BE1025327B1 - COLD BODY THERMOSTATIC MIXER TAP - Google Patents

Abstract

Mixer tap comprising an elongated body (1) of generally cylindrical shape, which comprises, towards one of its ends, a hot water inlet (2) and, towards its other end, a cold water inlet (3) and a control member (6) of the mixed water temperature, as well as a mixed water outlet (4) disposed rather towards the cold water inlet (3), said control member (6) of the temperature cooperating in known manner with a mitigating cartridge (7). This tap has, next to the hot water inlet (2), a valve head (5a) for opening and regulating the flow of hot water; the mitigating cartridge (7) comprises, towards its end opposite to the temperature control member (6), radial channels (9) in which the cold water flows and which give access to an internal groove of which one of the faces constitutes the cold water seat (10) of the mixer tap; and the body (1) axially contains a narrow channel (13) of insulating material, one end of which is in relation to the valve head (5a) and the other end (14) of which is flared to enclose the bottom (15). ) of the mitigating cartridge (7), which bottom (15) has, at its periphery, radial orifices (16) through which the hot water of the channel (13) flows and accesses a groove located at the interior of the bottom (15), one of the faces of this groove being the hot water seat, between the radial channels (9) and the radial orifices (16), a first seal being disposed on the outer wall of the cartridge (7). ) in contact with the inner wall of the flared end (14) of the channel (13) such that the hot water is forced to flow through the radial openings (16). Application in the field of faucets.

Description

The present invention relates to a thermostatic mixing valve with a cold body and without a non-return valve for distributing water, in particular in sanitary installations such as a shower, sink, sink.

Thermostatic mixing valves have the advantage of guaranteeing the stability of the temperature of the water delivered despite fluctuations in the pressure of hot and cold water and variations in flow rate: they thus provide comfort and anti-scalding safety in particular. Most thermostatic mixing valves for domestic use have a tap on the mixed water outlet side to open and close the water flow, which requires the use of non-return valves for hot and cold water arrivals to avoid hot water / cold water intercommunication when the mixed water tap is closed.

Thus, in document US Pat. No. 4,669,653 - A is described a mixing valve comprising non-return valves at the arrivals of cold water and hot water.

Likewise, document FR - 2 356 068 relates to a mixing valve fitted with non-return valves, but the structure of which is such that a large volume of water is stagnant: this can only promote bacterial proliferation. In addition, according to this document, the mixed water circulates against the outside wall of the mixing valve, which, therefore, may be brought to the same temperature as the mixed water.

To guarantee the closing of the non-return valves, it is necessary to have a filter upstream of the cold and hot water arrivals so as to retain the solid particles brought by the water such as grains of sand, pieces of limestone, sealing tape, metal particles, etc.

In hospital installations, hygienists prefer to avoid installing filters, because these make it more difficult to disinfect the networks.

Also one of the aims of the present invention is to provide a thermostatic mixer which overcomes the drawbacks mentioned above.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such a thermostatic mixing valve of simple construction while avoiding the presence of cavities of complex shape in which water can stagnate, thereby promoting bacterial proliferation.

These aims, as well as others which will appear subsequently, are achieved by a thermostatic mixer comprising an elongated body of generally cylindrical shape, which comprises, towards one of its ends, an inlet for hot water, and, towards its other end, a cold water inlet and a control device for the temperature of the mixed water, as well as a mixed water outlet arranged rather towards

BE2014 / 0802

BE2014 / 0802 the arrival of cold water, this temperature control member cooperating in known manner with a mixing cartridge, which mixing valve is, according to the present invention, characterized in that it comprises, on the side of the arrival of hot water, a tap head allowing to open and regulate the flow of hot water, that this mixing cartridge has, towards its end opposite to the temperature control member, radial channels in which cold water flows and which give access to an internal groove one of whose faces constitutes the cold water seat of the mixing valve, and that this body contains axially a narrow channel made of an insulating material, one end of which is in relation to the tap head and the other end of which is flared to envelop the bottom of the mixing cartridge, the bottom of this mixing cartridge having, at its periphery, radial orifices through which the hot water from the channel flows and accesses a groove located inside the bottom of this cartridge, one of the faces of this groove being the hot water seat, a first seal being disposed, between the radial channels and the radial orifices, on the external wall of the cartridge in contact with the internal wall of the flared end of the channel so that the hot water is forced to flow through the radial orifices.

Advantageously, a second seal is disposed between the body of the valve and the flared end of the channel enveloping the mixing cartridge.

Preferably, the mixing cartridge comprises a shuttle inside which is located a wax capsule and which has seals facing the hot water and cold water seats, hot water and cold water mix at the heart of the shuttle around the wax cell, then, the mixed water passing through radial orifices arranged in the wall of the cartridge to gain the water outlet.

