FR2483036A1 - HOT WATER-HOT WATER MIXER CONTROLLED BY A THERMOSTAT - Google Patents

Abstract

THE INVENTION RELATES TO A COLD WATER-HOT WATER MIXER CONTROLLED BY A THERMOSTAT. THIS MIXER IS CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT IT CONTAINS INDIVIDUAL ASSEMBLIES ENSURING THE ADJUSTMENT OF THE TEMPERATURE AND THE REGULATION OF THE FLOW RATE, IN THE FORM OF A COMMON CARTRIDGE OR OF TWO SEPARATE CARTRIDGES 104, 131 THAT CAN BE MOUNTED CO-AXIALLY OR IN ONE BOX 101 AND TO BE DISASSEMBLED, THE ADJUSTMENT OF THE COLD WATER INLET, OR OF THE HOT WATER INLET OR OF THE MIXED WATER FLOW IS RESPECTIVELY PROVIDED BY MEANS OF A SET OF CERAMIC DISCS 121, 122, 121, 122 THAT CAN PERFORM A RELATIVE ROTATION AND PUNCTURE WITH ORIFICES.

Description

The present invention relates to a mixer

  of cold water and hot water controlled by a thermostat.

  Experience has shown that not only does a separation

  the clearest possible relationship between the temperature control mechanism and the flow control mechanism is advantageous, but

  both types of regulation should be

  compact units that are easy to mount and

  ascend. In addition, conventional valves used for

  regulating the flow often have disadvantages.

  The present invention therefore relates to a mixer of the aforementioned type, the separate units for regulating the temperature and the flow rate of the water are in the form of a common cartridge or

  two individual cartridges that can be mounted together

  axially in a body or housing and be disassembled, the regulation of the supply of cold water and the supply of hot water or mixed water of this mixer being ensured by means of a

  group of ceramic discs which, performing a

  tation, are pierced with orifices.

  These pairs of discs, constituting valves operating remarkably with precision and subjected to

  negligible wear, make it possible to obtain

  Netteries particularly prone to breakdowns and adjustable with great precision. It has, moreover, proved particularly advantageous that, in the housing coaxially housing the two units, the cold water largely surrounds the near zone.

  wall and all internal parts of the

  nergy supplying hot water and

  mixed water, which prevents overheating

  of said housing on the side o circulates the hot water.

  The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings by way of non-limiting examples and in which FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section illustrating

  a mixer equipped with temperature control units

  Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of a mixer with control units housed in a single cartridge.

  two individual cartridges connected to each other

be; and

  FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section of a

  width of which said regulating units are housed

  in two individual and unassembled cartridges.

  The thermostat mixer illustrated in FIG. 1 has the following embodiment: a casing or body 1, which can be easily manufactured (for example in a tubular configuration), is connected by sleeves 2 and 3 to the cold water and water pipes. hot water, respectively. The complete unit of mixing and

  Regulation is introduced in the form of a

  compact key, in the body 1, to which it is

  subject to a fixing screw 49. The cartridge is almost completely filled with cold water,

  which prevents heating of the body on the connecting side

to the hot water line.

  Flow control is provided by a handful

  4 made of plastic, located on the right, through

  This rotary part 5 at the same time constitutes a support for the entire group for regulating the flow of cold water. The essential components of the mixer are two groups of disks 6 and 7 ceramic, provided for the

  flow control and replacing conventional valves.

  The regulation is ensured by a relative rotation (about 90) of the discs in the radial direction. Because of the very compact embodiment, the entire inner portion is rotated when flow control occurs. The rotation of the portion 5 is transmitted to the ceramic disc 7 by a cam ring 8 which, through a helicoldal spring 9, exerts a tension on the entire unit. Thanks to

  this pre-tension, the ceramic discs can

  may be subject to their desired positions during pre-assembly. A metal sheath constituting an envelope 10 serves at the same time as an outer ring of a

  ball bearing 11 easily accessible, while for-

  mant a disk 6 ceramic housing. The latter, which is part of the shutter assembly itself, is held in place in the envelope 10 by means of two balls, in a precise position relative to

to his Complementary Record.

  A ring 13 constitutes a stop of the shutter assembly 6,7 and a housing of an O-ring 14, which prevents a flow of cold water elsewhere than

by the ceramic discs.

  The entire unit is closed by a threaded plug 15, constituting at the same time a packing support 16

  and 17, which prevent water from flowing into the

  of the cold water flow regulating unit. An abutment ring 18, centered on the outer diameter, makes it possible to limit the rotation of said handle. To ensure precise positioning, this stop ring is centered in a slot b in the casing

  tubular body 10. A disk 19 forms a face of

  the pre-tensioning spring, as well as a stop for securing the cam ring 8. On the left side, the temperature is set to its desired value at

  by means of a rotary handle 21. The regulation is

  all ensured by two elements, by the cooperation of a control spring 23 housed in the rotary handle, and an expansion member 22. The latter may be filled with freon or liquid, its actuation can

  also be allowed by a group of bimetallic bungees.

  This organ expands axially when it is heated

  and he exerts a determined force that can be counter-

  balanced by a control spring, that is to say that the opposition of these two forces can achieve a staggered regulation. The connection between these two

  sources of effort is supported by a rod 24

  a control cylinder 25, whose position opens or closes more or less orifices c and d (holes and slots). When the cylinder 25 is moved to the left (x direction), it reduces the passage section of the orifice c, from which it follows that a lesser amount of hot water enters a mixing chamber e. This displacement of the control cylinder in the x direction increases the passage section of the orifice d and the

  makes more water from a

  device has entered the said mixing chamber

  In addition, the temperature of the mixed water is lowered. On the left side, the unit, also compact, is supported essentially by a rotating portion 26. A captive ring 27, as well as the ring 28 bonded, form the shutter seats for the regulation of the temperature. The sealing faces are coated with a

  vulcanized rubber layer, approximately 0.5 mm thick

  sor. To ensure that the regulating equilibrium between the setpoint spring 23 and the force exerted by the thermocouple 22 is disturbed as little as possible, friction should be avoided due to the sealing resistance of the seal. 50 and the packing 51, as well as scaling phenomena between the cylinder 25 and the rotating support portion 26. To obtain a rod 24 and a cylinder 25 offering no hold limestone, these elements are chemically nickel-plated, Teflon coated or made of stainless steel. The shutter assembly 6, 7 (ceramic discs) located on the hot water regulating side, is mounted in the same manner as the one on the regulation side, the shape and dimensions of the disks 6 and 7 are the same. only on the cold water side. The rotating part 26 likewise moves in an envelope 29, by means of ball bearings. To constitute an abutment-disks 6 and 7 made of ceramic and a housing of a gasket 30, a ring 31 is secured by gluing to a spacer ring 32. The cam ring 8, a helicoidal spring 9 ', a disk 19 ', and a ring 20' of attachment, are of a similar configuration, have the

  same dimensions and fulfill the same functions.

  The entire shutter and regulating unit is closed by a threaded plug 32. Fittings 16 'and 17' have the same dimensions and the same functions as the gaskets 16 and 17. In the posterior region of the threaded plug 32, the temperature is regulated by the

  rotation of a handle 21 secured to a pin 33.

  When a notch, made in this pin makes

  said handle, a guide sleeve 34 is

  Again the control spring, which in turn transmits the force exerted on a support disk 35. As a result, the control cylinder is also displaced and the hot water passage holes c are further opened. In other words, the mixed water gets hotter. An abutment ring 36 prevents rotation

  exaggerated grip of the temperature control unit

  temperature. In this handle is incorporated a safety stop which prevents an exclusive selection of hot water, but whose action can be overcome by a protection avoiding in particular to the children of

scalding.

