Mixing valve

A mixing valve for use in controlling the mixture of two supplies of water having different temperatures, the mixing valve comprising:

• a cold water inlet configured to receive a supply of cold water;
• a hot water inlet configured to receive a supply of hot water;
• an outlet configured to output cold water or hot water or a mixture thereof from the mixing valve;
• a first flow control valve for controlling the flow of cold water from the cold water inlet to the water outlet;
• a second flow control valve for controlling the flow of hot water from the hot water inlet to the water outlet;
• wherein each of the first and second flow control valves include a valve inlet communicating with the associated water inlet, first and second valve outlets communicating with the water outlet, and a valve member assembly to control the flow of water through the first and second valve outlets;
• wherein each valve member assembly includes a first valve member configured to engage with a first valve seat associated with the first valve outlet in a closed position of the flow control valve and a second valve member configured to engage with a second, separate, valve seat associated with the second valve outlet in the closed position of the flow control valve;
• wherein the first valve member is configured to be urged closed by water entering through the valve inlet and the second valve member is configured to be urged open by water entering through the valve inlet such that, when in use, water flowing through the first flow control valve exerts substantially no net force on the valve member assembly of the first flow control valve and water flowing through the second flow control valve exerts substantially no net force on the valve member assembly of the second flow control valve.

A mixing valve for use in controlling the mixture of two supplies of fluid, the mixing valve comprising:

• a first inlet configured to receive a supply of a first fluid;
• a second inlet configured to receive a supply of a second fluid;
• a mixing chamber in fluid communication with the first and second inlets for creating a mixed fluid comprising the first fluid and the second fluid;
• an outlet in fluid communication with the mixing chamber for directing the mixed fluid out of the mixing valve;
• a first flow control valve associated with the first inlet;
• a second flow control valve associated with the second inlet;
• wherein each of the first and second flow control valves include a valve inlet communicating with the associated water inlet, first and second valve outlets communicating with the water outlet, and a valve member assembly to control the flow of water through the first and second valve outlets;
• wherein each valve member assembly includes a first valve member adapted to engage with a first valve seat associated with the first valve outlet in a closed position of the flow control valve and a second valve member adapted to engage with a second, separate, valve seat associated with the second valve outlet in the closed position of the flow control valve;
• wherein the first valve member is configured to be urged closed by water entering through the valve inlet and the second valve member is configured to be urged open by water entering through the valve inlet such that, when in use, fluid flowing through the first flow control valve exerts substantially no net force on the valve member assembly of the first flow control valve and fluid flowing through the second flow control valve exerts substantially no net force on the valve member assembly of the second flow control valve.