GB2270858A

GB2270858A - Improvements in or relating to showers

Info

Publication number: GB2270858A
Application number: GB9219606A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Terence Leslie Winnington; Nicholas John Beck
Original assignee: Kohler Mira Ltd
Current assignee: Kohler Mira Ltd
Priority date: 1992-09-16
Filing date: 1992-09-16
Publication date: 1994-03-30
Anticipated expiration: 2012-09-16
Also published as: IE930652A1; GB9219606D0; IE74133B1; GB2270858B

Abstract

Shower control apparatus has a proportioning valve 15 for hot and cold water and a flow control valve 19 with separate user operable control knobs 11, 12 for independent selection of water temperature and flow respectively. The flow control valve 19 is arranged downstream of the proportioning valve 15 and a motor 20 is operable in response to actuation of the flow control knob 12 for controlling a booster pump 22 connected between the valves 15, 19. The pump 22 is mounted on a valve body 28 housing both valves 15, 19 and the associated control knobs 11, 12 are arranged concentrically on respective shafts 13, 17 to provide a compact unit suitable for different shower installations. The positions of the pump, downstream of the mixer valve 15, cuts out cavitation and the resulting node. <IMAGE>

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO SHOWERS This invention concerns improvements in or relating to showers.

A typical shower installation employs a mixing valve for hot and cold water to provide water having a desired temperature for supply to a spray fitting such as a fixed shower head or handset.

The spray force is dependent on the water pressure and a large head of water is required to obtain a satisfactory spray. For installations where the available head of water is insufficient to obtain a satisfactory spray, the water pressure can be increased by the use of a pump.

In such installations, the pump is typically fitted at a concealed location remote from the mixing valve and this can lead to problems fpr installation and subsequent maintenance if access to the pump is restricted.

Also, problems of high noise can arise in use from cavitation in the pump caused by negative pressures.

The present invention has been made from a consideration of these problems.

According to the present invention there is provided shower control apparatus comprising a mixing valve for connection to supplies of hot and cold water and adapted to control water temperature, a pump arranged to receive water from the mixing valve, and a flow control valve arranged to receive water from the pump and adapted to control water flow to a spray fitting.

By positioning the pump between the mixing valve and the flow control valve, operating noise is reduced by preventing negative pressures causing cavitation in the pump.

Additionally, the mixing valve, pump and flow control valve can be provided in a self-contained unit with appropriate user operable controls for the mixing valve and flow control valve. As a result, the apparatus can be installed and fitted in a simple manner allowing access to the components for maintenance and repair.

Preferably, respective non-return valves are provided in the inlet connections to the mixing valve so that cross-contamination of the hot and cold supplies is avoided when the flow control valve is actuated to shut-off water flow without having to adjust the set position of the mixing valve.

Advantageously, switch means is provided for controlling operation of the pump. The switch means may be operated mechanically, for example by user actuation of the control for the flow control valve, so that the pump is switched on and off with opening and closing of the flow control valve.

Alternatively, the switch means may be operated in response to water flow, for example by a flow sensor, so that the pump is automatically switched on when there is sufficient water flow and is automatically switched off when the water flow ceases or falls to a pre-determined value.

Conveniently, the pump is driven by a motor connected to a power source either directly via the switch means or via relays responsive to actuation of the switch means for controlling the power supply to the motor.

Preferably, the mixing valve and flow control valve are combined in a common valve body to which the pump is connected. In this way, the number of components for assembly is reduced and the fluid connections between the components are simplified producing a compact unit with the only connections required for installation being to the water supplies and to the power supply so that the apparatus can be fitted without special tools by non-skilled persons, for example DIY enthusiasts.

Advantageously, the mixing valve and flow control valve each comprise a valve member mounted on a shaft rotatable by a control member for respectively controlling the water temperature and flow.

Preferably, the control members are arranged concentrically for independent actuation by the user. In this way, the arrangement of the controls for user understanding and operation is simplified.

