Pressure testing and refrigerant recharging conduit assembly for automobiles

• US 20060086123A1
• Filed: 10/26/2004
• Published: 04/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Energizer Auto, Inc. (Energizer Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: EF Products LP (Energizer Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Quest, William J., Whitaker, Kerry W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,124,598 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/292
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00585 Means for monitoring, testing or servicing the air-conditioning
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2345/003 Control issues for charging or collecting refrigerant to or from a cycle
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2345/006 characterised by charging or discharging valves
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 45/00 Arrangements for charging or discharging refrigerant

Abstract

A combination pressure measurement/charging system may include a conduit coupled to a refrigerant can. The conduit may be coupled to a low-pressure side of a refrigerant system. The system may include a valve to control a flow of fluid through the conduit. Thus, a flow of fluid between the refrigerant can and the low-pressure side of the refrigerant system may be controlled using the valve. A first pressure gauge may be in fluid communication with the conduit. The first pressure gauge may be coupled to the low-pressure side of the refrigerant system. The first pressure gauge may be used to operate the valve to control fluid flow through the conduit. A second pressure gauge may be coupled to a high-pressure side of the refrigerant system. The second pressure gauge may be isolated from fluids that flow through the conduit.

Claims

1-36. -36. (canceled)

37. A combination pressure measurement/charging system, comprising:

a conduit configured to be coupled to a refrigerant can and to a low-pressure side of a refrigerant system;

a valve configured to control a flow of fluid through the conduit and, thus, between the refrigerant can and the low-pressure side of the refrigerant system;

a first pressure gauge in fluid communication with the conduit and configured to be coupled to the low-pressure side of the refrigerant system, wherein the first pressure gauge is configured to operate the valve to control fluid flow through the conduit; and

a second pressure gauge, wherein the second pressure gauge is configured to be coupled to a high-pressure side of the refrigerant system, and wherein the second pressure gauge is isolated from fluids that flow through the conduit.

38. The system of claim 37, further comprising a body, wherein the conduit and the valve are located inside the body, and wherein the first pressure gauge and the second pressure gauge are coupled to the body.

39. The system of claim 37, further comprising a hose coupled to the conduit, wherein the hose is configured to be coupled to a refrigerant can.

40. The system of claim 39, further comprising a can piercing valve coupled to the hose.

41. The system of claim 37, further comprising a hose coupled to the first pressure gauge, wherein the hose is configured to be coupled to the low-pressure side of the refrigerant system.

42. The system of claim 41, further comprising a shutoff valve coupled to the hose.

43. The system of claim 41, further comprising a quick coupling device coupled to the hose, wherein the quick coupling device is configured to be coupled to the low-pressure side of the refrigerant system.

44. The system of claim 37, further comprising a hose coupled to the second pressure gauge, wherein the hose is configured to be coupled to the high-pressure side of the refrigerant system.

45. The system of claim 44, further comprising a shutoff valve coupled to the hose.

46. The system of claim 44, further comprising a quick coupling device coupled to the hose, wherein the quick coupling device is configured to be coupled to the high-pressure side of the refrigerant system.

47. The system of claim 37, wherein the first pressure gauge is configured to indicate a pressure of the low-pressure side of the refrigerant system.

48. The system of claim 37, wherein the second pressure gauge is configured to indicate a pressure of the high-pressure side of the refrigerant system.

49. The system of claim 37, wherein the first pressure gauge is configured as a handle for operating the valve.

50. The system of claim 37, wherein the first pressure gauge comprises a handle for opening and closing the valve.

51. The system of claim 37, wherein the first pressure gauge is configured to rotate to open and close the valve.

52. The system of claim 37, wherein the valve is configured to allow a pressure of the low-pressure side of the refrigerant system to be assessed when the valve is closed.

53. The system of claim 37, wherein the valve is configured to allow fluid to flow from the refrigerant can to the low-pressure side of the refrigerant system when the valve is open.

54. The system of claim 37, wherein the valve comprises a plunger in an opening, and wherein the valve is configured to be closed when a portion of the plunger seals against the wall to inhibit fluid flow between the refrigerant can and the low-pressure side of the refrigerant system.

55. The system of claim 54, wherein the plunger is coupled to the first pressure gauge, and wherein an interior of the plunger is in fluid communication with the first pressure gauge.

56. The system of claim 55, wherein the plunger is configured to be moved back and forth in the opening by rotating the first pressure gauge.

57. The system of claim 55, wherein the plunger is configured to be moved back and forth in the opening, thus opening and closing the valve, by rotating the first pressure gauge.

58. The system of claim 55, wherein the plunger comprises an opening configured to allow fluid into an interior of the plunger such that the first pressure gauge can indicate the pressure of the fluid.

59. A method for pressure testing/refrigerant charging a refrigerant system, comprising:

coupling a pressure testing/refrigerant charging assembly to a refrigerant system, wherein the assembly comprises;

a conduit coupled to a low-pressure side of the refrigerant system, wherein the conduit is configured to be coupled to a refrigerant can;

a valve to control a flow of fluid through conduit and, thus, between the refrigerant can and the low-pressure side of the refrigerant system;

a first pressure gauge in fluid communication with the conduit and coupled to the low-pressure side of the refrigerant system, wherein the first pressure gauge operates the valve to control fluid flow through the conduit; and

a second pressure gauge, wherein the second pressure gauge is coupled to a high-pressure side of the refrigerant system, and wherein the second pressure gauge is isolated from fluids that flow through the conduit;

assessing a pressure of the low-pressure side of the refrigerant system using the first pressure gauge;

assessing a pressure of the high-pressure side of the refrigerant system using the second pressure gauge;

coupling a refrigerant can to the conduit if the refrigerant level in the refrigerant system is below a desired level;

opening the valve to allow refrigerant to flow into the low-pressure side of the refrigerant system from the refrigerant can; and

closing the valve to assess the low-pressure side pressure of the refrigerant system after allowing at least some refrigerant to enter the refrigerant system.

60. The method of claim 59, further comprising coupling the refrigerant can to the conduit using a hose and a can piercing valve.

61. The method of claim 59, further comprising coupling the first pressure gauge to the low-pressure side of the refrigerant system using a hose and a shutoff valve.

62. The method of claim 61, further comprising coupling the hose to the low-pressure side of the refrigerant system using a quick coupling device.

63. The method of claim 61, further comprising opening the shutoff valve before assessing the pressure of the low-pressure side of the refrigerant system.

64. The method of claim 59, further comprising coupling the second pressure gauge to the high-pressure side of the refrigerant system using a hose and a shutoff valve.

65. The method of claim 64, further comprising coupling the hose to the high-pressure side of the refrigerant system using a quick coupling device.

66. The method of claim 64, further comprising opening the shutoff valve before assessing the pressure of the high-pressure side of the refrigerant system.

67. The method of claim 59, further comprising assessing the pressure of low-pressure side of the refrigerant system after closing the valve and opening the valve to allow more refrigerant to flow into the low-pressure side of the refrigerant system if the refrigerant level of the refrigerant system is below a desired level.

68. The method of claim 59, further comprising uncoupling the pressure testing/refrigerant charging assembly from the refrigerant system after a sufficient pressure of refrigerant has been achieved in the refrigerant system.

69. The method of claim 68, further comprising storing the pressure testing/refrigerant charging assembly with the refrigerant can coupled to the assembly if the refrigerant can is not empty.

70. The method of claim 59, further comprising uncoupling the refrigerant can from the pressure testing/refrigerant charging assembly after the refrigerant can has been emptied.

71. The method of claim 59, further comprising using the pressure gauge as the handle to open or close the valve.

72. The method of claim 59, further comprising rotating the pressure gauge to open or close the valve.