Hydro-actuated thermostats

Abstract

The present invention provides a hydro-actuator thermostat system for controlling a temperature of an engine. The hydro-actuated thermostat system includes a thermal responsive valve system configured to induce opening of a temperature responsive valve upon an increase of a temperature of a coolant fluid, and to induce closing of the temperature responsive valve upon a decrease of a temperature of the coolant fluid. The hydro-actuated thermostat system further includes a hydraulic actuator system controllable by a controller, wherein the hydraulic actuator is associated with a thermal responsive valve system and configured to induce opening and/or closing of the temperature responsive valve in response to an indication from the controller, the opening and/or closing of the temperature responsive valve may be performed by controlling a fluid flow to and/or from the hydraulic actuator.

1 . A hydro-actuated thermostat system for controlling a temperature of an engine, the system comprising:
 a thermal responsive valve system configured to induce opening of a temperature responsive valve upon an increase of a temperature of a coolant fluid, and to induce closing of said temperature responsive valve upon a decrease of a temperature of said coolant fluid, and   a hydraulic actuator system controllable by a controller, wherein said hydraulic actuator is associated with a thermal responsive valve system and configured to induce opening and/or closing of said temperature responsive valve in response to an indication from said ECM, said opening and/or closing of said temperature responsive valve is performed by controlling a fluid flow to and/or from said hydraulic actuator.   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said thermal responsive valve system comprises:
 said temperature responsive valve for regulating the flow of said coolant fluid to a heat exchanger;   a thermally actuated piston configured to allow said temperature responsive valve to open in response to a temperature increase of said coolant fluid; and   a spring, configured to force closing of said temperature responsive valve in response to a temperature decrease of said coolant fluid,
 wherein said hydraulic actuator system is configured to induce opening of said temperature responsive valve by extending the spring and to induce closing of said temperature responsive valve by contracting said spring. 
   
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said hydraulic actuator system is further configured to prevent opening of said temperature responsive valve upon an increase of the coolant fluid temperature by contracting said spring in response to an indication from said controller; and to induce opening and/or closing of said thermally responsive valve, independently of a temperature of the coolant fluid. 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said hydraulic actuator system is further configured to control the range of movement of said temperature responsive valve in response to an indication from said controller independently of a temperature of the coolant fluid. 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said hydraulic actuator system is configured to displace said temperature responsive valve to a specific position within a range of movement, and wherein the specific position is determined by the controller. 
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said hydraulic actuator system comprises:
 an actuator plate, directly or indirectly contacting said spring;   a receptacle comprising said fluid; and   at least one actuator, directly or indirectly contacting said fluid in said receptacle and directly or indirectly contacting said actuator plate.   
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 8 , wherein said actuator is controllable by at least one control valve, a motor, a pressure reducer or a combination thereof; wherein said control valve, said motor and the pressure reducer are controllable by said controller; wherein said receptacle is in fluid flow connection with said control valve, said motor, said pressure reducer or a combination thereof; and wherein said actuator is configured to displace said actuator plate in response to an indication from said controller. 
     
     
         10 .- 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein said indication from said controller comprises indication for opening/closing of at least one control valve, an indication for activation of a motor or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 13 , wherein said indication from said controller is configured to allow flow of said fluid to and/or from said receptacle; wherein said flow of said fluid is configured to change a position of the actuator. 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 14 , wherein said changing of the position of the actuator allows displacement of said actuator plate; wherein the displacement of said actuator plate is configured to induce said thermostat spring extension, contraction or both. 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 8 , wherein said actuator comprises a piston, a diaphragm or a combination thereof; wherein the diaphragm has a round hollow shape. 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . The system according to  claim 18 , wherein said flow of said fluid is configured to change the position of said diaphragm and thereby to move downwards or upwards said diaphragm causing said diaphragm to assume a concave or convex shape, respectively. 
     
     
         21 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein said at least one control valve is bimodal, allowing opening and closing of said temperature responsive valve. 
     
     
         22 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein said at least one control valve is an analog valve, allowing opening and closing of said temperature responsive valve; and wherein said at least one control valve is configured to displace the actuator plate and the temperature responsive valve to a specific position within a range of movement; wherein the specific position is determined by the controller. 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . The system according to  claim 8 , wherein said hydraulic actuator system comprises two actuators and further comprises a balance element, wherein said balance element is directly or indirectly contacting each of said actuators and is configured to assist said actuator plate displacement. 
     
     
         26 . The system according to  claim 25 , wherein said hydraulic actuator further comprises two control valves, and wherein opening of the first control valve is configured to displace said actuator plate to induce extension of said spring and opening of the second control valve is configured to displace said actuator plate to induce contraction of said spring. 
     
     
         27 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein said motor comprises a step motor or electric motor; and wherein said motor comprises a motor piston in fluid flow connection with said receptacle. 
     
     
         28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . The system according to  claim 27 , wherein the activation of said motor facilitates said motor piston linear travel; wherein the range of linear travel of said motor piston is associated with the range of movement of said actuator plate and/or said temperature responsive valve; wherein said motor is configured to displace said actuator plate and/or said temperature responsive valve to a specific position within a range of movement; and wherein the specific position is determined by the controller. 
     
     
         30 .- 37 . (canceled) 
     
     
         38 . A method for controlling a temperature of an engine by a hydro-actuated thermostat system, the method comprising:
 providing a thermal responsive valve system and a hydraulic actuator system controllable by a controller; and   controlling, by said controller, a fluid flow into at least one receptacle, wherein said flow of said fluid is configured to exert pressure on at least one actuator configured to displace an actuator plate, inducing opening and/or closing of said temperature responsive valve independently of a coolant fluid temperature.   
     
     
         39 . The method according to  claim 38 , comprising extending or contracting a spring of said thermal responsive valve system by displacing said actuator plate controlling said spring's position and range of movement. 
     
     
         40 . (canceled) 
     
     
         41 . (canceled)