Thermally operated valve containing liquid and filler for automatically modulating the flow of fluids

A valve for automatically modulating a flow of fluid through the valve, the valve comprising:

• a flexible flow adjustment member having a variable diameter passage therethrough and an outer surface;
• a shell surrounding at least a portion of the outer surface and creating a void between the shell and the outer surface, the shell being in contact with the flow of fluid;
• and
• a thermally reactive material that expands when heated and contracts when cooled, the thermally reactive material being within the void and in contact with the outer surface of the flexible flow adjustment member for exerting pressure thereon in response to a heating of the thermally reactive material to cause a diameter of the variable diameter passage to decrease and to relieve pressure thereon in response to a cooling of the thermally reactive material to permit the diameter of the variable diameter passage to increase, the thermally reactive material comprising a substantially non-volatile heat transfer liquid that does not undergo a phase change in use, the liquid containing inert particulate filler.