US1616129A - Automatic differential expansion valve - Google Patents

Description

161 ,129 Feb. 1,192,. GF'KNOX 5 AUTOMATIC DIFFERENTIAL EXPANSION VALVE Filed Feb. 19, 1923 2 sheets-Sheen Feb. 1, 1 927. 1,616,129

G. F. KNOX AUTOMATIC DIFFERENTIAL EXPANSION VALVE Filed Feb. 19, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 az 31 W /.i"

INVENTOR. 1 92,

ATTORNEYS. 7

Patented Feb. 1, 1927.

UNITED STATES GEORGE F. KNOX, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

AUTOMATIC DIFFERENTIAL EXPANSION VALVE.

Application filed February 19, 1923;

This invention relates to a differential automatic diaphragm expansion valve and particularly to a valve device of this type for use in connection with a refrigerating system.

In refrigerating systems now employed, the refrigeration is accomplished by means of ammonia gas and in this connection the invention about to be described contemplates the provision of means for controlling the passage of this ammonia gas through the refrigerating pipes.

The invention further contemplates the provision of means etl'eeted by the temperature of the refrigerating system for controlling the ammonia gas valve and also includes the provision of means for balancing the valves whereby a sensitive control is assured.

The various features of the invention will be made more apparent in the accompanying specification and drzuvings wherein one illustrative embodiment of the invention will be described and illustrated.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of the valve control device, Y

Fig. 2 is a section taken on the plane indicated by line 22 in Fig. 1, and,

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken. .on the plane indicated by line 3-3 in Fi 1, certain parts being in elevation.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters indicate like parts, the reference character indicates a supply pipe for ammonia gas which is adapted to furnish the ammonia gas to the refrigerating system. This supply pipe is connected to a casing 11 and from this casing a discharge pipe 12 leads to the pipes of the refrigerating system.

Connecting the supply pipe 10 to the pipe 12 is a port 13 controlled by a needle valve 14, slidably mounted, the rear end of which bears against a diaphragm 15 working in a diaphragm chamber 16. Also disposed within the casing 11 is a diaphragm 17 working in a diaphragm chamber 18.

Ports or passageways 19 provide communication between the passageway 13 and one side of each of the diaphragms 15 and 17. A coil spring 20 hearing against one end of the needle valve 14 and against the.

casing is adapted to move the needle valve 1% to open position when pressure on the Serial No. 620,109.

opposite side of the diaphragm is less than the pressure or" the spring.

Mounted within-the casing 11 is a. lever 21 to which there is pivotally connected at each end short lever members 22 and 23 which bear respectively against diaphragms 15 and 17. The short lever 23 is engaged by a spring 2a which is adapted to counteract the pressure of the against the opposite side of the diaphragm 17. The lever 21 is fulcrumed to a member 25 which bears against a diaphragm 26 positioned within a diaphragm chamber 27. A coil spring 28 urges the member 25 against the diaphragm 26 so that there is always an intimate contact between the diaphragm and this member. Screw-threadedly supported in the easing is an adjusting bolt 29 which bears against the diaphragm 26 opposite to the member 25 and by which adjustment of the needle valve 1% is accomplished.

For controlling the diaphragms and consequen-tly the needle valve, there is provided a control chamber 30 formed with a diaphragm chamber 31 in which there is positioned a diaphragm 32. Through a passageway 33 there is injected into the diaphragm chamber 31 ether or some other gas which is highly sensitive to changes in temperature. This opening for the injection of this fluid is closed by a plug 34 or the like. Bearing against one side of the diaphragm 32 is an adjustable plug 35 by which the pressure of the ether in the control chamber 31 is regulated. The control chamber 30 is connected to the casing 11 by a tube 36 provided with a coil 37 and the end of this tube communicates with a passageway 38 formed in the casing 11. Therefore, the ether or other fluid may pass into the casing 11 and past the right-hand side of diaphragm 28 around the member 25 and into the portion of the casing in which the lever 21 is positioned and then against the adjacent sides of the diaphragm 15 and 17 It should be noted that the lever 21 is of greater length on one side of its pivotal connection of the member 25 than on the other, thereby counteracting the influencing movements imparted to it.

The control chamber 30 will be positioned somewhere within the refrigerating plant so as 'to be influenced by changes in temperature. When the temperature of the refrigerating system has risen beyond a desired point, the ether or like gas Will expand against the diaphragm 82 and hence pass through the tube 36, coil 37 and enter passageway 38' of the casing 11. The other will th refore exert a pressure against the diaphragms 15 and 17 and inasmuch as the diaphragm 17 is larger than the diaphragm 17 the pressure thus exerted will cause a movement of the lever 91 which will permit the spring 20 to move the needle valve it from its seat tl'iercby allowing a greater flow of ammonia gas through the pipes 10 and 12 to the pipes of the refrigerating system.

When the temperature of the refrigerator has again fallen to the proper degree, the ammonia gas will contract, thereby relieving pressure on the diaphragms l5 and 17 and permit a closing of the needle valve 14. It should be noted that as the ammonia gas passes through pipe l0, passageway 13 and pipe 12 that it acts upon the sides of the diaphragms 15 and 17 opposite to those against which the ether gas is in contact. Furthermore. the position of the lever 21 will be regulated by the adjustii'ig bolt Which bears against the diaphragm so that the needle valve will be caused to open upon a greater or less pressure of the ether gas. Likewise the time at which the needle valve will function may be regulated to some extent by the adjustment im iarted to adjusting bolt 35 which regulates the capacity of the chamber 31.

From the foregoing, it. will be obvious that I have provided a valve control device which is sensitive to changes in temperature and which will accordingly control the valve governing the flow of the refrigerating fluid. Furthermore, by providing the diaphragms in the manner hereinbefore described, the de vice is capable of numerous adjustments whereby different conditions and degrees of telnpe 'ature may be compensated for.

Having thus described this invention, What is claimed is:

1. In a differential automatic diaphragm expansion valve, a refrigerating fluid supply pipe, a valve for controlling said supply, differential diaphragms for influencing said valve, a control chamber containing a thermostatic fluid. means for connecting said chamber to said differential valve, a difl erential lever pivoted between its ends and having its free ends bearing against said dif-- ferential diaphragms, means for positively adjusting the pivot of said lever, said thermostatic fluid bearing against one side of said differential diaphragms, means for counteracting the pressure of said thermostatic fluid by the amount of refrigerating fluid passing through said refrigerating pipe whereby an expansion of said thermostatic.

fluid will cause said differential diaphragms to open said refrigerating fluid control valve.

2. In a control device of the class described, a refrigerating fluid supply pipe, a valve for controlling said supply, a pair of differential diaphragms, said differential diaphragms being subjected at one side to the pressure of said refrigerating fluid, a control chamber containing a thermostatic fluid, means for adjusting the capacity of said chamber, means connecting said chamber to the valve casing containing saiddifferential diaphragn'is, said thermostatic fluid being conducted to the other side of said diaphragms, an adjustable differential lever having its free ends bearing against said diaphragms, and means for adjusting said lever, said thermostatic fluid operating upon said diaphragms to regulate said valve.

8. In a differential automatic diaphragm expansion valve, a refrigerating fluid therethrough. a pair of differential diaphragms, said differential diaphragms being influenced on one side by said refrigerating fluid. a differential lever mounted in the casing of said valve and engaging the opposite sides of said differential diaphragms, an adjustable means for regulating the fulcrum point of said differential lever. a control chamber containing a thermostatic fluid, means for regulating the capacity of said control chamb r, means for connecting said control chamber to said valve chamber, said thermostatic fluid acting against said differential diaphragms on the sides opposite to those acted upon by the refrigerating fluid whereby an expansion of said thermostatic fluid will cause said differential. diaphzigms to function for moving said differential lever and opening said valve.

4. In a device of the character described a pair of chambers. diaphragms separating said chambers, a valve in one of said chain- ",ers for regulating the supply of refrigerating fluid, a stem formed on said valve and bearing against one of said diaphragins, a lever pivoted intermediate its ends in the other of said chambers, the ends of said lever bearing against said diaphragms. means for varying the fulcrum of said lever. and means for supplying a thermostatic fluid to the second of said chambers.

5. In a device of the character described, a pair of chambers, a pair of diaphragins separating said chambers. one of said diaphragnis being substantir-illy larger than the other, a valve in one of said chambers having its stem bearing against the smaller of said diaphii'agms, a differentially pivoted lever in the other of said chambers, the free GEORGE F. KNOX.

Images