~ ~to a~o~d~ ~ h~vin~ j a
33 ~ m~h~n~cal xeclai2~nç~ sys~ ~or ~ach ~ic~ mechanic
34 ~ ~x ~r small~;c~mpanle-~ which m~y not ~e ~a~le: to: ~usti~y
3~ ~h~: ~ ~c~ase o~ reic7 a~ eyst~s. Stlll arlo~her
36 ~ o~ject~ is to avoid the di ficul~ o smalle~ r~cl~ ng~
37 ~: : :oyst~ms whiic~ maly tako too lors~ ~o ~e ::ov~r: the
3~ ~ ~ re~ ~t ~ap~r whiY~ ls ~eing salY~ed. A ~urt~er
3~ o~ect ~a ~o pro~rid~ a ~ ple, ~asy ~o u~e, lishtweight
s~ef~ ~o ca~2 ~ arat ~a~r at the ser~rice si~e;
~.. gl~O2~3~
P~r/~S90~0~2~8
.; ~
--4--
3 t~ allow reclaimir~g a~c a later tLIne without delayins the
~,~ service ~ork; and to all~w a ~entral reclaiming unit tO
Ei recl?im ref~iserarlt ~orm a rnultiplicity of service ~nen
each servi~ing a` multiplici~cy o ~ef~igerat~o~ u~ts.
7 Another obje~t ~s ~o a~roi~ loss o~ ~FC vapor ~ ~he
atmosphere by. m~)cin~ practical reclaiming of vapor ~;om
g scrapped or .. di~abled re~rigerators, automobile air
10 conditione~ and other ref~igeratio~ syste~ns or those
11 requls~ ert1icing.
12 : -
13 Th~ ~esen~ invention provi~es ~cor,omic,
conYenience, and sa~et~ ~d~antages over the solutions
15 taug~ T n th~ or ~ se t~l~ bags us~. by. ~e
16 pres~nt in~ention ar~ che~p and dispc~sabl~ o~ reusa~le ~
17 the ~a~s t k~ lly ~o spac~. pr~ e~r b~ing
t8 ~illed, ana ~he ~ags, i~ ~omehow otrerfil~d, will merely
t9 ru;i)ture so~tly b~ tearin~ apart ~ th* weld or
;~Q, elsewher~a,; wit~ut any da~ger of exp~osion due t~ hiç~h
21 ~ pressure rup~ such as would ~e lnvol~.red ~ ~ the
fallu~e of a p~ess~e vess~l.
4 ,
25 ~ T~: present in~e2~tio~ util~zes slack~sided ~ag~
2O ( bladde~s or b~lloons ) ~o co~tain ref ~igerant vapor f r~m
2~ r~ er~t;o~ u~ts ~r~m w~2~c~ e r~e~ ~s ~ be
2~ salt~age~, e~ e ~:Lgerat~ w~ich ~eea ~compr~o~
29 r~lacem~s~t~, comm~rc~a 1 c~ld display 6as~ u~ts,
30 household. a~ c~l heat. pumps, aut~not~ air
31 conditioner~, and ~y other sy~tem: which utilizes
3~: halogena~d hydroc~b~ns o~ other ligu~iab1e ~ase a5
33 ~:e rig~ran~s in c~nnec cio~ with a compressoE ~ conde~ser,
34 arld ~apor~to~ ` '
~ :
3~ The preS~r~t in~nti~rs e~nbodies the r~Go$nit~on tha~
37 ~S o~ a` prac~ical size can contain re l:~gera~s~ vapo~
3~ ~rom automob~ 1~s; ~ hom~ ref~igerato~:s, supe~market
~3~ d~pla~ ease~, etc. a'c substantially a~ospheric
Ec~r exam~l~, a t~pica1 househo1d ref~i~era~or
~t0~g3~
P~'S90~0~21 8
. ~
2 -5-
3 con~airls 0. 5 p~nds of re~igerant ~hi~h is egulvalen~
4 ~o 2pproaci~ately l . 6 cublc f~et at atmo.,phsric pressure
5 and 90~F. The refrigeranc vApor ca~tu~e apparatu~ is
S sh~wr~.
