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. 20, 2016
Filed:
Apr. 24, 2013
GM Global Technology Operations Llc, Detroit, MI (US);
Ronald J. Pierik, Holly, MI (US);
GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
A lubrication system thermostat for controlling the flow of oil in a lubrication system includes a valve and an actuator. The valve is configured to modulate between an unmodulated position and a modulated position, each of which may be in an open position or a closed position. In the open position, at least a portion of the oil flow is unobstructed, and in the closed position, the oil flow is substantially blocked. The actuator is configured to modulate the valve. The actuator includes a thermal element configured to generate mechanical displacement when subjected to a temperature change such that the valve is movable from and returnable to the unmodulated position. The lubrication system thermostat may be in a normally-open configuration, in which the unmodulated position is the open position, or a normally-closed configuration, in which the unmodulated position is the closed position.