GB2581401A

GB2581401A - Mixer valve

Info

Publication number: GB2581401A
Application number: GB1902228.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Philip Jones Oliver
Original assignee: Kohler Mira Ltd
Current assignee: Kohler Mira Ltd
Priority date: 2019-02-18
Filing date: 2019-02-18
Publication date: 2020-08-19
Anticipated expiration: 2039-02-18
Also published as: GB201902228D0; WO2020169947A1; GB2581401B

Abstract

The mixer valve 100 comprises a body having a first inlet 108, a second inlet 112, and at least one outlet 116, a mixing chamber 118 for receiving flows from the first and second inlets to create a mixed flow, and a diverter 122 for controlling the mixed flow from the mixing chamber to the at least one outlet, the diverter having a closed configuration where the mixed flow is prevented from flowing to the at least one outlet, the diverter preventing flow from the first inlet reaching the mixing chamber thus preventing cross-flow between the first and second inlets when in the closed configuration. The first inlet may feed into an inlet waterway 120 and the second inlet into the mixing chamber. The diverter may comprise a fixed part 140 and a moving part 142 which have a shared central axis about which the moving part rotates. The fixed part may have an inlet port and two outlet ports arranged concentrically about the shared axis. The moving part may have two inlet ports and an outlet port arranged concentrically about the shared axis. The mixer valve may be a bar valve. The mixing chamber may include a control valve coaxial with the diverter.

Description

MIXER VALVE

The present disclosure relates to mixer valves, to mixing taps and shower assemblies comprising mixer valves, and more specifically but not necessarily exclusively to a bar valve.

Mixer valves are known in the art for the mixing of two input flows of water into a single output flow. Commonly, a hot input flow and a cold input flow are combined together in order to provide an output flow at a third temperature between the temperatures of the hot and cold input flows. A single output flow or multiple output flows may be provided. Where multiple output flows are provided, these may be activated together or separately, dependent on the needs of the user.

Mixer valves may comprise bar valves. A bar valve typically comprises an elongate housing with an input flow provided towards each end of the housing. The input flows are then combined in a mixing chamber before forming an outlet flow and exiting the bar valve, typically towards the centre of the housing. in general, a flow control and a temperature control may be located at opposing ends of the housing and controllable by a user.

Check valves, also known as non-return valves, are provided in many cases in order to prevent backflow of water from an appliance or fitting into the hot and/or cold water systems. In mixer valves, including those containing bar valves, check valves are generally required, often due to legislation, in order to prevent flow from one inlet to another, or to prevent mixed flow flowing backwards into the water supply system.

It is desired to provide a mixer alve that has improved flow characteristics over those that are known.

A first aspect provides a mixer valve for an ablutionary system, the mixer valve comprising: a body having a first inlet, a second inlet, and at least one outlet; a mixing chamber configured to receive flows from the first inlet and the second inlet to create a mixed flow: and a diverter configured to control the mixed flow from the mi. ng chamber to the at least one outlet; wherein the diverter has a closed configuration, wherein the mixed flow IS prevented from flowing to the at least one outlet, and wherein the diverter is configured to prevent the flow from the first inlet reaching the mixing chamber, thus preventing cross-flow between the first niet and the second inlet when in the closed configuration.

By "cross-flow" it is meant that water supplied from a first water system to the first inlet is prevented from flowing into a second water system that provides water to the second inlet and that water supplied from the second water system is prevented from flowing into the first water system. Cross-flow can be detrimental as it can result in contamination of water supply systems; both or either of a hot water supply and a cold water supply may be contaminated in the event of cross-flow. As the diverter accomplishes both the closing of the outlet and the prevention of cross-flow, fewer parts are required and the overall operation of the mixer valve is simplified, along with its manufacture and installation.

