JP2002195451A - Hot/cold water mixing valve - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To control a valve element without requiring high accuracy. SOLUTION: A hot/cold water mixing valve 1 comprises: a cylindrical valve casing 3 provided with a hot water side valve seat 17b and a cold water side valve seat 17d at the inner peripheral surface of the valve, and further provided with a hot water inlet 10 and a cold water inlet 15, a cylindrical valve element 4 in which a mixed water introducing opening 14a, a hot water side valve 17a of an annular projection shape, and a cold water side valve 17c are arranged at the outer peripheral surface of the valve; and temperature detecting spring members 18 and 21 for controlling the temperature of mixed water. Both ends of the valve element 4 are supported to be in a floating state inside the valve casing 3 via a diaphragm 20, and depending on a deviation with respect to a desired temperature of the mixed water, the valve element 4 is urged in the axial direction by the temperature detecting spring members 18 and 21 to open/close the hot water side valve 17a or the cold water side valve 17c.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a water / water mixing valve using a coil spring made of a shape memory alloy as a temperature sensing element, and more particularly to a water / water valve body having improved slidability of a valve body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as for a hot water mixing valve using a coil spring made of a shape memory alloy as a temperature sensing element, there are many structures for controlling mixed water by sliding a piston in a cylinder. As a representative of the conventional valve configuration, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.
No. 1552 is shown in FIG.

That is, in the conventional example, a cylindrical spool 35 (valve element) corresponding to a piston is disposed slidably in the axial direction in a valve chamber 34 provided in a housing 33 corresponding to a cylinder. The ratio is automatically adjusted by utilizing the change in the spring force with respect to the hot water temperature of the temperature-sensitive coil spring 36 made of a shape memory alloy (the transverse elastic coefficient G of the shape memory alloy material increases in proportion to the temperature), and To obtain the temperature of the mixed water.

[0004]

Here, the degree of fitting of the sliding portion between the valve chamber 34 and the spool 35 in the conventional example is determined so that fluid (water) does not leak to the secondary side of the valve. High precision is required. Further, when the fitting accuracy is low and the gap is large, it is generally necessary to use a sealing member such as an O-ring to make the watertight. For this reason, in any case, the sliding resistance of the spool 35 becomes larger than expected, and there is a problem that the valve control is hindered.

That is, generally, the temperature-sensitive coil spring 36
In order to increase the sensitivity (temperature sensitivity) to the hot water temperature, the heat capacity of the temperature-sensitive coil spring 36 must be reduced. That is, it is necessary to reduce the wire diameter of the temperature-sensitive coil spring 36 to reduce the volume ratio of the spring to the amount of heat.

However, when the wire diameter of the temperature-sensitive coil spring 36 is reduced, the spring force is reduced, and the spool 3 becomes insufficient due to insufficient power.
5 cannot be countered.
That is, even if the spring force with respect to the hot water temperature functions as predetermined, the spring force may be absorbed by the sliding resistance and the valve body may not operate, resulting in valve control with a so-called "hysteresis".

On the other hand, in order to operate the spool without any problem even if there is sliding resistance, the wire diameter of the temperature-sensitive coil spring 36 must be increased to increase the spring force. Further, not only is the heat capacity of the temperature-sensitive coil spring 36 increased so that the temperature sensitivity is deteriorated, but also the weight of parts is increased according to the diameter of the wire and the cost is increased, which is uneconomical.

[0008] An even greater problem is that dirt and foreign matter contained in the hot and cold water clog the sliding portion. If the sliding portion is clogged with foreign matter, the spool 35 cannot slide at all.
A fundamental problem arises as a valve for controlling water.

Further, in FIG. 9, the pressure acting on the spool 35 in the valve chamber 34 is such that hot water and cold water are introduced by the operation of the spool 35, as well as the fluid stagnation portion and the water flow portion. It is not stable because complicated conditions such as overlap. In particular, when different pressures are generated in the temperature-sensitive coil spring 36 side area of the mixed water outlet 37 across the spool 35 and the opposite bias spring 38 side area, the temperature-sensitive coil spring 36 side area and the bias spring 38 side Since the pressure difference with the region acts on the effective area of the spool 35 (the area of the part obtained by subtracting the inner diameter from the outer diameter of the spool), there is a problem that the valve body 35 moves to a lower pressure side than the set position. is there. This operation makes it more difficult to control the temperature of the hot and cold water mixing valve.