Advantageously, the mixing valve comprises a ring which is disposed between the body of the mixing valve and the external wall of the cartridge opposite the outlet of mixed water, and which has peripheral channels for letting cold water through and a radial channel to let the mixed water pass, a sleeve being screwed into the mixed water outlet and penetrating into the radial channel to immobilize the ring.

Preferably, two seals are arranged between the mixing cartridge and the ring, on the one hand, and a seal between the ring and the screwed sleeve, on the other hand.

Advantageously, the hot water supply comprises a thermal insulation sleeve in relation to a hollow body which is made of an insulating material and which receives the valve head, this insulating hollow body being made captive in the body of the mixer by a threaded support nut which cooperates with a thread in this body.

BE2 (PW0 ^ ⁰⁸⁰²

Preferably, a bore is formed in the support nut for housing the ceramic head which is fixed by thread in said nut.

The description which follows and which is in no way limiting, should be read with reference to the appended figures, among which:

- Figure 1 is a sectional view of a thermostatic mixing valve according to the present invention; and,

- Figure 2 is an enlarged view of part A of Figure 1.

As can be seen in these figures, a thermostatic mixing valve according to the present invention comprises an elongated body 1 which has, towards one of its ends, a hot water inlet 2 and, towards its other end, an inlet of cold water 3, as well as a mixed water outlet 4 disposed rather towards the cold water inlet 3. The elongated body 1 is of generally cylindrical shape, the hot water 2 and cold water inlets 3 are substantially on the same generator and the mixed water outlet 4 on a generator substantially diametrically opposite to the previous one. But, if necessary, this mixed water outlet 4 can be in an orthogonal position relative to the generator of hot water 2 and cold water 3 arrivals.

The mixing valve comprises, at its end located towards the hot water inlet 2, a handle 5 cooperating with a valve head 5a to open and regulate the flow of hot water, and, at its other end, located on the side from the cold water supply, a control member 6 for the temperature of the mixed water.

This temperature control member 6 cooperates in a known manner with a mixing cartridge 7: the cold water admitted by the cold water inlet 3 flows between the mixing cartridge 7 and the internal wall 8 of the body 1 of the mixer tap.

The mixing cartridge 7 comprises, towards its end opposite to the temperature control member 6, radial channels 9 in which the cold water flows and which gives access to an internal groove one of the faces of which constitutes the cold water seat 10 of the mixer tap.

The hot water inlet 2 includes a thermal insulation sleeve 11 which is located in the connection nut. This sleeve 11 penetrates, according to the present embodiment, perpendicularly into a hollow body 12 made of an insulating material. This hollow body 12 receives the tap head 5a, preferably with ceramic discs, and it is made prisoner of the body 1 of the mixer tap by a

BE20 "^ ⁰⁸⁰² threaded support nut 30 which cooperates with a thread in this body 1. A bore is provided in the support nut 30 for housing the valve head 5a which is fixed by thread in this nut d 'support 30.

The hollow body 12 is extended by a narrow channel 13 disposed axially in the body 1 opposite the tap head 5a.

Thus, the hot water arriving through the socket 11 enters the arous body 12 where the tap head 5a is located. When this tap head 5a is open, hot water enters the channel 13. The other end 14 of the channel 13 is flared to wrap the bottom 15 of the mixing cartridge 7.

The bottom 15 of the mixing cartridge 7 has, at its periphery, radial orifices 16 through which the hot water from the channel 13 flows and reaches a groove located inside the bottom 15 of this cartridge, the one of the faces of this groove being the hot water seat 17.

Between the radial channels 9 and the radial orifices 16, a first seal 18 is 1S placed on the external wall of the cartridge 7 in contact with the internal wall of the flared end 14 of the channel 13 so that the hot water is forced to flow through the radial holes 16.

A second seal 19 is disposed between the body 1 of the tap and the flared end 14 of the channel 13 enveloping the mixing cartridge 7: thus cold water cannot invade the space situated around the hollow body 12.

In known manner, the mixing cartridge 7 comprises a shuttle 20 inside which is located a wax capsule 21 and which has seals facing the hot water 17 and cold water 10 seats.

Hot and cold water mix at the heart of the shuttle 20 around the dre cell 21: then, the mixed water passes through radial orifices 22 arranged in the para of the cartridge 7 to gain the outlet d water 4.

Advantageously, the mixing valve comprises a ring 23 which is arranged between the body 1 of the mixing valve and the external wall of the cartridge 7 opposite the outlet of mixed water 4; this ring has peripheral channels 24 to let cold water pass and a radial channel 25 to let mixed water pass. A socket 26 is screwed into the mixed water outlet and enters this radial channel 25 to immobilize the ring 23.

