Two stage thermostatic valve device
AssigneeCaltherm Corporation
InventorsPeter Thiel, Don D. Hughes, John F. Grote
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A thermostat having a main valve and a secondary valve is disclosed both of which are biased closed by a single coiled compression spring and opened by a single piston. The entrance to the channel of the secondary valve is maintained at a maximum dimension of approximately 0.015 inches in order to keep undesirable particulate matter out of the valve. The surfaces within the valve channel encourage laminar flow which increases the volume of flow which can be passed through the valve while keeping the total surface area of the valve small.
Claims21
A thermostatic valve device for control of the flow of coolant from an internal combustion engine to a radiator system comprising,
- a temperature sensitive element contained in a body from which a piston may be axially moved with respect to said body in response to a change in temperature, and engaging means on said body,
- a main valve and a main valve seat, said main valve having a leading section and a trailing section, a first side and a second side, said first side biased against said main valve seat by a compression spring to form a seal,
- a second valve and a second valve seat, said second valve having a leading section, a trailing section, a first side and a second side, said second valve seat located on said second side of said main valve, said second valve biased against said second valve seat by said compression spring to form a second seal,
- said compression spring seated on a spring retainer,
- wherein in response to an increase in temperature said piston moves from said body thereby first causing said engaging means to engage said trailing edge of said second valve and unseat said second valve from said second valve seat and compress said compression spring, and
- wherein in response to a further increase in temperature said engaging means engages said trailing edge of said main valve thereby unseating said main valve from its seat to open the valve and thereby further compressing said compression spring.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.