Patent ID: 7971601
Filing Date: 2011-07-05
Classification: F16K,G05D,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A valve assembly for a water circulation system, the valve assembly comprising: a valve body having at least three ports, the valve body defining a bypass passage between a hot water side and a cold water side of the valve body, the bypass passage having an inlet from the hot water side of the valve body and a discharge to the cold water side of the valve body, the bypass passage having a valve seat therein; a sleeve received in the bypass passage, the sleeve being variably positionable with respect to the inlet of the bypass passage, the sleeve having a sleeve inlet and a sleeve discharge, wherein water flows into the sleeve through the sleeve inlet from the inlet of the bypass passage and water flows out of the sleeve through the sleeve discharge; and a bypass valve received within the sleeve, the bypass valve restricting the flow of water through the bypass passage based on a temperature of the water in the bypass passage, wherein the bypass valve is movable with the sleeve to control a position of the bypass valve with respect to the valve seat to control a bypass shut-off temperature of the water.