Patent ID: 8342418

Claim:
A thermo-valve, comprising: a valve housing formed with a plurality of ports respectively held in communication with the exterior passageways, and an valve actuation chamber held in communication with the ports; a valve member displaceable in the valve actuation chamber in response to the temperature of fluid in the valve actuation chamber to assume a first operation position to close a specific port selected from among the ports when the temperature of the fluid in the valve actuation chamber is maintained within a predetermined low temperature range, and a second operation position to open the specific port when the temperature of the fluid in the valve actuation chamber is maintained within a predetermined high temperature range, the valve member receiving an urging force toward the first operation position in the valve actuation chamber; and a valve position limitation member accommodated in the valve housing and movable to assume a valve movement limitation position in which the valve member is retained to the second operation position and a valve movement allowance position in which the valve member is allowed to displace in response to the temperature of the fluid, the valve position limitation member being urged toward the valve movement allowance position; characterized in that the thermo-valve further comprises: a temperature sensitive deformation member disposed between the valve position limitation member and the valve housing and deformable in response to the temperature, the temperature sensitive deformation member being deformed into a shape to retain the valve position limitation member to the valve movement limitation position at an initial stage until the temperature of the fluid in the valve housing initially reaches the high temperature range and to release the valve position limitation member from the valve movement limitation position when the temperature of the fluid in the valve housing initially reaches the high temperature range.