Claims
- 1. A service device comprising:a body having a first end engageable with a service port including a valve, a second end engageable with a service unit, and an inner surface defining an interior chamber, the first end and the second end being in fluid communication through the interior chamber; and a valve opening member disposed in the interior chamber, the valve opening member including a valve actuating end proximate to the first end, the valve actuating end being capable of changing position relative to the first end, and the valve actuating end being positioned relative to the first end to open the valve as the first end is engaged with the service port.
- 2. The service device of claim 1, further comprising a spring within the body biasing the valve opening member toward the first end.
- 3. The service device of claim 2, wherein the valve opening member is arranged to depress a pin within the valve when engaged with the service port, and the spring is less compressible than the pin.
- 4. The service device of claim 1, further comprising a sealing gasket between the body and the first end, the first end being capable of forming a seal with the port when the first end is engaged with the service port.
- 5. The service device of claim 1, wherein the first end includes a threaded fitting for engaging the first end with the service port.
- 6. The service device of claim 1, wherein the first end includes a quick connect fitting for engaging the first end with the service port.
- 7. The service device of claim 1, wherein the valve opening member is arranged to depress a pin within the valve when engaged with the service port.
- 8. The service device of claim 1, wherein the first end of the body includes a release sleeve assembly including an adapter connected to the first end of the body, a release sleeve over the adapter, and a spring between the release sleeve and the adapter.
- 9. The service device of claim 8, wherein the release sleeve assembly includes a plurality of balls distributed between the adapter and the sleeve, the balls being engageable with the service port.
- 10. The service device of claim 1, further comprising a purge actuator exterior to the body.
- 11. The service device of claim 1, wherein the body is a portion of a coupling device.
- 12. The service device of claim 1, wherein the first end is engageable with a high pressure side refrigerant port or a low pressure side refrigerant port.
- 13. The service device of claim 1, further comprising a pin depressor proximate to the second end having a first position oriented closer to the interior chamber relative to a second position which is closer to the service port, the pin depressor moving from the first position to the second position when the service port is engaged with the first end of the body, and the pin depressor being in the first position when the first end of the body is not engaged with the service port.
- 14. The service device of claim 13, wherein the pin depressor is movably attached to a pusher disposed in the interior chamber.
- 15. The service device of claim 13, further comprising a purge actuator exterior to the body, the purge actuator having a shaft extending through the interior chamber to the port, the shaft being capable of moving the pin depressor from the first position to the second position.
- 16. The service device of claim 13, further comprising a valve positioned within the second end, the valve being opened when the pin depressor moves from the first position to the second position.
- 17. The service device of claim 13, further comprising a valve detection member movably disposed on a pusher within the internal chamber, the valve detection member moving relative to the pusher when the service port is engaged with the first end of the body, and the pin depressor moving from the first position to the second position when the valve detection member moves relative to the valve actuation portion.
- 18. The service device of claim 13, further comprising a spring within the body biasing the valve opening member toward the first end.
- 19. The service device of claim 18, wherein the valve opening member is arranged to depress a pin within the valve when engaged with the service port, and the spring is less compressible than the pin.
- 20. A coupling member comprising:a body having a first end engageable with a service port including a first valve, an inner surface defining an interior chamber, and a second end in fluid communication with the interior chamber and the first end; a valve opening member extending toward the first end of the body movably disposed on a pusher within the interior chamber; a valve detection member movably disposed on the pusher, the valve detection member moving relative to the pusher when the service port is engaged with the first end of the body and the valve detection member being substantially stationary relative to the pusher when the first end of the body is not engaged with the service port; a pin depressor movably attached to the pusher and proximate to the second end having a first position oriented closer to the interior chamber relative to a second position which is closer to the second end, the pin depressor moving from the first position to the second position when the valve detection member moves relative to the pusher.
- 21. The coupling member of claim 20, wherein the first end includes a release sleeve assembly including an adapter connected to the first end, a release sleeve over the adapter, and a spring between the release sleeve and the adapter.
- 22. The coupling member of claim 21, wherein the release sleeve assembly includes a plurality of balls distributed between the adapter and the sleeve, the balls being engageable with the service port.
- 23. The coupling member of claim 20, further comprising a purge actuator exterior to the body, the purge actuator having a shaft extending through the interior chamber to the port, the shaft being capable of moving the pin depressor from the first position to the second position.
- 24. The coupling member of claim 20, further comprising a second valve positioned within the second end, the second valve being opened when the pin depressor moves from the first position to the second position.
- 25. The coupling member of claim 20, further comprising a spring within the body biasing the valve opening member toward the first end.
- 26. The coupling member of claim 20, wherein the valve opening member is arranged to depress a pin within the valve when engaged with the service port, and the spring is less compressible than the pin.
- 27. An air conditioning or refrigeration service device comprising:a first end engageable with a service port including a valve; a valve opening member disposed within the service device, the valve opening member including a valve actuating end proximate to the first end, and the valve actuating end being capable of changing position relative to the first end; and a spring within the device biased to position the valve opening member toward the first end.
- 28. The service device of claim 27, wherein the valve opening member is arranged to depress a pin within the valve when engaged with the service port, and the spring is less compressible than the pin.
- 29. A method of opening a service port comprising:adjusting a position of a valve actuating end of a valve opening member relative to a first end of a service port connector, the valve opening member being within the connector and the service port connector being attached to a service unit or being capable of attaching to a service unit and the first end being engageable with the service port; and opening a valve within the service port, wherein the valve actuating end is capable of being positioned relative to the first end to open the valve as the first end is engaged with the port.
- 30. The method of claim 29, wherein adjusting takes place upon attaching the service port connector to the service port.
- 31. The method of claim 29, further comprising sealing the connector to the port prior to or concurrently with opening the valve.
- 32. The method of claim 29, wherein adjusting includes moving the valve opening member relative to the first end against a spring, the spring being biased to position the valve opening member toward the first end.
- 33. The method of claim 32, wherein the spring is less compressible than a pin in the valve of the service port.
- 34. A method of servicing a pressurized fluid system comprisingattaching a coupling member to a service port of the system, the coupling member including a self-adjusting valve opening member; and opening the service port by attaching the coupling member to the service port.
- 35. The method of claim 34, wherein the service port is a high pressure side refrigerant port or a low pressure side refrigerant port.
- 36. The method of claim 34, wherein the coupling member is connected to a service unit.
CLAIM OF PRIORITY
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/448,610, filed on Nov. 24, 1999 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,250,603 , the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
US Referenced Citations (14)
Non-Patent Literature Citations (1)
Entry |
“R134a Couplers, Replacement Guages, Gauge Protectors,” Mastercool brochure (undated). |
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09/448610 |
Nov 1999 |
US |
Child |
09/604788 |
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US |