US3091945A

US3091945A - Refrigeration systems

Info

Publication number: US3091945A
Application number: US199098A
Authority: US
Inventors: Stanley H Morse
Original assignee: PRIMROSE SALES Inc
Current assignee: PRIMROSE SALES Inc
Priority date: 1959-08-05
Filing date: 1962-05-31
Publication date: 1963-06-04
Anticipated expiration: 1980-06-04

Description

June 4, 1963 s. H. MORSE 3,

REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS Original Filed Aug. 5, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 EEG;

INVENTOR.

\STQA/ZK) H. M

June 4, 1963 s. H. MORSE 3,091,945

REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS Original Filed Aug. 5, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTOR/VA'VS J1me 1963 s. H. MORSE 3,091,945

REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS Original Filed Aug. 5, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 nil Y INVENTOR.

J'Tfi/VAEY It MORSE A TI'OR/VFYS 3,091,945 Patented June 4, 1963 3 Claims. (Cl. 62-299) This invention relates to refrigeration systems and particularly to the mounting of shut-off valves on refrigeration units.

In refrigeration systems, it is customary to provide shut-oil valves at the inlet or suction side and the outlet or pressure side of the component units such as the compressor unit which may be closed when it is desired to isolate the unit for purposes of repair or replacement. These valves may also be used to facilitate charging the unit with refrigerant and sealing the unit at the factory for shipment to the customer.

A conventional type construction comprises the use of a shutoff valve having a body which has a length several times its lateral dimensions. The body includes a chamber, a first passageway extending axially of the body and providing communication between the chamber and the end of the body and a second passageway formed by a projection extending laterally of the body and providing communication between the chamber and the exterior of the body. A valve member is movable axially of the body in the chamber to open and close the valve by control of the communication between the passageways.

In use, the second passageway is connected to a first refrigeration unit. A conduit or tube is connected to the first passageway and leads to another unit of the refrigeration system. The means for connecting the second passageway to a refrigeration unit comprises a pad of substantial thickness fixed on the projection and having a Hat surface which is adapted to contact a complementary flat surface on the refrigeration unit. A gasket may be interposed between the surfaces and the pad is drawn toward the refrigeration unit by bolts passing through the pad and threaded into the refrigeration unit.

A major disadvantage of such a construction is that when the shut-off valve is mounted on the refrigeration unit the direction or angle in which the tube connected to the first passageway extends away from the refrigeration unit is fixed and cannot be adjusted. This raises particular problems when limitations in space surrounding the refrigeration unit or the position of the other refrigeration unit to which the tube extends require that the tube extend in a different direction. To overcome this disadvantage, shut-off valves have been manufactured wherein the pad is in different angular positions relative to the valve body. This necessitates keeping a large number of valves of different types in stock. In addition, a manufacturer of a refrigeration unit may install a particular valve which may provide for the tubing from the first passageway to extend in the proper direction for space requirements in the refrigeration unit, nevertheless when the consumer receives the unit he may find that the tubing should extend in another direction in order to make the proper connection to an adjacent refrigeration unit. This necessitates removing one valve and replacing it with another having a pad forming a different angle with the valve body. Such a replacement results in the loss of the refrigerant charge which may have been placed in the refrigeration unit at the factory and necessitates the purging of air from the refrigeration unit. These additional steps are obviously costly and time consuming.

A further disadvantage of using the conventional pad type shut-oil valve is that in order to provide a tight seal between the sealing surface on the pad and the complementary surface of the refrigeration unit, a large force is required and it is necessary to have a very thick heavy pad.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a refrigeration system wherein the shut-0E valve may be positioned in a plurality of angular relationships relative to the refrigeration unit.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such a system wherein there is an improved sealing connection between the valve and the refrigeration unit.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a refrigeration system which utilizes a high unit pressure sealing ring or rib between the shut-oil valve and the refrigeration unit so that a seal is provided along a thin annular area as distinguished from a large flat surface area thereby permitting the use of a relatively thin pad or valve contacting surface.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a refrigeration system which has novel sealing means between the shut-elf valve and the refrigeration unit, which means can be loosened to permit angular adjustment between the valve and the refrigeration unit without loss of refrigerant.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a refrigeration system wherein novel sealing means is provided between the shut-01f valve and the refrigeration unit, the sealing means being such that when it is loosened an effective seal is maintained which prevents leakage of refrigerant and at the same time permits relative angular adjustment between the shut-off valve and the refrigeration unit so that the angular position of the valve relative to the unit may be adjusted without loss of refrigerant.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a refrigeration system which has novel sealing means including a high pressure rib and a plastic ring between the shutoff valve and the refrigeration unit, the sealing means being particularly adapted to provide a finger tight seal and such that when loosened an effective seal is maintained between the valve and the refrigeration unit which prevents leakage of refrigerant and at the same time permits relative angular adjustment between a valve and a refrigeration unit, said seal being such that it maintains the relative angular position of the valve and the refrigeration unit during the final locking of the valve to the refrigeration unit. This application is a divisional application of my co-pending application Serial No. 832,883, filed August 5, 1959, now abandoned, which in turn is a continuation-in-part of my co-pending application Serial No. 648,305, filed March 25, 1957, now abandoned.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a partly diagrammatic elevation of a refrigeration system embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of a portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 2, on an enlarged scale.

FIG. 5 is an end elevational view of a portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of a further modified form of the invention FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view of a portion of the invention shown in FIG. 6 showing the parts in a different relative position.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the refrigeration system includes a plurality of shut-oil valves 10 which may be mounted on various components of the system such as compressor 45 in order to provide a means for opening and closing and thereby controlling communication between the units. Specifically referring to FIG. 1, a pair of off-set valves are mounted on compressor 45 for controlling connections to line 61 extending to evaporator 60 and to line 62 extending to receiver 63. Similarly, a shut-off valve is provided for controlling flow in line 64 which extends to the evaporator 60. As shown, the refrigeration system includes the conventional condenser 65 and fan 66.

As shown in FIG. 3, valve 10 comprises a body 13 which has a length several times its lateral or cross sectional dimensions. Body 13 includes a longitudinally extending chamber 14 which communicates with a passageway 15 extending longitudinally of valve body 13 and providing communication to the exterior of the valve body. A second passageway 16 formed by a projection 17 extends laterally from the end of chamber 14 to the exterior of the valve body. The walls of chamber 14 are formed with

shoulders

18, 19 which provide sealing surfaces for a valve member 20' threaded in the other end of valve body 13 and rotatable relative thereto, thereby movin'g longitudinally of said valve body.

The end of the valve member 20 adjacent sealing surface 18 is provided with an inverted frusto-conical sealing surface 21 which is adapted to engage shoulder 18 and a frusto-conical sealing surface 22 longitudinally spaced from surface 21 which is adapted to contact shoulder 19. To prevent the escape of refrigerant through the threaded connection of valve member 20 to valve body 13, a copper washer 23 is provided in a depression 24 in the end of valve body 13 and packing material 25 is positioned over the washer 23. A nut 26 preferably of copper surrounds the upper end of valve member 20 and is threaded into the cavity.

The end of valve member 20 which extends to the exterior of valve body 13 is provided with a non-circular shape to facilitate its being grasped by pliers or other suitable tools so that the valve member 20 may be easily rotated. A cap 27 is threaded onto the exterior of the upper end of valve body 13 to protect the upper end of valve member 20. To further insure a seal, a metal Washer 280, preferably of copper, is pressed in cap 27 adjacent the upper end of the valve body 13 and abutting a shoulder 28 on the cap.

As shown in FIG. 4, fitment 17 of the valve is provided with a peripheral flange 41 and a collar 42 is rotatably mounted on the projection. Collar 42 has an inwardly extending flange 43 and a cylindrical body 44 with a hexagonal external configuration extending axially away from the valve body 13. The axial movement of a the collar 42 away from valve body 13 is limited by engagement of flange 43 on collar 42 with flange 41 on projection 17. Refrigeration unit 45 is provided with a fitment 46 forming a passageway 47 communicating with the inlet or outlet as the case may be of the refrigeration unit. Fitment 46 is mounted on refrigeration unit 45 in fixed sealing relationship thereto in any suitable manner such as by hydrogen brazing. The end of fitment 46 is formed with threads 48 and the inner surface of cylindrical body 44 of collar 42 is formed with complementary threads 49.

The end of projection 17 is formed with an annular sealing surface 50 extending in a plane generally perpendicular to the axis of projection 17. The end of fitment 46 is formed with a complementary sealing surface 51. Sealing surface 50 is formed with an annular groove 52 immediately adjacent but spaced from the opening in projection 46 and sealing surface 51 is formed with a complementary rib 53. A washer 54 made of malleable material, preferably copper, is interposed between the sealing surfaces 50 and 51.

