Patent ID: 8631662

Claim:
A method for testing an AC cooling circuit in a vehicle HVAC system, comprising: coupling a pressure and a prevacuum system having a pneumatic pressure source and a vacuum source to the AC cooling circuit, and after coupling the pressure and prevacuum system to the AC cooling circuit, the method for testing includes: pressurizing the AC cooling circuit; testing the AC cooling circuit for pressurized leaks after pressurizing; prevacuuming the AC cooling circuit; and testing the AC cooling circuit for prevacuum leaks after prevacuuming decoupling the pressure and prevacuum system from the AC cooling circuit after prevacuuming and testing for prevacuum leaks; coupling a separate vacuum and fill system having a separate vacuum source and a fill source to the AC cooling circuit after decoupling the pressure and prevacuum system, and after coupling the vacuum and fill system to the AC cooling circuit, the method for testing includes: prevacuuming the AC cooling circuit testing the AC cooling circuit for prevacuum leaks after prevacuuming; vacuuming the AC cooling circuit after prevacuuming and testing for vacuum leaks: and testing the AC cooling circuit for vacuum leaks after vacuuming; filling the AC cooling circuit; and decoupling the vacuum and fill system from the AC cooling circuit after filling the AC cooling circuit; advancing an AC system having the AC cooling circuit to a testing station of a vehicle assembly line having the pressure and prevacuum system; and advancing the AC system to a fill station disposed downstream of the testing station of the vehicle assembly line and having the vacuum and fill system.