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

Abstract

A kit defined by various components, a system, and a method for filling new direct inject cartridges and syringe-style direct injects and for refilling an empty used direct inject cartridge and an empty used syringe-style direct inject. 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 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 refrigerant additive direct inject delivery device with refrigerant gas additive, the kit comprising:
 a first valve member adapted for providing fluid communication between a canister having a selectively actuated self-sealing valve and the direct inject delivery device, said first valve member having a first end defining a collar adapted to threadably engage the canister, a pin adapted to actuate the selectively actuated self-sealing valve of said canister, a second end adapted to engage a first end of the direct inject delivery device 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, said second valve member having a first end adapted for engaging a threaded fitting on the direct inject delivery device, a second end adapted to provide fluid communication between the direct inject delivery device and the pump, and a valve actuator for selectively opening and closing a valve of said second valve member.   
     
     
         2 . The kit adapted for filling a refrigerant additive direct inject delivery device of  claim 1  wherein the direct inject delivery device is defined by a direct inject cartridge. 
     
     
         3 . The kit adapted for filling a refrigerant additive direct inject delivery device of  claim 2  wherein said first end of the direct inject delivery device includes a self-sealing valve and said first valve member further has a second end adapted to engage the first end of the direct inject cartridge, and said second valve member further has 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. 
     
     
         4 . The kit adapted for filling a refrigerant additive direct inject delivery device of  claim 2  wherein said first valve member and said second valve member each includes a ball valve. 
     
     
         5 . The kit adapted for filling a refrigerant additive direct inject delivery device of  claim 2 , wherein said at least one refrigerant gas 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. 
     
     
         6 . The kit adapted for filling a refrigerant additive direct inject delivery device of  claim 1 , wherein said kit further comprises a canister having a selectively actuated self-sealing valve, said canister containing said at least one refrigerant additive, wherein said canister contains said at least one selected refrigerant additive under negative pressure. 
     
     
         7 . The kit adapted for filling a refrigerant additive direct inject delivery device of  claim 2 , 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. 
     
     
         8 . The kit adapted for filling a refrigerant additive direct inject delivery device of  claim 7 , 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. 
     
     
         9 . The kit adapted for filling a refrigerant additive direct inject delivery device of  claim 1 , wherein said pin of said first valve member is fixed relative to said first valve member. 
     
     
         10 . The kit adapted for filling a refrigerant additive direct inject delivery device of  claim 1 , wherein said kit further comprises a filter member adapted for providing fluid communication between said second valve member and the pump. 
     
     
         11 . The kit adapted for filling a refrigerant additive direct inject delivery device of  claim 1  wherein the direct inject delivery device is defined by a syringe-style direct inject having a first end having a threaded nozzle, a cylindrical body, a second end, an adapter cap adapted to threadably engage the second end of the syringe-style direct inject, the adapter cap including an externally threaded self-sealing valve. 
     
     
         12 . The kit adapted for filling a refrigerant additive direct inject delivery device of  claim 11  wherein the second valve member has a first end defining an internally threaded self-sealing valve chuck and a second end defining an internally threaded self-sealing valve chuck. 
     
     
         13 . The kit adapted for filling a refrigerant additive direct inject delivery device of  claim 12  wherein the self-sealing valve chucks are defined as Schrader Valve Chucks. 
     
     
         14 . A system adapted for filling a refrigerant additive direct inject delivery device with at least one selected refrigerant additive, the system comprising:
 a direct inject delivery device, said direct inject delivery device having a cylindrical body adapted to contain at least one selected refrigerant additive;   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 delivery device, 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 valve actuator for selectively opening and closing a valve of said first valve member, and a second end adapted to engage a first end of said direct inject delivery device; and   a second valve member adapted for providing selectively actuated fluid communication between the direct inject delivery device and said vacuum pump, said second valve member having a first end adapted to threadably engage a threaded fitting carried by the second end of the direct inject delivery device, 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.   
     
     
         15 . The system adapted for filling a refrigerant additive direct inject delivery device with at least one selected refrigerant additive of  claim 14  wherein said first valve member and said second valve member each includes a ball valve. 
     
     
         16 . The system adapted for filling a refrigerant additive direct inject delivery device with at least one selected refrigerant additive of  claim 14 , 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. 
     
     
         17 . The system adapted for filling a refrigerant additive direct inject delivery device with at least one selected refrigerant additive of  claim 14 , wherein said system is adapted to connect the direct inject delivery device to said canister containing the 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. 
     
     
         18 . The system adapted for filling a refrigerant additive direct inject delivery device with at least one selected refrigerant additive of  claim 14 , wherein said canister contains said at least one selected refrigerant additive under negative pressure. 
     
