GB2611613A

GB2611613A - Thermostatic valve with flow regulating device

Info

Publication number: GB2611613A
Application number: GB2211263.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Lu Wenrong; Zhang Jianqiang; Feng Xiangsong
Original assignee: PPI Xiamen Industry Co Ltd
Current assignee: PPI Xiamen Industry Co Ltd
Priority date: 2021-08-02
Filing date: 2022-08-02
Publication date: 2023-04-12
Also published as: GB202211263D0; CN113483126A

Abstract

A thermostatic valve with a flow regulating device, comprising a valve body 1 having cold 11 and hot 12 water inlets, a thermostatic valve core 2, a flow regulating cavity 144, and at least one mixed water outlet 13. The cold water inlet and the hot water inlet are respectively in fluid communication with corresponding cold water inlet end and hot water inlet end of the thermostatic valve core. An outer wall 203 of a thermostatic valve core cavity 20 of the valve body is provided with a rotatable driving gear 24, and the flow regulating cavity and the thermostatic valve core cavity are arranged side-by-side, and the flow regulating cavity is provided with a water-passing opening 145 so as to be in fluid communication with the mixed water outlet of the thermostatic valve core cavity. A flow regulating valve core 15 is arranged on the flow regulating cavity, and the flow regulating valve core is provided with a driven gear 151 which is engaged with the driving gear. The driving gear is rotated, thus the distance from a plugging portion of the flow regulating valve core to the water-passing opening is changed, and thus, the flow-passing area of the water-passing opening is changed, thereby realizing the flow control of the thermostatic valve.

Description

THERMOSTATIC VALVE WITH FLOW REGULATING DEVICE

FIELD

100011 This application relates to the field of sanitary ware, in particular to a thermostatic valve that realizes flow adjustment through gear transmission.

BACKGROUND

100021 In the conventional technology, a thermostatic valve core is used for control of temperature of water flow, and cold water and hot water respectively flow into the thermostatic valve core and gets into warm water (mixed water) after being mixed to flow out, the thermostatic valve core controls water temperature by a temperature-sensing member, however, for thermostatic valve products, if it needs to further adjust the water output, another structure is required to be designed to adjust the amount of water output, so that the structure is more complicated, resulting in a large structure of the product, which limits the applicable occasions 100031 In view of this, the inventor makes in-depth study on the above-mentioned defects in the conventional technology, and the present application was arisen in this case.

SUMMARY

100041 An aspect of this application is to provide a thermostatic valve which achieves a flow regulation effect through gear driving.

10005] In order to achieve the above-mentioned aspect, a thermostatic valve is provided according to the present application, which includes a valve body, a thermostatic valve core, a flow regulating valve core, a driving gear, and a driven gear.

10006] The valve body is provided with a cold water inlet, a hot water inlet, a thermostatic valve core cavity, a first water mixing cavity, a flow regulating cavity and at least one water outlet. The thermostatic valve core cavity and the flow regulating cavity are arranged side-by-side and are both adjacent to the first water mixing cavity, a first water-passing opening is provided at a region via which the thermostatic valve core cavity and the first water mixing cavity are adjacent to each other. The thermostatic valve core is partially inserted in the thermostatic valve core cavity, the cold water inlet is in fluid communication with a cold water inlet end of the thermostatic valve core and the hot water inlet is in fluid communication with a hot water inlet end of the thermostatic valve core, a mixed water outlet end of the thermostatic valve core is in fluid communication with the first water mixing cavity via the first water-passing opening. A second water-passing opening is provided at a region via which the flow regulating cavity and the first water mixing cavity are adjacent to each other, and the flow regulating cavity is in fluid communication with the first water mixing cavity via the second water-passing opening. Further, the flow regulating cavity is provided with a first mounting hole coaxial with the second water-passing opening at a position opposite to the second water-passing opening. The water outlet is in fluid communication with the flow regulating cavity.

100071 The driving gear is rotatably arranged on an outer cavity wall of the thermostatic valve core cavity.

10008j The flow regulating valve core includes a valve shell and a valve stem; the valve shell has an internal guiding cavity extending through the valve shell in an axial direction, the valve shell is fixedly arranged in the first mounting hole. The valve stem is partially disposed in the internal guiding cavity of the valve shell, one end of the valve stem has a plugging portion, and the plugging portion is at a position facing towards the second water-passing opening, another end of the valve stem has a cooperating portion, and the cooperating portion extends out of the internal guiding cavity.

