Thermal flow control valve
AssigneeRostra Precision Controls, Inc.
InventorsKevin W. Lamb, David Piscitelli, Kenneth Lionello III
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
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.
Claims20
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.
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.
A valve for controlling fluid flow in response to fluid temperature comprising
- a 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.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.