Liquid Refrigerant Transfer Tool

Abstract

A liquid transfer tool is provided that facilitates safe removal or transfer of liquids from containers in the upright position. The tool includes a retractable sealed tube that can pierce a seal and that extends to the bottom of the container to extract substantially all of the liquid disposed in the container.

1 . A liquid transfer tool comprising:
 a container connection assembly arranged to secure the liquid transfer tool to a container, the container connection assembly comprising:
 a main body portion comprising a central shaft; 
 a compression fitting disposed at a first end of the main body portion around the opening to the central shaft; and 
 a connector attached to a second end of the main body portion opposite the first end and capable a securing the liquid transfer tool to a container; and 
   an extraction tube assembly connected to the container connection assembly, the extraction tube assembly comprising:
 a down tube inserted through the compression fitting and the central shaft and extending past the second end of the main body portion; and 
 a valve attached to the down tube and capable of controlling the flow of liquid through the down tube; 
   wherein the compression fitting is capable of creating a substantially airtight seal between the down tube and the central shaft.   
   
   
       2 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the main body portion, down tube and valve comprise stainless steel. 
   
   
       3 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the extraction tube assembly further comprises a handle attached to the down tube and arranged to assist in the insertion of the down tube through the container connection assembly. 
   
   
       4 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the down tube further comprises a container piercing tip disposed adjacent an open end of the down tube that is inserted through the container connection assembly, the piercing tip capable of piercing seals covering openings in the container into which the down tube is inserted. 
   
   
       5 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the extraction tube assembly further comprises a flow indicator in communication with the down tube. 
   
   
       6 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein connector disposed adjacent the second end of the main body portion comprises a threaded fitting. 
   
   
       7 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the main body portion comprises a length of pipe and the connector comprises a threaded end of the pipe. 
   
   
       8 . A method for extracting liquid from a container, the method comprising:
 securing a connection assembly having a central shaft to an opening of the container;   passing a down tube through the central shaft and into the container until an open end of the down tube is disposed below a liquid level in the container;   forming an airtight seal between the down tube and the central shaft using a compression fitting;   connecting a top end of the down tube opposite the open end to a destination for the liquid; and   transferring the liquid form the container to the destination through the down tube.   
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the step of transferring the liquid comprises using a source of vacuum at the destination to draw the liquid through the down tube. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising transferring substantially all of the liquid from the container to the destination without tilting the container. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising controlling the flow of liquid through the down tube using a valve. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising monitoring the flow of liquid through the down tube using a flow indicator. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising piercing a seal covering the opening of the container using a piercing tip located adjacent the open end of the open tube. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising using a handle attached to the down tube to drive the piercing tip through the seal.