Automatic temperature control valve

Details Automatic temperature control valve Automatic temperature control valve

2001-03-19

2002-12-24

Tapolcai, William E. (Department: 3744)

Automatic temperature and humidity regulation

Thermostatic

In fluid controlled

C236S10100B

Reexamination Certificate

active

06497372

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an automatic temperature control valve for automatically adjusting or controlling temperature of fluid passing through a valve body and, more particularly, to an automatic temperature control valve, wherein fluid or gas passing through a valve body is automatically adjusted or controlled using shape-memory alloy, thereby keeping the temperature of the fluid constant.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
In general, a valve device controls the flow of fluid by using a valve stem and a handle adapted to depress a valve seat through which the fluid pass. Further, a temperature control device is employed to detect temperature of the fluid passing through the valve seat for a remote control of the fluid temperature.
As shown in
FIG. 1
, the prior art valve device for keeping the temperature of the fluid constant includes a fluid detecting sensor
103
mounted to a stem
102
of the valve
101
for detecting temperature of the fluid passing through a valve chamber, a transmission member
104
connected to the fluid detecting sensor
103
for transmitting signals therefrom, and a temperature control device
105
for opening and closing fluid passage depending upon the temperature signals from the transmission member
104
in order to keep the fluid at a constant temperature of a predetermined value.
Although the prior art valve device constructed in this manner works well during an initial period of time after an installation process, it experiences malfunction in controlling the temperature after a certain period of time, due to, e.g., aged components or external environmental factors. In addition, in the prior art valve device, the temperature control device is separated from the fluid detecting sensor by a long distance. Further, the prior art valve device is expensive and has a problem in that it's configuration gives a discomfort in a repair process. Furthermore, since the valve device is manually opened and closed by the handle, it is cumbersome to manipulate the handle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, a primary object of the invention to provide an automatic temperature control valve wherein fluid passage of a valve body is automatically opened and closed to allow only fluid having a desired temperature to be flown by using shape-memory alloy within the valve body in order to keep the fluid at a constant temperature of a selected value.
In order to achieve the object, the present invention provides a valve body including therein a valve chamber with a predetermined size having at both ends a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet; an expansion and contraction means mounted within the valve chamber of the valve body and expanding and contracting depending upon a variation of fluid temperature with respect to a predetermined value; and a first opening and closing means inserted into the expansion and contraction means for opening and closing fluid passages by moving leftward and rightward within the valve chamber in response to the expansion and contraction of the expansion and contraction means.


REFERENCES:
patent: 2534378 (1950-12-01), Schlaich
patent: 4210284 (1980-07-01), Tarnay et al.
patent: 4522219 (1985-06-01), Ohkata
patent: 4523605 (1985-06-01), Ohkata
patent: 4570852 (1986-02-01), Ohkata
patent: 4778104 (1988-10-01), Fisher
patent: 4932429 (1990-06-01), Watanabe et al.
patent: 5123593 (1992-06-01), Rundle
patent: 5803354 (1998-09-01), Benedict
patent: 5984195 (1999-11-01), Benedict

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