# US 10,697,552 B2 · Faucet valve > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,697,552 B2 - Document ID: US10697552B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/870,327 - Filed: 2018-01-12 - Published: 2018-07-26 - Granted: 2020-06-30 - Earliest claimed: 2017-01-26 - Assignees: Toto Ltd. - Applicants: Toto Ltd. - Inventors: Saori Ukigai; Atsushi Teramoto; Yuji Naka - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10697552B2 ## CPC - F16K 11/06: comprising only sliding valves {, i.e. sliding closure elements} - C04B 41/009: {characterised by the material treated} - C04B 41/52: Multiple coating or impregnating {multiple coating or impregnating with the same composition or with compositions only differing in the concentration of the constituents, is classified as single coating or impregnation} - C04B 41/89: for obtaining at least two superposed coatings having different compositions - C04B 41/90: at least one coating being a metal - C23C 14/022: {by means of bombardment with energetic particles or radiation} - C23C 14/025: {Metallic sublayers} - C23C 14/0605: {Carbon} - C23C 16/0245: {by etching with a plasma} - C23C 16/0272: {Deposition of sub-layers, e.g. to promote the adhesion of the main coating} - C23C 16/26: Deposition of carbon only - F16K 25/005: {Particular materials for seats or closure elements} - F16K 25/02: Arrangements using fluid issuing from valve members or seats - F16K 27/04: of sliding valves - C04B 2111/00353: {Sliding parts} - F16K 19/006: {Specially adapted for faucets} - F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)} - C04B: LIME, MAGNESIA; SLAG; CEMENTS; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF, e.g. MORTARS, CONCRETE OR LIKE BUILDING MATERIALS; ARTIFICIAL STONE {(roofing granules E04D7/005)}; CERAMICS (devitrified glass-ceramics C03C10/00); REFRACTORIES; TREATMENT OF NATURAL STONE - C23C: COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL BY DIFFUSION INTO THE SURFACE, BY CHEMICAL CONVERSION OR SUBSTITUTION; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL (making metal-coated products by extrusion B21C23/22; covering with metal by connecting pre-existing layers to articles, see the relevant places, e.g. B21D39/00, B23K; metallising of glass C03C; metallising mortars, concrete, artificial stone, ceramics or natural stone C04B41/00; enamelling of, or applying a vitreous layer to, metals C23D; treating metal surfaces or coating of metals by electrolysis or electrophoresis C25D; single-crystal film growth C30B; by metallising textiles D06M11/83; decorating textiles by locally metallising D06Q1/04) ## Abstract Disclosed is a faucet valve including: a first valve body including a first slide surface, and formed from an alumina-based sintered body; and a second valve body including a second slide surface, and formed from an alumina-based sintered body, the first and second slide surfaces at least partially being in contact with each other with water in between. At least part of the second slide body is formed from a first amorphous carbon layer. The hardness of the first amorphous carbon layer is equal to or less than that of the alumina-based sintered body forming the first valve body. In the first amorphous carbon layer, a ratio (ID/IG) of a D peak to a G peak, measured by Raman spectroscopy, is greater than 0.5 but less than 1.9. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A faucet valve comprising: a first valve body including a first slide surface, and formed from an alumina-based sintered body; and a second valve body including a second slide surface, and formed from an alumina-based sintered body, the first and second slide surfaces at least partially being in contact with each other with water in between, wherein a first amorphous carbon layer is provided to at least part of the second slide surface, hardness of the first amorphous carbon layer is equal to or less than that of the alumina-based sintered body forming the first valve body, and in the first amorphous carbon layer, a ratio (ID/IG) of a D peak to a G peak, measured by Raman spectroscopy, is greater than 0.5 but less than 1.9. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The faucet valve according to claim 1, wherein the ratio (ID/IG) is greater than 1.0 but less than 1.5. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The faucet valve according to claim 1, wherein the ratio (ID/IG) is 1.1 or greater but 1.4 or less. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The faucet valve according to claim 1, wherein N/(N+S) measured by Raman spectroscopy is less than 0.33. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The faucet valve according to claim 1, wherein N/(N+S) measured by Raman spectroscopy is 0.31 or less. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The faucet valve according to claim 5, wherein the N/(N+S) is 0.23 or greater. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The faucet valve according to claim 1, wherein the hardness of the first amorphous carbon layer is 30 GPa or less. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The faucet valve according to claim 1, wherein the hardness of the first amorphous carbon layer is 25 GPa or less. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The faucet valve according to claim 1, wherein surface roughness of the first amorphous carbon layer is less than 0.3 μm. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The faucet valve according to claim 1, wherein the first amorphous carbon layer further contains at least one element selected from the group consisting of Si, CI, F, N and O as a third element. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The faucet valve according to claim 1, wherein a second amorphous carbon layer is provided to at least part of the first slide surface. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The faucet valve according to claim 11, wherein the hardness of the first amorphous carbon layer is different from the hardness of the second amorphous carbon layer. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The faucet valve according to claim 11, wherein the second amorphous carbon layer further contains at least one element selected from the group consisting of Si, CI, F, N and O as a third element. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The faucet valve according to claim 11, further comprising a first intermediate layer between the second amorphous carbon layer and the first valve body. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The faucet valve according to claim 14, further comprising a first composite layer or a first inclination layer between the second amorphous carbon layer and the first intermediate layer, wherein the first composite layer is a layer containing amorphous carbon and the same intermediate layer material as that contained in the first intermediate layer, and the first inclination layer is a layer containing amorphous carbon and the same intermediate layer material as that contained in the first intermediate layer, where a content of the intermediate layer material decreases from the first intermediate layer toward the second amorphous carbon layer. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The faucet valve according to claim 1, further comprising a second intermediate layer between the first amorphous carbon layer and the second valve body. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The faucet valve according to claim 16, further comprising a second composite layer or a second inclination layer between the first amorphous carbon layer and the second intermediate layer, wherein the second composite layer is a layer that contains amorphous carbon and the same intermediate layer material as that contained in the second intermediate layer, and the second inclination layer is a layer that contains amorphous carbon and the same intermediate layer material as that contained in the second intermediate layer, where a content of the intermediate layer material decreases from the second intermediate layer toward the first amorphous carbon layer. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The faucet valve according to claim 14, wherein the first intermediate layer contain at least one intermediate layer material selected from the group consisting of Cr, W, Ti, Si and Al. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The faucet valve according to claim 16, wherein the second intermediate layer contain at least one intermediate layer material selected from the group consisting of Cr, W, Ti, Si and Al. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The faucet valve according to claim 1, wherein the hardness of the first amorphous carbon layer is greater than 8 GPa.