Electricity: electrothermally or thermally actuated switches – Thermally actuated switches – Expansible or vaporizable fluid actuated
Patent
1998-08-17
2000-04-04
Tolin, Gerald
Electricity: electrothermally or thermally actuated switches
Thermally actuated switches
Expansible or vaporizable fluid actuated
337382, 337396, 236 42, 236 95, H01H 3736, H01H 3740, H01H 3744, F24F 11053
Patent
active
060466669
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention relates to a thermal actuator having a capsule which contains a thermal expansion substance like wax and which operates as a thermostat in a thermostatic controlled valve, a such as a thermostatic mixing valve where the actuator is connected with a valve body movable between two valve seats for the hot and cold medium, respectively, and where the thermostat including the capsule with the expansion substance is placed in the area of the mixed medium and provided with a temperature sensor body having a big surface to improve the measuring of the medium's present mixing temperature.
An actuator like this is known from DE 42 37 435 A1 and relates to a thermal actuator having a capsule that contains the thermal expansion substance like wax where the capsule is provided with a cover-like extension, arranged outside but thermally connected with the part of the capsule containing wax. The aim is to reach a better and more precise measuring of the present temperature of the mixed water. In this way an improved control and response to the pressure and changes of temperature of the admitted cold and hot water can be reached.
By the above known device it is also possible to supply the wax capsule with for example a threaded socket where a body with a big surface has been mounted on the outer side.
The aim of the invention is to present a simple and more effective actuator that can react promptly at changes of temperature and which does not require an extra temperature sensor that has thermal contact with the wax cartridge or has a slitting or slotted extended actuator cover constructed in one piece with the capsule cap outside the area of the thermal expansion substance.
According to the invention this is solved in that the capsule of the actuator has an oblong cuplike sensor body the surface of which is at least partly deformed in such a way that its surface is increased. Consequently, an increased contact surface with the surrounding medium is achieved in a simple manner securing a fast response by the actuator.
Preferably the deformations are carried out in the sensor body before filling the cup with wax. Hereby it is possible to make the deformations in the same operation as by the manufacturing of the cup.
Advantageously the sensor body has a peripheral part and an end part on that side of the actuator which is turned away from the activation stem, and the deformations are formed on a surface of the peripheral part.
In an advantageous and simple embodiment the peripheral part has an oval or a cylindrical shape.
The deformations are carried out most favorably in at least two areas on the surface of the sensor body, a non-deformable area then remains where e.g. stamping for adjustment of the actuator can take place. A similar adjustment is well-known and takes place, in that the sensor body is placed in a medium having a predetermined adjusted temperature, for example 20.degree. C. The sensor tube is then pinched by means of for example pincers so that the inner sensor area is reduced and the activator pin of the sensor body gets a predetermined protruding length.
The deformations can thus be obtained by external knurling, turning, pressing, cold forming, hot stamping or rotary swaging, whereby a number of lengthwise grooves or slotted twists on the surface of the sensor body are created. Hereby the external surface is effectively increased. By means of the slotted twists it is secured that parts of the water flow stay a longer time near the external surface of the cup, whereby a better thermal contact is achieved.
The above mentioned large sensor body surface which was reached through its long shape and deformations certainly means quicker response; however, the quantity of wax that registers a change in temperature is considerable. A certain inertia in the actuator's way of responding can therefore often be registered.
To solve this problem surface increasing deformations can be made on the inner surface of the sensor body, which faces the expansion substance.
The inner side can for example be provi
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patent: 4000849 (1977-01-01), Wagner et al.
patent: 4070859 (1978-01-01), Sobecks
patent: 4296770 (1981-10-01), Rice
patent: 4416416 (1983-11-01), Maltby
patent: 5505706 (1996-04-01), Manus et al.
patent: 5582138 (1996-12-01), Ziolek et al.
patent: 5738658 (1998-04-01), Manus et al.
Andre Patrick
Ingvarsson Leif
Damixa A/S
Dauphinoise Thomson
Tolin Gerald
Vorthan Anatoly
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