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Controllers for regulating fluid flow, and especially flow of liquid in supply lines, each of which include a valve assembly which is slidably positioned in a bore extending transverse to a fluid passageway extending through the body of the controller. Each controller includes a shaped memory alloy

Controllers for regulating fluid flow, and especially flow of liquid in supply lines, each of which include a valve assembly which is slidably positioned in a bore extending transverse to a fluid passageway extending through the body of the controller. Each controller includes a shaped memory alloy spring which is mounted so as to be in heat exchange relationship with fluid flowing therethrough. Each spring is mounted adjacent a stem of a valve and is operable when heated to a predetermined activation temperature to shift the valve assembly to at least partially close the fluid passageway. In some embodiments, the valve assembly is manually operable at temperatures below the activation temperature to regulate flow through the controllers. In other embodiments, the valve assembly is automatically shifted to open the fluid passageway through the body of the controller when temperatures decrease below the activation temperature.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [8.] A temperature responsive fluid flow controller for regulating fluid flow to an outlet so as to regulate flow above a predetermined temperature, the controller comprising,a housing having first and second spaced fluid inlets and a fluid outlet,a fluid passageway communicat

[ What is claimed is:] [8.] A temperature responsive fluid flow controller for regulating fluid flow to an outlet so as to regulate flow above a predetermined temperature, the controller comprising,a housing having first and second spaced fluid inlets and a fluid outlet,a fluid passageway communicating said first and second spaced fluid inlets and said outlet in said housing,a bore extending transversely to said fluid passageway between opposite end walls of said housing,a valve assembly slidably disposed within said bore and moveable between a first position wherein said valve assembly permits flow through said fluid passageway to a second position wherein said valve assembly at least partially regulates fluid flow through said fluid passageway,said valve assembly including a tubular valve stem having first and second spaced fluid inlets and a fluid outlet, said first fluid inlet of said housing normally communicating with said first fluid inlet in said valve stem when said valve assembly is in said first position and said second fluid inlet of said housing normally communicating with said second fluid inlet in said valve stem when said valve assembly is in said second position, anda first shaped memory alloy spring means of a type in which the alloy changes state dependent upon temperature mounted within said bore, said first spring means is mounted within said valve stem, said valve stem including a head portion, sealing means for sealing said head portion relative to side walls defining said bore within said housing, a first end of said first spring means engaging said end wall of said housing and a second end of said first spring means engaging said head portion of said valve stem, said first spring means communicating with said fluid passageway so as to be in heat exchange relationship to the fluid passing therethrough whereby when the fluid temperature increases to said predetermined temperature, said first spring means changes state to thereby shift said valve assembly from said first position to said second position.