Patent US3770195A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3770195A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Temperature control system and vacuum modulator valve therefor
Assignee: Eaton Corp
•
Filing: 1972-03-24
•
Granted: 1973-11-06
•
Expires: 1992-03-24
Abstract
Abstract Automatic vacuum controlled air conditioner control, for regulating the temperature of the passenger compartment of an automotive vehicle in accordance with ambient and in-car air temperatures in which the vacuum controls of the system is balanced commensurate with the vacuum required to position the controls for preselected temperature requirements.
Inventors
- 👤 R Franz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 13:36
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60H; B60H1/00; B60H1/00421; B60H1/00435; B60H1/00442; B60H1/00485
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
333 words
In a temperature responsive vacuum modulator valve particularly adapted for automotive air conditioning systems, a valve casing having a vacuum chamber therein, a vacuum supply line connecting said vacuum chamber to a source of vacuum, a vacuum control line spaced along said chamber from said supply line, a valve seat in said chamber between said supply line and said vacuum control line, an air vent member extending into said vacuum chamber and having an air vent chamber therein, a flexible diaphragm sealing said vacuum chamber along its periphery and having sealing engagement with said air vent member and moving said air vent member inwardly along said vacuum chamber upon increases in vacuum, said air vent member having a control member extending outwardly therefrom and an air inlet opening on the outside of said vacuum chamber leading into said air vent chamber, a valve seat in said air vent chamber in axial alignment with said valve seat in said vacuum chamber, air vent and vacuum control valves respectively seated on said air vent valve seat and said vacuum valve seat and connected for conjoint movement, and means balancing vacuum in said vacuum chamber and effecting closing of said air vent and said vacuum control valves in accordance with temperature conditions comprising an ambient bimetal element in said valve casing and positioned in the flow of ambient air and having bearing engagement with said control member at one end and loaded at its end opposite said control member, an in-car bimetal element mounted on said casing in the flow of air at in-car temperature and supported in spaced relation with respect to said casing and having control connection with said control member independenTly of said ambient bimetal element, said ambient and in-car bimetal elements being independent of each other and both having operative connection with said control member to effect movement of said air vent member along said vacuum chamber to balance the forces of vacuum acting on said diaphragm in accordance with temperature conditions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
333 words
In a temperature responsive vacuum modulator valve particularly adapted for automotive air conditioning systems, a valve casing having a vacuum chamber therein, a vacuum supply line connecting said vacuum chamber to a source of vacuum, a vacuum control line spaced along said chamber from said supply line, a valve seat in said chamber between said supply line and said vacuum control line, an air vent member extending into said vacuum chamber and having an air vent chamber therein, a flexible diaphragm sealing said vacuum chamber along its periphery and having sealing engagement with said air vent member and moving said air vent member inwardly along said vacuum chamber upon increases in vacuum, said air vent member having a control member extending outwardly therefrom and an air inlet opening on the outside of said vacuum chamber leading into said air vent chamber, a valve seat in said air vent chamber in axial alignment with said valve seat in said vacuum chamber, air vent and vacuum control valves respectively seated on said air vent valve seat and said vacuum valve seat and connected for conjoint movement, and means balancing vacuum in said vacuum chamber and effecting closing of said air vent and said vacuum control valves in accordance with temperature conditions comprising an ambient bimetal element in said valve casing and positioned in the flow of ambient air and having bearing engagement with said control member at one end and loaded at its end opposite said control member, an in-car bimetal element mounted on said casing in the flow of air at in-car temperature and supported in spaced relation with respect to said casing and having control connection with said control member independenTly of said ambient bimetal element, said ambient and in-car bimetal elements being independent of each other and both having operative connection with said control member to effect movement of said air vent member along said vacuum chamber to balance the forces of vacuum acting on said diaphragm in accordance with temperature conditions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
118 words
The vacuum modulator valve of claim 1, wherein support means are provided for movably mounting said ambient bimetal element in said valve casing intermediate its ends in spaced relation with respect to said control member and positioning said ambient bimetal element in the flow of ambient air to have bearing engagement with said control member at one end, and means loading the end of said ambient bimetal element opposite said control member, wherein other support means are provided for mounting said in-car bimetal element on said casing in the flow of air at in-car temperature at its opposite ends in spaced relation with respect to said casing to have control connection with said control member intermediate its ends.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
102 words
The vacuum modulator valve of claim 2, wherein the support for the in-car bimetal element on said casing comprises a saddle having a base and parallel upright legs forming knife-edge supports for said in-car bimetal element, and wherein the operative connection between said in-car bimetal element and said control member includes a second saddle mounted on said control member intermediate its ends for movement with said member and having parallel upright legs, a transverse pin supported on said legs and having bearing engagement with said in-car bimetal element along the transverse center thereof intermediate the knife-edge supports for said in-car bimetal element.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
