초록 ▼

A two-stage flow controller for use in a vehicle heating circuit including a housing defining an inlet and an outlet and a flow control chamber disposed between the inlet and outlet. A spring biased flow controller is disposed for sliding movement within the chamber towards and away from a valve sea

A two-stage flow controller for use in a vehicle heating circuit including a housing defining an inlet and an outlet and a flow control chamber disposed between the inlet and outlet. A spring biased flow controller is disposed for sliding movement within the chamber towards and away from a valve seat. The flow controller includes an annular segment defining a through aperture and a plurality of axially extending legs which support the segment for sliding movement within the chamber and in predetermined alignment with the valve seat. Projections are defined on a face of the annular segment. When the fluid flow exceeds a predetermined level, the projections initially engage a valve seat surface such that a variable orifice is formed by clearance regions between a confronting face of the element and the seat. The element deforms to diminish the clearance space between the face and the seat as a function of fluid flow rate. In a preferred embodiment, the housing includes two portions that are snapped together and are maintained in their assembled positions by a resilient retaining ring. Locking lugs are supported beyond an end surface of one of the portions by a plurality of arcuate tabs which together define a segmented groove having a diameter larger than an end bore defined by the portion. The other portion is sized to fit within the end bore and includes a groove for receiving the retaining ring when compressed. When the second portion is inserted into the bore, the retaining ring expands outwardly into the segmented groove to maintain the engagement between the two portions.

대표청구항 ▼

A two-stage flow controller for use in a vehicle heating circuit, comprising: (a) a housing having an inlet and an outlet and a flow control chamber intermediate said inlet and outlet; (b) structure defining a valve seat within said chamber; (c) a flow controller assembly slidably disposed in said c

A two-stage flow controller for use in a vehicle heating circuit, comprising: (a) a housing having an inlet and an outlet and a flow control chamber intermediate said inlet and outlet; (b) structure defining a valve seat within said chamber; (c) a flow controller assembly slidably disposed in said chamber for movement towards and away from said seat; (d) biasing means urging said flow controller assembly away from said seat; (e) said flow controlling assembly including: (i) a flow controlling element defining a valve seat engaging surface and a through passage, said element operative to restrict fluid flow through said passage as a function of fluid pressure; (ii) a cage for supporting said elastomeric element within said flow controlling chamber, said cage allowing relative axial movement between said flow controlling element and element engagement structure forming part of said cage; (iii) a plurality of peripheral axially extending legs slidably supporting said cage and operative to maintain a spaced distance between said flow controlling element and said inlet such that under conditions of reverse fluid flow said flow controlling element does not substantially impede fluid flow from said outlet to said inlet.