Claims
- 1. A variable compressor comprising:a compression chamber; a reexpansion area; a flow channel between the compression chamber and the reexpansion area; and a valve member continuously and opposingly subjected to first and second operating conditions of the compressor and movable between first and second positions as a function of the first and second operating conditions, the valve member in the first position allowing flow between the compression chamber and the reexpansion area and the valve member in the second position preventing flow between the compression chamber and the reexpansion area, whereby the compressor operates at a first capacity when the valve member is in the first position and at a second, increased capacity when the valve member is in the second position.
- 2. The variable compressor of claim 1, wherein the first and second operating conditions are suction and discharge conditions of the compressor.
- 3. The variable compressor of claim 2, wherein the valve member moves from the first position to the second position when a discharge pressure of the compressor reaches a predetermined value relative to a suction pressure of the compressor.
- 4. The variable compressor of claim 3, wherein the suction pressure of the compressor is applied to one side of the valve member and the discharge pressure of the compressor is applied to an opposite side of the valve member.
- 5. The variable compressor of claim 4, wherein a biasing member is applied against the valve member, biasing the valve member toward the first position.
- 6. The variable compressor of claim 5, wherein the biasing member and the suction pressure are applied to push the valve member toward the first position and the discharge pressure is applied to push the valve member toward the second position.
- 7. The variable compressor of claim 2, wherein the valve member moves from the first position to the second position when a discharge temperature of the compressor reaches a predetermined value.
- 8. A variable compressor, comprising:a compression chamber; a reexpansion area; a flow channel between the compression chamber and the reexpansion area; a valve member movable between first and second positions, the valve member in the first position allowing flow between the compression chamber and the reexpansion area and the valve member in the second position preventing flow between the compression chamber and the reexpansion area, whereby the compressor operates at a first capacity when the valve member is in the first position and at a second, increased capacity when the valve member is in the second position; and a control, associated only with the compressor, for moving the valve member between the first and second positions as a function of an operating parameter of the compressor, whereby the compressor is automatically modulated based on the operating parameter, wherein the operating parameter is temperature, wherein the valve member moves from the first position to the second position when a discharge temperature of the compressor reaches a predetermined value, and wherein a suction pressure of the compressor is applied to one side of the valve member and a temperature element is applied to an opposite side of the valve member.
- 9. The variable compressor of claim 8, wherein a biasing member is applied against the valve member, biasing the valve member toward the first position.
- 10. The variable compressor of claim 9, wherein a discharge pressure of the compressor is applied to the opposite side of the valve member.
- 11. The variable compressor of claim 10, wherein the biasing member and the suction pressure are applied to push the valve member toward the first position and the discharge pressure and the temperature element are applied to push the valve member toward the second position.
- 12. A compressor, comprising:a compression chamber; a compressing member movable to compress fluid entering the compression chamber; a flow passage in fluid communication with the compression chamber at one end and a reexpansion area at the other end; a valve member associated with the flow passage and movable between a first position permitting flow through the flow passage and a second position preventing flow through the flow passage, the valve member being continuously subjected to a first operating condition of the fluid such that a first force is continuously exerted on the valve member in a first direction, the valve member being continuously subjected to a second operating condition of the fluid such that a second force is continuously exerted on the valve member in a second direction opposite to the first direction; and a biasing member exerting a biasing force on the valve member in the second direction such that when the first force overcomes the biasing force and the second force combined together, the valve member moves from the first position to the second position and modulates the capacity of the compressor.
- 13. The compressor of claim 12, wherein the first operating condition of the fluid is a discharge condition of the fluid.
- 14. The compressor of claim 13, wherein the discharge condition of the fluid has a discharge pressure and a change in the discharge pressure causes the valve member to move between the first and second positions.
- 15. The compressor of claim 14, wherein the compressor is a reciprocating compressor including a reciprocating piston as the compressing member.
- 16. The compressor of claim 15, wherein the valve member moves perpendicular to the movement of the reciprocating piston.
- 17. The compressor of claim 15, wherein the valve member moves parallel with the movement of the reciprocating piston.
- 18. The compressor of claim 15, wherein the reexpansion area is a reexpansion chamber formed in a crankcase of the reciprocating compressor.
- 19. The compressor of claim 18, wherein the flow passage is defined by a valve plate mounted on the crankcase and a recess formed in the crankcase.
- 20. The compressor of claim 18, wherein the flow passage is formed in the crankcase.
- 21. The compressor of claim 18, wherein the valve member is positioned within the reexpansion chamber.
- 22. The compressor of claim 15, wherein the reexpansion area includes a suction channel of the reciprocating compressor.
- 23. The compressor of claim 22, wherein the flow passage is located between a bottom dead center position and a top dead center position of the reciprocating piston.
- 24. The compressor of claim 14, wherein the compressor is a scroll compressor and the compressing member is a movable scroll member.
- 25. The compressor of claim 24, wherein the flow passage is formed in a fixed scroll member intermeshed with the movable scroll member.
- 26. The compressor of claim 24, wherein the reexpansion area includes a suction channel of the scroll compressor.
- 27. The compressor of claim 14, wherein the valve member includes a head portion exposed continuously to the discharge pressure and a stem portion connected to the head portion.
- 28. The compressor of claim 27, wherein the valve member further includes a projection formed on the head portion and the projection has a surface not exposed to the discharge pressure when the valve member is in the first position and exposed to the discharge pressure when the valve member is in the second position.
- 29. The compressor of claim 27, wherein the head portion is configured to prevent flow through the flow passage when the valve member is in the second position.
- 30. The compressor of claim 27, wherein the valve member further includes a tail portion connected to the stem portion and the tail portion is exposed continuously to a suction pressure of the fluid.
- 31. The compressor of claim 30, wherein the head, tail, and stem portions are circular in shape and have the same diameter.
- 32. The compressor of claim 27, wherein the stem portion is configured to prevent flow through the flow passage when the valve member is in the second position.
- 33. The compressor of claim 32, wherein the stem portion includes a front surface exposed continuously to the fluid in the compression chamber.
- 34. The compressor of claim 13, wherein the second operating condition of the fluid is a suction condition of the fluid.
- 35. The compressor of claim 13, wherein the second operating condition of the fluid is a condition of the fluid in the compression chamber.
- 36. A compressor, comprising:a compression chamber; a compressing member movable to compress fluid entering the compression chamber; a flow passage in fluid communication with the compression chamber at one end and a reexpansion area at the other end; a valve member associated with the flow passage and movable between a first position permitting flow through the flow passage and a second position preventing flow through the flow passage, the valve member being continuously subjected to a first operating condition of the fluid such that a first force is continuously exerted on the valve member in a first direction, the valve member being continuously subjected to a second operating condition of the fluid such that a second force is continuously exerted on the valve member in a second direction opposite to the first direction; a biasing member exerting a biasing force on the valve member in the second direction such that when the first force overcomes the biasing force and the second force combined together, the valve member moves from the first position to the second position and modulates the capacity of the compressor; and a temperature element to exert a thermal force on the valve member in the first direction, wherein the first operating condition of the fluid is a discharge condition of the fluid having a discharge pressure and a discharge temperature, and a change in the discharge temperature causes the valve member to move between the first and second positions.
- 37. The compressor of claim 36, wherein the valve member is exposed to the discharge pressure to exert a force on the valve member in the first direction such that the first force exerted on the valve member is the thermal force exerted by the temperature element plus the force exerted by the discharge pressure.
- 38. The compressor of claim 37, wherein the temperature element is an element that expands as it is heated.
- 39. The compressor of claim 37, wherein the temperature element is a bladder having a hollow enclosure and gas is filled in the hollow enclosure.
- 40. The compressor of claim 39, wherein the gas is a refrigerant.
- 41. The compressor of claim 37, wherein the temperature element includes at least one bi-metal disk.
- 42. The compressor of claim 36, wherein the valve member is not exposed to the discharge pressure and the first force exerted on the valve member is the thermal force exerted by the temperature element.
- 43. A heat exchanging system having fluid flowing therethrough in a cycle, comprising:a condenser; an expansion device in fluid communication with the condenser; an evaporator in fluid communication with the expansion device; a compressor in fluid communication with the evaporator and the condenser, the compressor including an actuating element continuously and opposingly subjected to first and second operating conditions of the fluid and movable between a first position and a second position as a function of the first and second operating conditions, such that the compressor operates at a first capacity when the actuating element is in the first position and at a second capacity when the actuating element is in the second position; and a control for turning the compressor on or off, based on the demand for heating or cooling.
- 44. The heat exchanging system of claim 43, wherein the first and second operating conditions are suction and discharge conditions and a relative change in the suction and discharge conditions causes the actuating element to move between the first and second positions.
- 45. The heat exchanging system of claim 44, wherein the compressor is a reciprocating compressor.
- 46. A method of operating a variable capacity compressor, the method comprising the steps of:operating the compressor at a first capacity; continuously and opposingly applying first and second pressures to a movable component in the compressor, the movable component causing the compressor to operate at the first capacity when the movable component is in a first position and at a second increased capacity when the movable component is in a second position; and applying a biasing force to bias the movable component toward the first position, such that the movable component moves to the second position when the relative differential between the first and second pressures reaches a predetermined value, whereby the compressor automatically modulates its capacity based on the relative values of the first and second pressures.
- 47. The method of claim 46, wherein the first and second pressures are suction and discharge pressures.
- 48. The method of claim 47, wherein the compressor includes a reexpansion area and a flow passage in fluid communication with a compression chamber at one end and the reexpansion area at the other end, and wherein the movable component in the first position permits flow through the flow passage and in the second position prevents flow through the flow passage.
- 49. The method of claim 48, wherein the compressor is a reciprocating compressor and the reexpansion area is a reexpansion chamber formed in a crankcase of the reciprocating compressor.
- 50. The method of claim 48, wherein the compressor is a reciprocating compressor and the reexpansion area includes a suction channel of the reciprocating compressor.
- 51. The method of claim 48, wherein the compressor is a scroll compressor and the reexpansion area includes a suction channel of the scroll compressor.
- 52. A method of operating a variable capacity compressor, the method comprising the steps of:operating the compressor at a first capacity; applying first and second pressures to a movable component in the compressor, the movable component causing the compressor to operate at the first capacity when the movable component is in a first position and at a second increased capacity when the movable component is in a second position; and applying a biasing force to bias the movable component toward the first position, such that the movable component moves to the second position when the relative differential between the first and second pressures reaches a predetermined value, whereby the compressor automatically modulates its capacity based on the relative values of the first and second pressures, wherein the compressor is in fluid communication with a condenser exposed to outside air and the method further comprises the step of selecting the biasing force such that the movable component moves to the second position when the temperature of the outside air is greater than a predetermined temperature.
- 53. The method of claim 52, wherein the predetermined temperature is in the range of 75 to 94° F.
- 54. A capacity modulation method, comprising the steps of:providing a compressor comprising a compression chamber and a compressing member movable to compress fluid entering the compression chamber; providing a flow passage in fluid communication with the compression chamber at one end and a reexpansion area at the other end; providing a valve member associated with the flow passage and movable between a first position permitting flow through the flow passage and a second position preventing flow through the flow passage; subjecting the valve member continuously to a first operating condition of the fluid such that a first force is continuously exerted on the valve member in a first direction; subjecting the valve member continuously to a second operating condition of the fluid such that a second force is continuously exerted on the valve member in a second direction opposite to the first direction; and exerting a biasing force on the valve member in the second direction such that when the first force overcomes the second force and the biasing force combined together, the valve member moves from the first position to the second position and thereby modulates the capacity.
- 55. The method of claim 54, wherein the first operating condition of the fluid is a discharge condition of the fluid.
- 56. The method of claim 55, wherein the second operating condition of the fluid is a suction condition of the fluid.
- 57. The method of claim 56, wherein one side of the valve member is exposed to a discharge pressure of the fluid and an opposite side of the valve member is exposed to a suction pressure of the fluid.
- 58. The method of claim 54, wherein the second operating condition of the fluid is a condition of the fluid in the compression chamber.
- 59. The method of claim 58, wherein one side of the valve member is exposed to a discharge pressure of the fluid and an opposite side of the valve member is exposed to a pressure of the fluid in the compression chamber.
- 60. A capacity modulation method, comprising the steps of:providing a compressor comprising a compression chamber and a compressing member movable to compress fluid entering the compression chamber; providing a flow passage in fluid communication with the compression chamber at one end and a reexpansion area at the other end; providing a valve member associated with the flow passage and movable between a first position permitting flow through the flow passage and a second position preventing flow through the flow passage; subjecting the valve member continuously to a first operating condition of the fluid such that a first force is continuously exerted on the valve member in a first direction; subjecting the valve member continuously to a second operating condition of the fluid such that a second force is continuously exerted on the valve member in a second direction opposite to the first direction; and exerting a biasing force on the valve member in the second direction such that when the first force overcomes the second force and the biasing force combined together, the valve member moves from the first position to the second position and thereby modulates the capacity, wherein the compressor further includes a temperature element associated with the valve member and the temperature element is subjected to the first operating condition to exert a thermal force on the valve member in the first direction.
- 61. The method of claim 60, wherein the first operating condition of the fluid is a discharge condition of the fluid.
- 62. The method of claim 61, wherein the second operating condition of the fluid is a suction condition of the fluid.
- 63. The method of claim 62, wherein the fluid at the first operating condition contacts the temperature element.
- 64. The method of claim 63, wherein one side of the valve member is exposed to a discharge pressure of the fluid such that the first force exerted on the valve member is the thermal force exerted by the temperature element plus a force exerted by the discharge pressure, and an opposite side of the valve member is exposed to a suction pressure of the fluid such that the suction pressure exerts the second force on the valve member.
- 65. The method of claim 62, wherein the fluid at the first operating condition does not contact the temperature element.
- 66. The method of claim 65, wherein the first force exerted on the valve member is the thermal force exerted by the temperature element and one side of the valve member is exposed to a suction pressure of the fluid such that the suction pressure exerts the second force on the valve member.
- 67. The method of claim 61, wherein the second operating condition of the fluid is a condition of the fluid in the compression chamber.
- 68. The method of claim 67, wherein the fluid at the first operating condition contacts the temperature element.
- 69. The method of claim 68, wherein one side of the valve member is exposed to a discharge pressure of the fluid such that the first force exerted on the valve member is the thermal force exerted by the temperature element plus a force exerted by the discharge pressure, and an opposite side of the valve member is exposed to a pressure of the fluid in the compression chamber such that the pressure of the fluid in the compression chamber exerts the second force on the valve member.
- 70. The method of claim 67, wherein the fluid at the first operating condition does not contact the temperature element.
- 71. The method of claim 70, wherein the first force exerted on the valve member is the thermal force exerted by the temperature element and one side of the valve member is exposed to a pressure of the fluid in the compression chamber such that the pressure of the fluid in the compression chamber exerts the second force on the valve member.
- 72. A capacity modulation method, comprising the steps of:providing a compressor comprising a compression chamber and a compressing member movable to compress fluid entering the compression chamber; providing a flow passage in fluid communication with the compression chamber at one end and a reexpansion area at the other end; providing a valve member associated with the flow passage and movable between a first position permitting flow through the flow passage and a second position preventing flow through the flow passage; subjecting the valve member continuously to a first operating condition of the fluid such that a first force is continuously exerted on the valve member in a first direction; subjecting the valve member continuously to a second operating condition of the fluid such that a second force is continuously exerted on the valve member in a second direction opposite to the first direction; and exerting a biasing force on the valve member in the second direction such that when the first force overcomes the second force and the biasing force combined together, the valve member moves from the first position to the second position and thereby modulates the capacity, wherein the compressor is in fluid communication with a condenser exposed to outside air and the method further comprises the step of selecting the biasing force such that the movable component moves to the second position when the temperature of the outside air is greater than a predetermined temperature.
- 73. The method of claim 72, wherein the predetermined temperature is in the range of 75 to 94° F.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
The present application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 09/877,146 filed on Jun. 11, 2001, which is incorporated herein by reference.
US Referenced Citations (31)
Non-Patent Literature Citations (2)
Entry |
1998 Standard for “Water Chilling Packages Using the Vapor Compression Cycle”, Standard 550/590, Air-Conditioning & Refrigeration Institute, pp. 1-29 (1998). month of publication not provided. |
Communication from European Patent Office (mailing date of May 16, 2003) including a Search Report citing the documents listed above. |
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09/877146 |
Jun 2001 |
US |
Child |
10/058147 |
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US |