US3645496A — Device for servicing refrigeration systems

Claim 1

Independent Claim 261 words

In a coupling for refrigeration system testing or refrigerant replenishing equipment of the kind including a pressure gauge and a duct connected therewith to communicate with a refrigerant line in said system through an access nipple having a normally closed valve which must be depressed to open: a coupling body having a passage therein with openings at opposite ends; means for connecting one end of said passage in communication with said duct; means for connecting the opposite end of said passage in operative communication with said nipple; means operable selectively after both ends of said passage have been connected as aforesaid to depress and open said valve; and comprising a plunger aligned with said opposite end and means for operating said plunger; said plunger being fixed coaxially on one end of a rotary shaft which has its opposite end portion projecting from said body and has a manipulating head thereon comprising said means for operating the plunger; said body and said shaft having interengaging threaded means for effecting reciprocal movements of said shaft and thereby said plunger by rotation of said shaft by manipulation of said head; a nipple providing said means for connecting to the duct; a cap for closing said nipple when free from the duct; said means for connecting the opposite end of the passage comprising an extension on said body carrying a rotary coupling nut; and a threaded closure plug engageable in said nut; whereby the interior of the coupling is maintained clean and free from foreign matter getting thereinto when the coupling is not in use.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 261 words

In a coupling for refrigeration system testing or refrigerant replenishing equipment of the kind including a pressure gauge and a duct connected therewith to communicate with a refrigerant line in said system through an access nipple having a normally closed valve which must be depressed to open: a coupling body having a passage therein with openings at opposite ends; means for connecting one end of said passage in communication with said duct; means for connecting the opposite end of said passage in operative communication with said nipple; means operable selectively after both ends of said passage have been connected as aforesaid to depress and open said valve; and comprising a plunger aligned with said opposite end and means for operating said plunger; said plunger being fixed coaxially on one end of a rotary shaft which has its opposite end portion projecting from said body and has a manipulating head thereon comprising said means for operating the plunger; said body and said shaft having interengaging threaded means for effecting reciprocal movements of said shaft and thereby said plunger by rotation of said shaft by manipulation of said head; a nipple providing said means for connecting to the duct; a cap for closing said nipple when free from the duct; said means for connecting the opposite end of the passage comprising an extension on said body carrying a rotary coupling nut; and a threaded closure plug engageable in said nut; whereby the interior of the coupling is maintained clean and free from foreign matter getting thereinto when the coupling is not in use.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 36 words

In a coupling according to claim 1, said body extension having a shoulder within said coupling nut, a sealing ring on said shoulder, said plug being drivable against said sealing ring to maintain a perfect closure.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 240 words

In a coupling for refrigeration system testing or refrigerant replenishing equipment of the kind including a pressure gauge and a duct connected therewith to communicate with a refrigerant line in said system through an access nipple having a normally closed valve which must be depressed to open: a coupling body having a passage therein with openings at opposite ends; means for connecting one end of said passage in communication with said duct; means for connecting the opposite end of said passage in operative communication with said nipple; means operable selectively after both ends of said passage have been connected as aforesaid to depress and open said valve; and comprising a plunger aligned with said opposite end and means for operating said plunger; said plunger being fixed coaxially on one end of a rotary shaft which has its opposite end portion projecting from said body and has a manipulating head thereon comprising said means for operating the plunger; said body and said shaft having interengaging threaded means for effecting reciprocal movements of said shaft and thereby said plunger by rotation of said shaft by manipulation of said head; and said body having a tubular base extension comprising a separately formed shouldered member carrying a rotary coupling nut engageable with said access nipple and having a tubular projecting portion engaged in said body in alignment with said plunger and shaft, providing a part of said passage and having said plunger extending thereinto.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 240 words

In a coupling for refrigeration system testing or refrigerant replenishing equipment of the kind including a pressure gauge and a duct connected therewith to communicate with a refrigerant line in said system through an access nipple having a normally closed valve which must be depressed to open: a coupling body having a passage therein with openings at opposite ends; means for connecting one end of said passage in communication with said duct; means for connecting the opposite end of said passage in operative communication with said nipple; means operable selectively after both ends of said passage have been connected as aforesaid to depress and open said valve; and comprising a plunger aligned with said opposite end and means for operating said plunger; said plunger being fixed coaxially on one end of a rotary shaft which has its opposite end portion projecting from said body and has a manipulating head thereon comprising said means for operating the plunger; said body and said shaft having interengaging threaded means for effecting reciprocal movements of said shaft and thereby said plunger by rotation of said shaft by manipulation of said head; and said body having a tubular base extension comprising a separately formed shouldered member carrying a rotary coupling nut engageable with said access nipple and having a tubular projecting portion engaged in said body in alignment with said plunger and shaft, providing a part of said passage and having said plunger extending thereinto.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 93 words

In a coupling according to claim 3, said shaft being of substantially larger diameter than said plunger, said tubular base extension having a bore of larger diameter than said plunger but of smaller diameter than said shaft and opening within said body toward said shaft, and said shaft having a stepped shoulder which faces toward an inner end face of said tubular base extension in spaced relation to assure free flow of refrigerant past the gap between the shoulder and face when the plunger is driven inwardly to open the normally closed valve.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 50 words

In a coupling according to claim 3, a sealing ring recessed into the outer end of said extension to effect a sealed joint between the end of the nipple and the extension when the nut is threaded onto the nipple and draws the extension toward the end of the nipple.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1975-02-28	1975-08-30	1976-02-29	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1979-02-28	1979-08-30	1980-02-29	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1983-02-28	1983-08-30	1984-02-29	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Device for servicing refrigeration systems

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