Patent Grant
12196466
The exemplary teachings herein pertain to methods, systems, components and/or devices for providing quick connect fittings on an air conditioning unit, and in particular, to methods, systems and devices for converting a standard mini-split air conditioner unit into a quick connect mini-split air conditioner unit.
Mini-split and multi-split air conditioning systems are typically ductless systems which supply conditioned cooled and/or heated air to one or more rooms of a house or building in a decentralized manner. The mini split system comprises an indoor unit and an outdoor unit connected by refrigerant lines and a communication cable. Multi-zone or multi-split systems are ductless systems allowing multiple rooms to be conditioned independently, each with its own indoor unit and simultaneously from a single outdoor unit. One problem with mini-split or multi-split systems is that the connections on the refrigerant lines connecting the external unit to the internal ones can leak if improperly installed.
Correct installation of a mini-split air conditioning (AC) heat pump system is the most important part of an AC system. Flares are prone to leaking no matter who is doing them or how well they were done. Some mini-split AC systems come with quick connect refrigerant line fittings (Quick Connect Mini-split AC Units), while others do not (Standard Mini-split AC Units). The quick connect practice ensures a near flawless install and speeds up the installation process as well as potentially prolonging the life of HVAC equipment.
Therefore, there is a need for method(s), system(s) and device(s) providing for the conversion of a standard mini-split air conditioner unit into a quick connect mini-split air conditioner unit. The method(s), system(s) and device(s) of the present disclosure fulfills this and other needs.
Disclosed herein is one or more method(s), system(s) and device(s) for converting a standard mini-split AC system into a quick connect mini-split AC system. In one embodiment, the method and system is as follows:
On the AC system's evaporator, first release the nitrogen pre-charge that is in the evaporator from the factory by loosening and removing the plastic cap on the liquid line, then remove the plastic cap from the suction line.
Screw one “quick connect” fitting onto the suction line and one onto the liquid line, and tighten until it cannot be tightened anymore. Then, draw a line with a permanent marker that goes from the quick connect fitting to the flare fitting. If the lines are not lined up after installation, the quick connect fitting was loosened and needs to be retightened.
Screw the fitting tool/device to the quick connect fitting that is on the liquid line of the evaporator. The fitting tool/device is a series of pipe fittings that have valves and allows for the connection of a vacuum gauge and a vacuum pump to remove moisture. It will also allow for isolation of the system to perform a decay test for making sure there is no moisture in the system.
Connect a vacuum pump to one end of the fitting tool/device and the micron gauge to the other end of the fitting tool/device.
Begin the vacuum process. Vacuum the evaporator down to 200 microns (as a measure of moisture level) on the micron gauge that is connected to the fitting tool/device. This can take anywhere from approximately two to over five minutes depending on the humidity level of the atmosphere where the method is being performed.
After reaching 200 microns or lower, start the decay test. Allow at least several minutes, for example ten minutes, to make sure the micron level does not rise above 500 microns.
If the unit rises above 500 microns, then perform the vacuuming again back down to 200 microns then repeat the decay test.
If the unit does not rise above 500 microns, then remove the vacuum pump and proceed with adding of refrigerant.
Connect the refrigerant line, which has been purged from air and is full of refrigerant, to the fitting tool/device.
Isolate the micron gauge by removing from the tool/device or via a valve if provided so no refrigerant can/will damage it.
With the refrigerant tank on a scale or wireless scale, add 1 oz. of refrigerant to the evaporator by opening the valve on the end of the charging line. This small amount of refrigerant will add positive pressure to the evaporator. By doing this, when the connection from the line set is made to the evaporator it will aid in keeping air/moisture from entering the sealed system. This small amount of refrigerant should not have any effect on the operation of the system.
After the system has the refrigerant added, quickly remove the tool from the evaporator.
These are the main steps for turning a standard mini-split AC system into a quick connect mini-split AC system. The entire process can be competed in approximately ten minutes per unit.
