Hand held refrigeration gauge

#This invention relates to electronic hand held gauges, particularly for measuring pressure and temperature, particularly for refrigeration systems.

#In a common refrigeration process, a refrigerant starts in the form of a vapor at or slightly above ambient temperature. This vapor enters a compressor and exits the compressor at a high temperature and high pressure. This vapor then travels under pressure through a condenser. The condenser comprises a series of tubes that are passively cooled by air, water, or glycol. By traveling through the condenser, the vapor is brought to a lower temperature, but remains at a high pressure. Because of this, the vapor becomes a liquid. When this liquid exits the condenser and passes through a type of restriction, the pressure suddenly decreases. The evaporation and expansion of the liquid causes a large decrease in temperature and pressure. This now cold vapor passes through the tubes of an evaporator. A fan blows ambient air over the cold tubes of the evaporator, which produces cooled air.

#At the liquid outlet of the condenser, it is expected that only liquid refrigerant will be present. The number of degrees that the liquid temperature is cooler than the saturation temperature corresponding to the liquid pressure is called the liquid subcooling. The subcooling is a measure of the effectiveness of the condenser and relates to proper refrigerant charge.

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the hand held refrigeration gauge of the present invention;

#FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the internal processes of the present invention;

#FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the hand held refrigeration gauge of the present invention; and

#While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there are shown in the drawings, and will be described herein in detail, specific embodiments thereof with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated.

#FIG. 1 shows the preferred embodiment of the hand held refrigeration gauge 100 of the present invention. The gauge has a body 110, a digital display screen 160, function buttons 130, a read button 140, a hand grip 120, and a service port connector 150.

#The service port connector 150 is for engaging a service port of a refrigeration or air conditioning system. In operation, the service port connector 150 is fitted onto the service port of a refrigeration or air conditioning system to be measured so as to guide the refrigerant pressure and/or temperature from the service port into the gauge 100. The service port has a seal not shown) for sealing the connection between the service port connector 150 and the service port. Pressure and/or temperature is measured upon depression of the operation function button 140. The pressure or temperature may be displayed on the digital display screen 160, by way of a processor 210 of the gauge 100.