Fluid handling – Systems – Multi-way valve unit
Patent
1989-01-27
1990-11-20
Rivell, John
Fluid handling
Systems
Multi-way valve unit
1374546, 13762517, 251368, F16K 1106
Patent
active
049711121
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
I. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cartridge adapted to be inserted in the body of a faucet, including a guide, an element of support for a movable small plate of hard material positioned within the guiding parts, at least one small plate of hard material which is fixedly mounted in the cartridge, and at least one movable small plate mounted in the element of support and adapted to move against the fixed small plate in order to effectuate the regulation of the rate of fluid flow and of the proportion of mixing.
II. Description of the Prior Art
In the usual construction, the element of support for the movable small plate and the parts which function as a guide are made of plastic material and their reciprocal sliding is facilitated by properly chosen plastic material and a lubricating grease. However, with time, the lubricating grease is expended, the plastic material loses its self-lubrication, and an excessive friction begins to develop between the parts which are subjected to a reciprocal sliding movement resulting in a clatter which is very unpleasant to the user. This inconvenience can be overcome in certain constructions by inserting thin gaskets of metallic foil between the parts of plastic material which are subjected to a reciprocal sliding movement. In fact, a proper choice of metallic material permits the avoidance of the development of excessive friction and of the noise which occurs with time when there is movement. However, the insertion of these gaskets has a relatively high cost, not only for their construction but because of the complications that they bring to the assembly of the cartridge. Further, this is not even possible in certain cases; for example, when one of the parts has a lamellar structure, an elevated structure or other structures which are destined to stop the vibration and the noise of the water flow.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
The scope of the present invention is to obtain a cartridge of the type described, in which the damaging phenomena of the prior known system is prevented by economical means and without introducing any complication of assembly.
This goal can be attained, according to the present invention, by providing at least one of the surfaces of the parts made of plastic material adapted to be submitted to sliding against the surfaces of other parts of plastic material, is provided with a thin metallic deposit on the surface thereof.
In a way which is well known, this deposition can be done by chemical or electrochemical means--previous sensitization of the surface, and eventual intermediate deposition of an adherent layer--and a similar process which has preferable results. However, the deposition of the metal layer on the gasket can also be done with other processes, for example, through deposition under a vacuum. -. The metal used to form the gasket layer can be chosen according to various criteria but chromium is particularly adapted for this function. The chromium layer is preferably applied on intermediate adherent layers of copper and/or nickel.
It is advantageous if only one of the two surfaces of the plastic parts adapted to slide in reciprocal contact is covered with metallic material. From a functional standpoint, it does not matter if the covering is applied to one or the other of the two cooperating surfaces. However, in the cases in which the couplings that one wants to line with a metallic layer are more than one, there is a particular advantage obtained by effectuating the covering on an intermediate part, which has at least two surfaces and which are adapted to slide in contact with other parts of plastic material. In fact, in this way, the treatment of one piece is sufficient to line two pairs of sliding surfaces; in many cases, this represents the total number of surface pairs of a cartridge which are important to the application of the invention. In particular, in the cartridges which have a revolving guide ring across which moves the movable small plate of hard material, it is pa
REFERENCES:
patent: 4226260 (1980-10-01), Schmitt
patent: 4502507 (1985-05-01), Haymann
patent: 4610268 (1986-09-01), Knapp
patent: 4733694 (1988-03-01), Knapp
patent: 4738281 (1988-04-01), Limet et al.
Masco Corporation of Indiana
Rivell John
Sutherland Malcolm L.
Zarins Edgar A.
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