Abstract: A fusible link is provided in a force transmitting device. Upon reaching a preselected temperature, the fusible link melts causing a cooperating locking member to engage a shoulder on a power piston to secure the same in an extended operating position and effect a lock-open condition for certain critical applications.

Abstract: A thermally actuated phase change operated control valve particularly adapted for use with heat pump systems has a valve body having a bore therein defining a fluid flow chamber, said valve body having an inlet port at one end and spaced and sized outlet ports in the medial wall thereof so that a valve head slidably disposed in the fluid flow chamber will in the calibrated position of the valve head maintain a predetermined minimum flow of fluid from said inlet port through the respective outlet ports.

Abstract: A valve for limiting the temperature of water flowing to a shower head, including a poppet valve member moveable into sealing engagement with a seat in response to the operation of an expansible temperature sensing member. Resilient means for accommodating overtravel of the sensing member, baffle means for directing water to the sensing member, means for effecting self centering of the poppet member and sealing means for isolating a moveable actuating portion of the sensing member are provided.

Abstract: A condition responsive valve construction for varying the output pressure of the valve construction in relation to a movable part of a condition responsive device that is moved in relation to the condition sensed thereby, the valve construction having a housing provided with an inlet to be interconnected to a fluid pressure source and an outlet separated from the inlet by a main valve unit and being adapted to be interconnected to vent by a vent valve unit. A biasing spring operatively interconnects the movable part of the condition responsive device to a movable vent valve seat of the vent valve unit to urge the same to an open condition relative to a movable vent valve member by a force that is changeable by the condition sensed by the condition responsive device. A sealing and biasing bellows construction is operatively interconnected to the vent valve seat to tend to urge the same to a closed condition thereof.

Abstract: A thermally actuated phase change operated control valve has, a valve body with a bore therethrough the walls of which define a valve chamber, the valve body has a manifold assembly about the valve body and a medially disposed first port means in the valve body connects the valve chamber with the manifold assembly. Spaced second and third port means in the valve body respectively disposed on opposite sides of said first port means permit valve head means slidably disposed in said valve chamber for movement relative said first port means to direct fluid either from the valve chamber to one or the other of said second and third port means or vice versa depending on whether the control valve is operated as a diverter valve or as a mixing valve or if desired one of the spaced second or third port means can be rendered inoperative and the control valve can be operated as a thermal check valve.

Abstract: The invention relates to a four-port thermally responsive valve for valving two normally closed fluid ports and one pair of normally open fluid ports in response to predetermined temperatures. A single valve member is movably contained within a housing passageway and spring biased in a first position so that a sealing surface at each end of the valve member is respectively engageable with and spaced from corresponding seating surfaces in the passageway for achieving initially open or closed valved conditions between the individual ports in each pair. A centrally located seal ring mounted in the housing passageway and surrounding the valve member isolates one pair of fluid ports from a second pair of fluid ports when the valve member is moved to a second position thereby permitting three valving functions to be attained with one device.

Abstract: A thermally responsive valve device having non-linear flow characteristics. The thermally responsive valve device includes movable and stationary valve structure. A movable valve member is movable to adjust the open area of a flow passage, but movement of the movable valve member provides non-linear relationship between the area of the flow passage created and the distance of travel of the movable valve member. The movable and/or the stationary valve member is provided with an irregularly shaped portion so that with slight opening movement of the movable closure member less fluid flow than normal is permitted. As the movable valve member continues to move in an opening direction, the fluid flow increases at a predetermined non-linear rate until a specific flow rate is achieved. This operating characteristic eliminates or dramatically reduces temperature fluctuations in the system.

Abstract: A thermostatic ventilator operator has a thermostatic actuator consisting of a pair of tubes telescoped together with a plurality of thermally responsive power elements arranged coaxially therein. An operating lever is pivoted on a mounting bracket. The thermostatic actuator is pivotally connected to the mounting bracket and to the operating lever with one of the pivots being slidable in a direction normal to its axis. A pair of extension springs bias the slidable pivot in one direction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a four-port thermally responsive valve for valving two pairs of isolated fluid ports in response to predetermined temperatures. A single valve member is movably contained within a housing passageway and spring biased in a first position so that sealing surfaces at either end of the valve member are respectively engageable with and spaced from corresponding seating surfaces in the passageway for achieving initially open or closed valved conditions within each pair of fluid ports. A seal ring mounted in the passageway and surrounding the valve member isolates the first pair of fluid ports from the second pair of fluid ports thereby preventing fluid interaction therebetween. When predetermined temperatures are encountered, a thermally responsive actuator connected to the valve member by a rod overcomes the biasing force generated by the spring and moves the valve member to a position that simultaneously reverses the valved condition of each pair of fluid ports.

Abstract: A reversing valve for use in air conditioning systems and the like for controlling the flow of fluid between a plurality of ports, the valve including a valve body with a chamber communicating with each of the ports, and a valve member mounted in the chamber for movement between two positions to control the flow. Means for moving the valve member are located to one side and generally centrally of the valve member, and include a reciprocable operating plunger engaging a grooved ramp in the valve member which forms a cam. A spring is provided at one end of the valve member to urge the valve member to one position as the plunger is retracted.

