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US 10,376,849 B2Granted
Methods and apparatus for creating turbulence in a thermostatic mixing valve
AssigneeMagarl, LLC
InventorThomas R. Baker
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Mixing valve turbulence generators and methods are disclosed. Embodiments include turbulence generation apparatuses and methods that increase the turbulence of, impart swirl to, reverse the direction of, create tortuous paths for, and/or accelerate the mixing of hot and cold fluid within a valve assembly. Alternate embodiments include angled radial slots, angled surfaces and fin-like baffles to enhance the mixing of hot and cold fluids.
Claims26
An apparatus for controlling a mixing of multiple water streams, comprising:
- a body having hot and cold water inlets, a mixed water outlet, a water inlet chamber in fluid communication with at least one of the hot or cold inlets, and a water outlet chamber in fluid communication with the mixed water outlet;
- a thermostat being located within the water outlet chamber and a rod extending from said thermostat into the water inlet chamber;
- a mixing valve located within the water inlet chamber, said mixing valve including a water entrance and a water exit and a piston located within said body and being slidable relative to said body, said thermostat being operably coupled to said piston to control the position of said piston relative to said body;
- and
- a turbulence generating member located proximate to one of the water entrance or water exit, said turbulence generating member defining an aperture through which said rod passes, said turbulence generating member including a circular outer ring and a plurality of vanes extending radially from the aperture to the outer ring, said plurality of vanes being adapted and configured to impart a swirl to water passing thereover:
- wherein said turbulence generating member is a first turbulence generating member, said plurality of vanes is a first plurality of vanes, and said aperture is a first aperture, and which further comprises a second turbulence generating member located at the other of the water entrance or water exit, said second turbulence generating member defining a second aperture through which said rod passes, said second turbulence generating member including a second circular outer ring and a second plurality of vanes extending radially from the second aperture to the second outer ring, said second plurality of vanes being adapted and configured to impart a swirl to water passing thereover.
3 more elements
An apparatus for controlling a mixing of multiple water streams, comprising:
- a body having hot and cold water inlets, a mixed water outlet, a water inlet chamber in fluid communication with at least one of the hot or cold inlets, and a water outlet chamber in fluid communication with the mixed water outlet;
- a thermostat being located within the water outlet chamber and a rod extending from said thermostat toward the water inlet chamber;
- a mixing valve located within the water inlet chamber, said mixing valve including a water entrance and a water exit, said thermostat being operably coupled to said mixing valve to respond to the temperature of the water in the water outlet chamber;
- and
- a turbulence generating member located at one of the water entrance or water exit, said turbulence generating member defining an aperture through which said rod passes, said turbulence generating member including a plurality of vanes extending radially outward from the aperture, said plurality of vanes being adapted and configured to impart a swirl to water passing thereover;
- wherein said turbulence generating member is a first turbulence generating member, said plurality of vanes is a first plurality of vanes, and said aperture is a first aperture, and which further comprises a second turbulence generating member located at the other of the water entrance or water exit, said second turbulence generating member defining a second aperture through which said rod passes, said second turbulence generating member including a second plurality of vanes extending radially outward from the second aperture, said second plurality of vanes being adapted and configured to impart a swirl to water passing thereover.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.