Thermostatic valve with sleeve

Abstract

The valve (1) comprises a thermostatic element (20) having a thermally expandable material (22) and comprising a fixed portion (23) fixedly connected to the housing (10) and a movable portion (21) movable along an axis (X-X). The valve further comprises a plug (30) movable along an axis relative to a plug seat fixedly supported by the housing for controlling the flow of fluid between the two chambers (C1, C2) in the housing. The valve also includes a sleeve (40) movable along the axis between a first configuration in which the sleeve bears against a sleeve seat fixedly supported by the housing and separate from the plug seat to prevent fluid flow between the two chambers, and a second configuration in which the sleeve is remote from the sleeve seat. The plug is connected to the movable portion and the sleeve such that upon expansion of the thermally expandable material, the movable portion opens the plug to an intermediate position while the sleeve remains in its first configuration, and then the opened plug is driven by the movable portion beyond the intermediate position while driving the sleeve from the first configuration to the second configuration.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a thermostatic sleeve valve.

[0002] A thermostatic sleeve valve is a valve having a sleeve which controls the flow of a fluid through the valve housing and is displaced by a thermostatic element designed to be movable so as to move the sleeve in accordance with the temperature to which the thermostatic element is subjected, thereby being mechanically actuated. Thermostatic sleeve valves are usually provided in cooling circuits of large cubic volume motors, in particular in trucks and certain motor vehicles, whose operation requires a higher flow rate of cooling fluid than in small cubic volume motors in which the thermostatic valve used is a plug valve. In fact, the sleeve is a so-called balanced shutter, i.e. a shutter in which the pressure difference on either side of the tubular body of the sleeve is substantially zero, depending on the direction in which the thermostatic element displaces the sleeve. A flap, on the other hand, is a shutter in which the substantially flat body of the flap usually extends perpendicularly to the direction in which the plug is displaced by the thermostatic element, so that the pressure difference on either side of the flap in said direction reaches very high values, in particular when the flow of fluid is blocked by the plug.

[0003] Nevertheless, existing thermostatic sleeve valves have the drawback that, when opening, i.e. when the sleeve is driven by the thermostatic element from a closed configuration (in which the sleeve is pressed axially against the seat to prevent the fluid from flowing through the seat) to an open configuration (in which the sleeve is moved away from the seat to allow the fluid to flow through the seat), the flow rate of the fluid changes suddenly from a zero value to a large value. This change in the flow downstream of the seat in relation to the sleeve is detrimental to the control of the thermostatic element and, more generally, to the flow stability in the cooling circuit to which the valve belongs. In other words, the opening of the thermostatic sleeve valve is not gradual, or only slightly gradual. In order to overcome this problem, a well-known solution is to reduce as much as possible the speed at which the thermostatic element displaces the sleeve when the sleeve changes from the closed configuration to the open configuration, but, in particular, since the diameter of the tubular body of the sleeve can be relatively large, the displacement speed is difficult to control accurately. Furthermore, it is also conceivable to adopt a throttling solution, i.e. to have a channel portion that opens gradually as the sleeve moves, a solution that is expensive to implement and limited in terms of results. Another solution is to use multiple segmented plugs instead of a sleeve, which is economically limited and also restricts the design of the valve.

[0004] U.S. Patent US2017 / 220056 discloses a thermostatic valve with a geometric longitudinal axis. The valve includes a thermostatic element (including a movable piston and a fixed thermosensitive body), and two valve units, namely a first valve unit and a second valve unit, which can move relative to each other in the axial direction. More specifically, the first valve unit includes a first tubular body, which is centered on the axis and fixedly supports the first base at one end of its axial direction. The first valve unit also includes a first shutter, which can be translated along the axis relative to the first tubular body to abut against / away from the first base, thereby blocking / allowing the flow of the first fluid, respectively. To this end, the first shutter is fixedly connected to the piston of the thermostatic element, and the first return spring is axially inserted between the first shutter and the first tubular body, so that when the thermostatic element is deployed, the first shutter overcomes the resistance of the first return spring and moves away from the first base. The second valve unit includes a second tubular body, which is centered on the axis and fixedly supports the second base. The second valve unit further includes a second shutter, which can be axially translated relative to the second tubular body to abut against / move away from the second seat, thereby correspondingly blocking / allowing the flow of a second fluid different from the flow of the first fluid. To this end, it is provided that: (i) the second tubular body is fixedly connected to the thermal sensitive body of the thermostatic element, (ii) the second shutter is fixedly connected to the first tubular body of the first valve unit, (iii) the first tubular body is installed to be translatable along the axis inside the second tubular body of the second valve unit, and (iv) a second return spring is axially inserted between the second shutter and the second tubular body, so that when the thermostatic element is deployed, the second shutter can overcome the resistance of the second return spring and move away from the second seat. U.S. Patent US2017 / 220056 envisions different operating modes of its valve, which depend on whether the stiffness of the first return spring is less than the stiffness of the second return spring, or the stiffness of the two are the same, or the stiffness of the first return spring is greater than the stiffness of the second return spring: when the stiffness of the first return spring is less than the stiffness of the second return spring, the first shutter opens before the second shutter; when the stiffness of the first return spring and the stiffness of the second return spring are basically the same, the first shutter and the second shutter open at the same time; when the stiffness of the first return spring is greater than that of the second shutter, the second shutter opens before the first shutter.

[0005] The object of the present invention is to propose a new thermostatic valve which can open more gradually while using a sleeve to control high flow rates.

[0006] To this end, the subject matter of the invention is a thermostatic valve as defined in claim 1 .

[0007] The idea of ​​the invention is to associate the plug with the sleeve and to use a single thermostatic element to control the displacement of the sleeve and the plug, but to increase the flow rate of the fluid circulating through the valve by ensuring that, when the thermoexpandable material expands, the displacement of the thermostatic element firstly drives only the plug, which then opens the flow of the fluid through the thermostatic valve of the invention at a low and controllable flow rate, and then, secondly, drives the sleeve, which initially remains immobile. To this end, the invention provides that, when the thermoexpandable material expands, the sleeve is not displaced directly by the thermostatic element, but by the valve directly driven by the thermostatic element, the displacement of the sleeve by the plug being effective only after the plug has reached a preset position, when the plug is away from the seat associated with it. Thus, the flow rate curve of the fluid circulating through the valve according to the invention, as a function of the deployment of the thermostatic element, consists of two consecutive parts, namely a first part determined by the opening law of the single plug and then a second part determined by the combination of the opening laws of the plug and the sleeve, respectively. In order to adjust the flow rate curve, different structural parameters of the valve can be used, namely the respective diameters of the plug and the sleeve, the stroke of the plug being moved to open without the sleeve being moved, and the respective geometries of the plug and the seat in relation to the latter, which further advantageously have a throttling effect on the flow of the fluid flowing between the seat and the plug in the open configuration. In fact, as discussed in detail below, the valve according to the invention can envisage different embodiments, in particular by integrating therein advantageous optional arrangements for further improving certain aspects of the valve.

[0008] Additional advantageous features of the valve according to the invention are specified in the further claims.

[0009] The invention will be better understood from the following description which is given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0010] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a thermostatic valve of the present invention, shown in half section;

[0011] Figure 2 is along Figure 1 The top view indicated by arrow II in the middle is only a part of the thermostatic valve;

[0012] Figure 3-4 is with Figure 2 Similar views illustrate the thermostatic valve in Figure 2 two respective different operating states other than the operating state shown;

[0013] Figure 5-6 They are respectively Figure 2 and Figure 4 Similar views illustrate a second embodiment of the thermostatic valve of the present invention;

[0014] Figure 7 is with Figure 2 Similar views illustrate a third embodiment of the thermostatic valve of the present invention;

[0015] Figure 8 is with Figure 1 Similar views illustrate a fourth embodiment of the thermostatic valve of the present invention;

[0016] Figure 9-11 are respectively Figure 2-4 a similar view of a fourth embodiment; and

[0017] Fig.12 is with Figure 9-11 A similar fourth view, but illustrating the Figure 9-11 Different valve operating states.

[0018] Figure 1-4 A thermostatic valve 1 for controlling the circulation of a fluid is shown. The nature of the fluid, in particular a cooling fluid, is not restricted. The thermostatic valve 1 belongs, for example, to a cooling circuit of an engine (eg a motor vehicle internal combustion engine, or a transmission oil circuit, etc.).

[0019] As an application example of the thermostatic valve 1 which will be discussed again later, the thermostatic valve 1 is a so-called three-way valve, whose channels are divided into two inlet channels represented by V1 and V2 in the figure and an outlet channel represented by V3 in the figure, and the fluid enters the thermostatic valve 1 through the inlet channel and leaves the thermostatic valve 1 through the outlet channel. The fluid leaving the thermostatic valve 1 is sucked by the pump of the cooling circuit to which the thermostatic valve 1 belongs through the outlet channel V3, and then delivered by the pump to the component to be cooled, usually the engine. The fluid from the component to be cooled is directly returned to the thermostatic valve 1 by the cooling circuit through the inlet channel V2, or first passes through a heat exchanger (usually a radiator) and then is delivered to the thermostatic valve 1 through the inlet channel V1. It can be understood that relative to the above-mentioned heat exchanger, the inlet channel V2 constitutes a bypass of the fluid, and the inlet channel V2 is usually called a bypass channel. Of course, the above-mentioned application example is not limited to this, and the thermostatic valve 1 can also be used in other application scenarios, depending on whether each channel V1, V2 and V3 is an inlet channel or an outlet channel relative to the thermostatic valve 1.

[0020] from Figure 1-4 It can be clearly seen that the thermostatic valve 1 comprises: a housing 10, a thermostatic element 20, a plug 30 and a sleeve 40. Furthermore, the thermostatic valve 1 defines a geometric axis XX, about and along which the elements of the thermostatic valve are arranged, as will be discussed in detail below.

[0021] The housing 10 directs the flow of a fluid controlled by other components of the thermostatic valve 1 through the thermostatic valve 1 by distributing the fluid between the different channels V1 , V2 and V3 .

[0022] The housing 10 mainly comprises a seat body 11, a tubular body 12 and a cover 13, which are fixedly assembled together by any appropriate means.

[0023] The seat 11 comprises two main walls 11.1 and 11.2, each of which is generally annular and centered on the axis XX. The main walls 11.1 and 11.2 are located at different levels along the axis XX and are connected to each other by arms 11.3 of the seat 11. The arms 11.3 extend longitudinally generally parallel to the axis XX and are distributed around the axis, providing a wide through opening therebetween in the peripheral direction of the axis XX.

[0024] The main wall 11.1 supports two different seats, both of which are centered on the axis XX, namely the plug seat 11.5 for cooperating with the plug 30, as explained below, and the sleeve seat 11.6 for cooperating with the sleeve 40, as explained below. In an orthogonal projection on a geometric plane perpendicular to the axis XX, the plug seat 11.5 is advantageously inserted into the sleeve seat 11.6; in other words, the diameter of the sleeve seat 11.6 is greater than the diameter of the plug seat 11.5. In the embodiment shown in the figures, the plug seat 11.5 is arranged on the inner periphery of the main wall 11.1, while the sleeve seat 11.6 is arranged on the surface of the main wall 11.1, axially facing the main part 11.2.

[0025] In practice, various embodiments can be envisaged for the plug seat 11.5 and the sleeve seat 11.6. In the example shown in the figures, the plug seat 11.5 is directly formed by the material constituting the main wall 11.2, in the form of a conical surface centered on the axis XX and diverging in the direction of the main wall 11.2; the sleeve seat 11.6 is formed by a flexible lining fixedly mounted directly on the main wall 11.1, in the form of a flat surface inserted into a geometric plane perpendicular to the axis XX.

[0026] The tubular body 12 is centered on the axis XX and extends along an axis from one of the two opposite axial ends 12.1 and 12.2, and the axial end 12.1 faces the seat body 11. At the axial end 12.1, the tubular body 12 opens inside the seat body 11 at the inner periphery of the main wall 11.2. At the axial end 12.2, the tubular body 12 opens to the outside of the housing 10 along the axis XX and enters the channel V3 at the opening. In addition, the tubular body 12 has surfaces that are opposite to each other in the radial direction to the axis XX, that is, the inner surface facing the axis XX, and the outer surface. The inner surface of the tubular body 12 includes a cylindrical surface 12.3 centered on the axis XX and extending from the axial end 12.1 to the axial end 12.2.

[0027] The tubular body 12 is fixedly and rigidly connected to the main wall 11.2 of the seat body 11. For this purpose, Figure 1-4In the embodiment shown, the axial end 12.1 of the tubular body 12 is received and fixed to the main wall 11.2, in particular on the inner periphery of the main wall 11.2, for example by being mounted to a shoulder of the main wall 11.2.

[0028] For reasons that will become clear later, the housing 10 is advantageously equipped with a sealing lip 14 made of a flexible material such as polytetrafluoroethylene. The sealing lip 14 is fixed by being clamped directly between the seat 11 and the tubular body 12, more precisely, between the main wall 11.2 of the seat 11 and the axial end 12.1 of the tubular body 12.

[0029] from Figure 1-3 As can be clearly seen in the drawing, the tubular body 12 is provided with an orifice 12.4 connecting the inner and outer surfaces of the tubular body 12 to each other in a direction radial to the axis XX. The orifice 12.4 is located in the common part of the tubular body 12, i.e. the part of the tubular body 12 axially located between the axial ends 12.1 and 12.2, the orifice 12.4 not opening into the tubular body 12. On the inner surface of the tubular body 12, the orifice 12.4 opens into the cylindrical surface 12.3. On the outer surface of the body 12, the orifice 12.4 opens to the outside of the housing 10 into the channel V2.

