US 5,002,089 AGranted

Variable area refrigerant expansion device for heating mode of a heat pump

AssigneeCarrier Corporation

InventorsWayne R. Reedy, Alan S. Drucker

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Abstract

A refrigerant flow metering device for use in a refrigeration system includes a housing having a flow metering passage extending therethrough. A partition is located within the flow passage of the housing and defines a flow metering port therethrough. The partition divides the flow passage into a high pressure and a low pressure portion. An elongated member extends into the metering port. The elongated member and the metering port cooperate to define a flow metering passage therebetween. The elongated member is configured to vary the cross-sectional area of the flow metering passage in relation to the position of the elongated member to the flow metering port. One end of the elongated rod extends into the low pressure portion of the flow passage. Means are provided for supporting the elongated member within the flow passage and for controlling the axial position of the elongated member within the passage in response to the differential pressure between refrigerant in the low pressure portion and atmospheric pressure.

Claims12

Dependent claims

An expansion device for metering the flow of refrigerant therethrough comprising:

a housing having a flow passage therethrough;
a partition disposed within said flow passage, said partition having a flow metering port extending longitudinally therethrough, said partition dividing said flow passage into a high pressure portion and a low pressure portion;
an elongated member extending into said metering port, said elongated member and said metering port cooperating to define a flow metering passage therebetween, said elongated member being configured to vary the cross-sectional area of said flow metering passage in relation to the position of said member to said port, one end of said elongated rod extending into said low pressure portion of said flow passage;
means for supporting said elongated member within said flow passage and for controlling the axial position of said elongated member within said passage in response to the differential pressure between refrigerant in said low pressure portion and atmospheric pressure;
said means for supporting and controlling comprising a flexible bellows disposed within said low pressure portion of said flow passage, said bellows being axially expansible or contractible in response to the forces acting on one end thereto;
and
said one end of said elongated member being attached to said one end of said bellows, said elongated member including a flow metering geometry bearing portion which decreases in cross-sectional area from a maximum at said one end of said rod attached to said bellows to a minimum at the other end thereof.

4 more elements

An expansion device for metering the flow of refrigerant therethrough in one direction and allowing substantially unrestricted flow of refrigerant therethrough in the opposite direction which comprises:

a body having a flow passage therethrough for passing a flow of refrigerant in either direction, said flow passage including first and second flow openings and a chamber interconnecting said flow openings, said body having an internally extending stop means therewithin positioned intermediate said flow passage;
a piston having a flow metering port passing therethrough, said piston being slideably mounted within said chamber for movement along said flow passage and into stopping engagement with said internally extending stop;
an elongated rod axially disposed within said chamber, said rod having a flow metering geometry formed thereon, said rod extending through said metering port of said piston, said metering port and said flow metering geometry of said rod cooperating to define a flow metering passage therebetween;
means for supporting said rod within said chamber and for controlling the axial position of said rod within said chamber in response to the differential pressure between refrigerant flowing through said expansion device at said second flow opening and atmospheric pressure.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.