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:
Dec. 11, 2001
Filed:
Mar. 01, 2000
Gareth P. Taylor, Indian Trail, NC (US);
Ralph T. Teague, Jr., Monroe, NC (US);
Conbraco Industries, Inc., Matthews, NC (US);
Abstract
A temperature-actuated mixing valve for controlling outlet temperature in a fluid flow system including a valve housing having first and second fluid supply inlets for introducing first and second respective supply fluids and a fluid outlet for dispensing a fluid at a predetermined outflow temperature. The mixing valve includes a shuttle assembly positioned in the housing. The shuttle assembly includes a valve member mounted for movement within the housing responsive to the temperature of the supply fluids to vary the mixture ratio of the first and second supply fluids as required to dispense fluid at the predetermined outflow temperature. A shuttle member is positioned within the valve member and is moveable as a unit therewith within a predetermined range of motion responsive to supply fluid temperature variation. A thermal actuator is provided of the type which converts thermal energy into mechanical movement by movement of a piston. A first end of the thermal element engages the movable shuttle member and an opposing second end engages a stationary portion of the housing whereby movement of the piston of the thermal actuator produces corresponding movement of the valve member. An overtravel spring is captured in a tensioned condition between the valve member and the shuttle member for maintaining the shuttle member and the valve member in a stationary condition relative to each other within the predetermined range of motion of the valve member and for permitting movement of the shuttle member relative to the valve member sufficient to accommodate movement of the piston of the thermal actuator when the valve member has reached its limit of travel without accommodating the full extent of movement of the piston of the thermal actuator.