[0030] In practice, the geometrical characteristics of the orifices 12.4 are not limited. In the example envisaged in the figures, each orifice 12.4 has a stepped profile along the axis XX, the extent of the orifice 12.4 being variable along the axis XX in the peripheral direction of the axis XX, in particular the axial portion of the orifice 12.4 towards the axial end 12.2 of the tubular body 12 being smaller than the axial portion thereof towards the axial end 12.1. In a variant (not shown), the profile of the orifice 12.4 is different from that envisaged above, for example being a rectangular profile.

[0031] The cover 13 comprises a bell 13.1 substantially centered on the axis XX. At its bottom, the bell 13.1 is fixed to the main wall 11.2 of the seat 11, covering the main wall 11.1 of the seat 11 at a certain distance in the axial and radial directions. The cover 13 also comprises a tube 13.2 connecting the inside of the bell 13.1 to the outside of the housing 10. The tube 13.2 opens inside the bell 13.1 in a direction transverse to, or even radial to, the axis XX; opposite the bell 13.1, the tube 13.2 opens into the channel V1.

[0032] Regardless of the characteristics of the seat 11, the tubular body 12 and the cover 13, these elements of the housing 10 together define two chambers inside the housing 10, namely chamber C1 and chamber C2, where chamber C1 is mainly formed by the free volume formed between the bell 13.1 and the seat 11, and chamber C2 is mainly formed by the internal free volume of the seat 11 and the internal free volume of the tubular body 12. In any case, chambers C1 and C2 can be directly connected to each other in the housing 10, so that the fluid controlled by the thermostatic valve 1 can flow in the housing 10, and the connection between chambers C1 and C2 is controlled by the plug 30 and the sleeve 40, which will be described in detail below. The plug seat 11.5 and the sleeve seat 11.6 are each located at the connection between chambers C1 and C2. Furthermore, chamber C1 can be directly connected to the outside of housing 10, i.e. without passing through chamber C2, so that the fluid can enter housing 10 and / or leave housing 10 through chamber C1; here, chamber C1 can thus be directly connected to the outside of housing 10 through tube 13.2 of cover 13, which, in the application example defined above, allows the fluid from channel V1 to enter housing 10 through chamber C1. Similarly, chamber C2 can also be directly connected to the outside of housing 10, i.e. without passing through chamber C1, so that the fluid can enter housing 10 and / or leave housing 10 through chamber C2; here, chamber C2 can thus be directly connected to the outside of housing 10 through orifice 12.4 of tubular body 12 on the one hand and through axial end 12.2 of tubular body 12 on the other hand, which, in the application example defined above, allows the fluid of channel V2 to enter the inside of housing 10 through chamber C2 and also allows the fluid of channel V3 to leave the housing through chamber C2.

[0033] According to an advantageous optional arrangement, the housing 10 is provided with a guide plate 15 fixedly supported by the seat 11. The guide plate 15 extends axially from the main wall 11.1, axially opposite to the main wall 11.2, and passes through only part of the inner periphery of the main wall 11.1, i.e. the part farthest from the tube 13.2, such as Figure 1 Therefore, the guide plate 15 only surrounds the outlet of the plug seat 11.5 into the chamber C1 at the outer peripheral portion of the outlet (ie the portion farthest from the tube 13.2) to block the fluid passing through the plug seat 11.5 transversely to the axis XX.

[0034] The thermostatic element 20 will now be described in more detail. In the assembled state of the thermostatic valve 1, the thermostatic element 20 is centered on the axis XX. The thermostatic element 20 includes a body 21 that is substantially centered on the axis XX and contains a thermal expansion material 22 such as wax. Here, the body 21 is substantially arranged in the chamber C2. The thermostatic element 20 also includes a piston 23, the central longitudinal geometric axis of the piston 23 is aligned with the axis XX, and the terminal axial portion is received in the body 21 and immersed in the thermal expansion material 22. The body 21 and the piston 23 can move relative to each other when translated along the axis XX, so that under the expansion effect of the thermal expansion material 22, the piston 23 moves away from the body 21 by being deployed to the outside of the body 21, and during the contraction of the thermal expansion material 22, the piston 23 can be retracted into the body 21.

[0035] In the assembled state of the thermostatic valve 1, the piston 23 is fixedly connected to the housing 10 by any suitable means. More precisely, the end portion of the piston 23 (relative to the portion immersed in the valve body 21) is fixedly connected to the housing 10 in a region arranged transverse to the axis XX, here belonging to the cover 13, in particular to the top portion of the bell 13.1 of the cover 13. Here, the piston 23 extends from the cover 13 of the housing 10 into the chambers C1 and C2. In fact, various embodiments can be envisaged regarding the fixed connection means between the above-mentioned end portion of the piston 23 and the housing 10 (here the cover 13 of the housing): the fixed connection means can be either axial abutment means, or removable fastening means, such as clamping means or sliding fit means, or permanent rigid connection means, such as forced fit means, overmolding means or mechanical fixing systems. In all cases, it is understood that the piston 23 remains immobile relative to the housing 10 when the thermal expansion material 22 contained in the body 21 expands or contracts.

[0036] exist Figure 1-4 In the embodiment shown, the thermostatic element 20 comprises an electric heating resistor 24 mounted inside the piston 23 for heating the thermal expansion material 22. To this end, at least the end portion of the piston 23 immersed in the body 21 is made of a heat-conducting material (usually metal). In fact, the electric heating resistor 24 can be conceived of in various embodiments. Figure 1In the diagram, the resistor is represented by a sawtooth line, but the schematic diagram is not limited to this. In all cases, the electric heating resistor 24 is powered from the outside of the housing 10 by a current source outside the thermostatic valve 1, and the electric heating resistor 24 is connected to the thermostatic valve 1 via an electric conductor 25. Likewise, the embodiment of the electric conductor 25 is not limited. Regardless of its specific embodiment, the electric conductor 25 extends from the electric heating resistor 24 to the outside of the housing 10, passes through the fixed connection between the piston 23 and the housing 10, and passes through the wall of the housing 10 (here the wall of the bell 13.1 of the cover 13) in a leak-proof manner until it is connected to the connection base 16 for connecting the above-mentioned current source outside the housing 10 (here the cover 13 of the housing 10).

[0037] The plug 30 will now be described in more detail. The plug 30 is centered on the axis XX and can be moved relative to the housing 10 along the axis XX to control the fluid flow between the chamber C1 and the chamber C2. More precisely, the plug 30 can be axially moved relative to the plug seat 11.5, so that it can move between the following configurations:

[0038] - Close configuration, such as Figure 1-2 As shown, the plug 30 is axially pressed against the plug seat 11.5 to prevent the fluid from passing through the plug seat 11.5 and circulating between the chambers C1 and C2;

[0039] - Open configuration, such as Figure 3-4 As shown, the plug 30 is away from the plug seat 11.5 so that the fluid can flow between the chambers C1 and C2 through the plug seat 11.5.

