US3754730A

US3754730A - Pressure refrigerant regulator

Info

Publication number: US3754730A
Authority: US
Inventors: R Downen; J Nilles; R Hunka
Original assignee: Refrigerating Specialties Co
Current assignee: Parker Intangibles LLC; Refrigerating Specialties Co
Priority date: 1972-05-01
Filing date: 1972-05-01
Publication date: 1973-08-28
Anticipated expiration: 1990-08-28
Also published as: CA977648A; DE2320499A1; JPS4941956A; DE2320499B2; JPS538053B2; GB1435191A; DE2320499C3

Abstract

A pressure regulator for upstream or downstream refrigerant pressure has its bonnet and main valve assemblies secured to an intermediate member which is provided with selectable conduits to form a basic unit by which the operation of the regulator can be variously controlled and modified with external components interchangeably attached thereto.

Description

[ Aug. 28, 1973 United States Patent [191 Nilles et al.

[ PRESSUREREFRIGERANTREGULATOR 3,320,763 5/1967 [75] Inventors: John D. Nilles, Roselle;

Robert Hunk, Clcero; Primary Examiner-Henry T. Klinksiek Raymond E Downen, Berwynv Assistant ExaminerRobert J. Miller all of Ill.

[73] Assignee: Refrigerating Specialties Watson D. Harbaugh and Bruce K. Thomas Attorney- ABSTRACT [22] Filed:

Appl 248927 A pressure regulator for upstream or downstream refrigerant pressure has its bonnet and main valve assemblies secured to an intermediate member which is provided with selectable conduits to form a basic unit by which the operation of the regulator can be variously controlled and modified with external components interchangeably attached thereto.

42 9 2 4 2 73 am 3 5 1k 69 8 2 n A 10 5 509 2 41 5 .17 2 b mF m mmm mmm 0N unn l 7 ""6 r1 ".a ""6 ms .L .f C WM w UhF 2...||. o |oi 555 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 26 Claims, 20 Drawing Figures Patented Aug. 28, 1973 3,754,730

4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented Aug. 28, 1973 3,754,730

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 28, 1973 4 Sheets-Sheet Li FIG. 6'

PRESSURE REFRIGERANT REGULATOR BACKGROUND OF INVENTION For the purposes of considering the present invention, refrigerant flow control back pressure regulators for evaporators can be divided essentially into two types, internally actuated and externally actuated. The internal actuation involves the use of refrigerant evaporator pressure against a diaphragm to open a sensitive pilot valve against an adjustable bonnet spring to supply a control pressure that opens a main valve. When the evaporator pressure drops below the set pressure the pilot valve is closed thereby permitting the main valve to close and maintain the evaporator pressure at or below the set pressure.

Externally actuated regulators involve the application of forces to open or close the pilot valve in substitution for or in addition to the adjustable bonnet spring, or, to directly control the operation of the main valve. Such external devices include electric controls, pneumatic control, secondary pilot regulators and thermostats both as boosters or shut-offs. The different types and modifications of regulators have to be made up and inventoried separately. Maintaining a made-up inventory of such a wide collection of these valves for different functions is quite an expensive capital investment, and the need to change regulator valves in order to convert, alter or improve them after installation is an expensive involvement in materials, labor and shutdown time.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION In illustrating the present invention a back flow check valve embodiment is shown wherein an intermediate member forming an integrated part of the basic regulator construction, referred to herein as an adapter, is used in converting a back pressure regulator from an internally actuated one to an externally actuated one, and also to incorporate optional features in either type with little effort and minimum parts either in manufacturing or in the field. The adaptersection serves as an interface element between the power piston and the pilot valve sections of the pressure regulator. The adapter carries the pilot valve orifice as located between the two sections and a chamber is provided in the adapter that has a threaded external opening from which three conduits branch. One conduit leads to an upstream pressure diversion conduit in the main valve housing sections and the other two conduits diverge and lead to separate external openings on two angularly spaced pads. In close proximity to each of these openings another opening is paired with it on the respective pads for another conduit. One of these conduits opens internally below the diaphragm of the pilot section and the other conduit opens above the power piston in the main valve section.

Each pair of openings and their conduits can be connected by passive blocks for internal actuation of the pilot valve by upstream evaporator pressure, or they can be connected to various auxiliary external control components to supply controlled pressure to the pilot valve or to the main valve piston.

The blocks are applied one for each pair of openings and on one side, when connected to a pad, can seal a pair of openings from each other while on the other side, when turned over, can connect the pair of openings in sealed communication with each other. Either of these orientations can be provided at either pair of openings for internal actuation. In lieu of a block a selected control component is mounted directly in place over a pair of openings. This make-up provides a correct and sealed dual opening connection at both pads keyed for particular functions.

Furthermore, a wide range of component make-ups can be made alternately or in conjunction with an externally controlled refrigerant pressure with the closure of the internal upstream diversion conduit in the main valve section leading to said adapter chamber.

Among the working components contemplated that can be mounted over a pair of openings in the adapter are solenoid valves, back pressure control pilots, outlet pressure control pilots, pressure ratio pilots, temperature operated pilots and motor operated pilots, and, these components may work separately or jointly to provide the overall regulator or control functions desired without any internal changes in the basic regulator construction.

One of the constructions involved with the versatility of the invention for performance, ruggedness and sensitivity is a novel pilot control valve diaphragm assembly that provides desirable diaphragm and mounting characteristics for all functions throughout a wide range of pressures in that a resilient layer of material, as disposed between two thin sheet metal members, provides full and uniform area of contact and parallelism between the bonnet stem unit and the diaphragm and between the diaphragm and the pilot valve port regardless of whether bonnet stems are designed for threaded adjustment or electrically powered lineal reciprocation. Also, the diaphragm is marginally clamped under metal-to-metal pressure with an O-ring seal under constant limited compression whereby a pressure differential of more than 300 psig is accepted without altering the set point of the valve bonnet and without over stressing the diaphragm.

The diaphragm neutral position cannot shift relative to the body of the adapter. Clamping of the bonnet and diaphragm to the adapter is accomplished with a separate ring shaped to apply uniform pressure between the assembly bolts and minimize bending stresses. The ring clamp provides any relative rotational orientation desired and a lower profile to accommodate the securing of components directly to the pads of the adapter.

' Other constructions include the valve seatemployed like the star seat shown in Hansen US. Pat. No. 3,585,813. It minimizes cross-sectional area exposed to pressure to reduce the effect of downstream pressure on the opening or control point of the valve, as compared with a conventional valve of equal perimeter, and provides high flow sensitivity particularly in the low stroke region. Furthermore, as far as seat circumference is concerned, it greatly reduces lock-up because of the over all smaller diameter of the planar edge having substantial radial width. Combined with the diaphragm, lock up is a rare occurrence.

Also, a novel V-port piston increases capacity over stem supported pistons and provides. a longer stroke and rangeability. A piston stem is no longer required that substantially restricts flow, yet the valve is stronger since it is opened by thrust carried solely by the legs of the V-ports which rejoin to engage the piston around an antiturbulence bullet-nose guide above the level where the radial flow area through the V-ports exceeds the flow area of the valve seat.

Other and further novel structure and characteristics to minimize resonance, hysteresis, lock-up, leakage, set point shift and diaphragm overstain will be observed from the description which follows of the constructions illustrated in the drawings.

IN THE DRAWINGS:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a back pressure regulator embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment taken on line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the adapter member;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the adapter member;

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the adapter;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the connecting side of the block;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the isolating side of the block;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the block;

FIG. 8A is an enlarged sectional view through the center of the pilot diaphragm of the invention;

FIG. 8B is an enlarged sectional view showing the clamped marginal relation of the diaphragm;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the lineal moving modification of the pilot valve stem construction for actuation by a solenoid;

FIG. 10 shows a modified pilot valve orifice which can be used in the modifications shown for deep vacuum operation;

FIGS. 11-16 are diagrammatical representations of modified operation;

FIG. 11 represents regular internal control of a back pressure relationship;

FIG. 12 represents pneumatic external compensation controller for precision control of temperature or pressure;

FIG. 12A is a modification of the embodiment shown in FIG. 12 with a secondary valve control;

FIG. 13 represents external control for pressure differential involving a secondary pilot valve and a solenoid;

FIG. 14 represents solenoid wide open control;

FIG. 15 shows a V block base for a pilot valve shown in FIGS. 12A and 13;

FIG. 16 shows an electrically compensated back pressure regulator embodiment; and

FIG. 17 is a top plan view of the star valve seat shown in FIG. 2.

THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT For the sake of continuity of description throughout the embodiments the terminology will be related to the vertical, it being appreciated that the embodiments can be disposed in any orientation desired without departing from the disclosure and spirit of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings in further detail a back pressure regulator 10 is shown in FIG. 1 embodying the invention which reduces diversification of made-up inventory. It comprises three sections, a pilot or bonnet section 12, a main valve section 14 and an intermediate section herein referred to as an adapter 15 to which the bonnet section is bolted by bolts 16 and the main valve section is bolted by bolts 18. It will be noted from FIGS. 4 and 5 that the radial locations of the bolts are different on opposite sides of the adapter so that proper orientations of the three sections are assured in the final assembly.

Preferably the bonnet side of the adapter (FIG. 4) has a cavity 20 on its upper face surrounded by a circular flat portion 22 having an O-ring groove 24 whose depth is appreciably less than the thickness of the O- ring 26 (FIG. 6) that is received therein. A diaphragm 28 marginally rests on the flat portion in metal-to-metal contact and preferably comprises a laminate of a flexible sheet metal upper layer (FIG. 8A) engaged by the bonnet spring assembly 30, a lower layer 27 of nonrusting thin metal having a thickness within the range of 0.003 to 0.005 in. and an intermediate thick elastomer layer 32 of neoprene or similar material within the range of 0.010 to 0.045 in. in thickness.

The cavity 20 on the upper side centrally has threaded opening 31 (FIG. 2) to receive the valve seat 34 at a depth below the lower surface of the diaphragm a distance providing the maximum diaphragm excursion tolerance and the valve seat 34 coacting therewith, as more particularly described in Hansen U.S. Pat. No. 3,585,813, reference to which is hereby made, is similar to a pipe bushing having a hexagonal head 34H (FIGS. 2 and 7) with an externally threaded shank 33 received in the opening 31 to define the valve flow passage. The upper surface of the head is flat and has secured thereon a short section of a non-cylindrical sleeve 35 extrusion serving as a seal land 29 of appreciable height characterized cross-sectionally as sinuous or pseudosinusoidal in that its perimeter defines a planar port winding in a space between a minor radius and a minimized major radius to provide a diaphragm engagement between them over a maximum flow area with minimum diaphragm movement.

The marginal portion of the adapter (FIG. 4) is flange-like at 36 and has angularly spaced threaded holes 38 receiving the upper series of bolts 16 at a predetermined radius. Preferably the spacing between the bolts is uniform so that the bonnet 94, later described, can be secured thereon in any one of a number of relative positions.

A cavity 40 is provided in the lower face (FIG. 5) to save material and provide a chamber above the piston 42 (FIG. 2) located in the main valve section and the flange 36 is offset upwardly at 37, preferably to receive angularly spaced threaded bolt holes 44 on a smaller radius so that the adapter is suitably oriented by bolts 18 and the guide wall 39 with respect to the other two sections.

Marginally the adapter 15 is provided with a threaded boss 46 defining a well 48, and on each side thereof are

pads

50 and 52 one having vertically spaced openings A and B (FIG. 3) on a flat surface 54 which also has four rectangularly arranged bolt holes 56 by which various components may be secured to the pads in communication with the openings A and B.

The well 48 serves as a manifold for three conduits. One conduit 58 opens on the bottom face of the adapter in the seal receiving area 59. The

other conduits

60 and 62 diverge and connect with the A openings in the

pads

50 and 52 respectively. A conduit 64 leads from the B opening of pad 50 to the lower face of the adapter at opening 61 within the cavity 40 while a conduit 66 leads from the B opening of pad 52 to the upper face at opening 67 within cavity 20.

A block 68 (FIGS. 6-7) is provided for bolting to each pad 50 and 52in either one of two orientations selectively. On one side the block has an elongated recess 70 bordered by an O-ring seal receiving groove 72 which with O-ring 71A places the two openings A and B in communication with each other. On the other side of the block two circular grooves 74 seal the openings A and B from each other with O-ring seals 71. Holes 73 in the corners receive screws 75 for securing the blocks in place.

The bonnet section 12 comprises a bonnet member 76 having a lower marginal flange 78 which with the use of the bolts 16 and a bonnet ring 94, later described, clamps the marginal edges of the diaphragm 28 in metal-to-metal contact with the adapter (FIG. 88) with appreciable pressure on the O-ring seal 26. The central portion of the. bonnet housing has a core formed cavity 79 therein receiving the bonnet spring 80. At its lower end the cavity is cylindrical to receive the diaphragm follower 83 level with the lower face of the bonnet flanges 78 and a spring plate 84 engages the follower 83 with a limited rocking action at a ball joint 85 to accommodate any minor tolerance variations. The upper end of the spring receives the adjusting screw plate 86 and the lower spring plate 84 is circumferentially grooved at 82 to receive an O-ring 82A to frictionally dampen and reduce resonance.

With resonance evidenced by low amplitude, audible, periodic vibrations occurring when the valve stroke is large enough and flow impact upon the diaphragm creates a sufficient forcing function with the mass and spring constants of the bonnet of certain values which vary with temperature, the most effective way found to dampen the vibrations is frictionally by the O-ring 82A as located in close proximity to the ball joint'85. The outside diameter of the O-ring closely fits the lower cylindrical wall of the bonnet cavity 79.

On the other hand, to reduce hysteresis factors that might be caused by friction or poor spring load squareness the outer wall portions on opposite sides of the groove 82 have been rounded to prevent diaphragm distortion and misalignments that cause lock-up .under very low flow sensitivities, which with the support area and short stroke afforded by the valve seat, lock-up is virtuallyeliminated and sensitivity maximized.

The upper end of the bonnet is reduced in size at 81 and is externally threaded at 91 to receive a seal cap 93 (FIG. 1) andis internally threaded at 87A below a shoulder 87 toreceive the set point adjusting screw 96 which at its lower end drives and journals the screw plate 86. The upper end of the stem has a reduced portion 93A with an annular flange 89 externally grooved to receive an Q -ring 90 which slidably and rotationally seals on a cylindrical bore 95 above the shoulder 87.

A retainer ring 92 andthe shoulder 87 cooperate with the flange 89 and spring 30 to provide a solid upstop and downstop for the set point adjusting screw 96. The downstop prevents the spring 30 being adjusted solid, and, although the upstop prevents disengagement of the screw during adjustment, it may be removed and the stem replaced by an unthreaded stem 938 (FIG. 9) which permits lineal motion as distinguished from rotary motion without removing the bonnet. This is accomplished by replacing the screw 93 with a bushing 95 having a cylindrical hole 97 receiving the stern 93A as sealed by an O-ring 90A.

A substantial vacuum drop can be accomplished which is opposite to the use of pressure in the bonnet by replacing the pilot valve seat 34 (FIG. with one 340 having an internal flange 34f in its lower portion supportinga spring 34s which presses square plug 34p upwardly against the diaphragm as guided by the inner portions of the sinuous valve element 35. The deep vacuum in an evporator can be lower than 20 inches Hg.

A bonnet ring 94 having an inverted U-shaped cross section receives the bonnet bolts 16 through the bight portion with beam-like legs 94a and 94 straddling the joint and engaging the bonnet flange 28 and the adapter with pressure equallizing forces. This two piece construction offers advantages in allowing the bonnet to be clamped rigidly in metal-to-metal contact with the adapter and elimintes bending stresses developing in the bonnet due to conventional clamping. This also provides a low profile with the bonnet adjustable rotatably for environmental make-up to suit any conditions in the field, particularly when it is desired to introduce fluid control pressure to the bonnet.

