Abstract: A control valve is configured such that a suction pressure, which is used to displace a sub-valve element in a valve opening direction after a main valve has been closed, is varied according to a value of current supplied to a solenoid. A crankcase communication port, which communicates with a crankcase of a compressor, and a suction chamber communication port, which communicates with a suction chamber of the compressor, are provided in a body. A sub-valve chamber whose diameter is larger than that of the main valve hole is formed between the crankcase communication port and a main valve hole, and a sub-valve is placed in the sub-valve chamber.

Abstract: A first expansion valve is provided in a first refrigerant circulation passage through which the refrigerant discharged from a compressor is able to circulate by passing sequentially through an external heat exchanger and an evaporator and returning to the compressor. A second expansion valve is provided in a second refrigerant circulation passage through which the refrigerant discharged from the compressor is able to circulate by passing sequentially through an auxiliary condenser and the external heat exchanger and returning to the compressor. The second expansion valve regulates the valve opening degree such that the refrigerant state at an inlet side of the compressor during a heating operation is in a range where the dryness of refrigerant is greater than or equal to 0.9 and the superheat of refrigerant is less than or equal to 5° C.

Abstract: A control valve according to an exemplary embodiment includes an interlocking mechanism that achieves a first operation and a second operation simultaneously or continuously. In the first operation, a sub-valve is opened by having an actuating rod displaced integrally with a sub-valve element in accordance with the magnitude of solenoidal force. In the second operation, a load, by which to bias a main valve element in a closing direction of a main valve, is increased by displacing the actuating rod relative to the main valve element.

Abstract: An expansion valve according to one embodiment includes a body having an internal passage through which the working fluid flows, a valve hole provided in the internal passage, a driven member that opens and closes a valve section by touching and leaving the valve hole, a guide member that slidably supports the driven member inserted along the guide member, and a shield wall, provided in the driven member, which closes one end opening of the spacing between the driven member and the guide member when the valve section is fully opened.

Abstract: A control valve according to an embodiment includes a guide member of a cylindrical shape extending coaxially with a valve hole, a valve element of a bottomed cylindrical shape for opening and closing a valve section such that the valve element touches and leaves the valve hole, and a pressure-canceling structure for canceling out at least part of pressure acting on the valve element by introducing a working fluid into a back pressure chamber via a leak passage, the pressure-canceling structure including the back pressure chamber, surrounded by the valve element and the guide member, and the leak passage communicating between the valve hole and the back pressure chamber. A sliding portion and a spacing are formed in an overlapped portion which is a region overlapped by the valve element and the guide member.

Abstract: To provide an expansion device which shortens cool down time when an automotive air conditioner is started under a high-load condition. An expansion device having a differential pressure control valve is configured such that a temperature-sensing actuator (shape-memory alloy spring) is disposed at an refrigerant outlet of the expansion device, and when an air conditioner is started under a high-load condition in which the temperature of refrigerant at the refrigerant outlet is high, the shape-memory alloy spring senses the high temperature, to urge a spring determining a valve-opening point of the differential pressure control valve, whereby the differential pressure control valve is opened in advance or placed in a state capable of opening in response to a very low differential pressure, thereby making it possible to cause refrigerant to flow at a large flow rate until the temperature of refrigerant at the refrigerant outlet is lowered to a temperature assumed when the air conditioner functions.

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.

Abstract: An expansion device which is capable of reducing generation of untoward noise due to vibration of a valve element and suppressing a valve element suction phenomenon which occurs when high-pressure refrigerant flows through a variable orifice formed between a valve seat and the valve element. A damper chamber is formed by a cylinder formed in a housing formed with a valve seat, a piston integrally formed with a valve element, and an adjustment screw. When the valve element undergoes a sudden change in pressure of introduced refrigerant, the volume of the damper chamber changes to accommodate sudden motion of the valve element, whereby vibration of the valve element is suppressed, to reduce generation of untoward noise. The ratio (b/a) of the valve element diameter (b) of the valve element to the port diameter (a) of a valve hole is set to a value not larger than 1.

Abstract: A motor operated butterfly valve arrangement, at least one valve element of which is to be brought into a proper extreme position such that water leakage or the like does not occur within the pipe controlled by the valve element, without the necessity to improve dimensional or mounting accuracy of the components and without the need to lock the motor actuating the valve element. An elastically deformable elastic coupling member is provided in a coupling mechanism interconnecting the motor and the valve element. As soon as the valve element reaches the desired extreme position in contact with a stopper, the motor is rotated to deform the elastic coupling member and to improve the contact between the valve element and the stopper. The motor is stopped in the deformed state of the elastic coupling member.

Abstract: A motor operated butterfly valve arrangement, at least one valve element of which is to be brought into a proper extreme position such that water leakage or the like does not occur within the pipe controlled by the valve element, without the necessity to improve dimensional or mounting accuracy of the components and without the need to lock the motor actuating the valve element. An elastically deformable elastic coupling member is provided in a coupling mechanism interconnecting the motor and the valve element. As soon as the valve element reaches the desired extreme position in contact with a stopper, the motor is rotated to deform the elastic coupling member and to improve the contact between the valve element and the stopper. The motor is stopped in the deformed state of the elastic coupling member.