JPH0741171U - Thermo element - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] The objective is to manufacture at low cost with a small number of parts. [Structure] A thermal expansion body (1) is sealed in a cylindrical housing (2) with sealing members (3, 3) interposed at both ends thereof, and heat is generated so that the thermal expansion body (1) is moved by a pressure change due to a temperature change. The central portion 4a enters the expander 1 and both end portions 4b, 4
In a thermoelement having a moving member 4 in which b ′ slidably penetrates the seal members 3 and 3 in a sealed state, the central portion of the moving member located in the thermal expansion body is provided with a taper portion 4
The small diameter portion 4a ₂ and the large diameter portion 4a ₃ are formed via a ₁ , the thickness T of the sealing member is made thicker than the movement stroke L of the moving member, and the moving member is further expanded by the thermal expansion of the thermal expansion body. A thermoelement constituted by attaching a spring 5 to a moving member for applying a force that causes the thermal expansion body to contract and move in the direction of the other end 4b 'from the state of moving in the direction of one end 4b from the direction.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 In this invention, a thermal expansion body that expands / contracts according to the temperature change of the detected object is sealed in a cylindrical housing with seal members interposed at both ends thereof, and the volume change due to the temperature change of the thermal expansion body. The present invention relates to an improvement of a thermoelement including a moving member having a central portion inserted in the thermal expansion body so as to be moved by, and both end portions slidably penetrating the seal member in a sealed state.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 A conventional thermoelement is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 45-16836. This is as shown in the cross-sectional views of FIGS. 4A and 4B, where 21 is a case and 22 is thermal expansion / contraction made of a mixture of paraffin and copper powder contained in the case 21. The reference numeral 23 denotes a thermal expansion body (wax), 23 is a diaphragm made of nitrile rubber or the like for sealing the thermal expansion body 22 in the case 21, and 24 is a guide tube connected to the opening of the case 21 via the diaphragm 23. The guide cylinder 24 is made of a fluid 25, a rubber piston 26 made of nitrile rubber or the like, and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) or the like in order from the side of the diaphragm 23. The backup plate 27 and the moving member (piston) 28 are provided.

Further, as another prior art, there is a thermowax device as described in JP-A-5-196170. This is because a piston with a large diameter at the proximal end and a small diameter at the distal end is arranged so that it can move linearly on the central axis of the housing, and a spring that pushes in the distal direction is arranged at the proximal end of the piston so that at least the piston has a large diameter. The housing was filled with thermowax surrounding the transition from the diameter part to the small diameter part, and this thermowax was sealed from the piston by blocking it from the piston.

Further, as another prior art, there is a degenerate type thermoelement as described in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 5-58877.

[0005]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 The conventional thermoelement as shown in FIG. 4 efficiently converts the volume change due to the thermal expansion of the thermal expansion body 22 into a lift and smoothly transfers the lift to the moving member 28. The body 25 is enclosed. Since the rubber piston 26, which is responsible for the sealing function of the fluid 25, seals the fluid 25 while axially stroking together with the moving member 28, the hydraulic pressure of the engine cooling water and the water temperature hunting (pulsation of the hydraulic pressure). When the sliding surface of the moving member 28 and the guide cylinder 24 is worn or damaged by vibration of the engine, or when the sliding surface is used for a long time. In the meantime, if the hardness of the engine cooling water becomes high due to the influence of water quality and heat, the sealing ability will decrease, which may result in a decline in the function of the thermoelement. Further, the diaphragm 23, the rubber piston 26, the backup plate 27, etc., which are interposed between the thermal expansion body 22 and the fluid 25, are indispensable, the number of constituent parts is large, and the structure becomes relatively complicated. There were problems such as high manufacturing costs.

