Valves and valve actuation – With correlated flow path – Valve operated by joining flow path sections
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-28
2001-10-02
Shaver, Kevin (Department: 3754)
Valves and valve actuation
With correlated flow path
Valve operated by joining flow path sections
C251S149600, C137S614050
Reexamination Certificate
active
06296228
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention relates a device for servicing a pressurized system, in particular an air conditioning or refrigeration system.
BACKGROUND
Service devices, such as service couplings, are commonly employed to facilitate charging and evacuation of a pressurized fluid system, such as a refrigeration system, an air conditioning system, or a hydraulic system. The service device connects to a service port of the system. The service device opens a valve within the service port, allowing fluids, including liquids or gases, to be exchanged with the system. For example, when servicing a refrigeration or air conditioning system, the service device can be connected by a flexible hose to a refrigerant supply source, such as a pressurized bottle or cylinder or a recovery and recycle station. When the service device and valve within the service port are opened, refrigerant can flow through the connection and into the refrigeration or air conditioning system.
In air conditioning systems, system performance can deteriorate when air is in the system. In addition, introduction of air can also lead to introduction of moisture and other contaminants into the system. Thus, keeping air out of the system can be important when servicing a system.
In order to properly open a valve within the service port, the valve must be positioned properly within the service port so that the service device can open the valve when connected to the port. Deviations in valve position within the port can cause the service device to improperly open the valve, fail to open the valve, or damage the valve by applying excessive pressure to the valve.
SUMMARY
The invention features a service device for connecting to a service port of a pressurized 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 device includes a valve opening member for opening a valve within the port. The position of the valve opening member within the device is adjustable or can be self-adjusting. The adjustable valve opening member allows the valve in the service port to be opened properly by the device upon attachment to the port over a range of valve positions within the port.
The device can include a purge feature to purge air directly from a service line, reducing the amount of air introduced into the system during servicing. The device can also 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, which can reduce fluid loss or injury. The device can be constructed from metal, such as, for example, brass, steel, stainless steel, or aluminum.
In one aspect, the invention features a service device. The device includes a body and a valve opening member. The body has a first end engageable with a service port including a valve. The body also includes a second end engageable with a service unit, and an inner surface defining an interior chamber. The first end and the second end are in fluid communication through the interior chamber. The valve opening member is disposed in the interior chamber. The body can be a portion of a coupling device. The first end can be engageable with a high pressure side refrigerant port or a low pressure side refrigerant port.
The valve opening member includes a valve actuating end proximate to the first end. The valve actuating end is capable of changing position relative to the first end. The valve actuating end is configured to open the valve as the first end is engaged with the port. The valve opening member can be arranged to depress a pin within the valve when engaged with the port. The first end can be capable of forming a seal with the port when it is engaged with the port. The device can include a sealing gasket between the body and the first end. The device can include a threaded fitting or a quick connect fitting at the first end for engaging it with the port. The quick connect fitting secures the device to the port by pressing the device onto the port.
In certain embodiments, the valve opening member is engageable with a tool for changing the position of the valve actuating end relative to the first end. The valve opening member and the inner surface of the body can be threaded. The position of the valve opening member can be adjusted using a tool.
In other embodiments, the service device includes a spring within the body. The valve opening member is biased by the spring toward the first end. The position of the valve opening member can be adjusted by pressing the valve of the port against the member to compress the spring. The spring can be less compressible than the pin. The spring can be rigid enough to overcome resistance to pressing the pin due to a spring in the pin and pressure in the system.
In other embodiments, the second end of the body is engaged with a service unit and the valve opening member is in a fixed position relative to the service unit. The service unit can be a service manifold, a valve core removal tool, a refrigerant cylinder, a fluid charge line, such as a hose, a refrigerant identifier or analyzer, a diagnosis instrument, a dye injector, a recovery and recycle station, or other device that can connect to a service port of a system. The second end can be movably engaged with the service unit. Movement of the body relative to the service unit can change the position of the valve actuating end relative to the first end. For example, the second end of the body can be connected to the device by threading, and the body or service device can be rotated to change the position of the valve actuating end. A button, a switch, a lever, a knob, or a rocker can be used to move the valve actuating end relative to the first end.
In other embodiments, the first end of the body can include 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. The release sleeve assembly can include a plurality of balls distributed between the adapter and the sleeve, the balls being engageable with the service port. The adapter can be connected by threads, pins, one or more set screws, a snap ring, brazing, or soldering. The plurality of balls can include six or more balls (e.g., eight balls).
The service device can also include a pin depressor proximate to the second end having a first position oriented closer to the interior chamber relative to a second position which is closer to the service port, the pin depressor moving from the first position to the second position when the service port is engaged with the first end of the body, and the pin depressor being in the first position when the first end of the body is not engaged with the service port. The pin depressor can be movably attached to a pusher disposed in the interior chamber. A valve can be positioned within the second end, the valve being opened when the pin depressor moves from the first position to the second position. The service device can also include a valve detection member movably disposed on a pusher within the internal chamber. The valve detection member moves relative to the pusher when the service port is engaged with the first end of the body. The pin depressor moves from the first position to the second position when the valve detection member moves relative to the valve actuation portion.
The service device can include a purge actuator exterior to the body. The purge actuator can have a shaft extending through the interior chamber to the port, the shaft being capable of moving a pin depressor from a first position to a second position. The purge actuator can include a button, a switch, a lever, a knob, or a rocker.
In another aspect, the invention features a coupling member including a body, a valve opening member, a valve detection member, a pin depressor. The body has a first end engageable with a service port including a first valve
Kalley Terrence D.
Knowles Steven M.
Bonderer David A
Fish & Richardson P.C.
Prime Solutions LLC
Shaver Kevin
LandOfFree
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