Kit, system, and associated method for filling sealed direct inject delivery cartridges with refrigerant gas additives

Abstract

A kit defined by various components, a system, and a method for filling a new direct inject cartridge and for refilling an empty used direct inject cartridge. In various embodiments, the invention provides a kit consisting of valves for selectively providing fluid communication between a canister containing a selected volume of at least one selected refrigerant additive and a direct inject cartridge, and for selectively providing fluid communication between a direct inject cartridge and a vacuum pump for filling a direct inject cartridge, and a method for using the disclosed kit and system for filling a direct inject cartridge.

Having thus described the aforementioned invention, what is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A kit adapted for filling a direct inject cartridge having a first end and a second end, and a self-sealing valve at said first end and a self-sealing valve at said second end with at least one selected refrigerant additive, the kit comprising:
 a canister having a selectively actuated self-sealing valve, said canister containing said at least one refrigerant additive;   a first valve member adapted for providing fluid communication between said canister and the direct inject cartridge, said first valve member having a first end defining a collar adapted to threadably engage said canister, a pin adapted to actuate said selectively actuated self-sealing valve of said canister, a second end adapted to engage a first end of the direct inject cartridge and a valve actuator for selectively opening and closing a valve of said first valve member; and   a second valve member adapted for providing fluid communication between the direct inject cartridge and a vacuum pump, and a valve actuator for selectively opening and closing a valve of said second valve member.   
     
     
         2 . The kit adapted for filling a direct inject cartridge with at least one selected refrigerant additive of  claim 1  wherein said first valve member further has a second end adapted to engage a first end of the direct inject cartridge, and said second valve member further has said a first end adapted to threadably engage a second end of the direct inject cartridge, a second end adapted to engage a vacuum port provided on a vacuum pump. 
     
     
         3 . The kit adapted for filling a direct inject cartridge with at least one selected refrigerant additive of  claim 1  wherein said first valve member and said second valve member each includes a ball valve. 
     
     
         4 . The kit adapted for filling a direct inject cartridge with at least one selected refrigerant additive of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one refrigerant additive is selected from a group consisting of sealants, including conditioners for rubber components, lubricants, dyes, system enhancers adapted for reducing energy use or improving heat transfer, and drying agents. 
     
     
         5 . The kit adapted for filling a direct inject cartridge with at least one selected refrigerant additive of  claim 1 , wherein said canister contains said at least one selected refrigerant additive under negative pressure. 
     
     
         6 . The kit adapted for filling a direct inject cartridge with at least one selected refrigerant additive of  claim 1 , wherein the self-sealing valves of the direct inject cartridge are Schrader valves, the second end of the direct inject cartridge including a Schrader valve chuck, and further wherein said second end of said first valve member is defined by a Schrader valve chuck and is adapted to engage the first end of the direct inject cartridge and actuate the Schrader valve of the first end of the direct inject cartridge. 
     
     
         7 . The kit adapted for filling a direct inject cartridge with at least one selected refrigerant additive of  claim 5 , wherein said first end of said second valve member is adapted to threadably engage the Schrader valve chuck of the second end of the direct inject cartridge and thereby actuate the Schrader valve of second end of the direct inject cartridge. 
     
     
         8 . The kit adapted for filling a direct inject cartridge with at least one selected refrigerant additive of  claim 1 , wherein said pin is fixed relative to said first valve member. 
     
     
         9 . The kit adapted for filling a direct inject cartridge with at least one selected refrigerant additive of  claim 1 , wherein said kit further comprises a filter member adapted for providing fluid communication between said second valve member and the pump. 
     
     
         10 . A system adapted for filling a direct inject cartridge with at least one selected refrigerant additive, the system comprising:
 a direct inject cartridge, said direct inject cartridge having first end having a self-sealing valve, a cylindrical body adapted to contain at least one selected refrigerant additive, and a second end having a self-sealing valve;   a vacuum pump;   a canister having a selectively actuated self-sealing valve, said canister containing said at least one selected refrigerant additive;   a first valve member adapted for providing selectively actuated fluid communication between said canister and said direct inject cartridge, said first valve member having a first end defining a collar adapted to threadably engage said canister, a pin adapted to actuate said selectively actuated self-sealing valve of said canister, and a valve actuator for selectively opening and closing a valve of said first valve member, a second end adapted to engage a first end of said direct inject cartridge, and a valve actuator for selectively opening and closing a valve of said first valve member; and   a second valve member adapted for providing selectively actuated fluid communication between the direct inject cartridge and said vacuum pump, said second valve member having a first end adapted to threadably engage a second end of the direct inject cartridge, a second end adapted to engage a vacuum port provided on a vacuum pump, and a valve actuator for selectively opening and closing a valve of said second valve member.   
     
