Compressors for providing automatic capacity modulation and heat exchanging system including the same

A variable compressor, comprising:

• a compression chamber;
• a reexpansion area;
• a flow channel between the compression chamber and the reexpansion area;
• a valve member movable between first and second positions, the valve member in the first position allowing flow between the compression chamber and the reexpansion area and the valve member in the second position preventing flow between the compression chamber and the reexpansion area, whereby the compressor operates at a first capacity when the valve member is in the first position and at a second, increased capacity when the valve member is in the second position;
• and
• a control, associated only with the compressor, for moving the valve member between the first and second positions as a function of an operating parameter of the compressor, whereby the compressor is automatically modulated based on the operating parameter,
• wherein the operating parameter is temperature,
• wherein the valve member moves from the first position to the second position when a discharge temperature of the compressor reaches a predetermined value, and
• wherein a suction pressure of the compressor is applied to one side of the valve member and a temperature element is applied to an opposite side of the valve member.

A compressor, comprising:

• a compression chamber;
• a compressing member movable to compress fluid entering the compression chamber;
• a flow passage in fluid communication with the compression chamber at one end and a reexpansion area at the other end;
• a valve member associated with the flow passage and movable between a first position permitting flow through the flow passage and a second position preventing flow through the flow passage, the valve member being continuously subjected to a first operating condition of the fluid such that a first force is continuously exerted on the valve member in a first direction, the valve member being continuously subjected to a second operating condition of the fluid such that a second force is continuously exerted on the valve member in a second direction opposite to the first direction;
• and
• a biasing member exerting a biasing force on the valve member in the second direction such that when the first force overcomes the biasing force and the second force combined together, the valve member moves from the first position to the second position and modulates the capacity of the compressor.

A compressor, comprising:

• a compression chamber;
• a compressing member movable to compress fluid entering the compression chamber;
• a flow passage in fluid communication with the compression chamber at one end and a reexpansion area at the other end;
• a valve member associated with the flow passage and movable between a first position permitting flow through the flow passage and a second position preventing flow through the flow passage, the valve member being continuously subjected to a first operating condition of the fluid such that a first force is continuously exerted on the valve member in a first direction, the valve member being continuously subjected to a second operating condition of the fluid such that a second force is continuously exerted on the valve member in a second direction opposite to the first direction;
• a biasing member exerting a biasing force on the valve member in the second direction such that when the first force overcomes the biasing force and the second force combined together, the valve member moves from the first position to the second position and modulates the capacity of the compressor;
• and
• a temperature element to exert a thermal force on the valve member in the first direction,
• wherein the first operating condition of the fluid is a discharge condition of the fluid having a discharge pressure and a discharge temperature, and a change in the discharge temperature causes the valve member to move between the first and second positions.

A heat exchanging system having fluid flowing therethrough in a cycle, comprising:

• a condenser;
• an expansion device in fluid communication with the condenser;
• an evaporator in fluid communication with the expansion device;
• a compressor in fluid communication with the evaporator and the condenser, the compressor including an actuating element continuously and opposingly subjected to first and second operating conditions of the fluid and movable between a first position and a second position as a function of the first and second operating conditions, such that the compressor operates at a first capacity when the actuating element is in the first position and at a second capacity when the actuating element is in the second position;
• and
• a control for turning the compressor on or off, based on the demand for heating or cooling.

A method of operating a variable capacity compressor, the method comprising the steps of:

• operating the compressor at a first capacity;
• continuously and opposingly applying first and second pressures to a movable component in the compressor, the movable component causing the compressor to operate at the first capacity when the movable component is in a first position and at a second increased capacity when the movable component is in a second position;
• and
• applying a biasing force to bias the movable component toward the first position, such that the movable component moves to the second position when the relative differential between the first and second pressures reaches a predetermined value, whereby the compressor automatically modulates its capacity based on the relative values of the first and second pressures.

A method of operating a variable capacity compressor, the method comprising the steps of:

• operating the compressor at a first capacity;
• applying first and second pressures to a movable component in the compressor, the movable component causing the compressor to operate at the first capacity when the movable component is in a first position and at a second increased capacity when the movable component is in a second position;
• and
• applying a biasing force to bias the movable component toward the first position, such that the movable component moves to the second position when the relative differential between the first and second pressures reaches a predetermined value, whereby the compressor automatically modulates its capacity based on the relative values of the first and second pressures,
• wherein the compressor is in fluid communication with a condenser exposed to outside air and the method further comprises the step of selecting the biasing force such that the movable component moves to the second position when the temperature of the outside air is greater than a predetermined temperature.

A capacity modulation method, comprising the steps of:

• providing a compressor comprising a compression chamber and a compressing member movable to compress fluid entering the compression chamber;
• providing a flow passage in fluid communication with the compression chamber at one end and a reexpansion area at the other end;
• providing a valve member associated with the flow passage and movable between a first position permitting flow through the flow passage and a second position preventing flow through the flow passage;
• subjecting the valve member continuously to a first operating condition of the fluid such that a first force is continuously exerted on the valve member in a first direction;
• subjecting the valve member continuously to a second operating condition of the fluid such that a second force is continuously exerted on the valve member in a second direction opposite to the first direction;
• and
• exerting a biasing force on the valve member in the second direction such that when the first force overcomes the second force and the biasing force combined together, the valve member moves from the first position to the second position and thereby modulates the capacity.

A capacity modulation method, comprising the steps of:

• providing a compressor comprising a compression chamber and a compressing member movable to compress fluid entering the compression chamber;
• providing a flow passage in fluid communication with the compression chamber at one end and a reexpansion area at the other end;
• providing a valve member associated with the flow passage and movable between a first position permitting flow through the flow passage and a second position preventing flow through the flow passage;
• subjecting the valve member continuously to a first operating condition of the fluid such that a first force is continuously exerted on the valve member in a first direction;
• subjecting the valve member continuously to a second operating condition of the fluid such that a second force is continuously exerted on the valve member in a second direction opposite to the first direction;
• and
• exerting a biasing force on the valve member in the second direction such that when the first force overcomes the second force and the biasing force combined together, the valve member moves from the first position to the second position and thereby modulates the capacity,
• wherein the compressor further includes a temperature element associated with the valve member and the temperature element is subjected to the first operating condition to exert a thermal force on the valve member in the first direction.

A capacity modulation method, comprising the steps of:

• providing a compressor comprising a compression chamber and a compressing member movable to compress fluid entering the compression chamber;
• providing a flow passage in fluid communication with the compression chamber at one end and a reexpansion area at the other end;
• providing a valve member associated with the flow passage and movable between a first position permitting flow through the flow passage and a second position preventing flow through the flow passage;
• subjecting the valve member continuously to a first operating condition of the fluid such that a first force is continuously exerted on the valve member in a first direction;
• subjecting the valve member continuously to a second operating condition of the fluid such that a second force is continuously exerted on the valve member in a second direction opposite to the first direction;
• and
• exerting a biasing force on the valve member in the second direction such that when the first force overcomes the second force and the biasing force combined together, the valve member moves from the first position to the second position and thereby modulates the capacity,
• wherein the compressor is in fluid communication with a condenser exposed to outside air and the method further comprises the step of selecting the biasing force such that the movable component moves to the second position when the temperature of the outside air is greater than a predetermined temperature.