AU780663B2

AU780663B2 - Mixer valve

Info

Publication number: AU780663B2
Application number: AU13140/01A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Raymond Stewart Atwill
Original assignee: R AND K DEVELOPMENTS Ltd
Current assignee: R & K Developments Ltd
Priority date: 1999-11-05
Filing date: 2000-11-06
Publication date: 2005-04-07
Anticipated expiration: 2020-11-06
Also published as: AU1314001A; WO2001033121A1

Description

MIXER VALVE The invention relates to a mixer valve for hot and cold water or other fluids and particularly to a single lever operated mixer valve incorporating means for providing improved flow throughput.

Any discussion of the prior art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such prior art is widely known or forms part of common general knowledge in the field.

At present a large number of mixer valves have been the subject of patent applications and the number of single lever operated mixer valves is too numerous to detail herein.

Some of the single lever operated mixer valves rely on rotational movement in a horizontal plane to control flow and units incorporating this feature work satisfactorily in many circumstances but not in situations where they are to be used for double tubs or sinks.

A number of the single lever operated mixer valves have incorporated a ball valve element mounted in a valve housing. The ball valve element is linked to a control stem, movement of which adjusts flow rate and temperature. Water flows through a mixing chamber within the ball or to a mixing chamber depending on the degree of movement of the control stem and ball valve. The ball valve element in many cases is provided in a cartridge with of the ball member exposed so that in use the exposed portion of the ball co-operates with seals or sealing means of a valve housing.

An example of faucet incorporating a ball or spherical valve member is described in US Patent Specification No. 4200123. This faucet relies on a single member to act as the discharge nozzle and valve member operator. The faucet requires an additional seal through which the single member extends, a cover plate and splash ring all of which add to the eventual cost of the unit. The fact that the lower end of the single member is mounted well-within the spherical valve member means that the branch bores in the valve member are at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the single PCT/NZOO/00218 WO 01/33121 2 member thereby creating turbulence and slowed liquid flow. Additionally this type of unit is not suitable for double sink situations.

In Australian patent specification No. 58301/96 is disclosed a flow control device of a similar type to that disclosed in US patent specification No. 4200123. Again this type of flow control device is not suitable for use in situations with double sinks. As double sinks situations are now becoming far more popular there is clearly a demand for a single lever operated faucet with optimum flow throughput capable of being used in single or double sink situations.

In US patent specification No. 4108207 is disclosed a multiport valve primarily designed to direct a single flow into any of a plurality of outlets. This specification does mention its use as a valve that can introduce fluid flow from one or more of a plurality of inlets to a single outlet. A multiport valve of this type would not normally be utilized in a simple situation such as for mixing hot and cold water for a sink. In this unit a plurality of relatively small size passages are provided and used. There is no suggestion in the specification of optimising flow throughput. There is also no suggestion that movement of the operating lever, in this case the primary outlet/inlet, can provide proportional mixing and flow control.

In US patent specification No. 3417783 is disclosed a mixing valve with a single handle connected to the valve member which itself is rotatable about two mutually perpendicular axes. A spherical ball valve member is included and this has three ports. One of the inlet ports communicates with only the hot water inlet and another inlet port communicates with only the cold water inlet and the third inlet port communicates with either the hot or cold water inlet. In a valve of this type fluid flow is not optimised smoothly as the transition from cold to hot and/or mixed flow is likely to be uneven because the orientations of the ports do not allow for a smooth generally straight flow of liquid.

A problem with the existing mixer ball valves when used to control hot and cold water is it is very difficult to achieve full flow relevant to supply. This is not possible through a complete ball valve with an internal mixing chamber without increasing the actual size of the ball to a point where it has an unacceptable aesthetic appearance.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome or ameliorate at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art, or to provide a useful alternative.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a valve member for a single lever operated mixer valve, the valve member incorporating a section shaped as part of a surface of a solid of revolution, the section allows arcuate movement in two planes of the valve member under the control of the single lever when fitted in a housing an inner surface of which is of a shape complementary to that of said section, the sections having inlet port means for two liquids to be mixed, the inlet port means including passages extending from the surface of the section to a mixing region formed on the opposite side of the valve member to the section, the single lever being mounted to the valve member by pins or the like which extend through shaped slots in the housing, the pins being locked relative to the valve member so that movement of the lever can be in the tvo planes generally at right angles to each other, the first of which pivots the valve member relative to the housing and the second of which pivots the valve member and housing relative to the mixer valve.

The surface of said section can be cunred.

The remainder of the valve member can be of any suitable shape.

The inlet port means can be one or a multiple of passageways aligned so that their outlet ends terminate in a cone, or other, shaped mixing region formed in or on said opposite side, each passageway being directed so that depending on the flow rate selected in a fully open position, at least one said passageway is aligned directly with one of two ports in the housing.

The inlet port means when full mixed flow is required has a passageway aligned directly with each of the two ports in the housing.

The inlet port means can be four passageways, two of which are directed to provide full flow directly from the two ports to the cone shaped mixing region, one of each of WO 01/33121 PCT/NZOO/00218 4 the other two passageways being directed to provide full flow from each of the two ports.

The inlet ports can be slots shaped and positioned so that a corner of a slot where it s meets the curved section allows direct flow from the adjacent port in the housing direct to the cone shaped mixing region.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a single lever operated mixer valve incorporating a valve member according to the first aspect of the invention.

The valve member can be a solid member with the inlet port means and mixing region formed therein.

The inlet port means can be either at least two passages for each of the liquids to be mixed and/or a variation of shaped inlet passageways.

The passageways can be continual, tapering, reducing or multiple.

The valve member can be ball shaped and or generally ball shaped with a segment thereof removed.

The valve member can be hemispherical in shape with a mixing chamber formed therein or a solid member with inlet port means formed therein.

The valve member can be formed as part of a cartridge unit for mounting in a mixer valve.

The valve member and housing can be positioned on any plane and is not limited to the horizontal or vertical plane.

The co-operating and opposing curved surfaces can provide for discrete step movement by including a series of grooves, scallops, flutes on one surface, opposite which a detente or biasing means is mounted or around pivot points of the valve member.

The grooves, scallops or flutes can be formed either in the surface of the valve member or in the surface of the housing with the biasing means being mounted in the opposing member or in the cartridge.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a single lever operated mixer valve, a valve member of which has a section shaped as part of a surface of a solid of revolution, the section allowing arcuate movement in two planes of the valve member when it is fitted in a housing an inner surface of which is of a shape complementary to the surface of said section, the movement of the valve member can be in two planes and is under the control of a single lever, the section having inlet port means for two liquids to be mixed, the inlet port means including passageways extending from the surface of the section to a mixing region of the housing formed either on the opposite side of the valve member to the section or within the valve member, the passageways being directed to form a substantially undeviated flow of the liquids from the inlet port means to the mixing region and to an outlet of the housing and mixer valve, the single lever being mounted by pins or the like which extend through shaped slots in the housing to be locked relative to the valve member so that movement of the lever can be in planes at right angles to each other the first of which pivots the valve member relative to the housing and the second of which pivots the valve member and housing relative to the mixer valve.

The housing is mounted to pivot relative to a mixer valve casing in or on which is mounted an outlet spout for the mixer valve.

J j WO 01/33121 PCT/NZ00/00218 6 The valve member can be generally hemispherical in shape with an axis of the pins which mount the lever relative thereto being parallel to said generally flat surface of the hemisphere.

The generally flat surface of the valve member has a recess formed therein which terminates in a cone or other shaped mixing region formed within the valve member and in communication with the passageways forming the inlet port means.

Further aspects of the present invention, which should be considered in all its novel aspects, will become apparent from the following description.