Abstract: There is disclosed a nontracking solar energy concentrator which has a plurality of parallel flow channels receiving a heat exchange medium for absorption of incident solar energy. The solar energy is concentrated by a superimposed cylindrical Fresnel lens which directs a concentrated beam of incident solar energy to selected ones of the plurality of flow channels. The flow channels discharge into an outlet cross header through thermostatically controlled valves. Each valve includes a spring-biased valve closure member having a valve stem that extends toward the displacement member of a thermostatic actuator, but separated therefrom by an adjustably-fixed, spaced interval to provide a dead band in the temperature response of the valve. The valves are biased to a normally closed position and are opened by response of the thermostatic actuator which is supported in the respective flow channel of the concentrator.

Abstract: A thermostatic radiator valve has a spring loaded thermostat located in a rotatable member with the spring bearing against the thermostat and the rotatable member, the latter having arms surrounding the thermostat, the free end of each arm having a radially inwardly projecting extension which bears against the loading spring.

Abstract: Water cock has non-freezing valve. Though temperature of the water flowing through the cock is lowered below the freezing point owing to the severe surrounding condition in the winter, the improved cock having a non-freezing valve does not stop its flowing of water. The cock has a thermo-element sensing the surrounding temperature and driving the non-freezing valve to shut and open according to the temperature. The thermo-element consists of a base portion containing heat-sensitive-material and a cylinder containing jelly-like material for transferring the expanding force of the heat-sensitive material to a shaft buried in the jelly-like material.

Abstract: A thermally responsive by-pass valve device which permits maximum fluid flow in limited area conditions. The valve device is adapted to be employed in an environment in which there are limited area conditions within conduit structure having a plurality of flow passages in a by-pass type of cooling system of an internal combustion engine. The by-pass valve device is provided with valve seat structure which has an entrance opening and an exit opening, and there is an internal wall surface of gradually increasing dimensions between the exit opening to the entrance opening. Thermally responsive actuator mechanism is positioned within the openings of the valve seat structure.

Abstract: A thermally responsive valve device having non-linear flow characteristics. The thermally responsive valve device includes movable and stationary valve structure. A movable valve member is movable to adjust the open area of a flow passage, but movement of the movable valve member provides a non-linear relationship between the area of the flow passage created and the distance of travel of the movable valve member. The movable and/or the stationary valve member is provided with an irregularly shaped portion so that with slight opening movement of the movable closure member less fluid flow than normal is permitted. As the movable valve member continues to move in an opening direction, the fluid flow increases at a predetermined non-linear rate until a specific flow rate is achieved. This operating characteristic eliminates or dramatically reduces temperature fluctuations in the system.

Abstract: A thermally operated control device having a housing provided with a chamber divided into two sections by a flexible diaphragm and with thermally expansible material filling one of the sections to act on one side of the diaphragm and with a plunger disposed in the other of the sections and having one end thereof abutting the other side of the diaphragm to be moved thereby, the chamber sections being substantially of the same size adjacent the opposed sides of the diaphragm and the one end of the plunger substantially filling its respective section adjacent its side of the diaphragm to minimize the deformation and stretching of the diaphragm as the material forces the diaphragm into the plunger section upon expansion of the material.

Abstract: A temperature responsive valve for controlling communication between multiple ports is disclosed in three embodiments. In a first embodiment first and second adjacent chambers in a valve body are separated by a valve and second and third adjacent chambers in the body are separated by a second valve. The valves include a common stem carrying movable valve elements for simultaneously opening and closing the same. A sliding seal between the second and third chambers isolates these chambers for all positions of the valve stem. In a second embodiment there is also a fifth chamber communicating with a fifth port, a third valve is between the fourth and fifth ports, and a third valve element on the stem communicates the fourth port with the fifth port as the third port is closed relative to the fourth port. In a third embodiment first and second adjacent chambers in a valve body are separated by a valve seat which is selectively closed by a thermally actuated valve stem carrying movable valve elements.

Abstract: A temperature responsive valve having a series of three ports and a specially shaped valve stem and valve seat arrangement wherein the valve stem of the arrangement is connected to a thermostatic power element for controlling open flow intercommunication between the first and second ports or the second and third ports of the series.

Abstract: This is a subsurface safety valve for insertion in a tubing string centered in a well drilled in the earth normally for the production of oil or gas. Under normal flow conditions, a spring holds a flapper valve in an open position out of the flow path of the fluid. An increase in the temperature of the fluids flowing through the valve supplies the force to push the flapper into the flow stream where the fluid flow will cause it to close. A heat-sensitive fluid is contained in an annular reservoir surrounding the flow path of the fluid through the valve and an annular piston is in one end of the cylinder. Expansion of the fluid causes movement of the piston which has a rod which forces the flapper valve into the main fluid flow stream.

Abstract: A cooling system of an internal combustion engine including a by-pass circuit which leads a flow of cooling water to by-pass a radiator, said cooling system incorporating a thermostat valve operated by a wax cylinder, wherein a second valve port is provided at a housing of the thermostat valve, said second valve port being formed as a cylindrical bore adapted to receive said wax cylinder when it has been biased in a direction to open the thermostat valve, said by-pass circuit being led through said second valve port.

Abstract: Conventional engine cooling systems include fans driven at speeds proportal to engine speed, thereby producing excessive cooling at higher engine speeds. It is proposed herein to limit or control the fan speed by utilizing a drive mechanism that is controlled by a thermal power element responsive to coolant temperature. The control element is arranged to vary the displacement of a variable displacement pump that is driven from the engine. The pump output is delivered to a hydraulic motor that drives the fan. Variations in pump displacement produce varying hydraulic motor speeds, hence varying fan speeds. This is particularly applicable to powertrains using hydrokinetic or hydromechanical transmissions which require high cooling capacity at low engine speeds.