Thermostatic mixer with device for dynamic regulation of a water flow
AssigneeMasco Corporation
InventorAlfons Knapp
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The disclosure relates to a thermostatic mixer, including a device for the dynamic regulation of cold water flow which supplies the mixer. A resistance is generated to the flow of cold water supplied to the thermostatic mixer when small flows of mixed water are required, and said resistance is lifted or reduced when large flows of mixed water are required. Said operation is automatically carried out by devices for dynamic regulation of flow, whereby the flow cross-section provided for the incoming cold water is reduced when the drawn flow is reduced and a larger flow cross-section reestablished when a larger flow is required.
Claims9
A device for dynamic flow regulation comprising in one body a feed chamber, a discharge chamber, a piston which is disposed between the feed chamber and the discharge chamber and which is exposed on one side to the pressure of the feed chamber and on the other side to the pressure of the discharge chamber, the piston being displaceable between a first position, which is offset toward the feed chamber, the piston narrowing the flow between the feed chamber and discharge chamber in the first position, and a second position, which is offset toward the discharge chamber, the piston not narrowing the flow between the feed chamber and the discharge chamber in the second position, and a recuperating spring that acts on the piston toward the first position, wherein the piston is penetrated by a passage extending from the feed chamber to the discharge chamber, that a flow limiting means provides a reduced resistance to the flow passing through the passage provided that the flow does not exceed a maximum flow, and that the recuperating spring is dimensioned such that its effect substantially corresponds to the force that tends to displace the piston from the first position into the second position when the maximum flow allowed by the flow limiting means is withdrawn.
A device for dynamic flow regulation comprising in one body a feed chamber, a discharge chamber, a piston which is disposed between the feed chamber and the discharge chamber and which is exposed on one side to the pressure of the feed chamber and on the other side to the pressure of the discharge chamber, the piston being displaceable between a first position, which is offset toward the feed chamber, the piston narrowing the flow between the feed chamber and discharge chamber in the first position, and a second position, which is offset toward the discharge chamber, the piston not narrowing the flow between the feed chamber and the discharge chamber in the second position, and a recuperating spring that acts on the piston toward the first position, wherein the piston is penetrated by a passage extending from the feed chamber to the discharge chamber, that a flow limiting means is provided for limiting the flow passing through the passage, and that the recuperating spring is dimensioned such that its effect substantially corresponds to the force that tends to displace the piston from the first position into the second position when a maximum flow allowed by the flow limiting means is withdrawn, and the piston comprises a flange, which engages in a seat of the body when the piston is in its first position and which disengages from it when the piston is in its second position, wherein the position of the flange may be adjusted relative to the piston.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.