Furthermore, when the thermoelement is used for adjusting the cooling water temperature of the internal combustion engine of the vehicle, etc., there are many improvements in the current layout due to the in-vehicle layout, and the thermoelement is installed on the opposite side of the object to be driven. It is difficult and almost impossible to change the position of thermoelements such as placing them. In addition, it is becoming difficult to secure a space for a link mechanism. Furthermore, if a link mechanism or the like is used, an unbalanced load is applied to the piston of the thermoelement, which causes a problem in performance including durability.

Further, in the thermowax device disclosed in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-196170, most of the piston is surrounded by an elastic seal member in order to block the thermowax contained in the housing from the piston. In addition, the structure in which most of the piston is surrounded by the seal member becomes relatively complicated, the manufacturing cost increases, and the seal member expands and contracts each time the piston moves. There is concern about the durability of this seal member. The present invention is intended to provide a thermoelement that solves the above problems.

[0008]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, this invention has sealing members 3 and 3 in which a thermal expansion body 1 which expands / contracts according to a temperature change of an object to be detected is provided in a cylindrical housing 2 at both ends thereof. The central portion 4a is inserted into the thermal expansion body 1 so that the thermal expansion body 1 is moved by a pressure change due to a temperature change of the thermal expansion body 1, and both end portions 4b and 4b 'seal the sealing members 3 and 3. In the thermoelement TH including the moving member 4 that slidably penetrates, the central portion 4a of the moving member 4 located in the thermal expansion body 1 is connected to the small diameter portion 4a ₂ via the taper portion 4a _1. It is formed in the large diameter portion 4a ₃ , and the thickness T of the seal members 3, 3 is made thicker than the moving stroke L of the moving member 4, and the moving member 4 is further expanded by the thermal expansion of the thermal expansion body 1 so that the housing 2 Moved from one end to 4b Et al., In which the thermal expansion body 1 has a thermo-element, characterized by being configured by attaching the spring 5 for applying a force to move the other end portion 4b 'direction to contract the moving member 4.

[0009]

[Action]

According to this invention, when the temperature of the object to be detected, for example, the engine cooling water of the automobile rises, the thermal expansion body 1 sealed in the housing 2 thermally expands and its pressure rises because of the configuration as described above. To do. Then, since the pressure is applied to the taper portion 4a ₁ of the central portion 4a of the moving member 4 interposed in the thermal expansion body 1, the moving member 4 is directed toward the large diameter portion 4a ₃ (direction of the one end portion 4b). Be moved to. When the temperature decreases and the thermal expansion body 1 contracts, the pressure of the thermal expansion body 1 is reduced and the moving member 4 is moved toward the small diameter portion 4a ₂ (the other end portion 4b 'direction). The moving member 4 is moved in the direction of the small-diameter portion 4a _{2 by} the force of the spring 5 applied to the moving member 4 so as to cause the moving member 4 to move.

[0010]

【Example】

 Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the thermoelement of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional side view of a thermoelement of the present invention. Reference numeral 1 is a cylindrical housing 2 with seal members 3 and 3 such as synthetic rubber or soft synthetic resin interposed at both ends thereof. The sealed thermal expansion body (thermowax) expands / contracts according to the temperature change of the object to be detected, for example, the engine cooling water of the vehicle.

A central portion 4a is inserted in the thermal expansion body 1 so that the thermal expansion body 1 moves due to a pressure change due to a temperature change of the thermal expansion body 1, and both end portions 4b and 4b 'close the sealing members 3 and 3. It is a movable member that slidably penetrates in a sealed state, and the central portion 4a of this movable member 4 is formed into a small diameter portion 4a ₂ and a large diameter portion 4a ₃ via a taper portion 4a ₁ .

The thickness T of the sealing members 3 and 3 is made thicker than the moving stroke L of the moving member 4, and the rigid members 6 and 6 such as metal or hard synthetic resin are provided outside the sealing members 3 and 3. And the outer edges 6a, 6a of the rigid members 6, 6 are caulked and fixed by the edges 2a, 2a of the cylindrical housing 2.

