Abstract: A control valve includes: a body having valve holes for communicating an inlet port and the outlet ports together, respectively; valve elements for opening and closing valve sections by contacting and leaving the valve holes, respectively; a stepping motor having a rotor for driving the valve elements in the opening and closing directions of the valve sections; and a valve actuating member that drives the valve elements in the opening and closing directions of the valve sections by converting a rotational movement of the rotor around the axis line thereof into a translational movement of the valve actuating member in the axis line direction. The valve actuating member is supported by the rotor so as to be capable of making a translational movement of the valve actuating member in the axial direction with respect to the rotor, while a rotational movement with respect to the rotor is regulated.

Abstract: A control valve includes a body having a crankcase communicating port, a discharge chamber communicating port and a suction chamber communicating port, which are arranged in this order from one end side of the body, a solenoid, provided at the other end side of the body, for driving a main valve in accordance with the amount of current supplied, a power element, provided in an inner space surrounded by the body and the solenoid, capable of exerting the drive force to resist the solenoidal force created by a displacement of a pressure-sensing member of the power element, and a shaft by which the drive force of the power element is adjustable by adjusting the fixed position of one end side of the shaft, the shaft being fixed to one end of the body and the other end of the shaft being joined with the power element.

Abstract: A control valve includes: a body having valve holes for communicating an inlet port and the outlet ports together, respectively; valve elements for opening and closing valve sections by contacting and leaving the valve holes, respectively; a stepping motor having a rotor for driving the valve elements in the opening and closing directions of the valve sections; and a valve actuating member that drives the valve elements in the opening and closing directions of the valve sections by converting a rotational movement of the rotor around the axis line thereof into a translational movement of the valve actuating member in the axis line direction. The valve actuating member is supported by the rotor so as to be capable of making a translational movement of the valve actuating member in the axial direction with respect to the rotor, while a rotational movement with respect to the rotor is regulated.

Abstract: A control valve includes a body having a crankcase communicating port, a discharge chamber communicating port and a suction chamber communicating port, which are arranged in this order from one end side of the body, a solenoid, provided at the other end side of the body, for driving a main valve in accordance with the amount of current supplied, a power element, provided in an inner space surrounded by the body and the solenoid, capable of exerting the drive force to resist the solenoidal force created by a displacement of a pressure-sensing member of the power element, and a shaft by which the drive force of the power element is adjustable by adjusting the fixed position of one end side of the shaft, the shaft being fixed to one end of the body and the other end of the shaft being joined with the power element.

Abstract: An expansion valve is configured such that a shaft, a first valve, a second valve, a compression coil spring, and an adjustment screw are coaxially arranged within a body exactly below a power element, and the first valve and the second valve control the flow rate in an interlocked manner. A second valve seat of the second valve is press-fitted into the body, and an amount of press-fitting of the second valve seat into the body is adjusted such that when the first valve is in a closed state in which a first valve element is seated on a first valve seat, the second valve is in a closed state in which a second valve element is seated on the second valve seat.

Abstract: To improve the pressure resistance strength of a pressure-sensing section of a control valve for a internal variable control compressor. In the control valve, a stack of snap-acting discs is disposed on a side of a diaphragm forming the pressure-sensing section opposite from a transmitting member. With this arrangement, even if the diaphragm receives large suction pressure Ps, since the snap-acting disc receives suction pressure Ps from the opposite side, the diaphragm is prevented from being broken or deformed. This makes it possible to improve the pressure resistance strength of the pressure-sensing section. As a result, even if the control valve is applied to a refrigeration cycle in which suction pressure Ps becomes high, such as one using carbon dioxide as refrigerant, it is possible to secure sufficient pressure resistance strength.

Abstract: To provide a control valve for a variable displacement compressor using a diaphragm for a pressure-sensing section, which is capable of sensing suction pressure as absolute pressure. A core, a first plunger, and a spring of a solenoid are accommodated in a bottomed sleeve. A diaphragm is welded to an open end of the bottomed sleeve under vacuum atmosphere, whereby an assembly having a vacuum inside is formed. As a result, suction pressure Ps can be sensed as an absolute pressure with reference to a vacuum. The magnetic gap between the first plunger and the core is adjusted by the amount of press-fitting of the core into the bottomed sleeve, and the adjustment of load of the spring incorporated into the bottomed sleeve is made by deforming the bottom of the bottomed sleeve such that it is dented inward.