The present invention has been made in order to eliminate the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art, and has as its object to provide a hot / water mixing valve capable of controlling a valve element without requiring high precision.

[0011]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a hot water side valve seat 17b and a cold water side valve seat 17d are provided on an inner peripheral surface, and a hot water inlet 10 and a cold water inlet 15 are provided. Valve housing 3 provided with a mixed water introduction hole 14a and a hot water side valve 17 of an annular projection 17e on the outer peripheral surface.
a and a cylindrical valve body 4 provided with a cold water side valve 17c;
A hot / water mixing valve 1 including a temperature-sensitive spring means for controlling the temperature of mixed water, wherein both ends of a valve body 4 are supported in a floating state within a valve housing 3 via a diaphragm 20. In response to the deviation from the desired temperature, the valve element 4 is urged in the axial direction by the temperature-sensitive spring means to open and close the hot water side valve 17a or the cold water side valve 17c.

A second invention is directed to the first invention, wherein the diaphragms 20a and 20b are provided between the inside of the valve housing 3 and the valve body 4.
And the cold water side valve seat 17b or the cold water side valve seat 17d, thereby forming a hot water pressure action chamber 11 and a cold water pressure action chamber 16 which are separated by the water pressure of the diaphragm 20 and the hot water side valve seat 17b and the cold water side valve seat 17d. Are characterized in that the effective areas are substantially the same.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect, the valve element 4 is disposed at the outlet of the mixed water introducing hole 14a as the temperature-sensitive spring means and changes the temperature of the mixed water according to a change in temperature of the mixed water. A temperature-sensitive coil spring 18 in which the biasing force to be biased changes;
And a bias coil spring 21 for adjusting the temperature of the mixed water to a desired temperature.
Of the mixed water communicates with the outlet of the mixed water.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to third aspects, the inner edge and the outer edge of the diaphragm 20 are sandwiched between a plurality of divided valve elements 4 and the inner valve housing 3. The hot and cold water mixing valve 1 is constituted.

In other words, to more specifically express the configuration of the present invention, in a hot water mixing valve for mixing hot water and cold water, the valve housing 5 has a hot water inlet and a cold water inlet, and has an annular hot water valve seat. A valve body having both ends suspended from the valve housing 5 by diaphragms 20a and 20b in a valve chamber (substantially cylindrical inner peripheral surface of the valve housing) provided with a water valve seat 17d and a water valve seat 17d. 4 and an annular projection 1 substantially at the center of the valve body 4
A hot water valve 17a and a water valve 17c are arranged at 7e, and a plurality of mixed water introduction holes 14a are arranged at the top of the protrusion 17e. The valves 17a, 17c are connected to the valve seats 17b, 1
7d so that each of the diaphragms 20
A ring-shaped hot-water pressure action chamber 11 and an annular cold-water pressure action chamber 16 are formed between the valve body a and the valve body 20b to eliminate the contact between the valve chamber and the valve body 4.

The hot and cold water working chamber 11, the cold water working chamber 1
In 6, the effective area of the diameter of the valve seats 17b, d with respect to the effective area of each of the diaphragms 20a, b is substantially the same.

Further, the internal space of the valve element 4 is divided into a bias coil-shaped spring 21 side area and a temperature-sensitive coil-shaped spring 18 side area of the mixed water outlet 8 with the partition wall 4c as a boundary, and a balance provided in the partition wall 4c. By introducing the pressure in the temperature-sensitive coiled spring 18 side area on the mixed water outlet side to the bias coiled spring 21 side area through the pressure introducing pipe (hollow shaft) 4d, the area sandwiching the valve element 4 is kept at the same pressure. I try to.

Each of the inner edges of the hot water diaphragm 20a and the cold water diaphragm 20b is sandwiched between a plurality of divided valve elements 4.
A valve function unit is constructed in the outer valve housing 2 by sandwiching the outer edges of the inner valve housings a and 20b with a plurality of divided inner valve housings 3.

<Operation of the present invention> According to the present invention, the valve body is supported and accommodated in the cylindrical interior of the valve housing via the diaphragm in a state of not contacting the valve housing (floating state). The body stabilizes at the axial center of the valve body. That is, there is no sliding portion between the valve body and the valve housing, and no sliding resistance against the movement of the valve body occurs at the time of automatically adjusting the temperature of the mixed water.

In the hot and cold water working chambers and the cold water working chambers, the effective areas of the diameters of the valve seats with respect to the effective areas of the respective diaphragms are substantially the same. It does not affect the movement in the direction.

[0021]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention.
This will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the operation of the hot and cold water mixing valve of the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a specific configuration of the present embodiment. 3 to 7 are explanatory diagrams of main parts. FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing a state in which the hot water mixing valve of the present embodiment is incorporated in the hot water mixing tap main body.

As shown in FIG. 2, the hot and cold water mixing valve 1 includes an outermost outer valve housing 2, an inner valve housing 3 inserted inside the outer valve housing 2, and an inner valve housing 3. Is constituted by a valve element 4 inserted into the inside. (Note that the outer valve housing 2 and the inner valve housing 3 are collectively referred to as a valve housing 5.) The hot / water mixing valve 1 is used by being incorporated into the hot / water mixing tap 27 in a cartridge system (FIG. 8). reference).

The outer valve housing 2 disposed in the hot / water mixer tap 27 has an opening 2a at one axial end (left side in FIG. 2) and a bottom provided with a mixed water outlet 8 at the other end. And a hollow cylindrical outer valve housing main body 2f. An O-ring 5a is fitted into the annular groove on the outer peripheral side near the opening 2a to prevent leakage of hot and cold water from between the hot and cold mixing tap 27 and the outer valve housing 2.

On the other hand, on the outer peripheral surface of the large-diameter cylindrical portion 2f of the outer valve housing 2, an axially-parallel flat surface portion 2b extending in a predetermined axial length range is provided at an axially intermediate portion of the large-diameter cylindrical portion 2f. Is formed by removing a part of the outer peripheral surface of the outer valve housing 2. A substantially semicircular hot water inlet 6 is provided at one end of the flat surface portion 2b so as to penetrate the peripheral wall of the flat surface portion 2b in the radial direction (see FIGS. 5A and 6).

The large-diameter cylindrical portion 2f of the outer valve housing 2 is separated from the flat surface portion 2b in the circumferential direction by an outer peripheral surface 2g, and the flat surface portion 2b intersects with the extension surface. There is a positional relationship (a right-angled positional relationship in the illustrated case), and two flat surface portions 2e parallel to the central axis are formed symmetrically (see FIG. 5). On the flat surface 2e, a slit-shaped cold water (water) inlet 9 perpendicular to the central axis is formed at a position where the axial position does not overlap with the hot water inlet 6 at the one end (the other end). (See FIG. 6).

Further, the direction opposite to the opening 2a (right side in FIG. 2)
The small-diameter cylindrical portion 2c is formed integrally with the large-diameter cylindrical portion 2f. The small-diameter bottom wall 2d at the end of the small-diameter cylindrical portion 2c has four fan-shaped portions spaced equiangularly from the round hole 8a at the axial center, as shown in FIG. Hole 8
a is formed to form a mixed water outlet 8. An O-ring 7 is fitted in an annular groove provided on the outer peripheral side surface of the small-diameter cylindrical portion 2c to prevent water leakage.

The inner valve housing 3 fitted and disposed in the outer valve housing 2 is composed of three bottomed cylindrical members or cylindrical members 3a, 3b, 3c in the axial direction for convenience of assembly. Have been. The cylindrical member 3a is provided with a bottom wall 3d having an insertion hole for a rod portion 23a described later on one end side.

On the outer peripheral surface on one end side of the cylindrical member 3c,
An annular step portion for O-ring fitting is provided, a cold water inlet 15 is provided at an intermediate portion at a circumferential interval as shown in FIG. 5, and an outer valve housing is provided at the other end side. 2 is provided with a cylindrical insertion portion 3f to be fitted into the bearing groove, and an annular groove 3g for fitting the bulging edge portion on the outer peripheral side of the cold water-side diaphragm 20b is provided at the inner end of the cylindrical insertion portion 3f. ing. In addition, an annular cold water side valve seat 17d protruding inward is integrally provided at an intermediate portion in the axial direction of the inside of the cylindrical member 3c,
The cold water side valve seat 17d and the inner peripheral surface on one end side of the cylindrical member 3c form an inner annular step portion for forming a mixed water introduction chamber.

An annular groove is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical member 3b in series with the cylindrical member 3c in the axial direction, and the annular groove communicates with the inside of the cylindrical member 3b. A plurality of hot and cold water inlets 10 are provided at equal angular intervals in the circumferential direction, and one end of the cylindrical member 3b is provided with an annular contact surface that is in contact with one end of the cylindrical member 3c. At the same time, an annular hot water side valve seat 17b protruding inward near the hot water inlet 10 is provided integrally with the inner circumference side at a position away from the one end side, and the axial direction of the hot water side valve seat 17b is provided. One side and the cylindrical member 3
An inner annular step for forming the mixed water introduction chamber is formed by the inner peripheral surface on one end side of b.

A cylindrical insertion portion 3h is provided at the other end of the cylindrical member 3b, and an annular groove for fitting an outer bulge edge portion of the hot water diaphragm 20a is formed inside the cylindrical insertion portion 3h. ing.

A cylindrical member 3a having a bottom wall 3d on the other end side
Is provided with an outer annular step portion on one end side, and an O-ring fitting annular groove is provided on the outer peripheral surface on the other end side.

The inner valve housing 3 is provided with two valve bodies in the axial direction, that is, a valve body 4 composed of a hollow cold water side valve body 4b and a hot water side valve body 4a. Built in. An annular projection 17e is formed at the joint between the cold water valve body 4b and the hot water valve body 4a.

The chilled water side valve body 4b is provided with an inner peripheral side annular bulging portion fitting groove of the chilled water diaphragm 20b on one end surface thereof, and an intermediate outer peripheral surface of the valve body 4b. An annular groove having a trapezoidal cross section is provided, and the cold water side valve 17c is formed so as to form an annular projection by an annular inclined surface from the other end side of the annular groove. The outer diameter of the cold water side valve 17c is set to be larger than the inner diameter of the valve seat 17d in the cylindrical member 3c. The cold water side valve body 4
On the other end side of b, a small-diameter fitting projection is provided, and a mixed water introduction hole 14a is provided.

The hot water side valve main body 4a is provided with a hot water side valve 17a having the same outer diameter as the cold water side valve 17c and having an annular inclined surface at one end side of the large diameter cylindrical portion 4h. On the radially inner side of the hot water side valve 17a, there is provided a step having an annular groove for fitting the fitting projection of the cold water side valve main body 4b and a small diameter hollow shaft integrally formed with the large diameter hollow shaft. A partition wall 4c provided with an attached hollow shaft 4d is provided integrally. On the other end side of the large-diameter tubular portion, an annular groove for fitting the inner peripheral side bulging edge of the hot water diaphragm 20a is formed. The fitting projection of the cold water side valve body 4b is fitted into the stepped hollow shaft 4d and the annular groove, and one end of the temperature sensing coil spring 18 is engaged. An annular projection is formed on the other end of the partition wall 4c, and one end of the bias coil spring 21 is engaged with the annular projection. The outside diameter of the hot water side valve 17a is set larger than the inside diameter of the valve seat 17b in the cylindrical member 3b.

When the valve body 4 is incorporated into the inner valve housing 3, first, the cylindrical member 3c of the inner valve housing 3 is loosely fitted from one end of the cold water side valve body 4b, and then the hot water side valve body 4a. Is fitted to the cold water side valve main body 4b, and then the cylindrical member 3b is loosely fitted from the other end side of the hot water side valve main body 4a and is fixed to the cylindrical member 3c with an adhesive or the like. The diaphragm 20b on the cold water side is mounted on the main body 4b, and the diaphragm support 19 is fitted and fixed by caulking, and the diaphragm 20a on the hot water (hot water) side is mounted on the other end of the hot water side valve main body 4a. The diaphragm support 19 is fitted and fixed by caulking.

Next, while the bias coil spring 20 and the retainer 22 are sequentially arranged in the hot / water-side valve main body 4a, the bottomed cylindrical member 3a is pressed into the cylindrical member 3b or fixed with an adhesive. The outer peripheral side bulging edge of the diaphragm 20a on the hot and cold side is clamped and fixed in a crimped state, and the valve body 4 can be assembled into the inner valve housing 3 to form a unit. Further, the inner valve housing 3 with such a valve element 4 is mounted in the outer valve housing 2 and the return spring 26 and the handle connecting member 23 are mounted to form a unit. The cartridge can be provided in the mixing tap 27.

As described above, the ring-shaped hot water side diaphragm 20a and the cold water side diaphragm 20b are disposed between the inner valve housing 3 and the valve body 4. The inner peripheral bulging edge and the outer peripheral bulging edge of each of the ring-shaped diaphragms 20a and 20b are integrated via a substantially U-shaped connecting portion having a substantially semicircular portion, and The U-shaped connecting portion is configured to be able to follow the axial movement of the valve body 4 while bending and deforming the same. The U-shaped connecting portions of the respective diaphragms 20a and 20b are arranged so that their open side grooves face each other in the axial direction. The outer peripheral edges of the diaphragms 20a and 20b are fixed to mounting grooves provided on the inner peripheral portion of the inner valve housing 3. The inner peripheral edges of the diaphragms 20a and 20b are
And a ring-shaped diaphragm support 19 between the mounting grooves 3e (see FIG. 7). In other words, the valve element 4 is supported by the diaphragms 20a, b in a floating state (suspended state) not in contact with the inner valve housing 3, and the center axes of the respective diaphragms 20a, 20b are stabilized at the position of the shaft center. ing.

Note that the ring-shaped gap in which the diaphragm 20 is mounted is set so that the cross-sectional areas are substantially equal in area.

The inner peripheral portion of the diaphragm support 19 and the valve body 4 are integrated by caulking, and the outer diameter of each diaphragm support 19 is set smaller than the inner diameter of the valve seats 17b and 17d. That is, the diaphragm support 19 has a relatively large gap (gap) with respect to the valve chamber (substantially cylindrical inner peripheral surface of the valve housing), and the valve body 4 is stable at the position of the shaft center. The diaphragm support 19 does not interfere with the operation of the valve body 4.

A circumferential groove (annular groove) is provided at the axial center of the inner valve housing 3, and a hot and cold water inlet 10 is provided at the bottom of the circumferential groove.
Is provided. The hot water inlet 10 is connected to the inner valve housing 3,
It communicates with the hot and cold water working chamber 11 facing the valve body 4 and the hot water side diaphragm 20a. O-rings 12 and 13 are provided in the vicinity of the circumferential groove to prevent leakage of hot water.

On the other hand, a chilled water inlet 15 penetrating through the peripheral wall of the inner valve housing 3 and communicating with the chilled water intake 9 of the outer valve housing 2.
Is provided. The chilled water inlet 15 communicates with the chilled water pressure action chamber 16 facing the inner valve housing 3, the valve body 4, and the chilled water side diaphragm 20b.

The hot and cold water working chamber 11 and the cold water pressure working chamber 1
6, a mixed water introduction chamber 14 formed by a valve 17 and separated from the hot and cold water working chamber 11 and the cold water working chamber 16 is formed. The mixed water introduction chamber 14 and the mixed water outlet 8
Are communicated by a mixed water introduction hole 14a opened in the valve body 4.

Here, as shown in FIG. 3 (a partially enlarged view of FIG. 2), the annular hot water side valve 17a and the cold water side valve 17c are provided integrally with the outer peripheral side of the valve body 4 so as to protrude therefrom. It moves according to the direction movement. On the other hand, hot water side valve seat 1
7b and the cold water side valve seat 17d are formed on the inner peripheral side of the inner valve housing 3, and the valve seats 17b and 17d do not move.

For example, when the hot water side valve 17a and the hot water side valve seat 17b come into contact with each other by the axial movement of the valve body 4 and the hot water side is closed, the cold water side is fully opened, and conversely, the cold water side valve 1
When the cold water side valve seat 17d is brought into contact with the cold water side 7c and the cold water side is closed, the hot water side is fully opened. Further, in the intermediate state between the fully opened state and the fully closed state, the valve 17 is configured to be in the intermediate opening degree state.

The valves 17a, 17c and the valve seat 17
b and d have the same dimensions on the hot and cold water sides.
Therefore, the pressure of the hot and cold water working chamber 11 and the cold water pressure working chamber 16
The area where the pressure presses the valve body 4 is equal.

Further, the valve seats 17b, d are set such that the effective area of the diameter of the valve seats 17b, d is substantially the same as the effective area of each diaphragm 20a, b.

