Cooler bypass assembly

• US 9,098,095 B2
• Filed: 07/16/2008
• Issued: 08/04/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oetiker Ny, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Jiffy-tite Company Inc.
• Inventors: Strzelczyk, Robert B., Caroll, James, Zillig, Steven R., Messecar, James D. Sr., Lenartowicz, Michael A., Stevely, Kip, Metz, Dan
• Primary Examiner(s): Jules, Frantz
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shaikh, Meraj A
• Application Number:
  US12/174,152
• Publication Number:
  US 20090025922A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,575 Days
• Field of Search: 236/34.5, 236/91.R, 236/92.C, 236/93.R, 236/93.A, 236/98, 236/99.R, 236/99.J, 236/100, 236/101, 165/297, 137/597
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2025/04 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2025/08 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/022 the sensing element being placed within a regulating fluid flow
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1333 measuring the temperature of incoming fluid

Abstract

A cooler bypass apparatus housing has a first fluid passageway connecting a first inlet and a first outlet port, and a second fluid passageway connecting a second inlet port and outlet port. A transverse passageway extends between the first and second fluid passageway. A first valve is disposed in the transverse passageway for one-way fluid flow from the first to the second passageway. A second valve and a thermal actuator coupled to the second valve are disposed in the second passageway. The thermal actuator moves the second valve to fluid flow blocking or fluid flow allowing positions dependent upon fluid temperature.

Claims

1. A cooler bypass apparatus comprising:

a housing adapted to be secured to a structure having a fluid to be cooled;

first and second inlet ports and first and second outlet ports carried on the housing, the housing having a second fluid passageway in communication with the first inlet port and the first outlet port, a first fluid passageway in communication with the second inlet port and the second outlet port, and a transverse fluid passageway extending between the first and second fluid passageways;

a first fluid pressure responsive valve disposed in the transverse fluid passageway to insure one way flow of fluid between a portion of the second fluid passageway and a portion of the first fluid passageway; and

a second valve and a thermal actuator coupled to the second valve, the second valve and the thermal actuator disposed in the second fluid passageway, the thermal actuator moving the second valve to a fluid flow allowing position in the second fluid passageway allowing fluid flow through the second fluid passageway when the temperature of fluid in the second passageway exceeds a threshold temperature; and

wherein

the thermal actuator allows a movable valve member of the second valve to close the second fluid passageway to block fluid flow through the first outlet when the temperature of the fluid in the second fluid passageway is below the threshold temperature, the blocked fluid flow creates a pressure differential between the second passageway and the first passageway, the pressure differential causing the first valve to move to a position in the transverse fluid passageway allowing exclusive flow of fluid from the second passageway to the first passageway through the transverse passageway.

2. The cooler bypass apparatus of claim 1 wherein the thermal actuator comprises:

an extendable piston engageable with the second valve to allow the second valve to move to the closed position when the piston is retracted.

3. The cooler bypass apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second valve comprises:

the movable valve member disposed in the second fluid passageway;

and engageable by the thermal actuator; and

a biasing spring disposed in the second passageway for normally biasing the movable valve member to a fluid flow blocking closed position.

4. The cooler bypass apparatus of claim 3 wherein the movable valve member comprises:

a ball movably disposed with respect to a ball seat in the second passageway.

5. The cooler bypass apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first valve comprises:

a spring biased check valve normally disposed in a fluid blocking position in the transverse fluid passageway preventing fluid flow from the second fluid passageway to the first fluid passageway.

6. The cooler bypass apparatus of claim 5 wherein:

the check valve is moved to a position allowing fluid flow from the second fluid passageway to the first fluid passageway by fluid flow when the second valve is in the closed position.

7. The cooler bypass apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a separate body fixed to the housing and disposed in fluid flow communication with the second passageway, the body defining, in part, the second passageway and the first outlet;

the second valve including a single check ball disposed in the body;

a ball seat carried in the body;

biasing means, carried in the body, for normally biasing the check ball to a fluid flow blocking position in the body; and

the thermal actuator fixedly carried in the body and having an extensible and retractable piston, the piston engageable with and moving the check ball from a sealed fluid flow blocking position in contact with the ball seat in the body when the piston is in an extended position, and allowing the biasing means to move the check ball into sealed contact with the ball seat in the body when the piston is in a retracted position.