10009] The driven gear is sleeved and acts on the cooperating portion, and is engaged with the driving gear.

10010] With the above structural design, the driving gear is driven to rotate, and then drives the driven gear to rotate; to allow the plugging portion of the valve stem of the flow regulating valve core to at least displace in the axial direction, to thereby changing a flow-passing area of the second water-passing opening so as to realize flow regulation of mixed water. The designed structure is simple, easy to retrofit, and can be flexibly applied to various occasions. -2 -

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

10011] Figure 1 is a schematic exploded view of an embodiment of the present application; 10012] Figure 2 is a schematic exploded view of a flow regulating ring, an angle limiting ring and a driving gear in an embodiment of the present application; 10013] Figure 3 is a top view of an angle limiting ring in an embodiment of the present application; 10014] Figure 4 is a schematic view showing the flow regulating ring, the angle limiting ring and the driving gear in an assembled state in an embodiment of the present application; 10015] Figure 5 is a schematic view of a flow regulating valve core in an assembled state in an embodiment of the present application; 10016] Figure 6 is a schematic exploded view of a flow regulating valve core in an embodiment of the present application; 10017] Figure 7 is a longitudinal sectional schematic view of a flow regulating valve core in an assembled state in an embodiment of the present application; 10018] Figure 8 is a first schematic view of an embodiment of the present application in an assembled state; 10019] Figure 9 is a schematic sectional view in a A-A direction of Figure 8; 10020] Figure 10 is a schematic sectional view in a B-B direction of Figure 8, and 100211 Figure 11 is a second schematic view of an embodiment of the present application in an assembled state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

10022] The present application is described in detail hereinafter with reference to the drawings and embodiments 10023] As shown in Figure 1 and Figure 11, in this embodiment, a thermostatic valve with a flow regulating device is disclosed. The thermostatic valve includes a valve body 1, a thermostatic valve core 2, a flow regulating valve core 15, a driving gear 24 and a driven gear 151. The valve body 1 is provided with a cold water inlet 11, a hot water inlet 12, a thermostatic valve core cavity 20, a first water mixing cavity 1432, a flow regulating cavity 144 and three water outlets 13. The thermostatic valve core cavity 20 and the flow regulating cavity 144 are arranged side-by-side and are both adjacent to the first water mixing cavity 1432. A first water-passing opening 1431 is provided at a region via which the thermostatic valve core cavity 20 and the first water mixing cavity 1432 are adjacent to each other. An end, opposite to the first water-passing opening 1431, of the thermostatic valve core cavity 20 is provided with a second mounting hole 204, and the thermostatic valve core 2 is partially inserted in the thermostatic valve core cavity 20, and a temperature regulating knob 28 is provided at the top of the thermostatic valve core 2. An inserted segment of the thermostatic valve core 2 and an inner wall of the thermostatic valve core cavity 20 cooperate with each other to build a cold water chamber 201 and a hot water chamber 202. The cold water inlet 11 flows into the cold water chamber 201 via a cold water inlet channel, and is in fluid communication with a cold water inlet end 21 of the thermostatic valve core 2, and the hot water inlet 12 flows into the hot water chamber 202 via a hot water inlet channel, and is in fluid communication with a hot water inlet end 22 of the thermostatic valve core 2.

In order to avoid the backflow of cold water and hot water flowing into the thermostatic valve core cavity 20, a check valve 29 is further provided in each of the cold water inlet channel and the hot water inlet channel. As shown in Figure 9, A mixed water outlet end 23 of the thermostatic valve core 2 is in fluid communication with the first water mixing cavity 1432 via the first water-passing opening 1431. A second water-passing opening 145 is provided at a region via which the flow regulating cavity 144 and the first water mixing cavity 1432 are adjacent to each other, and the flow regulating cavity 144 is in fluid communication with the first water mixing cavity 1432 via the second water-passing opening 145. Further, the flow regulating cavity 144 is provided with a first mounting hole 156 coaxial with the second water-passing opening 145 at a position opposite to the second water-passing opening 145. As shown in Figure 8 and Figure 10, the three water outlets 13 are respectively arranged in three lateral sides of the valve body 1, such as a left lateral side, a right lateral side and a front lateral side, and a second water mixing cavity 1433 is built between each water outlet 13 and the flow regulating cavity 144. The second water mixing cavity 1433 is provided with a switching valve core cavity 1441 in fluid communication with the respective second water mixing cavity 1433, and each of the switching valve core cavities 1441 has one switching valve core 131 placed therein. The switching valve core 131 can be controlled to open or close the water path, to allow the respective water outlet 13 to be controlled to open or close the corresponding water path.

