Pulsed operation control valve
AssigneeRocky Research
InventorsLance D. Kirol, James W. Langeliers, Travis Chandler
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A valve assembly includes a refrigerant inlet port and a refrigerant outlet port having a restricted opening, with the inlet port opening at least 2 times larger than the restricted outlet port opening. The valve includes components for opening and closing the inlet port in response to valve cavity pressure between the inlet and outlet ports. The larger inlet port relative to the restricted outlet port provides for rapid pressure buildup in the valve cavity when the inlet port is open which, in turn, causes rapid closing of the inlet port. The valve is capable of rapid cycling rates, highly effective for small refrigeration or cooling apparatus, as well as for controlling pressure in other applications requiring pressure regulation.
Claims67
A valve assembly for pulsed operation between open and closed conditions comprising:
- one inlet port for being open and closed during operation having an inlet flow area and a valve for opening and closing said inlet port,
- an open outlet port having an outlet flow area,
- a valve cavity between said inlet port and said outlet port and in open communication therewith,
- said valve being responsive to pressure within said valve cavity for opening and closing said inlet port, and wherein higher pressure therein biases said valve to close said inlet port and lower pressure therein biases said valve to open said inlet port,
- said inlet flow area being larger than said outlet flow area whereby opening said inlet port provides for rapid pressure buildup in said cavity and rapid closure thereof after each opening, whereby said valve is pulsed to rapidly open and close said inlet port during said operation.
A control assembly for controlling superheat of vapor in an evaporator comprising:
- a valve assembly for pulsed operation between open and closed conditions including a liquid refrigerant inlet port and a valve for opening and closing said inlet port, an outlet port communicating with said evaporator, and a valve cavity therebetween,
- said valve being responsive to pressure within said valve cavity for opening and closing said inlet port, wherein higher pressure therein biases said valve to close said inlet port and lower pressure therein biases said valve to open said inlet port,
- said inlet flow area being at least twice the size of said outlet flow area whereby opening said inlet port provides for rapid pressure buildup in said cavity and rapid closure thereof after each opening, whereby said valve is pulsed to rapidly open and close said inlet port during said operation.
A refrigeration apparatus comprising a condenser for condensing refrigerant gas, an evaporator for cooling a load in thermal exposure therewith, and
- a valve assembly for pulsed operation between open and closed conditions for controlling refrigerant flow comprising:
- an inlet port in communication with said condenser having an inlet flow area for receiving condensed refrigerant, and a valve for opening and closing said inlet port,
- an open outlet port having an outlet flow area and communicating with said evaporator for directing liquid refrigerant thereto,
- a valve cavity between said inlet port and said outlet port and in open communication therewith,
- said valve being responsive to pressure within said valve cavity for opening and closing said inlet port, and wherein higher pressure therein biases said valve to close said inlet port and lower pressure therein biases valve to open said inlet port,
- said inlet flow area being at least twice the size of said outlet flow area whereby opening said inlet port provides for rapid pressure buildup in said cavity and rapid closure thereof after each opening, whereby said valve is pulsed to rapidly open and close said inlet port during said operation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.