Abstract: To provide a control valve for a variable displacement compressor, which is capable of stably operating in a pressure control area, and causing the compressor to quickly shift to operation with the minimum displacement. The control valve for a variable displacement compressor is capable of realizing stable pressure control, since a force applied to a valve element in a valve-closing direction increases when the valve element is in a pressure control area, and is balanced with a force applied to the valve element in a valve-opening direction by the pressure of refrigerant. Further, when the valve element moves past an end point of the pressure control area, the force applied to the valve element in the valve-closing direction decreases to thereby increase the valve-opening degree of a valve portion when the valve portion is fully open.

Abstract: An internal heat exchanger for an automotive air conditioner which is capable of securing length of the internal heat exchanger necessary for heat exchange by a double pipe even when an evaporator and an expansion valve are disposed where the distance to a partition wall is short. Between an expansion valve and evaporator, and a partition wall, a first double pipe is disposed which is formed by surrounding an inner pipe connected to an inlet port of the expansion valve with an outer pipe connected to an outlet port of the evaporator, and a second double pipe is disposed within an engine room which is formed by surrounding an inner pipe with an outer pipe, in a manner extended from the first double pipe. The first double pipe and the second double pipe are connected by a pipe connecting member such that the connecting portions of the pipes are prevented from disconnection.

Abstract: To enable a control valve to be easily mounted, not by bolt fastening. A thread portion is formed in a mounting hole of a compressor, in which a control valve is to be mounted, and as for the control valve as well, a thread portion mating with the thread portion in the mounting hole is threadedly formed on a yoke surrounding a coil of a solenoid of the control valve. A gasket is disposed between a flange portion of the control valve, formed in a manner opposed to a stepped portion inside the mounting hole, and the stepped portion inside the mounting hole. The yoke is provided in a manner pivotally movable with respect to the flange portion having the gasket disposed thereon, and is configured to be brought into contact with the flange portion in a direction of insertion of the control valve.

Abstract: An automotive air conditioner which is capable of efficiently disposing an internal heat exchanger, and enabling the air conditioner to perform an efficient operation. A thermostatic expansion valve is accommodated in a casing directly connected to the refrigerant outlet of an evaporator. The inlet of the expansion valve and a pipe for receiving high-pressure liquid refrigerant are connected to each other within the casing. The outlet of the expansion valve and the refrigerant inlet of the evaporator are connected to each other within the casing. The internal heat exchanger for performing heat exchange between high-pressure refrigerant delivered to the inlet of the expansion valve and low-pressure refrigerant returning to a compressor is connected between the casing and a pipe joint disposed in a firewall.

Abstract: To provide a refrigerant relief device which releases refrigerant in a refrigeration cycle to the outside of a vehicle compartment, when the refrigerant releases into the vehicle compartment, or when there is a fear that the refrigerant releases into the vehicle compartment. A metal thin film is welded in advance to a body connected to piping of a refrigeration cycle such that it blocks a refrigerant inlet passage. When leakage of refrigerant into a vehicle compartment or collision of an automotive vehicle is detected, pulse current is applied to a coil of a solenoid, whereby a movable core is attracted to a fixed core. This causes a piercing rod fixed to the movable core to pierce the metal thin film with its pointed tip to make a hole through the metal thin film. When application of the pulse current is stopped, the piercing rod is returned to the standby position by a spring, so that the refrigerant is released to the outside of the vehicle compartment by passing through a conduit via the opened hole.

Abstract: To provide a control valve which is capable of maintaining the minimum operation of a variable displacement compressor, by causing a valve section thereof to be fully opened, irrespective of the expanded or compressed state of a bellows, even when the suction pressure of the compressor is high. In the control valve for a variable displacement compressor, a bellows is disposed between a pressure-sensing piston and a core in a pressure-sensing chamber, and a pressing force-transmitting member which is fixed to a plunger is interposed between the pressure-sensing piston and the bellows. Then, a spring which urges the pressing force-transmitting member toward a valve section is disposed between the pressing force-transmitting member and the bellows.

Abstract: To provide an expansion valve having a low-pressure passage that is bent at right angles therein, which is reduced in untoward noise and noise of the flow of refrigerant generated when the refrigerant passes through the low-pressure passage. In an intersecting portion of a low-pressure passage, the axis of a port for introducing refrigerant returned from an evaporator, and the axis of a port for guiding out refrigerant having passed through a body block to a compressor are orthogonal to each other. A hole is formed in the body block in a direction of insertion of a shaft that transmits a driving force from a power element to a valve element, and a holder for holding the shaft.

Abstract: To improve the manufacturing efficiency of a body, and reduce the manufacturing cost of an expansion valve. A body accommodating a valve section is formed, using forming dies, such as die-casting dies, integrally with an inlet port for introducing refrigerant, an outlet port for delivering expanded refrigerant, a male thread, and has a power element connected thereto by the male thread. This eliminates a necessity of subjecting the body to fabrication, for forming the inlet port, the outlet port, a valve hole, a hole for receiving therein a valve element and set value-adjusting members, a hole for receiving therein a shaft which transmits an actuating force dependent on temperature sensed by the power element to the valve element, and further the male screw. Therefore, the manufacturing efficiency of the body is improved, and the manufacturing cost of the expansion valve can be reduced.

Abstract: To reduce the number of refrigerant external leak-prone spots, in a portion where an expansion valve is mounted. A casing is joined to a refrigerant outlet of an evaporator, and a low-pressure pipe extending to a compressor is connected to the casing by a pipe clamp. An expansion valve is disposed within the casing. Within the casing, an inlet port of the expansion valve and a high-pressure pipe are connected to each other, and an outlet port of the expansion valve and an inlet pipe of an evaporator are connected to each other. This limits the portions of the expansion valve which can cause refrigerant external leakage to portions connected by the pipe clamp.

Abstract: To provide a control valve for variable displacement compressor employing ON/OFF control, which is capable of taking measures for occurrence of an abnormally high pressure. When a solenoid is OFF, a spring causes a movable core to move a stopper in a direction away from a stationary core and to thereby separate a shaft fixed to the stopper from a valve seat, resulting in opening the control valve. When the solenoid is ON, the movable core is attracted by the stationary core by a stroke longer than that of the shaft, and a spring causes the shaft to seat on the valve seat, resulting in closing the control valve. If a discharge pressure Pd increases to an abnormally high pressure, a differential pressure between the discharge pressure Pd and a pressure Pc in a crankcase pushes the shaft while compressing the spring, so that the discharge pressure Pd flows out to the crankcase.

Abstract: To provide an expansion valve which is capable of preventing the temperature of refrigerant compressed by a compressor from becoming too high, when a refrigeration load on a refrigeration cycle using an internal heat exchanger is high. A thermostatic expansion valve is applied to a refrigeration cycle provided with an internal heat exchanger that performs heat exchange between high-temperature refrigerant flowing from a condenser to the expansion valve and low-temperature refrigerant flowing from an evaporator to a compressor via the expansion valve. The expansion valve comprises a bypass passage or for causing refrigerant in a high-pressure refrigerant inlet or a low-pressure refrigerant outlet to flow to the downstream side of a temperature-sensing section, such that moist refrigerant is mixed with refrigerant whose degree of superheat is controlled by the expansion valve.

Abstract: To reduce the degree of influence of differential pressure on a pilot valve of a constant flow rate expansion valve. The constant flow rate expansion valve comprises a restriction passage for restricting the flow rate of refrigerant introduced from a refrigerant inlet port, a main valve for controlling the flow rate of refrigerant having flowed out from the restriction passage for discharging the refrigerant to a refrigerant outlet port, a piston for actuating the main valve in the valve-opening/closing direction by the differential pressure between intermediate pressure on the inlet port side of the main valve and pressure in a pressure chamber formed on the opposite side of the main valve, and a pilot valve for sensing the differential pressure proportional to the flow rate of refrigerant flowing through the restriction passage, thereby controlling the pressure in the pressure chamber set by a solenoid.

Abstract: To provide an expansion device which controls high pressure-side pressure such that the pressure does not exceed a predetermined pressure in terms of absolute pressure, while operating in response to differential pressure between pressure at an inlet thereof and pressure at an outlet thereof. An expansion device comprises an orifice for expanding refrigerant, a valve element disposed on a downstream side of a valve hole and urged by a shape-memory alloy spring in a valve-opening direction, a shaft disposed to extend through the valve hole and having one end thereof rigidly fixed to the valve element, and a spring provided at the other end of the shaft, for receiving load generated by differential pressure between pressure of refrigerant at an inlet of the device and pressure of refrigerant at an outlet thereof, in a valve-opening direction.