GB2040409A

GB2040409A - Automotive thermostatic valve

Info

Publication number: GB2040409A
Application number: GB8001431A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Thomson International Co
Current assignee: Thomson International Co
Priority date: 1979-01-17
Filing date: 1980-01-16
Publication date: 1980-08-28
Also published as: FR2446974A1; IT1128207B; FR2446974B1; JPS55100484A; BR8000129A; CA1151618A; IT8067058A0; DE3000601C2; GB2040409B; AU533585B2; BE881206A; AU5412279A; DE3000601A1

Abstract

The valve includes a stationary member (10) comprising a rigid frame member (14) having a stepped, annular outer portion (14b) covered by an annular body (28) of elastomeric material. The body (28) is shaped to provide a valve seat (34) and encompassing flange (38) with which the movable member (72) of the valve is cooperable, and a securing portion (42) by which the valve is sealingly attachable to and within a fluid conduit of an I.C. engine cooling system. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Automotive thermostatic valve A thermostatic fluid control valve is positioned in the cooling system of an internal combustion engine and controls the volume of fluid flow to a radiator or heat exchanger, as fluid circulates in the cooling system. Thus, the fluid control valve maintains the coolant fluid art a desired temperature.

A stationary portion of the thermostatic valve is secured within a conduit of the cooling system. Conventionally, the stationary portion is a machined part which is relatively expensive, because a high degree of accuracy is required. In manytypes of installations, there is difficulty or considerable expense in preventing leakage of fluid between the stationary portion and the conduit and/or between the stationary portion and a movable portion when the valve is in the closed condition.

It is an object of this invention to provide an automotive thermostatic valve which has a movable portion and a stationary portion and in which no machining of the stationary portion is required.

An automotive thermostatic valve embodying this invention is of the type which is adapted to be positioned within a fluid cooling system of an automotive engine. The thermostatic valve comprises a stationary valve member and a linearly movable valve member, thermally responsive actuator means, and connector means joining the stationary valve member and the movable valve member for movement of the movable valve member with respect to the stationary valve member.The stationary valve member comprises a rigid frame member and an annular body of elastomeric material covers at least a portion of the rigid frame member, the annular body of elastomeric material having an annular shoulder portion providing a valve seat surface abuttingly engageable by the movable valve member, the body of elastomeric material also having an annular flange portion encompassing the shoulder portion and slidably engageable by the movable valve member.

The invention will now be described by way of example only, with particular reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an automotive thermostatic valve embodying this invention, shown in one position thereof and also illustrating another position thereof; and FIG. 2 is a sectional view, taken substantially on line 2-2 of FIG. 1, with the valve in said other position thereof illustrated in FIG. 1.

An automotive thermostatic valve embodying this invention comprises a stationary valve member 10 which includes a rigid frame 14. The frame 14 may be of any suitable rigid material such as metal or plastics or the like. The frame 14 has a central annu- lar portion 14a and an outer annular portion 14b, which are joined together by a plurality of radially extending spokes 14c. Each of the spokes 14c has a pair of laterally extending strengthener portions 14d.

The outer annular portion 14b is covered by an annular body 28 of elastomeric material which forms a fluid port. The outer annular portion 14b of the frame 14 is shown as being a stepped portion in order that the body 28 of elastomeric material can be effectively formed thereupon to a desired shape.

However, other configurations of this outer annular portion 14b are also satisfactory. The elastomeric material may be rubber, synthetic rubber, plastics material or the like. The annular body 28 is, preferably, molded upon the outer annular portion 14b and has a desired shape. The annular body 28 has an annular valve seat surface 34 which is encompassed by an annular flange 38. The valve seat surface 34 is closely adjacent and substantially parallel with a part 14e of the outer annular portion 14b of the frame 14.

Thus, the valve seat surface 34 has firm support while retaining resilient characteristics.

Opposite the valve seat surface 34, the annular body 28 has an inclined surface 40 which directs fluid flow into the fluid port formed by the annular body 28. The annular body 28 has a securing portion 42 which is adapted to be clamped between two portions of a fluid conduit, not shown. The securing portion 42 of the annular body 28 is adjacent parts of the annular portion 14b of the frame 14. Therefore, the securing portion 42 is firmly supported while maintaining the resilient characteristics of the elastomeric material.

The central annular portion 14a of the frame 14 is shown as being angularly inclined with respect to the spokes 14c and supports a thermally responsive actuator member 46 which may be of any suitable type, such as, for example, the type shown in United States Patents 2,806,375 and 2,806,376.

A helical spring 50 encompasses the actuator member 46 and joins the actuator member 46 to a connector member 52, which is engaged by the helical spring 50. The connector member 52 extends through the fluid port formed by the annular body 28 and has a part 52a encompasses an actuator stem 56 of the actuator member 46. The part 52a is engaged by a helical spring 58 which encompasses the actuator stem 56 and engages an arm 60 which is joined to the actuator stem 56 by a nut 61. The arm 60 extends from the actuator stem 56 and joins a cylindrical movable valve member 72 which has an open upper end 74 and an annular closure portion 75 at the lower part thereof. The movable valve member 72 is slidably encompassed by a horizontal wall 76.

