Eaton Corporation

William N Eybergen

Wayne K Hutchison

Erlen B Walton

Peter J Malone

James Kevin Spring

Lawrence McAuliffe, Jr

Ken R Blackman

Victor A Phillips

Avinash C Kavi

Michael W Nank

Kenneth R Blackman

A differential device (,) of the type including a clutch pack (,), engaged by a ball ramp actuator (,), which is initiated by a viscous coupling (,). The output of the device (,) is an output shaft (,) which is hollow and extends through the entire axial extent of the device. The viscous coupling (,) includes, in the embodiment of FIG. 1, an annular input coupling member (,) and an annular output coupling member (,), within the input member, to define therebetween a cylindrical viscous shear chamber (,). The output coupling member (,) at least partially surrounds the first ramp plate (,) of the ball ramp actuator (,), and is in driving engagement therewith, for improved packaging. The clutch pack (,) and the actuator (,) are disposed about the output shaft (,) and axially retained between snap rings (,), so that all axial separation forces generated within the clutch pack and the actuator are taken up within a single member, such as the output shaft (,), rather than being exerted on the connection of the housing (,) and the end cap (,). In the FIG. 5 embodiment, the viscous coupling (,) is in driven engagement with the inner periphery of the first ramp plate (,), with the viscous coupling being of the type including interleaved plates (,).

Viscous actuated ball ramp clutch having through shaft capability

An improved thermally responsive expansion valve for use in controlling flow of refrigerant in a circulating system has a cartridge sub-assembly with a fluid charged diaphragm capsule, an operating rod mechanism, a valve seat and captured valve obturator. A tubular extension with the valve seat is adjustably threaded onto the capsule. The cartridge subassembly may be thermally pre-calibrated before installation in a blind bore in a valve body. During calibration, the tubular extension is rotated to adjust the diaphragm and operating rod mechanism to provide the desired obturator movement from the valve seat at the calibration temperature.

Modular thermal expansion valve and cartridge therefor

A quick-connect for attaching plural conduits to a fluid communicating ported block or valve. A recess provided in the block face between the ports has an attachment member, received in the recess and retained on the block by through-bolting from the back side of the block. A snap ring is retained between the attachment member and the block. The conduits are prepared with a convolution and an end fitting spaced from the convolution with a seal ring on the end fitting. A retaining plate has the spaced portion of each conduit received in an edge cutout. The retaining plate has a barbed stud mounted between the conduits; and, the conduit ends with seal rings are inserted in the block ports and the stud inserted in a hole in the attachment member to engage the captured snap ring. Removal of the through bolts from the backside is required for disassembly.

Plural conduit quick-connect

A mechanical thermostatic refrigerant expansion valve assembly with an electrically operated shut-off in the inlet to the valve body. Preferably, the electrical operator is a solenoid attached to the valve body on the end opposite the mechanical thermal responsive valve actuator so as to minimize the changes in the manufacturing of an existing valve body. The solenoid armature moves a secondary valving member spring biased to shut off flow in the valve inlet.

Thermostatic expansion valve with integral electrically operated inlet

A differential housing assembly (11;81) including a first end cap (31;83) defining a plurality of openings (52,53,54;93). A housing (35;87,89) defines a plurality of tabs (72,73,74;95) which are received within the openings. Preferably, both the end cap and the housing comprise steel stampings, and the tabs are welded within the openings, such that the end cap and housing form an inexpensive, relatively light-weight, but extremely strong and durable differential housing assembly. In one embodiment, the housing member (35) is a generally U-shaped member, and in another embodiment, the housing (87) is a deep drawn tubular member.

Limited slip differential and improved differential housing assembly

A filter/drier for receiving and discharging a flow of refrigerant having a header with an inlet passage forming a plenum and an outlet passage through the header. A louvered baffle plate has peripheral tabs crimped over an annular flange on the header to form a subassembly. A cup-shaped shell containing desiccant, with a layer of fibrous filter material over the desiccant, is assembled over the header subassembly and sealed to the header by weldment. The peripheral spaces between the crimped baffle tabs provide exclusive flow dispersion to an annular collector space in the header which communicates with the outlet passage.

Refrigerant filter/drier

A bi-directional filter/drier having a flat header welded to a casing with a desiccant canister disposed in the casing. The header has a dedicated low side pressure inlet port formed in the flat which communicates through a pair of oppositely disposed check valves in a cross passage with two separate bi-directional inlet/outlet ports into which low side pressure flow is permitted to by-pass the desiccant to the bi-directional ports. Individual passages, each with a stiffer check valve are provided between the bi-directional ports for permitting high side pressure to flow in either port into the desiccant. A stand pip through the desiccant is connected to an interior port in the header and communicates with a dedicated outlet port in header exterior.

