US2642724A - Insert type thermostatic expansion valve - Google Patents

Description

June 23, 1953 F. Y. CARTER 2,542,724

INSERT TYPE THERIIOSTATIC EXPANSION VALVE Original Filed Feb. 18, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet l F IG. I

3 INVENTOR. BYW L v ATTORNEY June 23, 1953 4 F. Y. CARTER 2,642,724

INSERT TYPE THERMOSTATIC EXPANSION VALVE Original Filed Feb. 18, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 3 INVENTOR. W 7

ATTORNEY Patented June 23, 1953 INSERT TYPE THERMO VALV TATIC EXPANSION E Franklyn Y. Carter, Dearborn, Mich., assignor to Detroit Controls Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Continuation of applications Serial No. 648,222, February 18, 1946, and Serial No. 657,747, March 28, 1946. This application July 20, 1949,

Serial No. 105,861

18 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in refrigerating apparatus and more particularly to a thermostatic expansion valve for use in the apparatus.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel valve structure in which the temperature responsive valve operating element is positioned in the valve casing for direct contact with the refrigerant suction line gases which pass through the valve casing.

Another object of the invention is to provide a valve which can be permanently sealed in the supply and discharge lines or pipes of an evaporator.

Another object of the invention is to provide a valve which may be disassembled in the field without the necessity of breaking the refrigerating system conduit connections.

Another object is to provide a cartridge-like valve mechanism which is bodily removable as a unit from the valve casing.

Another object is to provide such a valve in which the valve mechanism including its thermostatic operating parts is a unit readily separable from the valve casing.

Another object is to provide a valve mechanism unit which may be adjusted'for valve operation in a master casing or fixture prior-to its final assembly and use.

Other and further objects will appear from the following specification.

The invention consists in the improved construction and combination of parts to be more fully set forth hereinafter and the novelty of which will be particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed.

In the accompanying drawings to be taken as a part of this specification there are fully and clearly illustrated two preferred embodiments of this invention, in which drawings:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a refrigerating apparatus including an insert type thermostatic expansion valve,

Fig. 2 is a detail view in end elevation of a fin type evaporator forming part of the refrigerating apparatus and showing the expansion valve of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view showing a part of the evaporator in elevation and showing the expansion valve and its insert mechanism in longitudinal central section, and

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view of a refrigerating apparatus showing another form of insert type expansion valve connected to the refrigerant evaporator. I

Referring to'the drawings by characters of reference and more particularly to Figs. 1 to 3, the reference numeral I designates a compressor driven by an electric motor or the like 2 and discharging through an outlet conduit 3 into a condenser 4 and thence into a receiver 5. A refrigerant liquid line or pipe 6 leads from the receiver 5 and connects to the inlet fitting I of the thermostatic suction line type expansion with the evaporator. The casing |3'is' of enlarged internal diameter as at [4 to provide a suction line chamber Hi and is further enlarged as at l6 to provide a liquid supply chamber These chambers are separated by an internal annular shoulder 18 which faces toward the open end of the casing |3-concentric with the evaporator portion l2 and closed by a circular or disk-shaped cover member H which carries the fitting l. The side wall of the casing portion I4 is provided with an outlet fitting 20 which receives the suction line conduit or p'pe 2| which leads to the inlet of the compressor The cover member l9 has a transverse passageway 22 therethrough withinthe tubular fitting 'l and a tubular portion or' extension 23 within the chamber H. The passageway 22 contains a valve seat member 24 which provides a valve port controlled by a valve member 25 carried by a thrust rod or stem 26 which extends through the valve seat port. The tubular extension 23 is provided with one or more ports 21 which open into the chamber Carried by the extension 23 there is a partition member 28 having a tubular extension 29 with aninternal recess or counterbore at its free end to receive and fit tightly upon the extension 23. The partition member 28 has an aperture 30 therethrough concentric with the valve seat port and with an aperture 3| through the end wall of the extension 23. The stem 26 extends through the apertures 30 and 3|, the

clearance space around the stem being sealed by packing material 32 within the tubular mem ber 29 and held in place by the end wall of extension 23. The cover member I9 is tightly secured and sealed to a lateral surrounding flange on the casing 3 by an annular gasket 33 and nuts and bolts 34. The liquid refrigerant supply chamber communicates with the evaporator inlet through a restricted or calibrat ed port 35 ,through the casing side wall.

