Moisture indicator

Abstract

A moisture indicator for a refrigeration system. The moisture indicator includes a body for retaining refrigerant. The body includes an inlet, an outlet and an opening. A display member covers the opening of the body. An inner side of the display member contacts with the refrigerant. A lens assembly displays the color of the display member to the naked eye. The lens assembly is arranged on a receiving groove formed at the outside of the display member. The lens assembly is sealed within the receiving groove. The moisture indicator allows a user accurately to identify the color of the display member without disturbing the flow of the refrigerant. It also allows the user accurately to determine when to replace a filter drier and when to supplement the refrigerant.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001](1) Field of the Invention[0002]The present invention relates to moisture indicators and particularly to an indicator to be used in a refrigeration system to show a moisture content of refrigerant.[0003](2) Description of the Related Arts[0004]Generally, a refrigeration system, such as an air conditioner or a refrigerator, performs cooling and freezing operation by absorbing heat from the area to be cooled and giving out heat to the outside.[0005]In a typical refrigeration system, cooling is achieved by the circulation of refrigerant in a closed system. The refrigerant is compressed to a high pressure by a compressor and is condensed through the condenser. Then the condensed refrigerant passes through an expansion valve into an evaporator where it evaporates and collects heat from the area to be cooled. From the compressor, the refrigerant is routed back to the condenser and the cycle repeats.[0006]In the refrigeration system, moisture may be spontan...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0014]It is an object of the present invention to provide a moisture indicator for allowing a user to identify exactly the display color of the indicator without disturbing the flow of the refrigerant.

[0015]It is another object of the present invention to provide a moisture indicator capable of improving the sealing force in a body thereof and preventing refrigerant from leaking outside.

[0016]It is still another object of the present invention to provide a moisture indicator for allowing a user to determine exactly the replacement time of a filter drier and the supplementation time of refrigerant in a refrigeration system.

Problems solved by technology

In case the refrigerant containing moisture circulates the inside of the refrigeration system, the refrigeration efficiency may be dropped and devices may be corroded.

Moreover, the whole system can be damaged severely due to the moisture.

In the conventional moisture indicator, it is difficult to discriminate the color of the display part, because the display part has too small size and soaks in the refrigerant with a low degree of transparency.

Therefore, the replacement time of the filter drier cannot be exactly obtained by the conventional moisture indicator.

Further, it has an additional problem that the display part disturbs the flow of the refrigerant.

When the O-rings are used for long time, it does wear out.

In case of deteriorating the sealing capacity of the O-rings, the refrigerant of high pressure can be leaked out from the gaps of the transparent window.

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