System manifold for integrated delivery of refrigerant and leak detection dye, and methods of delivering leak detection dye
OwnerJack Brass, Jeffrey W. Socketinventors
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Abstract
A method, system and manifold for use in the delivery of refrigerant and leak detection dye to an automotive air conditioning unit after evacuation of the unit and without removal of the manifold from a fitting of the unit between delivery of the dye and the refrigerant, and without requirement by the operator to refill the dye between each delivery of dye and refrigerant. The refrigerant and dye come from separate, not inline, reservoirs. The refrigerant provides a wash for dye from the fitting. The method, system and manifold are substantially automated and are operated with limited operator intervention.
Claims123
A method of delivering leak detection dye into an air conditioning unit having a fitting for receiving fluids, the method comprising the steps of:
- connecting a source of refrigerant to a first inlet port of a manifold, a source of dye to a second inlet port of the manifold, and a first outlet port of the manifold to the fitting;
- preventing the refrigerant from exiting the outlet port while delivering a quantity of dye from the source of supply through the first inlet port, the outlet port and the fitting to the unit;
- and
- preventing the dye from exiting the outlet port while delivering a quantity of refrigerant from the source of refrigerant through the second inlet port and the outlet port to the unit.
A method for use in the delivery of refrigerant and leak detection dye to an air conditioning unit, the method comprising the steps of evacuating the unit, then delivering the leak detection dye to the evacuated unit from a first source through a delivery mechanism connected to the unit and then delivering refrigerant from a second source separate from the first source to the evacuated air conditioning unit through the same delivery mechanism without removing the delivery mechanism from the air conditioning unit between the delivery of the dye and the delivery of the refrigerant.
A method for use in the delivery of refrigerant and leak detection dye to an air conditioning unit, the method comprising the steps of evacuating the unit, then delivering the leak detection dye to the evacuated unit from a first source through a delivery mechanism connected to the unit and then delivering refrigerant from a second source not inline with the first source to the evacuated air conditioning unit through the same delivery mechanism without removing the delivery mechanism from the air conditioning unit between the delivery of the dye and the delivery of the refrigerant.
A method for use in the delivery of leak detection dye to an air conditioning unit, the method comprising the steps of evacuating the unit, then delivering the leak detection dye to the evacuated unit from a first source through a delivery mechanism connected to a fitting of the unit and then washing dye from fitting and the delivery mechanism by delivering refrigerant from a second source separate from the first source to the evacuated air conditioning unit through the same delivery mechanism without removing the delivery mechanism from the fitting between the delivery of the dye and the delivery of the refrigerant.
A method for use in the delivery of leak detection dye to an air conditioning unit, the method comprising the steps of first evacuating the unit, and then delivering the dye to the evacuated unit from a first source through a delivery mechanism connected to the unit and refrigerant from a second source separate from the first source to the evacuated air conditioning unit through the same delivery mechanism.
A method of delivering refrigerant and dye to an air conditioning unit having a fitting, the method comprising the steps of:
- First delivering the dye from one source, and subsequently delivering the dye from another source, both dye and refrigerant being delivered through the fitting without removal between the delivery of the dye and the delivery of the refrigerant of any delivery mechanism connected to the fitting.
A manifold for use in the delivery of liquid leak detection dye to an air conditioning unit, the manifold comprising:
- An inlet port for fluid connection to a refrigerant source,
- An inlet port for fluid connection to a dye source separate from the refrigerant source, and
- An outlet port for the delivery of the dye and refrigerant from the manifold.
A system for the delivery of liquid leak detection dye to an air conditioning unit, the system comprising:
- a refrigerant source,
- a dye source separate from the refrigerant source,
- a manifold including:
- an inlet port for fluid connection to a refrigerant source,
- an inlet port for fluid connection to a dye source separate from the refrigerant source, and
- an outlet port for the delivery of the dye and refrigerant from the manifold,
- and a control unit for activating the dye source to deliver dye to the outlet port and then activating the refrigerant source to deliver dye to the outlet port.
A system for the delivery of liquid leak detection dye to an air conditioning unit, the system comprising:
- a refrigerant source having a refrigerant reservoir,
- a dye source having a refrigerant reservoir separate from the refrigerant source,
- a manifold including:
- an inlet port for fluid connection to a refrigerant source,
- an inlet port for fluid connection to a dye source separate from the refrigerant source,
- an outlet port for the delivery of the dye and refrigerant from the manifold,
- and a control unit for activating the dye source to deliver dye to the outlet port and activating the refrigerant source to deliver dye to the outlet port.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.