Abstract: A solenoid operated valve suitable for use as a refrigerant expansion valve. An electrical receptacle is attached to the side of the valve body and has thermistor probes attached for sensing temperature in port provided in the body. The receptacle has terminals in a recess on one end enabling the solenoid to be attached to the valve and plug-in to the receptacle. The solenoid terminals and the probes are converted internally in the receptacle to recessed connector pins in the opposite end of the receptacle to enable a single, multi-in external harness connector to connect the solenoid and probes by plug-in to the receptacle.

Abstract: A valve and method of making same with a valve body defining an inlet and outlet and which communicate with a valving chamber. A cup-shaped glide member in the chamber is sealed over the outlet and has cross-ports over which slide a valving sleeve attached to a ferromagnetic armature. The armature slides in a guide tube which is sealed on the body and closes the valving chamber. The guide tube preferably has a magnetic pole piece attached the end remote from the body. The valving sleeve is attached to the armature in a manner which allows frictional slippage in the direction transverse to the armature motion to permit the sleeve to be guided by the glide member and the armature to be guided by the guide tube. A solenoid coil is received over the guide tube and preferably retained by engagement with the pole piece.

Abstract: A technique for quick insert connecting tubular fluid pressure conduits into spaced ports having internal seal rings in a common side of a valve or block. A plastic spring lock member with apertures coinciding with the ports is disposed over the ports. The apertures are chamfered on a common side and slotted for permitting resilient expansion. The spring lock member is retained by a cover bolted to the block with clearance apertures over the ports. Upon insertion of a conduit with an annular convolution adjacent the end, the convolution cams against the chamfer expanding the slotted aperture permitting the convolution to snap through and the conduit to be retained in the port with the periphery of the conduit end contacting the internal seal ring.

Abstract: A mechanical refrigerant thermal expansion valve has a sensing port sealed with a cupped shaped closure received therein and sealed about the cup rim. A cover assembly is removably attached to the valve over the cup with a thermistor extending into the cup which is filled with thermally conductive grease for thermal conductivity between the cup and the thermistor. The cover assembly has an electrical connector provided thereon. The thermistor is preferably mounted on printed circuit board potted in the cover which may include electronic signal logic and power switching circuitry.

Abstract: An automatic control system for regulating the temperature of blower air discharged over a heater core to a vehicle passenger compartment. A thermistor is disposed to sense discharge air adjacent the heater core and provide a temperature signal. An electrical indication is provided of the condition of a servomotor driven valve controlling water flow to the heater core. An electrical reference signal is provided indicative of a user selected relative change of flow discharge air temperature. A signal is provided indicating inlet pressure to the valve controlling flow of liquid to the heater core. The signals are summed; and, the valve servo driven until the sum is zero modulating the valve to maintain the sum at zero for regulating blower air discharge temperature at a constant level.

Abstract: A refrigeration system employing a mechanical thermal expansion valve with a self-heated thermistor sensing saturation temperature at the high pressure inlet. A microprocessor based controller compares the sensed temperature with stored limits and provides output signals to a relay for cycling the condenser fan responsive to high side pressure means are provided for varying the current through the thermistor for operating same in the non-self heated mode to sense actual refrigeration temperature for generating a control signal to disable the compressor clutch when refrigerant temperature exceeds desired low limits.

Abstract: A mechanical refrigerant thermal expansion valve has a sensing port sealed with a cupped shape closure received therein and sealed about the cup rim. A cover assembly is removeably attached to the valve over the cup with a thermistor extending into the cup which is filled with thermally conductive grease for thermal conductivity between the cup and the thermistor. The cover assembly has an electrical connector provided thereon. The thermistor is preferably mounted on printed circuit board potted in the cover which may include electronic signal logic and power switching circuitry.

Abstract: A refrigeration system employing a mechanical thermal expansion valve with a self-heated thermistor sensing saturation temperature at a high pressure inlet and a second thermistor sensing saturation temperature at the evaporator outlet. A microprocessor based controller compares the sensed temperature with stored limits and provides output signals to a relay for cycling the condenser fan responsive to high side pressure and the compressor clutch responsive to the low pressure side temperature. For low pressure drop evaporators, the second thermistor may be disposed at the evaporator inlet.

