The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 22, 2000
Filed:
Mar. 14, 1997
Richard H Alsenz, Houston, TX (US);
Roger C Ansted, Houston, TX (US);
Barry Bryson, Waller, TX (US);
Jeffrey W Johnson, Sugarland, TX (US);
Paul Malone, Houston, TX (US);
Collin A Rose, Houston, TX (US);
Altech Controls Corporation, Missouri City, TX (US);
Abstract
The present invention discloses an automatic self-adjusting thermally powered expansion valve for controlling the flow of refrigerant to an evaporator of a refrigeration system. The valve includes a differential fluid amplifier transducer which produces a constant flow of refrigerant independent of the liquid line pressure and includes a generally cylindrical interior with an inlet chamber having an inlet port and an outlet chamber having an outlet port and an orifice between the chambers providing a passage for the flow of refrigerant through the valve. The flow of refrigerant through the valve is regulated by a valve element, which moves longitudinally within the chambers with respect to the orifice. The longitudinal position of the valve element is controlled by force generators and sensors. The position of the valve element depends on the fluid pressure and the size of the pressure disks, and the spring constant of the compression spring. As the temperature at the sensors increases, so to does the pressure force on the pressure disks.