To provide a multi-stage electric expansion valve capable of arbitrarily changing refrigerant pressure reduction amount without requiring complicated structure and control and reducing passing sound of refrigerant in a gas-liquid two phase condition and to provide a refrigerator using the multi-stage electric expansion valve.

This multi-stage electric expansion valve is composed of a case body 3 provided with an outlet 1 and an inlet 2 for refrigerant, a valve seat 4 formed in the case body 3, and a valve element 5 formed so as to advance and retract for the valve seat 4. The valve element 5 and the valve seat 4 are formed in such a way that restriction passages 6a to 6c capable of converting the direction of refrigerant flow several times in the directions of advance and retraction of the valve element 5 are constituted.

COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI