Expanding Solid Patents (Class 236/66)
  • Patent number: 6360957
    Abstract: A thermally reactive closure assembly for sealing a filler neck opening of a radiator and for controlling the fluid flow from the radiator through a passageway. The closure assembly includes a cap member and a vent valve associated with the passageway. The vent valve is movable between a normally opened position to a closed position sealing the passageway in response to a sufficient rate of fluid flow therethrough. The vent valve includes a spring operative to move the vent valve from the opened position to the closed position in response to increasing temperature of the cooling system environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Steven E. Harris, Jenny F. Zheng
  • Patent number: 5909843
    Abstract: An exhaust valve for threading into a street elbow threaded into an exhaust port of a conventional steam radiator that includes a base portion, a cap portion supported by the base portion, and a bimetallic arm contained in the cap portion. The base portion has a ledge that provides a broad surface onto which condensate in exhaust steam from the conventional steam radiator is attracted and deposited as it passes through the base portion so as to prevent the steam condensate from interfering with the exhaust steam from the conventional steam radiator. The base portion further has only one central throughbore that is coaxial with the bimetallic arm so as to provide a direct path for the exhaust steam from the conventional radiator without any bends that can produce obstructive eddy currents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1999
    Inventor: Henry Ramo
  • Patent number: 4828169
    Abstract: An adjustable air valve for steam radiators, comprising a cylindrical valve body of seamless brass having a predetermined outer diameter; an upper circular disc cap closing off the top end of said valve body; a lower circular disc cap closing off the lower end of said valve body; a frusto-conical vent wall portion defining a vent orifice of fixed diameter formed integrally within said valve body proximate to said upper cap; said orifice lying in a vertical plane disposed radially inwardly of the outer cylindrical envelope of said valve body; a U-shaped bi-metallic spring cantilevered from inner portions of said valve body opposite said vent orifice; an elastomeric sealing member having a flat circular sealing surface of diameter in excess of the diameter of said vent orifice; said spring being adapted to expand and to contract in response to temperature variations to move said sealing surface selectively into and out of seal contact with said orifice; a cylindrical band having a series of apertures of graduat
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1989
    Inventor: Daniel J. Smith
  • Patent number: 4337849
    Abstract: A conventional shock absorber is modified by adding a valve cage to the rod nd and providing an additional cylinder outside the shock absorber to form an annular reservoir outside the shock absorber. Temperature sensitive valves open when oil heats to a potentially destructive level, unloading the shock absorber. When the oil cools to a safe operating temperature, the temperature sensitive valves re-close and the shock absorber is again operative.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1980
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1982
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Richard W. Siorek, James P. Theuerkauf