Modular recovery apparatus and method

Abstract

An apparatus and method for providing expandability to a refrigeration servicing unit which includes one or more integrated modules. The modules can communicate with the unit via a wired or wireless connection. The modules can add functionality such as an information module, a refrigerant identifier module, a communication module, a bar code module, and a diagnostic module.

1 . A refrigerant recovery unit for maintenance of a cooling system of a vehicle, comprising: 
 a recovery circuit configured to recover refrigerant from the cooling system;    a processor that communicates with components of the recovery circuit;    a housing configured to house the components of the refrigerant recovery unit; and    at least one module that provides a function to the refrigerant recovery unit and communicates with the processor.    
   
   
       2 . The unit of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a clean refrigerant source; and    a flushing circuit coupled to the recovery circuit and the refrigerant source, the flushing circuit flushes clean refrigerant through the recovery circuit, wherein the clean refrigerant source and the flushing circuit are in communications with the processor.    
   
   
       3 . The unit of  claim 1 , wherein the communication between the processor and the at least one module is through a wired connection.  
   
   
       4 . The unit of  claim 3 , wherein the wired connection can be one of the following: USB, IEEE 1394, RS-485, RS-422, RS-232, RS-423, parallel port, I2C, SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface), serial and a combination thereof.  
   
   
       5 . The unit of  claim 1 , wherein the communication between the processor and the at least one module is through a wireless connection.  
   
   
       6 . The unit of  claim 5 , wherein the wireless connection can be one of the following: Wi-Fi, infrared, Bluetooth, radio frequency, other types of wireless connections and any combination thereof.  
   
   
       7 . The unit of  claim 1 , wherein the module is an information module.  
   
   
       8 . The unit of  claim 1 , wherein the module is a refrigerant identifier module.  
   
   
       9 . The unit of  claim 1 , wherein the module is a communication module.  
   
   
       10 . The unit of  claim 1 , wherein the module is a bar code module.  
   
   
       11 . The unit of  claim 1 , wherein the module is a diagnostic module.  
   
   
       12 . A refrigerant recovery system for maintenance of a cooling system of a vehicle comprising: 
 means for controlling components of the refrigerant recovery system;    means for recovering refrigerant from the cooling system;    means for providing functionality to the refrigerant recovery system that communicates with the means for controlling; and    means for housing the components of the refrigerant recovery system.    
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 12 , further comprising: 
 means for providing clean refrigerant source; and    means for flushing coupled to the means for recovery and means for providing clean refrigerant source, the means for flushing flushes clean refrigerant through the means for recovery, wherein the means for providing clean refrigerant source and the means for flushing are in communications with the means for controlling.    
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the communication between the means for controlling and the means for providing functionality is through a wired or wireless connection.  
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the wired connection can be one of the following: USB, IEEE 1394, RS-485, RS-422, RS-232, RS-423, parallel port, I2C, SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface), serial and a combination thereof.  
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the wireless connection can be one of the following: Wi-Fi, infrared, Bluetooth, radio frequency, other types of wireless connections and any combination thereof.  
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the means for providing functionality is an information module.  
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the means for providing functionality is a refrigerant identifier module.  
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the means for providing functionality is a communication module.  
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the means for providing functionality is a bar code module.  
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the means for providing functionality is a diagnostic module.  
   
   
       22 . A method of adding functionality to a refrigerant recovery unit, comprising: 
 providing the refrigerant recovery unit having a recovery circuit configured to recover refrigerant from the cooling system, a processor that communicates with components of the recovery circuit, and a housing configured to house the components of the refrigerant recovery unit; and    adding at least one module to expand the functionality of the refrigerant recovery unit.