Valve manifold assembly

Abstract

A valve assembly for a refrigeration system having a casing comprising a plurality of apertures, a first rotatable valve member comprising a first passageway and a second rotatable valve member comprising a second passageway where the first and second valve members may be coupled to define various fluid passageways.

1 . A valve assembly comprising: 
 a casing comprising a first plurality of apertures and a second plurality of apertures;    a first rotatable valve member comprising a first passageway arranged to provide fluid communication between at least two apertures of the first plurality of apertures, the first valve member having a plurality of orientations; and    a second rotatable valve member comprising a second passageway arranged to provide fluid communication between at least two apertures of the second plurality of apertures, the second valve member coupled to the first valve member such that the orientation of the second passageway is fixed with respect to the orientation of the first passageway;    the first plurality of apertures comprising a first aperture that is in fluid communication with the first passageway.    
   
   
       2 . The valve assembly of  claim 1 , the first rotatable valve member comprising a ball valve.  
   
   
       3 . The valve assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first rotatable valve member is coupled to the second rotatable valve member by a spindle.  
   
   
       4 . The valve assembly of  claim 1 , the first passageway comprising a first portion oriented orthogonal to a second portion.  
   
   
       5 . The valve assembly of  claim 4 , the second passageway comprising a first portion oriented orthogonal to a second portion.  
   
   
       6 . The valve assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the second portion of the first passageway is parallel to the second portion of the second passageway.  
   
   
       7 . The valve assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the first portion of the first passageway is oriented along a z-axis, and the first portion of the second passageway is oriented along an x-axis.  
   
   
       8 . The valve assembly of  claim 4 , the first passageway further comprising a third portion oriented orthogonal to the first portion and orthogonal to the second portion.  
   
   
       9 . The valve assembly of  claim 8 , the third portion comprising a smaller cross-sectional area than one of the first portion and the second portion.  
   
   
       10 . The valve assembly of  claim 4 , the second passageway comprising a T-shape.  
   
   
       11 . A device comprising: 
 a valve assembly having a plurality of orientations, the valve assembly comprising: 
 a casing comprising a first plurality of apertures and a second plurality of apertures;  
 a first valve comprising a first passageway arranged to provide fluid communication between at least two apertures of the first plurality of apertures; and  
 a second valve comprising a second passageway arranged to provide fluid communication between at least two apertures of the second plurality of apertures, the orientation of the second valve fixed with respect to the orientation of the first valve;  
   an intake port in fluid communication with an aperture of the first plurality of apertures;    a compressor comprising a low pressure side and a high pressure side, the low pressure side in fluid communication with an aperture of the first plurality of apertures, the high pressure side in fluid communication with an aperture of the second plurality of apertures;    a condenser comprising a high temperature side and a low temperature side, the high temperature side in fluid communication with an aperture of the second plurality of apertures; and    a discharge port in fluid communication with the low temperature side of the condenser;    wherein when the valve assembly is in a first orientation, the first valve provides fluid communication between the intake port and the low pressure side of the compressor, and the second valve provides fluid communication between the high pressure side of the compressor and the high temperature side of the condenser.    
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 11 , the first valve comprising a ball valve.  
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 11 , the first passageway comprising a first path and a second path, the first path having a greater cross-sectional area than the second path, the first path providing fluid communication between the intake port and the intake side of the compressor when the valve assembly is in the first orientation.  
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 13 , the valve assembly comprising a second orientation, wherein the second path provides fluid communication between the intake port and the intake side of the compressor, and the second valve provides fluid communication between the output side of the compressor and the condenser.  
   
   
       15 . The device of  claim 14 , arranged for vapor recovery in the first orientation and arranged for liquid recovery in the second orientation.  
   
   
       16 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein at least a portion of the first path is oriented orthogonal to at least a portion of the second path.  
   
   
       17 . The device of  claim 14 , the second fluid passageway comprising a T-shape.  
   
   
       18 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein when the valve assembly is in a second orientation, first valve and the second valve provide fluid communication between high temperature side of the condenser and the low pressure side of the compressor.  
   
   
       19 . The device of  claim 18 , further comprising an inter-valve conduit arranged to provide fluid communication between the first valve and the second valve when the valve assembly is in the second orientation.  
   
   
       20 . The device of  claim 18 , further comprising a purging line, the purging line arranged to provide fluid communication between the high pressure side of the compressor and the discharge port.  
   
   
       21 . The device of  claim 20 , the purging line further comprising a restrictive orifice.  
   
   
       22 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein when the valve assembly is in the second orientation, the high pressure side of the compressor is not in fluid communication with the second passageway.  
   
   
       23 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein when the valve assembly is in a second orientation, the first valve and the second valve provide fluid communication between high pressure side of the compressor and the low pressure side of the compressor.