BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The subject matter which is regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. The invention, however, both as to organization and method of practice, together with the further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional side elevation view illustrating an embodiment of the present invention in which all orifices are closed;
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side elevation view illustrating an embodiment of the present invention in which one of the orifices is opened;
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side elevation view illustrating an embodiment of the present invention in which two orifices are opened;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side elevation view illustrating an embodiment of the present invention in which two orifices are opened;
FIG. 5 is a side elevation view illustrating in greater detail the construction of an orifice controlling and cleaning pin.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a typical cooling system in which the present invention is employed.
FIG. 7A is a side elevation view illustrating turning action provided by a chamfer at the end of a pin;
FIG. 7B is a detailed view showing the end of the pin in FIG. 7B; and
FIG. 7C is a side elevation view illustrating the idea that pin spin does not occur as the pin is withdrawn.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The invention disclosed herein is a multiport expansion device for vapor compression refrigeration systems in which improved reliability is provided by preventing orifice fouling by virtue of its mechanical design. Furthermore, multiple parallel arrays of ports (an “orifice/pin pair” is referred to herein as a “port”) of two or more similar or different diameter port holes is contemplated which allows further reliability based on redundant orifices/pins. For example, if a port fails due to fouling, the next orifice is opened. Each orifice in this two-or-more-port, parallel design uses a solenoid controlled pin that mechanically clears debris that may have accumulated in the orifice when it is in the open position. It is further contemplated that control of the solenoids for the pin/orifice includes sensing for out of temperature regulation conditions. For example, each pin/orifice is periodically closed quickly to clear debris as a recovery action, especially for ports that have been in continuous open mode use for a long time. This is one of the ways that the operation of the expansion device of the present invention is made more susceptible to intelligent control operations.
The mechanical design of the solenoid driven pins are such that the pin rotates somewhat during linear actuation. This is accomplished by providing an unsymmetrical chamfer (101e in FIG. 7B) on the pin assembly.). This further improves device reliability by spreading wear areas around the entirety of the pin's cylindrical surface. Clearly, this embodiment is not applicable to pins having noncircular cross-sections. As seen in FIG. 7A, the feature at the end of pin 101 is similar to the end of a drill bit. This is an area at the tip of the pin with a different slope that causes a small rotational force and thus makes the pin spin. An enlarged view of this feature is shown in FIG. 7B. Furthermore, the rotational force only occurs when pushing the pin through the hole, not when the pin returns back, as suggested by the pin motion arrow in FIG. 7C where there is no corresponding arrow to indicate pin rotation unlike FIGS. 7A and 7B. Therefore, the pin is really spinning and not just wiggling back and forth in a stalled rotary motion.
FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention in which all of the pins (101.1 through 101.4) are shown fully inserted within all of the channels (103.1 through 103.4, respectively; see FIGS. 2 through 4 for these reference numerals which are conveniently shown therein). Apertures 103.1-103.4 are present in barrier 100 that exists between two isolated volumes containing the refrigerant (expansive fluid) that flows across barrier 100 through the apertures or channels. Barrier 100 is nonferromagnetic. For example, barrier 100 can be made of brass, bronze, copper or the like. While four aperture/pin combinations are shown, any convenient number may be employed. The construction of pins 101 is shown in detail in FIG. 5 discussed below. Surrounding each pin 101.1-101.4 there is provided a corresponding coil 102.1-102.4. Thus, pins 101 and coils 102 act together as a solenoid. The pin material is ferromagnetic and is therefore magnetically coupled to the coil for controlled motion of the pin. The orientation of the solenoid compared to the bulk of the pin material, along with a spring (not shown) makes the device normally closed or normally opened.
FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. 1 except that pin 101.2 is shown in the fully open position thus permitting expansive fluid flow in the direction shown through aperture 103.2. FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 2 except that both pins 101.2 and 101.3 are shown in the fully open position thus permitting expansive fluid flow in the direction shown through apertures 103.2 and 103.3. FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 3 except that now pins 101.2, 101.3 and 101.4 are shown in the fully open position, thus permitting expansive fluid flow in the direction shown through apertures 103.2, 103.3 and 103.4, as shown.
FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of a pin usable in accordance with the present invention. Each pin 101 includes body portion 101a comprising a material that is susceptible to magnetic fields created by coil 102. Optional tapered portion 101b provides a transition to a size suitable for insertion into channel (orifice) 103. Insertion portion 101c is sized for a tight, sealable insertion into channel 103. Lastly, pin 101 is provided with tip 101d to better insure reliable insertion. While tip 101d is shown as being substantially as conical, any convenient tapering may be provided.
FIG. 6 illustrates the relevant portion of a typical environment in which the present invention is employed. It describes a conventional refrigeration system in which a refrigerant is compressed by compressor 206. As a result of the compression it experiences an increase in temperature. Most of this heat is removed by passage through condenser 208 which is typically provided with blower 210 to assist in heat removal by the passage of air over the conduits of condenser 208. From there the refrigerant flows through expansion orifices 200 of the present invention where it expands and cools. From there the refrigerant flows on to evaporator 202 which is in contact with object 204 which is to be cooled. In the present invention this object is typically an electronic circuit device.
The parallel orifice/pin assemblies can be of the same diameter and/or geometry or can be different to provide different weighting factors for refrigerant expansion per each orifice/pin assembly. The diameter and length of each orifice/pin assembly is tunable to provide a range of desirable expansion characteristics. This arrangement is intended to be similar to a “digital to analog converter” (DAC) used in electrical circuits. Not only do the orifice/pin assemblies not have to be of the same size, it is possible to also provide duplicate sizes for purposes of redundancy. Furthermore, while sizes may be selected to provide a match between flow rate and a numerically supplied value in a one-to-one fashion, it is also possible to select the sizes in a fashion which does not provide weighting in the strict polynomial sense of number representation. Rather, it is possible to provide a range of sizes in which multiple combinations of pin positions effectuate the same flow rate, that is, provide the same total area across which expansive flow takes place. In this fashion too, redundancy is provided.
It is noted that the term “actuator” as employed herein is intended to be more general than the term “solenoid. For example, an actuator may include a solenoid together with conventional mechanical linkages which produce a mechanical advantage in moving the pins. Levers and cams are just two examples of such devices. Thus, an actuator is more easily matched to a bias means, such as a spring, used to provide either a normally open or normally closed position.
The solenoids or other actuators employed in the present invention are selected of materials which are compatible with the specific refrigeration fluid or fluids used. However, it is noted that the design of the present system provides protection against fouling by contamination that might be introduced along with the solenoids or actuators. Accordingly, the present invention thus also provides some enhancement for the range of materials that are employable in the solenoids or actuators.
The claims herein refer to the expansion of a fluid as opposed to the expansion of a gas since it is contemplated that the material flowing through the expansion channels may comprise a gas or a multiphase mixture including gas and liquid components.
While the invention has been described in detail herein in accordance with certain preferred embodiments thereof, many modifications and changes therein may be effected by those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.
Patent Application
20070289329
