US20010018830A1 - Expansion valve - Google Patents
Expansion valve Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20010018830A1 US20010018830A1 US09/793,608 US79360801A US2001018830A1 US 20010018830 A1 US20010018830 A1 US 20010018830A1 US 79360801 A US79360801 A US 79360801A US 2001018830 A1 US2001018830 A1 US 2001018830A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- refrigerant
- passage
- valve
- expansion valve
- evaporator
- 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.)
- Granted
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
- F25B41/00—Fluid-circulation arrangements
- F25B41/30—Expansion means; Dispositions thereof
- F25B41/31—Expansion valves
- F25B41/33—Expansion valves with the valve member being actuated by the fluid pressure, e.g. by the pressure of the refrigerant
- F25B41/335—Expansion valves with the valve member being actuated by the fluid pressure, e.g. by the pressure of the refrigerant via diaphragms
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60H—ARRANGEMENTS OF HEATING, COOLING, VENTILATING OR OTHER AIR-TREATING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PASSENGER OR GOODS SPACES OF VEHICLES
- B60H1/00—Heating, cooling or ventilating [HVAC] devices
- B60H1/00485—Valves for air-conditioning devices, e.g. thermostatic valves
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
- F25B2341/00—Details of ejectors not being used as compression device; Details of flow restrictors or expansion valves
- F25B2341/06—Details of flow restrictors or expansion valves
- F25B2341/068—Expansion valves combined with a sensor
- F25B2341/0683—Expansion valves combined with a sensor the sensor is disposed in the suction line and influenced by the temperature or the pressure of the suction gas
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Thermal Sciences (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Temperature-Responsive Valves (AREA)
- Air-Conditioning For Vehicles (AREA)
Abstract
An expansion valve 1 comprises a prism-shaped body 10, and a valve chamber 20 is formed within the body 10. Refrigerant supplied from a compressor flows into the valve chamber through a passage 22, passes between a valve means 42 and a valve seat 23, and travels toward an evaporator through a passage 24. Refrigerant returning from the evaporator enters the body 10 through a passage 26, and after the refrigerant temperature information is transmitted to the operating shaft 40, the refrigerant flows out through a passage 28 toward the compressor. Passages 22 and 28 open to a first side surface of the body, and passages 24 and 26 open to a second side surface orthogonal to the first surface. Such structure improves the degree of freedom for mounting the expansion valve 1.
Description
- The present invention relates to an expansion valve for controlling the flow rate of the refrigerant equipped to the refrigeration cycle of an air conditioning device for a vehicle and the like.
- A known expansion valve comprises a prism-shaped valve body, the body being equipped with a valve chamber and a power element for operating a valve means formed within the valve chamber.
- This kind of expansion valve comprises two passages communicated to the valve chamber, and a passage through which the refrigerant returning from the evaporator to the compressor travels. An operating shaft capable of communicating the movement of the power element to the valve means penetrates the passage through which the refrigerant returning from the evaporator to the compressor travels, and transmits the temperature information of the refrigerant to the power element.
- The structure of such conventional expansion valve is shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10. FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing the external structure of the expansion valve, and FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing the cross-section A-A′ of FIG. 9 observed from the direction of the arrow. In FIGS. 9 and 10, the
valve body 30 is equipped with afirst passage 32 formed from the refrigerant exit of acondenser 5 via areceiver 6 to the refrigerant entrance of anevaporator 8, and asecond passage 34 formed between the refrigerant exit of theevaporator 8 and the refrigerant entrance of acompressor 4, the two passages separately positioned one above the other. The passages constitute arefrigerant piping 11 of the refrigeration cycle. Thefirst passage 32 is equipped with avalve hole 23 for performing adiabatic expansion of the liquid-phase refrigerant supplied from the refrigerant exit of thereceiver 6 through the opening 321. The center line of thevalve hole 23 is positioned along the longitudinal direction of thevalve body 30. A valve seat is formed to the entrance of thevalve hole 23, toward which a ball-shaped valve means 42 is biased by aspring 32 such as a compression coil spring via avalve support member 31. - The
first passage 32 to which the liquid-phase refrigerant fromreceiver 6 enters functions as a liquid-phase refrigerant passage, equipped with anexit port 322, anentrance port 321, and avalve chamber 20 communicated to theentrance port 321. After expansion, the refrigerant flows out through theexit port 322 to theevaporator 8. Thevalve chamber 20 is a chamber with a bottom formed coaxial to the center line of thevalve hole 23, which is sealed by aplug 34. A sealingmember 36 is equipped to theplug 34. - A
power element 50 for driving thevalve member 42 is equipped to the upper end of thevalve body 30. Thepower element 50 comprises acase 56, the interior space of which is divided by adiaphragm 54 into upper and lower pressure chambers. Thelower pressure chamber 55 is communicated to thesecond passage 34 through a pressure equalizing hole 36 e formed coaxial to the center line of the valve hole 32 a. - The
second passage 34 comprises anentrance port 342 and an exit port 341, where refrigerant vapor exiting the refrigerant exit of theevaporator 8 flows in through theentrance port 342 and exits through the exit port 341 toward thecompressor 4. Passage 34 functions as a passage for the gas-phase refrigerant, and the pressure of the refrigerant vapor is loaded to thelower pressure chamber 55′ via the pressure equalizing hole 36 e. Anoperating shaft 40 extending from the lower surface of thediaphragm 54 to thevalve hole 23 of thefirst passage 32 is coaxially positioned within the pressure equalizing hole 36 e. Astopper 52 is equipped to theoperating shaft 40, which is placed within thelower pressure chamber 55′ and contacted to the lower surface of thediaphragm 54. Theoperating shaft 40 is supported by the inner surface of thelower pressure chamber 55 constituting thepower element 50 and the separation wall between thefirst passage 32 and thesecond passage 34 of thevalve body 30 so as to slide freely in the vertical direction. The lower end of theoperating shaft 40 is contacted to the valve means 42. A sealingmember 44 that prevents refrigerant from leaking between thefirst passage 32 and thesecond passage 34 is equipped to the peripheral surface of theoperating shaft 40 corresponding to the operating shaft slide-guide hole in the separation wall. - A known heat sensing gas for driving the diaphragm is filled in the
upper pressure chamber 55. The heat of the refrigerant vapor exiting through the refrigerant exit of theevaporator 8 and traveling in thesecond passage 34 is transmitted to the diaphragm drive fluid through thediaphragm 54 and the valve means drive shaft 36 f exposed to thesecond passage 34 and the pressure equalizing hole 36 e communicated to thesecond passage 34. Further,reference number 58 shows a plug body for sealing the heat sensing gas. - The heat sensing gas inside the
upper pressure chamber 55 loads the pressure corresponding to the heat transmitted thereto to the upper surface of thediaphragm 54. Thediaphragm 54 is vertically displaced corresponding to the difference in the pressure between the diaphragm drive gas loaded to the upper surface thereof and the pressure loaded to the lower surface of thediaphragm 54. The vertical displacement of thediaphragm 54 drives the valve means 42 via theoperation shaft 40 closer to or away from the valve seat of thevalve hole 23. As a result, the flow rate of the refrigerant is controlled. - According to the above-mentioned conventional expansion valve, the valve means drive shaft36 f is positioned at the center of the
valve body 30, so thepower element 36 must also be positioned at the center area of thevalve body 30. - Since according to the prior-art expansion valve, the pipes to which the evaporator and the compressor are connected are arranged in opposing directions, which restrict the degree of freedom when determining the mounting position of the expansion valve, the evaporator, and the compressor. Especially, when the expansion valve must be mounted in the engine room of a vehicle and the like where mounting space is limited, the mounting structure of the expansion valve becomes a problem.
- The object of the present invention is to solve such problem by providing an expansion valve having an improved degree of freedom of the mounting structure.
- In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an expansion valve for controlling the flow rate of a refrigerant provided from a compressor to an evaporator, the valve comprising a prism-shaped valve body, a passage through which the refrigerant exiting from the compressor travels, a passage through which the refrigerant returning to the compressor travels, the passages opening to a first side surface of the valve body, and a passage through which the refrigerant flowing toward the evaporator travels, a passage through which the refrigerant returning from the evaporator travels, the passages opening to a second side surface of the valve body adjacent to the first side surface equipped with the openings for the two former-mentioned passages.
- A preferable example of the expansion valve according to the present invention characterizes in that a power element is mounted at a biased position against the valve body.
- Moreover, the expansion valve according to the present invention is equipped with a stud bolt equipped to the first side surface of the valve body utilized for fixing the expansion valve, and two penetrating holes penetrating through the second side surface and the side surface opposite to the second side surface utilized also for fixing.
- The expansion valve according to the present invention having the above-explained structure includes refrigerant passages opening to the adjacent (neighboring) side surfaces of the valve body, which enables to improve the degree of freedom of the mounting structure. Moreover, since the mounting position of the power element is biased against the valve body, the interference that may exist between the stud bolt and the penetrating holes according to the conventional structure is prevented.
- FIG. 1 is a front view of the expansion valve according to the present invention;
- FIG. 2 is a left side view of the expansion valve according to the present invention;
- FIG. 3 is a right side view of the expansion valve according to the present invention;
- FIG. 4 is a back view of the expansion valve according to the present invention;
- FIG. 5 is an upper view of the expansion valve according to the invention;
- FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the expansion valve according to the invention;
- FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken at line A-A of FIG. 1;
- FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken at line B-B of FIG. 3;
- FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of a prior-art expansion valve; and
- FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken at line A-A′ of FIG. 9.
- FIG. 1 is a front view of the expansion valve according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a left side view thereof, FIG. 3 is a right side view thereof, FIG. 4 is a back view thereof, FIG. 5 is an upper view thereof, FIG. 6 is a bottom view thereof, FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken at line A-A of FIG. 1, and FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken at line B-B of FIG. 3. The expansion valve according to the present invention has the same basic structure and performs the same function as the conventional expansion valve shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, so the same parts are provided with the same reference numbers and the explanations thereof are omitted.
- The expansion valve shown as a whole by reference number1 has a prism-
shaped body 10 made of aluminum alloy and the like. - The
body 10 has fourrectangular side surfaces first side surface 10 a is provided with openings for arefrigerant passage 24 that sends refrigerant toward an evaporator and arefrigerant passage 26 for refrigerant returning from the evaporator, and two penetratingholes 14. - No opening is formed to the second side surface10 b. The
third side surface 10 c is provided with openings for aninduction passage 22 through which refrigerant supplied from a compressor travels and apassage 28 through which refrigerant returning to the compressor travels. - Further mounted to the
third side surface 10 c is astud bolt 12 used for fixing. Close to thestud bold 12 is formed ahole 16 with a bottom. - The
fourth side surface 10 d is provided with two penetrating holes used for fixing. - According to the cross-sectional views of FIGS. 7 and 8, the
