Patent ID: 6915648

Claim:
A vapor compression system comprising: a line for flowing a heat transfer fluid; a compressor connected with the line for increasing a pressure and a temperature of the heat transfer fluid; a condenser connected with the line for liquefying the heat transfer fluid; an evaporator connected with the line for transferring heat from an ambient surrounding to the heat transfer fluid; and an expansion device connected with the line, wherein the expansion device comprises: a housing containing a first housing orifice; and at least one ball within the housing, wherein: the ball contains a primary channel and a plurality of secondary channels; wherein the primary channel defines a primary channel orifice in the ball and the plurality of secondary channels define a plurality of secondary channel orifices in the ball; wherein the plurality of secondary channel orifices are located along a circular periphery of the ball, such that an axis passing through the primary channel orifice intersects a plane containing the circular periphery at a unique point; and wherein at least two of the plurality of secondary channel orifices have different cross-sectional areas; the ball is moveable such that at least one of the primary channel orifice and the plurality of secondary channel orifices is configured for being substantially aligned with the first housing orifice; and at least one of the plurality of secondary channels intersects the primary channel.