SERVICE UNIT FOR VEHICLE AIR-CONDITIONING SYSTEMS AND METHOD FOR REMOVING THE COOLANT OR A COOLANT/COMPRESSOR OIL MIXTURE FROM A VEHICLE AIR-CONDITIONING SYSTEM

摘要

The invention relates to a service unit for vehicle air-conditioning systems, which is provided with an emptying and filling device for removing the coolant or a coolant/compressor oil mixture from a vehicle air-conditioning system and replenishing the vehicle air-conditioning system with coolant and optionally with compressor oil. Said device further comprises at least one tank (126) for coolant and a vacuum pump (132) for generating a negative pressure in the vehicle air-conditioning system emptied of coolant or coolant/compressor oil mixture for a subsequent intake of coolant and optionally compressor oil into the vehicle air-conditioning system to be replenished. In order to be able to use flammable or otherwise critical coolants, such as, for example, the coolant R-1234 yf, without danger in a generic service unit for vehicle air-conditioning systems, a chimney-like gas-collecting chamber (110) having upper and lower openings (110A, 110B) is arranged inside the service unit (100) and is otherwise sealed off from the surrounding atmosphere. An active fan (120) is provided to enable ambient air to flow through the chimney-like gas-collecting chamber (110) from top to bottom.