  To ensure proper operation of the handle

  temperature regulator or trunnion 33, a dis-

  Slip 37 is interposed between this pin 33 and the ring 38. To prevent torsion of the guide bushing of the spring and the thrust ring, these two elements comprise cams g and h which

  slide into grooves in the plug

  32. To ensure easy relative rotation between

  the rod 24 and the support disk 35, a point of rotation

  tation f may consist of a ball. If this point f opposed a strong frictional resistance, the disc

  -5 35 would slip hard in the throat h and the movement

  rotation of the inner part would then be

  bé. The two units regulating the flow of cold water

  and hot water are collected

  mated by a tubular casing 39.

  The synchronized rotation of the ceramic discs is provided by a connecting tube 40 having a particular transmission gear. This toothing

  said tube 40 is designed in such a way that each

  The length inside the cartridge can be absorbed. To improve the torsional stability, ribs provided on the inner face, at the same time allow the centering of the expansion member.

  To adjust the temperature control, a

  fate 42 is more or less bandaged by an adjusting stud-

  41. This adjustment spring at the same time prevents overpressure. To facilitate assembly, this assembly, integral with a base 43 and a securing ring 44, is introduced in the pre-assembled state. To prevent water from flowing along the adjustment stud, an O-ring 48 has been incorporated, which in turn is retained

  in place by a prison ring 45.

  To prevent a direct discharge of cold water to the flow tube without first passing through the mixing chamber, an O-ring is provided

46 incorporated.

  External O-rings 52 have the function of sealing the conduit for introducing cold water or hot water, and delimiting this

leads.

  For a smooth functioning of the regulation

  flow and to prevent a flow between the flow control unit and the control unit of the

  temperature, are incorporated 30 double-seals

  lip. As with the trims 16 and 11, we obtain

  holds a good seal-as well as easy movement and rotation.

  Ceramic discs consist of a ceramic

  Oxide and their two opposite faces are ground in abrasive powder; this superficial fineness gives rise to a force of adhesion which, even when

  place a displacement, guarantees total hermeticity.

  This adhesion force is so important that a prior tension of the discs, provided by a spring or. a clamping disc becomes superfluous. However, to avoid detachment when the water is retained or when there is a depression in the pipe, as well as to facilitate assembly, there are provided organs

  previously incorporated bandage. The filling is as-

  surée by a rotation of 85 of a disc compared

  to the other, which has the effect of increasing or re-

  to obtain the passage section. At its periphery, one of the disks is prevented from rotating by means of two balls

  of rubber that fits perfectly in a groove.

  ge. The complementary disk is centered and put in

  accurately by the cam ring 8.

  The fittings described above and allowing

  mix cold water and hot water at a

  predetermined mixing temperature can be used in the general area of sanitary ware, showers

  and bathrooms. It is designed to be

  against a wall, that is to say that it can be

  corded to any type of pipe, for cold water and for hot water. The mixing temperature

  predetermined level can be kept constant, practically

  independently of the mixed water supply

  and the supply pressure, thanks to a system

  regulation system equipped with a dilatation

  a previously adjustable control spring. The re

  temperature regulation takes place by means of two rotary handles each relegated to the outside on a respective axis. Flow control is not ensured, as in the prior art, by two valve seats, but by two ceramic discs sliding one against

  the other. The supply of each type of water is

  broken. individually, which prevents any movement

  internally. Particles of dirt can not

  impair the operation, which makes the pre-

  1o sence of a filter. Flow regulation is totally

  separate from the temperature setting. The form of realization

  This is so that the mixing chamber is almost completely surrounded by cold water. The pressure in the pipe continuously pushes the rotating disc

  ceramic against his complementary disk station-

  nary; this results in an absolute seal, even in the presence of the strongest pressures. However, for

  prevent disconnection of these discs when a

  possible pressure prevails in the pipes, a tendency

  prerequisite is guaranteed by means of a spring. The

  Ball bearing assembly allows the internal parts

  to be bandaged beforehand, to turn easily

  is lying. In the mixer illustrated in FIG. 2, the temperature and flow control units are housed in separate cartridges. This mixer adjusts and controls the mixing temperature using a stainless steel helical bimetallic strip. This

  bimetallic bimetal exerts a radial force on a

  which influences the arrival of cold water and

  depending on its position and possibly

  The necessary corrections are required (couplings 102 and 102 ') Thanks to this helical bimetallic, a fast, precise and reliable regulation is guaranteed. Naturally,

  another type of thermocouple could be provided.

