Refrigeration – Processes – Assembling – charging – or repairing of refrigeration producer
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-21
2001-03-06
McDermott, Corrine (Department: 3744)
Refrigeration
Processes
Assembling, charging, or repairing of refrigeration producer
C062S149000, C062S298000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06196008
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a method for taking custody of, transporting and installing an apparatus having a refrigeration cycle, especially, an air conditioner which uses a flammable refrigerant comprising, as a main component, one of propane, isobutane and ethane, or a mixture of a plurality of these components.
BACKGROUND TECHNIQUE
HCFC-based refrigerants such as R22, which are stable components and composed of hydrogen, chlorine, fluorine and carbon are currently utilized in an air conditioner.
However, HCFC-based refrigerants rise into the stratosphere and deplete ozone, leading to the depletion of the ozone layer.
In recent years, HFC-based refrigerants begin to be utilized as alternative refrigerants of HCFCs, but these HFC-based refrigerants have the nature for facilitating the global warming.
Therefore, a study is started to employ HC-based refrigerant which does not destroy the ozone layer or largely affect the global warming.
However, since this HC-based refrigerant is flammable, it is necessary to prevent explosion or ignition so as to ensure the safety.
Especially, if a large amount of the flammable refrigerant leaks while the apparatus having the refrigeration cycle is transported or kept in custody, there is a danger of accident such as explosion or ignition.
In order to solve such a problem, it is proposed to charge non-flammable gas into the refrigeration cycle while the apparatus having the refrigeration cycle is transported or kept in custody (e.g., Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No.H9-229522)
However, if the non-flammable gas is charged in the refrigeration cycle, when the apparatus having the refrigeration cycle is installed, the non-flammable gas must be removed by evacuation. If the refrigerant is charged in a state where the non-flammable gas remains, there is a problem that the performance of the refrigeration cycle is deteriorated when it is used.
Thereupon, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method for taking custody of, transporting and installing an apparatus having a refrigeration cycle in which safety is assured when the apparatus having the refrigeration cycle is being transported or kept in custody, the disposing operation saves the time or trouble, or can more easily or simply, and a problem such as deterioration of performance is not generated.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
To achieve the above object, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for taking custody of, transporting and installing an air conditioner having an outdoor unit which uses a flammable refrigerant and includes a refrigeration cycle comprising a compressor, an expansion device and an outdoor heat exchanger which are connected to one another through pipes, wherein the outdoor unit is shipped from a factory while the refrigeration cycle is evacuated to produce a vacuum, the outdoor unit is kept in custody and transported in a state in which the vacuum in the refrigeration cycle is maintained, and when the outdoor unit is installed, the flammable refrigerant is charged into the refrigeration cycle.
According to a second aspect, there is provided method for taking custody of, transporting and installing an apparatus having a refrigeration cycle which uses a flammable refrigerant, wherein the apparatus is shipped from a factory while the refrigeration cycle is evacuated to produce a vacuum, the apparatus is kept in custody and transported in a state in which the vacuum in the refrigeration cycle is maintained, and when the apparatus is installed, the flammable refrigerant is charged into the refrigeration cycle.
With the first or second aspect, the refrigeration cycle is in the vacuum state and the flammable refrigerant is not charged, and in this state, the refrigerant is kept in custody and transported. Therefore, there is no problem of leakage of the flammable refrigerant. Further, the pressure is brought into a vacuum and no other gas is charged, it is unnecessary to remove the gas at the time of installation, and there is no problem for deteriorating the performance due to gas residue. Further, at the time of installation, since the pressure is in the vacuum state, the refrigerant to be used can be charged as it is, the efficiency of the installation is enhanced.
According to a third aspect, there is provided a method for taking custody of, transporting and installing an air conditioner having an outdoor unit which uses a flammable refrigerant and includes a refrigeration cycle comprising a compressor, an expansion device and an outdoor heat exchanger which are connected to one another through pipes, wherein the flammable refrigerant is charged into the refrigeration cycle at the pressure close to the atmospheric pressure and the outdoor unit is shipped from a factory, the outdoor unit is kept in custody and transported in a state in which the flammable refrigerant is charged into the refrigeration cycle at the pressure close to the atmospheric pressure, and when the outdoor unit is installed, a flammable refrigerant is supplemented into the refrigeration cycle.
According to a fourth aspect, there is provided a method for taking custody of, transporting and installing an apparatus having a refrigeration cycle which uses a flammable refrigerant, wherein the flammable refrigerant is charged into the refrigeration cycle at the pressure close to the atmospheric pressure and the apparatus is shipped from a factory, the apparatus is kept in custody and transported in a state in which the flammable refrigerant is charged into the refrigeration cycle at the pressure close to the atmospheric pressure, and when the apparatus is installed, a flammable refrigerant is supplemented into the refrigeration cycle.
With the third or fourth aspect, since the refrigeration cycle is kept in custody and transported in a state in which the flammable refrigerant is charged into the refrigeration cycle at the pressure close to the atmospheric pressure, even if the pipe is cracked due to vibration or the like, since a large amount of flammable refrigerant should not leak, the probability that the leakage brings about the explosion or the ignition is extremely low. Further, it is unnecessary to be evacuated at the time of the installation, and only the shortage amount of the refrigerant may be supplemented, the efficiency of the operation is enhanced.
According to a fifth aspect, there is provided a method for taking custody of, transporting and installing an air conditioner having an outdoor unit which uses a flammable refrigerant and includes a refrigeration cycle comprising a compressor, an expansion device and an outdoor heat exchanger which are connected to one another through pipes, said outdoor unit being accommodated in a packaging and shipped from a factory, kept in storage and transported, wherein said flammable refrigerant is charged into a volume of a gap in said packaging in a state in which said outdoor unit is accommodated therein in such an amount that a concentration of said flammable refrigerant becomes lower than a lower flammability limit, said outdoor unit is shipped from the factory, kept in storage and transported, and when said outdoor unit is installed, said flammable refrigerant is supplementary charged into said refrigeration cycle.
According to a sixth aspect, there is provided a method for taking custody of, transporting and installing an apparatus having a refrigeration cycle which uses a flammable refrigerant, said apparatus being accommodated in a packaging and shipped from a factory, kept in storage and transported, wherein said flammable refrigerant is charged into a volume of a gap in said packaging in a state in which said apparatus is accommodated in such an amount that a concentration of said flammable refrigerant becomes lower than a lower flammability limit, said apparatus is shipped from the factory, kept in storage and transported, and when said apparatus is installed, said flammable refrigerant is supplementary charged into said refrigeration cycle.
With the fifth or sixt
Fujitaka Akira
Haneda Kanji
Kobayashi Yoshinori
Numoto Hironao
Sato Shigehiro
Armstrong, Westerman Hattori, McLeland & Naughton
Jiang Chen-Wen
Matsushita Electric - Industrial Co., Ltd.
McDermott Corrine
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