Abstract:
An apparatus to aid in the removal of refrigerant from direct expansion air-conditioning systems is herein disclosed. The apparatus enables the manual activation of solenoid valves or check valves typically provided on direct expansion air-conditioning systems. A solenoid valve must be energized to allow complete access to the refrigerant in order to allow complete evacuation of the system. The apparatus is connected to a power source and a plurality of switches enables selection of 120V operation or 24V operation. The apparatus further comprises transformers, fuses, and the like to provide complete protection to the user. Final connection to the solenoid valve is made through the use of a long power lead supplied with alligator clips. The apparatus is housed in a convenient enclosure allowing for easy storage and transportation.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present invention was first described in a notarized Official Record of Invention on Sep. 14, 2009, that is on file at the offices of Montgomery Patent and Design, LLC, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to solenoid valves, and in particular, to an attachable and portable auxiliary power supply apparatus for actuating solenoid valves for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The idea of air conditioning began long before any system or machine was ever created. The concept of cooling air has been utilized as far back as Ancient Rome. The discovery that certain materials could be compressed to provide evaporative cooling led to centralized air conditioning systems. These systems improved with the creation of various fluorocarbon gases; however, in recent times the environmental impact of these gases has become a concern. For example, the refrigerants used in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems pose a serious threat to the ozone and our environment. The release of these refrigerants, which once were commonplace, is now a serious offense and controlled by law. It is extremely important that all refrigerant be removed or evacuated from HVAC systems that undergo major repair or subject to replacement. Many of these systems utilize an electrically-powered solenoid valve or check valve in the refrigerant loop. 
     Solenoid valves for controlling various fluid flow systems are used in many industrial and residential applications. They are used to control the flow of liquids or gases in a positive, fully-closed or fully-open mode. The solenoid valve is operated by opening and closing an orifice in a valve body that permits or prevents fluid flow. The orifice is opened or closed using a plunger that is raised or lowered within a sleeve tube by energizing a coil. In many systems the valve is normally closed, such that when the coil is energized, a magnetic field is produced, raising the plunger and allowing flow through the valve. Solenoid valves are also classified into two groups, those powered by an alternating current (AC) power source and those powered by a direct current (DC) power source. 
     Whether AC or DC powered, the solenoid is typically energized by the same power source which provides power to the overall system. In HVAC systems, under normal conditions without power applied, these valves are closed, thus isolating some of the refrigerant within the refrigerant loop. It is extremely difficult to access such refrigerant due to the lack of power which is not supplied to the unit during repair, replacement, or disposal. 
     Accordingly, there exists a need for a means by which solenoid valves in direct expansion air conditioning systems can be manually activated in a bypass manner to allow for complete removal of enclosed refrigerant. The development of the present invention substantially departs from the conventional solutions and in doing so fulfills this need. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing references, the inventor recognized the aforementioned inherent problems and lack in the art and observed that there exists a need for tool for manually energizing solenoid valves, particularly those used on direct expansion air conditioning systems. Thus, the object of the present invention is to solve the aforementioned disadvantages and provide for this need. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus which can be used on both AC powered solenoid valves and DC powered solenoid valves. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus which simply connects to the electrical terminals of the solenoid valves. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus which can be used on air conditioning systems undergoing repair, replacement, or disposal to reclaim refrigerant and eliminate accidental release into the environment. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus in which all functional components are conveniently housed together and easily transported to a desired work area. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus which is simple and intuitive to use with little to no training. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus which is durable and economical to manufacture. 
     One (1) or more of these and other objects of the invention are achieved by providing an auxiliary power supply apparatus for solenoid valves comprising a power cord for providing an input voltage, a first primary overcurrent protector for of circuit protection, and a power switch including an on position for distributing the input voltage and an off position for restricting the input voltage. A voltage selector switch is included for manually selecting between a first operating voltage and a second operating voltage. A second primary overcurrent protector for providing a secondary means of circuit protection, a step down transformer for transforming the input voltage to the second operating voltage, and a secondary overcurrent protector for providing a tertiary means of circuit protection are also included. A first operating voltage cable having a pair of first operating voltage terminations enables electrical connection of the first operating voltage to at least one (1) solenoid valve having a first operating voltage and a second operating voltage cable having a pair of second operating voltage terminations enables electrical connection of the second operating voltage to at least one (1) solenoid valve having a second operating voltage. An electrically insulative enclosure comprising a five-sided body, a hingedly attached lid, and a plurality of storage compartments provides a convenient storage housing for the functioning electrical components. 