When the at least one outlet is open, the direction of flow from the first inlet and the second inlet to the at least one outlet prevents the backflow of water into the source water system(s). By providing a diverter having a dosed configuration where cross-flow is prevented between the first inlet and the second inlet, when water is prevented from flowing to the at least one outlet, the possibility of water flowing backwards into the source water systems is removed. As a consequence, the need to utilise check valves attached to the first inlet and/or second inlet to prevent cross-flow may be removed.

The diverter may be configured to selectively isolate the first inlet from the second inlet. By isolating the flows from the first inlet and the second inlet, cross-flow can be prevented. This may be achieved by the diverter blocking flow between the first inlet and the second inlet, when in the closed configuration.

The diverter may be located between the first inlet and the second inlet. The diverter may be located between the first inlet and the mixing chamber.

The first inlet may feed into an inlet waterway and the second inlet may feed into the mixing chamber. In the dosed configuration, the diverter may prevent flow along the inlet waterway.

The mixing chamber may be configured to feed mixed water to the at least one outlet via an outlet waterway. In the closed configuration, the diverter may prevent flow along the outlet waterway.

The inlet waterway and/or the outlet waterway may be formed at least partially within a housing, e.g. a single housing. The inlet waterway and/or the outlet waterway may be integral to the single housing. The housing may be unitarily formed as one piece, for example as a moulding, or may be formed as multiple pieces and then fixed or bonded together, for example by adhesive, welding, mechanical fixture, or equivalent.

The diverter may comprise a fixed part and a moving part adjacent to one another. The fixed part and moving part may have a shared central axis, the moving part rotating about the shared central axis. The fixed part may include an inlet port arranged concentrically about the shared central axis with at least one outlet port, the inlet port being non-rotationally-aligned with the at least one outlet port, and the moving part may include at least one inlet port arranged concentrically about the shared central axis with an outlet port, the at least one inlet port being non-rotationally-aligned with the outlet port.

A diverter arranged in this way can function to Hock flow to the at least one outlet at the same time as blocking cross-flow between the first inlet and the second inlet.

The at least one outlet may include a first outlet and a second outlet, the diverter being configured to selectively enable flow to the first outlet and the second outlet.

The fixed part may include an inlet port arranged concentrically about the shared axis with two outlet ports, the inlet port being non-aligned with the two outlet ports, and the moving part may include two inlet ports arranged concentrically about the shared axis with an outlet port, the two inlet ports being non-aligned with the outlet port, wherein the inlet port of the moving part is simultaneously at least partially alignable with both inlet ports of the fixed part.

Both outlet ports of the moving part may be simultaneously at least partially alignable with the inlet port of the fixed part.

A diverter arranged in this way can function to block flow to one or both of the outlets at the same time as blocking cross-flow between the first inlet and the second inlet.

Each inlet port and outlet port of one or both of the fixed part and moving part may occupy up to or at least 80° of arc, up to or at least 90° of arc, up to or at least 100° of arc, up to or at least 110° of arc and/or up to or at least 120° of arc.

The mixing chamber may include a control valve, e.g. a mechanical control valve or a thermostatic control valve.

The diverter may be coaxial with the control valve. Such an arrangement may result in the mixer valve being more compact and/or streamlined.

The body may be an elongate body. The first inlet may be located towards a first end of the elongate body and the second inlet may be located towards a second end of the elongate body. The diverter may be located centrally or substantially centrally between the first inlet and second inlet.

The diverter may be configured to prevent flow from both inlets to the mixing chamber. Where more than two inlets are provided, the diverter may be configured to prevent flow from any number of these inlets from reaching the mixing chamber. For example, all hot flows may be prevented from reaching the mixing chamber or all cold flows may be prevented from reaching the mixing chamber.

Where all inlet flows are required to be kept separate, the diverter may be configured to prevent all flows from reaching the mixing chamber or may be configured to prevent all but one flow from reaching the mixing chamber.

The mixer valve may be provided in the form of a bar valve.

A second aspect provides an ablutionary system comprising a mixer valve according to the first aspect and an ablutionary fitting in fluid communication with an outlet of the mixer valve.