     
         19 . The system adapted for filling a refrigerant additive direct inject delivery device with at least one selected refrigerant additive of  claim 14 , 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. 
     
     
         20 . The system adapted for filling a refrigerant additive direct inject delivery device with at least one selected refrigerant additive of  claim 19 , 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. 
     
     
         21 . The system adapted for a refrigerant additive direct inject delivery device with at least one selected refrigerant additive of  claim 15 , wherein said pin is fixed relative to said first valve member. 
     
     
         22 . The system adapted for filling a refrigerant additive direct inject delivery device with at least one selected refrigerant additive of  claim 19 , wherein said system further comprises a filter member adapted for providing fluid communication between said second valve member and the pump. 
     
     
         23 . The system adapted for filling a refrigerant additive direct inject delivery device with at least one selected refrigerant additive of  claim 14  wherein said direct inject delivery device is a syringe-style direct inject and the system further comprises an adapter cap having a first end adapted to threadably engage the second end of the syringe-style direct inject and a second end defining a threaded fitting adapted to engage the first end of the second valve member and further wherein the first and the second ends of the second valve member are defined by internally threaded valve chucks. 
     
     
         24 . A method for filling a refrigerant additive direct inject delivery device 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 delivery device;   attaching a second valve member to the direct inject delivery device;   placing said second valve member in fluid communication with a vacuum pump;   confirming at least said second valve member 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 delivery device;   confirming said first valve member is in an open position;   closing said second valve;   shutting off said vacuum pump; and   removing said first valve member and said second valve member from said direct inject delivery device.   
     
     
         25 . The method for filling a refrigerant additive direct inject delivery device with at least one selected refrigerant additive of  claim 24  wherein said refrigerant additive direct inject delivery device is a syringe-style direct inject and said first valve and said second valve are each opened prior to the step of actuating said vacuum pump. 
     
     
         26 . The method for filling a refrigerant additive direct inject delivery device with at least one selected refrigerant additive of  claim 24  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. 
     
     
         27 . The method for filling a refrigerant additive direct inject delivery device with at least one selected refrigerant additive of  claim 24  wherein said selected period of time for running said vacuum pump is at least ten seconds. 
     
     
         28 . The method for filling a refrigerant additive direct inject delivery device with at least one selected refrigerant additive of  claim 24  wherein said selected period of time for running said vacuum pump is between ten seconds and thirty seconds. 
     
     
         29 . The method for filling a refrigerant additive direct inject delivery device with at least one selected refrigerant additive of  claim 24  wherein said step of closing said second valve is performed before said step of shutting off said vacuum pump. 
     
     
         30 . The method for filling a refrigerant additive direct inject delivery device with at least one selected refrigerant additive of  claim 24  wherein a filter is placed between said second valve member and said pump. 
     
     
         31 . A can tap adapted for facilitating transfer of a refrigerant gas additive from a canister having a selectively actuated self-sealing valve to a direct inject delivery device with refrigerant gas additive, the can tap comprising:
 a valve member adapted for providing fluid communication between the canister having a selectively actuated self-sealing valve and the direct inject delivery device, said valve member having a first end defining a an internally threaded collar adapted to threadably engage the self-sealing valve of the canister, a pin adapted to actuate the selectively actuated self-sealing valve of said canister, a second end defining a self-sealing valve chuck adapted to engage a first end of the direct inject delivery device and a valve actuator for selectively opening and closing a valve of said first valve member.   
     
     
         32 . The can tap adapted for facilitating transfer of a refrigerant gas additive from a canister having a selectively actuated self-sealing valve to a direct inject delivery device with refrigerant gas additive of  claim 31  wherein the self-sealing valve chuck is defined by a Schrader valve chuck. 
     
     
         33 . The can tap adapted for facilitating transfer of a refrigerant gas additive from a canister having a selectively actuated self-sealing valve to a direct inject delivery device with refrigerant gas additive of  claim 31  wherein the direct inject delivery device is defined by a direct inject cartridge. 
     
     
         34 . The can tap adapted for facilitating transfer of a refrigerant gas additive from a canister having a selectively actuated self-sealing valve to a direct inject delivery device with refrigerant gas additive of  claim 31  wherein said valve of said valve member is a ball valve. 
     
     
         35 . The can tap adapted for facilitating transfer of a refrigerant gas additive from a canister having a selectively actuated self-sealing valve to a direct inject delivery device with refrigerant gas additive of  claim 31 , wherein said pin of said first valve member is fixed relative to said valve member and further wherein actuation of said valve actuator to an open position provides for fluid communication from the first end through the valve member to the second end.