JP4110659B2 - Hot water mixing valve - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a structure of a hot and cold water mixing valve used for a thermostat type hot and cold water mixing faucet and the like.
[0002]
[Prior art]
An example of a thermostat hot and cold water mixing tap is shown in FIGS. Hot water passes through the check valves 1 and 2 from the respective pipes and is led to the thermostat unit 3. The hot water flowing into the thermostat unit 3 is mixed at an appropriate ratio, and mixed water at an appropriate temperature flows out from the thermostat unit 3.
[0003]
The mixed water flowing out of the thermostat unit 3 passes through the connecting pipe 4 and flows into the opening / closing / flow rate adjusting unit 5. The flow rate is adjusted to an appropriate flow rate by the opening / closing / flow rate adjusting unit 5 and discharged from the currant 6.
[0004]
An example of a conventional thermostat hot / cold water mixing valve is shown in FIG. In FIG. 10, the main configuration includes a temperature-sensitive coil spring 10, a bias spring 11, a valve body 12, a hot water side sheet portion 13, and a water side sheet portion 14. The valve body 12 is a spool valve having seat portions at both ends, and is disposed between the hot water side sheet 13 and the water side sheet 14, and its position is determined by the balance between the temperature sensitive coil spring 10 and the bias spring 11. The hot water flows in the inward direction from the outside of the spool valve through the gap between the hot water side sheet 13 and the spool valve, and the water flows in the inward direction from the outside of the spool valve through the gap between the water side sheet 14 and the spool valve. 10 is located at the downstream side of the water passage and is always at a position where the temperature of the mixed water can be sensed. A space between the hot water passage 17 and the water passage 18 facing the primary side of the spool valve is sealed with an O-ring 19. The load of the bias spring 11 can be adjusted to an appropriate value by using a screw 16 that is interlocked with the rotation of the temperature adjustment handle 15.
[0005]
In the above thermostat unit configuration, it is assumed that a stable water flow temperature is maintained by an appropriate mixed water temperature, an appropriate bias spring load, and an appropriate valve position. If a change in temperature of hot water or water or a change in pressure of hot water or water occurs from this state, the temperature of the mixed water instantaneously changes. A change occurs in the load, and as a result, a change also occurs in the position of the valve body 12 in balance with the bias spring 11, and the initial temperature change of the mixed water is corrected. Therefore, the user can take a shower comfortably even when the pressure change of hot water or water occurs unexpectedly for some reason.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As seen in the above configuration, in the thermostat hot water mixing valve, when the temperature or pressure of hot water changes, the valve that determines the mixing ratio of hot water changes the position between the hot water side sheet and the water side sheet. Thus, the mixing ratio of hot and cold water, that is, the change in water discharge temperature is kept small.
[0007]
However, in an actual thermostat hot / cold water mixing valve, for example, when there is a change from a state in which the water pressure is higher than the hot water pressure to a state in which the hot water pressure is higher than the water pressure, the above-described mixing valve does not move sufficiently, and the water discharge temperature May increase discomfort to the user.
[0008]
Therefore, generally, the temperature adjustment performance can be improved by enlarging the outer diameter of the mixing valve and reducing the valve stroke. This is effective because the required amount of movement of the valve at the time of a pressure change or the like can be reduced by reducing the valve stroke, and the required performance related to the driving amount of the temperature sensing element can be reduced.
[0009]
However, it is necessary to increase the outer diameter of the mixing valve in order to ensure a water flow cross-sectional area flowing through the gap between the mixing valve and the hot water side sheet or the water side sheet. Therefore, this method generally increases the outer diameter of the thermostat unit. In addition, as the outer diameter of the mixing valve increases, the O-ring that seals between the hot water passage and the water passage facing the primary side of the spool valve also increases, and as a result, the sliding resistance of the O-ring increases. The movement resistance of the spool valve increases due to the increase. In order to cope with an increase in the movement resistance of the spool valve, it is necessary to use a temperature sensitive element having a higher load, that is, a large size and a high cost.
[0010]
Furthermore, manufacturing problems are associated with reducing the valve stroke. That is, in the thermostat generally used for a hot and cold water mixing faucet, the valve stroke is 1 mm or less. When the valve stroke is reduced to, for example, 0.5 mm, the actual size is about 0.5 ± 0.1 mm due to dimensional variations in manufacturing, and the width is 0.4 to 0.6 mm. This width has a great influence on the pressure loss of the faucet and the variation in temperature control performance. That is, variation in pressure loss and temperature adjustment performance increases by reducing the valve stroke.
