JP2001108121A - Mixing valve - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a low-cost mixing valve capable of simultaneously adjusting a discharge water temperature and a discharge water flow rate. SOLUTION: A mixing valve unit 10 has a function adjusting a mixture ratio of water and hot water inside a valve seat body 15 by a turn of an operation rod 13, and a function cooperating with a valve seat 27 to cut off water and regulate a flow rate by vertical movement of a valve element 14 turnably provided at the tip of the operation rod 13. When the operation rod 13 is turned by a lever 12, water and hot water led into a water lead-in chamber 32 and a hot water lead-in chamber 33 at a mixture ratio corresponding to the turn position are mixed in a mixing chamber, i.e., a semicircular cutout space, then the mixed water is discharged at an opening depending on a vertical height position of the operation rod 13 by tilting of the lever 12 and is led to a water discharge port.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a mixing valve and, more particularly, to a mixing valve which can be applied to a mixing faucet in which water and hot water faucets are integrated.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A mixing faucet is capable of appropriately mixing hot water and water and discharging hot water whose temperature has been adjusted at a desired flow rate from one tap, and adjusting the mixing ratio of hot water and water. There are various types of mixing faucets depending on the method, the number of valves, the shape of the operation handle, and the like.

[0003] Among these mixing faucets, there is a single lever type hot / cold mixing faucet. This enables opening and closing of a valve, adjustment of water discharge amount and water discharge temperature by operating a single lever handle, and is widely used because it is easy to perform these operations simultaneously with one hand. .

FIG. 11 is a view showing the principle of operation of a mixing valve used in a single-lever hot and cold water mixing faucet. This mixing valve is composed of two ceramic disks 1 and 2. The lower ceramic disk 1 has a slender arc-shaped hot water inlet 3 and a water inlet 4 and a mixed water outlet 5, and the upper ceramic disk 2 has a large opening 6 at the center thereof. .

[0005] These two ceramic disks 1 and 2
The surfaces facing each other are mirror-polished, the lower ceramic disk 1 is fixed, and the upper ceramic disk 2 can slide on the ceramic disk 1 by a lever handle (not shown). The hot water inlet 3 of the ceramic disk 1 is connected to a hot water supply pipe at a lower portion of the drawing plane, and the water inlet 4 is connected to a hot water supply pipe.
The mixed water outlet 5 is connected to the spout. The opening 6 of the ceramic disk 2 forms a hot and cold mixing chamber in that space.

Here, assuming that the upper ceramic disk 2 is at the position shown in the figure, the lower ceramic disk 1
Hot water flows into the opening 6 from the hot water inlet 3, and water flows into the opening 6 from the water inlet 4. The flowing hot and cold water is mixed in the space of the opening 6 and becomes hot water and is discharged from the mixed water outlet 5 of the lower ceramic disk 1. Next, when the upper ceramic disk 2 is rotated by the lever handle, the cross-sectional area of the flowing water channel connecting the hot water inlet 3 and the opening 6 and the disconnection of the flowing water channel connecting the water introducing port 4 and the opening 6 are cut off. Since the ratio with respect to the area changes, the amount of hot water and the amount of water flowing into the opening 6 change, whereby the water discharge temperature can be adjusted. For example, when the upper ceramic disk 2 is rotated clockwise from the position shown in the figure, the amount of hot water decreases and the amount of water increases, so that the temperature of the hot water decreases, and conversely, it is rotated counterclockwise from the position shown in the figure. When the amount of hot water increases and the amount of water decreases, the temperature of hot water increases.

Further, when the upper ceramic disk 2 is slid downward from the position shown in the figure by the lever handle, the hot water inlet 3 and the water inlet 4 of the ceramic disk 1 are closed by the ceramic disk 2, whereby the ceramic disk 2 is closed. Water shutoff is performed. Conversely, when the upper ceramic disk 2 is slid upward from the position shown in the figure, the opening areas of the hot water inlet 3 and the water inlet 4 of the ceramic disk 1 increase with the movement. As a result, the discharge amount of the mixed water is increased.

