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US 5,341,987 AGranted
Temperature control flow valve
AssigneeWatts Investment Company
InventorRand H. Ackroyd
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A temperature control flow valve has a body defining conduits for connection to sources of cold and hot water, a chamber for mixing the water, and a thermostat element for maintaining the temperature of the mixed water at or below a predetermined maximum temperature. The cold and hot water are combined through a mixing valve in a ratio adjusted continuously by means of the thermostat element to provide the mixed water at the predetermined temperature. The flow valve includes cold water and hot water pressure regulators responsive to the ratio of cold water to hot water pressures to substantially balance the pressure of the hot water and the pressure of the cold water delivered through the regulator.
Claims21
A temperature control flow valve comprising
- a body, said body defining a first conduit having a cold water inlet adapted for attachment to a source of cold water, a second conduit having a hot water inlet adapted for attachment to a source of hot water, at least a first mixing chamber, said first conduit having a cold water outlet for flow of cold water into said first mixing chamber, and said second conduit having a hot water outlet for flow of hot water into said first mixing chamber, and a mixed water outlet adapted for attachment to a conduit system for delivery of mixed water to one or more points of use;
- a cold water pressure regulator adapted to control the pressure of cold water flowing toward said cold water outlet, said cold water pressure regulator comprising a cold water valve element disposed for movement relative to an opposed cold water valve seat in a manner to regulate the flow of cold water through a cold water valve opening;
- a hot water pressure regulator adapted to control the pressure of hot water flowing toward said hot water outlet, said hot water pressure regulator comprising a hot water valve element disposed for movement relative to an opposed hot water valve seat in a manner to regulate the flow of hot water through a hot water valve opening;
- means for balancing the pressure of hot water flowing toward said hot water outlet with the pressure of cold water flowing toward said cold water outlet, said means for balancing comprising a moveable element disposed in a chamber defined by said body, a first surface of said moveable element in contact with said cold water conduit, and a second, opposite surface of said moveable element in contact with said hot water conduit, means connecting said moveable element with said hot water valve element and with said cold water valve element, and means for biasing said cold water valve element toward said cold water valve seat, said moveable element adapted to move in reaction to variation in a ratio of pressure in said cold water conduit to pressure in said hot water conduit, movement of said moveable element resulting in movement of said hot water valve element relative to said hot water valve seat and in movement of said cold water valve element relative to said cold water valve seat;
- a mixing valve assembly comprising a mixing valve element disposed in said first mixing chamber, said mixing valve element adapted for movement within said first mixing chamber in a manner to adjust the ratio of hot water and cold water flowing into said first mixing chamber;
- and
- a thermostat element connected with said mixing valve element, said thermostat element adapted to react to change of temperature of the mixed water in a manner to adjust the position of said mixing valve element in said first mixing chamber, thereby to maintain the temperature of mixed water below a predetermined maximum temperature.
4 more elements
A pressure control flow valve comprising
- a body, said body defining a first conduit having a cold water inlet adapted for attachment to a source of cold water and a cold water outlet, a second conduit having a hot water inlet adapted for attachment to a source of hot water and a hot water outlet;
- a cold water pressure regulator adapted to control the pressure of cold water flowing toward said cold water outlet, said cold water pressure regulator comprising a cold water valve element disposed for movement relative to an opposed cold water valve seat in a manner to regulate the flow of cold water through a cold water valve opening;
- a hot water pressure regulator adapted to control the pressure of hot water flowing toward said hot water outlet, said hot water pressure regulator comprising a hot water valve element disposed for movement relative to an opposed hot water valve seat in a manner to regulate the flow of hot water through a hot water valve opening;
- and
- means for balancing the pressure of hot water flowing toward said hot water outlet with the pressure of cold water flowing toward said cold water outlet, said means for balancing comprising a moveable element disposed in a chamber defined by said body, a first surface of said moveable element in contact with said cold water conduit, and a second, opposite surface of said moveable element in contact with said hot water conduit, means connecting said moveable element with said hot water valve element and with said cold water valve element, and means for biasing said cold water valve element toward said cold water valve seat, said moveable element adapted to move in reaction to variation in a ratio of pressure in said cold water conduit to pressure in said hot water conduit, movement of said moveable element resulting in movement of said hot water valve element relative to said hot water valve seat and in movement of said cold water valve element relative to said cold water valve seat;
- whereby the pressure of cold water delivered at said cold water outlet and the pressure of hot water delivered at said hot water outlet are substantially balanced.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.