US 4,069,686 AGranted

Coupling for use in servicing air conditioning systems

OwnerWalter A. Hoelmaninventor

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Abstract

A coupling for attachment to air conditioning systems to prevent leakage of refrigerant fluid during testing and servicing thereof. The coupling includes an elongated outer housing adapted to be attached at one end to an air conditioning system. The housing is provided with an axial bore in which is positioned an inner cylindrical body member having longitudinal ducts, which member is movable longitudinally with respect to the outer housing. One end of the inner body member is adapted to be selectively engaged with testing equipment or a refrigerant fluid supply. A portion of the inner housing is aligned with a valve of the air conditioning system which is actuated thereby upon longitudinal movement of the inner body member, thereby permitting refrigerant fluid to flow through the ducts in the inner body member from the refrigerant supply to the air conditioning system. Means carried by the inner body member facilitate longitudinal movement thereof.

Claims10

Dependent claims

A coupling for use in connecting service equipment to an air conditioning system equipped with a valve positioned in a nipple leading to the refrigerant line, and having a movable needle member which is depressed to open the valve, the coupling including

a. an outer tubular housing having a longitudinal bore extending therethrough,
b. means on one end of said tubular housing for connecting the housing to the nipple of the air conditioning system,
c. an inner cylindrical body member positioned within said outer tubular housing with the outer periphery of said inner cylindrical body member proximate the inner periphery of said outer tubular housing,
d. one end of said inner cylindrical body member having a central extension for engaging and actuating the needle member of the air conditioning system valve,
e. the opposite end of said inner cylindrical body member being provided with a tubular extension having an axial bore,
f. means on said tubular extension for connecting the latter to the service equipment,
g. ducts extending longitudinally through said inner cylindrical body member and in communication with the axial bore of said tubular extension, and
h. an arm extending diametrically through said inner cylindrical body member,
i. said outer tubular housing being provided with opposed slots adapted to receive the ends of said arm, whereby said inner cylindrical body member may be slid longitudinally of said outer tubular housing to actuate the needle member and open the valve.

6 more elements

a. an outer tubular member of elongated, rectilinear shape and having a longitudinal bore extending therethrough,
b. means on one end of said outer member for connecting the same to the nipple of the air conditioning system,
c. an inner member positioned within the longitudinal bore of said tubular member and longitudinally movable with respect to said outer member,
d. means on one end of said inner member for connecting the same to the service equipment,
e. a portion of said inner member being extended and aligned with the depressible needle member of the valve whereby, upon relative longitudinal movement of said inner member in said outer member, the needle member is depressed to open the valve,
f. duct means extending longitudinally through said inner member and communicating with the longitudinal bore of said outer member, whereby the refrigerant fluid passes in a substantially straight line through the coupling, and
g. actuating means for slidably moving said inner member longitudinally of said outer member to the valve needle member and establish communication between the air conditioning system and service equipment.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.