Current Status
A.S. Trust & Holdings Inc. holds the following patents:
- U.S. Patent No. 6,902,686,
June 7, 2005,
HCR188C Hydrocarbon composition, and refrigerant and detergent
- U.S. Patent No. 8,097,182 B2, January 17, 2012,
HCR188C1 /R441A a derivative of
HCR188C , and replacement for R134A
- Japan Patent No. 3452915; Korea Patent No. 10-0619263;
China Patent No. ZL03158406.3;
UK, France, Germany – EU Patent No. 15149515; Hong Kong Patent No. HK1075911
A.S. Trust & Holdings Inc. has U.S. patent pending on HCR188C2/R443A a replacement for R22 and is actively pursuing business partnerships to develop, manufacture, market and distribute climate friendly products based on HCR188C derivative refrigerants.
Please contact the company at
www.HCR188C.com;
Richard@astrust.com; or
telephone 808-235-1890 for more information.
Milestones in the Development of HCR188C and it's derivatives

Mr. R. Maruya (left) Mr. R. Ogoshi (right).
May 25, 2011
- Ryuma Ogoshi of Azuma Inc of Japan signed a contract acquiring for the company the rights to
blend and market
HCR188C refrigerants throughout Japan.
April, 2011 - HCR188C2 acquired Patent Pending status.
January 31, 2011 – The
American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers
(ASHRAE) at its annual convention designated HCR188C as R441A.
November 9, 2010 – A.S.
Trust & Holdings announced the beginning of limited production of the first-ever
Green Household Refrigerator, the “188,” a standard 21-cu-ft home refrigerator
freezer using R441A/HCR188C. The model is currently undergoing energy-reduction
assessments, and will be submitted to the Department of Energy (DOE) for Energy
Star ratings. A.S Trust & Holdings is negotiating for assembly of the
refrigerator in the United States, under the Climate-Friendly 188 brand, as part
of its policy of keeping employment in America. Future products bearing the new
Climate-Friendly 188 energy-savings label will include household window
air-conditioning units.
September 2010 – Public
comment period ended (zero comments filed) for listing HCR188C with the American
Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE).
July 2010 – Public comment
period ended (via the Federal Register) regarding approval by the U. S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of HCR188C to be listed as an alternative
refrigerant for household refrigerator/freezers (nil negative comments).
July 20, 2010 - ComStar International
and A.S. Trust & Holdings announced an agreement for ComStar to manufacture
market and distribute HCR188C refrigerant. ComStar International manufactures a
comprehensive line of environmentally safe, industrial strength chemical
products. For more than forty years, ComStar has been a leader in developing,
manufacturing and marketing over 270 specialty products designed specifically
for the service trade professional. Distributed both domestically and abroad
through a network of ComStar companies and representative offices, wholesalers
and distributors, ComStar offers products to the heating, ventilation, air
conditioning and refrigeration (HVACR), plumbing, transportation, indoor air
quality (IAQ), building maintenance and construction industries.
www.comstarproducts.com
April 2009 - Inventor Richard Maruya awarded the Hawaii State Senate Commendation Award in recognition of his efforts to develop a superior refrigerant.
View The Award Certificate
December 28th, 2008 -
EPA issues Final Completeness Determination under the
Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program. HCR188C approved for sale in
the United States as a replacement for CFC-12 (R12) coolant fluid in household
refrigeration and air conditioning units.
April 2008 – Richard Maruya honored with the 2008 Environmental Award for Outstanding Achievement from the EPA’s Region IX office in recognition of his efforts and commitment to protecting the environment through the development of HCR188C. The U.S. Congress notes his “innovative work developing the Hydro Carbon Refrigerant 188C [as] an environmentally safe and efficient alternative to the traditional hydrocarbon-based products harmful to the ozone layer”.
View
The Award Certificate
February 2007, the Intertek Company in Cortland, NY commenced testing HCR188C
(in a plant refrigerator) and to date (February 2011) is completely satisfied
with its operation. In addition, A.S. Trust & Holdings has been running the
formulation in the air-conditioning system of a 1996 Toyota T100 truck for over
six years (65,000 miles) without having to recharge the system.
The compressor has been taken apart and the internal
components examined under magnification; the filter revealed very little residue
and the parts were spotless, and the O-rings and hoses were in excellent
condition. A.S. Trust & Holdings believes that a vehicle a/c system
operating with R441A/ HCR188C would last a minimum of ten years.