Examples of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1: shows a sectional view of a mixer valve showing its valve member, associated complementary housing, valve casing and operating lever; Figure 2: shows a front view of the mixer valve according to the invention shown in Figure 1; Figure 3: shows a perspective view of the operative parts of the mixer valve shown in Figures 1 and 2 with the parts exploded apart; Figure 4: shows in diagrammatic form an example of valve member and its associated complementary housing; and Figure 5 shows a sectional view of a second example of mixing In valve.

WO 01/33121 PCT/NZ0000218 7 The following description will be with reference to a mixer valve in which the valve member, spout, housing, valve casing and operating lever are described. It is to be appreciated that the valve member and housing can be a cartridge for incorporation within a variety of different constructions of mixer valve casing.

In Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 is shown diagrammatically a first example of mixing valve with a valve member 1 incorporated in a housing 2 for incorporation within a mixer valve casing 3.

The valve member 1 generally indicated by arrow 1 is mounted in the complementary housing indicated by arrow 2 so as to be pivoted arcuately in the direction of arrows 4. The arcuate movement in the direction of arrows 4 opens and/or closes a flow of the mixer valve 3 in which the valve member 1 is mounted.

The valve member 1 has a surface 5 shaped as the surface of a solid of revolution, the surface 5 can be part of the surface of a sphere. In this case the upper segment from chord face 6 has been removed.

The surface 5 co-operates in a sealing manner with an opposing face 7 formed in the housing 2. It is envisaged that the valve member 1 and/or the housing 2 can be manufactured from a plastics, ceramic or metal material.

The housing 2 has two ports 8, 9 which terminate in sealing means 10 which seal against which the face 7. The contact between the surface 5 and opposing face 7 may be via spring-biased seal means The valve member 1 in the example is shown with two pairs of passageways 11, 12 and 13, 14 extending from the surface 5 to a cone shaped recess or mixing zone formed in the chord face 6.

WO 01/33121 PCT/NZ00218 8 The valve member 1 can be pivoted by movement of pins 16 in the direction of arrows 4 and is also free to rotate in direction of arrows 17. The movement in the direction of arrows 17 controls temperature of the liquid in the mixing zone At one extent of the movement of the valve member 1 in the direction of arrow 4 the outlet is directly aligned with the port 8. In this position full flow of whatever liquid is passing through port 8 occurs. The pivotal movement can be controlled by ends of slot 34 formed in a ring casing member 18 in which the pivot pins 16 are moveable.

The movement through approximately 1000 against opposite ends of slot 34 presents passageway 13 to the inlet port 9 so that full flow of the liquid from port 9 occurs.

In the intermediate stages of movement 17 of the valve member 1 the ports 8 and 9 allows mixture of the liquids from ports 8 and 9 to occur through the passageways 11 and 14.

In Figure 2 is shown a front view of an example of mixer valve incorporating a valve member 1 with spout 18. The spout 18 may be free to swivel to thereby direct flow from spout 18 into a tub or basin other than directly beneath the dotted section line A-A which is the line of the section shown in Figure 1.

In Figure 3 the parts of the mixer valve are those in Figures 1 and 2 and are referenced by the same numbers to those shown in Figures 1 and 2.

In this Figure the housing 2 can be seen as formed as a cylindrical member 20 in which the ports 8 and 9 are mounted. The ports 8, 9 are aligned with inlet pipes 21,22.

In Figure 3 the sealing means at 10 are shown as 23, 24 spaced above their position in the housing 2.

The valve member 1 is formed as a cartridge and has opposed holes 25 within which inner ends of pins 16 are engaged. In this example the cartridge is formed by a ring WO 01/33121 PCT/NZOO/00218 9 shaped housing member 18 and the movement of the valve member 1 in the direction of arrows 4 is controlled by a suitable handle lever 27.

The cartridge ring member 18 has flat faces at 28 which contact abutment faces 29 formed on the housing 2.

The pins 16 are locked in position by a keeper 30 which slidingly engages in zone with slots 31 in keeper 30 engaged with keyways 32 in the pins. The pins 16 in this example having seals 38 such as o-ring seals.