[0040] exist Figure 1-4 In the embodiment shown, the plug 30 in the open configuration is substantially on the same level along the axis XX as the main wall 11 . 1 of the housing 11 , where it is received at the inner periphery of the main wall 11 . 1 ; the plug 30 in the open configuration is arranged in the chamber C2 .

[0041] In the application example defined above, when the plug 30 is in the open configuration, the plug 30 allows at least a portion of the fluid entering the chamber C1 from the channel V1 to pass through the plug seat 11.5. When the plug 30 is in the closed configuration, the plug 30 prevents the fluid entering the chamber C1 from the channel V1 from reaching the chamber C2.

[0042] In order to control the displacement of the plug 30, the plug 30 is connected to the body 21 of the thermostatic element 20, so that, due to the expansion of the thermal expansion material 22, the axial displacement of the body 21 relative to the housing 10 causes a corresponding displacement of the plug 30, thereby changing the plug 30 from the closed configuration to the open configuration. Therefore, when the thermal expansion material 22 expands, the body 21 of the thermostatic element 20 drives the plug 30 along the axis XX relative to the housing 10 to change from the closed configuration to the open configuration, more specifically from Figure 1-2The closed position occupied by the plug 30 in the closed configuration becomes Figure 4 The plug 30 occupies an open position in the open configuration, through which the plug 30 also occupies an open position in the open configuration. Figure 3 It should be noted that further information about the middle position 3 will be given below.

[0043] According to a practical embodiment, that is to say the one considered here for implementation, the plug 30 is fixedly connected to the body 21 of the thermostatic element 20 .

[0044] exist Figure 1-4 In the example of the embodiment shown, the plug 30 includes an armature 31, which is generally made of metal and has rigidity, in a central area relative to the axis XX. In the example shown in the figure, the armature 31 is similar to a ring, but its embodiment is not limited. The plug 30 also includes a sealing liner 32, which is flexible compared to the armature 31 and is made of, for example, a polymer or rubber, in a peripheral area relative to the axis XX. The sealing liner 32 is arranged on the outer periphery of the armature 31, that is, the outer periphery of the armature 31 radially opposite to the axis XX. The sealing liner 32 is, for example, overmolded on the central armature 31. The sealing liner 32 constitutes a part of the plug 30, which is axially supported on the plug seat 11.5 to control the flow of fluid between the chambers C1 and C2 by passing through the plug seat 11.5, while the armature 31 constitutes a part of the plug 30, which cooperates with the body 21 of the thermostatic element 20 so as to connect the plug 30 to the body 21. The armature 31 is thus tightly wound around the body 21 of the thermostatic element 20 by, for example, fixedly connecting the plug 30 to the body 21 .

[0045] The sleeve 40 will now be described in more detail. The sleeve 40 is centered on the axis XX and is movable relative to the housing 10 along the axis to control the flow of fluid between chambers C1 and C2 (different from the flow of fluid controlled by the plug 30), and to control the flow of fluid between chamber C2 and the exterior of the housing 10 through the orifice 12.4 of the housing 10.

[0046] More precisely, the sleeve 40 is axially movable relative to the sleeve seat 11.6 and can therefore be moved between the following configurations:

[0047] - The first configuration, such as Figure 1-3 as shown, in which the sleeve 40 is pressed axially against the sleeve seat 11.6 to prevent the fluid from circulating between the chambers C1 and C2 through the sleeve seat 11.6, and

[0048] - The second configuration, such as Figure 4 As shown, the sleeve 40 is spaced a certain distance from the sleeve seat 11.6 so that the fluid flows between the chambers C1 and C2 through the sleeve seat 11.6.

[0049] Furthermore, the sleeve 40 is coaxially received and fitted inside the tubular body 12 of the housing 10 and is movable along the axis XX between a first configuration and a second configuration so that:

[0050] - in a first configuration, the orifice 12 . 4 is not covered by the sleeve 40 , so as to allow the fluid to flow through the orifice 12 . 4 radially to the axis XX between the chamber C2 and the outside of the housing 10 , and

[0051] In the second configuration, the sleeve 40 covers the orifice 12 . 4 in a direction substantially radial to the axis XX, so as to prevent the fluid from flowing through the orifice 12 . 4 between the chamber C2 and the outside of the housing 10 radially to the axis XX.

[0052] exist Figure 1-4 In the embodiment shown, the sleeve 40 is arranged in the chamber C2, more specifically at the junction of the chambers C1 and C2 when the sleeve 40 is in the first configuration. Furthermore, the sealing lip 14 surrounds the sleeve 40 from the outside, abutting against the outer surface of the sleeve 40, so as to prevent the circulation of the fluid between the chambers C1 and C2 through the outside of the sleeve 40, whatever the position of the sleeve 40 along the axis XX between the first configuration and the second configuration.

[0053] In the application example defined above, when the sleeve 40 is in the second configuration, in addition to the portion of the fluid allowed to enter the chamber C2 by the plug 30, the sleeve 40 also allows a portion of the fluid entering the chamber C1 from the passage V1 to enter the chamber C2, while at the same time, the sleeve 40 prevents the fluid from the passage V2 from entering the chamber C2 through the orifice 12.4 radially with respect to the axis XX. When the sleeve 40 is in the first configuration, the sleeve 40 prevents the fluid from entering the chamber C1 from the passage V1 from reaching the chamber C2 through the sleeve seat 11.6, while at the same time, the sleeve 40 allows the fluid from the passage V2 to enter the chamber C2 through the orifice 12.4 radially with respect to the axis XX.

[0054] To control the displacement of the sleeve 40, the sleeve 40 is connected to the plug 30 so that axial displacement of the plug 30 relative to the housing 10 due to expansion of the thermally expandable material 22 results in: (i) the plug 30 being in contact with the housing 10 as long as the plug 30 is in contact with the housing 10; Figure 1 The closed position in (corresponding to its closed configuration) and Figure 3 When the sleeve 40 in the first configuration is in the intermediate position, the sleeve 40 in the first configuration will be displaced relative to the housing 10; then (ii) the plug 30 in the open configuration is driven by the thermostatic element 20 from the intermediate position to Figure 4 When the plug 30 is in the open position shown, the sleeve 40 is displaced accordingly to change it from the first configuration to the second configuration. Therefore, the sleeve 40 and the plug 30 are connected to each other in such a way that when the thermally expandable material 22 expands:

[0055] - the sleeve 40 remains immobile relative to the housing 10 and in its first configuration, while the body 21 of the thermostatic element 20 drives the plug 30 from its closed configuration to its open configuration until the plug 30 occupies Figure 3 The middle position above, then

[0056] When the body 21 of the thermostatic element 20 drives the bung 30 in the open configuration beyond the aforementioned intermediate position relative to the housing 10 along the axis XX, the bung 30 drives the sleeve 40 relative to the housing 10 along the axis XX from the first configuration of the sleeve 40 to the second configuration thereof.

