AIR CONDITIONING LUBRICANT DELIVERY VESSEL, METHOD AND SYSTEM
A vessel for use in an air conditioner recharging system contains a desiccant that may limit moisture in a hygroscopic fluid, such as liquid lubricant and/or dye. The vessel may thus limits the amount of moisture introduced as a result of replacing or injecting lubricant. The vessel may contain an amount of pure lubricant for the air-conditioning system, or a lubricant and fluorescent dye to aid in detecting leaks.
1 . A lubricant vessel for connection to an air conditioner recharging system, said vessel comprising:
a container;
a liquid lubricant received in said container;
a desiccant in a package within said container;
wherein said package allows said desiccant to absorb water from said lubricant.
2 . The vessel of claim 1 wherein said container is substantially sealed.
3 . The vessel of claim 1 , further comprising a fluorescent dye in said container.
4 . The vessel of claim 1 , further comprising an air passage in flow communication with a region between a fluid level of said liquid lubricant and container.
5 . The vessel of claim 4 , further comprising a plug having a tube extending into said container to allow said liquid lubricant to be drawn from said container.
6 . The vessel of claim 1 , further comprising a cap to seal said lubricant vessel.
7 . The vessel of claim 5 , further comprising a peelable seal, affixed to said plug to seal said air passage and a top opening of said tube.
8 . The vessel of claim 5 , further comprising an exterior thread on said container, about said plug.
9 . The vessel of claim 1 , further comprising a dispenser assembly for connecting said lubricant vessel to said air conditioner recharging system, said dispenser assembly comprising a hose connector for providing fluid communication between said liquid lubricant and said air conditioner recharging system.
10 . The vessel of claim 9 , wherein said dispenser assembly comprises a valve to allow air to pass into said container as lubricant is drawn from said container.
11 . The vessel of claim 1 , wherein said lubricant comprises at least one of polyalkylene glycol or polyolester.
12 . The vessel of claim 1 , wherein said desiccant comprises a molecular sieve.
13 . The vessel of claim 1 , wherein said desiccant comprises a zeolite.
14 . The vessel of claim 1 , wherein said desiccant comprises at least one of silicon oxide, sodium oxide, aluminium oxide, potassium oxide, quartz, cristobalite.
15 . The vessel of claim 1 , wherein said package comprises a pouch.
16 . The vessel of claim 1 , wherein said container is formed of high density polyethylene.
17 . A method of adding a lubricant to an air conditioning system, comprising:
providing a container containing said lubricant and a desiccant;
drawing lubricant from said container into a service valve of said air conditioning system;
introducing air into said container to displace fluid drained from said container;
wherein moisture is absorbed from said air by said desiccant.
18 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising providing a release valve to allow said air to bleed into said container in response to negative pressure in said container.
19 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising mixing said lubricant with a refrigerant prior to said liquid lubricant entering said service valve.
20 . The method of claim 17 , wherein said liquid lubricant is drawn by from said container by a pump.
21 . The method of claim 17 , wherein said container further contains a fluorescent dye, and further comprising drawing said fluorescent dye with said lubricant from said container.
22 . A vessel for connection to an air conditioner recharging system, said vessel comprising:
a container;
a hygroscopic fluid in said container to be drawn by said air conditioner recharge system;
a desiccant in a package in said hygroscopic fluid;
wherein said package allows said desiccant to absorb water from said hygroscopic fluid.
23 . An air conditioning charging and recovery system, comprising
a lubricant vessel comprising:
a substantially sealed container holding a liquid lubricant and a desiccant;
a hose removably interconnected with said vessel to allow liquid lubricant to be drawn from said container;
wherein said desiccant is retained in said container when said liquid lubricant is drawn from said container.
24 . The air conditioning charging and recovery system of claim 23 , wherein said lubricant vessel comprises a valve in flow communication with a region above a fluid level of said lubricant in said container to allow air to displace liquid lubricant drawn from said container;
25 . A dispenser assembly for connecting a vessel to an air conditioning system, said dispenser assembly comprising a hose connector for connecting said vessel to a hose of said air conditioner recharging system to provide lubricant from said vessel, and a release valve for interconnection with a bore in communication with a region above a fluid level of a lubricant in said vessel to allow air to displace liquid lubricant drawn from said vessel.
26 . A lubricant vessel for connection to an air conditioner recharging system, said vessel comprising:
a container;
a liquid lubricant received in said container;
a plug having a tube extending downwardly into said container;
a desiccant;
an air passage in flow communication with a region between a fluid level of said lubricant and a bottom of said plug;
a threaded lid;
a dispenser assembly for connecting said vessel to said air conditioner recharging system, said dispenser assembly comprising a hose connector for connecting said tube to said air conditioner recharging system, and mountable on said container in place of said threaded lid.
27 . A container for refrigerant lubricant or dye that contains a desiccant in a package or a solid dessicant.
28 . The container of claim 27 comprising lubricant or dye prefilled in said container.
29 . The container of claim 27 that can be filled by a user.
30 . The container of claim 27 that is sealed to prevent refilling.
31 . The container of 27 , made of plastic
32 . The container of 27 , used to service air-conditioning systems
33 . The container of claim 27 , wherein, when said lubricant or dye is drawn from said container, a sufficient quantity of said desiccant can be retained in said container to remove substantially all moisture from the contents of said container.
34 . The container of claim 27 , wherein all of said desiccant can be retained in said container when said lubricant is drawn from said container.
35 . The vessel of claim 1 , wherein said container is re-sealable.
36 . The vessel of claim 2 , wherein the quantity of said liquid lubricant in said container is sufficient to service more than one air conditioner.
37 . The vessel of claim 2 , wherein said container is refillable.
38 . The vessel of claim 1 , additionally comprising air received in said container.
39 . The vessel of claim 1 , wherein said package retains said desiccant in said container when said lubricant is drawn from said container.
40 . The method of claim 17 , wherein said container is re-sealable.
41 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising the steps of:
retaining a portion of said lubricant in said container;
substantially sealing said container.
42 . A lubricant vessel for connection to an air conditioner recharging system, said vessel comprising:
a container;
a liquid lubricant received in said container;
a solid desiccant in said container to absorb moisture in said liquid in said container.
43 . The vessel of claim 42 , wherein said container is re-sealable.
44 . The vessel of claim 42 , wherein the quantity of said liquid lubricant in said container is sufficient to service more than one air conditioner.
45 . The vessel of claim 42 , wherein said container is refillable.
46 . The vessel of claim 42 , additionally comprising air received in said container.
47 . The vessel of claim 42 , wherein said liquid lubricant can be drawn from said container independently of said desiccant.
48 . The vessel of claim 42 wherein said container is substantially sealed.
49 . The vessel of claim 42 , further comprising a fluorescent dye in said container.
50 . The vessel of claim 42 , further comprising an air passage in flow communication with a region between a fluid level of said liquid lubricant and container.
51 . The vessel of claim 50 , further comprising a plug having a tube extending into said container to allow said liquid lubricant to be drawn from said container.
52 . The vessel of claim 42 , further comprising a cap to seal said lubricant vessel.
53 . The vessel of claim 51 , further comprising a peelable seal, affixed to said plug to seal said air passage and a top opening of said tube.
54 . The vessel of claim 51 , further comprising an exterior thread on said container, about said plug.
55 . The vessel of claim 42 , further comprising a dispenser assembly for connecting said lubricant vessel to said air conditioner recharging system, said dispenser assembly comprising a hose connector for providing fluid communication between said liquid lubricant and said air conditioner recharging system.
56 . The vessel of claim 55 , wherein said dispenser assembly comprises a valve to allow air to pass into said container as lubricant is drawn from said container.
57 . The vessel of claim 42 , wherein said lubricant comprises at least one of polyalkylene glycol or polyolester.
58 . The vessel of claim 42 , wherein said desiccant comprises a zeolite.
59 . The vessel of claim 42 , wherein said desiccant comprises at least one of silicon oxide, sodium oxide, aluminium oxide, potassium oxide, quartz, cristobalite.
60 . The vessel of claim 42 , wherein said container is formed of high density polyethylene.