초록 ▼

Provided is a reversing valve that can reverse flow in a refrigeration system. The reversing valve includes a valve body extending between a first end and an opposing second end. Multiple ports are disposed through the first and second ends. In one aspect, to reduce the pressure drop across the valv

Provided is a reversing valve that can reverse flow in a refrigeration system. The reversing valve includes a valve body extending between a first end and an opposing second end. Multiple ports are disposed through the first and second ends. In one aspect, to reduce the pressure drop across the valve body, flow is channeled generally straightly between the ends. This is accomplished by a valve member defining a channel that is coupled to a port at the first end while pivotally movable to intersect different ports at the second end. Flow direction in the system is determined by which port at the second end is intersected. In another aspect, to move the valve member, the reversing valve includes a permanent magnet joined to the valve member and an electromagnet extending partly around the valve body. Applying different polarities to the electromagnet moves the permanent magnet and the valve member.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A reversing valve comprising: a valve body having a first end and an opposing second end, the first end including first and second ports disposed therein, and the second end including third and fourth ports disposed therein; an elongated valve member defining a channel and ex

What is claimed is: 1. A reversing valve comprising: a valve body having a first end and an opposing second end, the first end including first and second ports disposed therein, and the second end including third and fourth ports disposed therein; an elongated valve member defining a channel and extending between the first end and the second end, the valve member movable within the valve body between a first position wherein the channel intersects the second and third ports while simultaneously allowing communication between the first and fourth ports, and a second position wherein the channel intersects the second and fourth ports while simultaneously allowing communication between the first and third ports; wherein the valve body is generally cylindrical in shape and defines a longitudinal axis line, and the second port is coaxial with the axis line; wherein the third and fourth ports are radially offset from the axis line, and are angularly offset from each other with respect to the axis line; and wherein the valve member includes an elongated valve tube extending between a first flange and a second flange, the channel disposed within the valve tube, the channel accessed through the first flange by a first opening and accessed through the second flange by a second opening. 2. The reversing valve of claim 1, wherein the first flange is journalled to the first end such that the first opening is aligned to the second port and the axis line, and wherein the second flange is pivotally connected to the second end proximate the axis line such that the second opening is radially offset from the axis line. 3. The reversing valve of claim 2, wherein, when the valve member moves between the first and second positions, the first opening rotates concentrically with respect to the second port and the second opening pivots eccentrically between intersecting the third and fourth ports. 4. A reversing valve comprising: a valve body having a first end and an opposing second end, the first end including first and second ports disposed therein, and the second end including third and fourth ports disposed therein; and an elongated valve member defining a channel and extending between the first end and the second end, the valve member movable within the valve body between a first position wherein the channel intersects the second and third ports while simultaneously allowing communication between the first and fourth ports, and a second position wherein the channel intersects the second and fourth ports while simultaneously allowing communication between the first and third ports; wherein the valve body is generally cylindrical in shape and defines a longitudinal axis line, and the second port is coaxial with the axis line; and wherein the channel is generally straight and extends between the first and second ends at an angled relationship with respect to the axis line, the angled relationship being about 30 degrees or less. 5. A reversing valve comprising: a valve body having a first end and an opposing second end, the first end including first and second ports disposed therein, and the second end including third and fourth ports disposed therein; and an elongated valve member defining a channel and extending between the first end and the second end, the valve member movable within the valve body between a first position wherein the channel intersects the second and third ports while simultaneously allowing communication between the first and fourth ports, and a second position wherein the channel intersects the second and fourth ports while simultaneously allowing communication between the first and third ports; wherein the valve body is generally cylindrical in shape and defines a longitudinal axis line, and the second port is coaxial with the axis line; and further comprising an actuator for moving the valve member; and wherein the actuator includes a generally annular permanent magnet joined to the valve member and coaxial to the axis line, and an electromagnet extending generally around the valve body. 6. The reversing valve of claim 5, wherein the valve member passes through the annular permanent magnet. 7. The reversing valve of claim 5, wherein the permanent magnet has a north pole corresponding to a first semi-annular half and a south pole corresponding to a second semi-annular half, and the electromagnet includes a first leg and a second leg, the valve body located between the first and second legs, whereby an applied first polarity causes the first leg to attract the north pole and an applied second polarity causes the first leg to attract the south pole. 8. A reversing valve comprising: a valve body having a first end and an opposing second end, the first end including first and second ports disposed therein, and the second end including third and fourth ports disposed therein; an elongated valve member defining a channel and extending between the first end and the second end, the valve member movable within the valve body between a first position wherein the channel intersects the second and third ports while simultaneously allowing communication between the first and fourth ports, and a second position wherein the channel intersects the second and fourth ports while simultaneously allowing communication between the first and third ports; wherein the valve body is generally cylindrical in shape and defines a longitudinal axis line, and the second port is coaxial with the axis line; and wherein the valve member includes a pair of opposing, spaced-apart shoulders, and the valve body includes a stop pin extending into the interior chamber between the shoulders such that, when the valve member is moved to the first position, the stop pin abuts the first shoulder and, when the valve member is moved to the second position, the stop pin abuts the second shoulder. 9. A reversing valve comprising: a valve body having a first end and an opposing second end, the first end including first and second ports disposed therein, and the second end including third and fourth ports disposed therein; an elongated valve member defining a channel and extending between the first end and the second end, the valve member movable within the valve body between a first position wherein the channel intersects the second and third ports while simultaneously allowing communication between the first and fourth ports, and a second position wherein the channel intersects the second and fourth ports while simultaneously allowing communication between the first and third ports; wherein the valve body is generally cylindrical in shape and defines a longitudinal axis line, and the second port is coaxial with the axis line; and further comprising a first flow tube, a second flow tube, a third flow tube, and a fourth flow tube, the first, second, third, and fourth flow tubes joined to the respective first, second, third and fourth ports, the first, second, third, and fourth flow tubes being generally parallel to each other and to the axis line. 10. A reversing valve comprising: a valve body having a first end and an opposing second end, the first end including first and second ports disposed therein, and the second end including third and fourth ports disposed therein; an elongated valve member defining a channel and extending between the first end and the second end, the valve member movable within the valve body between a first position wherein the channel intersects the second and third ports while simultaneously allowing communication between the first and fourth ports, and a second position wherein the channel intersects the second and fourth ports while simultaneously allowing communication between the first and third ports; wherein the valve body is generally cylindrical in shape and defines a longitudinal axis line, and the second port is coaxial with the axis line; and wherein the elongated valve member further defines an axis of the channel extending between the first end and the second end, the axis of the channel extending at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis line, and the reversing valve further comprises a first flow tube, a second flow tube, a third flow tube, and a fourth flow tube, the first, second, third, and fourth flow tubes joined to the respective first, second, third and fourth ports, with the first and second flow tubes extending generally parallel to each other and to the axis line, the third flow tube oriented with respect to the longitudinal axis line to extend generally parallel to the axis of the channel when the valve member is disposed in the first position, and the fourth flow tube being oriented with respect to the longitudinal axis line to extend generally parallel to the axis of the channel when the valve member is disposed in the second position. 11. A reversing valve comprising: a valve body defining an internal chamber, the valve body including a first port and a second port disposed through a first end and a third port and a fourth disposed through a second opposed end; a movable valve member defining a channel for establishing fluid communication between a selectable pair of the second, third and fourth ports; an actuator for moving the valve member, the actuator including a permanent magnet joined to the valve member and an electromagnet; whereby, when a first polarity is applied to the electromagnet, the valve member moves to a first position wherein the channel intersects the second and third ports establishing fluid communication between the second and third ports while simultaneously allowing fluid communication between the first and fourth ports via the internal chamber; and whereby, when a second polarity is applied to the electromagnet, the valve member moves to a second position wherein the channel intersects the second and fourth ports establishing fluid communication between the second and fourth ports while simultaneously allowing fluid communication between the first and third ports via the internal chamber; wherein the permanent magnet is located in the internal chamber and the electromagnet extends at least partly around the valve body; wherein the valve body is generally cylindrical with a first end and an opposing second end, the cylindrical valve body defining a longitudinal axis line, and the permanent magnet is generally annular in shape and is aligned coaxially to the axis line; wherein the electromagnet includes a first leg and a second leg, the cylindrical valve body positioned between the first and second legs; and wherein the annular permanent magnet includes a north pole corresponding to a first semi-annular half and a south pole corresponding to a second semi-annular half, whereby, when the first polarity is applied the first leg attracts the north pole and repels the south pole, and when the second polarity is applied, the first leg attracts the south pole and repels the north pole.