Ranco Inc.

Ranco Inc. of Delaware

Brian Enderle

William D Kramer

Pandu R Cholkeri

A refrigerant flow-control valve operable between a no-flow condition and a flow condition in response to a control signal supplied thereto. The flow-control valve includes a tubular-shaped body forming a refrigerant passageway extending from an inlet to an outlet, a cylindrically-shaped restrictor secured within the tube and forming a restriction, and a cylindrically-shaped stop secured within the tube and forming a plunger valve flow passage. The stop is located downstream and spaced-apart from the restrictor and the restriction has a greater resistance to flow than the valve flow passage. A plunger is within the tube between the restrictor and the stop and carries a valve element. The plunger is movable between a first position closing the valve flow passage to generally prevent refrigerant flow therethrough and through the passageway and a second position opening the valve flow passage to permit refrigerant flow therethrough and through the passageway. A compression spring is within the tube between the restrictor and the plunger and resiliently urging the valve element into the first position. A solenoid coil located about the tube adjacent the plunger is adapted to selectively move the valve element to the second position in response to a control signal supplied thereto.

On/off solenoid expansion device

A refrigerant flow-control valve is operable between a mid-flow condition, a low-flow condition, and a high-flow condition in response to an electronic control signal supplied thereto and a pressure drop across the valve. The valve includes a tubular-shaped body having an inlet and an outlet and forming a refrigerant passageway extending from the inlet to the outlet, a cylindrically-shaped restrictor secured within the tube and forming a first restriction, a cylindrically shaped end stop secured within the tube and spaced-apart from the restrictor, and a plunger within the tube between the restrictor and the end stop. The plunger forms a first valve-element flow passage between its outer periphery and the tube and carries a first valve element which movable between a first position closing the first valve-element flow passage and a second position opening the first valve-element flow passage. The second restriction has a greater resistance to refrigerant flow than the first restriction. A first biasing member is within the tube and resiliently urges the first valve element into the second position. A Solenoid coil is adapted to selectively move the first valve element to the first position in response to an electronic control signal supplied thereto. The valve also includes a cylindrically-shaped collar secured within the tube and forming a second valve-element flow passage and a poppet within the tube between the restrictor and the collar and carrying a second valve element The poppet is movable between a first position closing the second valve-element flow and a second position opening the second valve-element flow passage. The third restriction has a greater resistance to refrigerant flow than the first restriction and a lesser resistance to flow than the second restriction. A second biasing member within the tube resiliently urges the second valve element into the first position. The poppet is adapted to automatically move the second valve element to the second position in response to a pressure head across the flow-control valve.

Three-stage electronically variable orifice tube

An electronic variable orifice tube suitable for use as an expansion valve in a refrigeration system providing two flow rates in response to electronic control signals comprises a bodytube, a restrictor mounted within the bodytube and defining a first flowpath. A plunger is translatably positioned within the bodytube in proximity to the restrictor and defines a second and a third flowpath. A valve actuator is functionally coupled to the plunger to translate the plunger within the bodytube to transition between the two flow rates. A high flowpath is formed through the bodytube by the first, second, and third flowpaths, and a low flowpath is formed through the bodytube by the first and the second flowpaths to the exclusion of the third flowpath. A solenoid may be used as the valve actuator and a spring may be employed to return the plunger to its quiescent state when the solenoid is not energized.

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Dublin, OH, United States of America

Brian Enderle