Automatic temperature and humidity regulation – Mixing fluid of dissimilar temperature – Having oscillating or reciprocating valve
Patent
1997-12-22
1999-08-03
Tapolcai, William E.
Automatic temperature and humidity regulation
Mixing fluid of dissimilar temperature
Having oscillating or reciprocating valve
13762541, G05D 2313
Patent
active
059313749
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The field of this invention relates to a thermostatically controlled mixing valve and more particularly to a thermostatic controlled mixing valve with a volume control feature incorporated therein.
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE
Mixing valves are well known and common in the plumbing field. These valves provide a flow of mixed water from separate hot and cold water supplies. Secondly, thermostatic control for handle mixer valves are well known. One reason for thermostatic control is to eliminate constant readjustment of the valve when the temperature of the hot water supply fluctuates. The temperature of the hot water supply may vary substantially. Furthermore, the pressure within the cold water line may also vary thus changing the proportions of hot and cold water flow and thereby fluctuating the temperature of the mixed water.
Known thermostatic valves have packaging problems and are often significantly bulkier than standard mixing valves that do not incorporate the thermostatic regulation. This bulkiness is due to the flow path that has always been used for thermostatic faucets, namely the supply inlets approach the centrally located thermostatic valve from a radially outer position.
When thermostatic valves are incorporated into mixer valves, the volume or flow control valves may be installed either downstream or upstream from the thermostatic valve element. When the flow is regulated downstream of the thermostatic element within the mixed water flow, installation of non-return valves are needed in order to prevent the possibility of communication between the hot water supply and the cold water supply. When volume control of the hot and cold water supplies is upstream of the thermostatic valve before the water is mixed, the return valves are not needed. For this economic reason, most thermostatic mixing valves have the volume control upstream of the thermostatic element.
However when the flow is regulated with respect to the hot and cold water supplies, the thermostatic device is unable to maintain the constant temperature due to the variations of the flow rates. It is well known that when hot and cold water supply pressures are approximately equal or with the hot supply pressure being only slightly lower than the cold water pressure, the difference in flow rate or variation between the hot and cold water supplies is increased when the total flow is reduced and the rise in temperature can sometimes become significant. On the other hand, if the hot water supply pressure is substantially lower than the cold water supply pressure, as in often the case due the increased corrosion of the hot water pipelines, the difference in the flow rate or variation of the flow rate between the hot and cold water supplies is decreased as the total flow rate is reduced.
Contoured apertures in a pair of disc plate valves have been known to contour the water flow profile between the hot and cold water supplies. However, these plate valves are set to move both rotatably and translationally with respect to each other to mechanically control both the total flow rate and the temperature mix of the hot and cold water.
What is needed is a compact thermostatic valve that is easily assembled and controls the temperature of the mixed water output. What is also needed is a thermostatic control built into a valve with flow control that provides proper thermostatic control at all flow rates.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a thermostatic mixing valve includes a base having two supply ports for connection with hot and cold water supplies. A handle body is rotatably mounted onto the base and operably connected to a first valving surface with a first and second inlet passage therethrough for hot and cold water supplies. The first valving surface is operably positioned adjacent the two supply ports for controlling total flow rate of the water into the mixing valve.
A second annular valving surface is axially movable within the handle between a first seat in proximity to a first
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Masco Corporation
Tapolcai William E.
LandOfFree
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