Abstract: An air conditioning condenser is provided with a pair of oppositely disposed headers having an exterior wall between which a plurality of substantially flat parallel flow tubes are disposed for providing fluid communication between the headers. The flow tubes are flat and have opposite side edges which are located on opposite sides of the condenser. At least one mounting bracket is attached to the air conditioning condenser. The mounting bracket is formed from a pair of opposite bracket members. The bracket members each have a header engagement portion and an inwardly protruding tube engagement portion. The header engagement portion of each bracket member has an inner wall for contacting the exterior wall of one of the headers so that when the bracket members are joined together, the header is held between the inner walls of the header engagement portions. The tube engagement portion of each bracket member terminates in an inner face and has a plurality of slots.

Abstract: A parallel flow condenser is provided for use in an automotive air conditioner. The parallel flow condenser has tubular headers formed by taking a metal sheet, cutting slots therein for receiving parallel flow tubes, rolling the metal sheet to form the tubular header with opposing edges which are lap joined, and cutting slots into the header for receiving the baffles. The condenser is then assembled and placed within a brazing furnace to sealingly secure the condenser assembly together.

Abstract: A parallel flow condenser having a plurality of substantially flat, parallel flow tubes are positioned between oppositely disposed headers. The flow tubes provide fluid communication between the headers for cooling fluid which flows through the condenser. Each of the headers is formed from an inner member having an inner wall and a pair of longitudinally extending, parallel sidewalls which protrude outward from the inner wall. The parallel sidewalls terminate in outer edges. An outer member is provided having an outer wall and a pair of longitudinally extending attachment flanges which project inward from the outer wall. The attachment flanges are positioned between the parallel sidewalls of the inner member with the attachment flanges overlapping and joining one of the parallel sidewalls so that the inner and outer members are effectively joined together to form a fluid passage.

Abstract: A heat exchanger has a pair of headers which are formed from only two components. Each header is formed from a header channel which has an open portion which extends along the length of the header channel. Grooves are formed on either side of the open portion for receiving a header plate. The header plate is formed with a series of holes extending along the length of the plate. A fluid partition and end caps are formed from a folded portion of the header plate to direct fluid flow through the header pipe. The header plate is inserted into the header channel by inserting the side edges of the header plate into the grooves and sliding the header plate from one end of the header channel to the other so that the header plate extends over the open portion with the fluid partition and end caps protruding across and blocking the interior of the header channel. In an alternate embodiment, two header plates having end caps at each end are positioned within the header channel.

Abstract: A heat exchanger is provided with a set of oppositely disposed header pipes into which a plurality of parallel cross flow tubes are inserted and joined to provide fluid communication between the header pipes. Fluid enters the header pipes and flows through the tubes, wherein it is cooled by air passing over the tubes. The tubes are constructed from two separate plates, each plate having a plurality of non-continuous ridges, which are joined together to form a single substantially flat tube having an upper wall and a lower wall. The ridges are oriented along each wall of the tube in substantially oblique configurations, relative to the longitudinal axis of the tube, so that upstream ends of the ridges in each configuration are aligned in a substantially oblique line which extends across the width of the tube.

Abstract: A method of cleaning an air conditioning system utilizes a maintenance unit. The maintenance unit has a recovery compressor, recovery condenser, a recovery evaporator, and recovery expansion valve. Operating the recovery compressor draws refrigerant from the air conditioning system, filters it, and passes it into a storage container. To clean, a control valve leading from the storage container is opened to flow refrigerant from the storage container into both the high pressure and low pressure sides of the air conditioning system compressor. The recovery compressor continues to operate to apply a pressure to the air conditioning system up to a maximum level. Once this is reached, or a selected time interval elapses, the pressure in the air conditioning system is again reduced and brought to a vacuum, causing refrigerant to flow back out of the air conditioning system, bringing with it foreign matter.

Abstract: A heat exchanger has a pair of headers which are formed from only two components. Each header is formed from a header channel which has an open portion which extends along the length of the header channel. Grooves are formed on either side of the open portion for receiving a header plate. The header plate is formed with a series of holes extending along the length of the plate. A fluid partition and end caps are formed from a folded portion of the header plate to direct fluid flow through the header pipe. The header plate is inserted into the header channel by inserting the side edges of the header plate into the grooves and sliding the header plate from one end of the header channel to the other so that the header plate extends over the open portion with the fluid partition and end caps protruding across and blocking the interior of the header channel. In an alternate embodiment, two header plates having end caps at each end are positioned within the header channel.

