Coupling for servicing a pressurized system

• US 6,837,064 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2002
• Issued: 01/04/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Prime Solution Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Prime Solution Incorporated
• Inventors: Knowles, Steven M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Esquivel, Denise L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Zec, Filip
• Application Number:
  US10/326,292
• Publication Number:
  US 20030136142A1
• Time in Patent Office: 743 Days
• Field of Search: 622/92, 622/99, 137/614.06
• US Class Current: 62/292
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/23 by means of balls
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/34 at least one of the lift valves being of the sleeve type, i.e. a sleeve is telescoped over an inner cylindrical wall
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2345/006 characterised by charging or discharging valves
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/614 Rotary movement of valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87973 Coupling interlocked with valve, or closure or actuator

Abstract

A service device connects to a service port of a pressurized system. The device includes a valve opening member for opening a valve within the port. The device can attach to a service unit for servicing the pressurized system. The system can be an air conditioning or refrigeration system.

Claims

1. A service device comprising:

a body having a first end engagable with a service port, a second end engagable with a service unit, and an inner surface defining an interior chamber;

a valve opening member disposed in the interior chamber, the valve opening member including a plug engaging end proximate to the first end, the plug engaging end being capable of changing position relative to the first end;

a spring within the body biasing the valve opening member toward the first end; and

a service port opening member configured to rotate the valve opening member relative to the body, the first end and the second end being in fluid communication when a service port is engaged with the first end and the service port is opened.

2. The service device of claim 1, further comprising a sealing gasket between the body and the first end, the first end being capable of forming a seal with the port when the first end is engaged with the service port.

3. The service device of claim 1, wherein the plug engaging end has a cross section having a substantially hexagonal shape.

4. The service device of claim 1, wherein the body is a portion of a coupling device.

5. The service device of claim 1, wherein the first end is engagable with a refrigerant port.

6. The service device of claim 1, wherein a valve member within the body having a first position oriented closer to the first end relative to a second position, the valve member moving from the first position to the second position when the service port is engaged with the first end of the body and the service port is opened.

7. The service device of claim 6 wherein the first end is in fluid communication with the second end when the valve member is in the second position.

8. The service device of claim 6, wherein the valve member is slideably disposed on a surface of the service port opening member.

25. The device of claim 1, further comprising an outer knob having an interior surface;

and

an inner knob within the body, the inner knob having a surface that contacts the interior surface of the outer knob, the outer knob and inner knob, together, being configured to apply torque to the valve opening member when the outer knob is turned.

26. The device of claim 25, further comprising a gasket located between the outer knob and inner knob and sealing an orifice of a volume within the body.

27. The device of claim 26, wherein the outer knob and inner knob are configured to substantially avoid slipping when turned in a direction to move the plug to an open position and to slip when the plug is moved into a closed position and further torque is applied to the outer knob, and the seal of the gasket is broken with the slipping occurs.

9. The coupling member comprising:

a body having a first end engagable with a service port, a second end engagable with a service unit, and an inner surface defining an interior chamber;

a valve opening member disposed in the interior chamber;

a valve member within the body having a first position oriented closer to the first end relative to a second position;

a spring within the body biasing the valve opening member toward the first end; and

a service port opening member configured to rotate the valve opening member relative to the body, the valve member moving from the first position to the second position and the first end and second end being in fluid communication when the service port is engaged with the first end of the body and the service port is opened.

10. The coupling member of claim 9, wherein the valve opening member including a plug engaging end proximate to the first end, the plug engaging end being capable of changing position relative to the first end.

11. The coupling member of claim 9, further comprising a sealing gasket between the body and the first end, the first end being capable of forming a seal with the port when the first end is engaged with the service port.

12. The coupling member of claim 9, wherein the plug engaging end has a cross section having a substantially hexagonal shape.

13. The coupling member of claim 9, wherein the first end is engagable with a refrigerant port.

14. The coupling member of claim 9, wherein the valve member is slideably disposed on a surface of the service port opening member.

15. An air conditioning or refrigeration service device comprising:

a service unit including a coupling member comprising;

a body having a first end engagable with a service port, a second end engagable with a service unit, and an inner surface defining an interior chamber;

a valve opening member disposed in the interior chamber;

a valve member within the body having a first position oriented closer to the first end relative to a second position;

a spring within the body biasing the valve opening member toward the first end; and

a service port opening member configured to rotate the valve opening member relative to the body, the valve member moving from the first position to the second position and the first end and second end being in fluid communication when the service port is engaged with the first end of the body and the service port is opened.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the valve opening member including a plug engaging end proximate to the first end, the plug engaging end being capable of changing position relative to the first end.

17. The device of claim 15, further comprising a sealing gasket between the body and the first end, the first end being capable of forming a seal with the port when the first end is engaged with the service port.

18. The device of claim 15, wherein the plug engaging end has a cross section having a substantially hexagonal shape.

19. The device of claim 15, wherein the first end is engagable with a refrigerant port.

20. The device of claim 15, wherein the valve member is slideably disposed on a surface of the service port opening member.

21. A method of opening a service port comprising:

adjusting a position of a valve opening member relative to a first end of a service port connector, the valve opening member including a plug engaging end proximate to the first end and being biased by a spring towards the first end, the service port connector being attached to a service unit or being capable of attaching to a service unit and the first end being engagable with the service port; and

opening a valve within the service port,

wherein the valve opening member rotates relative to the body to open the valve.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein adjusting takes place upon attaching the service port connector to the service port.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising sealing the connector to the port prior to opening the valve.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein opening the valve actuates a valve member within the connector to bring a first end of the connector and a second end of the connector into fluid communication.