CA1128831A - Timed combination shower and bath control valve - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT

A valve for controlling temperature, rate of flow, direction of flow, and duration of flow of water in a shower and bath arrangement.
The present invention comprises a hemispherical valve with two valve members in tandem, one controlling selection of shower or bath, and the rate of flow of water therein, and the other controlling temperature. A
hydraulic timer shuts off flow of water to bath or shower after a pre-determined time, for a predetermined time.

Description

~2~

This invention relates to a valve for controlling flow of water,temperature of water,selection of shower or bath,and duration of flow of water,in a shower and bath arrangement.
It is common in systems for controlling the operation of a shower and bath arrangement to have separate valves to control hot and cold water,thus balancing the temperature,and to have a separate valve for controlling the selection of shov~er or baths Because there are æeveral different valves used in a building or comple~,and there are many different moving parts,costs are increased because various parts must be stocked and serviced.~his is particularily disadvantageous in institutions or housing complexes where there may be several hundred showar and bath arrangements.
Shower and bath arrangements of the prior art have no provision for the regulation of the duration of flow of water during a shower or bath,thus permitting an excessive amount of water to be used.This is particularily disadvantageous in housing complexes, hospitals,or other institutions where several hundred shower and bath arrangements may be installed,and water consumption may be excessive.In addition,with no limit on the flovr of ~ater~a shower or bath left running unattended by a physically or mentally handicap-~-ped person,or~child,or other per~on who has forgotten,may cause flooding,or if it does not flood~may run fo~ hours7wasting water.
Valves and faucets o~ the prior art are not usually streamlined internally and have sharp cornerR,all of which contribute to a loss of pressure,and efficiency.Efficiency is particularily lost in an institution or other building or complex where a booster pump must be used to deliver pressure~Because of a restricted flow through non-streamlined valves and faucets,pre6sure in the system must be kept considerably higher~thus contributing to wear,and cost of serviceing ~`' to the pressure delivery system.
In shower and bath control arrangements of the prior art, separate valves control flow of hot and cold water and thus overall pressure going to the shower or bath.If an overall increase or de-crease in pressure is desired,it is not sufficient to change flo~ by turning one valve for either hot or cold~as the temperature balance will be disturbed.Both hot and cold ~Yater controls must be ad~usted again.Thiæ i8 time consuming,wastes water~and may be difficult for mentally or physically handicapped persons~or chidren.
An advantage of the present invention is that the valve has only two moving parts,and these are not prone to seizure,thus greatly reducing the need for maintenanceOThis is particulsrily advantageous in institutions~housing complexes and apartment blocks where many J
sho~er and bath control units must be operated.
A further advantage of the present invention is that the dura-tion of flow of water is controlled by a built-in hydraulic timer~
which permits only a predetermined amount of water to be passed throu~h the shower or bath.Thus flooding cannot occour through unattended operation.This iæ particularily advantageous in institutionæ and homes where a mentally or~ ~ handicapped person,or child may forget to turn off the shower or bath or be unable to do so.This can result in a large saving of water and will also eliminate difficulties~and serviceing required ~due to ~looding~
A still further advantage of the present invention is that the water passages are streamlined~increasing efficiency and flow delivered.
Tbis also reduceæ the pressure required to be delivered by the c,~5erv,~i pressure delivery æystem~thereby ee~3~P~e~g energy and the costs of J e ~ v~
~e~icoing and maintenance.
A still further advantage of the present invention i8 that there is one dial controlling temperature and another controlling flow, so that once a temperature has been sst,it need not be disturbed in order to increase or decrease pre~sure.This is particularily advan-tageous in institutions or homes,where shower and bath arrangement~are operated by mentally or physically handicapped persons,or children.
The foregoing objects are accomplished by a valve in accordance with the present invention,which utilizes a hydraulic timer which wor~s on the sa~e pressure which ~s delivered to the shower or bath, in such a way that when a dial i5 turned towards shower-on or bath-on, pressure flows to the timer cylinder pushing a piston through the cylinder which when it reaches the end of its travel,will shut off the flo~ of ~ater.The valve is provided with a hemispherical body, inside of which there are two solid sections,turning independantly of each other~as controlled by an actuating dial,one for each section.On each of the t~o solid inner sections are machined out passages,which when matched with openings in the hemispherical shell, through turning of dials and thus of the inner solid sections,permit flow of fluid.
"' 3o ~3-The present invention is illuætrated by way of example ~ith reference to the accompanying drawings,wherein:
Figure 1 is a cross plan veiw of the invention showing it cut from front to back~lshowing the arrangement of the invention as mounted on the wall,and the arrangement of the two independant inner sections of the valve,the dials,and the hydraulic timer;
Figure 2 is a sectional veiw along Line K-K of Figure l;
Figure 3 is a sectional veiw along Line H-H o~ Figure l;
showing the complete hydraulic timerycut lengthwise;
Figure 4 is a ~ectional ~eiw along Line J-J of Figure 1, showing a partial plan veiw of the inner portion of the valve,and a top plan veiw of both dials~and a top elevational veiw of the timer, partially cut a~ay;
Figure 5 is a rear elevational veiw of the present invention, seen from Line I-I of Figure l;
Figure 6 is a sectional veiw along Line E-E of Figure l;
Figure 7 is a sectional veiw along Line F-F of Figure l;
Figure 8 is a sectional veiw along Line G-G of Figure l;
Figure 9 is a front elevational veiw of the present invention~