The partition member 28 seats on the annular shoulder I8 and has interposed therebetween sealing gasket 36 so that the chambers I5 and I! are sealed and closed from each other. Within the chamber I5the partition member 28 has an annular flange 31 which is externally screw threaded and concentric with the valve port. Adjustably screw threaded onto the flange 31 there is a cup-like supporting member (Behaving 31-11111.- rality of flow ports 39 through its side wall so that the chamber I5 is in open communication with the interior of the flangeand; cap, member 38. The end wall of the member 38 carries a temperature and pressure responsive power element formed by an expansible-contractible metal bellows 40 having a movable; end; wall: or head M. The stem 26 is screw threaded into or otherwise rigidly secured to the power element head 4I. Within the power element there is a; helical coil spring 42 normally tending to expand the same andv normally tending to move the valve member 25.. towardmpen; position and which determines, the pressure of: the refrigerant. medium on thewall 4L at whichthe valvemember 25 will engage, its seat member 24 for closing off flow through the passageway. 22.. The power element is provided with a filling tube. 42? which; is secured inand throughthe supporting member 38 and through, which the interior. of. the bellows 40 ischargedlwith a temperatureresponsive liquid such as Freon.

The operation ofthe apparatus and expansion valve is as. follows:v Beforev the expansion. valve is permanently. and hermetically sealed to the evaporator inlet portion I and the suction line conduit 2 I, the mechanism cartridge is removed from; the casing; I 3"by undoing the nuts andbolts 34 and withdrawing the, mechanism. The; connections to the conduits, I0 .and 2 I- whichare pref:- erably by bra ing therefore d0., not result in temperatureswhich might injure the temperature responsive; power element or. the sealing. gaskets 33 and; 3, 8, these of. course being alsoremoved. The temperature.ofsoldering ori brazing the liquid line 0 tbfthefltting l due to its. remoteness from the power; element; is not. sufficient. to l injure; the

same. When'the valvemechanism has been reassembled and .thenuts andbolts34tightly pulled up" and. the apparatus charged with. refrigerant medium, then thecompressorl I may beplaced in operation for the start 'of. a. refrigerating cycle.

The valve member; 2.5.gwill be in open position due to theexpandedpowerelement so that liquid refrigerant'medium will lflo w through the valve seat port-andfinto the'chamber I! but due to the restriction' 35 n will not fully expand inthe chamber I1. As the temperature of the; coil'or evaporator. II decreases due to the expansion of the refrigerant medium therein the temperature of the pow er elementlwhich is subjected to the suctionline refrigerant gas flowing into the chamber; I; through .thelevaporator outlet portion l2 will have its internal pressure decreased so that the pressure of thegasin chamber I 5.will act against thespring fltand throttle flowthrough the 'valyeport; when the evaporatorll has been completely refrigerated such that the superheat temperature in the chamber I5 is say. f F., then the pressure of thvolatile liquid in the power. element will have decreased sufliciently so that thefpressure in the chamber. I5 can just overcome the spring 42 sufficiently so sea t;the valve member 25. The slight warmingup of the evapr orator due toclosing of valve member 25 will increase temperature of the-powerelement there- 4 by opening the valve member 25 and accordingly valve member 25 will be throttled so as to keep the evaporator completely refrigerated. When the temperature of the space cooledby the evaporator or the suction line pressure or temperature decreases to the desired point then the motor 2 will be stopped in any of the well known manners until the temperature increases to the point where a new cycle of operation should commence.

