US3323583A

US3323583A - Refrigeration system valve

Info

Publication number: US3323583A
Authority: US
Inventors: Joseph C Crowther
Original assignee: Carrier Corp
Current assignee: Carrier Corp
Priority date: 1963-08-05
Filing date: 1963-08-05
Publication date: 1967-06-06
Anticipated expiration: 1984-06-06

Description

June 6, 1967 J. C- CROWTHER REFRIGERATION SYSTEM VALVE Filed Aug. 5, 1965 FIG. I

IEE/

INVENTOR.

CROWTHER.

ATTORNEY.

JOSEPH C.

United States Patent 3,323,583 REFRIGERATHUN SYSTEM VALVE Joseph C. Crowther, Liucolnwood', Ill, assignor to (farrier Corporation, Syracuse, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Aug. 5, 1963, Ser. No. 299,723 1 Claim. (Cl. 165-50) This invention relates to air conditioning systems, and more particularly to a valve mechanism for use with air conditioning systems of the type adapted to selectively heat or cool.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide an improved three-way valve mechanism which is inexpensive to manufacture and easy to assemble and repair.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved valve construction for regulating fiow of hot and cold conditioning medium without intermixing thereof.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a valve mechanism for controlling the communication and rate of flow of separated heat exchange mediums to a heat exchanger.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved valve apparatus adapted for use with an air conditioning system.

This invention relates to a valve comprising a housing having a compartment therein and a discharge opening in communication therewith, piston-like members each having an opening therein slidably disposed in the compartment on opposite sides of the discharge opening; means for limiting movement of each of the slidable members toward the discharge opening, a valve element in the compartment :between the slidable members for closing each of the slidable member openings, means for biasing each of the slidable members into engagement with the valve element to close each of the openings, the housing having a first inlet opening spaced from one of the slidable members in communication with the compartment and a second inlet opening spaced from the other of the slidable members in communication with the compartment, and means for moving the valve element toward and away from the first and second inlet openings whereby movement of the valve element toward the first inlet opening communicates the second inlet opening with the discharge opening, while movement of the valve element toward the second inlet opening communicates the first inlet opening with the discharge opening.

This invention further relates to an air conditioning system for use in a building having a plurality of zones including a central station adapted to condition air to be supplied to the zones, at least one heat exchanger in each zone, and means adapted to supply hot and cold conditioning medium to each heat exchanger including a valve having a first chamber in communication with the source of cold conditioning medium, and a second chamber in communication with a source of hot conditioning medium, a discharge line communicating the valve with the heat exchanger, adjacent walls of each of the first and second valve chambers being movable in an axial direction toward and away from one another,

3,323,583 Patented June 6, 1967 each of the walls having an opening therein adapted to communicate with the discharge line, closure means disposed between the movable walls for interrupting the wall openings, means biasing each of the movable walls into engagement with the closure means whereby flow of hot and cold conditioning medium from the first and second chambers respectively is prevented, means for selectively moving the closure means in an axial direction toward and away from the first and second chambers, and stop means for limiting movement of the first and second chamber movable walls respectively so that predetermined movement of the closure means toward the first chamber establishes predetermined flow of hot conditioning medium from the second chamber through the discharge line into the heat exchanger, while predetermined movement of the closure means toward the second chamber establishes predetermined flow of cold conditioning medium through the discharge line into the heat exchanger.

Other objects will be apparent from the explanation presented hereinafter when read in the light of the ac companying drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic view of an air conditioning system embodying the present invention; and

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of applicants novel valve mechanism.

In the description that follows, like numerals designate like elements in each of the views of the drawing. Referring to FIGURE 1 of the attached drawing, there is shown an air conditioning system of the induction type embodying the present invention. The air conditioning system comprises a central station 10* having filter 14, preheating coil 15, spray attachment 16, cooling coil 17, reheating coil 18, and fan 19. Dampers 12 communicate central station it] with a source of ambient air to be conditioned. In operation, a fan 19 draws ambient air through the dampers 12 into the central station 10 wherein the air is treatedand discharged as a source of primary air through the riser 23 and runouts 24 to the room unit or units 25 placed in the areas or zones 26 being conditioned.

