Patent ID: 8978398
Filing Date: 2015-03-17
Classification: F16K,F25B

Abstract:
1. A method of testing a stroke of an expansion valve assembly in a refrigerant cycle, the method comprising: providing the expansion valve assembly having a data acquisition device, a diaphragm, a housing with a passage, a valve member that is moveably disposed within the housing, and a stroke measuring device having a first and second member, the diaphragm operable to deflect to cause movement of the valve member between a first position and a second position to change flow of a fluid through the passage, the stroke of the expansion valve assembly being defined by a distance between the first and second positions, movement of the valve member also causing movement of the first member of the stroke measuring device relative to the second member of the stroke measuring device; calibrating the valve member using the data acquisition device; calibrating the stroke measuring device when the valve member is calibrated; performing a test in which the fluid flows through the refrigeration cycle; detecting an operating condition of the refrigeration cycle; and detecting an amount of movement of the first member of the expansion valve assembly relative to the second member of the expansion valve assembly to thereby detect the stroke using the data acquisition device.