     Furthermore, the described features and advantages of the invention may be combined in various manners and embodiments as one skilled in the relevant art will recognize. The invention can be practiced without one (1) or more of the features and advantages described in a particular embodiment. 
     Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of the auxiliary power supply for solenoid valve  10 , depicted in an open state, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a pictorial view of the auxiliary power supply for solenoid valve  10  depicted in a utilized state, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and, 
         FIG. 3  is an electrical schematic diagram depicting the major electrical components of the auxiliary power supply for solenoid valve  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
     
         
         
           
               10  auxiliary power supply for solenoid valve 
               15  carrying enclosure 
               20  flat opening lid 
               25  hinge 
               30  clasp 
               35  array of storage compartments 
               40  incoming power cord 
               45  first storage compartment 
               50  electrical power outlet 
               55  first primary overcurrent protective device 
               60  first access compartment 
               65  power switch 
               70  first control compartment 
               75  voltage selector switch 
               80  second control compartment 
               85  line voltage power feed cable 
               90  line voltage temporary termination 
               95  second storage compartment 
               100  second primary overcurrent device 
               105  second access compartment 
               110  step down transformer 
               115  secondary overcurrent device 
               120  reduced voltage power feed cable 
               125  reduced voltage temporary termination 
               130  third storage compartment 
               135  refrigerant-equipped device 
               140  solenoid valve 
               145  contained piping 
               150  contained equipment 
           
         
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within  FIGS. 1 through 3 . However, the invention is not limited to the described embodiment, and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention and that any such work around will also fall under scope of this invention. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. 
     The present invention describes an auxiliary power supply for solenoid valve (herein described as the “apparatus”)  10 , which provides a means to assist in the removal of refrigerant from direct expansion air-conditioning system by enabling manual activation of solenoid valves or check valves typically provided on direct expansion air-conditioning systems. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a front view of the apparatus  10 , shown in an open state, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The apparatus  10  is provided in a low-profile carrying enclosure  15 . A flat opening lid  20  complete with hinges  25  and clasps  30  opens to expose an array of storage compartments  35  which houses various electrical components and sub-assemblies. The features of the carrying enclosure  15  allow it to be conveniently transported to a work location where it can be opened, deployed, and simply utilized. The enclosure  15  also enabled the apparatus  10  to be stored in a small case when not in use. It is envisioned that the carrying enclosure  15  would preferably be fabricated from a durable plastic material having electrically insulating characteristics, thereby being free of shock hazards. 
     The array of storage compartments  35  provides the ability to safety store various electrical components which are deployed, activated, controlled, or accessed during use of the apparatus  10 . An incoming power cord  40  is housed in a first storage compartment  45 . The incoming power cord  40  is connected to an electrical power outlet  50  during utilization of the apparatus  10 . It is envisioned that the electrical power outlet  50  would be of a NEMA 5-15R configuration capable of providing 120 VAC at sixty Hertz (60 Hz), although other configurations and voltages could easily be accommodated as well, and as such, should not be interpreted as a limiting factor of the present apparatus  10 . The incoming power cord  40  supplies a pair of first primary overcurrent protective devices  55  in a first access compartment  60 . The pair of first primary overcurrent protective devices  55  comprising such components as fuses or thermal breakers which provide overload and short-circuit protection of the apparatus  10 . 
     A power switch  65  is located in a first control compartment  70  and provides for electrical actuation of the apparatus  10 . Opening the power switch  65  or placing it in an “OFF” position restricts power from the remainder of the electrical components, which are described herein below. Closing the power switch  65  or placing it in an “ON” position supplies power to the balance of the electrical components. It is envisioned that the power switch  65  preferably comprises a double-pole, single throw variety to ensure safety in the event of operation of a miss-wired electrical power outlet  50 . 
     Power is routed to a voltage selector switch  75  located in a second control compartment  80 . The voltage selector switch  75  is used to select one of two operating voltages for the apparatus  10 . In a first position, the voltage selector switch  75  permits operation of the apparatus  10  at line voltage, or at 120 VAC. In the first position, the voltage selector switch  75  supplies power to a line voltage power feed cable  85  and a pair of line voltage temporary terminations  90  located in a second storage compartment  95 . The line voltage temporary terminations  90  are envisioned to preferably be “alligator clips” or similar clamping assemblies capable of providing a secure but temporary electrical connection. In the second position, the voltage selector switch  75  supplies power to a second primary overcurrent device  100  located in a second access compartment  105 . The second primary overcurrent device  100  provides overcurrent protection to a step down transformer  110  also located in the second access compartment  105 . An output of the step down transformer  110  is routed through a set of secondary overcurrent devices  115  also located in the second access compartment  105 . The output of the secondary overcurrent device  115  is directs through a reduced voltage power feed cable  120  to a pair of reduced voltage temporary terminations  125  stored in a third storage compartment  130 . The reduced voltage temporary terminations  125  are envisioned to preferably be “alligator clips” or similar clamping assemblies for providing a secure but temporary electrical connection. Both the second primary overcurrent device  100  and the secondary overcurrent device  115  provide overcurrent and short circuit protection for the step down transformer  110  as well as for the connected electrical loads. 
