US3987642A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Control valve for vehicle air conditioning systems
Assignee: Fiat SpA
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Filing: 1975-06-24
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Granted: 1976-10-26
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Expires: 1995-06-24
Abstract
Abstract A control valve for controlling refrigerant circulation in a vehicle air conditioning system has an inlet port and an outlet port for connection to the evaporator and the compressor inlet respectively of the system, and a valve controlling communication between these two ports. First control means in the valve body control the valve in dependence upon one or more external controls including manual controls and second control means control the operation of the valve in dependence upon the thermodynamic conditions, such as the temperature, of the refrigerant fluid.
Inventors
- 👤 Mauro Portoso
- 👤 Aldo Tivoli
- 👤 Marco Peruglia
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 16:43
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05D; G05D23/00; G05D23/185; B; B60; B60H; B60H1/00; B60H1/00485; F; F25; F25B; F25B41/00; F25B41/20; F25B41/24
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
179 words
In a vehicle air conditioning system comprising a compressor, a condenser and an evaporator which in use of the system is arranged in heat exchange relationship with the vehicle compartment to be air conditioned, a control valve controlling the flow of refrigerant fluid in the said system, comprising a body having an inlet of the compressor, valve means controlling communicaton between the said two ports, first control means arranged to control the valve means in dependence upon at least one external control and second control means for controlling the operation of the valve means in dependence upon the thermodynamic conditions of the refrigerant fluid, said valve means comprise a valve seat located between the two ports, a movable valve member coaxial with and cooperating with the valve seat, and a flexible diaphragm supporting the valve member, the combined valve member and diaphragm having different effective areas, such that when both faces of the diaphragm are subjected to equal pressures the valve member contacts the said valve seat so as to cut off communication between said inlet and outlet ports.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
179 words
In a vehicle air conditioning system comprising a compressor, a condenser and an evaporator which in use of the system is arranged in heat exchange relationship with the vehicle compartment to be air conditioned, a control valve controlling the flow of refrigerant fluid in the said system, comprising a body having an inlet of the compressor, valve means controlling communicaton between the said two ports, first control means arranged to control the valve means in dependence upon at least one external control and second control means for controlling the operation of the valve means in dependence upon the thermodynamic conditions of the refrigerant fluid, said valve means comprise a valve seat located between the two ports, a movable valve member coaxial with and cooperating with the valve seat, and a flexible diaphragm supporting the valve member, the combined valve member and diaphragm having different effective areas, such that when both faces of the diaphragm are subjected to equal pressures the valve member contacts the said valve seat so as to cut off communication between said inlet and outlet ports.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
61 words
The control valve defined in claim 1, wherein the surface of the diaphragm facing towards the valve seat is permanently subjected to the pressure of the fluid at the inlet port whilst the other surface of the diaphragm is selectively subjected to the fluid pressure at the inlet port in dependence upon operation of said first and second control means selectively.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
84 words
The control valve defined in claim 2, wherein the first control means comprise a duct permanently connected to the inlet port of the valve, a valve seat terminating said duct, a control chamber within which said seat is located, an obturator cooperating with said valve seat, the said chamber being in communication with the said other surface of the diaphragm, and including a solenoid valve controlling the position of the said obturator, said solenoid valve having a winding which is energisable under external control.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
The control valve defined in claim 3, wherein the duct connecting the control chamber to the inlet port is perpendicular to the valve seat with which the valve member cooperates, and wherein the control chamber is coaxial with the said duct.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
87 words
The control valve defined in claim 1, wherein the second control means comprise a passage permanently connected to the inlet port, a passage permanently connected to the control chamber, a valve seat between the said passages, a movable obturator valve which cooperates with the said valve seat and which is biased into sealing engagement therewith by resilient biasing means, said second control means controlling axial movement of the obturator valve relative to its seat in dependence upon the temperature of the refrigerant fluid in the control valve.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
74 words
The control valve defined in claim 5, wherein the second control means comprise a thermosensitive capsule which is disposed in contact with the refrigerant fluid flowing through the control valve and a rigid axial extension carried by the capsule and bearing against the obturator valve whereby, if the temperature of the fluid rises beyond a predetermined value the expansion of the capsule causes the extension to displace the obturator valve from its valve seat.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
70 words
The control valve defined in claim 6, including means defining within the body a chamber coaxial with the valve seat of the obturator valve, in which chamber the thermosensitive capsule is disposed, the extension of the capsule passing through a section of an internal cavity of the valve body which is sealed from said chamber containing the capsule and which communicates with said passage permanently connected to the control chamber.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
84 words
The control valve defined in claim 7, including an internal duct with which the chamber containing the capsule communicates, a port communicating with said internal duct, said port in use of the valve being connected to the condenser a further duct communicating with said chamber, and a further port communicating with said further duct, which further port in use of the valve is connected to the delivery outlet of the compressor and wherein said ducts are perpendicular to the axis of the said chamber.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
The control valve defined in claim 4, wherein the axes of the valve seats cooperating respectively with the valve member, the obturator of the first control means and the obturator valve of the second control means are mutually perpendicular to each other.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
The control valve defined in claim 1, wherein the valve member is provided with valve means adapted to prevent vibratory movement of the valve member due to pulsating operation of the compressor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
54 words
The control valve defined in claim 10, wherein the valve member has a through hole with which the said valve means cooperate to prevent the flow of the refrigerant fluid from the outlet port to the inlet port and to allow flow in the opposite direction through the said hole in the valve member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
49 words
The control valve defined in claim 11, wherein said valve means comprise means defining an internal chamber in the valve member coaxial with said hole, a perforated baffle in said internal chamber, an obturator ball, and a seat formed in said internal chamber with which said obturator ball cooperates.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3808829A
Cited
US3800551A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-10-26 | 1980-04-26 | 1980-10-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-10-26 | 1984-04-26 | 1984-10-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-10-26 | 1988-04-26 | 1988-10-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |