System and method for positioning a slider of a reversing valve

Abstract

A system and method for positioning a slider of a reversing valve. A method includes receiving a command for operating a reversing valve in a first mode, a second mode or a third mode. The reversing valve comprises a first tube, a second tube, a third tube, and a fourth tube. The method further describes determining a tonnage profile for refrigerant to flow in the reversing valve. The method further describes communicating the command and the tonnage profile to a stepper motor and linearly moving a lead screw based on the command and the tonnage profile to position a slider on the second tube and the third tube in the second mode and the third mode or on the third tube and the fourth tube in the first mode.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 a reversing valve adapted to operate in a first mode, a second mode or a third mode, the reversing valve comprises a first tube, a second tube, a third tube, and a fourth tube;   a control board adapted to:   receive a command for operating the reversing valve in the first mode, the second mode or the third mode;   determine a tonnage profile for refrigerant to flow in the reversing valve, the refrigerant flows in a first flow in the first mode, in a second flow in the second mode or in the second flow in the third mode; and   communicate the command and the tonnage profile for the refrigerant to a stepper motor; and   the stepper motor adapted to:   linearly move a lead screw based on the command and the tonnage profile to position a slider on the second tube and the third tube in the second mode or on the third tube and the fourth tube in the first mode or on the second tube and the third tube in the third mode.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the tonnage profile for refrigerant is determined based on a temperature defined by a user. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the slider is variably positioned at a first position for a first tonnage profile, at a second position for a second tonnage profile and/or at a third position for a third tonnage profile. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the stepper motor is adapted to perform a first number of steps for positioning the slider at a first position, a second number of steps for positioning the slider at a second position and/or a third number of steps for positioning the slider at a third position. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the stepper motor is adapted to determine an incorrect position of the slider based on a current location of the slider, wherein the control board is adapted to verify the incorrect position of the slider with respect to a programmed location of the slider and is adapted to provide a command to the stepper motor to move the slider to a desired location. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the lead screw is linearly moved in an inward direction in the second mode or the third mode to position the slider on the second tube and the third tube. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the lead screw is linearly moved in an outward direction in the first mode to position the slider on the third tube and the fourth tube. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first mode is a heating mode, the second mode is a cooling mode and the third mode is a defrost mode. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first tube is a compressor discharge tube, wherein the first tube is positioned at a first surface of the reversing valve. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second tube, the third tube, and the fourth tube are positioned at a second surface of the reversing valve. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second tube acts as a condenser tube, the third tube acts as a compressor return tube, and the fourth tube acts as an evaporator tube in the first mode. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second tube acts as an evaporator tube, the third tube acts as a compressor return tube, and the fourth tube acts as a condenser tube in the second mode and/or in the third mode. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second tube is connected to an indoor unit and the fourth tube is connected to an outdoor unit in the first mode, in the second mode and/or in the third mode. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the refrigerant flows from a compressor to the first tube, from the first tube to the second tube and from the second tube to an indoor unit in the first flow. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the refrigerant flows from a compressor to the first tube, from the first tube to the fourth tube and from the fourth tube to an outdoor unit in the second flow. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the slider is a C-shaped slider or a U-shaped slider. 
     
     
         17 . A method comprising:
 receiving, by a control board, a command for operating a reversing valve in a first mode, a second mode or a third mode, the reversing valve comprises a first tube, a second tube, a third tube, and a fourth tube;   determining, by the control board, a tonnage profile for refrigerant to flow in the reversing valve, the refrigerant flows in a first flow in the first mode, in a second flow in the second mode or in the second flow in the third mode;   communicating the command and the tonnage profile for refrigerant to a stepper motor; and   linearly moving a lead screw by the stepper motor based on the command and the tonnage profile to position a slider on the second tube and the third tube in the second mode or on the third tube and the fourth tube in the first mode or on the second tube and the third tube in the third mode.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the slider is variably positioned at a first position for a first tonnage profile, at a second position for a second tonnage profile and/or at a third position for a third tonnage profile. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the lead screw is linearly moved in an inward direction in the second mode or in the third mode to position the slider on the second tube and the third tube and the lead screw is linearly moved in an outward direction in the first mode to position the slider on the third tube and the fourth tube. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the first mode is a heating mode, the second mode is a cooling mode and the third mode is a defrost mode.