The ablutionary fitting may comprise a water delivery device such as a tap (faucet), a spray head, or a shower head.

The ablutionary system may comprise, or be connected to, a hot water supply and a cold water supply. The cold water supply may comprise a mains water supply or a cold water storage tank. The hot water supply may comprise a boiler, water heater, or hot water storage tank. For instance, the cold water supply may be in fluid communication with the first inlet and the hot water supply may be in fluid communication with the second inlet or vice versa.

A third aspect provides a kit of parts arranged to be assembled into a mixer valve of the first aspect or an ablutionary system of the second aspect.

Except where mutually exclusive, any of the features of the first aspect may be employed mutatis mutant-Ifs in the second and other aspects.

A non-limiting embodiment will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lis a sectional perspective view of a mixer valve in accordance with the first aspect, the sectional view being in a plane bisecting the inlets; Figure 2 is a sectional view of the mixer valve of Figure 1, the sectional view being in a plane bisecting the outlets; Figures 3a and 3b are isolated perspective views of the fixed part and moving part of the diverter of the mixer valve of Figure 1; and Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of an ablutionary system according to the second aspect.

Referring to Figures 1, 2, 3a and 3b, there is shown a mixer valve 100 having an elongate body 102. The mixer valve 100 has the form of a bar valve. The body 102 is formed of a tubular outer housing 104 having a cap 106 at either end. The caps 106 are rotatable relative to the outer housing 104 in order to provide user control of the mixer valve 100. A first inlet 108 is provided towards a first end 110 of the mixer valve 100 and a second inlet 112 is provided towards a second end 114 of the mixer valve 100. The first inlet 108 and the second inlet 112 allow hot and cold water to be provided to the mixer valve 100, respectively, through openings 116 in the outer housing 104. Although in the present embodiment hot water is supplied through the first inlet 108 and cold water is supplied through the second inlet 112, the water inputs could be reversed, if desired. Moreover, although described as hot and cold water, water of any temperature could be provided through either of the first inlet 108 and the second inlet 112.

Water from the second inlet 112 is fed directly into a mixing chamber 118. Water from the first inlet 108 is fed into an inlet waterway 120 that leads the water from the first inlet 108 to the mixing chamber 118. Towards a downstream end of the inlet waterway 120, a diverter 122 intersects the inlet waterway 120 such that the water from the first inlet 108 must flow through the diverter 122 in order to enter the mixing chamber 118. The diverter 122 may be configured to intersect the inlet waterway 120 at any point along the length of the inlet waterway 120.

In the illustrated example, the mixing chamber 118 includes a thermostatic control valve 124 that controls the proportions of the water mixing in the mixing chamber 118 based on a temperature setting controlled by the user. Thus, the temperature of water output from the mixing chamber 118 may be automatically controlled by the thermostatic control valve 124.

From the mixing chamber 118, mixed water flows through the diverter 122 to outlet waterways 126 and through these to a first outlet 128 and a second outlet 130.

Whether the mixed water flows to the first outlet 128, the second outlet 130, both first and second outlets 128, 130, or neither outlet depends on the position of the diverter 122 at any time. The first outlet 128 and second outlet 130 protrude at 90 degrees to both the inlets 108, 112 and a longitudinal axis of the housing 104, through further openings 116 in the outer housing 104. The outlets 128, 130 may then be connected directly or indirectly to an ablutionary fitting such as a water delivery device, e.g. a tap attachment or a shower attachment.

The inlet waterway 120 and outlet waterways 126 are formed within a waterway body 132 that extends between the diverter 122 and the first end 110 of the outer housing 104. A diverter control 134 extends through the waterway body 132 and allows control of the diverter 122 by a user. The diverter control 134 extends from the diverter 122 to the cap 106 at the first end 110, the cap 106 being rotatable to rotate the diverter control 134 and this control the diverter 122 via a shaft 136. In the illustrated example, the diverter control 134 seals the end of the waterway body 132, preventing leakage of the water flowing through the first inlet 108 and the inlet waterway 120. The waterway body 132 is unitarily-formed as a single part, for ease of manufacture and simplification of construction. The inlet waterway 120 is integral to the waterway body 132.

