US2226851A - Charging mechanism - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 31,1940.

6. E. FRANCK CHARGING MECHANISM Original Filed April 11. 1938 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 31, 1940 PATENT OFFICE 2,226,851 CHARGING MECHANISM George E.

Imperial Brass Franck, Berwyn, 111.,

Manufacturing Company,

assignor to The Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Original application April 11, 1938, Serial No. 201,370. Divided and this application October 10, 1938, Serial No. 234,211

8 Claims. (C1. 62-115) My invention relates to valved charging mechanisms and particularly mechanisms using valve devices in charging refrigeration systems with a gaseous refrigerant. This application is a division of my co-pending application for a Charging valve, Serial No. 201,370, filed April 11, 1938.

Among the objects of my invention is the provision of a valve device and chargingsystem of extemely simple design which serves all of the purposes required of a which is relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Another object is the provision in a new and improved charging mechanism of avalve device for a refrigeration system which has the parts and the handle so arranged that an operator may be able to tell at a glance exactly how the valve is adjusted.

Still another object is the provision in a charging mechanism of a new and improved double acting charging valve device including provision for attachment to an auxiliary supply tank for charging a refrigeration system which can be adjusted through a fraction of a revolution in order to,change the setting of the valve from a position for unloading the tank to a position for filling the tank, there being also provided a separate shut off means for disconnecting the auxiliary supply tank and a gauge operable toindicate either high pressure-or low pressure conditions dependingupon the setting of the valve.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrangemerit and combination of the various parts of my device whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth and pointed out in my claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the charging mechanism with parts of a refrigeration system anlrll the connecting lines, shown diagrammatica y.

Figure 2 is a horizontal section of the valve device taken on the line 2-2 of Figure l. 3 Figure 3 is a side elevation of the valve device on the line 3-3 of Figure 1 with the ,central portion broken away to show the valve chamber and some of connections thereto.

In refrigeration systems in common use today for household and commercial installations, the parts consist primarily of a motor driven com pressor with an evaporator connected thereto containing a charge of refrigerant gas which flows continuously'from the compressor through charging valve and one and the compressor power the compressor a condenser, thence through the evaporator and back again passing through suitably valved connecting lines. Some refrigerant gases in common use are sulphur dioxide, methyl chloride, freon and others. These gases ordinarily are very volatile in character and when introduced into a refrigeration system, must be very carefully handled. The method in general of charging a system with a fresh supply of gas is to connect a cylinder of condensed gas to a valve 10 on the low pressure side of the compressor, then start the compressor and open the connection between the cylinder and the compressor so that the compressor will draw the gas therefrom.

Other occasions may arise able to unload the system of the gas and in the case of refrigerant gases which may be poisonous orwhich may be relatively expensive, it is not desirable to dissipate it into the atmosphere; Therefore, means need be provided for collecting 20 the gas again. Such a means consists in its simplest form of another empty tank connected'to the high pressure side of the compressor. When the connection has been made and the connecting line emptied of air, it is opened to the tank is operated. By its own forces the refrigerant gas from the system into the empty cylinder wher'ein it is compressed and collected. a

Owing to the characteristic volatility of refrigerant gases and their oftimes poisonous character, valves of a very special design must be used in order to properly control the flow during charging or emptying operations. 3 Furthermore, these valves must be of an extremely tight construction and to provide. this it is the custom to use positive seating needle valves rather than the ordinary plug type valves which are suitable only for low pressure use. 40

In order to reduce the size and weight of such a valve device and make it convenient to use, it becomes advisable to incorporate into the device a double acting valve seating in either of two positions but so constructed that it is absolutely 4 tight. In the embodiment of my invention there is shown a single double acting valve device having a body which may be connected at one point to the high pressure side of a compressor, at another point to the lowpressure side and at still 50 another point to a. charging cylinder. In addition a gauge is provided for indicating either high pressure or low pressure as the case may be. The

valve device is equipped with a handle having a pointer adapted to point toward either the 56 where it is desir- 15 prising a conventional shut off valve II for the refrigeration system. From the shut off valve Ii atubing line l8 conducts the refrigerant gas to a condenser l8, thence to an evaporator I 8 and through a tubing line I! to a connection on the low pressure side at 20. A motor 22 is supplied to drive the compressor by means of a belt 24.

The reference character Bindicates a charging valve device and the character C a tank for extra refrigerant fluid.

The charging valve device itself consists of a body 26 provided at one side with a threaded boss 28 upon which is secured a nut 30 for clamping thereto a length of tubing 32 connected to the compressor at an outlet 12 on the high pressure side of the refrigeration system." On the opposite side of the body in a position slightly forward, there is provided a threaded boss 34 equipped with a nut 36 adapted to clamp thereto a length of copper tubing 38 which is connected to f the compressor at the low pressure side of the refrigeration system at a point I4.

Upon still another side ofthe body below the valve device as shown in Figure 1 there is an internally threaded boss 40 to which may be connected a shut oil! valve 42 of the needle valve variety and connected to the shut off valve by means of a nut 44 is a tubing line 46 which terminates at the upper end 48 of the charging cylinder 0. A handle 50 is provided on the shut 01! valve for opening it and closing it while the main charging valve is being set.

On the upper side of 'the body there is still another internally threaded boss 52 upon which is mounted a gauge "having a face 56 graduated above and below the zero reading so that pressure may be measured, as is customary in pounds,

and a vacuum, measured in inches. The calibrations, of course, are arbitrary.

Within the body 28 of the valve there is provided a common central chamber 80 which has a short passage 62 at the front side thereof and a valve seat at the entrance thereto. The passage I2 is directly connected with another passage it partly within the threaded boss 34 connected'to the low pressure side of the system. It is also to be noted that the central chamber II is directly connected to the gauge, the shut ofl valve and the high pressure side.

Protruding from the forward side of the valve is a stem' 88 upon which is mounted a handle 10 held by a screw 12 and equipped with a pointer orindicator 14 which in Figure 1 is shown pointing towards the high pressure connection. The valve stem extendsinward through the passage 82 and is threaded in an outer extension of the passage by means of a triple thread connection ll so provided in order to produce a great longitudinal movement of the valve with a minimum rotational adjustment. At the inner end of the stem 68 there is provided a valve 18 having a forward conical face adapted to seat against the low pressure seat 64 and a rearward conical face 82. The valve stem is held in place by means of a packing 84, a packing ring 86 and packing nut 88 in order that the valve may be tightly sealed against any possible escape of the volatile refrigerant.

At the rear of the central chamber 60 there is provided a threaded passage 90 into which is threadably screwed a plug 92 provided with a screw driver slot 94 for adjusting it inwardly or outwardly. The plug has a central depression 96 provided at its forward end with a valve seat 58 cooperable with the rearward conical portion 82 of the valve. Surrounding the plug is an annular recess 98 with passages I00 connecting the recess with the central depression. On the left side of the valve body there isa drilled passage "12 communicating between the threaded passage 90 at a point adjacent the annular recess and a passage I 04 in the threaded boss 28 directly connected to the high pressure side of the systern.

In assembling the valve mechanism the stem 68 is inserted from the rear and secured tightly against the forward or low pressure valve seat 64. In this position thelow pressure side is closed and the high pressure side will be open. The handle 10 can then be mounted upon the valve stem in position so that the indicator 14 points toward the open high pressure connection. To complete the adjustment the valve stem 88 is rotated so that the indicator 14 points toward the low side'connection. This rotation will cause the valve to open the low side and occupy a position wherein the high side should be closed. Accordingly, the plug 92 is screwed into the threaded aperture 90 until its'valve seat 98 is pressed tightly against thew conical portion 82 and the adjustment so made positively positions the throw of the valve stem. The plug 92 is then sweated, soldered or otherwise sealed in position in order to freeze it tightly in place and seal the valve against escape of the refrigerant gas. By the operation thus described there is'provided a needle valve which has a limited definite throw from a highposition to a low position so constructed that the operator can tell at a glance which way the valve is set.

