GB2340210A

GB2340210A - Mixing valve with adjustable seat

Info

Publication number: GB2340210A
Application number: GB9924682A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Bruce Lewin John Hayward; Philip John Graham Hopkins; John Martyn Weaver; Royston Jesse North
Original assignee: Kohler Mira Ltd
Current assignee: Kohler Mira Ltd
Priority date: 1996-03-27
Filing date: 1996-03-27
Publication date: 2000-02-16
Anticipated expiration: 2016-03-27
Also published as: GB2311589A; GB2311589B; GB9924682D0; GB9606390D0; GB2340210B

Description

N J 2340210 IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO MIXING VALVES This invention

concerns improvements in or relating to mixing valves, particularly but not exclusively, for mixing hot and cold water for ablutionary showers for domestic installations.

Mixing valves typically have separate inlets for hot and cold water and a proportioning valve operable by a control member for adjustable selection of the water temperature by the user.

A problem can arise for installation of the mixing valve where the configuration of the inlets is different to that of the supply pipes. It is already known to have inlets which can be rotated for adapting the mixing valve for connection to vertical or horizontal supplies but this increase the time for installation and adds to manufacturing costs.

In use, selection of water temperatures that are too hot may cause scalding, particularly for use by elderly people or children. It is already known to reduce the risk of scalding by pre-setting a maximum safe water temperature that can be selected to prevent the user inadvertently selecting a water temperature which is too hot. Such pre-set maximum safe water temperature may not, however, meet the requirements of some users who may prefer a higher water temperature.

It has therefore been proposed to provide a stop which blocks selection of a temperature higher than the pre-set safe temperature but which can be manually released by the user to allow selection of higher water temperatures if desired. With this arrangement, there is still a risk of scalding if the user accidentally releases the stop and selects a temperature higher than the pre-set safe temperature. This is a particular problem for use by elderly people and children who may not understand that operation of the stop allows selection of higher water temperatures that may cause scalding.

One common type of mixing valve has a shuttle that is axially movable between hot and cold seats to control and regulate mixing of the hot and cold supplies and variations in the supply pressures for different inst, allations can adversely affect the performance of the valve. It is already known to calibrate the shuttle for a given operating pressure, typically high or low, but there is a risk of the wrong valve being supplied and fitted.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a mixing valve which can be adapted to the requirements of different installations and users.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a mixing valve for mixing hot and cold water for an ablutionary appliance comprising respective inlet means for connection to supplies of hot and cold water, each inlet means having at least two inlets for connecting a selected one of the inlets to the supply, and means for blanking off the other inlet(s), By providing more than one inlet for each of the hot and cold supplies, the mixing valve can be adapted for installations having different arrangements of the supplies.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a mixing valve for mixing hot and cold water for an ablutionary installation comprising control means for adjustable selection of water temperature, and stop means arranged for blocking selection of a water temperature higher than a pre-set temperature in a selected one of two positions of the stop means.

By selecting either the first or second position of the stop means, the mixing valve can be adapted for adjustable selection of water temperature according to the requirements of different users.

In a preferred arrangement, the stop means has a releasable stop arranged for blocking selection of a water temperature higher than a pre-set temperature in one position of the stop means. and a fixed stop arranged for blocking selection of a water temperature higher than a pre-set temperature in the other position of the stop means.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention there is provided a mixing valve for mixing hot and cold water for an ablutionary appliance comprising a proportioning valve having a shuttle axially movable between hot and cold seats for control mixing of the hot and cold water supplies, and at least one of the seats being arranged for limited axial adjustment.

By providing axial adjustment of at least one seat, the mixing valve can be adapted for installations having different supply pressurps.

The features, benefits and advantages of the invention will be understood from the following detailed description of an exemplary embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:FIGURE 1 is front elevation of a mixing valve according to the invention;

FIGURE 2 is side elevation of the mixing valve shown in Figure 1; FIOURE 3 is an underneath plan view of the mixing valve shown in Figure 1; FIGURE 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Figure 1; FIGURE 5 is a front elevation of the mixing valve shown in Figure 1 with the temperature control knob removed showing the movable stop and fixed stop arranged for releasably blocking the control knob with the movable stop; FIGURE 6 is a section through the mixing valve showing the movable stop engaged; FIGURE 7 is a section through the mixing valve showing the movable stop disengaged; FIGURE 8 is a front elevation of the mixing valve similar to Figure 5 showing the movable stop and fixed stop reversed for non-releasably blocking the control knob with the fixed stop; FIGURE 9 is a section through the thermostatic cartridge unit; and FIGURE 10 is rear view of the thermostatic cartridge unit.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, a thermostatic mixing valve 1 has a body 2 having inlet chambers 3,4 for connection respectively to supplies of hot and cold water and a substantially rectangular cavity 5 in which a thermostatic cartridge unit 6 is received.

Each inlet chamber 3,4 is designed for connection to a vertical or horizontal supply pipe (not shown) by screwing a respective gland union 7 into a selected one of two inlets 8,9 arranged normal to each other and screwing a blanking plug 10 into the other inlet 8,9.

The inlet chambers 3,4 open into the cavity 5 through opposed transfer ports 11,12 respectively and the cartridge unit 6 has diametrically opposed inlet ports 13,14 that align with and are sealed relative to the transfer ports 11,12 respectively.

This symmetrical arrangement of the ports 11,12,13,14 enables the cartridge unit 6 to be inserted in a selected one of two orientations corresponding to rotation of the cartridge unit 6 through 1801, to match the inlet ports 13,14 to the hot and cold supplies to the body 2.

The mixing valve I is designed to discharge temperature ' controlled water from the cartridge unit 6 to an ablutionary appliance (not shown) such as a shower head or handset connected by a pipe or hose (not shown) to a gland union 15 screwed into one of two opposed outlets 50,51 in the body 2 and blanking off the other outlet 50,51 with a plug 52 screwed into the outlet 50,51 and covered with a cap 53 releasably secured to the plug 52.

Alternatively, both outlets 50,51 may be connected to an ablutionary appliance.

The outlets 50,51 are arranged at the top and bottom of the body 2 normal to the transfer ports 11,12 and communicate with respective axial outlet chambers 54,55 in the body 2 that extend to the front of the body 2.

The cartridge unit 6 has two rearwardly facing outlet ports 56,57 angularly offset at right angles to the inlet ports 13,14 and each outlet chamber 54,55 is aligned with and sealed relative to a respective one of the outlet ports 56,57 in both orientations of the cartridge unit 6 for discharge of temperature controlled water to the connected outlet(s) 50,51 in accordance with user selection of temperature and flow as referred to later herein.

The cartridge unit 6 has a temperature control knob 16 having an upstanding finger grip 17 mounted on a rotatable control hub 18. The temperature control knob 16 is arranged for limited rotational movement of approximately 180Q for adjustable selection of the outlet water temperature, for example from cold to 45/481C.

The temperature control knob 16 has a reference mark 19 for indicating the selected water temperature against a fixed indicator ring 20 mounted on the cartridge unit 6 and having a range of register scale marks between a cold mark 21 coloured blue and a hot mark 22 coloured red for the extremes of cold and hot respectively.

The cartridge unit 6 has a flow control knob 23 with recessed finger grips 24 mounted concentric with the temperature control knob 16. The flow control knob 23 is arranged for rotation to control and regulate the flow of water from off to fully open.

The indicator ring 20 is arranged between and substantially flush with the temperature control knob 16 and flow control knob 23, and the rear end of the flow control knob 23 is arranged substantially flush with a waisted shroud trim 25 mounted on the body 2 to conceal part of the cartridge unit 6.

The cartridge unit 6 has a temperature stop ring 26 for blocking rotation of the temperature control knob 16 at a pre-set intermediate temperature between the extremes of cold and hot, for example, 38/4011C, to prevent selection of a higher water temperature up to the maximum temperature.

The stop ring 26 is of oval form and is designed for mounting within the indicator ring 20 in a selected one of first and second positions for reversing the position of diametrically opposed lugs 27,28.

In the first position, the lug 27 is presented for engagement by an ear 29 on the underside of the temperature control knob 16 at the pre-set intermediate temperature and, in the second position, the lug 28 is presented for engagement by the ear 29 at the pre-set intermediate temperature.

The stop ring 26 has an override button 30 for the lug 27 and a blind button 31 for the lug 28. The override button 30 is located in an opening 32 in the indicator ring 20 in the first position of the stop ring 26 and the blind button 31 is located in the opening 32 in the second position. The hot mark 22 is provided by colouring both buttons 30,31 red.

As shown in Figures 5 to 7, the override button 30 is arranged to project from the indicator ring 20 in the first position of the stop ring 26, and the stop ring 26 has a radial groove 33 in the underside for reception of an upstanding rib 34 on the indicator ring 20. The groove 33 and rib 34 act as a guide allowing the button 30 to be depressed manually to move the lug 27 radially inwards clear of the ear 29 so that the control knob 16 can be rotated to select water temperatures higher than the pre-set intermediate temperature.

The stop ring 26 is made of resilient plastics material which deforms when the override button 30 is depressed and returns to its original shape when the override button 30 is released in the manner of a return spring.

The lug 27 and/or ear 29 may have inclined cam face(s) arranged to co-operate on rotation of the control knob 16 from a water temperature higher than the pre-set intermediate temperature to a temperature lower than the pre-set intermediate temperature so that the lug 27 is automatically moved radially inwards without the user having to depress the override button 30 and is re-set by the resilience of the stop ring 26 when cleared by the ear 29.

As shown in Figure 8, the blind button 31 is arranged flush with the indicator ring 20 in the second position of the stop ring 26, and there is no groove corresponding to the groove 33 in the stop ring 26 for reception of the rib 34. The rib 34 locates against the stop ring 26 preventing manual depression of the button 31 to move the lug 28 clear of the ear 29 so that the control knob 16 cannot be rotated to select water temperatures higher than the pre-set intermediate temperature.

As will now be understood, the lug 27 provides a releasable stop and the lug 28 provides a fixed stop for blocking rotation of the temperature control knob 16, and the stop ring 26 can be arranged in a respective one of two positions to allow or prevent selection of water temperatures higher than the pre-set intermediate temperature according to the requirements of different installations and users.

In a modification (not shown), the stop ring 26 having the lugs 27,28 may be mounted on the underside of the control knob 16 with the ear 29 provided on the indicator ring 20.

Referring now to Figures 9 and 10, the cartridge unit 6 has a proportioning valve having a shuttle 35 axially movable between opposed cold and hot seats 36 and 37 respectively to control and regulate mixing of the hot and cold water supplied to the cartridge unit 6 in accordance with adjustable selection of the outlet water temperature by rotation of the temperature control knob 16 as above-described.

The cartridge unit 6 has a wax thermostat 38 arranged to monitor the outlet water temperature and automatically adjust the axial position of the shuttle 35 to alter the relative proportions of hot and cold water to maintain the selected outlet water temperature substantially constant.

The cold seat 36 is fixed and the hot seat 37 is axially adjustable for calibrating the cartridge unit 6 during manufacture to set the stroke of the shuttle 35.

The hot seat 37 is part of an assembly 39 that is screwed into the cartridge unit 6 and is locked in position by a lock ring 40. The engagement between the hot seat assembly 39 and the lock ring 40 is provided by fine serrations 41 and 42 respectively so that the lock ring 40 can be fitted in the correct position with the marginal edge 43 of a central hole in the lock ring 40 engaging an annular groove 44 in the hot seat assembly 39 to secure the lock ring 40 in position.

The body of the cartridge unit 6 has opposed abutments 45,46 providing stop faces for radial lugs 47,48 on the lock ring 40 in each of two positions allowing limited rotation of the hot seat assembly 39 for axial adjustment of the hot seat 37 by means of tool inserted into a cross drive 49 for selecting a high water pressure setting or a low water pressure setting as required.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiment above-described and that different aspects of the invention as herein described may be applied to other types and constructions of mixing valve either separately or in combination.

1 5 According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a mixing valve for mixing hot and cold water for an ablutionary installation comprising respective inlets for connection to supplies of hot and cold water and at least two outlets for selective connection of one or both outlets to an ablutionary appliance.

