Adjustable Core-Rod Coupler for Refrigerant Leak Prevention
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing manifold gauge sets for heat exchange equipment, such as refrigerators and air conditioners, suffer from refrigerant leaks during coupling and decoupling due to a fixed core depressor pushing the core-rod before complete coupling, leading to gas leaks, potential operator hazards, and difficulties in safely discharging exhaust gas.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of an extendable or retractable core-rod depressor with a depressor-adjustment unit, which includes a hollow cylinder and plunger mechanism, allows precise control over the core-rod depressor's position, ensuring gas-tight coupling and providing a discharge fold for safe gas management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a fixed core depressor is used in the coupler, then the coupling structure is simple, but refrigerant leaks occur during coupling/decoupling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the fixed core depressor with a movable core rod that can extend and retract along the coupling axis. The core rod is driven by a spring mechanism that allows it to dynamically adjust its position: remaining retracted during coupling/decoupling to prevent leaks, and extending only when needed to open the valve. This dynamic configuration resolves the contradiction by making the depressor adaptive rather than static.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring-loaded core rod is pre-configured to remain in a retracted state during the coupling process, preventing premature valve opening and refrigerant leakage. The preliminary action of keeping the depressor retracted until coupling is complete ensures gas-tightness is maintained throughout the coupling/decoupling operations.
2Reliability
If the core-rod depressor protrudes sufficiently to open the valve, then the valve opening is reliable, but gas leaks occur during coupling
Solution Approach 1:
The core rod is designed to dynamically change its protrusion length based on operational needs. During coupling and decoupling, it remains retracted to prevent gas leakage. Only after proper coupling is established does the spring mechanism allow the core rod to extend sufficiently to reliably open the valve. This dynamic adjustment eliminates the harmful effect of premature gas leakage while maintaining reliable valve opening.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring mechanism is pre-configured to counteract the protrusion force during coupling, keeping the core rod retracted. This preliminary anti-action prevents the harmful effect of gas leakage by opposing the tendency of the core rod to protrude too early, while still allowing reliable valve opening when coupling is complete.
3Device complexity
If a fixed depressor is used, then the device structure is simple, but no discharge fold is provided for safe gas discharge
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the depressor function into two independent components: the movable core rod for valve control, and the discharge fold for gas venting. This segmentation allows the core rod to focus on reliable valve opening while the separate discharge fold handles exhaust gas discharge safely. The segmentation resolves the contradiction by adding the necessary discharge function without overly complicating the overall device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The discharge fold acts as an intermediary component that provides a dedicated pathway for exhaust gas discharge. Instead of relying on the core rod mechanism to handle both valve opening and gas discharge, the discharge fold mediates the gas venting function, separating it from the valve control mechanism and enabling safe gas discharge without significantly increasing device complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution prevents refrigerant leaks during coupling, protects operators from gas exposure, and facilitates safe discharge of residual gases, ensuring reliable operation and environmental safety.
Implementation Method 1
The valve core 8 includes a core-rod 9 comprising a spring and a rubber packing. When the core-rod 9 is released, the core-rod 9 returns to an original state thereof by an elastic force of the spring, and, thus, the valve is closed.
Implementation Method 2
a depressor-adjustment unit configured to adjust a position of the depressor, wherein the unit is installed on the hose
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
In accordance with the present disclosure, leak of gas is suppressed when a coupler of a manifold gauge set including a gas hose is detached to a gas inlet/outlet valve of a thermal exchange equipment. To this end, the set includes a core-rod depressor extending from the coupler into the hose, and a depressor-adjustment unit disposed on the hose to adjust a position of the core-rod depressor.