Refrigeration manifold

A process of charging a heat exchange mechanism with refrigerant comprising:

• a) connecting an inlet of a manifold to a source of liquid refrigerant;
• b) connecting outlets of the manifold to high and low sides of the mechanism;
• c) opening a phase control valve to establish liquid refrigerant communication through a now open passage to at least one of the outlets;
• d) introducing refrigerant under pressure to the manifold to establish refrigerant flow through both the open passage and a parallel capillary;
• e) subsequently closing the phase control valve to shut off a principle liquid flow path through the passage to at least a selected one of the outlets;
• and,
• f) continuing the charging with flow through the capillary to produce vaporized refrigerant until a desired quantity of refrigerant has been charged into the mechanism.

A valving mechanism for use in charging a heat exchange system comprising:

• a) an annulus defining a through main flow control passage and surfaces defining a capillary path;
• b) the annulus being adapted to be mounted within a housing;
• c) a valve member adapted to sealingly engage the annulus in a closed position to close off the main passage in a member closed position and to be spaced from the annulus in a valve open position;
• d) the member also being mountable in such housing whereby the mechanism will permit liquid refrigerant flow through the passage and the capillary when the member is in the open position and vapor flow through and from the capillary when the member is in the closed position;
• e) the mechanism including a member control operable connected to the valve member for maintaining the member in its open and its closed positions selectively and one at a time.

A manifold system for charging a heat exchange system with a fluid cyclically changeable between liquid and gaseous states comprising:

• a) a housing having an inlet and high and low side outlets;
• b) the housing having a pair of axially aligned and communicating counter bores;
• c) the housing including an inlet passage communicating the inlet with the counter bores and a pair of outlet passages respectively communicating the counter bores with the outlets;
• d) a pair of pressure gauges respectively in communication with the outlet passages;
• e) an annulus mounted in an inner one of the counter bores;
• f) the annulus including a through main passage and perimetral surfaces defining a groove, the perimetral surfaces being in close complemental relationship with a wall defining the inner counter bore whereby the groove and the wall define a further passage;
• g) a state control valve having a mounting collar threadably engaging a wall of the outer one of the counter bores to connect the control valve to the manifold;
• h) the control valve also including a valve member mounted on an axially moveable stem for selectively permitting and preventing flow through the main passage;
• and,
• I) the groove functioning as a capillary when the control valve prevents flow through the main passage.

A manifold for charging a heat exchange system with refrigerant comprising:

• a) structure defining an inlet;
• b) the structure also defining high and low side outlets and passageways between the inlet and the outlets;
• c) high and low side valves connected to the structure, the valves respectively being for selectively opening and closing the high and low side outlets;
• d) the passageways including a liquid flow path extending from the inlet to the high side outlet;
• e) the passageways also including a vapor flow path including a capillary, the vapor flow path extending from the inlet to both the high and the low side outlets;
• and,
• f) a flow control valve connected to the structure for selectively closing the liquid flow path.