Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
100 words
A fluid flow control valve comprising a thermally responsive bimetallic element, means defining a fluid flow passage through said valve, means defining a valve seat located to be engaged and disengaged by said bimetallic element to closed and open said fluid flow passage, a thermally conductive member, means mounting said thermally conductive member together with said bimetallic element to define therebetween an enclosed volume insolated from said fluid flow passage, and temperature varying means mounted on said thermally conductive member in thermally conductive relationship with said bimetallic element operating to control said bimetallic element to open and close said valve.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
100 words
A fluid flow control valve comprising a thermally responsive bimetallic element, means defining a fluid flow passage through said valve, means defining a valve seat located to be engaged and disengaged by said bimetallic element to closed and open said fluid flow passage, a thermally conductive member, means mounting said thermally conductive member together with said bimetallic element to define therebetween an enclosed volume insolated from said fluid flow passage, and temperature varying means mounted on said thermally conductive member in thermally conductive relationship with said bimetallic element operating to control said bimetallic element to open and close said valve.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
A valve according to claim 1 wherein said temperature varying means is a PTC-element.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A valve according to claim 1, wherein said temperature varying means is mounted against a side of said thermally conductive member opposite the side thereof on which said bimetallic element is located.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
78 words
A valve according to claim 1, further comprising a valve cover attached to said base, said thermally conductive member being held in clamped engagement between said valve base and said valve cover, and spacer means spacing said bimetallic element from said thermally conductive member to form said enclosed volume therebetween, said valve base and valve cover being arranged to effect a clamping action tending to produce a sealing effect between said bimetallic element and said thermally conductive member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
A valve according to claim 4, further comprising top hat-shaped holder means interposed between said valve base and said bimetallic element, said bimetallic element having a periphery clamped thereabout between said spacer means and said top hat-shaped holder means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
56 words
A valve according to claim 2, further comprising means holding said PTC element against said thermally conductive member on the side thereof remote from the side upon which said bimetallic element is located, a housing enclosing said valve, electrical plug contacts extending through said housing and means electrically connecting said PTC element to said plug contacts.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
A valve according to claim 6, wherein said means holding said PTC element against said thermally conductive member includes elastic means elastically pressing said element against said member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
104 words
A valve according to claim 3, wherein said bimetallic element comprises a peripheral portion and a central portion and wherein said valve seat is formed by a sealing ring surrounding said means defining a fluid flow passage, said valve further comprising means clamping said peripheral portion of said bimetallic element in a position wherein said central portion thereof extends over said sealing ring, said bimetallic element being movable between a position in contact with said sealing ring to close said fluid flow passage and a position away from said sealing ring to open said fluid flow passage in response to said temperature varying means.