Patent ID: 6575707
Filing Date: 2003-06-10
Classification: F04B

Abstract:
A compressor system comprising:an airend for compressing air; a cooler connected to the airend and for receiving fluid from the airend and for selectively cooling that fluid; and a valve that controls fluid flow to the cooler, the valve including: a housing comprising an inlet end at a first end of the housing, and an outlet end at the end of the housing opposite the inlet end, wherein an inlet port is disposed near the inlet end, an outlet port is disposed near the outlet end, a cooler return is disposed near the outlet end, and a cooler port is disposed between the inlet end and the outlet end, and an inner diameter of the housing varies along the axial length of the housing between the inlet end and the outlet end, wherein an inlet fluid flow enters the valve through the inlet port; and a spool disposed within the housing, the spool including an inlet section disposed near the inlet end, an outlet section disposed near the outlet end, and an intermediate wall separating the inlet section from the outlet section, the spool being movable between a non-actuated position and an actuated position, wherein the valve directs fluid flow to the cooler when the spool is in the actuated position, and the valve bypasses fluid flow from the cooler when the spool is in the non-actuated position, the spool having a temperature sensitive body that senses the temperature of fluid passing over the temperature sensitive body, and moves the spool between the non-actuated position and the actuated position based on the fluid temperature, the outlet section including: an end wall disposed at the end of the outlet section opposite the intermediate wall and near the outlet end; at least one column extending from the intermediate wall to the end wall; and the temperature sensitive body interconnected to the end wall and disposed between the intermediate wall and the end wall.