Thermostatic mixing valve
AssigneeLawler Manufacturing Co., Inc.
InventorKevin B. Kline
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Check valves for use in fluid conducting structures such as thermostatic mixing valves are provided. Illustratively, the fluid conducting structure provides a passageway defining an axis, and the check valve comprises a cap coupled to the structure, a seat disposed in the passageway and spaced apart from the cap, a valve member axially movable between a sealed position engaging the seat and an opened position spaced apart from the seat, and a spring urging the valve member to engage the seat, the spring being coupled to the valve member and the cap.
Claims43
A mixing valve configured to produce a mixed fluid from the mixing of a first fluid and at least a second fluid, comprising:
- a valve body including a first fluid inlet, at least a second fluid inlet, and a fluid outlet, at least one fluid inlet including a check valve configured to prevent fluid from flowing out of the valve through the at least one inlet, the check valve including:
- a first check valve member which is stationary within and with respect to the valve body;
- a second check valve member which is movable within the valve body in a defined path of motion and engageable with the first check valve member;
- and
- a biasing device for urging the second check valve member into engagement with the first check valve member and for defining the path of motion of the second check valve member.
For use with a thermostatic mixing valve comprising a hot fluid inlet, a cold fluid inlet, a mixed fluid outlet, and a mixing chamber in fluid communication with the hot and cold inlets and the mixed fluid outlet, a check valve comprising:
- a valve body providing a passageway between the mixing chamber and an inlet selected from the group consisting of the cold fluid inlet and the hot fluid inlet,
- a seat disposed in the passageway,
- a valve member configured to block the flow of fluid to the selected inlet, the valve member providing a sealing surface and being movable along an axis between a sealed position engaging the seat to block the flow of fluid to the inlet and an opened position disengaging the seat to permit flow of fluid from the inlet, and
- a guide member to guide the valve member for movement between the sealed and opened positions, the guide member extending around at least a majority of the valve member, the valve member being configured to avoid sealingly engaging the guide member.
For use in a thermostatic mixing valve body providing hot and cold fluid inlets each having a valve body passageway defining an axis and a valve seat about the axis, a check valve comprising:
- a cap coupled to the valve body,
- a valve member disposed in at least one of the valve body passageways, the valve member being axially movable between a sealed position engaging the seat and an opened position spaced apart from the seat, and
- a spring to urge the valve member into engagement with the seat, the spring having a first end engaging the cap and a second end coupled to the valve member, the spring being the only mechanical connection between the valve member and the cap when the valve member is spaced apart from the seat.
A check valve for use in a fluid conducting structure providing a passageway defining an axis, the check valve comprising:
- a cap coupled to the structure,
- a seat disposed in the passageway and spaced apart from the cap,
- a valve member axially movable between a sealed position engaging the seat and an opened position spaced apart from the seat, and
- a spring urging the valve member to engage the seat, the spring being coupled to the valve member and the cap, and the spring being threadedly coupled to at least one of the cap and the valve member.
A mixing valve configured to produce a mixed fluid from the mixing of a first fluid and at least a second fluid, the mixing valve comprising:
- a valve body including a first fluid inlet, a second fluid inlet, a third fluid inlet, and a fluid outlet, the first fluid inlet including a check valve comprising a movable valve member and a seat, the valve member engaging the seat to inhibit fluid from flowing out of the mixing valve through the first fluid inlet, the third inlet being positioned between the seat and the fluid outlet.
For use with a thermostatic mixing valve comprising a hot fluid inlet, a cold fluid inlet, a mixed fluid outlet, and a mixing chamber in fluid communication with the hot and cold inlets and the mixed fluid outlet, a check valve comprising:
- a valve body providing a passageway between the mixing chamber and an inlet selected from the group consisting of the cold fluid inlet and the hot fluid inlet,
- a seat disposed in the passageway,
- a valve member configured to block the flow of fluid to the selected inlet, the valve member providing a sealing surface and being movable along an axis between a sealed position engaging the seat to block the flow of fluid to the inlet and an opened position disengaging the seat to permit flow of fluid from the inlet,
- a guide member to guide the valve member for movement between the sealed and opened positions, the guide member extending around at least a majority of the valve member, and
- a biasing member to urge the valve member into the sealed position engaging the seat, the biasing member being the only mechanical connection between the valve member and the valve body when the valve member is spaced apart from the seat.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.