Stepper motor control valves for refrigerant expansion and/or system controls

Abstract

A valve includes a movable valve member movable relative to a valve port between a closed position in which fluid flow through the valve port is inhibited and an open position in which fluid flow through the valve port is permitted. A valve seat is coupled to the movable valve member. The valve seat is configured to seat against and seal the valve port when the movable valve member is in the closed position and to be spaced apart from the valve port when the valve member is in the open position. A sealing member is disposed within a cavity behind the valve seat.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A valve comprising:
 a valve port;   a movable valve member movable relative to the valve port between a closed position in which fluid flow through the valve port is inhibited and an open position in which fluid flow through the valve port is permitted;   a valve seat coupled to the movable valve member, the valve seat configured to seat against and seal the valve port when the movable valve member is in the closed position and to be spaced apart from the valve port when the movable valve member is in the open position; and   a sealing member disposed within a cavity behind the valve seat.   
     
     
         2 . The valve of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the sealing member is configured to be operable for providing impact dampening; and/or   the sealing member is configured to be operable as a gimbal.   
     
     
         3 . The valve of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the sealing member is configured to be operable for providing impact dampening by absorbing a stepper drive down blow; and   the sealing member is configured to be operable as a gimbal that allows multi-angles of flexibility to ensure a tighter seal off of the valve port by the valve seat.   
     
     
         4 . The valve of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing member comprises a refrigerant compatible O-ring. 
     
     
         5 . The valve of  claim 4 , wherein the refrigerant compatible O-ring comprises chloroprene synthetic elastomer, fluoropolymer elastomer, perfluoroelastomer, or silicone. 
     
     
         6 . The valve of  claim 1 , wherein the cavity is cooperatively defined by a lower portion of the movable valve member and an upper portion of the valve seat. 
     
     
         7 . The valve of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the valve includes a pin coupled to the movable valve member; and   the valve seat comprises a collar disposed on the pin.   
     
     
         8 . The valve of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the pin comprises a tapered metering pin; and   the collar comprises a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) collar disposed on the tapered metering pin.   
     
     
         9 . The valve of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the valve includes a stepper motor; and   the movable valve member is movable relative to the valve port by the stepper motor between the closed position in which fluid flow through the valve port is inhibited and the open position in which fluid flow through the valve port is permitted.   
     
     
         10 . The valve of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the sealing member comprises a refrigerant compatible O-ring;   the refrigerant compatible O-ring is configured to be operable for providing impact dampening by absorbing a stepper drive down blow; and   the refrigerant compatible O-ring is configured to be operable as a gimbal that allows multi-angles of flexibility to ensure a tighter seal off of the valve port by the valve seat.   
     
     
         11 . The valve of  claim 10 , wherein the refrigerant compatible O-ring comprises chloroprene synthetic elastomer, fluoropolymer elastomer, perfluoroelastomer, or silicone. 
     
     
         12 . The valve of  claim 10 , wherein the cavity is cooperatively defined by a lower portion of the movable valve member and an upper portion of the valve seat. 
     
     
         13 . The valve of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the valve includes a pin coupled to the movable valve member; and   the valve seat comprises a collar disposed on the pin.   
     
     
         14 . The valve of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the pin comprises a tapered metering pin; and   the collar comprises a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) collar disposed on the tapered metering pin.   
     
     
         15 . A stepper motor driven electronic expansion valve comprising the valve of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         16 . A stepper motor driven electronic expansion valve comprising:
 a valve port;   a stepper motor;   a movable valve member movable relative to the valve port by the stepper motor between a closed position in which fluid flow through the valve port is inhibited and an open position in which fluid flow through the valve port is permitted;   a valve seat coupled to the movable valve member, the valve seat configured to seat against and seal the valve port when the movable valve member is in the closed position and to be spaced apart from the valve port when the movable valve member is in the open position; and   a refrigerant compatible O-ring disposed within a cavity behind the valve seat.   
     
     
         17 . The valve of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the refrigerant compatible O-ring is configured to be operable for providing impact dampening by absorbing a stepper drive down blow; and   the refrigerant compatible O-ring is configured to be operable as a gimbal that allows multi-angles of flexibility to ensure a tighter seal off of the valve port by the valve seat.   
     
     
         18 . The valve of  claim 17 , wherein the cavity is cooperatively defined by a lower portion of the movable valve member and an upper portion of the valve seat. 
     
     
         19 . The valve of  claim 18 , wherein:
 the valve includes a pin coupled to the movable valve member; and   the valve seat comprises a collar disposed on the pin.   
     
     
         20 . The valve of  claim 19 , wherein:
 the pin comprises a tapered metering pin; and   the collar comprises a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) collar disposed on the tapered metering pin.