The main valve section includes a body having inlet 100 and outlet 102 conduits separated by a cross wall 104 having a valve port opening 106 in it whose axis is normal to the axes of the

conduits

100 and 102 and in alignment with the axis of the pilot seat 34 through a downstream cylindrical chamber 108.

The cylinder receives the power piston 42 which is short skirted with a bleed passage 42a through its head and around the head to resist jamming from dirt, and centrally has a depending support guide 101 cylindrical at its base 103 and terminating in a bullet nose 105. A valve sleeve 107 is telescopedover the guide to serve as a stem and has V-shaped openings 114 through its wall which coact with the valve port opening 106 with the legs 109 defining the openings carrying the thrust of the piston to open the valve against the flow through the port and spring 120. The valve has increased capacity, longer stroke and better rangeability than conventional V modulating valves with the same size valve port.

Below the V-openings 114 the valve sleeve 107 has a tapered stop 11] terminating in a shoulder 113 which receives the upper end of a compression spring 120. The valve 107 extends below the shoulder as an inverted cup portion 115 to receive the head 117 of a seat opening stem 122 as retained by an internal groove and C-washer assembly 119. A plastic washer 121 located under the spring acts as a dirt seal for the threaded section of the stem 122. g

The back cap 116 closes a threaded opening 118 on the inlet side of the valve and carries a spring 120 that urges the valve 107 to its closed position and also carries the seat lift stern 122 which can be adjusted to draw and hold the valve disc open to any degree desired by a wrenching adjustable relation at 123. Suitable flanges 124 are provided as shown to connect, for instance, the valve inlet to an evaporator outlet (not shown) and the valve outlet to a return line (not shown) in a refrigeration system.

The regulator body is secured by its bolts 18 to the lower face of the adapter with a sealing gasket 59 compressed between them. It will be observed that the conduit 58 of the adapter opens in the area of the gasket and a conduit 126 in the valve body connects with the conduit 58 through an opening 128 in the gasket 59 to duit by an unperforated portion of the gasket intervening when it is desired that another fluid under pressure be utilized in the well or manifold 48 to control operation of the regulator. In such case the source of the other fluid is connected directly to the threaded external opening 46 of the manifold 48 if a constant reference pressure or one related to a thermal condition is desired.

In operation, and referring to FIG. 11, assuming the blocks are oriented to seal the openings A and B of pad 50 from each other and the open-ings A and B of pad 52 are connected to supply upstream evaporator pressure through the manifold 48 and

conduits

62 and 66 to the cavity 20 under the diaphragm with either a gauge or plug closing the threaded manifold opening 46 and with the pilot valve screw 88 set to hold a predetermined upstream evaporator pressure, then when the evaporator pressure rises above the set pressure, the pressure below the diaphragm will rise enough to lift the diaphragm 28 from the valve seat 34 and pressure will enter the piston chamber cavity 40 at the top of the power piston 42. When the pressure in the piston chamber exceeds downstream pressure by about onehalf p.s.i. the piston is moved downwardly opening the main valve 112 enough to keep the upstream pressure down to the set pressure.

Whenever the upstream pressure in inlet 100 and cavity 20 drops below the set pressure, the diaphragm moves downwardly under the effort of the bonnet spring and closes the pilot valve seat as the pressure above the piston bleeds down through the bleed opening 42a in the head of the piston 42. Thereupon the valve closing spring 120 gradually returns the main valve 112 to its closed position to stop the flow of refrigerant and hold the evaporator pressure from falling below the set pressure.

Operation of the regulator can be modified by external components and referring to FIG. 12 a centrallized shut-off control can be provided pneumatically as connected to one or more regulators. The bonnets being provided with plugged threaded openings, the plugs are removed and an air pressure line 130 is connected thereto. It will be noted that depleting the pressure in the bonnet 12 opens the pilot valve 34 and this may be accomplished pnuematically by a thermostat or humidistat to change the control point of the valve. On the other hand, when it is desired to shut all refrigerant in the system, air pressure can be applied manually through the air lines above the diaphragm 28 and it supplements the bonnet spring to force the diaphragm to close the pilot seat 34 which, as noted, induces closure of the main valve 112.

In event an additional pressure control component such as a second pilot regulator is to be connected to pad 50 to provide alternate set points, a V-block 132 (FIG. 15) is provided having

corresponding conduits

60A and 64A connecting with the

conduits

60 and 64 of the adapter 15 on the pad 52. By way of example as shown in FIG. 12A, the openings A and B and A and B of the contacting faces of the pad 50 and the block 132, respectively, are sealed by O-rings 7] for each juncture when mounted by bolts like the flat blocks 68.

The upper face of the block has a cavity receiving a pilot valve seat 34 that is connected to opening B in pad 50 while the diaphragm side of the seat is connected to opening A in pad 50 to receive upstream pressure through

conduits

58 and 60. A second bonnet section 12 including the diaphragm 28, like that already described, is bolted to the upper face and both regulators work in parallel. The first bonnet section can receive either a high shut off pressure or a low pressure through the line for wide open valve flow. Such a control may be pneumatic as already described in conjunction with FIG. 15. Then when the fluid pressure is lowered in the primary pilot valve, wide open flow can be achieved, but when increased the primary pilot valve is forced closed to permit the secondary pilot valve to take over and provide a different pressure in the evaporator. Otherwise, under equal pressures such as atmospheric pressure in both pilot valve bonnets the first bonnet can be operated at a lower set point than the other.