[0057] according to Figure 1-4 In a practical embodiment implemented in the embodiment, the sleeve 40 is assembled to the plug 30:

[0058] - when the plug 30 is in its closed configuration and Figure 3 When driven between the intermediate positions shown above, it can slide freely along the axis XX, and

[0059] - When the bung 30 in the open configuration is driven beyond the aforementioned intermediate position, it is fixed along the axis XX.

[0060] exist Figure 1-4 In the example of embodiment shown, the sleeve 40 comprises, in a central region relative to the axis XX, an armature 41, generally made of metal, having rigidity. The sleeve 40 also comprises, in an outer peripheral region relative to the axis XX, a cylindrical baffle 42, centered on the axis XX and connected to the armature 41, for example integrally connected to the armature 41, by means of arms 43 of the sleeve 40 extending transversely on the axis XX. The cylindrical baffle 42 constitutes a part of the sleeve 40, which cooperates with the housing 10 to control the above-mentioned fluid flow: more precisely, one of the two axial ends of the cylindrical baffle 42 cooperates with the sleeve seat 11 by axial abutment. More precisely, one of the two axial ends of the cylindrical baffle 42 cooperates with the sleeve seat 11.6 by axial abutment to control the fluid flow between the chambers C1 and C2 through the sleeve seat 11.6, while the current part of the cylindrical baffle 42 cooperates by radially covering the orifice 12.4 to control the fluid flow radially to the axis XX between the chamber C2 and the outside of the housing 10 through the orifice 12.4. The armature 41 constitutes part of the sleeve 40, which cooperates with the plug 30 for the mechanical connection between the plug 30 and the sleeve 40. Here, the armature 41 is mounted around the armature of the plug 30 so that:

[0061] - the armatures 31 and 41 are free to slide relative to each other along the axis XX when the stopper 30 is driven between its closed configuration and the aforementioned intermediate position, and

[0062] The armatures 31 and 41 are fixedly connected to one another along the axis XX by axial abutment when the bung 30 in the open configuration is driven beyond its aforementioned intermediate position.

[0063] In order to drive the plug 30 and the sleeve 40 when the thermal expansion material 22 expands and then contracts, the thermostatic valve 1 includes two return springs 50 and 60 respectively associated with the plug 30 and the sleeve 40, and which are compressed along the axis XX inside the thermostatic valve 1. The return spring 50 is functionally inserted between the housing 10 and the plug 30 so as to drive the plug 30 from the open configuration to the closed configuration when the thermal expansion material 22 contracts. Similarly, the return spring 60 is functionally inserted between the housing 10 and the sleeve 40 so as to drive the sleeve 40 from the second configuration to the first configuration when the thermal expansion material contracts. From a structural point of view, the spring 50 can be inserted directly or indirectly between the housing 10 and the plug 30. Similarly, the return spring 60 can also be inserted directly or indirectly between the housing 10 and the sleeve 40.

[0064] To this end, Figure 1-4 In the embodiment shown, the thermostatic valve 1 comprises only one identical support frame 70, which is used exclusively for transmitting the forces generated by the return springs 50 and 60 to the housing 10. The support frame 70 constitutes an independent part of the housing 10 and is rigidly connected to the housing 10 (here the seat 11, in particular the main wall 11.1 thereof). The support frame 70 extends from the housing 10 (more particularly from the main wall 11.1 of its seat 11) inside the sleeve 40 substantially parallel to the axis XX to its axial end against which the end turn of the return springs 50 and 60, respectively, rests axially. Here, the end turn of the return springs 50 and 60, respectively, opposite to the turn resting on the support frame 70, rests directly on the plug 60 and the sleeve 40, in particular on the armature 31 of the plug 30 and on the armature 41 of the sleeve 40, respectively.

[0065] Now refer to Figure 2-4 , the operation of the thermostatic valve 1 is described in the context of the application example of the thermostatic valve mentioned above.

[0066] exist Figure 2 In the operating state shown, the fluid entering the chamber C1 through the channel V1 is blocked from passing through the plug seat 11.5 by the plug 30 in the closed configuration and from passing through the sleeve seat 11.6 by the sleeve 40 in the first configuration: the fluid therefore does not reach the chamber C2 from the chamber C1. At the same time, the fluid supplied from the outside of the housing 10 to the orifice 12.4 through the channel V2 enters the chamber C2 radially with respect to the axis XX through the orifice 12.4 not covered by the sleeve 40 in the first configuration. The fluid leaves the housing 10 from the chamber C2 through the axial end 12.2 of the tubular body 12, flowing into the channel V3.

[0067] When the thermal expansion material 22 expands, the thermostatic valve 1 Figure 2 The operating status shown changes to Figure 3 If the expansion material 22 continues to expand, it will become Figure 4 The expansion of the thermal expansion material 2 results from the increase in the temperature of the fluid in the chamber C2 and / or the activation of the electric heating resistor 24 .

[0068] The expansion of the thermal expansion material 22 causes the thermostatic valve 1 to Figure 2 The operating status shown changes to Figure 3 During the operating state shown, the body 21 of the thermostatic element 20 is axially away from the piston 23 fixed relative to the housing 10. In a corresponding manner, the body 21 of the thermostatic element 20 drives the plug 30 relative to the housing 10 along the axis XX, thereby bringing the plug 30 from the closed configuration to the open configuration until the plug 30 occupies the Figure 3 The intermediate position shown. The guide plate 15 advantageously serves to block the flow of fluid passing through the plug seat 11.5 transverse to the axis XX, so as to limit the phenomenon of cavitation or Venturi effect. At the same time, since the sleeve 40 is not driven by the plug 30 (in particular the plug 30 freely sliding relative to the sleeve 40 along the axis XX), the sleeve 40 remains immobile relative to the housing 10, so that the sleeve 40 remains in the first configuration. Therefore, the fluid entering the chamber C1 through the channel V1 continues to be blocked by the sleeve 40 and cannot pass through the sleeve seat 11.6, but the plug 30 allows the fluid to pass through the plug seat 11.5 and reach the chamber C2. At the same time, the fluid supplied from the outside of the housing 10 to the orifice 12.4 through the channel V2 continues to enter the chamber C2 through the orifice 12.4. The fluid continues to leave the housing 10 from the chamber C2 through the channel V3. The return spring 50 is compressed, while the return spring 60 is not.

[0069] The expansion of the thermal expansion material 22 causes the thermostatic valve to Figure 3 The operating status shown changes to Figure 4 During the operating state shown, the body 21 of the thermostatic element 20 drives the plug 30 in the open configuration, along the axis XX relative to the housing 10 by more than Figure 3The intermediate position shown. The plug 30 then drives the sleeve 40 from its first configuration to its second configuration relative to the housing 10 along the axis XX in a corresponding manner, in particular by the axial abutment of the armature 31 against the armature 41. The fluid entering the chamber C1 from the channel V1 is no longer blocked by the sleeve 40 and cannot pass through the sleeve seat 11.6: on the contrary, the fluid passes through the sleeve seat 11.6 and enters the chamber C2 from the chamber C1, while continuing to pass through the plug seat 11.5 due to the open configuration of the plug 30. At the same time, the fluid supplied to the orifice 12.4 from the outside of the housing 10 through the channel V2 is blocked by the sleeve 40 covering the orifice 12.4 and radially to the axis XX, and cannot enter the chamber C2 radially to the axis XX. Therefore, Figure 3 The fluids from channels V1 and V2 are mixed to form a fluid in chamber C2, and the operating states of the fluids in chamber C2 are different. Figure 4 In the operating state shown, the fluid in chamber C2 consists entirely of fluid originating from channel V1 (except for leakage). The return springs 50 and 60 are compressed.

[0070] In view of the above explanation, it should be understood that when the thermal expansion material 22 expands, the fluid from the chamber C1 into the chamber C2 is gradual, that is, initially, from Figure 2 The operating status shown is Figure 3 During the change of the operating state shown, the amount of fluid entering the chamber C2 from the chamber C1 is not zero, but is limited, because in the open configuration, the flow cross section between the plug seat 11.5 and the plug 30 is reduced, especially in the second configuration of the sleeve 40, the flow cross section between the sleeve seat 11.6 and the sleeve 40 is significantly smaller. Figure 3 The operating status shown is Figure 4During the change of operating state shown, the amount of fluid flowing from chamber C1 to chamber C2 is much greater, because in the second configuration of sleeve 40, the flow section between sleeve seat 11.6 and sleeve 40 is large. This gradual entry of fluid from chamber C1 to chamber C2 has many advantages, in particular in relation to the control of thermostatic element 20: it prevents thermostatic element 20 from being suddenly affected by a sudden change in the temperature of the fluid in which its body 21 is immersed; moreover, the fluid passing through plug seat 11.5 can flow along the body 21 of the thermostatic element, effectively thermosensitizing the body 21. It will also be understood that the gradualness of the entry of fluid from chamber C1 to chamber C2 can be adjusted by varying the size of the passage sections associated with plug seat 11.5 and sleeve seat 11.6, respectively, in particular by varying the respective diameters of plug seat 11.5 and sleeve seat 11.6. In addition, the axial stroke of the plug 30 can also be changed to change from its closed configuration to an intermediate position of its open configuration, and the throttling characteristics between the plug seat 11.5 and the plug 30, in particular related to the structural and geometric characteristics of the plug seat 11.5 and / or the plug 30, can be changed.

[0071] When the temperature of the thermostatic element 20 decreases, the thermal expansion material 22 contracts, and under the decompression effect of the return springs 50 and 60, the sleeve 40 changes from the second configuration to the first configuration, gradually uncovering the orifice 12.4 in the process of gradually approaching the sleeve seat 11.6, while the plug 30 keeps the open configuration in the process of gradually approaching the plug seat 11.5 until the sleeve 40 returns to the above-mentioned middle position of the first configuration. When the thermal expansion material 22 continues to contract, the sleeve 40 remains in the first configuration, and under the decompression effect of the return spring 50, the plug 30 changes from its open configuration, more precisely from its above-mentioned middle position, to the closed configuration.

[0072] Figure 5-6 An alternative embodiment of the valve 1 is shown in the form of a thermostatic valve 101 .

[0073] The thermostatic valve 101 is similar in function to the thermostatic valve 1, because the thermostatic valve 101 includes: a housing 110, a thermostatic element 120, a plug 130, a sleeve 140, return springs 150 and 160, and a support frame 170, which are similar in function and even structure to the housing 10, the thermostatic element 20, the plug 30, the sleeve 40, the return springs 50 and 60, and the support frame 70 of the thermostatic valve 1. The housing 110 specifically includes a seat body 111 and a tubular body 112, which are similar to the seat body 11 and the tubular body 12, respectively. Figure 5 As can be clearly seen in the figure, the tubular body 112 is provided with an orifice 112.4 similar to the orifice 12.4, which is opened on the inner surface of the tubular body 112 and on a cylindrical surface 112.3 similar to the cylindrical surface 12.3. The sleeve 140 includes a cylindrical baffle 142 similar to the cylindrical baffle 42.

[0074] In this case, the thermostatic valve 101 differs from the thermostatic valve 1 in that, unlike the thermostatic valve 1, the thermostatic valve 101 does not provide that its sleeve 140 does not interfere axially with its housing 110, regardless of the position of the sleeve 140 along the axis XX in its second configuration. To this end, the housing 110 also fixedly carries, in addition to a sleeve seat 111.6 similar to the sleeve seat 11.6 and carried by the seat body 111, a sleeve seat 112.5 advantageously carried by the tubular body 112. The sleeve seat 112.5 is substantially aligned with the sleeve seat 111.6 along the axis XX. When the sleeve 140 is in the second configuration as shown in FIG. Figure 1 In the first configuration shown, the sleeve 140 is away from the sleeve seat 112.5. On the other hand, when the thermal expansion material of the thermostatic element 120 expands, the sleeve 140 in the second configuration is driven by the plug 130 to move relative to the housing 110 along the axis XX direction until it is axially pressed against the sleeve seat 112.5 to prevent the fluid from flowing between the chamber C2 and the orifice 112.4 by passing through the sleeve seat 112.5, as shown in FIG. Figure 6 shown.

[0075] Therefore, when the sleeve 140 is in Figure 6 In the second configuration shown, the axial abutment of the sleeve 140 against the sleeve seat 112.5 substantially limits the fluid communication configuration of the chamber C2 and the cylindrical interface between the outer surface of the cylindrical baffle 142 of the sleeve 140 and the cylindrical surface 112.3 of the inner surface of the tubular body 112. Thus, within the framework of the application example defined above, when the sleeve 140 is in the second configuration, the fluid supplied from the outside of the housing 110 through the channel V2 to the orifice 112.4 is stopped and blocked at the sleeve seat 112.5 against which the sleeve 140 is axially pressed, and cannot flow to the inside of the chamber C2 through the above-mentioned cylindrical interface.

[0076] In practice, the presence of the sleeve seat 112.5 makes the assembly of the thermostatic valve 101 somewhat more complicated than that of the thermostatic valve 1. More specifically, the tubular body 112 can be directly assembled and fastened to the rest of the housing 110 only after the sleeve 140 has been installed in the thermostatic valve 101. The thermostatic valve 101 also advantageously comprises a mounting ring 117 for clamping the seat 111 even before the tubular body 112 is installed, and a sealing lip 114 which, like the sealing lip 14, is held in place by the tubular body 112 in the assembled state of the thermostatic valve 101.

[0077] Figure 7An alternative embodiment of the thermostatic valves 1 and 101 is shown in the form of a thermostatic valve 201. The thermostatic valve 201 is functionally similar to the thermostatic valve 101, in that the thermostatic valve 201 comprises a housing 210, a thermostatic element 220, a plug 230, a sleeve 240 and return springs 250 and 260, which are functionally and even structurally similar to the housing 110, the thermostatic element 120, the plug 130, the sleeve 140 and the return springs 150 and 160, respectively. More specifically, the housing 210 comprises a seat 211 and a tubular body 212, respectively similar to the seat 111 and the tubular body 112. The tubular body 112 is provided with an orifice 212.4 and a sleeve seat 212.5, respectively similar to the orifice 112.4 and the sleeve seat 112.5.

[0078] According to the above, the thermostatic valve 201 differs from the thermostatic valve 101 in that it does not have a support frame similar to the support frame 170. Therefore, the return springs 260 and 250 do not rest against the support frame, but against a support portion 212.6 integral with the housing 210, more specifically with the tubular body 212. The support portion 212.6 extends transversely to the axis XX, forms an axial support for the return springs 250 and 260, and is arranged completely outside the sleeve 240, specifically on the axial side of the sleeve seat 212.5 facing away from the seat 211. In practice, the support portion 212.6 is advantageously made in one piece with the rest of the tubular body 212, which proves to be particularly practical and economical.

[0079] Figure 8-12 An alternative embodiment of the thermostatic valves 1 , 101 and 201 is shown in the form of a thermostatic valve 301 .

[0080] The thermostatic valve 301 is similar in function to the thermostatic valve 201 because the thermostatic valve 301 includes a housing 310, a thermostatic element 320, a plug 330, a sleeve 340, and return springs 350 and 360, which are similar in function or structure to the housing 210, the thermostatic element 220, the plug 230, the sleeve 240, and the return springs 250 and 260, respectively. More specifically, the housing 310 includes a seat body 311 and a tubular body 312, which are similar to the seat body 211 and the tubular body 212, respectively. The tubular body 312 is provided with an orifice 312.4, a sleeve seat 312.5, and a support portion 312.6, which are similar to the orifice 212.4, the sleeve seat 212.5, and the support portion 212.6, respectively. The thermostatic element 320 includes a body 321 and a piston 323, which are similar to the body 21 and the piston 23 of the thermostatic element 20, respectively.

[0081] According to the above, the thermostatic valve 301 differs from the thermostatic valve 201 in that an additional arrangement, namely an overtravel system 380, such as Fig.12As shown, the overtravel system 380 allows the body 321 of the thermostatic element 320 to move away from the piston 323 when the thermal expansion material of the thermostatic element 320 expands, while the sleeve 340 is axially pressed against the sleeve seat 312.5. More specifically, Figure 8-12 In the contemplated embodiment, the overtravel system 380 includes an overtravel spring 381 associated with a dedicated arrangement of the sleeve 340. Thus, the sleeve 340 includes a frame 341, a cylindrical baffle 342, and an arm 343 that are functionally similar to the frame 41, cylindrical baffle 42, and arm 43 of the sleeve 40, respectively, but they differ in structure as follows:

[0082] - an arm 343 connecting the armature 341 and the cylindrical baffle 342 at the axial end of the cylindrical baffle 342, the cylindrical baffle 342 cooperating with the sleeve seat 312.5 by axial support when the sleeve is in the second configuration, and

[0083] - an armature 341, comprising a first part 341.1 and a second part 341.2, the first part 341.1 being fixedly connected to the cylindrical baffle 342 via an arm 343, the second part 341.2 being movable relative to the first part 341.1 along the axis XX and being connected to the first part 341.2 via an overtravel spring 381, so that the first part 341.1 and the second part 341.2 of the armature 341 are movably connected to each other as long as the sleeve 340 does not abut axially against the sleeve seat 312.5, as Figure 8 and Fig.11 When the sleeve 340 abuts axially against the sleeve seat 312.5, the second portion 341.2 can move freely along the axis XX relative to the first portion 341.1 of the armature 341, as shown Fig.12 shown.

[0084] In practice, the overtravel spring 381 has a much greater stiffness than the return spring 360 and is inserted axially between the first portion 341.1 and the second portion 341.2 of the armature 341, while the return spring 360 is inserted axially between the second portion 341.2 of the armature 341 and the support portion 312.6 of the housing 310. Moreover, the valve 330 here comprises an armature 331 similar to the armature 31 of the plug 30, around which the second portion 341.2 of the armature 341 is fitted, in a similar manner as the armature 41 of the sleeve 40 is fitted around the armature 31 of the plug 30. Thus, when the thermally expandable material of the thermostatic element 320 expands, the plug 330 is moved from the thermostatic element 320 by the drive of the plug 330 by the thermostatic element 320 and by the free axial sliding of the armature 331 relative to the second portion 341.2 of the armature 341 of the sleeve 340 which remains stationary in the first configuration. Figure 8 and Fig. 9 The closed configuration shown becomes Fig.10Then, when the thermal expansion material of the thermostatic element 320 continues to expand, the sleeve 340 is moved from the intermediate position of the open configuration by the axial abutment of the armature 331 of the plug 330 driven by the thermostatic element 320 against the second part 341.2 of the armature 341 of the sleeve 340 and the kinematic connection between the first part 341.1 and the second part 341.2 of the armature 341 by the overtravel spring 381. Fig.10 The first configuration shown becomes Fig.11 Then, when the thermal expansion material of the thermostatic element 320 continues to expand further, the sleeve 340 is fixed relative to the housing 310 due to the axial abutment on the sleeve seat 312.5, except for the second part 341.2 of the armature 341 thereof, which is axially driven by the thermostatic element 320 together with the valve 330 by the compression of the overtravel spring 381, as shown. Fig.12 shown.

[0085] It should be understood that the support portion 312.6 of the housing 310 facilitates the integral connection of the overtravel system 380 to the valve 301. According to the above, in practice, Figure 8-12 The illustrated embodiment of over-travel system 380 is not limiting, and many other embodiments of over-travel system 380 are possible, including not having a support portion similar to support portion 312 . 6 , but having a support frame similar to support frame 70 or 170 .

[0086] Various arrangements and modifications of the thermostatic valves 1, 101, 201 and 301 described so far are conceivable. For example:

[0087] - the electrical heating resistor 24 and the arrangement associated with the latter can be omitted; in this case, the expansion of the thermostatic element is controlled solely by the heat of the fluid in which its body is immersed;

[0088] - the geometry of the housing 10, 110, 210 or 310 may be modified with respect to the geometry envisaged in the figures, in particular in order to adapt it to the installation environment of the thermostatic valve 1, 101, 201, 301 and / or to facilitate its manufacture and / or to adapt it to other flow directions of the fluid in the thermostatic valve with respect to the channels V1, V2 and V3; and / or

[0089] - The thermostatic element 20, 120, 220 or 320 can be functionally connected to the rest of the thermostatic valve 1, 101, 201, 301 in a manner opposite to that in the figure; in other words, in this case, the body of the thermostatic element is fixedly connected to the housing 10, 110, 210, 310, while the piston of the thermostatic element drives the plug 30, 130, 230, 330 and the sleeve 40, 140, 240, 340.

[0090] Finally, according to a variant (not shown), the thermostatic valve 1 , 101 , 201 or 301 has no orifice 12 . 4 , 112 . 4 , 212 . 4 , 312 . 4 and more generally no arrangement for controlling the flow of a fluid through such an orifice by uncovering / covering the sleeve 40 , 140 , 240 , 340 radially to the axis XX.

Claims

1. A thermostatic valve (1; 101; 201; 301), comprising: - a housing (10; 110; 210; 310) in which a first chamber (C1) and a second chamber (C2) are arranged which can be directly connected to each other so that a fluid flows inside the housing, and the first chamber (C1) and the second chamber (C2) can each be directly connected to the outside of the housing so that a fluid enters and / or leaves the housing through the relevant chamber, wherein the housing fixedly supports two different seats, namely a plug seat (11.5) and a first sleeve seat (11.6; 111.6); a thermostatic element (20; 120; 220; 320) comprising a fixed portion (23; 323) fixedly connected to the housing, and a movable portion (21; 321) movable relative to the fixed portion along an axis (XX), the fixed portion and the movable portion being axially displaced from each other under the effect of expansion of the thermally expandable material (22) of the thermostatic element; - a plug (30; 130; 230; 330) movable relative to the housing along an axis (XX) to switch between a closed configuration, in which the plug is axially pressed against the plug seat (11.5) to prevent fluid from flowing through the plug seat between the first chamber and the second chamber (C1, C2), and an open configuration in which the plug is away from the plug seat to allow fluid to flow through the plug seat between the first chamber and the second chamber; and - a sleeve (40; 140; 240; 340) movable relative to the housing along an axis (XX) to switch between a first configuration in which the sleeve is axially pressed against the first sleeve seat (11.6; 111.6) to prevent a fluid from flowing between the first chamber and the second chamber through the first sleeve seat, and a second configuration in which the sleeve is away from the first sleeve seat to allow a fluid to flow between the first chamber and the second chamber through the first sleeve seat; The plug (30; 130; 230; 330) is connected to the movable part (21; 321) of the thermostatic element (20; 120; 220; 320) and to the sleeve (40; 140; 240; 340), so that when the thermal expansion material (22) expands: - the movable part drives the plug from the closed configuration to the open configuration relative to the housing (10; 110; 210; 310) along the axis (XX) until the plug occupies a preset intermediate position, while the sleeve is immobile relative to the housing and remains in its first configuration; and then - the bung in the open configuration is driven by the movable part along the axis relative to the housing beyond the intermediate position while the sleeve is driven along the axis relative to the housing from the first configuration to the second configuration.

2. Thermostatic valve according to claim 1, wherein in an orthogonal projection on a geometrical plane perpendicular to the axis (XX), the plug seat (11.5) is inserted into the first sleeve seat (11.6; 111.6).

3. The thermostatic valve according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the plug (30; 130; 230; 330) is fixedly connected to the movable part (21; 321) of the thermostatic element (20; 120; 220; 320) along an axis (XX), and The sleeve (40; 140; 240; 340) is assembled with the plug (30; 130; 230; 330): - said stopper is free to slide along an axis (XX) when it is driven between said closed configuration and said intermediate position; and - the bung is fixable along the axis when it is driven beyond the intermediate position in the open configuration.

4. Thermostatic valve according to claim 3, wherein the plug (30; 130; 230; 330) has an armature (31: 331) which is fixedly mounted around the movable part (21; 321) of the thermostatic element (20; 120; 220; 320) directly along the axis (XX), and wherein the sleeve (40; 140; 240; 340) comprises an armature (41; 341) which is mounted on the plug around the armature (31:331) so that: (i) when the valve is driven between the closed configuration and the intermediate position, the armature (41;341) of the sleeve and the armature (31:331) of the plug can slide freely relative to each other along the axis, and (ii) when the valve in the open configuration is driven beyond the intermediate position, the armature (41;341) of the sleeve and the armature (31:331) of the plug are fixedly connected to each other along the axis by axial abutment.

5. Thermostatic valve according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the thermostatic valve (1; 101; 201; 301) further comprises: - a first return spring (50; 150; 250; 350) compressed along the axis (XX) and inserted directly or indirectly between the housing (10; 110; 210; 310) and the plug (30; 130; 230; 330) to drive the plug from the open configuration to the closed configuration when the thermally expandable material (22) contracts; as well as - a second return spring (60; 160; 260; 360) compressed along the axis (XX) and inserted directly or indirectly between the housing and the sleeve (40; 140; 240; 340) to drive the sleeve from the second configuration to the first configuration when the thermally expandable material contracts.

6. The thermostatic valve according to claim 5, wherein the thermostatic valve (1; 101) comprises a support frame (70; 170), the first return spring (50; 150) and the second return spring (60; 160) are axially pressed against the support frame, the support frame is fixedly connected to the housing (10; 110) and extends from the housing in the sleeve (40; 140) substantially parallel to the axis (XX).

7. Thermostatic valve according to claim 5, wherein the housing (210; 310) comprises a support portion (212.6; 312.6), the first return spring (250; 350) and the second return spring (260; 360) are axially pressed against the support portion, the support portion extending transversely to the axis (XX) and being arranged completely outside the sleeve (240; 340).

8. Thermostatic valve according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the housing (10; 110; 210; 310) has at least one orifice (12.4; 112.4; 212.4; 312.4) which: - connecting said second chamber (C2) and the exterior of said housing in a direction substantially radial to the axis (XX); - not covered by said sleeve (40; 140; 240; 340) in said first configuration, so as to allow a fluid to flow radially to the axis (XX) between said second chamber (C2) and the outside of said housing through said at least one orifice; and - covered by said sleeve in a direction substantially radial to the axis (XX) in said second configuration so as to prevent a fluid from flowing radially to the axis between said second chamber and the exterior of said housing through said at least one orifice.

9. The thermostatic valve according to claim 8, The housing (110; 210; 310) fixedly supports the second sleeve seat (112.5; 212.5; 312.5), The sleeve (140; 240; 340) in the first configuration is away from the second sleeve seat, and when the thermal expansion material expands, the sleeve in the second configuration is axially driven relative to the housing through the plug (130; 230; 330) until it axially abuts against the second sleeve seat to prevent fluid from flowing through the second sleeve seat through at least one of the second chambers (C2) and the at least one orifice (112.4; 212.4; 312.4).

10. Thermostatic valve according to claim 9, wherein the thermostatic valve (301) comprises an overtravel system (380), which allows the movable part (321) to move away from the fixed part (323) of the thermostatic element (320) when the thermal expansion material expands, while the sleeve (340) is axially pressed against the second sleeve seat (312.5).

11. Thermostatic valve according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the housing (10) has a guide plate (15) for blocking the fluid passing the plug seat (11.5) transversely to the axis (XX).

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