# US 7,407,113 B2 · Products and process that act as a safety valve to prevent scalding

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- Number: US 7,407,113 B2
- Document ID: US7407113B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 11/241,212
- Filed: 2005-09-30
- Published: 2007-04-05
- Granted: 2008-08-05
- Earliest claimed: 2005-09-30
- Assignees: American Valve, Inc.
- Inventors: Frederick Guterman
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7407113B2

## CPC

- F16K 31/002: {actuated by temperature variation (thermo-electric F16K31/025)}
- E03C 1/041: {having provisions against scalding, e.g. temperature limiting devices, external covers}
- G05D 23/022: {the sensing element being placed within a regulating fluid flow}
- Y10T 137/1353: Low temperature responsive drains
- Y10T 137/87917: Flow path with serial valves and/or closures
- F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)}
- E03C: DOMESTIC PLUMBING INSTALLATIONS FOR FRESH WATER OR WASTE WATER (not connected to either water-supply main or to waste pipe A47K; devices of the kind used in the ground E03B, E03F); SINKS
- G05D: SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A thermostatic valve incorporated within a plumbing system for regulating the flow of fluid. The thermostatic valve includes two valve assemblies operatively cooperating to preclude the flow of scalding water. The first valve assembly and second valve assembly respond to different fluid temperatures, as well as, over separate periods of time. The thermostatic valve can be incorporated in an “end-line” device such as a showerhead or faucet assemblies to create an “anti-scaled” plumbing fixture. The invention includes a valve housing having a first compartment and a second compartment, a fluid passageway, a first valve assembly, a second valve assembly, a first spring, a first stopper, a first flange, a first-thermostatic cylinder, a second spring, a second stopper, a second flange, a second thermostatic cylinder, and a third spring.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A thermostatic valve for blocking the flow of fluid that may be used in a plumbing system comprising:
a valve housing having a first compartment and a second compartment, where said first compartment includes a first inlet end and a first outlet end, and said second compartment includes a second inlet end and a second outlet end;
a fluid passageway communicating between said first and second compartment;
a first valve assembly housed in said first compartment and a second valve assembly housed in said second compartment, whereby said first valve assembly responds to fluid temperature changes and said second valve assembly responds to fluid temperature changes in fluid, such that said first valve assembly and said second valve assembly operatively cooperate to preclude the flow of scalding fluid;
said first valve assembly including:
a first spring associated with said valve housing proximate to said first outlet end;
a first stopper biased by said first spring, where said first stopper includes a first face forming a first gap with said first outlet end;
a first flange abutting a first shoulder in said first compartment, wherein said first flange permits the flow of fluid between said first inlet end and said first outlet end;
a first thermostatic cylinder having a first cylinder body, a first piston housing, and a first piston wherein said first cylinder body abuts said first flange, said first piston axially extends through said first piston housing from said first cylinder body, said first cylinder body including a first temperature sensitive wax, wherein said first temperature sensitive wax and said first piston axially cooperate to produce axial movement of said first stopper to substantially block said first outlet end;
a second spring biasing said first cylinder body against said first flange;
said second valve assembly including:
a second stopper biased by said second spring, where said second stopper includes a second face forming a second gap with said second outlet end;
a second flange abuts a second shoulder in said second compartment, wherein said second flange permits the flow of fluid between said second inlet end and said second outlet end;
a second thermostatic cylinder having a second cylinder body, a second piston housing, and a second piston; wherein said second cylinder body abuts said second flange, said second piston axially extends through said piston housing from said second cylinder body, said second cylinder body including a second temperature sensitive wax, wherein said second temperature sensitive wax and said second piston axially cooperate to produce axial movement of said second stopper to substantially block said second outlet end;
a third spring biasing said second cylinder body against said second flange, and said third spring associated with said second compartment at said second inlet end.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The thermostatic valve as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first temperature sensitive wax in said first thermostatic cylinder responds at a first predetermined temperature range in order to axially associate said first piston with said first stopper;
said second temperature sensitive wax responds at a second predetermined temperature range to move said second piston to associate with said second stopper, such that said second stopper instantly blocks fluid flow through said second outlet end.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The thermostatic valve as set forth in claim 2, wherein said first temperature sensitive wax in said first thermostatic cylinder responds at a third predetermined temperature to move said first piston to associate with said first stopper, such that said first stopper blocks fluid flow through said first outlet end.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The thermostatic valve as set forth in claim 3, wherein said first temperature sensitive wax in said first thermostatic cylinder responds at a fourth predetermined temperature range to move said first piston to associate with said first stopper, such that said first stopper blocks fluid flow through said first outlet end.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The thermostatic valve as set forth in claim 4, wherein said first valve assembly substantially blocks said first outlet end at said third predetermined temperature range to prevent any fluid flow out of said first outlet end within a first time range.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The thermostatic valve as set forth in claim 5, wherein said first valve assembly substantially blocks said first outlet end at said fourth predetermined temperature range to prevent any fluid flow out of said first outlet end within a second time range.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The thermostatic valve as set forth in claim 6, wherein said first predetermined temperature is 113° F.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The thermostatic valve as set forth in claim 7, wherein said second predetermined temperature is 130° F.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The thermostatic valve as set forth in claim 8, wherein said third predetermined temperature is 117° F.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The thermostatic valve as set forth in claim 9, wherein said fourth predetermined temperature is 120° F.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The thermostatic valve as set forth in claim 10, wherein said first time range is at least one minute.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The thermostatic valve as set forth in claim 11, wherein said second time range is ten seconds.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The thermostatic valve as set forth in claim 12, wherein said second cylinder body is smaller than said first cylinder body, such that said second temperature sensitive wax expands at a faster rate than said first second temperature sensitive wax.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The thermostatic valve as set forth in claim 13, wherein said first compartment includes a smaller diameter than said second compartment.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The thermostatic valve as set forth in claim 14, wherein said first stopper includes at least one weep hole.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The thermostatic valve as set forth in claim 15, wherein said second stopper includes at least one weep hole.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The thermostatic valve, as set forth in claim 16, including a shower head assembly, for precluding scalding and burning, comprising:
said thermostatic valve and said showerhead assembly cooperate to prevent scalding by means of said first temperature sensitive wax expanding to close said first outlet end, and said second temperature sensitive wax expanding to close said second outlet end.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The thermostatic valve, as set forth in claim 16, including a faucet head assembly, for precluding scalding and burning, comprising:
said thermostatic valve and said faucet head assembly cooperate to prevent scalding by means of said first temperature sensitive wax expanding to close said first outlet end, and said second temperature sensitive wax expanding to close said second outlet end.