Thermal actuator
AssigneeNivaru B.V.
InventorNico van Ruth
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Abstract
The present disclosure provides a thermal actuator which comprises at least two containers containing a first fluid. The at least two containers define interior portions that are interconnected such that the interior portions of the containers are in fluidal communication with each other. The first fluid comprises a first liquid component and a second gaseous component. The thermal actuator is arranged such that a change in a temperature difference between one container and the or another container and within a predetermined range of temperature difference causes a quantity of a fluid contained in the thermal actuator to be transferred from the one container to the or another container such that a mass distribution of the thermal actuator is altered in response to the change in temperature difference so as to cause actuation.
Claims20
A thermal actuator comprising:
- at least two containers containing a first fluid, the at least two containers defining interior portions that are interconnected such that the interior portions of the containers are in fluidal communication with each other, the first fluid comprising a first liquid component and a second gaseous component,
- wherein:
- the thermal actuator is arranged such that a change in a temperature difference between two of the at least two containers that is within a predetermined range of temperature difference causes a quantity of a fluid contained in the thermal actuator to be transferred from one to another of the at least two containers such that a mass distribution of the fluid contained in the thermal actuator is altered in response to the change in temperature difference;
- and
- the alteration of the mass distribution of the fluid causes actuation due to a chance in buoyancy of one of the at least two containers so as to result in a relative movement between the at least two containers.
A thermal actuator comprising first and second portions, the thermal actuator being actuatable in response to a change in a temperature difference between the first and second portions in a manner such that an actuating force is provided by mass transfer between the first and second portions of the thermal actuator in response to the change in a temperature difference between the first and second portions, wherein the actuating force is a result of relative movement between the first and second portions due to a change in buoyancy of one of the first and second portions.
A valve comprising a thermal actuator, the valve being arranged so as to be actuated by the thermal actuator, the thermal actuator comprising:
- at least two containers containing a first fluid, the at least two containers defining interior portions that are interconnected such that the interior portions of the containers are in fluidal communication with each other, the first fluid comprising a first liquid component and a second gaseous component,
- wherein:
- the thermal actuator is arranged such that a change in a temperature difference between two of the at least two containers that is within a predetermined range of temperature difference causes a quantity of a fluid contained in the thermal actuator to be transferred from one to another of the at least two containers such that a mass distribution of the fluid contained in the thermal actuator is altered in response to the change in temperature difference;
- and
- the alteration of the mass distribution of the fluid causes actuation of the valve due to a change in weight of one of the at least two containers so as to result in a relative movement between the at least two containers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.