In a preferred construction, the mixing valve, pump and flow control valve are housed in a casing comprising a base plate to which the components are secured and a removable front cover providing access to the components for installation and maintenance.

Conveniently, the connections to the water supplies are provided at the lower end of the casing and can be adapted for bottom, side or rear entry of the supplies. In this way, connection of the apparatus to existing plumbing is facilitated for installation and fitment of the apparatus in different locations.

The invention will now be described in more detail by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: FIGURE 1 is a front view of apparatus for an ablutionary shower installation embodying the invention with the front cover and control knobs removed to show the components parts of the apparatus; and FIGURE 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1 with the front cover and control knobs fitted.

The apparatus shown in the drawings comprises a rectangular casing 1 having a base plate 2 with clearance holes 3 for screws (not shown) to secure the base plate 2 to a support surface (not shown) and a removable front cover 4 for access to the internal components for assembly, servicing and repair.

The base plate 1 supports a manually operable mixing valve 5 having separate inlets (not shown) for hot and cold water connected via respective non-return check valves 6,7 to an inlet manifold 8 arranged for connection to the hot and cold water supplies 9,10 at the bottom of the casing 1.

The mixing valve 5 has concentric relatively rotatable control knobs 11,12 for independent outlet water temperature control and onloff flow control by the user.

The temperature control knob 11 is mounted on the outer end of a hollow shaft 13 and has a lug 14 for manual rotation between end positions for actuating a valve member 15 mounted on the inner end of the shaft 13 to vary progressively the relative proportions of hot and cold water admitted to a mixing chamber 16 to provide a desired outlet water temperature.

The on/off flow control knob 12 is mounted on the outer end of a shaft 17 extending through the hollow shaft 13 and has an outer peripheral flange 18 with finger grips (not shown) for manual rotation between end positions for actuating a valve member 19 mounted on the inner end of the shaft 17 to provide continuous variation of the water flow between off and full flow.

The base plate 2 also supports a motor 20 connected to a terminal block 21 for the incoming power supply via switch relays (not shown) and a pump 22 having an impeller 23 mounted on a shaft 24 of the motor 20.

The pump 22 has an inlet 25 connected to the mixing chamber 16 and an outlet 26 connected to one end of a passageway 27 in the body 28 of the mixing valve 5.

The other end of the passageway 27 terminates in an outlet 29 at the bottom of the casing 1 for connection to a spray fitting (not shown) via a flexible hose (not shown). The spray fitting may be a fixed spray head or a handset.

The valve member 19 controls water flow through the passageway 27 and the control knob 12 has an eccentric internal flange 30 providing a cam that is engageable with one end of a pivotal lever 31 mounted on the mixing valve body 28. The other end of the lever 31 is engageable with a switch 32 controlling the switch relays for the motor 20.

The switch 32 is actuated to switch the motor 20 on and off in response to rotation of the control knob 12 in opposed senses to start and stop water flow respectively.

In this way, the pump 22 is operable to boost the pressure of the water discharged through the outlet 29 to the spray fitting only when there is water flow.

Additionally, by positioning the pump 22 before the on1off flow control valve member 19, the pump 22 does not see significant negative pressures on reducing water flow thereby avoiding cavitation so that operating noise levels are lowered.

Furthermore, by incorporating the flow control valve in the mixing valve body 28 and directly mounting the pump 22 on the body 28, the number of components is reduced and the fluid connections are simplified producing a compact unit suitable for use in different shower installations, such as over a bath or in a separate cubicle.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment above-described, for example the mixing valve may be of any suitable type such as thermostatic or pressure balanced for maintaining constant a selected water temperature.

The switch means controlling the power supply to the motor may be of any suitable type, for example a flow sensor responsive to water flow for actuating the switch relays may be employed in the flow path to or from the pump so that the pump is switched on automatically when there is sufficient water flow and is switched off automatically when the water flow ceases or falls to a pre-determined level.

