CA1231646A - Noise-preventing structure for mixed water cocks - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

The mixer tap has hot and cold water inlets, a water outlet, a valve mechanism controlling the relative quantity of hot and cold water supplied from the water inlets to the water outlet, and a noise attenuator for reducing the noise which could otherwise be generated upon sudden opening of the valve mecha-nism. The valve mechanism comprises a fixed plate valve and a movable plate valve arranged in opposition to one another. The movable plate valve is slidable relative to the fixed plate valve by a valve operating mechanism and has therein a water through flow chamber with a water inlet region at one end and a water outlet region at the other end. The noise attenuator comprises a sound attenuating member of permeable metal construction and a support member which holds the attenuating member in firm contact with a wall portion of the chamber in the inlet region thereof such that water entering the chamber impinges upon or skims along the attenuating member. The movable plate valve also has an escape groove which allows restricted escape of cold water to the chamber when the cold water inlet is fully closed and the hot water inlet is fully open.

Description

~3~6~6 This invention relates to hot and cold water mixer taps, used for example in conjunction with sanitary units such as wash basins, baths, and the like, having a noise attenuator.

The invention will be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Fig. l is a sectioned side elevation of a mixer tap provided with one embodiment of a noise reduction device accord-in to the invention;

Fig. PA is a sectional front elevation taken along the line Y-Y in Fig. l;

Fig. 2B is an enlarged bottom view taken along the line X-X in Fig., lug. PA is an enlarged plan view of a sound attenuator;

Fig. 3B is an enlarged, sectioned side elevation taken along the line Z-Z in Fig. 4B;

Fig. 3C is a bottom view in perspective of a movable plate valve alone;

Figs PA, 4B, 4C and ED illustrate the manner of open in a valve mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of a valve operating mechanism roughly assembled;
Figs PA, 6B, PA, 7B, 7C and ED are perspective views of each part of the valve operating mechanism; and Figs PA and 8B illustrate prior art noise reduction devices for mixer taps.

to ~L23~6 Noise attenuators for mixer taps are known from Japanese Utility Model Publication No. ~298/1982.

Such known noise attenuators are shown in Figs PA and 8B. The known attenuator shown in Fig. PA comprises an elongate net member 56 bent in the shape of the letter "V" and set in a fluid passage 55 of a movable plate valve 54 by utilizing its inherent resilience, in such a manner that the net member 56 extends across the fluid passage 55. The attenuator shown in Fig. 8B also comprises a net member aye which is bent in the shape of a butterfly and set in a fluid passage aye by utilizing the inherent resilience of the net member.

In these noise attenuators, the net member is set in the water passage to extend across the direction of water flow, so that substantially the whole ox the extraneous matter con-twined in the water can be collected conveniently. However, when extraneous matter begins to clog the net member, the water, the flow rate - lo -~23~6 and prefigure of which are very high even when the valve is opened with the net member in a non-clogged state, slows against the net member with a great impact. In this case, the resilience of the net member alone is S unable to withstand such a high water pressure and hence, the net member is readily deformed. When the net member is clogged in a one-sided manner, the wow rate of either the hot or the cold water it limited greatly.
This hampers the smooth operation of the valve so that the temperature-regulating efficiency decreases to a great extent. In order to remove the extraneous matte from the net member, it is necessary to disassemble the valve and this often requires the services of a skilled person such as a plumber.
The invention thus seeks to provide a mixer tap with an improved noise attenuator.
According to the invention, there is provided a mixes tap having hot and cold water inlets, a water outlet, a valve mechanism for controlling the relative amounts of hot and cold water supplied prom the hot and cold water inlets to the water outlet, and a noise attenuator for reducing the noise which would otherwise be generated upon sudden opening of the valve mechanism, wherein the valve mechanism comprises a fixed plate valve and a movable plate valve, the movable plate valve being arranged in opposition to the fixed plate valve,

2 I
being slid able with respect to the fixed plate valve and having therein a water through flow chamber with a water inlet region and a water outlet region, and wherein the noise attenuator come proses a sound attenuating member mounted in firm contact with a wall portion ox the chamber in the inlet region thereof such that water entering the chamber impinges upon or skims along the sound attenuator.

In one embodiment of the present invention the sound attenuating member is of permeable construction. Desirably the sound attenuating member is of permeable metal construction.

In another embodiment of the present invention the noise attenuator also comprises a support member which holds the sound attenuating member firmly against a wall portion of the chamber in an inlet region thereof. Suitably the support member is of generally H-shaped configuration and is wedged in the champ bier with the sound attenuating member between one limb of the support member and the aforesaid wall portion of the chamber.
Desirably the support member is of synthetic resin material.

In a still further embodiment of the present invention the movable plate valve has an escape groove therein arranged to provide restricted communication between the cold water inlet and the chamber when the hot water inlet is fully open and the closed water inlet is otherwise closed. Suitably the tap provides a valve operating assembly comprising a cylindrical valve case, a ring mounted in the valve case for limited angular movement, a journal box extending through the ring, the journal box being of rectangular cross-section and being slid able relative to the ring along a diameter thereof, an operating member mounted in the bore of the journal box for pivotal movement about a pivot pin located in diametrically opposite holes in the ring and extending through elongate slots in opposed walls of the journal box, the movable plate valve being movable with the journal box in an angular direction when the operating arm, journal box and ring are disk

- 3 -placed angularly about the axis of the valve case and in a direct lion transverse to said axis when the operating arm is pivoted about the pivot pin.

In a particular aspect thereof the present invention provides a mixer tap having hot and cold water inlets, a water outlet, a valve mechanism for controlling the relative amounts of hot and cold water supplied from the hot and cold water inlets to the water outlet, and a noise attenuator for reducing the noise which would otherwise be generated upon sudden opening of the valve mechanism, wherein the valve mechanism comprises a fixed plate valve and a movable plate valve, the movable plate valve being arranged in opposition to the fixed plate valve, being slid able with respect to -the fixed plate valve and having therein a water through flow chamber, which is defined by an inner end wall and by a side wall perpendicular to the general plane of the movable plate valve and which has a water inlet region and a water outlet region, and wherein the noise attenuator comprises a sound attenuating member of permeable construction and a support member which holds the sound attenuating member in firm contact with a portion of the side wall of the chamber in the inlet region thereof such that water entering the chamber impinges upon or skims along the sound attenuator.

Referring firstly to Figs PA, 3B and PA, the noise attenuator l shown -therein comprises a plate type sound attenuate in member 2 preferably composed of porous expanded or foamed metal, a net or steel. wool, and a support member 4 having a sub-staunchly H-shaped horizontal section. The support member 4 holds the sound attenuating member 2 against a wall portion of a water through flow chamber which will be described later. The support member 4 has arcuate contact limbs aye at opposite ends thereof, and the distance between these contact limbs is sub Stan-tidally equal to the largest inner dimension of the chamber 3 and yet short enough to hold the sound attenuating member 2 between the contact limb 5 and the opposed wall portion of the chamber 3.

4 -~3~6 The chamber is formed by providing a recess in one face 41 of a disc-type movable plate valve 6 which is mounded from a ceramic material and which cooperates with a fixed plate valve lo to form a valve ~.~ - pa -;
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mechanism lo. The chamber 3 is closed along one major face and has two rectilinear sides and two part-circular ends 7 and 8. The noise attenuator 1 it set in the chamber 3 so that the support member 4 is interposed between the semi-circular ends of the chamber 3 and the sound attenuating member 2 is held firmly against the j end 7 of the chamber 3 with one surface thereof in parallel with the end 7 of the chamber 3.
A substantially acute recess 27 is provided in lo face 41 of the movable plate valve adjacent to end 8 ox the chamber 3 as shown in Figs. 3B and 3C.
Oil-impregnated material 30 is provided in this recess 27. Alternatively a lubricant may be packed directly in the recess 27, or attached forcibly and resiliently to the portion of the fixed plate valve 10 which it on the side of the recess 27, i.e. face aye.

A variable escape groove 40 is provided in the face 41 of the movable plate valve. The groove 40 is shallow and short. The through flow chamber 3 and the water inlet 14 communicate with each other via the groove I
only when the groove is in the position shown in Fig. ED. This groove 40 is Jo allow for the escape of cold water contained between one chamber 3 and a check valve 42 of a check valve unit C (Fig. PA), which is provided in an upstream water passage I when this cold water is heated by hot water passing continuously through the chamber 3.