     
         11 . The system adapted for filling a direct inject cartridge with at least one selected refrigerant additive of  claim 10  wherein said first valve member and said second valve member each includes a ball valve. 
     
     
         12 . The system adapted for filling a direct inject cartridge with at least one selected refrigerant additive of  claim 10 , wherein said at least one selected refrigerant additive is selected from a group consisting of sealants, including conditioners for rubber components, lubricants, dyes, system enhancers adapted for reducing energy use or improving heat transfer, and drying agents. 
     
     
         13 . The system adapted for filling a direct inject cartridge with at least one selected refrigerant additive of  claim 10 , wherein said system is adapted to be connect the direct inject cartridge to said canister containing a refrigerant additive and to said vacuum pump, thereby selectively providing fluid communication between said direct inject cartridge and said canister and selectively providing fluid communication between said direct inject cartridge and said vacuum pump. 
     
     
         14 . The system adapted for filling a direct inject cartridge with at least one selected refrigerant additive of  claim 8 , wherein said canister contains said at least one selected refrigerant additive under negative pressure. 
     
     
         15 . The system adapted for filling a direct inject cartridge with at least one selected refrigerant additive of  claim 8 , wherein the self-sealing valves of the direct inject cartridge are Schrader valves, the second end of the direct inject cartridge including a Schrader valve chuck, and further wherein said second end of said first valve member is defined by a Schrader valve chuck and is adapted to engage the first end of the direct inject cartridge and actuate the Schrader valve of the first end of the direct inject cartridge. 
     
     
         16 . The system adapted for filling a direct inject cartridge with at least one selected refrigerant additive of  claim 15 , wherein said first end of said second valve member is adapted to threadably engage the Schrader valve chuck of the second end of the direct inject cartridge and thereby actuate the Schrader valve of second end of the direct inject cartridge. 
     
     
         17 . The system adapted for filling a direct inject cartridge with at least one selected refrigerant additive of  claim 15 , wherein said pin is fixed relative to said first valve member. 
     
     
         18 . The system adapted for filling a direct inject cartridge with at least one selected refrigerant additive of  claim 15 , wherein said system further comprises a filter member adapted for providing fluid communication between said second valve member and the pump. 
     
     
         19 . A method for filling a direct inject cartridge with at least one selected refrigerant additive, said method comprising the steps:
 attaching a cannister containing at the least one selected refrigerant additive to a first valve member;   confirming said first valve member is closed;   attaching said first valve member to the direct inject cartridge;   attaching a second valve member to the direct inject cartridge;   attaching said second valve member to a vacuum pump;   confirming said second valve is in an open position;   actuating said vacuum pump and running said vacuum pump for a selected period of time thereby evacuating said direct inject cartridge;   closing said second valve;   shutting off said vacuum pump;   opening said first valve whereby said at least one selected refrigerant additive is allowed to flow into said evacuated direct inject cartridge;   closing said first valve member; and   removing said first valve member and said second valve member from said direct inject cartridge.   
     
     
         20 . The method for filling a direct inject cartridge with at least one selected refrigerant additive of  claim 19  wherein said steps of attaching a cannister containing at the least one selected refrigerant additive to a first valve member; confirming said first valve member is closed; attaching said first valve member to the direct inject cartridge; attaching a second valve member to the direct inject cartridge; attaching said second valve member to a vacuum pump; and confirming said second valve is in an open position may be performed in any order relative to each other, provided that all of said steps of attaching a cannister containing at the least one selected refrigerant additive to a first valve member; confirming said first valve member is closed; attaching said first valve member to the direct inject cartridge; attaching a second valve member to the direct inject cartridge; attaching said second valve member to a vacuum pump; and confirming said second valve is in an open position are completed prior to said step of actuating said vacuum pump. 
     
     
         21 . The method for filling a direct inject cartridge with at least one selected refrigerant additive of  claim 19  wherein said selected period of time for running said vacuum pump is at least ten seconds. 
     
     
         22 . The method for filling a direct inject cartridge with at least one selected refrigerant additive of  claim 19  wherein said selected period of time for running said vacuum pump is between ten seconds and thirty seconds. 
     
     
         23 . The method for filling a direct inject cartridge with at least one selected refrigerant additive of  claim 19  wherein said step of closing said second valve is performed before said step of shutting off said vacuum pump. 
     
     
         24 . The method for filling a direct inject cartridge with at least one selected refrigerant additive of  claim 19  wherein said cannister containing at the least one selected refrigerant additive contains said at least one selected refrigerant additive under negative pressure.