Piping stick systems and methods

• US 9,222,862 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2013
• Issued: 12/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: John C. Karamanos
• Original Assignee: John C. Karamanos
• Inventors: Karamanos, John C.
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, KEVIN L
• Application Number:
  US13/797,941
• Publication Number:
  US 20140261725A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,022 Days
• Field of Search: 137/15.01, 137/551
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2140/12 Heat-exchange fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 5/0003 Exclusively-fluid systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/26 by measuring rate of loss or gain of fluid, e.g. by pressure-responsive devices, by flow detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/2815 using pressure measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 3/12 Pressure testing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0402 Cleaning, repairing, or assembling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8158 With indicator, register, recorder, alarm or inspection means

Abstract

Embodiments of a piping stick and methods of manufacturing and using a piping stick are disclosed herein. The piping stick can define a scalable volume including a plurality of piping sections and a plurality of control sections. The non-connected in his of the piping sections of the piping stick can be capped. The piping stick can be assembled by assembling the plurality of control sections and the plurality of piping sections, pressurizing, the piping stick at a first time, and determining the integrity of the piping stick by evaluating the pressure in the piping stick at a second time.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a piping stick for a coil/thermal transfer device of an HVAC system, comprising:

obtaining a piping stick, the piping stick having a first tubular end section, a second tubular end section, a sealed and pressurized interior lumen defined at least in part by the first and second tubular end sections, a first control section coupled with the first end section, and a second control section coupled with the second end section;

cutting the piping stick to separate the first control section and the second control section; and

incorporating the first and second control sections into the coil/thermal transfer device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first tubular end section comprises a sealed end and a non-sealed end connecting to the first control section.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising cutting the first tubular end section between the sealed end and the non-sealed end so as to separate the sealed end from the first control section.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the second tubular end section comprises a sealed end and a non-sealed end connecting to the first control section.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising cutting the second tubular end section between the sealed end and the non-sealed end so as to separate the sealed end from the second control section.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the piping stick further comprises an indicator of the location for cutting the piping stick to create the first control section and the second control section.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein cutting the piping stick to create the first control section and the second control section comprises cutting the piping stick at the indicated location.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first control section comprises a first valve and the second control section comprises a second valve, wherein the first valve and the second valve are open.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first control section comprises a single flow assembly and the second control section comprises a single flow assembly.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first control section comprises a plurality of flow assemblies.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the plurality of flow assemblies are connected by a plurality of piping sections.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the piping stick comprises a pressure gauge in fluid communication with the interior lumen and indicating a pressure or vacuum.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of reading the pressure gauge to verify that the sealed interior lumen of the piping stick is either under pressure or vacuum.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein reading the pressure gauge to verify the sealed interior lumen of the piping stick is pressurized to the non-atmospheric pressure further verifies that the first tubular end section and the second tubular end section are pressurized to the non-atmospheric pressure.