Importance

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Abstract

An improved control device for a refrigeration circuit including a tubular casing having three spaced walls on its interior surface is disclosed. The first wall is a plurality of holes, the second wall has a longitudinal bore with a valve seat facing the first wall and the third wall includes at least one hole. A first bellows is attached to the inner surface of the first wall in the region between the first and second walls and has a valve element at its other end. The valve element includes a spherical sealing element which fits within the valve seat to control the flow of refrigerant through the longitudinal bore. A second bellows is attached to the interior surface of the third wall and has a valve control element extending from its other end into the longidudinal bore. When the level of refrigerant is below a predetermined level, the first bellows expands and the spherical sealing element contacts the valve seat preventing fluid flow through the longitudinal bore. This situation causes an abnormal reduction of pressure at the inlet side of the compressor, potentially causing the compressor to malfunction. A malfunction of the compressor is prevented by operation of the second bellows which expands due to the decreased pressure in the region between the second and third walls. Therefore, the valve control element is moved to the left, contacting the spherical sealing element and forcing it away from the valve seat to allow fluid to flow through the longitudinal bore.

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First Claim