Pressure balanced thermal actuator
US9952607B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 6, 2016 |
| Grant date | Apr 24, 2018 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 19, 2036 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG05D23/122
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A pressure balanced thermal actuator includes a flow housing having an inlet and an outlet, with the flow housing being affixed at opposing ends to two bellows housings, each of which contains a bellows. An actuation rod is operably coupled to each bellows and contains a fluid passage therewithin. When the temperature of the area surrounding the actuator increases, the pressure inside the bellows housings increases, and exerts a force on the bellows therein, compressing it. As a result, the actuation rod moves from a first position to a second position to align the fluid passage with the inlet and the outlet, enabling the controlled passage of a first fluid from the inlet, and through the fluid passage, to the outlet, to reduce the temperature of the area surrounding the valve assembly. The actuator is unaffected by changes in the ambient pressure, by working equally on two opposing bellows areas.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.