Valve construction
AssigneeMaxitrol Company
InventorDonald W. Cox
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved snap action valve construction is disclosed in which a compensator blade has deflection resisting ribs positioned along a weld line defined between an active blade and the compensator blade. Additionally, the compensator blade may have a recessed tab for securing a spring between the compensator blade and a snap blade. In one embodiment, the snap blade includes one or more longitudinal recesses to increase the deflection of the snap blade in the area of the recesses. In another embodiment, the snap blade has an arc-shaped rib surrounding a portion of a valve member opening. The arc-shaped rib resists flexing of the snap blade in the area of the opening.
Claims19
A valve assembly comprising:
- a housing having an inlet passage and an outlet passage;
- a valve seat within said housing and surrounding said outlet passage;
- a valve member movably supported within said housing and selectively movable into and out of engagement with said valve seat to selectively control fluid flow through said outlet passage;
- and
- an actuating assembly for effecting movement of said valve member, said actuating assembly including
- a bimetallic active blade having one end fixedly supported within said housing;
- a bimetallic compensator blade having one end secured to the other end of said active blade by a plurality of welds defining a weld line between the active blade and the compensator blade;
- and
- a heating coil supported on said active blade, said heating coil being operative to heat said active blade such that said active blade deflects, deflection of said active blade causing movement of said compensator blade whereby said valve member is moved out of engagement with said valve seat;
- said compensator blade including a deflection resisting portion formed thereon, said deflection resisting portion being positioned along said weld line and being operative to resist deflection of said compensator blade in response to heat transferred from said active blade.
An actuating assembly for effecting movement of a valve assembly valve member, the actuating assembly comprising:
- a bimetallic active blade having one end fixedly supported within a housing;
- a bimetallic compensator blade having one end secured to the other end of said active blade by a plurality of welds defining a weld line between the active blade and the compensator blade;
- and
- a heating coil supported on said active blade, said heating coil being operative to heat said active blade such that said active blade deflects, deflection of said active blade causing movement of said compensator blade such that said valve member is moved out of engagement with a valve seat;
- said compensator blade including a deflection resisting portion formed thereon, said deflection resisting portion being positioned along said weld line and being operative to resist deflection of said compensator blade in response to heat transferred from said active blade.
An elongated snap blade for a valve assembly, the snap blade comprising:
- a first end fixedly supported within said valve assembly;
- and
- one or more longitudinal recesses, said one or more recesses being defined in part by generally laterally extending edge portions at opposite longitudinal ends thereof, said one or more recesses having a midpoint located equidistant from said edge portions, said midpoint being located closer to said first end than said second end;
- said recesses operative to yield to flexing of said snap blade in the area of the recesses.
An elongated snap blade for a valve assembly, the snap blade comprising:
- a first end fixedly supported within said valve assembly;
- and
- one or more longitudinal recesses located closer to the first end than a second end of said snap blade;
- said recesses operative to yield to flexing of said snap blade in the area of the recesses;
- a member opening located at the second end of said snap blade for receiving a valve member;
- and
- an arc-shaped rib surrounding a portion of the member opening, the arc-shaped rib operative to resist flexing of said snap blade in the area of the opening.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.