Another control (FIG. 13) can be a solenoid valve mounted on the pad 52 along with the auxiliary valve shown in FIG. 12A. The solenoid valve can either close or open with application of electrical current. In FIG. 13 a diagrammatical representation of such a valve is shown with the armature responding to the solenoid coil 142 to open' the valve 144 against the closing spring 146. In the illustration the valve 144 when open permits the main pilot valve to function. With the solenoid valve 144 closed the application of upstream pressure through conduit 66 is cut off and the pressure under the diaphragm 28 drops. The diaphragm closes its pilot valve and the main primary pilot valve begins to close as pressure above its piston is lost through the piston bleed opening 42a and the upstream pressure will begin to increase. However, upstream pressure is still effective through conduit 60 in the secondary pilot regulator and it takes over the control to maintain a higher back pressure in the upstream line 100 which in turn provides a greater drop at the piston valve. The application of electrical current is maintained for the period that lower evaporator pressure is desired. If the solenoid valve were to open only when energized, then electrical current need be applied only when high evaporator pressure is desired.

It will be appreciated that if the second pilot valve in FIG. 13 was lacking and block 68 were secured to pad 50 to close openings A and B, then the solenoid would serve as a shut-off control or as a pressure control pilot respectively in the last two mentioned situations.

Furthermore, the solenoid could be connected to the pad 50 in place of the second regulator and openings A and B of pad 52 be connected by a block 68 (not shown). In this case energization of the solenoid could either open or close the solenoid valve and the respective operation would be to provide full flow of evaporator refrigerant or confine its flow to the control of the pilot valve depending on which relationship provides the greater saving of electricity or accommodates other components controlling the application of electricity such as thermal, pressure or timing devices.

Referring to FIG. 14 a solenoid is mounted on the pilot regulator bonnet as threaded on threads 91 thereof when the lineal performing valve stem 88 is used as shown in FIG. 9. Here the adjustment of the bonnet spring 80 can be made at the thread 91 and when a shut-down is desired the energization of the solenoid assists the spring 80 to close the pilot valve 34 and thereby accomplish closure of the piston controlled main valve 112 as already described, the frictional O-ring 88A being removed if desired.

Although a solenoid 142 can actuate the pilot valve directly by modifying the effective setting of the bonnet spring, its use as valve device has advantages when secured to pad 52 to control the supply of upstream pressure to a pilot valve with

conduits

60 and 64 isolated by a block as shown in FIG. 12, or directly to the power piston with the block 68 on pad 50 having its recess 70 connecting openings A and B.

Whenever it is desired to provide a pressure in an evaporator ranging lower than atmospheric the pilot seat 34 is replaced by the assembly that provides a spring described in connection with FIG. which bears directly against the diaphragm 28 to bias the pilot valve open and the same versatility exists for the back pressure vacuum regulator as already shown and described.

Many of these effects can be paralleled when the gasket 128 is disposed to close the connection between

conduits

58 and 126 and in conjunction therewith the well 48 is connected to another controlled non-pulsing source of fluid power. Also, it will be further appreciated that components can be connected in series as well as singles to the

pads

50 and 52 and between the pads for the control of liquefied gases.

Referring to FIG. 16 an electrically compensated back pressure regulator bonnet is represented for the several embodiments described and comprises a reversible motor and gear train unit 159 driving a cam 160 that continuously re-sets the tension on the bonnet spring 80 through the stem 88 slidably mounted in a sleeve 87A or sealed at their interface by an O-ring 88A. The sleeve in turn replaces the adjusting stem 93 and is threaded into thread 87A with the O-ring 90 sealing it at the wall 95. The pin 88 through an adjustable lock screw linkage 162 serves as a follower member for the cam 160 under the influence of the bonnet spring 80 to perform in proportion to the amount of temperature deviation from a scale setting controlling the unit 159 so that proper evaporator pressure may be maintained for all loads. In doing this the control component (not shown) for driving the cam unit 159 in-v cludes a temperature responsive bulb that operates a potentiometer slider in a balancing proportioning electric circuit that instantly controls the direction and amount of rotation-of the motor.

Having thus described the objects and several illustrative modifications demonstrating the usefulness and versatility of the invention and its advantages as an inventory item for many different uses, other and further modifications and uses will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is: 1. In a pressure regulator for refrigeration having a bonnet means including a spring pressed diaphragm and a main valve body having inlet and outlet passages separated by a piston actuated valve, the combination of:

an intermediate body means having a central opening on one side surrounded by a first sealing means engaging said diaphragm and defining a space between them, and a second sealing means on the other side surrounding the central opening and engaging said main valve body;

said intermediate body marginally having a plurality of spaced pads with spaced holes in their faces and a manifold located between two of the pads;

conduit means independently connecting the upper pad openings to said manifold;

a third conduit means connecting one of the lower pad openings to the space below the diaphragm;

a fourth conduit means connecting the lower opening of the second pad to said other side adjacent said central opening;

a fifth conduit means interconnecting said manifold and one of said passages;

block means for securement to one of said pads and interconnecting the two openings thereof; and block means for securement to the other pad to seal the openings thereof from communication.

2. The combination called for in claim 1 in which said one of said passages is the inlet passage and said piston actuated valve opens towards the inlet passage;

and including resilient means urging said piston actuated valve to its closed position; and

bleed means interconnecting opposite side of said piston.

3. The combination called for in claim 1 in which said bonnet is sealed and including a valve orifice in said central opening interconnecting opposite sides of said intermediate body means to apply fluid pressure to said sealed bonnet actuating said diaphragm to close said valve orifice.

4. The combination called for in claim 1 including a piston in said main valve body responsive to a differential or pressure between the outlet and said other side of said intermediate body means, and pressure bleed means interconnecting opposite sides of the piston tending to balance pressures on opposite sides of said piston.

5. The combination called for in claim 1 in which said intermediate body has an external threaded opening in communication with said manifold.

6. The combination called for in claim 1 including adjustable means for sealing off communication between said manifold and at least one of said passages.

7. in a back pressure regulator having a bonnet member including a resiliently pressed diaphragm on one side of a valve seat and a main valve body member having inlet and outlet passages separated by a piston valve means disposed on the other side of said valve seat;

an adapter integrated interface element between said members to convert said regulator between conditions of internal and external actuation and having a valve seat coacting with said diaphragm means in communication with said piston valve means; manifold means in said adapter from which three conduits branch, one conduit leading to the inlet passage and the other two conduits diverging to separate external openings; independent conduits each having an opening paired with one of said external openings, and respectively connected to opposite sides of said valve seat; and means selectively closing a pair of said openings; and control means for placing the other pair of openings in communication with each other.

8. The combination called for in claim 7 in which said control means comprises a pilot valve means.

9. The combination called for in claim 7 in which said control means comprises a solenoid valve.

'10. The combination called for in claim 8 in which said selectively closing means comprises a solenoid valve.

11. The combination called for in claim 7 including a solenoid varying the resiliency of a spring for pressing said diaphragm.

12. The combination called for in claim 7 including a source of pneumatic pressure connected to said bonnet.

13. The combination called for in claim 7 in which the last two means mentioned are blocks, each having a groove on one side overlapping a pair of openings and on the other side sealing means for closing both openings of a pair of openings.

14. A pressure regulator for refrigeration including:

an intermediate body portion comprising a wall having a threaded opening in a cavity on one side bordered by a first sealing means that is surrounded by an area having angularly spaced threaded bolt receiving openings at a predetermined radius, and a second sealing means on the other side bordering a recess around the central opening and surrounded by angularly spaced bolt receiving openings at a different radius;

said intermediate body portion having a plurality of angularly spaced pads with spaced holes in their faces and an external well between two of the pads;

two conduit means independently connecting the upper pad openings to said external well;

a third conduit means connecting one of the lower pad openings to said cavity;

a fourth conduit means connecting the lower opening of the second pad to said recess;

a fifth conduit means interconnecting said two conduits and an opening on said recess side but spaced from said recess;

valve orifice means threaded in said central cavity;

valve means secured to said other side of said body including a housing having an inlet and outlet and a bypass conduit means interconnecting said fifth conduit opening and said inlet;

a valve means between said inlet and outlet and piston means subject to pressure at the outlet of said orifice means for actuating said valve member;

diaphragm means closing said cavity and reciprocable with respect to said orifice means;

bonnet means secured to the upper side of said body including resilient means urging said diaphragm to close said orifice means;

first means secured to one of said pads and interconnecting the two openings thereof; and

second means secured to the other pad to seal the openings thereof from communication.

15. In a refrigerant back pressure regulator including a pilot bonnet section and a main valve section having an upstream bypass conduit opening on its surface;

an adapter section secured in sealed interface connection between said sections and defining therewith a diaphragm chamber on the bonnet side and a main valve chamber on its other side with an opening through the wall between them;

pilot valve seat element mounted in said opening;

said adapter section marginally having a plurality of angularly spaced pads with spaced holes in their faces, and a radially directed threaded opening between two of the pads terminating internally in a manifold;

a first conduit to interconnect said manifold and said bypass conduit;

second and third conduits independently connecting said manifold with one of the openings in each pad;

a fourth conduit connecting the other opening in one of the pads to the diaphragm chamber;

a fifth conduit connecting the other opening of the other pad to the main valve chamber;

first means secured to one of said pads for placing said openings thereof in communication with each other;

second means secured to another pad to control the flow of fluid between the openings thereof.

16. The combination called for in claim 15 in which said first means is a pilot regulator carried by one of said pads set to operate said piston through said fifth conduit at a pressure different than that supplied through said valve seat element.

17. The combination called for in claim 15 in which said first means is a solenoid valve connected to the openings of said fourth conduit and one of said second and third conduits to open and close communication therebetween.

18. The combination called for in claim 17 in which said second means is a pilot regulator carried by the other pad set to operate said piston through said fifth conduit at a pressure different than that supplied through said valve seat elements.

19. in a pressure regulator for refrigeration having an inlet and an outlet;

an intermediate member having a cavity in the upper side thereof, and a cavity in the lower side thereof;

valve orifice means interconnecting said cavities;

bonnet means secured to the upper side thereof including a downwardly resiliently driven diaphragm means engaging said orifice means;

a valve assembly secured to the lower side of said intermediate member and including a piston means in a cylinder responsive to the pressure in the lower cavity to operate a'valve located between the inlet and outlet of said regulator;

said intennediate member having a common opening to receive a predetermined pressure, conduits leading separately from said common opening to said cavities separately; and

means for sealing off one of said conduits.

