EP0692804B1 - Four-level regulator for fluid-operated air conditioning systems - Google Patents
Four-level regulator for fluid-operated air conditioning systems Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0692804B1 EP0692804B1 EP95201865A EP95201865A EP0692804B1 EP 0692804 B1 EP0692804 B1 EP 0692804B1 EP 95201865 A EP95201865 A EP 95201865A EP 95201865 A EP95201865 A EP 95201865A EP 0692804 B1 EP0692804 B1 EP 0692804B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- push
- elastic members
- rods
- rod
- holed
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
- 238000004378 air conditioning Methods 0.000 title claims description 10
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 claims description 9
- 230000009471 action Effects 0.000 claims description 5
- 229920003223 poly(pyromellitimide-1,4-diphenyl ether) Polymers 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000003780 insertion Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 230000037431 insertion Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 230000014759 maintenance of location Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 230000008859 change Effects 0.000 description 5
- 125000006850 spacer group Chemical group 0.000 description 3
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000003750 conditioning effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000000470 constituent Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000003213 activating effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000004913 activation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000004075 alteration Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000009849 deactivation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000007423 decrease Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000013013 elastic material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000006870 function Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000003993 interaction Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000010534 mechanism of action Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
- H01H35/00—Switches operated by change of a physical condition
- H01H35/24—Switches operated by change of fluid pressure, by fluid pressure waves, or by change of fluid flow
- H01H35/26—Details
- H01H35/2657—Details with different switches operated at substantially different pressures
Definitions
- This invention relates to a pressure switch for controlling air conditioning systems and the like.
- control means In an air conditioning system, control means must be provided for activating and deactivating the compressor, operating the fan and effecting auxiliary actions.
- Italian patent application MI93A000836 describes a pressure sensor device controlling an air conditioning system or the like on three levels.
- the functions required of the air conditioning system are implemented by the action of small stems acting on diaphragms which pass from a convex configuration to a concave configuration, hence interacting with a respective switch.
- adding a new pressure level is equivalent to providing the three-level device with an arrangement of elements which is a simple repeat of arrangements which individually act on a single level.
- a three-level regulator for fluid-operated air conditioning systems comprising a casing containing three electrical switches, which are positioned in parallel within said casing and act on respective electrical circuits, said three electrical switches including respective fixed contacts and respective movable contacts, each of these including a push-rod, slidable between a withdrawn rest position and an advanced position for causing the respective movable contact to move by the action of three respective substantially cap-shaped elastic member, said three substantially cap-shaped elastic members being definable between an inwardly-turned rest configuration and an outwardly-turned configuration, the casing also containing auxiliary return elements for facilitating the snap return of said three elastic members, between the fluid and the switches there being provided an elastically deformable sealed retention diaphragm, said three elastic members being housed in circular seats provided in a disc first support of said casing, said first support also being covered by a second support containing said movable contacts, which are made to close or open by said three push-rods.
- An object of the present invention is to provide a pressure switch device which obviates said problems of the state of the art.
- a further object is to provide a device which is reliable, is of small overall size, and comprises the smallest possible number of mechanical elements or pieces.
- said cap-shaped elastic members consist of metal discs of different thicknesses, with a central part projecting from the remaining contour of the disc, they being stacked to offer different resistances to axial force.
- the reference numeral 10 indicates a four-level regulator according to the present invention. It consists of a threaded connector 21, a cap 22 and electric cables 23 leaving the cap 22 and connected to apparatus (for example a compressor or a fan), not shown.
- FIG 2 shows the regulator 10 of Figure 1, in exploded view.
- the threaded connector 21 which is mounted on a conditioning fluid line of the air conditioning system.
- the regulator is made to operate by the pressure in said line.
- a seal gasket 24 on which a diaphragm 25 of high-strength elastic material rests.
- This material is advantageously kapton, the flexibility, elasticity, mechanical strength and lightness of which make it excellent for use.
- the two elastic members 26 and 27 are composed of two discs each, whereas the member 28 is composed of three discs. Above the group of three discs 28 there is a holed rigid spacer 29, on which there bears a holed disc 30 acting as the further fourth elastic member.
- Each of the first three elastic members 26, 27 and 28 interacts with a respective push-rod 31, 32 and 33; the push-rod 33 is inserted through the hole in the spacer 29 and disc 30.
