BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Disclosure

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to systems, methods and apparatus for fluid delivery. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a coupler and uses thereof for servicing refrigeration systems.

2. Description of Related Art

Refrigeration systems have been relied upon as a principal source of cooling in a variety of applications. Refrigeration systems are found in, for example, vehicles, commercial buildings and residential buildings. Many refrigeration systems (air conditioning systems) use a circulating medium (for example, refrigerant) that absorbs and removes heat from the space to be cooled and subsequently rejects the absorbed heat elsewhere.

Refrigeration systems operate based on principles of the Reversed Carnot Cycle, also known as the Vapor-Compression Refrigerant Cycle. The ability to achieve cooling by compressing and expanding a gaseous refrigerant may depend to some degree on the amount of liquid fluid present in the system. The amount of liquid fluid may directly influence the performance of vapor-compression-refrigeration systems. Under charging the system of refrigerant may cause the system to not operate at design set points, risking shortened compressor life, poor cooling performance, and ultimately putting the compressor at risk of mechanical failure. Over charging may cause liquid refrigerant to enter the compressor resulting in damage to the compressor, increased high side pressure putting more load on the compression system resulting in poorer fuel economy along with increased wear on the compressor, higher pressures also can result in exceeding the refrigerant systems pressure safety limits and increasing compressor operating temperatures both resulting in the system turning off and affecting overall cooling performance.

Several factors may adversely affect the amount of refrigerant in the system. For example, the refrigeration system may be subject to significant swings in temperature and frequent thermal cycling due to the action of the system itself and the heat produced by power sources (for example, engines). Under these conditions, joints and fittings may tend to expand and contract, permitting refrigerant to slowly leak out of the system. In another example, the hoses used may be slightly permeable to the refrigerant, which may also permit the refrigerant to slowly leak out of the hoses. Accordingly, maintenance of refrigerant systems may require monitoring the refrigerant level or pressure and periodic re-charging of the refrigerant as indicated.

Charge adequacy may be checked manually by trained service technicians using pressure gauge measurements, temperature measurements, and a pressure to refrigerant temperature relationship chart for the particular refrigerant resident in the system. For vapor-compression-refrigerant systems, which use a thermal expansion valve (TXV) or an electronic expansion valve (EXV), the superheat of the refrigerant entering the compressor may be regulated at a fixed value, while the amount of subcooling of the refrigerant exiting the condenser varies. In most systems, the “subcooling method” may be used as an indicator for charge level. The amount of subcooling is calculated by determining the saturated refrigerant temperature from the refrigerant pressure measured between the outlet of the condenser coil and prior to the expansion device for the refrigerant in use. The saturated refrigerant temperature minus the actual refrigerant temperature measured between the outlet of the condenser coil and prior to the expansion device is determined and compared to a range of acceptance levels of subcooling.

A refrigerant pressure and temperature may be measured between the condenser outlet and prior to the expansion valve. The consumer may then refer to a pressure/temperature relationship chart for the refrigerant in use to determine the saturated refrigerant temperature at the measured pressure. Based on the measured pressure, the amount of cooling actually present at the current operating conditions (for example, outdoor temperature, indoor temperature, humidity, indoor airflow and the like) may be calculated. If the measured amount of cooling lies within the range of acceptable amounts, the system is deemed to be properly charged. If not, the consumer may adjust the refrigerant charge by either adding a quantity of refrigerant to the system or removing a quantity of refrigerant from the system, as appropriate. Methods for determining the refrigerant charge level in an air conditioning system are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,239,865 to Salzer et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,481,481 to Frey et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,987,903 to Bathla; U.S. Pat. No. 6,101,820 to Cheballah; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,571,566 to Temple et al., and U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 2010/0089076 to Schuster et al. and 2012/0143528 to Kates all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,301,403 to Weick and U.S. Pat. No. 7,260,943 to Carrubba et al., and U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 2008-0022701 to Carrubba et al. and 2009-0113901 to Carrubba et al., all of which are incorporated herein by reference, describe various apparatus that may allow a consumer to measure the refrigerant pressure in an automobile air conditioner and to add refrigerant as needed.

Most of these prior art methods and apparatus provide only a qualitative determination of whether the charge level is below or above acceptable limits or require inputs from multiple sensors, including ambient temperature and humidity sensors, in order to determine refrigerant charge level, which increases the cost and complexity of the system. Many of the prior art apparatus and methods are expensive to maintain, costly, and are not easily used by a do-it-yourself consumer.

There is, therefore, a need for an improved systems and methods of determining a level of fluid in vapor-compression-refrigerant systems and other refrigerant systems. There is also a need for a method of determining a level of fluid in a refrigerant system that is both relatively inexpensive and reliable under a wide range of ambient temperature conditions.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

A coupler and methods of use are described herein. In some embodiments, a coupler for servicing a refrigeration system includes an inlet engageable with a portion of a refrigeration system and a housing coupled to the inlet. The housing may include a temperature component and a pressure component. The temperature component is configured to measure an in situ temperature of a pressurized fluid of the refrigeration system, generate a signal representative of the measured temperature, and transmit the signal representative of the measured temperature. The pressure component is configured to measure an in situ pressure of the pressurized fluid of the refrigeration system, generate a signal representative of the measured pressure, and transmit the signal representative of the measured pressure.

A coupler and methods of use are described herein. In some embodiments, a coupler for servicing a refrigeration system includes an inlet engageable with a portion of a refrigeration system, a housing coupled to the inlet and a temperature component coupled to the housing. The housing may include a pressure component. The pressure component is configured to measure an in situ pressure of the pressurized fluid of the refrigeration system, generate a signal representative of the measured pressure, and transmit the signal representative of the measured pressure.

A coupler and methods of use are described herein. In some embodiments, a coupler for servicing a refrigeration system includes an inlet engageable with a portion of a refrigeration system, a housing coupled to the inlet and a pressure component coupled to the housing. The housing may include a temperature component. The temperature component is configured to measure an in situ temperature of the pressurized fluid of the refrigeration system, generate a signal representative of the measured temperature, and transmit the signal representative of the measured temperature.

In some embodiments, a coupler for servicing a refrigeration system includes an inlet engageable with a port of a refrigeration system and a set of sensors, and a conduit extending between the inlet and the set of sensors. The conduit allows fluid communication between the refrigeration system and at least one of the sensors. A first sensor of the set of sensors is configured to measure an in situ pressure of a fluid in the refrigeration system. A second sensor of the set of sensors is configured to measure an in situ temperature of the fluid of the refrigeration system, generate a signal representative of the measured temperature, and transmit the signal representative of the measured temperature.

In some embodiments, a coupler for servicing a refrigeration system includes an inlet engageable with a port of a refrigeration system and a set of sensors, and a conduit extending between the inlet and the set of sensors. The conduit allows fluid communication between the refrigeration system and at least one of the sensors. A first sensor of the set of sensors is configured to measure an in situ temperature of a fluid in the refrigeration system. A second sensor of the set of sensors is configured to measure an in situ pressure of the fluid of the refrigeration system, generate a signal representative of the measured pressure, and transmit the signal representative of the measured pressure.

In some embodiments, a system for servicing a refrigeration system includes a coupler and user equipment. The user equipment is in electronic communication with the coupler. The coupler includes an inlet engageable with a portion of the refrigeration system and a housing coupled to the inlet. The housing includes a set of sensors configured to measure in situ at least one physical parameter of the refrigeration system.

In some embodiments, a method of assessing a condition of a refrigeration system includes providing a coupler to a portion of a refrigeration system, the coupler including a set of sensors; obtaining, by at least one sensor in the set of sensors, one or more parameters of the refrigeration system; and transmitting at least one of the parameters to a user equipment. At least one of the parameters is obtained in situ from fluid in the refrigeration system and an assessment of at least one condition of the refrigeration system is generated based on at least one of the parameters.

In some embodiments, a method of servicing a refrigeration system includes providing a coupler to a portion of a refrigeration system, and allowing fluid communication between the refrigeration system and a sensor housing positioned in the coupler and assessing a condition of the refrigeration system based on at least one parameter received from the sensor housing. The sensor housing is operable to measure one or more parameters of the refrigeration system and communicate at least one of the parameters.

In some embodiments, a coupler for servicing a refrigeration system includes an inlet engageable with a portion of a refrigeration system and a set of sensors. A first sensor of the set of sensors is configured to measure an in situ pressure of a fluid in the refrigeration system, generate a signal representative of the measured pressure, and transmit the signal representative of the measured pressure. A second sensor is configured to measure an in situ temperature of the fluid of the refrigeration system, generate a signal representative of the measured temperature, and transmit the signal representative of the measured temperature. The coupler is configured to allow the fluid to flow through the coupler.

In some embodiments, a coupler for servicing a refrigeration system includes an inlet engageable with a portion of a refrigeration system and a set of sensors. A first sensor of the set of sensors is configured to measure an in situ pressure of a fluid in the refrigeration system. A second sensor is configured to measure an in situ temperature of the fluid of the refrigeration system, generate a signal representative of the measured temperature, and transmit the signal representative of the measured temperature. The coupler is configured to allow the fluid to flow through the coupler.

In some embodiments, a coupler for servicing a refrigeration system includes an inlet engageable with a portion of a refrigeration system and a set of sensors. A first sensor of the set of sensors is configured to measure an in situ temperature of a fluid in the refrigeration system. A second sensor is configured to measure an in situ pressure of the fluid of the refrigeration system, generate a signal representative of the measured pressure, and transmit the signal representative of the measured pressure. The coupler is configured to allow the fluid to flow through the coupler.

In further embodiments, features from specific embodiments may be combined with features from other embodiments. For example, features from one embodiment may be combined with features from any of the other embodiments.

In further embodiments, additional features may be added to the specific embodiments described herein.