7 ,.
8 Brle~f Descript.~on of the ~rawlr~s
g Fi~u~e l is a schema~i~ diagxam o~ the overall
Q system o~ the presant ln~entlon showi~g the
11 r~fri~rati~r~ sys~em fr~m which re~r~geras~'c is to be
salv~sed, th~ ~ag, and the re~i~e_a~t vapor ~aptu~e
3 sys~m .
F~ Z ;~s ~ s~ ic ~ ra~ o~ o~ed,
16 me2ns to at~ach the ba~ to~:the refrigeration systam ~or
the~purpos~.o~ txa~err~n~ the r~fr~r~ Ya~or from
18 ~he xefrlge~ation syst~m ~ei~g e~r~ice~ to the ~ag using t
g~ a~ ~on~venie~t :handle and~commerc$all~ aY~ ble doublP
shu~ of ~ uic~ dis:c~ ~ec~ coup~i~ng~o ~onnect: to the ~
conven~ional~se~r~ice~an's:~rer~gerat~o~ g~g~ ~se~ an~ ~:
o~necti~hos~ .
24~ F e 3~s~ s~on:d~ csf a sT~ valv~ fo~
s~ with~r~:n~ ef~i~e~a~t~ t~e ~ag ag the lal~t ~o the:
26~ r~ri~erant rec`la~ syste~ ;
Plgur~ ~4 ~s: ~ n~ whlc~ is c o~ected to~ ae~
9 ~ r~e~r~eran~ ~recov~J
3~ Fi~re~ 5a~nd~5b:~ r~ Jpieal ~ ps~ s~ s~lins~ ~h~
32 ~a~ of:~i,g~e 1~ :~
34 : ~ :F1g~r~ 6 ~s:: a~ ~emat~c o~ a preferred ~le~1e bag
35 i~ a~lexi~le s~:~è~e~:wi~ :ca~ g ~anale. : ~
37 ~ Pigur-~7 ~ s~he~a~-slesve assefflbly o~ ~igu~e 6
38 ~n a~-~toll :con~guration.
- wo 91Jo~93~ 20~Z590
PCI /~ 0/0~2 1 ~
.; . . .
2 _~_
Descri~tion of the P2eferred Embodiments
4 Referring to Figure 1, 10 i5 a typical home
reri~eration systenl showing the evap~ratqr 11, ~he
6 acc~;~ulator. 12, the: cQmp;essor 1~, the condenser 14, ar~d
7 the ~apillary 15.
9 A convent~ on~l pie~cing ~talve 1~ is pla~ed orl the
10 low pressure side of the compres5~r and a conver~tional
11 pie~cing va-l~e ~17 ~ ~ placed~ un ~he hi~h pres~s~x~
discha~ge o. the compressor.~ Ioses 19 and lga lead
13 respecti~ely :~ from piercing : valv~s 16 and li to
4 converl~ior~al xe~ erzt:i~n~ sei~rice gauge~ set 18 which
15 ~ onsists of a. m~ ~l* wi`th: ~st$h and low press~ g~uge~
16 co~nec~ing~to hos~ 15 a~d~ A. A third hose 20 ~é~ds
17 ~ ~r~m ~the g~ùge set~ tO irlèt ~ s :con~ecti~
t8 ~bf~tween gai~e ~ se~ 18 ~nd ir~le~ -~al~e 2~ ~c~n optio~ lly
19:: ::~ (~ot necessa~ly~ be throu~h A vacuu;~ pi~m~ 21 w:~t~
20 : ~appropriate; ~ Yalves ~ 22 ~a~d;:; 23 ~o ~ etrdcuate ~ ~éhe
: rer~ërat~:-: :s~ t~m.:: T~is;:~ cu~ p~p ~:~ woùld .~b~
z~ part~ar~-~ us~ul ;n ~ sal~a~ing refrigèra~ - ro~n- ~ ar~
23 :~ ;aut~le~ ai~ :~o~:~ner. v~vé~ 2~ ' s how~ ta
24 ~ ~e ~ ons~ ~&~ sh
:25; ~ kl d~sc~ec~- cQ~l;~`ng,~lè'~par~ a~a~ d ~ t
5~, `~anic~ co~e` ~ ~to.~ h~::26
7~dis h~r ~ng~-l.th~a`:lo~gi~u~hal ~e: ~ é~i~n
:~th~ ~a~.~e~d 28-~ :~ 3~ 2~ A~la~X~si~e~ ~ dder
29~ ~ a~cumulator: 30 ~s ~ ou~ ~:t 3~ whi:sh~ s
3~o~ex-~. ~p~ :~d ~8 ~f ~e. ~6-~,:fu~th~
3~- ~ eaIed by a~ ela c ~;40: wh~ch ~s st~e~ over.~t~e
32~}adder outle~. 31!,to com~ $s . i~ t~ he handl~ 260
hand~e~ ~6:~ ~ox v,alve~ ~ip ~2): ha~ a ~ ;ap~re~
35 28 s~c~ -that ~ aS~ con~lon .. 3I- - ~an~ os~t~ . o~-`
36: remo~ ~rom ~h~ h~l~ wlthou~ a~y ~igni~ica~t ~ ss .o~
3 7 r~f~ n~:~or ::ent~` o~ Th~ ~onnection 3~1 ~onfo~ms
38 to ~ eomet~ ~f .the tip 28 ( or 6 2 ) whic~ g~adually
39 chanç~s ~h~ sbap~ o~ th~ ba~ conrleceion 31 from ~wo
40 ~
..
.
,:~
~ ~ ~v~y~
- WC~ ~1/0293~ . PCr~S90/0~218
.,; .. ..
~7 -
3 s~.~ets of ~ilm f la~ again5~ each other to the co~diti~n
4 where 'che ~ilm is wrappe~ around the ha~ndle 2~ ~ or valve
tip 62, as ~h~ case may be ) as the tip 28 t or 62 ) is
6 pushe~ in~o ~:or~ectiD;l 31. The low pr~ssu~e wit~in ~e
7 ba~ co~tri~u~es to the ~esired conservat~n of
8 ref~iger~nt vapor~
g
The accumulato~ assesn~ly S0 ~ 8 comp~s~d o~: 'che
11 aco~ la~or 30, ~ pro'ce~ive sle~ve 51 which i~ similar
12 to an en~t~lope o~e~ on thre~e sides. The c~os~d side has
13 a ha~dle ~2 for ~asy carryin~ o~ the ac~ lator
4 as~e~ly SO, gxommets 53 ~or easy . har~ging oi~ the
~5: assembly 50, closi~res: 55 to h~ïd t~ si~e~ ~ the sle~e
5~ a~ d ~he acc~nuI~or 30 and a loop 56 ~or attachi~g
ehe s~al c~p. 4~ ~ mea~ of c~d S7.
8 ~
t9~ e~errir~g:;:aga1n ~o Eigu~e l~in operation~ pi~rci~g
20 ~ lves ~ 16~ 7 are placed o~o t~e tubi~g of
Z1 ~: r~fr~ge~at~on ;system ~lOt a t:ypical home re~rigera~or.
tOr~ly:~one~ piercir~g val~ is rec~uir~d, ~ut usin~ one on
23~ thè~:~h~ s~ :a~ on~- on the ~ow s~de~ o~ the compre;s~or
24~ speeds ~e :e~ g o ~efr;~ran~. ~ Refr~g~r~ :fl~ws
25 ~ ~through ~tubes ~9~ and ;` l~9a in~o t~ x~rigerant ser~ice
a: gz~uge set 18;~t~ough hose 20 and: optio~al ~cuum pump Zl
7 ~ i~'co: ~?at~e~ ZS~:; and ~hro~g~ a~dlg 26 ~ntcl s~clc-s
28 :~ ac~u;lato~; 30.~ ~he sla~ sided. acG~la::or i~ fl~
29 ~ ~hen~ tho re~r~gerant beg~ to ~low in, ~ and gEaL~I:U
0 ~B~ to~ p~ o~ a~T~, i~ ~he
31 case~:o~a:home~ e~rigera~;o~, up to abo~ 1.5~e~ic ~ee~
3z o~ s~e igera~ vapo~ (O.S ~:is at 90~F) o~ :~n ~he case of
a typica1~ au~m~iY~ a~ conditl~3n~ up~ ~ toi ~ut 11.
34 ~ ee~ ( 3 ,. ~ 1~5 ~ 90~F) of ref~e~a~ po~ er~
3~ Slow~ Sf:Q~?S ta~ i~: :easil~ o~aser~red~ ~y ~Lot~nS~: ~ha~ the
36 ac~umu1ator ~ is:~ no7 longer e~andir~$l), 'he ac~ulator
37 ~ ~tlet: 31 ~s removed ~rom t~e Ya~ 2$ by~ remov~n~ th~
3~; s~al; b~nd~ 4q and sl~ding the accum~ or outle~c 31
3~ ho~ valY~, clo-~ ng the ope~ing by ~la'ctenin~ the
4~ s ~ he ta~ed end ~f '~'~e ~alve
:: s
. ~:0~5~
.~v ~a/0~32
~cr/~sso/w
2 ~8~
3 2S, ~olling i up and ~ompre~sing it with se~l clip 45
4 shown ~n Figure Sa. The ~ccumulato~ assern~ly 50 ~Ls
5 easilt~ carrl~d or hun~ in a se~vlc~ truck by mçans o~
ff ~i~her the h.a~dle 5~ or ~mrne~ c 3 whi~h ar~
lnte~ral part ~ the sleeve Sl~
8 ..
~3 ~ter ~he ser~iGe ~nginee~ h~s corrple~ed his
10 wc7r~datf ~ ~c~ g ab~ut one or mo~e ~ d slack-sided
1 t a~c:~nula'eors or bags, h~ slmply ~tuxns t~ th~ hom~ shop
1~ and le~s th~3 b~g~ ~or con~nsir~ and puxi1ca~1~n
~3 ~he re~ige~a~t to b~ sal~raget~
14
Th~ r~r~g~a~i~n and ~co~ t~m. ca~ b~
16 cornpl~el~ nvetltio~l as sh~wn i~ th~ U . S. pa~c~n~s
~7 me~io~d undsr. ~k~roun~ o~ er~ior~, ~x .ca~ ~e
1~ ~ the nc~r~l con~ xati~n sho~m in ~ cop~rlding U ~ s
1~ pa~er~t applica~ion USS~ ~7/3~1,78S ~ 6346~tJS)
~
ba~s ca~ b~ readll~ ~used a~t~r ~he
22 r~ri~eran~ has b~n ~xpQlï~d ~t~ th~
23 r~co~t~ry/puri~ica~io~ unlt~ ~h~ ~x~rlg~2Lnl: is~ o
Z4 ~e, r~ â X :7r ~ g~r
~5 sys~ems,
26
27 Th~us~s th~ ~Y~ p~ee~d em~e~t~; ha~r~ . he~
28 dss~ib~d in a ~ri~er~Ltion sys~m wh~ch would cosn~nonly
~9 use re~rigerant 12, ~h~ 5 2~15CJ ~dap~ . to
~e~o~e~ ~ e ~e,ra~ts 11, 22~ 50~, 50Q, 503~ 1~3,
3t 1~4 1, and simil~r haloge~at~ hrdrac~ a~ch~
~2 refrig~ants m~y be re~o~es~d w~h the s~rstem~ b~t ~h~s~
33 a~ s~ 1, pr~erxl~ j be~ausa o to3:ic ar3d possibl~
34 corrosiYe hazar~s and becau~ ey arc 1 ess ~o~no~ly
~nco~tered in s~n~ller re~r~geration sys~em~.
36
.
~7 ~:
`: ~ 8` - Th~. bas~s~. ~o~.. ~se. wi~h the p~esent invent~on are not
: ~: 39 narrowly cri~al~ P'os cotlvenience ar~d ~c~nomy, they
4Q will ~re~ably :b~ made o~ shee~ materia;s, pref erably
~ . 204~59~
,. . . .
~O 91J0293~
PCI /I~S~0~0~ 1 8
.;
;Z _g_
hot S,amped and welded to shape They may, of ourse,
4 be of virt-~ally any shape, though the rectang-llar
con î~uration ~own ~n th~ figures will be pre~erre~,
6 ~ucks G-. siuSsets r;ay }:e added to incx~ase the ~ol~L~etric
7 ca~acity of the bag. Tl~.e bag should be substantially
8 impermeable to the gases they are to hold ~d to alr
g ~ec:au~e c-oss~con~arnina'cion is ur~desirable as i5 well
lD ~;nown i~ the refrige~ant art. The ba~s Gan ~ave
11 spec:ially formed fittin~s attached to thei~ outlets but
1~. there i s gen~rally no need f or this expense and
~dditional weig~at. In~tead, t~;e bag w~ll have a si.~nple
exte~lsion ou~ long enou~h so that it may be ~olded
o~er ~n~ c~i~ to se*l ~he baç~: ~d; als~ lQ~g ~o~Lsh to
16 pro~ide a good s~al on the ~ llng and withd~aw valve~
Z6 ~nd 60 s}~ ~ E~gu;r~5 1, 4 a~d ~, r~t~ely.
1 8
1g ~ Re~errir~g to Figure 3, the mani.~old ttal~Je 60 is
composed ~ :bo~y ~1, tip 6~ ~talv2 ~t~m 63, 'clp seal 64,
stem se:al 65 ,~nd hand~e 66 . ~he tip is i ~serted in'~o
2~ cumulator ~0 connection such tha~ ~he end o~ ~he
23 :c~nneceion i5 in the~ area of the ~y~lindr~cal po~tion of
24 the ~7 67... Se~ b~ 40 ~s. used; .~o mi!lX~ t~s~ sea~ ry
25 coznpr~ssing ~h~ ~ cor~nec~cion ~gair~st: the tip. :
Z7 Th~ tip is ~on~ ~nough t~ e~ sevexal irlche~
2~ :i~to. t,he i~te~ior o~ tha acc~ulator bag. ~ Xt has one or
2~ more, :prefe~bly: t~e or four, ~e~or g~cs ru~ g
3~ parall~ ith the l~g dime~sio~ o~ ~he ~ip conzlected ~o
holes 59 drilled ~ ~to the c~ral ~s con~uY t (:~c~'~J ~
32 ~ n va~r i~ ex~ra~ted from ~e accumul~tor it is
33 Eossi~le ~or the bag ~o de~o~m co-~e~ing ~he cent~a
i nle~ hole 70 ~aking ext~ac~ion of ~ ~u~ther VapQr
35 impo~sible. The ex~ern~l grooves : 68 ~nd ho~es 69
3 ~ provide an altér~a~e pa~ch f o~ the vap~r to ente~ the ~ ip
37 6~, ~thu~,: until ail ~rapor is ex~racted, the ~ag canr.ot
38 be ;UC~ 0.. ~he ,_ip ~peninss~
3~:
~ . ' .
s
0~2590
~0 9IJ0~9~ pCI/I~S90/04218
2 -10 -
3 After the ~ccumtllator connection ~1 is attached to
the tip 62, ~he h~ndl~ 66 is used t~ pull t}le valve stem
63 down unsealing the seal 64 and opening the centr~l
6 core to t~e pipe ~ ~o~ ti~ns 71. These co~rLe~tionS 71
7 provide ~or intercor~n~c~ion of more than one valve 60
8 ar~d con~ection . to the ref rigerant reclalrn s ~stem .
~ Re~erxin~ t~ Figu~e 4, valves 60 a~e arranged such
11 ~hat several accwnula~cor assem~l~ es 50 can ~ connected
12 ~o their resp~t1~e ~ralv~s 60. Pip~ c~nnectior~s 72 and
13 a plug 73 are used to in~er~onnect the valves 60 a~d
4 seal the blin~ end and conne~ to the r~c1aim system 74.
~:
16 Whes~ t~e operatcr desires to reco~er ~apor ~om a
17 g en accumul~ a, h~ nne~s t~ a~:c~ul~ SO ~o
18 the ~alv~ i ~0 the~ pulls ha~s~le 66 connecting the ~a~ to
19 the recl~im m~chine~ One ~or more ~al~es 60 may be open
20~ àt on~;~ tim~ ~en ~ giver~ bag is emp~y,~ ~ lts ~val~re~ mAy
21 ~ ~be:~ ~osed, isolating i~ from the ~syst~sQ. That~b~g may
her.~be~ removed~ ~and~ replac~d wi~haut~ a~c~i~g the ot~er
23~ a~s~ that are being ~tie~ ~ to t~ reclai~n sys~em~
~5 ~ WhLle ~he ~ m~terials and co~st~uctio~s of ~ the ~a~s ~ I
26~ a~e ~ ~ot n~rrowly~ c~itic~l a~d ma~ be adapted; to :sui~
27~ ~p~st~;cu1a~r ~e~, p~ cul~ly ~ ~rred ~ :~ags :~ are:
const:ucted fr~t ~ plas~c~ ao~ :p~eferaLb~ fsom
23 ~ a~ :brand :polye~stc~ m~nu~:ured ~biy ~on~
3~ e~ 5~ .8~Q :or; ~
31 : ~all~e~ polye~st~ss ~Eilm ~ ~o~ excellent: ~ç;as c~r~iex
2: ptope~tie~s l~r~ d to about 4~ of pc ly~th~ e~ or f
33 ~lar ~,~lm suc~! ~ æs p~l~psopylene o~ pc lya~ide (~e . ~ .
34 ~Inylo~ ) to ~3ap~t tou~t~e~s to ~he s~æue~ura. Atlanta
o~ tis~g Compa~y p~oduc:es s~h f ilsn ~n widths up
3~ ~o: 3g ~.n~he~ o pr~~rr~d i~ che us~ of silicon
7 coa~d pol~eséer film as a ~iubs~c~tute ~or ~rlar SO~M860
3~ o~ r the us~ of me'calli~e~ ~oly~thylen~
39 ~r~du~rsg excel~ent gas bar~ior resu~ts.
4~ : .
~: .
' ~0~ 0
~ . .
wO 9~/~293~ . . P~ S9O/0~18
~; .. .
3 In general, it wilt be s~uf~icient for the ba~ to
4 prevent dif usion o su~st3ntial amounts caf re~ri~erant
ga~ within the 8-24 hour peric)d in which the ba~s will
~; c~ly be. stor~ ~e~o~e being brou~h'c to ~he sal~rage
u;~it .
g Conves~ie~t sizes of bags are those holdi~g 8 ounces
by wei~ht o~ re~rigeras~t and tho~e holding ~bo~t 3-3
11 pount~ of re~ri~era~t.
