US2703106A - Reversing valve - Google Patents

Description

3 Sheets-Shea?l l W. F. BORGERD ET AL REVERSING VALVE NNN @@WNN @$1 mow. N .MFM

March l, 1955 Filed July 14, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 REVERSING VALVE W. F. BORGERD ET AL March 1, 1955 Filed July 14, 1951 .NDUW

March 1, 1955 w, F, BORGERD ET AL 2,703,106

REVERSING VALVE Filed July 14, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet I5 United States Patent O REVERSING VALVE William F. Borgerd, John Calling, and Hugh B. Abbott, Evansville, Ind., assiguors to International Harvester Company, a corporation of New Jersey Application July 14, 1951, Serial No. 236,784

6 Claims. (Cl. 137-625.29)

This invention relates generally to a reversing valve and more particularly to a reversing valve which is adaptable for reversing the flow of refrigerant in a refrigeration system.

In a reverse cycle refrigeration system, commonly termed a heat pump, two refrigerant coils are connected to a refrigerant compressor in a manner which allows reversal of the refrigerant llow through the coils. When the refrigerant is flowing in one direction, the first coil functions as a refrigerant evaporator whereas the second coil functions as a refrigerant condenser. Upon reversal of the refrigerant How, the rst coil becomes a condenser and the second coil becomes an evaporator. By providing means for passing room air over one of the coils, the heat pump will operate to either heat or cool the air, depending upon the direction in which the refrigerant is flowing. Since the refrigeration system of a heat pump must be reversed many times during the course of a year because of changing weather conditions, it is desirable to provide a reversing valve which can be easily and quickly operated to change the direction of refrigerant flow.

It is an object of the invention to provide a heat pump having a reversing valve that will perform the reversal of the refrigeration system so that a particular coil will function as an evaporator during the cooling cycle and as a condenser during the heating cycle.

It is another object of the invention to provide the valve with an outer casing having the several sections thereof joined together in sealed relationship so that refrigerant leakage therefrom is prevented.

A further object of the invention is to provide a multiple port reversing valve having ilexible laminated valve heads.

Another object of the invention is to provide the reversing valve with means for deilecting the flexible valve s heads a predetermined amount in order to provide a desired seating force.

Another object of the invention is to provide the reversing valve with novel means for adjusting the amount of valve head deflection.

Another object is to provide means for preventing rtational movement of the valve stem so that a sealing bellows attached thereto will not be subjected to torsional stresses.

Another object is to provide a reversing valve which can be easily and quickly operated and which will give satisfactory operation with a minimum amount of serv- Fiirther objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds, and the features of novelty which characterize the invention will be pointed out in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a diagrammatic view of a refrigeration system with an enlarged sectional view of the reversing valve showing the parts thereof in the cooling cycle position.

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view of the refrigeration system with an enlarged sectional view of the reversing valve showing the parts thereof in the heating cycle position.

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

2,703,106 Patented Mar. l, 1955 lCe Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of a valve head bearing against a valve seat.

Referring to the drawings for a detailed description of the invention, the reference numeral 10 designates generally a reversing valve. The casing for the valve comprises cylindrical shaped sections 11, 12 and 13 which are positioned end to end and joined together in sealed relationship. A bearing member 14 is brazed to the inner surface of section 12 and dowel pins 15 are secured thereto. Cylindrical shaped section 11 is provided with counter-bored holes, which t over dowel pins 15, and an internally threaded nut 16 which engages a threaded portion of cylindrical section 12 and secures all the parts together. The opposite end of cylindrical section 12 is provided with an annular rib 17 over which the end 18 of the cylindrical section 13 extends with a gasket 19 positioned therebetween. End 18 is spun down tightly over the rib 17 and the joint is then completely sealed by a sweating operation using soft solder. The opposite end 20 of cylindrical section 13 fits over an annular rib 21 provided on bearing plug 23 with a gasket 22 positioned therebetween. After end 20 is spun tightly over the rib 21, the joint is completely sealed by sweating with soft solder.

Two guide members 24 and 25 are brazed to diametrically opposed portions of cylindrical section 11 and side covers 26 and 27 are secured to the guide members by bolts 28 and to a flanged portion 29 of cylindrical section 11 by bolts 30. A cover plate 31 is secured to the guide members and side covers by bolts 32 and is provided with a removable threaded plug 33. Slidably mounted between guide members 24 and 25 is a substantially rectangular shaped carrier member 34 which is of such Width that it fits closely between side covers 26 and 27. The carrier member 34 comprises vertical portions 35 and 36 and horizontal portions 37 and 38. Fixedly secured to vertical portion 35 is a threaded plug 39 having a nut 40 adjustably secured thereon. The outer edge of adjusting nut 4t) is provided with spaced apart recesses or grooves 41 which are adapted to engage an upstanding portion 42 of a spring clip member 43 in order to hold the nut in a predetermined position. The clip member 43 has a central portion 44 which is secured to horizontal portion 37 and downturned end portions 125 and 126 which t into slots 47 and 48 provided in the horizontal portion. Vertical portion 36 has a threaded aperture through which the threaded end 45 of a valve stem 46 extends. A second adjusting screw 123 is secured to threaded end 45 with the spaced apart grooves 124, provided around its outer edge, adapted to engage an upturned portion 49 of spring clip member 43.

By referring to Figures 3 and 4, it will be seen that side covers 26 and 27 are provided with axially aligned apertures 50 and 51 respectively in which a shaft 52 is journaled. Aperture 50 is closed by a seal 53 whereas aperture 51 is closed and sealed by a mechanical oil seal 54. A lever 55 is ixedly secured to the exterior end 56 of shaft 52 by nut 57 and the intermediate portion of the shaft is provided with a cam 58 which is adapted to be rotated into engagement with either adjusting nut 40 or adjusting nut 123.

Valve stem 46 extends through the valve casing with end 59 journaled in bearing plug 23 and an intermediate portion journaled in bearing member 14. Hereinafter, the compartment enclosed by cylindrical section 11 and side covers 26 and 27 will be referred to as the cam compartment 60, and the compartment enclosed by bearing plug 23, cylindrical sections 12 and 13 will be termed the valve compartment 61. A collar 62 is secured to valve stem 46 by means of a snap ring 63 and silver solder. A bellows 64 is attached to collar 62 and bearing member 14 in sealed relationship in order to seal cam compartment 60 from valve compartment 61. It is contempiated that cam compartment 60 be filled with lubricating oil and that vertical portions 35 and 36 of carrier member 34 be provided with drain holes 65 through which the oil may pass as the carrier member is moved.

After the threaded end 45 of the valve stem 46 has been screwed into carrier member 3.4,. shoulder. 66. of. the carrier member 34 is lightly arc welded to the valve stem. From shoulder 67 toy end 59, the valve stern 46 is of reduced diameter. Referring to Figure l or Figure 2`, it can be seen that the following parts are inserted. over the reduced. portion of the. valve stem reading from shoulder 67 to end 59: sleeve 68, avalve head 69,. washer 70, valve. head 71 sleeve 72,. sealing. washer 73, sleeve 74,. valve head. 75, washer 76, valve head 77, sleeve 78, sealing washer 79,. sleeve 80, washer 81, and nut 82, which engages threads 83 provided on the valve stem 46 and is tightened` to hold all the parts on the valve stem 46. The valve heads 69, 71, 75 and 77 are con;-

structedfrom a plurality of spring steel discs having,

apertures through the: center thereof which: fit4 over the valve stem 46. As can be seen inv the drawings, valve heads 75 and 77 are each provided.v with approximately one-third as many springsteell discs as valve heads 69y and 71. Sleeve 68 is brazed. to the adjacentl disc 84 of valve head 69, and sleeve. 72 is brazedz tothe first disc 85 of of cylindrical section 12 provides a seat 93 for valve b heady 69, and section- 13r is provided with a seat 94 for valve head 71. Valve head. 75 seats against seat 95 whichy is provided by section 13, and valve head 77 seats against seat 96 which is formed by the inner edge of bearing plug 23. As seen in Figure 5, the edge 97 of the valve head 71' isl formed at anV angle which converges with' the angle of valve seat 94 so that the seating presL sure of thevalve headis concentrated on edge 98 of outside disc 85. The other valve heads and seats are constructed in the same manner in order to provide the best sealing action between each valve head and its seat.

