Abstract: A method and system for fully evacuating refrigerant from storage devices, appliances, and refrigerant systems. An evacuation system is provided with a vacuum pump including a housing containing an electric motor positioned with its stator in heat conductive contact with the inner surfaces of the housing. The electric motor is used to drive a rotating-vane, rotary compressor that provides positive displacement suction on the device being evacuated of refrigerant. The vacuum pump further includes an external cooling system positioned about the housing to dissipate heat that builds up within the housing during periods of low refrigerant flow. The external cooling system includes tubular fins contained within a shell and held in abutting contact with an outer surface of the housing and a fan for forcing cooling air flow over and through the fins.

Abstract: A liquid chiller refrigeration system with two bypass valves (a condenser bypass valve and a vapor bypass valve), a chiller control valve downstream from the vapor bypass valve, and a remote condenser in addition to a primary heat reclaim condenser so that the recovered heat may be directed to alternate locations. The condenser bypass valve facilitates rapid system start up in low ambient temperature; the vapor bypass valve and chiller control valve facilitate steady performance under varying load conditions; and the remote condenser and heat reclaim condenser provide a choice of discharging the heat to a remote location (typically, outdoors), or to the immediate surroundings of the refrigeration system.

Abstract: A refrigerant reclaim system including an automatic air purge system. The refrigerant reclaim system has an evaporator, oil separator, compressor, condenser, storage tank, and a filter-drier. An improvement relates to an automatic air purge system having an evaporator to concentrate noncondensable gases in an isolated area of the refrigerant reclaim system so as to minimize the loss of refrigerant vapor during purge operations; a differential thermostat and an insulated enclosure are used within the system. The air purge system is not limited to use with a refrigerant reclaim, and is suitable for use with any refrigeration system from which noncondensable gases are to be purged with minimal loss of refrigerant vapor.

Abstract: A refrigerant reclaim system includes a compressor, a heat exchanger, an oil separator, a condenser, a chill tank, a filter-dryer and a cooling coil in the chill tank. Refrigerant to be reclaimed is drawn through the cold side of the heat exchanger, converted to a gas which is discharged into the oil separator where the gas is directed upwardly in an expanding stream. The flow of the stream is abruptly interrupted to separate oil from refrigerant. The gaseous refrigerant is passed from the oil separator through the compressor, the hot side of the heat exchanger, a condenser and into the chill tank in a liquid state. Liquid refrigerant flows from the bottom of the chill tank through a filter-dryer, an expansion device, converting it to gas, through a cooling coil, submerged in liquid refrigerant in the chill tank, into the stream exiting the oil separator and back to the compressor.

Abstract: A refrigerant reclaim system including an automatic air purge system. The refrigerant reclaim system has an evaporator, oil separator, compressor, condenser, storage tank, and a filter-drier. An improvement relates to an automatic air purge system having an evaporator to concentrate noncondensable gases in an isolated area of the refrigerant reclaim system so as to minimize the loss of refrigerant vapor during purge operations. The air purge system is not limited to use with a refrigerant reclaim, and is suitable for use with any refrigeration system from which noncondensable gases are to be purged with minimal loss of refrigerant vapor.

Abstract: A refrigerant reclaim method and apparatus is described wherein a separate primary refrigeration pathway is utilized to drive refrigerant to be reclaimed through a secondary refrigeration pathway. The primary refrigeration pathway is comprised of a compressor, the hot side of a first heat exchange element, a condenser, a receiver and an evaporator, which is in part comprised of the cold side of a second heat exchange element. The secondary refrigeration pathway is comprised of the cold side of the first heat exchange element, a oil separation chamber, the hot side of the second heat exchange element, and a refrigerant storage cylinder.

Abstract: A refrigerant reclaim system includes a compressor, a heat exchanger, an oil separator, a condenser, a chill tank, a filter-dryer and a cooling coil in the chill tank. Refrigerant to be reclaimed is drawn through the cold side of the heat exchanger, converted to a gas which is discharged into the oil separator where the gas is directed upwardly in an expanding stream. The flow of the stream is abruptly interrupted to separate oil from refrigerant. The gaseous refrigerant is passed from the oil separator through the compressor, the hot side of the heat exchanger, a condenser and into the chill tank in a liquid state. Liquid refrigerant flows from the bottom of the chill tank through a filter-dryer, an expansion device, converting it to gas, through a cooling coil, submerged in liquid refrigerant in the chill tank, into the stream exiting the oil separator and back to the compressor.

Abstract: A refrigerant reclaim system includes a compressor, a heat exchanger, an oil separator, a condenser, a chill tank, a filter-dryer and a cooling coil in the chill tank. Refrigerant to be reclaimed is drawn through the cold side of the heat exchanger, converted to a gas which is discharged into the oil separator where the gas is directed upwardly in an expanding stream. The flow of the stream is abruptly interrupted to separate oil from refrigerant. The gaseous refrigerant is passed from the oil separator through the compressor, the hot side of the heat exchanger, a condenser and into the chill tank in a liquid state. Liquid refrigerant flows from the bottom of the chill tank through a filter-dryer, an expansion device, converting it to gas, through a cooling coil, submerged in liquid refrigerant in the chill tank, into the stream exiting the oil separator and back to the compressor.

Abstract: A refrigerant reclaim method and apparatus is described wherein a separate primary refrigeration pathway is utilized to drive refrigerant to be reclaimed through a secondary refrigeration pathway. The primary refrigeration pathway is comprised of a compressor, the hot side of a first heat exchange element, a condenser, a receiver and an evaporator, which is in part comprised of the cold side of a second heat exchange element. The secondary refrigeration pathway is comprised of the cold side of the first heat exchange element, a oil separation chamber, the hot side of the second heat exchange element, and a refrigerant storage cylinder.

Abstract: A compact refrigerant reclaim apparatus that is capable of removing refrigerant from a refrigeration system during repairs in order to remove oil and other impurities from said refrigerant and being capable of returning the refrigerant to the refrigeration system in a clean state. The apparatus includes an oil separator that includes oil separation and oil accumulator means.

Abstract: A refrigerant reclaim system including a compressor, a heat exchanger, an oil separator, a condenser, a chill tank, a filter-drier and a cooling coil in the chill tank. Such refrigerant reclaim system including means for evacuating gaseous refrigerant after the removal of all liquid refrigerant, means for accumulating residual oil in the gaseous refrigerant and returning it to the compressor motor, and means for controlling the inlet and outlet systems to prevent flow of refrigerant except when desired.

Abstract: A refrigerant reclaim system includes a compressor, a heat exchanger, an oil separator, a condenser, a chill tank, a filter-dryer and a cooling coil in the chill tank. Refrigerant to be reclaimed is drawn through the cold side of the heat exchanger, converted to a gas which is discharged into the oil separator where the gas is directed upwardly in an expanding stream. The flow of the stream is abruptly interrupted to separate oil from refrigerant. The gaseous refrigerant is passed from the oil separator through the compressor, the hot side of the heat exchanger, a condenser and into the chill tank in a liquid state. Liquid refrigerant flows from the bottom of the chill tank through a filter-dryer, an expansion device, converting it to gas, through a cooling coil, submerged in liquid refrigerant in the chill tank, into the stream exiting the oil separator and back to the compressor.

Abstract: A compact refrigerant reclaim apparatus that is capable of removing refrigerant from a refrigeration system during repairs in order to remove oil and other impurities from said refrigerant and being capable of returning the refrigerant to the refrigeration system in a clean state. The apparatus includes an oil separator that includes oil separation and oil accumulator means.

Abstract: A refrigerant reclaim system including a compressor, a heat exchanger, an oil separator, a condenser, a chill tank, a filter-drier and a cooling coil in the chill tank. An improvement relates to means for preventing the premature destruction of the compressor pump by supplying the compressor with a liquid injection system and an oil sight glass. Further improvements relate to means for monitoring the level of refrigerant in the storage tank and means for adopting the refrigerant reclaim system to accept several different refrigerants by including a plurality of expansion valves which can selectively be placed on line.

Abstract: A refrigerant reclaim system includes a compressor, a heat exchanger, an oil separator, a condenser, a chill tank, a filter-dryer and a cooling coil in the chill tank. Refrigerant to be reclaimed is drawn through the cold side of the heat exchanger, converted to a gas which is discharged into the oil separator where the gas is directed upwardly in an expanding stream. The flow of the stream is abruptly interrupted to separate oil from refrigerant. The gaseous refrigerant is passed from the oil separator through the compressor, the hot side of the heat exchanger, a condenser and into the chill tank in a liquid state. Liquid refrigerant flows from the bottom of the chill tank through a filter-dryer, an expansion device, converting it to gas, through a cooling coil, submerged in liquid refrigerant in the chill tank, into the stream exiting the oil separator and back to the compressor.

Abstract: A refrigerant storage apparatus including one or more holding tanks for containing refrigerant, and a float control device capable of preventing further access of refrigerant to the holding tanks when a certain predetermined level of refrigerant has been reached within the holding tanks.

Abstract: The refrigeration system includes a refrigerant reservoir, a condenser bypass valve of the gas pressure diaphragm type and a diaphragm-type hot gas bypass valve for supplying hot gaseous refrigerant directly from the compressor or refrigerant receiver to the evaporator, bypassing the expansion valve. The bypass valves may be hermetically housed in the refrigerant reservor. The system is useful in a refrigerated gas separation apparatus such as a refrigerated dryer for compressed air, which includes a conditioner in the form of a shell and tube heat exchanger which cools incoming hot moist compressed air and warms outgoing cold dry air. The cooled moist gas is refrigerated by contact with a refrigeration system evaporator, in the form of a finned baffled coil, and the condensed moisture is removed in a moisture separator including a central conical baffle and peripheral longitudinal hooked scraper bars or baffles defining channels for collecting moisture and directing the liquid to a sump.

Abstract: A refrigerated gas separation apparatus such as a refrigerated dryer for compressed air, includes a conditioner in the form of a shell and tube heat exchanger which cools incoming hot moist compressed air and warms outgoing cold dry air. The cooled moist gas is refrigerated by contact with a refrigeration system evaporator, in the form of a finned baffled coil, and the condensed moisture is removed in a moisture separator including a central conical baffle or shroud and peripheral longitudinal hooked scraper bars or baffles defining channels for collecting moisture and directing the liquid to a sump.

Abstract: An ice cube making machine having an evaporator plate on which ice is to be made in a vertical plane, the plate having a cube forming lattice structure on one side thereof and an evaporator coil with the inlet and outlet for fluid refrigerant being disposed to freeze water evenly in said lattice structure and to enhance the thawing of the cubes for renewal therefrom.

Abstract: Ice cube making apparatus of the type having a vertically disposed evaporator plate with a lattice structure on side thereof in which cubes are formed as water runs down the plate. The ice making cycle is controlled by a timer which is actuated by a pressure responsive switch in the refrigerant line and, upon timing out of the ice forming portion of the cycle, hot gas is delivered to the evaporator to detach the ice slab from the evaporator plate and a mechanical harvest plunger applies a uniform force to the ice slab to overcome capillary forces retaining said ice slab on the evaporator plate.