GB2138541A

GB2138541A - A mixed-water cock

Info

Publication number: GB2138541A
Application number: GB08406664A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Yoshiaki Kitamura; Takashi Yanaguchi
Original assignee: KITAMURA GOKIN SEISAKUSHO
Current assignee: KITAMURA GOKIN SEISAKUSHO
Priority date: 1983-03-18
Filing date: 1984-03-14
Publication date: 1984-10-24
Also published as: FR2542842B1; GB8406664D0; FR2542842A1; JPS59175684A; AU566488B2; GB2138541B; CH658894A5; DE3409580A1; AU2546284A; IT8420108A0; IT1173874B

Abstract

A mixed-water cock for automatically interrupting the flow of water after a pre-set quantity has been discharged comprises hot and cold water supply passages (4 and 5) and a mixing chamber (12) for receiving water from them. The mixing chamber communicates with an outlet or discharge pipe (26). Valves (8 and 9) cut off flow communication between the hot and cold water passages (4 and 5), respectively, and the mixing chamber and are arranged to be closed simultaneously by cam or cams 22. A vane wheel rotatable by water discharged from the mixing chamber (12) and a motion transmitting reduction mechanism (Figure 1) angularly moves the cam or cams to a position in which the valves (8 and 9) close simultaneously. The cams are displaced for re-setting by a handle. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A mixed-water cock This invention relates to a mixed-water cock for sanitary devices.

A known mixed-water cock capable of interrupting the discharge of mixed water automatically when preset quantities of hot and cold water have been discharged, is known from published Japanese Patent Application No.

14666/1981.

This known mixed-water cock will be described with reference to Fig. 6. A mixed-water cock body 41 is provided with a hot water passage 42, a water passage 43, a mixed-water passage 44 and a discharge passage 45 arranged in the mentioned order. A valve 49 is provided in opposition to a valve port 46 opened in the mixed-water passage 44, so as to close and open the valve port 46 as the valve 49 is engaged with and disengaged from a cam 48 provided in an intermediate portion of a passage 47. A control valve 51 having a hot water passage 42' and a flow rate control valve seat 50 is provided so as to extend across the hot water passage 42 and water passage 43. Check valves 52, 52 are provided in intermediate portions of passages extending between the mixed water cock body 41 and a water pipe and a hot water storage tank.

In this mixed-water cock, the hot water passage, water passage and mixed-water passage are communicated with one another freely.

Accordingly, when a preset quantity of mixed water has finished being discharged to close the valve port, the flow of both the hot water and water is interrupted in the mixed-water passage as the hot water and water are communicated with each other on the primary pressure side. As a result, the hot water or water, the pressure of which is higher than that of the other, flows against the other to cause the latter to flow backward. When the water flows against the hot water to cause the latter to flow backward, a safety valve in the hot water storage tank is pressed thereby to be opened, so that the whole of the hot water is forced out therefrom. When the hot water flows against the water to cause the latter to flow backward, not only the interior of the water pipe becomes insanitary but also a meter for the water is broken by the hot water.The check valves provided in the intermediate portions of the hot water passage and water passage are provided with springs the resilient force of which is usually so small that it does not impede the flow of water. Therefore, when extraneous matter is held between a check valve and valve seat, the discharge of water cannot be interrupted completely by the resilient force of a spring only.

The present invention seeks to provide a mixedwater cock which overcomes the aforesaid disadvantages.

In one aspect, the present invention provides a mixed-water cock for automatically interrupting the flow of water from the cock after a pre-set quantity of water has been discharged, the cock comprising hot and cold water supply passages, a mixing chamber for receiving water from the hot and cold water supply passages, the mixing chamber communicating with an outlet, first and second valves for cutting off flow communication between the hot and cold water passages, respectively, and the mixing chamber, a cam or cams, two cam followers for opening the first and second valves, the cam or cams being arranged to close the first and second valves simultaneously, manually operable means for displacing the cam or cams angularly to a position in which the first and second valves are held open, a wheel rotatable by water discharged from the mixing chamber, and a motion transmitting reduction mechanism operatively connected between the wheel and the cam or cams for angularly moving the cam or cams to a position in which the first and second valves close simultaneously.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a partially cutaway view in longitudinal section of a mixed-water cock according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a front elevational view in section taken along the line A-A in Fig. 1; Fig. 3a is an enlarged front elevational view in section taken along the line B-B in Fig. 1; Fig. 3b is an enlarged front elevational view in section taken along the line C-C in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a partial front elevational view in section of another example of a cam; Fig. 5a is a partial front elevational view in section of the mixed-water cock provided with another example of a valve body;; Fig. 5b is an enlarged, partial side elevational view in section taken along the line D-D in Fig.

5a; and Fig. 6 illustrates a prior art mixed-water cock.

