Patent · US Expired

Apparatus and method for infusing a material into a closed loop system

US4938063A · kind A · utility

46Cited by
9References
21Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateSep 13, 1988
Grant dateJul 3, 1990
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 13, 2008

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01M3/20
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An apparatus and method for infusing a material into an operating closed loop system. A sealed reservoir, for holding a predetermined amount of material, is provided having an inlet and an outlet. A sealable material fill inlet is provided to admit the desired amount of material into the sealed reservoir. An externally available high pressure system carrier fluid is allowed to enter the reservoir through the inlet via a regulating valve to form a mixture with the held material. Thereafter a mist of the high pressure mixture is infused into the closed loop system through a charging conduit. The charging conduit contains a series of valves and quick-release fittings to insure that the pressurized system carrier fluid and material mixture does not inadvertently escape into the atmosphere or onto the external equipment parts of the closed loop system. In particular, the apparatus and method allow large operating commercial air conditioning and refrigeration systems to be easily and accurately checked for leaks using a predetermined amount of concentrated leak detection fluorescent dye.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.