Freon Refilling Apparatus for Vehicles

Abstract

A Freon refilling apparatus for vehicles comprises an outer shell and a tube fitting. The tube fitting is secured to a refilling duct, and one end of the tube fitting has a connection port. The apparatus also comprises an operating handle and a pushrod. One end of the operating handle is hinged to the tube fitting, and the other end is a press part. When the press part swings and gets close to the tube fitting, it drives the pushrod to move and open the gas cylinder. A confining plate is also hinged to the press part. The confining plate has an active contact part, while the outer shell has a passive contact part. The active contact part can lean against the passive contact part. The operating handle is locked when that happens.

Claims

1. A Freon refilling apparatus for vehicles, comprising: an outer shell (1); a tube fitting (2) secured to the outer shell (1), one end of the tube fitting (2) having a connection port (21) capable of connecting with an outlet of a gas cylinder; a refilling duct (3) secured to the tube fitting (2) and capable of connecting with air conditioners of vehicles; an operating handle (4) and a pushrod (5) that movably plugs into the tube fitting (2), one end of the operating handle (4) is hinged to the tube fitting (2), and an other end is a press part (41) that is located alongside the tube fitting (2); and a confining plate (6) hinged to the press part (41), the confining plate (6) having an active contact part (61), the outer shell (1) having a passive contact part (11) that is located between the press part (41) and the tube fitting (2); wherein when the press part (41) swings and gets close to the tube fitting (2), it drives the pushrod (5) to move and open the gas cylinder; wherein the active contact part (61) is capable of leaning against the passive contact part (11); and wherein the operating handle (4) locks when the active contact part (61) leans against the passive contact part (11).

2. The Freon refilling apparatus for vehicles as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first avoidance opening (12) is on the outer shell (1), the press part (41) stretches out of the first avoidance opening (12), the active contact part (61) is a free end of the confining plate (6), a long strip shaped clamping slot (62) is on an edge of the active contact part (61) in the lengthwise direction, the passive contact part (11) is a proximal edge of the first avoidance opening (12) that is proximal to the tube fitting (2), and the clamping slot (62) of the active contact part (61) can clamp the passive contact part (11).

3. The Freon refilling apparatus for vehicles as claimed in claim 2 wherein a distal edge of the first avoidance opening (12) that is distal from the tube fitting (2) is the confining edge (13), and when the active contact part (61) leans against the passive contact part (11), a gap between the confining edge (13) and an outer wall of the operating handle (4) is smaller than a depth of the clamping slot (62).

4. The Freon refilling apparatus for vehicles as claimed in claim 3 wherein the confining plate (6) is made of plastic, and the outer shell (1) has a thin-walled plastic structure.

5. The Freon refilling apparatus for vehicles as claimed in claim 2 wherein there are connection columns (63) on both opposing side edges of the confining plate (6), the connection columns (63) are on a distal side edge distal from the clamping slot (62), the operating handle (4) is of a thin-walled structure with a cavity (42), the confining plate (6) is hinged to an inner wall of the cavity (42) through two connection columns (63), there are locating bosses (64) on both opposing side edges of the confining plate (6), the locating bosses (64) are on a proximal side edge proximal to the clamping slot (62), there are locating holes (43) on an opposite inner wall of the cavity (42), and when the active contact part (61) detaches from the passive contact part (11), the confining plate (6) is capable of swinging into the cavity (42) and the locating bosses (64) are capable of fitting into the locating holes (43).

6. The Freon refilling apparatus for vehicles as claimed in claim 5 wherein a thickness of the confining plate (6) tapers from an end with the clamping slot (62) to an other end.

7. The Freon refilling apparatus for vehicles as claimed in claim 3 wherein there are connection columns (63) on both opposing side edges of the confining plate (6), the connection columns (63) are on a distal side edge distal from the clamping slot (62), the operating handle (4) is of a thin-walled structure with a cavity (42), the confining plate (6) is hinged to an inner wall of the cavity (42) through two connection columns (63), there are locating bosses (64) on both opposing side edges of the confining plate (6), the locating bosses (64) are on a proximal side edge proximal to the clamping slot (62), there are locating holes (43) on an opposite inner wall of the cavity (42), and when the active contact part (61) detaches from the passive contact part (11), the confining plate (6) is capable of swinging into the cavity (42) and the locating bosses (64) are capable of fitting into the locating holes (43).

