Refrigerant recovery/loading manifold

Abstract

A refrigerant recovery/loading manifold for air-conditioning equipment has a manifold body and valves for opening and closing a passage inside the manifold body, the passages including a high-pressure-side passage, a low-pressure-side passage, a recovery-side passage, a vacuum-suction-side passage, a purging passage, and a common passage via which these passages communicate, at least a high-pressure-side valve being provided to the high-pressure-side valve being provided to the high-pressure-side passage, and at least a low-pressure-side valve being provided to the low-pressure-side passage; wherein a high-pressure connection means is provided to the low-pressure-side passage, the high-pressure connection means having a valve mechanism and being able to connect with a high-pressure-side quick joint.

Claims

1. A refrigerant recovery/loading manifold for air-conditioning equipment, comprising a manifold body and valves for opening and closing a passage inside the manifold body, the passages including a high-pressure-side passage, a low-pressure-side passage, a recovery-side passage, a vacuum-suction-side passage, a purging passage, and a common passage via which these passages communicate, at least a high-pressure-side valve being provided to the high-pressure-side passage, and at least a low-pressure-side valve being provided to the low-pressure-side passage; wherein a high-pressure connection means is provided to the low-pressure-side passage, the high-pressure connection means having a valve mechanism and being able to connect with a high-pressure-side quick joint.

2. A refrigerant recovery/loading manifold for air-conditioning equipment, comprising a manifold body and valves for opening and closing a passage inside the manifold body, the passages including a high-pressure-side passage, a low-pressure-side passage, a recovery-side passage, a vacuum-suction-side passage, a purging passage, and a common passage via which these passages communicate, at least a high-pressure-side valve being provided to the high-pressure-side passage, and at least a low-pressure-side valve being provided to the low-pressure-side passage; wherein a high-pressure connection means is provided to the low-pressure-side passage, the high-pressure connection means having a valve mechanism and being able to connect with a high-pressure-side quick joint; and the valve mechanism of the high-pressure connection means is a valve-core-equipped valve.

3. The refrigerant recovery/loading manifold according to claim 1, wherein the manifold body or a pipe section connected thereto is provided with a low-pressure connection means capable of connecting with a quick joint and having a purging passage.

4. The refrigerant recovery/loading manifold according to claim 2, wherein the manifold body or a pipe section connected thereto is provided with a low-pressure connection means capable of connecting with a quick joint and having a purging passage.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is an explanatory drawing showing a piping configuration set up for refrigerant loading and recovery in the refrigerant recovery/loading manifold according to an embodiment of the present invention;

(2) FIG. 2 is a front view of the refrigerant recovery/loading manifold according to the embodiment of the present invention;

(3) FIG. 3 is a partial enlarged cross-sectional view, seen from the left side, showing a high-pressure coupling and peripheral edge thereof constituting the refrigerant recovery/loading manifold according to the embodiment of the present invention;

(4) FIG. 4 is an explanatory drawing showing a piping configuration set up for liquid refrigerant remaining in the high-pressure side to be recovered to the low-pressure side in the refrigerant recovery/loading manifold according to the embodiment of the present invention;

(5) FIG. 5 is a front view of the refrigerant recovery/loading manifold according to the embodiment of the present invention, showing a high-pressure-side quick joint as being connected to the high-pressure coupling in a low-pressure-side passage of the refrigerant recovery/loading manifold;

(6) FIG. 6 is a partial enlarged cross-sectional view, seen from the left side, showing the high-pressure-side quick joint as being connected to the high-pressure coupling of the refrigerant recovery/loading manifold according to the embodiment of the present invention;

(7) FIG. 7 is a partial enlarged cross-sectional view, seen from the left side, of a configuration in which a low-pressure coupling as a low-pressure connection means is linked to a high-pressure-side passage in the refrigerant recovery/loading manifold according to the embodiment of the present invention; and

(8) FIG. 8 is a partial enlarged cross-sectional view, seen from the left side, showing a low-pressure-side quick joint as being connected to the low-pressure coupling of the refrigerant recovery/loading manifold according to the embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(9) The refrigerant recovery/loading manifold according to an embodiment of the present invention is described below. The present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

Embodiments

(10) The refrigerant recovery/loading manifold 1 according to the present embodiment is connected between a refrigerant recovery/loading device and a vehicular air-conditioning system when a series of operations including refrigerant recovery, vacuum suction, and refrigerant loading for the vehicular air-conditioning system is performed using the refrigerant recovery/loading device, and the manifold is used by switching valves and some pipes according to the steps of the refrigerant recovery/loading device. Below is a description of the basic configuration of the refrigerant recovery/loading manifold 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

(11) A manifold body 1a according to the embodiment of the present invention is provided with a low-pressure-side passage P1, a high-pressure-side passage P2, a vacuum suction passage P3, a purging passage P5, a linking passage P6 as a common passage according to the present invention whereby the aforementioned passages are linked, as shown in FIG. 1.

