Control valve for variable capacity vane compressor

In a compressor having a housing containing a compression chamber, an intake chamber on one end of the compression chamber and a discharge chamber on the other end of the compression chamber, a rotatably driven rotor having a plurality of radial vanes and extending axially through the compression chamber, a rotary valve plate rotatably carried in the intake chamber and configured to vary the position of an opening from the intake chamber to the compression chamber, an actuator member, an orifice communicating pressure from the discharge chamber to the actuator member for rotating the valve plate, and control valve means for changing the pressure applied to the actuator through the orifice, the control valve means comprising:

• a cavity formed in the housing, the cavity having an axis, a suction pressure portion and a control pressure portion spaced axially from the suction pressure portion;
• the suction pressure portion being in communication with the intake chamber;
• a control pressure passage communicating the control pressure portion of the cavity with the actuator member;
• a modular control valve assembly located in the cavity, comprising:
• an end cap;
• a valve seat member positioned opposite the end cap, having a valve seat, a valve element which movably engages the seat;
• the valve seat member having a control pressure port leading from the valve seat to the control pressure portion of the cavity;
• a bellows having one end in contact with the end cap, and on an opposite end a stem located on the cavity axis which engages the valve element;
• a sleeve extending between the end cap and valve seat member, enclosing the bellows, the sleeve having a suction port exposing the exterior of the bellows to the suction pressure portion of the cavity;
• seal means on the modular control valve assembly for sealingly separating the suction pressure portion from the control pressure portion;
• wherein at least one of the end cap and the valve seat member has a neck over which one end of the sleeve slidingly inserts;
• and
• connection means for connecting the sleeve to the neck at variable axial positions for varying the distance between the end cap and valve seat member, to allow a suction pressure set point adjustment to be made for the bellows prior to positioning the modular control valve in the cavity.

In a compressor having a housing containing a compression chamber, an intake chamber on one end of the compression chamber and a discharge chamber on the other end of the compression chamber, a rotatably driven rotor having a plurality of radial vanes and extending axially through the compression chamber, a rotary valve plate rotatably carried in the intake chamber and configured to vary the position of an opening from the intake chamber to the compression chamber, an actuator member, an orifice communicating pressure from the discharge chamber to the actuator member for rotating the valve plate, and control valve means for changing the pressure applied to the actuator through the orifice, the control valve means comprising:

• a cavity formed in the housing, the cavity having an axis, a suction pressure portion and a control pressure portion spaced axially from the suction pressure portion;
• the suction pressure portion being in communication with the intake chamber;
• a control pressure passage communicating the control pressure portion of the cavity with the actuator member;
• a modular control valve assembly located in the cavity, comprising:
• an end cap;
• a valve seat member positioned opposite the end cap, having a valve seat, a valve element which movably engages the seat;
• the valve seat member having a control pressure port leading from the valve seat to the control pressure portion of the cavity;
• a bellows having one end in contact with the end cap, and on an opposite end a stem located on the cavity axis which engages the valve element;
• a sleeve extending between the end cap and valve seat member, enclosing the bellows, the sleeve having a suction port exposing the exterior of the bellows to the suction pressure portion of the cavity;
• seal means on the modular control valve assembly for sealingly separating the suction pressure portion from the control pressure portion;
• and
• wherein at least one of the end cap and the valve seat member has a threaded neck, and wherein the sleeve has a threaded end which engages the threaded neck, the threaded end and threaded neck allowing an axial distance between the end cap and the valve seat member to be varied during assembly of the modular control valve.

In a compressor having a housing containing a compression chamber, an intake chamber on one end of the compression chamber and a discharge chamber on the other end of the compression chamber, a rotatably driven rotor having a plurality of radial vanes and extending axially through the compression chamber, a rotary valve plate rotatably carried in the intake chamber and configured to vary the position of an opening from the intake chamber to the compression chamber, an actuator member, an orifice communicating pressure from the discharge chamber to the actuator member for rotating the valve plate, and control valve means for changing the pressure applied to the actuator through the orifice, the control valve means comprising:

• a cavity formed in the housing, the cavity having an axis, a suction pressure portion and a control pressure portion spaced axially from the suction pressure portion;
• the suction pressure portion being in communication with the intake chamber;
• a control pressure passage communicating the control pressure portion of the cavity with the actuator member;
• a modular control valve assembly located in the cavity, comprising:
• an end cap;
• a valve seat member positioned opposite the end cap, having a valve seat, a valve element which movably engages the seat;
• the valve seat member having a control pressure port leading from the valve seat to the control pressure portion of the cavity;
• a bellows having one end in contact with the end cap, and on an opposite end a stem located on the cavity axis which engages the valve element;
• a sleeve extending between the end cap and valve seat member, enclosing the bellows, the sleeve having a suction port exposing the exterior of the bellows to the suction pressure portion of the cavity;
• seal means on the modular control valve assembly for sealingly separating the suction pressure portion from the control pressure portion;
• and
• wherein the control pressure portion has a smaller diameter than the suction pressure portion.

In a compressor having a housing containing a compression chamber, an intake chamber on one end of the compression chamber and a discharge chamber on the other end of the compression chamber, a rotatably driven rotor having a plurality of radial vanes and extending axially through the compression chamber, a rotary valve plate rotatably carried in the intake chamber and configured to vary the position of an opening from the intake chamber to the compression chamber, an actuator member for rotating the valve plate, and control valve means for supplying a variable control pressure to the actuator member for moving the actuator member and valve plate in response to varying pressures in the intake chamber and discharge chamber, the control valve means comprising:

• a cavity formed in the housing, the cavity having an axis, a suction pressure portion, a discharge pressure portion spaced axially from the suction pressure portion, and a control pressure portion located between the discharge pressure portion and the suction pressure portion;
• the suction pressure portion being in communication with the intake chamber;
• a discharge pressure passage communicating the discharge pressure portion with the discharge chamber;
• a control pressure passage communicating the control pressure portion of the cavity with the actuator member;
• a modular control valve assembly located in the cavity, comprising.:
• an end cap;
• a valve seat member positioned opposite the end cap, having a valve seat, a valve element which movably engages the seat and which is urged by discharge pressure in the discharge pressure portion of the cavity into engagement with the seat;
• the valve seat member having a control pressure port leading from the valve seat to the control pressure portion of the cavity;
• the valve seat member having an orifice leading from the discharge portion of the cavity to the control pressure portion of the cavity;
• a bellows having one end in contact with the end cap, and on an opposite end a stem located on the cavity axis which engages the valve element;
• a sleeve extending between the end cap and valve seat member, enclosing the bellows, the sleeve having a suction port exposing the exterior of the bellows to the suction pressure portion of the cavity;
• seal means on the modular control valve assembly for sealingly separating the suction pressure portion, the control pressure portion, and the discharge pressure portion from each other, so that when suction pressure is above a selected point, the valve element will be closed and discharge pressure will be applied through the orifice and control pressure passage to the actuator, and when suction pressure decreases sufficiently for expansion of the bellows to overcome a force on the valve element caused by discharge pressure, the bellows will move the valve element from the valve seat, allowing pressure on the actuator to reduce through the control pressure passage, control pressure port, valve seat, suction port, and suction pressure portion of the cavity;
• and
• adjustment means for varying the distance between the end cap and valve seat member to allow a suction pressure set point adjustment to be made for the bellows prior to positioning the modular control valve in the cavity.

In a compressor having a housing containing a compression chamber, an intake chamber on one end of the compression chamber and a discharge chamber on the other end of the compression chamber, a rotatably driven rotor having a plurality of radial vanes and extending axially through the compression chamber, a rotary valve plate rotatably carried in the intake chamber and configured to vary the position of an opening from the intake chamber to the compression chamber, an actuator member for rotating the valve plate, and control valve means for supplying a variable control pressure to the actuator member for moving the actuator member and valve plate in response to varying pressures in the intake chamber and discharge chamber, the control valve means comprising:

• a cavity formed in the housing, the cavity having an axis, a suction pressure portion, a discharge pressure portion spaced axially from the suction pressure portion, and a control pressure portion located between the discharge pressure portion and the suction pressure portion;
• the suction pressure portion being in communication with the intake chamber;
• a discharge pressure passage communicating the discharge pressure portion with the discharge chamber;
• a control pressure passage communicating the control pressure portion of the cavity with the actuator member;
• a modular control valve assembly located in the cavity, comprising:
• an end cap;
• a valve seat member positioned opposite the end cap, having a valve seat, a valve element which movably engages the seat and which is urged by discharge pressure in the discharge pressure portion of the cavity into engagement with the seat;
• the valve seat member having a control pressure port leading from the valve seat to the control pressure portion of the cavity;
• the valve seat member having an orifice leading from the discharge portion of the cavity to the control pressure portion of the cavity;
• a bellows having one end in contact with the end cap, and on an opposite end a stem located on the cavity axis which engages the valve element;
• a sleeve extending between the end cap and valve seat member, enclosing the bellows, the sleeve having a suction port exposing the exterior of the bellows to the suction pressure portion of the cavity;
• seal means on the modular control valve assembly for sealingly separating the suction pressure portion, the control pressure portion, and the discharge pressure portion from each other, so that when suction pressure is above a selected point, the valve element will be closed and discharge pressure will be applied through the orifice and control pressure passage to the actuator, and when suction pressure decreases sufficiently for expansion of the bellows to overcome a force on the valve element caused by discharge pressure, the bellows will move the valve element from the valve seat, allowing pressure on the actuator to reduce through the control pressure passage, control pressure port, valve seat, suction port, and suction pressure portion of the cavity;
• wherein at least one of the end cap and the valve seat member has a neck over which one end of the sleeve slidingly inserts;
• and
• connection means for connecting the sleeve to the neck at variable axial positions for varying the distance between the end cap and valve seat member to allow a suction pressure set point adjustment to be made for the bellows prior to positioning the modular control valve in the cavity.

In a compressor having a housing containing a compression chamber, an intake chamber on one end of the compression chamber and a discharge chamber on the other end of the compression chamber, a rotatably driven rotor having a plurality of radial vanes and extending axially through the compression chamber, a rotary valve plate rotatably carried in the intake chamber and configured to vary the position of an opening from the intake chamber to the compression chamber, an actuator member for rotating the valve plate, and control valve means for supplying a variable control pressure to the actuator member for moving the actuator member and valve plate in response to varying pressures in the intake chamber and discharge chamber, the control valve means comprising:

• a cavity formed in the housing, the cavity having an axis, a suction pressure portion, a discharge pressure portion spaced axially from the suction pressure portion, and a control pressure portion located between the discharge pressure portion and the suction pressure portion;
• the suction pressure portion being in communication with the intake chamber;
• a discharge pressure passage communicating the discharge pressure portion with the discharge chamber;
• a control pressure passage communicating the control pressure portion of the cavity with the actuator member;
• a modular control valve assembly located in the cavity, comprising:
• an end cap;
• a valve seat member positioned opposite the end cap, having a valve seat, a valve element which movably engages the seat and which is urged by discharge pressure in the discharge pressure portion of the cavity into engagement with the seat;
• the valve seat member having a control pressure port leading from the valve seat to the control pressure portion of the cavity;
• the valve seat member having an orifice leading from the discharge portion of the cavity to the control pressure portion of the cavity;
• a bellows having one end in contact with the end cap, and on an opposite end a stem located on the cavity axis which engages the valve element;
• a sleeve extending between the end cap and valve seat member, enclosing the bellows, the sleeve having a suction port exposing the exterior of the bellows to the suction pressure portion of the cavity;
• seal means on the modular control valve assembly for sealingly separating the suction pressure portion, the control pressure portion, and the discharge pressure portion from each other, so that when suction pressure is above a selected point, the valve element will be closed and discharge pressure will be applied through the orifice and control pressure passage to the actuator, and when suction pressure decreases sufficiently for expansion of the bellows to overcome a force on the valve element caused by discharge pressure, the bellows will move the valve element from the valve seat, allowing pressure on the actuator to reduce through the control pressure passage, control pressure port, valve seat, suction port, and suction pressure portion of the cavity;
• and
• wherein at least one of the end cap and the valve seat member has a threaded neck, and wherein the sleeve has a threaded end which engages the threaded neck, the threaded end and threaded neck allowing an axial distance between the end cap and the valve seat member to be varied.

In a compressor having a housing containing a compression chamber, an intake chamber on one end of the compression chamber and a discharge chamber on the other end of the compression chamber, a rotatably driven rotor having a plurality of radial vanes and extending axially through the compression chamber, a rotary valve plate rotatably carried in the intake chamber and configured to vary the position of an opening from the intake chamber to the compression chamber, an actuator member for rotating the valve plate, and control valve means for supplying a variable control pressure to the actuator member for moving the actuator member and valve plate in response to varying pressures in the intake chamber and discharge chamber, the control valve means comprising:

• a cavity formed in the housing, the cavity having an axis, a suction pressure portion, a discharge pressure portion spaced axially from the suction pressure portion, and a control pressure portion located between the discharge pressure portion and the suction pressure portion;
• the suction pressure portion being in communication with the intake chamber;
• a discharge pressure passage communicating the discharge pressure portion with the discharge chamber;
• a control pressure passage communicating the control pressure portion of the cavity with the actuator member;
• a modular control valve assembly located in the cavity, comprising;
• an end cap;
• a valve seat member positioned opposite the end cap, having a valve seat, a valve element which movably engages the seat and which is urged by discharge pressure in the discharge pressure portion of the cavity into engagement with the seat;
• the valve seat member having a control pressure port leading from the valve seat to the control pressure portion of the cavity;
• the valve seat member having an orifice leading from the discharge portion of the cavity to the control pressure portion of the cavity;
• a bellows having one end in contact with the end cap, and on an opposite end a stem located on the cavity axis which engages the valve element;
• a sleeve extending between the end cap and valve seat member, enclosing the bellows, the sleeve having a suction port exposing the exterior of the bellows to the suction pressure portion of the cavity;
• seal means on the modular control valve assembly for sealingly separating the suction pressure portion, the control pressure portion, and the discharge pressure portion from each other, so that when suction pressure is above a selected point, the valve element will be closed and discharge pressure will be applied through the orifice and control pressure passage to the actuator, and when suction pressure decreases sufficiently for expansion of the bellows to overcome a force on the valve element caused by discharge pressure, the bellows will move the valve element from the valve seat, allowing pressure on the actuator to reduce through the control pressure passage, control pressure port, valve seat, suction port, and suction pressure portion of the cavity;
• and
• wherein the discharge pressure portion has a smaller diameter than the control pressure portion, and the control pressure portion has a smaller diameter than the suction pressure portion.

In a compressor having a housing containing a compression chamber, an intake chamber on one end of the compression chamber and a discharge chamber on the other end of the compression chamber, a rotatably driven rotor having a plurality of radial vanes and extending axially through the compression chamber, a rotary valve plate rotatably carried in the intake chamber and configured to vary the position of an opening from the intake chamber to the compression chamber, an actuator member for rotating the valve plate, and control valve means for supplying a variable control pressure to the actuator member for moving the actuator member and valve plate in response to varying pressures in the intake chamber and discharge chamber, the control valve means comprising:

