US2842317A - Thermal valve with safety lock - Google Patents

Description

July 8,1958 c. w. WOOD THERMAL VALVE WITH SAFETY LQCK 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 6. 1954 FIG. 5 7

INVENTOR.

cHARLEs w. wooo BY Z H\5 ATTORNEYS July 8, 1958 c. w. WOOD THERMAL VALVE WITH SAFETY LOCK 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 6. 1954 FIG."

INVENTOR. CHARLES W. WOOD BY 2 Q g HIS ATTOIZNEY5 United States Patent fiice 2,842,317 Fatented July 8, 195.8

THERMAL VALVE WITH SAFETY LOCK Charles W. Wood, Lebanon, Ohio, assignor to Standard- Thomson Corp, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Deltaware Application May 6, 1954, Serial N0. 427,926

6 Claims. (Cl. 236-34) This invention relates to a thermal responsive fluid controlvalve. The invention relates particularly to a thermostatic fluid control valve for the cooling system of an internal combustion engine; however, the invention is not so limited in that it may be applied to other types of fluid systems. The invention relates still more particularly to theinventionidisclosed in my copending application'Serial No. 358,059, filed on or about May 28, 1953, now Patent No. 2,777,638, for Valve.

When an internal combustion engine is operating satisfactorily, a thermostatic fluid control device positioned within the cooling system regulates the temperature of the engine by governing the flow of fluid within the'cooling system'and thus controlling the temperature of the fluid within the cooling system. The cooling system of the engine is sodesigned'that under normal operating conditions the cooling system can retain the temperature of the engine at a predetermined value.

When defective operation occurs in an internal combustion engine,-the{result oftentimes is that theengine begins -to-heat excessively. -When this excessive heating occurs, the fluid in the cooling system is heated excessively anda thermostatic control valve, which is positioned in the cooling system of the internal combustion engine, is caused to open to the greatest extent to permit the greatest amount of circulationof cooling fluid within-the cooling system. Frequently when this condition occurs, thecooling system is unable to properly cool theengine even though the greatest amountof fluid circulates'within the cooling system. Therefore, the fluid of the-cooling system also heats excessively and the thermostatic fluid control valve is heated to a very high temperature. Frequently, the very high temperature to which the thermostatic control valve is heated-causes considerable damageto the thermostatic valve and the thermostatic valve does-not operate properly. The thermostatic valve maybe so injured or damaged that it is forcedto a closed position even though the temperature of the cooling fluid is very high. When the closing action of the damaged control valve occurs, the circulation of cooling fluid, which is assisting to some'extent in cooling the engine, is completely shut off so that the temperature of the engine furtherincreases causing greater damage to the internal combustion engine.

Therefore, it may be understood that a very desirable .thermostaticfluid control valve is one which is provided with fail safe means or, in other words, with means by which it will remain fully open after it is so actuated'by extremely high temperatures within-the cooling system of the engine. A desirable fail safe fluid control valve for engines is also one which remains fully open when damage occurs to the valve. When the'greatest amount of circulation withinthe cooling system is permitted, when the engine is heating excessively, greatest protection to the engine is therefore provided.

Hence, an object of this invention is to provide a thermal-responsive fluid control valve which has means by which thecontrol valve is held in the extreme open position after conditions have caused the valve toopen to such an extent.

Another object of this invention is to provide a thermal responsive fluid control device which fails safe and remains open even though damaged by excessive temperatures.

Another object of this invention is to provide a fluid control device which is small in sizeand compact.

Another object of this invention is'to provide, a thermo static control device which, under normal operating conditions, has durability and long life.

Another object of this invention is to provide a thermal responsive fluid control valve which has a minimum number of parts and which may be assembled and produced at low cost.

Other objects and advantages reside in the construction .of parts, the combination thereof and .the mode of opera- Figure l is a side elevational view of a valve of this invention.

Figure 2 is a sectionalview taken substantially online 2-Z of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of a thermal responsive control valve of this invention.

Figure 4 is a bottom view of thefluid control device, 7

Figure 5 is a sectional view,,simil ar to Figure 2, showing the position of the elements of the device during response of the device to an increase in temperature.

Figure 6 is a sectional view similar to Figure 5 showing the position of the elements of the device when the device is subjected to such a high temperaturethat the valve lockingmeans retains the valve in open position.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional view with parts shown in substantially the same position as in Figureo after the device has been subjected tofa very high temperature and has then been permitted to cool.

Figure 8 is a bottom view showing the preferred modification of the thermostatic fluid control valve made according to this invention. 7

Figure 9 is a side elevational view, with parts shown in section, showing the preferred modification of the loclfout means of this invention with the valve in closed po sition.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary side elevational view, similar to that of Figure 9, showing the movable valve member in an open position.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary side elevational view. similar to that of Figure 10 and showing the movable valve member in the locked open position.

Referring to the drawings'in detail, 'the'valve of this .-invention comprises a body member 10 provided with an annular flange portion 11 having an outwardly extending annular projection 12 normal thereto. 'An'inwardly extending rib 13 of the flange 11 terminates in an anvnular. valveseat 14 having afluid port=therethrough. At- ;tached to the inwardly extending rib 13 and positioned V onone, side surface thereof is an arcuately formed bridge member 15 which is attached at each end thereof to the inwardly extending rib 13. The arcuatelywfor-med .bridge member 15 comprises an elongate U-shaped mema rod member 17 having a threaded portion18. Extending from the other surface of the rib, 13 substantially parallel to the flange 11 are a pair of support arms 19 attached at one end thereof to the rib 13 ,Theother end of the pair of arms 19 supports an annular guide ring 20 which is rigidly attached to the ends of the arms 19.

A movable valve member 26 is urged toward engagement with the valve seat 14 by means of a helical spring 28. One end of thehelical spring 28 encircles the guide ring 20 and abuts the arms 19. The other end of the helical spring 28 engages the movable valve member 26.

Attached to the movable valve member 26 and substantially concentric therewith is av casing or container member 30 having an upper enclosing wall 31. The construction of the container member 30 with the contents therein is similar to the container and contents disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 333,707, filed on or about January 28, 1953, now Patent No. 2,806,375.

The container 30 is provided with an aperture in the upper enclosing wall 31 thereof through which the rod 17 slidably extends into the container 30. An elastic body member 34 within the container 30 has a flange member 36 which engages the upper enclosing wall 31. The lower end of the elastic body member 34 abuts an end wall 37 of the container 30 which is opposite the enclosing wall 31. The rod 17 is positioned within an elongate hole 38 within the elastic body 34. The elongate hole 38 extends a portion of the length of the elastic body 34. Also positioned within the container 30 is an expansiblecontractible material 40 between the inner side walls of the container 30 and the elastic body member 34.

During normal operation, the movable valve member is continuously actuated by the expansive material 40 to such a position with respect to the valve seat 14 that the circulation of fluid within the cooling system of the engine is properly regulated. Thus, the temperature of the cooling fluid in the cooling system is properly controlled. As disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 413,787, for Thermal Responsive Device, filed on or about March 3, 1954, now Patent No. 2,806,376, the volume of expansive material within the container 30 with respect to the volumetric capacity of the container 30 is so adjusted that the movable valve member 26 begins to open at a predetermined temperature. This temperature is called the opening temperature of the thermal responsive fluid control device.

When the thermal responsive device is subjected to temperatures at or above this value, the expansible material 40 expands. The expansion of the expansible material 40 causes high pressure to be exerted upon the elastic body member 34 so that the rod 17 has a great amount of pressure exerted upon it through the elastic body 34. The pressure exerted upon the rod 17 by the expansion of the expansible material 40 tends to close the hole 38 within the elastic body member 34 and thus tends to move the rod 17 with respect to the container 30. Due to the fact that the rod 17 is firmly attached by means of the threaded portion 18 thereof to the arcuate bridge 15, the rod 17 cannot move. However, the container 1 30 issecured only to the movable valve member 26.

Therefore, upon expansion of the expansible material 40, the container 30 moves downwardly carrying with it the movable valve member 26 which is attached thereto. During normal operation the greatest extent of movement of the movable valve member 26 is substantially the position shown in Figure 5. The movement of the container is guided by the annular guide ring 20.

A lock spring member 50, comprising a single resilient wire, has two ends 52 thereof inserted through a pair of apertures in one of the support arms 19 adjacent the rib 13. The two ends 52 of the lock spring member abut the flange member 11 causing the other portions of the spring 50 to be resiliently positioned, as shown in Figure 2. A hook or shoulder 54 of the lock spring 50 is formed adjacent an arcuate portion 53 and is adapted to receive the movable valve member 26 upon extreme movement of the movable valve member 26.

This extreme movement of the movable valve member 26 is, of course, caused by subjection of the thermal responsive valve to temperatures which are greatly in excess of normal. When the temperature of the thermal responsive device increases greatly above normal, the

.expansible material 40 within the container 30 causes '4 the movable valve member 26 to continue to move away from the valve seat 14.

When the movable valve member 26 normally moves to an open position it may engage the lock spring member 50, as shown in Figure 5. However, when abnormal engine operation excessive heating thereof occur, the movable valve member 26 opens so very greatly and moves so far from the valve seat 14 that the movable valve member 26 moves past the arcuate portion 53 and is engaged by the shoulder 54 of the spring 50 as shown in Figure 6. Such abnormal operation of the engine is usually indicative of serious trouble within the engine.

