Compressor assembly for air conditioner system

Abstract

An air conditioning system includes a compressor assembly having a housing and a valve. The housing generally encloses a discharge chamber and a suction chamber. The valve is operative for controlling the pressure differential between the discharge and suction chambers. The valve includes a body, a ball, spring, flange and a piston. The body has a first passage and a second passage in fluid communication with the first passage. The piston is slidably coupled to the body for axial movement between a closed position and an open position. The piston includes a hole for supporting the ball therein for movement with the piston between the closed position, wherein the ball engages the body to prevent fluid flow between the first and second passages, and the open position, wherein the ball is spaced apart from the body to allow fluid flow between the first and second passages. The ball is fixedly secured to the piston to prevent erosion due to relative movement and contact between the ball and the piston

1 . A compressor assembly for an air conditioning system, said compressor assembly comprising: 
 a housing generally enclosing a discharge chamber and a suction chamber; and    a valve operative for controlling the pressure differential between the discharge and suction chambers, the valve having: 
 a body having a first passage and a second passage in fluid communication with the first passage;  
 a piston slidably coupled to the body for axial movement between a closed position and an open position;  
 a spring continuously biasing the piston toward the closed position; and  
 a ball movable with the piston between the closed position, wherein the ball engages the body to prevent fluid flow between the first and second passages, and the open position, wherein the ball is spaced apart from the body to allow fluid flow between the first and second passages, the ball being fixedly secured to the piston to prevent erosion due to relative movement and contact between the ball and the piston.  
   
   
   
       2 . A compressor assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the piston includes a generally cylindrical hole for supporting the ball therein.  
   
   
       3 . A compressor assembly as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the ball is press fit in the hole to prevent the ball from spinning relative to the piston.  
   
   
       4 . A compressor assembly as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the ball is disposed in the hole and welded to the piston.  
   
   
       5 . A compressor assembly as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein the weld is formed by a high current density projection weld.  
   
   
       6 . A compressor assembly as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the piston includes a center bore having a smaller diameter than the hole, the center bore being substantially axially aligned with and adjacent to the hole to define an annular seat.  
   
   
       7 . A compressor assembly as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein the ball abuts the seat.  
   
   
       8 . A compressor assembly as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the ball is disposed in the hole and welded to the piston.  
   
   
       9 . A compressor assembly as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein the weld is formed by a high current density projection weld.  
   
   
       10 . A compressor assembly as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the ball is press fit in the hole to prevent the ball from spinning relative to the piston.  
   
   
       11 . A compressor assembly as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein the first and second passages are generally orthogonal relative to each other.  
   
   
       12 . A compressor assembly as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein the piston moves between the closed and open positions along an axis generally aligned with a longitudinal axis of one of the first and second passages.  
   
   
       13 . A compressor assembly as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the ball in the closed position abuts an opening of the one of the first and second passages to prevent fluid flow between the first and second passages.  
   
   
       14 . A compressor assembly as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein the hole, center bore and the one of the first and second passages are generally coaxially aligned.  
   
   
       15 . An air conditioning system comprising: 
 a condenser;    an expansion device;    an evaporator; and    a compressor assembly having a housing and a pressure relief valve, the housing generally enclosing a discharge chamber and a suction chamber, the valve being operative for controlling the pressure differential between the discharge and suction chambers, the valve including: 
 a body having a first passage and a second passage in fluid communication with the first passage;  
 a ball; and  
 a piston slidably coupled to the body for axial movement between a closed position and an open position, the piston being continuously biased toward the closed position, the piston having a hole for supporting the ball therein for movement with the piston between the closed position, wherein the ball engages the body to prevent fluid flow between the first and second passages, and the open position, wherein the ball is spaced apart from the body to allow fluid flow between the first and second passages, the ball being fixedly secured to the piston to prevent erosion due to relative movement and contact between the ball and the piston.  
   
   
   
       16 . A compressor assembly as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein the ball is press fit in the hole to prevent the ball from spinning relative to the piston.  
   
   
       17 . A compressor assembly as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein the ball is welded to the piston.  
   
   
       18 . A compressor assembly as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein the weld is formed by a high current density projection weld.  
   
   
       19 . A compressor assembly as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein the piston includes a center bore having a smaller diameter than the hole, the center bore being substantially axially aligned with and adjacent to the hole to define an annular seat.  
   
   
       20 . A compressor assembly as set forth in  claim 19 , wherein the ball abuts the seat and is press fit in the hole to prevent relative movement between the ball from and the piston.  
   
   
       21 . A compressor assembly as set forth in  claim 19 , wherein the ball abuts the seat and is welded to the piston to prevent relative movement between the ball from and the piston.