Operation of the device as here described presumes it to be connected as shown to a wellknown refrigeration system including, for example, a conventional type of compressor having internal valves. Initially the flow through the pipe I I is shut ,off by means of the stop valve ll. Then when the compressor is started it will evacuate a substantial portion of,the air initially in thesystem by withdrawing it from the pipe l8, condenser l2, evaporator I i and expel it out- .wardly through the pipe 22. To assure expulsion oi the air the forward face of the valve 18 is seated against the valve seat 64 and with the pipe line 4, initiallyopening into the atmosphere air may be expelled through the open valve 42.

Having evacuted the air. except perhaps for a small quantity which may later be purged by conventional methods, the valve 42 is closed and the pipe line 48 is attached to tank 0. The valve ll may now be shifted so that the rear face confacts the seat 22, the valve 42 again opened and as the compressor continues to operate gas will be drawn from the tank into the system through the pipe line 28. When the operation is com- "plete valve 42 is shut off and valve 18 is left closed the handle III will be shifted so that the pointer 14 is directed toward high position. The valve 18 will then be seated upon the valve seat closing the line 38 to the passage of refrigerant gas. Then with the valve ll shut off and the compressor operatinggas will be drawn from the system and expelled outwardly through the line 32, the charging valve B, the shut off valve 42 and thence into the tank C.

. Should it be desired manual shut off valves of conventional design may be used where the pipe lines 32 and 38 are attached to the compressor. By shutting off such valves the charging unit may be removed at any time without it being necessary to empty the system of refrigerant gas.

Should it be desired to empty the compressor the valve will be shifted so that the indicator points to the high side connection. The gauge will immediately register the high side pressure in pounds above the zero reading and when this pressure reaches a desired amount the shut off valve, meanwhile having been closed, will be opened, allowing the refrigerant to be driven from the compressor into the empty auxiliary tank C.

Another position is possible and becomes desirable if something should go wrong in the refrigeration system, necessitating that the pressure on the evaporator, for example, be relieved. Should such a circumstance occur, the valve handle 10 can be rotated part way around so that the valve is midway between a high position and a low position. With a setting of this sort, refrigerant gas from the compressor will be bypassed through the valve from the high pressure side to the low pressure side, thereby relieving any undue strain upon the refrigeration system.

There has therefore been provided a simple,

' compact charging valve device which is suitable for all charging operations and one which is easily installed and readily operated by persons having a limited experience or knowledge of refrigeration systems.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of my device without departing from the real spirit and purpose'of my invention and it is my invention to cover by my claims any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination of a refrigerant circuit and an apparatus for charging and discharging refrigerant respectively into and from said circuit comprising means forming a source of pressure equipped with connections respectively at thehigh pressure and low pressure sides, an auxiliary tank for refrigerant, a charging valve mechanism having one connection to the high pressure side, another connection to the low pressure side and a third connection to the auxiliary tank, a two way valve in said mechanism adapted to be turned to a position to open apassage from the high side to the tank and a position to open a passage from the lowside to the tank.

2. The combination of arefrigerant circuit and an apparatus for charging and discharging refrigerant respectively into and from said circuit comprising a compressor equipped with valved connections respectively at the high pressure and low pressure sides, an auxiliary tank for refrigerant, a charging valve mechanism having one con- ,'nection to the high pressure side, another connection to the low pressure side and a third connection to the auxiliary tank, a valve in said mechanism adapted to be turned to a plurality of en compressor equipped with connections at the high pressure and low pressure sides respectively, and an auxiliary tank for refrigerant, a charging valve mechanism having one connection to the high pressure side, another connection to the low pressure side and a third connection to the auxiliary tank, a valve in said mechanism adapted to be turned to a plurality of positions one to open a passage from the high side to the tank, and one to open a passage from the low side to the tank, an auxiliary shut off valve cooperable with the mechanism adapted to control the connection to the auxiliary tank for closing flow therebe-.

tween during manipulation of said first valve.