(12) The low-pressure-side passage P1 of the manifold body 1a according to the present embodiment is provided with a low-pressure-side valve V1, a high-pressure coupling 10, which is a high-pressure connection means, and a coupling N1, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

(13) The high-pressure-side passage P2 of the manifold body 1a according to the present embodiment is provided with a high-pressure-side valve V2, a low-pressure coupling 14, which is a low-pressure connection means, and a coupling N3.

(14) The vacuum suction passage P3 is provided with a coupling N2.

(15) The purging passage P5 is provided with a purge valve V5 having an explosion-proof mechanism. The linking passage P6 is provided with a safety valve SV.

(16) A low-pressure pressure gauge 12a is provided between a low-pressure-side quick joint 13 and the low-pressure-side valve V1 in the low-pressure-side passage P1, and a high-pressure pressure gauge 12b is provided between a high-pressure-side quick joint 11 and the high-pressure-side valve V2 in the high-pressure-side passage P2.

(17) The high-pressure coupling 10 is provided with a connecting part 10a for connecting to the refrigerant recovery/loading manifold 1, and a high-pressure-side connecting part 10b as a part to connect with the high-pressure-side quick joint 11. The high-pressure-side quick joint 11 can be connected to the low-pressure-side passage P1. A valve-core-equipped valve 100 is provided inside the high-pressure-side connecting part 10b in the high-pressure coupling 10, as shown in FIG. 3.

(18) A valve core 100a in the valve-core-equipped valve 100 is urged toward the exterior by an internal spring member (not shown), ensuring that the valve is closed. The valve core 100a retracts due to being pressed inward by a shaft body 111 of the external high-pressure-side quick joint 11 against the spring elasticity of the spring member, and while the valve core remains retracted, the valve is kept open.

(19) The low-pressure coupling 14, which is a low-pressure connection means provided to the high-pressure-side passage P2, is provided with a connecting part 14a and a low-pressure connecting part 14b, as shown in FIGS. 2, 7, and others.

(20) The connecting part 14a and the low-pressure connecting part 14b are formed integrally, and there is no passage connected between the connecting part 14a and the low-pressure connecting part 14b. The connecting part 14a is part of the high-pressure-side passage P2, and the low-pressure connecting part 14b, not connected with the high-pressure-side passage P2, is independent.

(21) The low-pressure connecting part 14b functions as a low-pressure connection means, and has a structure for functioning as a purging member unlike the high-pressure-side connecting part 10b.

(22) Specifically, there is provided a purging passage 140 that has an outer shape allowing connecting with the low-pressure-side quick joint 13, and continues from a distal-end opening of the low-pressure connecting part 14b to a side surface hole 141. In other words, the low-pressure connecting part 14b is a dummy connecting part capable of connecting with the low-pressure-side quick joint 13 and having the purging passage 140, but not connected with the high-pressure-side passage P2.

(23) The coupling N1 connects a low-pressure-side hose H1 and the low-pressure-side quick joint 13 continuing into this hose to the refrigerant recovery/loading manifold 1.

(24) The coupling N3 connects a high-pressure-side hose H2 and the high-pressure-side quick joint 11 continuing into this hose, as shown in FIG. 1.

(25) The coupling N2 connects a vacuum suction valve and a vacuum suction pump to the coupling N2 via a vacuum pump hose when vacuum suction is performed.

(26) When gas charging (refrigerant loading) is performed without vacuum suction, a refrigerant supply container is connected to the coupling N2 via a loading hose.

(27) The high-pressure-side quick joint 11 connects to a high-pressure-side connection port D of a cooler compressor C. The low-pressure-side quick joint 13 connects to a low-pressure-side connection port S of the cooler compressor C.

(28) When a connection is made and the refrigerant recovery/loading manifold 1 is used for charging gas from a refrigerant gas supply container to an air conditioner, air in the quick joints and charging hoses must be removed by purging in advance.

(29) Air in the refrigerant recovery/loading manifold 1 and in the hoses and quick joints connected thereto is exhausted.