8. The Freon refilling apparatus for vehicles as claimed in claim 4 wherein there are connection columns (63) on both opposing side edges of the confining plate (6), the connection columns (63) are on a distal side edge distal from the clamping slot (62), the operating handle (4) is of a thin-walled structure with a cavity (42), the confining plate (6) is hinged to an inner wall of the cavity (42) through two connection columns (63), there are locating bosses (64) on both opposing side edges of the confining plate (6), the locating bosses (64) are on a proximal side edge proximal to the clamping slot (62), there are locating holes (43) on an opposite inner wall of the cavity (42), and when the active contact part (61) detaches from the passive contact part (11), the confining plate (6) is capable of swinging into the cavity (42) and the locating bosses (64) are capable of fitting into the locating holes (43).

9. The Freon refilling apparatus for vehicles as claimed in claim 2 wherein the operating handle (4) is curved, the second avoidance opening (44) is on the operating handle (4), there is a tube-connecting part (22) on an outer wall of the tube fitting (2), the tube-connecting part (22) connects with the tube fitting (2), an end of the filling duct (3) is secured on the tube-connecting part (22), and an other end of the filling duct (3) passes through the second avoidance opening (44).

10. The Freon refilling apparatus for vehicles as claimed in claim 3 wherein the operating handle (4) is curved, the second avoidance opening (44) is on the operating handle (4), there is a tube-connecting part (22) on an outer wall of the tube fitting (2), the tube-connecting part (22) connects with the tube fitting (2), an end of the filling duct (3) is secured on the tube-connecting part (22), and an other end of the filling duct (3) passes through the second avoidance opening (44).

11. The Freon refilling apparatus for vehicles as claimed in claim 4 wherein the operating handle (4) is curved, the second avoidance opening (44) is on the operating handle (4), there is a tube-connecting part (22) on an outer wall of the tube fitting (2), the tube-connecting part (22) connects with the tube fitting (2), an end of the filling duct (3) is secured on the tube-connecting part (22), and an other end of the filling duct (3) passes through the second avoidance opening (44).

12. The Freon refilling apparatus for vehicles as claimed in claim 2 wherein there is a connection part (23) on an outer wall of the tube fitting (2), an end of the operating handle (4) is hinged to the connection part (23), there is a push part (45) on the operating handle (4), there is an active push slope (46) on the push part (45), an end of the pushrod (5) stretches out of the tube fitting (2), there is a passive push slope (51) on the end of the pushrod (5), and the active push slope (46) leans against the passive push slope (51).

13. The Freon refilling apparatus for vehicles as claimed in claim 3 wherein there is a connection part (23) on an outer wall of the tube fitting (2), an end of the operating handle (4) is hinged to the connection part (23), there is a push part (45) on the operating handle (4), there is an active push slope (46) on the push part (45), an end of the pushrod (5) stretches out of the tube fitting (2), there is a passive push slope (51) on the end of the pushrod (5), and the active push slope (46) leans against the passive push slope (51).

14. The Freon refilling apparatus for vehicles as claimed in claim 4 wherein there is a connection part (23) on an outer wall of the tube fitting (2), an end of the operating handle (4) is hinged to the connection part (23), there is a push part (45) on the operating handle (4), there is an active push slope (46) on the push part (45), an end of the pushrod (5) stretches out of the tube fitting (2), there is a passive push slope (51) on the end of the pushrod (5), and the active push slope (46) leans against the passive push slope (51).

15. The Freon refilling apparatus for vehicles as claimed in claim 2 wherein a sealing groove (52) is on an outer peripheral wall of the pushrod (5), a sealing ring (53) is installed in the sealing groove (52), the sealing ring (53) presses against an inner peripheral wall of the tube fitting (2), and the connection port (22) is located between the connection port (21) and the sealing ring (53).

16. The Freon refilling apparatus for vehicles as claimed in claim 3 wherein a sealing groove (52) is on an outer peripheral wall of the pushrod (5), a sealing ring (53) is installed in the sealing groove (52), the sealing ring (53) presses against an inner peripheral wall of the tube fitting (2), and the connection port (22) is located between the connection port (21) and the sealing ring (53).

17. The Freon refilling apparatus for vehicles as claimed in claim 4 wherein a sealing groove (52) is on an outer peripheral wall of the pushrod (5), a sealing ring (53) is installed in the sealing groove (52), the sealing ring (53) presses against an inner peripheral wall of the tube fitting (2), and the connection port (22) is located between the connection port (21) and the sealing ring (53).

18. The Freon refilling apparatus for vehicles as claimed in claim 2 wherein there is a sealing cone (24) on an inner wall of the tube fitting (2), a larger diameter end of the sealing cone (24) faces the connection port (21), a circular sealing block (54) is secured to the pushrod (5), a reset spring (55) is installed over the pushrod (5), an end of the reset spring (55) presses against the tube fitting (2), an other end of the reset spring (55) presses against the pushrod (5), and when the pushrod (5) is no longer subjected to a force from the operating handle (4), the sealing block (54) will press against the sealing cone (24) under a force from the reset spring (55).

19. The Freon refilling apparatus for vehicles as claimed in claim 3 wherein there is a sealing cone (24) on an inner wall of the tube fitting (2), a larger diameter end of the sealing cone (24) faces the connection port (21), a circular sealing block (54) is secured to the pushrod (5), a reset spring (55) is installed over the pushrod (5), an end of the reset spring (55) presses against the tube fitting (2), an other end of the reset spring (55) presses against the pushrod (5), and when the pushrod (5) is no longer subjected to a force from the operating handle (4), the sealing block (54) will press against the sealing cone (24) under a force from the reset spring (55).

20. The Freon refilling apparatus for vehicles as claimed in claim 4 wherein there is a sealing cone (24) on an inner wall of the tube fitting (2), a larger diameter end of the sealing cone (24) faces the connection port (21), a circular sealing block (54) is secured to the pushrod (5), a reset spring (55) is installed over the pushrod (5), an end of the reset spring (55) presses against the tube fitting (2), an other end of the reset spring (55) presses against the pushrod (5), and when the pushrod (5) is no longer subjected to a force from the operating handle (4), the sealing block (54) will press against the sealing cone (24) under a force from the reset spring (55).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present Freon refilling apparatus for vehicles.

[0026] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the present Freon refilling apparatus for vehicles.

[0027] FIG. 3 is a detailed view of Section A in FIG. 2.

[0028] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the confining plate.

[0029] FIG. 5 is a detailed view of Section B in FIG. 2.

[0030] FIG. 6 is a detailed view of Section C in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0031] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below and the technical proposals of the invention will be further illustrated in connection with the accompanying figures. However, the present invention shall not be limited to these embodiments.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a Freon refilling apparatus for vehicles comprises the outer shell (1), the tube fitting (2), and the refilling duct (3). The tube fitting (2) is secured to the outer shell (1). One end of the refilling duct (3) is connected to the tube fitting (2), and the other end is used to connect with the automotive air conditioner. One end of the tube fitting (2) has a connection port (21). There are two types of gas cylinders, which are sealed by a valve core or a diaphragm respectively; however, both types of gas cylinders can be connected to the connection port (21) of the tube fitting (2). The refilling apparatus also comprises the operating handle (4) and the pushrod (5) which movably plugs into the tube fitting (2). One end of the pushrod (5) plugs into the connection port (21) and aligns with the diaphragm or the valve core of the gas cylinder. One end of the operating handle (4) is hinged to the tube fitting (2), and the other end is a press part (41) which is located alongside the tube fitting (2). When the press part (41) swings and gets close to the tube fitting (2), it drives the pushrod (5) to move and open the gas cylinder. When the connection port (21) is connected to a gas cylinder complete with a diaphragm, the pushrod (5) can piece the diaphragm to open the gas cylinder. When the connection port is connected to a gas cylinder complete with a valve core, the pushrod (5) can push the valve core to open the gas cylinder as well. The confining plate (6) is also hinged to the press part (41). The confining plate (6) has an active contact part (61), while the outer shell (1) has a passive contact part (11) which is located between the press part (41) and the tube fitting (2). The active contact part (61) can lean against the passive contact part (11). The operating handle (4) is locked when that happens. In dormant situations where the refilling apparatus is being sold or exhibited, the confining plate (6) can be pulled to make the active contact part (61) press against the passive contact part (11). The contact location of the two parts is located between the press part (41) and the tube fitting (2), the press part (41) is blocked by the confining plate (6) and cannot approach the tube fitting (2) under external forces. This prevents the gas cylinder from being opened by mistake and achieves a higher security.

