Expansion valve with a distributor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10151517-B2
Application number	US-66471708-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 17, 2008
Priority date	Jun 19, 2007
Publication date	Dec 11, 2018
Grant date	Dec 11, 2018

Abstract

An expansion valve (1) comprising an inlet opening (2) and a distributor (4) being arranged to distribute fluid medium received from the inlet opening to at least two parallel flow paths (3). At least two outlet openings (3) are adapted to deliver fluid in an at least partially gaseous state, and each outlet opening is fluidly connected to one of the parallel flow paths. A first valve part (7) and a second valve part (5) are arranged movably relative to each other in such a manner that the mutual position of the first valve part and the second valve part determines the opening degree of the expansion valve. Since the distributor (4) forms part of the expansion valve, it distributes the fluid medium to the parallel flow paths prior to or during expansion of the fluid medium, i.e. while the fluid medium is in a substantially liquid state. This makes it easier to control the distribution of fluid medium to the parallel flow paths in a uniform manner.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An expansion valve comprising:
an inlet opening adapted to receive fluid medium in a liquid state,
a distributor comprising an inlet part fluidly connected to the inlet opening, the distributor being arranged to distribute fluid medium received from the inlet opening to at least two parallel flow paths,
at least two outlet openings, each being adapted to deliver fluid medium in an at least partly gaseous state, each of the at least two outlet openings being fluidly connected to one of the at least two parallel flow paths, and
a first valve part and a second valve part arranged movably relative to each other in such a manner that the mutual position of the first valve part and the second valve part determines an opening degree of the expansion valve,
wherein the first valve part comprises a first disk having a first set of openings formed therein, and the second valve part comprises a second disk having at least two openings defined therein,
wherein a bottom face of the first disk contacts a top face of the second disk, and
wherein each of the at least two openings of the second disk are individually and directly connected to one of the at least two outlet openings.

2. The expansion valve according to claim 1 , wherein the distributor is arranged in such a manner that at least substantially liquid fluid medium is distributed to each of the at least two parallel flow paths.

3. The expansion valve according to claim 1 , wherein the first valve part and/or the second valve part form(s) part of the distributor.

4. The expansion valve according to claim 1 , wherein the distributor is fluidly connected between the inlet opening and the first and second valve parts.

5. The expansion valve according to claim 1 , wherein the fluid medium is a refrigerant.

6. The expansion valve according to claim 1 , wherein a correspondence between opening degree of the expansion valve and mutual position of the first valve part and the second valve part is defined by a geometry of the first valve part and/or a geometry of the second valve part.

7. The expansion valve according to claim 1 , wherein the first valve part and/or the second valve part is/are movable to obtain a mutual position of the first valve part and the second valve part in which fluid flow to at least one of the at least two parallel flow paths is prevented.

8. The expansion valve according to claim 1 , wherein the first set of openings and the at least two openings of the second disk are arranged in such a manner that openings of the first set of openings and the at least two openings of the second disk can be arranged at least partly overlappingly in response to a mutual rotational movement of the first disk and the second disk, the at least two openings each being fluidly connected to one of the at least two outlet openings, the mutual angular position of the disks defining opening degrees of the expansion valve towards the outlet openings.

9. The expansion valve according to claim 8 , wherein the geometry of the first set of openings and/or the geometry of the at least two openings of the second disk define(s) a correspondence between opening degree of the expansion valve towards the outlet openings and mutual angular position of the first disk and the second disk.

10. The expansion valve according to claim 8 , wherein the number of openings formed in the second disk is larger than the number of openings formed in the first disk.

11. The expansion valve according to claim 8 , further comprising means for biasing the first disk and the second disk in a direction away from each other.

12. The expansion valve according to claim 11 , wherein the biasing means comprises means for regulating at least one pressure occurring at or near the first disk and/or the second disk.

13. The expansion valve according to claim 1 , wherein the first valve part comprises a plurality of valve elements, each arranged movably relative to a valve seat, each valve element/valve seat pair being arranged to control a flow of liquid medium to an outlet opening, and wherein the second valve part comprises a cam shaft arranged to abut the valve elements in such a manner that a position of the cam shaft determines the mutual positions of the valve elements and the valve seats.

14. The expansion valve according to claim 13 , wherein the cam shaft is rotatably movable relative to the valve elements.

15. The expansion valve according to claim 13 , wherein the cam shaft is translationally movable relative to the valve elements.

16. The expansion valve according to claim 15 , wherein movements of the cam shaft are driven by an actuator comprising a thermostatic valve.

17. The expansion valve according to claim 13 , wherein the cam shaft is movable into a position in which at least one of the valve element/valve seat pairs prevents fluid flow to the corresponding flow path.

18. The expansion valve according to claim 1 , further comprising an actuator arranged for driving relative movements of the first valve part and the second valve part in such a manner that fluid flow to each of the at least two outlet openings is thereby simultaneously controlled.

19. A refrigeration system comprising:
at least one compressor,
at least one condenser,
at least two evaporators arranged in parallel along a refrigerant flow path of the refrigeration system, and
a expansion valve according to any of the preceding claims, said expansion valve being arranged in such a manner that each of the at least two outlet openings is arranged to deliver refrigerant to one of the evaporators.

20. An expansion valve comprising:
an inlet opening adapted to receive fluid medium in a liquid state,
a distributor comprising an inlet part fluidly connected to the inlet opening, the distributor being arranged to distribute fluid medium received from the inlet opening to at least two parallel flow paths,
at least two outlet openings, each being adapted to deliver fluid medium in an at least partly gaseous state, each of the at least two outlet openings being fluidly connected to one of the at least two parallel flow paths, and
a first valve part and a second valve part arranged movably relative to each other in such a manner that the mutual position of the first valve part and the second valve part determines an opening degree of the expansion valve,
wherein the first valve part comprises a first disk having a first set of openings formed therein, and the second valve part comprises a second disk having a second set of openings defined therein,
wherein a bottom face of the first disk contacts a top face of the second disk,
wherein each of the first disk and the second disk are enclosed within a housing, and
wherein each of the first disk and the second disk rotates relative to each other.

Assignees

• Thybo Claus
• Bram Leo
• Pawlik Jens
• Danfoss As

Inventors

• Thybo Claus
• Bram Leo
• Pawlik Jens

Classifications

• F25B41/062 Primary

  Mechanical Engineering · mapped topic

• F16K11/074

  with flat sealing faces · CPC title

• F25B2600/2511

  Evaporator distribution valves · CPC title

• F25B2341/0661

  Mechanical Engineering · mapped topic

• F16K11/04 Primary

  comprising only lift valves · CPC title