Fastest, Inc.

Stanlee W Meisinger

Robert B Danielson

Mark D Medved

Allen Wagenius

Daniel J Cornish

Daniel P Welch

A service connection valve that is configured for use on air conditioning and refrigeration units. The valve includes a pin guide that is separate from the poppet assembly and installed in the valve body prior to installation of the poppet assembly. In addition, the pin guide can be disposed in a large diameter flow passageway of the valve body. Further, the poppet assembly includes a seal that expands in diameter upon installing the poppet assembly into the valve body. The service connection valve provides high flow rates during charging and evacuation operations.

High flow service connection valve

A system for performing rapid charging and evacuation of systems that contain a fluid, such as cooling systems on refrigeration products. In addition, the invention relates to methods of accomplishing rapid charging and evacuation, as well as to tools that form part of the system and that are used to accomplish the methods.

Rapid evacuation and charging system, and apparatus and methods relating thereto

A service valve assembly that is designed to minimize leakage by reducing the number of leakage paths from the valve assembly. In addition, the service valve assembly is designed to permit connection to many different refrigeration systems and has higher flow capacity. The valve assembly is engageable by current servicing tools so that purchase of new service tools is not required. In the valve assembly, the service connection is designed as part of the shut-off valve and communicates with the condenser side port. Therefore, initial processing through the condenser side port and subsequent processing through the evaporation side port occur through the combined service connection and shut-off valve structure. Once installed, the described valve assembly has one leak path versus two leak paths in known valve assemblies.

Refrigeration valve block

Improved latching connectors that can be used to connect a fluid system, such as manufacturing, test, or processing equipment, to an external system, for example charging, evacuation and/or testing equipment. In one embodiment, the connector includes elements by which to protect connector seals from being exposed to fluid being transferred, thereby lengthening the lifetime and reliability of the connector. In another embodiment, the male connector portion and the female connector portion are both valved in a normally closed position. The connector is designed to achieve connection of the male portion to the female portion, and sealing between the male portion and the female portion, prior to the valves in each connector portion being opened and fluid flowing through the connector. The latching connector includes a pressure locking sleeve that, once the connector is under pressure, locks the connector to prevent accidental disconnection.

Latching connectors

A quick connect connector for connecting to a fluidline in a safe, reliable manner. The connector includes a body member and a piston member slideably engaged with the body member and defining therewith a fluid passage. The body member is slideable relative to the piston member between a first position and a second position. A valve mechanism is provided for controlling flow through the fluid passage, with the valve mechanism preventing fluid flow through the fluid passage at the first position of the body member, and permitting fluid flow at the second position of the body member. A collet assembly or a ball detent assembly is connected to the piston member for connecting the fluidline, which has a valve mechanism at the end thereof, to the piston member. A positioning and retaining mechanism is provided for selectively controlling movement of the body member relative to the piston member between the first position and the second position and for retaining the body member at the second position. The collet assembly or the ball detent assembly initially secures the fluidline to the piston member prior to the valve mechanisms in the fluidline and the body member being opened. When the positioning and retaining mechanism actuates the body member to the second position, the valve mechanisms are opened, thereby permitting flow through the connector.

High pressure fluidline connector

A coupler for coupling flanged fluid conducting tubes end-to-end in a sealed manner, thereby preventing contact between the fluid flowing through the tubes and the coupler. The coupler includes a body having an interior surface defining an axially extending passage, with the passage being sized so that a first, enlarged end portion of a first fluid conducting tube and a second, enlarged end portion of a second fluid conducting tube can be disposed therein in an end-to-end relationship with a gasket therebetween. The interior surface of the body is provided with a fastening mechanism whereby the first enlarged end portion can be removably secured within the passage of the body. Additionally, the body includes a ball locking mechanism whereby the second enlarged end portion can be clamped to the first enlarged end portion with the gasket therebetween. A sleeve is slideably disposed on an outer peripheral surface of the body, with the sleeve being slideable relative to the body between a first non-locking position and a second locking position. The ball locking mechanism is actuatable by the sleeve as the sleeve moves from the first to the second position. A circumferential detent is formed on the interior surface of the sleeve, with the balls of the ball locking mechanism fitting into the detent when the sleeve is in the locking position.

Sanitary quick connector

A filling connector for fastening to a valve arrangement on a gas container to enable filling of the gas container with a gas. The filling connector includes a housing defining a longitudinal axis, with a recess formed through a side of the housing to receive the valve arrangement of the gas container. A bore is formed in the housing parallel to the longitudinal axis, with the bore extending from one end of the housing and opening into the recess. A shaft portion is fixed to the housing in the bore, and an outer surface of the shaft portion is spaced from an interior surface of the housing which forms the bore to define a space between the outer surface and the interior surface. A piston is slideably disposed within the bore, with the piston including a sealing neck extending into the recess and a skirt portion disposed within the space and slideable on the outer surface of the shaft portion. A biasing spring is interengaged between the piston and the housing so as to bias the piston in a direction away from the recess. The biasing spring is disposed around the outside of the piston whereby the biasing spring is not wetted by the gas flowing through the filling connector.