59 words
The vacuum modulator valve of claim 3, wherein the saddles supporting and connecting said in-car bimetal element with said control member are made from a thin metal of substantially the thickness of said in-car bimetal element, to avoid the transfer of heat at ambient air temperatures from the region of said ambient air duct to said in-car bimetal element.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The vacuum modulator valve of claim 4, wherein the in-car bimetal element is bowed upwardly from its ends and downwardly towards said pin extending across the center thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
204 words
The vacuum modulator valve of claim 1, including, a housing extending about said air vent member, an in-car inlet leading into said housing, an ambient air inlet leading into said housing and having a converging discharge end, an axially aligned delivery air duct leading from said housing and converging as it extends from said housing and cooperating with said ambient air duct to aspirate air at in-car temperature into said housing through said in-car inlet, support means for said ambient bimetal element on said casing pivotally supporting said ambient bimetal element intermediate its ends to extend along said ambient air duct and to have bearing engagement with said control member at one end, means carried by said casing selectively operable to load the opposite end of said ambient bimetal element from said control member and vary the vacuum in said vacuum chamber, support means for said in-car bimetal element in said housing in spaced relation with respect to said control member, and other means connecting said in-car bimetal element with said control member for exerting a force on said control member independently of the force exerted by said ambient bimetal element, to balance the force of vacuum in said chamber acting on said diaphragm.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
121 words
The vacuum modulator valve of claim 6, wherein the support means for the in-car bimetal element in said housing comprises a saddle having a base supported on said casing and parallel upright legs extending vertically of said casing, forming knife-edge supports for opposite ends of said in-car bimetal element, and wherein the operative connection between said in-car bimetal element anD said control member includes a second saddle mounted on said control member for movement with said member and having parallel upright legs, a transverse pin supported on said legs and having bearing engagement with the opposite side of said in-car bimetal element from said control member along the transverse center thereof and intermediate the knife-edge supports for said in-car bimetal element.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
63 words
A vacuum modulator valve of claim 7, wherein the saddles supporting said in-car bimetal element and connecting said in-car bimetal element with said control member are made from a thin metal of substantially the thickness of said in-car bimetal element, to avoid the transfer of heat at ambient air temperatures from the region of said ambient air duct to said in-car bimetal element.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The vacuum modulator valve of claim 8, wherein the in-car bimetal element is bowed upwardly from its ends and downwardly toward said pin extending across the center thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
117 words
The vacuum modulator valve of claim 6, wherein the means for preloading said ambient bimetal element comprises screw means engaging the opposite end of saId bimetal element from said control member, means adjustably moving said screw means comprising a disk mounted on said screw means, remote control means for pivoting said disk and screw means, and means accommodating the calibration of said screw means and the preloading of said ambient bimetal element comprising a lug engageable with said disk, locating said disk in the proper calibrated position of said screw means and breaking off upon assembly of said disk to said screw means and movement of said disk to vary the loading of said ambient bimetal element.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
140 words
The vacuum modulator valve of claim 10, wherein the disk has an arcuate slot therein having a radially extending recess intermediate its ends, wherein a stop including a pin extends within said slot and has a stop member pivoted thereon for movement about an axis parallel to the axis of said calibrating screw, at least one tooth-like projection extending radially from said stop member and adapted to mesh with said radially extending recess, a lug extending diametrically opposite from said tooth-like projection and having locating enagement with said disk, whereby movement of said disk upon calibration of said screw means will effect pivotal movement of said stop member and the breaking off of said lug and the turning of said tooth-like projection into position to accommodate free pivotal movement of said disk to the limit determined by said stop member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
308 words
In a temperature control system and vacuum modulator valve therefor particularly adapted for air conditioner systems for controling the temperature of the passenger compartment of an automotive vehicle, and in combination with an air blend door, and a vacuum motor regulating the position of the air blend door and the flow of cool air into the passenger compartment, and a blower forcing air into the passenger compartment, a housing, an ambient air inlet duct leading into said housing supplied with ambient air by said blower, an air outlet duct leading from said housing and having an intake spaced from said ambient air inlet duct and an axial alignment therewith, an in-car air inlet leading into said housing, said ambient air inlet duct cooperating with said outlet air duct to draw air at in-car temperature into said chamber, an ambient bimetal thermally responsive element in said ambient air inlet duct, an in-car bimetal thermally responsive element in said in-car air inlet, a valve casing associated with said housing and having a vacuum chamber, an air vent member leading into said vacuum chamber and mounted for axial movement relative thereto, a vacuum supply leading into said vacuum chamber, a vacuum control line leading from said vacuum chamber and adapted to connect said vacuum motor to a source of vacuum, valve means between said air Vent member and said vacuum control line and controling the supply of vacuum to said chamber through said vacuum supply line and the venting of said chamber, a single control member for said valve means, said ambient and in-car bimetal elements exerting independent forces directly on said control member and tending to balance the bimetal force exerted, with vacuum in said chamber, to attain a preselected vacuum in said chamber and the setting of said vacuum motor and air blend door to provide a required temperature.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