4. The combination of a refrigerant circuit and an apparatus for charging and discharging refrigerant respectively into and from said circuit comprising a power driven compressor equipped with valved connections at the high pressure and low pressure sides respectively, and an auxiliary tank for refrigerant a charging valve mechanism having one connection tothe high pressure side, another connection to the low pressure side and a third connection to the auxiliary tank, a valve in said mechanism adapted to be turned to a plurality of positions one to open a passage from the high side to the tank, and one to open a'passage from the low side to the tank, .an auxiliary shut off valve cooperable with the mechanism adapted to control the connection to the auxiliary tank for closing fiow therebetween during manipulation of said first valve and a gauge for the valve mechanism'operable in all positions of said first valve.

5. The combination of a refrigerant system and an apparatus for charging and discharging refrigerant respectively into and from said system comprising a power driven compressor equipped with connections respectively at the high pressure and low pressure side, an auxiliary tank for refrigerant, a charging valve mechanism having one connection to the high pressure side, another connection to the low pressure side and a third connection to the auxiliary tank, a valve in said mechanism adapted to be turned to a plurality of positions, one to open a passage from the high side to the tank, one to open a passage from an apparatus for transferring refrigerant thereto or therefrom; said refrigerant circuit including 'a compressor having a high and a low'side; said apparatus including a flow control apparatus, a-

container, a first and a second conduit connecting the high and the low sides, respectively, of the compressor to the fiow control structure and a I third conduit connecting the container to the fiow control structure; said flow control structure .comprising a body having a chamber therein, a

port,-means connecting said port to the third mentioned conduit, a second port communicating with the conduit connected to the low side of the compressor, a third port commulcating with the conduit connected to the high side of the compressor, a pair of valve seats communicating with said chamber, and a valve located in said chamber and movable from one seat to the other to selectively disconnect said container from the high side or the loss side of said compressor.

'7. The combination of a refrigerant circuitand an apparatus for transferring refrigerant thereto or therefrom; said refrigerant circuit including a compressor having a high and a low side, a condenser and an evaporator; said apparatus including a flow control apparatus, a container, a first and a second conduit connecting the high and the low sides, respectively, of the compressor to the flow control structure and a third conduit connecting the container to the flow control structure; said flow control structure comprising a body having a chamber therein, a port, valved means connecting said port to the third mentioned conduit, a second port communicating with the conduit connected to the low side of the compressor, a third port communicating with the conduit connected to the high side of the compressor, a pair of valve seats confronting each other and communicating with said chamber, and a valve located in said chamber and movable from one seat to the other to selectively disconnect said container from the high side or the low side of said compressor. I

8. The combination of a refrigerant circuit and an, apparatus for transferring refrigerant thereto or therefrom; said refrigerant circuit including a compressor having a high and a low side, a condenser and an evaporator; said apparatus ineluding a flow control apparatus, a container, a

.flrst and a second conduit connecting the high and the low sides, respectively, of the compressor to the flow control structure and a third conduit connecting the container to the flow control structure; said flow control structure comprising a body having a chamber therein, a port, independent valved means on the body connecting said port to the third mentioned conduit, a second port communicating with the conduit connected to the low side of the compressor, a third port communicating with the conduit connected to the high side of the compressor, a pair of valve seats in axial alignment with each other and at opposite sides of said chamber, and a two faced valve located in said chamber and movable from one seat to the other to selectively disconnect said container from the high side or the low side 01' said compressor and having an intermediate position to connect said low side with said high I side.

GEORGE E. FRANCK.

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