10024] As shown in Figure 2 to Figure 4,and Figure 9, An outer cavity wall 203 of the thermostatic valve core cavity 20 has a flow regulating ring 26, an angle limiting ring 27 and the driving gear 24 sleeved thereon in the listed sequence, and further the outer cavity wall 203 of the thermostatic valve core cavity 20 is provided with a third stepped portion 206, the driving gear 24 is rotatably sleeved on the outer cavity wall 203 of the thermostatic valve core cavity 20, and its bottom end face abuts against the third stepped portion 206, and its top end face is provided with two protrusions 241 extending upwards symmetrically. In a preferred design, a third wear-resistant washer 25 is additionally provided between rotating mating faces of the driving gear 24 and the third stepped portion 206, to avoid direct friction between an inner wall of the driving gear 24 and the outer cavity wall 203 of the thermostatic valve core cavity 20 which may adversely affect the service life of the product.

100251 The angle limiting ring 27 is arranged above the driving gear 24, and two arc-shaped gaps 272 arranged symmetrically and one engaging block 276 extending radially inwards are formed in an inner wall 271 of the angle limiting ring 27 in an axial direction. The two protrusions 241 of the driving gear 24 are respectively inserted into corresponding arc-shaped gaps 272, and the range of rotation angle of the driving gear and driven gear is limited by limiting the arc length of the arc-shaped gaps 272 The outer cavity wall 203 of the thermostatic valve core cavity 20 is provided with a position-limiting groove 205, and when the angle limiting ring 27 is sleeved on the outer cavity wall 203 of the thermostatic valve core cavity 20, the engaging block 276 and the position-limiting groove 205 are engaged into each other, such that the angle limiting ring 27 cannot rotate with respect to the outer cavity wall 203 of the thermostatic valve core cavity 20.

100261 The flow regulating ring 26 is arranged above the angle limiting ring 27, and the flow regulating ring 26 is symmetrically provided with two notches 261, and the two notches 261 are engage with the two protrusions 241 of the driving gear 24, so that the driving gear 24 and the flow regulating ring 26 are interlocked.

100271 The angle limiting ring 27 further includes a pressing cover 274, and the pressing cover 274 is located between the flow regulating ring 26 and the outer cavity wall 203 of the thermostatic valve core cavity 20. One end of the pressing cover 274 is threadedly connected to the outer cavity wall 203 of the thermostatic valve core cavity 20 and abuts against a first stepped portion 275 formed on the inner wall of the angle limiting ring 27, and another end of the pressing cover 274 extends radially outwards to form a stopping edge 2741, and the stopping edge 2741 is configured to abut against a second stepped portion 263 formed on an inner wall of the flow regulating ring 26, and the angle limiting ring 27 and the flow regulating ring 26 are limited in the axial direction by the pressing cover 274. A first wear-resistant washer 262 is provided between a rotating mating face of the flow regulating ring 26 and the pressing cover 274 and a first wear-resistant washer 262 is provided between rotating mating faces of the flow regulating ring 26 and the angle limiting ring 27, and a second wear-resistant washer 273 is provided between rotating mating faces of the angle limiting ring 27 and the driving gear 24.

10028j As shown in Figure 5 to Figure 7, The flow regulating valve core 15 includes a valve shell 152 and a valve stem 150. The valve shell 152 has an internal guiding cavity 1521 extending through the valve shell 152 axially, and the internal guiding cavity 1521 has a segment of non-circular-shaped cavity 1522, such as a hexagonal shaped cavity 1522 (not shown), the valve shell 152 has an outer wall provided with a second threaded segment 1523, and is fixedly arranged on the first mounting hole 156 of the flow regulating cavity 144 by threaded connection. The valve stem 150 is composed of a regulating screw rod 153 and a flow regulating seat 154, the regulating screw rod 153 has one end provided with an external wheeled tooth portion 1531 and has another end forming a screw rod segment1532.

An annular engaging groove 1533 is formed in the regulating screw rod 153 on the side adjacent to the external wheeled tooth portion 1531, the regulating screw rod 153 is partially disposed in the internal guiding cavity 1521 of the valve shell 152, and the external wheeled tooth portion 1531 and the annular engaging groove 1533 of the regulating screw rod 153 are both located outside of the valve shell 152, and an engaging ring 155 is nested in the annular engaging groove 1533, and the engaging ring 155 is disposed in an engaged manner on an outer side end face of the valve shell 152, thereby restricting the regulating screw rod 153 from displacing towards the guiding inner cavity 1521 of the valve shell 152. The flow regulating seat 15 has one end having a hexagonal rotation-limiting portion 1541 and another end forming a cone-shaped portion 1542, and a central axis portion of the flow regulating seat 154 has a first threaded segment 1543 formed to be threadedly connected to the regulating screw rod 153. When the flow regulating seat 154 is disposed in the internal -6 -guiding cavity 1521 of the valve shell 152 and is threadedly connected to the regulating screw rod 153, its hexagonal rotation-limiting portion 1541 is embedded in the hexagonal shaped cavity 1522, such that the flow regulating seat 154 cannot rotate with respect to the internal guiding cavity 1521, and its cone-shaped portion 1542 faces towards the second water-passing opening 145 In a better optimized design, the cone-shaped portion 1542 of the flow regulating seat 154 is provided with a discharging through hole 1544 at a central portion thereof, and the discharging through hole 1544 facilitates discharging of the air in the flow regulating cavity 144 outwards.

100291 In order to ensure that water in the flow regulating cavity 144 cannot seep out from the flow regulating valve core 15, at least one sealing ring 100 is provided between the valve shell 152 and the first mounting hole 156, and between the flow regulating seat 154 and the inner wall of the valve shell 152, and between the regulating screw rod 153 and the inner wall of the valve shell 152 10030] The driven gear 151 has an inner tooth portion 1511 and an outer tooth portion 1512 configured coaxially, the outer tooth portion 1512 is engaged with the driving gear 24, and the inner tooth portion 1511 is engaged with the external wheeled tooth portion 1531 of the regulating screw rod 153. Further, a central axis portion of the external wheeled tooth portion 1531 is provided with an internal threaded hole 15311, and a bolt 16 is threadedly connected to the internal threaded hole 15311, and a nut of the bolt 16 has a diameter greater than the diameter of the inner tooth portion 1511 of the driven gear 151, such that the driven gear 151 cannot be separated outwards from the external wheeled tooth portion 1531.

WWI I As shown in Figure 1, A surface cover 3 is closed on the top of the valve body 1, and the surface cover 3 is provided with a reserved hole 32 to ensure that the temperature regulating knob 28 and the flow regulating ring 26 can be exposed outside the surface cover 3. The surface cover 3 is further provided with switching buttons 31 in one-to-one correspondence with the three switching valve cores 131, and the opening and closing of the switching valve cores 131 are controlled by pressing the switching buttons 31.

100321 In practical application, the cold water inlet 11 is connected externally to a cold water source, and the hot water inlet 12 is connected externally to a hot water source, and the cold water and the hot water are mixed into warm water within the thermostatic valve core 2.