Referring now to Figs. 1-3a and 3b, a mixed water cock body 1 is provided in opposite end portions thereof with a hot water passage 4 and a cold water passage 5, which are joined to a hot water cock portion 2 and a cold water cock portion 3, respectively, valves in which are opened after a temperature of mixed water has been regulated, and which are communicated with a hot water supply source and a cold water supply source, respectively.On a straight line crossing the hot water passage 4 and cold water passage 5, threaded bores 7, 7, in which plugs 6, 6 are fitted, and a hot water valve port 10 and a cold water valve port 11, which are opposed to a hot water valve 8 and a cold water valve 9, respectively, are provided in such a manner that the bores 7, 7 and valve ports 1 0, 11 are communicated with each other coaxially and with a mixed-water passage 12. This mixed-water passage 12 is communicated with a discharge passage 14 via a communicatiqn port 1 3. The discharge passage 14 is further communicated with a discharge pipe 26. The mixed water flowing in the discharge passage 14 causes a vane wheel 1 5 to be rotated.

The rotational force of the vane wheel 1 5 is transmitted to a known reduction mechanism 1 7 consisting of a reduction gear train on a shaft 1 6, which extends coaxially with the vane wheel 1 5, and a reduction gear train on another shaft 16'.

The rotational force reduced to a predetermined level is then transmitted to gears 19, 19' on a handle shaft 18, which will be described later. The resultant rotational force is further transmitted via gears 21,21, which are meshed with the gear 19', on cam shafts 20, 20 to cams 22, 22, which are mounted on end portions of the shafts 20, 20 so as to be positioned in the discharge passage 14.

Consequently, the engaging positions on curved working surfaces 23 with respect to valve rods 24, which are opposed to the working surfaces 23, in the hot water valve 8 and cold water valve 9 vary, so that, when the quantity of the discharged mixed water has reached a level set in advance by the handle shaft 18, the hot water valve port 10 and water valve port 11 are immediately and independently closed. A handle 25 is fixed to the handle shaft 1 8 in such a manner that the handle 25 can be turned and set, using a known scale and index (not shown) provided on a circumferential surface of the handle 25 and the corresponding portion of a circumferential surface of the cock body 1, so that the water cock discharges a required quantity of water.The valves in the hot water cock portion 2 and cold water cock portion 3 opened and closed by operating the handles 25a, 25b are kept open after the temperature of hot water has been regulated. The mixed water flowing in the discharge passage 14 while rotating the vane wheel 1 5 therein is supplied to the outside via a discharge pipe 26. Fig. 4 shows a modification. In this case, a single cam 22' is provided at the opposite portions of a circumferential surface thereof with curved working surfaces 23, 23 having the same curvature and opposed to working end portions 27, 27 of valve rods 24. Figs. 5a and 5b show another example of the hot water valve 8 and cold water valve 9.A valve body 28 in this example is provided with a guide 31, which is inserted into the hot water valve port 1 0 and cold water valve port 11 to be set at all times in a threaded bore 30 made in the central portion of a seal 29, in such manner that the valve body 28 can be used on both the hot water side and cold water side. The guide 31 has a plurality of arcuate recesses 13' among a plurality of ribs 32 provided on a circumferential surface thereof, which recesses 13' enable a fluid to flow between the surfaces thereof and inner surfaces of the hot water valve port 10 and cold water valve port 11. A case where a required quantity of mixed water is supplied to, for example, a washing machine and a hot water tank (both of which are not shown) will now be described.First, when the handle 25 shown in Fig. 2 is operated in a predetermined direction to set a required discharge quantity on the scale. The rotation of the handle shaft 1 8 is transmitted to the cams 22, 22 provided coaxially therewith, via the gears 21, 21 meshed with the gear 19' from both sides thereof, to turn the cams 22, 22 in the same direction in the same manner.

During this time, the engaging positions on the curved working surfaces 23, 23 of the cams 22, 22, which are opposed to the working end portions 27, 27 of the valve rods 24, 24, reach predetermined discharge quantity-setting positions. Hence, the hot water valve port 10 and cold water valve port 11, which are opposed to the hot water valve 8 and cold water valve 9, respectively, are opened at the same time.

During the above operation, the gear 1 9 on the handle shaft 1 8 is turned idly like a known friction clutch as shown in Fig. 3b, so that the rotational force of the shaft 1 8 cannot be transmitted to the reduction mechanism 17. Therefore, the handle 25 can be operated lightly.

When the handles 25a, 25b are turned in the valve-opening direction after a discharge quantity of mixed water has been set by the abovedescribed operation, the hot water flows from the hot water passage 4 to the mixed-water passage 12 via the hot water valve port 10, while the water flows from the cold water passage 5 to the mixed-water passage 12 via the cold water valve port 11. The hot water and cold water are mixed together suitably while they flow from the mixedwater passage 12 to the communication port 13.

The resultant mixed water flows into the discharge passage 14 communicated with the communication port 13, to cause the vane wheel 1 5 to be rotated while the mixed water flows through the discharge passage 14 (refer to Figs. 1 and 2). The rotational force of the quickly-rotating vane wheel 1 5 is reduced to a predetermined level while it is transmitted to the gear train on the shaft 16' via the shaft 1 6 and gear train thereon.The rotational force thus reduced is transmitted to the cam shafts 20, 20 at a low speed in the manner opposite to that mentioned above, via the gears 19,19 and the gears 21,21, which are meshed with the gears 1 9, 19. Consequently, the cams 22, 22 are rotated also in the opposite direction to gradually vary the engaging positions on the curved working surfaces 23, 23 thereof with respect to the working end portions 27, 27, which are opposed to the working surfaces 23, 23, of the valve rods 24, 24. When the water dischargeinterrupting positions on the curved working surfaces 23, 23 of the cams 22, 22 are aligned with the working end portions 27, 27 as shown in Fig. 2, the hot water valve port 10 and cold water valve port 11 are closed by the hot water valve 8 and cold water valve 9 simultaneously and separately. Accordingly, the discharge of mixed water in interrupted after a preset quantity thereof has been supplied. At the same time that the cam shafts 20,20 are rotated, the gear 19 is rotated in the forward direction to cause the handle shaft 18 to be turned in the same direction, so that the handle shaft 1 8 and handle 25 return to start positions, in which they had been located before the discharge quantity was set, to be used in a subsequent step.

The present invention having the abovedescribed construction has the following advantages.

(1) The hot water valve and cold water valve are provided in opposition to each other on the primary pressure side of the hot water valve port and cold water valve port, and the valve rods in these valves are disposed separately so as to be opposed to the curved working surfaces of the cams connected to the reduction mechanism.

Accordingly, the quantity of mixed water to be supplied, which consists of the same quantity of hot water and cold water, can be set easily to a required level by merely operating the temperature-regulating handle. Moreover, when a temperature of mixed water is regulated to a desired level in advance, the mixed water cock can be used as it is when it is necessary to use the same repeatedly under the same condition. This enables temperature-regulating operations to be omitted.

(2) The discharging of hot water and cold water is interrupted separately at once and simultaneously with the completion of the quantitative supplying of mixed water, by aligning the engaging positions on the curved working surfaces of the cams with respect to the working end portions of the valve rods with the positions in which the hot water valve port and cold water valve port are closed with the hot water valve and cold water valve, respectively. Accoridngly, a fluid, the pressure of which is higher than that of the other fluid, does not flow against the latter fluid, so that the latter fluid does not flow backward.

Therefore, the interior of the water pipe does not become unsanitary, and the hot water in the hot water tank is not forced out.

(3) Unlike a conventional mixed-water cock, in which a hot water passage and a cold water passage are communicated freely with a mixedwater passage, and in which one fluid, the pressure of which is higher than that of the other fluid, flows against the latter fluid to cause the same to flow backward, the mixed-water cock according to the present invention is capable of closing the hot water valve port and cold water valve port separately at once and simultaneously with the quantitative interruption of the discharge of mixed water. Therefore, the present invention can reliably prevent a backward flow of hot water and cold water into the water pipe or hot water tank.

Claims

1. A mixed-water cock for automatically interrupting the flow of water from the cock after a pre-set quantity of water has been discharged, the cock comprising hot and cold water supply passages, a mixing chamber for receiving water from the hot and cold water supply passages, the mixing chamber communicating with an outlet, first and second valves for cutting off flow communication between the hot and cold water passages, respectively, and the mixing chamber, a cam or cams, two cam followers for opening the first and second valves, the cam or cams being arranged to close the first and second valves simultaneously, manually operable means for displacing the cam or cams angularly to a position in which the first and second valves are held open, a wheel rotatable by water discharged from the mixing chamber, and a motion transmitting reduction mechanism operatively connected between the wheel and the cam or cams for angularly moving the cam or cams to a position in which the first and second valves close simultaneously.

2. The water cock of claim 1, comprising two cams, one engaging one cam follower and the other engaging the other cam follower.

3. The water cock of ciaim 1, comprising a single cam having two similar cam profile portions, one engaging the one cam follower and the other engaging the other cam follower.

4. The water cock of any one of claims 1-3, wherein the motion transmitting mechanism is a reduction gear mechanism.

5. The water cock of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the motion transmitting mechanism and cam means are isolated from the mixing chamber and outlet.

6. The water cock of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the seats for the first and second valves face away from the general direction of water flow from the hot and cold water passages, respectively, to the mixing chamber.

7. A mixed-water cock substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to anyone of the embodiments shown in Figures 1-5 of the accompanying drawings.

8. An automatic valve-closing structure in a mixed-water cock capable of quantitatively interrupting the discharge of water, comprising a hot water passage and a water passage which are adapted to be opened and closed by means of a hot water valve and a water valve, respectively, and communicated with each other via a mixed-water passage, a reduction mechanism isolated from said mixed-water passage and provided with cams connected to said hot water valve and said water valve via valve rods, a flow rate-setting handle shaft, and cam shafts on which said cams are mounted, said handle shaft, said cam shafts and said reduction mechanism being connected in such a manner that the power can be transmitted thereby in one direction, whereby the discharge of hot water and water can be interrupted separately and automatically in concurrence with the completion of the quantitative supply of mixed water.