AU646085B2

AU646085B2 - Control manifold inserted in the flow route of a system for transferring pressure media in a gaseous and/or liquid gaseous state

Info

Publication number: AU646085B2
Application number: AU84606/91A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Bruno A. Mock
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-10-08
Filing date: 1991-09-19
Publication date: 1994-02-10
Anticipated expiration: 2011-09-19
Also published as: AU8460691A; EP0480220A1; JPH06294697A; CH681659A5; CA2051946A1

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 6 4 6 0 8 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

Class Int. Class Application Number: Lodged: Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: Priority Related Art: Name of Applicant: o Bruno A. Mock *00 Actual Inventor(s): Bruno A. Mock Address for Service: PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys 367 Collins Street Melbourne 3000 AUSTRALIA Invention Title: CONTROL MANIFOLD INSERTED IN THE FLOW ROUTE OF A SYSTEM FOR TRANSFERRING PRESSURE MEDIA IN A GASEOUS AND/OR LIQUID GASEOUS STATE 00 9 Our Ref 229030 POF Code: 1364/58598 0 0 :The following statement is a full description of this invention, including S*the best method of performing it known to applicant(s): 6006 FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a control manifold (valve assembly) inserted in the flow route of a system for transferring pressure media in a gaseous and/or liquid gaseous state, comprising on both the low-pressure side as well as the high-pressure side, closable connecting pieces or fittings 0000 which serve as the connection onto the circulation system of the unit that is to be filled, as well as further connecting means which communicate with the closable connecting pieces 0 0. for the connection of a vacuum pump or of a supply container containing the pressure medium, and by which manometers are in operative connection with the inner-casing conduit section of the connection means. 0 0 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 0000.

In many technical fields, for example refrigeration engineering, it is necessary to transfer pressure media into containers, the latter having to be previously evacuated.

Refrigerators and, in particular, motor car air-conditioning systems-for instance, require for the initial starting or after repair of the system a charging of the cooling medium, 2 as a rule in the form of a liquified gas, in the circulation of the apparatus, for which the circulation has first to be evacuated.

In order that such a process may be carried out in small workshops or even on the road, it is necessary for the mechanic concerned to be able to use a control manifold that permits the precise observation of this relati.ely dangerous transferring process.

IAvailable on the market is a control manifold having a casing devided into a low-pressure side for evacuating the system to be charged, and a high-pressure side for charging the system with gas.

Such control manifolds are known by the name of 2-Valve Man Handlers and 4-Valve Man Handlers. In an esseno tially improved specific embodiment, the latter have become known by the name of Mano-Vac Man Handlers (US Patent 4,516,603 S.0 and 4,881,961 by the same applicant).

e In such mechanic's aids or Man Handlers, at least one inner-casing guide conduit communicates in each case at least low-pressure side and high-pressure side with a manometer which is capable of being screwed on.

Precisely here, however, lies the problem, since 3

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even the slightest leakage in the area of the threaded shank can result in the most undesired and uncontrollable drop in pressure. Further, since such mechanic's aids are subject to such mechanical demands when in use, and the manometers, projecting freely from the manifold casing by a relatively thin threaded shank, are often knocked, such leakage is to be expected after only a short period of usage, not to mention the danger of damaging the manometer in any other way.

According to the invention there is provided a control manifold comprising a casing; a first pair of fittings attached to the casing and comunicating with one another by a first guide conduit formed within said casing; a first chamber defined by inner wall portions of said casing; a first jhting glass hermetically covering said first chamber; a first manometer mechanism accommodated in said first chamber beneath said first sighting glass; a first pressure-uptake capillary conduit defined by inner wall portions of said casing; the first capillary conduit maintaining communication between the first guide conduit and the first manometer mechanism; a first manually operable valve received in said casing for controlling fluid passage in said first guide conduit; a second pair of fittings attached to the casing and communicating with one another by a second guide conduit formed within said casing; a second chamber defined by inner wall portions of said casing; a second sighting glass hermetically covering said second chamber; a second manometer mechanism accommodated in said second chamber beneath said second sighting glass; a second pressure-uptake capillary conduit 4

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Zi 5869 5869L defined by inner wall portions of said casing; the second capillary conduit maintaining communication between the second guide conduit and the second manometer mechanism; a second manually operable valve received in said casing for controlling fluid passage in said second guide conduit.

As a result of these steps, it is hence possible not only to cement, or such like method, the capillary tube absolutely leakproof, but also to protect it against every pressure from the outside. There results an absolutely compact type of construction with completely integrated manometers which, moreover, no longer require a casing of their own. In this connection, any shape of casing for the control manifold is possible, and two or more manometer chambers can be provided.

oooAn embodiment of the present invention will now be more particularly described by way of example and with 20 reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: 0. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING o. Figure 1 isa diagrammatic representation of a S 25 2-valve control manifold in front elevation.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION The so-called 2-valve control manifold according to .b the Figure comprises a manifold casing 20 inserted in the flow route of a system for transferring pressure media in a gaseous and/or liquid gas state, comprising on both the low-pressure side 1 as well as the high-pressure side 2, connecting pieces or fittings 4 and closable by means of valve 3, as well as further connecting means which communicate with the connecting pieces 6 and connected to the former by inner-casing guide conduits 25,26 and closable by means of valve 5, for the connection of, ariong c other things, a vacuum pump (not shown in detail). In 5 5869L this connection, the process of flow of the medium to the connecting piece 7 can be observed in a sight glass 14 on the casing 20. The control manifold may be suspended from any desired place by means of a hook 33. The fitting 4 communicates with the fitting 4' by a guide conduit 27 within the casing 20 and similarly, the fitting 6 communicates with the fitting 6' by a guide conduit 28 within the casing Thus far, such a control manifold is known.

Essential to the invention is here that the manifold casing 20 has a chamber which is in each case capable of being sealed gas- and light-tight by a sight glass 21 and which is for incorporating and attaching in each case a manometer mechanism 23, the pressure-uptake capillary tube 24 of which passes gas- and light-tight into a wall section of the casing 20 and exits in the connecting means tube section 4 or 6 on the respective low-pressure side or 20 high-pressure side.

ee 0 As a result of these steps, it is hence possible 5869L to develop a control manifold of an extremely compact and very flat construction which permits optimum handling.

It is to be said at this point, however, that various modifications within the bounds of the basic idea of the present invention. are absolutely possible.

The Figure shows a control manifold with two manometer chambers 22. For the Mano-Vac Man Handler mentioned ,by way of introduction, such a casing is provided with three manometer chambers.

4 rc;* Expediently, the manifold casing is a casting.

S0 P 1 1 While there are shown and described present preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be distinctly 0understood that the invention is not limited thereto, but may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced within the scope of the following claims. ACCORDINGLY, j< ^r 7

Claims

1. A control manifold comprising a casing; a first pair of fittings attached to the casing and comunicating with one another by a first guide conduit formed within said casing; a first chamber defined by inner wall portions of said casing; a first sighting glass hermetically covering said first chamber; a first manometer mechanism accommodated in said first chamber beneath said first sighting glass; a first pressure-uptake capillary conduit defined by inner wall portions of said casing; the first capillary conduit maintaining communication between the first guide conduit and the first manometer mechanism; a first manually operable valve received in said casing for controlling fluid passage in said first guide conduit; a second pair of fittings attached to the casing and communicating with one another by a second guide conduit formed within said casing; a second chamber defined by inner wall 25 portions of said casing; a second sighting glass hermetically covering said second chamber; a second manometer mechanism accommodated in said second chamber beneath said second sighting glass; a second pressure-uptake c9pillary conduit defined by inner wall portions of said casing; the second capillary conduit maintaining communication between the second guide conduit and the second manometer mechanism; a second manually operable valve received in said casing for controlling fluid passage in said second guide conduit.

2. The control manifold as defined in claim 1, wherein the manifold casing is a casting. 4 o- 8 5869L

3. A control manifold substantially as herein described and illustrated. DATED: 23 November 1993 BRUNO A. MOCK By PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK Patent Attorneys per:

4 I 605 59 5869L 90147 INVENTOR: BRUNO A. MOCK INVENTION: CONTROL MANIFOLD INSERTED IN THE. FLOW ROUTE OF A SYSTEM FOR TRANSFERRING PRESSURE MEDIA IN A GASEOUS AND/OR LIQUID GASEOUS STATE. ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The control manifold is characterized in that the manifold casing has a chamber which is in each case capable g*o of being sealed gas-and liquid-tight by a sight glass and which is for incorporating and attaching in each case a manometer mechanism, the pressure-uptake capillary tube of o S" which passes gas- and liquid-tight into a wall section of the casing and exits in the connecting means tube section on the respective low-pressure side or high-pressure side. a .4 0 *U aj 1 1 9