In the form of the-invention shown in Fig. 4 there is a refrigerant compressor IOI driven by a motor I02.which may be controlled in any conventional manner. The outlet of the compressor isconnected by a conduit I03 to a condenser I04 which discharges into a receiver I05. The refrigerant liquidline or conduit I06 extends from the receiver I05 and connects to a tubular fitting I01 inwhich the conduit is hermetically sealed. The fitting I01 forms the inlet of the expansion valve I08- which has; an outlet fitting. I08 connected by a conduit I I0 hermetically sealed therein and leading to the-inletv of the evaporator III. The refrigerant suction line or conduit II2.: from the evaporator outletconnects and is hermetically sealed'in a tubular inlet fitting II3 which opens into a su ction or, pressure chamber within the expansion valvecasing. The outlet from this chamberis provided with a tubular outlet. fitting; H4 in which is hermetically sealed one end of a suction or return conduit II5.; having its other end connected to the inlet-of-the compressor IOI. The refrigerating system is charged as is well-understood in the art with any suitable refrigerant medium such as. Freon. The valve I08 includes a cup-likecasing l IBwhich-is of internally stepped decreasing diameters from its. open end which is provided with asurrounding annular flange Ill. The cylindrical end portion II8 of smallest diameter or cross. sectional area pro vides an inlet and valve chamber II9 from the side wall of w-hich thefitting I0'I. projects; Be-

tween thechambeif H8 and the.valve larger diameter outlet chamber I20,,the casing has anwall I29 seating onthe shoulder I24. A sealing gasket I30 of suitable packing material-sealsthe- J'oint against communication between the outlet chamber I20 and-the pressure chamber I23.- The cup-like portion I28 has a recessed, rim or surrounding flange I3I which fits and seats in the casingrecess uponthe: gasket I28, Surrounding the washer receiving recess, the flange: I I? has a plurality of circumferentially spaced bolt receiving apertures-into which clamping, bolts or screws I32;a re-screw threaded, and which pass through alinedapertures in;.th e flange I 3 I to tightly clamp the housing member-I2Ltoand within the casing I08, Projecting frcm the opposite faces of the bottom wallI28;concentric-with,the side wall of the cup-like; portion I 28, there is anexternal tubular extension I33 and an alined internal; tubular,-

extension I34 having their bores in communication through a central aperture in the wall I29. The external extension I33 has an end flange I which has a lateral sliding fit with the guide portion I22 and which together with the extension end face seats on the shoulder I2I with a sealing gasket I36 of suitable packing material therebetween. It may be noted that when the bolts I32 are pulled up or tightened that the gaskets I26, I30 and I36 permit of manufacturing tolerances While providing for sealing of the chambers II9, I20 and I 23 from each other. In the inlet chamber end of the external extension bore there is a valve seat member I31 with which a valve member I38 having a conical or needle type valve portion cooperates to throttle and control flow through the valve seat member port. The valve member I38 is adj ustably screw threaded upon a thrust rod or valve stem I 39 and is clamped in adjusted position by a cap nut I40 which is screw threaded upon the end of the stem I39. Leakage through the bore of the valve member I38 around the stem I 39 is eliminated by a sealing gasket I4I clamped between the valve member I38 and the nut I40. The valve member I38 is urged toward closed position and in engagement with the seat member I31 by a helical spring I42 which surrounds the stem I39 and is held under compression between the outlet end of the seat member I31 and a flange I43 secured to the stem I39. The bore of the extension I33 communicates with the outlet chamber I20 through a side wall aperture or port I 44. The stem I39 extends longitudinally through the bore of the internal extension I34 and projects therefrom. Communication from the outlet chamber I20 with the pressure chamber I 23 around the stem I39 is prevented by packing material I45 which is held under compression against an annular flange I46 by a helical spring I41 which abuts a guide member I48 within the extension 634 and through which the stem I39 slidably passes. The opening of the cup-like housing portion I28 is closed and sealed by a metal diaphragm I49 which is movable by pressure changes in the chamber I23. The diaphragm I49 also forms the pressure movable wall of a thermostatic power element I50 having a cap or cover member I5I which forms with the diaphragm an expansible chamber I52. The diaphragm I49 is hermetically sealed to the cap member I5I and to the flange I 3I by a solder seal as at I53. The chamber I52 is charged with a minute quantity of volatile liquid such as Freon or methyl chloride such that at tem peratures above the operating temperature of the valve or system, the volatile liquid will be all in gas phase as is well understood in the art.

