Abstract: A thermal responsive valve including a valve body in which a member is movable between a first position and a second position but normally restrained from such movement by restraining means including a pair of pins held into contact with such member by means of a frame. The frame is of a generally closed planar configuration and includes a base portion to which a pair of spaced portions are interconnected by means of a pair of flexible rods. The spaced portions are in turn interconnected to each other by a link which is separable, such as by being fusible upon reaching a predetermined temperature level, or frangible in response to some form of external signal. The frame is positioned with respect to the valve body or a housing outwardly extending therefrom in such a manner that the pins are laterally held by the frame into contact with the movable member and block such member from moving to its second position by the action of a spring.

Abstract: A thermal responsive valve including a housing in which a valve member is normally urged from a first to a second position but restrained from such movement by restraining means including a pair of pins adapted to engage a portion of the member and be laterally spread apart against the frictional action of retaining means. The retaining means are in turn supported by a portion of a fusible link so when the temperature reaches a predetermined level, the fusible link melts and no longer supports the retaining means so that the pins may fall from restraining contact with the member by gravity and thus permit the member to move to the second position. The above indicated frictional coaction enables a relatively lightweight or weak fusible link to restrain a member against a relatively strong urging force by the mechanical advantage brought about by the coaction of the pins against the retaining means.