Patent ID: 7793512

Claim:
A multiport expansion valve for controlling expansion of a fluid in a cooling device, said multiport expansion valve comprising: a fluid inlet channel and a fluid outlet channel; a flow barrier disposed between the fluid inlet channel and the fluid outlet channel, the flow barrier having a plurality of expansion orifices therein configured for expansion of said fluid from a first volume on a fluid inlet channel side of said flow barrier to a second volume on a fluid outlet channel side of said flow barrier, and the flow barrier comprising a common surface exposed to the fluid on the fluid inlet channel side of the flow barrier, the plurality of expansion orifices extending through the flow barrier from the common surface of the flow barrier on the fluid inlet channel side thereof; a plurality of pins, respectively for each of said expansion orifices, each dimensioned to substantially seal said respective expansion orifice against flow of said fluid when closed and to extend through said respective expansion orifice when closed to clear any debris accumulating therein; and a plurality of actuators, respectively for each of said pins, each actuator independently controlling movement of said restrictive pin into and out of its respective expansion orifice, wherein each actuator of the plurality of actuators is a solenoid.