Refrigerant port adapter

Abstract

A refrigerant service port adapter converts an original service port conforming to a first port standard to an adapted service interface conforming to a second port standard without removing the original port. An adapter body has an engagement section with flexible fingers that define an internal concave annulus to nest an external annular collar of the original port. A slidable retaining ring cooperates with an external annular flange on the body to block finger splay in a locked position, providing positive mechanical retention. Anti-rotation guidance between the ring and body permits axial sliding while preventing relative rotation. A bushing-like spacer occupies the annular gap to maintain alignment and may also seal. The port section presents the second-standard interface and may be valved or coreless. The architecture generalizes across refrigerant standards, including 134a↔1234yf and 444a↔456a.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A refrigerant port adapter comprising:
 an adapter body having a port section, an intermediate section, and an engagement section;   a plurality of longitudinal grooves extending along the engagement section and defining a plurality of flexible fingers therebetween;   a concave receptacle formed on an interior surface of the flexible fingers and configured to receive an annular collar of an adapted refrigerant port;   an annular flange projecting outwardly from the adapter body between the intermediate section and the engagement section;   a retaining ring slidable along the adapter body between a locked position and an unlocked position, the retaining preventing outward deflection of the flexible fingers when the retaining ring is in the locked position.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerant port adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the retaining ring includes a groove between spaced-apart radial tabs configured to receive the annular flange in the locked position. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerant port adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the retaining ring comprises a proximal flange that provides a gripping surface for manual actuation between the locked and unlocked positions. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerant port adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible fingers are configured to return to an undeflected position after receiving the adapted refrigerant port. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerant port adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the concave receptacle is an annular trough having a profile that matches the outer contour of the collar of the adapted port. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigerant port adapter of  claim 1 , further comprising anti-rotation ribs on the adapter body received in complementary grooves of the retaining ring to permit axial sliding while preventing relative rotation. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerant port adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the adapted refrigerant port contains a valve core, and a plunger extends through the adapter body, the plunger being configured to actuate the valve core. 
     
     
         8 . The refrigerant port adapter of  claim 7 , wherein the port section includes external threads for threaded engagement with a service coupler. 
     
     
         9 . The refrigerant port adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the original refrigerant service port is one of a low-pressure R-134a port and a high-pressure R-134a port and has a peripheral lip sized for a ball-locking quick-connect coupler. 
     
     
         10 . The refrigerant port adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the second service interface conforms to one of a low-pressure R-1234yf geometry and a high-pressure R-1234yf geometry and an annular groove positioned below a shouldered base configured for a mating R-1234yf coupler, the shouldered base being incompatible with R-134a couplers. 
     
     
         11 . The refrigerant port adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the second service interface comprises a quick-connect collar profile keyed to an R-1234yf coupler pawl or segment engagement and the anti-rotation ribs are oriented to align the coupler latch relative to the body during attachment. 
     
     
         12 . A refrigerant port adapter comprising:
 an adapter body including an engagement section configured to receive at least a portion of an existing refrigerant service port;   a plurality of longitudinal ribs extending outwardly from an exterior surface of the adapter body;   a retaining ring having an inner surface with a plurality of complementary grooves configured to receive the longitudinal ribs to prevent relative rotation;   an annular flange on the adapter body received between spaced-apart tabs of the retaining ring to secure the retaining ring in a locked position; and   a concave receptacle formed on an interior surface of the engagement section and configured to receive an annular collar of the existing refrigerant service port.   
     
     
         13 . The refrigerant port adapter of  claim 12 , wherein the longitudinal ribs are evenly spaced around a circumference of the adapter body. 
     
     
         14 . The refrigerant port adapter of  claim 12 , wherein the retaining ring includes chamfered tab edges configured to engage chamfered surfaces on the annular flange. 
     
     
         15 . The refrigerant port adapter of  claim 12 , the adapter body further comprising a port section opposite the engagement section, wherein the port section is configured to engage a service hose fitting. 
     
     
         16 . The refrigerant port adapter of  claim 12 , wherein the concave receptacle is an annular trough having a profile that matches the outer contour of the collar of the adapted port. 
     
     
         17 . The refrigerant port adapter of  claim 12 , wherein the adapter body comprises an external attachment conforming to an adapter port standard from the group consisting of external threads and a quick-connect geometry. 
     
     
         18 . The refrigerant port adapter of  claim 12 , wherein the engagement section is dimensioned to receive an OEM R-134a low-pressure port collar and neck region such that the concave receptacle nests the collar while the retaining ring, in the locked position, restrains finger splay under torque applied by a quick-connect coupler. 
     
     
         19 . A refrigerant port adapter comprising:
 an adapter body including an engagement section, an intermediate section, and a port section;   a spacer positioned between a tubular tip of an adapted refrigerant port and the port section, the spacer abutting the tubular tip;   a plurality of longitudinal grooves on the engagement section defining flexible fingers;   a concave receptacle formed on the interior of the fingers to receive an annular collar of the adapted refrigerant port;   an annular flange formed on an outer surface of the adapter body; and   a retaining ring configured to slide over the adapter body and engage the annular flange in a locked position.   
     
     
         20 . The refrigerant port adapter of  claim 19 , wherein the spacer includes an axial length sufficient to prevent lateral movement of the adapted port within the adapter body. 
     
     
         21 . The refrigerant port adapter of  claim 19 , wherein the retaining ring includes three interior grooves configured to align with three corresponding ribs on the adapter body. 
     
     
         22 . The refrigerant port adapter of  claim 19 , wherein the annular flange has chamfered leading and trailing edges. 
     
     
         23 . The refrigerant port adapter of  claim 19 , further comprising a valve core disposed in the port section and configured for fluid control. 
     
     
         24 . The refrigerant port adapter of  claim 19 , wherein the retaining ring comprises a proximal flange that provides a gripping surface for manual actuation. 
     
     
         25 . The refrigerant port adapter of  claim 19 , wherein the port section presents a low-pressure retrofit interface for an A2L refrigerant selected from R-444a and R-456a and includes a left-hand thread to render the interface incompatible with right-hand threaded service couplers. 
     
     
         26 . The refrigerant port adapter of  claim 19 , wherein the port section presents a high-pressure retrofit interface for an A2L refrigerant selected from R-444a and R-456a and includes a quick-connect or threaded geometry different from R-134a and R-1234yf geometries to prevent cross-connection. 
     
     
         27 . A refrigerant port adapter comprising:
 an annular retainer engaging an outer periphery of an adapted refrigerant port;   a seal positioned over a tubular tip of the adapted refrigerant port, the seal having a cup shape with a central aperture;   an adapter body including an engagement section, an intermediate section, and a port section;   a plurality of longitudinal grooves on the engagement section defining flexible fingers, and the seal being received in the engagement section;   a locking ring engaging a portion of an outer periphery of the adapter body, the locking ring including a tubular portion that extends over the engagement section; and   a mechanical fastener fastening the locking ring to the annular retainer.