seen from Line A-A of Figure l~shovJing both dials~poin~er,and face : plate,as mounted on the wall;
Figure 10 i8 a 6ectional veiw along Line C-C o~ Figure 1, showing the front mounting plate;
Figure 11 is a sectional veiw along Line D-D of Figure 1, ~howing the rear mounting plate,and Figure 12 is a sectional veiw along Line B-B of Figure 1, showing the face plake.

~ or an understanding of the in~ention reference is now made to the drawings and particularily Figure 1, Figure 2, Pigure 3, and Figure 4.
As best seen in Figure 1, the present invention c~mprise~
inner 3pindle 73 of which serrated end 6 is inserted into dial 36, and the other ~errated end 17 i~ in~erted into the independant inner part 51, hereinafter referred to as the mIxer 51.
Said inner sp~ndle 73, has a shoulder 15, o~ which one side is sitting against independant inner part 53, hereinafter referred to a~
the selector 53.

Shoulder 15 o~ inner ~pindle 73 serves to secure inner spir.dle 73 in its place in the valve by pressing against outer spindle 9.
Betwesn shoulder 15 and outer spindle 9 there is ~lat washer 148, made of a plastic material, ~er~in~ as a bearing between outer spindle 9 and inner spindle 73, 80 that the spindles rotate independantly.
The smooth end 1~ of inner spindle 73, extending past serrated end 17, is placed into hole 19 of shell 60. Hole 19 a~ts as a bearin~
~or iNner spindle 73, and preveNts side-to-side mo~ement9 Smooth end 1~ does not go all the way through hole 19 Or shell 60, leaving room for the selector 53 and mi~er Sl assembly to be ~urther tightened against ~hell 60.
Also, inner spindle 73 must turn freely and independantly Or outer spindle 9 an~ selector dial 37~ and ~ice-~ersa~
Outer spindle 9 has one serrated end 10 inserted into dial 37, : and the other serrated end 72 inserted into selector 53. Said outer spindle 9 ha~ a shoulder 14 which with its one end is seated against spacer 35 on which is seated spring 12. Therefore, when outer ~pindle 9 and selector 53 are turned, spacer 35 serves as a bearing between spring 12 and shoulder 14~ This way, spring 12 will not have the tendancy to dig into shoulder 149 and start turning together with outer ~pindle 9, so as to unscrew cap 20, and thereby disturb the proper tightness of spring 12.
Spring 12 is inserted into sleeve 21 which is welded ol onto ~S--rear molmting plate 23, and said spring 12 i5 pressed and held inside sleeve 21, by the cap 20J which is threaded onto sleeve 21, The outer spindle 9 passes through cap 20, and when ~pindle 9 turns, it slides on a plastics material O-ring 11~ which is placed inside o~ cap 20 and serve~
as a ~earing for outer spindle 73. When cap 20 is threaded on slee~e 21, it pushes spring 12. Spring 12 pushes against shoulder 14 of outer spindle 9, thereby pushing selector 53. Selector 53 pushes against mixer 51 through a plastics material O-ring 163 thereby keeping mixer 51 pressed against shell 60. Because mixer 51 and selector 53 are individually rotatable by a dial for each, plasties material O-ring 16 is used in between as a bearing on which they may turn, and through wht~h mixer 51 is pressed against shell bO by spring 12.
Selector 53 and mixer 51 are preferably made of nylon or plastic and have the same curvature on the outside as shell 60 has on the inside. The landing parts of sele~tor 53, mixer 51, and shell60 are ground to a close tolerance to maintain a positive seal. To adjust the tightness of mixer 51 an~ selector 53 against shell 60 to give a proper seal, cap 20 is tightened, insreasing the pressure of spring 12 against selector 53 and thus mixer 51. Proper adjustmen~s are necessary ; because overtig'htness will result in wear, and will make the dials too di~ficult to turn. Insufricient tightness will resul~ in leaking between the ¢hannels, whi¢h are explained in detail ~elow~
As best seen in Figure 1, Yigure 4~ Figure 6~ Figure 7 and Figure 8, there are passages dug out of selector 53 and mixer 51. These passages are hereinafter referred to as channels.
Channels 31 and 32 are dug out in parallel ~rom the upper part of selector 53 and channels 25 and 54 are dug out of the botto~ of selector 53, exactly opposite to channels 31 and 32 (as shown in Figure 1, Figure 4, ~igure 6 and Figure 7)0 Channel 71 is machined out of mixer 51, and when mixer 51 i~ in the "~n" position, then channel 71 appears on the upper part of the ~alve, as shown in Figure 1 and Figure 8. The "On" position is obtained by turning the correct dial 36 so that arrow 133 i8 pointed upwards as shown in Figure 9.
As previously mentioned,shell 60 i~ a single hemisphere, preferably made of brass.The inner sections mixer 51 and selector 53 are placed in shell 60 before it is bolted onto rear mounting plate 23~with bolts 26 (best shown in Figure 1 and Figure 11).
Between shell 60 and rear mounting plate 23 is placed spacer 64 in the shape of a nat washer,for the purpose of keeping selector 53 from contacting rear mountlng plate 23.0n the side of rear mounting plate 23 opposite of the side on which shell 60 is bolted,is spring bracket 29~screwed to rear mounting plate 23 by screw 28.Spring bracket 29 holds ball 30 in hole 149,which is drilled through rear mounting plate 23,so that when selector 53 iæ rotated to the l'Off position as depicted in Figure l,ball 30 will be forced by spring bracket 29,to fall into shallow hole 147,in selector 53,so that when selector 53 is turned by dial 37 away from '~Of~" it ~ill tend to stay in that po~ition until dial 37 is turnsd~due to the action of ball 30 as a click stop detent (See Figure l,Figure 4,and Figurell).
