Fluid handling – Systems – Multi-way valve unit
Patent
1987-06-01
1989-08-08
Rivell, John
Fluid handling
Systems
Multi-way valve unit
13762517, 251127, F16K 4702, F16K 11078
Patent
active
048543470
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a mixing valve and more particularly to a single handle mixing valve having a cartridge that houses the valving elements.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Mixing valves are widely used for household and sanitary purposes for the delivery of cold and hot water flowing from supply pipes. Commonly, these mixing valves include a fixed valve plate of hard material such as ceramic or plastic having openings communicating with two supply pipes, a control mechanism, a slide operably connected to the control mechanism, a guide ring placed above the slide, a space surrounding the slide that communicates with a spout outlet, and a movable valve plate of hard material fixed to the slide having its own openings selectively alignable with the openings of the fixed plate so as to regulate the delivered flow rate and the mixing ratio of the liquids from the two supply pipes. One such valve is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,325,403 issued to Uhlmann on April 20, 1982 and is incorporated herein by reference.
In some cases, these mixing valves present the particular problem of being noisy. Noise occurs when the passage of one flowing liquid is very throttled. In such conditions, in fact, the flow, throttled among the sharp edges of the disks of hard material, attains great speed and can produce cavitations by producing vibrations either directly or because of the impact of the flow against some faucet surfaces.
On the other hand, the application of the known preclosing devices makes the construction more complicated and can bring about an excessive reduction of the water flow that the faucet can deliver. In some cases, operation of a faucet is improved by inserting into suitable positions, for example, inside the slide, some metal networks, such as screens. However, these screens have a limited effectiveness, reduce the deliverable water flow, and moreover they suffer from occlusions easily, which further reduce the water flow.
What is needed is a particular structure suitable to reduce the noise of a faucet of the considered type by forming a preclosing unit able to control the flow and to decrease its vibrations when it is highly throttled, without any appreciable influence on the faucet behavior when non-throttled flows are delivered.
A structure is needed that has the above mentioned advantages which can be industrially produced without any appreciable increase of the production costs.
A structure is also needed that, while maintaining the mentioned technical advantages, provide a considerable increase in the maximum water flow of the faucet.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, a faucet mixing valve has a slide member fixed to the movable valve plate. The slide has a water receiving hollow communicating with the openings through the movable plate and an outlet opening through its upper surface leading to the guide ring. The guide ring has an outlet opening in the slide, and a series of parallel thin slots separated by thin blades each extending from the above mentioned outlet area to the space around the slide. The blades and slots are arranged and in position to be at least partially covered or closed by the slide when the slide is positioned to where the movable plate disk closes off or narrowly restricts the openings of the fixed plate.
The liquids flowing out of the openings of the movable plate flow through the slide hollow, being mixed in it, and then flow out of the slide through its outlet toward the slots and blades of the guide ring. The flow is directed through the slots and diverted 180.degree. toward the area around the slide and then toward the spout connection. The thin blades in the guide ring subdivide, regulate and silence the flow at all flow conditions. When the slide is shifted toward the off position, the blades and slots of the guide ring is partially or totally covered by the slide blocking most communication to the area about the slide. Therefore, the mixed flow can be throttled by a very narrow passage that is formed between t
REFERENCES:
patent: 3736959 (1973-06-01), Parkison
patent: 4218041 (1980-08-01), Bernat
patent: 4301836 (1981-11-01), Hunziker
patent: 4325403 (1982-04-01), Uhlmann
patent: 4327758 (1982-05-01), Uhlmann
patent: 4576202 (1986-03-01), Knapp
patent: 4596376 (1986-06-01), Knap
Masco Corporation
Permut Steven L.
Rivell John
Sutherland Malcolm L.
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