Fish & Richardson P.C.
Apparatus for controlling fluid temperature
 A fluid temperature control apparatus includes a housing with first and second housing portions, and a partition for isolating the first and second housing portions. The first housing portion has a first fluid inlet connected to a hot fluid source, and a first fluid outlet. The second housing portion has a second fluid inlet connected to a cold fluid source, and a second fluid outlet connected to the first fluid inlet. A valve assembly includes a tubular valve seat disposed in the second housing portion to define a piston receiving space with an open end that is spaced from the partition and that is communicated with the second fluid outlet. A piston has a head portion extending slidably into the piston receiving space, and a restricted actuated portion extending out of the open end of the valve seat. The valve seat has a radial valve opening communicated with the second fluid inlet. The piston is movable between a first position, where the head portion blocks the valve opening, and a second position, where the head portion ceases to block the valve opening. A temperature responsive member is mounted on the partition, and has a fluid contacting portion disposed in the first housing portion, and a volume-variable piston actuating portion connected to the actuated portion of the piston and disposed in the second housing portion. 
G
G05D
inventional
Tien-Tsai
Huang