BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a gas-expansion thermostat particularly designed
for home electric convectors.
[0002] There are at present known thermostats which are used for home electric convectors,
which thermostats comprise membrane encompassing vapor tension regions which, as the
temperature is changed, are deformed so as to displace the membranes cooperating
with electric actuators for switching on and off the coupled power source.
[0003] Known vapor tension thermostats have a comparatively large size and, consequently,
originate serious problems as they must be installed in a drive box or panel of an
electric convector.
[0004] There are also known liquid expansion thermostats which are used in several industrial
applications such as refrigerating-and heating applications, or are applied to household
appliances, which have a comparatively reduced size with respect to the vapor tension
thermostats.
[0005] However, these liquid expansion thermostats are not generally used in home electric
convectors since said thermostats are very expensive.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Accordingly, the aim of the present invention is to solve the above mentioned problems
by providing a gas-expansion thermostat which is specifically designed for application
to home electric convectors and which has a very reduced size while being able of
accurately and reliably operating.
[0007] Within the scope of the above mentioned aim, a main object of the present invention
is to provide such a small size thermostat which can be easily and quickly installed
on home electric convectors.
[0008] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide such a gas expansion thermostat
which can be easily constructed starting from easily available elements and materials
and which, moreover, is very competitive from a mere economic standpoint.
[0009] According to one aspect of the present invention, the above mentioned aim and objects,
as well as yet other objects, are achieved by a gas-expansion thermostat, specifically
designed for home electric convectors, characterized in that said thermostat comprises
a first gas-expansion membrane and at least a second gas-expansion membrane arranged
in series with the first membrane and communicating therewith.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more
apparent from the following detailed disclosure of a gas-expansion thermostat, specifically
designed for home electric convectors, which is illustrated, by way of an indicative
but not limitative example, in the accompanying drawing where:
Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the gas-expansion thermostat
according to the invention; and
Figure 2 is another schematic view showing the thermostat according to the invention
applied to a supporting structure.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0011] With reference to the Figures of the accompanying drawing, the gas-expansion thermostat
according to the invention, which is indicated overally at the reference number 1,
comprises a first gas-expansion membrane 2, and a second gas-expansion membrane 3,
which are series arranged so as to communicate with one another.
[0012] As shown, the membranes 2 and 3 are coup led to a filling capillary tube, indicated
at 4, and are specifically designed to provide the desired expansion displacements
while having a very reduced size, substantially corresponding to the size of a conventional
liquid-expansion membrane.
[0013] The mentioned thermostat construction is coupled within a supporting frame, indicated
at 5, and, owing to the series connection of the two membranes, it affords the possibility
of remarkably enlarging the displacement range which can be obtained so as to provide
a very sensitive and compact thermostat.
[0014] With the disclosed arrangement, the making cost will be very small, and likewise
will be very small the cost for making the necessary molds and assembling and heating
tools.
[0015] All of the mentioned advantages have been obtained based on the concept of coupling
in a series relationship the two membranes 2 and 3 which are equal to one another
and of the liquid-expansion type.
[0016] Accordingly, with the disclosed arrangement, it will be possible all of the problems
which are at present encountered in the home convector field, since a thermostat can
be constructed which is very simple construction-wise and very efficient from the
operating standpoint.
[0017] While the invention has been disclosed and illustrated with reference to a preferred
embodiment thereof, it should be apparent that the disclosed embodiment is susceptible
to several modifications and variations all of which will come within the spirit
and scope of the appended claims.
1. A gas-expansion thermostat, specifically designed for home electric convectors,
characterized in that said thermostat comprises a first gas-expansion membrane and
at least a second gas-expansion membrane arranged in series with the first membrane
and communicating therewith.
2. A gas-expansion thermostat, according to Claim 1, characterized in that said first
and second membranes have a like construction.
3. A gas-expansion thermostat according to Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that
said membranes are associated to a supporting structure.
4. A gas expansion thermostat, according to the preceding claims, characterized in
that the series coupling of the fist and second membrane provides, with a given radial
extension, a double expansion displacement.