US 5,052,190 A · Apparatus for the sensing of refrigerant temperatures and the control of refrigerant loading

Abstract

A new device is provided for sensing refrigerant tempertatures in refrigerator systems, and for the control of refrigerant loading in a plurality of refrigerator evaporator circuit coils connected in parallel. Such evaporator coils are supplied with refrigerant through a termostatically controlled flow control valve, which is controlled by a sensor to ensure a predetermined amount of superheat. The usual minimum superheat is aobut 5.5.degree. C. (10.degree. F.) and to reduce this value the refrigerant is passed through the devide in which it is rendered thoroughly turbulent and mixed, the device intercepting the entire refrigerant flow just before the sensing of the superheat, thus ensuring that the temperature is accurately measured. In one aspect of the invention the device consists of a series of three chambers connected together by two similar sets of holes, the first and third chambers being similar so that it is completely reversible. In another aspect of the invention the part of the device wall intended to receive the sensor is provided with a groove into which the sensor fits snugly to increase the heat exchange contact between them. Grooves of different sizes can be provided in the same device. The heat conductive contact can be increased further by sandwiching a layer of pasty heat conductive material between the sensor and the groove wall that fills the space between them.

Claims18

Dependent claims

Apparatus for the sensing of the temperature of refrigerant exiting from a refrigeration system evaporator coil outlet and for the control in accordance with the temperature sensed by a sensing means of a controllable evaporator valve feeding liquid refrigerant to the evaporator coil inlet, the sensing means comprising a fluid-containing elongated cylindrical bulb connected by a metal capillary tube to a charged diaphragm capsule in the valve, the apparatus comprising:

a turbulating and mixing device having an inlet and an outlet for refrigerant and having therein a refrigerant flow path having at least part of a wall thereof of heat conductive material for sensing the enclosure device interior temperature through the wall part;
the said wall part having formed in a portion thereof a radially outwardly opening groove into which the sensing means cylindrical bulb can be inserted and from which it can be removed, the groove being of transverse cross-section corresponding to that of the part of the cylindrical bulb in the groove whereby the wall of the part of the cylindrical bulb within the groove is in heat exchange contact with the wall part, thereby increasing the area of heat conductive contact of the sensing means cylindrical bulb with the groove wall;
and turbulence and mixing producing means in the flow path intercepting the entire refrigerant flow and creating turbulence and mixing of the refrigerant with changes in the direction of the entire refrigerant flow to ensure turbulence and mixing of all liquid and vapor refrigerant phases present and contact of only mixed phases with at least the groove wall part.

turbulating and mixing device having an inlet and an outlet for refrigerant and having therein a refrigerant flow path having at least part of wall thereof of heat conductive material for sensing the enclosure device interior temperature through the wall part;
the device comprising a first tubular member having a first tubular wall and having at least approximately midway along its interior a transverse barrier member dividing the interior into a first chamber connected to the inlet and a second chamber connected to the outlet and against which the refrigerant flow impinges to produce resultant turbulence in the first chamber;
a second tubular member having a second tubular wall surrounding the first tubular member to form an annular second chamber between the first and second tubular walls;
a first set of bores provided in the part of the first tubular wall of the first passage and directing the refrigerant flow into the second chamber against the inner surface of the second tubular wall, and;
a second set of bores provided in the part of the first tubular wall of the third chamber directing the refrigerant flow from the second chamber into the third chamber.

2 more elements

Apparatus for the sensing of the temperature of refrigerant exiting rom a refrigeration system evaporator coil outlet and for the control in accordance with the temperature sensed by a sensing means of a controllable evaporator valve feeding liquid refrigerant to the evaporator coil inlet, the sensing means comprising a fluid-containing elongated cylindrical bulb connected by a metal capillary tube to a charged diaphragm capsule in the valve, the apparatus comprising:

a length of pipe having an inlet and an outlet for refrigerant and having in its interior a refrigerant flow path having at least part of a wall thereof of heat conductive material for sensing the device interior flow path temperature through the wall part;
the said wall part having formed in a portion thereof a radially outwardly opening groove into which the sensing means cylindrical bulb can be inserted and from which it can be removed, the groove being of transverse cross-section corresponding to that of the part of the cylindrical bulb disposed in the groove whereby the wall of the part of the cylindrical bulb within the groove is in heat exchange contact with the wall part, thereby increasing the area of heat conductive contact of the sensing means cylindrical bulb with the groove wall part.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Apparatus for the sensing of refrigerant temperatures and the control of refrigerant loading

Life of this patent

Apparatus for the sensing of refrigerant temperatures and the control of refrigerant loading

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18