Texas Instruments Corporation

George Verras

Eric J Giasson

Daniel Morin

A flow regulating valve (100) for an air conditioning system is shown in which a body member (104) is provided with a fixed passageway (104a) and a variable passageway (104b) which results in regulating flow of refrigerant into the evaporator of the air conditioning system. Under high ambient and low or idle speeds, the system refrigerant pressure rises. This increases pressure in the evaporator and an increase in the saturation temperature of refrigerant in the evaporator. This increase in temperature is sensed by a helical thermostatic metal element (110) which moves to rotate an inlet sleeve (112) having a web (104c) formed between first and second windows (112a, 112b) to move into alignment with the inlet port (104c) of passageway (104b) to increase restriction to the flow of the refrigerant fluid through the valve thereby decreasing pressure of the refrigerant entering the evaporator. Upon continued increase in ambient temperature, the web continues to rotate bringing window (112b) into alignment with the inlet (104c) to increase refrigerant flow to prevent excessive pressure build-up in the compressor with resulting compressor cycling.

Flow regulating valve apparatus for air conditioning systems

A fluid pressure responsive electric switch (100) is shown in which first and second discrete electrical switches are controlled. A first movable support ring (122) mounts first and second snap acting discs (120a, 124a) on opposite sides thereof, the discs each having the normally concave surface facing the support ring. The first disc receives a force through a pressure to force converter (134) which is transferred through the second disc to a second movable support (126) and a third snap acting disc (128a) having a normally concave surface facing a related movable contact arm. When the system pressures exceeds a first minimum level the third disc (128a) snaps allowing a motion transfer pin to transfer a force to the movable contact arm (118a) of a compressor actuation switch (118) to energize the compressor. When system pressure increases to a second higher level the first disc (120c) snaps and transfers motion via a motion transfer pin (120c) to the movable arm (116a) of a fan actuation switch to energize the fan. If the system pressure increases to a third still higher level, the second disc (124a) snaps thereby allowing the spring bias of the movable arm (118a) of the compressor actuation switch to separate from the mating stationary contact to thereby de-energize the compressor. According to a second embodiment the switch (200) includes only the fan actuation and compressor high pressure cut-out functions by eliminating the third disc and by making the second support (130c') stationary.

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Mansfield, MA, United States of America

George Verras