Combination reversing valve and expansion device for a reversible refrigeration circuit

An expansion device for use with a reversible refrigeration circuit which comprises:

• a valve housing having a first refrigerant connection and a second refrigerant connection;
• a valve gate mounted within the valve housing, said valve gate defining at least two distinct passageways for conducting refrigerant between the first connection and the second connection, at least one of said passageways including a flow restriction to create a pressure drop in the refrigerant flowing therethrough;
• and
• means for displacing the valve gate such that when the valve is in a first position a first passageway having a predetermined flow restriction forms a fluid flow path between the connections and when the valve is in a second position a second passageway having a preselected flow restriction forms a fluid flow path between the connections.

An expansion device for use with a refrigeration circuit which comprises:

• a valve housing having a refrigerant inlet and a refrigerant outlet
• a movable valve body mounted within the valve housing, said valve body defining a plurality of distinct flow restrictive passageways, each passageway having a configuration selected to effect a predetermined pressure drop of the refrigerant flowing therethrough;
• and
• means to displace the valve body such that one of the passageways forms a fluid flow path from the refrigerant inlet to the refrigerant outlet whereby by the selection of the appropriate passageway the pressure drop of the refrigerant flowing through the passageway is regulated.