Temperature control of the mixed water flow is provided by the thermostatic control valve 124 that is controlled by the rotation of a temperature control 138 that extends from the thermostatic control valve 124 to the cap 106 at the second end 114 of the outer housing 104. A user can therefore rotate the cap 106 and temperature control 138 to select a desired temperature for the water through the outlets 128, 130.

Although a thermostatic control valve 124 is provided, any type of control valve may be used, temperature-controlled or not, or alternatively a valve may be omitted completely, the mixture of the inlet flows being pre-set.

The diverter 122 of the present invention provides two functions to the mixer valve 100: it controls the flow of water from the mixing chamber 118 to the outlets 128, 130 and also controls the flow of water from the first inlet 108 to the mixing chamber 118. Of course, in alternative embodiments, the flow of water from the second inlet 112 to the mixing chamber 118 may alternatively or additionally be controlled. Importantly, when the flow of water to the first and second outlets 128, 130 is prevented -when the diverter 122 is in a closed configuration -the diverter 122 is also configured to simultaneously prevent the flow of water from the first inlet 108 to the mixing chamber 118. By preventing this flow, water from the first inlet 108 is prevented from flowing towards the second inlet 112 and water from the second inlet I12 is prevented from flowing towards the first inlet 108. As such, cross-flow of the water from the first inlet 108 to the second inlet 112 or vice versa is impossible. Therefore, check valves, which normally may be employed to prevent water from one of the inlets 108, 112 flowing through the other inlet 108, 112 and into the water supply, may be rendered unnecessary.

The diverter 122 of the present embodiment is formed of two pieces: a fixed part 140 and a moving part 142. In the illustrated example, the fixed part 140 and moving part 142 are each formed of a ceramic material, to enhance scaling, and a sealing element 144 is provided between the fixed part 140 and the moving part 142, in use. The fixed part 140 and moving part 142 are each circular and fit within the outer housing 104, more specifically in this embodiment within a case 146 of the mixing chamber 118. The fixed part 140 and moving part 142 share a central shared axis with the thermostatic control valve 124, waterway body 132, and the outer housing 104, the moving part 142 rotating around this shared axis. Other materials and constructions of the diverter 122 may be used, as long as the diverter 122 provides the technical

solution of the present disclosure.

In the illustrated example, the fixed part 140 is located adjacent to the waterway body 132 and includes an inlet port 148 that is aligned with the inlet waterway 120 and two outlet ports 150, each outlet port 150 aligned with a respective outlet waterway 126.

Of course, where only one outlet 128, 130 is provided in the mixer valve 100, only a single outlet port 150 is required. Moreover, if more than two outlets 128, 130 are provided, an equivalent number of outlet ports 150 will be provided in the fixed part 140. The outlet ports 150 and inlet port 148 are formed as arc-shaped slots and extend around approximately 100 degrees of the fixed part 140. The outlet ports 150 and inlet port 148 are separated circumferentially from each adjacent outlet port 150 or inlet port 148 by approximately 20°. Each arc-shaped slot may be considered to be part of a circle, the circle of the inlet port 148 being concentric with the circle of the outlet ports 150 and the circle of the inlet port 148 being further away from the shared axis in a radial direction than the circle of the outlet ports 150.

The shaft 136 of the diverter control 134 passes through an aperture 152 in the fixed part 140 and engages with an aperture 154 in the moving part 142, such that rotation of the diverter control 134 results in an equal rotation of the moving part 142.

