JP2001263511A - Mixing valve for water combination faucet - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To increase the flow rate jetting out from a mixing valve for water combination faucet by enlarging the outside diameter of a valve element without changing the conventional outside diameter dimension similar to a housing. SOLUTION: The housing is vertically divided in the axial direction between a water flow inlet and a hot water flow inlet, the divided respective end faces are axially opposed to each other at prescribed intervals, a seal material cutting off the water flow inlet from the hot water flow inlet is arranged in a position sandwiched between the respective faces, and the outside diameter of the valve element is enlarged. Or the seal material is installed in the external wall part of the valve element itself.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a hot and cold water mixing tap having an automatic temperature control function, and more particularly to an apparatus configuration in which the position of a valve element is optimized by a temperature sensing element to stabilize the temperature of mixed water.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the prior art, the structure of a seal which shuts off a hot water flow path and a hot water flow path of a valve element and a housing which affects the radial size of the valve element is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No.
As described in 75037, two O-rings having different diameters are respectively mounted on the same surface in the circumferential direction of the housing and the valve element with the same center. FIG. 5 shows a longitudinal sectional view of a conventional example. In the housing 1, an O-ring 19 housed in a groove 18 provided on the outer peripheral wall of the housing 1 and extending vertically in the axial direction of the housing 1 is provided with a bottom peripheral surface of the groove 18 and a faucet main body 30. The water inlet a and the hot water inlet b flowing into the housing 1 are blocked by contacting the inner wall surface 17 of the housing 1 to prevent mixing of the hot water and the water outside the housing 1.

On the other hand, a shut-off structure for partitioning water and hot water flowing into the valve body 4 is provided with a groove provided on the outer wall of the valve body 4 at the approximate center of the length of the valve body in the axial direction and vertically in the axial direction. An O-ring 21 housed in the housing 20 is in contact with the bottom peripheral surface of the groove 20 and the inner peripheral surface of the housing 1 to block hot water and water flowing into the valve body 4.

That is, the structure of the housing and the valve body provided for the purpose of shutting off the water flow path and the hot water flow path in the prior art is such that the axis of the valve body 4 is centered at the approximate center of the length of the valve body 4. Two different O-rings 20 and 2
1 is arranged.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a main part showing the structure of a conventional valve body and housing. Here, the components of the outer diameter A of the housing 1 around the valve element 4 include the inner diameter B of the O-ring groove provided on the outer wall of the valve element 4 and the depth of the O-ring groove 20. Length C and valve element 4
And an O-ring groove 18 provided in the housing 1 and a depth E of the O-ring groove 18 of the housing.

[0006]

Generally, in a hot and cold water mixer tap having a hollow cylindrical valve body for adjusting the amount of hot water having an automatic temperature control function, the pressure loss affecting the discharge flow rate is the largest. The location is often the total area of the cylindrical gap provided between the valve element and the hot water valve seat and the water valve seat, and the conventional example taken up in this case also corresponds to this. Here, the relationship between the discharge flow rate and the total area of the cylindrical gap provided between the valve body and the hot water valve seat and the water valve seat for hot water and water to flow into the valve body is defined as the opening area. Figure 4 conceptually
This will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 shows a state in which the valve element 4 is seated on the water valve seat 2. The opening area is represented by the product of the circumferential length of the outer diameter F of the valve body and the stroke G that the valve body can move in the axial direction to adjust the amount of hot and cold water inflow. Here, regarding the outer diameter of the valve body, the ring-shaped seat portion 22 having a width of about 1 mm, which is provided on both end faces of the valve body and is perpendicular to the axis of the valve body and blocks hot water and water flowing into the valve body. It shall be equal to the outer diameter. The circumferential length L of the maximum diameter F of the valve body is
It is expressed by the following equation (1).

L = F × π (1)

The opening area S is expressed by the following equation (2), which is obtained by multiplying Equation 1 by G of the stroke of the valve element.

S = L × G = F × π × G (2)

[0010] The opening area S, that is, the area where hot water and water can flow into the valve body. That is, the larger this area is,
The pressure loss of the valve body is alleviated and a larger flow rate passes through the valve body, leading to an increase in the discharge flow rate from the hot and cold water mixing tap.