The closure portion 75 of the movable valve member 72 normally seats upon the valve seat surface 34 of the annular body 28. Due to the fact that the valve seat surface 34 is adjacent and supported by the part 14e of the annular portion 14b of the frame 14, the valve seat surface 34 has firm support while retaining the resilient characteristics of the elastomeric material of the body 28. When the closure portion 75 of the movable valve member 72 is in engagement with the valve seat surface 34, the outer surface of the closure portion 75 is in slidable engagement with the annular flange 38 of the annular body 28.

The thermally responsive valve embodying this invention is of the type referred to as a by-pass valve device. Normally fluid flow exists through the valve device from the bottom to the top thereof, as illus trated by arrows 82 in FIG. 1, and fluid flows from the valve device outwardly through the open upper-end 74 of the movable valve member 72, between the open upper-end 74 and a conduit wall 90.

Some of the fluid which flows upwardly through the valve device engages the thermally responsive actuator member 46. If the fluid which engages the thermally responsive actuator member 46 is above a given predetermined temperature, the thermally responsive actuator member 46 responds and the actuator stem 56 moves upwardly and moves the movable valve member 72 upwardly. The actuator stem 56 also moves the connector member 52. Such upward movement is against the forces of the helical spring 50.

As the movable valve member 72 moves upwardly, the closure portion 75 thereof slidably moves upwardly within the flange 38 of the annular body 28. Then the closure portion 75 moves from the annular body 28, permitting fluid flow between the annular body 28 and the horizontal wall 76. The maximum movement of the movable valve member 72 from the annular body 28 occurs when the open upper end 74 of the movable valve member 72 engages the wall 90, as illustrated by broken lines in FIG. 1.

Due to the fact that the annular body 28 and the valve seat surface 34 and the flange 38 are of elastomeric material, excellent sealing occurs between the closure portion 75 and the valve seat surface 34 and the flange 38. Also, due to the fact that the secur ing portion 42 of the annular body 28 is of elastomeric material, excellent sealing occurs between the annular body 28 and the portions of the fluid conduit, not shown, between which the stationary valve member 10 is clamped.

The frame 14 provides rigid support to the actuator member 46 and also provides rigid support to the annular body 28 of elastomeric material.

Claims

1. An automotive thermostatic valve of the type adapted to be positioned within a fluid cooiing system and provided with a stationary valve member and a linearly movable valve member, thermally responsive actuator means, and connector means joining the stationary valve member and the movable valve member for movement of the movable valve member with respect to the stationary valve member, wherein the stationary valve member comprises a rigid frame member and an annular body of elastomeric material covering at least a portion of the rigid frame member, the annular body of elastomeric material having an annular shoulder portion providing a valve seat surface abuttingly engageable by the movable valve member, the body of elastomeric material also having an annular flange portion encompassing the shoulder portion and slidably engageable by the movable valve member

2. The automotive thermostatic valve of Claim 1, in which the rigid frame member has an annular support portion adjacent the shoulder portion and in supporting relationship thereto and the body of elastomeric material covers the annular portion.

3. The automotive thermostatic valve of Claim 2, in which the annular support portion of the rigid frame member is stepped and in which the valve seat surface of the body of elastomeric material is closely adjacent a part of the annular stepped portion to provide support to the valve seat surface.

4. The automotive thermostatic valve of Claim 1, 2 or3, in which the body of elastomeric material has a securing portion provided with a securing surface which is adjacent a part of the rigid frame member.

5. The automotive thermostatic valve of Claim 4 in combination with Claim 2 or 3, in which the secur- ing portion is annular and is provided with an outer surface which is closely adjacent the annular support portion for firm attachment of the thermostatic valve within a fluid cooling system.

6. The automotive thermostatic valve of any preceding claim, in which the rigid frame member is provided with an annular central portion and an annular outer portion, the annular portions being joined by a plurality of connector members, the annular outer portion of the rigid frame member having an annular part adjacent the annular shoulder portion of the body of elastomeric material and forming a supportforthe annular shoulder and the annular valve seat surface.

7. The automotive thermostatic valve of any preceding claim, in which the annularflange portion has an annular wall parallel with the line of movement of the linearly movable valve member, the annular shoulder portion joining the annular wall and forming a valve seat surface which is annular and normal to the annular wall which is abuttingly engageable by the linearly movable valve member, the annular wall being slidably engageable by the linearly movable valve member as the linearly movable valve member seats upon the annular valve seat surface.

8. The automotive thermostatic valve substantially as hereinbefore described and as shown in the accompanying drawings.