In its assembled position an outer fitting or casing 33 is engaged over the cartridge and can act as a link between the housing 2 and a spout member 18.

The degree of movement of operating lever 27 alters mixing by causing movement of the valve member 1 between the ends of a slot 34 in the casing 33.

In this example the movement of the valve member 1 in the direction of the arrows 4 is controlled by stops formed as part of the keeper 30. One edge 40 of the keeper may extend further than the other. The keeper 30 may be made by a nylon or other suitable plastics material.

The ring shaped member 18 can include grooves 35 for o-ring seals which contact inner surface 36 of the casing 33. The ring shaped member 18 is kept within casing 33 by a fitting 37 which engages in a screw thread (not shown) within the casing 33. The fitting 37 and/or the connection of the spout member 18 to the casing 33 can allow the orientation of the spout to be rotated through up to 120° thereby allowing mixed flow to be directed to different parts of a sink or between adjacent sinks of a double sink unit.

In the alternative construction shown in Figure 5 is shown a similar mixing valve to that shown in Figures 1 to 4.

RECTIFIED SHEET (Rule 91)

ISA/AU

WO 01/33121 PCT/NZ00OO/00218 In this drawing similar parts are referenced by the same numerals.

In this instance the valve member 1 and pins 16 are connected together without the use of seals 38 on the pins 16. In this construction the holes 39 for the pins 16 are threaded and the pins 16 themselves are locked relative to the valve member 1 by the locking engagement of the threads of the pins 16. A keeper 30 is therefore not included. The pins 16 may alternatively be located relative to the valve member 1 by grub screws placed in suitably positioned holes in the valve member 1.

In the second example the limited movement of the valve member 1 may be controlled by contact between the stirrup-shaped lever 27 and the spout 18. The stirrup-shaped lever 27 and the spout 18 having an appropriate plastic contacting surface to avoid damage between the parts.

In use, the mixer valve is connected and used in any of the variety of situations in which a mixer valve can be used.

The valve member 1 and the housing 2 have opposing faces 5 and 7 that can be shaped to provide discrete steps. For example, the discrete steps may be formed by providing a series of grooves, scallops or flutes (not shown).

The housing 2 opposite the groove, scallops or flutes may include a means (not shown) biased to contact the grooves etc. so that in use extra effort is required to move the operating lever past successive steps.

The means for biasing may be a ball bearing or other suitable member sprung biased against the surface of the grooves etc., the degree of bias being selected so that a user can readily move the operating lever without great extra effort to move the lever from its closed to fully open position at the same time as moving the lever sideways to alter the degree of temperature control.

RECIFIED SHEET (Rule 91)

ISA/AU

WO 01/33121 PCT/NZOO/00218 11 The provision of the grooves, flutes, scallops or spiral and the associated means for biasing allows a user to selectively control degrees of opening and closing of the valve to suit particular requirements.

Where in the foregoing description particular mechanical or other integers are described, it is envisaged that known mechanical equivalents can be substituted as if they were individually set forth herein.

Thus by this invention there is provided a single lever operated mixer valve which may incorporate means for assisting in water conservation at the same time as providing improved flow throughput.

Particular examples of the invention have been described and it is envisaged that improvements and modifications can take place without departing from the scope of the attached claims.

Claims

2. A valve member as claimed in claim 1 wherein the surface of said section is curved.
3. A valve member as claimed in claim 2 wherein the remainder of the valve member is of any suitable shape.
4. A valve member as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the inlet port means is one or a multiple of passageways aligned so that their outlet ends terminate in a cone, or other, shaped mixing region formed in or on said opposite side, each passageway being directed so that depending on the flow rate selected in a fully open position, at least one said passageway is aligned directly with one of two ports in the housing. A valve member as claimed in claim 4 wherein the inlet port means when full mixed flow is required has a passageway aligned directly with each of the two ports in the housing.
6. A valve member as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5 wherein the inlet port means is four passageways, two of which are directed to provide full flow directly from the two ports to the cone shaped mixing region, one of each of the other two passageways being directed to provide full flow from each of the two ports.
7. A valve member as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 6 wherein the inlet ports are slots shaped and positioned so that a corner of a slot where it meets the curved section -13- allows direct flow from the adjacent port in the housing direct to the cone shaped mixing region.
8. A valve member as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the pins are removable.
9. A single lever operated mixer valve incorporating a valve member according to any one of claims 1 to 8. A single lever operated mixer valve as claimed in claim 9 wherein the single lever is stirrup shaped.
11. A single lever operated mixer valve as claimed in claim 9 or claim 10 wherein the io valve member is a solid member with the inlet port means and mixing region formed therein.
12. A single lever operated mixer valve as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the inlet port means is either at least two passages for each of the liquids to be mixed and/or a variation of shaped inlet passageways.
13. A single lever operated mixer valve as claimed in claim 12 wherein the passageways can be continual, tapering, reducing or multiple.
14. A single lever operated mixer valve as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 13 wherein the valve member is ball shaped and/or generally ball shaped with a segment thereof removed.
15. A single lever operated mixer valve as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 13 wherein the valve member is hemispherical in shape with a mixing chamber formed therein or a solid member with inlet port means formed therein.
16. A single lever operated mixer valve as claimed in any one of claims 9 to wherein the valve member is formed as part of a cartridge unit for mounting in the mixer valve.
17. A single lever operated mixer valve as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 16 wherein the valve member and housing can be positioned on any plane and is not limited to the horizontal or vertical plane.
18. A single lever operated mixer valve as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 17 wherein the co-operating and opposing curved surfaces provide for discrete step movement by including a series of grooves, scallops, flutes on one surface, opposite which a d6tente or biasing means is mounted or around pivot points of the valve member. -14-
19. A single lever operated mixer valve as claimed in claim 18 wherein the grooves, scallops or flutes can be formed either in the surface of the valve member or in the surface of the housing with the biasing means being mounted in the opposing member or in the cartridge.
20. A single lever operated mixer valve, a valve member of which has a section shaped as part of a surface of a solid of revolution, the section allowing arcuate movement in two planes of the valve member when it is fitted in a housing an inner surface of which is of a shape complementary to the surface of said section, the movement of the valve member can be in two planes and is under the control of a single lever, the section having inlet port means for two liquids to be mixed, the inlet port means including passageways extending from the surface of the section to a mixing region of the housing formed either on the opposite side of the valve member to the section or within the valve member, the passageways being directed to form a substantially undeviated flow of the liquids from the inlet port means to the mixing region and to an outlet of the housing and mixer valve, the single lever being mounted by pins or the like which extend through shaped slots in the housing to be locked relative to the valve member so that movement of the lever can be in planes at right angles to each other the first of which pivots the valve member relative to the housing and the second of which pivots the valve member and housing relative to the mixer valve.
21. A single lever operated mixer valve as claimed in claim 18 wherein the housing is mounted to pivot relative to a mixer valve casing in or on which is mounted an outlet spout for the mixer valve.
22. A single lever operated mixer valve as claimed in claim 17 or claim 18 wherein the single lever is stirrup shaped.
23. A single lever operated mixer valve as claimed in any one of claims 18 to 22 wherein the valve member can be generally hemispherical in shape with an axis of the pins which mount the lever relative thereto being parallel to said generally flat surface of the hemisphere.
24. A single lever operated mixer valve as claimed in claim 17 to 23 wherein the generally flat surface of the valve member has a recess formed therein which terminates in a cone or other shaped mixing region formed within the valve member and in communication with the passageways forming the inlet port means. A single lever operated mixer valve as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 24 wherein the pins are removable.
26. A single lever operated mixer valve substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the embodiments of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings and/or examples.
27. A valve member substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the embodiments of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings and/or examples. DATED this 13th day of March, 2003 BALDWIN SHELSTON WATERS Attorneys for: R K DEVELOPMENTS LIMITED