Automatic temperature and humidity regulation – Mixing fluid of dissimilar temperature – Including bypass
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-27
2001-07-10
Tapolcai, William E. (Department: 3744)
Automatic temperature and humidity regulation
Mixing fluid of dissimilar temperature
Including bypass
Reexamination Certificate
active
06257493
ABSTRACT:
The invention relates to mixer taps and more particularly to cartridges for mixer taps of the so-called reverse-flow type.
Mixer taps are taps which comprise a cartridge comprising a body into which there extend and in which there terminate a first fluid inlet duct for conveying fluid at a first temperature into the body, a second fluid inlet duct for conveying fluid at a second temperature higher than the first into the body and a fluid discharge duct for discharging from the body a so-called “mixed” fluid at a desired temperature falling in the range extending from the first to the second temperature, resulting from a mixing of the two streams, one coming from each of the two fluid inlet ducts, in varying proportions.
The cartridge has a single operating member, generally consisting of a lever which is somewhat inclined with respect to the central longitudinal axis of the cartridge and intended to be manipulated by the user of the tap for selecting both the temperature and the flowrate of the mixed fluid; in general, turning the lever about this axis alters the temperature of the mixed fluid, and tipping the lever in one and the same vertical plane alters the fluid flowrate; a combination of the two movements allows both the temperature and the flowrate to be altered simultaneously; in general also, the proportion of the mixture can vary from practically 100%/0% to 0%/100%, which means that the temperature of the fluid can vary from “fully cold” to “fully hot”.
As these taps are commonly used in domestic water-distribution installations, in which the apparatus producing hot water produces water the temperature of which can be as much as about 80° C., there are real risks of relatively severe scalding.
To remedy this drawback, it is possible to provide a limit stop to prevent the lever from being turned any further before the cold water inlet duct is fully shut off, which makes it possible to limit the temperature of the mixed water at the “hot” end. However, the temperature reached when the stop is encountered depends on the ratio of the cold water and hot water supply pressures and on the flowrate; in particular, under certain conditions (hot water pressure greater than cold water pressure) the maximum temperature may practically reach the temperature of the hot water, and the risk of scalding therefore remains.
The object of the invention is therefore to overcome the drawbacks of the known mixer taps and the invention therefore relates to a cartridge for a reverse-flow mixer tap comprising a body in which there terminate a first fluid inlet duct for conveying fluid at a first temperature into the body, a second fluid inlet duct for conveying fluid at a second temperature higher than the first temperature into the body, and a fluid discharge duct for discharging fluid at a desired temperature in the range extending from the first temperature to the second temperature from the body, the cartridge being characterized in that it comprises a bypass connecting the first inlet duct to the discharge duct and is equipped with a device for shutting off the bypass comprising a thermostatic element equipped with a shut-off element designed to shut off the bypass as long as the temperature of the discharged fluid remains below or equal to a predetermined set temperature, and to uncover the bypass when the temperature of the discharged fluid exceeds this temperature, so as then to cause fluid to flow from the first inlet duct to the discharge duct through the bypass.
By virtue of the thermostatic element, the flow of top-up fluid through the bypass for setting to a low temperature intended to make the tap safer to operate is set directly according to the temperature of the fluid passing through the discharge duct.
The cartridge may additionally exhibit one or more of the following features:
the first fluid inlet duct for conveying fluid at a first temperature into the body and the fluid discharge duct for discharging fluid at a desired temperature from the body, extend in a first direction, and the bypass extends in a direction perpendicular to this first direction;
the thermostatic element comprises a flange and this flange forms the shut-off element designed to shut off the bypass as long as the temperature of the discharged fluid remains below or equal to a predetermined set temperature and to uncover the bypass when the temperature of the discharged fluid exceeds this temperature;
the shut-off device comprises a washer-shutter slipped around the thermostatic element, and this washer-shutter forms the shut-off element designed to shut off the bypass as long as the temperature of the discharged fluid remains below or equal to a predetermined set temperature, and to uncover the bypass when the temperature of the discharged fluid exceeds this temperature;
the shut-off device comprises a plug slipped around the thermostatic element, and this plug forms the shut-off element designed to shut off the bypass as long as the temperature of the discharged fluid remains below or equal to a predetermined set temperature, and to uncover the bypass when the temperature of the discharged fluid exceeds this temperature;
it comprises a body forming a housing containing a skirt into which there extend and in which there terminate the first inlet duct, the second inlet duct, and the discharge duct, along with the bypass connecting the first inlet duct and the discharge duct and which is equipped with the device for shutting off the bypass;
it comprises a conventional mixer tap cartridge without bypass or device for shutting off the bypass, comprising a housing and a temperature-limiting adapter comprising a housing, the body forming a housing consists of the housing of the conventional cartridge and of the housing of the adapter consisting of a skirt through which the first inlet duct, the second inlet duct and the discharge duct pass, these ducts terminating in the housing of the conventional cartridge, and the adapter also comprises the bypass connecting the first inlet duct and the discharge duct and is equipped with the device for shutting off the bypass;
it is of the disc type, for example having ceramic discs;
it is of the type with cylindrical surfaces, the cartridge being of the piston type;
it is of the type with spherical surfaces, the cartridge being of the ball type.
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patent: 3001717 (1961-09-01), Rimsha et al.
patent: 4669653 (1987-06-01), Avelov
patent: 5494077 (1996-02-01), Enoki et al.
patent: 5647531 (1997-07-01), Kline et al.
patent: 5904291 (1999-05-01), Knapp
patent: 29 45 879 (1981-05-01), None
patent: 2 424 459 (1979-11-01), None
patent: 93 02308 (1993-02-01), None
patent: 97 21949 (1997-06-01), None
Chamot Jean
Mace Christian
Tapolcai William E.
Vernet S.A.
Wenderoth , Lind & Ponack, L.L.P.
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