Flange-mounted inline valve with integrated electrical feed

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12398935-B2
Application number	US-202117906661-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 29, 2021
Priority date	Apr 8, 2020
Publication date	Aug 26, 2025
Grant date	Aug 26, 2025

Abstract

A flange-mounted inline valve arrangement includes a flange having an internal fluid passage, and an inline electrically-operable valve coupled to the flange. The inline valve includes a valve body and a valve member movable relative to the fluid passage in the flange for controlling flow. The valve arrangement also includes an electrical feed that connects to the electrically-operable valve through the flange for enabling an electrical connection external to the flange and other system piping. At least part of the electrical feed may be in a flow path and is fluidly sealed to prevent electrical shorts. The valve arrangement may be installed into the system as a single unit with an exterior coupling of the electrical feed on an exterior part of the flange to easily make the external electrical connection. The valve arrangement may be used in a chiller, where the inline valve is an electronic expansion valve.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A flange-mounted inline valve arrangement, comprising:
a flange having an internal flow passage configured for fluid flow therethrough;
an electrically-operable inline valve having a valve body and a valve member movable relative to the valve body, the valve body being operatively coupled to the flange such that movement of the valve member enables control of fluid flow through the internal flow passage of the flange; and
an electrical feed having a first portion operatively coupled to the inline electrically-operable valve and a second portion extending through the flange for enabling an electrical connection external of the flange,
wherein the flange includes a radially extending portion, and wherein the second portion of the electrical feed includes a radially extending internal passage within the radially extending portion.

2. The valve arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the second portion of the electrical feed includes a first part that opens through an interior portion of the flange and a second part that opens through an exterior portion of the flange.

3. The valve arrangement according to claim 2 , wherein the flange includes fastener receivers for mounting the flange, wherein a region of the interior portion of the flange through which the first part opens is radially inward of the fastener receivers, and wherein a region of the exterior portion of the flange through which the second part opens includes or is radially outward of the fastener receivers.

4. The valve arrangement according to claim 2 , wherein the region of the interior portion of the flange through which the first part opens includes a radially inner surface of the flange configured for exposure to fluid.

5. The valve arrangement according to claim 2 , wherein the region of the exterior portion of the flange through which the second part opens includes a radially outer surface of the flange configured for exposure to ambient environment external of the flange.

6. The valve arrangement according to claim 5 , wherein the radially outer surface of the flange is a radially outer cylindrical peripheral surface of the flange.

7. The valve arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the flange includes a radially inwardly extending portion, and wherein the second portion of the electrical feed includes a radially inwardly extending internal passage within the radially inwardly extending portion, the internal passage having a first opening configured for coupling to an internal passage of the first portion of the electrical feed, and the radially inwardly extending internal passage having an opposite second opening configured for enabling the electrical connection external of the flange.

8. The valve arrangement according to claim 7 , wherein a first electrical feedthrough connector is disposed in the first opening and is coupled to a second part of the first portion of the electrical feed; and wherein a second electrical feedthrough connector is disposed in the second opening and is configured for coupling to an external electrical line.

9. The valve arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the electrical feed includes a conduit having an internal passage, a first end portion operatively coupled to the valve body, and a second end portion operatively coupled to the second portion of the electrical feed.

10. The valve arrangement according to claim 9 , wherein the first end portion of the first portion of the electrical feed is operatively coupled to the valve body with an electrical feedthrough connector.

11. The valve arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the electrical feed is configured for exposure to fluid.

12. The valve arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the electrical feed includes a housing having an internal passage, in which the housing is unitary with the valve body and is mounted to the flange along with the valve as a unit.

13. The valve arrangement according to claim 12 , wherein the internal passage of the second portion is connected to the internal passage of the housing of the first portion.

14. The valve arrangement according to claim 12 , wherein the housing of the electrical feed includes a cover through which an electrical connection to the valve can be made.

15. The valve arrangement according to claim 1 ,
wherein an electrically-operable actuator of the valve is axially proximal a mounting portion of the flange, and an end of the valve member opposite the actuator is axially distal the mounting portion of the flange;
wherein the second portion of the electrical feed includes a second radially extending internal passage through the mounting portion of the flange; and
wherein the first portion of the electrical feed includes a first radially extending internal passage that is an extension of the second passage.

16. The valve arrangement according to claim 15 , wherein at least a portion of the electrically-operable actuator of the valve is axially aligned with an exterior port of the second portion of the electrical feed, and wherein the extension of the second passage with the first passage provides a straight passage.

17. The valve arrangement according to claim 15 , wherein the internal flow passage of the flange is axially offset from the mounting portion of the flange.

18. The valve arrangement according to claim 15 , wherein the internal flow passage is formed by a plate operatively mounted to the mounting portion of the flange via an axially extending support that forms an internal flow chamber, and wherein the valve body is disposed within the internal flow chamber of the support.

19. A cooling system, comprising:
an evaporator, a condenser, a compressor, and the valve arrangement according to claim 1 .

20. A flange-mounted inline valve arrangement, comprising:
a flange having an internal flow passage configured for fluid flow therethrough;
an electrically-operable inline valve having a valve body and a valve member movable relative to the valve body, the valve body being operatively coupled to the flange such that movement of the valve member enables control of fluid flow through the internal flow passage of the flange; and
an electrical feed having a first portion operatively coupled to the inline electrically-operable valve and a second portion extending through the flange for enabling an electrical connection external of the flange,
wherein the first portion of the electrical feed includes a housing having an internal passage, in which the housing is unitary with the valve body and is mounted to the flange along with the valve as a unit.

Assignees

• Parker Hannifin Corp

Inventors

• Coyle Eric R
• Parker Christian D
• Obermark Craig M

Classifications

• F25B2500/221

  Preventing leaks from developing · CPC title

• F25B2500/17

  Size reduction · CPC title

• Y02B30/70

  Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating · CPC title

• F25B2500/18

  Optimization, e.g. high integration of refrigeration components · CPC title

• F25B41/34 Primary

  with the valve member being actuated by electric means, e.g. by piezoelectric actuators · CPC title