Temperature control system and vacuum modulator valve therefor

Claim 2

A temperature-responsive vacuum modulator valve adapted for vehicle heating and air conditioning systems, comprising: a. a valve casing having a vacuum chamber therein; b. a vacuum supply line connecting said vacuum chamber to a source of vacuum; c. a vacuum control line spaced along said chamber from said supply line; d. a valve seat in said chamber between said supply line and said vacuum control line; e. an air vent member extending into said vacuum chamber and having an air vent chamber therein; f. a flexible diaphragm sealing said vacuum chamber along its periphery and being in sealing engagement with said air vent member and being capable of moving said air vent member inwardly along said vacuum chamber upon increases in vacuum; g. said air vent member having a control member extending outwardly therefrom and an air inlet on the outside of said vacuum chamber leading into said air vent chamber; h. a valve seat in said air vent chamber in axial alignment with said valve seat in said vacuum chamber; i. 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 j. means for balancing vacuum in said vacuum chamber and effecting closing of said air vent and said vacuum control valves in accordance with temperature conditions within the vehicle, said balancing means comprising: i. a bimetal element mounted on said casing in the flow of air at in-car temperatures and supported in spaced relation with respect to said casing and having control connection with said control member, ii. an adjustment arm pivotally mounted with respect to said casing having, at one end thereof, bearing engagement with said control member and, at the other end thereof, being in bearing engagement with an adjustable biasing means, and iii. said bimetal element and said adjustment arm having independent, operative association with said control member to effect movement of said air vent member along said vacuum chamber to balance the forces acting on said diaphragm in response to actual and desired in-car temperature conditions.

Claim 3

The vacuum modulator valve of claim 1 wherein said balancing means includes a housing associated with said valve casing, said housing having an inlet and an outlet and being adapted to permit the flow therethrough of air at in-car temperatures.

Claim 4

The vacuum modulator valve of claim 2 including support means for fixedly mounting said bimetal element with respect to said valve casing and in spaced apart relation thereto.

Claim 5

The vacuum modulator valve of claim 1 whErein said adjustable biasing means includes a threaded member threadedly carried by said valve casing.

Claim 6

The vacuum modulator valve of claim 2 wherein said bimetal element has a support means in said housing comprising a saddle having a base supported on said casing and generally parallel upright legs extending vertically from said valve casing, forming knife edge supports for opposite ends of said bimetal element.

Claim 7

Apparatus for controlling a vacuum motor to regulate the position of an air blend door in an automotive air conditioning system, comprising: a. a sensor having a housing defining an inlet and an outlet and adapted to permit a flow therethrough of air at in-car temperatures; b. an aspirator, spaced apart from said sensor, having an inlet for primary air and an inlet for aspirated air, said aspirated air inlet being in fluid communication with the outlet of said sensor; c. said sensor further comprising: i. a valve casing associated with said sensor housing and having a vacuum chamber therein, ii. a vacuum supply line connecting said vacuum chamber to a source of vacuum, iii. a vacuum control line spaced along said chamber from said supply line, iv. a valve seat in said chamber between said supply line and said vacuum control line, v. an air vent member extending into said vacuum chamber and having an air vent chamber therein, vi. a flexible diaphragm sealing said vacuum chamber along its periphery and being in sealing engagement with said air vent member and being capable of moving said air vent member inwardly along said vacuum chamber upon increases in vacuum, vii. said air vent member having a control member extending outwardly therefrom and an air inlet on the outside of said vacuum chamber leading into said air vent chamber, viii. a valve seat in said air vent chamber in axial alignment with said valve seat in said vacuum chamber, ix. air vent and vacuum control valves respectively seated on said air vent valve seat and said vacuum valve seat and connected for conjoint movement, x. at least one bimetal element mounted within said sensor housing in the flow of air at incar temperature and supported in spaced relation with respect to said valve casing, said control member being controllably connected to said bimetal element, and xi. an adjustment arm pivotally mounted within said sensor housing, one end of said arm biasing said control member in a direction tending to seat said vacuum control valve in said vacuum valve seat, said bimetal element and said adjustment arm being independent of each other and in operative association with said control member to effect movement of said air vent member along said vacuum chamber to balance the forces acting on said diaphragm in response to actual and desired in-car temperature conditions.