• a cavity formed in the housing, the cavity having an axis, a suction pressure portion, a discharge pressure portion spaced axially from the suction pressure portion, and a control pressure portion located between the discharge pressure portion and the suction pressure portion;
• the suction pressure portion being in communication with the intake chamber;
• a discharge pressure passage communicating the discharge pressure portion with the discharge chamber;
• a control pressure passage communicating the control pressure portion of the cavity with the actuator member;
• a modular control valve assembly located in the cavity, comprising:
• an end cap;
• a valve seat member positioned opposite the end cap, having a valve seat, a valve element which movably engages the seat, a spring which urges the valve element into engagement with the seat, and a bias pin movably carried in a discharge pressure port in the valve seat member on the cavity axis and having a first end engaging the valve element on the same side as the spring, the discharge pressure port exposing a second end of the bias pin to the discharge pressure portion of the cavity;
• the valve seat member having a control pressure port leading from the valve seat to the control pressure portion of the cavity;
• the valve seat member having an orifice leading from the discharge portion of the cavity to the control pressure portion of the cavity;
• a bellows having one end in contact with the end cap, and on an opposite end a stem located on the cavity axis which engages the valve element opposite the spring and bias pin;
• a sleeve extending between the end cap and valve seat member, enclosing the bellows, the sleeve having a suction port exposing the exterior of the bellows to the suction pressure portion of the cavity;
• connection means for connecting the sleeve between the end cap and the valve seat member with the end cap and the valve seat member being at variable axial distances from each other during assembly of the modular control valve;
• and
• seal means on the modular control valve assembly for sealingly separating the suction pressure portion, the control pressure portion, and the discharge pressure portion from each other, so that when suction pressure is above a selected point, the valve element will be closed and discharge pressure will be applied through the orifice and control pressure passage to the actuator, and when suction pressure decreases sufficiently for expansion of the bellows to overcome a force on the valve element caused by the spring plus discharge pressure acting on the bias pin, the stem of the bellows will move the valve element from the valve seat, allowing pressure on the actuator to reduce through the control pressure passage, control pressure port, valve seat, suction port, and suction pressure portion of the cavity.

A method of installing a control valve for a compressor, the compressor having a housing containing a compression chamber, an intake chamber on one end of the compression chamber and a discharge chamber on the other end of the compression chamber, a rotary valve plate rotatably carried in the intake chamber and configured to vary the position of an opening from the intake chamber to the compression chamber, and an actuator member for rotating the valve plate, comprising the steps of:

• forming a cavity in the housing, the cavity having an axis, a suction pressure portion which communicates with the intake chamber, a discharge pressure portion spaced axially from the suction pressure portion and which communicates with the discharge chamber, and a control pressure portion located between the discharge pressure portion and the suction pressure portion and which communicates the control pressure portion of the cavity with the actuator member;
• providing a modular control valve assembly, comprising:
• an end cap;
• a valve seat member positioned opposite the end cap, having a control pressure port, an orifice, a valve seat, a valve element which movably engages the seat, and a discharge pressure port for applying a force to the valve element resulting from discharge pressure;
• a bellows having one end in contact with the end cap, and on an opposite end a stem located on the cavity axis which engages the valve element;
• and
• a sleeve extending between the end cap and valve seat member, enclosing the bellows, the sleeve having a suction port exposing the exterior of the bellows to the suction pressure portion of the cavity;
• then
• prior to installing the modular control valve assembly in the cavity, applying and monitoring pressures at the suction port, control passage and discharge pressure port at preselected levels;
• then
• varying the axial distance between the end cap and the valve seat member until expansion of the bellows causes the stem to overcome a force exerted by the discharge pressure on the valve element, moving the valve element from the valve seat;
• then
• securing the sleeve, end cap, and valve seat member to each other at the desired axial distance when the valve element moved from the valve seat;
• then
• inserting the modular control valve assembly into the cavity, with the discharge pressure port in the discharge pressure portion, the control port in the control pressure portion, and the suction port in the suction pressure portion, and sealing the discharge pressure portion, control pressure portion and suction pressure portion from each other.