passage 22 through which the refrigerant is introduced communicates to avalve chamber 20. Avalve hole 23 is formed between thevalve chamber 20 and thepassage 24 that sends the refrigerant toward the evaporator, the entrance of which functions as a valve seat. Thepassage 22 and thepassage 24 are formed so that respective axial lines cross each other at an angle of 90 degrees. A ball-shaped valve means 42 is supported via avalve support member 31 by aspring 32 inside thevalve chamber 20, and the other end of thespring 32 is supported by aplug 34 that seals thevalve chamber 20. A sealingmember 36 is fit to theplug 34. - The ball-shaped valve means42 is pressurized by the operating
shaft 40 to change the area of flow passage formed between thevalve seat 23, thereby controlling the flow rate of the refrigerant provided toward the evaporator. - The other end of the operating
shaft 40 is connected to a power element shown as a whole byreference number 50. Thepower element 50 comprises adiaphragm 54 sandwiched within acase 56, and thediaphragm 54 together with thecase 56 defines anupper pressure chamber 55. A heat-sensing gas is filled within thepressure chamber 55 and sealed by aplug body 58. Thepower element 50 is mounted at a biased position against thevalve body 10, which effectively prevents interference between thestud bolt 12 and the penetratinghole 14. Therefore, the wall of thevalve body 10 where thestud bolt 12 is mounted is thicker. - A
stopper 52 is mounted to alower pressure chamber 55′ of thediaphragm 54, which communicates the movement of thediaphragm 54 to the operatingshaft 40 connected to thestopper 52. Acover 70 is provided to thepower element 50. Further, the operatingshaft 40 has a smaller diameter size compared to the operating shaft utilized in the conventional expansion valve shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. - The refrigerant returning from the evaporator flows into a
passage 26 provided to thevalve body 10. Thepassage 26 crosses thepassage 28 that returns the refrigerant to the compressor at a right angle, and the operatingshaft 40 penetrates thepassage 28 in the diametral direction. The temperature of the refrigerant traveling throughpassages chamber 55 through the operatingshaft 40 and thestopper 52. - The operating fluid within the
chamber 55 functions to drive the valve means 42 via thediaphragm 54 corresponding to the change in refrigerant temperature, thereby controlling the flow rate of the refrigerant sent out to the evaporator. - Since the expansion valve1 has a prism-shaped
valve body 10 and four refrigerant passage openings are formed to adjacent (neighboring) orthogonal side surfaces of the body, a great degree of freedom is secured in mounting the expansion valve to an air conditioner of a vehicle and the like where mounting space for the expansion valve is very limited. - As explained, the present invention provides an expansion valve realizing a high degree of freedom in mounting structure, which enables the evaporator and the condenser to be positioned with ease inside the engine room of the vehicle.
Claims (3)
1. An expansion valve equipped in a refrigerant cycle for controlling the flow rate of refrigerant supplied from a compressor to an evaporator, comprising:
a prism-shaped valve body;
a passage through which said refrigerant entering from said compressor travels, and a passage through which said refrigerant returning to said compressor travels, both passages opening to said first side surface of said body; and
a refrigerant passage through which said refrigerant flowing toward said evaporator travels, and a refrigerant passage through which said refrigerant returning from said evaporator travels, both passages opening to a second side surface of said body adjacent to said first side surface equipped with said two passage openings.
2. An expansion valve according to , further equipped with a stud bolt mounted to said first side surface of said body as fixing means.
claim 1
3. An expansion valve according to , further equipped with two penetrating holes formed to penetrate through said second side surface and the side surface opposite to said second side surface of said body as fixing means.
claim 1
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP2000-056755 | 2000-03-02 | ||
JP2000056755A JP3998887B2 (en) | 2000-03-02 | 2000-03-02 | Expansion valve |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20010018830A1 true US20010018830A1 (en) | 2001-09-06 |
US6434971B2 US6434971B2 (en) | 2002-08-20 |
Family
ID=18577647
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US09/793,608 Expired - Lifetime US6434971B2 (en) | 2000-03-02 | 2001-02-27 | Expansion valve |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US6434971B2 (en) |
EP (1) | EP1130345B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP3998887B2 (en) |
KR (1) | KR100652256B1 (en) |
DE (1) | DE60118823T2 (en) |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20130074536A1 (en) * | 2010-04-16 | 2013-03-28 | Jugurtha BENOUALI | Thermostatic Expansion Device And Air Conditioning Loop Comprising Such A Thermostatic Expansion Device |
USD792948S1 (en) * | 2016-01-08 | 2017-07-25 | Tgk Co., Ltd. | Expansion valve |
USD832399S1 (en) * | 2016-05-24 | 2018-10-30 | Fujikoki Corporation | Expansion valve with solenoid valve |
Families Citing this family (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US7188483B2 (en) | 2003-02-24 | 2007-03-13 | Halla Climate Control Corporation | Expansion valve |
KR100636742B1 (en) | 2003-02-24 | 2006-10-19 | 한라공조주식회사 | Thermal expansion valve and passage formative method of thermal expansion valve |
JP3899055B2 (en) | 2003-07-23 | 2007-03-28 | 株式会社テージーケー | Expansion valve |
JP2007183082A (en) * | 2005-03-04 | 2007-07-19 | Tgk Co Ltd | Expansion valve |
US20110079286A1 (en) * | 2009-10-01 | 2011-04-07 | Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation | Expansion Valve |
CN102853596B (en) * | 2011-06-27 | 2015-02-18 | 浙江三花股份有限公司 | Electronic expansion valve |
KR102004539B1 (en) | 2011-11-29 | 2019-07-26 | 가부시키가이샤 테지케 | Expansion valve |
Family Cites Families (11)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4065939A (en) * | 1976-01-30 | 1978-01-03 | The Singer Company | Combination valve |
US4362027A (en) * | 1977-12-30 | 1982-12-07 | Sporlan Valve Company | Refrigeration control system for modulating electrically-operated expansion valves |
US4542852A (en) | 1984-03-05 | 1985-09-24 | The Singer Company | Vibration damping device for thermostatic expansion valves |
US4984735A (en) * | 1990-03-19 | 1991-01-15 | Eaton Corporation | Sensing refrigerant temperature in a thermostatic expansion valve |
JP3224139B2 (en) * | 1992-03-11 | 2001-10-29 | 株式会社不二工機 | Manufacturing method of temperature expansion valve |
JP3305039B2 (en) * | 1993-04-22 | 2002-07-22 | 株式会社不二工機 | Temperature expansion valve |
JPH0814707A (en) | 1994-06-29 | 1996-01-19 | Tgk Co Ltd | Unit type expansion valve |
US5467611A (en) * | 1994-11-07 | 1995-11-21 | General Motors Corporation | Two plate TXV block connector for automotive A/C system with common bolts and independently attachable sides |
JPH0966733A (en) | 1995-09-01 | 1997-03-11 | Fuji Koki:Kk | Temperature expansion valve and car-air conditioner therewith |
FR2757613B1 (en) | 1996-12-23 | 1999-03-05 | Valeo Climatisation | DEVICE FOR CONNECTING TUBING TO AN AIR CONDITIONING UNIT REGULATOR, ESPECIALLY A MOTOR VEHICLE |
JPH11325660A (en) | 1998-03-18 | 1999-11-26 | Fujikoki Corp | Expansion valve |
-
2000
- 2000-03-02 JP JP2000056755A patent/JP3998887B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
2001
- 2001-02-27 KR KR1020010010080A patent/KR100652256B1/en active IP Right Grant
- 2001-02-27 US US09/793,608 patent/US6434971B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 2001-02-28 DE DE60118823T patent/DE60118823T2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 2001-02-28 EP EP01104891A patent/EP1130345B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Cited By (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20130074536A1 (en) * | 2010-04-16 | 2013-03-28 | Jugurtha BENOUALI | Thermostatic Expansion Device And Air Conditioning Loop Comprising Such A Thermostatic Expansion Device |
US9459030B2 (en) * | 2010-04-16 | 2016-10-04 | Valeo Systemes Thermiques | Thermostatic expansion device and air conditioning loop comprising such a thermostatic expansion device |
USD792948S1 (en) * | 2016-01-08 | 2017-07-25 | Tgk Co., Ltd. | Expansion valve |
USD832399S1 (en) * | 2016-05-24 | 2018-10-30 | Fujikoki Corporation | Expansion valve with solenoid valve |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
JP2001241808A (en) | 2001-09-07 |
JP3998887B2 (en) | 2007-10-31 |
EP1130345B1 (en) | 2006-04-19 |
KR100652256B1 (en) | 2006-11-30 |
EP1130345A1 (en) | 2001-09-05 |
KR20010087213A (en) | 2001-09-15 |
US6434971B2 (en) | 2002-08-20 |
DE60118823T2 (en) | 2006-11-16 |
DE60118823D1 (en) | 2006-05-24 |
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