A refrigerating machine 28 is provided to furnish cold conditioning medium through the cold medium supply line 29 to each of the room unites 25. Pump 30 in the cold medium supply line 29 draws the cold medium from the refrigerating machine 28 and forwards the same to the individual units 25. p

A heating station 33 is provided to supply hot conditioning medium through the hot medium supply line 34 to each of the room units 25. Pump 35 in hot medium supply line 34 draws the hot medium from the heating station 33 and forwards the same to each of the individual room units 25. Water is the preferred medium; however, other fluids, for example, a solution of water and glycol alcohol may be used as will be apparent to persons skilled in the art.

The hot and cold conditioning medium returns from each of the room units 25 through a common return line 37 which communicates with branch line 38 connected to the refrigerating machine 28 and with branch line 39 connected to the heating station 33. An automatic diverting valve 40 may be provided to direct return conditioing medium to either line 39 or line 40 or to direct conditioning medium to both lines 39, 40. Where used, diverting valve 40 directs return conditioning medium above a predetermined temperature, for example, 72 E. into line 39 for return to the heating station 33 and return conditioning medium below the predetermined temperature into line 38 for return to the refrigerating machine 28.

The piping arrangement heretofore described is of the type commonly referred to as the three-pipe system. In that type of arrangement, one pipe supplies hot conditioning medium to the room heat exchanger units, a second pipe supplies cold conditioning medium to the room heat exchange units, and a third pipe returns conditioning medium from each of the room heat exchanger units to the source of supply. By this means, both hot and cold conditioning medium are available at each room unit.

The cold and hot

conditioning medium lines

29, 34 communicate with the room unit 25 through control valve 45 operable to regulate the flow of cold and hot conditioning medium to the room unit. A pair of

lines

46, 47 communicate control valve 45 with the cold and hot conditioning

medium lines

29, 34 respectively. Discharge line 48 communicates control valve 45 with the room unit 25.

Referring particularly to FIGURE 2 of the drawing wherein control valve 45 is shown in detail, valve 45 comprises a generally cylindrical member having a bore 51 therethrough. A portion of bore 51 is reduced at 52 to define

stop surfaces

53, 54. Piston-

like valve seats

55, 56 having an outer dimension slightly less than the inner dimension of bore 51 are positioned for slidable movement in bore 51. Adjacent ends of

valve seats

55, 56 are reduced at 57, 58 respectively for entry in reduced bore portion 52. Movement of

valve seats

55, 56 toward each other is limited by the abutment of valve

seat stop surfaces

60, 61 respectively with valve

member stop surfaces

53, 54 respectively. Spring means 64, 65

bias seats

55, 56 toward one another. Suitable sealing means are provided between the periphery of

valve seats

55, 56 and the surface of valve bore 51 to prevent the passage of conditioning medium therebetween.

Cylindrical end caps 66, 67 are suitably attached to valve member 45 as for example by cooperating threaded means 68. End cap 66 is provided with a suitable opening 70 therethrough having a threaded portion 71. Hot conditioning medium line 47 communicates with valve body bore 51 between end cap 66 and valve seat 55. Cold conditioning medium line 46 communicates with valve body bore 51 between end cap 67 and valve seat 56. Discharge line 48 in communication with room unit 25 communicates with the reduced part 52 of bore 51.

Valve seats

55, 56 each have a

coaxial opening

77, 78 respectively therethrough adapted to communicate upper and lower parts of the valve body bore 51 with discharge line 48.

Valve seats

55, 56 are tapered at 79, 86 respectively. A generally cylindrical valve element 82 is positioned in reduced portion 52 of bore 51 between

valve seats

55, 56. Valve element 82 has opposite ends tapered at 84, 85 adapted in a manner to be more fully explained hereinafter to tightly abut the tapered parts 79, 80 of

seats

55, 56 respectively to interrupt the passage of conditioning medium through

openings

77, 78 respectively.

