Fluid handling – Systems – Multi-way valve unit
Patent
1995-11-30
1998-05-26
Rivell, John
Fluid handling
Systems
Multi-way valve unit
1376254, 251355, 251368, F16K 11074, F16K 5100
Patent
active
057552614
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to a slide type valve assembly having a valve body adapted to be put into sliding contact with a valve seat and used in a tap of a water faucet, a faucet for mixing hot and cold water or a flow path changeover cock for a cleaner for flushing a toilet bowl with hot water.
BACKGROUND ART
FIG. 9 shows a conventional slide type valve assembly for mixing cold and hot water.
This valve assembly comprises a valve casing 40 and a bottom plate 41 attached to the bottom of the valve casing 40 and having two annular packings 42 (only one is shown) defining two inlet ports 43. A valve seat 44 is supported on the bottom plate 41 and has two valve holes 45 (only one is shown) communicating with the respective inlet ports 43. A valve body 46 is kept in contact with the top surface of the valve seat 44, a lever holder 47 is rotatably mounted on the valve body 46, and a lever shaft 49 is slidably supported on the lever holder 47 by means of a pin 48 and has its bottom end coupled to the valve body 46. By pivoting the lever shaft 49 right and left or up and down, the valve body 46 is slid on the top surface of the valve seat 44 so that the valve holes 45 can be selectively opened and closed.
By opening both valve holes 45, hot water supplied through one of the inlets 43 and cold water supplied through the other inlet 43 flow through the respective valve holes 45 and a passage 50 formed in the valve body 46 into a mixing chamber 51, and are mixed together. The water thus mixed is discharged through an outlet 52 formed in the valve casing 40.
A ring-shaped seal member 53 fitted in the bottom of the lever holder 47 is kept in contact with the top surface of the valve body 46 to keep water from leaking out through the gap between the valve body 46 and the lever holder 47 and a shaft hole 54 formed through the lever holder 47. Another seal member 55 is provided between the lever holder 47 and the valve casing 40 to prevent water leakage through the gap therebetween.
Unexamined Japanese Utility Model Publication 63-36765 disclose a valve assembly (of the type shown in FIG. 9) in which one of the valve body 46 and valve seat 44 is formed from a ceramic material and the other from resin having a self-lubricity such as fluororesin or an ultra-high-molecular polyethylene, or a resin containing a filler capable of improving lubricity such as molybdenum disulfide or carbon.
But a valve body made of such a self-lubricating resin is low in creep resistance. Even if a fibrous reinforcer is added to the material of such a valve body, it cannot sufficiently reinforce the valve body because the wettability between the reinforcer and the resin is poor. Such a valve body can prevent water leakage only while the water pressure is low.
If it is desired to improve the lubricity of a valve body made of a non-self-lubricating resin that has a high reinforcing effect, a large amount of lubricating filler has to be added thereto. The addition of such a large amount of filler will lead to marked reduction in shock strength and creep resistance. Such a valve body tends to develop cracks or can be a cause of poor water tightness.
Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication 2-190677 discloses a resin composition that shows somewhat improved creep resistance and lubricity. It comprises 25-80% by weight of a polyphenylene sulfide resin (hereinafter PPS resin) and 20-75% by weight of carbon fiber having an average fiber diameter not exceeding 8 .mu.m with inorganic powdery fillers such as natural mica added.
Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication 6-213341 proposes to prevent the decrease in the water stopping capacity of a valve assembly by improving the wear resistance of sliding surfaces of a valve body made mainly of a PPS resin and a valve seat. Namely, this publication proposes to form at least one of the valve seat and the valve body from a resin composition comprising polycyanoarylether resin with carbon fiber added thereto.
The applicant of the present invention proposed in Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication
REFERENCES:
patent: 4362186 (1982-12-01), Parkison et al.
patent: 4378029 (1983-03-01), Parkison
patent: 4621659 (1986-11-01), Pawelzik
patent: 4633906 (1987-01-01), Tuchman
patent: 4738281 (1988-04-01), Limet et al.
patent: 4935313 (1990-06-01), Knapp et al.
patent: 4942902 (1990-07-01), Knapp
patent: 4971112 (1990-11-01), Knapp
patent: 5080134 (1992-01-01), Orlandi
patent: 5329958 (1994-07-01), Bosio
patent: 5518027 (1996-05-01), Saiki et al.
Fukuzawa Satoru
Ito Kenji
Nakamura Shoichi
NTN Corporation
Rivell John
LandOfFree
Valve assembly does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Valve assembly, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Valve assembly will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1951816