Method of introducing leak detection dye into an air conditioning or refrigeration system

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention provides an improved method of introducing a leak detection dye additive into an air conditioning or other refrigeration system.
For brevity, the description of the invention is made herein with reference to an air conditioning system, it being understood that it is applicable to other refrigeration systems as well.
A substrate material which is absorbent to the dye additive is cut into a swatch which is shaped according to its intended placement in the system, and a specific amount of the dye additive is placed onto and absorbed into the swatch.
For example, in an embodiment intended for use inside a desiccant bag, a swatch of melamine treated polyester felt may be cut to form a circular wafer.
The wafer with absorbed additive is inserted into a desiccant bag, and the desiccant bag is then installed in a dehydrator unit of an air conditioning system.
When the air conditioning system is assembled from its components, charged with refrigerant, and operated to cycle the refrigerant and system lubricant through the system, the refrigerant and system lubricant flows through the desiccant bag and takes the dye into solution.
In another embodiment, the substrate may be used as a filter component, as for example in a replaceable filter-drier cartridge, or with a solid-core drier.
In this embodiment, a woven or fibrous mesh material is cut to the shape of a filter component of the drier, and continues to function as a particle filter after releasing its dye additive into the refrigerant.
Further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent to those skilled in the art as the nature of the invention is better understood from the accompanying drawings and detailed description.