The temperature at which the valve member I38 will be opened by the power element I50 is determined by a helical coil spring I54 which surrounds the extension I34 and is held under compression between a pad or pressure plate I55,

which abuts the diaphragm and adjustable spring supporting member I56 which is screw threaded for longitudinal movement on the extension I34. The plate member I55 has a central conical recess I51 which receives and locates the free end of the valve stem I39. The cup-like housing portion I28 has opposite apertures I51 through its side wall and registering with the fittings H3 and H4 so that refrigerant medium returning to the compressor from the evaporator passes through the interior of the housing cup-like portion I28.

metically sealed to the liquid and suction line conduits at the fittings I01, I09, H3 and H4 and the valve mechanism unit has been adjusted in a master casing or fixture by the desired tensioning of the spring I54 and adjustment of the valve member I38, the valve mechanism unit is inserted into the casing I08 and clamped and sealed in position by the bolts or screws I 32. When the motor I02 is placed in operation, reirigerant medium will be discharged through the open valve into the evaporator III and as unevaporated refrigerant medium approaches the pressure chamber I23, the temperature of the refrigerant medium in the chamber I23 will decrease. When the temperature and therefore the pressure in the power element I50 is thus reduced substantially to the operating range of the system, then the spring I54 will act to overcome the power element I50 and move the valve member I38 toward closed position. When the evaporator I I I is completely refrigerated, the power element I50 will operate in its normal manner as is well understood in the art, to throttle the fiow of refrigerant medium to the evaporator to maintain it at maximum efiiciency.

Should it be desired to replace the valve mechanism unit, it is only necessary to pump'down the system and then remove the mechanism unit I21 by unscrewing the bolts I32. A new unit can then be bolted in place without breaking the hermetically sealed tube connections.

It should be noted that the restriction 35 shown in Fig. 3 is equally applicable to the type of expansion valve shown and described in Fig. 4 to prevent premature expansion of refrigerant and the resulting possibility of freeze up of the valve. It should also be noted that in either form of expansion valve shown the outlet restriction could be eliminated in which case the valve would function properly most of the time but would be subject to occasional freeze up. The term freeze up as herein used refers to a. condition which occurs occasionally in suction line type expansion valves wherein the premature expansion of refrigerant passing through the throttled valve opening results in excessive cooling of the valve which causes the thermostatic power element to close the valve prematurely.

This application is a continuation ofmy 00- I pending applications Serial No. 648,222, .filed February 18, 1946, and Serial'No. 657,747, filed March 28, 1946. The latter application is now abandoned.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. An expansion valve comprising a casing having an open end portion, a cover member for said open portion, a partition member dividing said easing into a suction line chamber and a refrigerant supply chamber, a valve member for controlling admission of refrigerant to said refrigerant supply chamber, responsive means open to said suction line chamber and responsive to the temperature and pressure of the refrigerant passing therethrough, means operatively connecting said responsive means to said valve member and operable to move said valve member upon movement of said responsive means, and said cover member, said partition member, said valve member, said responsive means, and said connecting means being operatively interconnected gamma:

as a unit for insertion or wlthdrawaliromsaid casing.

2'. An expansion valve comprising acasing haw ing' an open end portion, an insert assembly insertable through and closing-said. casing open- 5 end portion, a partition carried by. saidi insert: assembly and dividing thespace-within said casing into a suction line chamber and a refrigerant supply chamber, sealing means cooperating-with: said insert assembly andsaid casingate point. between said chambers and preventing flow therebetween aroundsaid insert assembly; an-in-' let and an outlet to said: suction-line chamber, an inlet and an outlet'tosaid refrigerant supply chamber, a valveseat member having: a valve-- port between said last named inlet and outlet and carried by saidinsert assembly; a valve member closing said port: and a valve-stem co-- operabl'e therewith carried by said insert"assem-' bly, and temperature and pre'smre': responsive means carriedby saidinsert assembly and open to said suction line chamber for response to re frigerant flowing: therethrougli, saidresponsive means being cooperablewith said valvestem forcontrolling movement of said valve member.

3-. An expansion v'alvecomprisingacup-sh'aped' casing having a closed b'ase and anopen-end, an insert assembly insert'able through and closing said casing open end, said inserdassemblyliavingan intermediate portion ccopcrame,w-im mewaus of said casing to seal and div-ide the sameinto a suction line chamber and a refrigerant supply chamber, an inlet and-'- an outlet to said suction line chamber, an-inletandanoutlet to said r'efrigerant supply chamber; said-insert assembly carrying on one end a: responsive means open'to'- the suction line chamber -forresponseto pressureof refrigerant flowing; therethrough'; saidiinsertassembly having at: its: other: end a passageway. and valveport interposed between the-inlet and 40 outlet-ofr'said refrigeranttsupply.chamber-for.con-'- trolling flow therebetween, a=valve member controlling flowthroughxsaid port; andiav'valve stem guided inand carriedabyi.saidzinsert-z assembly and; operated by said responsive-.means-.\,

4. An expansion valve"comprising acuprshapedcasing having aclosed baseand an openend, an. insert assembly insertable through and closing: said casingopenend, said insertassembly having, a portion iormin'g'apartitiOi'l cooperablewith'the 5 walls ofsaidcasing to seala'nddivide'the same into a suction line chamber and'af refrigerant supply chamber, an inletandanoutle't'to each of said chambers, said inseit assembly having a small tubular projection" extending 'fromone side of said partition portion and a larger tubular-pro jection extendingfrom the other sldetliereofand a bore interconnecting saidprojections; said small 1 projection extending into said refrigerant supply chamber andbeingcommunicableatritssend'lwith the inlet to said-chamber-and having a side-wall. aperture open to saidchamber imconununicationz with the outlettherefrom; said-small projection-i having a valveseat portion,forming: aw va-lve;port-.

between the inlet and :outlet-:of said:refrigerant;

supply chamber, ag'vaive stem extendinggthrough' said projections; andr said== interconnecting; bore: and carrying on; oneenda avalvevmember; coopere able with and controlling. flowvthroughvsaid valve port; said larger projection; extending; into said 7 suction line chambers-and carrying on its, end a. thermostatic power element,- Oneor-more passages ways opening: into thegspace withimsaidzlargeivz projection to ;p ermi tflow ofr refrigerant there:

into for power-element:.response,=,and1said power 81 element acting on said valve stem to modulate the positionof said valve member in accord with thetemperature and pressure of refrigerant in saidsuc'tion line chamber.

5. In a refrigerating apparatus, an evaporator having an outlet portion terminating in a valve casing having an open end and an internal shoulder concentric with said end, a partition member seating on said shoulder and separating said casing internally into a suction line chamber and a refrigerant supply chamber, said casing havingan outlet from said suction chamber and anoutlet from said supply chamber connected to the-.inlet'of said evaporator, a cover member for said {casing open end and having a transverse passageway. therethrough opening into said supply chamber, said passageway having a valve port, a valve-member in said passageway for controlling flow. through said port, means in said suction chamber and responsive toipressure and temperature of the refrigerant therein, said partition member having an aperture therethrough, means extending through said aperture and operatively connecting said responsive means to said valve member, andmeans reducing vaporization of refrigerant in said supply chamber.

6. Ina refrigerating apparatus, an evaportor having; an outlet portion terminating in a valve casing having an open end and an internal shoulder concentric with said end, a partition member seating on said shoulder and separating said casing internally into a suction line chamber-and a 'refrigerant supply chamber, said casing having an outlet from said suction chamber and an'outlet from said supply chamber connected to the inlet of said evaporator, a cover member for saidcasing open end and having a transverse passageway therethrough opening into said supply chamber, said passageway having a valve port, a valve member in said passageway for controlling flow through said port, said partition member having an aperture therethrough, an expansibleecollapsible sealed casing having a movable Wall, means rigidly securing said sealed casing to said partition member, means extending through said aperture and operatively connecting said movable wall to said valve member, and means reducing vaporization of refrigerant in saidsupply chamber.

'71 An expansion valve, comprising a casing 0, having an open end and an internal annular shoulder facing said end, a cover member for said open endand having an inlet passageway therethrough', a partition member having an aperture therethrough and seating on said shoulder, said :partition member separating said casing into a suction linechamber and a refrigerant supply chamber, a valve member in said passageway, movablemeans in said suction line chamber and responsive to changes of temperature and pressure in said suction line chamber, operating means extending through said partition member aperturean'd. operatively connecting said movable meanstosaidvalve member, said casing having anoutlet from said supply chamber and having an inlet to and an outlet from said suction line chamber, and means restricting flow from said supply chamber outlet.

8-. Anexpansion valve, comprising a casingmember against said shoulder, said partition member separating said easing into a suction line chamber and a refrigerant supply chamber, a valve member in said passageway, movable means carried by said partition member within said suction line chamber and responsive to changes of temperature and pressure in said suction line chamber, operating means extending through said partition member aperture and operatively connecting said movable means to said valve member, said casing having an outlet from said supply chamber and having an inlet to and an outlet from said suction line chamber, and means restricting flow from said supply chamber outlet.

9. An expansion valve, comprising a casing having an open end and an internal annular shoulder facing said end, a cover member sealing said open end, tubular means extending trans- 10. movementof said responsive means, means restricting flow of, refrigerant from said refrigerant supply chamber thereby to reduce vaporization of refrigerant in said refrigerant supply chamber; and said covermember, said partition member, said valve member, said responsive means, and said connecting means being operatively interconnected as a unit for insertion of withdrawal fromsaid casing. p

12. A thermostatic expansion valve, comprising a casing having an open end and having inlet and outlet chambers with an annular shoulder between them and having a suction line chamber with an inlet and an outlet withan annular shoulder beverse to and projecting from opposite sides of said cover member, a partition member carried by and extending radiallyfrom said tubular means and seating at its outer periphery on said annular shoulder, said partition member dividing said easing into a refrigerant supply chamber and a suction line chamber, said tubular means forming a valve chamber having an inlet and a valve seat and an outlet into said supply chamber, said partltion member having an aperture therethrough in line with said valveseat and having an annular flange in said suction chamber and surrounding said aperture, a cup-like supporting member carried by said flange, a fluid charged power element responsive to pressure and temperature changes in said suction chamber and mounted on and within said supporting member, said power element having a movable Wall facing said aperture, a valve member cooperable with said seat, an operating rod interconnecting said wall and said valve member, means sealing said aperture around said rod, said casing having an outlet from said supply chamber and having an inlet and an outlet for said suction chamber, and means to restrict flow from said supply chamber outlet.

10. An expansion valve comprising a casing having an open end portion, a cover member for said open end portion, a partition member dividing said casing into a suction line chamber and a refrigerant supply chamber, a valve member for controlling admission of refrigerant to'said refrigerant supply chamber, means in said suction line chamber responsive, to the temperature and pressure of refrigerant passing therethrough, means operatively connecting said responsive means to said valve member and operable to move said valve member upon movement of said responsive means, means operable to reduce-vaporization of refrigerant in said refrigerant supply chamber; and said cover member, said partition member, said valve member, said'responsive means, and said connecting means being operatively interconnected as a unit for insertion or Withdrawal from said casing.

11. An expansion valve comprising a casing having an open end portion, a cover member for said open end portion, a partition member dividing said easing into a suction line chamber and a refrigerant supply chamber, a valve member for controlling admission of refrigerant to said refrigerant supply chamber, responsive means open to saidsuction line chamber andresponsive to the temperature and pressure of refrigerant passing therethrough, means operatively connecting said responsive means to said valve member and operable to move said valve ,member'unon tween it and said "chambers, a valve mechanism bodily removable from and insertable into said casing and having a housing with an end portion seatable on said first-named shoulder to separate said inlet and outlet .chambers'said housing having a sidewall apertured cup like portion positioned within said suction line chainber and having its base seatable on said'secondnamed shoulder to separate said suction line chamber from said inlet and outlet chambers, said housing having an end flange seatable on the open end portion of said casing to close said suction line chamber, said housing having a passageway therethrough connecting said inlet andoutlet chambers, a valve member carried bysaid housing and operable to control flow through said passageway temperature and pressureresponsive means having a pressureemovable wall closingthe open end of said housing cup-like portion, said pressuremovableJwall being subjected to pressure in said suction line chamber through the apertured wall, andmeans operatively connecting said pressure-movable wall to said valve member. j v

13. A thermostatic expansion valve comprising a cup-likecasinghaving a plurality of differ ent internal diameters withannular shoulders ther'ebetween separatingsaid casinginto anend inlet chamber, an, intermediate outlet chamber and an end pressure chamber. said casing having an inlet and an outlet for said pressure chamber, an inlet to said inlet chamber and an outlet from said outlet chamber, a flange, on said casing surrounding the open end of said pressure chamber, a housing member having a cup-like portion extending through said pressure chamher and having a bottom wall seating on the shoulder betweensaid pressure chamber and said intermediate chamber, saidcup-like' portion having side wall apertures'ior iflow therethrough via said pressure chamber'inle't and outlet and having a flangeseating on 'saidcasing flange, said housing member having a tubular extension concentric; with and projecting from said bottom wall, said extension having -a side wall aperture opening into said outlet chamberand having its free end seating on the annular shoulder between said inlet'chamber and said intermediate chamber, a temperature responsive power elementhaving a movable wall closingand sealing the open end of said cup-like portion, a valve member in said inlet chamber and controlling flow through said extension, and a thrust rod extending longitudinally through said tubular extension and operatively connecting said movable wall to said valve member; s

14. A thermostatic expansion valve comprising a casing, a housing member telescoped within said casing, said casing having an open end and a plurality of stepped internal cylindrical portions, an inlet chamber defined by the smallinto ,a larger portion forming aguide, the wall of said guide cooperating with said smallest portion to form an annular shoulder, an outlet chamber defined by the cylindricalportion next larger than said guide, a second guide defined by thecylindrical portion nextlarger than said outlet chamber and having ,its wall cooperable with said outlet chamber to form an annular shoulder, a pressure chamber adjacent the casing open end and defined by the ,largest of said cylindrical portions, said housing member having a surrounding end flange seating on the open end portion of said casin said housing ,member having a cylindrical cup-like portion slidably fitting said second-named guide and withits bottomwall seating onsaid second-named shoulderand separating said outlet chamber and said pressure chamber, said housing member having a tubular extensionwith a cylindrical por- ,tion slidably fitting said first-named guide and with the cylindrical portion end face seating on saidflrst-named shoulder, a thermostaticpower element having a pressure-movable wall-closing and sealing the open end of saidcupr-like .portion, said tubular extension having an outlet aperture opening into said outletchamber,- avalve seat member in the inlet chamber end of said tubular extension, a valve member insaid inlet -chamberand-engageable with said seatmember,

a tubular extension alined with andv opening into said tubularextension and projecting intoisaid .cupi-like portion from said bottom .wall, a thrust rod extending longitudinally through said extensionsand operatively connecting said ,valvememher to said pressureemovablewallhmeans inone of said tubular extensions between said :outlet aperture and said cup-like portion and operable oolose off-flow aroundsaidthrustlrod, said casing having aninlet toan outlet from said pressur chamber,.saidicup lilre portionhaving apertures through its side wallalined with .said inlet and s ou and means resi tin operation of said valve member byesaid thermostatic elem n 15. A valve mechanismwomprising a housing member having an externally cylindrical cup-like portion with opposite openings through its side wall and with a rim flange, goppositely extending alined tubular. extensionsproj ecting from therend wall of said portion, saidend wall=havinganaperture therethrough alined with the extension bores, the external one of esaid-extensions .hav-

ing aside wall aperture, a valve seat mcmber in the bore of said one extension, 2. valvememberext m of said housing member and engageable with saidseat member, :adiaphragm closing and sealing the open endrof--said1cup-1likeportion,.a thrust ,rod secured to said valve member and having operative engagement with said diaphragm, a flangeon said'thrust rod, 'a coil sprin surrounding said rod and interposed between said flange and said seat member and urgin said valve member toward said seat member, a spring supporting member adjustably screw threaded on the internal one of 'saidextensions, a helical spring interposed between said supporting -member and said diaphragm and opposing valve member opening movement by said diaphragm, and meansclosing ,ofi flowfrom said extension bores into said cup-like portion.

16. A valve insert assembly for a refrigeration expansion valve comprising a larger and a smaller disc-shaped wall member, a tubular extension connecting the centers-of said well members, said betweensaid wallmemberaa valve seat member providing a valve portin said extension adjacent saidlarger wallmember, an enlarged tubular extension on said smaller wall member, said lastnamed,extensionhavingan end closure carrying a thermostatic power element, one or more passageways opening into the space enclosed by said enlarged extension and end closure, a valve stem extending fromsaid power element through said first-named extension and through said valve port, and a valve member carried by said stein andcooperable with said valve port.

,17. 7A valve mechanism comprising a housing member having anexternally cylindrical cup-like portion with opposite openings through its side wall and with arim flange,eoppositely extending alined tubular extensions projecting from the end wall of said portion, said end wall having an aperture ,therethrough interconnecting the bores of said tubular extensions, the external one of said extensions having a side wall aperture, a valve seatmemberin thebore of said one extension, .a valve member external of said housin member andengageable with said seat member, a

diaphragm closing and sealing the open end of said cup-like portion, a valve stem-guided in said extension bores ,andecarrying said valve member at one end and arranged for operation by said diaphragm at the other end, a. spring supporting member adjustably screw threaded on the internal one of said extensions, a helical spring interposed between said supporting member and said diaphragm and opposing valve member opening movement by said diaphragm, and means closingofi .fiowlfrom saidextension bores into said cup-.likeportion.

18. An expansion valve comprising a casing having an open endportion, a cover member for said open portion, a partition member dividing said easing .into .first and second chambers, a valve seatmember having a-valveport for admission of refrigerant, a valve member for controlling flow of refrigerant through said valve port, a temperature and pressure responsive single power elementcarried bysaid cover member and open to said second chamber for response to a condition of refrigerant therein, means operatively connecting said power element to said valve member for responsive movement thereby; and, said cover member, said partition member, said valve member, said power element, and Said connecting .means being operatively interconnected as a unit for insertion or withdrawal from said casing.

Y. CARTER.

References Cited in, the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,180,108 Cash Apr. 18, 1916 1,719,073 Muflly July 2, 1929 2,113,351 Lear Apr. 5, 1938 2,120,764 Newton June 14, 1933 2,182,718 Anderson et al Dec. 5, 1939 2,249,101 Wile July 15, 1941 2,318,721 Siver May 11, 1943 2,326,093 Carter Aug. 3, 1943 2,364,107 Svirsky Dec. 5, 1944 2,475,556 Seligman July 5, 1%.) 2,539,062 Dillman Jan. 23, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 324,957 Great Britain Feb. 7, 1930

Images