Thermo-actuator

• US 5,033,865 A
• Filed: 03/23/1990
• Issued: 07/23/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Yoshikazu Kuze
• Original Assignee: Yoshikazu Kuze
• Inventors: Kuze, Yoshikazu
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gutienez, Diego F. F.
• Application Number:
  US07/497,690
• Time in Patent Office: 487 Days
• Field of Search: 374/160, 374/187, 374/201, 116/106, 116/207, 116/216, 116/217, 251/11, 236/101 C, 236/99 K, 236/34, 236/34.5, 60/527, 60/530
• US Class Current: 374/160
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/021 the sensing element being a non-metallic solid, e.g. elastomer, paste
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1326 details of the sensor

Abstract

A thermo-actuator has a steel rod, a guide member slidably mounted on the rod, a spool seal secured to the guide member, a heat conductive cylinder secured to the guide member, and wax pellets provided in the cylinder. The spool seal has a thin layer, so that the spool seal engages with the rod by a vacuum generated in the spool seal. The thickness of the spool seal is between 5% to 25% of the diameter of the steel rod.

Claims

1. A thermo-actuator comprising:

a rod;

a guide member slidably mounted on said rod;

a spool seal secured to said guide member at an end portion thereof;

a heat conductive cylinder secured to said guide member and surrounding said spool seal; and

wax pellets provided within at least a portion of said cylinder;

wherein said spool seal has a thickness between 5% to 25% of the diameter of said rod.

2. The thermo-actuator according to claim 1, wherein said spool seal includes a skirt portion having a horn shape at the base portion of a cylindrical portion of the spool seal adjacent said heat conductive cylinder.