Heat transfer fluid flow control device

Abstract

A flow control device for directing flow of a heat transfer fluid in a heat transfer circuit is described. The flow control device includes an inlet port fluidly communicable with a fluid source and first and second outlet ports, the first outlet port is fluidly communicable with a first device, and the second outlet port is fluidly communicable with a second device. The flow control device further includes an actuator; a first seat disposed between the inlet port and the first outlet port; a second seat disposed between the inlet port and the second outlet port; and a single sealing member movable by the actuator, the sealing member configured to be sealingly engageable with the first and second seats.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A flow control device for directing flow of a heat transfer fluid in a heat transfer circuit, the flow control device comprising:
 an inlet port fluidly communicable with a discharge port of a compressor in a heat transfer circuit;   first and second outlet ports, wherein:
 the first outlet port is fluidly communicable with an evaporator in the heat transfer circuit, and 
 the second outlet port is fluidly communicable with a condenser in the heat transfer circuit; 
   an actuator;   a first seat disposed between the inlet port and the first outlet port;   a second seat disposed between the inlet port and the second outlet port; and   a single sealing member translatable by the actuator, the sealing member configured to be sealingly engageable with the first and second seats.   
     
     
         2 . The flow control device according to  claim 1 , wherein the sealing member includes a shaft and a sealing area, the sealing area configured to be sealingly engageable with the first and second seats. 
     
     
         3 . The flow control device according to  claim 2 , wherein when the sealing member is in a first configuration, the sealing area is in sealing engagement with the first seat such that the inlet port is fluidly communicable with the second outlet port and the first outlet port is sealed from the inlet port. 
     
     
         4 . The flow control device according to  claim 2 , wherein when the sealing member is in a second configuration, the sealing area is in sealing engagement with the second seat such that the inlet port is fluidly communicable with the first outlet port and the second outlet port is sealed from the inlet port. 
     
     
         5 . The flow control device according to  claim 2 , wherein when the sealing member is in a third configuration, the sealing area is disposed between the first and second seats such that the inlet port is in fluid communication with the first outlet port and the second outlet port. 
     
     
         6 . The flow control device according to  claim 1 , wherein the sealing member includes a longitudinal axis and the inlet port is on a first side of the longitudinal axis and the first and second outlet ports are on a second side of the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         7 . The flow control device according to  claim 1 , wherein the inlet port includes an inlet longitudinal axis, and the first and second outlet ports include first and second outlet longitudinal axes, the first outlet longitudinal axis being disposed on a first side of the inlet longitudinal axis and the second outlet longitudinal axis being disposed on a second side of the inlet longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         8 . The flow control device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second seats are annular and the sealing member is annular. 
     
     
         9 . The flow control device according to  claim 1 , wherein the actuator is a stepper motor and the sealing member is a spool. 
     
     
         10 . A transport refrigeration system, comprising:
 a refrigeration circuit, including:
 a compressor, a flow control device, a condenser, and an evaporator fluidly connected, 
 wherein the flow control device includes:
 an inlet port fluidly connected to a discharge port of the compressor; 
 first and second outlet ports, wherein:
 the first outlet port is fluidly connectable to the evaporator, and 
 the second outlet port is fluidly connectable to the condenser; 
 
 an actuator; 
 a first seat disposed between the inlet port and the first outlet port; 
 a second seat disposed between the inlet port and the second outlet port; and 
 a single sealing member movable by the actuator, the sealing member configured to be sealingly engageable with the first and second seats. 
 
   
     
     
         11 . The transport refrigeration system according to  claim 10 , wherein the actuator is a stepper motor and the sealing member is a spool. 
     
     
         12 . The transport refrigeration system according to  claim 10 , wherein a location of the sealing member corresponds to an operating mode of the transport refrigeration system. 
     
     
         13 . The transport refrigeration system according to  claim 10 , wherein in a heating/defrost mode, the flow control device is configured to direct fluid flow from the first outlet port. 
     
     
         14 . The transport refrigeration system according to  claim 10 , wherein in a cooling mode, the flow control device is configured to direct fluid flow from the second outlet port. 
     
     
         15 . The transport refrigeration system according to  claim 10 , wherein in a modulating mode, the flow control device is configured to direct a portion of fluid flow from the first outlet and a portion of the fluid flow from the second outlet. 
     
     
         16 . The transport refrigeration system according to  claim 10 , wherein the sealing member includes a longitudinal axis and the inlet port is on a first side of the longitudinal axis and the first and second outlet ports are on a second side of the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         17 . The transport refrigeration system according to  claim 10 , wherein the inlet port includes an inlet longitudinal axis, and the first and second outlet ports include first and second outlet longitudinal axes, the first outlet longitudinal axis being disposed on a first side of the inlet longitudinal axis and the second outlet longitudinal axis being disposed on a second side of the inlet longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         18 . The transport refrigeration system according to  claim 10 , wherein the first and second seats are annular and the sealing member is annular. 
     
     
         19 . A method for controlling an operating mode of a refrigeration circuit, the refrigeration circuit including a compressor, a flow control device, a condenser, and an evaporator fluidly connected, wherein the flow control device includes an inlet port fluidly connected to a discharge port of the compressor, first and second outlet ports, the first outlet port being fluidly connectable to the evaporator, and the second outlet port being fluidly connectable to the condenser, a stepper motor, a first seat disposed between the inlet port and the first outlet port, a second seat disposed between the inlet port and the second outlet port, and a single spool movable by the stepper motor, the spool configured to be sealingly engageable with the first and second seats, the method comprising:
 receiving a heat transfer fluid from the compressor at the inlet port of the flow control device; and   translating the single spool between the first and second seats to direct the heat transfer fluid to one of the first and second outlet ports, wherein:
 in a cooling mode, translating the single spool to be sealingly engaged with the first seat such that heat transfer fluid is directed to the second outlet port, and 
 in a heating/defrost mode, translating the single spool to be sealingly engaged with the second seat such that the heat transfer fluid is directed to the first outlet port. 
   
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein in a modulating mode, translating the single spool to an intermediate location between the first and second seats for directing a portion of the heat transfer fluid to the first outlet port and for directing another portion of the heat transfer fluid to the second outlet port.