     Referring next to  FIG. 2 , a pictorial view of the apparatus  10 , shown in a utilized state, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The apparatus  10  is placed nearby a refrigerant equipped device  135  such as an air conditioning unit, chiller, refrigeration system or the like. The incoming power cord  40  is connected to a nearby electrical power outlet  50 . Either the line voltage power feed cable  85  or the reduced voltage power feed cable  120  is electrically connected to a solenoid valve  140  using the line voltage temporary terminations  90  or the reduced voltage temporary terminations  125 , respectively. Such connection is utilized only after all conventional operating power has been removed from the refrigerant equipped device  135  and secured in a locked state. At the appropriate time in the purging process, the power switch  65  on the apparatus  10  is activated to open the solenoid valve  140  which enables total emptying or purging of all refrigerant from within contained piping  145  and contained equipment  150 . The configuration of the apparatus  10  as depicted in  FIG. 2  would be present immediately before, during, and immediately after the refrigerant reclaiming and purging process. 
     Referring finally, to  FIG. 3 , an electrical schematic diagram depicting the major electrical components of the apparatus  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. Electrical power is routed to the apparatus  10  via the incoming power cord  40 . Current then flows through the first primary overcurrent protective device  55  arranged in a parallel configuration in both the hot and neutral lines. The power is controlled via the power switch  65  which in effect turns the apparatus  10  on and off and likewise results in the opening and closing of the solenoid valve  140 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . The controlled power is applied to the voltage selector switch  75  which directs current flow in one (1) of two (2) ways. In the first position, current is sent directly to the line voltage temporary terminations  90  via the line voltage power feed cable  85 . In this position, the first primary overcurrent protective device  55  provides for overcurrent and short circuit protection. In the second position, the current is sent through the second primary overcurrent devices  100 , the step down transformer  110 , and then the secondary overcurrent device  115  to the reduced voltage temporary terminations  125  via the reduced voltage power feed cable  120 . The second position is intended for solenoid valves  140  which operate at a lower voltage, such as 24 VAC. Utilization of the apparatus  10  enables temporarily actuation of both line (high) voltage and control (low) voltage solenoid valves  140 . 
     It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by the common user in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training. It is envisioned that the apparatus  10  would be constructed in general accordance with  FIG. 1  through  FIG. 3 . After procurement and general familiarization with the apparatus  10  it would be transported to the worksite for utilization. 
     During utilization while removing or purging all refrigerant from a refrigerant equipped device  135 , the user would first verify that all sources of external voltage have not only been removed, but disconnected and secured or “locked-out” in an OFF state. Next, the user would gain access to the solenoid valve  140  by removing any necessary access panels or covers. Any permanently attached wiring to the solenoid valve  140  would be removed. The user would next verify the proper voltage that is utilized by the solenoid valve  140  and set the voltage selector switch  75  to the proper voltage. The user would then take the appropriate line voltage power feed cable  85  or reduced voltage power feed cable  120  and attach it via the line voltage temporary terminations  90  or the reduced voltage temporary terminations  125  as required. Finally, after once again verifying the voltage selector switch  75  is set to the proper voltage level and the power switch  65  is in the OFF position, the user would plug the incoming power cord  40  from the apparatus  10  into a suitable energized electrical power outlet  50 . At this point in time, the apparatus  10  is ready for operation. 
     During actual use of the apparatus  10 , the power switch  65  would simply be activated in the ON position. This will in effect result in the energizing of the attached solenoid valve  140 , thus allowing access to all contained refrigerant. After the reclamation and/or purging process is complete, the power switch  65  will be turned off, the connection process as described above reversed. The connection cords consisting of the incoming power cord  40 , the line voltage power feed cable  85  and the reduced voltage power feed cable  120  are coiled back up and placed within the first storage compartment  45 , the second storage compartment  95  and the reduced voltage power feed cable  120  respectively. The flat opening lid  20  would then be closed and the apparatus  10  stored away until needed again in a cyclical and repeating manner. 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.