METHOD FOR OPERATING A FILLING ADAPTER, AND FILLING ADAPTER FOR FILLING REFRIGERANT R744 INTO VEHICLE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEMS

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a method for operating a filling adapter for filling refrigerant R744 into vehicle air conditioning systems as well as to a corresponding adapter. The adapter comprises mechanical clamping elements actuated by a pneumatically or mechanically controlled clamping piston. The clamping elements are clamped b the clamping system onto specifically designed sections of the vehicle air conditioning system for the filling process and are kept in the clamping position during the filling process. The clamping piston comprises at least two separate piston surfaces to be subjected to the pressure of two different pressurization media, one piston surface being effectively connected to the control pressure of the filling adapter and the other piston surface being effectively connected to the filling pressure of the refrigerant.

Claims

1. A method for operating a filling adapter for filling vehicle air conditioning systems with refrigerant R744, wherein the filling adapter comprises mechanical clamping elements which are operated by a pneumatically or mechanically controlled clamping piston, wherein the clamping elements are tightened by the clamping piston for the filling process onto specifically designed portions of the vehicle air conditioning system and held in the clamped position during the filling process, wherein two different pressure media are applied to the clamping piston, wherein initially the control pressure of the filling adapter is applied, followed by the additional application of filling pressure of the refrigerant.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the control pressure of the filling adapter causes basic locking of the clamping piston at a first clamping pressure and the filling pressure of the refrigerant causes an independent second locking of the clamping piston at a different second clamping pressure, wherein unlocking of the mechanical clamping elements only becomes possible after the filling pressure of the refrigerant has been reduced to a value that can be defined depending on the device used.

3. A filling adapter for filling vehicle air conditioning systems with refrigerant R744, wherein the filling adapter comprises mechanical clamping elements which are operated by a pneumatically or mechanically controlled clamping piston, wherein said clamping elements are tightened by the clamping piston for the filling process onto portions of the vehicle air conditioning system that are specifically designed and kept in their clamped position during the filling process, wherein two different pressure media are applied to said clamping piston such that initially the control pressure of the filling adapter is applied and then in addition the filling pressure of the refrigerant is applied, wherein the clamping piston comprises at least two separate piston surfaces for pressure application by different pressure media, wherein the one piston surface is brought into an operative connection with the control pressure of the filling adapter and the other piston surface is brought into an operative connection with the filling pressure of the refrigerant.

4. The filling adapter according to claim 3, wherein the two separate piston surfaces are each configured as a circumferential annular surface at cross sectional transitions on the contour of the clamping piston.

5. The filling adapter according to claim 3, wherein at least one bypass line branches off to the refrigerant supply from the piston surface that is in operative connection with the filling pressure of the refrigerant.

6. The filling adapter according to claim 3, wherein control compressed air of about 10 bar is applied to the piston surface that is in an operative connection with the control pressure of the filling adapter.

Description

DRAWINGS

[0011] An exemplary embodiment is described below with reference to the drawing.

[0012] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a filling adapter for filling vehicle air conditioning systems with refrigerant R744.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0013] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a filling adapter for filling vehicle air conditioning systems with refrigerant R744. This filling adapter comprises multiple balls 3 as mechanical clamping elements, which are clamped onto specifically designed portions of the vehicle air conditioning system and kept in a clamped position during the filling process by means of a clamping piston 2, which is preferably pneumatically or mechanically controlled. This design with a service port 1 to connect to the vehicle system, a seal 4 towards the vehicle system, and other components is generally known, such that we will only explain those components in detail below that are relevant for the matter at hand.

[0014] Accordingly, the clamping piston 2 comprises two separate piston surfaces 5 and 7 for applying pressure thereto by different pressure media. The one piston surface 5 is brought into an operative connection with the control pressure of the filling adapter, and the other piston surface 7 is brought into an operative connection with the filling pressure of the refrigerant R744.

[0015] The two piston surfaces 5, 7 are preferably configured as a circumferential annular surface at cross sectional transitions on the contour of the clamping piston 2. The detailed spatial arrangement is largely freely selectable. It should just be paid attention to a functionally flawless interaction of the associated connecting ducts or the like for the respective pressure medium with the piston surfaces 5, 7.

[0016] At least one bypass line 6 branches off to the refrigerant supply from the piston surface 7 that is in operative connection with the filling pressure of the refrigerant. Control compressed air of about ten bar is applied to the other piston surface 5, which is in an operative connection with the control pressure of the filling adapter.

[0017] Such a design allows application of two different pressure media to the clamping piston 2. First, the control pressure of the filling adapter is applied to the piston surface 5, then the filling pressure of the refrigerant is applied to the piston surface 7.

[0018] This has the functional effect that the control pressure of the filling adapter causes basic locking of the clamping piston 2 at a first clamping pressure. Furthermore, the filling pressure of the refrigerant causes an independent second locking of the clamping piston 2 at a different second clamping pressure. It should expressly be pointed out that an increase in the pressure acting on the clamping piston 2 is not the primary goal. Instead, pressure is applied by the control pressure and the filling pressure, that is, by two different pressure sources. This ensures that the clamping piston 2 is kept fixed in its clamped position, even if one of the two pressure components drops or fails, e.g. due to not properly closed filling valve or vehicle valve. This is a considerable advantage over the filling adapters of prior art.

[0019] Unlocking the mechanical clamping elements 3 only becomes possible after the filling pressure of the refrigerant has been reduced to a value that can be defined depending on the device used and the clamping piston can therefore be moved from its clamped position.