Valve element 82 is fixedly attached to movable steam 90. Stem 90 extends through opening 70 in end cap 66 and is provided with a threaded portion 91 in operative engagement with threaded portion 71 of end cap 66 whereby movement of stem 90 causes movement of valve element 82 in an axial direction. Handle 93 may be fixedly attached to shaft 90 to effect movement thereof. Suitable sealing means 94 is provided to prevent the flow or seepage of conditioning medium between stem 90 and opening 70 in end cap 66. A retainer 92 may be provided for sealing means 94. Stem 90 is provided with stop 95 to limit axial movement thereof in an upward direction as viewed in FIGURE 2 of the drawings. Stop 95 is adapted to contact end cap 66 upon predetermined axial movement of stem 90. Axial movement of stem 90 in a downward direction is limited by stop 96 fixedly positioned in valve body 50, stop 96 limiting downward movement of valve seat 56 which in turn limits downward movement of stem 90.

With Valve element 82 positioned as shown in FIGURE 2 of the drawings the control valve is closed. Flow of cold or hot conditioning medium from

lines

46, 47 respectively through the control valve 45 into discharge line 43 is interrupted by abutment of valve element surfaces 84, 85 with valve seat surfaces 79, respectively.

Movement of stem 90 in a counter-clockwise direction as shown by the solid line arrows in FIGURE 2 of the drawing causes valve element 82 to move in an upward direction through cooperating threaded means 71, 91. Up ward movement of valve element 82 moves valve seat 55 upwardly against biasing means 64. The upward movement of valve element 82; raises valve surface from valve seat surface 80 to initiate flow of cold conditioning medium from line 46 into discharge line 48. Upward movement of valve seat 56 is prevented through the abutment of stop surfaces 61, 54. The rate of flow of cold conditioning medium into discharge line 48 is regulated by the degree of realtive movement between valve element 82 and seat 56. Communication of the hot conditioning medium line with discharge line 43 remains interrupted.

Movement of stem in a clockwise direction as shown by the dotted line arrows in FIGURE 2 of the drawing moves valve element 82 in a downward direction. Downward movement of valve element 82 moves valve seat 56 downwardly against biasing means 65 to prevent the flow of cold conditioning medium from line 46 to discharge line 48 through the valve. Downward movement of valve element 82 separates valve surface 84 from valve seat surface 79 to initiate the flow of hot conditioning medium from line 47 through the valve into discharge line 48. The rate of flow of hot conditioning medium from line 47 through the valve into discharge line 48 is regulated by the degree of relative movement between valve element 82 and seat 55, it being understood that movement of valve seat 55 is prevented through the abutment of stop surface 53, with stop 60.

The present invention provides a unique control valve construction operable to selectively regulate the fiow of either hot or cold conditioning medium to a heat exchange apparatus; a control valve construction that prevents mixing of hot and cold conditioning medium in all degrees of valve adjustment.

While I have described a preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that the invention is not limited thereto since it may be otherwise embodied within the scope of the following claim.

I claim:

In an air conditioning system for a multizone building, which requires heating and cooling, the combination of a central station, means for supplying conditioned air from said central station to each zone to be treated, at least one heat exchanger in each zone, means for supplying hot and cold conditioning medium to said heat exchanger including a valve having a first chamber in communication with a source of hot conditioning medium and a second chamber in communication with a source of cold conditioning medium, a discharge line communicating said valve with the heat exchanger, each of said first and second chambers having an adjacent wall movable in an axial direction toward and away from one another, each of said walls having an opening therein adapted to communicate with said discharge line, a closure means disposed between said walls for interrupting said wall openings, means biasing said chamber walls into engagement with said closure means whereby the flow of hot and cold conditioning medium from said first and second chambers respectively into said discharge line is prevented, means for selectively moving said closure means in an axial direction toward and away from said first and second chambers, and stop means for limiting movement of said first and second chamber movable Walls toward each other so that predetermined movement of said closure means toward said first chamber establishes predetermined flow of cold conditioning medium 5 from said second chamber through said discharge line into said heat exchange means while predetermined movement of said closure means toward said second chamber establishes predetermined flow of cold conditioning medium through said discharge line into said heat exchanger.

6 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,997,063 8/1961 Anderson et a1. 137-607 3,198,245 8/1965 Soling 165-22 FOREIGN PATENTS 594,280 3/ 1934 Germany.

ROBERT A. OLEARY, Primary Examiner.

CHARLES SUKALO, Examiner.