Thermostatically operated by-pass valve

Claim 1

In a thermostatically operated by-pass valve for controlling a flow of fluid to a pair of conduit means, the combination comprising a perforated member through which the flow of fluid passes and having a central opening and a valve seat surrounding said opening; a sleeve valve element with a diameter adapted to engage a sealing means between said conduit means and having an open end cooperating with said valve seat for controlling the flow of fluid to one of said conduit means and having a ported end adapted to cooperate with the other of the conduit means for controlling the flow of fluid thereto, said ported end being also provided with a central opening; thermally responsive means including a piston stem member with a diameter smaller than that of said sleeve valve element and a piston section member disposed within said central opening of said perforated member; an elongated cup-shaped element with an outside diameter smaller than that of said sleeve valve element adapted to receive in its interior a substantial portion of the outer end of said piston stem member and adapted to slidably engage at its outer periphery the portion of said sleeve valve element defining its central opening; first spring means disposed about said piston section and abutting at one of its ends against said perforated member; means for connecting said cup-shaped element with the other end of said first spring means; and second spring means disposed about said cup-shaped element and butting at one end of its ends against said sleeve valve element and at its other end against said connecting means.