Abstract: An improved thermostatic valve has an axially open annular slide and a base plate which together form a gasket seat, and has a restoring spring, which biases the annular slide in the direction toward the base plate. The restoring spring is mounted upon an abutment that is connected to the base plate instead of to the valve housing. The configuration of the claimed invention permits a thermostatic valve that may be assembled and tested prior to installation on an internal combustion engine.

Abstract: An actuator for a device such as a tappet of a valve. The actuator having a thermostatic operating element electrically heated by an electrical heating element, and including an operating piston. A proportional piston stroke regulator detects and controls the position of the operating piston. The proportional piston stroke regulator includes a piston travel detection device, that detects the actual position of the operating piston, connected to a conventional closed-loop controller which compares the measured piston position to a predetermined piston control position entered into the closed-loop controller. Based on the comparison, the closed-loop controller regulates the electrical supply to the electrical heating element.

Abstract: A ring for mounting a drive element on a valve using a snap connection is provided with a collar and a plurality of locking elements, which together form a receptacle for a shoulder of the drive element. The locking elements are segments of a sheet metal annulus and extend through slots in the collar to the interior of the ring, and include flanges as tool gripping locations. An O-ring disposed in a slot in the collar radially inwardly biases the locking elements, the leading edges of which are chamfered. The shoulder includes outward projections that are correspondingly chamfered and push the locking elements outward as the drive element is inserted into the ring. As the locking elements recoil, a snap connection is made. The ring may be screwed or snapped onto the valve, and the configuration allows a drive element to be snapped into place using the ring or screwed directly onto the valve using a screw cap, without modifying the drive element.

Abstract: An improved thermostatic valve has an axially open annular slide and a base plate which together form a gasket seat, and has a restoring spring, which biases the annular slide in the direction toward the base plate. The restoring spring is mounted upon an abutment that is connected to the base plate instead of to the valve housing. The configuration of the claimed invention permits a thermostatic valve that may be assembled and tested prior to installation on an internal combustion engine.

Abstract: An actuator for a device such as a valve controlling coolant for an automotive engine. The actuator has a base body on which is supported an electrically heatable thermostatic operating element having an operating piston that moves a motion transfer member that is in actuating engagement with a moveable actuating element of the device being actuated. The motion transfer member has a flange on which is supported a compression spring that maintains the motion transfer member in following engagement with the operating piston. The components of the actuator are enclosed within an outer housing that has a window of transparent material located so that when the components are in the Inactivated condition, the flange will not be visible through the window and when the components are activated, the flange will be visible through the window, thereby providing an indication of the condition of the actuator.