In this conventional structure, when the housing of the hot and cold water mixing tap is replaced with the same housing only to increase the discharge flow rate, that is, when the outer diameter of the housing is determined, the above-described structure is adopted. The inner diameter dimension B of the O-ring groove provided on the outer wall of the valve body 4, the depth dimension C of the O-ring groove 20, the outer diameter of the valve body 4 and the O-ring groove 18 provided on the housing 1. Since the four components of the thickness dimension D between the housing and the depth dimension E of the O-ring groove 18 of the housing are required, the outer diameter F of the valve body is increased in order to increase the opening area. Therefore, it was structurally difficult to increase the amount of water discharged.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to remove a water / water mixer tap without changing the fixed mounting dimensions of a housing having an automatic temperature control function provided on a hot / water mixer tap body, that is, without changing the outer diameter of a conventional housing. An object of the present invention is to provide a housing having an automatic temperature control function capable of increasing a discharge flow rate.

[0013]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cylindrical housing having a water inlet provided on a peripheral wall of the housing at an axial interval. A hot water inlet, a substantially hollow cylindrical valve body incorporated so as to be movable in the axial direction between the water inlet and the hot water inlet, and one end face in the axial direction of the valve body on the water inlet side. A water valve seat, a hot water valve seat facing the other axial end face of the valve body at the hot water inlet side, a mixed water outlet opened on a peripheral wall of a housing downstream of the water valve seat, A temperature sensing element incorporated in a mixed water flow path from a seat to a mixed water outlet to urge the valve body toward the hot water valve seat side, and the valve body connected to a temperature setting operation unit to connect the valve body to the water valve seat. And a spring that urges the housing part into a cartridge-like body In the hot water mixer tap to be mounted, the housing is vertically divided in the axial direction between the water inlet and the hot water inlet, and the divided end faces are opposed to each other at a predetermined interval in the axial direction. And a connecting member for connecting the divided housings to each other, and a seal member for shutting off the water inlet and the hot water inlet is disposed at a position sandwiched between the housings.

Thus, the seal member for shutting off the hot water and water flowing into the housing and the seal member for shutting off the hot water and water flowing into the valve body in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the valve body are made the same parts. The thickness D of the peripheral wall of the housing that is in contact with the sealing material mounted on the valve body in the example is not required, and the unnecessary thickness can be added to the outer diameter of the valve body to increase the diameter.

Thus, the outer diameter of the valve body can be increased without changing the outer diameter of the conventional housing.
As described above, the opening area through which hot water and water flow into the valve body increases, and the flow rate discharged from the hot-water mixer tap can be increased.

The second invention is characterized in that the sealing material is mounted on an outer wall of the valve body. Thus, since the sealing member for blocking hot water and water flowing into the housing is attached to the valve body, the outer diameter of the valve body itself can be increased to substantially the same size as the outer diameter of the housing. Accordingly, the outer diameter of the valve body can be further increased than in the first aspect.

A third aspect of the present invention is characterized in that each of the divided housings is connected to the temperature setting spindle integrally or via a shaft rod connected thereto. Since the shaft rod, which is a member for connecting the divided housings, is located near the center axis of the housing, each housing is provided to face each other and is located in a ring shape where the sealing material is located. Has no effect and satisfies the constitutions of the first and second aspects of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a front vertical sectional view showing the structure of a hot water mixer tap according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the hot water side housing 1a incorporated in the main body 30 of the hot water mixer tap.
A water inlet a and a hot water inlet b are respectively opened at intervals in the axial direction on the peripheral wall of the housing 1 including the water side housing 1b and a mixed water flow at a downstream side communicating with the inlets a and b. Exit c is open. Water inlet a
Communicates with a water chamber d in the housing 1, and similarly, a hot water inlet b and a mixed water outlet c communicate with a hot water chamber e and a mixing chamber f, respectively. Is discharged from.

Inside the housing 1, a water valve seat 2 and a hot water valve seat 3 are provided on the side of the water inlet a and the side of the hot water inlet b, respectively. And between these water valve seat 2 and hot water valve seat 3,
A temperature adjusting valve element 4 having a substantially H-shaped vertical cross section movable in the axial direction is incorporated. The valve body 4 has both ends in the axial direction as seating surfaces of the water valve seat 2 and the hot water valve seat 3, and has a communication port 4b opened in a partition wall 4a for partitioning the water side and the hot water side. And the hot water side housing 1a and the water side housing 1b
An annular seal member 5 is incorporated around the valve body 4 at the position between the valve member 4 and the seal member 5 so as to be in close contact with the inner wall of the main body 30 to shut off the water side and the hot water side.

