US4820130A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Temperature sensitive solenoid valve in a scroll compressor
Assignee: Trane International Inc
•
Filing: 1987-12-14
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Granted: 1989-04-11
•
Expires: 2007-12-14
Abstract
Abstract Inside the hermetic shell of a scroll compressor, a normally closed solenoid valve seats against the back side of a stationary scroll plate to close a discharge opening through the plate. A coil circuit that actuates the valve has an electrical resistance that increases with temperature. The temperature dependent resistance allows the coil circuit to also function as a discharge temperature sensor. Should the discharge gas over-heat, the compressor motor and the valve are de-energized in response to the resistance exceeding a predetermined limit. The closed valve prevents backflow from rapidly reversing the rotational direction of the compressor, which can be extremely noisy and damaging to the compressor. Both the valve and the compressor motor are energized at the same time, regardless of the compressor's direction of rotation. Should the compressor motor be inadvertently wired to operate in reverse, the solenoid valve still opens to prevent destructively low pressure from developing between the scroll plates.
Inventors
- 👤 David H. Eber
- 👤 Peter A. Kotlarek
- 👤 Ronald W. Okoren
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 19:51
CPC Classifications
F; F04; F04C; F04C29/00; F04C29/12; F04C29/124; F04C28/00; F04C28/28; F25; F25B; F25B31/00; F25B31/02; F25B31/026; F25B49/00; F25B49/02; F25B49/022; F04C2270/00; F04C2270/19; F04C2270/70; F05; F05B; F05B2270/00; F05B2270/30; F05B2270/303; F05B2270/3032
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
94 words
A refrigeration apparatus comprising: (a) a condenser; (b) an evaporator; (c) a scroll compressor disposed inside a hermetic shell and connected to deliver refrigerant from said evaporator to said condenser, said compressor having a stationary scroll plate with a discharge opening therethrough; and (d) a solenoid valve disposed inside said shell adjacent to said discharge opening to pass substantially all of said refrigerant being delivered from said evaporator to said condenser, said valve being adapted to close said discharge opening to substantially block any refrigerant from being delivered from said evaporator to said condenser.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
94 words
A refrigeration apparatus comprising: (a) a condenser; (b) an evaporator; (c) a scroll compressor disposed inside a hermetic shell and connected to deliver refrigerant from said evaporator to said condenser, said compressor having a stationary scroll plate with a discharge opening therethrough; and (d) a solenoid valve disposed inside said shell adjacent to said discharge opening to pass substantially all of said refrigerant being delivered from said evaporator to said condenser, said valve being adapted to close said discharge opening to substantially block any refrigerant from being delivered from said evaporator to said condenser.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The refrigeration apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a swinglink disposed inside said shell.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The refrigeration apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising an anti-rotation coupling disposed said shell.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
The refrigeration apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said valve plug covers said discharge opening when a motor driving said compressor is de-energized, and said solenoid valve is actuated to uncover said opening when said motor is energized.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The refrigeration apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said valve includes a valve plug that seats against a back side of said scroll plate to cover said discharge opening.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The refrigeration apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said solenoid valve is actuated by a coil circuit having an impedance that changes with its temperature.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The refrigeration apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein said impedance increases with temperature.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The refrigeration apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein said coil circuit includes a temperature responsive switch.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The refrigeration apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein said coil circuit includes a thermistor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The refrigeration apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein said thermistor has a positive temperature coefficient, whereby its resistance increases with temperature.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The refrigeration apparatus as recited in claim 6, further comprising a means for detecting a change in impedance.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
49 words
The refrigeration apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein said means for detecting a change in impedance includes a relay having a coil connected in series with said coil circuit, said relay being located outside of said shell and connected to de-energize a compressor motor disposed inside said shell.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
The refrigeration apparatus aa recited in claim 11, further comprising a controller that de-energizes said solenoid valve and de-energizes a compressor motor in response to said impedance changing to a predetermined limit.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The refrigeration apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein said means for detecting includes a comparator.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The refrigeration apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein said comparator includes an operational amplifier.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
186 words
A refrigeration apparatus comprising: (a) a condenser; (b) an evaporator; (c) a scroll compressor disposed inside a hermetic shell and connected to draw a refrigerant from said evaporator and discharge said refrigerant to said condenser; (d) a solenoid valve disposed inside said shell and being connected to pass substantially all of said refrigerant being discharged to said condenser, said valve being actuated by a coil circuit that is disposed inside said shell in heat transfer relationship with said refrigerant being discharged to said condenser, said coil circuit having an electrical impedance that changes with the temperature of said coil circuit, whereby said impedance changes with the temperature of said refrigerant being discharged to said condenser; and (e) a control circuit having means for detecting a change in impedance of said coil circuit, said control circuit being electrically connected to control said coil circuit and to control a motor driving said compressor, such that said motor is de-energized and said solenoid valve closes when a change in said impedance indicates that the temperature of said refrigerant being discharged to said condenser reaches a predetermined upper temperature limit.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
