Line set saver

A line set saver (12) has a swab (60) with a wiper (66) for cleaning refrigeration suction and discharge lines. A gas injection port (34) and a line injection port (38) extend through the line set saver (12) to an injector (16) located on a forward end (30). A threaded hole (32) is provided on a rearward end of the gas injection port (34). The line injection port (38) extends from a first side (54) of the line set saver (12) to the gas injection port (34), and a line (42) extends from the first side (54), through the line injection port (38) and from the injector (16). A terminal end of the line (42) is secured to the swab (60). A reel (44) is pivotally mounted to the first side (54) of the line set saver (12) for spooling the line (42) relative to the line injection port (38).

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates in general to refrigeration systems, and in particular to a tool for cleaning lubricants from suction and discharge line sets of refrigeration systems.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Refrigeration systems have previously used prior art refrigerants formed of fluorocarbons and chlorofluorocarbons, but these refrigerants are being phased out because of their ozone depletion effects. More environmentally friendly refrigerants are being used in their place, such as those formed of difluoromethane. A problem has arisen in retrofitting older refrigeration and building air conditioning systems for use with the more environmentally friendly refrigerants due to lubricants used in the different refrigerants. The lubricants used in prior art refrigerants will coagulate when mixed with oils in the newer refrigerants, requiring that refrigerant suction and discharge line sets be replaced since the refrigerant lines cannot be cleaned of the residual lubricants used in prior refrigerants. The costs of replacing suction and discharge line sets in refrigeration systems and building air conditioning systems significantly raises the costs of replacing older refrigeration systems with newer energy efficient refrigeration systems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A novel line set saver is disclosed having a swab for cleaning refrigeration suction and discharge lines. The line set saver has a gas injection port and a line injection port. The gas injection port extends from a threaded hole in a rearward end of the body of the line set saver to a forward end of the body. The line injection port extends from a first side of the body of the line set saver to a forward portion of the gas injection port, with the line injection port and the gas injection port intersecting at an acute angle which faces in a rearward direction. An injector extends from the forward end of the body and has a tapered periphery, and the gas injection port is in communication with a centrally disposed portion of the tapered periphery. A line extends from the first side of the body, through the line injection port and from the injector. A reel is pivotally mounted to the first side of the body for spooling the line relative to the line injection port. A line guide boss is disposed on one side of the body and configured in alignment with the line injection port and the reel. The swab is secured to a terminal end of the line forward of the injector. The swab has a wiper for interiorly engaging within the suction and discharge lines when the line is spooled from the line injection port and onto the reel. The wiper is preferably an annular-shaped protuberance which extends laterally around the swab body, with a forward end being tapered to narrow in a forward direction. The line set saver body further includes a storage cavity extending from a rearward end of the body, and a plug for securing in a rearward end of the storage cavity.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1is a perspective view andFIG. 2is an exploded view of the line set saver12. The line set saver12has a body14. The body14has a forward end30from which an injector16extends. The injector16has a tapered periphery18defining a frusto conical shape. The body14has a first storage cavity20and a second storage cavity22. Plugs24and26are provided for sealing the rearward ends of the storage cavities20and22. A pipe nipple28is secured to a threaded hole32defined in a rearward end of a gas injection port34. The gas injection port34extends longitudinally through the body14. The nipple28and the threaded end32are preferably a nominal size of one-eight inch standard pipe thread. A line guide boss36extends laterally outward of a first side54of the body14. A line injection port38extends into the body14, preferably through the line guide boss36. A tapered guide section40defines an entrance section of the line injection port38for passing a line42into the body14. A reel44is pivotally mounted to the first side54of the body14for spooling the line42. The reel44has handle46pivotally secured to the body14by a retaining screw74. The line42extends through the line injection port38and into the body14, then outward of the body14through the injector16and is connected to a swab60. The swab60is secured to the forward terminal end of the line42.

FIG. 3is a sectional view of the line set saver12, taken along section line3-3ofFIG. 1. The gas injection port34extends from the threaded hole32in the rearward end of the body14through the injector16in the forward end30of the body14. The line injection port38extends from the tapered guide section40to intersect with a forward section56of the gas injection port34providing communication there-between for passing the line42through the line injection port38, into the forward section56of the gas injection port34and outward through the injector16.

FIG. 4is a perspective view of a swab60, andFIG. 5is a sectional view of the swab60, taken along section line5-5ofFIG. 4. The swab60preferably as a solid body62with a port64extending longitudinally through the solid body62. A forward end of the solid body62has tip68which is preferably round to define a tapered end. A wiper66is formed to extend outward from a side of the solid body62with an annular shaped, tapered forward end70and defining a cavity72on a rearward side. The forward end70tapers to narrow, or have a smaller diameter, in extending in a forward direction. The wiper66is preferably flexible to allow the wiper66to collapse into the cavity72for insertion into refrigeration discharge and suction lines when moving in a forward direction under the force of gas, such as nitrogen, injected into the refrigeration lines through the gas injection port34and the injector16, and then to expand and wipe the walls of the refrigeration lines when pulled outward in a rearward direction by means of the reel44. Different sizes of swabs60will be used for refrigeration lines of various sized.

FIG. 6is a sectional view of a line set saver82of an alternative embodiment, as would be viewed if taken along corresponding section line3-3ofFIG. 1. The line set saver82has a body84and a detachable injector86, which may be removed from the body84. The detachable injector86has a tapered end88of frusto conical shape which corresponds to the tapered end18of the injector16. The injector86has a rearwardly disposed end having a threaded male pipe connection92for threadlingly securing in sealing engagement with a threaded female port90formed in the forward end of a flow passage102passing through the body84. A flow port100extends through the injector86for passing the line44and gas from the flow passage102and through the tapered end88. The body84of the line set saver82further includes a line guide boss96which extends from a first side of the line set saver82and through which a line injection port98passes into the body84and intersects with the flow passage102. The line42will pass through the line injection port98and into the flow passage102and then through the flow port100for passing through the injector98and into a line of a line set.

Preferably the body12and the reel44of the line set saver12will be formed of rigid plastic. The swab60is preferably formed of a plastic which will be flexible to allow collapse of the wiper66when moved in a forward direction, and expansion for wiping the walls of refrigeration lines when moved in a rearward direction. The line42may be a monofilament fishing line, or braided fishing line.

In operation, the line44is wound about the reel40, passed through the line injection port38, through the forward section56of the gas injection port34, out the forward end of the injector16, and then secured to the swab60. The swab60is then inserted into a line of a line set with the tip68extending first into the line of the line set. A forward tip of the tapered end18of the injector16is pressed against the end of the line of the line set to seal there-between, and then gas is injected through the gas injection port, pushing the swab60into the line and taking the terminal end of the line42with the swab60. Then, the gas is removed from the line set saver12and the line42is wound back onto the reel44, pulling the swab60back through the line. The wiper66of the swab60will open and scrape against the interior wall of the line to clean the oil from the line.

The present invention provides advantages of tool which may be used to wipe refrigeration lubricants from the interior surfaces of suction and discharge line sets of refrigeration systems. This allows current refrigeration and building air conditioning systems to be retrofitted for use with newer, environmentally friendly refrigerants without requiring replacement of existing line sets.