Abstract: A solenoid operated refrigerant expansion valve, particularly for automotive air conditioning systems, having a center-post guided tubular armature which slides on the post to provide valving of cross-ports communicating with a hollow region in the post which communicates with the valve outlet. The tubular armature has a pair of sleeves disposed on the interior at opposite ends thereof which provide the sole sliding contact surfaces on the post for minimizing friction therebetween to reduce the tendency of the armature to seize on the post.

Abstract: A solenoid operated refrigerant expansion valve for providing control of refrigerant flow with a modulated electrical signal having a valve block with an armature guide post cantilevered therefrom with a tubular valve spool slidably received thereon and a cover thereover attached to the block which forms a valving chamber communicating with the inlet, the guide post has a cavity formed therein which communicates with the outlet and cross ports which are valved by movement of the spool. The free end of the guide post is registered in a recess formed in the cover. The cover has a controlled clearance over the valve member to provide viscous dampening thereof. A coil and pole frame are received over the cover and retained thereon.

Abstract: A refrigerant control system employing a "self-heated" thermistor disposed in the high pressure refrigerant line to sense refrigerant temperature from the condenser as it enters the expansion valve or capillary. The voltage drop is detected across a resistor in series with the thermistor and converted to saturation pressure from known refrigerant properties. A microprocessor de-energizes the compressor and turns on the condenser fan when excessive saturation pressure is detected. An optional second thermistor senses actual refrigerant temperature for comparison with the saturation temperature to determine sub-cooling and the microprocessor disables the compressor in the event of excessive or insufficient sub-cooling.

Abstract: A vapor compression refrigeration system is which a self heated thermistor is located in the suction line downstream of the evaporator to directly sense the quality of the refrigerant flowing thereover. Appropriate circuitry measures the voltage drop across the thermistor and this drop is used to vary the duty cycle of the system's expansion valve thereby controlling the superheat of the evaporator.

Abstract: A system for preventing vapor-lock in a positively pressurized loop-type engine fuel line having the low pressure or tank return portion of the fuel line passing through a heat exchanger disposed in the refrigerant line for the vehicle air conditioner between the endothermic heat exchanger or evaporator and the compressor inlet. A thermistor senses the temperature of the refrigerant discharging from the fuel line heat exchanger and a pressure transducer senses evaporator discharge saturation pressure. Look-up tables are used to determine saturation temperature from the saturation pressure, and saturation temperature and actual refrigerant temperature compared to generate a pulse-width modulated control signal for controlling an electrically operated refrigerant expansion valve to maintain a desired amount of superheat at the discharge of the fuel line heat exchanger.

Abstract: An inline solenoid operated fluid flow control valve has a valve slide arrangement which eliminates physical contact and impact between the flow control surfaces.

Abstract: An automotive air conditioning system including an electrically operated expansion valve controlling refrigerant flow to the evaporator. The valve is pressure balanced and provides a minimum flow even when the valve is fully closed. The valve includes a solenoid operator which is energized in a pulse width modulated fashion.

Abstract: An inline solenoid operated fluid flow control valve includes a plunger housing and a plunger movable against a valve seat and pole piece within the flow line when the solenoid coil is energized. The plunger and plunger housing are axially coupled via a spring which absorbs impact when the plunger strikes the valve seat. A piston within the valve seat member provides a pressure balancing feature and the clearance around the piston provides for a minimum flow when the solenoid coil is energized, with full flow occurring when the solenoid coil is not energized.

Abstract: A vibration damping device for a thermostatic expansion valve comprises a spring member having a plurality of cantilevered fingers substantially parallel to the direction of travel of moving components but which are spring loaded to provide a force normal to that direction. The damping device is fixedly attached to one of the moving or stationary components and is arranged so that its fingers exert the normal force against the other of the moving or stationary components. Accordingly, a constant magnitude frictional force is produced over the range of movement, thus damping vibrations caused by pressure pulses from the compressor of the refrigeration system in which the thermostatic expansion valve is installed.