186 words
A refrigeration apparatus comprising: (a) a condenser; (b) an evaporator; (c) a scroll compressor disposed inside a hermetic shell and connected to draw a refrigerant from said evaporator and discharge said refrigerant to said condenser; (d) a solenoid valve disposed inside said shell and being connected to pass substantially all of said refrigerant being discharged to said condenser, said valve being actuated by a coil circuit that is disposed inside said shell in heat transfer relationship with said refrigerant being discharged to said condenser, said coil circuit having an electrical impedance that changes with the temperature of said coil circuit, whereby said impedance changes with the temperature of said refrigerant being discharged to said condenser; and (e) a control circuit having means for detecting a change in impedance of said coil circuit, said control circuit being electrically connected to control said coil circuit and to control a motor driving said compressor, such that said motor is de-energized and said solenoid valve closes when a change in said impedance indicates that the temperature of said refrigerant being discharged to said condenser reaches a predetermined upper temperature limit.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
The refrigeration apparatus as recited in claim 16, wherein said coil circuit includes a thermistor having a positive temperature coefficient, whereby the electrical resistance of said thermistor increases with temperature.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
The refrigeration apparatus as recited in claim 16, wherein said coil circuit includes a temperature responsive switch.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
44 words
The refrigeration apparatus as recited in claim 16, wherein said means for detecting a change in impedance includes a relay having a coil connected in series with said coil circuit, said relay being located outside of said shell and connected to de-energize said motor.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
The refrigeration apparatus as recited in claim 16, further comprising a swinglink and an anti-rotation coupling disposed inside said shell.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
265 words
A refrigeration apparatus comprising: (a) a condenser; (b) an evaporator; (c) a scroll compressor disposed inside a hermetic shell and connected to draw a refrigerant from said evaporator and discharge said refrigerant to said condenser, said compressor including a stationary scroll plate having a discharge opening through which substantially all of said refrigerant being discharged to said condenser passes; (d) a solenoid valve disposed inside said shell adjacent to said discharge opening, said valve having a valve plug that is adapted to seat against a back side of said scroll plate to cover said discharge opening, said valve being actuated by a coil circuit that is disposed inside said shell and includes a solenoid coil connected in series with a thermistor that is in heat transfer relationship with said refrigerant being discharged to said condenser, said thermistor having an electrical resistance that increases with temperature, whereby said electrical resistance increases to increase the electrical impedance of said coil circuit in response to an increase in temperature of said refrigerant being discharged to said condenser; (e) means for detecting a change in impedance of said coil circuit comprising a relay having a coil connected in series with said coil circuit so that said relay is de-energized when the electrical impedance of said coil circuit changes to a higher impedance brought about by the temperature of said refrigerant being discharged reaching a predetermined upper temperature limit; and (f) electrical contacts associated with said relay and connected to de-energize a motor driving said compressor and connected to de-energize said coil circuit in response to said relay being de-energized.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
265 words
A refrigeration apparatus comprising: (a) a condenser; (b) an evaporator; (c) a scroll compressor disposed inside a hermetic shell and connected to draw a refrigerant from said evaporator and discharge said refrigerant to said condenser, said compressor including a stationary scroll plate having a discharge opening through which substantially all of said refrigerant being discharged to said condenser passes; (d) a solenoid valve disposed inside said shell adjacent to said discharge opening, said valve having a valve plug that is adapted to seat against a back side of said scroll plate to cover said discharge opening, said valve being actuated by a coil circuit that is disposed inside said shell and includes a solenoid coil connected in series with a thermistor that is in heat transfer relationship with said refrigerant being discharged to said condenser, said thermistor having an electrical resistance that increases with temperature, whereby said electrical resistance increases to increase the electrical impedance of said coil circuit in response to an increase in temperature of said refrigerant being discharged to said condenser; (e) means for detecting a change in impedance of said coil circuit comprising a relay having a coil connected in series with said coil circuit so that said relay is de-energized when the electrical impedance of said coil circuit changes to a higher impedance brought about by the temperature of said refrigerant being discharged reaching a predetermined upper temperature limit; and (f) electrical contacts associated with said relay and connected to de-energize a motor driving said compressor and connected to de-energize said coil circuit in response to said relay being de-energized.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
16 words
The refrigeration apparatus as recited in claim 21, further comprising a swinglink disposed inside said shell.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
17 words
The refrigeration apparatus as recited in claim 21, further comprising an anti-rotation coupling disposed inside said shell.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-04-10 | 1992-10-10 | 1993-04-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-04-10 | 1996-10-10 | 1997-04-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-04-10 | 2000-10-10 | 2001-04-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |