Abstract: A refrigerant recovery device for recovering compressible refrigerant from refrigeration system. The system includes in serial fluid communication, a compressor, a condensor, and a means for storing refrigerant. An expansion device is provided in the fluid line interconnecting the condensor and the storage means. A four way valve is provided which has one port interconnected with the refrigeration system being serviced, another port interconnected with the suction side of the compressor and two additional ports in fluid communication with the means for storing refrigerant. The four way valve may be actuated to recover liquid refrigerant from the refrigeration system being serviced by establishing a first path from the system being serviced directly to the means for storing refrigerant.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recovering compressible refrigerant from a refrigeration system and delivering the recovered refrigerant to a refrigerant storage container. Means are provided for determining the type of refrigerant being recovered and for determining the ambient temperature. The recovery method includes the steps of withdrawing refrigerant from a refrigeration system being serviced and compressing the withdrawn refrigerant in a compresser to form a high pressure gas. A high pressure gaseous refrigerant is delivered to a condenser where it is condensed to form liquid refrigerant. The liquid refrigerant from the condenser is delivered to the refrigerant storage means. Means are provided for stopping the withdrawal of refrigerant from the refrigeration system being serviced when a predetermined event occurs. At that point, the system begins to withdraw stored refrigerant from the storage container.

Abstract: A refrigerant metering device for a vapor compression refrigeration system. The metering device employs a restrictor fabricated of a porous material to achieve the desired pressure reduction across the device. The porous material is housed in a casing that provides support for the restrictor and enables installation of the device into the system. Any suitable porous material may be used to make the restrictor, but in the preferred embodiments, a porous polyethylene material is used. In the preferred embodiments, a filter is provided upstream in the refrigerant flow path to reduce the possibility of restrictor fouling and resultant system performance degradation. In one embodiment, the filter and restrictor are combined as two sections of an integral filter and restrictor. The device is effective in reducing refrigerant flow noise during both steady state operation and post shutdown transients.