Thermal expansion valve and system including such device and method for making such device
OwnerLawrence G. Clawsoninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A thermal expansion valve comprises a metal tube for flowing a fluid therethrough, and a metal rod fixed only at a first end in the tube and disposed wholly within the tube, the metal tube having a greater coefficient of expansion than the metal rod. A plug having an orifice therethrough is disposed in the tube proximate a free end of the rod. Lengthwise thermal expansion and contraction of the tube and the rod caused by the temperature of the fluid in the tube and around the rod causes the free end of the rod to retreat from the plug to increase flow of the fluid therethrough, and causes the free end of the rod to approach the plug to restrict flow of the fluid therethrough, respectively.
Claims15
A thermal expansion valve comprising:
- a metal tube having interior walls defining a flow path between two bodies for a fluid, said metal tube interior walls being disposed for contact with the fluid flowed through said flow path;
- a metal rod fixed only at a first end to said tube interior walls and in said flow path defined by said tube and disposed wholly within said tube, only outer surfaces of said metal rod being disposed for contact with the fluid flowed through said tube flow path, said metal tube having a greater coefficient of expansion than said metal rod;
- and
- a plug having an orifice therethrough, said plug being fixed to said interior walls of said tube and disposed in said flow path defined by said tube proximate a free end of said rod;
- wherein lengthwise thermal expansion and contraction of said tube and said rod caused by temperature of the fluid in said tube flow path and around said rod cause said free end of said rod to retreat in said flow path from said plug to increase flow of the fluid through said plug orifice, and cause said free end of said rod to move in said flow path toward said plug to restrict flow of the fluid through said plug orifice, respectively.
A thermal expansion valve assembly comprising:
- a first tube interconnecting first and second bodies for flow of fluid from said first body to said second body;
- a metal second tube interconnecting a third body and said first body for flow of liquid from said third body toward said first body, a first portion of said second tube being disposed adjacent said first tube;
- a metal rod fixed only at a first end in, and wholly contained in said second tube, a free second end of said rod extending from said first tube and into another portion of said second tube proximate said first body;
- and
- a plug having an orifice therethrough disposed in the other portion of said second tube and proximate said free end of said rod;
- said metal second tube and said metal rod having different coefficients of expansion;
- whereby thermal expansion and contraction of said second tube and said rod caused by temperature of the liquid in said second tube causes said free end of said rod to retreat from said plug to increase flow of the liquid therethrough, and causes said free end of said rod to approach said plug to restrict flow of the liquid therethrough, respectively.
A thermal expansion valve assembly for a refrigeration system, the assembly comprising:
- a first tube interconnecting an evaporator and a compressor for flow of fluid from said evaporator to said compressor;
- a metal second tube interconnecting a condenser and said evaporator, for flow of liquid refrigerant from said condenser to said evaporator;
- a metal rod fixed only at a first end in, and extending through, said second tube and spaced from said second tube, a free second end of said rod extending from said first tube and into a portion of said second tube proximate said evaporator;
- and
- a plug having an orifice therethrough, said plug being disposed in said portion of said second tube and proximate said free end of said rod;
- said rod and said second tube having different coefficients of expansion;
- whereby thermal expansion and contraction of said rod and said second tube caused by temperature of the liquid refrigerant in said second tube causes said free end of said rod to retreat from said plug orifice to increase flow of the refrigerant therethrough, and causes said free end of said rod to approach said plug orifice to restrict flow of the refrigerant therethrough, respectively.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.