Filter/drier for reversible heat pump system

A method of attaching and sealing a fluid conduit to a refrigerant receiver drier of the type formed of an aluminum canister with a welded header in which is formed the inlet and outlet ports. An annular rib is formed in the header about the inlet port. An annular convolution is formed about the conduit to be attached adjacent the end and a resilient seal ring assembled over the tube conduit end and registers against the face or side of the convolution. The end of the tube conduit is then inserted in the port and the annular rib deformed over the convolution to retain the tube conduit in the port and sealed against the seal ring.

Conduit attachment to receiver/drier or accumulator

A conduit, to be attached to a fluid port in a block or wall, has an enlarged end with a sealing ring and an attachment plate with a cut-out engaging the enlarged end, preferably with the plate secured against the enlarged end by a retaining ring or convolution. The plate has an attachment hole with a snap ring in the hole which is snap-locked onto a barbed stud threaded into the block retaining the enlarged conduit end in the fluid port. The conduit is disconnected by unthreading the stud through the plate hole from the block.

Conduit fast connection

An aluminum header has spaced inlet and outlet ports formed thereon to closely interfit inlet and outlet tubes. A U-shaped standpipe has one end swaged in the outlet port and the opposite end spaced adjacent the header surface to control flow into the standpipe. A permeable dessicant filled pouch is folded over the standpipe and a deep drawn aluminum canister is received over the pouch and standpipe and welded to the header. An inlet tube with a convolution is received in the inlet port and header material deformed over the convolution to retain the tube. A separate outlet tube with a convolution adjacent one end is inserted in the outlet port from the side opposite the standpipe and header material deformed over the convolution to retain the tube in the outlet port. A bleed hole for lubricant is formed in the standpipe and a filter cartridge received over the standpipe and located over the bleed hole.

Drier/accumulator for refrigerant system and method of making same

A receiver/drier/filter for refrigerant having an aluminum cannister formed integrally with one end closed and an inlet tube and outlet standpipe extending through ports in the closed end and brazed therein with the external tube ends formed at right angles to facilitate external connection. A center tube is received over and sealed on the standpipe with a desiccant filled basket having a cover plate washer received over the center tube through the open end of the cannister as a subassembly. An aluminum cap is brazed over the open end of the cannister to seal the assembly. Alternatively, the basket and center tube are molded integrally of plastic.

Receiver for refrigerant and method of making same

A heat exchanger or condenser for a refrigerant system having an inlet tubular heat exchange surface and an enlarged tubular outlet. A cartridge type filter/drier has a shell or canister containing desiccant secured to a header with an outlet. In one embodiment the header is welded in the condenser enlarged outlet; and, in another embodiment the header is sealed in the enlarged outlet by an o-ring and retained by deforming the outlet tube over the header.

Heat exchanger with integral filter/drier cartridge

A receiver/drier for fluid refrigerant having the housing formed of an aluminum header with a centrally disposed outlet port and off-center inlet port welded to an aluminum canister. A header sub-assembly is formed with an outlet tube with one attached to the header outlet port. A basket with a perforated bottom is filled with desiccant and the open end is attached to the header with the outlet tube ending through an aperture in the bottom of the basket. A layer of filter material is disposed adjacent the perforated bottom of the basket, the inner face of the header has plural concentric grooves interconnecting the inlet port and another layer of filter material disposed adjacent the grooved face of the header; and these grooves distribute flow over the filter in the event of contaminant accumulations in the inlet. The basket is attached to the header to complete the header sub-assembly prior to welding of the header to the aluminum canister.

Receiver/drier

A receiver/dryer assembly for a refrigeration system formed of a drawn aluminum canister having desiccant material contained in a basket secured to an aluminum header welded to the canister. An inlet port is provided in the header and an outlet tube is received through the desiccant basket and is attached to a central outlet port in the header. An inlet tube has an annular convolution formed on one end with an apertured attachment block bearing against the convolution on one side to compress a seal ring on the opposite side for sealing the tube over the inlet port, and the block is fastened to the header with a cap screw. A pair of aluminum studs are welded to the outside of the canister and a retaining bracket received over studs and retained by nuts threaded on the studs.

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Dutton, Canada

William N Eybergen