The moving part 142 includes two inlet ports 156 and one outlet port 158, the two inlet ports 156 being formed as two arc-shaped slots that are each congruent with the inlet port 148 of the fixed part 140, in use. Similarly, the single outlet port 158 is congruent with the outlet port 150 of the fixed part 140, in use. The inlet ports 148, 156 and outlet ports 150, 158 of the fixed part 140 and moving part 142 need not be exactly congruent, as long as they are at least partially aligned in use such that they may allow or disallow flow as described herein.

The moving part 142 may be rotated through action of the diverter control 134. In the illustrated example, the moving part 142 may be rotated such that neither the inlet ports 156 nor the outlet port 158 of the moving part 142 are aligned with the inlet port 148 or outlet ports 150 of the fixed part 140. This configuration may be termed the closed configuration. It will be apparent to the skilled person that, when in the closed configuration, water cannot flow from the inlet waterway 120 to the mixing chamber 118 or from the mixing chamber 118 to either of the outlets 128, 130. Thus, the diverter 122 provides flow control for the mixer valve 100 as a whole and prevents cross-flow between the inlets 108, 112. in order to achieve the closed configuration, the inlet port 148 of the fixed part 140 is rotationally-aligned with the outlet port 158 of the moving part 142 and the inlet ports 156 of the moving part 142 are rotationally-aligned with the outlet ports 150 of the fixed part 140. As such, it is inevitable that a rotational position of the moving part 142 will exist whereby none of the inlet ports 148, 156 or outlet ports 150, 158 are aligned in order to allow flow through the diverter 122.

Although the diverter 122 of the illustrated example is provided in the form described above, it will be apparent to the skilled person that the diverter may take other forms including differently-shaped inlet ports, outlet ports, or additional parts which control either the inflow of water to the mixing chamber or the outflow of water from the mixing chamber. For example, the angular extent of each of the inlet ports and outlet ports may be varied and may not necessarily be equal with any other inlet port or outlet port. This will vary the possible inlet flows and outlet flows enabled by the diverter but may not be detrimental to its operation.

The arrangement of the inlet ports 148, 156 and outlet ports 150, 158 thus described also allows simple control of the outlet of water from the mixing chamber 118. When one of the inlet ports 156 of the moving part 142 is aligned to its fullest extent with the inlet port 148 of the fixed part 140, the outlet port 158 of the moving part 142 is also aligned to its fullest extent with one of the outlet ports 150 of the fixed part 140. As such, water flow can be directed solely to one of the outlets 128, 130 of the mixer valve 100. Full alignment of the other inlet port 156 of the moving part 142 with the inlet port 148 of the fixed part 140 will result in full alignment of the outlet port 158 of the moving part 142 with the other outlet port 150 of the fixed part 140, thus directing water solely to the other outlet 128, 130 of the mixer valve 100.

By providing partial alignment of the both inlet ports 156 of the moving part 142 with the inlet port 148 of the fixed part 140, similar partial alignment of the outlet port 158 of the moving part 152 will be provided with both outlet ports 150 of the fixed part 140. Thus, water flow can be directed to both outlets 128, 130 of the mixer valve 100 simultaneously. It will be apparent to the skilled person that varying the partial alignment of the ports 148, 150, 156, 158 will result in differing flows to each of the outlets 128, 130.

Figure 4 is a simple schematic diagram of an ablutionary system 160. The ablutionary system 160 includes the mixer valve 100 described above, the mixer valve 100 being connected directly or indirectly to an ablutionary fitting 162, which may comprise a water delivery device or fitting such as a tap (also known as a faucet), a spray head, a shower head, or any other form of ablutionary fitting 162. Connected to the inlets 110, 112 of the mixer valve 100 are two water supplies 164, 166. Although these water supplies may be any two water supplies 164, 166, those depicted are a hot water supply 164, for example from a boiler, water heater, or hot water storage tank, and a cold water supply 166, for example from a mains water supply or a cold water storage tank. By providing a hot water supply 164 and a cold water supply 166, the mixer valve 100 may act to produce a mixed flow at its outlet 128, 130 -and therefore delivered to the ablutionary fitting 162 -that is at an intermediate temperature between the temperatures of the hot water supply 164 and cold water supply 166.

