Flushing machine with liquid/air separating tank

Details Flushing machine with liquid/air separating tank Flushing machine with liquid/air separating tank

1998-12-04

2001-01-30

Smith, Duane S. (Department: 1724)

Gas separation: apparatus

Degasifying means for liquid

Including means to remove mist entrained in gas

C055S337000, C055S360000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06179904

ABSTRACT:

THIS INVENTION RELATES TO LIQUID/AIR SEPARATORS IN FLUSHING DEVICES.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
During maintenance of an air conditioning system, including an automatic air conditioning system, it is sometimes necessary to flush the system or system components by circulating solvent solution that may be volatile and/or odourous through the system components to dissolve and remove all contaminants and oil from the system components. These contaminants and oil must be completely removed from the system components before the system can be recharged with clean refrigerant and oil. If not completely removed, the residual contaminants or oil can cause problems or system failure after the system is back in operation.
Flush and purge machines for this purpose are known. The machine is connected to the component to be flushed. The solvent is fed from the machine through the system and back to the machine. Contaminants are dissolved by the solvent. The solvent is fed through the system for a period of time, for example half an hour.
After the solvent has been run through the system for a sufficient time, compressed air is fed through the system to purge the solvent. Liquid solvent drops out into a tank in the machine and the air is filtered by a charcoal filter in the machine. The compressed air is typically vented into the atmosphere. The vented fumes are unpleasant, potentially hazardous to breath, and/or potentially explosive.
Alternative systems are desirable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In a first aspect the invention provides a separating tank for use in a flushing machine to flush an air conditioning system using liquid solvent and to purge the solvent from the system. The tank has a chamber and an inlet port for receiving solvent-laden air and liquid. A tube is connected to the inlet port and exits into the chamber. The tube directs the solvent-laden air and liquid outwardly from the tube into the chamber. The tank also has an exhaust port from the chamber for venting air from the chamber.
The tube may have an outward portion that is angled outwardly and downwardly to create a spinning motion of solvent-laden air and liquid. The chamber may contain walls against which at least a portion of the solvent-laden air and liquid can hit as it moves outwardly from the tube.
The tank may also have a baffle plate dividing the chamber into a receiving compartment and an exhaust compartment. In this case, the tube exits into the receiving compartment, and the exhaust port vents air from the exhaust compartment; while, the baffle plate contains holes to allow passage of air from the receiving compartment to the exhaust compartment.
The holes of the baffle plate may begin at a distance beneath the tube outward portion, so that at least a portion of the solvent-laden air and liquid can hit against an upper portion of the baffle plate above the holes.
The tank may have walls that have corners where the walls meet to create additional air turbulence. The walls may be square to one another for additional air turbulence.
The tank may have a filter on the exhaust port for removing solvent vapour. The tank may have a one-way valve for allowing air to vent through the exhaust port under pressure, while otherwise preventing air from venting through the exhaust port. The tank may be grounded to prevent sparks.
In a further aspect the invention provides a flushing machine for use with an air conditioning system to flush the air conditioning system using liquid solvent and to purge the solvent from the system. The machine has the tank discussed above, an outlet hose for connection to the system, an air pump for forcing air into the system through the outlet hose; and a return hose for receiving solvent-laden air and liquid from the system. The inlet hose is connected to the inlet port of the tank.


REFERENCES:
patent: 2818133 (1957-12-01), Rosenthal
patent: 2893510 (1959-07-01), Spann
patent: 4092137 (1978-05-01), Howe et al.
patent: 4260402 (1981-04-01), Shaffer et al.
patent: 4297116 (1981-10-01), Cusick
patent: 4614527 (1986-09-01), Reimann
patent: 4688252 (1987-08-01), Gerdau
patent: 4746335 (1988-05-01), Reimann et al.
patent: 4963168 (1990-10-01), Spencer
patent: 5599365 (1997-02-01), Alday et al.
patent: 5676717 (1997-10-01), Cope et al.
patent: 5849065 (1998-12-01), Wojke

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Flushing machine with liquid/air separating tank does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Flushing machine with liquid/air separating tank, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Flushing machine with liquid/air separating tank will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2543561