US 12,339,047 B2
System and method for operation of variable geometry diffuser as check valve
Bryson Lee Sheaffer, Mechanicsburg, PA (US); Jordan Quinn Steiner, York, PA (US); Paul William Snell, York, PA (US); and Curtis Christian Crane, York, PA (US)
Assigned to Tyco Fire & Security GmbH, Neuhausen am Rheinfall (CH)
Appl. No. 17/802,484
Filed by Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP, Milwaukee, WI (US)
PCT Filed Feb. 26, 2021, PCT No. PCT/US2021/020049
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Aug. 25, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/174097, PCT Pub. Date Sep. 2, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/982,573, filed on Feb. 27, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0147950 A1, May 11, 2023
Int. Cl. F25B 49/02 (2006.01); F04D 27/00 (2006.01); F04D 29/44 (2006.01); F25B 31/02 (2006.01); F25B 41/20 (2021.01)
CPC F25B 49/022 (2013.01) [F04D 27/002 (2013.01); F04D 29/442 (2013.01); F25B 41/20 (2021.01); F25B 31/026 (2013.01); F25B 2500/27 (2013.01); F25B 2600/2519 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A compressor, comprising:
a diffuser passage configured to receive refrigerant flow from an impeller of the compressor, wherein the diffuser passage is at least partially defined by a compressor discharge plate of the compressor;
a variable geometry diffuser positioned within the diffuser passage and configured to adjust a dimension of a refrigerant flow path through the diffuser passage;
an actuator coupled to the variable geometry diffuser and configured to adjust a position of the variable geometry diffuser within the diffuser passage; and
a controller configured to regulate operation of the actuator, wherein the controller is configured to instruct the actuator to adjust the position of the variable geometry diffuser from a first position to a second position using a first force and to adjust the position of the variable geometry diffuser from the second position to a third position using a second force less than the first force, wherein the variable geometry diffuser abuts the compressor discharge plate in the third position.