Control element and check valve assembly

• US 9,188,375 B2
• Filed: 12/04/2013
• Issued: 11/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zhejiang Dunan Hetian Metals Company Limited (Zhejiang Dun 'an Artificial Environment Co., Ltd)
• Original Assignee: Zhejiang Dunan Hetian Metals Company Limited (Zhejiang Dun 'an Artificial Environment Co., Ltd)
• Inventors: Gurley, Gengxun Kara, Fuller, Edward Nelson, Arunasalam, Parthiban
• Primary Examiner(s): Fristoe, Jr., John K
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sanchez-Medina, Reinaldo
• Application Number:
  US14/096,799
• Publication Number:
  US 20150153081A1
• Time in Patent Office: 713 Days
• Field of Search: 137/493, 137/601.13, 137/601.2, 137/601.21, 137/625.28, 137/625.34, 137/625.35, 236/92.B, 621/60, 623/241, 623/246, 625/27, 625/28
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/1823 for ball check valves
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 3/26 with fluid passages in the valve member
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/42 by means of electrically-actuated members in the supply or discharge conduits of the fluid motor F16K31/40 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 99/0011 Gate valves or sliding valves
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 41/325 having two or more valve members
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 41/33 with the valve member being actuated by the fluid pressure, e.g. by the pressure of the refrigerant
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 41/34 with the valve member being actuated by electric means, e.g. by piezoelectric actuators
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 41/38 specially adapted for reversible cycles, e.g. bidirectional expansion restrictors
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 16/166 using pistons within the main valve
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/0635 by action on throttling means G05D7/0688, G05D7/0694 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/70 Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/2554 Reversing or 4-way valve systems

Abstract

An arrangement includes a housing defining a first and second ports. A first passageway provides communication between the ports; a second passageway provides communication with the first port. An element is disposed in the housing and positioned by a balance of forces, the element is positionable to throttled positions for controlling flow through the first passageway in a first direction and to an open position to permit unrestricted flow in a second direction. A check valve is disposed in the second passageway for preventing flow therein from the first port when pressure in the first port is greater than pressure in the second port, and permitting flow through the second passageway to the first port when pressure in the first port is less than the pressure in the second port thereby affecting the balance of forces acting on the element so the element is urged toward the fully open position.

Claims

1. A valve arrangement, comprising:

a housing defining

a first port for connection to an external fluid circuit;

a second port for connection to the external fluid circuit; and

a first fluid passageway providing fluid communication between the first port and the second port;

a second fluid passageway providing fluid communication with the first port;

a control element disposed in the housing and positioned by a balance of forces acting thereon, the control element being positionable to one or more throttled positions for controlling fluid flow through the first fluid passageway from the first port to the second port, the control element being positionable to a fully open position to permit relatively unrestricted fluid flow through the first fluid passageway from the second port to the first port; and

a check valve disposed in the second fluid passageway for preventing fluid flow through the second fluid passageway from the first port when fluid pressure in the first port is greater than fluid pressure in the second port, and permitting fluid flow through the second fluid passageway to the first port when fluid pressure in the first port is less than the fluid pressure in the second port thereby affecting the balance of forces acting on the control element such that the control element is urged toward the fully open position.

2. The valve arrangement of claim 1, wherein the control element permits a flow rate therethrough from the second port to the first port, which flow rate through the control element is greater than a concurrent flow rate through the check valve.

3. The valve arrangement of claim 1, wherein the control element and the check valve are both disposed in the housing and control flow through fluid passageways defined in the housing.

4. The valve arrangement of claim 1, wherein the control element is disposed in a bore defined in the housing to control flow through the first fluid passageway.

5. The valve arrangement of claim 4, further including a plug sealing an end of the bore defined in the housing.

6. The valve arrangement of claim 5, the plug defining a portion of the second fluid passageway, the check valve being disposed at least partially in the portion of the second fluid passageway defined in the plug.

7. The valve arrangement of claim 5, the housing defining a portion of the second fluid passageway, the check valve being disposed at least partially in the portion of the second fluid passageway defined in the housing.

8. The valve arrangement of claim 1, further including a tube connected to the housing, a portion of at least one of the first fluid passageway and the second fluid passageway being defined in the tube.

9. The valve arrangement of claim 1, wherein the second fluid passageway is defined at least partially external to the housing.

10. The valve arrangement of claim 1, wherein:

the control element has a first end and a second end;

the housing and the control element cooperate to define a command chamber at the first end of the control element, fluid pressure in the command chamber developing a control force tending to move the control element toward a more fully open position;

the housing and the control element cooperate to define a feedback chamber at the second end of the control element, fluid pressure in the feedback chamber developing a feedback force tending to move the control element toward a more fully closed position; and

a portion of the second fluid passageway providing fluid communication between the second port and the check valve being in fluid communication with the feedback chamber.

11. The valve arrangement of claim 10, further including a spring developing a spring force to move the control element toward the more fully closed position.

12. The valve arrangement of claim 10, further including a pilot valve that can be operated to selectively place the command chamber in fluid communication with the first port or the second port.

13. The valve arrangement of claim 12, wherein the pilot valve is a microvalve.

14. The valve arrangement of claim 12, wherein the pilot valve is an open center 3-way microvalve disposed in the command chamber.

15. A valve arrangement, comprising:

a housing defining a first port and a second port;

a check valve which shuts when fluid pressure is greater in the first port than the second port, and which opens when fluid pressure is greater in the second port than the first port; and

an expansion valve for throttling the flow of a refrigerant fluid from the first port to the second port when electrically energized and fluid pressure is greater in the first port than the second port, the expansion valve operating under a balance of forces which cause the expansion valve to move to a closed position when electrically deenergized and fluid pressure is greater in the second port than the first port but for the operation of the check valve, which check valve, when open, causes a balance of forces that cause the expansion valve to move to an open position when electrically deenergized and fluid pressure is greater in the second port than the first port, permitting fluid flow through the expansion valve from the second port to the first port.

16. The valve arrangement of claim 15, wherein the expansion valve permits a flow rate therethrough from the second port to the first port that is greater than a concurrent flow rate through the check valve.

17. The valve arrangement of claim 15, wherein the expansion valve and the check valve are both disposed in the housing.

18. The valve arrangement of claim 15, wherein:

the housing further defines a bore;

the expansion valve further includes a spool disposed in the bore, which spool is movable to control the flow of the refrigerant fluid from the first port to the second port; and

the valve arrangement further includes a plug sealing an end of the bore, the plug defining a passageway communicating with the second port, the check valve being disposed in the passageway.

19. An apparatus, comprising:

a refrigerant expansion valve, including a housing defining a first port;

a second port; and

a first fluid passageway providing refrigerant fluid communication between the first port and the second port; and

a control element disposed in the first passageway, the control element being positionable to one or more throttled positions for controlling fluid flow through the first passageway from the first port to the second port, the control element being positionable to a fully open position to allow a maximum flow rate of refrigerant fluid through the first passageway from the second port to the first port; and

a check valve disposed in a second fluid passageway providing refrigerant fluid communication between the second port and the first port, the check valve preventing refrigerant fluid flow through the second passageway from the first port to the second port, the check valve permitting a second flow rate of refrigerant fluid from the second port to the first port through the second passageway thereby affecting a balance of forces acting on the control element such that the control element is urged toward the fully open position, the maximum flow rate being greater than the second flow rate.