Before dials 36 and 37 are mounted on the valve,rear mounting ~j~7 e ~ 7 5 20 ~ plate 23 is placed over an~ ~ 66 in the vJall,where the valve i9 intended to serve~Then,front mounting plate 24 is tightened onto - - rear mounting7~1ate 239~hrough the wall 65~with scre~s 27.And then, face plate 38 is mounted~so as to cover the opening 66 and the front mounting plate 24.Face plate 38 is tightened to front mounting plate 24 with screws 22.After ~ace plate 38 ha~ been placed~selector dial 37 is pressed onto serrated end 10 of outer spindle 9,and then mixsr dial 36 is tightened with screw 3,which ls threaded into inner spindle 73.
Selector dial 37,on the side toward~ the body of the valve, has pit 33 machined out9so as to provide room for cap 20,when it has been adjusted to provide the correct tightness for spring 12.0n the other side o~ selector dial 37 is machined out pit 8,making room for mixer dial 36~The raised shoulder 7 of mixer dial 36 is provided so that should mixer dial 36 be tightened so as to contact selector dial 37,a minimum of surface will be rubbing together.Selector dial 37 and mixer dial 36 are preferably made of plastic~Pointer 62 i8 fl /'C~
prePerably made of the same pe~e as selector dial 37.
Counterbore 74 is machined out of mixer dial 36,so as to provide room for screw 3.Ground out of the inside of the circumferance of counterbore 74~is groove 4,into which~ænapa bracket 2,of face plate 1, holding it tightened to the dial.Circular groove 150 is machined out of the ~ront of mixer dial 36,in which sits ring 5,which is fastened to face plate l~and thus hold6 ~ace plate 1 in place.
On the rear of the valve,opposite of the dials,is mounted the hydraulic timer.(See Figure l,Figure 2,Figure 3,Figure 4,and Figure 5).
The hydraulic timer consists of cylinder 44 and piston 45~which has on ~oth end~ rubber O-ring seals 80 and 89,which are inserted into grooves 7g and 88,respectively~to provide a seal for piston 45,while said ~` piston 45 is travelling through c~linder 44.Al60,piston 45 has two linear channels 48 and 49~machined out of it~as best seen in Figure 2, 7~
Figure 3~and Figure 5.B~th ends of cylinder 44 are closed by caps 78 and 86,which are threaded ~2 and 8~onto cylinder 44.Under each cap 78 and 86 are inserted gaskets ~ and 81 so as to provlde a seal ~1 between cylinder 44 and caps 78 and 860Gn the outside of the centre o~ the centre of cy~nder 44 are weldedt~97~soldered or ~ast~ned as pre~ePred9two re~n~orcemont6 43~an~ 59~gn~whi~h;a~g ~daptedl~pipes ~
42,96~50 and lOl~Also~pipes 83 and 94 are adapted to cap 78~and pipes 40 and 85 are adapted to cap 86~
The hydraulic timer~as described above,sit6 as a unit~in a shallo~ pit 151 in shell 60~conforming to cylinder 44~s outside curvature~Bracket 47 holds the hydraulic timer tight against shell 60, by means of screws 41,as best seen in Figure 1~and in Figure 4.0n the hydraulic timer cylinder 44 ~its spacer 46,so as to fill the gap between cylinder 44 and spAcer 47,so that bracket 47 may eYenly tighten the hydraulic timer against shell 60.
The purpose of the hydraulic timer is to shut off pressure ~LZ8~331 after a predetermined time,thus stopping the uater ~lo~ for the shower or bath or other application~and to release the flow of water~for shower or bath or other application,after a set time.For example, when pressure is introduced into cylinder 44 through line ô3,the pressure will push piston 45 towards the other end of cylinder 44.If any liquid has been introduced into the other part 87 of cylinder 44, it will be forced out by piston45 through line 40 and subsequently through ths previously described ehannel 32 into line 93 and then through a suitable needle valve 67 into line 90 and through line 90, ~into line 55~w~ich is co~nected to the drain.
How fast this fluid will be going out of cylinder 44 i6 decided by needle valve 67~which means by turning setting screw 68 to open or close it more or less~This means that by opening needle valve 67 a greater volume of water will pass therethrough,which also means that piston 45 will be able to travel faster through cylinder 44.
Or,if pressure is introduced through line 85 it will push piston 45 ` towards cap 789and the previously introduced liquid in cylinder 44~
will have to leave said cylinder 44 through line 94~and then through a suitable needle v~lve lO9~and subsequently through channel 54,into line 55~which is connected to the drain.Speed of piston 45 through cylinder 44 is decided by needle valve 109,in the same way as described ~or needle valve 67~
Supposing that piston 45 is sitting on the side of cap 78~and water or any other liquid that has to be shut off after a predetermined time~of for example ten minutes~is coming into cylinder 44 through line 42,it will enter channel 48 and through channel 48 will enter line 42,and then will go to the 6hower or other application~Xn the same time pressure i6 introduced through line 83 into cylinder 44.
Thi~ pressure,~rom line 8~ill push piston 45 towards cap ô6~thereby 3 pushing the water in cylinder 44 through needle valve 67,which has been adjusted to provide a restriction sufficient to make piston 45 pushing the water out take ten minutes (for example) to reach cap 86, _g_ with a given pressure on the other &ide or the piston~Should the pressure be increased~piston 45 will take less time to complete -ts travel,and3should the pressure be less,piston 45 will take more time~
Thus,the setting of needle valve 67 will have to be made according to the pressure entering the cylinder 44 if the pre6sure is lesser needle valve 67 will be open more~and if the pressure is greater needle valve 67 will be opened less.