Such abnormal temperatures may increase to such an extent that the thermal responsive valve may be injured and damaged and the movable valve member 26 may be forced to close by spring 28 even though the temperature is excessively high. Therefore, in order to provide the best possible protection for the engine, the spring member 50 locks the movable valve member 26 open so that the greatest amount of cooling fluid may be permitted to circulate through the port formed by the valve seat 14.

After such excessive temperatures occur within a cooling system of an engine that a thermostatic valve of this invention locks open, as shown in Figure 6, it is usually necessary to perform repair work upon the engine. The operator of the engine or the mechanic should determine the condition of the thermostatic valve and should reset the movable valve member 26 to normal operating position by removing the movable valve member 26 from the shoulder 54 if the thermostatic valve is not damaged. The operator or mechanic can perform the inspection and resetting of the valve by opening the cooling system to make the thermostatic valve accessible. If the movable valve member 26 is not reset to normal operating position and the engine later operates satisfactorily, the

movable valve member 26, being locked open, permits full circulation of cooling fluid and the engine does not operate at the proper temperature. This low temperature of engine operation should indicate to the operator that something has occurred in the engine performance to warrant inspection of the engine and the thermostatic valve. The movable valve member 26 is retained in a .wide open position, as shown in Figure 7, and the expansible-contractible material 40, being cooled, releases pressure from the elastic body member 34 so that the elongate hole 38 within the elastic body 34 will be partially unoccupied, as shown in Figure 7.

If the operator has been unaware of the excessive temperatures in the engine, the abnormal cool running of the engine later causes him to inspect the thermostatic valve and the engine to determine the cause of the trouble.

- Therefore, it may be understood that the thermal responsive fluid valve of this invention fails safe and assists in the protection of the engine even though the thermal responsive fluid valve has become damaged by a defec tive condition within the engine.

In Figures 8, 9, 10 and 11, a preferred modification of the thermal responsive fluid valve of this invention is shown.

The lockout spring of the preferred modification is substantially the same as the lock-out spring of the preferred embodiment. The preferred modification is provided with a pair of support arms and 62 which are similar to the support arms 19 of the preferred embodiment. The support arm 60 is provided with a pair of slots 64 adjacent the guide ring 20. These slots 64 retain and guide the movement of a lower portion 65 of a lock spring 66 which is similar to the lock spring 50 of the preferred embodiment. The lock spring 66 has an engaging shoulder 67 similar to the shoulder 54 of the spring 50.

Thus, when the lock spring 66 is engaged by the movable valve mcmber 26, as shown in Figure 10, the portion of the spring 66 adjacent the rib 13 bends. The lower portion 65 of the spring 66 does not move in a diasses-1'7 rection away from the container Silasdoes ,the lower portion' of the spring 50, but the lower portion .65 of ,the spring ,66 moves ina directiouparallel to the longitudinal axis of the container 30, as best shown in Figure 10. Therefore, when the movable valve member 26 moves to such an extent that it is engaged by the shoulder 67 of the lock spring 66, the movable valve member 26 is firmly an rigi y retained in -lo:ekedopen .pos'ition.

As stated with respect to the preferred em'bodimenttof this invention, the extreme movement of the movable valve member 2 6 to such aposition that it is engaged by the shoulder 67 of the lock spring 56 occurs only upon very abnormal conditions. Ordinarily the movable valve member, vduringnormal .operation of the thermostatic =device, moves between its .closedposition and the position in which it slightly contacts the spring 66. It will be understood that .thelockspring .which retains the movable valve member 26 in open position need not necessarily be shaped or formed as shown in the figures, but any othersuitable resilient member also maybe applied.

Although the preferred embodiment of the device has been described, it will be understood that within the purview of this invention various changes may be made in the form, details, proportion and arrangement of parts, the combination thereof and mode of operation, which generally stated consist in a device capable of carrying out the objects set forth, as disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a fluid control valve comprising an annular valve seat member provided with an annular flange extending therefrom, a plurality of support members attached to the valve seat member and extending on either side therefrom, a movable valve member engageable with the valve seat member, a casing member having rigid end walls attached to the movable valve member, a guide member attached to one of the support members, the guide member extending around the outer periphery of the casing member adjacent thereto, a body of elastic material within the casing member contacting opposite end walls of the casing member, an expansive material within the casing member engaging the body of elastic material, a rod member attached to some of the support members, the rod member slidably extending through one of the end walls of the casing member contacted by the body of elastic material, the rod member having a tapered end extending into the body of elastic material, resilient means engaging the movable valve member and the support members to which the guide member is attached, the resilient means urging the movable valve member toward the valve seat member, and a spring member attached to the valve seat member and having an end thereof abutting the annular flange, the spring member extending between the casing and one of the support members, the spring member having a shoulder portion in the path of movement of the movable valve member so that the movable valve member engages the shoulder portion of the spring member upon extended movement of the valve member, the movable valve member thus being retained in open position.