[0011]
In addition, the mixing valve may vibrate during discharge at a particularly high flow rate, and an unpleasant sound may be generated during discharge. The mixing valve forms a balance system with a bias spring and a temperature-sensitive coil spring. It is considered that these balance systems resonate with the period of the vortex generated in the mixed water flow, and the vibration continues.
[0012]
In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a thermostatic hot / cold water mixing valve that is compact, excellent in temperature adjustment performance, and less susceptible to vibration of the mixing valve even at a high flow rate.
[0013]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
Depending on the position between the hot water channel, the water channel, the mixed water channel, the hot water side sheet part, the water side sheet part, the hot water side sheet part, the water side sheet part, it is supplied from the hot water channel, the water water channel. A spool-shaped mixing valve that determines the mixing ratio of hot and cold water, and a temperature-sensitive driving element that drives the mixing valve depending on the temperature of the hot and cold water mixture, and includes one of the hot water passage, the water passage, and the mixed water passage. A unit main body constituting a portion is disposed on an inner peripheral portion of the spool-like mixing valve, and the hot water passage and the water passage are communicated from an inner peripheral portion to an outer peripheral portion of the spool-like mixing valve, and the spool The outer periphery of the mixing valve is configured to communicate with the mixed water passage.
[0014]
According to the thermostat hot and cold water mixing valve of the present invention, it is possible to satisfy both compactness and good temperature adjustment performance at the same time.
[0015]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In the present invention, as a sealing member for the hot water passage and the water passage that faces the primary side of the spool-shaped mixing valve, instead of the conventional O-ring, a C ring-shaped ring made of resin or the like is used, so that it slides compared to the O-ring The resistance can be kept small, and the movement resistance of the spool valve can be reduced. Since the movement resistance of the spool valve can be reduced, a temperature sensor with a lower load, that is, a small size and a low cost can be used.
[0016]
Further, at least one of the hot water side seat portion and the water side seat is separate from the unit main body, and the distance between the hot water side seat portion and the water side seat can be finely adjusted at the time of assembly, thereby varying the valve stroke. , And variations in pressure loss and temperature adjustment performance can be reduced.
[0017]
Furthermore, the positional relationship between the temperature-sensitive drive element and the bias is not arranged coaxially, so that the spool valve is not parallel to the shaft but has a slight angle, and the spool valve has a slight angle from the hot water side seat portion. At a position between the water side seats, the hot water side seat portion or the water side seat is often in contact with an oblique angle, and the degree of freedom of the spool valve is reduced. For this reason, it is possible to suppress the vibration of the spool valve during water discharge.
[0018]
The spool valve is driven by a shape memory alloy coil spring and a bias spring, and the bias spring is connected to the temperature adjustment handle via a screw, and the load is set by rotating the temperature adjustment handle. If this is possible, the hot and cold water mixing valve can be made lighter and more compact than when other temperature sensitive elements such as wax elements and bimetals are used.
[0019]
【Example】
In FIG. 1, an example of the usage condition of the hot / cold water faucet incorporating a thermostat hot / cold water mixing valve is shown. 2 is a front view of the hot and cold water mixing faucet portion of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a side view thereof. In FIG. 2, hot water passes through check valves 1 and 2 from each pipe and is led to the thermostat unit 3. The hot water flowing into the thermostat unit 3 is mixed at an appropriate ratio, and mixed water at an appropriate temperature flows out from the thermostat unit 3. The mixed water flowing out of the thermostat unit 3 passes through the connecting pipe 4 and flows into the opening / closing / flow rate adjusting unit 5. The mixed water adjusted to an appropriate flow rate by the opening / closing / flow rate adjusting unit 5 is discharged from the currant 6.
[0020]
FIG. 4 shows a perspective view with a cross section of an embodiment of a thermostat hot / cold water mixing valve unit of the present invention. FIG. 5 shows a perspective view including a cross section of another portion. FIG. 6 shows an exploded perspective view of the same. 4 and 5, the main part of the unit is a unit main body 31 that forms part of the hot water passage 35, the water passage 34, and the mixed water passage 36, and between the hot water side sheet portion 27 and the water side sheet portion 37. A spool valve 29 composed of two parts 26 and 29, a bias spring 24 positioned above and below the spool valve 29, a shape memory alloy coil 28, and a screw portion that guides the bias spring 24 and rotates. A spring guide 22 that is movable in the axial direction and a spindle 21 that transmits the rotation of the temperature adjustment handle to the spring guide 22 are configured. The bias spring 24 and the shape memory alloy coil 28 are not arranged on the same axis but have a slight eccentricity.
[0021]
The rotation of the temperature adjustment handle is converted into an axial movement of the spring guide 22 via the spindle 21, and the load of the bias spring 24 is variable and set.
[0022]
Further, the hot water side seat 27 is separate from the unit main body 31 and is assembled with screws, and is adjusted so that the distance between the spool valve 29 and the water side seat 37 becomes a specified value when assembled. A gap gauge is used, or the hot water side sheet portion 27 is once tightened to the end and returned by a specified angle.
[0023]
As a sealing member for the hot water passage 35 and the water passage 34 facing the primary side of the spool valve 29, a resin ring-shaped ring 30 is used. The unit body is assembled by elastically deforming and expanding the C wheel. The ring 30 comes into contact with the inner peripheral portion of the spool valve 29 by an elastic force in an assembled state.
[0024]
The flow of water will be described. Water and hot water flowing in from the water supply pipe and hot water supply pipe are formed between the water side seat 37, the hot water side seat 27 and the spool valve 29 through the water passage 34 and the hot water passage 35 formed in the unit main body, respectively. Depending on the ratio of the gap, an appropriate amount flows to the outer periphery of the spool valve 29 and is mixed. The mixed water flows out from the thermostat unit through the mixed water water passage 36 via the upper side of the unit body 31. At this time, the mixed water passes in contact with the shape memory alloy coil 28 located in the mixed water passage 36.
[0025]
Next, the operation principle will be described. In the above configuration, it is assumed that a stable water flow temperature is maintained by an appropriate mixed water temperature, an appropriate bias spring 24 load, and an appropriate spool valve 29 position. When a change such as a change in temperature of hot water or water or a change in pressure of hot water or water occurs from this state, the temperature of the mixed water instantaneously changes. However, the shape memory alloy coil 28 is loaded by a change in the sensed temperature. As a result, due to the balance with the bias spring 24, the position of the spool valve 29 also changes, and the initial temperature change of the mixed water is corrected. Therefore, the user can take a shower comfortably even when the pressure change of hot water or water occurs unexpectedly for some reason.
[0026]
In general, in a thermostatic hot / cold water mixing valve, the outer diameter of the mixing valve, in this case, the spool valve, is enlarged, and the temperature adjustment performance is improved by reducing the valve stroke. By reducing the valve stroke, the required amount of movement of the spool valve during pressure changes can be reduced, and the required performance related to the drive amount of the shape memory alloy coil can be reduced. This is because the smaller the stroke, the better the temperature adjustment performance.
[0027]
However, it is necessary to increase the outer diameter of the mixing valve in order to ensure a cross-sectional area of water flowing through the gap between the spool valve and the hot water side sheet or the water side sheet. Therefore, if this method is used in the configuration of the conventional thermostat hot / cold water mixing valve, the outer diameter of the thermostat unit is increased.
[0028]
On the other hand, in the thermostat hot / cold water mixing valve of the present invention, since the hot water passage 35, the water passage 34, and the mixed water passage 36 are disposed on the inner peripheral side of the spool valve 29, the diameter of the spool valve 29 is necessarily increased. . At the same time, since the outer peripheral portion of the spool valve 29 is only the water passage 34, the diameter of the spool valve 29 can be made larger than that of a conventional thermostat hot / cold water mixing valve having the water passage 40 and the hot water passage 41 on the outer periphery of the spool valve. . That is, the stroke of the spool valve 29 can be reduced, and good temperature adjustment performance can be obtained. A conceptual diagram of this explanation is shown in FIGS. FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram of a water passage configuration of the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram of a water passage configuration of a conventional thermostatic hot / cold water mixing valve.
[0029]
In the present invention, as a sealing member for the hot water passage 35 and the water passage 34 facing the primary side of the spool 29, a C ring-shaped ring 30 made of resin or the like is used instead of the conventional O-ring, so that the O-ring can be used. The sliding resistance can be kept small, and the movement resistance of the spool valve 29 can be reduced. Since the movement resistance of the spool valve 29 can be reduced, the shape memory alloy coil 28 having a lower load, that is, a small size and a low cost can be used. Alternatively, better temperature adjustment performance can be obtained.
[0030]
In the thermostat hot / cold water mixing valve used for the hot / cold water faucet or the like, the seal portion of the hot water passage 35 and the water passage 34 facing the primary side of the spool valve 29 is not necessarily necessarily watertight. A small amount of leakage between the hot water passage 35 and the water passage 34 is allowed. For this reason, it becomes possible to use said C ring-shaped ring 30 as a sealing member.