The interior of the housing 1 is partitioned into a water chamber d and a hot water chamber e by a valve body 4, and a mixing chamber f is formed downstream of these chambers. Then, from the mixing chamber f to the water chamber d, a sleeve 7 whose one end abuts against the partition wall 4a of the valve body 4 is incorporated. The sleeve 7 opens a water opening 7b on a peripheral wall facing the water chamber d by a fin-shaped portion 7a, communicates with the communication port 4b of the partition wall 4a, and communicates with the water chamber d and the hot water chamber e with the mixing chamber f. Water and hot water are supplied to the mixing chamber f in a quantity ratio according to the valve opening of the valve body 4 with respect to the water valve seat 2 and the hot water valve seat 3.

In the mixing chamber f, a temperature sensing element 8 having one end abutting against the inner wall of the water side housing 1b and the other end fitted into the end face of the sleeve 7 is incorporated. The temperature-sensitive element 8 changes its length in response to the temperature of the mixed water passing through the mixing chamber f, and shifts the valve body 4 so that the temperature of the discharged mixed water is maintained at the set temperature. Has functions. The temperature-sensitive element 8 is not limited to a shape-memory alloy, but may be a material made of a synthetic resin-made shape memory element or a temperature-sensitive body in which wax having thermal expansion and contraction properties is sealed.

The position of the valve body 4 is set by the hot water side housing 1a.
Is performed by a handle 11 connected to a spindle 9 inserted into the spindle 9. The spindle 9 rotates in conjunction with the rotation operation of the handle 11, and is connected to the valve body 4 via a guide 20 screw-connected and a bias spring 10 in contact with the guide 20 in order to convert this rotational force into an axial force.

A bias spring 10 incorporated in the hot water chamber e urges the valve body 4 in a direction opposite to a direction in which the temperature sensing element 8 extends. The bias spring 10 has a function of moving the valve body 4 to the water valve seat 2 side.
The position of the valve body 4 is balanced with respect to the temperature sensing element 8 for moving the valve body 4 to the hot water valve seat 3 side.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the components shown in FIG. Opening portion 2 provided at one end of hot water side housing 1a
The guide 9, the bias spring 10, and the washer 12 for converting the rotational force of the spindle 9 into an axial force are incorporated into a spindle 9 a formed integrally with the spindle 9 by inserting the spindle 9 from 3. Next, the seal member 5 is attached to the periphery, and the valve body 4 with the lubricant applied around the seal member 5 is passed through the spindle shaft 9a. Further, the water-side housing 1b in which the temperature-sensitive element 8, the washer 13 and the sleeve 7 are incorporated is passed through the spindle shaft 9a, and the end surface of the water-side housing 1b is passed through the groove 9b of the spindle shaft 9a and fixed to the groove 9b. The ring 14 is inserted and fixed, and the hot water side housing 1a and the water side housing 1b are connected to form the housing 1. Here, the sealing material 5 has a configuration in which the hot water side housing 1a and the water side housing 1b are sandwiched between opposing end surfaces, and the water inlet a
And a function of shutting off hot water at the outer peripheral surface of the valve body 4.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view according to the second invention,
The valve body 4 is arranged at a position sandwiched between the divided housings 1a and 1b, and an annular groove 15 which is vertical to the center axis of the valve body 4 and has a center on this axis is provided. A ring-shaped sealing material 16 is disposed, which is in contact with the surface and in contact with the inner wall surface 17 of the main body 30 and slides. The sealing member 16 has a function of blocking hot water and water flowing into the valve body 4, and a hot water inlet b and a water inlet a flowing into the housing 1.
It has the function to cut off. By sandwiching the valve body 4 itself between the divided housings in this manner, the outer diameter of the valve body 4 can be further increased, and a larger water flow area can be secured than in the configuration described in the first invention, and the pressure loss And the amount of water discharged can be further increased.

The sealing material arranged in the annular space provided opposite the divided housing described in the present invention does not necessarily need to completely shut off the hot water flow path and the water flow path. It may be made of a material, provided with a slit groove, so that some hot water and water flow backward.