  The flow control cartridge is a unit

  compact, the main body of which is the most important.

  body 113 made of a plastic material reinforced with glass fibers. The assembly of this complete cartridge 104 is very simple. It is introduced into the smooth bore of a housing 101, until it is stopped by its abutment edge. At the same time, two cams integral with the front face of said cartridge 104 are inserted into complementary grooves of the housing. The flow control cartridge is thus prevented from rotating and, at the same time, positioned. Said cartridge is held in place by a coupling nut secured to the casing by threading. When mounting and dismounting the cartridge, it is not necessary to

  unscrew the handle. All the constituents of this car-

  are gathered in such a way that they remain in solidarity with the latter, without being able to fall, even

  when said cartridge is not incorporated.

  The regulation of the mixed water flow is provided by a flow regulating handle 105. This handle is nested on a notch of a pin 109, which

  ensures its positioning. Said handle 105 is now

  held in place by a screw, 10S, screwed into a

  geage formed in the front face of the pin 109. A cap 106, fixed on the handle with a slight pressure, conceals the screw. This measure allows especially

  to obtain an improvement of the conformation, by

  until the handle is disassembled inadvertently.

  When a rotation is made to the handle 105, the latter drives the spindle. This rotary movement is limited by a cam integral with the pin 109 and which, when it comes into contact with abutment edges of the body 113, limits the angle of rotation to a range of about 1600 to 1700. The integral stop the body -113 can be adjusted by means of a notch with which the flow regulating cartridge 104 is engaged. In addition,

  the transmission of force is ensured by a rod of

  123. This hexagonal drive rod (it can also, for example, have a notch, the

  flats, etc.) is fitted into a hexagonal housing

  The binding is enhanced by loctite, a strong adhesive. The drive rod is also

  introduced into the hexagonal housing of a body of

  119. Thus, this member 119 is also rotated and it can drive, by means of cams, a control disc 121, and print a rotation to an inlet disc 122 prevented from rotating in the

flow control cartridge.

  The driving rod 123 extends into the car-

  key 104 to another drive member 124.

  The latter also presents a hexagonal housing

  wherein the drive rod is introduced. The or-

  drive shaft 124 is pressed against a disk of

  121 'by a nut 125 screwed onto the rod

  In this way, a pre-tension is imposed on said disc 121 'and on a disc 122', which prevents discs from being detached. The nut

  is blocked and hermetically sealed on the stem of

  123 flow with a strong adhesive. The member 124, which drives the control disk 121 'with the aid of N cams, is thus rotated at the same time as

  119. The result is an obstruct-

  simultaneous release or release of cold water and mixed water flow. Therefore, in the closed position, two water flows are interrupted and circulation is thus impossible. The flow of cold water should be about 3-4 before the flow of mixed water, to be able to control the losses by the interstices, in the first place; secondly, considering the noise pollution, to cause a pressure drop above the mixed water group,

  which reduces noise and deafens them to the

group of cold water.

  Like the flow control cartridge, the temperature control cartridge is a compact unit whose support member is a body -i

  131 made of plastic. This cartridge is

  main issue a delimitation of space. Thus, among other things, it delimits towards the outside the large internal mixing chamber. The housing 101 remains cool and thus prevents the user from getting burned. Approximately% of the peripheral region of this housing is at

contact with cold water.

  The temperature control cartridge is very easy to assemble. It is inserted from left to right into the smooth bore of the housing 101, until the temperature control cartridge 131 is stopped by its shoulder. At the same time, on the front face, two cams are inserted into complementary grooves in the housing 101, which positions them and prevents them from rotating. The cartridge is held in place by an assembly nut 159 which is

  screwed on the left threaded portion of said housing 101.

  Approximately in the middle region of this housing, the

  appearance of temperature regulating cartridges

  and debit is ensured by a simple link

  is tightly sealed hermetically by an O-ring 129.- The temperature is pre-adjusted by means of a handle 132. On the latter is a graduated scale 133 which, associated with a

  mark of a graduation ring 137, gives the user

  thermostat the possibility of precise adjustment

of the temperature.

  In order to prevent undesirable temperature overruns, an anti-scalding protection knob 138 is incorporated in the handle 132. When a higher temperature is desired, for example, at 380.degree. C., it is convenient to press the button 138, whence it results.

  that the action exerted by a stop 153 is overcome.

  When turning the handle in the opposite direction to obtain a temperature below 380C, a spring 139, attached to a tip 160, recalls said knob 138

  at its initial position. Similarly, the stop zone cor-

  corresponding to the lowest or highest adjustable temperature is between the protector 138 and the stop 153, which can be positioned and adjusted by means of a notch on a cover 156. The rotary movement of the regulating handle 132 The temperature is transmitted by a notch to a pin 135. The latter has a toothing which meshes with the teeth of two toothed pistons 140 and 140 '. These toothed pistons are housed in a drive member 141. On a peripheral portion 136, there is also a toothing with which are engaged the teeth of the pistons 140 and 140 '. Therefore, when the pin 135 rotates, the two toothed pistons 140 and 140 'are rotated. Since these pistons are engaged with the toothing of the peripheral portion, the entire drive member 141 is rotated. The size of the gears is designed to allow a gear ratio of 3: 1. The drive member 141 is secured to a transmission rod 143. The latter is in turn

  subject, by pins 144, to a housing 145

  swam in a cylindrical portion of the cartridge 131 regulating the temperature. On this housing, a helical bimetallic 146 is glued, brazed or welded

  by points. In addition, this helicoidal bimetallic is

  jetti to an internal rotary drawer 147. It can thus achieve a prior adjustment. When the temperature has deviations, the helical bimetallic can react and turn the rotary spool 147 to its desired position. In this drawer 147, are milled slots

  which are aligned with the entries of an intake tube

  148, depending on the desired temperature. It is thus possible to determine the quantitative ratio of the desired temperature. With such a type of embodiment,

  gap loss can not be avoided.

  This loss must be kept as low as possible

  not to interfere with the result of mixing.

  Another advantage of the mixer is that without having to dismount the regulator cartridge

  temperature, we can adjust the starting point.

  Thus, the process of regulation and

  point takes place in each cartridge individually. This-

  subdivision into two cartridges was imposed, being

  given that the adjustment is carried out by two groups

  ceramic discs that do not require practical

  no maintenance. To prevent circulations, and therefore the use of non-return valves, these two groups of ceramic discs are mounted such that

  so that the flow of cold water and mixed water-

  are released or interrupted in parallel with each other

  be. Due to the ceramic discs, a prior filtration in the region from connection sleeves

  for cold water and hot water becomes superfluous.

  About 90% of the inner peripheral region of the housing is in contact with cold water. Thus, the risk of someone getting burned by touching the

  mixer housing is virtually removed. The utili-

  sought for a plastic material for

  kill the support parts of the regulatory cartridge

  temperature or flow rate makes it possible to obtain a

  inexpensive and rationally designed. Expansion

  in length and tolerance additions are compensated by a spring. In the absence of cold water, the effective component expands and rotates the inner rotary valve until the flow of hot water is interrupted. The passage of mixed water does not take place in the housing. This results in the advantage of being able to dispense with a casing come from foundry and having a cast mixing chamber. The large mixing chamber, which allows the thermosensitive shaft to be sufficiently surrounded

  water, is another advantage of the mixer.

  The entire system has only two seals

  dynamic sealing, in the form of gaskets.

  The combination of ceramic discs as

  that the adjustment device and the rotary slide are sensi-

  ble neither scaling nor fouling. This increases the operating reliability of the thermostat. In the third exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, the body consists of a casing 201 coming from a foundry. A flow regulating cartridge 204 and a temperature regulating cartridge 231 are

  introduced from both ends of the housing.