When collar 42 is threaded on fitment 46, flange 43 engages flange 41 on projection 17 and draws the valve toward fitment 46 bringing sealing surfaces 50 and 51 into contact with the surfaces of washer 54. Further lid threading of collar 42 on fitment 46 causes the annular rib 53 on fitment 46 to deform the malleable material of washer 54 into annular groove 52 on projection 17 providing a high unit pressure in the area of the rib 53. In this manner, a gas-tight seal is insured. The angular position of the valve body 13 relative to the refrigeration unit may be adjusted to accommodate space limitations or to cause the end having the first passageway to extend in a particular direction as desired. The positions through which the body may be moved extend 360".

In order to adjust the angular position of a valve relative to a refrigeration unit 45 which has been previously charged with refrigerant, the collar 42 is loosened to a position in which leakage of refrigerant is prevented and at the same time angular adjustment of the valve may be made.

A modified form of the invention is shown in FlGS. 6 and 7 wherein identical numbers are used to identify the same parts wherever applicable. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, fitment 60 is formed integral with refrigeration unit 45 and the threads 48 are formed on the fitment 60. Sealing surface 51 is formed with an annular groove 61 immediately adjacent but spaced from the opening therein in which a plastic ring 62 of tetrafiuoroethylene (Teflon) or nylon is positioned. Sealing surface on fitment 17 is formed with a complementary rib 63 of lesser width than the Teflon ring 62 immediately adjacent but spaced from the opening therein. When the collar 42 is tightened, the rib 63 presses against the plastic ring 62 and causes it to flow outwardly permitting the

surfaces

50, 51 to engage in a metal to metal contact. In this manner, a high unit pressure seal is provided between the rib 63 and plastic ring 62 and in addition, a metal to metal engagement is provided between the

surfaces

50 and 51 which assists in locking the valve body in the selected position.

The arrangement is such that substantially normal finger tightening of the collar 42 is sufficient to prevent leakage of refrigerant and at the same time permit relative angular movement of the valve relative to the refrigeration unit.

In order to adjust the angular position of a valve relative to a refrigeration unit which has been charged, the collar 42 is loosened on fitment until finger tight relationship is obtained of the rib 63 on the plastic ring 62. In this position, the rib 63 is in contact with plastic ring 62, but not distorting the ring and an effective seal is pro vided between the

fitments

17 and 60 such as to prevent leakage of refrigerant. At the same time, the plastic ring 62 permits angular adjustment of the valve relative to the fitment without loss of refrigerant. Moreover, the plastic ring serves to hold the valve in its angular adjusted position while the collar 42 is being tightened by the use of tools to lock the valve in its newly adjusted position. Plastic ring 62 returns to its original shape when collar 42 is loosened so that repeated loosening and adjusting of the valve may be made without the need for replacing the ring 62. Plastic ring 62 is preferably made of Teflon because of its resistance to refrigerants such as Freon, oils and its high temperature resistance which is needed to withstand the temperatures used in dehydrating refrigeration units, which temperatures are on the order of 350 F. Nylon may also be used but is not as desirable because it is harder, requiring a greater finger tight pressure to prevent leakage of refrigerant when the angular adjustment is being made to a previously charged refrigeration unit.

It can thus be seen that one of the most important features of the invention is that a gas tight connection can be maintained by finger tight pressure of the sealing sur faces, because of the high unit pressure seal, to permit the adjustment of the valve relative to the refrigeration unit to any angle desired at the time of installation. Furthermore, when a plastic sealing ring is used, the position of the valve is more easily maintained in the desired angular relation to the refrigeration unit during the final tightening of the valve in position.

It will also be seen that I have provided a refrigeration system wherein the shut-off valve can be adjusted angularly relative to the refrigeration unit as is required by space limitations or other considerations such as the direction in which the tubing is to be provided. This obviates the need for maintaining an inventory of a large number of different valves. In addition, an improved seal is provided to insure a gas tight connection, thereby preventing the loss of refrigerant. The seal prevents the escape of refrigerant and at the same time permits angular movement of the valve body relative to the refrigeration unit during assembly. Particularly where a plastic ring is used, the valve is retained in its selected angular position during the locking of the valve in position. In addition, I have obtained the unexpected result in that, because of the ability of the plastic ring such as Teflon to return to its original shape, the same ring can be used repeatedly resulting in a lifetime seal, for all practical purposes.

