Air conditioner access and service fittings
AssigneeSchrader-Bridgeport International, Inc.
InventorsMajor H. Gilbert, Jeffrey A. Schultz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An air conditioner service fitting is provided and includes a valve body comprising a threaded bore and an annular valve seat extending around the bore. The valve body is configured and the valve seat is positioned such that all fluid that passes through the bore crosses the valve seat. A twist-to-open valve is disposed in the bore and threadedly engages with the valve body. The twist-to-open valve includes a valve element configured to form a polymer-to-metal seal with the valve seat. The polymer-to-metal seal stops substantially all fluid flow through the bore and the flow path when the twist-to-open valve is closed. The valve body further includes an external connection feature disposed around the bore. The valve body comprises an external sealing surface.
Claims24
An air conditioner access fitting comprising:
- a valve body comprising a threaded bore and an annular valve seat extending around the bore, the valve body configured and the valve seat positioned such that all fluid that passes through the bore crosses the valve seat;
- a twist-to-open valve disposed in the bore and threadedly engaged with the valve body, the valve comprising a second bore in fluid communication with the valve seat and a valve element configured to form a polymer-to-metal seal with the valve seat, the polymer-to-metal seal stopping substantially all fluid flow through the bore and the flow path when the twist-to-open valve is closed;
- a valve core disposed in the second bore and operative selectively to open and close a flow path extending through the second bore, the valve core including a receptacle opposite the valve element, the receptacle for receiving a fitting to open the polymer-to-metal seal;
- and
- the valve body further comprising a quick-connect shoulder disposed around the bore.
An air conditioner service fitting comprising:
- a valve body comprising a threaded bore and an annular valve seat extending around the bore, the valve body configured and the valve seat positioned such that all fluid that passes through the bore crosses the valve seat;
- a twist-to-open valve disposed in the bore and threadedly engaged with the valve body, the valve comprising a valve housing and a valve element configured to form a polymer-to-metal seal with the valve seat, the polymer-to-metal seal stopping substantially all fluid flow through the bore and the flow path when the twist-to-open valve is closed;
- the valve body further comprising an external connection feature disposed around the bore;
- a first locking element disposed within a first slot in the twist-to-open valve to restrain the valve core from movement out of the valve housing;
- a valve core disposed within the valve housing and operative selectively to open and close a flow path extending through the valve housing;
- a second locking element disposed within the twist-to-open valve to restrain the valve core from movement out of the valve housing;
- wherein the valve body comprises an external sealing surface.
An air conditioner service fitting comprising:
- a valve body comprising a threaded bore that forms a refrigerant introduction/removal flow path and an annular valve seat extending around the bore;
- a twist-to-open valve disposed in the bore and threadedly engaged with the valve body, the valve comprising a valve element configured to form a polymer-to-metal seal with the valve seat and a valve housing;
- the valve body further comprising a quick-connect shoulder disposed around the bore;
- a first locking element disposed within the valve body to restrain the twist-to-open valve from movement out of the bore;
- a valve core disposed within the valve housing and operative selectively to open and close a flow path extending through the valve housing;
- and
- a second locking element disposed within the twist-to-open valve to restrain the valve core from movement out of the valve housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.