Although it is preferred to combine the mixing valve and flow control valve in a common valve body, this is not essential and the mixing valve and flow control valve may be completely separate components.

As will be appreciated the present invention, provides apparatus incorporating a mixing valve and pump for boosting the water pressure in a self-contained unit that can be installed and fitted in a simple manner by appropriate connections to the power supply and to the hot and cold water supplies.

Claims

Claims:

1. Shower control apparatus comprising a mixing valve for connection to supplies of hot and cold water and adapted to control water temperature, a pump arranged to receive water from the mixing valve, and a flow control valve arranged to receive water from the pump and adapted to control water flow to a spray fitting.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1 further comprising a respective nonreturn valve for each of the hot and cold supplies to the mixing valve.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 further comprising switch means for controlling operation of the pump.

4. Apparatus according to Claim 3 wherein the switch means is-operable in response to actuation of the flow control valve.

5. Apparatus according to Claim 3 wherein the switch means is operable in response to water flow.

6. Apparatus according to Claim 5 further comprising a flow sensor for actuating the switch means in response to water flow.

7. Apparatus according to Claim 6 wherein the flow sensor is operable to actuate the switch means at a pre-determined water flow.

8. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 3 to 7 wherein the pump is driven by a motor connected to a power source either directly via the switch means or via relays responsive to actuation of the switch means for controlling the power supply to the motor.

9. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the mixing valve and flow control valve are combined in a common valve body.

10. Apparatus according to Claim 9 wherein the valve body has an outlet from the mixing valve for connection to an inlet to the pump, and an inlet to the flow control valve for connection to an outlet from the pump.

11. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding Claims further comprising respective user operable means for independent control of water temperature and flow.

12. Apparatus according to Claim 11 wherein the user operable means comprise concentric relatively rotatable control members.

13. Apparatus according to Claim 12 wherein the temperature control member is mounted on a rotatable hollow shaft for actuating the mixer valve, and the flow control member is mounted on a rotatable shaft extending through the hollow shaft for actuating the flow control valve.

14. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the mixing valve, pump and flow control valve are housed in a casing comprising a base plate to which the components are secured and a removable front cover providing access to the components for installation and maintenance.

15. Apparatus according to Claim 14 further comprising a respective inlet connection for each of the hot and cold supplies.

16. Apparatus according to Claim 15 wherein the inlet connections can be adapted for bottom, side or rear entry of the supplies.

17. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the mixing valve is adapted for maintaining constant a selected water temperature.

18. Apparatus according to Claim 17 wherein the mixing valve is thermostatically controlled.

19. Apparatus according to Claim 17 wherein the mixing valve is pressure balanced controlled.

20. Shower control apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

21. A valve assembly for shower control apparatus according to any one of the preceding Claims comprises a valve body provided with separate inlets for connection to supplies of hot and cold water and an outlet for connection to a shower spray fitting, the valve body housing a proportioning valve for controlling the relative proportions of hot and cold water admitted to a mixing chamber for controlling water temperature, and a flow control valve downstream of the proportioning valve for controlling water flow, the proportioning valve and flow control valve being independently operable in response to user actuation of separate controls, and the valve body being arranged and adapted for connection to a pump positioned between the proportioning valve and flow control valve.

22. A valve assembly according to Claim 21 wherein the user operable control for the flow control valve is arranged to operate a switch controlling actuation of the pump.

23. A valve assembly according to Claim 22 wherein the switch controls a motor for the pump.

24. A valve assembly according to any one of Claims 21 to 23 wherein the pump is mounted on the valve body.

25. A valve assembly according to any one of Claims 21 to 24 wherein each inlet is provided with a non-return check-valve.

26. A valve assembly according to any one of Claims 21 to 25 wherein the user operable controls comprise respective rotatable control knobs.

27. A valve assembly according to Claim 26 wherein the control knobs are arranged concentrically.

28. A valve assembly according to Claim 21 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.