US3860169A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ambient temperature control system
Assignee: Powers Regulator Co
•
Filing: 1973-11-07
•
Granted: 1975-01-14
•
Expires: 1993-11-07
Abstract
Abstract A system for controlling ambient temperature having a valve that adjusts the amount of fluid flow is disclosed. The valve includes a chamber containing thermal-expansive material and a piston which moves outwardly from the chamber to retard fluid flow when the thermal-expansive material is heated. The valve further includes a heater for heating the thermal-expansive material and a thermistor disposed in close thermal-relationship with the heater. Because of this close thermal-relationship, the resistance of the thermistor quickly changes in response to temperature changes in the heater. Since the thermistor is part of an electrical circuit for energizing or de-energizing the heater, ambient temperature is controlled. The system also includes a safety switch for de-energizing the heater in the event an open-circuit appears across the thermistor and is further adapted to control ambient temperature whether the fluid flow consists of hot or cold water.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert J Norman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 15:37
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05D; G05D23/00; G05D23/19; G05D23/20; G05D23/24; G05D23/1919; G05D23/1921; G05D23/275
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
111 words
A structure for controlling ambient temperature comprising: a chamber containing thermal-expansive material; a piston, slidably secured within said chamber and movable outwardly therefrom upon expansion of said thermal-expansive material; said piston regulating fluid flow outside said chamber and said fluid flow controlling ambient temperature; heating means, secured outside said chamber, responsive to the production of an effectuation signal, and adapted to heat said thermal-expansive material; and temperature-sensitive resistance means, secured outside said chamber in thermal relationship with said heating means, having a temperature threshold level; said temperature-sensitive resistance means causing said heating means to respond to said effectuation signal when the temperature of said heating means crosses said temperature threshold level.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
111 words
A structure for controlling ambient temperature comprising: a chamber containing thermal-expansive material; a piston, slidably secured within said chamber and movable outwardly therefrom upon expansion of said thermal-expansive material; said piston regulating fluid flow outside said chamber and said fluid flow controlling ambient temperature; heating means, secured outside said chamber, responsive to the production of an effectuation signal, and adapted to heat said thermal-expansive material; and temperature-sensitive resistance means, secured outside said chamber in thermal relationship with said heating means, having a temperature threshold level; said temperature-sensitive resistance means causing said heating means to respond to said effectuation signal when the temperature of said heating means crosses said temperature threshold level.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein said temperature-sensitive resistance means is embedded in thermal-conductive means disposed in close thermal relationship with said heating means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The structure set forth in claim 2 wherein said thermal-conductive means is metal-oxide epoxy.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
194 words
The structure set forth in claim 1 further including: fluid passage means, cooperable with said piston, and adapted to carry hot or cold water; fluid by-pass means adapted to carry hot water when said fluid passage means carries hot water, and cold water when said fluid passage means contain cold water; temperature responsive switching means, disposed in thermal-relationship with said fluid by-pass means, having a first mode and a second mode; said temperature-responsive switching means automatically switching to said first mode when hot water is carried in said fluid by-pass means, and said temperature-responsive switching means automatically switching to said second mode when cold water is carried by said fluid by-pass means; signal comparison means, coupled between said temperature-sensitive resistance means and said heating means, for producing said effectuation signal when said temperature-responsive switching means are in said first mode and the temperature of said heating means drops below said temperature threshold level of said temperature-sensitive resistance means; said comparison means also producing said effectuation signal when said temperature-responsive switching means are in said second mode and the temperature of said heating means drops below said temperature threshold level of said temperature-sensitive resistance means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
The structure set forth in claim 1 further including safety switch means coupled between said temperature-sensitive resistance means and said heating means for de-energizing said heating means when an open circuit appears in said temperature-sensitive resistance means.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
161 words
A system for controlling ambient temperature comprising: a source of D.C. voltage for producing a comparison signal; ambient temperature selection means for producing a voltage corresponding to the temperature selected by said ambient temperature selection means; valve means, having heating means and temperature-sensitive resistance means disposed in thermal relationship with said heating means, for effecting a change in ambient temperature corresponding to the temperature of said heating means; said temperature-sensitive resistance means producing a control signal by varying said voltage produced by said ambient temperature selection means in accordance with the temperature of said heating means; and signal comparison means, coupled between said ambient temperature selection means and said heating means for receiving said control signal and said comparison signal; said signal comparison means producing an effectuation signal corresponding to the difference between said control signal and said comparison signal, causing said valve means to change the ambient temperature until it equals the temperature selected by said ambient temperature selection means.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
161 words
A system for controlling ambient temperature comprising: a source of D.C. voltage for producing a comparison signal; ambient temperature selection means for producing a voltage corresponding to the temperature selected by said ambient temperature selection means; valve means, having heating means and temperature-sensitive resistance means disposed in thermal relationship with said heating means, for effecting a change in ambient temperature corresponding to the temperature of said heating means; said temperature-sensitive resistance means producing a control signal by varying said voltage produced by said ambient temperature selection means in accordance with the temperature of said heating means; and signal comparison means, coupled between said ambient temperature selection means and said heating means for receiving said control signal and said comparison signal; said signal comparison means producing an effectuation signal corresponding to the difference between said control signal and said comparison signal, causing said valve means to change the ambient temperature until it equals the temperature selected by said ambient temperature selection means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system set forth in claim 6 wherein said valve means further include: a chamber containing thermal-expansive material heatable by said heating means; and a piston, slidably secured within said chamber, and moving outwardly therefrom upon expansion of said thermal-expansive material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system set forth in claim 7 wherein said temperature-sensitive resistance means and said heating means are outside said chamber.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system set forth in claim 7 further includes fluid passage means cooperating with said valve means, whereby said piston retards fluid flow within said fluid passage means upon expansion of said thermal-expansive material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system set forth in claim 9 wherein said fluid-passage means is adapted to carry hot water or cold water.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
81 words
The system set forth in Claim 6 wherein said signal comparison means include amplifier means having an inverting input terminal coupled to said temperature selection means for receiving said control signal, and a correlating input terminal coupled to said source of D.C. voltage for receiving said comparison signal; said amplifier further having an output terminal producing a correlating effectuation signal when said comparison signal exceeds said control signal, and an inverted effectuation signal when said control signal exceeds said comparison signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system set forth in claim 11 further including uni-directional circuit means coupled to said output terminal of said amplifier means for blocking said inverted effectuation signal and passing said correlating effectuation signal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system set forth in claim 12 further including gating means coupled to said heating means, having a gating terminal coupled to said uni-directional circuit means; said gating means energizing said heating means upon receipt of said correlating effectuation signal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system set forth in claim 13 wherein said gating means is a triac.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system set forth in claim 13 wherein said temperature-sensitive resistance means is a thermistor coupled to said inverting input terminal of said amplifier.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
88 words
The system set forth in claim 15 further including safety switch means having a first terminal coupled to said thermistor, a second terminal coupled to said source of D.C. voltage, and a third terminal coupled to said signal comparison means for passing energizing voltage thereto, said signal comparison means requiring energizing voltage to produce said effectuation signal for said heater; said safety switch means blocking said energizing voltage from said third terminal to said signal comparison means, thereby de-energizing said heater when an open-circuit appears across said thermistor.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system set forth in claim 16 wherein said safety switch means is a transistor.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
324 words
A system for controlling ambient temperature comprising: a source of D.C. voltage for producing comparison signal; ambient temperature selection means for producing a voltage corresponding to the temperature selected by said ambient temperature selection means; fluid by-pass means adapted to carry hot water or cold water; temperature-responsive switching means, disposed in thermal-relationship with said fluid by-pass means, having a first mode and a second mode; said temperature-responsive switching means automatically switching to said first mode when hot water is carried by said fluid by-pass means, and said temperature responsive switching means automatically switching to said second mode when cold water is carried by said fluid by-pass means; amplifier means having a correlating input terminal for receiving said voltage produced by said ambient temperature selection means when said temperature-responsive switching means is in said first mode and an inverting input terminal for receiving said voltage produced by said ambient temperature selection means when said temperature responsive switching means is in said second mode; said amplifier means further having an output terminal receiving an amplified correlating voltage when said temperature responsive switching means is in said first mode and an amplified inverted voltage when said temperature-responsive switching means is in said second mode; valve means, having heating means and first temperature-sensitive resistance means disposed in thermal relationship with said heating means, for effecting a change in ambient temperature corresponding to the temperature of said heating means; said first temperature-sensitive resistance means producing a control signal by varying said voltage produced at said output terminal in accordance with the temperature of said heating means; and signal comparison means, coupled between said output terminal and said heating means, for receiving said control signal and said comparison signal; said sigNal comparison means producing an effectuation signal corresponding to the difference between said control signal and said comparison signal, causing said valve means to change the ambient temperature until it equals the temperature selected by said ambient temperature selection means.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
324 words
A system for controlling ambient temperature comprising: a source of D.C. voltage for producing comparison signal; ambient temperature selection means for producing a voltage corresponding to the temperature selected by said ambient temperature selection means; fluid by-pass means adapted to carry hot water or cold water; temperature-responsive switching means, disposed in thermal-relationship with said fluid by-pass means, having a first mode and a second mode; said temperature-responsive switching means automatically switching to said first mode when hot water is carried by said fluid by-pass means, and said temperature responsive switching means automatically switching to said second mode when cold water is carried by said fluid by-pass means; amplifier means having a correlating input terminal for receiving said voltage produced by said ambient temperature selection means when said temperature-responsive switching means is in said first mode and an inverting input terminal for receiving said voltage produced by said ambient temperature selection means when said temperature responsive switching means is in said second mode; said amplifier means further having an output terminal receiving an amplified correlating voltage when said temperature responsive switching means is in said first mode and an amplified inverted voltage when said temperature-responsive switching means is in said second mode; valve means, having heating means and first temperature-sensitive resistance means disposed in thermal relationship with said heating means, for effecting a change in ambient temperature corresponding to the temperature of said heating means; said first temperature-sensitive resistance means producing a control signal by varying said voltage produced at said output terminal in accordance with the temperature of said heating means; and signal comparison means, coupled between said output terminal and said heating means, for receiving said control signal and said comparison signal; said sigNal comparison means producing an effectuation signal corresponding to the difference between said control signal and said comparison signal, causing said valve means to change the ambient temperature until it equals the temperature selected by said ambient temperature selection means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system set forth in claim 18 wherein said valve means further include: a chamber containing thermal-expansive material heatable by said heating means; and a piston, slidably secured within said chamber, and moving outwardly therefrom upon expansion of said thermal-expansive material.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system set forth in claim 19 wherein said first temperature-sensitive resistance means and said heating means are outside said chamber.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system set forth in claim 19 further includes fluid-passage means, adapted to carry hot or cold water, cooperating with said valve means, whereby said piston retards fluid flow within said fluid passage means upon expansion of said thermal-expansive material.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3500634A
Cited
US3696611A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-01-13 | 1978-07-15 | 1979-01-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-01-13 | 1982-07-15 | 1983-01-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-01-13 | 1986-07-15 | 1987-01-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |