Insert for a thermostatic expansion valve, thermostatic expansion valve and method for assembling a thermostatic expansion valve

Abstract

The invention relates to an insert (1) for a thermostatic expansion valve as a thermostatic expansion valve (2) comprising such an insert and to a method of assembling such a thermostatic expansion valve (2). The insert (1) comprises an expansion valve element (3) and an expansion valve seat (4). The expansion valve element (3) is held inside the insert (1) by a biasing member (5), wherein the insert (1) is structured and arranged to be inserted into a valve housing (8). The task of the invention is to provide an insert for a thermostatic expansion valve that allows a simple assembly of the valve and also provides an improved functionality. The task is solved in that the insert (1) further comprises a control valve (12), wherein the control valve (12) is located in the same flow path through the insert (1) as the expansion valve seat (4).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An insert for a thermostatic expansion valve comprising an expansion valve element and an expansion valve seat, wherein the expansion valve element is held inside the insert by a biasing member, wherein the insert is structured and arranged to be inserted into a valve housing, wherein the insert further comprises a control valve, wherein the control valve is located in the same main flow path through the insert as the expansion valve seat. 
     
     
         2 . The insert according to  claim 1 , wherein the control valve comprises a solenoid valve. 
     
     
         3 . The insert according to  claim 2 , wherein the control valve further comprises a main valve, wherein the solenoid valve is a pilot valve controlling the opening and closing of the main valve. 
     
     
         4 . The insert according to  claim 1 , wherein the control valve is located upstream of the expansion valve seat in the main flow path. 
     
     
         5 . The insert according to  claim 4 , wherein the insert comprises an insert inlet from which the main flow path leads to the control valve. 
     
     
         6 . The insert according to  claim 5 , wherein the main flow path continues from the control valve to the expansion valve seat, wherein the expansion valve seat also forms an insert outlet. 
     
     
         7 . The insert according to  claim 1 , wherein the expansion valve element  3  comprises an engagement surface that is arranged to be engaged by an actuator that is external to the insert. 
     
     
         8 . A thermostatic expansion valve comprising an insert according to  claim 1 , as well as a valve housing, wherein the valve housing comprises a valve inlet and a valve outlet. 
     
     
         9 . The thermostatic expansion valve according to  claim 8 , wherein the thermostatic expansion valve further comprises an actuator to engage the expansion valve element. 
     
     
         10 . The thermostatic expansion valve according to  claim 9 , wherein the actuator comprises a stem to engage the engagement surface of the expansion valve element. 
     
     
         11 . The thermostatic expansion valve according to  claim 8 , wherein the actuator comprises two pressure chambers separated by a diaphragm, wherein a first pressure chamber is connected to a pressure port of the valve housing and a second pressure chamber is connected to a temperature sensing bulb. 
     
     
         12 . A method for assembling a thermostatic expansion valve comprising the steps:
 Providing a valve housing comprising a valve inlet, a valve outlet as well as an actuator,   Providing an insert according to  claim 1 ,   Inserting the insert into a predetermined opening of the valve housing, such that the actuator comes into engagement with the expansion valve element in the insert,   Fixing the insert to the valve housing.   
     
     
         13 . The insert according to  claim 2 , wherein the control valve is located upstream of the expansion valve seat in the main flow path. 
     
     
         14 . The insert according to  claim 3 , wherein the control valve is located upstream of the expansion valve seat in the main flow path. 
     
     
         15 . The insert according to  claim 2 , wherein the expansion valve element  3  comprises an engagement surface that is arranged to be engaged by an actuator that is external to the insert. 
     
     
         16 . The insert according to  claim 3 , wherein the expansion valve element  3  comprises an engagement surface that is arranged to be engaged by an actuator that is external to the insert. 
     
     
         17 . The insert according to  claim 4 , wherein the expansion valve element  3  comprises an engagement surface that is arranged to be engaged by an actuator that is external to the insert. 
     
     
         18 . The insert according to  claim 5 , wherein the expansion valve element  3  comprises an engagement surface that is arranged to be engaged by an actuator that is external to the insert. 
     
     
         19 . The insert according to  claim 6 , wherein the expansion valve element  3  comprises an engagement surface that is arranged to be engaged by an actuator that is external to the insert. 
     
     
         20 . The thermostatic expansion valve comprising an insert according to  claim 2 , as well as a valve housing, wherein the valve housing comprises a valve inlet and a valve outlet.