[0008]

However, a ceramic disk having high friction resistance is used for the temperature adjustment, water stoppage, and water discharge adjustment by adjusting the amount of hot water and the amount of water. Since the sliding surface has to be mirror-polished, it has become a very expensive component among the components of the mixing valve. The mixing valve, and the hot and cold mixing faucet incorporating this mixing valve, There was a problem that it was a factor of cost increase.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and has as its object to provide a low-cost mixing valve capable of simultaneously adjusting the water discharge temperature and the water discharge amount.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a mixing valve having a function of adjusting a mixing ratio of hot water and water, a function of adjusting a water discharge flow rate, and a water stopping function. An opening ratio of the two inlets is obtained by rotating a first valve body on a shaft in a valve seat body having two inlets for introducing water and a mixing chamber for mixing the introduced hot water and water. And a second valve arranged downstream of the first valve and held by the first valve body.
A second valve in which the mixed water in the mixing chamber is stopped or the flow rate is adjusted by adjusting the interval between the valve seat and the valve seat of the valve seat body by reciprocating the valve body in the axial direction; A valve element drive unit that provides a rotational movement about the axis and a reciprocating movement in the axial direction to the first valve element from the side opposite to the side on which the second valve element is held; A spring for urging the second valve element in the valve closing direction of the second valve.

According to such a mixing valve, the hot water and the water introduced from the two inlets respectively pass through the first valve body at a mixing ratio determined by the rotational position of the first valve, and are mixed with each other. Mixed with water. Thereafter, the mixed water in the mixing chamber passes through the second valve at a flow rate determined by the position of the reciprocating motion of the second valve, and is discharged. Thereby, the first valve body and the second valve body in which the valve drive unit is formed integrally are
By rotating, the water discharge temperature can be adjusted, and at the same time, by reciprocating in the axial direction, it is possible to adjust the water stoppage and the water discharge flow rate of the temperature-controlled mixed water.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, taking as an example a case where the present invention is applied to a single-lever hot and cold water mixing faucet.

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the structure of a mixing valve unit for a hot and cold water mixing tap using the mixing valve according to the present invention. The mixing valve unit 10 includes a cylindrical casing 11.
And a lever 12 arranged in the casing 11,
An operating rod 13, a valve body 14, a valve seat body 15, a spring 16 and a spring receiving portion 17 are provided.

The lever 12 is driven by a lever handle (not shown).
Are integrally formed. The lever sphere 18 is formed by an upper bearing 19 integrally formed at the upper end of the casing 11 and a lower bearing 20 installed in the casing 11.
The lever ball 1 is supported rotatably about a longitudinal center line of the lever 12 passing through the center of the lever ball 18, and
8 is supported so as to be able to swing about the center. Further, the lever sphere 18, the upper bearing 19 and the lower bearing 20
The packing 21 is disposed in the space surrounded by the circles, and prevents water leakage from the lever ball 18.

The operating rod 13 has an operating rod head 22
The lower end of the lever 12 is inserted into the operating rod head 22 so that the rotational movement and the oscillating movement of the lever 12 can be transmitted.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the working rod. Operating rod 13
The operating rod head 22 has a rectangular recess 23 formed in the center, and a roller 25 having a rotating shaft 24 is freely rotatably accommodated at the bottom thereof, and constitutes a motion transmitting unit for receiving the operation of the lever 12. are doing. The lower end of the lever 12 is fitted in the upper part of the space in which the roller 25 of the concave part 23 is accommodated. Therefore, by rotating the lever 12 about its longitudinal center line, the rotating motion is transmitted to the operating rod 13 via the operating rod head 22, thereby rotating the operating rod 13. The temperature of the mixed water can be adjusted. Further, with respect to the longitudinal direction of the concave portion 23, a swinging motion of the lever 12 with the center of the lever ball 18 as a fulcrum is allowed. Operating rod 1 through
3 enables vertical movement, thereby enabling water stoppage and water discharge amount adjustment.

The lower portion of the operating rod 13 is received through the center of the valve seat body 15. This operating rod 13
A groove is provided at a position corresponding to an upper position of the valve seat body 15, and a V-ring 26 is fitted therein.

The lower end of the operating rod 13 has a reduced diameter, and the valve body 14 is supported on the operating rod 13 so as to be rotatable. The valve body 14 has rubber 28 fixed to a surface of the valve seat body 15 facing the valve seat 27, and O 2
A ring 29 and a retaining ring 30 are provided. The valve body 14 is prevented from falling out of the operating rod 13 by a collar 31 fitted in a groove provided around the lower end of the operating rod 13. The illustrated position of the valve element 14 indicates a middle open state where the rubber 28 is slightly away from the valve seat 27.

At the lower end of the mixing valve unit 10, a spring receiving portion 17 fixed to the valve seat body 15 is disposed.
The collar 3 fitted to the spring receiving portion 17 and the operating rod 13
1 is provided with a spring 16. Thus, the operating rod 13 is always urged upward, that is, in the valve closing direction.

The valve seat body 15 has an operating rod 13 at the center thereof.
And a water introduction chamber 32 and a hot water introduction chamber 33 are formed with the operation rod 13 interposed therebetween. The water introduction chamber 32 communicates with a water introduction passage 34 formed in the valve seat body 15 and the spring receiving portion 17, and the hot water introduction chamber 33 communicates with a hot water introduction passage 35.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the mixing valve unit. On the bottom surface of the mixing valve unit 10, a spring receiving portion 17 is provided.
A water introduction passage 34 and a hot water introduction passage 35 are formed at the opening, and an opening without the spring receiving portion 17 constitutes a mixed water outlet passage 36. The water introduction passage 34, the hot water introduction passage 35, and the mixed water outlet passage 36 are connected to a water supply pipe, a hot water supply pipe, and a water discharge port of a hot water mixing faucet, respectively, via connection members (not shown).

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line aa of FIG. The lower end of the lever 12 is a cam portion 37, and the lower end surface is in contact with the roller 25. Therefore, the operating rod 13 can be moved up and down by tilting the lever 12 in the left-right direction in the figure.

The operating rod 13 at a position intersecting with the hollow portion formed in the valve seat body 15 has a substantially semicircular cross section and constitutes a rotary valve for changing the mixing ratio of hot and cold water. In the cylinder portion of the valve seat body 15 into which the operating rod 13 is inserted, a space excluding the operating rod 13 having a semicircular cross section forms a mixing chamber 38 for mixing water and hot water. , Through the gap between the valve seat 27 and the rubber 28 of the valve body 14, and is guided to the mixed water outlet passage 36. The upper side of the cylinder portion of the valve seat body 15 into which the operating rod 13 is inserted is
The water is stopped by the V-ring 26. The effective pressure receiving area of the valve element 14 and the effective pressure receiving area of the V-ring 26 facing the valve element 14 are made equal. Thereby, the mixing chamber 3
Since the primary pressure applied to 8 tries to move the operating rod 13 equally in the vertical direction, the operating rod 13 does not open and close due to water pressure. Further, the valve seat body 15 is provided with a communication hole 39 that communicates the mixed water outlet passage 36 with a room accommodating the operation rod head 22 of the operation rod 13.

Further, the room accommodating the operating rod head 22 has a damper structure. That is, the operating rod head 2
Reference numeral 2 denotes a piston, and the lower cylindrical portion 40 of the lower bearing 20 is a cylinder. Several grooves 41 for adjusting the damper effect are provided on the inner wall of the lower cylindrical portion 40. As a result, when a sudden full closing operation is performed, the operating rod 13 tends to rapidly rise due to the urging force of the spring 16, but the damper mechanism causes the operating rod 13 to rise immediately before the valve element 14 is fully closed. Slow down. Of course, even when the valve is suddenly opened from the fully closed state, the operating rod 13 attempts to descend sharply against the urging force of the spring 16, but the damper mechanism operates slowly at the start of the downward movement. Thus, even if a sudden opening and closing operation is performed,
Since the substantial opening and closing operation of the valve element 14 is not performed, the water hammer phenomenon that occurs due to the rapid opening and closing operation is less likely to occur, and the portion constituting the fluid passage can be prevented from being broken by the water hammer.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line bb of FIG. 4, and FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line cc of FIG. The mixing valve unit 10
It has the function of adjusting the temperature of the mixed water and the function of stopping the flow of mixed water and adjusting the flow rate of discharged water.

First, as shown in FIG. 5, the function of stopping the mixed water and adjusting the flow rate of the discharged water is performed by a valve seat 27 formed at the center of the valve seat body 15 around the hole through which the operating rod 13 is inserted. By contacting and separating the valve body 14 provided in the lower part of the operating rod 13, it is possible to adjust the water stoppage and the water discharge flow rate.

The temperature adjustment of the mixed water is performed in the rotary valve shown in FIG. That is, the operating rod 13 having a substantially semicircular cross-sectional shape is rotated about the center line thereof, so that the area of the passage of water flowing from the water introduction chamber 32 to the mixing chamber 38 and the mixing area of the water The ratio to the area of the hot water passage to the chamber 38 changes continuously. This allows
The mixing ratio of water and hot water changes, and the temperature of the mixed water can be adjusted.

Next, the operation of the mixing valve unit will be described in detail. First, the operation related to the adjustment of the water discharge amount and the water stoppage performed by the mixing valve unit will be described. FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of the mixing valve unit showing the valve closed state. Here, by performing the valve closing operation, the upper end of the lever 12 is tilted rightward in the drawing. Then, the operating rod 13 which is in contact with the cam portion 37 of the lever 12 via the roller 25 by the biasing force of the spring 16 is gradually raised according to the shape of the lower end surface of the cam portion 37 of the lever 12, and finally, As shown, the cam portion 37 comes off the roller 25. Thereby, the operating rod 13
Is moved upward by the urging force of the spring 16, and the valve body 1
4 stops when the rubber 28 presses against the valve seat 27 of the valve seat body 15. As described above, when the rubber 28 is pressed against the valve seat 27, the outlet passage of the mixed water is shut off, and the mixed water is stopped.

In this water-stop state, the lever 12 may be operated to cause the operating rod 13 to rotate. In this case, since the valve element 14 is rotatably attached to the operating rod 13, only the operating rod 13 rotates while the valve element 14 is pressed against the valve seat 27 of the valve seat body 15 by the rubber 28. Is done.

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of the mixing valve unit showing the valve open state. Next, when the valve is opened, the upper end of the lever 12 is tilted leftward in the drawing. The operating rod 13 is a spring 1
Since the roller 25 is constantly urged upward by the urging force of 6, the roller 25 relatively moves along the lower end surface of the cam portion 37, and the operating rod 13 is gradually pushed down. When the lever 12 is tilted to the far left as shown, the operating rod 13 is at the lowest position. Therefore, the interval between the valve seat 27 of the valve seat body 15 and the rubber 28 of the valve body 14 is the largest, and the mixing valve unit 10 is in the fully open state where the water discharge flow rate is the maximum. The mixed water mixed in the mixing chamber 38 is guided between the valve seat 27 and the rubber 28 to the mixed water outlet passage 36.

As described above, the valve body 14 held by the operating rod 13 moves up and down following the tilting operation of the lever 12, so that the mixed water is stopped and the flow rate is adjusted. Next, an operation related to temperature adjustment of the mixing valve unit will be described.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the mixing valve unit for explaining the temperature adjusting function. The portion of the operating rod 13 constituting the rotary valve is formed in a substantially semicircular cross-sectional shape.
By rotating the lever 12 about its longitudinal center line, the lever 12 is rotated as shown by an arrow 42. Water introduction passage 3 provided in valve seat body 15
Reference numeral 4 communicates with the water introduction chamber 32, and the hot water introduction passage 35 communicates with the hot water introduction chamber 33. The mixing chamber 38 in the valve seat body 15 formed by the semicircular cut-out space of the operating rod 13 communicates with the water introduction chamber 32 and the hot water introduction chamber 33, respectively. Therefore, the water introduced into the water introduction chamber 32 and the water introduced into the hot water introduction chamber 33 are respectively indicated by arrows 4
As indicated by 3 and 44, it flows into the mixing chamber 38.

Here, when the operating rod 13 is in the rotating position as shown in the drawing, the area of the passage for the flow of water and hot water from the water introduction chamber 32 and the hot water introduction chamber 33 to the mixing chamber 38 is the same. Therefore, the mixing ratio of water and hot water becomes 1: 1.
When the operating rod 13 is rotated in the clockwise direction in the figure,
The area of the passage of water flowing from the water introduction chamber 32 to the mixing chamber 38 increases, and conversely, the area of the passage of hot water flowing from the hot water introduction chamber 33 to the mixing chamber 38 decreases. As a result, the mixing ratio of water increases, and water and hot water are mixed in the mixing chamber 3 at the mixing ratio.
8, the mixed water flowing from the mixing chamber 38 to the mixed water outlet passage 36 via the gap between the valve seat 27 and the rubber 28 is adjusted to a low temperature.

Conversely, when the operating rod 13 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction in the figure, the area of the passage through which water flows from the water introduction chamber 32 to the mixing chamber 38 decreases, and the hot water introduction chamber 33 shifts from the hot water introduction chamber 33 to the mixing chamber 38.
The area of the passage through which the hot water flows increases, the mixing ratio of the water decreases, and the discharged mixed water is adjusted to a high temperature. In this way, the water discharge temperature can be adjusted by the rotation position of the operating rod 13.

In the embodiment described above, the damper mechanism is constituted by the operating rod head 22 and the lower cylindrical portion 40 of the lower bearing 20, but this damper mechanism can be arranged at another position. It is shown below.

FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view showing another embodiment of the mixing valve unit. According to this embodiment, the operating rod 13 has its lower end extended so as to penetrate the spring receiving portion 17, and the ring-shaped piston 45 is fixed to the lower end. The spring receiving portion 17 is provided with a cylinder 46 into which the piston 45 is fitted from the lower surface side. This constitutes a damper structure for restricting a sudden reciprocating movement of the operating rod 13 near the valve closing. Accordingly, in this embodiment, the lower cylindrical portion 40 has no groove on the inner wall, and is formed in a cylindrical shape having an inner diameter larger than the outer shape of the operating rod head 22.