Reference numeral 5 moves so as to move the moving member 4 in the direction of the small diameter portion 4a ₂ (direction of the other end 4b ′) when the temperature decreases and the thermal expansion body 1 contracts and the pressure thereof decreases. It is a spring compressed between the rigid member 6 and the spring pressing piece 7 attached to the other end 4b 'of the member 4.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional side view in which the thermoelement TH having the above-described structure is assembled as a thermostat. The valve element is attached to the end portion 4b ′ of the moving member 4 on the side of the small diameter portion 4a ₂ protruding from the housing 2. 8 is fixed, and the valve seat 8 abuts on the valve seat 9 to close the circulation hole 9a for the engine cooling water. The valve seat 9 is attached to the frame 10. The intermediate portion of the thermoelement TH is held by the frame 10 and A spring 5'corresponding to the spring 5 for pressing the valve body 8 against the valve seat 9 is contracted between the valve body 8 and the valve body 8.

An end 4 b ″ of the moving member 4 protruding from the housing 2 on the side of the small diameter part 4 a ₂ and an end 4 b ″ slidably penetrate into a hole 9 b formed in the center of the valve seat 9. and is, also, the valve body 8 'are provided, et al is, the valve body 8' in the end 4b of the large-diameter portion 4a ₃ which projects from the housing 2 on the valve seat 11, and the valve body 8 and valve seat 9 The contact of the engine cooling water can be controlled by two systems and flowed in the opposite manner to the contact of the valve body 8'and the end 4b. The spring is compressed between the spring pressing piece 13 and the spring pressing piece 13.

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment in which the thermoelement TH configured as described above is assembled as a thermostat. In this thermostat, the moving member 4 is moved by the top portion 9c of the valve seat 9. The housing 2 is slidably held by a frame 10 that abuts and is fixed to the valve seat 9, and the valve body 8 is fixed to an intermediate portion of the movable housing 2, and the valve body 8 is fixed to the valve seat 9. The spring 14 compressed between the valve body 8 and the frame 10 presses it.

Then, when the temperature of the engine cooling water rises, the thermal expansion body 1 expands and acts so as to push the moving member 4 upward in the drawing. The movement of the moving member 4 causes the movement of the moving member 4 to the top of the valve seat 9. Since it is held down by 9c, the housing 2 is moved downward, and the valve element 8 fixed to the middle part of the housing 2 is separated from the valve seat 9 against the pressing of the spring 14 and opened. . When the temperature of the engine cooling water decreases, the housing 2 and the valve body 8 attached thereto are pressed by the spring 14 and come into contact with the valve seat 9 to be closed.

In the thermostat constructed as shown in FIG. 3, the temperature sensing portion constituting the thermoelement TH, that is, the housing 2 in which the thermal expansion body 1 is enclosed is provided in both the engine side E and the radiator side R circuits. Since it is interposed, the temperature of the engine cooling water on the radiator R, which is particularly affected by the outside air temperature, can be sensed. Therefore, when the outside air temperature is low, the valve opening is slow, and when the outside air temperature is high, on the contrary, the valve opening is fast, so it is possible to keep the temperature of the engine cooling water flowing in the engine as constant as possible. Is.

[0019]

[Effect of device]

 Since the thermoelement of the present invention is configured as described above, when the temperature of the object to be detected, for example, the engine cooling water of the vehicle rises, the thermal expansion body sealed in the housing thermally expands and its pressure rises. The pressure is applied to the central tapered portion of the moving member interposed in the thermal expansion body, and the moving member moves in the direction of the large diameter portion. Further, when the temperature decreases and the thermal expansion body contracts, the pressure of the thermal expansion body is reduced, so that the moving member is moved in the direction of the small diameter part by the force of the spring applied to the moving member. . Further, since the moving member penetrates the housing in which the thermal expansion body is sealed, it is possible to utilize the movement of both ends of the moving member entering and exiting the housing at high temperature.

If the movement of the end of the moving member entering the housing at high temperature is used, the movement of the moving member can be directly applied to the control mechanism that had to interpose a cam, a link mechanism or the like. It will be possible. Therefore, since it is not necessary to use a link mechanism or the like, an unbalanced load is not applied to the thermoelement by the link mechanism or the like, and performance problems including durability are not caused. Therefore, it is possible to provide a thermoelement having durability, reliability, and high performance, and having improved mounting layout and mounting flexibility.

Further, the one described in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-196170 is a seal member which encloses most of the piston with an elastic seal member in order to shut off the thermowax contained in the housing from the piston. While the thermoelement of the present invention is constantly deformed, the thermoelement of the present invention has good durability because the sealing member for sealing the thermal expansion body in the housing is hardly deformed. Furthermore, the structure is simple, so that the assembling property is good.

Further, by setting the thickness of the sealing member to be thicker than the moving stroke of the moving member, the intermediate portion of the moving member interposed in the thermal expansion body is exposed to the outside from the sealing member. Since the entire sliding surface of the seal member with respect to the moving member is not damaged by scratches or abrasion, the seal member does not have a defective seal, and the thermal expansion body does not leak without increasing the number of components. It is possible to prevent it completely.

In addition, in the thermoelement thus configured, the moving member that constitutes the thermoelement is fixed to the valve seat side, and the housing that constitutes the thermoelement is slidably held on the frame to which the valve seat is fixed. By assembling the thermostat so that the valve element attached to the housing comes in contact with and separates from the valve seat, the thermostat has the temperature sensing part constituting the thermoelement TH, that is, the thermal expansion element 1 is enclosed. Since the housing 2 is interposed in the circuits on both the engine side E and the radiator side R, the temperature of the engine cooling water on the radiator side R, which is particularly affected by the outside air temperature, can be sensed. Therefore, when the outside air temperature is low, the valve opening is slow, and when the outside air temperature is high, on the contrary, the valve opening is fast, so it is possible to keep the temperature of the engine cooling water flowing inside the engine as constant as possible. Is.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional side view of a thermoelement of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional side view of an example in which the thermoelement of the present invention is incorporated as a thermostat.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional side view of another example in which the thermoelement of the present invention is incorporated as a thermostat.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a conventional thermoelement.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Thermal expansion body 2 Housing 3 Sealing member 4 Moving member 4a Center part 4a ₁ Tapered part 4a ₂ Small diameter part 4a ₃ Large diameter part 4b, 4b 'End part 4b "End 5, 5' Spring 6 Rigid member 6a Outer edge 7 Spring push piece 8,8 'Valve body 9 Valve seat 9a Flow hole 10 Frame 11 Valve seat 13 Spring push piece 12,14 Spring TH Thermo element T Seal member thickness L Moving stroke

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A thermal expansion body (1) which expands / contracts due to a change in temperature of a detected body is sealed in a cylindrical housing (2) by sealing members (3, 3) interposed at both ends thereof. Then, the central portion (4a) is inserted into the thermal expansion body (1) so that the thermal expansion body (1) moves due to the pressure change due to the temperature change, and both end portions (4b, 4b ') are the seal member (1). Three
3) A thermoelement TH having a moving member (4) penetrating slidably in a sealed state, wherein the moving member (4) is located in the thermal expansion body (1).
The central portion (4a), and a smaller diameter portion via a tapered portion (4a ₁₎ and (4a ₂₎ large-diameter portion (4a _3), the moving member and the thickness T of the sealing member (3,3) It is thicker than the moving stroke L of (4), and the moving member (4) moves from the housing (2) toward the one end portion (4b) due to the thermal expansion of the thermal expansion body (1). A moving member (4) is provided with a spring (5) for applying a force that causes the inflatable body (1) to contract and move toward the other end (4b ').
A thermoelement characterized by being attached to the.