TEMPERATURE-RESPONSIVE VALVE OPERATORS

• US 3,613,732 A
• Filed: 07/17/1969
• Issued: 10/19/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hugh J. Tyler, James R. Willson, Keith T. Krueger, Wilbur F. Jackson
• Original Assignee: Hugh J. Tyler, James R. Willson, Keith T. Krueger, Wilbur F. Jackson
• Inventors: Krueger, Keith T., Willson, James R., Tyler, Hugh J., Jackson, Wilbur F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosenthal, Arnold
• Application Number:
  US04/842,483
• Time in Patent Office: 824 Days
• Field of Search: 251/11 60/23 137/625.44
• US Class Current: 137/625.44
• CPC Class Codes: F03G 7/065 using a shape memory element
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/025 actuated by thermo-electric means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1921 using a thermal motor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86847 Pivoted valve unit

Abstract

Temperature-responsive valve operators including a control member controlling the position of a valve member and constructed of a material having a temperature-actuated shape memory, the control member having an initial shape and a distorted shape, bias means biasing the valve member into a first position when the control member has the distorted shape, and temperaturecontrolling means for reverting the control member to the initial shape to move the valve member to a second position.

Claims

1. In a valve assembly, the combination comprising a valve member having a first position and a second position;

means biasing said valve member toward said first position; and

operating means connected with said valve member to control the position of said valve member, said operating means including a control member constructed of a material having a temperatureactuated shape memory characterized by a nonlinear modulus of elasticity vs. temperature curve and having an initial shape above a predetermined transition temperature, being deformable to a distorted shape below said transition temperature, and rapidly reverting to said initial shape upon being heated above said transition temperature as a result of said nonlinear temperature-actuated shape memory, said valve member being in said first position when said control member has said distorted shape and in said second position when said control member has said initial shape, said biasing means being connected with said control member to deform the same to said distorted shape below said transition temperature, and means controlling the temperature of said control member to control the shape thereof whereby said valve member may be rapidly moved between said open and closed positions for precise control of flow therethrough.

2. The invention as recited in claim 1 wherein said control member is a wire.

3. The invention as recited in claim 1 wherein said control member is a double strand wire.

4. The invention as recited in claim 1 wherein said control member is a spring.

5. The invention as recited in claim 4 wherein said spring is coiled.

6. The invention as recited in claim 5 wherein said coiled spring is mounted in compression and has loosely coiled initial shape and a tightly coiled distorted shape.

7. The invention as recited in claim 6 wherein said coiled spring has a barrel like configuration.

8. The invention as recited in claim 5 wherein said coiled spring is torsionally mounted and has a loosely coiled initial shape and a tightly coiled distorted shape.

9. The invention as recited in claim 5 wherein said coiled spring is mounted in tension and has a tightly coiled initial shape and a loosely coiled distorted shape.

10. The invention as recited in claim 5 wherein said coiled spring has a high torsion initial shape and a low torsion distorted shape.

11. The invention as recited in claim 1 wherein said control member is a bar having high torsion initial shape and a low torsion distorted shape.

12. The invention as recited in claim 1 wherein said control member is a bar having a linear initial shape and a curved distorted shape.

13. The invention as recited in claim wherein said control member is a bar having a curved initial shape and a linear distorted shape.

14. The invention as recited in claim 1 wherein said operating means includes lever means connected with said valve member and said control member whereby said lever means controls said valve member in accordance with the shape of said control member.

15. The invention as recited in claim 1 wherein said control member is connected directly with said valve member.

16. The invention as recited in claim 1 wherein said temperature-controlling means includes a heating element disposed adjacent said control member.

17. The invention as recited in claim 1 wherein said temperature-controlling means includes electrical means connected with said control member to pass an electrical current through said control member to internally heat said control member.

18. The invention as recited in claim 1 wherein said material is an alloy having a composition of 55 percent nickel by weight with the remainder being essentially titanium.

19. The invention as recited in claim 1 wherein the valve assembly includes a valve seat, said valve member engages the valve seat in said first position to close the valve assembly and is removed from the valve seat in said second position to open the valve assembly and said temperature-controlling means provides heat to change said control member from said distorted shape to said initial shape to open the valve assembly whereby the valve assembly will close to provide fail-safe operation if said control member fails or if the heat from said temperature-controlling means is interrupted.

20. The invention as recited in claim 1 wherein said control member is a wire having a first end and a second end, the valve assembly includes a housing surrounding said wire, and said operating means includes means securing said first end of said wire to said housing and means securing said second end of said wire to said valve member the distance between said first end of said wire and said second end of said wire being greater when said wire has said distorted shape than when said wire has said initial shape.

21. The invention as recited in claim 20 wherein said temperature-controlling means includes a heating element disposed around said wire.

22. The invention as recited in claim 21 wherein said heating element is disposed inside said housing.

23. The invention as recited in claim 21 wherein said heating element is disposed outside said housing.

24. The invention as recited in claim 21 wherein said bias means includes a coiled spring coaxially aligned with said wire and seated on said valve member.

25. The invention as recited in claim 1 wherein said control member is a wire and said temperature-controlling means includes electrical means connected with said wire to pass an electrical current through said wire to internally heat said wire.

26. The invention as recited in claim 25 wherein said valve member is adapted to engage a first valve seat in said first position and a second valve seat in said second position and said wire has a first end connected with said valve member and a second end connected with said electrical means, the distance between said first end of said wire and said second end of said wire being less when said wire has said initial shape than when said wire has said distorted shape whereby said valve member engages the second valve seat when said wire has said initial shape.

