Patents by Inventor Thomas O. Major

Thomas O. Major has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 5471848
    Abstract: A refrigerant recovery apparatus for removing refrigerant from a refrigeration unit includes a pump for pumping refrigerant gas. A first channel for conducting refrigerant from a fluid circuit of a refrigeration unit to the pump has an upstream end with a coupler for coupling the first channel in fluid communication with a refrigeration unit fluid circuit. The first channel downstream end is connected to the pump's suction side. A second channel for conducting fluid from the pump to a refrigerant storage container has an upstream end connected to the high-pressure side of the pump and a downstream end with a coupler for coupling the second channel in fluid communication with a refrigerant storage vessel. The recovery unit further includes a fluid vessel, a first fluid communication path for placing the vessel in fluid communication with the first fluid channel, and a second fluid communication path for placing the vessel in fluid communication with the second fluid channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1995
    Inventors: Thomas O. Major, Jack E. Major, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5433081
    Abstract: A refrigerant purification and recovery apparatus for removing refrigerant from a refrigeration unit and purifying the refrigerant includes refrigerant phase separation means for dividing a fluid refrigerant stream into a liquid phase and a gaseous phase stream, means for converting the liquid stream into a substantially gaseous stream and means for purifying the gaseous refrigerant stream including an oil polisher having a canister containing a porous, oleophilic, oil adsorbent material through which the refrigerant stream must pass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1995
    Inventors: Thomas O. Major, Jack E. Major, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5388413
    Abstract: A nitrogen gas source for providing nitrogen gas at sequential work sites includes a channel for containing flowing gas at a pressure greater than ambient atmospheric pressure. A compressor provides compressed air at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure to an up-stream end of the channel. A central portion of the channel includes a nitrogen module with a membrane wall portion for selectively constraining nitrogen within the channel while allowing other gases to escape from the channel through the membrane. A downstream portion of the channel includes a bifurcated channel section with a first bifurcated section passage having a first flow restrictor and second bifurcated section passage having a second flow restrictor. A two position valve allows flowing gas to be selectively directed through the first or second passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1995
    Inventors: Thomas O. Major, Jack E. Major, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5289693
    Abstract: A refrigerant recovery device is provided with a pressure sensing means, liquid sensing means, fluid flow measuring means, telephone dialer for dialing a telephone number, telephone signaler for transmitting a signal over a telephone line to a telephone communication device, and a controller for receiving a parameter value indicative signal indictive of pressure liquid or fluid flow in a predetermined range causing the telephone dialer to dial a telephone number and establish telephone communicaton with the telephone communicaton device and transmit a signal, indicative of pressure liquid or fluid flow, to the telephone communication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1994
    Inventors: Thomas O. Major, Jack E. Major, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5243831
    Abstract: A refrigerant purification and recovery device which directly reitroduces the refrigerant to the refrigeration unit or to a storage container. The device is separable into two parts with one part containing a receiver-separator vessel and the other part containing a compressor and a condenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1993
    Inventors: Thomas O. Major, Jack E. Major, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5218834
    Abstract: A refrigerant storage container includes a temperature indicator to indicate the temperature of fluid in the container, a pressure gauge for indicating the pressure of the contained fluid and a temperature indexed vapor pressure scale on the face of the gauge. Another embodiment includes a thermal strip on the outside wall of the container which indicates a target pressure for a pure refrigerant contained therein. A third embodiment includes a temperature indicator, pressure gauge and a temperature pressure chart on an exterior wall of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1993
    Inventors: Thomas O. Major, Jack E. Major, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5099653
    Abstract: A refrigerant purification and recovery apparatus for removing refrigerant from a refrigeration unit includes a compressor, condenser and receiver vessel. Second and third conduits conduct refrigerant flow from the compressor to the condenser and from the condenser to the receiver vessel, respectively. An auxiliary condenser valve may be opened and closed to selectively block flow through the third conduit, and first and second connectors for making fluid communicating connections with the third conduit are located upstream and downstream of the valve, respectively. An auxiliary condenser may be releasably connected to the first and second connectors, and the valve closed, to cause fluid flowing through the third conduit to flow through the auxiliary condenser. The apparatus may include a temperature measurement and signaling device to signal when the temperature of the third conduit is above a predetermined temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1992
    Inventors: Thomas O. Major, Jack E. Major, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5078756
    Abstract: A refrigerant purification and recovery apparatus for removing refrigerant from a refrigeration unit and for purifying the refrigerant removed from the refrigeration unit includes a compressor, condenser, a receiver-separator vessel having upper and lower end portions, pressure detection means for generating signals indicative of a pressure in the upper end portion of the receiver-separator vessel, liquid detection means for generating a signal indicative of the presence or absence of liquid in the vessel at a position between the upper and lower end portions, means for venting gas from the upper end portion of the receiver-separator vessel, means for draining liquid from the lower end portion of the receiver-separator vessel, and control-signal means for receiving the pressure indicative and liquid-presence indicative signals and generating a drain signal only when the pressure indicative signal is indicative of a pressure greater than a predetermined pressure and the liquid presence indicative signal is ind
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1992
    Inventors: Thomas O. Major, Jack E. Major, Jr.