20. The combination called for in claim 19 in which said diaphragm comprises a flexible sheet metal upper layer engaged by said spring, a lower layer of nonrusting thin metal ofa thickness with the range of 0.003 to 0.005 in. and an intermediate thick elastomer layer within the range of 0.010 to 0.045 in. of neoprene which accommodates any discrepancies of parallelism between flow control elements simultaneously engaging the diaphragm;

said diaphragm sealing ring including. an O-ring and a walled groove of a depth less than the O-ring thickness bordered peripherally by a clamping surface; and means solidly clamping said diaphragm to said clamping surface with the O-ring squeezed down in said groove. 21. A flow regulator valve having a housing defining two compartments sealed from each other, one of which has a flow inlet opening and a flow outlet openpressure responsive means between said compartments including (a) a valve port element comprising an upstanding land of appreciable height having a sinuous edge defining a planar port whose circumferential length is greater than 11 times its major sectional dimension and (b) a pressure actuated controlled member disposed between one side of said valve port element and one of said flow openings;

diaphragm means coacting on one side with said planar port comprising two spaced thin metal layers with a layer of elastomer material between them;

variable means urging said diaphragm means into engagement with said planar port; and

conduit means interconnecting the other flow opening and said one side of said diaphragm means.

22. The regulator valve defined in claim 21 in which said conduit means includes a flow control means.

23. The regulator valve defined in claim 21 in which said variable means includes a controlled source of fluid subjected to a variable pressure.

24. The regulator valve defined in claim 21 including a main sleeve valve member having axially tapering openings through the wall thereof controlled by said pressure responsive means in a valve port opening between said flow openings.

25. In a pressure regulator for refrigeration the combination of:

a main body means having a threaded central opening in a cavity on one side bordered by a first sealing means that is surrounded by an area having angularly spaced threaded bolt receiving openings at a predetermined radius, and a second sealing means on the other side bordering the central opening and surrounded by angularly spaced bolt receiving openings at a different predetermined radius;

said main body marginally having a plurality of angularly spaced pads with spaced holes in their faces, and a radially directed external threaded opening between two of the pads terminating a predetermined distance from said central opening in the body portion intermediate the cavity and the other side;

conduit means independently connecting the upper pad openings to said external opening;

a third conduit means connecting one of the lower pad openings to said cavity;

valve orifice means threaded in said central cavity;

a diaphragm closing said cavity and reciprocable with respect to said orifice means;

bonnet means secured to the upper side of said body including resilient means urging said diaphragm to engage said orifice means; and

valve means secured the bottom of said body having a valve member and a piston means subject to pressure at the outlet of said orifice means for actuating said valve means;

a cross-over plate secured to one of said pads and having a recess interconnecting the two openings thereof; and

a cross-over plate secured to the other pad to seal the openings thereof from communication.

26. In a flow regulator valve the combination ofa diaphragm valve means;

a valve port member coacting with said diaphragm valve means,

said valve port member including an upstanding valve port element of appreciable height around the mouth of a flow conduit through said valve port member and having a sinuous form with portions thereof defining a minor diameter concentric with the conduit;

resilient means in said conduit;

plug means intermediate said resilient means and said diaphragm for urging the diaphragm from said valve port element, said plug being guided by and within said sinuous form portions.

Claims

1. In a pressure regulator for refrigeration having a bonnet means including a spring pressed diaphragm and a main valve body having inlet and outlet passages separated by a piston actuated valve, the combination of: an intermediate body means having a central opening on one side surrounded by a first sealing means engaging said diaphragm and defining a space between them, and a second sealing means on the other side surrounding the central opening and engaging said main valve body; said intermediate body marginally having a plurality of spaced pads with spaced holes in their faces and a manifold located between two of the pads; conduit means independently connecting the upper pad openings to said manifold; a third conduit means connecting one of the lower pad openings to the space below the diaphragm; a fourth conduit means connecting the lower opening of the second pad to said other side adjacent said central opening; a fifth conduit means interconnecting said manifold and one of said passages; block means for securement to one of said pads and interconnecting the two openings thereof; and block means for securement to the other pad to seal the openings thereof from communication.

2. The combination called for in claim 1 in which said one of said passages is the inlet passage and said piston actuated valve opens towards the inlet passage; and including resilient means urging said piston actuated valve to its closed position; and bleed means interconnecting opposite side of said piston.

7. In a back pressure regulator having a bonnet member including a resiliently pressed diaphragm on one side of a valve seat and a main valve body member having inlet and outlet passages separated by a piston valve means disposed on the other side of said valve seat; an adapter integrated interface element between said members to convert said regulator between conditions of internal and external actuation and having a valve seat coacting with said diaphragm means in communication with said piston valve means; manifold means in said adapter from which three conduits branch, one conduit leading to the inlet passage and the other two conduits diverging to separate external openings; independent conduits each having an opening paired with one of said external openings, and respectively connected to opposite sides of said valve seat; and means selectively closing a pair of said openings; and control means for placing the other pair of openings in communication with each other.

