Automatic temperature and humidity regulation – Mixing fluid of dissimilar temperature – Mixing valve with temperature motive means
Patent
1988-03-17
1990-05-08
Tapolcai, William E.
Automatic temperature and humidity regulation
Mixing fluid of dissimilar temperature
Mixing valve with temperature motive means
137 88, 236 1214, G05D 2313
Patent
active
049231154
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a mixing valve apparatus used to mix high temperature fluid, such as steam, hot water and the like, with low temperature fluid, such as cool water, in order to obtain mixed fluid of a desired temperature.
BACKGROUND ART
Generally, such a mixing valve apparatus includes a casing formed with a first inlet for the high temperature fluid, a second inlet for the low temperature fluid, a mixing chamber which is in communication with the first and second inlets, and in which the high temperature fluid and the low temperature fluid are mixed with each other, and an outlet which is in communication with the mixing chamber, with inlet valves for the high temperature fluid and the low temperature fluid arranged in association with the first and second inlets, respectively.
It is widely known that the mixing valve apparatus should have an automatic regulating function whereby the desired temperature of the mixed fluid is kept constant even upon the variation in the fluid supply pressure or in the consumption demand of the mixed fluid, and should moreover be safe in use. However, in known apparatuses, the regulating device for regulating the temperature of the mixed fluid is usually composed of deformable, temperature-sensitive elements such as bimetal elements arranged in association with the inlet valves for the high temperature fluid and low temperature fluid, respectively, and has a relatively simple characteristic whereby the temperature-sensitive elements control the opening degree of relevant inlet solely in response to the temperature of the mixed fluid, so that the device is not capable of performing the above mentioned desirable functions. Moreover, in particular situations where the supply of the low temperature fluid is interrupted by some reason, when the faucets at the mixed fluid discharge terminal are opened, in case of known mixing valve apparatus with the above-mentioned simple temperature regulating device, steam or the like high temperature fluid alone may be discharged from the faucets whereby it is difficult to sufficiently preserve the safety for users.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a mixing valve apparatus which, in comparison with the prior art, has an excellent automatic regulating function for regulating the temperature of the mixed fluid, and which is capable of preserving the user's safety.
To achieve the object, according to the present invention, there is provided a mixing valve apparatus including a casing formed with a first inlet for the high temperature fluid, a second inlet for the low temperature fluid, a mixing chamber which is in communication with the first and second inlets, and in which the high temperature fluid and the low temperature fluid are mixed with each other, and an outlet which is in communication with the mixing chamber, wherein an inlet valve is arranged in association with the first inlet and has a valve element for regulating the flow rate of the high temperature fluid into the mixing chamber, a control means being provided to control the opening of the inlet valve, characterized in that said control means comprises: a differential pressure element arranged in association with the second inlet, for generating a differential pressure between the second inlet and the mixing chamber; a pressure-sensitive control unit including a pressure-sensitive element for displacing the valve element of the inlet valve in response to the differential pressure, first and second pressure chambers isolated from each other by the pressure-sensitive element, the first pressure chamber being in communication with the mixing chamber, while the second pressure chamber being in communication with the second inlet via a pilot passage; and a temperature-sensitive element displaceable in response to the temperature of the mixed fluid within the mixing chamber, the temperature sensitive element forming a throttle in the pilot passage in the form of a small clearance whose size decreases
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patent: 3980229 (1976-09-01), Stedman, Jr. et al.
patent: 4084603 (1978-04-01), Howard
patent: 4109678 (1977-04-01), Lord
Muramoto Mutsushi
Noguchi Keiichi
Ohata Takayuki
Sekoguchi Kotohiko
Miyawaki Incorporated
Tapolcai William E.
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