US 5,400,822 AGranted

Valve cartridge

AssigneeNomix Corporation

InventorHarron G. Manos

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Abstract

The present valve cartridge allows for the mixing of a first and second fluid flow. The cartridge (100) is formed by a shaft (102) slidably engaged in a sleeve (104). A gasket (106) surrounds the sleeve at one end. The sleeve has a first and second input aperture (124a, 124b). These apertures can cannot communicate with an output aperture (126) when the shaft is fully inserted into the sleeve. The volume of flow through the cartridge is increased upon retreating the shaft from the sleeve. The gasket (106) provides three barrier means to prevent leakage of the first fluid source into the second fluid source. A first barrier means (128a, 128b) are immediately adjacent to the inputs. The second barriers (136a, 136b) are positioned to prevent longitudinal flow of the fluid which overcomes the first barriers. A third barrier means (130, 132) prevent lateral flow of fluid which overcomes the first barriers.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A valve cartridge for use in a valve body that has a gasket seat around an output and for use in mixing a first and a second fluid flow through a valve, said cartridge comprising:

(a) a sleeve defining a central passage, said sleeve having a first and second input aperture and an output aperture;
(b) a shaft slidably engaged within said passage, said shaft having flow control means, said shaft being translatable between a first and second position;
and
(c) a gasket fixed around the distal end of said sleeve, said gasket having a first and second aperture positioned coincident with the first and second input apertures, wherein said gasket comprises a first, second and third barrier means to prevent leakage, wherein said first barrier means comprise ridges around the input aperture, said second barrier means comprises ridges around each end of the gasket, and said third barrier means comprises ridges between the second barrier means, and wherein said gasket further includes a forward face which creates a compression seal against the gasket seat.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.