(30) When typical quick joints used in conventional practice are used during air purging, air can be purged by operations such as loosening attachment screws in the proximity of the quick joints or opening the valves of the quick joints.

(31) When R1234yf or another recently popular refrigerant is used, it is standard for the quick joints to have structures such that the valves do not open without the joints being inserted into the ports, from a safety standpoint.

(32) Because the quick joints have structures such that the valves do not open without the joints being inserted into the ports, and also because the quick joints are structured to be firmly secured with the charging hoses using a tool from the standpoint of preventing leaks, it is difficult to remove the air in the quick joints and charging hoses by purging, but the quick joints can be used in the present invention through, e.g., the following procedure.

(33) 1. The high-pressure-side valve V2 and the low-pressure-side valve V1 of the refrigerant recovery/loading manifold 1 are closed.

(34) 2. The refrigerant supply container is connected to the gas charge hose.

(35) 3. The valve of the refrigerant supply container is opened.

(36) 4. An air purge valve of the refrigerant recovery/loading manifold 1 is pressed twice in the span of approximately 0.5 seconds, and the inside of the manifold body 1a is purged.

(37) 5. The high-pressure-side and low-pressure-side quick joints 11, 13 are attached to the high-pressure coupling 10 and low-pressure coupling 14 respectively. The valves of the quick joints 11, 13 remain closed.

(38) 6. The valve of the high-pressure-side quick joint 11 is opened.

(39) 7. The high-pressure-side valve V2 of the refrigerant recovery/loading manifold 1 is opened.

(40) 8. The valve of the low-pressure-side quick joint 13 is opened and air is purged for two seconds, after which the valve is again closed (see FIG. 8).

(41) The valve is opened by rotating an operating part 130 of the low-pressure-side quick joint 13 by 90° to the right relative to the axial direction. The valve is closed by rotating the operating part 130 by 90° to the left relative to the axial direction. Air is expelled from the side surface hole 141 via the purging passage 140 in the low-pressure connecting part 14b of the refrigerant recovery/loading manifold 1, and the air purging of the interior of the high-pressure-side hose H2 is complete.

(42) 9. The valve of the high-pressure-side quick joint 11 and the high-pressure-side valve V2 of the refrigerant recovery/loading manifold 1 are closed.

(43) 10. The low-pressure-side valve V1 of the refrigerant recovery/loading manifold 1 is opened.

(44) 11. The valve of the low-pressure-side quick joint 13 is opened and air is purged for two seconds, after which the valve is again closed. Air is expelled from the opening in the side surface of the low-pressure connecting part 14b of the refrigerant recovery/loading manifold 1, and the air purging of the interior of the low-pressure-side hose H1 is complete.

(45) 12. While the valves of the high-pressure-side quick joint 11 and the low-pressure-side quick joint 13 remain closed, these quick joints are removed from the refrigerant recovery/loading manifold 1.

(46) 13. The high-pressure-side quick joint 11 and the low-pressure-side quick joint 13 are attached to the high-pressure-side connection port D and the low-pressure-side connection port S of the cooler compressor.

(47) 14. With the valve of the high-pressure-side quick joint 11 closed, only the valve of the low-pressure-side quick joint 13 is opened, the cooler compressor is operated, the valve of the refrigerant supply container is opened, and refrigerant gas is drawn into the system of the low-pressure side.

(48) In the procedure described above, air purging can be completed and the refrigerant recovery/loading manifold 1 in the present invention can be used even with quick joints used with R1234yf or another refrigerant.

(49) The shaft body 111 is provided in the center of the high-pressure-side quick joint 11, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 6. The shaft body 111 is provided with a valve 111a partially enlarged in diameter, and is configured to switch between opening and closing the valve 111a depending on whether or not this location forms a gap with the periphery.

(50) The rear end of the shaft body 111 is linked to a shaft body operating part 110, and rotating the shaft body operating part 110 to the right relative to the main body of the high-pressure-side quick joint 11 causes the shaft body 111 to move forward and the valve 111a in the high-pressure-side quick joint 11 to open.

(51) Rotating the shaft body operating part 110 in reverse (to the left) causes the shaft body 111 to return rearward and the valve 111a in the high-pressure-side quick joint 11 to close. The high-pressure-side quick joint 11 is also only allowed to rotate within a range of 90° about the axial center by a guide groove 113 formed in a spiral shape in the main body of the high-pressure-side quick joint 11 and a guide protuberance (not shown) formed in the inner surface of the shaft body operating part 110. The joint is therefore simple and easily workable.

(52) When the high-pressure-side quick joint 11 configured as described above is inserted into the high-pressure-side connecting part 10b of the high-pressure coupling 10, an engaging part of the high-pressure-side quick joint 11 interlocks with a concave part in the external periphery of the high-pressure-side connecting part 10b, positioning the joint.

(53) Next, rotating the shaft body operating part 110 of the high-pressure-side quick joint 11 to the right causes the shaft body 111 to move forward, opening the valve 111a inside the high-pressure-side quick joint 11, and the valve core 100a of the valve-core-equipped valve 100 is pressed by the distal end of the shaft body 111, opening the high-pressure coupling 10.

(54) In this state, the cooler compressor C can be operated to return the residual liquid refrigerant and/or compressor oil from the high-pressure-side hose H2 side, through the high-pressure-side quick joint 11, the high-pressure coupling 10, and the low-pressure-side quick joint 13, to the low-pressure-side connection port S of the cooler compressor C, in order of the routes y1, y2, and y3 in FIGS. 4 and 5.

(55) During the disconnecting operation, when the shaft body operating part 110 is rotated in reverse to disconnect the shaft body 111 from the valve core 100a of the valve-core-equipped valve 100, the valve core 100a of the valve-core-equipped valve 100 is returned to the original closed position by the spring elasticity of the internal spring member, and the flow channel is closed. The valve 111a in the high-pressure-side quick joint 11 is also closed by the retracting of the shaft body 111.

(56) As described above, when the shaft body operating part 110 of the high-pressure-side quick joint 11 is connected and disconnected, because rotation is allowed only within a range of 90° about the axial center by the guide protuberance and the spiral guide groove 113 formed in the main body of the high-pressure-side quick joint 11, the valve can be opened and closed at this rotational angle.

(57) The work of air purging in the refrigerant recovery/loading manifold 1 can be performed by similarly pressing a push-button of the purge valve V5 when the hoses are reconnected to prescribed couplings and valves in each step of refrigerant recovery, vacuum suction, and refrigerant loading which are successively performed.

(58) According to the present invention as described above, the invention is not limited to the present embodiment, and a high-pressure coupling 10 corresponding to the high-pressure-side quick joint 11 may be provided in the low-pressure-side passage P1 of the refrigerant recovery/loading manifold 1. Therefore, the corresponding high-pressure-side quick joint 11 is not limited to that shown in the above embodiment, and is not particularly limited as long as it is able to correspond to the high-pressure coupling 10.

(59) The low-pressure connection means in the present invention is means for performing air purging, and the attachment position thereof is therefore not particularly limited to the position disclosed in the embodiment and can be decided as appropriate within the range of design matters, according to convenience.

(60) According to the present invention, in the configuration described above, normally refrigerant recovery/loading manifold 1 is configured with only the high-pressure coupling 10 provided to the low-pressure-side passage P1, and the high-pressure-side quick joint 11 is connected with the high-pressure coupling 10 provided to the low-pressure-side passage P1, whereby liquid refrigerant and/or compressor oil remaining in the high-pressure side can be returned to the low-pressure-side connection port S through the product by the air-conditioning operation. Therefore, the invention is highly exceptional in that the appropriate regulated amount of air-conditioning refrigerant can be maintained when loading a fixed amount and risks from erroneous valve operation can be avoided to ensure safety, which is useful to maintaining the appropriate regulated amount of air-conditioning refrigerant.

KEY

(61) 1: refrigerant recovery/loading manifold 1a: manifold body 10: high-pressure coupling 10a: connecting part 10b: high-pressure-side connecting part 100: valve-core-equipped valve 100a: valve core 11: high-pressure-side quick joint 110: shaft body operating part 111: shaft body 111a: valve 113: guide groove 12a: low-pressure pressure gauge 12b: high-pressure pressure gauge 13: low-pressure-side quick joint 130: operating part 14: low-pressure coupling 14a: connecting part 14b: low-pressure connecting part 140: purging passage 141: side surface hole C: cooler compressor D: high-pressure-side connection port H1: low-pressure-side hose H2: high-pressure-side hose P1: low-pressure-side passage P2: high-pressure-side passage P3: vacuum suction passage P5: purging passage P6: linking passage (common passage) SV: safety valve S: low-pressure-side connection port V1: low-pressure-side valve V2: high-pressure-side valve N1: coupling (for connecting to low-pressure-side hose) N2: coupling (for connecting to gas charger or vacuum pump) N3: coupling (for connecting to high-pressure-side hose) V5: purge valve y1: route y2: route y3: route z: arrow showing direction of air purge