US 2008/0164330 A1 · Water mixing valve

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a thermostatic water mixing valve having a sub-base coupled to a base, both having a hot water inlet, a cold water inlet and a mixed water outlet. A disk assembly including a lower or stationary disk and an upper or rotatable disk are positioned on the base. Each disk includes a hot water inlet, a cold water inlet and a central opening. The lower disk also has a peripheral notch that receives an extent of an engaging member that extends from a sidewall of the base, while the upper disk has a peripheral cavity that also receives an extent of the engaging member. A cap is coupled to the upper disk, wherein the cap and the upper disk rotate as a unit with respect to the lower disk. The cap has a hot water cavity and cold water cavity positioned about a central opening. A cartridge assembly extends through the cap and includes a collar with at least one aperture aligned with the cold water cavity of the cap. The cartridge assembly also has a depending skirt with at least one aperture aligned with the hot water cavity of the cap. The cartridge assembly further has a vertically displaceable slide bolt, a spring and temperature sensor positioned within the collar. An internal mixing chamber is defined within the slide bolt and the skirt of the collar. The mixing chamber receives both hot water flowing from the hot water cavity through at least one aperture in the skirt and cold water flowing from the cold water cavity through both the aperture in the collar and at least one aperture in the slide bolt. Mixed water is discharged from the mixing chamber through the water outlets in the base and the sub-base and then to the faucet connect to the mixing valve.

Claims26

Dependent claims

A thermostatic water mixing valve comprising:

a base having a hot water inlet, a cold water and mixed water outlet, the base further having a peripheral sidewall with an upwardly extending engaging member;
a lower disk positioned on the base, the lower disk having a hot water inlet, a cold water inlet and a central opening, the lower disk further having a peripheral notch that receives a lower portion of the engaging member of the base;
an upper disk rotatably positioned on the stationary disk, the upper disk having a hot water inlet, a cold water inlet and a central opening, the upper disk further having a peripheral channel that receives an upper portion of the engaging member of the base;
a cap coupled to the upper disk, wherein the cap and the upper disk rotate as a unit with respect to the lower disk, the cap having a hot water cavity and cold water cavity positioned about a central opening;
a cartridge assembly;
and,
an internal mixing chamber.

4 more elements

A thermostatic water mixing valve comprising:

a disk assembly having a lower disk coupled to the base and an upper disk rotatably positioned on the lower disk, wherein each disk has a hot water inlet and a cold water inlet;
a cap rotatably coupled to the upper disk, the cap having a hot water cavity and cold water cavity;
a cartridge assembly extending downward through the cap and having a collar with at least one aperture aligned with the cold water cavity of the cap, the cartridge assembly also having a depending skirt with at least one aperture aligned with the hot water cavity of the cap, the cartridge assembly further having a vertically displaceable slide bolt and an internal mixing chamber within the collar;
a hot water flow path that extends through the aligned hot water inlets of the sub-base, the base, the lower disk and the upper disk, and wherein the hot water flow path further extends through both the hot water cavity and the aperture in the skirt and into the mixing chamber;
and,
a cold water flow path that extends through the aligned cold water inlets of the sub-base, the base, the lower disk and the upper disk, and wherein the cold water flow path further extends upward through both the cold water cavity and the aperture in the collar and then downward through an aperture in the slide bolt;
and,
wherein the hot water flow path and the cold water flow path converge in the mixing chamber to provide a mixed water composition.

5 more elements

A thermostatic water mixing valve comprising:

a disk assembly having a lower disk coupled to the base and an upper disk rotatably positioned on the lower disk, wherein each disk has a hot water inlet and a cold water inlet;
a cap rotatably coupled to the upper disk, the cap having a hot water cavity and cold water cavity;
a cartridge assembly extending through the cap and comprising:
a collar with at least one aperture aligned with the cold water cavity of the cap, the collar having a depending skirt with at least one aperture aligned with the hot water cavity of the cap,
a vertically displaceable slide bolt operably connected to a temperature sensor;
a spindle assembly with a spindle, a spindle regulator and a temperature sensor strut;
an internal, hot and cold water mixing chamber;
and,
wherein in a mixed water flow position, an upper lip of the slide bolt is positioned a distance from the spindle regulator to define a clearance, and wherein cold water flows from the cold water cavity through both the aperture in the collar and the clearance and then into the mixing chamber via the cold water inlet in the slide bolt, and wherein hot water flows from the hot water cavity through at least one aperture in the skirt and into the mixing chamber.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Water mixing valve

Life of this patent

Water mixing valve

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims26