US4503685A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Oil control valve for refrigeration system
Assignee: Hussmann Corp
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Filing: 1984-04-12
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Granted: 1985-03-12
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Expires: 2004-04-12
Abstract
Abstract A pressure regulating valve for use in the oil separation and delivery system of a refrigeration system, including a valve body having an oil inlet chamber for connection with a separated liquid source on the high pressure side of refrigeration system compressor means, an oil outlet adapted for low pressure connection with oil level controls for the compressor means, internal valve means for controlling oil flow between the high side and low side chambers, and movable pressure means responsive to oil outlet pressure and compressor suction pressure acting in opposition for regulating said internal valve means.
Inventors
- 👤 Leonard J. DiCarlo
- 👤 Roland A. Ares
- 👤 Robert O. Norton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 20:33
CPC Classifications
F; F04; F04B; F04B39/00; F04B39/16; F25; F25B; F25B31/00; F25B31/002; F25B31/004; F25B41/00; F25B41/20; F25B41/24; F25B43/00; F25B43/02; G; G05; G05D; G05D23/00; G05D23/01; G05D23/12; G05D23/125; G05D23/126; F25B2400/00; F25B2400/02; F25B2400/07; F25B2400/075; F25B2400/16; F25B2400/22
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
151 words
In an oil separation system for a refrigeration system having compressor means with a high pressure discharge side and a low pressure suction side, and which system includes oil reservoir means forming a high pressure source of liquid oil, and oil delivery means having oil level control means comprising an oil float valve sensing the oil level in said compressor means and adapted to feed oil upon demand to maintain a predetermined oil level for said compressor means; the improvement comprising pressure differential valve means adapted to be disposed in an oil return line between said oil reservoir means and said oil float valve, said pressure differential valve including pressure regulating means constructed and arranged to produce a substantial drop in oil pressure thereacross from the high side oil pressures prevailing in said reservoir means to a preselected low side pressure differential relative to the suction pressure of said compressor means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
151 words
In an oil separation system for a refrigeration system having compressor means with a high pressure discharge side and a low pressure suction side, and which system includes oil reservoir means forming a high pressure source of liquid oil, and oil delivery means having oil level control means comprising an oil float valve sensing the oil level in said compressor means and adapted to feed oil upon demand to maintain a predetermined oil level for said compressor means; the improvement comprising pressure differential valve means adapted to be disposed in an oil return line between said oil reservoir means and said oil float valve, said pressure differential valve including pressure regulating means constructed and arranged to produce a substantial drop in oil pressure thereacross from the high side oil pressures prevailing in said reservoir means to a preselected low side pressure differential relative to the suction pressure of said compressor means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
The improved pressure differential valve according to claim 1, in which said pressure regulating means includes spring means for establishing a fixed pressure relationship between compressor suction pressure and downstream oil pressure, and means for adjusting said spring means for changing the selected pressure differential.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
132 words
The improved pressure differential valve according to claim 1, in which said pressure differential valve means comprises an oil inlet chamber in high side pressure communication with said oil reservoir means, an oil outlet chamber in low side pressure communication with said oil level control means for said compressor means, spring-loaded check valve means adapted to open to establish oil flow between said high side and low side chambers, and movable pressure means responsive to oil outlet pressure and compressor suction pressure acting in opposition thereon and being engagable to close said check valve in opposition to the spring force thereon to control oil flow between said high side and low side chambers and maintain a preselected differential pressure of the low side oil outlet relative to the low side suction pressure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
84 words
The improved pressure differential valve according to claim 3, in which said movable pressure means comprises a flexible diaphragm being acted on in one direction by said spring-loaded check valve means biased toward an open position, one side of said diaphragm being pressurized in said one direction by fluid communication with said compressor suction side, and the other side of said diaphragm being pressurized by fluid communication with said oil outlet to move in the opposite direction and act toward closing said check valve.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
The improved pressure differential valve according to claim 4, in which said fluid communication between said oil outlet side and said other side of said diaphrgam comprises an internal equalizer connection between said low side chamber and said other side of said diaphragm.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
58 words
The improved pressure differential valve according to claim 3, in which said check valve is biased toward an open position by spring means having an adjustable seat for varying the pressure setting thereof whereby the preselected differential pressure of said valve can be regulated, and said high side chamber is in open fluid communication with said spring means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The improved pressure differential valve according to claim 6, in which said adjustable seat is ported to establish said fluid communication between said oil reservoir means and said oil inlet chamber.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The improved pressure differential valve according to claim 6, in which said oil inlet chamber is connected to said oil reservoir by a lateral port connection independent of said adjustable seat of said spring means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
148 words
A pressure differential valve adapted to be disposed for use between oil separator means having oil reservoir means as a source of liquid oil and the compressor means of a refrigeration system, said pressure regulating valve comprising an oil inlet chamber adapted for high side pressure communication with said oil reservoir means, an oil outlet chamber adapted for low side pressure communication with said compressor means, spring-loaded check valve means adapted to open to establish oil flow between said high side and low side chambers, and movable pressure means responsive to oil outlet pressure and compressor suction pressure acting in opposition thereon and being engagable to close said check valve in opposition to the spring force thereon to control oil flow between said high side and low side chambers and maintain a preselected differential pressure of the low side oil outlet relative to the low side suction pressure.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
148 words
A pressure differential valve adapted to be disposed for use between oil separator means having oil reservoir means as a source of liquid oil and the compressor means of a refrigeration system, said pressure regulating valve comprising an oil inlet chamber adapted for high side pressure communication with said oil reservoir means, an oil outlet chamber adapted for low side pressure communication with said compressor means, spring-loaded check valve means adapted to open to establish oil flow between said high side and low side chambers, and movable pressure means responsive to oil outlet pressure and compressor suction pressure acting in opposition thereon and being engagable to close said check valve in opposition to the spring force thereon to control oil flow between said high side and low side chambers and maintain a preselected differential pressure of the low side oil outlet relative to the low side suction pressure.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
44 words
The pressure differential valve according to claim 9, in which said check valve is biased toward an open position by a spring means having an adjustable seat for varying the pressure setting thereof whereby the preselected differential pressure of said valve can be regulated.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
The pressure differential valve according to claim 9, which includes an internal equalizer connection between said low side chamber and the side of said movable pressure means responsive to said oil outlet pressure.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
123 words
An oil control valve for use in an oil separation system for a multiple compressor refrigeration system in which oil and refrigerant separating means and oil reservoir means are provided on the high pressure discharge side of said compressors and which also has oil level sensing and feeding means for the respective compressors, said oil control valve being adapted to be disposed in said oil separation system between said high pressure oil reservoir and said oil level sensing and feeding means for at least one of said multiple compressors, said oil control valve comprising an oil inlet chamber and an oil outlet chamber, and pressure differential means responsive to a preselected low side pressure differential for producing a substantial oil pressure drop thereacross.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
123 words
An oil control valve for use in an oil separation system for a multiple compressor refrigeration system in which oil and refrigerant separating means and oil reservoir means are provided on the high pressure discharge side of said compressors and which also has oil level sensing and feeding means for the respective compressors, said oil control valve being adapted to be disposed in said oil separation system between said high pressure oil reservoir and said oil level sensing and feeding means for at least one of said multiple compressors, said oil control valve comprising an oil inlet chamber and an oil outlet chamber, and pressure differential means responsive to a preselected low side pressure differential for producing a substantial oil pressure drop thereacross.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
57 words
The oil control valve according to claim 12, including a spring-loaded check valve for regulating fluid communication between said inlet and outlet chambers, and said pressure differential means being adapted to be acted on in opposing directions by the low side suction pressure of said one compressor and the low side pressure of said oil outlet chamber.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
58 words
The oil control valve according to claim 13, in which multiple compressors of the refrigeration system have a common suction header and are adapted to operate at substantially the same suction pressure, whereby said oil control valve is adapted to provide a substantially uniform oil delivery pressure to the sensing and feeding means of each of said compressors.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
77 words
The oil control valve according to claim 13, in which multiple compressors of the refrigeration system are adapted to operate at different suction pressures and plural oil control valves may be used to regulate oil delivery to the sensing and feeding means of each of said compressors, each of such oil control valves being responsive to the pressure differential between its compressor's suction pressure and its own downsteam oil outlet pressure for operating the check valve thereof.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-03-11 | 1988-09-10 | 1989-03-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-03-11 | 1992-09-10 | 1993-03-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-03-11 | 1996-09-10 | 1997-03-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |