Patent ID: 7681804

Claim:
A valve comprising: a valve body having an input and an output, said input configured to accept incoming fluid flow having a temperature; a release mechanism coupled to the valve body having a released state and a locked state; a thermal actuator attached to said valve body; and a piston adapted to engage the thermal actuator; the release mechanism comprising a slide and a release member, the slide movable with respect to the valve body between a first position wherein the piston engages the slide when the fluid temperature reaches a threshold temperature to substantially prevent the flow of fluid through the valve body and a second position wherein the fluid flows through the valve body regardless of fluid temperature, wherein the release member in said locked state retains the slide in the first position and wherein the release member in said released state disengages the slide, the slide adapted to move to the second position responsive to fluid flow through the valve body and to return to the first position responsive to a substantial cessation of fluid flow through the valve body, the release member adapted to re-engage the slide in the locked state upon the return of the slide to the first position.