Sporlan Valve Company

Joseph H Heffner

G Thomas Seener

Dennis L Hoehne

David C Dorste

Roger Dean Chamberlain

David C Macke, Sr

J George Leimbach

Richard A Livingston

Robert S Ens

This oil level control device is for a refrigeration system, the control device being attached between the compressor and the oil supply. The control device includes a housing having an inlet communicating with the oil supply and an outlet communicating with a compressor sump; and a solenoid valve controlling flow from the oil supply into the compressor sump. A sensing chamber having a fixed probe providing a proximity detection system detects the oil level in the sump and responds to a change in the complex permittivity of the oil as the oil level rises and falls to generate a signal that controls the supply of oil to maintain the oil level in the compressor. Circuitry is provided having an input connected to the output of the sensor and an output connected to the solenoid valve.

Oil level control system

This refrigerant distributor (20) is used in a refrigeration system (10) for delivering refrigerant from a thermostatic expansion valve (18) to a multi-circuit evaporator (22). The distributor (20) includes a body (30) having an inlet (32) providing a nozzle (40), an outlet (34) providing a plurality of discharge passages (52) and a head space (48) disposed between the nozzle (40) and the discharge passages (52). A member (56) is movable in the head space (48) to vary the flow from the nozzle passage (40) into the discharge passages (52) to suit normal load and pulldown load.

Distributor for refrigeration system

This combination expansion valve and check valve (18) includes a valve body (22) having an inlet (24) and a outlet (26). A control-valve (28) is disposed between the inlet and the outlet which controls flow through the valve when refrigerant flow is normal and pressure is higher at the inlet than the outlet. A by-pass conduit (60) is connected between the inlet and the outlet. A check valve (58) is disposed in the by-pass conduit within the valve to block flow through the conduit when the expansion valve is operating and to permit flow through the conduit when flow is reversed.

Expansion and check valve combination

This expansion valve (10) can be used for a refrigeration system (1) having a compressor (2), an evaporator (3) and a condenser (4). The valve (10) comprises a body (12) including an inlet passage (26), an outlet passage (38), a piston passage (28) defining a piston port (30) and valve chamber (32), the piston passage (28) defining a piston chamber (46) communicating with valve chamber (32). A piston (40) is movably mounted in the piston passage (28) and selectively controls flow through the piston port (30), the piston (40) having an interior passage (60) communicating with the inlet passage (26) and having a pin port (62) communicating with the valve chamber (32), the piston (40) having a biasing spring (52) biasing the piston (40) into a closed position. A valve pin (70) is movably mounted in the valve chamber (32) and controls flow through the valve pin port (62), the valve pin (70) having a spring (74) biasing the pin (70) into the closed position. A temperature responsive diaphragm assembly (18) including a bulb (84) responsive to the outlet temperature of the evaporator (3) includes a diaphragm (82) connected to the valve pin (70) by pushrods (90) tending to move the pin (70) into an open position during normal load conditions and selectively connected to piston (40) tending to move the piston (40) into an open position during overload conditions to increase refrigerant flow through the valve (10). In a modified form of the valve (10a), the piston (40a) is provided with a bleed control member (100) which permits bleed during normal operation but precludes bleed when the valve (10a) is closed.

Dual capacity thermal expansion valve

This expansion valve (10 ) can be used for a refrigeration system (1) having a compressor (2), an evaporator (3) and a condenser (4). The valve (10) comprises a body (12) including an inlet passage (26), an outlet passage (38), a piston passage (28) defining a piston port (30) and valve chamber (32), the piston passage (28) defining a piston chamber (46) communicating with valve chamber (32). A piston (40) is movably mounted in the piston passage (28) and selectively controls flow through the piston port (30), the piston (40) having an interior passage (60) communicating with the inlet passage (26) and having a pin port (62) communicating with the valve chamber (32), the piston (40) having a biasing spring (52) biasing the piston (40) into a closed position. A valve pin (70) is movably mounted in the valve chamber (32) and controls flow through the valve pin port (62), the valve pin (70) having a spring (74) biasing the pin (70) into the closed position. A temperature responsive diaphragm assembly (18) including a bulb (84) responsive to the outlet temperature of the evaporator (3) includes a diaphragm (82) connected to the valve pin (70) by pushrods (90) tending to move the pin (70) into an open position during normal load conditions and selectively connected to piston (40) tending to move the piston (40) into an open position during overload conditions to increase refrigerant flow through the valve (10).

This inlet strainer (160) is for a thermostatic expansion valve (100) having an inlet fitting (114). The inlet fitting 114 includes an elongate passage (152), with an inlet opening at one end and a strainer-receiving opening at the other end, and a transverse passage (156) communicating with the elongate passage (152) between said ends. The strainer assembly (160) includes a closed outer end (162) threadedly connected to the fitting (114), a strainer tube (164) extending into the elongate passage (152) to a point beyond the transverse passage (156) and a closure ring (166) received in sliding relation within the passage (152) so that dirt is removed from the refrigerant before entering the valve port.