Claim 8

Apparatus for controlling a vacuum motor to regulate the position of an air blend door in an automotive air conditioning system, comprising: a. a sensor having a housing defining an inlet and an outlet and adapted to permit a flow therethrough of air at in-car temperatures; b. an aspirator, spaced apart from said sensor, having an inlet for primary air and an inlet for aspirated air, said aspirated air inlet being in fluid communication with the outlet of said sensor; c. said sensor further comprising: i. a valve casing associated with said sensor housing and having a vacuum chamber therein, ii. a vacuum supply line connecting said vacuum chamber to a source of vacuum, iii. a vacuum control line spaced along said chamber from said supply line, iv. a valve seat in said chamber between said supply line and said vacuum control line, v. an air vent member extending into said vacuum chamber and having an air vent chamber therein, vi. a flexible diaphragm sealing said vacuum chamber along its periphery and being in sealing engagement with said air vent member and being capable of moving said air vent member inwardly along said vacuum chamber upon increases in vacuum, vii. said air vent member having a control member extending outwardly therefrom and an air inlet on the outside of said vacuum chamber leading into said air vent chamber, viii. a valve seat in said air vent chamber in axial alignment with said valve seat in said vacuum chamber, ix. air vent and vacuum control valves respectively seated on said air vent valve seat and said vacuum valve seat and connected for conjoint movement, x. at least one bimetal element mounted within said sensor housing in the flow of air at incar temperature and supported in spaced relation with respect to said valve casing, said control member being controllably connected to said bimetal element, and xi. an adjustment arm pivotally mounted within said sensor housing, one end of said arm biasing said control member in a direction tending to seat said vacuum control valve in said vacuum valve seat, said bimetal element and said adjustment arm being independent of each other and in operative association with said control member to effect movement of said air vent member along said vacuum chamber to balance the forces acting on said diaphragm in response to actual and desired in-car temperature conditions.

Claim 9

A temperature control sensor for an automotive air conditioning system for controlling the temperature of the in-car air, and in combination with an air blend door, a vacuum motor for regulating the position of the air blend door and, the flow of air into the passenger compartment, and an aspirator having an inlet for primary air and an inlet for aspirated air, said temperature control sensor comprising: a. a housing spaced apart from the aspirator, defining an inlet and an outlet, and being adapted to permit in-car air to flow therethrough; b. a valve casing associated with said sensor housing and having a vacuum chamber therein; c. a vacuum supply line connecting a vacuum chamber to a source of vacuum; d. a vacuum control line spaced along said chamber from said supply line and operatively connected to the vacuum motor; e. valve means within said valve casing, said vacuum supply line and said vacuum control line being in open communication when said valve means is opened, said valve means having control means extending out of said valve casing and being capable of opening and closing in response to movement of said control Means, respectively, out of and into said valve casing; f. a bimetal element movably mounted within said housing in the flow of air at in-car temperatures, said control means being controllably connected to said bimetal element; and g. an adjustment arm pivotally mounted within said housing, one end of said arm biasing said control means in a direction tending to close said valve means, said bimetal element and said adjustment arm being independent of each other and in operative association with said control means to effect movement of said valve means in response to changes in the actual and desired in-car temperature conditions.

Claim 10

A temperature control sensor for an automotive air conditioning system for controlling the temperature of the in-car air, and in combination with an air blend door, a vacuum motor for regulating the position of the air blend door and, the flow of air into the passenger compartment, and an aspirator having an inlet for primary air and an inlet for aspirated air, said temperature control sensor comprising: a. a housing spaced apart from the aspirator, defining an inlet and an outlet, and being adapted to permit in-car air to flow therethrough; b. a valve casing associated with said sensor housing and having a vacuum chamber therein; c. a vacuum supply line connecting a vacuum chamber to a source of vacuum; d. a vacuum control line spaced along said chamber from said supply line and operatively connected to the vacuum motor; e. valve means within said valve casing, said vacuum supply line and said vacuum control line being in open communication when said valve means is opened, said valve means having control means extending out of said valve casing and being capable of opening and closing in response to movement of said control Means, respectively, out of and into said valve casing; f. a bimetal element movably mounted within said housing in the flow of air at in-car temperatures, said control means being controllably connected to said bimetal element; and g. an adjustment arm pivotally mounted within said housing, one end of said arm biasing said control means in a direction tending to close said valve means, said bimetal element and said adjustment arm being independent of each other and in operative association with said control means to effect movement of said valve means in response to changes in the actual and desired in-car temperature conditions.