Appeal No. 1997-4234
Application No. 08/423,211
sample of refrigerant R134a for contamination by refrigerant R-12 using apparatus 310
and an indicating tube having a bromophenol blue indicating medium, the test operator
first breaks the ends off indicator tube 322 and inserts the tube into indicator chamber
331." (Emphasis added). (Column 6, lines 44-51). Thus, both ends of the transparent
tube holding the acid detecting medium are open as required by claim 30.
The Condit test device of Figure 3 has been adapted to permit refrigerant to flow
through the test assemble or tube through a connector (312) from a valve on the
refrigeration system, such as a Schrader valve. The refrigerant flows through the
system, including an indicator chamber 331 which has an indicator tube wherein the
refrigerant flows across the colorimetric indicating medium 333 contained therein.
Condit further explains that "[t]he wall of [the] indicator chamber 331 is made of a
transparent material such as plastic. Indicator tube 332 is made of transparent glass or
plastic." (col. 6, lines 18-22). Indicating medium 333 is therefore visible through
chamber 331 and tube 332. This disclosed embodiment would reasonably appear to
correspond to the kit of claim 30 which comprises 1) a hollow transparent member
having a opening at upstream and downstream ends with 2) means held only within the
member for passing a gaseous refrigerant sample from a refrigerant system over at
least one outer surface. The test chamber of Condit, in both cases, is a transparent or
glass or plastic tube which has an opening at each end which permits the refrigerant to
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