Ring angle thermally responsive expansion valve

Claim 1

A thermally responsive expansion valve comprising: (a) a body member defining an inlet port adapted for connection to a source of fluid at a relatively high pressure and an outlet port for discharging fluid at a substantially reduced pressure at right angles to said inlet port; said inlet and outlet ports connected by a valving passage having a valve seat formed therein; (b) a valve member disposed in said passage and moveable between a closed position contacting and an open position spaced from said valve seat for controlling flow to said outlet port at a reduced pressure; (c) means biasing said valve member toward said closed position; (d) valve actuator means comprising an elongated member guided for sliding movement in said body and having a portion of reduced transverse dimension with the end of said reduced portion extending through said valving passage on the inlet pressure side of side valve seat operable for contacting said valve member, said actuator means including a head portion of enlarged transverse dimension distal said reduced portion, said head portion extending externally of said body member; (e) a fluid filled pressure capsule attached to said body member, said capsule having a pressure responsive diaphragm forming a portion of the wall thereof, with said diaphragm contacting said head portion of said actuator means, (f) sealing means located in said body member for moveably sealing between said reduced portion and said body, said sealing means isolating said diaphragm from said inlet pressure; (g) a fluid pressure signal conduit communicating with one side of said pressure responsive diaphragm for providing a fluid pressure signal thereto, wherein said pressure responsive diaphragm is operative in response to pressure changes in said capsule to move said valve actuator means and effect movement of said valve member between said closed position and said open position; and, (h) said body member defining a pressure equalization passage communicating the pressure in said outlet with the side of said diaphragm opposite said one side.