# US 12,768,577 B1 · Segmented refrigerant leak isolation system and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,768,577 B1 - Document ID: US12768577B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 19/396,303 - Filed: 2025-11-20 - Granted: 2026-10-20 - Earliest claimed: 2025-11-20 - Applicants: Kenneth Ray Green; Kevin Mark Klughart; Mitchell Wade Butler - Inventors: Kenneth Ray Green; Kevin Mark Klughart; Mitchell Wade Butler - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12768577B1 ## CPC - F25B 41/40: Fluid line arrangements - G01M 3/2815: {using pressure measurements} - F25B 2500/222: Detecting refrigerant leaks - F25B: REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS - G01M: TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES; TESTING OF STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A segmented refrigerant leak isolation system/method for use in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems is disclosed that allows accurate isolation of a HVAC component exhibiting a refrigerant leak, including but not limited to evaporator coils, condenser coils, and/or refrigerant lines in the HVAC system. The system uses a set of modified refrigerant line flare fittings (RFF) incorporating refrigerant Schrader valves (RSV) to isolate a HVAC component under test (CUT) from the remainder of the HVAC system and individually pressurize the CUT to detect a potential leak in the CUT. The system/method provides for retrofit of existing HVAC components with male/female flare fittings (MFF/FFF) and/or refrigerant shutoff valves (RSV) in situations where the existing HVAC system does not incorporate refrigerant line fittings (RLF). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A Schrader port insert (SPI) segmented refrigerant leak isolation system (LIS) for use in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, said LIS comprising: (a) Schrader port insert (SPI) (9701); (b) Schrader port valve (SPV) (1402); and (c) female flare nut (FFN) (9702); wherein: said SPI comprises a first distal end (EDE) and a second distal end (SDE); said SPI comprises Schrader port external threading (SPT) on said FDE; said SPI comprises internal threads configured to support insertion and mating of said SPV; said SPI comprises a Schrader internal void (SIV) from said FDE to said SDE; said SPI comprises a Schrader fitting seal (SFS) on said SDE; said SPI comprises a Schrader nut seal (SNS) on an outer periphery of said SPI between said FDE and said SDE; said FEN comprises a first flare end (FFE) and a second flare end (SFE); said FFN comprises a flare internal void (FIV) from said FEE to said SFE; said FFN comprises a female threaded end (FTE) at said FFE; said FFN comprises a female flare seat (FFS) (within said FIV; said SFS conforms to the angle and size of said FFS; said SPI FDE is inserted into said FIV and mated with said FEN such that said FES touches said SNS; and said FTE is coupled to a male flare fitting (MFF) in said HVAC system to allow said SPT to apply pressurized gas to said HVAC system or monitor pressure within said HVAC system. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The segmented refrigerant leak isolation system (LIS) of claim 1 wherein further comprising a male-to-male flare fitting that is mated to said FTE to provide a male flare fitting port to allow said SPT to apply pressurized gas or monitor pressure via a female flare fitting on said HVAC system. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The segmented refrigerant leak isolation system (LIS) of claim 1 wherein said SPT comprises a thread fitting selected from a group consisting of: ¼ SAE thread; 7/16-20 ACME; and G¼-inch thread. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The segmented refrigerant leak isolation system (LIS) of claim 1 wherein said SFS comprises a flare fitting size selected from a group consisting of: ¼-inch; ⅜-inch; ½-inch; ⅝-inch; ¾-inch, ⅞-inch, and 1-inch. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The segmented refrigerant leak isolation system (LIS) of claim 1 wherein said FFN comprises a flare fitting selected from a group consisting of: ¼-inch; ⅜-inch; ½-inch; ⅝-inch; ¾-inch, ⅞-inch, and 1-inch. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The segmented refrigerant leak isolation system (LIS) of claim 1 further comprising a Shrader port cap (SPC) configured to mate to said SPT and provide a pressure seal to said LIS. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The segmented refrigerant leak isolation system (LIS) of claim 1 further comprising a gas pressure gauge capable of measuring gas pressures in the range of 500 PSI-600 PSI and comprising a Schrader port fitting (SPF) configured to mate to said SPT. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The segmented refrigerant leak isolation system (LIS) of claim 1 further comprising a dry nitrogen source (DNS) capable of producing 500 PSI-600 PSI gas pressure and comprising a Schrader port fitting (SPF) configured to mate to said SPT. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The segmented refrigerant leak isolation system (LIS) of claim 1 further comprising a vacuum evacuation pump (VEP) comprising a separate Schrader port fitting (SPF) configured to mate to said SPT. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The segmented refrigerant leak isolation system (LIS) of claim 1 wherein said SPI comprises a metal selected from a group consisting of: brass; and aluminum. ### Claim 11 A segmented refrigerant leak isolation method (LIM) for use in a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, said method comprising the steps of: (1) identifying the connections and determining connection types from a HVAC component under test (CUT) to a refrigerant line (RFL) (1601); (2) retrofitting said CUT/RFL connections with male flare fittings (MEF), female flare fittings (FFF), and/or ball valves based on said connection types to form segment pairs of said CUT/RFL (1602); (3) isolating said CUT/REL segments using Schrader-Port-Fittings (SPF) and/or said ball valves at segment ends (1603); (4) pressurizing said GUT/RFL segments with said SPF attached to a dry nitrogen source (DNS) (1604); (5) installing pressure gauges in said CUT/RFL segments using said CUT/RFL SPF (1605); (6) determining if there is a pressure drop detected in said segments over a predetermined time interval, and if not, proceeding to step (8) (1606); (7) repairing/replacing defective HVAC components in said CUT/REL segments and proceeding to step (4) (1607); (8) restoring connections between said CUT and said REL (1608); and (9) terminating the leak detection method (LIM) (1609); wherein: said SPF comprises: (a) Schrader port insert (SPI) (9701); (b) Schrader port valve (SPV) (1402); and (c) female flare nut (FFN) (9702); said SPI comprises a first distal end (FDE) and a second distal end (SDE); said SPI comprises Schrader port external threading (SPT) on said FDE; said SPI comprises internal threads configured to support insertion and mating of said SPV; said SPI comprises a Schrader internal void (SIV) from said FDE to said SDE; said SPI comprises a Schrader fitting seal (SFS) on said SDE; said SPI comprises a Schrader nut seal (SNS) on an outer periphery of said SPI between said FDE and said SDE; said FFN comprises a first flare end (FFE) and a second flare end (SEE); said FFN comprises a flare internal void (FIV) from said FFE to said SFE; said FFN comprises a female threaded end (FTE) at said FFE; said FFN comprises a female flare seat (FFS) within said FIV; said SFS conforms to the angle and size of said FFS; said SPI FDE is inserted into said FIV and mated with said FFN such that said FFS touches said SNS; and said FTE is coupled to a male flare fitting (MFF) in said HVAC system to allow said SPT to apply pressurized gas to said HVAC system or monitor pressure within said HVAC system. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The segmented refrigerant leak isolation method (LIM) of claim 11 wherein further comprising a male-to-male flare fitting that is mated to said FTE to provide a male flare fitting port to allow said SPT to apply pressurized gas or monitor pressure via a female flare fitting on said HVAC system. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The segmented refrigerant leak isolation method (LIM) of claim 11 wherein said SPT comprises a thread fitting selected from a group consisting of: ¼ SAB thread; 7/16-20 ACME; and G¼-inch thread. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The segmented refrigerant leak isolation method (LIM) of claim 11 wherein said SES comprises a flare fitting size selected from a group consisting of: ¼-inch; ⅜-inch; ½-inch; ⅝-inch; ¾-inch, ⅞-inch, and 1-inch. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The segmented refrigerant leak isolation method (LIM) of claim 11 wherein said FEN comprises a flare fitting selected from a group consisting of: ¼-inch; ⅜-inch; ½-inch; ⅝-inch; ¾-inch, ⅞-inch, and 1-inch. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The segmented refrigerant leak isolation method (LIM) of claim 11 further comprising a Shrader port cap (SPC) configured to mate to said SPT and provide a pressure seal to said LIS. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The segmented refrigerant leak isolation method (LIM) of claim 11 wherein said pressure gauge is capable of measuring gas pressures in the range of 500 PSI-600 PSI and comprising a separate Schrader port fitting (SPF) configured to mate to said SPT. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The segmented refrigerant leak isolation method (LIM) of claim 11 wherein said dry nitrogen source (DNS) is capable of producing 500 PSI-600 PSI gas pressure and comprising a separate Schrader port fitting (SPF) configured to mate to said SPT. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The segmented refrigerant leak isolation method (LIM) of claim 11 further comprising a vacuum evacuation pump (VEP) comprising a separate Schrader port fitting (SPF) configured to mate to said SPT. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The segmented refrigerant leak isolation method (LIM) of claim 11 wherein said SPI comprises a metal selected from a group consisting of: brass; and aluminum.