Abstract: An air conditioning service valve includes a valve body with a pair of tubes extending from the valve body. The tubes have respective first ends, proximal to the valve body, that extend away from the valve body at nonzero angles to one another, such as substantially perpendicular. One of the tubes has a bend, such that second ends of the tubes, distal to the valve body, are substantially parallel to one another. The air conditioning service valve may be mounted to a bracket without use of fasteners, for example with the valve body engaging edges, tangs, and/or tabs of the bracket. The valve body also has a stem port and a charge port, with the stem port parallel to the second ends of the tubes. The arrangement of the tubes allows use of a smaller valve body, while also reducing pressure drop relative to prior Z-flow valves.

Abstract: The present invention provides a service valve body for a heating/cooling system. The valve body has a main body, a charge port stem, and first and second stems, all of which are monolithic with one another (e.g., formed in one piece) such that there are no seams, joints, or brazed connections between the components. The charge port and valve stem contained therein may be angled relative to the axis of the first and/or second stem.

Abstract: A back seating service valve for air conditioning systems is provided wherein the valve includes an insert fitting having a valve seat. The insert fitting is attached to the valve body using a threaded connection that is then brazed to ensure that the insert fitting does not separate from the valve body during use.

Abstract: A closure cap comprises a base having at an inner side thereof an annular gland for receiving an annular seal. The annular gland has a bottom surface and an annular side surface depending from the bottom surface. A skirt depends from base and has an internal fastening thread for attaching the cap to a correspondingly but externally threaded body. Additionally, the annular side surface of the annular gland has a venting thread depending from the bottom surface of the gland to enable venting of air that may otherwise be trapped behind the annular seal when fitted in the gland. Also disclosed is a method of molding the cap.

Abstract: An air-conditioning service plug-type valve includes a valve body having a chamber. First and second openings extend through the valve body. The air conditioning plug-type valve also includes a stem having a plug portion configured for being received in the chamber of the valve body. The stem, when the plug portion is received in the chamber, is rotatable relative to the valve body between a closed position blocking fluid communication between the first and second openings of the valve body and an open position enabling fluid communication between the first and second openings of the valve body. The plug portion includes a fluid blocking portion located immediately adjacent the first opening when the stem is in the closed position. A groove extends into a peripheral surface of the plug portion defining the fluid blocking portion. A seal is disposed in the groove and extends between the plug portion and the valve body. The seal, when located in the groove, is stretched by at least a predetermined amount.