Claims

Claims:

1. A mixing valve for mixing hot and cold water for an ablutionary appliance comprising a proportioning valve having a valve member axially movable between hot and cold seats for controlling mixing of hot and cold water, a water outlet opening in one of the seats and the other seat being arranged for limited axial adjustment relative to said one seat such that the mixing valve can be adapted for installations having different supply pressures.

2. A mixing valve according to Claim 1 wherein the hot seat is incorporated in a hot seat assembly arranged for limited axial adjustment of the hot seat relative to the cold seat.

3. A mixing valve according to Claim 2 wherein limited axial adjustment of the hot seat assembly is effected by rotation of a lock ring securing the hot seat assembly.

4. A mixing valve according to Claim 3 wherein the lock ring is rotatable between end positions corresponding to settings for high and low supply pressures.

5. A mixing valve according to Claim 4 wherein the lock ring is engageable with respective stops in each end position.

6. A mixing valve according to Claim 5 wherein the stops are provided by a cartridge unit in which the hot seat assembly is mounted.

7. A mixing valve according to Claim 6 wherein the hot seat assembly is accessible at one end of the cartridge unit for adjusting the axial position of the hot seat.

8. A mixing valve according to Claim 6 or Claim 7 wherein the cartridge unit is received in a body of the mixing valve.

9. A mixing valve according to Claim 8 wherein the cartridge unit has diametrically opposed inlet ports for hot and cold water for assembly of the cartridge unit in the body in a selected one of two orientations corresponding to rotation of the cartridge unit through 180".

10. A mixing valve according to Claim 8 or Claim 9 wherein the body two inlets normal to each other for each of the hot water and cold water.

11. A mixing valve according to any one of Claims 8 to 10 wherein the body has two opposed outlets for mixed water.

12. A mixing valve according to any one of the preceding Claims including control means for adjustable selection of water temperature, and stop means for blocking selection of water temperature higher than a pre-set temperature, wherein selection of water temperature higher than the preset temperature is allowed in a first mode of operation of the stop means and is prevented in a second mode of operation of the stop means.

13. A mixing valve according to Claim 12 wherein the stop means comprises a releasable stop allowing selection of water temperature higher than the pre-set temperature in the first mode of operation and a fixed stop preventing selection of water temperature higher than the pre-set temperature in the second mode of operation.

14. A mixing valve according to Claim 13 wherein the releasable stop and fixed stop are incorporated in a stop ring for assembly in a selected one of two positions for selecting either the first or second modes of operation.

15. A mixing valve according to Claim 13 or Claim 14 including manually operable release means for over-riding the releasable stop to allow selection of water temperature higher than the pre-set temperature in the first mode of operation.

16. A mixing valve according to Claim 15 wherein the releasable stop is resiliently biased to a first position blocking selection of water temperatures higher than the pre-set temperature and is movable by actuation of the release means to a second position allowing selection of water temperatures higher than the pre-set temperature.

17. A mixing valve according to Claim 16 wherein, following selection of water temperature higher than the pre-set temperature, selection of water temperature lower than the pre-set temperature automatically re-sets the releasable stop to block selection of water temperature higher than the pre set temperature.

18. A mixing valve according to any one of Claims 15 to 17 wherein the release means comprises an over-ride button for manually moving the releasable stop to the second position against the resilient biasing.

19. A mixing valve according to Claim 18 wherein the over-ride button is integral with the releasable stop.

20. A mixing valve according to Claim 18 or Claim 19 wherein the over ride button is concealed in the second mode of operation.

21. A mixing valve according to any one of Claims 12 to 20 wherein the control means comprises a rotatable temperature control member.

22. A mixing valve according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the cold seat is fixed.

23. A mixing valve according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the proportioning valve is thermostatically controlled for maintaining 5 substantially constant a selected outlet water temperature.

24. A mixing valve according to Claim 23 wherein the water outlet opening is in the cold seat and a thermostat extends through the water outlet opening for monitoring the outlet water temperature and adjusting the axial position of the valve member between the hot and cold seats for maintaining the 10 selected outlet water temperature substantially constant

25. A mixing valve according to Claim 1 for mixing hot and cold water for an ablutionary installation substantially as hereinbefore, described with reference to the accompanying drawings.