JPH03164672A - Refrigerant recovering and charging device for air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To perform an efficient recovery of refrigerant by a method wherein an interior part of a cooling system is made into a vacuum state, a supplying passage ranging from a storage tank to a connection means is formed and refrigerant stored in the storing tank is supplied to the cooling system. CONSTITUTION:When a selective switch 55 is set to a position of evacuation, the evacuation is specified, solenoid valves 12, 13 and 24 are operated and an evacuation passage is formed. As a compressor 19 is rotated, refrigerant or air remained in the cooling system is sucked by a compressor 19, and the sucked refrigerant or the like is discharged into the surrounding atmosphere through a surrounding air releasing port 23 of the solenoid valve 24. With such an arrangement, an evacuation is carried out within the cooling system. When a selection switch 55 is set to a feeding side, solenoid valves 28, 32 and 13 are operated, a supplying passage is formed. When a manual valve 29 is released, the refrigerant stored in the storing tank 27 is supplied from the lower pressure side of the cooling system.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a refrigerant recovery device used for efficiently recovering, charging, or replenishing refrigerant filled in a cooling path of an air conditioner.

(Prior art and problems to be solved by the invention) The cooling system of an air conditioner is generally filled with fluorocarbon gas, so when repairing or repairing the air conditioner, this fluorocarbon gas must be removed from the It is necessary to extract it from the In such cases, a refrigerant recovery device is used. There are two types of recovery methods for this refrigerant recovery apparatus: an absorption type and a cooling type. Recovery apparatuses employing each type of recovery recover refrigerant in the following manner.

In an absorption type recovery device, the recovery pipe of the recovery device is connected to the pipe between the high-pressure side and the low-pressure side of the cooling system to be recovered, and the refrigerant present in the cooling system is forcibly sucked in and compressed by a compressor. This is converted into liquid refrigerant and collected in a tank. In addition, the cooling type recovery device connects the tank for recovering the refrigerant to the pipeline between the high pressure side and the low pressure side of the cooling system from which the refrigerant is to be recovered, and cools the tank using the cooling cycle provided in the recovery device. This attempts to naturally recover the refrigerant present in the cooling system.

By the way, these recovery devices are equipped with an evaporator in the middle of the pipe connecting the cooling system and the tank, and the evaporator completely vaporizes the refrigerant introduced from the cooling system. (For example, Utility Model No. 51-988
(See Publication No. 59).

However, with conventional recovery equipment that simply evaporates the refrigerant from the cooling system in an evaporator to perform gas-liquid separation, when the outside temperature is extremely low, the refrigerant from the cooling system is completely drained. There is a risk that it will not be vaporized and will be compressed by the compressor as a mist. If the refrigerant is not completely vaporized in this way, not only will the lubricating oil that lubricates each device in the cooling system not be completely separated from the refrigerant, but this mist of refrigerant will It also has a negative effect on the compressor.

Further, in the past, since a vacuum pump was provided independently for evacuation, there was a problem that the recovery device was relatively large and expensive.

The present invention has been made in view of these conventional problems, and it enables the refrigerant to always be vaporized stably in the evaporator without being affected by the outside temperature, and also makes it possible to keep the compressor under vacuum. It is an object of the present invention to provide a refrigerant recovery and filling device for an air conditioner that can be used also as a pump to perform efficient refrigerant recovery, and is small, lightweight, and inexpensive.

(Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention for achieving the above object includes a connection means connected to a high pressure side and a low pressure side of a cooling system provided in an air conditioner, and a an evaporator that vaporizes refrigerant in the cooling system introduced by the evaporator, a compressor that sucks and compresses the refrigerant vaporized by the evaporator, and also sucks and compresses air in the cooling system; and a compressor that drives the compressor. a driving means, a heat radiating means provided in the evaporator to radiate heat of the high temperature and high pressure refrigerant discharged from the compressor, and a condenser that liquefies the high temperature and high pressure refrigerant after passing through the heat radiating means; a storage tank for storing the refrigerant liquefied by the condenser; and a recovery path leading from the connection means to the storage tank via the evaporator, the compressor, the heat dissipation means, and the condenser when recovery of the refrigerant is specified. a recovery control means for driving the compressor by the drive means and recovering the refrigerant in the cooling system as liquid refrigerant to the storage tank; and when evacuation is specified, the connection means connects the evaporator to the , forming a vacuum path from the compressor to the atmosphere, driving the compressor by the driving means to discharge air remaining in the cooling system to the atmosphere, and creating a vacuum in the cooling system; When the control means and refrigerant charging are specified, the cooling system is once brought into a vacuum state by the evacuation control means, and then a supply path from the storage tank to the connection means is formed, and the supply path is formed from the storage tank to the connection means. A supply control means for supplying the stored refrigerant to the cooling system.

Further, a detection means for detecting the amount of refrigerant stored in the storage tank, an auxiliary connection means provided for supplying refrigerant from the outside to the supply path, and during charging of the refrigerant to the cooling system, The apparatus further comprises auxiliary control means that enables the supply of refrigerant from the auxiliary connection means when the detection means detects that the amount of refrigerant stored in the storage tank is less than a predetermined value. . Further, when the supply refrigerant amount detection means detects the amount of refrigerant supplied to the cooling system from the supply path, and the supply amount to the cooling system detected by the supply refrigerant amount detection means reaches a specified amount, The cooling system is characterized by comprising a refrigerant supply amount control means for stopping the supply of refrigerant to the cooling system. Further, an external connecting means for evacuating the cooling path by an external vacuuming device is provided between the connecting means and the compressor.

(Function) The refrigerant recovery and filling device for an air conditioner according to the present invention employing the above configuration functions as follows.

When recovery of the refrigerant is specified, a recovery path is formed by the recovery control means, and the compressor is driven by the drive means, so that the refrigerant is forcibly absorbed from the cooling system. During this absorption, the refrigerant passes through the evaporator, which is equipped with a radiator that radiates the heat of the refrigerant discharged from the compressor. vaporizes quickly and completely. Therefore, gas-liquid separation can be performed reliably even when the outside temperature is relatively low.

Further, when evacuation is designated, a vacuum evacuation path is formed by the evacuation control means, and the compressor is driven by the drive means to release the refrigerant and air remaining in the cooling system into the atmosphere.

When charging of the refrigerant is specified, the evacuation described above is temporarily performed by the evacuation control means, and then a supply path is formed to supply the refrigerant stored in the storage tank to the cooling system. It turns out. The above control is performed by the supply control means.

Furthermore, when the detection means detects that the amount of refrigerant stored in the storage tank is less than a predetermined value, the auxiliary control means enables the supply of refrigerant from the auxiliary connection means. Therefore, even if the supply amount of the refrigerant stored in the storage tank is still insufficient, it is possible to supply the refrigerant from the external tank attached to the auxiliary connection means. Therefore, the reliability of refrigerant supply to the cooling system can be further improved.

When the supplied refrigerant detection means detects that the amount of refrigerant supplied to the cooling system has reached a specified amount, the refrigerant supply control means stops the supply of refrigerant, thereby making it possible to supply an appropriate amount of refrigerant. .

Furthermore, since the external connection means is provided, an external vacuum pump can be connected, and even if the compressor breaks down, evacuation can be performed.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described in detail based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows recovery according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

This is a schematic diagram of the filling device.

High pressure side connection part 10 connected to the high pressure side of the cooling system of the vehicle
The low-pressure side connection 11 connected to the low-pressure side is a conduit 14 leading to the evaporator 15 via the respective solenoid valves 12,13.
It is connected to the. This high pressure connection part 10 and low pressure connection part 1
1 constitutes a connecting means. An oil separator 16 is connected to the evaporator 15, and the oil separator 16 separates the refrigerant vaporized in the evaporator 15 from a liquid such as oil contained in the refrigerant.

Note that this oil separator 16 is equipped with a manual valve 17.
is provided, and by opening this valve 17, the liquid such as oil stored here is flowed to the outside. Pipe line 18 attached to this oil separator 16
The suction side of the compressor 19 is connected to the compressor 19, and the refrigerant after being separated into gas and liquid by the oil separator 16 is sucked into the compressor 19. Furthermore, this compressor 1
9 includes a magnetic clutch 19A and is driven by a motor 20 which is a driving means. This compressor 1
A conduit 21 communicating with a condenser 22 is connected to the discharge side of the condenser 6, and an atmosphere opening in the conduit 21 near the discharge port of the compressor 19 is provided to release the gas discharged from the compressor 19 into the atmosphere. An electromagnetic valve 24 is provided for turning 23 into H, and in the evaporator 15, a radiator 25 is provided, which constitutes a heat radiating means in which the pipe line 21 itself is formed in a spiral shape. A storage tank 27 is connected to the outlet side of the condenser 22 via a conduit 26, and this conduit 26 is equipped with a solenoid valve 28 and a manual valve 29. Incidentally, air is forcibly sent to the capacitor 22 by a fan 30 attached to the drive system 2, for example, the compressor 19, thereby improving the heat dissipation efficiency of the capacitor 22. Furthermore, a conduit 31 extending from the storage tank 27 to the conduit 14 via a solenoid valve 28 and a manual valve 29 is attached to the conduit 26, and a solenoid valve 32 is attached to this conduit 31. In the device configured as described above, the high pressure side connection portion 10° and the low pressure side connection portion 11. Solenoid valve 12.13. Pipe line 14° Evaporator 15. Oil separator 16. Pipeline 18° Compressor 19. Solenoid valve 24.
Conduit 21. Heat sink 25. Capacitor 30. Conduit 26. A recovery path is constituted by the solenoid valve 28 and the manual valve 29, and the high pressure side connection section 10. Low pressure side connection part 11. Solenoid valve 12
．． 13. Conduit 14. Evaporator 15. Oil separator 16
．． Conduit 18. Compressor 19. A vacuum path is configured by the solenoid valve 24 and the atmosphere opening 23, and the low pressure side connection portion 11. Solenoid valve 12. The pipe line 14, the pipe line 31, and the electromagnetic valve 32 each constitute a supply circuit.

The collecting and filling apparatus in the first embodiment configured as described above operates as follows by the control circuit shown in FIG.

First, the main switch 50 is turned on, and the collection switch 5
1 is turned on, the indicator light 52 lights up and simultaneously the solenoid valves 12, 13, 28 and the magnetic clutch 30 operate. In other words, when the recovery switch 51 is turned on, refrigerant recovery is designated, and the solenoid valves 12, 1
3 and 28, the above-mentioned recovery path is formed. Further, the compressor 19 is driven by the motor 20.

In this way, a recovery path is formed, and the compressor 19
When rotates, the high pressure side connection 10. is removed from the cooling system provided in the vehicle. Low pressure side connection part 11° solenoid valve 12.13.
Refrigerant is sucked in via line 14 . And evaporator 1
5, this sucked refrigerant is gasified. Then, this gasified refrigerant enters the oil separator 16, where liquid substances such as lubricating oil contained in this gas are separated. After the gas-liquid separation has been performed in this way, the refrigerant is compressed by the compressor 19, and
1 to the capacitor 22. A radiator 25 is formed in the middle of the pipe 21, but since the compressed refrigerant is at a fairly high temperature, the radiator 25 provided inside the evaporator 15 transfers this heat to the refrigerant. will be effectively used for vaporization. Therefore, even when the outside temperature is low, vaporization of the refrigerant is promoted and the refrigerant can be reliably vaporized. The refrigerant that entered the condenser 22 is
It is forcibly cooled by the rotating fan 30 and liquefied. This liquefied refrigerant is then stored in the storage tank 27.

On the other hand, when the filling switch 53 is turned on, the indicator light 54 lights up, and when the selection switch 55 is set to the vacuum position (solid line position in the figure), the solenoid valves 12, 13, 24 and the magnetic clutch 30 are activated. Operate. In other words, when the selection switch 55 is set to the vacuum position,
Vacuuming will be designated, and the above-mentioned vacuuming path will be formed by operating the solenoid valves 12, 13 and 24. Further, the compressor 19 is driven by the motor 20.

When the vacuum path is formed in this way and the compressor 19 rotates, the high-pressure side connection 10 is connected to the cooling system provided in the vehicle. Low pressure side connection 11, solenoid valve 12.1
3. Conduit 14. The refrigerant and air remaining in the cooling system are sucked into the compressor 19 through the cooler 15 and the oil separator 16, and the sucked refrigerant is discharged into the atmosphere through the atmosphere opening port 23 of the solenoid valve 24. .

This causes the cooling system to be evacuated.

Then, when the selection switch 55 is set to the injection side (the dotted line position in the figure), the solenoid valves 28, 32. and 13 operate to form the above-mentioned supply path, and at this time, the manual valve 29
By opening the storage tank 27, the refrigerant stored in the storage tank 27 is supplied from the low pressure side of the cooling system.

FIG. 2 shows recovery according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

It is a schematic block diagram of a filling device.

The device shown in this figure is provided with a weight switch 33 as a detection means for detecting the weight of the refrigerant stored in the storage tank 27 at the lower part of the storage tank 27 of the device shown in FIG. A solenoid valve 34 is provided as an auxiliary connection means so that refrigerant can be supplied from the outside to the solenoid valve 32 of 31.

The heavy ffl switch 33 is configured to output a signal when the weight of the storage tank 27 falls below a predetermined value.

Collection in the second embodiment configured in this way,
The filling device operates as follows by the control circuit shown in FIG.

The operation when the main switch 50 is turned on and the recovery switch 51 is turned on, and the operation when the filling switch 53 is turned on and the selection switch 55 is set to the evacuation position are the same as those in the first embodiment. Since it is exactly the same as , the explanation of its operation will be omitted.

When the filling switch 53 is turned on and the selection switch 55 is set to the injection side, the solenoid valves 28, 32 . and 13 operate,
The above-described supply path is formed.

At this time, if a large amount of refrigerant is stored in the storage tank 27 and the weight of the storage tank 27 is heavy, by opening the manual valve 29, the refrigerant stored in the storage tank 27 is transferred to the low pressure side of the cooling system. It will be supplied from

During this supply, when the weight switch 33 detects that the weight of the storage tank 27 has become less than a predetermined value, the solenoid valve 34 is activated, and a connecting portion (not shown) of the solenoid valve 34 is activated. Automatic supply of refrigerant filled in the connected auxiliary tank will begin.

Therefore, when filling the cooling system with refrigerant, the storage tank 27
If the refrigerant stored in the tank is insufficient, refrigerant will be automatically supplied from an external auxiliary tank.

Figure m3 shows the collection according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

It is a schematic block diagram of a filling device.

The device shown in this figure is
1 is provided with a flow rate switch 35 as a supplied refrigerant amount detection means for detecting the amount of refrigerant supplied to the cooling system. This flow rate switch 35 is a switch configured to output a signal when a specified amount of refrigerant passes through.

Recovery in the third embodiment configured in this way,
The filling device operates as follows by the control circuit shown in FIG.

The operation when the main switch 50 is turned on and the recovery switch 51 is turned on, and the operation when the filling switch 53 is turned on and the selection switch 55 is set to the evacuation position are the same as those in the first embodiment. Since it is exactly the same as , the explanation of its operation will be omitted.

When the filling switch 53 is turned on and the selection switch 55 is set to the injection side, the solenoid valves 28, 32 . and 13 operate,
The above-described supply path is formed.

At this time, if a large amount of refrigerant is stored in the storage tank 27 and the weight of the storage tank 27 is heavy, by opening the manual valve 29, the refrigerant stored in the storage tank 27 is transferred to the low pressure side of the cooling system. It will be supplied from

During this supply, when the weight switch 33 detects that the weight of the storage tank 27 has become less than a predetermined value, the solenoid valve 34 is activated, and a connecting portion (not shown) of the solenoid valve 34 is activated. Automatic supply of refrigerant filled in the connected auxiliary tank will begin. When the amount of refrigerant supplied to the cooling system detected by the flow rate switch 35 exceeds a specified amount, the flow rate switch 35 is turned off, the solenoid valve 13 is turned off, and the supply of refrigerant to the cooling system is stopped.

Therefore, when the amount of refrigerant supplied by the storage tank 27 or an external auxiliary tank exceeds a specified amount, the supply of refrigerant is automatically stopped, so that the appropriate amount of refrigerant can always be filled.

FIG. 4 shows recovery according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

It is a schematic block diagram of a filling device.

The apparatus shown in this figure is provided with an external connection part 36 as an external connection means in the conduit 14 of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 so that vacuum can be drawn from the outside. Note that this figure shows an example in which the solenoid valve 24 is omitted.

When evacuation is performed using this device, an external vacuum pump 38 may be connected to the external connection portion 36 via a connection hose 37, as shown in FIG. Note that the external vacuum pump 38 is driven by an external motor 39.

Recovery in the fourth embodiment configured as described above,
The filling device operates as follows by the control circuit shown in FIG.

The operation when the main switch 50 is turned on and the recovery switch 51 is turned on, and the operation when the filling switch 53 is turned on and the selection switch 55 is set to the injection side are completely the same as in the first embodiment. Since they are the same, a description of their operations will be omitted.

The filling switch 53 is turned on, and the selection switch 5 is turned on.
5 is set to the evacuation position, the motor 39 that drives the vacuum pump 38 installed externally rotates, and the solenoid valves 12 and 13 are turned on, drawing high pressure from the cooling system installed in the vehicle. Side connection part 10. Low pressure side connection part 11. The refrigerant and air remaining in the cooling system are transferred to the compressor 3 via the solenoid valves 12 and 1B and the connection hose 37.
8, and the sucked refrigerant and the like are discharged into the atmosphere. This causes the cooling system to be evacuated.