The valve element 4 has a partition wall 4c at the center in the axial direction, and an opening recess is provided at the axial center of the valve body 4 with the partition wall 4c interposed therebetween. A temperature-sensitive coil spring 18 (temperature-sensitive spring means) made of a shape memory alloy is provided between the concave portion on the mixed water outlet side of the valve element 4 (right side in FIG. 2) and the small-diameter bottom wall 2d of the outer valve housing 2.
Are arranged. The urging force of the temperature sensing coil spring 18 urges the valve body 4 toward the hot or cold water side (the left side in FIG. 2).

A bias coil spring 21 (temperature-sensitive spring means) is disposed in the opening-side concave portion (left side in FIG. 2) of the valve body 4. Side (FIG. 2 right side).

At the outer end of the bias coil spring 21,
The rod portion 23a of the handle connecting member 23 for adjusting the temperature setting of hot and cold water is in contact with the mortar-shaped retainer 22 via a mortar-shaped retainer 22. This rod portion 23a is connected to the bottom wall 3d of the inner valve housing 3.
It is arranged and supported through the insertion hole. The O-ring 24 at the contact portion with the bottom wall 3d prevents water leakage to the outside. Note that a return spring 26 is provided between the bottom wall 3d of the inner valve housing 3 and the handle connection member 23.

The coil spring chamber 25 surrounded by the opening-side concave portion (left side in FIG. 2) of the valve body 4 and the retainer 22 extends from the central through hole of the partition wall 4c of the valve body 4 to the vicinity of the mixed water outlet 8 side. It communicates with the mixed water outlet 8 side through the inside of the protruding hollow shaft 4d, and is maintained at the same pressure as the mixed water outlet 8 side pressure.

FIG. 8 shows an example in which the hot and cold water mixing valve 1 is mounted on the hot and cold water mixing tap 27. As shown, the hot water mixing valve 1 is mounted in a cartridge system. The bias coil spring 21 of the hot and cold water mixing valve 1 is connected to the temperature adjusting handle 28 via the handle connecting member 23 so as to be pressurized and adjustable, and the outer valve housing 2 is mounted in the hot and cold water mixing tap 27. The hot water inlet 6 and the cold water inlet 9 of the hot and cold water mixing valve 1 are connected to the passages of the hot water leg pipe 29 and the cold water foot pipe 30, respectively, and the mixed water outlet 8 is connected to the outlet 31 of the Karan shower. Communicated. Switching between water stoppage, callan and shower is performed by a switching handle 32 of the hot and cold water mixing tap 27.
Perform in.

In the present invention, since the hot and cold water mixing valve 1 is made into a cartridge, if it is a standardized hot and cold water mixing tap,
It is possible to employ the hot water mixing valve 1 in any type of hot water mixing tap. Therefore, cost reduction of parts by mass production, easiness of repair by replacement, etc., and diversification of design choice of hot and cold water mixing tap can be achieved.

Next, the operation of the hot and cold water mixing valve 1 will be described mainly with reference to FIG. Arrows in FIG. 1 indicate flows of hot and cold water. In FIG. 1, a specific configuration is omitted.

Hot water is supplied from the hot water inlet 10 to the hot and cold water working chamber 11, and cold water is supplied from the cold water inlet 15 to the cold water working chamber 16.
When supplied to the diaphragm 20
a and b are pressed outward in the axial direction.

Since the diaphragms 20a and 20b are arranged in a ring shape and fixed to the valve body 4, when equal pressing forces are applied to the hot water side diaphragm 20a and the cold water side diaphragm 20b in opposite directions, the valves 20a and b are opened. The body 4 is in a so-called tug-of-war balance state, and the center axis of the valve body 4 is stabilized at the axial center of the inner valve housing 3 by the centripetal force generated by the pulling force.

In addition to the above-described centripetal force, the following centripetal action is considered to be acting. In other words, the pressure is introduced into the semicircular curved section (U-shaped section in cross section) of the diaphragms 20a, b supporting the valve element 4 which bulges outwardly, which tends to collapse. When,
The bends tend to bulge outwardly. The curved portion between the valve body 4 and the inner valve housing 3 is always in a tensioned state (a state in which a pressing force acts in a radial direction) so as to become an ideal semicircular cross-sectional shape corresponding to the pressure. . Since this stepped state acts so as to wrap the valve element 4, a centripetal force acts on the valve element 4 so that the central axis of the valve element 4 is stabilized at the axial center of the inner valve housing 3. Further, the valve body 4
Are the coil spring 21 for bias and the coil spring 18 for temperature sensing.
Are provided in a balanced manner at the center of the point of action of the urging force, and the centripetal action is also assisted by this urging force.