The mixed warm water flows into the first water mixing cavity 1432 via the first water-passing opening 1431, and flows into the flow regulating cavity 144 via the second water-passing opening 145, and finally passes through the second water mixing cavities 1433 to be discharged outwards from the water outlets 13. The first water mixing cavity 1432, the flow regulating cavity 144 and the second water mixing cavities 1433 build together a water mixing channel 14. The temperature regulating knob 28 is rotated, thereby the water temperature of the thermostatic valve is adjusted. The flow regulating ring 26 is rotated, thereby driving the driving gear 24 to rotate, and the driving gear 24 is engaged with the driven gear 151, to drive the driven gear 151 to rotate, and the inner tooth portion 1511 of the driven gear 151 is engaged with the external wheeled tooth portion 1531 of the regulating screw rod 153, to further drive the regulating screw rod 153 to rotate. When the regulating screw rod 153 rotates, its screw rod segment1532 is threadedly connected to the first threaded segment 1543 of the flow regulating seat 154, since the flow regulating seat 154 is restricted from being rotated, and can only displace in the axial direction with respect to the regulating screw rod 153, to thereby changing the flow passing area of the second water-passing opening 145, to thereby controlling the flow rate of water flowing into the flow regulating cavity 144, to finally realize flow control of the water outlets 13.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A thermostatic valve with a flow regulating device, the thermostatic valve comprising a valve body, a thermostatic valve core, a flow regulating valve core, a driving gear, and a driven gear; wherein the valve body is provided with a cold water inlet, a hot water inlet, a thermostatic valve core cavity, a first water mixing cavity, a flow regulating cavity and at least one water outlet; the thermostatic valve core cavity and the flow regulating cavity are arranged side-by-side and are both adjacent to the first water mixing cavity, a first water-passing opening is provided at a region via which the thermostatic valve core cavity and the first water mixing cavity are adjacent to each other; and the thermostatic valve core is partially inserted in the thermostatic valve core cavity, the cold water inlet is in fluid communication with a cold water inlet end of the thermostatic valve core and the hot water inlet is in fluid communication with a hot water inlet end of the thermostatic valve core, a mixed water outlet end of the thermostatic valve core is in fluid communication with the first water mixing cavity via the first water-passing opening; a second water-passing opening is provided at a region via which the flow regulating cavity and the first water mixing cavity are adjacent to each other, and the flow regulating cavity is in fluid communication with the first water mixing cavity via the second water-passing opening; further, the flow regulating cavity is provided with a first mounting hole coaxial with the second water-passing opening at a position opposite to the second water-passing opening; the at least one water outlet is in fluid communication with the flow regulating cavity; the driving gear is rotatably arranged on an outer cavity wall of the thermostatic valve core cavity; the flow regulating valve core comprises a valve shell and a valve stem; the valve shell has an internal guiding cavity extending through the valve shell in an axial direction, the valve shell is fixedly arranged in the first mounting hole; and the valve stem is partially disposed in the internal guiding cavity of the valve shell, one end of the valve stem has a plugging portion, and the plugging portion is at a position facing towards the second water-passing opening, another end of the valve stem has a cooperating portion, and the cooperating portion extends out of the internal guiding cavity; the driven gear is sleeved and acts on the cooperating portion, and is engaged with the driving gear, and the driving gear is driven to rotate, and then drives the driven gear to rotate; to allow the plugging portion of the valve stem to displace in the axial direction, to change a flow-passing area of the second water-passing opening to realize flow regulation of mixed water.
2. The thermostatic valve according to claim I, wherein the valve stem is composed of a regulating screw rod and a flow regulating seat, the regulating screw rod has on end provided with an external wheeled tooth portion and another end forming a screw rod segment, the external wheeled tooth portion serves as the cooperating portion of the valve stem, and the regulating screw rod is partially disposed in the internal guiding cavity of the valve shell, and the external wheeled tooth portion is located outside of the valve shell, and an axial position-limiting portion is provided between the regulating screw rod and the valve shell, to not allow the regulating screw rod to move in the axial direction with respect to the valve shell; the flow regulating seat is non-rotatably disposed in the internal guiding cavity of the valve shell, a central axis portion of the flow regulating seat has a first threaded segment formed to be threadedly connected to the regulating screw rod, and an end facing towards the second water-passing opening of the flow regulating seat is provided with a cone-shaped portion, the cone-shaped portion serves as the plugging portion of the valve stem; and a middle axial portion of the driven gear is provided with an inner tooth portion, and the inner tooth portion is engaged with the external wheeled tooth portion of the regulating screw rod, for driving the regulating screw rod to rotate circumferentially, to further drive the flow regulating seat to move in the axial direction with respect to the regulating screw rod.
