Systems, devices, and methods for fluid management

Abstract

A device comprises: a container; a first fitting coupled to the container; and a second fitting coupled to the container, wherein the first fitting is configured for coupling to a first service port of a system and the second fitting is configured for coupling to a second service port of the system such that a fluid can travel from the first service port to the second service port through the container while the system is running, wherein the system comprises at least one of an air conditioning system or a refrigeration system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device, comprising:
 a first container, a second container, a first fitting, a second fitting, and a first fluid, wherein the first container has a first end portion hosting the first fitting, wherein the second container has a second end portion hosting the second fitting, wherein the first container and the second container are connected in series, wherein the first fluid is contained between the first end portion and the second end portion, wherein the first fitting is directly and detachably connectable to a service port of a system that is running, wherein the system is an air conditioning system or a refrigeration system, wherein the system is residential or commercial, wherein the second fitting is detachably connectable to a source of a second fluid, wherein the first fluid is input into the service port of the system that is running from the first fitting directly and detachably connected to the service port of the system that is running when urged via the second fluid entering the second container from the source via the second fitting while the system is running.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the system is the air conditioning system. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the system is the refrigeration system. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first fitting is a female fitting, wherein the second fitting is a male fitting. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first fluid includes a leak sealant. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first fluid includes a UV dye. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first fluid includes a lubricant. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the source is a tube connected to a manifold in fluid communication with the system. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the service port is a first service port pressurized at a first pressure, wherein the source is a second service port of the system pressurized at a second pressure, wherein the first pressure is lower than the second pressure, wherein the second fitting is indirectly fluidly connectable to the source. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first fluid includes a leak sealant, wherein the first fitting is a female fitting, wherein the second fitting is a male fitting, wherein the first container includes a portion that is transparent or translucent between the first fitting and the second container such that the first fluid is externally visible within the first container before the first fluid is input into the service port of the system that is running from the first fitting directly and detachably connected to the service port of the system that is running when urged via the second fluid entering the second container from the source via the second fitting while the system is running. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the source is a tube connected to a manifold in fluid communication with the system. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the service port is a first service port pressurized at a first pressure, wherein the source is a second service port of the system pressurized at a second pressure, wherein the first pressure is lower than the second pressure, wherein the second fitting is indirectly fluidly connectable to the source. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first fitting is a low loss fitting. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first container contains the first fluid. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the system is residential. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the system is commercial. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first fitting is a low loss fitting, wherein the first container includes a portion that is transparent or translucent between the first fitting and the second container such that the first fluid is externally visible within the first container before the first fluid is input into the service port of the system that is running from the first fitting directly and detachably connected to the service port of the system that is running when urged via the second fluid entering the second container from the source via the second fitting while the system is running, wherein the system is the air conditioning system, wherein the first fluid includes a leak sealant, wherein the service port is a first service port pressurized at a first pressure, wherein the source is a second service port of the system pressurized at a second pressure, wherein the first pressure is lower than the second pressure. 
     
     
         19 . A method, comprising:
 providing a device to a user, wherein the device includes a first container, a second container, a first fitting, a second fitting, and a first fluid, wherein the first container has a first end portion hosting the first fitting, wherein the second container has a second end portion hosting the second fitting, wherein the first container and the second container are connected in series, wherein the first fluid is contained between the first end portion and the second end portion, wherein the first fitting is directly and detachably connectable to a service port of a system that is running, wherein the system is an air conditioning system or a refrigeration system, wherein the system is residential or commercial, wherein the second fitting is detachably connectable to a source of a second fluid, wherein the first fluid is input into the service port of the system that is running from the first fitting directly and detachably connected to the service port of the system that is running by the user when urged via the second fluid entering the second container from the source via the second fitting while the system is running.   
     
     
         20 . A method, comprising:
 accessing a device, wherein the device includes a first container, a second container, a first fitting, a second fitting, and a first fluid, wherein the first container has a first end portion hosting the first fitting, wherein the second container has a second end portion hosting the second fitting, wherein the first container and the second container are connected in series, wherein the first fluid is contained between the first end portion and the second end portion, wherein the first fitting is directly and detachably connectable to a service port of a system that is running, wherein the system is an air conditioning system or a refrigeration system, wherein the system is residential or commercial, wherein the second fitting is detachably connectable to a source of a second fluid; and   operating the device such that the first fluid is input into the service port of the system that is running from the first fitting directly and detachably connected to the service port of the system that is running when urged via the second fluid entering the second container from the source via the second fitting while the system is running.