IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0424437
(2003-04-28)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Lamb, Kevin W.
- Piscitelli, David
- Lionello III, Kenneth
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출원인 / 주소 |
- Rostra Precision Controls, Inc.
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대리인 / 주소 |
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
31 인용 특허 :
19 |
초록
▼
A thermal flow control valve uses a cylindrical valve sleeve in a stepped bore to regulate fluid flow between an inlet and an outlet. A wax filled actuator is coupled to the valve sleeve to move the sleeve from an open position in which radial flow openings in the sleeve communicate with a larger di
A thermal flow control valve uses a cylindrical valve sleeve in a stepped bore to regulate fluid flow between an inlet and an outlet. A wax filled actuator is coupled to the valve sleeve to move the sleeve from an open position in which radial flow openings in the sleeve communicate with a larger diameter portion of the stepped bore to a closed position in which the radial flow openings are closed by a sleeve chamber closely surrounding the sleeve. A flow-through end cap closes one end of the stepped bore and provides an axially aligned fixed stop for the actuator piston. Two-way, three-way and mixing embodiments of the valve are disclosed.
대표청구항
▼
1. A valve for controlling fluid flow in response to changes is fluid temperature, said valve comprising:a valve housing defining an interior cavity extending between an inlet and an axially aligned outlet, said interior cavity including an actuator chamber coaxial and in communication with said out
1. A valve for controlling fluid flow in response to changes is fluid temperature, said valve comprising:a valve housing defining an interior cavity extending between an inlet and an axially aligned outlet, said interior cavity including an actuator chamber coaxial and in communication with said outlet and a sleeve chamber coaxial and in communication with said inlet, said valve housing also defining an diverter port communicating with said sleeve chamber;a thermal actuator having a body including a radially projecting shoulder and an axially extending guide defining a piston guide bore, said actuator including a piston received in said guide bore, said actuator responsive to changes in temperature to produce relative axial movement between the piston and said body, said actuator arranged in said actuator chamber with said piston supported against axial movement by said valve housing whereby thermal actuation produces axial movement of said actuator body relative to said valve housing;a cup-shaped sleeve defining an interior space open at an inlet end and radially closed against said projecting shoulder at an outlet end, said sleeve having a cylindrical outside surface closely received in said sleeve chamber, said outside surface defining a radial opening intermediate the sleeve inlet and outlet ends;wherein said actuator moves said sleeve axially between a flow through position and a divert position, said flow through position corresponding to a sleeve axial location in which said radial opening communicates between said sleeve interior space and said actuator chamber while said sleeve outside surface covers said diverter port, said divert position corresponding to a sleeve axial location in which said radial opening communicates between said sleeve interior space and said diverter port while said sleeve outlet end and coupled actuator block fluid flow toward said valve outlet. 2. The valve of claim 1, wherein said actuator chamber is a cylindrical bore having a first diameter and said sleeve chamber is a cylindrical bore having a second diameter smaller than said first diameter. 3. The valve of claim 1, wherein said radial opening comprises three substantially identical equiangularly spaced radial openings. 4. The valve of claim 1, wherein said radial opening comprises three rectangular slots equidistantly arranged in a band around said outside surface, each said slot separated from an adjacent slot by a post of sleeve material. 5. The valve of claim 1, wherein said valve housing comprises an end cap defining said outlet, said end cap including a fixed abutment for supporting said piston against axial movement and a flow passage permitting fluid flow through said outlet. 6. The valve of claim 5, wherein said fixed abutment is aligned along an axis of said actuator chamber and said flow passage comprises a plurality of flow passages arranged radially outwardly of said fixed abutment. 7. The valve of claim 1, wherein said sleeve is coupled to said actuator body by a spring surrounding said guide and compressed between a retainer secured to said guide and the outlet end of said sleeve. 8. The valve of claim 1, comprising a return spring compressed between an inlet end of said sleeve chamber and a spring stop projecting radially inwardly from said sleeve, said return spring acting on said sleeve to bias said sleeve and actuator body toward said flow through position. 