The shaft connecting the divided housings is not necessarily integral with the temperature setting spindle. For example, the shaft may be connected to the spindle by a screw or a resin claw. good.

[0028]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the seal member for shutting off hot water and water flowing into the housing and the seal member for contacting the valve body and shutting off hot water and water flowing into the valve body are made of the same component. As in the conventional example, the thickness of the peripheral wall of the housing itself that is in contact with the sealing material attached to the valve body is not required, and the unnecessary thickness can be added to the outer diameter of the valve body. The outer diameter of the valve body can be increased without changing the outer peripheral dimension of the valve body, that is, the dimension required for insertion and fixing to the hot and cold water mixing tap main body. Therefore, when the outer diameter of the valve body is increased, as described above, the area through which hot water and water can flow into the valve body is increased, and the flow rate discharged from the hot and cold water mixing tap can be increased.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the sealing material for shutting off hot water and water flowing into the housing is mounted on the valve body, the outer diameter of the valve body is increased to approximately the same size as the outer diameter of the housing. This makes it possible to further increase the outer diameter of the valve body as compared with the first invention, thereby increasing the amount of water discharged.

According to the third aspect, since the divided housings are connected via the shaft rod connected to the spindle disposed substantially near the center axis of the housing, the divided housings face each other and the sealing material is formed. There is no effect on the location of the ring shape, which satisfies the first and second aspects of the present invention.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an embodiment of the first invention of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of components of the embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an embodiment of the second invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a main part according to a conventional example.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 a: water inlet b: hot water inlet c: mixed water outlet d: water chamber e: hot water chamber f: mixing chamber g: inner wall guide A: outer diameter of housing B: inner diameter of O-ring groove of valve body C: Depth dimension of O-ring groove of valve body D: Wall pressure dimension of O-ring mounting part of housing E: Depth dimension of O-ring groove of housing F: Outer diameter of valve body G: Stroke 1: Housing 1a: Hot water side Housing 1b: Water side housing 2: Water valve seat 3: Hot water valve seat 4: Valve element 4a: Partition wall 4b: Communication port 5: Sealing material 7: Sleeve 7a: Fin-like portion 7b: Water opening 8: Temperature sensing Element 9: Spindle 9a: Spindle shaft 9b: Groove 10: Bias spring 11: Handle 12: Washer 13: Washer 14: Retaining ring 15: O-ring mounting groove of valve body 16: Seal material 17: Body inner wall surface 18: Groove 19 : O Packaging 20: Groove 21: O-ring 22: seat 23: opening portion 30: mixer tap body

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2D060 BB01 BE15 3H051 AA04 BB10 CC11 FF02 3H057 AA12 BB11 CC12 DD13 FC04 FD03 FD19 HH14 3H067 AA16 CC11 DD05 DD23 EA02 EA33 ED17 ED20 FF02 GG13

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A water inlet and a hot water inlet provided in a cylindrical housing portion on a peripheral wall of the housing portion at intervals in an axial direction, and an axial direction between the water inlet and the hot water inlet. A substantially hollow cylindrical valve body movably incorporated; a water valve seat facing the one axial end surface of the valve body at the water inlet side; and a water valve seat at the axial side of the valve body at the hot water inlet side. The hot water valve seat facing the end face, the mixed water outlet opened on the peripheral wall of the housing on the downstream side of the water valve seat, and the valve body incorporated in the mixed water flow path from the water valve seat to the mixed water outlet, A temperature-sensing element for urging toward the hot-water valve seat; and a spring connected to a temperature setting operation unit for urging the valve body toward the water-valve seat. A hot water mixer tap mounted in the form of a cartridge between the water inlet and the hot water inlet. The housing is divided vertically in the axial direction, and the divided end faces are opposed to each other at a predetermined interval in the axial direction, and the water inlet and the hot water inlet are shut off at a position sandwiched between the end faces. A hot and cold water mixing tap characterized by comprising a connecting member for disposing a sealing material and connecting each of the divided housings. 2. The hot and cold water mixing tap according to claim 1, wherein the sealing material is mounted on an outer wall portion of the valve body. 3. The hot and cold water mixing system according to claim 1, wherein each of the divided housings is connected to the temperature setting spindle via a shaft rod integrally or connected thereto. plug.