The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 16, 1999
Filed:
May. 15, 1997
Charles E Benedict, Tallahassee, FL (US);
Whirl Massage Showerhead, Inc., Tallahassee, FL (US);
Abstract
Controllers for regulating fluid flow, and especially flow of liquid in supply lines, each of which include a valve assembly which is slidably positioned in a bore extending transverse to a fluid passageway extending through the body of the controller. Each controller includes a shaped memory alloy spring which is mounted so as to be in heat exchange relationship with fluid flowing therethrough. Each spring is mounted adjacent a stem of a valve and is operable when heated to a predetermined activation temperature to shift the valve assembly to at least partially close the fluid passageway. In some embodiments, the valve assembly is manually operable at temperatures below the activation temperature to regulate flow through the controllers. In other embodiments, the valve assembly is automatically shifted to open the fluid passageway through the body of the controller when temperatures decrease below the activation temperature.