US1761946A - Thermostat - Google Patents

Description

June 3, 1930. l. T. VVEIDIN I I 1,761,946

THERMO STAT Filed Dec. 51, 1928 Fatented June 3., I936 meme WAR '1. .WEDIN', F FLINT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO A C SPARK PLUG COMPANY, OF

FLINT, MICHIGAN, A COMEANY OF MICHIGAN THERMOSTAT Application filed December 31, 1928. Serial No. 329,330.

' This invention relates to automatically op-' erated devices and particularly to an improvement in valves that govern fluid flow condenser where it gives up its heat and-then in accordance with temperature of the fluid. While the field of usefulness'ofthe invention is not limited, it will be found to be particularly adaptable for use in connection with the cooling system of an internal combustion engine, wherein water or other cooling liquid after taking up heat in the engine jacket or Water chamber flows through a radiator or returns to the water chamber. It will be understood'that when the engine is first started,

the engine and all the liquid in the cooling system is cold and maximum efficiency is not obtained until after the engine has had time to warm up. Obviously, if the circulation of radiator, and which embodied a valve that is 3o pendent upon temperature of the liquid in automatically operated by and directly de- 7 the cooling system to control the flow therethrough.

' Another object of the invention is to provide an improved type of thermostatically operated valve unit which is of simple constfuction so as to promote ease and economy of manufacture and which will be positive in action and unlikely to get out of order, and which furthermore may be readily installed either as standard equipment on new engines I or as an accessory on existing engines.

A further object of the invention is to provide a unit wherein a bi-metallic spring strap of substantially U-shape is employed to hold the valve closed and to open the valve as it expands under temperature increase, andto provide an improved and simple means for adjusting the parts and setting the tension of the spring loop prior to the introduction of the unit in the system, so that the valve will be operated at a desired predetermined temperature, and will require no further attention thereafter.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following specification, when taken with the accompanying drawing illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention, and wherein Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the temperature control valve unit; Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the unit and Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig. l.

In the drawing the reference character 1 in- I dicates a butterfly or plate valve having in the center thereof a depressed cup-shaped portion 2, the side walls of which are provided at opposite points with outwardly pressed osses 0r teats 3 that are journaled in openngs in the ends of a pair of forwardly projecting arms 4 on a carrier or frame 5. The

frame 5,.which in the present instance, comprises parallel side portions and arcuate end portions, is mounted in a cylindrical housing or casing 6 preferably formed from seamless tubing. The frame 5 is held in place by pressing outwardly projecting bosses 7 in adjacent surfaces of the arcuate end portions of v the frame and the wall of the tube 6, thereby eliminating rivet and bolt openings and the possibility of leakage of liquid flowing through the passageway provided by the easing or tubing 6.

A lei-metallic thermo-sensitive spring element 8 of substantially U-shape has one end reversely bent as at 9 and fixedly secured as by soldering, welding or the like to the frame 5,-and has its other end projecting through an opening in the portion 2' and curled over to form an eye 10 through which projects a pivot pin 11 having its opposite ends projecting into depressions or openings such as would be'formed by outwardly pressed b sses 12 in the side Wall of the cup 2. The opening through which the end of the thermo-sensitive element 8 projects, serves also to provide a bleed or leak hole past the valve 1.

When the water surrounding the element 8 is cold, the tension of the spring loop holds the valve in closed position to prevent the flow of the liquid through the unit. Upon increase in temperature, the tendency for the loop will be to expand or enlarge with the re- 'sult that the valve 1 will be swung about its pivot to a substantially horizontal position so as to allow liquid flow.

An important feature of the present invention is the provision of a stop or abutment finger 13 which may be formed integral with the frame 5, and which contacts with one side of the loop 8 to hold it under predetermined tension. By bending the finger or tongue 13 to and fro, the size of the loop and its tension may be varied and, therefore, the amount of tension that the heat must take up before the valve will open may be controlled. After the parts are completely assembled, the tongue 13.

is bent forwardly or rearwardly to secure the desired degree of spring tension so that the valve will operate at a predetermined temperature condition. That is, a forward or rearward movement of the tongue varies the tension, and the action of the heat will open the valve sooner or lateras the case may be.

