Air Conditioning System Treatment Applicator

Abstract

An applicator for introducing an air conditioning system treatment into an air conditioning system refrigerant flow path. The applicator comprises a reservoir carrying the treatment, the reservoir having first and second caps closing first and second reservoir openings, each of the first and second caps including a hose fitting. First and second hoses are connected between respective first and second valves in the refrigerant flow path and the respective first and the second fittings. A pressure differential between the first and the second valves (a higher pressure at the first valve than at the second valve) forces the treatment from the reservoir through the second hose into the second valve in the refrigerant flow path.

1 . An applicator for introducing an air conditioning system treatment into an air conditioning system refrigerant flow path through first and second hoses connected between the refrigerant flow path and the applicator, the flow path further comprising first and second serial valves, the applicator comprising:
 a reservoir carrying the treatment;   first and second caps closing the reservoir;   a first and a second fitting within the respective first and second caps;   wherein the first and the second hoses are connected between the respective first and second valves and the first and the second fittings, and wherein a pressure differential between the first and the second valves forces the treatment from the reservoir through the second hose into the refrigerant flow path.   
   
   
       2 . The applicator of  claim 1  wherein the first end cap comprises fingers extending from an interior surface of the first end cap into an interior region of the reservoir. 
   
   
       3 . The applicator of  claim 1  further comprising an agitator within the reservoir for agitating the treatment to promote mixing of the treatment and the refrigerant. 
   
   
       4 . The applicator of  claim 1  wherein the reservoir comprises a hollow tubular element, and wherein the first and the second caps are disposed at opposing ends of the tubular element. 
   
   
       5 . The applicator of  claim 1  wherein the first and the second valves each comprise a normally-dosed pin that is moved to an open condition when the first and the second hoses are connected to the respective first and second valves. 
   
   
       6 . The applicator of  claim 1  wherein the first and the second valves each comprise a Schrader valve. 
   
   
       7 . The applicator of  claim 1  wherein the first and the second valves are disposed at the respective high and low pressure sides of a compressor in the refrigerant flow path. 
   
   
       8 . The applicator of  claim 7  wherein flow of refrigerant from the high pressure side to the low pressure side through the reservoir forces the treatment from the reservoir through the second hose into the refrigerant flow path. 
   
   
       9 . The applicator of  claim 7  wherein a pressure differential between the first and the second valves, with the pressure greater at the first valve than at the second valve, forces the treatment from the reservoir through the second hose into the refrigerant flow path. 
   
   
       10 . A method of introducing an air conditioning system treatment in a reservoir into an air conditioning system refrigerant Bow path, the method comprising:
 connecting a first opening in the reservoir to a first end of a first hose;   connecting a second end of the first hose to a first valve in the refrigerant flow path;   connecting a second opening in the reservoir to a first end of a second hose;   connecting a second end of the second hose to a second valve in the refrigerant low path, wherein a pressure at the first valve is greater than a pressure at the second valve; and   opening the first and the second valves to create a higher pressure at the first opening than a pressure at the second opening, wherein a pressure difference forces the treatment from the second opening into the refrigerant flow path.   
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the step of connecting the second end of the first hose to the first valve opens the first valve and the step of connecting the second end of the second hose to the second valve opens the second valve. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein one or both of the first and the second hoses further comprises a respective third and fourth valve, the method further comprising opening the third and the fourth valves. 
   
   
       13 . A method for loading an air conditioning system treatment into an applicator comprising a tubular reservoir, the method comprising:
 positioning the reservoir in a vertical orientation having an upper end above a lower end, the upper end open to the atmosphere and the lower end terminated in a lower end cap having a lower fitting therein;   attaching a supply hose to the tower fitting;   injecting treatment into the reservoir through the supply hose, during the injecting process air escapes through the upper end;   detecting treatment leaving the upper end;   closing the upper end by attaching an upper end cap thereto;   removing the supply hose from the lower fitting; and   attaching a tower fitting cap to the lower fitting.   
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the upper end cap comprises an upper fitting open to the atmosphere and a transparent drain hose connected to the upper fitting, and wherein the step of detecting treatment leaving the upper end further comprises visually detecting treatment within the transparent drain hose. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the upper end cap comprises upper fitting open to the atmosphere, and wherein the step of closing the upper end further comprises attaching a fitting cap to the upper fitting.