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US 4,549,717 AGranted
Heat responsive valve
AssigneeLeuven Research & Development
InventorGabriel Dewaegheneire
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A safety valve responding to overheating conditions of the surrounding atmosphere, more specifically a combustion gas inlet valve that closes when a fire declares. The valve uses a shape-memory element for detection and command. For the latter function it must be inside the valve, at the expense of sufficiently rapid detection of external temperature. This problem is solved by using a shape-memory element that is in close contact with the valve housing, e.g. countersunk in a groove in the internal wall of the valve housing, for facilitating conduction heat transfer.
Claims20
A valve responsive to the temperature of the surrounding medium, comprising:
- (a) a generally tubular body having a passageway therethrough and said body comprised of a heat conducting material and being adapted for connection to fluid supply means;
- (b) a valve seat disposed in said passageway;
- (c) obturation means disposed in said passageway and being movable between an open position spaced from said seat permitting fluid flow through said passageway and a closed position engaged with said seat preventing fluid flow through said passageway;
- (d) shape memory element means having first and second temperature induced shapes disposed within said passageway and having a portion fixed to the wall of said passageway so that the temperature of the medium surrounding said body is thermally conducted to said shape memory element means for heating said shape memory element means to a temperature associated with the temperature of the medium surrounding said body;
- (e) said shape memory element means assuming said first shape when the temperature of said shape memory element means is less than a preselected temperature and said first shape permitting said obturation means to be disposed in one of said open and closed positions;
- (f) said shape memory element means assuming said second shape when the temperature of said shape element means exceeds a preselected temperature and said shape memory element means having a portion engagable with said obturation means for moving said obturation means to the other one of said open and closed positions when said second shape is assumed;
- and,
- (g) spring means including cooperating arcuate portions engaged with said obturation means for maintaining said obturation means in said open and closed positions whereby movement of said obturation means from one of said positions causes said arcuate portions to flex and to thereby permit movement to the other one of said positions and to therein be retained.
5 more elements
A safety valve, comprising:
- (a) a generally tubular body having a passageway therethrough and said body comprised of a heat conducting material and being adapted for connection to fluid supply means;
- (b) a valve seat disposed in said passageway;
- (c) obturation means disposed in said passageway and being movable between an open position spaced from said seat permitting fluid flow through said passageway and a closed position engaged with said seat preventing fluid flow through said passageway;
- (d) shape memory element means having first and second temperature induced shapes disposed within said passageway and having a portion fixed to the wall of said passageway so that the temperature of the medium surrounding said body is thermally conducted to said shape memory element means for heating said shape memory element means to a temperature associated with the temperature of the medium surrounding said body;
- (e) said shape memory element means assuming said first shape when the temperature of said shape memory element means is less than a preselected temperature and said first shape permitting said obturation means to be disposed in one of said open and closed positions;
- (f) said shape memory element means assuming said second shape when the temperature of said shape element means exceeds a preselected temperature and said shape memory element means having a portion engagable with said obturation means for moving said obturation means to the other one of said open and closed positions when said second shape is assumed;
- and,
- (g) spring means operably positioned in said passageway and having cooperating adjacently disposed arcuate portions engageable with said obturaion means so that movement of said obturation means from one of said positions to the other of said positions is initially resisted by said arcuate portions and further movement thereof causes said arcuate portions to be moved apart a substantial distance and to thereby assist movement of said obturation means from said one position to said other position.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.