2. In a fluid control valve comprising a valve seat having a flange at the periphery thereof and extending normal thereto, a pair of support arms attached to the valve seat and extending therefrom, the arms having a juncture at a position disposed from the valve seat, a movable valve member disposed between the valve seat and the juncture of the arms and engageable with the valve seat, thermal responsive actuating means attached to the movable valve member, one of said support arms having an aperture therethrough, a spring member extending through said aperture and resiliently engaging the flange, the spring member having a portion thereof resiliently extending toward the juncture of the arms, and a hook member on said portion of the spring memher, the hook member extending into the path of move- "6 ment of the movable valve member and adapted to retain the movable valve member in open position.

3. A thermal responsive fluid control device of the type provided with a body member havinga valve seat forming a fluid port, arnovable valve member engageable with the valve seat to close the fluid port, thermal responsive means attached to the movable valve member for moving themovable valve member into closedposition and into open position in response to variations in temperature of the thermalresponsive means, support means attached to the body member, guide means attached to the support means for guiding movement of the movable valvemember, the combination comprising a springmember extending through the support member and engaging the body member, the spring member being provided ,withta shoulder for engaging themovable valve member to retain the movable valve member in open position, whenrthe temperature to which the device is subjected reaches a predetermined abnormal value.

4. ;A fluid control valve comprising a valve seat member, an annular flange 'memberwattached to the valve seat member substantially normal thereto, support members attached to the valve seat member and extending on either side of the valve seat member, a movable valve member adapted to abut the valve seat member, a casing having rigid walls attached to the movable valve member, a body of elastic material Within the casing abutting opposite portions of the casing, an expansive material surrounding the elastic material, a rod member positioned within the elastic material and slidably extending through a wall of the casing, the rod member being attached to one of the support members, guide means attached to one of the support members for guiding the movement of the casing member, and an elongate resilient wire member having its two ends extending through one of'the support members and engaging the flange of the valve seat member, the midportion of the wire being positioned adjacent the last said support member, the wire being provided with a shoulder for engagement of the movable valve member to retain the valve member in open position.

5. A fluid control valve of the type provided with a housing member having a valve seat defining a flow passage and a linearly reciprocable flow control member, the combination including a movable valve member, a container member having solid end walls attached to the movable valve member, an elastic body within the container engaging opposed end walls thereof, one of said solid end walls engaged by the elastic body having an aperture therethrough, an elongate hole within the elastic body extending a portion of the length thereof and aligned with the aperture of the end wall, a rod slidably extending through the aperture of the end wall and into the elongate hole of the elastic body, a plurality of support arms attached to the housing member and extending therefrom, the rod being attached to one of the support arms, a guide member attached to another of the support arms for guiding the movement of the movable valve member, and a resilient locking mem ber loosely attached to one of the support members, said support member being provided with a notch slidably retaining a portion of said locking member, the locking member being provided with a shoulder resiliently disposed in the path of movement of the movable valve member for retaining the movable valve member in open position.

6. In a fluid control valve comprising an annular valve seat member providing a fluid flow passage therethrough, a flange attached to said valve seat member, a pair of support members attached to the valve seat member and extending in the direction of fluid flow through the How passage formed by the valve seat member, a second pair of support members attached to the valve seat member and extending therefrom in a direction opposite the direction of fluid flow, a movable valve member engageable with the valve seat member and movable against the direction of fluid flow during opening movement of the movable valve member, a casing member attached to the movable valve member and provided with a rigid apertured enclosing wall adjacent thereto and parallel therewith, a guide member attached to the second pair of support members and substantially concentric with the movable valve member, the guide member encircling the outer periphery of the casing member adjacent thereto, a body of elastic material within the casing member contacting opposite end walls of the casing member, an expansive material Within the casing member engaging the body of elastic material, a rod member attached to the first said support members, the rod member slidably extending into the casing member through the apertured enclosing wall of the casing member, the rod member having a tapered end within the body of elastic material, a helical spring encircling the casing member and the guide member, one end of the helical spring engaging the movable valve member and the other end of the helical spring engaging the pair of support members to which the guide member is attached, and a resilient wire spring member having the two ends thereof extending through one of the second said support members and engaging the flange of the valve seat member, the wire spring member being provided with a pair of parallel shoulder portions within the path of movement of the movable valve member, the pair of shoulder portions engaging the movable valve member upon extreme movement thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 619,346 Rice Feb. 14, 1899 1,709,473 Harde Apr. 16, 1929 2,356,958 Wangenheim Aug. 29, 1944 2,704,944 Hughes et al. Mar. 29, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 573,672 Germany Apr. 4, 1933

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