308 words
In a temperature control system and vacuum modulator valve therefor particularly adapted for air conditioner systems for controling the temperature of the passenger compartment of an automotive vehicle, and in combination with an air blend door, and a vacuum motor regulating the position of the air blend door and the flow of cool air into the passenger compartment, and a blower forcing air into the passenger compartment, a housing, an ambient air inlet duct leading into said housing supplied with ambient air by said blower, an air outlet duct leading from said housing and having an intake spaced from said ambient air inlet duct and an axial alignment therewith, an in-car air inlet leading into said housing, said ambient air inlet duct cooperating with said outlet air duct to draw air at in-car temperature into said chamber, an ambient bimetal thermally responsive element in said ambient air inlet duct, an in-car bimetal thermally responsive element in said in-car air inlet, a valve casing associated with said housing and having a vacuum chamber, an air vent member leading into said vacuum chamber and mounted for axial movement relative thereto, a vacuum supply leading into said vacuum chamber, a vacuum control line leading from said vacuum chamber and adapted to connect said vacuum motor to a source of vacuum, valve means between said air Vent member and said vacuum control line and controling the supply of vacuum to said chamber through said vacuum supply line and the venting of said chamber, a single control member for said valve means, said ambient and in-car bimetal elements exerting independent forces directly on said control member and tending to balance the bimetal force exerted, with vacuum in said chamber, to attain a preselected vacuum in said chamber and the setting of said vacuum motor and air blend door to provide a required temperature.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
56 words
The temperature control system of claim 12, including means mounting said ambient bimetal element intermediate its ends for pivotal movement about a transverse axis to act on said valve means at one end, and means for preloading said ambient bimetal element at its end opposite said valve means, for adjusting the vacuum in said vacuum chamber.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
108 words
The temperature control system of claim 13, including screw means preloading said ambient bimetal element, means adjustably moving said screw means comprising a disk on said screw means, remote control means for pivoting said disk and screw means, and means accommodating the calibration of said screw means to provide the required preloading of said ambient bimetal element to attain a preselected vacuum in said vacuum chamber comprising, a stop for said disk, locating said disk in the proper calibrated position of said screw and breaking off upon assembly of said disk to said screw and movement of said disk to vary the loading of said ambient bimetal element.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
132 words
The temperature control system of claim 14 in which the disk has an arcuate slot therein having a radially extending recess intermediate its ends, wherein the stop includes a pin, a stop member pivotally mounted on said pin, at least one tooth-like projection extending from said stop means and meshing with said radially extending recess, and a locating lug extending diametrically oppositely from said tooth-like projection locating and having locating engagement with said disk, wherby movement of said disk to effect loading of the ambient bimetal element will effect pivotal movement of said stop member and the breaking of said lug and the turning of said stop member into position to accommodate free movement movemnt of said disk and screw means in opposite directions and in amounts limited by said stop member.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
89 words
The temperature control system of claim 12, wherein a diaphragm is sealed to said vacuum chamber and to said air vent chamber, wherein said ambient bimetal element acts on said air vent chamber to exert a force thereon balanced by said diaphragm in accordance with the need for vacuum in said vacuum chamber, wherein said in-car bimetal element is connected with said air vent chamber and exerts an independent force on said air vent chamber modulating the vacuum signal proportionate to the requirement for vacuum in said vacuum chamber.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
70 words
The temperature control system of claim 16, wherein the air vent member has a stem extending axially therefrom, wherein said ambient bimetal element is transversely pivoted intermediate its ends in said ambient air passageway and has engagement with said stem at one end, and wherein a temperature adjustment screw loads said ambient bimetal element to the extent required to balance said in-car bimetal element with vacuum in said vacuum chamber.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
101 words
The temperature control system of claim 17, wherein the support for the in-car bimetal element on said casing comprises a saddle having a base and parallel upright legs forming knife-edge supports for said in-car bimetal element, wherein the operative connection between said in-car bimetal element and said control pin includes a second saddle mounted on said control pin intermediate its ends for movement with said pin and having parallel upright legs, a transverse pin supported on said legs and having bearing engagement with said in-car bimetal elEment along the transverse center thereof intermediate the knife-edge supports for said in-car bimetal element.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-11-05 | 1977-05-07 | 1977-11-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-11-05 | 1981-05-07 | 1981-11-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-11-05 | 1985-05-07 | 1985-11-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |