Pneumatic control system and temperature responsive valve construction therefor or the like

Claim 2

A temperature responsive valve construction comprising a housing means having an inlet and an outlet formed therein, said housing means carrying a resilient valve seat that is adapted to interconnect said inlet with said outlet when said valve seat is open, and a one-piece bimetal snap disc having an outer periphery and a central portion integral with said outer periphery, said disc having a substantially uniform cross-sectional thickness throughout its central portion and its outer periphery, said bimetal snap disc having its outer periphery carried by said housing means and having its central portion disposed on one side of said valve seat, said snap disc closing said valve seat by having only its uniformed cross-sectioned central portion snapping directly against said valve seat when sensing a certain temperature and opening said valve seat by having its central portion snapping away from said valve seat when sensing another temperature.

Claim 3

A temperature responsive valve construction comprising a housing means having an inlet and an outlet formed therein, said housing means carrying a resilient valve seat that is adapted to interconnect said inlet with said outlet when said valve seat is open, and a one-piece bimetal snap disc having an outer periphery and a central portion integral with said outer periphery, said disc having a substantially uniform cross-sectional thickness throughout its central portion and its outer periphery, said bimetal snap disc having its outer periphery carried by said housing means and having its central portion disposed on one side of said valve seat, said snap disc closing said valve seat by having only its uniformed cross-sectioned central portion snapping directly against said valve seat when sensing a certain temperature and opening said valve seat by having its central portion snapping away from said valve seat when sensing another teMperature, a filter means carried by said housing means and disposed between said valve seat and one of said inlet and said outlet to filter fluid flow between said inlet and said outlet when said valve seat is open, said housing means comprising a cup-shaped member having an open end and a closed end, said inlet and said outlet being formed in said closed end of said cup-shaped member, said valve seat projecting from said closed end of said cup-shaped member toward said open end thereof.

Claim 4

A temperature responsive valve construction comprising a housing means having an inlet and an outlet formed therein, said housing means carrying a resilient valve seat that is adapted to interconnect said inlet with said outlet when said valve seat is open, and a one-piece bimetal snap disc having an outer periphery and a central portion integral with said outer periphery, said disc having a substantially uniform cross-sectional thickness throughout its central portion and its outer periphery, said bimetal snap disc having its outer periphery carried by said housing means and having its central portion disposed on one side of said valve seat, said snap disc closing said valve seat by having only its uniformed cross-sectioned central portion snapping directly against said valve seat when sensing a certain temperature and opening said valve seat by having its central portion snapping away from said valve seat when sensing another teMperature, a filter means carried by said housing means and disposed between said valve seat and one of said inlet and said outlet to filter fluid flow between said inlet and said outlet when said valve seat is open, said housing means comprising a cup-shaped member having an open end and a closed end, said inlet and said outlet being formed in said closed end of said cup-shaped member, said valve seat projecting from said closed end of said cup-shaped member toward said open end thereof.

Claim 5

A temperature responsive valve construction as set forth in claim 2 wherein said bimetal snap disc has its outer periphery disposed against said open end of said cup-shaped member.

Claim 6

A temperature responsive valve construction as set forth in claim 3 wherein said housing means comprises a cover member secured to said cup-shaped member and confining said bimetal snap disc on said open end thereof.

Claim 7

A temperature responsive valve construction as set forth in claim 4 wherein said cover member has fingers bent around said cup-shaped member to secure said cover member and said cup-shaped member together.

Claim 8

A temperature responsive valve construction as set forth in claim 2 wherein said valve seat comprises an integral nipple extension projecting from said closed end of said cup-shaped member and a resilient tubular member disposed about said nipple extension and extending beyond the same.

Claim 9

A control system comprising a pneumatic source, a pneumatically operated device, passage defining means interconnecting said pneumatic source to said pneumatically operated device, and a temperature responsive valve construction having a housing means provided with an inlet and an outlet, said housing means carrying a resilient valve seat that is adapted to interconnect said inlet with said outlet when said valve seat is open, means interconnecting one of said inlet and said outlet to said passage means intermediate said pneumatic source and said pneumatically operated device, the other of said inlet and said outlet being interconnected to the atmosphere, said valve construction having a one-piece bimetal snap disc provided with an outer periphery and a central portion integral with said outer periphery, said disc having a substantially uniform cross-sectional thickness throughout its central portion and its outer periphery, said bimetal snap disc having its outer periphery carried by said housing means and having its central portion disposed on one side of said valve seat, said snap disc closing said valve seat by having only its uniformed cross-sectioned central portion snapping directly against said valve seat when sensing a certain condition whereby said pneumatic source is effectively interconnected to said pneumatically operated device, said snap disc opening said valve seat by having its central portion snapping away from said valve seat when sensing another temperature to effectively interconnect said pneumatically operated device to the atmosphere.

