Temperature controlled regulator

Abstract

A temperature controlled regulator in which valved air inlets communicated with air pressure sources at different temperatures control the flow of air into a mixing chamber to maintain the outlet temperature of the mixture within specified limits, said regulator being characterized in that the valve actuator has first and second chambers on opposite sides thereof respectively exposed to the pressure of the mixture and to a reduced air pressure between the downstream side of a variable area orifice controlled by a temperature sensor in the regulator outlet and the upstream side of a variable area pressure control or bleed orifice, the first-mentioned variable area orifice being decreased or increased in size by decrease or increase of the mixture temperature with reference to said specified value thus to vary the pressure in said second chamber in relation to the pressure acting in said first chamber to inversely vary the air flow through said inlets thus to maintain a specified temperature of the mixture. The regulator herein is further characterized in that the temperature sensor comprises elongated members which have different coefficients of linear thermal expansion arranged so that, upon increase in temperature of the air mixture, a valve member engaged with the member having the lower coefficient is moved away from a seat member to increase the size of the variable area orifice and so that, upon decrease of the temperature of the mixture, said valve member is moved toward the seat to decrease the size of the variable area orifice, said seat member being yieldable upon engagement by the valve member to prevent damage to the valve member or to the seat member upon yet further decrease of the mixture temperature or during periods of non-use of the regulator.