Two seals 27, 27bis are arranged between the mixing cartridge 7 and the ring 23, on the one hand, and a seal 28 between the ring 23 and the screwed sleeve 26, on the other hand, to prevent cold water from mix with mixed water.

BE20 "/ ' ⁰⁸⁰²

When a user turns the handle 5 to close the hot water inlet, the wax cell 21 retracts and a spring 29 located in the bottom 15 of the cartridge 7 pushes the shuttle 20, which has the effect of closing cold water.

A bore is provided in the support nut 30 for housing the valve head 5a which is fixed by thread in this nut.

It goes without saying that a person skilled in the art could easily reverse the arrangement according to the present invention, namely temperature control on the hot water side, provided that the mixing system is capable of cutting off the hot water completely as soon as the cold water cut-off, this version having the advantage of favoring priority opening on cold water.

Likewise, it would be possible to place the ceramic head facing the hot water inlet, in the extension of the socket 11 so that the hot water can exit laterally through the lateral orifices of the head without it leaving the field. of the present invention.

The main advantage of the present invention is that it does not require non-return valves for hot and cold water arrivals, and therefore does not require a filter. On the other hand, the general arrangement of the mixers is to have the flow control on the right and the temperature control on the left with a mixed water flow which crosses the flow of cold water which complicates the construction of the mixer, while according to the present invention, it is the hot water which flows from the hot water inlet conventionally located to the left of the mixer, towards the temperature adjustment mechanism located on the right side inlet cold water, which has the advantage of greatly simplifying the construction of the mixer and avoiding complex cavities where standing water promotes bacterial proliferation and makes disinfection programs more difficult, even inoperative.

Claims (7)

1. - Mixing valve comprising an elongated body (1) of generally cylindrical shape, which comprises, towards one of its ends, a hot water inlet (2) and, towards its other end, a cold water inlet (3 ) and a control member (6) for the temperature of the mixed water, as well as a mixed water outlet (4) arranged rather towards the cold water inlet (3), said control member (6 ) of the temperature cooperating in known manner with a mixing cartridge (7), characterized in that it comprises, on the side of the hot water inlet (2), a tap head (5a) making it possible to open and to regulate the flow of hot water, which said mixing cartridge (7) comprises, towards its end opposite to said temperature control member (6), radial channels (9) in which cold water flows and which give access to an internal groove, one of the faces of which constitutes the cold water seat (10) of the mixing valve, and that said body (1) axially contains a narrow channel (13) made of an insulating material, one end of which is in relation to the tap head (5a), located on the side of the hot water inlet (2), and the other end (14) of which is flared to envelop the bottom (15) of said mixing cartridge (7), which bottom (15) has, at its periphery, radial orifices (16) through which the hot water from the channel (13) flows and accesses a groove located inside said bottom (15), one of the faces of this groove being the hot water seat (17), between the radial channels (9) and the orifices radial (16), a first seal (18) being disposed on the outer wall of the cartridge (7) in contact with the inner wall of the flared end (14) of the channel (13) so that the hot water is forced to flow through the radial ports (16). 2. - Mixing valve according to claim 1, characterized in that a second seal (19) is disposed between the body (1) of said valve and the flared end (14) of the channel (13) enveloping the mixing cartridge (7). 3. - Mixing valve according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the mixing cartridge (7) comprises a shuttle (20) inside which is located a wax capsule (21) and which has seals facing the hot water (17) and cold water (10) seats, hot water and cold water mix at the heart of the shuttle (20) around the wax cell (21), then, mixed water passing through radial orifices (22) arranged in the wall of the cartridge (7) to gain the water outlet (4). 4. - Mixing valve according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises a ring (23) which is arranged between the body BE2014 / 0802 (1) of the mixing valve and the external wall of the cartridge (7) opposite the mixed water outlet (4), and which has peripheral channels (24) for letting cold water and a channel radial (25) to allow the mixed water to pass, a bushing (26) being screwed into the mixed water outlet and penetrating into said radial channel (25) to immobilize said ring (23). 5. - Mixing valve according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that two seals (27, 27bis) are arranged between the mixing cartridge (7) and the ring (23), on the one hand, and a seal (28) between the ring (23) and the screwed sleeve (26), on the other hand. 10 6. - Mixing valve according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the hot water inlet (2) comprises a thermal insulation sleeve (11) in connection with a hollow body (12) which is made of an insulating material and which receives the tap head (5a), said hollow body (12) being made captive in the body (1) of the mixer by a threaded support nut (30) which cooperates with a 15 tapping in this body (1). 7. - Mixing valve according to claim 6, characterized in that a bore is formed in the support nut (30) for the housing of the ceramic head (5a) which is fixed by thread in said nut.