Testing system and method for AC system in a vehicle
First Claim
1. A method for testing an AC cooling circuit in a vehicle HVAC system, comprising:
- coupling a pressure and a prevacuum system having a pneumatic pressure source and a vacuum source to the AC cooling circuit, and after coupling the pressure and prevacuum system to the AC cooling circuit, the method for testing includes;
pressurizing the AC cooling circuit;
testing the AC cooling circuit for pressurized leaks after pressurizing;
prevacuuming the AC cooling circuit; and
testing the AC cooling circuit for prevacuum leaks after prevacuumingdecoupling the pressure and prevacuum system from the AC cooling circuit after prevacuuming and testing for prevacuum leaks;
coupling a separate vacuum and fill system having a separate vacuum source and a fill source to the AC cooling circuit after decoupling the pressure and prevacuum system, and after coupling the vacuum and fill system to the AC cooling circuit, the method for testing includes;
prevacuuming the AC cooling circuittesting the AC cooling circuit for prevacuum leaks after prevacuuming;
vacuuming the AC cooling circuit after prevacuuming and testing for vacuum leaks; and
testing the AC cooling circuit for vacuum leaks after vacuuming;
filling the AC cooling circuit; and
decoupling the vacuum and fill system from the AC cooling circuit after filling the AC cooling circuit;
advancing an AC system having the AC cooling circuit to a testing station of a vehicle assembly line having the pressure and prevacuum system; and
advancing the AC system to a fill station disposed downstream of the testing station of the vehicle assembly line and having the vacuum and fill system.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A pressure and prevacuum testing system for an AC system in a vehicle includes an air pressure source for pressurizing a cooling circuit of the AC system to a predetermined high pressure threshold and a vacuum source for prevacuuming the cooling circuit either to a predetermined prevacuum low pressure level or for a predetermined time period. The system also includes a pressure gauge for operatively measuring a pressure level in the cooling circuit. A controller is operatively connected to the air pressure source, the vacuum source and the pressure gauge. The controller compares the pressure level as measured by the pressure gauge to the predetermined high pressure threshold during a pressurized test of the cooling circuit and to the predetermined prevacuum low pressure level during a prevacuum test of the cooling circuit to determine if leaks are present in the cooling circuit.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A method for testing an AC cooling circuit in a vehicle HVAC system, comprising:
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coupling a pressure and a prevacuum system having a pneumatic pressure source and a vacuum source to the AC cooling circuit, and after coupling the pressure and prevacuum system to the AC cooling circuit, the method for testing includes; pressurizing the AC cooling circuit; testing the AC cooling circuit for pressurized leaks after pressurizing; prevacuuming the AC cooling circuit; and testing the AC cooling circuit for prevacuum leaks after prevacuuming decoupling the pressure and prevacuum system from the AC cooling circuit after prevacuuming and testing for prevacuum leaks; coupling a separate vacuum and fill system having a separate vacuum source and a fill source to the AC cooling circuit after decoupling the pressure and prevacuum system, and after coupling the vacuum and fill system to the AC cooling circuit, the method for testing includes; prevacuuming the AC cooling circuit testing the AC cooling circuit for prevacuum leaks after prevacuuming; vacuuming the AC cooling circuit after prevacuuming and testing for vacuum leaks; and testing the AC cooling circuit for vacuum leaks after vacuuming; filling the AC cooling circuit; and decoupling the vacuum and fill system from the AC cooling circuit after filling the AC cooling circuit; advancing an AC system having the AC cooling circuit to a testing station of a vehicle assembly line having the pressure and prevacuum system; and advancing the AC system to a fill station disposed downstream of the testing station of the vehicle assembly line and having the vacuum and fill system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification