Patent ID: 6772958
Filing Date: 2004-08-10
Classification: F01P,G05D

Abstract:
A valve for controlling fluid flow in response to changes is fluid temperature, said valve comprising:a valve housing defining an interior cavity extending between an inlet and an axially aligned outlet, said interior cavity including an actuator chamber coaxial and in communication with said outlet and a sleeve chamber coaxial and in communication with said inlet, said valve housing also defining an diverter port communicating with said sleeve chamber; a thermal actuator having a body including a radially projecting shoulder and an axially extending guide defining a piston guide bore, said actuator including a piston received in said guide bore, said actuator responsive to changes in temperature to produce relative axial movement between the piston and said body, said actuator arranged in said actuator chamber with said piston supported against axial movement by said valve housing whereby thermal actuation produces axial movement of said actuator body relative to said valve housing; a cup-shaped sleeve defining an interior space open at an inlet end and radially closed against said projecting shoulder at an outlet end, said sleeve having a cylindrical outside surface closely received in said sleeve chamber, said outside surface defining a radial opening intermediate the sleeve inlet and outlet ends; wherein said actuator moves said sleeve axially between a flow through position and a divert position, said flow through position corresponding to a sleeve axial location in which said radial opening communicates between said sleeve interior space and said actuator chamber while said sleeve outside surface covers said diverter port, said divert position corresponding to a sleeve axial location in which said radial opening communicates between said sleeve interior space and said diverter port while said sleeve outlet end and coupled actuator block fluid flow toward said valve outlet.