Mixing valve with profiled plunger for linearized temperature output
AssigneeHaier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
InventorsGregory Hutchison, Alan George Constance, Jonathan D. Nelson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A mixing valve for a water heater appliance includes a valve body that defines a mixing chamber, the mixing chamber being in fluid communication with a cold water inlet conduit and a hot water inlet conduit. The cold water inlet conduit defines a profiled junction defining an inlet orifice and a plunger valve is mounted within the valve body and is moveable relative to the inlet orifice to regulate a flow of water through the inlet orifice. A distal end of the plunger valve defines a profiled sealing face, the profiled sealing face and the inlet orifice being cooperative to permit a flow rate that is substantially proportional to a valve position.
Claims20
A water heater appliance, comprising:
- a tank defining an interior volume for holding water;
- a cold water supply configured for directing cold water into the interior volume of the tank;
- a heating assembly for heating water within the tank;
- a hot water supply configured for directing heated water out of the interior volume of the tank;
- and
- a mixing valve in fluid communication with the cold water supply and the hot water supply, the mixing valve being configured for selectively mixing the heated water from the hot water supply and the cold water from the cold water supply, the mixing valve comprising:
- a valve body that defines a mixing chamber;
- an inlet conduit that is fluidly coupled to the mixing chamber at an inlet orifice;
- and
- a plunger valve mounted within the valve body, the plunger valve being moveable relative to the inlet orifice to regulate a flow of water through the inlet orifice, wherein a distal end of the plunger valve defines a profiled sealing face, the profiled sealing face and the inlet orifice being cooperative to permit a flow rate that is substantially proportional to a valve position.
A mixing valve for a water heater appliance, the mixing valve comprising:
- a valve body that defines a mixing chamber;
- a hot water inlet conduit providing fluid communication between the mixing chamber and a hot water supply;
- a cold water inlet conduit providing fluid communication between the mixing chamber and a cold water supply, the cold water inlet conduit comprising a profiled junction defining an inlet orifice;
- and
- a plunger valve mounted within the valve body, the plunger valve being moveable relative to the inlet orifice to regulate a flow of water through the inlet orifice, wherein a distal end of the plunger valve defines a profiled sealing face, the profiled sealing face and the inlet orifice being cooperative to permit a flow rate that is substantially proportional to a valve position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.