Thus, even if the valve body 4 is tilted or eccentric, the valve body 4 returns to the axial center by any of the above-described operations. Therefore, since the valve body 4 does not contact the inner valve housing 3, there is no sliding resistance seen in the conventional product. In addition, even when dust or foreign matter is mixed, there is no sliding portion with a small gap, so that there is no possibility of malfunction.

The hot and cold water working chamber 11, the cold water working chamber 1
In 6, the effective areas of the diameters of the valve seats 17b and 17d with respect to the effective areas of the diaphragms 20a and 20b are substantially the same. It does not affect.

The valve body 4 moves in the axial direction due to the difference between the biasing force of the biasing coil spring 21 and the biasing force of the temperature-sensing coil spring 18 determined by the setting of the temperature adjusting handle 28 (handle connecting member 23). Stop at the position where the biasing force is balanced. The amount of hot water and the amount of cold water are determined according to the opening degree of the valve 17 at that time, mixed in the mixed water introduction chamber 14, and mixed water at a desired temperature is supplied from the mixed water outlet 8 through the mixed water introduction hole 14a. You.

When the temperature of the mixed water outlet 8 rises from the hot water supply state, the temperature-sensitive coil spring 1 made of a shape memory alloy is used.
8, the valve 17 moves toward the hot or cold water side by the difference from the opposing biasing force of the bias coil spring 21, and the amount of hot water entering the mixed water introduction chamber 14 decreases, while the amount of cold water increases. As a result, the temperature of the mixed water is lowered and automatically controlled so as to maintain a desired temperature.

When the temperature of the mixed water outlet 8 decreases, the valve 17 moves in the opposite direction, and the amount of cold water entering the mixed water introduction chamber 14 decreases, while the amount of hot water increases and the mixed water increases. Is automatically controlled so that the temperature of the mixed water rises.

When changing the temperature of the mixed water, the handle connecting member 2 connected to the temperature adjusting handle 28 is used.
This can be changed by pressing or releasing the retainer 22 with the third rod portion 23a and adjusting the expansion and contraction of the bias coil spring 21.

In practicing the present invention, the inner valve housing 3
As the joining means of the cylindrical members 3a, 3b, 3c constituting the above, suitable joining means such as adhesion, press-fitting, screw joining and the like can be adopted. Further, as the material of the outer valve housing and the inner valve housing, a material such as a synthetic resin or a metal can be appropriately adopted.

[0064]

According to the present invention, the valve body is supported and accommodated in the cylindrical interior of the valve housing via the diaphragm without contacting the valve housing (floating state). The center axis is stabilized at the position of the center of the shaft of the valve housing. That is, there is no sliding part between the valve body and the valve housing, and no sliding resistance against the movement of the valve body occurs at the time of automatic adjustment of the mixed water temperature, etc., which may hinder valve control. Absent.

In the present invention, since the effective area of the diameter of the valve seat with respect to the effective area of each diaphragm is substantially the same in the hot and cold water working chamber and the cold water working chamber, the pressure on the hot water side and the pressure on the cold water side are equal. Are canceled each other, and these acting forces do not affect the axial movement of the valve body. Therefore, highly accurate and stable valve control can be performed.

Further, since the hot and cold water mixing valve of the present invention does not have a sliding portion, there is no possibility that a control defect may be caused due to entry of dust or foreign matter. Therefore, the reliability of the operation of the valve body is remarkably improved, and the manufacturing cost is reduced because the processing of the fitting portion requiring high precision is not required.

Further, the coil spring chamber communicates with the mixed water outlet through a hollow shaft, and is maintained at a pressure equal to the pressure of the bias spring side area opposite to the temperature-sensitive coil spring side area of the mixed water outlet. Therefore, the temperature control of the hot and cold water mixing valve becomes stable.