Although the depicted embodiment is in the form of a bar valve having an elongate body 102 and having inlets 108, 112 towards each end, the present invention is equally suitable for use in any other type or form of mixer valve.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. Various modifications and improvements can be made without departing from the concepts disclosed herein. Except where mutually exclusive, any of the features may be employed separately or in combination with any other features and the disclosure extends to all combinations and sub-combinations of one or more features disclosed herein.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A mixer valve for an ablutionary system, the mixer valve comprising: a body having a first inlet, a second inlet, and at least one outlet; a mixing chamber configured to receive flows from the first inlet and the second inlet to create a mixed flow: and a diverter configured to control the mixed flow from the mixing chamber to the at least one outlet: wherein the diverter has a dosed configuration, wherein the mixed flow is prevented from flowing to the at least one outlet, and wherein the diverter is configured to prevent the flow from the first inlet reaching the mixing chamber, thus preventing cross-flow between the first inlet and the second inlet when in the closed configuration.
2. A mixer valve according to claim 1, wherein the diverter blocks flow between the first inlet and the second inlet, when in the closed configuration.
3. A mixer valve according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the diverter is located between the first inlet and the second inlet.
4. A mixer valve according to any preceding claim, wherein the first inlet feeds into an inlet waterway and the second inlet feeds into the mixing chamber.
5. A mixer valve according to claim 4, wherein, in the closed configuration, the diverter prevents flow along the inlet waterway.
6. A mixer valve according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mixing chamber is configured to feed mixed water to the at least one outlet via an outlet waterway.
7 A mixer valve according to claim 6, wherein, in the closed configuration, the diverter prevents flow along the outlet waterway.
8. A mixer valve according to any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein the inlet waterway and/or the outlet waterway are formed at least partially within a waterway body.
9. A mixer valve according to claim 8, wherein the waterway body is unitarily-formed as one piece.
10. A mixer valve according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the diverter comprises a fixed part and a moving part adjacent to one another and having a shared central axis, the moving part rotating about the shared axis, the fixed part including an inlet port arranged concentrically about the shared axis with at least one outlet port, the inlet port being non-aligned with the at least one outlet port, the moving part including at least one inlet port arranged concentrically about the shared axis with an outlet port, the at least one inlet port being non-aligned with the outlet port.
11. A mixer valve according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the at least one outlet includes a first outlet and a second outlet, the diverter being configured to selectively enable flow to the first outlet and the second outlet.
12. A mixer valve according to claim I I, wherein the diverter comprises a fixed part and a moving part adjacent to one another and having a shared central axis, the moving part rotating about the shared axis, wherein the fixed part includes an inlet port arranged concentrically about the shared axis with two outlet ports, the inlet port being non-aligned with the two outlet ports, and the moving part includes two inlet ports arranged concentrically about the shared axis with an outlet port, the two inlet ports being non-aligned with the outlet port, wherein the inlet port of the moving part is simultaneously at least partially alignable with both inlet ports of the fixed part.
13. A mixer valve according to claim 12, wherein both outlet ports of the moving part are simultaneously at least partially alignable with the inlet port of the fixed part.
14. A mixer valve according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mixing chamber includes a control valve.
15. A mixer valve according to claim 14, wherein the diverter is coaxial with the control valve.
16. A mixer valve according to any one of the preceding claim, wherein the mixer valve is provided in the form of a bar valve.
17. An ablutionary system comprising a mixer valve according to any one of the preceding claims and an ablutionary fitting in fluid communication with an outlet of the mixer valve.
18. An ablutionary system according to claim 17, wherein the ablutionary fitting comprises a water delivery device such as a tap, a spray head, or a shower head.
19. A kit of parts arranged to be assembled into a mixer valve according to any one of claims I to 16 or an ablutionary system according to claim 17 or claim 18.