Nozzle 99 connects lower port 90k to a conduit 100 which joins with conduit 101, andlower port 92 is connected to conduit 101 by nozzle 102. The opposite end ofconduit 100 connects to a coil- 103 which is submerged in a heat exchange medium 104 within a casing 105'. Lower port 91 is connected by nozzle 106 to conduit 107,. the opposite end of which is connected to a coil 108. A restrictor capillary tube 109 connects the submerged coil. 103l and coil 108 so that the iow of refrigerant therebetween will be properly metered. A motor-compressor unitv 110 has anV outlet tube 111 connected to upper port 89 by nozzle 112, and a suction tube 113 connected to upper port 88. by nozzle 114. lt

is contemplated that coil 108 be arranged in respect to f an enclosure to be conditionedso that when electric motor 115 is operating,v air from the enclosure will. be circulated by fan 116 into contact with. the coil. Means may be provided for maintaining the. heat exchange medium 104 at a temperature between the high side temperature and' the low side temperature of the. refrigeration system in order that the coil'103 may bev used as an evaporator or condenser.

When the refrigerationv system is to be operated to cool the air flowing. over coil 108, lever is rotated to the position shown by solid lines in Figure l. The cam 58 is provided with a curved bearing surface having low spots 117. and 118 located at approximately equal radial distances from the axis 119 of the cam. In Figure l, the cam. is shown with. low spot- 117 in contact with adjustingnut. 40. This has moved-valve stem 46 toward thev cam. 58 until valve head 69 has initially contacted valve seat 93 and valve head. '75ihas initially contacted valve seat 95.. In a. practical design of the valve, it has been found. that by! rotatingthe lever 55 approximately 19 after valve heads 69 andv 75.l have first contacted their valve seatV toV the: dotted` line. position of Figure l, the cam 58: moves the valve. stem slightly to the left so that the spring steel discsof thevalve heads are deflected approximately .020". This bends theexible valve heads and produces a: total sealing pressure of 1500 lbs. betweenvalve head 69'andlvalve-seat. 93 and a sealing pressure ofl 500 lbs. between valve head 75 and valve seat 95s By providing suitable controls (not shown) to regulate the operation of the refrigeration system the air to bev conditioned will be maintained within the comfort range. When the refrigeration system is operating on the cooling cycle, the ow of refrigerant will be as indicated by the arrows in Figure 1. Compressed refrigerant from the motor-compressor unit 110 is forwarded through outlet tube 111 to the valve 10 through which it passes by way of upper valve port.` 89, valve seat 96l and lower valve port 92. It is then conducted by the conduits 101 and toA submerged coil 103 where it is cooled and con'- densed by heat exchange medium 104. From coil 103 the refrigerant passes through Capillary' restrictor tube 109, where it will change fromthe high side pressure to the low side pressure; intocoil 108. After absorbing heat from the air being passed into contact with coil 108, the refrigerant is returned to the motor-compressor unit through conduit 107, lower valve port 91, valve seat 94,. upper valve port 88, and suction tube 113. This completes the. refrigeration cooling cycle during which time coil 108 functions as an evaporator and cools the air being passed thereover. In a typical refrigeration system, the difference between the high. side pressure. and low side pressure will average approximately 500 lbs. The difference in these pressures will tend to open valve. head 69,4 and since the pressure exerted by the steel discs of thev valve headV is approximately 1500 lbs., a net seating force of 1000.1bs. will be acting to close the valve head.. The difference in the refrigerant pressures on valve headv 75l will be tending to close the valve head, and by combining this pressure with the pressure exertedl by the.

steel discs of the valve head, a net seating force ofv 1000 lbs. will be acting to close this valve head. Thus, the net seating force of the valve heads 69 and 75 will be. equalh ized and a tight seal will be. produced between the valvc heads and their respective valve seats.

The refrigeration system can be quickly reversed by rotating lever 55 clockwise to the position shown in Figure 2. The valve heads 71 and 77 are brought into initial contact with valve seats 94 and 96 respectively when low point 118 of cam 58 is contacting adjusting nut 123. as shown by the solid lines in Figure 2. By rotating the lever approximately 19 to the dotted. line position, the. valve heads are moved approximately .020 ofv an inch by cam 58. This deflection produces 1500 lbs. of pressure between valve head 71 and seat 94, and SOOlbs. of pressure between valve head 77 and seat 96. Upon operation ofthe motor-compressor unit 110 the ow of refrigerant will be as indicated by the arrows in Figure 2. The compressed refrigerant is passed to coil 108 by outlet tube 111, upper valve port 89, valve seat 95, lower valve port 91, and conduit 107. The high pressure refrigerant will bercooled and. condensed by the air being passedl into Contact with coil108 and then transferred through capillary restrictor tube 109 where it will be metered to a low side pressure. It is then evaporated by absorbing heat fromheat exchange medium 104 as it passesthrough coil 103 and return to motor-compressor unit 110 through conduit 100, valve port 90, valve seat 93, upper valve port 88 and suction tube 113. As is apparent, coil 108 now functions as a condenser so that the air being passed thereover. by fan 116 will be heated. The total dilerence between the high side pressure and low side pressure acting on valve head 71 will be approximately 500 lbs., and this difference will tend to open valve head 71,l thus reducing the 1500 lbs. of sealing pressure exertedv by the valve head to 1000 lbs. The 500 lbs. difference in refrigerant pressures will be acting to close valve head 77 so that a. net seatingforce of 1000 lbs. will be exerted betweenthe valve head and valve seat 96.

Side cover 26 is provided with pipe plugs 121 and 122 which may be removed to provide access into cam compartment 60 for adjustment of nuts 40 and 123. Spring clip 43 will prevent the nuts 40 and 123 from rotating, and by proper adjustment of the nuts, it is possible to accurately maintain the desired deflection of the valve heads. I-ipe plug 33 may be removed in order to till earn compartment 60 with lubricating eil. The carrier member 34 fits closely between side covers 26 and 27 so that' there will be no rotational movement of valve stem 46 which will prevent torsional stress of the bellows 64. Since the bellows will probably be constructed from metal, it is important that it is not subjected to torsional stresses'in order to prevent damage thereto..

From the foregoing it is apparent that a reversingvalve is provided which will perform the reversing of a refrigeration system. It is a ruggedly constructed valve which will give many years of service. The laminated valve heads will produce a tight seal against the valve seats and prevent any leakage thereby. Any minor adjustments to the valve can be easily made without disconnecting the valve from the refrigeration system.

While the invention has been described with some detail, it is to be understood that the description is for the purpose of illustration only and is not definitive of the limits of the inventive idea. The right is reserved to make such changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts as will fall within the purview of the attached claims.

What is claimed is:

l. In a reversing valve for a refrigeration system; a casing having a cam compartment and a valve compartment; a valve stern positioned in said valve compartment with one end extending into said cam compartment; a sealing bellows positioned between said compartments with one end secured to said casing in sealed relationship and the other end secured to said valve stem in sealed relationship; a rectangularly shaped carrier member having an opening therethrough positioned in said cam compartment and being xedly secured to the end of said valve stem; the walls of the cam compartment formed to permit a sliding movement of said carrier member longitudinally of said valve but preventing rotational movement thereof so that said bellows will not be subjected to torsional stresses; cam means positioned in said opening in said carrier member and operating against the walls of said opening for imparting a sliding reciprocating movement to said carrier member.

2. In a reversing valve for a refrigeration system: a casing having a cam compartment and a valve compartment; a valve stem positioned in said valve compartment with one end extending into said cam compartment; a rectangularly shaped carrier member having an opening therethrough positioned in said cam compartment and being xedly secured to the end of said valve stem; spaced apart nuts adjustably secured within said opening of said carrier; a cam positioned between said nuts which is adapted to be rotated to selectively engage said nuts in order to move the carrier member in a desired direction.

3. In a reversing valve for a refrigeration system; a casing having a cam compartment and a valve compartment; a valve stem positioned in said valve compartment with one end extending into said cam compartment; a sealing bellows positioned between said compartments with one end secured to said valve stem in sealed relationship; a rectangularly shaped carrier member having an opening formed therethrough positioned in said cam compartment and being xedly secured to the end of said valve stem; the walls of said cam compartment formed to provide guide means operating against the sides of said carrier member for preventing rotation of said carrier member so that said bellows will not be subjected to torsional stresses and for permitting a sliding movement of said carrier member longitudinally of said valve stem; spaced apart nuts adjustably secured within said opening through said carrier; a cam positioned between said nuts which is adapted to be rotated to selectively engage said nuts in order to impart a sliding reciprocal movement to the carrier member.

4. In a reversing Valve for a refrigeration system; a casing having a cam compartment and a valve compartment; a valve stem positioned in said valve compartment with one end extending into said cam compartment; a rectangularly shaped carrier member having an opening therethrough positioned in said cam compartment and being xedly secured to the end of said valve stem; said opening being formed to have spaced apart vertical portions each of which has a nut adjustably secured thereto; a cam positioned between said nuts which is adapted to be rotated to selectively engage said nuts in order to impart a sliding reciprocal movement to the carrier mernber; a clip member for holding said nuts in adjusted position.

5. In a heat pump system, a valve structure comprising a valve casing having ive ports positioned therein, a rst valve seat positioned within said casing between the first and third of said ports, a second valve seat positioned within said casing between said rst port and the fourth of said ports, a third valve seat positioned within said casing between the second of said ports and said fourth port, a fourth valve seat positioned with said casing between said second port and the fifth of said ports, a valve stem slidably positioned within said casing, four valve heads mounted upon said valve stem, so that when said valve stem is moved to one position said first and third valve heads engage said first and third valve seats respectively and when said Valve stem is moved to another position said second and fourth valve heads engage said second and fourth valve seats respectively, said first and second valve heads comprising a greater number of resilient discs than said third and fourth valve heads so that when said valve heads are seated against said valve seats the yieldability of said first and second valve heads to pressure diterentials establishable between said third and fourth ports is substantially less than the yieldability of said third and fourth valve heads to pressure diiferentials establishable between said fourth and fth ports, whereby said valve structure is connectable in a heat pump system having varied pressures.

6. In a valve structure having a valve stem, cam and lever means for selectively moving said valve stem, said cam and lever means comprising a cam compartment mounted on said valve structure, said cam compartment having two parallel sides, a rectangularly shaped member having a rectangular opening therethrough slidably mounted in said cam compartment between said parallel sides, said member connected to said valve stem whereby said valve stem follows the movement of said member, a pair of members mounted in a spaced apart relation within the rectangular opening through said rst member, means for selectively adjusting and maintaining the distance between said members, a lever rotatively mounted on said cam compartment, a cam mounted on said lever and projecting between said pair of members so that as said lever is rotated said cam cooperates with said pair of members to cause a movement of said valve stem.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 121,487 Burnett Dec. 5, 1871 350,881 Graham Oct. 12, 1886 862,867 Eggleston Aug. 6, 1907 1,091,210 Gauntt Mar. 24, 1914 1,371,575 Rousseau Mar. 15, 1921 1,575,771 King Mar. 9, 1926 1,609,340 Wilson Dec. 7, 1926 1,921,092 Newton Aug. 8, 1933 1,934,314 Lawler Nov. 7, 1933 2,351,140 McCloy June 13, 1944 2,407,794 Mufy Sept. 17, 1946 2,525,560 Pabst Oct. 10, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 504,941 France 1920 578,490 Germany 1933

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