Control device having a shape memory wire, refrigerator system utilizing the control device and methods of making the same

摘要

A control device, refrigerator system utilizing the control device and methods of making the same are provided, the control device comprising a housing having a valve seat and having an inlet and an outlet interconnected together by the valve seat, a movable valve member carried by the housing and being adapted to open and close the valve seat by being respectively moved to an open position thereof and a closed position thereof, and a shape memory unit carried by the housing and being operatively interconnected to the valve member to move the valve member to one of the positions thereof by the unit sensing a temperature above a first temperature and to move the valve member to the other of the positions thereof by the unit sensing a temperature below a second temperature, the shape memory unit comprising a shape memory wire having opposed ends interconnected to the housing and having an intermediate portion thereof operatively interconnected to said valve member.