Apparatus and method of preventing fluid escape from a conduit

• US 5,333,467 A
• Filed: 10/25/1993
• Issued: 08/02/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Uniweld Products, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Uniweld Products, Inc.
• Inventors: Bukur, Dragan, Mohammed, Shaheed, Pearl, David S. II, Webb, Louis H. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Fox, John C.
• Application Number:
  US08/140,981
• Time in Patent Office: 281 Days
• Field of Search: 62/77, 62/292, 251/148
• US Class Current: 62/77
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 29/00 Joints with fluid cut-off means quick-acting joints with cut-off means F16L37/28
• 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

An apparatus and method for preventing an undesirable release of fluid from a conduit upon disconnection of the conduit. In a specific form of the invention, the apparatus includes a hose having a slide valve located therein adjacent an end of the hose for preventing the escape of liquids or gases, especially refrigerants, to the environment. The slide valve includes a substantially cylindrically shaped nipple having first and second bores extending axially therethrough, the first and second bores being divided and bounded by an integral wall of the nipple. The nipple includes a plurality of ports adjacent the integral wall which provide passages through the nipple to provide fluid communication between the first and second bores. A sleeve member is slidable disposed around the nipple and contains seals for providing a gas-tight and/or liquid-tight interface between the sleeve and the nipple. The sleeve member also includes an annular chamber for selectively providing the aforementioned fluid communication between the bores. A preferred embodiment of the invention includes a conduit having a threaded screw type valve which includes a substantially cylindrically shaped rear nipple emanating from its first end, having a central bore extending therethrough. The rear nipple is exteriorly threaded to a threaded valve body which, when rotated is capable of sealing and unsealing a valve set with a valve fitting for selectively opening and closing a passageway for the flow of liquid an/or gas from the rear nipple to a front nipple. The front nipple is capable of rotating with respect to the rest of the device without breaking its seal and can be removed and interchanged without a substantial loss of fluid.

Claims

1. A method of servicing air conditioner or refrigeration systems comprising:

manipulating a conduit having a first end and a second end with means for blocking and unblocking flow located adjacent said second end of said conduit, said conduit interconnecting a fluid source and a service connector, wherein said second end is connected to the service connector and said first end is connected to the fluid source;

said manipulating comprising the steps of;

blocking flow through said conduit with said means for blocking and unblocking flow when a predetermined amount of fluid has passed through said conduit; and

disconnecting said second end from the service connector without substantial loss of fluid from said conduit;

wherein said flow blocking step is completed prior to beginning said disconnecting step.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

connecting said second end to another service connector;

unblocking flow through said conduit with said means for blocking and unblocking flow, substantially at said second end of said conduit, to allow a quantity of fluid to pass through said conduit for servicing another air conditioning or refrigeration device via said another service connector.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the steps recited in claim 2 are repeated to service a predetermined number of air conditioning or refrigeration devices, without substantial loss of fluid to the environment.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said means for blocking and unblocking flow comprises a threaded screw type valve and said flow blocking step is accomplished by closing said screw type valve.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said means for blocking and unblocking flow comprises a slide type valve, and said flow blocking step is accomplished by sliding said slide type valve to a closed position.

4. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

interconnecting the fluid source and the service connector, prior to said manipulating step, said interconnecting comprising, in the flowing order the steps of;

blocking flow through said conduit with said means for blocking and unblocking flow;

connecting said first end to the fluid source with a leakproof connection;

connecting said second end to the service connector with a leakproof connection; and

unblocking flow through said conduit with said means for blocking and unblocking flow, after said leakproof connection at said second end has been completed.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the fluid source includes second means for blocking and unblocking flow, said interconnecting further comprising:

unblocking flow with said second means for blocking and unblocking flow, either immediately before or immediately after unblocking flow with said means for blocking flow.