Ranco Inc. of Delaware

Ranco Inc.

Gary L Russo

Pandu R Cholkeri

Thomas W Parker

William D Kramer

Robert R Norris

A valve for regulating fluid flow and associated method of use. The valve includes a stepper motor, a first valve portion having an inlet port for receiving fluid into the valve, a second valve portion having an outlet port for dispensing fluid from the valve, a third valve portion located between the first valve portion and the second valve portion, a first member that is rotatable and operatively attached to the stepper motor, and a second member, having a first portion and a second portion, which engages the first member for linear movement of the second member between a first position and a second position when the first member is rotated by the stepper motor to block fluid flow when the second member is located in the first position and allow fluid flow when the second member is located in the second position.

Stepper motor driven valve for thermal management and associated method of use

A refrigerant flow-control device is automatically operable between a normal or low-flow condition and a pressure relief or high-flow condition in response to pressure drop across the flow-control device, in one embodiment the flow-control device includes a tubular-shaped body having an inlet, an outlet, and a refrigerant passageway extending from the inlet to the outlet, a cylindrically-shaped restrictor secured within the tube and forming a second restriction, and a cylindrically-shaped collar secured within the tube and forming a poppet-valve flow passage. The collar is spaced-apart from the restrictor within the tube. A poppet is located within the tube partially between the restrictor and the collar and carries a valve element. The poppet is movable between a first position closing the poppet-valve flow passage to generally prevent refrigerant flow therethrough and a second position opening the poppet-valve flow passage to permit refrigerant flow therethrough. The poppet forms a first restriction. The first restriction has a higher resistance to refrigerant flow than the second restriction. A compression spring is located within the tube between the poppet and the restrictor and resiliently urges the valve element into the first position. With the valve element in the first position, the flow-control device is in a low flow condition as refrigerant flow is controlled by the first restriction. At a predetermined blow-off pressure, fluid pressure overcomes the spring to automatically move the valve element to the second position. With the valve element in the second position, the flow-control valve is in the high-flow condition as refrigerant flow is controlled by the second restriction. Once the pressure spike is relieved, the spring returns the valve element to the first position so that expansion device is in the normal or low-flow condition.

Blow-off orifice tube

A refrigeration system including a flow control expansion valve. A valve body defines a valve inlet for accepting refrigerant and a valve outlet for delivering refrigerant that has passed through the valve body. A metering head defines first and second passageways for fluid passing through the valve body. A cylindrical sleeve is mounted for controlled movement within the valve body and including a center passageway which in combination with the first and second passageways conveys fluid through the valve body to the valve outlet. A spring urges the sleeve in a direction relative the metering head to maintain both the first and second passageways in fluid communication with the center passageway of the sleeve. A valve actuator mounted to the valve body moves the sleeve against the biasing action of the spring to restrict flow through one passageway of the first and second passageways while allowing fluid to flow through another of the first and second passageways and said center passageway of said sleeve to the outlet. The valve actuator includes a control input responsive to an external control signal to initiate movement of the sleeve to a position for restricting flow through said one passageway.

Growing community of inventors

Delaware, OH, United States of America

Gary L Russo