Additional advantages and novel features will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following and the accompanying drawings or may be learned by production and/or operation of the teachings herein.
The drawing figures depict one or more implementations in accordance with the present teachings, by way of example only, not by way of limitation. It should be understood that such drawings depict preferred embodiments of the invention and are not to be considered as being limiting in scope with regard to other embodiments which are capable of being contemplating from this disclosure. A clear understanding of the disclosed methods and systems may be had by reference to the appended drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the same or similar elements.
The following description refers to numerous specific details which are set forth by way of examples to provide a thorough understanding of the relevant method(s), system(s) and device(s) disclosed herein. It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present disclosure may be practiced without all of such details. In other instances, well known methods, procedures, components, instruments, implements and/or devices have been described at a relatively high-level, without detail, in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring aspects of the present disclosure.
The method(s), systems(s) and device(s) of the present disclosure can be used to convert an existing pre-packaged AC unit, for example a 24,000 BTU mini-split AC unit, into a quick connect pre-charged AC unit, that can easily be repackaged, i.e., re-sealed in the original packaging, as if the modified AC unit was originally sent from the manufacturer.
In the manner described above, a pre-packaged AC unit has been converted to an AC unit with quick connect pre-charged ends. It should be understood that some of the steps described herein may be taken at different times in the process. For example, the labels can be placed on the box before, during or after the quick connect lines are completed.
It is to be understood that the teachings herein can be modified for other presently known or future configurations according to the various embodiments described herein.
While the present invention has been described in terms of particular embodiments and applications, in both summarized and detailed forms, it is not intended that these descriptions in any way limit its scope to any such embodiments and applications, and it will be understood that many substitutions, changes and variations in the described embodiments, applications and details of the method, system and device illustrated herein and of their operation can be made by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of this invention.
While the embodiment(s) disclosed herein are illustrative of the structure, function and operation of the exemplary method(s), system(s), component(s) and device(s), it should be understood that various modifications may be made thereto with departing from the teachings herein. Further, the components of the method(s), system(s), component(s) and device(s) disclosed herein can take any suitable form, including any suitable components capable of adequately performing their respective intended functions, as may be known in the art.
While the foregoing discussion presents the teachings in an exemplary fashion with respect to the disclosed method(s), system(s), component(s) and device(s) for mini-split AC units, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present disclosure may be apply to other method(s), system(s) and device(s) that may benefit from the use of quick connect fittings and/or that have standard refrigerant lines. Further, while the foregoing has described what are considered to be the best mode and/or other examples, it is understood that various modifications may be made therein and that the subject matter disclosed herein may be implemented in various forms and examples, and that the method(s), system(s), component(s) and device(s) may be applied in numerous applications, only some of which have been described herein.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular environments only and is not intended to be limiting of the method(s), system(s) and device(s). As used herein the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. As used herein the singular forms ‘a’ ‘an’ ‘and’ and ‘the’ are intended to include the plural forms as well as the singular forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising” when used in this specification specify the presents of stated features, steps, operations, elements and/or components but do not conclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components and/or groups thereof.
Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one having ordinary skill in the art to which the invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms such as those defining commonly used dictionary terms, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and the present disclosure and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense since expressly so defined herein.
In describing the method(s), system(s) and device(s) herein, it will be understood that a number of techniques and steps are disclosed. Each of these have individual benefits and each can also be used in conjunction with one or more or in some cases all of the other disclosed techniques. Accordingly, for the sake of clarity this description will refrain from repeating every possible combination of the individual steps in an unnecessary fashion. Nevertheless, the specification and claims should be read with the understanding that such combinations are entirely within the scope of the claims. Further, it should be understood that one or more of the steps described herein may be performed in a different sequence than described, or may be omitted, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, so long as a standard AC unit can be converted to a quick connect AC unit according to the basic teachings disclosed herein.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20200088417 | Ingram | Mar 2020 | A1 |
| 20200370764 | Strickland | Nov 2020 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63148685 | Feb 2021 | US |
