Refrigeration equipment service apparatus with quick-disconnect couplings

Abstract

A system for servicing refrigeration equipment having at least one service fitting of first predetermined configuration includes devices for recovering, purifying and/or recharging refrigerant within such equipment. A manifold includes a first refrigerant hose or conduit having an end coupling for releasable connection to the service fitting of the equipment under service and a second refrigerant hose or conduit having an end coupling for selective releasable connection to service fittings on each of the refrigerant service devices. Each of the first and second couplings includes facility for automatically sealing the associated conduit upon disconnection from the fittings, and thereby sealingly retaining refrigerant within the conduits. Thus, the manifold permits the service technician to connect and disconnect refrigerant service devices at will to and from the refrigeration equipment under service, with the manifold conduits remaining charged with refrigerant between connections and thereby eliminating the necessity in use of prior art devices for bleeding air and refrigerant from the service system into the atmosphere.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.