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US 12,360,001 B2Granted
Pressure testing and refilling devices, systems, and methods
AssigneeSnap-on Incorporated
InventorsNicholas A. Gabbey, George R. R. Call, William Joseph Tadda, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present disclosure describes implementations that relate to a pressure testing and refilling a coolant system. In a first embodiment, the present disclosure describes a pressure tester and refilling device that has a valve system and adapters configured to pressurize and pull a vacuum on the system without disconnecting any of the connections. The device includes a plurality of passages that couple to a vehicle coolant inlet, a pressurized air source, an external coolant source, and an exit. Within these passages, the device has several valves that can be controlled.
Claims20
A pressure testing apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of passages, wherein the plurality of passages comprise:
- an inlet passage coupled to a coolant system;
- a pressurized gas passage coupled to a pressurized gas source;
- a coolant source passage coupled to an external coolant container;
- and
- an exit passage;
- and
- a plurality of operating valves, each operating valve being disposed in a respective passage of the plurality of passages;
- a pressure sensor disposed in a downstream section of the pressurized gas passage, the downstream section being disposed between at least two operating valves of the plurality of operating valves and the coolant system;
- and
- a controller configured to perform operations comprising:
- sending a first shut-off control signal to each operating valve of the plurality of operating valves, wherein each first shut-off control signal closes the respective operating valve;
- sending a first turn-on control signal to the operating valve disposed in the pressurized gas passage, wherein the first turn-on control signal triggers the opening of the operating valve disposed in the pressurized gas passage;
- in response to receiving an indication that a first measured pressure in the downstream section of the pressurized gas passage is a first predetermined pressure value, sending a second shut-off control signal to the operating valve disposed in the pressurized gas passage thereby triggering the closing of the operating valve disposed in the pressurized gas passage;
- in response to receiving an indication that a second measured pressure does not decrease to a second predetermined pressure value in a first predetermined duration of time after sending the second shut-off control signal to the operating valve disposed in the pressurized gas passage, sending second turn-on control signals to:
- the operating valve disposed between the pressurized gas source and the exit passage;
- and
- the operating valve disposed between the coolant source passage and the exit passage, the second turn-on control signals opening the respective operating valves thereby creating a second measured pressure value in the pressure testing system;
- in response to receiving an indication that the second measured pressure decreases to a third predetermined pressure value:
- sending a third shut-off control signal to the operating valve disposed between the coolant system and the exit passage, the third shut-off control signal closing the operating valve disposed between the coolant system and the exit passage;
- and
- sending a third turn-on control signal to the operating valve disposed between the external coolant container and the coolant system, the third turn-on control signal opening the operating valve;
- in response to receiving an indication that a fourth measured pressure is a fourth predetermined pressure value, receiving a signal from a level sensor, the level sensor configured to measure a first level of coolant in the coolant system;
- in response to receiving an indication that the first level of coolant in the coolant system is a predetermined coolant level, sending a fourth shut-off signal to the operating valve disposed between the external coolant container and the coolant system, the fourth shut-off signal closing the operating valve;
- and
- in response to receiving an indication that a fifth measured pressure does not decrease to a fifth predetermined pressure value in a second predetermined duration of time, sending an indication that the coolant system has been refilled and is free of a substantial leak.
23 more elements
A pressure testing system, the system comprising:
- a coolant system;
- a pressurized gas source;
- an external coolant container;
- a pressure testing device, the device comprising:
- an inlet passage coupled to the coolant system;
- a coolant source passage coupled to the external coolant container;
- a pressurized gas passage coupled to the pressurized gas source;
- an exit passage;
- a first operating valve disposed between the inlet passage and the exit passage;
- a second operating valve disposed between the inlet passage and the pressurized gas passage;
- a third operating valve disposed between the pressurized gas passage and the coolant source passage;
- a fourth operating valve disposed between the pressurized gas passage and the exit passage;
- a pressure transducer disposed in a downstream section of the pressurized gas passage, the downstream section being disposed between at least the second operating valve and the fourth operating valve;
- and
- a controller configured to perform operations comprising:
- sending a first shut-off control signal to each of the operating valves, wherein each first shut-off control signal closes the respective operating valve;
- sending a first turn-on control signal to the operating valve disposed in the pressurized gas passage, wherein the first turn-on control signal triggers the opening of the operating valve disposed in the pressurized gas passage;
- in response to receiving an indication that a first measured pressure in the downstream section of the pressurized gas passage is a first predetermined pressure value sending a second shut-off control signal to the operating valve disposed in the pressurized gas passage thereby triggering the closing of the operating valve disposed in the pressurized gas passage;
- in response to receiving an indication that a second measured pressure does not decrease to a second predetermined pressure value in a first predetermined duration of time after sending the second shut-off control signal to the operating valve disposed in the pressurized gas passage, sending second turn-on control signals to:
- the operating valve disposed between the pressurized gas source and the exit passage;
- and
- the operating valve disposed between the coolant source passage and the exit passage, the second turn-on control signals opening the respective operating valves thereby creating a second measured pressure value in the pressure testing system;
- in response to receiving an indication that the second measured pressure decreases to a third predetermined pressure value:
- sending a third shut-off control signal to the operating valve disposed between the coolant system and the exit passage, the third shut-off control signal closing the operating valve disposed between the coolant system and the exit passage;
- and
- sending a third turn-on control signal to the operating valve disposed between the external coolant container and the coolant system, the third turn-on control signal opening the operating valve;
- in response to receiving an indication that a fourth measured pressure is a fourth predetermined pressure value, receiving a signal from a level sensor, the level sensor configured to measure a first level of coolant in the coolant system;
- in response to receiving an indication that the first level of coolant in the coolant system is a predetermined coolant level, sending a fourth shut-off signal to the operating valve disposed between the external coolant container and the coolant system, the fourth shut-off signal closing the operating valve;
- and
- in response to receiving an indication that a fifth measured pressure does not decrease to a fifth predetermined pressure value in a second predetermined duration of time, sending an indication that the coolant system has been refilled and is free of a substantial leak.
27 more elements
A method for pressure testing a coolant system, wherein a pressure testing system includes a plurality of passages comprising an inlet passage coupled to the coolant system, a pressurized gas passage coupled to a pressurized gas source, a coolant source passage coupled to an external coolant container, and an exit passage, and a plurality of operating valves, each operating valve being disposed in a respective passage of the plurality of passages, the method comprising:
- sending a first shut-off control signal to each operating valve of the plurality of operating valves, wherein each first shut-off control signal closes the respective operating valve;
- sending a first turn-on control signal to the operating valve disposed in the pressurized gas passage, wherein the first turn-on control signal triggers the opening of the operating valve disposed in the pressurized gas passage;
- in response to receiving, by a pressure transducer, an indication that a first measured pressure in a downstream section of the pressurized gas passage is a first predetermined pressure value, sending a second shut-off control signal to the operating valve disposed in the pressurized gas passage thereby triggering the closing of the operating valve disposed in the pressurized gas passage;
- in response to receiving an indication that a second measured pressure does not decrease to a second predetermined pressure value in a first predetermined duration of time after sending the second shut-off control signal to the operating valve disposed in the pressurized gas passage, sending second turn-on control signals to:
- the operating valve disposed between the pressurized gas source and the exit passage;
- and
- the operating valve disposed between the coolant source passage and the exit passage, the second turn-on control signals opening the respective operating valves thereby creating a second measured pressure value in the pressure testing system;
- in response to receiving an indication that the second measured pressure decreases to a third predetermined pressure value:
- sending a third shut-off control signal to the operating valve disposed between the coolant system and the exit passage, the third shut-off control signal closing the operating valve disposed between the coolant system and the exit passage;
- and
- sending a third turn-on control signal to the operating valve disposed between the external coolant container and the coolant system, the third turn-on control signal opening the operating valve;
- in response to receiving an indication that a fourth measured pressure is a fourth predetermined pressure value, receiving a signal from a level sensor, the level sensor configured to measure a first level of coolant in the coolant system;
- in response to receiving an indication that the first level of coolant in the coolant system is a predetermined coolant level, sending a fourth shut-off signal to the operating valve disposed between the external coolant container and the coolant system, the fourth shut-off signal closing the operating valve;
- and
- in response to receiving an indication that a fifth measured pressure does not decrease to a fifth predetermined pressure value in a second predetermined duration of time, sending an indication that the coolant system has been refilled and is free of a substantial leak.
12 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.