Ceramic disc valve cartridge
AssigneeSpectrum Brands, Inc.
InventorJan van Leyen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A valve cartridge includes a valve body that defines a hot water port that has a first end and a second end. The valve body includes a cold water port that has a first end and a second end. The valve cartridge includes a rotatable control stem that is disposed at least partially within the valve body. The valve body includes a main flow control disc that is coupled to the control stem. The main flow control disc has a cold water opening and a hot water opening. The valve cartridge includes a first auxiliary disc positioned between the first end of the hot water port and the main flow control disc and a second auxiliary disc positioned between the first end of the cold water port and the main flow control disc.
Claims19
A valve cartridge comprising:
- a valve body defining:
- a hot water port fluidically connected to a hot water recess;
- and
- a cold water port fluidically connected to a cold water recess;
- a rotatable control stem disposed at least partially within the valve body;
- a main flow control disc coupled to the control stem, the main flow control disc having a cold water opening and a hot water opening;
- a first auxiliary disc positioned between a first end of the hot water port and the main flow control disc, the first auxiliary disc being positioned at least partially within the hot water recess;
- and
- a second auxiliary disc positioned between a first end of the cold water port and the main flow control disc, the second auxiliary disc being positioned at least partially within the cold water recess;
- a first seal forming a seal between the hot water recess and the first auxiliary disc;
- and
- a second seal forming a seal between the cold water recess and the second auxiliary disc;
- wherein the main flow control disc, the first auxiliary disc, and the second auxiliary disc are constructed of a ceramic material.
A fluid control assembly comprising:
- a valve cartridge positioned within the fluid control assembly, the valve cartridge comprising:
- a valve body defining:
- a hot water port fluidically connected to a hot water recess;
- and
- a cold water port fluidically connected to a cold water recess;
- a rotatable control stem disposed at least partially within the valve body;
- a main flow control disc coupled to the control stem, the main flow control disc having a cold water opening and a hot water opening;
- a first auxiliary disc positioned between a first end of the hot water port and the main flow control disc, the first auxiliary disc being positioned at least partially within the hot water recess;
- and
- a second auxiliary disc positioned between a first end of the cold water port and the main flow control disc, the second auxiliary disc being positioned at least partially within the cold water recess;
- a first seal forming a seal between the hot water recess and the first auxiliary disc;
- and
- a second seal forming a seal between the cold water recess and the second auxiliary disc;
- wherein the main flow control disc, the first auxiliary disc, and the second auxiliary disc are constructed of a ceramic material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.