Thermostat

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016108797-A1
Application number	US-201314893409-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 29, 2013
Priority date	May 29, 2013
Publication date	Apr 21, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A thermostat for controlling the flow of a coolant into a radiator and a bypass circuit is provided. When the bypass circuit is to be closed, the thermostat displaces a shaft that is operably attached to a bypass plate. When in the closed position, the bypass plate is configured to engage a top wall of the bypass circuit so as to prevent the flow of coolant into the bypass circuit. To minimize the formation of a water pressure pulses generated by the closing of the bypass circuit, only a portion of the bypass plate initially contacts the top wall. Such limited contact allows for the restriction of the flow of coolant into the bypass circuit, and interrupts the even flow of coolant around the bypass plate. Such restriction and/or interruption allows for the gradual closing of the bypass circuit, which minimizes the associated water hammer effect.

First claim

1 . A thermostat for controlling the flow of a coolant into a radiator and a bypass circuit, the thermostat comprising:
a housing having a shaft and a spring, the shaft configured to extend away from the housing from an open position to a closed position as a temperature of the thermostat increases; a bypass plate operably secured to the shaft, the bypass plate having an outer surface and a central longitudinal axis, the outer surface configured to abut against a top wall of the bypass circuit to prevent the flow of coolant into an opening of the bypass circuit when the shaft is in the closed position, the central longitudinal axis of the bypass plate not being parallel to a central longitudinal axis of the housing as the shaft is displaced from the open position and toward the closed position.

2 . The thermostat of claim 1 , further including a stopper, the spring configured to bias the bypass plate toward the stopper, the stopper having a central longitudinal axis that is not parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the shaft.

3 . The thermostat of claim 1 , wherein the bypass plate is positioned about a portion of the shaft having a central longitudinal axis that is not parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the housing.

4 . The thermostat of claim 1 , wherein the shaft includes a shoulder portion that has a surface that is not perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis of the housing, the shaft configured for at least a portion of the bypass plate to abut against the shoulder as the bypass plate is displaced from the open position and toward the closed position.

5 . The thermostat of claim 1 , wherein the bypass plate includes an outer surface that is configured to be non-parallel to a top wall of the bypass circuit as the bypass plate moves toward the closed position.

6 . The thermostat of claim 5 , wherein the spring is configured to bias the outer surface of the bypass plate against the top wall of bypass circuit when the shaft is in the closed position.

7 . A thermostat for controlling the flow of a coolant to a radiator and a bypass circuit, the thermostat comprising:
a housing having an inner housing, a shaft, and a spring, the shaft configured to extend away from the inner housing from an open position to a closed position; a bypass plate operably secured to the shaft, the bypass plate having an outer surface, the outer surface configured to abut against a top wall of the bypass circuit to prevent the flow of coolant into an opening of the bypass circuit when the shaft is in the closed position, the thermostat configured for the outer surface of the bypass plate to not be parallel to the top wall as the shaft is displaced from the open position and toward the closed position.

8 . The thermostat of claim 7 , further including a stopper configured to at least assist in securing the bypass plate to the shaft, the stopper further configured to at least assist in positioning the bypass plate in a non-parallel alignment with the top wall of the bypass circuit as the shaft is displaced from the open position and toward the closed position.

9 . The thermostat of claim 7 , wherein at least a portion of the shaft is configured to position the bypass plate is in a non-parallel alignment with the top wall of the bypass circuit as the shaft is displaced from the open position and toward the closed position.

10 . The thermostat of claim 7 , wherein the shaft includes a shoulder, the shaft configured to allow at least a portion of the bypass plate to abut against the shoulder as the shaft is displaced from the open position and toward the closed position, the shoulder having a surface that is not parallel to the top wall of the bypass circuit such that the bypass plate is in a non-parallel alignment with the top wall of the bypass circuit as the shaft is displaced from the open position and toward the closed position.

11 . A method of closing a bypass circuit in a cooling system, the method comprising:
displacing a shaft of a thermostat from an open position to a closed position, the shaft being operably connected to a bypass plate; contacting, while the shaft is being displaced toward the closed position, only a portion of an outer surface of the bypass plate with a top wall of the bypass circuit such that the outer surface is not parallel to the top wall, the top wall having an opening that is configured for the passage of a coolant into the bypass circuit; and tilting the bypass plate so that the outer surface and the top wall to form a seal about the opening that prevents the flow of the coolant into the bypass circuit.

12 . The method of claim 11 , further wherein the step of contacting only a portion of the outer surface with the top wall further includes interrupting an even flow of the coolant around the bypass plate and into the opening.

13 . The method of claim 12 , further including biasing the outer surface against the top wall when the shaft is in the closed position.

14 . The method of claim 13 , further including abutting the bypass plate against a shoulder of the shaft as the shaft is displaced toward the closed position, the shoulder being configured to position the bypass plate so that the outer surface is not parallel to the top wall as the shaft is displaced toward the closed position.

15 . The method of claim 13 , further including abutting the bypass plate against a stopper of the shaft as the shaft is displaced toward the closed position, the stopper configured to at least assist in retaining the bypass plate on the shaft, the stopper also configured to position the bypass plate so that the outer surface is not parallel to the top wall as the shaft is displaced toward the closed position.

Assignees

• Int Engine Intellectual Prop

Inventors

• Palumbo Christofer J

Classifications

• F01P7/165 Primary

  characterised by systems with two or more loops · CPC title

• G05D23/022

  the sensing element being placed within a regulating fluid flow · CPC title

• F01P7/16 Primary

  by thermostatic control · CPC title