Mixer valve device
AssigneeCaleffi S.p.A.
InventorMarco Caleffi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A mixer valve device, in particular for mixing hot and cold water, has a movable shutter that adjusts the flow of hot water and of cold water into a mixing chamber so as to have in the outlet mixed hot/cold water at a given preset temperature; the device combines a gearmotor and a thermostat; during the step of setting the device the gearmotor moves the shutter to the position substantially corresponding to the required temperature of the mixed water; the thermostat maintains the required temperature within a preset tolerance by moving the shutter correspondingly. A mixer valve device is thus made that has reduced mechanical wear and low electric consumption and is safe and reliable.
Claims9
A mixer valve for mixing hot and cold fluids, comprising
- (a) a valve body having a longitudinal axis and including a hot water inlet conduit, a cold water inlet conduit, and a mixing chamber for receiving water from said hot and cold water conduits;
- (b) a mixed water outlet conduit connected with said valve body for receiving mixed water at a preset temperature;
- (c) a thermostat arranged within said mixing chamber coaxial with said valve body and including a movable shutter adjacent to said hot and cold water inlet conduits;
- (d) a hollow shaft arranged coaxially within and connected with said valve body via a screw coupling for axial displacement relative to said valve body;
- (e) an elastically yieldable abutting element mounted within one end of said hollow shaft in such a manner as to permit seepage of water into said hollow shaft, an end of said thermostat engaging said abutting element via an elastic force;
- (f) at least one gasket arranged on an outer surface of said hollow shaft adjacent to said screw coupling between said hollow shaft and said valve body to insulate said screw coupling from water in said mixing chamber;
- and
- (g) an electric motor including a drive shaft extending within said valve body for connection with an end of said hollow shaft opposite said elastic abutting element, said connection between said drive shaft and said hollow shaft permitting seepage of water into said hollow shaft, thereby to provide opposing hydraulic forces and a hydraulic balance within said hollow shaft, said electric motor being operable between an activated state in which said drive shaft rotates said hollow shaft to axially displace said hollow shaft, said thermostat and said shutter to adjust the flow of hot and cold water to said mixing chamber to obtain a desired temperature of mixed water in said mixing chamber and a deactivated state in which said thermostat maintains the desired temperature within a preset tolerance by corresponding displacement of said shutter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.