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US 12,710,103 B2Granted
Hot water mixing valve
AssigneeWatts Regulator Co.
InventorMahyar Esmaili
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A mixing valve including a body having first and second inlets, an outlet, and a mixing chamber. A first valve seat is located between the first inlet and the mixing chamber, and a second valve seat is located between the second inlet and the mixing chamber. A shuttle is moveable in the mixing chamber between the first and second valve seats and includes a first plug facing the first valve seat and a second plug facing the second valve seat. The plugs have trim surfaces that are one of, or a combination of, a fast-opening shape, a linear shape, and an equal percentage shape.
Claims23
A valve comprising:
- a body having,
- a first inlet and a second inlet,
- an outlet,
- a mixing chamber,
- a first passageway connecting the first inlet to the mixing chamber, and a second passageway connecting the second inlet to the mixing chamber,
- a third passageway connecting the mixing chamber to the outlet,
- a first valve seat located between the first passageway and the mixing chamber, and
- a second valve seat located between the second passageway and the mixing chamber;
- and
- a shuttle located in the mixing chamber and movable between the first and second valve seats, from a first position where the shuttle contacts the first valve seat to block fluid flow at least partially from the first passageway into the mixing chamber and a second position where the shuttle contacts the second valve seat to block fluid flow at least partially from the second passageway into the mixing chamber,
- wherein the body further comprises:
- a central conduit extending between first and second open ends, the central conduit defining the mixing chamber,
- a first sleeve insert received in the first open end of the central conduit and partially defining the first passageway, an end of the first sleeve insert defining the first valve seat,
- a second sleeve insert received in the second open end of the central conduit and partially defining the second passageway, an end of the second sleeve insert defining the second valve seat,
- a first end cap closing the first open end of the central conduit and defining a bore,
- a second end cap closing the second open end of the central conduit and defining a bore,
- wherein the shuttle further comprises a stem having a first end and a second end, and a first plugs and a second plug are located on the stem, and
- wherein the first end of the stem is slidingly received in the bore of the first end cap and the second end of the stem is slidingly received in the bore of the second end cap.
15 more elements
A valve comprising:
- a mixing chamber having two inlets and an outlet, a first valve seat located between the first inlet and the mixing chamber, and a second valve seat located between the second inlet and the mixing chamber;
- a first passageway connecting the first inlet to the mixing chamber and a second passageway connecting the second inlet to the mixing chamber;
- and
- a shuttle assembly located in the mixing chamber and movable between the two inlets, from a first position where the shuttle blocks fluid flow at least partially from the first inlet into the mixing chamber and a second position where the shuttle blocks fluid flow at least partially from the second inlet into the mixing chamber, the shuttle including:
- a first plug facing the first valve seat, the first plug having a trim surface extending between a distal end and a proximal end, the proximal end being spaced further from the first valve seat than the distal end, wherein the trim surface includes at least one concave section and at least one convex section between the distal and proximal ends, and
- a second plug facing the second valve seat, the second plug having a trim surface extending between a distal end and a proximal end, the proximal end of the second plug being spaced further from the second valve seat than the distal end of the second plug, wherein the trim surface includes at least one concave section and at least one convex section between the distal and proximal ends,
- wherein the at least one concave section and the at least one convex section of the trim surface of each of the first plug and the second plug collectively define a non-linear metering profile such that axial displacement of the shuttle produces a non-linear relationship between shuttle position and flow rate into the mixing chamber.
4 more elements
A mixing valve comprising:
- a chamber having:
- a first and second inlet;
- an outlet;
- a first and second passageway connecting the first and second inlet to the chamber;
- and
- a first valve seat located between the first passageway and the chamber, and a second valve seat located between the second passageway and the chamber;
- and
- a shuttle assembly having:
- a first plug facing the first valve seat, an outer diameter of the first plug being larger at a proximal end than at a distal end such that the first plug has a tapered profile, and
- a second plug facing the second valve seat, an outer diameter of the second plug being larger at a proximal end than at a distal end of the second plug such that the second plug has a tapered profile,
- wherein the proximal end of the first plug and the proximal end of the second plug define opposing proximal faces that directly contact one another to form a common interface, the tapered profile of the first plug extending in a first axial direction from the common interface and the tapered profile of the second plug extending in an opposite axial direction from the common interface, the shuttle assembly being axially displaceable to produce a non-linear relationship between shuttle position and flow rate of fluid from the first and second passageways into the chamber, wherein the shuttle assembly is configured to:
- in a first position, contact the first valve seat via the distal end of the first plug to block fluid flow at least partially from the first passageway into the chamber;
- and
- in a second position, contact the second valve seat via the distal end of the second plug to block fluid flow at least partially from the second passageway into the chamber.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.