Expansion valve with inlet strainer

This control valve (10) can be used for reducing the temperature of the discharge gas in the compressor (100) of a refrigeration system. The valve (10) includes a body (12) having inlet and outlet ports (20, 22), respectively receiving refrigerant from one part of the system and injecting it to a point upstream of compressor discharge, a valve seat (32), disposed between said inlet and outlet ports, and a valve member (34) controlling flow through the valve seat. The valve (10) includes a spring assembly (40) mounted in the body (12) and applying a force to the valve member (34) tending to urge the valve member into a closed position and an actuator assembly (50) modulating the valve member (34) in response to a change of temperature in the compressor discharge line. The actuator assembly (50) includes an actuator (52) movable within the body (12), a connector (70) attached to the body, a bellows (60) connected between the actuator (52) and the connector (70). A temperature responsive sensor (108) communicates with the bellows (60) to control pressure in the bellows and pushrods (70) interconnect the actuator (52) and the valve member (34) to modulate the valve member in response to temperature change in the sensor (108).

Injection valve for a refrigeration system

This thermostatic expansion valve (12) is intended for use in a refrigeration system (10) which includes a compressor (14), a condenser (16) and an evaporator (18). The valve (12) includes a valve body (20) having an inlet (26) and an outlet (28). A valve port (34) and a valve element (38) are disposed between the inlet and outlet. Upper and lower diaphragm assemblies (24, 25) are provided at each end of the valve (12) connected to associated sensing bulbs (56, 58) at the inlet and outlet respectively of the evaporator (18). A push rod assembly (40) operatively interconnects the upper and lower diaphragm assemblies (24, 25) and modulates the valve element (38) in response to the change in differential temperature across the evaporator. A compression spring (36) acts directly on the valve element and provides an adjustable feature.

Thermostatic expansion valve

A shuttle valve (10) for use in a dual refrigerator system (100) and operated by controlled refrigerant pressure lines (120, 122) to provide that either one or both of two evaporators (104, 106) are active. The valve (10) includes piston chambers (30) at each end having an outer portion (26) communicating with pressure lines (120, 122) and an enlarged inner portion (32) and an intermediate chamber (21) having valve seats (22) at each end. The valve (10) includes inlet and outlet ports (14, 16) communicating with the piston chamber enlarged portions (32) and an outlet part (18) communicating with the intermediate chamber (21). The valve (10) also includes a piston assembly (40) having opposed pistons (41, 42) interconnected by a biased push rod (44) and mounted in associated piston chambers for closing associated inlet ports (104, 106). Each piston includes an inner portion (48) having a first seal (54) engageable with a valve seat (22) and movable within the piston chamber enlarged portion (32) and an outer portion (46) having a second seal (58) received within the piston chamber inner portion (26).

Shuttle valve for a refrigeration system

This valve (12) for sensing and purging non-condensible gases in a refrigerant includes a valve body (30) having a lower refrigerant inlet (32), an upper exhaust outlet (36) and a valve passage (44) therebetween controlled by a valve element (54) extending between a spring (72) and a diaphragm (86). A housing (100) containing a 'pure' refrigerant charge and a spring (110) are provided at the other side of the diaphragm (86) and the housing (100) is exposed to temperature of the system refrigerant. One side of the diaphragm (86) is subjected to the combined pressure of the spring (72) and the pressure of the system refrigerant at the inlet (32) and the other side of the diaphragm (86) is subjected to the balancing pressure provided by the combined pressure of the refrigerant charge and the spring (110). The valve (12) opens in response to increased pressure of the system refrigerant at the inlet (32) resulting from the presence of non-condensible gases and exhausts the gases to atmosphere.

Refrigerant purge valve

This combination expansion valve and check valve (18) includes a valve body (22) having an inlet (24) and a outlet (26). A control valve (28) is disposed between the inlet and the outlet which controls flow through the valve when refrigerant flow is normal and pressure is higher at the inlet than the outlet. A by-pass conduit (60) is connected between the inlet and the outlet and includes an external conduit (62) and a passage (70) within the valve communicating with the outlet. A check valve (58) is disposed within the passage which selectively blocks flow through the conduit. The check valve includes a floating disc (66) moving between spaced check valve ports (61, 63) to block flow through the conduit when the expansion valve is operating and to permit flow through the conduit when flow is reversed. Two identical valves (18a) and (18b) are reversely connected to tandem to operate alternatively as expansion valves in a heat pump system (10).

Growing community of inventors

Chesterfield, MO, United States of America

Joseph H Heffner