Method and apparatus for servicing a pressurized system

• US 6,539,970 B1
• Filed: 10/21/1999
• Issued: 04/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Prime Solution Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Prime Solution Incorporated
• Inventors: Kalley, Terrence D., Knowles, Steven M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Walton, George L.
• Application Number:
  US09/422,236
• Time in Patent Office: 1,258 Days
• Field of Search: 137/240, 137/614.05, 137/238, 137/614, 137/636.4, 137/637.4, 137/614.03, 137/614.19, 137/15.04, 137/15.05, 137/637, 137/614.11, 621/49, 62/507, 622/92, 251/149.6, 251/149.4
• US Class Current: 137/238
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 9/0321 using pressurised, pulsating or purging fluid E04F17/126 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/23 by means of balls
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/36 with two lift valves being actuated to initiate the flow through the coupling after the two coupling parts are locked against withdrawal
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2345/006 characterised by charging or discharging valves
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 45/00 Arrangements for charging or discharging refrigerant
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0318 Processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0419 Fluid cleaning or flushing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/4245 Cleaning or steam sterilizing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87088 Reciprocation along and rotation about same axis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87096 Valves with separate, correlated, actuators
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87925 Separable flow path section, valve or closure in each
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87981 Common actuator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/88046 Biased valve with external operator

Abstract

A method and apparatus for servicing a pressurized system is described. A purge fitting can be used to vent the pressurized system. Venting can release a gas, such as air, from the system. The pressurized system can be a climate control system (e.g., an air conditioning or refrigeration system), a brake system, a hydraulic system, or a service device for servicing a climate control system. The purge fitting allows air that may be trapped in the pressurized system to be vented by depressing a purge actuator, such as a purge button attached to the fitting. The air can be vented from an opening adjacent to the actuator or other orifice. By purging air directly from the system, the amount of air introduced into the system during servicing can be minimized. The invention also features a coupling member that can be compact in size. The coupling member can include a self-sealing valve assembly that prevents opening the coupling member until a proper coupling interconnection with a system to be serviced has taken place. The purge fitting can be incorporated in the coupling member or other service device.

Claims

1. A coupling member comprising:

a body having a first end engageable with a first valve, a second end having a moveable control member, an inner surface defining an interior chamber, and a port in fluid communication with the interior chamber;

a pusher disposed in the interior chamber and in contact with the control member, the pusher having a valve actuation portion extending toward the first end of the body and being movable by the control member from a valve closed position to a valve open position; and

a pin depressor proximate to the port having a first position oriented closer to the interior chamber relative to a second position which is closer to the port, the pin depressor being adapted to actuate a second valve when the second valve is positioned within the port,

the pin depressor moving from the first position to the second position when the first valve is engaged with the first end of the body and the pusher is moved from the valve closed position to the valve open position, and

the pin depressor being in the first position when the first end of the body is not engaged with the first valve and the pusher is moved from the valve closed position to the valve open position.

2. The coupling member of claim 1, wherein the pin depressor is movably attached to the pusher.

3. The coupling member of claim 1, wherein the pusher is engaged with threads to the control member.

4. The coupling member of claim 3, wherein the pusher moves from the valve closed position to the valve open position by rotating the control member by less than one revolution.

5. The coupling member of claim 1, wherein the second end of the body includes a groove and the control member is moveably attached to the groove.

6. The coupling member of claim 1, wherein the first end of the body includes a release sleeve assembly including an adapter connected to the first end of the body, a release sleeve over the adapter, and a spring between the release sleeve and the adapter.

7. The coupling member of claim 6, wherein the release sleeve assembly includes a plurality of balls distributed between the adapter and the sleeve, the balls being engageable with the first valve the plurality of balls includes more than six balls.

8. The coupling member of claim 1, further comprising a second valve positioned within the port, the second valve being opened when the pin depressor moves from the first position to the second position.

9. The coupling member of claim 1, further comprising a purge actuator exterior to the body, the purge actuator having a shaft extending through the interior chamber to the port, the shaft being capable of moving the pin depressor from the first position to the second position while in the valve closed position.

10. The coupling member of claim 1, wherein the coupling member has an end-to-end dimension T that is unchanged in the valve open position and in the valve closed position.

11. The coupling member of claim 1, wherein the first end is engageable with a high pressure side refrigerant port or a low pressure side refrigerant port.

12. The coupling member of claim 1, further comprising a valve detection member movably disposed on the valve actuation portion, the valve detection member moving relative to the valve actuation portion when the first valve is engaged with the first end of the body and the pusher is moved from the valve closed position to the valve open position and the valve detection member being substantially stationary relative to the valve actuation portion when the first end of the body is not engaged with the first valve, and the pin depressor moving from the first position to the second position when the valve detection member moves relative to the valve actuation portion.

13. A coupling member comprising:

a body having a first end engageable with a first valve, a second end having a moveable control member, an inner surface defining an interior chamber, and a port in fluid communication with the interior chamber, the first end of the body including a release sleeve assembly including an adapter connected to the first end of the body, a release sleeve over the adapter, and a spring between the release sleeve and the adapter;

a pusher disposed in the interior chamber and in contact with the control member, the pusher having a valve actuation portion extending toward the first end of the body and being movable by the control member from a valve closed position to a valve open position;

a valve detection member movably disposed on the valve actuation portion, the valve detection member moving relative to the valve actuation portion when the first valve is engaged with the first end of the body and the pusher is moved from the valve closed position to the valve open position and the valve detection member being substantially stationary relative to the valve actuation portion when the first end of the body is not engaged with the first valve;

a pin depressor movably attached to the pusher and proximate to the port having a first position oriented closer to the interior chamber relative to a second position which is closer to the port, the pin depressor being adapted to actuate a second valve when the second valve is positioned within the port, the pin depressor moving from the first position to the second position when the valve detection member moves relative to the valve actuation portion; and

a purge actuator exterior to the body, the purge actuator having a shaft extending through the interior chamber to the port, the shaft being capable of moving the pin depressor from the first position to the second position while in the valve closed position.

14. The coupling member of claim 13, wherein the pusher is engaged with threads to the control member and moves from the valve closed position to the valve open position by rotating the control member by less than one revolution.

15. The coupling member of claim 13, wherein the second end of the body includes a groove and the control member is moveably attached to the groove.

16. The coupling member of claim 13, wherein the release sleeve assembly includes a plurality of balls distributed between the adapter and the sleeve, the balls being engageable with the first valve the plurality of balls includes more than six balls.

17. The coupling member of claim 13, further comprising a second valve positioned within the port, the second valve being opened when the pin depressor moves from the first position to the second position.

18. The coupling member of claim 13, wherein the valve detection member is movably disposed on the valve actuation portion.

19. The coupling member of claim 13, wherein the coupling member has an end-to-end dimension T that is unchanged in the valve open position and in the valve closed position.

20. A method of servicing a pressurized fluid system comprising:

attaching a coupling member to a service port of the system, the coupling member being connected to a service port of unit and including a safety valve;

contacting a portion of the service port with a valve detection member in the coupling member; and

opening the service port with the coupling member, the safety valve being opened by the valve detection member approximately when the service port is opened.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising activating a purge actuator of the coupling member to vent air from the service unit prior to attaching the coupling member to the service port.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising activating a purge actuator of a service unit to vent air from the service unit prior to opening the service port.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the service port is a high pressure side refrigerant port or a low pressure side refrigerant port.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the service unit is a recovery and recycle station.