The illustrated position of the mixing valve unit 10 indicates a fully closed state.
It is within 6. Here, when a sudden valve opening operation is performed by operating the lever 12, the operation is mitigated by the damper effect of the piston 45 and the cylinder 46, and as a result, the valve element 14 moves away from the valve seat 27 at a lower speed. become. When the piston 45 comes out of the cylinder 46, the damper effect disappears.

Similarly, when the valve closing operation is performed from the valve open state and the piston 45 starts to be fitted to the cylinder 46, the damper effect is effective, and the rubber 28 of the valve body 14 is moved at a low speed to the valve seat 2.
7 come into pressure contact.

In the above two embodiments, the spring 16 for urging the operating rod 13 in the valve closing direction is disposed at the downstream end of the valve body 14, but the present invention is limited to this position. Not something. For example, the valve seat body 15 and the operating rod head 22
And a spring can be arranged between them, whereby a similar effect can be obtained.

[0040]

As described above, in the present invention, the valve for adjusting the amount of water discharged and stopping the water is rotatably held on the operating rod, and the part for adjusting the temperature of the water discharged is formed as a rotary valve. ,
In addition, these valve structures are configured to operate integrally with one lever. This makes it possible to realize a mixing valve without using an expensive ceramic disk in a portion for adjusting the water discharge temperature and the water discharge amount and stopping the water discharge, thereby providing a low-cost mixing valve.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a configuration of a mixing valve unit for a hot and cold water mixing faucet to which a mixing valve according to the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of an operation rod.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the mixing valve unit.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line aa in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line bb in FIG. 4;

6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line cc of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of the mixing valve unit showing a valve closed state.

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of the mixing valve unit showing a valve open state.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a mixing valve unit for explaining a temperature adjusting function.

FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view showing another embodiment of the mixing valve unit.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the operation principle of a mixing valve used in a single-lever hot and cold water mixing faucet.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 mixing valve unit 11 casing 12 lever 13 operating rod 14 valve body 15 valve seat body 16 spring 17 spring receiving part 18 lever sphere 19 upper bearing 20 lower bearing 21 packing 22 operating rod head 23 concave part 24 rotating shaft 25 roller 26 V ring 27 valve seat 28 rubber 29 O-ring 30 holding ring 31 collar 32 water introduction chamber 33 hot water introduction chamber 34 water introduction passage 35 hot water introduction passage 36 mixed water outlet passage 37 cam part 38 mixing chamber 39 communication hole 40 lower cylindrical part 41 groove 45 Piston 56 cylinder

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A mixing valve having a function of adjusting a mixing ratio of hot water and water, a function of adjusting a water discharge flow rate, and a water stopping function, wherein two inlets for introducing hot water and water and the introduced hot water and water are mixed. A first valve in which an opening ratio of the two inlets is continuously changed by rotating a first valve body on a shaft in a valve seat main body having a mixing chamber for mixing; The second valve body disposed downstream of the first valve body and held by the first valve body is reciprocated in the axial direction to adjust the distance between the second valve body and the valve seat of the valve seat body. A second valve for stopping or mixing flow rate of the mixed water in the mixing chamber; and rotating the first valve body around its axis from the side opposite to the side on which the second valve body is held. A valve body drive unit for providing a dynamic motion and a reciprocating motion in the axial direction; and attaching the first and second valve bodies in a valve closing direction of the second valve. Mixing valve, characterized in that it comprises a spring, a to. 2. The valve drive unit is supported by a ball formed in an intermediate portion in a sealed state and is supported by a lever having a cam portion at an inner end, and a lever integrally formed with the first valve. The cam portion reciprocates the second valve body in the axial direction in accordance with the swinging motion of the lever about the ball portion, and the cam portion moves the second valve body in response to the pivoting motion of the lever. The mixing valve according to claim 1, further comprising: a motion transmitting portion configured to rotate the first valve body around an axis. 3. The mixing valve according to claim 2, wherein the motion transmitting section has a roller supported by a rotating shaft at a position where the motion transmitting section contacts the cam section. 4. The mixing valve according to claim 1, wherein said second valve body is rotatably held by said first valve body. 5. A sharp valve near a valve closing position of the second valve body, the piston having a piston fixed to the first valve body and a cylinder formed to insert the piston. 2. The mixing valve according to claim 1, further comprising a damper mechanism for alleviating an opening / closing operation.