27. The invention as recited in claim 25 wherein said wire has a bent center portion to define first and second lengths for said wire.

28. The invention as recited in claim 27 wherein said electrical means includes a first terminal connected with said first length of said wire and a second terminal connected with said second length of said wire.

29. The invention as recited in claim 28 wherein said operating means includes a lever secured to said valve member and having an aperture through which said central portion of said wire moves freely.

30. The invention as recited in claim 29 wherein said aperture is disposed directly above said valve member.

31. The invention as recited in claim 29 wherein said lever has an arm acutely extending therefrom, said aperture being disposed on said arm.

32. The invention as recited in claim 29 wherein said bias means includes a coiled spring seated on said lever.

33. The invention as recited in claim 1 wherein said control member is a coiled spring and said operating means includes seat means receiving said coiled spring and said bias means.

34. The invention as recited in claim 33 Wherein said coiled spring is mounted in compression and has a loosely coiled initial shape and a tightly coiled distorted shape.

35. The invention as recited in claim 34 wherein said coiled spring has a barrel like configuration.

36. The invention as recited in claim 34 wherein said temperature-controlling means includes electrical means connected with said coiled spring to pass an electrical current through said coiled spring to internally heat said coiled spring.

37. The invention as recited in claim 33 wherein said seat means includes a cylinder having an inner portion, a top portion and an outer flange, said valve member is connected with said cylinder, said bias means is seated on said outer flange, and said coiled spring is disposed in said inner portion in compression against said top portion of said cylinder.

38. The invention as recited in claim 37 wherein said seat means includes a stationary housing for mounting said coiled spring in compression along with said top portion of said cylinder.

39. The invention as recited in claim 38 wherein said bias means includes a helical spring seated on said outer flange of said cylinder.

40. The invention as recited in claim 33 wherein said seat means includes a cylinder fastened to said valve member and including an inner flange and an outer flange, said bias means is seated on said inner flange and said coiled spring is mounted in compression against said outer flange of said cylinder.

41. The invention as recited in claim 40 wherein said bias means includes a helical spring seated on said inner flange of said cylinder.

42. The invention as recited in claim 1 wherein said control member is a coiled spring and said operating means includes lever means connected with said valve member.

43. The invention as recited in claim 42 wherein said coiled spring is mounted in compression and has a loosely coiled initial shape and a tightly coiled distorted shape.

44. The invention as recited in claim 43 wherein said coiled spring has a barrel like configuration.

45. The invention as recited in claim 42 wherein said temperature-controlling means includes electrical means connected with said coiled spring to pass an electrical current through said coiled spring to internally heat said coiled spring.

46. The invention as recited in claim 42 wherein said lever means has a first end secured to a fulcrum, a second end mounting said coiled spring in compression and a center portion secured to said valve member, and said bias means is mounted in compression against said center portion of said lever means.

47. The invention as recited in claim 42 wherein said lever means has a first end mounting said coiled spring in compression, a second end secured to said valve member and a center portion secured to a fulcrum, and said bias means is mounted in compression against said second end of said lever means.

48. The invention as recited in claim 1 wherein said valve member has a first side adapted to engage a first valve seat in said first position and a second side adapted to engage a second valve seat in said second position, said bias means is mounted in compression against said first side of said valve member, and said control member includes a coiled spring mounted in compression against said second side of said valve member.

49. The invention as recited in claim 48 wherein said operating means includes means pivotally supporting said valve member.

50. The invention as recited in claim 48 wherein said temperature-controlling means includes electrical means connected with said coiled spring to pass an electrical current through said coiled spring to heat said coiled spring.

51. The invention as recited in claim 1 wherein said control member is a coiled spring mounted in tension and having a tightly coiled initial shape and a loosely coiled distorted shape, said coiled spring being connected directly with said valve member.

52. The invention as recited in claim 51 wherein said temperaturE-controlling means includes electrical means connected with said coiled spring to pass an electrical current through said coiled spring to heat said coiled spring.

53. The invention as recited in claim 1 wherein said control member is a coiled spring mounted in tension and having a tightly coiled initial shape and a loosely coiled distorted shape, and said operating means includes lever means secured to said valve member, coiled spring being connected with said lever means.

54. The invention as recited in claim 53 wherein said temperature-controlling means includes electrical means connected with said coiled spring to pass an electrical current through said coiled spring to heat said coiled spring.

55. The invention as recited in claim 1 wherein said control member is a torsion spring having a high torsion initial shape and a low torsion distorted shape, and said operating means includes lever means connected with said torsion spring and secured to said valve member.

56. The invention as recited in claim 55 wherein said torsion spring is coiled and has a first stationary end and a second end connected with said lever means, said operating means includes means pivotally supporting said lever means whereby said lever means is pivoted to control the position of said valve member in accordance with the shape of said coiled torsion spring.

57. The invention recited in claim 56 wherein said temperature-controlling means includes an electrical heating element disposed adjacent said coiled torsion spring.

58. The invention as recited in claim 1 wherein said control member is a torsion bar having a high torsion initial shape and a low torsion distorted shape, and said operating means includes means connecting said valve member with said torsion bar whereby said valve member is rotatably movable between said first and second positions.

59. The invention as recited in claim 58 wherein said temperature-controlling means includes an electrical heating element disposed around said torsion bar.

60. The invention as recited in claim 1 wherein said control member is secured to said valve member and has a curved initial shape and a linear distorted shape.

61. The invention as recited in claim 60 wherein said temperature-controlling means includes an electrical heating element disposed around said control member.

62. The invention as recited in claim 1 wherein said control member is a wire and said operating means includes means for adjusting the effective length of said wire.