[0033] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the first avoidance opening (12) is designed on the outer shell (1), and the press part (41) stretches out of the first avoidance opening (12). The active contact part (61) is the free end of the confining plate (6). A long strip shaped clamping slot (62) is designed on the edge of the active contact part (61), in the lengthwise direction. The passive contact part (11) is the edge of the first avoidance opening (12) that is close to the tube fitting (2). The clamping slot (62) of the active contact part (61) can clamp the passive contact part (11). The clamping slot (62) makes the active contact part (61) not able to detach from the passive contact part (11) unless external forces are applied. When the confining plate (6) is pushed by external forces, it deforms the passive contact part (11) and thus the active press part (61) detaches. Hence, the press part (41) can swing inside the first avoidance opening (12). The edge of the first avoidance opening (12) that is away from the tube fitting (2) is the confining edge (13). When the active contact part (61) leans against the passive contact part (11), the gap between the confining edge (13) and the outer wall of the operating handle (4) is smaller than the depth of the clamping slot (62). The confining edge (13) limits the swing of the press part (41) in the direction away from the tube fitting (2). Namely, when no external force is applied, even if the press part (41) leans against the confining edge (13), the active contact part (61) will not detach from the passive contact part (11). Hence, through the combination of the passive contact part (11) and the confining edge (13), the active contact part (61) of the confining plate (6) clamps the passive contact part (11), and the stability is improved. The confining plate (6) is made of plastic, and the outer shell (1) has a thin-walled plastic structure. The passive contact part (11) is of a thin-walled plastic structure, and has a certain elastic and deformation capacity; therefore, the active contact part (61) can detach from the passive contact part (11) under external forces, and the structure is simple.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 4, there are connection columns (63) on both of the opposite side edges of the confining plate (6), and the connection columns (63) are on the side edge away from the clamping slot (62). The operating handle (4) is of a thin-walled structure with a cavity (42). The confining plate (6) is hinged to the inner wall of the cavity (42) through the two connection columns (63). There are also locating bosses (64) on both of the opposite side edges of the confining plate (6), and the locating bosses (64) are on the side edge close to the clamping slot (62). There are locating holes (43) on the opposite inner walls of the cavity (42). When the active contact part (61) detaches from the passive contact part (11), the confining plate (6) can swings into the cavity (42), and the locating bosses (64) can snap into the locating holes (43). After the active contact part (61) detaches from the passive contact part (11), the confining plate (6) may be pushed into the cavity (42), and the locating bosses (64) can fit into the locating holes (43), so as to secure the confining plate (6) in the cavity (42), and prevent the confining plate (6) from interfering with the actions of the press part (41). The thickness of the confining plate (6) tapers from the end with the clamping slot (62) to the other end. Namely, the end of the confining plate (6) where the clamping slot (62) is located is heavier, and the confining plate (6) drops automatically after detaching from the passive contact part (11). Even if it is not secured in the cavity (42), it will not interfere with the actions of the press part (41). The operating handle (4) is curved. The second avoidance opening (44) is also designed on the operating handle (4). There is a tube-connecting part (22) on the outer wall of the tube fitting (2), and the tube-connecting part (22) connects with the tube fitting (2). One end of the refilling duct (3) is secured on the tube-connecting part (22), and the other end passes through the second avoidance opening (44). The curved operating handle (4) allows the press part (41) to be located alongside the tube fitting (2). Meanwhile, the refilling duct (3) passes through the second avoidance opening (44), so both of the press part (41) and the refilling duct (3) are located in the same side of the tube fitting (2), which achieves a more compact structure.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, there is a connection part (23) on the outer wall of the tube fitting (2), and one end of the operating handle (4) is hinged to the connection part (23). There is a push part (45) on the operating handle (4) and there is the active push slope (46) on the push part (45). One end of the pushrod (5) stretches out of the tube fitting (2), and there is the passive push slope (51) on the end that stretches out of the tube fitting. The active push slope (46) may lean against the passive push slope (51). The active push slope (46) presses against the passive push slope (45). Both of the press part (41) and the push part (45) are located in the same side of the hinge point of the operating handle (4). When the press part (41) is pressed in the direction close to the tube fitting (2), the push part (45) moves downwards. Meanwhile, the active push slope (46) presses against the passive push slope (51) and moves the pushrod (5). The operation is simple. An annular sealing groove (52) is designed on the outer peripheral wall of the pushrod (5), and a sealing ring (53) is installed in the sealing groove (52). The sealing ring (53) presses against the inner peripheral wall of the tube fitting (2). The tube-connecting part (22) is located between the connection port (21) and the sealing ring (53). The end of the pushrod (5) needs to stretch out of the tube fitting (2), to connect with the operating handle (4). Hence, a sealing ring (53) is installed on the pushrod (5), to achieve the seal between the outer peripheral wall of the pushrod (5) and the inner peripheral wall of the tube fitting (2), so as to avoid the leakage of Freon from the tube fitting (2). There is a sealing cone (24) on the inner wall of the tube fitting (2). That sealing cone (24) is located between the tube-connecting part (22) and the connection port (21). The larger diameter end of the sealing cone (24) faces the connection port (21). An annular sealing block (54) is secured to the pushrod (5), and a reset spring (55) is installed over the pushrod (5). One end of the reset spring (55) presses against the tube fitting (2), and the other end presses against the pushrod (5). When the pushrod (5) is no longer subjected to the force from the operating handle (4), the sealing block (54) will press against the sealing cone (24) under the force from the reset spring (55). After the refilling process of the automotive air conditioner completes, the operating handle (4) is reset. Under the action of the reset spring (55), the pushrod (5) moves to its original position, and the sealing block (54) presses against the sealing cone (24). Hence, the connection between the refilling duct (3) and the connection port (21) is blocked, which prevents backflow of the Freon in the air conditioner after the refill completes.

[0036] The description of the preferred embodiments thereof serves only as an illustration of the spirit of the invention. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes or supplements in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

[0037] Although the terms of Outer Shell (1), Passive Contact Part (11), First Avoidance Opening (12), etc. are often used herein, it does not exclude the possibility to use any other terms. Using such terms is only to describe or explain the nature of preferred embodiments of the present invention more conveniently. Any additional restrictions are contrary to the spirit of the present invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0038] 1 Outer Shell [0039] 11 Passive Contact Part [0040] 12 First Avoidance Opening [0041] 13 Confining Edge [0042] 2 Tube Fitting [0043] 21 Connection Port [0044] 22 Tube-connecting Part [0045] 23 Connection Part [0046] 24 Sealing Cone [0047] 3 Refilling Duct [0048] 4 Operating Handle [0049] 41 Press Part [0050] 42 Cavity [0051] 43 Locating Hole [0052] 44 Second Avoidance Opening [0053] 45 Push Part [0054] 46 Active Push Slope [0055] 5 Pushrod [0056] 51 Passive Push Slope [0057] 52 Sealing Groove [0058] 53 Sealing Ring [0059] 54 Sealing Block [0060] 55 Reset Spring [0061] 6 Confining Plate [0062] 61 Active Contact Part [0063] 62 Clamping Slot [0064] 63 Connection Column [0065] 64 Locating Boss