I claim:

1. In a charged refrigeration system comprising a compressor unit having means thereon defining an opening extending outwardly of said unit, said compressor unit being adapted to contain a refrigerant under pressure, a valve including a valve body, a chamber in said body, a projection on said valve body providing communication between said chamber and the exterior of said body, means defining an opening on said compressor unit including an annular sealing surface lying in a plane generally perpem dicular to the axis of the opening, said projection having a complementary annular sealing surface lying in a plane generally perpendicular to the axis of the passageway through said projection, an annular rib on one of said annular sealing surfaces closely adjacent but spaced radially from said opening, the radial width of said annular rib being a relatively narrow part of the radial width of said one annular surface, the other said annular sealing surface being formed with a complementary groove therein having a radial width greater than the width of said rib, a ring of deformable material positioned in and filling said groove radially, and means for drawing and holding said valve against said compressor unit to bring said rib into high unit pressure engagement with the ring providing a gas tight seal by manual finger force and permitting relative angular adjustment of said body relative to said refrigeration unit by manual force without losing refrigerant, said annular rib engaging said ring when the valve is in fixed operating position on said compressor unit and causing said ring to flow so that the annular sealing surfaces are in engagement in the areas surrounding said groove to provide rigidity to said valve, said means being independent of the angular position or" said body reiative to said refrigeration unit, whereby said body may be angularly positioned relative to said compressor unit in accordance with space limitations and requirements for the direction in which it is desired to have the first passageway extend.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said annular rib is on the sealing surface of said projection on said valve body and said groove is on the annular sealing surface of said compressor unit.

3. The combination set forth in claim 2 wherein said ring is made of a plastic material.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,452,811 Mueller Apr. 24, 1923 1,703,311 Litle Feb. 26, 1929 1,746,055 Roberts Feb. 4, 1930

Claims

1. IN A CHARGED REFRIGERATION SYSTEM COMPRISING A COMPRESSOR UNIT HAVING MEANS THEREON DEFINING AN OPENING EXTENDING OUTWARDLY OF SAID UNIT, SAID COMPRESSOR UNIT BEING ADAPTED TO CONTAIN A REFRIGERANT UNDER PRESSURE, A VALVE INCLUDING A VALVE BODY, A CHAMBER IN SAID BODY, A PROJECTION ON SAID VALVE BODY PROVIDING COMMUNICATION BETWEEN SAID CHAMBER AND THE EXTERIOR OF SAID BODY, MEANS DEFINING AN OPENING ON SAID COMPRESSOR UNIT INCLUDING AN ANNULAR SEALING SURFACE LYING IN A PLANE GENERALLY PERPENDICULAR TO THE AXIS OF THE OPENING, SAID PROJECTION HAVING A COMPLEMENTARY ANNULAR SEALING SURFACE LYING IN A PLANE GENERALLY PERPENDICUALR TO THE AXIS OF THE PASSAGEWAY THROUGH SAID PROJECTION, AN ANNULAR RIB ON ONE OF SAID ANNULAR SEALING SURFACES CLOSELY ADJACENT BUT SPACED RADIALLY FROM SAID OPENING, THE RADIAL WIDTH OF SAID ANNULAR RIB BEING A RELATIVELY NARROW PART OF THE RADIAL WIDTH OF SAID ONE ANNULAR SURFACE, THE OTHER SAID ANNULAR SEALING SURFCE BEING FORMED WITH A COMPLEMENTARY GROOVE THEREIN HAVING A RADIAL WIDTH GREATER THAN THE WIDTH OF SAID RIB, A RING OF DEFORMABLE MATERIAL POSITIONED IN AND FILLING SAID GROOVE RADIALLY, AND MEANS FOR DRAWING AND HOLDING SAID VALVE AGAINST SAID COMPRESSOR UNIT TO BRING SAID RIB INTO HIGH UNIT PRESSURE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE RING PROVIDING A GAS TIGHT SEAL BY MANUAL FINGER FORCE AND PERMITTING RELATIVE ANGULAR ADJUSTMENT OF SAID BODY RELATIVE TO SAID REFRIGERATION UNIT BY MANUAL FORCE WITHOUT LOSING REFRIGERANT, SAID ANNULAR RIB ENGAGING SAID RING WHEN THE VALVE IS IN FIXED OPERATING POSITION ON SAID COMPRESSOR UNIT AND CAUSING SAID RING TO FLOW SO THAT THE ANNULAR SEALING SURFACES ARE IN ENGAGEMENT IN THE AREAS SURROUNDING SAID GROOVE TO PROVIDE RIGIDITY TO SAID VALVE, SAID MEANS BEING INDEPENDENT OF THE ANUGLAR POSITION OF SAID BODY RELATIVE TO SAID REFRIGERATION UNIT, WHEREBY SAID BODY MAY BE ANGULARLY POSITIONED RELATIVE TO SAID COMPRESSOR UNIT IN ACCORDANCE WITH SPACE LIMITATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DIRECTION IN WHICH IT IS DESIRED TO HAVE THE FIRST PASSAGEWAY EXTEND.