[0031]
The sealing structure by the C-ring 30 can also be applied to a conventional thermostat hot / cold mixing valve.
[0032]
Further, in the present invention, the hot water side sheet portion 27 is separate from the unit main body 31 and is assembled with screws, and the distance between the spool valve 29 and the water side sheet 37 is kept constant during assembly. It can be adjustable. It can be managed by using a gap gauge or by returning the hot water side sheet part once to the end by a specified angle. The O-ring 32 has not only a purpose of sealing but also a purpose of fixing the separate hot water side sheet portion 27.
[0033]
Thus, at least one of the hot water side sheet portion 27 and the water side sheet portion 37 is separate from the unit main body 31, and the distance between the hot water side sheet portion 27 and the water side sheet portion 37 can be finely adjusted during assembly. By doing so, the variation in valve stroke can be reduced, and the variation in pressure loss and temperature adjustment performance can also be reduced.
[0034]
The bias spring 24 and the shape memory alloy coil 28 are not arranged on the same axis but have a slight eccentricity. Thus, by not arranging the positional relationship between the shape memory alloy coil 28 and the bias spring 24 coaxially, the spool valve 29 is not parallel to the shaft but has a slight angle, and the spool In the position between the hot water side seat portion 27 and the water side seat portion 37 of the valve 29, the hot water side seat portion 27 or the water side seat portion 37 is often in contact with an oblique angle at a slight angle. The degree of freedom of movement of the spool valve is reduced. For this reason, there exists an effect which suppresses the vibration of the spool valve during water discharge. A conceptual diagram of this explanation is shown in FIG.
[0035]
A structure in which the positional relationship between the temperature-sensitive driving element and the bias is not arranged coaxially can also be applied to a conventional thermostat hot / cold mixing valve.
[0036]
【The invention's effect】
Depending on the position between the hot water channel, the water channel, the mixed water channel, the hot water side sheet part, the water side sheet part, the hot water side sheet part, the water side sheet part, it is supplied from the hot water channel, the water water channel. A spool-shaped mixing valve that determines the mixing ratio of hot and cold water, and a temperature-sensitive driving element that drives the mixing valve depending on the temperature of the hot and cold water mixture, and includes one of the hot water passage, the water passage, and the mixed water passage. A unit main body constituting a portion is disposed on an inner peripheral portion of the spool-like mixing valve, and the hot water passage and the water passage are communicated from an inner peripheral portion to an outer peripheral portion of the spool-like mixing valve, and the spool Since the outer periphery of the mixing valve communicates with the mixed water passage, the outer diameter of the spool-shaped mixing valve can be increased and the valve stroke can be reduced even with the same unit outer diameter as in the past. Temperature adjustment performance is obtained.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 shows an example of a usage situation of a hot and cold water mixing faucet incorporating a thermostatic hot and cold water mixing valve.
FIG. 2 is a front view showing an example of a thermostat hot / cold mixing tap.
FIG. 3 is a side view showing an example of a thermostat hot / cold mixing tap.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view with a cross section of an embodiment of a thermostatic hot and cold water mixing valve according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view with a cross section in another cross section.
FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the same.
FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram of a water passage configuration of the thermostat hot / cold water mixing valve of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram of a water passage configuration of a conventional thermostat hot / cold water mixing valve.
FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram of the positional relationship between the temperature sensing element and the bias spring of the thermostat hot / cold mixing valve of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view of a conventional thermostat hot / cold water mixing valve.
[Explanation of symbols]
35 ... Hot water passage 34 ... Water passage water passage 36 ... Mixed water passage water passage 27 ... Hot water side seat portion 37 ... Water side seat portion 29 ... Mixing valve 28 ... Temperature sensitive drive element 30 ... C ring ring 24 ... Bias spring

Claims (1)

  Depending on the position between the hot water channel, the water channel, the mixed water channel, the hot water side sheet part, the water side sheet part, the hot water side sheet part, the water side sheet part, it is supplied from the hot water channel, the water water channel. A spool-shaped mixing valve that determines the mixing ratio of hot and cold water, and a temperature-sensitive driving element that drives the mixing valve depending on the temperature of the hot and cold water mixture, and includes one of the hot water passage, the water passage, and the mixed water passage. A unit main body constituting a portion is disposed on an inner peripheral portion of the spool-like mixing valve, and the hot water passage and the water passage are communicated from an inner peripheral portion to an outer peripheral portion of the spool-like mixing valve, and the spool A hot and cold water mixing valve, characterized in that it is configured to communicate with a mixed water passage in the outer periphery of the mixing valve.

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