10. The combination called for in claim 8 in which said selectively closing means comprises a solenoid valve.

14. A pressure regulator for refrigeration including: an intermediate body portion comprising a wall having a threaded opening in a cavity on one side bordered by a first sealing means that is surrounded by an area having angularly spaced threaded bolt receiving openings at a predetermined radius, and a second sealing means on the other side bordering a recess around the central opening and surrounded by angularly spaced bolt receiving openings at a different radius; said intermediate body portion having a plurality of angularly spaced pads with spaced holes in their faces and an external well between two of the pads; two conduit means independently connecting the upper pad openings to said external well; a third conduit means connecting one of the lower pad openings to said cavity; a fourth conduit means conneCting the lower opening of the second pad to said recess; a fifth conduit means interconnecting said two conduits and an opening on said recess side but spaced from said recess; valve orifice means threaded in said central cavity; valve means secured to said other side of said body including a housing having an inlet and outlet and a bypass conduit means interconnecting said fifth conduit opening and said inlet; a valve means between said inlet and outlet and piston means subject to pressure at the outlet of said orifice means for actuating said valve member; diaphragm means closing said cavity and reciprocable with respect to said orifice means; bonnet means secured to the upper side of said body including resilient means urging said diaphragm to close said orifice means; first means secured to one of said pads and interconnecting the two openings thereof; and second means secured to the other pad to seal the openings thereof from communication.

15. In a refrigerant back pressure regulator including a pilot bonnet section and a main valve section having an upstream bypass conduit opening on its surface; an adapter section secured in sealed interface connection between said sections and defining therewith a diaphragm chamber on the bonnet side and a main valve chamber on its other side with an opening through the wall between them; pilot valve seat element mounted in said opening; said adapter section marginally having a plurality of angularly spaced pads with spaced holes in their faces, and a radially directed threaded opening between two of the pads terminating internally in a manifold; a first conduit to interconnect said manifold and said bypass conduit; second and third conduits independently connecting said manifold with one of the openings in each pad; a fourth conduit connecting the other opening in one of the pads to the diaphragm chamber; a fifth conduit connecting the other opening of the other pad to the main valve chamber; first means secured to one of said pads for placing said openings thereof in communication with each other; second means secured to another pad to control the flow of fluid between the openings thereof.

19. In a pressure regulator for refrigeration having an inlet and an outlet; an intermediate member having a cavity in the upper side thereof, and a cavity in the lower side thereof; valve orifice means interconnecting said cavities; bonnet means secured to the upper side thereof including a downwardly resiliently driven diaphragm means engaging said orifice means; a valve assembly secured to the lower side of said intermediate member and including a piston means in a cylinder responsive to the pressure in the lower cavity to operate a valve located between the inlet and outlet of said regulator; said intermediate member having a common opening to receive a predetermined pressure, conduits leading separately from said common opening to said cavities separately; and means for sealing off one of said conduits.

20. The combination called for in claim 19 in which said diaphragm comprises a flexible sheet metal upper layer engaged by said spring, a lower layer of non-rusting thin metal of a thickness witH the range of 0.003 to 0.005 in. and an intermediate thick elastomer layer within the range of 0.010 to 0.045 in. of neoprene which accommodates any discrepancies of parallelism between flow control elements simultaneously engaging the diaphragm; said diaphragm sealing ring including an O-ring and a walled groove of a depth less than the O-ring thickness bordered peripherally by a clamping surface; and means solidly clamping said diaphragm to said clamping surface with the O-ring squeezed down in said groove.

21. A flow regulator valve having a housing defining two compartments sealed from each other, one of which has a flow inlet opening and a flow outlet opening; pressure responsive means between said compartments including (a) a valve port element comprising an upstanding land of appreciable height having a sinuous edge defining a planar port whose circumferential length is greater than pi times its major sectional dimension and (b) a pressure actuated controlled member disposed between one side of said valve port element and one of said flow openings; diaphragm means coacting on one side with said planar port comprising two spaced thin metal layers with a layer of elastomer material between them; variable means urging said diaphragm means into engagement with said planar port; and conduit means interconnecting the other flow opening and said one side of said diaphragm means.

25. In a pressure regulator for refrigeration the com-bination of: a main body means having a threaded central opening in a cavity on one side bordered by a first sealing means that is surrounded by an area having angularly spaced threaded bolt receiving openings at a predetermined radius, and a second sealing means on the other side bordering the central opening and surrounded by angularly spaced bolt receiving openings at a different predetermined radius; said main body marginally having a plurality of angularly spaced pads with spaced holes in their faces, and a radially directed external threaded opening between two of the pads terminating a predetermined distance from said central opening in the body portion intermediate the cavity and the other side; conduit means independently connecting the upper pad openings to said external opening; a third conduit means connecting one of the lower pad openings to said cavity; a fourth conduit means connecting the lower opening of the second pad to said other side adjacent said central opening; valve orifice means threaded in said central cavity; a diaphragm closing said cavity and reciprocable with respect to said orifice means; bonnet means secured to the upper side of said body including resilient means urging said diaphragm to engage said orifice means; and valve means secured the bottom of said body having a valve member and a piston means subject to pressure at the outlet of said orifice means for actuating said valve means; a cross-over plate secured to one of said pads and having a recess interconnecting the two openings thereof; and a cross-over plate secured to the other pad to seal the openings thereof from communication.

26. In a flow regulator valve the combination of a diaphragm valve means; a valve port member coacting with said diaphragm valve means, said valve port member including an upstanding valve port element of appreciable height around the mouth of a flow conduit through said valve port member and haviNg a sinuous form with portions thereof defining a minor diameter concentric with the conduit; resilient means in said conduit; plug means intermediate said resilient means and said diaphragm for urging the diaphragm from said valve port element, said plug being guided by and within said sinuous form portions.