System including recovery pump and vacuum pump

Abstract

A system attachable to a refrigeration circuit, the system including a vacuum pump assembly attachable to the refrigeration circuit to remove fluid therefrom, the vacuum pump assembly including a pump, an electric motor for driving the pump, and a vacuum pump controller for controlling the operation of the electric motor, the vacuum pump controller having a first communication interface, and an accessory attachable to the refrigeration circuit concurrently with the vacuum pump assembly, the accessory including a fluid valve coupled between the pump and the refrigeration circuit to selectively place the pump in fluid communication with the refrigeration circuit.

1 . A system attachable to a refrigeration circuit, the system comprising:
 a vacuum pump assembly attachable to the refrigeration circuit to remove fluid therefrom, the vacuum pump assembly including
 a pump, 
 an electric motor for driving the pump, and 
 a vacuum pump controller for controlling the operation of the electric motor, the vacuum pump controller having a first communication interface; and 
   an accessory attachable to the refrigeration circuit concurrently with the vacuum pump assembly, the accessory including
 a fluid valve coupled between the pump and the refrigeration circuit to selectively place the pump in fluid communication with the refrigeration circuit, and 
 a gauge accessory attachable to the refrigeration circuit concurrently with the vacuum pump assembly, the gauge accessory including
 a sensor for detecting pressure within the refrigeration circuit, and 
 an accessory controller electrically connected with the sensor to receive a signal therefrom corresponding with the pressure of the refrigeration circuit, the accessory controller having a second communication interface, 
 
 wherein the vacuum pump controller is operable to control the operation of the electric motor based upon the signal output by the gauge accessory, 
 wherein the pump is operable in a fluid removal state, in which the pump removes a fluid from the refrigeration circuit when the electric motor is activated, and wherein the fluid valve is opened to place the pump in fluid communication with the 
 refrigeration circuit, and wherein the electric motor is activated when the fluid valve is opened to remove the fluid from the refrigeration circuit and discharge the fluid to atmosphere during the fluid removal state. 
   
     
     
         2 . A system attachable to a refrigeration circuit, the system comprising:
 a vacuum pump assembly attachable to the refrigeration circuit to remove fluid therefrom, the vacuum pump assembly including
 a pump, 
 an electric motor for driving the pump, and 
 a vacuum pump controller for controlling the operation of the electric motor, the vacuum pump controller having a first communication interface; and 
   an accessory attachable to the refrigeration circuit concurrently with the vacuum pump assembly, the accessory including
 a fluid valve assembly coupled between the pump and the refrigeration circuit, wherein the fluid valve assembly includes a fluid valve to selectively place the pump in fluid communication with the refrigeration circuit, and wherein the fluid valve assembly also includes a controller having a second communication interface to communicate with the vacuum pump controller; and 
 a gauge accessory attachable to the refrigeration circuit concurrently with the vacuum pump assembly, the gauge accessory including
 a sensor for detecting pressure within the refrigeration circuit, and 
 an accessory controller electrically connected with the sensor to receive a signal therefrom corresponding with the pressure of the refrigeration circuit, the accessory controller having a third communication interface to communicate the signal to the vacuum pump controller, 
 
 wherein the vacuum pump controller is operable to control the operation of the electric motor based upon the signal output by the gauge accessory, 
 wherein the pump is operable in a fluid removal state, in which the pump removes a fluid from the refrigeration circuit when the electric motor is activated, 
 wherein the fluid valve of the fluid valve assembly is opened to place the pump in fluid communication with the refrigeration circuit, and wherein the controller of the fluid valve assembly activates the electric motor to remove the fluid from the refrigeration circuit and discharge the fluid to atmosphere during the fluid removal state. 
   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the vacuum pump, the fluid valve and the gauge accessory are all separate individual components. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid valve is an electrically actuated valve. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid valve is a two-position valve. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid valve includes an on-board controller with a third communication interface. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a portable user interface capable of displaying a performance parameter of the vacuum pump. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the performance parameter may include a vacuum pressure. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first communication interface is configured to communicate wirelessly with the second communication interface. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the vacuum pump, the fluid valve assembly, and the gauge accessory are all separate individual components. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the fluid valve is a two-position valve. 
     
     
         12 . A system attachable to a refrigeration circuit, the system comprising:
 a vacuum pump assembly attachable to the refrigeration circuit at a first port to remove fluid therefrom, the vacuum pump assembly including
 a pump, 
 an electric motor for driving the pump, and 
 a vacuum pump controller for controlling the operation of the electric motor, the vacuum pump controller having a first communication interface; and 
   a gauge pod attachable to the refrigeration circuit at a second port, different than the first port, the gauge pod including
 a sensor for detecting pressure within the refrigeration circuit, and 
 an accessory controller electrically connected with the sensor to receive a signal therefrom corresponding with the pressure of the refrigeration circuit, the accessory controller having a second communication interface configured for wireless communication with first communication interface of the vacuum pump, and 
   wherein the gauge pod monitors the pressure in the refrigeration circuit, and wherein the vacuum pump is deactivated based upon a signal received from the gauge pod.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the gauge pod sends signals indicative of the pressure measured by the gauge pod. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the first port is physically separate from the second port. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12 , further comprising a fluid valve positioned fluidly between the pump and the refrigeration circuit to selectively place the pump in fluid communication with the refrigeration circuit. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 12 , further comprising a portable computer having a third communication interface configured to wirelessly communicate with the first communication interface. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the portable computer is configured to display one or more performance parameters of the vacuum pump. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , where the performance parameters include pressure levels within the refrigeration circuit. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the portable computer is configured to transmit instructions via the third communication interface to the vacuum pump. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the portable computer is configured to remotely control the operation of the vacuum pump.