US3730430A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Thermovalve
Assignee: FLUIDTECH CORP
•
Filing: 1971-07-06
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Granted: 1973-05-01
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Expires: 1991-07-06
Abstract
Abstract The present invention provides a thermostatically-controlled valve that is very sensitive and, therefore, very responsive to changing temperature conditions. The device comprises a coiled bi-metal strip fixed at one end and whose other end is coupled to a flat plate. The plate rests on a member containing a pair of orifices that are covered or uncovered by the plate as it moves horizontally under the rotational motion of the bi-metal strip. The sensitivity of the device is due to the fact that the plate barely loads the coil.
Inventors
- 👤 G Osheroff
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 14:23
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05D; G05D23/00; G05D23/01; G05D23/02; G05D23/08; G05D23/185; G05D23/1854; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/8593; Y10T137/86493; Y10T137/86558
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
180 words
A thermovalve comprising: a housing wall; a member having a pair of valving orifices therethrough mounted on one surface of said wall, the top surface of said member being flat with the entrance ports to said orifices lying in said top surface, said member including a slot located between said entrance ports that extends downward from said top surface only partially through said member, said wall including means for coupling the exit ports of said orifices through said wall to the other side thereof; a plate slidably resting on said top surface, the dimensions of said plate being sufficient to just completely cover both said entrance ports when said plate is centered therebetween, said plate having a slit therethrough between the ends thereof; and a coiled bi-metallic temperature-sensitive element mounted in the space above said plate, the center of said coil being fixedly coupled to said wall and the other end thereof being free and extending linearly downward through the slit in said plate and into said slot, the space between said plate and said element containing no other parts.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
180 words
A thermovalve comprising: a housing wall; a member having a pair of valving orifices therethrough mounted on one surface of said wall, the top surface of said member being flat with the entrance ports to said orifices lying in said top surface, said member including a slot located between said entrance ports that extends downward from said top surface only partially through said member, said wall including means for coupling the exit ports of said orifices through said wall to the other side thereof; a plate slidably resting on said top surface, the dimensions of said plate being sufficient to just completely cover both said entrance ports when said plate is centered therebetween, said plate having a slit therethrough between the ends thereof; and a coiled bi-metallic temperature-sensitive element mounted in the space above said plate, the center of said coil being fixedly coupled to said wall and the other end thereof being free and extending linearly downward through the slit in said plate and into said slot, the space between said plate and said element containing no other parts.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The thermovalve defined in claim 1 wherein the width of said slot is substantially equal to the sum of the widths of said entrance ports.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The thermovalve defined in claim 1 wherein said theremovalve further includes means for increasing the sensitivity of the thermovalve to changes in ambient temperature conditions, said means including friction-reducing means mounted between said plate and top surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
98 words
The thermovalve defined in claim 1 wherein the location and dimensions of said slot are such that one of said entrance ports is covered and a predetermined portion of the other of said entrance ports is uncovered by said plate when the end of said temperature-sensitive element that extends into said slot abuts against one side thereof, and such that said other entrance port is covered and a predetermined portion of said one entrance port is uncovered by said plate when the end of said temperature-setting element that extends into said slot abuts against the other side thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The thermovalve defined in claim 1 wherein the thermovalve further includes a mechanism mounted between said housing wall and said member for biasing said coiled bi-metallic element to pre-set the temperature of the thermovalve.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The thermovalve defined in claim 3 wherein said plate is coated with a friction-reducing substance on the side thereof facing said member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
82 words
The thermovalve defined in claim 4 wherein said entrance ports are of equal size and said slot is located midway therebetween, wherein said plate covers both said entrance ports when said other end of said bi-metallic strip is positioned midway between the sides of said slot, and wherein said plate just fully uncovers one or the other of said entrance ports as said other end of the bi-metallic strip respectively abuts against one or the other of the sides of said slot.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2225210A
Cited
US2499496A
Cited
US3095896A
Cited
US3411711A
Cited
US3556136A
Cited
US3610285A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-04-30 | 1976-10-30 | 1977-05-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-04-30 | 1980-10-30 | 1981-05-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-04-30 | 1984-10-30 | 1985-05-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |