Abstract: An expansion valve assembly is provided comprising a distributor body (30) having a liquid inlet (40), a port (34) having a selectively moveable pin (35) to allow liquid? from the liquid inlet past the port, a gas inlet (50), a mixing chamber (32), and a plurality of circuits (60). The mixing chamber is positioned between the port and the plurality of circuits, the mixing chamber (32) having an axial centerline (A) that, is the axial centerline of the valve. The gas inlet has an axial centerline (B) that is off set from the axial centerline of the mixing chamber to promote a homogeneous gas/liquid mixture.

Abstract: A expansion-distribution assembly (30) for simultaneously throttling, mixing, and distributing refrigerant fluid just upstream of a heat-absorbing component (e.g., an evaporator) of a heatpump system. The expansion-distribution assembly (30) comprises a valve-nozzle adjustment device (34) which moves a piston (52) relative to a nozzle chamber (44) to vary flow-characteristics therethrough. The piston (52) is moved during operation of the heatpump system (based on, for example, pressure and temperature data) to dynamically customize the valve-nozzle for the current load of the system.