Capacity Control Valve Spring-Biased Bellows for Stable Opening

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing capacity control valves for variable displacement compressors can malfunction due to sudden increases in control pressure, leading to improper valve opening and potential excessive contraction of the bellows, which affects control fluid flow and precision.

Innovation Solution

A capacity control valve design that includes a pressure drive portion with a bellows core and a coil spring to bias the valve element in the closing direction, preventing malfunction even when control pressure increases, and ensuring stable operation by suppressing inflow to the pressure drive portion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the control pressure Pc is applied to the valve element in the opening direction, then the valve element can be opened when needed, but the valve element may open unintentionally when control pressure increases due to outside vibration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevalve opening controlVSAvoidvalve opening stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention introduces a counter spring that applies a closing force to the valve element in opposition to the control pressure. This counter spring acts as a mechanical counterweight that balances the opening force from control pressure, preventing unintended valve opening while allowing controlled opening when the control pressure overcomes the spring force through the bellows mechanism

Inventive Principle:
Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

2Productivity

If the valve element opens due to high control pressure, then the valve responds to pressure changes, but control fluid flows into the suction chamber causing excessive bellows contraction

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepressure response capabilityVSAvoidbellows operation stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention introduces a counter spring as an intermediary element between the control pressure and the valve element. This intermediary absorbs and balances the control pressure through its elastic deformation, preventing direct transmission of excessive pressure to the bellows and suction chamber, thereby protecting the bellows from excessive contraction while still allowing controlled pressure response

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Device complexity

If a simple capacity control valve is used, then the device complexity is low, but the valve may malfunction under sudden pressure increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevalve structure simplicityVSAvoidvalve operation reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention adds a counter spring that provides a closing force to balance the control pressure opening force. This simple mechanical counterweight mechanism prevents valve malfunction under sudden pressure increases without significantly complicating the overall valve structure, maintaining ease of manufacture while improving reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The proposed solution enhances control precision by preventing unintended valve opening and maintaining stable valve states, even under conditions of increased control pressure, thus ensuring reliable operation of variable displacement compressors.

Implementation Method 1

a coil spring which is housed inside the bellows core and is configured to bias the bellows core at all times in a direction in which the bellows core is extended

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

that receives a force in a contracting direction from the suction fluid, the contracting direction being a direction in which the pressure drive portion is contractable

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure: Pressure Increase

Implementation Method 3

the valve element receives a force in a valve opening direction of the main valve from the pressure drive portion

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure: Pressure Increase

Data Source

PatentEP3951174B1Capacity control valve
Publication Date: 2025.03.05 EAGLE INDS
  • EP3951174B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3951174B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3951174B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A capacity control valve in which control precision is high is provided. A capacity control valve V includes a valve housing 10 provided with a suction port 13 through which a suction fluid of suction pressure Ps passes, and a control port 15 through which a control fluid of control pressure Pc passes, a pressure drive portion 61 that receives a force in the contracting direction from the suction fluid, and a main valve 50 formed by a valve element 51 that receives a force in the valve opening direction from the pressure drive portion 61, and a valve seat 53 with and from which the valve element 51 is brought into contact and separated. The valve element 51 is arranged to receive a force in the closing direction from the control fluid.