Patent ID: 6571565
Filing Date: 2003-06-03
Classification: F25B

Abstract:
A refrigeration system comprising:a pair of heat exchangers; a hermetic compressor assembly having a compressor housing containing refrigerant fluid; fluid conveying lines; and a flow restriction device; said heat exchangers, said compressor assembly, said lines, and said flow restriction device forming a working refrigerant system; an evacuation volume having one of a first, substantially evacuated state and a second, fluid-containing state; a control valve located between said working refrigeration system and said evacuation volume, said control valve having an initial, closed position and an open position, said evacuation volume being fluidly isolated from said working refrigeration system in said valve closed position and in fluid communication with said working refrigeration system in said valve open position; and at least one refrigerant gas detector located externally of said working refrigeration system and in communication with said control valve, said valve being opened in response to refrigerant gas being detected by said detector, whereby refrigerant fluid in said working refrigeration system is sucked into said evacuation volume and said evacuation volume undergoes a change from its first to its second state, said valve resuming its said closed position when said evacuation volume is in its said second state.