Parker-hannifin Corporation

Roger G Riefler

Richard L Kenyon

Ashok G Zopey

Sandra L Harper

Roy M Yabuki

Virender Jain

Chester D Campbell

Alan Matthies

Kenton L Durham

A directional flow control or reversing valve for use within a thermodynamic system wherein a working fluid is cycled through a closed-loop fluid circuit having refrigeration elements including a first heat exchanger or coil, a second heat exchanger or coil coupled in series to the first heat exchanger, and a compressor having a high pressure discharge side and a low pressure suction side. The control valve includes distribution and check valving elements that are operable for selectively directing the flow of fluid from the compressor discharge side to the first or second heat exchanger and, respectively, the compressor suction side to the second or first heat exchanger for the reversible operation of the system in alternate heating and cooling modes. The valve includes a housing which is formed as having internal chambers for receiving the valving elements, and fluid ports which open into the housing as couplable in fluid communication with the refrigeration elements of the fluid circuit.

Four-way flow reversing valve for reversible refrigeration cycles

An expansion valve (10) for heat transfer systems such as an air conditioning system, includes a control element (20) for controlling the flow rate of working fluid through the valve. The control element has a stem member (28) and movable member (42) movable on the stem member. Openings (38) to an internal passage (30) in the stem member are regulated by positioning the movable member to achieve regulated flow rate of refrigerant material through the valve. The movable member of the control element is moved by a plunger (24) of a proportional solenoid (22). The proportional solenoid has a magnetic flux circuit including a low permeance isolation tube (62) surrounding the plunger, which enables removal of the coil (76) and frame (78) of the solenoid from the valve. The solenoid further includes a variable permeance flux washer (69) the flux through which varies with plunger position, which is disposed from a gap (82) which provides an area of magnetic saturation. The proportional solenoid produces force/displacement characteristics which enable precise control of the control element and accurate regulation of the refrigerant flow rate through the valve.

Expansion valve for air conditioning system with proportional solenoid

Expansion valve control element for air conditioning system

An actuator (24) for a valve (10) includes a housing tube (26) enclosing an internal cavity (48). A plunger (42) is mounted for movement in the internal cavity. The plunger includes four slots (50). Rollable spheres (58) are positioned in the slots between staked areas (62). A magnetic field created by electrical current passing through a coil (34) moves the plunger downward to open fluid flow through a control element (20). Flow through the control element enables controlled flow from an inlet (14) to an outlet (16) of the valve. The actuator construction provides for substantial elimination of sliding friction acting on the plunger, reduces hysteresis and the amount of power required to move the plunger, and facilitates accurate control of fluid flow rate through the control element.

Low friction solenoid actuator and valve

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Brandon, MS, United States of America

Roger G Riefler