9. The valve of claim 1, wherein said sleeve outside surface is radially spaced from an inside surface of said actuator chamber, permitting fluid flow radially through said radial openings and axially toward said outlet when said radial opening is in communication with said actuator chamber. 10. A thermally actuated valve member comprising:an actuator having a body including a radially projecting shoulder and an axially extending guide defining a piston guide bore through a piston end of said guide, said actuator including a piston received in said guide bore, said actuator responsive to changes in temperature to produce axial movement of the piston relative to said body;a cup-shaped sleeve defining an interior space open at an inlet end and radially converging to define a guide aperture at an axially opposed outlet end, said sleeve having a cylindrical outside surface with a plurality of radial openings, said sleeve fixed to said actuator with said guide received through said guide aperture and an inside surface of said sleeve outlet end abutting said shoulder to close said guide opening,wherein said sleeve is slidable along said guide toward said piston end. 11. The valve member of claim 10, wherein said sleeve is biased against said shoulder by a spring compressed between a retainer secured to said guide and the outlet end of said sleeve. 12. The valve member of claim 10, wherein said plurality of radial openings comprise three rectangular slots equidistantly arranged in a band around said outside surface, each slot separated from an adjacent slot by a post of sleeve material. 13. The valve member of claim 10, wherein said sleeve includes a radially inwardly projecting spring stop axially intermediate said inlet end and said plurality of radial openings. 14. A valve for controlling fluid flow in response to fluid temperature comprisinga valve housing defining a stepped bore extending between an inlet and an outlet, said stepped bore having a first portion adjacent said inlet with an inside surface at a first diameter and a second portion adjacent said outlet with an inside surface at a second diameter greater than said first diameter;a cup-shaped valve sleeve with a cylindrical outside surface extending from an open inlet end to an outlet end defining an actuator aperture, said valve sleeve defining a radial opening through said outside surface;a thermally responsive actuator received in said actuator aperture and coupled to said valve sleeve, said actuator responsive to an increase in temperature at said inlet to axially extend a piston slidably supported in said actuator,wherein said piston abuts said valve housing adjacent said outlet such that axial extension of said piston from said actuator moves said actuator and valve sleeve from an open position where said radial opening communicates with said valve chamber second portion to permit fluid flow axially through said valve sleeve, radially through said radial opening and axially through said outlet toward a closed position where said radial opening is closed by said valve chamber first portion inside surface and fluid flow from said inlet toward said outlet is blocked by said valve sleeve and received actuator. 15. The valve of claim 14, wherein said actuator comprises an actuator body with a radial shoulder and a guide slidably supporting said piston, said valve sleeve coupled to said actuator by a spring surrounding said guide and compressed between said valve sleeve outlet end and a retainer secured to said guide. 16. The valve of claim 14, wherein said valve sleeve and actuator are biased toward said open position by a return spring compressed between said valve housing adjacent said inlet and said valve sleeve. 17. The valve of claim 14, wherein said valve sleeve includes a radially inwardly projecting spring stop axially intermediate the valve sleeve inlet end and said radial opening, said valve sleeve and actuator being biased toward said open position by a return spring compressed between said valve housing adjacent said inlet and said spring stop. 18. The valve of claim 15, wherein axial extension of said piston from said valve sleeve brings said valve sleeve into contact with said valve housing adjacent said inlet stopping further axial movement of said valve sleeve, further compression of said spring permitting axial separation of said actuator body from said valve sleeve to accommodate further axial extension of said piston without damaging said valve sleeve or said valve housing. 19. The valve of claim 14, wherein s aid valve housing comprises an end cap defining said outlet, said end cap including a fixed abutment point for supporting said piston against axial movement. 20. The valve of claim 19, wherein said fixed abutment is aligned along an axis of said stepped bore and said end cap defines a plurality of flow passages radially surrounding said fixed abutment.
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