# US 7,744,007 B2 · Thermostatic mixing valves and systems > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,744,007 B2 - Document ID: US7744007B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 10/978,998 - Filed: 2004-11-01 - Published: 2006-05-04 - Granted: 2010-06-29 - Earliest claimed: 2004-11-01 - Assignees: Honeywell International Inc. - Inventors: Joseph W. Beagen; Steve Goins - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7744007B2 ## CPC - G05D 23/134: {measuring the temperature of mixed fluid} - Y10T 137/6497: Hot and cold water system having a connection from the hot to the cold channel - Y10T 137/86879: Reciprocating valve unit - Y10T 137/86895: Plural disk or plug - Y10T 137/87064: Oppositely movable cam surfaces - Y10T 137/87571: Multiple inlet with single outlet - G05D: SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract Thermostatic mixing valves and systems for mixing fluids of dissimilar temperature are disclosed. A thermostatic mixing valve in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention can include an elongated valve body defining a cold fluid inlet, a hot fluid inlet, a mix fluid outlet and a mixing chamber, a fluid flow regulator for adjusting the flow of cold and hot fluid injected into the mixing chamber, and temperature selection means for adjusting the temperature of fluid contained within the mixing chamber. The valve body may have a vertical, in-line configuration wherein the hot fluid inlet, mixing chamber, and mix fluid outlet are substantially axially aligned along a vertical longitudinal axis of the valve body, allowing hot fluid to pass substantially vertically through the valve body towards the mix fluid outlet. The thermostatic mixing valve can be provided as part of a water heater system to permit the water heater to operate at elevated temperatures, thereby increasing the capacity of hot water available to the system. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A thermostatic mixing valve, comprising: an elongated valve body defining a cold fluid inlet that is configured to be connected in fluid communication with a cold fluid source, a hot fluid inlet that is configured to be connected in fluid communication with a hot fluid source, and a mix fluid outlet in fluid communication with the cold fluid inlet, the hot fluid inlet, and a mixing chamber disposed within the valve body, said valve body having an in-line configuration wherein the hot fluid inlet, mixing chamber, and mix fluid outlet are substantially axially aligned along a longitudinal axis of the elongated valve body; a fluid flow regulator disposed along the longitudinal axis within the elongated valve body for adjusting the relative flow of cold and hot fluid injected into the mixing chamber; and temperature selection means accessible from outside of the elongated valve body for allowing a user to adjust the temperature of fluid contained within the mixing chamber, wherein the temperature selection means is configured to engage the fluid flow regulator to move the relative position of the fluid flow regulator coextensively along the longitudinal axis of the elongated valve body. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The thermostatic mixing valve of claim 1, wherein the fluid flow regulator includes: a spool movably disposed between a first inner surface of the valve body and a second inner surface of the valve body; a spring element configured to bias the spool towards the first surface of the valve body; a piston stem movably disposed within the valve body and operatively coupled to the spool and spring element; and a thermal element axially disposed within the mixing chamber and operatively coupled to the piston stem, said thermal element configured to thermally expand or contract and engage the piston stem axially within the valve body in response to the temperature of fluid contained within the mixing chamber. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The thermostatic mixing valve of claim 2, wherein the valve body defines a hot fluid chamber in fluid communication with the hot fluid inlet, said hot fluid chamber comprising a first annular distribution groove radially disposed about the spool. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The thermostatic mixing valve of claim 3, wherein the spool includes an aperture for receiving hot fluid from the first annular distribution groove. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The thermostatic mixing valve of claim 3, wherein the valve body further defines a cold fluid chamber in fluid communication with the cold fluid inlet, said cold fluid chamber comprising a second annular distribution groove radially disposed about the spool and spaced from the first annular distribution groove. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The thermostatic mixing valve of claim 2, wherein the thermal element comprises a wax filled thermal element. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The thermostatic mixing valve of claim 2, wherein the fluid flow regulator further includes a diffuser configured to agitate fluid contained within the mixing chamber. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The thermostatic mixing valve of claim 7, wherein the diffuser includes a peripheral wall, a number of fins projecting inwardly from the peripheral wall, and an annular plate projecting inwardly from the peripheral wall and defining an aperture. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The thermostatic mixing valve of claim 2, wherein the fluid flow regulator further includes a bypass spring. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The thermostatic mixing valve of claim 1, wherein the valve body further includes a recirculation inlet. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The thermostatic mixing valve of claim 1, wherein the cold fluid inlet enters the mixing valve at an angle orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the elongated valve body. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The thermostatic mixing valve of claim 1, wherein the cold fluid inlet includes a check valve. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The thermostatic mixing valve of claim 1, wherein the cold fluid inlet, hot fluid inlet, and mix fluid outlet each include a tailpiece fitting. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The thermostatic mixing valve of claim 1, wherein the hot fluid inlet is located at a lower section of the valve body. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The thermostatic mixing valve of claim 1, wherein the mix fluid outlet is located at an upper section of the valve body. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The thermostatic mixing valve of claim 1, wherein said temperature selection means for adjusting the temperature of fluid contained within the mixing chamber includes: an adjustment mechanism rotatably disposed within a side housing of the valve body; and a collar movably disposed within the valve body in a direction axially along the longitudinal axis of the valve body, said collar being operatively coupled to the fluid flow regulator for adjusting the position of the fluid flow regulator within the valve body, the collar including a side opening having an angled surface configured to engage a tapered section of said adjustment mechanism. ### Claim 17 A thermostatic mixing valve, comprising: an elongated valve body extending generally along a longitudinal axis and defining a cold fluid inlet that is configured to be connected in fluid communication with a cold fluid source, a hot fluid inlet that is configured to be connected in fluid communication with a hot fluid source, and a mix fluid outlet in fluid communication with the cold fluid inlet, the hot fluid inlet, and a mixing chamber disposed within the valve body, said cold fluid inlet including an internal check valve configured to prevent backflow of fluid through the cold fluid inlet; a fluid flow regulator for adjusting the relative flow of cold and hot fluid injected into the mixing chamber; and a temperature selector accessible from outside of the elongated valve body for allowing a user to adjust the temperature of fluid contained within the mixing chamber, wherein the temperature selector, in response to a user's adjustment, adjusts the relative position of the fluid flow regulator coextensively along the longitudinal axis of the elongated valve body, the relative position of the fluid flow regulator along the longitudinal axis of the elongated valve body changing a fluid passageway dimension of both the cold and the hot fluid flows. ### Claim 18 A thermostatic mixing valve, comprising: an elongated valve body defining a cold fluid inlet that is adapted to be connected in fluid communication with a cold fluid source, a hot fluid inlet that is adapted to be connected in fluid communication with a hot fluid source, and a mix fluid outlet in fluid communication with the cold fluid inlet, the hot fluid inlet, and a mixing chamber disposed within the valve body, said valve body having an in-line configuration wherein the hot fluid inlet, mixing chamber, and mix fluid outlet are substantially axially aligned along a longitudinal axis of the elongated valve body; a fluid flow regulator for adjusting the flow of cold and hot fluid injected into the mixing chamber; and a temperature selection device for adjusting the temperature of fluid contained within the mixing chamber, said temperature selection device including an adjustment mechanism rotatably disposed within a side housing of the valve body, and a collar movably disposed within the valve body in a direction axially along the longitudinal axis of the valve body, the collar including an angled surface adapted to engage a tapered section of said adjustment mechanism, the angled surface being at an angle that is supplementary or substantially supplementary to the angle of the tapered section of said adjustment mechanism, wherein movement of the adjustment mechanism causes movement of the collar in the direction axially along the longitudinal axis of the valve body. ### Claim 19 A thermostatic mixing valve, comprising: an elongated valve body generally extending lengthwise along a longitudinal axis, the valve body having a cold fluid inlet, a hot fluid inlet, and a mix fluid outlet fluidly coupled to a mixing chamber; the cold fluid inlet for passing a cold fluid to a cold fluid passageway, the hot fluid inlet for passing a hot fluid to a hot fluid passageway, and the mix fluid output for passing a mixed fluid from the mixing chamber; the cold fluid inlet enters the elongated valve body at an angle that is orthogonal or substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the valve body; the hot fluid inlet enters the elongated valve body at an angle that is orthogonal or substantially orthogonal to the cold fluid inlet; a fluid flow regulator for simultaneously changing a dimension of both the cold fluid and the hot fluid passageways by moving at least part of the fluid flow regulator coextensively along the longitudinal axis of the valve body; and a temperature selector accessible from outside of the elongated valve body for allowing a user to adjust the position of the fluid flow regulator along the longitudinal axis of the valve body to thereby adjust the temperature of the mixed fluid. ### Claim 20 A thermostatic mixing valve, comprising: an elongated valve body generally extending lengthwise along a longitudinal axis, the valve body having a cold fluid inlet, a hot fluid inlet, and a mix fluid outlet fluidly coupled to a mixing chamber; the cold fluid inlet for passing a cold fluid to a cold fluid passageway, the hot fluid inlet for passing a hot fluid to a hot fluid passageway, and the mix fluid output for passing a mixed fluid from the mixing chamber; a fluid flow regulator for simultaneously changing a dimension of both the cold fluid passageway and the hot fluid passageway by moving the fluid flow regulator coextensively with the longitudinal axis of the valve body; a temperature selector accessible from outside of the elongated valve body for allowing a user to adjust the position of the fluid flow regulator along the longitudinal axis of the elongated valve body to thereby adjust the temperature of the mixed fluid; the mix fluid output being fluidly coupled to a mixed fluid passageway that delivers the mixed fluid from the fluid flow regulator to the mixed fluid output; at least a portion of the hot fluid passageway extending along an axis that is parallel or substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the elongated valve body; and at least a portion of the mixed fluid passageway extending along an axis that is parallel or substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the elongated valve body. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The thermostatic mixing valve of claim 20 wherein the axis of the portion of the mixed fluid passageway that is parallel or substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the elongated valve body is coextensive with the longitudinal axis of the elongated valve body. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The thermostatic mixing valve of claim 20 wherein the portion of the mixed fluid passageway that is parallel or substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the elongated valve body is at least substantially axially aligned with the mixing chamber. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The thermostatic mixing valve of claim 22 wherein: the cold fluid inlet enters the elongated valve body at an angle that is orthogonal or substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the valve body; and the hot fluid inlet enters the elongated valve body at an angle that is orthogonal or substantially orthogonal to the cold fluid inlet.