Claim 10

A control system comprising a pneumatic source, a pneumatically operated device, passage defining means interconnecting said pneumatic source to said pneumatically operated device, and a temperature responsive valve construction having a housing means provided with an inlet and an outlet, said housing means carrying a resilient valve seat that is adapted to interconnect said inlet with said outlet when said valve seat is open, means interconnecting one of said inlet and said outlet to said passage means intermediate said pneumatic source and said pneumatically operated device, the other of said inlet and said outlet being interconnected to the atmosphere, said valve construction having a one-piece bimetal snap disc provided with an outer periphery and a central portion integral with said outer periphery, said disc having a substantially uniform cross-sectional thickness throughout its central portion and its outer periphery, said bimetal snap disc having its outer periphery carried by said housing means and having its central portion disposed on one side of said valve seat, said snap disc closing said valve seat by having only its uniformed cross-sectioned central portion snapping directly against said valve seat when sensing a certain condition whereby said pneumatic source is effectively interconnected to said pneumatically operated device, said snap disc opening said valve seat by having its central portion snapping away from said valve seat when sensing another temperature to effectively interconnect said pneumatically operated device to the atmosphere.

Claim 11

A control system as set forth in claim 7 wherein another temperature responsive valve construction similar to said first-named valve construction has one of its said inlet and said outlet interconnected to said passage means intermediate said source and said device.

Claim 12

A control system as set forth in claim 7 wherein said source is a vacuum source and said pneumatically operated device is a vacuum actuator.

Claim 13

A control system comprising a pneumatic source, a pneumatically operated device, passage defining means interconnecting said pneumatic source to said pneumatically operated device, and a temperature responsive valve construction having a housing means provided with an inlet and an outlet, said housing means carrying a resilient valve seat that is adapted to interconnect said inlet with said outlet when said valve seat is open, means interconnecting one of said inlet and said outlet to said passage means intermediate said pneumatic source and said pneumatically operated device, the other of said inlet and said outlet being interconnected to the atmosphere, said valve construction having a one-piece bimetal snap disc provided with an outer periphery and a central portion integral with said outer periphery, said disc having a substantially uniform cross-sectional thickness throughout its central portion and its outer periphery, said bimetal snap disc having its outer periphery carried by said housing means and having its central portion disposed on one side of said valve seat, said snap disc closing said valve seat by having only its uniformed cross-sectioned central portion snapping directly against said valve seat when sensing a certain condition whereby said pneumatic source is effectively interconnected to said pneumatically operated device, said snap disc opening said valve seat by having its central portion snapping away from said valve seat when sensing another temperature to effectively interconnect said pneumatically operated device to the atmosphere, a filter means carried by said housing means and disposed between said valve seat and one of said inlet and said outlet to filter fluid flow between said inlet and said outlet when said valve seat is open, said housing means comprising a cup-shaped member having an open end and a closed end, said inlet and said outlet being formed in said closed end of said cup-shaped member, said valve seat projecting from said closed end of said cup-shaped member toward said open end thereof.

Claim 14

A control system comprising a pneumatic source, a pneumatically operated device, passage defining means interconnecting said pneumatic source to said pneumatically operated device, and a temperature responsive valve construction having a housing means provided with an inlet and an outlet, said housing means carrying a resilient valve seat that is adapted to interconnect said inlet with said outlet when said valve seat is open, means interconnecting one of said inlet and said outlet to said passage means intermediate said pneumatic source and said pneumatically operated device, the other of said inlet and said outlet being interconnected to the atmosphere, said valve construction having a one-piece bimetal snap disc provided with an outer periphery and a central portion integral with said outer periphery, said disc having a substantially uniform cross-sectional thickness throughout its central portion and its outer periphery, said bimetal snap disc having its outer periphery carried by said housing means and having its central portion disposed on one side of said valve seat, said snap disc closing said valve seat by having only its uniformed cross-sectioned central portion snapping directly against said valve seat when sensing a certain condition whereby said pneumatic source is effectively interconnected to said pneumatically operated device, said snap disc opening said valve seat by having its central portion snapping away from said valve seat when sensing another temperature to effectively interconnect said pneumatically operated device to the atmosphere, a filter means carried by said housing means and disposed between said valve seat and one of said inlet and said outlet to filter fluid flow between said inlet and said outlet when said valve seat is open, said housing means comprising a cup-shaped member having an open end and a closed end, said inlet and said outlet being formed in said closed end of said cup-shaped member, said valve seat projecting from said closed end of said cup-shaped member toward said open end thereof.

Claim 15

A control system as set forth in claim 10 wherein said bimetal snap disc has its outer periphery disposed against said open end of said cup-shaped member.

Claim 16

A control system as set forth in claim 11 wherein said housing means comprises a cover member secured to said cup-shaped member and confining said bimetal snap disc on said open end thereof.

Claim 17

A control system as set forth in claim 12 wherein said cover member has fingers bent around said cup-shaped member to secure said cover member and said cup-shaped member together.

Claim 18

A control system as set forth in claim 10 wherein said valve seat comprises an integral nipple extension projecting from said closed end of said cup-shaped member and a resilient tubular member disposed about said nipple extension and extending beyond the same.