While tlieinventionhas been described more or less specifically, it is to be understood that it is not limited to the exact details shown,

\ but that such modifications may be made as come within the scope of'appended claims I claim: '1. A device of the character described, in-

cluding a tubular housing adapted for ining into depressions in the side walls of saiddepressed portion of the valve, a bi-metallic thermo-sensit-ive spring strap of U-shape having one end curled around said pivot pinand its opposite end secured to said frame, adapted to swing said valve about its pivot'to control fluid flou through the passageway by its expansion and contraction under temperature changes of the fluid, and. a stop-finger for the sprin strap carried by said frame and adj ust-. ablefbr varying the tension of said strap to. control the opening of the valve in accordance with predetermined temperatures.

2. A device of the character described including, a tubular housing adaptedv for in-- sertion in a liquid passageway, a valvein said passageway to control the liquid flow therethrough, a thermo-sensitiveelement governing the operation of said valve in accordance with liquid temperature, a sheet metal frame pivotally supporting said valve and carrying metal frame into depressions in the housing.

3. A device of the character described, in-- cluding a tubular housing adapted for inser tion in a fluid passageway,a frame carried by and within said -housing having forwardly projecting arms, a plate valve having a de-v pressed central portionprovided with projections in its side walls extending into openings in said arms to pivotally support said valve and a thermo-sensitive element carried by the frame and connected with the valve to swing the valve and control fluid flow through the passageway in accordance with fluid temperature- 4. A'device of the characterdescribed, in-. cluding a housing adapted for insertion in a fluidpassageway, a frame secured within said housing, a butterfly. valve for controlling fluid flow through the housing and having a depressed portion providedwith projections in its side walls that -extend into bearings in the framev and by means of which the valve is pivotally supported, anda thermo-sensitive element carried by the frame and operatively connected with the valve to control the position of the valve according to temperature. conditions of the fluid.

.5. Adevice of the character described, in-

eluding a housing adapted for insertion in a fluid passageway, a butterfly valve controlling fluid flow, a thermo-sensitive spring element operatively connected with the valve to automatically control the valve according to the temperature of the fluid,a frame secured in said housing and pivotally supporting said valve and carrying said thermosensitive spring, and an integral tongue on the frame forming an abutment for the thermo-sensitive spring and being adjustable to govern the operation'of the valve at predetermined fluid temperatures. 6. A device of the character 'cludinga housing forming a part of a fluid passageway, a valvegovern ng fluid flow through the passageway, a support in the housing on which-the-valve is pivoted, a U- shaped thermors ensitive element having one end -connected with the valve and the other end secured tosaidsupport whereby the .4

valve is automatically swung about its pivot with the expansion and contraction of the ,thermo-sensitive element upon temperature changes, and an adjustable abutment for an passageway, a valve governing fluid flow through the passageway,'a support'in the housing on which the. valve is pivoted,.a U-

p 110 described, in-

i shaped thermo-se'nsitive spring connected at opposite ends with the valve and the support to automatically operate the valve in accordance with variations in fluid temperature, and an integral tongue on the support for abutment with the spring, said tongue being adjustable to vary the tension of the spring and thereby govern operation of the valve at I predetermined fluid temperature.

8. In a device of the character described, a support, a valve pivoted on the support, a

' thermo-sensitive element comprising a U- shaped spring having opposite ends connect ed with the valve and said support, and an abutment for contact with an intermediate portion of said spring carried on said support, and movable to vary the tension of said spring, whereby adjustment may be made to effect operation of the valve at predetermined g temperatures.

9. In a device of the character described, a support, a valve pivoted on the support, a thermo-sensitive element having a spring loop therein and connected at opposite ends. with the valve and the support to automatically operate the valve upon temperature .changes and an abutment on the support for an intermediate portion of said element, which is movable to vary' the size of said loop and thereby govern valve' operation in accordance with predetermined temperature changes.

10. In a, device of the character described, a valve, a thermo-sensitive element having a 85 spring loop therein, which varies in size with temperature changes, and having one end fixed and the 'oppos ite end connected with the valve to automatically control the valve in accordance with temperature conditions, 40 and meansassociated with an. intermediate portion of the loop to initially set the size and tension ot the loop to effect operation of the valve at a predetermined temperature.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature. IVAR T. WEDIN.

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