Abstract: A refrigerant recovery assembly will recover incompatible refrigerants. The assembly has two separate processing units. Each unit has a pair of hoses which connect to an air conditioning system for recovering refrigerant. Each unit has an expansion valve, an evaporator, a compressor, a condenser and one or more filters. The two units are mounted on a single frame and utilize common electrical controls. The electrical controls will not allow each unit to operate simultaneously. A single vacuum pump is used with each unit.

Abstract: A monitor used in refrigerant recovery systems to detect and reduce non-condensable vapor in a storage container. The monitor has a sampling reservoir that draws a sample of liquid refrigerant contained in a storage container. The sample of liquid refrigerant is allowed to reach equilibrium, providing a saturated vapor pressure, which is compared to the vapor pressure in an upper portion of the container. The difference in pressure between the sampling reservoir and the container indicating when the container should be exhausted.

Abstract: A parallel flow heat exchanger has perforated webs within its tubes. The tubes are parallel to each other and extend between headers. Each tube has webs located within it which define flow passages. The webs are perforated along the length to communicate refrigerant flow in one passage with that of refrigerant flow in other passages. The flow tubes are extruded integrally. The perforations are formed by air jets mounted in the extrusion die cores.

Abstract: The air conditioner condenser includes a set of hollow parallel tubes disposed between a pair of header pipes. The header tubes provide fluid flow between the header pipes and are substantially flat, having parallel upper and lower side walls. The walls have inner and outer surface and are separated by longitudinally extending webs defining separate flow passages. A partition or baffle is formed by removing one of the upper or lower walls from a tube having a length greater than that of the other tubes. The header pipe has a series of slots, each having similar dimensions. The tubes are inserted into the slots and sealed, with the extended portion of the extended tube forming the partition or baffle.

Abstract: A refrigeration system servicing apparatus includes a digital controller, a vessel for storing and pressurizing refrigerant, a solenoid actuated valve responsive to the digital controller for selective connection of the refrigeration system to a vacuum source, a solenoid actuated valve responsive to the digital controller for connection of the vessel to the refrigeration system, a pressure sensor for providing pressure readings to the digital controller from the low pressure side of the vacuum source, a pressure sensor for providing pressure readings to the digital controller from the vessel and means for quantifying the refrigerant in the Vessel. Three operational modes provided for are: a "vacuum" mode, during which residue material in the refrigeration system is boiled away; a "charge oil" mode, during which lubricant is added to the refrigeration system; and a "charge refrigerant" mode, during which refrigerant is added to a refrigeration system.

Abstract: A refrigerant recovery apparatus has a feature for purging an air conditioning system component for cleaning. The air conditioning component will be connected into the recovery unit at a point where it will receive liquid refrigerant from the recovery unit. This liquid refrigerant comes from the storage container, with pressure being maintained by the use of the compressor. The air conditioning component connects to a purge container, which is separate from the storage container. The purge container has an outlet leading to an expansion valve for converting the purged refrigerant into a vapor. The vapor refrigerant leads back to a suction end of the recovery unit.

Abstract: Two plastic seal plates are located between the end of a manifold and the end of a heat exchanger core having oval shaped flow tubes extending through parallel fins. One seal plate has a plurality of spaced apart oval shaped apertures formed therethrough located to tightly receive the ends of the flow tubes. Oval shaped extension tubes extend from one side of said one seal plate from the oval shaped apertures for tightly receiving the ends of the flow tubes. The other seal plate has a plurality of oval shaped apertures formed therethrough for tightly receiving the extension tubes.

Abstract: A refrigerant recovery apparatus has a combination heat exchanger which both serves as a condenser and evaporator. The heat exchanger has spaced apart headers, each header having a plurality of holes. Finned evaporator tubes and finned condenser tubes extend between the headers. The tubes are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the header. A fan blows air through the evaporator. Refrigerant fluid flows through the condenser and evaporator sections of the heat exchanger. The water condensate formed in the evaporator section will evaporate as a result of the heat from the condenser section. In one embodiment, the evaporator tubes are sandwiched between condenser tubes on the forward and rearward sides of the heat exchanger. In another embodiment, the evaporator tubes are located above the condenser tubes.

Abstract: A refrigerant recovery apparatus has features for trapping oil recovered from an air conditioning system. It has a low pressure oil separator which is mounted in line with the flow of refrigerant on the suction side of the compressor. The low pressure oil separator will be located at a lower elevation than the compressor. When the compressor is turned off, this allows excess oil in the compressor to drain to its design level.