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WO-2026091079-A1 - FREEZE PROTECTION VALVE

WO2026091079A1WO 2026091079 A1WO2026091079 A1WO 2026091079A1WO-2026091079-A1

Abstract

A device configured to act as a valve for a system including cooling fluid may include a nut assembly and a valve body. The nut assembly is configured to be coupled to the system and the valve body is configured to be coupled to the nut assembly. The valve body includes a thermal actuator element and a first component configured to contact the nut assembly when the temperature of the thermal actuator element is greater than a threshold, and to allow the valve body to de-couple from the nut assembly when the temperature of the thermal actuator element is less than the threshold. The device also includes a reset mechanism configured to reset the device after the valve body has de-coupled from the nut assembly. The reset mechanism may include a handle.

Inventors

  • HUANG, XIAOQING
  • QIAO, Mu

Assignees

  • AMOT CONTROLS LLC

Dates

Publication Date
20260507
Application Date
20241101

Claims (20)

  1. A device configured to act as a valve for a system including cooling fluid, the device comprising: a nut assembly configured to be coupled to the system; a valve body configured to be coupled to the nut assembly, the valve body comprising: a thermal actuator element; a first component configured to contact the nut assembly when the temperature of the thermal actuator element is greater than a threshold, and to allow the valve body to de-couple from the nut assembly when the temperature of the thermal actuator element is less than the threshold; and a reset mechanism configured to reset the device after the valve body has de-coupled from the nut assembly, wherein the reset mechanism comprises a handle.
  2. The device of claim 1, wherein the reset mechanism further comprises: a retaining device configured to override the thermal actuator element such that the first component contacts the nut assembly when the device is reset.
  3. The device of claim 2, wherein the retaining device includes a pin configured to automatically disengage with a portion of the valve body when the temperature of the thermal actuator element is greater than the threshold, and wherein when the pin disengages with the portion of the valve body, the device is configured for an automatic operating mode.
  4. The device of claim 1, wherein the first component comprises balls configured to contact the nut assembly when the temperature of the thermal actuator element is greater than the threshold and maintain the valve in the closed position.
  5. The device of claim 4, wherein the nut assembly comprise a nut and a nut spring, wherein the balls are configured to move inwardly with respect to the valve body when the temperature of the thermal actuator element is less than the threshold temperature, and wherein when the balls move inwardly, the nut spring exerts a force on the valve body to decouple the valve body from the nut assembly.
  6. The device of claim 1, wherein the thermal actuator element comprises a wax-based or oil-based component.
  7. The device of claim 1, wherein the reset mechanism is configured to allow a user to reset the device by hand and without the use of a tool.
  8. The device of claim 1, wherein the system includes an engine and the cooling fluid is water.
  9. The device of claim 1, wherein the system comprises a pipe configured to transport fluid.
  10. A device, comprising: a nut assembly configured to be coupled to a system including fluid; a valve body configured to be coupled to the nut assembly, the valve body comprising a sensor component configured to control a state of the device based on the temperature; and a reset mechanism configured to reset the device after the valve body has de-coupled from the nut assembly, wherein the reset mechanism is operated without the use of a tool.
  11. The device of claim 10, wherein the sensor component comprises: a thermal actuator element, and wherein the valve body further comprises elements configured to contact the nut assembly when the temperature of the thermal actuator element is greater than a threshold, and to not contact the nut assembly and allow the valve body to de-couple from the nut assembly when the temperature of the thermal actuator element is less than the threshold.
  12. The device of claim 11, wherein the reset mechanism comprises: a retaining device configured to override the thermal actuator element such that balls included in the valve body contact the nut assembly when the device is reset.
  13. The device of claim 12, wherein the retaining device includes a pin configured to automatically disengage with a portion of the valve body when the temperature of the thermal actuator element is greater than the threshold, and wherein when the pin disengages with the portion of the valve body, the device is configured for an automatic operating mode.
  14. The device of claim 13, wherein the reset mechanism further comprises a handle configured to be pushed or pulled to engage the pin with the portion of the valve body, wherein when the temperature of the valve body is greater than the threshold, the device is configured for the automatic operating mode.
  15. The device of claim 13, wherein the portion of the valve body includes a plunger configured to engage with the pin to reset the device and override the sensor component.
  16. The device of claim 10, wherein when the valve body disengages from the nut, the state of the device corresponds to an open position.
  17. The device of claim 10, wherein the sensor component comprise a wax-based or oil-based component that expands when the temperature increases.
  18. The device of claim 10, wherein the system includes an engine or a pipe.
  19. A method to provide freeze protection to a system using a device comprising a body portion and a nut assembly, the method comprising: using the device as a valve configured to open when the temperature of the body portion is less than a threshold, wherein using the device as a valve comprises: engaging, by the body portion, the nut assembly when the temperature of the body portion is greater than the threshold, wherein the engaging closes the valve, and disengaging the body portion from the nut assembly when the temperature of the body portion is less than the threshold, wherein the disengaging opens the valve; and resetting the valve using a reset mechanism comprising a handle configured to reset the device and without the use of a tool.
  20. The method of claim 19, wherein the resetting further comprises: engaging a reset mechanism such that the body portion engages with the nut assembly independent of a temperature of the body portion; and automatically disengaging the reset mechanism when the temperature of the body portion is greater than the threshold.

Description

FREEZE PROTECTION VALVE BACKGROUND Engines are often subjected to a variety of different operating conditions. For example, engines may be used in very hot conditions (e.g., temperatures of 100° Celsius (C) or higher) , as well as temperatures well below zero (e.g., temperatures of -20℃ or lower) . When an engine is no longer running in sub-freezing temperature ranges, the fluid used to cool the engine when the engine was running may possibly freeze. For example, in some scenarios, water is used as the engine coolant, as opposed to some type of anti-freeze. In such cases, the water may freeze or begin to freeze during freezing/near-freezing temperatures when the engine is not operating. To avoid this possible problem, personnel associated with maintaining the engine in sub-freezing conditions may manually drain the coolant from the engine when the engine is not operating. The coolant may then be refilled at a later time prior to operating the engine. This process may be repeated as necessary. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional diagram of a freeze protection valve in accordance with an exemplary embodiment; Fig. 2 is an exploded diagram illustrating components of the freeze protection valve of Fig. 1 in accordance with an exemplary implementation; Fig. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating processing associated with use of the freeze protection valve of Figs. 1 and 2; Figs. 4A and 4B are cross-sectional diagrams associated with setting/re-setting the  freeze protection valve in accordance with an exemplary implementation; Fig. 4C is an exploded view of a portion of the cross-sectional diagram of Fig. 4B illustrating the latching mechanism for resetting the valve in accordance with an exemplary implementation; Fig. 4D is a cross-sectional diagram of the freeze protection valve when the engine is operating; and Fig. 4E is a cross-sectional diagram of the freeze protection valve in an open or released state in accordance with an exemplary implementation. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numbers in different drawings may identify the same or similar elements. Implementations described herein provide freeze protection for an engine or other equipment when the temperature falls below a predetermined level. In one implementation, a thermally activated freeze protection valve automatically opens or releases when the temperature falls below a predetermined level. The thermally activated valve includes an element that contracts in size during freezing or near freezing temperatures. When the element contracts, a portion of the valve assembly releases or falls away from the valve body, enabling the engine coolant to drain out through the open valve under the force of gravity. The thermally activated valve also includes a reset mechanism to enable the valve to be reset after the engine coolant has drained. In one implementation, a reset handle may be pushed or pulled to initiate a latching procedure with a portion of the valve body to enable the valve to be re-armed for another cold weather event. The reset procedure may be implemented without the use of any tool (i.e., by hand)  and allows an operator to easily reset the valve for further use. In this manner, the freeze protection valve may provide for automatic freeze protection as well as facilitate quick resetting of the valve for use in any conditions. Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional diagram of a freeze protection valve 100 (also referred to herein as valve 100) in accordance with an exemplary embodiment and Fig. 2 is an exploded diagram illustrating components of the freeze protection valve 100 of Fig. 1 in accordance with an exemplary implementation. Referring to Fig. 1, valve 100 includes a valve body assembly 110 (also referred to as valve body 110 or switch body 110) and nut assembly 150. Valve body assembly 110 includes handle 160 and extends from the upper portion of valve 100 adjacent nut assembly 150 to handle 160. The positioning shown in Fig. 1 is associated with valve body assembly 110 being engaged with nut assembly 150 and valve 100 being in the closed position. In this configuration, portions of valve body assembly 110, such as balls 133 (Fig. 2) , extend radially from valve body assembly 110 and engage with nut assembly 150 to keep valve 100 in the closed position. When the temperature falls below a predetermined level (e.g., 35° Fahrenheit (F) , 40° F or another temperature) , thermal actuator element 129 (Fig. 2) within valve body assembly 110 contracts. This contraction causes valve body assembly 110 (e.g., balls 133) to no longer engage with nut assembly 150 and drop out to open valve 100. For example, when the temperature falls below the predetermined value, balls 133 move inwardly with respect to housing 128 (Fig. 2) and away from nut assembly 150. Spring 122 (Fig. 2) then unseats from nut assembly 150 and provides a