Filling connector for gas containers

A high pressure coupling includes a tubular piston having a longitudinal axis and first and second opposite ends, with the tubular piston being moveable between a disengaged position and a pressurized position. A coupling mechanism surrounds the first end of the tubular piston, with the coupling mechanism including an un-coupled configuration and a coupled configuration. A sleeve is engaged with the coupling mechanism for controlling operation of the coupling mechanism. The sleeve is moveable between a first position at which the coupling mechanism is in the un-coupled configuration and a second position at which the coupling mechanism is in the coupled configuration. A detent mechanism is provided which is actuatable by the tubular piston. The detent mechanism is engageable with the sleeve at the disengaged position of the tubular piston to hold the sleeve at the first position and the detent mechanism is engageable with the sleeve at the pressurized position of the tubular piston to hold the sleeve at the second position.

High pressure coupling

A valved fitting is provided which includes a body having a first end and a second end spaced from the first end, with a fluid passage extending through the body between the first and second ends. A valve seat is defined on the body within the fluid passage, and a valve assembly is removably disposed within the fluid passage for controlling flow through the fluid passage. The valve assembly includes a valve head that is engageable with the valve seat in sealable relation therewith. A higher flow area, and thus a higher flow rate, are achieved with the fitting of the invention as compared to conventional fittings which utilize a single-piece body with a Schrader valve, because the valve seat is defined on the body, and the valve head is engageable with the valve seat. Further, the valve assembly is removable, thereby allowing the valve assembly to be replaced when needed. The valved fitting of the invention is particularly useful on a service valve block for an air conditioning system.

High flow valved fitting

A quick connect connector for connecting to a fluidline in a safe, reliable manner. The connector includes a body member having a central fluid passageway with a valve fixedly secured therein for selectively controlling fluid flow through the passageway. A piston member is slideably engaged with the body member, with the body member being slideable relative to the piston member between a first position and a second position. A collet assembly or a ball detent assembly is connected to the piston member for connecting the fluidline, which has a valve at the end thereof, to the piston member. A positioning and retaining mechanism is provided for selectively controlling movement of the body member relative to said piston member between the first position and the second position and for retaining the body member at the second position. The collet assembly or the ball detent assembly initially secures the fluidline to the piston member prior to the valves in the fluidline and the body member being opened. When the positioning and retaining mechanism actuates the body member to the second position, the valves are opened, thereby permitting flow through the connector.

The invention provides an improved bubble leak tester, and associated method for performing a leak test and operating the leak tester, to test for leaks in a test part. The apparatus and methods of the invention allow for simple, inexpensive, quick and accurate testing of the test part, provides a visual indication of a leak, and eliminates the part damage and clean-up associated with conventional water immersion tests. Further, the apparatus and methods in accordance with the invention control liquid backflow, so that contamination and damage to the device is reduced. In one embodiment in accordance with the invention, a leak tester is provided that is connectable to a reference volume and a test volume for determining the presence of a leak in the test volume. The leak tester comprises a reference port for connection to the reference volume, a test port for connection to the test volume, a bubble chamber connected between the reference port and the test port, and apparatus for selectively controlling flow between the reference port and the bubble chamber and between the test port and the bubble chamber.

Leak detection apparatus and method

The present invention provides a high pressure plug coupling for providing a quick, fluid tight connection to a fluid port having internal threads. The high pressure plug coupling includes a generally hollow, exterior sleeve, with a hollow cylindrical piston slideably disposed within the exterior sleeve. A split collet assembly is connected to an end of the piston and is moveable therewith relative to the exterior sleeve. The split collet assembly includes a distal end portion that is radially expandable and contractable, with an interior surface of the distal end portion being tapered. An expansion pin is moveably disposed within the collet assembly and the piston for expanding the distal end portion. The expansion pin includes a frustum-shaped end portion adjacent to the distal end portion, with the frustum-shaped end portion being engaged with the tapered interior surface when the distal end portion is radially expanded. The frustum-shaped end portion of the expansion pin acts like a wedge, forcing the collets radially outward and into engagement with the internal threads of the fluid port. Further, since the frustum-shaped end portion is engaged with the tapered surface at the radially expanded state, the force of the pressurized fluid acting on the expansion pin is distributed between the expansion pin and the collets, thus achieving a more durable design and allowing higher pressures.

High pressure plug coupling

A connector for providing a fluid tight connection to a fluid port having internal threads. The connector includes an exterior sleeve having a split collet retractably mounted therein. The split collet defines an axial bore and includes a distal end portion extending axially outward from an end of the sleeve and adapted for lockingly engaging the threads of the fluid port. A sealing structure is mounted on the distal portion of the collet for providing a fluid tight seal with an end portion of the fluid port. The connector further includes an expansion pin mounted within the axial bore of the split collet adjacent to the distal end portion of the split collet. The expansion pin cooperates with the split collet to move the split collet radially inward and outward. A cross member connects the expansion pin to the exterior sleeve for preventing relative axial movement between the exterior sleeve and the expansion pin. The cross member is preferably aligned generally transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the sleeve.

Growing community of inventors

Golden Valley, MN, United States of America

Stanlee W Meisinger