Since the water / water mixing valve of the present invention is made into a cartridge, the water / water mixing valve can be used in any type of standardized water / water mixing tap. Therefore, cost reduction of parts by mass production, easiness of repair by replacement, etc., and diversification of design choice of hot and cold water mixing tap can be achieved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the operation of a hot water mixing valve according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a specific configuration of one embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view taken in the direction of the arrow A in FIG. 2;

5A is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 2, and FIG. 5B is a sectional view taken along line CC of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an exploded state of one embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a main part of one embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an application example of one embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Hot-water mixing valve 2 Outer valve housing 2a Opening 2b Flat surface 2c Small diameter cylindrical part 2d Small diameter bottom wall 2e Flat surface 3 Inner valve housing 3a Cylindrical member 3b Cylindrical member 3c Cylindrical member 3d Bottom wall 3e Mounting groove 3f Cylindrical insertion portion 3g Fitting annular groove 3h Cylindrical insertion portion 4 Valve body 4a Cylindrical member (hot / cold water valve body) 4b Cylindrical member (cold water side valve main body) 4c Partition wall 4d Hollow shaft 4h Large diameter cylindrical shape Part 5 Valve housing 5a O-ring 6 Hot water inlet 7 O-ring 8 Mixed water outlet 8a Round hole 8b Fan hole 9 Cold water intake 10 Hot water inlet 11 Hot water pressure action chamber 12 O-ring 13 O-ring 14 Mixed water introduction chamber 14a Mixing Water inlet hole 15 Cold water inlet 16 Cold water pressure action chamber 17 Valve 17a Hot water side valve (hot water valve) 17b Hot water side valve seat (hot water valve seat) 17c Cold water side valve (water valve) 17d Cold water side valve seat ( Valve seat for water 17e Annular protrusion 18 Coil spring for temperature sensing (temperature sensing spring means) 19 Diaphragm support 20 Diaphragm 20a Hot water side diaphragm 20b Cold water side diaphragm 21 Coil spring for bias (temperature sensing spring means) 22 Retainer 23 Handle connection member 23a Rod part 24 O-ring 25 Coil spring chamber 26 Return spring 27 Hot water mixer tap 28 Temperature adjusting handle 29 Leg pipe for hot water 30 Leg pipe for cold water 31 Curan / shower outlet 32 Switching handle 33 Housing 34 Valve room 35 Spool 36 Feeling Warm coil spring

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 3H057 AA02 BB32 BB38 CC12 DD13 EE03 FA12 FC04 HH03 HH14 3H067 AA02 CC32 CC33 CC35 CC44 CC45 DD05 DD12 DD35 ED20 FF02 GG13

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A cylindrical valve housing having a hot water side valve seat and a cold water side valve seat on an inner peripheral surface and having a hot water inlet and a cold water inlet, and a hot water side of a mixed water introduction hole and an annular projection on an outer peripheral surface. A hot / water mixing valve comprising: a cylindrical valve body provided with a valve and a cold water side valve; and a temperature-sensitive spring means for controlling the temperature of the mixed water, wherein both ends of the valve body are in a floating state via a diaphragm. The valve body is urged in the axial direction by a temperature-sensitive spring means to open and close the hot water valve or the cold water valve in accordance with a deviation of the mixed water temperature from a desired temperature. A hot and cold water mixing valve characterized in that: 2. A hot-water pressure working chamber and a cold-water pressure working chamber formed by a diaphragm and a hot-water side valve seat or a cold-water side valve seat are formed between the inside of the valve housing and the valve body. 2. The hot / water mixing valve according to claim 1, wherein the effective area with respect to the water pressure of the hot water side valve seat and the cold water side valve seat are substantially the same. 3. 3. A temperature-sensitive coil spring as the temperature-sensitive spring means, which is disposed at an outlet of the mixed water introduction hole, and which changes an urging force for urging the valve body in accordance with a change in the temperature of the mixed water.
A bias coil spring for adjusting the temperature of the mixed water to a desired temperature, and a housing for the bias coil spring communicates with an outlet of the mixed water. Item 3. A hot water mixing valve according to Item 2. 4. A hot and cold water mixing valve according to claim 1, wherein an inner edge portion and an outer edge portion of the diaphragm are sandwiched between a plurality of divided valve bodies and a divided portion of the inner valve housing. 3. The hot and cold water mixing valve according to any one of 3.