Abstract: A heat exchanger includes two headers and tubes secured to and extending between the headers, each tube including a wall formed with a leading surface, a trailing surface and lateral surfaces extending between the headers and interconnecting the leading and trailing surfaces, a passage enclosed by the wall for carrying fluid between the headers, and long and short fins formed integrally with and extending outward from the wall.

Abstract: An expansion valve for an air conditioning system circulates refrigerant through a fixed-displacement compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator. An inlet is provided for receiving refrigerant liquefied in the condenser. An outlet of the expansion valve supplies refrigerant to the evaporator. A valve element controls flow of refrigerant between the inlet and the outlet, wherein the valve element is normally closed. A control assembly is coupled to the valve element and is responsive to at least one temperature or pressure in the air conditioning system to open the valve element to variably meter the refrigerant to the evaporator. A bleed passage bypasses the valve element to conduct refrigerant between the inlet and the outlet.

Abstract: A heat exchanger includes two headers and tubes secured to and extending between the headers, each tube including a wall formed with a leading surface, a trailing surface and lateral surfaces extending between the headers and interconnecting the leading and trailing surfaces, a passage enclosed by the wall for carrying fluid between the headers, and long and short fins formed integrally with and extending outward from the wall.

Abstract: An expansion valve for an air conditioning system circulates refrigerant through a fixed-displacement compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator. An inlet is provided for receiving refrigerant liquefied in the condenser. An outlet of the expansion valve supplies refrigerant to the evaporator. A valve element controls flow of refrigerant between the inlet and the outlet, wherein the valve element is normally closed. A control assembly is coupled to the valve element and is responsive to at least one temperature or pressure in the air conditioning system to open the valve element to variably meter the refrigerant to the evaporator. A bleed passage bypasses the valve element to conduct refrigerant between the inlet and the outlet.

Abstract: A thermostatic expansion valve assembly is provided for an air conditioning system. A thermostatic expansion valve includes a valve body having an evaporator inlet port, an evaporator outlet port, a suction line port, and a liquid inlet port. The thermostatic expansion valve controls a flow of refrigerant from the liquid line port to the evaporator inlet port. A liquid line conduit is coupled to the liquid inlet port. The liquid line conduit has at least a segment elevated above the liquid inlet port. The vapor within the liquid inlet conduit accumulates at an uppermost portion of the segment prior to a compressor startup. A substantial amount refrigerant liquid is maintained between the uppermost portion of the segment and the liquid inlet port prior to the compressor startup.