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The fixed plate valve 10 is alto a disc type valve mounded loom a ceramic material. A mixed water outlet 12 is provided in the conical region of the fixed plate valve 10. The mixed water outlet 12 it in continuous communication with the chamber 3 and it loomed in such a manner that an outer edge potion Ox the outlet 12 ill aligned with the end 8 of the chamber 3 when the valve mechanism 15 is open. The fixed plate valve 10 is provided with actuate hot and cold water inlets 13 and I respectively, which communicate with the chamber 3 when the valve mechanism 15 is oxen. Indeed, as shown, when the valve mechanism is open the outer peripheral edges of the inlets 13 and 14 ace substantially in alignment with the pact circular end surface 9 of the chamber 3. When the end surface 9 is in the position shown in Fig. 4B, it is opposed substantially equally to the hot water inlet 13 and cold water inlet 14. When the end ~ucface 9 is in the position shown in Fig. 4C, the cold water inlet 14 is fully open. When the end I surface 9 is in the position shown in Fig. ED, the hot water inlet 13 is fully open.
The valve mechanism 15 it disposed in a valve chamber 16 of the mixes tap A shown in Figs. PA and I
in a manner which will be described late, with the mixed plate valve 10 held firmly in the valve chamber 16 and with the movable plate valve 6 mounted on top the fixed plate valve 10. The movable plate valve 6 is connected to a valve operating mechanism whereby it can be shifted from a valve-closing position shown in Fig. PA to the position shown in Fig. 4B, in which hot S and cold water are discharged at the same flow rate, ox the position shown in Fig. 4C, in which the cold water only is discharged, or the position shown in Fig. ED, in which the hot water only is discharged, by moving a journal box 17, which is joined to tenon-inserting recesses 32 in the upper surface of the movable plate valve 6, using a lever 19 connected to an operating arm 18 mounted in the journal box 17. The mixed water, hot water or cold water passing through the chamber 3 f lows into a water discharge pipe 21 as shown by an arrow, via lo a passage 20 which is communicated with the outlet 12.
The hot water prom a hot water passage 22 shown in Fig. PA flows f rum a hot water outlet 23 shown in Fig. 2B, into the hot water inlet 13 shown in Fig. 4B.
The cold water f rum a cold waxer passage 24 f lows f rum a cold water outlet 25 shown in Fig. 2B, into the cold water water inlet 14 shown in Fig. 4B.
The valve-operating mechanism B is constructed in the manner shown in Figs. 5, PA, 6B, PA, 7B, 7C and ED.
A cylindrical valve case 28 (Fig. 7C) has rotation-pceventing members 31, which ace adapted to prevent the journal box 17 from being turned excessively, inwardly of a guide groove 29 provided at the upper open end of the valve case, and tenon-inserting recesses 32, 32 at its lower open end.
The recesses 32, 32 are opposed to tenons 34, 34 on valve seat 33 (Fig. PA) which is also provided with bores 35, aye there through, in which packing rings 36, aye (Fig. ED) are inserted. The journal box 17 (Fig. 7B) is of rectangular horizontal section with a vertical bore 39 also of rectangular section. A movable disc type seat member 37 having tenons aye on its bottom surface is joined unnatural to the journal box 17. The wider opposite side walls of the journal box 17 are provided with aligned horizontally elongate bores 38.
An operating arm 18 has two planar sides with a dimension there between which is slightly smaller than the width of bore 39 and opposite non-planar edges provided with projecting portions 44, 44 which contact opposed inner surfaces 43, 43 of the journal box 17 (see Fig 1) so as to shift the journal box 17 back forth in a 20 direction transverse to the longitudinal extent of the bore 39 as the arm 18 is pivoted about a pin 50 which extends through a bore 45 in the lower end of the arm 18. Ring 46 has a disc-like construction, and an annular groove aye is provided in its outer 25 circumferential surface. Pin receiving bores aye, which are aligned with the pin receiving bore 45, extend into I
I?
I

! 9 the annular groove aye in a diametrical direction. The I eying I further has a vertically extending rectangular through bore 47 for receiving the journal box 17, and a pair of rotation-preventing members aye, which are opposed to the rotation-preventing members 31 at the upper end of the valve case 28, at the upper end of the ring clove to the two ends of the rectangular bore 47.
ring 49 provided on an open end of a cap 26 it fitted in the guide groove 29 in the valve case 28 to complete the valve-operating mechanism B The valve operating mechanism B is shown assembled in Fig. 5 and in parts in Figs. PA, 6B, PA, 7B, 7C and ED. The manner ox assembly will now be described.

5! Firstly, the packing rings 36, aye are fitted in the ¦ 15 bores 35, aye of the valve seat 33, and the fixed plate valve lo is placed on the valve seat 33 with the tenons ! 34 of the valve seat 33 located in the recesses 32 in j the fixed plate valve 10. The movable plate valve 6 is placed on the fixed plate valve lo so that the plate valve 6 can be turned with respect to the plate valve lo with the chamber 3 opposed to the hot water inlet 13, cold water inlet 14 and outlet 12. The journal box 17 is then placed on the movable plate valve 6, and the tenons aye, aye at the bottom of the former are located in the recesses 32 in the latter. Then the ring 46 is mounted on the journal box 17 from the upper end of the .

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latter, and the operating arm 18 is inserted into the bore 39 in the journal box 17. The pin-receiving bores aye in the cuing 46, the elongate bores 38 in the journal box 17 and the pin-receiving bore 45 in the operating arm 18 are aligned with one another, and the pin 50 is injected through these boxes. The resultant product is mounted in the valve case I to complete the assembly of the valve operating mechanism B. This valve operating mechanism B is placed in the valve chamber 16 of the mixer tap I, and the cap 26 is put on the valve chamber 16. When the assembly of the valve operating mechanism B has been completed, the hot water passage 22 in the mixer tap A and the hot water inlet 13 of the fixed plate valve 10 ace communicated with each other, and the cold water passage 24 and the cold water inlet 14 of the fixed plate valve 10 are communicated with each other.
The outlet 12 and the passage 20 are communicated with each other at the same time. us a result, the shifting of the valve mechanism can be done freely by operating the lever 19.
In order to discharge hot and cold water at the same gate into the discharge pipe 21, the lever 19 shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is pivoted upwardly, so that the movable plate valve 6 connected to the lever 19 via the operating shaft 18 is displaced quickly from the valve-closing position shown in Fig. I to the position 'I` ;`

~3~6~i shown in Fig. 4B. This valve-opening operation causes the hot and cold water inlet 13 and 14 to be opened to the same level. Consequently, hot and cold water enters the chamber 3, via the hot and the cold water inlets 13 and 14 at the same rote. A the hot and cold water enters the chamber 3 it impinges upon or skims along the lower end surface (in Fig. 3B) of the sound attenuating member 2, as shown by arrows P in Fig. 3B, to effectively deaden the noise of the water and prevent an lo increase in internal pursues, which would otherwise occur when the valve mechanism is opened suddenly. The hot and cold water then pass through chamber 3 as shown by an arrow Pi in Fig. 3B. The water then flows via the outlet 12 (shown in Fig. 4B) and the passage 20 (shown in Fig. 1) into discharge pipe 21 by which stage it has been thoroughly mixed. When hotter water is required, -the lever 19 is turned to left in Fig. 2 to increase the area of the hot water inlet 13 in communication with the chamber 3 and correspondingly decrease the area of the cold water inlet 14 in communication with the chamber 3. When cooler water is required the lever 19 is turned to the right in Fig. 2. The cap 26 is so designed that it can be turned to left and right freely with the lever 19 .
When cold water alone it required, the lever 19 it displaced fully to the right, to bring the movable plate ~LX331 I

valve to the position shown in Fig. 4C. Conversely, when hot water alone is required, the levee 19 is displaced fully to the left, to bring the movable plate valve to the position shown in Fig. ED. When only hot 5 water is fed for a prolonged period, the cold water trapped between the check valve unit C and the water inlet 14 is heated gradually by the hot water passing through the chamber 3 and the mixed water passe 20, with the result that the cold water expands. Since however the chamber and the cold water inlet 14 are communicated with each other during this time via the escape groove 40 the increase in volume of the cold j water is relieved via the escape groove 40 into the chamber 3. Consequently, an increase in the pressure in , 15 the water passage 24 due to the continuously-fed hot ¦ water is avoided. This protects the check valve unit C
¦ and other parts against damage.
Jo The mixer tap described above has the following ¦ advantages.
(1) A jet stream of a pressure fluid, which occurs when the valve mechanism is opened suddenly, and which flows from the hot water inlet and cold water inlet into the chamber impinges UpOrl or skims along the sound attenuating member. Thus, the noise, which would otherwise be caused by the jet stream of the water, is reduced to a great extent.

I

(2) eke the sound attenuating member is relatively flat and is held firmly against the wall of the through flow chamber by the support member, even when the sound attenuating member is subjected to a jet stream of the fluid continuously, it does not come off easily, nor it it damaged. Moreover, the sound attenuating member does not cesteict the flow rate of the fluid even when the degree of clogging thereof varies, and is free from the failure in its ability to regulate the temperature of the fluid properly even when it is clogged.
(3) The design of the support member ox the noise attenuator is such that it does not restrict the flow of the water. Also, it does not come away even when the water pressure is applied thereto.
I The escape groove in the movable plate valve provides that the chamber and the cold water passage are communicated with each other when only hot water is fed continuously. Therefore, even when the cold water in the cold water passage is heated by the hot water, and thereby expanded, there is no build up of pressure in the cold water passage which could otherwise damage the check valve unit and other parts.
(5) Since the escape groove in the movable plate valve is made shallow, the quantity per unit time of the water escaping from the discharge water passage is extremely small, and such water has no influence upon the temperature of the hot water being fed, .