3. The thermostatic valve according to claim 2, wherein the axial position-limiting portion comprises an engaging ring and an annular engaging groove, the annular engaging groove is arranged between the external wheeled tooth portion and the screw rod segment of the regulating screw rod, and the annular engaging groove is located outside of the valve shell, and the engaging ring is nested in the annular engaging groove, and is stuck on an outer end face of the valve shell.
4. The thermostatic valve according to claims 3, wherein a central axis portion of the -10 -external wheeled tooth portion is further provided with an internal threaded hole, and a bolt is threadedly connected to the internal threaded hole, and a nut of the bolt has a diameter greater than the diameter of the inner tooth portion of the driven gear, to prevent the driven gear from being separated outwards from the external wheeled tooth portion.
5. The thermostatic valve according to claim 2, wherein the internal guiding cavity of the valve shell has an non-circular shaped cavity, and the flow regulating seat is provided with a rotation-limiting portion having a shape fitted with that of the non-circular shaped cavity at a position corresponding to the non-circular shaped cavity, and the flow regulating seat is restricted from being rotated circumferentially with respect to the valve shell by the rotation-limiting portion when being internally disposed in the non-circular shaped cavity.
6. The thermostatic valve according to claim 2, wherein the cone-shaped portion of the flow regulating seat is provided with a discharging through hole at a central portion of the cone-shaped portion
7. The thermostatic valve according to claim 1, further comprising a flow regulating ring, wherein the flow regulating ring is directly or indirectly sleeved on the outer cavity wall of the thermostatic valve core cavity, the flow regulating ring and the driving gear are interlocked, and the flow regulating ring is rotated to drive the driving gear to rotate.
8. The thermostatic valve according to claim 7, wherein the flow regulating ring is provided with at least a notch, the driving gear is correspondingly provided with a protrusion engaged with the notch, and the protrusion is inserted into the notch to be engaged with the notch, to allow the driving gear and the flow regulating ring to be interlocked.
9. The thermostatic valve according to claim 8, wherein an angle limiting ring is further additionally provided between the flow regulating ring and the driving gear, the angle limiting ring is sleeved on the outer cavity wall of the thermostatic valve core cavity, and an inner wall of the angle limiting ring is formed to have an arc-shaped gap, the protrusion of the driving gear passes through the arc-shaped gap to be further inserted into the notch of the flow regulating ring to be engaged, and the driving gear rotates in an angle range defined by the arc-shaped gap.
10. The thermostatic valve according to claim 9, wherein the inner wall of the angle limiting ring is further provided with an engaging block, and the outer cavity wall of the thermostatic valve core cavity is provided with a vertical position-limiting groove, and when the angle limiting ring is sleeved on the outer cavity wall of the thermostatic valve core cavity, the engaging block and the position-limiting groove are engaged into each other; to prevent the angle limiting ring from being rotated with respect to the outer cavity wall of the thermostatic valve core cavity; the angle limiting ring further comprises a pressing cover, and the pressing cover is located between the flow regulating ring and the outer cavity wall of the thermostatic valve core cavity, one end of the pressing cover is threadedly connected to the outer cavity wall of the thermostatic valve core cavity and abuts against a first stepped portion formed on the inner wall of the angle limiting ring, and another end of the pressing cover extends radially outwards to form a stopping edge, and the stopping edge is configured to abut against a second stepped portion formed on an inner wall of the flow regulating ring, and the angle limiting ring and the flow regulating ring are limited in the axial direction by the pressing cover.
11. The thermostatic valve according to claim 10, wherein a first wear-resistant washer is additionally provided between a rotating mating face of the flow regulating ring and the pressing cover and a first wear-resistant washer is additionally provided between rotating mating faces of the flow regulating ring and the angle limiting ring, and a second wear-resistant washer is additionally provided between rotating mating faces of the angle limiting ring and the driving gear, and a third wear-resistant washer is additionally provided between rotating mating faces of the driving gear and the thermostatic valve core cavity.
12 The thermostatic valve according to claim 1, wherein a cold water inlet channel is formed between the cold water inlet and the cold water inlet end of the thermostatic valve core cavity, and a hot water inlet channel is formed between the hot water inlet and the hot water inlet end of the thermostatic valve core cavity, and a check valve is further provided in each of the cold water inlet channel and the hot water inlet channel.-12 -
13. The thermostatic valve according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein a second water mixing cavity is built between each of the at least one water outlet and the flow regulating cavity, and the second water mixing cavity is provided with a switching valve core.-13 -