  These two cartridges 204 and 231 are not contiguous

  to each other by their internal ends, unlike

  of the example described last. At the

  the two cartridges 204 and 231 are screwed each by means of two screws passing through the

housing 201.

  Two sleeves 202 and 202 'of cold water inlet

  and hot water, located on the side of the wall, are each equipped with a sleeve 271 of rubber or plastic,

  stifling the noise and mounted on a support sleeve 270. The smothering of noise, provided by the sockets 271 exerting the effect of Venturi tubes, is further enhanced by an annular cavity 272 included

  between sockets 270 and 271 (conical and enlarged outwards).

  In this example too, only a negligible part

  geable from the housing wall is directly in contact

  hot water. In particular, behind the frontier

  tale of the housing 201 (bottom by observing Figure 3) opposite the wall of the wall, is a passage 273

  of relatively wide cold water which guarantees protection

  irreproachable treatment against scalding. Excluding these

  characteristics, this example of

  tion is essentially the form of

  2, that is to say that, again, there are respectively provided a first group of ceramic disks 221 and 222 regulating cold water and a second group of ceramic disks 221 'and 222' regulating

* mixed water.

  It goes without saying that many modifications can

  can be made to the mixer described and shown,

  without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (7)

  1. Mixer cold water-hot water controlled by a thermostat and characterized by the fact that it comprises   individual assemblies which regulate the temperature   ture and flow control, in the form of a car-   common key or two separate cartridges (104,131 204, 231) that can be mounted coaxially in a body or box (1; 101; 201) and dismounted therefrom,   adjustment of the cold water supply, or of the   hot water or mixed water flow is ensured   respectively by means of a set of disks in   ramiel (6, 7; 121, 122, 121 ', 122'; 221, 222, 221 ', 222w) capable of relative rotation and pierced with orifices. 2. Mixer according to claim 1, characterized in that the two sets of; temperature control and flow control are introduced   in the form of a single cartridge in a housing tu-   bular (1) open at both ends, in which case   both the hot water supply and the food   in cold water to a mixing chamber (e) lodged   in the middle region of the case and having a thermal   mocouple (22), can each be adjusted by means of a pair of ceramic disks (6, 7), a handle   rotary device (4) mounted at one end of said housing,   while setting the temperature is provided by   a second rotary handle (21) at the other end   tremity of said housing (1) and acting on said thermo- couple (22).   Mixer according to claim 1, characterized   because the two sets of ceramic discs   flow regulator, one of which regulates the cold water supply and the other regulates the mixed water flow rate, are housed in a first cartridge (104) introduced into a tubular housing ( 101) and can be actuated from the end of said housing (101) by means of a rotary handle (105), while the temperature is controlled by a thermocouple (146) which can be adjusted from at the other end of said housing (101) by means of a rotary handle (132), acts on a rotary slide   (147) regulating the supply of hot water, said   rotator (147) and said thermocouple (146) being   in a second cartridge (131), introduced into said tubular housing (101) coaxially with said first cartridge (104).   4. Mixer according to any one of the claims   1 to 4, characterized in that at least the internal members of the body or housing (I; 101; 201) between the hot and cold water connections (3, 2; 102 ', 102; 202 ', 202) and ensuring the passage of hot water and, optionally alternatively, water   mixed, are surrounded by cold water.   5. Mixer according to claim 1, characterized in that the two groups of ceramic disks (221,222) are arranged in a first cartridge (204) introduced into a casing (201) from a foundry,   from one end of this housing, and serve to re-   the flow of cold water or mixed water, the two cartridges being fixed to said housing (201) by means of radial screws (s).   6. Mixer according to claim 5, characterized in that only a small portion of the wall-of the housing (201) is in contact with hot water, a channel (273) for the passage of cold water, relatively wide , being provided on the front face of said housing (201) opposite to the wall of the wall.   Mixer according to any one of the   cations i to 6, characterized in that, in the connections (202, 202 ') for admitting cold water and hot water into the casing, a cone-shaped earmold (271) is arranged 'widening towards   inside and made of rubber or plastic   tick, which is mounted on a support socket (270)   by providing an annular cavity (272).