12
,~3 In a particul~rly preferred em~od~men~, Figure ~,
t4 the ~ag i~ inser.~@d in~o a sleeYe 30 which ;nay be ~igid
15 ~r pre~er2~l~ fIex~ , and may be made .o~ mat~s~l
16 uitabl~ for p~ot~tin~ t~e bag from ~echa~i cal d~mage.
t7 These ~ 0~ s~ be ma~e f~om a~y ma~:e~l~l
:18 ~ ~havin~ s~ic~ent mecnanical prope~ties, but ~rvec ~rand
1g ~ ~ is ~par~cularly ~?re~erred because; ~ t~ughness,
0~ : lig~t~ :::we:ight, str~n~ arl~: lo~ cos~ Ha~dles S~.,
c losures ~ e.g. Ye~cro b~and~ ~}osur~ ~ mat~rials,
zipp~rs: or 5~1ap9 may ~ e used: i~: the desi~r~ o f the
sleeve.
25~ In~ a ~pa~icularly ~pre~er~ed enib~diment,~ ~Figure 7,
: t~:e s:~eeve 30: and ba~ are ~apte~ so ~ha~ hey may be
r~led, ~ ~.g., ~ pla~n~ d lons~al .s~if er
:28 ~ ~irL- t;~e~ sle~tre ~ le~e so~ that ~th~ s~eette wi~: the
29 :~ag: ~si:de ~n~ be; rsa~le~-~ u~ ar~ ~he :~ al
30 ~ :s~f a~. 7û.. A s~ l@ case for ~e~ ~olled sleéve-baq
ssem~ly c~ be ~rovided. ~ oll~n~ sa~s space ~ an~
32 ad~ onall~r prote:cts f rom mechanic:al dama~e, ex~ending
33 'che li e e;~ the reus~lel~ags:an~l &iee~
The ex~c:t desi~ o~ the b~g ~ also tlO~ na~rowly
35 c~i~ical, ~t th~ utlet ls ~re er~bly :a snout w~ic~ ~s
37 ~ :~ : mo~c pr~er ~ly para~l~l with t~e long dimension o~ the
3~ b~ hat a ~r~.cap~cit~ b~ can b~ lcat~d ~o~
39 a gi~e~ w~d~h o~ n with less wast~. ~he -nout is
5 ~l~ae~t 40 in Fi~use 1, ~d element 3l in
, .
1. . ..
~tO ~ 2932 Pc~ S~/W~18
2 -12-
3 Figure 2. The snou'c design has the advantages of
4 el~minating haxdware from the bag, simplifyi~g bag
5 m~nuf ac~ure, redu~ing ~ost a~d permittin~ removal o~ 'che
6 ~ . w~ ut. s~b~a~tial lo~s o~ r~ri~eraat. The ~ag
7 can have c~mer,t~d ox heat-seal~d seams whi~ may be
8 double seame~. ~3a~s f ail saf ely un~er ex~eme
9 conditio~l~ by so~ ~ailuxe rather th~n exploding as do
10 ~i~id containers.
lt
'12 ~ Add~tional details can be found in my copending
~3 application identi~ied abo~e.
14 : :
Mod~flcael~ns
16 Spec,if~c col:~Fositions, methods, or embodiments
t7 di:s~s~ed are.: in~e~ to ~ or~ ~ra~s~e sf tlse
Lnv~tion~d~clos~d ~y thi~ specifiea~ion~ ~'a~iation on ~-
19 ~the:se compssi~ions, method5, or ~mbodi~.~n~s~are:rea~lly
apparent:~o a:person ~sklll in .~he ~art ~ased upon ~he
teachi~s~of~ this specificat on and ~are ~there~o~e
intended~to ~e includet as:p~r~ of: the inventions :~
3 :disclosed her~in.;:~ :
:27~:~What~ s:~ca~me~
g : .
:~
31 : :
32 :, . , , ,,
34
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~:: 37:
38
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