IP Library Granted Patent US 12,247,770
Granted Patent B2
US 12,247,770 · App. 18/204,715 · Granted Mar 11, 2025

Systems, devices, and methods for fluid management

Inventors: Paul Clarence Appler (Windsor, CA); Jesse Richard Homenuik (Windsor, CA); Norma Hill (Windsor, CA)
Assignee: Alltemp Products Company Limited
F25B45/00F25B2345/001
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,247,770
App. No.
18/204,715
Granted
Mar 11, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A container has a first end portion hosting a first fitting and a second end portion hosting a second fitting. The container contains a first fluid between the first end portion and the second end portion. The first fitting directly and detachably connects to a service port of a system that is running, where the system is an air conditioning system or a refrigeration system, and where the system is residential or commercial. The second fitting detachably connects to a source of a second fluid, where the first fluid is input into the service port of the system that is running from the first fitting directly and detachably connected to the service port of the system that is running when urged via the second fluid entering the container from the source via the second fitting while the system is running.

Claims (25)

1. A device, comprising:

a container, a first fitting, and a second fitting, wherein the container has a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein the container contains a first fluid between the first end portion and the second end portion, wherein the first end portion hosts the first fitting, wherein the second end portion hosts the second fitting, wherein the first fitting is configured for directly and detachably connecting to a service port of a system that is running, wherein the system is an air conditioning system or a refrigeration system, wherein the system is residential or commercial, wherein the second fitting is configured for detachably connecting to a source of a second fluid, wherein the first fluid is input into the service port of the system that is running from the first fitting directly and detachably connected to the service port of the system that is running when urged via the second fluid entering the container from the source via the second fitting while the system is running, wherein the first fitting or the second fitting includes a metal, a mineral, an amorphous material, a ceramic, a glass ceramic, an organic solid, a wood, a polymer, a rubber, a composite material, a semiconductor, a nanomaterial, or a biomaterial.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the container is a single container.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the container includes a first container and a second container, wherein the first container and the second container are connected in series, wherein the first container includes the first fitting, wherein the second container includes the second fitting, wherein the first container and the second container extend between the first fitting and the second fitting.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first fitting is a female fitting, wherein the second fitting is a male fitting.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first fluid includes a leak sealant.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first fluid includes a UV dye.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first fluid includes a lubricant.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the source is a tube connected to a manifold in fluid communication with the system.

9. The device of claim 1 , wherein the service port is a first service port pressurized at a first pressure, wherein the source is a second service port of the system pressurized at a second pressure, wherein the first pressure is lower than the second pressure, wherein the second fitting is indirectly fluidly connectable to the source.

10. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first fluid includes a leak sealant, wherein the first fitting is a female fitting, wherein the second fitting is a male fitting, wherein the container includes a portion that is transparent or translucent between the first fitting and the second fitting such that the first fluid is externally visible within the container before the first fluid is input into the service port of the system that is running from the first fitting directly and detachably connected to the service port of the system that is running when urged via the second fluid entering the container from the source via the second fitting while the system is running.

11. The device of claim 10 , wherein the source is a tube connected to a manifold in fluid communication with the system.

12. The device of claim 10 , wherein the service port is a first service port pressurized at a first pressure, wherein the source is a second service port of the system pressurized at a second pressure, wherein the first pressure is lower than the second pressure, wherein the second fitting is indirectly fluidly connectable to the source.

13. The device of claim 1 , wherein the system is the air conditioning system.

14. The device of claim 1 , wherein the system is the refrigeration system.

15. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first fluid includes an oil.

16. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first fluid includes an oil additive.

17. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first fluid includes a refrigerant.

18. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first fluid includes an organosilane, an orthoester, an antioxidant, or an anticorrosion additive.

19. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first fluid includes an additive functionable as a drying agent to reduce a moisture level of a lubricant.

20. A method, comprising:

providing a device to a user, wherein the device includes a container, a first fitting, and a second fitting, wherein the container includes a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein the container contains a first fluid between the first end portion and the second end portion, wherein the first end portion hosts the first, wherein the second end portion hosts the second fitting, wherein the first fitting or the second fitting includes a metal, a mineral, an amorphous material, a ceramic, a glass ceramic, an organic solid, a wood, a polymer, a rubber, a composite material, a semiconductor, a nanomaterial, or a biomaterial, wherein the device is provided to the user such that the user is enabled to:

(i) directly and detachably connect the first fitting to a service port of a system that is running, wherein the system is an air conditioning system or a refrigeration system, wherein the system is residential or commercial,

(ii) detachably connect the second fitting to a source of a second fluid, and

(iii) input the first fluid into the service port of the system that is running from the first fitting directly and detachably connected to the service port of the system that is running as urged via the second fluid entering the container from the source via the second fitting while the system is running.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 1, 2023
From: APPLER, PAUL CLARENCE; HILL, NORMA; HOMENUIK, JESSEE RICHARD
To: ALLTEMP PRODUCTS COMPANY LIMITED
Reel/Frame 063831/0495 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation 17178769 · Feb 18, 2021
Division 16833074 · Mar 27, 2020
Division 15261320 · Sep 9, 2016
Provisional Application 62217534 · Sep 11, 2015
Related Publication 20230304710A1 · Sep 28, 2023
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