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(6) An operating shaft having operating projections at the front and reel portions thereof with respect to the pivotal direction of the same shaft is supported in the journal box via a pin so that the operating shaft can be turned vertically and horizontally. The journal box it supported in such a manner that it can be displaced angularly and laterally about the pin within the ring.
Since the surface of the fixed plate valve is lubricated with a lubricant provided in a recess in the movable lo plate valve, the operating efficiency of the lever can be improved to a great extent, and, moreover, the shifting of the valve mechanism can be effected reliably.

(7) The sound attenuating member is arranged stably as compared with that in a conventional noise attenuator.
lo lrhereore~ it does not become damaged and clogged.
~oceover, thermal expansion of the water can be prevented owing to the escape groove, so that the valve mechanism can be kept in an excellent operating condition eon many years. In addition to the high durability of the valve mechanism, which was attained owing to the development of stable means for preventing the thermal expansion ox the water, and increasing the degree of lubrication of the adjacent surfaces of the movable and fixed plate valves, the mixer tap has a further advantage in that troublesome operation, such as a treatment for a clogged sound attenuating member can be rendered unnecessary.

Claims (9)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A mixer tap having hot and cold water inlets, a water outlet, a valve mechanism for controlling the relative amounts of hot and cold water supplied from the hot and cold water inlets to the water outlet, and a noise attenuator for reducing the noise which would otherwise he generated upon sudden opening of the valve mechanism, wherein the valve mechanism com-prises a fixed plate valve and a movable plate valve, the movable plate valve being arranged in opposition to the fixed plate valve, being slidable with respect to the fixed plate valve and having therein a water through flow chamber with a water inlet region and a water outlet region, and wherein the noise attenua-tor comprises a sound attenuating member mounted in firm contact with a wall portion of the chamber in the inlet region thereof such that water entering the chamber impinges upon or skims along the sound attenuator.

2. The mixer tap of claim 1, wherein the sound attenu-ating member is of permeable construction.

3. The mixer tap of claim 2, wherein the sound attenu-ating member is of permeable metal construction.

4. The mixer tap of claim 1, wherein the noise attenu-ator also comprises a support member which holds the sound atte-nuating member firmly against a wall portion of the chamber in an inlet region thereof.

5. The mixer tap of claim 4, wherein the support mem-ber is of generally H-shaped configuration and is wedged in the chamber with the sound attenuating member between one limb of the support member and the aforesaid wall portion of the chamber.

6. The mixer tap of claim 5, wherein the support mem-ber is of synthetic resin material.

7. The mixer tap of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the mov-able plate valve has an escape groove therein arranged to provide restricted communication between the cold water inlet and the chamber when the hot water inlet is fully open and the closed water inlet is otherwise closed.

8. The mixer tap of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein there is provided a valve operating assembly comprising a cylindrical valve case, a ring mounted in the valve case for limited angular movement, a journal box extending through the ring, the journal box being of rectangular cross-section and being slidable rela-tive to the ring along a diameter thereof, an operating member mounted in the bore of the journal box for pivotal movement about a pivot pin located in diametrically opposite holes in the ring and extending through elongate slots in opposed walls of the journal box, the movable plate valve being movable with the jour-nal box in an angular direction when the operating arm, journal box and ring are displaced angularly about the axis of the valve case and in a direction transverse to said axis when the operat-ing arm is pivoted about the pivot pin.

9. A mixer tap having hot and cold water inlets, a water outlet, a valve mechanism for controlling the relative amounts of hot and cold water supplied from the hot and cold water inlets to the water outlet, and a noise attenuator for reducing the noise which would otherwise be generated upon sudden opening of the valve mechanism, wherein the valve mechanism com-prises a fixed plate valve and a movable plate valve, the movable plate valve being arranged in opposition to the fixed plate valve, being slidable with respect to the fixed plate valve and having therein a water through flow chamber, which is defined by an inner end wall and by a side wall perpendicular to the general plane of the movable plate valve and which has a water inlet region and a water outlet region, and wherein the noise attenuator comprises a sound attenuating member of permeable con-struction and a support member which holds the sound attenuating member in firm contact with a portion of the side wall of the chamber in the inlet region thereof such that water entering the chamber impinges upon or skims along the sound attenuator.