Valve apparatus for regulating a heat exchange liquid
First Claim
1. A valve apparatus for regulating flow of a heat exchange liquid, the valve apparatus being adapted for connection to a heat exchanger having flow passages for heat exchange between said heat exchange liquid and a primary liquid having a temperature, operation of the valve apparatus being dependent on the temperature of said primary liquid, said valve apparatus comprising:
- a valve housing having first and second chambers formed therein, first inlet and outlet ports for flow of said primary liquid into and out of said first chamber, further ports for flow of said heat exchange liquid at either an elevated temperature or at a lower temperature into and out of said second chamber;
a linear actuator mounted in said valve housing, said actuator including an actuator body containing wax and a piston made of a heat insulating plastic material and movable to an extended position by expansion of said wax due to a predetermined increase in the temperature of said wax, at least a substantial portion of said actuator body being located in said first chamber so that, during use of said apparatus, the temperature of the actuator body and said wax is substantially determined by the existing temperature of said primary liquid flowing through said first chamber, said actuator body having an end portion adjacent said second chamber made of a heat insulating plastic material; and
a valve mechanism operable by said linear actuator and operably engaged by said piston for movement therewith, said valve mechanism being located in said second chamber and capable of controlling the flow of both said heat exchange liquid at said elevated temperature and said heat exchange liquid at said lower temperature through said second chamber, said valve mechanism including a spool having a first end engaged by said piston, a first valve closure arranged on said spool, and a second end section located opposite said first end and slidably supported in said valve housing; and
a primary spring mounted in said second chamber so as to bias said spool to a valve closing position where said valve closure engages a first valve seat formed in said valve housing,wherein during use of said valve apparatus, operation of the linear actuator is substantially unaffected by the temperature of said heat exchange liquid flowing through the second chamber.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A valve apparatus can be used to select between a cold or a hot coolant for heat exchange, this selection depending on whether an attached heat exchanger is to operate as a cooler or a heater. The apparatus includes a valve housing with first and second chambers formed therein, first inlet and outlet ports for flow of a primary liquid into and out of the first chamber and further ports for flow of coolant at different temperatures through the second chamber. A linear actuator in the housing has a body containing wax and a plastic piston that is movable to an extended position by expansion of the wax. The actuator body is located in the first chamber so the temperature of the wax is dependent on the liquid'"'"'s temperature in the first chamber. An end portion of the actuator adjacent to the second chamber is made of plastic. A valve mechanism for controlling coolant flow is operably connected to the piston and located in the second chamber. This mechanism includes a spool movable by the actuator.
38 Citations
18 Claims
-
1. A valve apparatus for regulating flow of a heat exchange liquid, the valve apparatus being adapted for connection to a heat exchanger having flow passages for heat exchange between said heat exchange liquid and a primary liquid having a temperature, operation of the valve apparatus being dependent on the temperature of said primary liquid, said valve apparatus comprising:
-
a valve housing having first and second chambers formed therein, first inlet and outlet ports for flow of said primary liquid into and out of said first chamber, further ports for flow of said heat exchange liquid at either an elevated temperature or at a lower temperature into and out of said second chamber; a linear actuator mounted in said valve housing, said actuator including an actuator body containing wax and a piston made of a heat insulating plastic material and movable to an extended position by expansion of said wax due to a predetermined increase in the temperature of said wax, at least a substantial portion of said actuator body being located in said first chamber so that, during use of said apparatus, the temperature of the actuator body and said wax is substantially determined by the existing temperature of said primary liquid flowing through said first chamber, said actuator body having an end portion adjacent said second chamber made of a heat insulating plastic material; and a valve mechanism operable by said linear actuator and operably engaged by said piston for movement therewith, said valve mechanism being located in said second chamber and capable of controlling the flow of both said heat exchange liquid at said elevated temperature and said heat exchange liquid at said lower temperature through said second chamber, said valve mechanism including a spool having a first end engaged by said piston, a first valve closure arranged on said spool, and a second end section located opposite said first end and slidably supported in said valve housing; and
a primary spring mounted in said second chamber so as to bias said spool to a valve closing position where said valve closure engages a first valve seat formed in said valve housing,wherein during use of said valve apparatus, operation of the linear actuator is substantially unaffected by the temperature of said heat exchange liquid flowing through the second chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A valve apparatus for regulating flow of a heat exchange liquid the valve apparatus being adapted for connection to a heat exchanger having flow passages for heat exchange between said heat exchange liquid and a primary liquid, operation of the valve apparatus being dependent on the temperature of said primary liquid, said valve apparatus comprising:
-
a valve housing having first and second chambers formed therein along a longitudinal axis of the housing, first inlet and outlet ports for flow of said primary liquid in and out of said first chamber, further ports for flow of said heat exchange liquid at different temperatures in and out of said second chamber, said valve housing including a separable, one-piece end fitting forming one end of said second chamber and one of said further ports, said one further port being one inlet for said heat exchange liquid; a linear actuator mounted in said valve housing, said actuator including an actuator body containing a heat expansible material and a piston movable from a retracted position to an extended position by expansion of said material due to a predetermined increase in the temperature of said material, at least a substantial portion of said actuator body being located in said first chamber; and a valve mechanism operable by said linear actuator, located in said second chamber, and capable of controlling the flow of said heat exchange liquid through said second chamber, said valve mechanism including a valve member having a first end section engaged by said piston and an opposite second end section slidable in a guide passage formed in a valve supporting section of said end fitting. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A valve apparatus for regulating flow of a heat exchange liquid which is available at a relatively low first temperature and at a relatively high second temperature, said valve apparatus comprising:
-
a valve housing having first and second chambers formed therein and separated by an integral interior wall, first inlet and outlet ports for flow of a primary liquid into and out of said first chamber, and further ports for flow of said heat exchange liquid at said first and second temperatures into and out of said second chamber, and a valve seat arrangement, said housing including a separable one-piece end fitting forming an end of said second chamber forming one of said further ports comprising an inlet for said heat exchange liquid at said second temperatures; a linear actuator mounted in said valve housing adjacent said interior wall, said actuator including an actuator body containing a heat expansible material and a piston which, during use of the apparatus, is movable from a retracted position to an extended position by expansion of said material due to a predetermined increase in the temperature of said material because of an elevated temperature of said primary liquid in said first chamber, at least a substantial portion of said actuator body being located in said first chamber; and a valve mechanism operable by and connected to said piston of the linear actuator, located in said second chamber, and adapted to control the flow of said heat exchange liquid at each of said first and second temperatures through the second chamber, said valve mechanism including a valve member connected to said piston and movable by said piston between a closed position where said valve member engages said valve seat arrangement and an open position where said heat exchange liquid at one of said first and second temperatures can flow through and out of said second chamber during use of the valve apparatus, an end section of said valve member remote from said piston being slidable in a guide passage formed in a central valve supporting section of said end fitting. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
-
Specification