Patent ID: 7063511

Claim:
A refrigerant compressor capacity control valve comprising suction, discharge and crankcase ports, and a plunger positionable within a central axial bore of said control valve for controlling refrigerant flow from said discharge port to said crankcase port to achieve compressor capacity control, wherein: said central axial bore terminates in a suction chamber coupled to said suction port, said suction chamber housing a pneumatically-operated control element secured to a first end of said plunger for producing a first axial bias on said plunger in relation to refrigerant pressure in said suction chamber; an electrically-operated control element secured to a second end of said plunger for producing a second axial bias on said plunger in relation to an electrical activation level thereof; a lateral plunger bore open to refrigerant pressure at said discharge port, and an axial plunger bore extending from said lateral plunger bore through the second end of said plunger; a housing element defining a stop for the second end of said plunger and having an aperture axially aligned with said axial plunger bore so that refrigerant discharge pressure is continuously coupled to said aperture through said lateral plunger bore and said axial plunger bore; and a sensor responsive to the refrigerant discharge pressure in said aperture.