| 摘要 |
An automotive tool for servicing air-conditioning (AC) systems equipped with quick-connect adaptors. May be used to service modern refrigerant R132A-compatible systems or retrofitted older systems. The tool is adapted for attaching, detaching, opening, and closing valved T-adaptors used to attach gas lines and pressure gauges such as required for adjusting pressure in AC systems at full operational pressure and temperature, and particularly finds use when the “hi-tap” and “lo-tap” fittings are in hard to reach places around the engine block or chassis. The tool includes swappable extension arms so that length and angular geometry may be adjusted as needed. The tool aids in avoiding injury on dangerously hot surfaces and moving fan blades or belts. Surprisingly, using two such tools, one for the high tap and one for the low tap, a mechanic may work each tool singlehandedly to complete any necessary pressure adjustments. |
| 主权项 |
1. An improved automotive hand tool for use in service requiring use of a difficult-to-access quick-connect valve, hereinafter defined as a workpiece, of the type used for R134A-compatible air-conditioning systems, which comprises:
a) a mechanical claw formed as a hollow cylinder body, said cylinder body having a rigid wall, a closed base and an open top with rim, said wall having a side slot extending from said top down said wall on one side, wherein said cylinder body with open top and side slot is dimensioned for receiving therein a workpiece disposed with valve on/off knob directed at said base, said rim is formed as an raised lip for retaining a workpiece within said cylinder and for engaging a quick-connect locking ring of a workpiece, and further wherein said side slot is dimensioned for accommodating a sidearm of a workpiece; b) a guide sleeve attached to said base of said claw, said guide sleeve having an opening through said base at a first end and a handle at a second end; c) a mechanical finger formed as an actuator rod dimensioned to springedly slide up and down inside said guide sleeve and to rotate therein, said actuator rod extending through said opening into said claw and having a first end with actuator nose comprising a friction tip for engaging a workpiece on the rotating surface of the valve knob and a control end extending beyond said second end of said guide sleeve, said control end comprising a knob affixed thereto, wherein said guide sleeve and mechanical finger define an extension handle assembly; d) further wherein said actuator rod has:
i) a neutral position for loosely loading a workpiece in said claw;ii) an extended position for depressing a quick-connect release sleeve on a workpiece against said rim of said claw when attaching or detaching a workpiece from a tap or nipple of an air-conditioning system,iii) an intermediate position for rotating a valve on/off knob on a workpiece loosely engaged in said claw so as to open and close a workpiece valve by turning said knob; and,iv) a retracted position for removing a workpiece from said claw. |
