Simplified subcooling or superheated indicator and method for air conditioning and other refrigeration systems

Abstract

A simple field installable/removable indicator is usable with a field pressure measurement to indicate the degree of subcooling or superheat of refrigerant in a vapor-compression or refrigeration system. The indicator can be attached to a pipe at an appropriate location in the system. The indicator can be used with a pressure measurement obtained at an existing service valve. Temperature-indicating liquid crystals or other chemicals, or alternatively, a conventional thermometer included on the indicator can be used with a scale which shows the superheat or subcooling without requiring saturation curves or tables.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of determining superheating or subcooling in a vapor-compression system, comprising: 
 (a) attaching a body to an appropriate location in the vapor-compression system;    (b) measuring a value representative of one of low-side suction pressure, high-side pressure, evaporator or condenser saturation temperature and evaporator or condenser exit air temperature;    (c) locating the measured value on a scale containing a range of values on the body; and    (d) referencing adjacent temperature-sensitive indicia disposed along the body to indicate an amount, if any, of evaporator superheating or supercooling.    
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the indicia are formed of liquid crystal material.  
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the appropriate location is an evaporator exit, and low-side suction pressure is measured with a service valve at a region near the body.  
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the appropriate location is a condenser exit, and high-side pressure is measured with a service valve at a region near the body.  
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the indicia are formed by mercury in a tube with temperature graduations.  
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the appropriate location is an evaporator exit, and low-side suction pressure is measured with a service valve at a region near the body.  
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the appropriate location is a condenser exit, and high-side pressure is measured with a service valve at a region near the body.  
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the indicia constitute spaced graduation points arranged such that graduation points located to the right of the measured value indicate an amount of superheat, and graduation points located to the left of the measured value indicate an amount of subcooling.  
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the indicia are of a green color when the system is at the design superheat temperature, are of a blue color when they are warmer by about 1° F. and are of a tan color when they are cooler by about 1° F.  
     
     
         10 . A method for determining superheat with a thermometer, comprising the step of using a saturation pressure scale correlated to indicated thermometer temperature with temperature graduations between the indicated pressure scale.  
     
     
         11 . A method for determining superheat, comprising the step of providing a device with a temperature indicator, an optionally corresponding scale, and temperature graduations, and using the device to determine superheat by reference to the scale and associated temperature graduation.  
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the corresponding scale is a pressure saturation scale in which corresponding pressures indicated on the saturation pressure scale correspond to saturation temperatures for a specific refrigerant, which saturation temperatures are the actual indicated temperatures of the temperature indicator.  
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the scale is an evaporator exit air temperature scale arranged to correspond to a saturation pressure scale for determining superheat.  
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the scale is an evaporator surface temperature scale arranged to correspond to a saturation pressure scale for determining superheat.  
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein an evaporator operating pressure is assumed, thereby obviating the need for the optional corresponding scale.  
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the temperature graduations represent appropriate indicated temperatures of the temperature indicator.  
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the temperature indicator comprises discrete liquid crystal temperature indicators.  
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the device is used to measure superheat in air conditioning, refrigeration, or vapor compression heat pump systems when combined with a pressure reading.  
     
     
         19 . A method for determining subcooling, comprising the step of providing a thermometer that uses a saturation pressure scale correlated to indicated thermometer temperature and combined with temperature graduations between an indicated pressure scale.  
     
     
         20 . A method for determining subcooling, comprising the step of providing a device that includes a temperature indicator, an optional corresponding scale, and temperature graduations.  
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the scale is a saturated pressure scale, and corresponding pressures indicated on the saturation pressure scale correspond to saturation temperatures for specific refrigerant, which saturation temperatures are actual indicated temperatures of the temperature indicator.  
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the scale is a condenser exit air temperature scale arranged to correspond to a saturation pressure scale, for determining superheat.  
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the scale is a condenser surface temperature scale arranged to correspond to a saturation pressure scale for determining superheat.  
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein condenser operating pressure is assumed.  
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the temperature graduations represent appropriate indicated temperatures of the temperature indicator.  
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the temperature indicator comprises discrete liquid crystal temperature indicators.  
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the device is used to measure subcooling in air conditioning, refrigeration, or vapor compression heat pump systems when combined with a pressure reading.  
     
     
         28 . A vapor-compression system superheating/subcooling indicator, comprising 
 a body;    a graduated scale on the body with each of the graduations being representative of one of low-side suction pressure, high-side suction pressure, evaporator or condenser saturation temperature and evaporator or condensing exit air temperature; and    temperature-sensitive indicia located adjacent the graduated scale and operative to indicate an amount, if any, of evaporator superheating or subcooling when referenced from one of the graduations on the scale.    
     
     
         29 . An indicator according to  claim 28 , wherein the indicia are formed of liquid crystal material.  
     
     
         30 . A indicator according to  claim 29 , wherein the indicia constitute spaced graduation points arranged such that graduation points located to the right of the measured value indicate an amount of superheat and graduation points located to-the left of the measured value indicate an amount of subcooling.  
     
     
         31 . An indicator according to claim  30 , wherein the indicia are of a green color when the system is at the design superheat temperature, are of a blue color when they are warmer by about 1° F. and are of a tan color when they are cooler by about 1° F.  
     
     
         32 . An indicator according to  claim 28 , wherein the indicia are formed by mercury in a tube with temperature graduations.