Automotive thermostatic expansion valve with reduced hiss
US8047449B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 28, 2009 |
| Grant date | Nov 1, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 2, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF25B2500/01
- WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An expansion valve for an air conditioning system circulates refrigerant through a fixed-displacement compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator. An inlet is provided for receiving refrigerant liquefied in the condenser. An outlet of the expansion valve supplies refrigerant to the evaporator. A valve element controls flow of refrigerant between the inlet and the outlet, wherein the valve element is normally closed. A control assembly is coupled to the valve element and is responsive to at least one temperature or pressure in the air conditioning system to open the valve element to variably meter the refrigerant to the evaporator. A bleed passage bypasses the valve element to conduct refrigerant between the inlet and the outlet. The bleed passage is adapted to bleed refrigerant to the evaporator immediately after the compressor shuts off to prime the air conditioning system for a lower superheat when the compressor turns on, and the bleed path has a flow capacity substantially smaller than the flow capacity of the main valve aperture.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.