~ p //i J f / C i ~I C, ~e~
The needle valve should be of a type made of~te~on so it does not collect scale.otherwise scale will clog up the hole and change the required time for pisto~ 45~s travelaWith no scale accumulation,once the needle valve is set,the set time will stay that ~qay.This holds true for all needle valves employed ~ith the present invention.
While piæton 45 is travelling through cylinder 44 the pressure from l-lne 96 is always going through channel 48 into line 42 and when piston 45 reaches cap 86~at that time channel 48 has paæsed over line 96~and the solid part of piston 45 covers up the opening of line 96, which means that the passage from line 96 to line 42 will be closed.
Once piston 45 has come to rest against the inside part of cap 86, and thus has cut of~ flow into llne 42 from line 96,it will be necessary to reset the piston~so that the duration of flow may be timed again~This is acieved by introducing pressure from line 85,and ceasing flow to the other side of the piston~from line 83.Pressure from line 85 ~ill now push piston 45 through cylinder 44 towards cap 78.The ~ater in cylinder 44 will have to pa6s through needle valve lO9p which has been adjusted to provide a restriction of flow sufficisnt to make piston 45 pushin~ the water out of the cylinder 44 take a preferred amount o~ time.In this case9the process has been reversed, and adjustments to the duration o~ the return of piston 45 are made in needle valve 109.Timing the ~lo~ from line 96 to line 42 may start again;this vJill be further explained~
The hydraulic timer iæ connected to the hamispherical valve with line 94~and line 40 of which one end is connected to the timer as pre~iouæly explained,and the other end is connected to shell 60 on top ~LZ8~33~

of selector 53 (as shown in Figure 7) so that when selector 53 is turned by dial 37,towards the "Shower" position (~ee Figure 9~,channel 32 connects line 40 and line 93 (as may be seen in Figure 7) 80 that return ~luid from the hydraulic timer which comes out of cylinder 44 through line 40,and through passage 114,can go through channel 32, through passage 103,into line 93 and then through needle valve 67, into drain line 55 as previously explained.
When selector 53 i6 turned by dial 37 towards the "Bath"
position (as shown by arrow 139 in Figure 9)~channel 32 will connect line 40 with line 92,so that return fluid which comes from the timer cylinder 44 through line 40 and passage 114,can go through channel 32 ; into passage 1293and then to line 92 and needle valve 699into drain line 55,as previously explained.This arrangement is necessary because channel 32 and channel 31 are placed parallel to each other,in selector 53 ~see Figure 1 and Figure 4)~and when dial 37 is turned either tcwards the l'Shower" position (as shown by arrow 135,see Figure 9) or l'Bath"
pO~ition (as shown by arrow 139,see Figure 9)~t ~s ne~essary that they move together,because~for example,when dial 37 is turned towards the "Shower" position~selector channel 31 will connect line 39 with line 42 (see Figure 1 and Figure 6) and fluid which comes from mlxer 51 through line 39 and passage 113,now will go through channel 31 and passage 126 into line 42~which leads to ths tlmer~From the timer the fluid will go through line 96,as previously explainedSwhich has its other end connected to the shower head.The volume of water desired to go to the shower or bath,is decided by turning selector dial 37 more or less towards the "Shower" or "Bath'l position (as shown with arrows 35 and 39 in Figure 9)Swhich means that if dial 37 is moved towards the "Shower" position or the "Bath" position,the selector channel 31 will open more or less passage 126 or passage 125.Thus,by opening passage 125 more~more flow will go to the bath~and by opening passage 126 more~more flow will go to the shower.As previously explainedl when pressure is introduced in timer cylinder 44 it pushes piston l~LZ8~31 45 towards the other end of said cylinder 44 and fluid ~hich is on the other side of cylinder 44 has to go out of the cylinder.In this case,when dial 37 is turned to the "Shower" position and selector channel 31 i8 connecting line 39 with line 42,so that water from the timer is going to the shower,channel 25 (which is placed in selector 53,exactly oppo~ite to channel 31,see Figure 1 and Figure 6)is connecting line 57 with line 83,and line 57,ha its other end connected to line 52 which is in turn connected to domestic cold water ~upply line 99.NOW fluid goes from line 57,through pas~age 118~
entering into selector channel 25,and then going through pas~age 124, into line 83~which leads to the timer cylinder 44,and then this fluid pressure pushes piston 45~towards cylinder cap ~6.'~hile piston 45 is travalling through cylinder 44,water flow is going to the shower from line 96,through channel 48,into line 42,and then to the shower.At the same time as piston 45~1s travelling through cylinder 44,the fluid previously introduced into cylinder 44 is going out of said cylinder 44 through line 40.Because selector channel 32 is parallel to selector channel 31,at the same time as selector channel 31 is connecting line 39 with line 42,and the opposite selector channel 25 (see Figure 1 and Figure 6) is connecting line 83 ~ith line 87,then selector channel 32 connect~ line 40 with line 93~
That way~when piston 45 is pressurized from one side,in this case from line 83,which recieves fluid pressure through channel 25, said piston 45 can push fluid out from the other side of cylinder 44, through line 40~and through channel 32 and then into the drain,as previously described.This means that said channel 25 acts as an inlet valve for presure to the timer,and channel 32 acts as an exhaust valve~from the hydraulic timer.

If selector dial 37 i~ turned towards the "Bath" position, 3o selector channel 31 will turn so as to connect line 101 with line 139, (a shown by dotted line 120 in Fi~ure 6).When line lol and line 1}9 are connected,then water wlll flow through line lOl,onto the timer, through channel 49 into line 50~which ls connected to the bath tap.

At the sa~e t~e as channel 49 is connecting line 101 and line 139~channel 32 will connect line 40 with line 92,because during the shower or bath cycle piston 45 travels through cylinder 44 in the 6ame direction,towards cap 86.Line 40 must at all times be open ~hile piston 45 is travelling,in order that piston 45 can pu~h fluid out of cylinder 44,as previously described~At the same time as channel 31 is moved to the position indicated by dotted line 120,selector channel 25,has moved to the position ~hown by dotted line 122.In that position, selector channel 25 connects line 57 with line 58,in order to provide pressure,which ~ill push piston 45 through timer cylinder 44,until it rests on cap 86,as previously described.
~he selector channels are arranged as described above,so that when selector dial 37 i8 turned towards either the "Bath" or "Shower"
position~it will keep the discharge end of the hydraulic timer cylinder 44 open,by way of channel 32,and it ~vill keep pi~ton 45 pressurized by way of channel 25.
Piston 45 will~aftar a predetermined time,reach cap 86,and stop flow to the ~hower or bath.The duration of the flow ~ay be set 80 that ~ater ~ill stop flowing a~ter a bathtubfull or other required volume has passed through the timer.
Every time the predeterm~ned time has run out,and flow has stoppsd,the timer has to be reset~hich mean~ piston 45 must be pushed back to rest on cap 780The speed of piston 45'8 travel back to cap 78 is decided by needle valve 109,as previously described~and inorder to open the passage for the return ~luid from cylinder 44, selector dial 37 has to be turned to the "Of~'` position (so that pointer 62 and llne 37 are matched)~and at that time selector channel 54 is turned to the said position,it will connect line 9~
v~ith drain line 55.Therefore piston 45 may now push return fluid out of cylinder 44 through line 94~through needle valve 1093through passage 102~through channel 54,through pas~age 117~into drain line 55 At the same time as selector channel 54 has moved to the position indicated by dotted line 112~selector channel 32,~hich is oppo~ite of ~13~

~L%~3~

selector channel 54~wi11 move to the position indicated by dotted line 128 (see Figure 7).And when selector channel 54 has reached the said po~ition~both return lines 92 and 93 will be diconnected from return line 40~and at the same time lines 101 and 42 will be disconnected from line 39~because selector channel 31 will be in the position indlcated by the dotted line 119 (see Figure 6)~which rneans that flow to the ~hower or bath will be disconnectedOSaid selector channel 31 can be moved to the said position at anytime during the operation of the shower or bath,meaning that the shower or bath may be shut off at anytime during its operation9independantly of the timer.
The timer stops as soon as the flow to the sho~er or bath stops,so that when the flow to the shower or bath starts again,the timer will re~tart with the same time remaining with which it stoppeda At anytime when said selector char.nel 31 i8 turned to said po~ition~selector channel 25,upposite to channel 313will move tp the position indicated by dotted line 121~and at this time,when selector channel 25 is at the said poRition,the presRure to the timer,through line 83,meaning the pressure pushing piston 45,will be shut off.Piston 45 will therefore stop its travel.And,if selector dial 37 is turned again towards the "~ath" po~ition (see Figure 9) selector channel 31 will be in the position indicated by dotted line 120~where it will connect line lol with line 39j(see Figure 6)~and selector channel 25 will be in the poRition indicated by dotted llne 122~and at this ; time line 58 and line 57 will be connected with selector channel 25, and pressure from supply line 57 will go through pas~age 118 3 through selector channel 25~through passage 123 into line 58,and then through line 58 into line 83,and then through line 83,into the timer,where it will start pushing piston 45 again.
When selector channel 54 is in the position indicated by dotted line 128 (see ~igure 7~discharge through line 40 will be - clo~ed~and discharge through return line 94 will be open.At this time piston 45 i~ pressurized by fluid pressure coming from line 85,which 83~