- the said push-rods act as operating elements for the movable contacts of the electrical circuits to be opened or closed.
- the said groups of discs are housed in suitable circular seats provided in a disc support 35. Above this latter there is a second support 36 containing the movable contacts (in the form of blades fixed at one end), which are made to close or open by the said push-rods.
- the regulator is completed by a cap 22, which when assembly is complete covers and seals all the aforesaid elements.
- FIG 3 is an exploded view showing the unit comprising two axially aligned elastic members already described with reference to Figure 2.
- the movable contact on which the push-rods 33 and 34 act is shown in greater detail.
- the contact is in the form of a thin blade 41 pivoted at one end 40 and caused to move by the push-rod 34, in order to open or close a first electrical circuit. Straddling the blade 41 there is a bridge 43.
- the blade 41 comprises a U-shaped cut defining a part 44 (positioned in correspondence with the bridge 43) which is moved by the push-rod 33.
- This interaction between the push-rod 33, the part 44 of the blade 41 and the bridge 43 results in the opening/closure of a second electrical circuit.
- the elements indicated by the reference numerals 40 to 44 are all contained in the support 36, which on the opposite side to these houses a cut-out circuit 37.
- Figure 4 further illustrates the structure of the support 36, and shows all the elements involved in achieving electrical contact by the movement of said push-rods.
- the push-rods 31 and 32 act on the blades 43 and 45 respectively, which are fixed at one end by rivets 47 and 48.
- the mechanism of action of the push-rod 33 has already been described.
- Auxiliary return means are provided for returning the elements from their working position to their rest position.
- the elastic members 26, 27, 28 and 30 are formed with different levels of elasticity, so that the devices to which they are connected are made to operate when different pressure thresholds or values are attained.
- the constituent discs of the elastic members when in the rest state are in an inwardly-turned convex configuration with the convex part facing the kapton diaphragm 25 and in contact with it.
- the fluid enters the regulator through the threaded connector 21 and acts on the diaphragm 25.
- the fluid pressure deforms the diaphragm, which however on its opposite side encounters strong resistance by the series of discs of inwardly-turned convex configuration.
- the discs On exceeding predetermined pressure thresholds the discs pass from an inwardly-turned convex configuration with that part emerging from the disc contour facing the diaphragm, to an outwardly-turned concave configuration in which the concavity faces the diaphragm.
- the pressure at which this configuration change occurs is determined essentially by the elasticity of the relative elastic member.
- the diaphragm 25 exerts an increasing force on the member 28. This does not change its configuration from outwardly-turned to inwardly-turned because a pressure sufficient for this has not yet been attained.
- the force is hence transmitted practically unaltered to the spacer 29 which, being in intimate contact with the disc 30, causes the configuration of the disc 30 to snap from outwardly-turned to inwardly-turned when the fluid pressure reaches a first predetermined level.
- the disc 30 then urges the push-rod 34 to act on the blade 41 so that it makes contact with the relative rivet 42.
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
- Switches Operated By Changes In Physical Conditions (AREA)
- Multiple-Way Valves (AREA)
- Air Conditioning Control Device (AREA)
Description
- reduced axial and longitudinal dimension of the regulator;
- the form of the switches ensures minimum mounting tolerances, making it possible to dispense with additional final setting operations;
- the constituent elastic elements of the movable contacts, formed from superposed thin metal pieces, ensure considerable contact pressure with the switch closed and a considerable return force on opening;
- the shape of the casing provides considerable electric wiring flexibility by cable or connector exits of various types, without this involving alterations or structural modifications to the regulator.
Claims (5)
- A four-level regulator (10) for fluid-operated air conditioning systems, comprising a casing containing three electrical switches, which are positioned in parallel within said casing and act on respective electrical circuits, said three electrical switches including respective fixed contacts and respective movable contacts, each of these including a push-rod (31, 32, 33), slidable between a withdrawn rest position and an advanced position for causing the respective movable contact to move by the action of three respective substantially cap-shaped elastic member (26, 27, 28), said three substantially cap-shaped elastic members (26, 27, 28) being definable between an inwardly-turned rest configuration and an outwardly-turned configuration, one (28) of said three elastic members (26, 27, 28) and the push-rod (31, 32, 33) connected to it being holed, the casing also containing auxiliary return elements (51) for facilitating the snap return of said three elastic members (26, 27, 28) and a fourth electrical switch, with a respective fixed contact and movable contact acting on a relative electrical circuit, between the fluid and the switches there being provided an elastically deformable sealed retention diaphragm (25), said fourth electrical switch including a fourth push-rod (34) acting on a holed disc (30) and being inserted through said one (28) of said three elastic members (26, 27, 28) and through said fourth push-rod (34) connected to it and operated by a fourth substantially cap-shaped holed elastic member (29), definable between an inwardly-turned rest configuration and an outwardly-turned configuration, said fourth elastic member (29) being disposed above said one (28) of said three elastic members (26, 27, 28) and bearing said holed disc (30) in intimate contact, one (33) of said three push-rods (31, 32, 33) being inserted through said fourth elastic member (29) and through said holed disc (30), said four elastic members (26, 27, 28, 29) being housed in circular seats provided in a disc first support (35) of said casing, said first support (35) constituting a wall for stopping the movement of said holed disc (30), said first support (35) also being covered by a second support (36) containing said movable contacts, which are made to close or open by said four push-rods (31, 32, 33, 34), wherein said fourth push-rod (34) comprises two lateral flanges of lesser height and greater radial dimension than the other three push-rods (31, 32, 33) and is holed in the centre to allow insertion of one of said three push-rods (31, 32, 33), said fourth push-rod (34) also acting on one of the other three push-rods (31, 32, 33) in the form of a first blade (41), pivoted at one end (40) and caused to move by said fourth push-rod (34), in order to open or close a first electrical circuit, said first blade (41) being in contact with a bridge (43) and comprising a U-shaped cut defining a part (44) positioned in correspondance with said bridge (43), which is moved by one of said three push-rods (31, 32, 33), in order to open or close a second electrical circuit.
- A four-level regulator as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said diaphragm (25) is of kapton.
- A four-level regulator as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that at least three of said four elastic members (26, 27, 28, 29) are axially aligned.
- A four-level regulator as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that two (31, 32) of said three push-rods (31, 32, 33) act on two second blades (43, 45), respectevely, which are fixed at one end by at least one rivet (47, 48).
- A four-level regulator as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said holed disc (30) and said one (28) of said three elastic members (26, 27, 28) are axially aligned, said holed disc (30) being more elastic than said one (28) of said three elastic members (26, 27, 28).
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
ITMI941472A IT1271662B (en) | 1994-07-14 | 1994-07-14 | FOUR-LEVEL REGULATOR FOR FLUID AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEMS |
ITMI941472 | 1994-07-14 |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0692804A1 EP0692804A1 (en) | 1996-01-17 |
EP0692804B1 true EP0692804B1 (en) | 1998-12-23 |
Family
ID=11369278
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP95201865A Expired - Lifetime EP0692804B1 (en) | 1994-07-14 | 1995-07-07 | Four-level regulator for fluid-operated air conditioning systems |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0692804B1 (en) |
DE (1) | DE69506798T2 (en) |
ES (1) | ES2127463T3 (en) |
IT (1) | IT1271662B (en) |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN103216434B (en) * | 2013-01-07 | 2015-12-23 | 曹辉 | Pressure conduction type pump body control device |
Family Cites Families (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2185857B (en) * | 1986-01-25 | 1989-11-29 | Haden D H Ltd | Control means for vessels for heating liquids |
IT1216456B (en) * | 1986-10-20 | 1990-02-28 | Siceb Spa | THREE-LEVEL REGULATOR FOR AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES |
JPH07101583B2 (en) * | 1987-07-02 | 1995-11-01 | 株式会社不二工機製作所 | Two-action pressure switch |
-
1994
- 1994-07-14 IT ITMI941472A patent/IT1271662B/en active IP Right Grant
-
1995
- 1995-07-07 DE DE69506798T patent/DE69506798T2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1995-07-07 ES ES95201865T patent/ES2127463T3/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1995-07-07 EP EP95201865A patent/EP0692804B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
DE69506798D1 (en) | 1999-02-04 |
DE69506798T2 (en) | 1999-08-26 |
EP0692804A1 (en) | 1996-01-17 |
IT1271662B (en) | 1997-06-04 |
ITMI941472A0 (en) | 1994-07-14 |
ITMI941472A1 (en) | 1996-01-14 |
ES2127463T3 (en) | 1999-04-16 |
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