(Effects of the Invention) As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, the compressor for refrigerant recovery can also be used for evacuation, so it is possible to provide a small and inexpensive device. It also becomes possible to vent air from inside the device.

Further, in the event that the refrigerant from the storage tank becomes insufficient during refrigerant filling, refrigerant can be supplied from the outside, making it easy to replenish the refrigerant.

Furthermore, since the supply of refrigerant is automatically stopped when the amount of refrigerant supplied reaches a specified amount, proper refrigerant charging can be performed at all times.

Further, since an external connection means is provided, evacuation can also be performed from the outside.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 shows the collection of refrigerant for air conditioners according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a first embodiment of the filling device; FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a second embodiment of the device; FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a third embodiment of the device. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a fourth embodiment of the device, FIG. 5 is a control circuit diagram of the device shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 6 is a diagram of the device shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 7 is a control circuit diagram of the device shown in FIG. 3, and FIG. 8 is a control circuit diagram of the device shown in FIG. 10... High pressure side connection part (connection means), 11... Low pressure side connection part (connection means), 12.13... Solenoid valve (connection means), 15... Evaporator, 19... Compressor, 20... Motor (driving means), 22... Capacitor, 25... Heat radiator (heat radiation means), 27... Storage tank, 33... Heavy metal switch (detection means), 34...・Solenoid valve (auxiliary connection means), 35...warming switch (supplied refrigerant amount detection means) 36.
... External connection part (external connection means), 60 ... Recovery control means, 65 ... Vacuum control means, 70 ... Supply control means.

Claims (4)

[Claims] (1) Connection means (10, 11, 12,
13), and an evaporator (15) for vaporizing the refrigerant in the cooling system introduced via the connection means (10, 11, 12, 13).
a compressor (19) that sucks and compresses the refrigerant vaporized by the evaporator (15) and also sucks and compresses the air in the cooling system; and a drive means (20) that drives the compressor (19). , a heat radiating means (25) that is provided in the evaporator (15) and radiates the heat of the high temperature and high pressure refrigerant discharged from the compressor (19); and the high temperature after passing through the heat radiating means (25). A condenser (22) that liquefies high-pressure refrigerant;
22) storage tank (
27), and when refrigerant recovery is specified, the connection means (10, 11, 12, 13) is connected to the evaporator (15).
), the compressor (19), the heat dissipation means (25)
, the storage tank (27) via the capacitor (22).
), the drive means (20) drives the compressor (19), and the recovery control means (60) causes the refrigerant in the cooling system to be recovered into the storage tank (27) as a liquid refrigerant. and when evacuation is specified, (1
0, 11, 12, 13) A vacuum path is formed from the evaporator (15) and the compressor (19) to the atmosphere, and the driving means (20) drives the compressor (1).
9) to discharge air remaining in the cooling system into the atmosphere to bring the inside of the cooling system into a vacuum state; After the cooling system is brought into a vacuum state by the evacuation control means (65), a supply path is formed from the storage tank (27) to the connection means (10, 11, 12, 13), and the storage tank ( 27) recovery of refrigerant for an air conditioner, characterized by having a supply control means (70) for supplying the refrigerant stored in the cooling system to the cooling system;
filling equipment. (2) A detection means (33) for detecting the amount of refrigerant stored in the storage tank (27), and an auxiliary connection means (34) provided for supplying refrigerant from the outside to the supply path.
), and during the charging of the refrigerant into the cooling system, the detection means (33)
auxiliary control means (33, 34) that enables the supply of refrigerant from the auxiliary connection means (34) when it is detected that the amount of refrigerant stored in the storage tank (27) is below a predetermined value; A refrigerant recovery and filling device for an air conditioner according to claim (1), characterized in that it has the following. (3) Supply refrigerant amount detection means (35) for detecting the amount of refrigerant supplied to the cooling system from the supply path, and the amount of supply to the cooling system detected by the supply refrigerant amount detection means (35). Refrigerant supply amount control means (35, 5) stops the supply of refrigerant to the cooling system when the specified amount is reached.
5) The apparatus for collecting and filling refrigerant for an air conditioner according to claim 2, characterized by comprising: (4) External connection means (36) for evacuating the cooling path by an external vacuum device is connected from the connection means (10, 11, 12, 13) to the compressor (1).
9) A refrigerant recovery and filling device for an air conditioner according to any of claims (1) to (3), characterized in that the device is provided between.