has its other end connected to shell 60 at the mixer 51 part (see Flgure 8).If it is preferred that the invention be built ~ithout the hydraulic timer~selector channels 32,25,and 54 are not necessary;it is only necessary to have selector channel 31 and mixer channel 71~so that said mixer channel 71 will mlx the water,as described below,and selector channel 31 will direct mixed water to the shower or bath directly,through lines 101 and 42,because llne 42 will be connected directly to the shower head instead of to the timer,and line 101 will be connected directly to the bath in~tead of to the timer~
If the invention i6 built with the timer9as described,and it is later decided that the timer is not to be used,needle valve 67 and needle valve 69 ~ust be shut off completely~If these tvo needle valves are shut off completelyJdischarge from line 40 will be shut off,which means that piston 45 will not move through cylinder 44.1f the timer is to be used for the shower only~needle valve 69 must be shut off completely,and needle valve 67 will have to be set according to the time required,as previouæly described.This way di~charge ~rom line 40 through line 92 will be shut off~which means that if dial 37 is turned to the ~Bath~ position3pi6ton 45 will not travel through cylinder 44,because the return is closed,and it cannot push fluid out of said cylinder 44,and,if dial 37 i8 turned to the t'Shower" position~
piston 45 will be able to travel through to cylinder 44,at a speed according to how much needle valve i~ open,as previously deæcribed.
If the timer iæ not to be used for the shower~and is to be used for the bath only~then needle valve 67 will have to be shut off completely, and needle val~e 69 will have to be set according to the time required, a~ previously described~If it is desired that the flo~v to ths shower or bath be shut off completely for a pariod of time~it is nece~sary that the timer be stopped in the shut off position~by completely shutting off needle valve lO9~If needle valve 109 is shut off completely~di~charge through llne 94 will be shut off,and piston 45 will not be able to push the fluid out of the timer cylinder 44~so said piston 45 will stay in its place,æhutting off the flow to ths shower or bath.
As previously described,mixer 51 rotates freely and independantly as actuated by mixer dial 36 (see Figure 8 and Figure 9).'nhen mixer dial 36 is turned to the "Off" position,60 that arro~l 133 matches with line 138 (see Figure 9),mixer channel 71 ~ill connect line 52 ~ith line 85,and the pressure Prom line 52 vill then go through passage 160~and through mixing channel 171 into pasaage 111 and then, through line 85,into timer cylinder 44,and it will push piston 45 until it rests on cap 78,making it ready for another shower or bath to be timed.IP mixer dial 36 is turned to the position indicated by arrow 133 tsee Figure 9),the mixer channel 71 will be in the position shown in Figure 8~and will connect line 99,1ine 39,and line 100.
Line 99 is connected to the domestic coldwater supply.Line 100 is connected to the domestic hot water supplyaand line 39 is connected to shell 60,where selector 53 is (see Figure l,Figure 7,Figure 5, Figure 6~and Figure 8).By turning mixer dlal 36 towards the "Warmer"
position~as hown by arrow 131 (ses Figure ~)~mi~er ~1 and mixer channel 71,will start to close cold water passage 105,thus causing more hot ~ater and le~s cold water to ~low into pa~sage 115,and to the shower or bath.By turning ~ixer dial 36 to "Colder" as shown by arrow 132 (see Figure 9),mixer 51 and mixer channel 71 will start to close passage 104~and more cold water will flow to passage 115 and line 39 into channel 31,where it will be directed to the ~how2r or bath.
It should be noted that the ~ixer dial 36 and selector dial 37, are to be turned to tlOff'~ in order to reset the timer,because if selector dial 37 is turned to the "Off" position,selector channel 54 ~ill connect line 94 with drain line 55,thus opening diæcharge line ~4 from the tim.er cylinder,and if mixing dial 36 i~ turned to "Off"~
mixin~ channel 71 turns 18Q degrees to the position indicated ~y dotted line 130,thus connecting lines 52 and 85.Because line 52 has its other end connected to the dome~tic cold water supply line99,the pres~ure now will go through channel 71,and reset the timer.

3L~Z~183~

While the embodiements of this invention has been shown and described in detail,it is recogniæed that upon under~tanding thiE
invention,various other modifications and rearrangements Yrill readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art~and may be resorted to without departing from the ~cope of the invention,as defined in the claims.

3o

Claims (17)

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A mixing and diverter valve comprising:
(a) a valve body having a concave cavity symmetrical about a first axis;
(b) first and second valve members arranged end to end and having outer faces in contact with the surface of the cavity;
(c) means mounting said valve members for rotation on said axis independent of one another;
(d) means resiliently urging said valve members into said valve body cavity;
(e) channel means in the outer surface of each of said valve members;
(f) passages through said valve body into the cavity therein arranged in alignment with the channels in the valve members upon selective rotation of the latter to control flow of fluid, one of said valve members being adapted to control mixing of fluid flow from different sources and direct the mixed fluid to the other valve member and the latter being adapted to direct the mixed fluid flow to either one of at least two different locations of use of the mixed fluid.

2. A mixing and diverter valve as defined in claim 1 wherein said cavity is hemispherical.

3. A mixing and diverter valve as defined in claims 1 or 2 including a timing mechanism operated by the fluid flow to shut-off the valve after a preselected time.

4. A valve as defined in claim 1 having hand operable dials for rotating said valve members to control rate of flow of fluid, mixing of at least two flows of fluid, and selection of the direction of flow of fluid.

5. A valve as defined in claim 1 wherein rotation of one of said valve members controls the constitution of flow of fluid to at least one output, by balancing flow of fluid from at least two inputs.

6. A valve as defined in claim 5 wherein rotation of the other valve member determines the direction of flow of fluid where there is at least one input and at least one output, and adjusts the rate of flow of said fluid to said at least one output.

7. A valve as defined in claim 1 wherein said valve members are respectively a selector and a mixer and wherein said channel means are arranged in such a way as to connect two or more lines, thus permitting flow from one or more lines to one or more other lines, and rate of flow from said lines to said other lines being adjustable by moving said passages so as to obscure a portion of, or the whole opening of one or more lines, thus altering or stopping flow from said one or more lines into said one or more other lines, thus achieving mixing in the mixer by reducing flow from one line and increasing it from the other, thus varying the constitution of flow of fluid through at least one receiving line, and thus achieving selection of direction of flow to at least one or two directions, in the selector, by turning said passages so that flow from at least one input line will either be shut off, turned on completely, or adjusted to an intermediate volume of flow.

8. A valve as defined in claim 1 wherein said channels are of smooth curvature so as to permit easy flow of fluid.

9. A valve as defined in claim 1 wherein one of said valve members is mounted on a spindle journalled for rotation on said valve body for movement about said first axis and wherein the other valve member is mounted for rotation on said spindle.

10. A valve as defined in claim 1 wherein an O-ring is interposed between said valve members and located to act as a bearing on which they may turn.

11. A valve as defined in claim 1, wherein the valve members are urged into the cavity by a spring.

12. A valve as defined in claim 1 including means for varying the force urging the valve members into the cavity.

13. A valve as defined in claim 1 having two mounting plates for mounting the said valve on a wall, one of said plates being detachably securable to the other and wherein the latter is detachably securable to the valve body.

14. A valve as defined in claim 13 including a face plate attached to said one mounting plate and having markings visible thereon to indicate various different functional positions of the valve members.

15. A valve as defined in claim 1, including a click stop detent mechanism preventing inadvertent moving of one of said valve members away from a selected set position.

16. A valve mechanism as defined in claim 1 including a hydraulic timer operatively associated therewith preventing flow through the valve after a predetermined time, said timer having at least one input and at least one output, controlling the duration of flow of a fluid from said at least one input to said at least one output by shutting the said flow off after a predetermined time, and keeping it shut off for a predetermined time, and being able to retime the flow from said at least one input to said at least one output after the said flow has been shut off for a predetermined time.

17. A valve as defined in claim 16 wherein said hydraulic timer comprising a piston with at least one passage machined out of it, and a cylinder through which the said piston may travel, said cylinder being capped at both ends, wherein pressure is introduced into the said cylinder by means of at least one supply line, said pressure pushing said piston towards the other end of the said cylinder, and said piston also pushing fluid out of the said cylinder through at least one output line having a flow restriction means therein, said restriction to flow being adjustable to give a restriction sufficient to make the piston take a specific amount of time to push the said fluid out of the said cylinder and thus to keep the said at least one passage which is machined out of the said piston in a position where it will permit flow through it from at least one input line to at least one output line for a given period of time, as set by the said flow restriction, and wherein pressure is introduced into the said cylinder from the end of the said cylinder where the piston now rests, through at least one supply line, thus causing the said piston to push the said fluid out of the other side of the said cylinder through at least one discharge line, having a flow restriction means therein so as to determine the amount of time required for the said piston's travel by adjusting the flow through the said discharge line, and when the piston has reached the said other end of the said cylinder, it may once again be pushed by fluid from said at least one supply line, towards the other end, as defined.