Patent ID: 8636225

Claim:
A thermostat for regulating a flow of fluid, such as a flow of cooling fluid of an internal combustion engine, the thermostat comprising: a thermostatic element that includes a cup filled with a thermally expandable material and a piston movable relative to the cup along an axis (X-X) of the thermostatic element under an effect of the thermally expandable material during a variation in the temperature of the fluid flow being regulated; a compressed spring urging the cup and the piston towards each other; and a fluid flow body for passing the fluid flow to be regulated, the body having arranged therein the thermostatic element and the spring in such a manner that, in operation, the piston is held stationary relative to the body, a shutter member associated with the cup being connected in fixed manner to the cup and adapted to shut the fluid flow through the thermostat by coming into contact against an associated seat of the body, and a decompression force of the spring being absorbed by the body, the body including a metal fitting which includes in succession along the axis (X-X) of the thermostatic element: a bearing tab against which the piston bears in stationary manner and which bearing tab extends along a direction that is transverse relative to the axis (X-X) of the thermostatic element; a tubular portion that is centered on the axis (X-X) of the thermostatic element and that defines the seat of the body; and two spring support arms that extend from the tubular portion lengthwise generally along a direction of the axis (X-X) of the thermostatic element, each spring support arm having a first free end remote from the tubular portion, each first free end having a contact surface for engaging the spring against which the spring is compressed; wherein each spring support arm has a second end directed towards the tubular portion, each spring support arm is connected to the tubular portion in a deformable manner so as to be movable between an assembly position wherein the spring support arms are inclined outwardly toward the free ends thereof relative to the axis (X-X) so that the thermostatic element, shutter and the spring may be inserted between the spring support arms and into the body, and an operating position in which the free ends of the spring support arms are moved toward the axis (X-X) to a position closer to one another such that one end of the spring seats against the contact surfaces of the spring support arms.