Patent US3686954A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3686954A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Automobile air conditioner test and service equipment
Assignee: Bear Automotive Service Equipment Co
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Filing: 1971-04-08
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Granted: 1972-08-29
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Expires: 1991-04-08
Abstract
Abstract Electronically automated equipment utilized for diagnostic evaluation and repair of automobile air conditioning systems. Test connections provide sensors to measure the various pressures and temperatures in the operating system which are selectively connected to appropriate readout devices. Various hand actuated switches are provided to sequentially actuate the respective test circuits. If the circuits indicate a fault within the air conditioning system, the balance of the manually operated switches are operable to evacuate the system to enable repair and subsequently to recharge the system to an optimum operating condition. Additional features, in keeping with the electronic nature of the system, are capacitive measurement device to precisely determine the amount of refrigerant to be charged into the system, and a thermostatically controlled heater to assure suitable refrigerant temperature and pressure during the charging cycle.
Inventors
- 👤 Daniel M Motl
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 18:54
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01M; G01M13/00; G01M13/003
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
150 words
Apparatus for diagnosis and servicing of an automobile air conditioning system using a refrigerant, comprising a housing; a plurality of pressure and temperature indicating devices adapted to be connected to said automobile air conditioning system and capable of providing an indication of a defective condition of said automobile air conditioning system; an evacuating system contained within said housing capable of withdrawing all of said refrigerant from said air conditioning system; charging means contained within said housing capable of holding a sufficient amount of refrigerant to fully recharge said automobile air conditioning system; a plurality of flow paths interconnecting said automobile air conditioning system, said evacuating system, said refrigerant charging means, and atmosphere; a plurality of motor operated valves selectively operable to interconnect said flow paths; motor means for said motor operated valves; and means for actuating different combinations of said valves to selectively establish different combinations of said flow paths.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
150 words
Apparatus for diagnosis and servicing of an automobile air conditioning system using a refrigerant, comprising a housing; a plurality of pressure and temperature indicating devices adapted to be connected to said automobile air conditioning system and capable of providing an indication of a defective condition of said automobile air conditioning system; an evacuating system contained within said housing capable of withdrawing all of said refrigerant from said air conditioning system; charging means contained within said housing capable of holding a sufficient amount of refrigerant to fully recharge said automobile air conditioning system; a plurality of flow paths interconnecting said automobile air conditioning system, said evacuating system, said refrigerant charging means, and atmosphere; a plurality of motor operated valves selectively operable to interconnect said flow paths; motor means for said motor operated valves; and means for actuating different combinations of said valves to selectively establish different combinations of said flow paths.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
62 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for actuating different combinations of said valves includes a plurality of manually operated actuators, one for each of a plurality of test or repair operations, electrically connected to said motor means for said motor operated valves and wherein actuation of said manually operated actuators operates as many as three of said motor operated valves.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising capacitive measurement means integrally formed with said charging cylinder wherein the mass of refrigerant in both liquid and vapor form may be accurately detected prior to charging into said air conditioning system.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
63 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising heating means thermally connected to said charging means and temperature sensing means thermally connected to said charging means and electrically connected to said heating means whereby said temPerature sensing means intermittently actuates said heating means to maintain a suitably high temperature in said charging means to maintain temperature stability and assure complete discharge of said refrigerant.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
81 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said plurality of pressure and temperature indicating devices includes at least one with indicia inscribed thereon which is utilized to indicate a pressure in said air conditioning system and further having at least two additional sets of indicia so inscribed on the meter face so that a range of ambient temperature is referenced in such a manner that if the indication of said meter falls within said range, said air conditioning system is operating satisfactorily.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
81 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said two additional sets of indicia inscribed on said meter face are inscribed in units of temperature and are circumferentially displaced so that one set is in radial alignment with the lowest permissible pressure for any given temperature and the other set is in radial alignment with the highest permissible pressure for said given temperature whereby an operator can determine for any given temperature whether the pressure is within the permissible range for that temperature.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
138 words
A meter face for indicating a range of permissible pressure for a given temperature, comprising a pressure scale with indicia inscribed thereon in units of pressure; a first temperature scale with indicia inscribed thereon in units of temperature and aligned with said pressure scale so that for any given temperature the lowest permissible pressure is indicated concurrently with said given temperature; and a second temperature scale with indicia inscribed thereon in units of temperature offset from said first temperature scale and aligned with said pressure scale so that for any given temperature the highest permissible pressure is indicated concurrently with said given temperature, whereby an observer can determine whether the desired range of pressure is achieved by determining whether a given pressure falls within the temperature range limited by said first temperature scale and said second temperature scale.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
138 words
A meter face for indicating a range of permissible pressure for a given temperature, comprising a pressure scale with indicia inscribed thereon in units of pressure; a first temperature scale with indicia inscribed thereon in units of temperature and aligned with said pressure scale so that for any given temperature the lowest permissible pressure is indicated concurrently with said given temperature; and a second temperature scale with indicia inscribed thereon in units of temperature offset from said first temperature scale and aligned with said pressure scale so that for any given temperature the highest permissible pressure is indicated concurrently with said given temperature, whereby an observer can determine whether the desired range of pressure is achieved by determining whether a given pressure falls within the temperature range limited by said first temperature scale and said second temperature scale.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
125 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said charging means includes a container suitable for containing said refrigerant and which further comprises a first conductive surface integrally formed with said container or offset therefrom and extending to the bottom thereof; a second conductive surface spaced from said first conductive surface and electrically insulated therefrom extending to the bottom of said container except for a passageway to allow said liquid to flow between said conductive surfaces; electrical connecting means connected to said first conducting surface and said second conductive surface; and electrical measuring means connected to said electrical connecting means suitable to determine the capacitance existing between said first and second conducting surface whereby the mass of both liquid and vapor of said refrigerant can be determined.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
84 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said container comprises an outer housing forming the side wall of said container; a top formed so that it hermetically seals said housing to form said container; and at least one tie rod extending the length of said container to hold the top on said outer housing and wherein said outer housing and said tie rod are formed of the same material whereby they are equally expansible so that the apparatus maintains a suitable seal during temperature changes.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
63 words
The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising heating means thermally connected to said charging means and temperature sensing means thermally connected to said charging means and electrically connected to said heating means whereby said temperature sensing means intermittently actuates said heating means to maintain a suitably high temperature in said charging means to maintain temperature stability and assure complete discharge of said refrigerant.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of Claim 1 further comprising means for indicating engine speed electrically connected to said automobile whereby an optimum operating speed can be maintained during testing.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-08-29 | 1976-02-28 | 1976-08-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-08-29 | 1980-02-28 | 1980-08-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-08-29 | 1984-02-28 | 1984-08-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |