US1843390A - Mixing valve - Google Patents

Description

F5112, 1932. w. E. FOSTER 1,343,390

MIXING VALVE Filed Nov. 23, 1927 To Tub I N VENTOR.

W E.Fos13er,

A TTORNE Y.

Patented Feb. 2, 1932 PATENT oFFIi WILLIAM E. rosrnn, or nnw nnnronn, MASSACHUSETTS j MIXING VALVE 1 Application filed November'23, 1927. Serial No; 235,209.

The invention relates to improvements in mixing valves, such as are used in bathroom faucets particularly, although it is variously applicable, as will be understood, and the object of the invention is to provide a new and simple construction in a mixing valve adapted to modulate the temperature of'water discharged by varying, as desired, the proportion of hot and Goldwater supplied to the valve from respective sources; and at the same time additionally control the volume or force of water discharged, by novel means.

The appliance has particular utility in a bath-tub faucet on which shower or other spray attachments are used, and is also useful as a valve for a permanently installed shower, or needle-sprays of various kinds, attachable or permanent.

The appliance meets the need for a means of regulating the source of'the jet projected from a shower device, which is difficult with many of the mixing devices available without interfering with the temperature adjustment. My appliance will also be found useful on kitchen sink faucets where spray attachments are used for washing dishes.

Additional objects, advantages and features of invention reside in the construction,

arrangement and combination of parts, as

Figure 1 of the drawings is an elevational view of a faucet'constructed in accordance with my invention,

' Figure-2 1s a top view thereof. 7 Figure 3 1s a vertical cross sectional view of the valve.

There is illustrated a valve case having a central tapered bore'extending from right to left, receiving a plug valve 38 on which a handle 17 is provided at the large right hand yond a short distance, this projected portion being'threaded and receiving a cap-32 screwed thereon and fixed onthe plug. The cap encloses and confines a spring 33 against the end of the case, by which the plug is yieldingly drawn to a good seat in the case. The 7 cap may include a packing recess and gland around the stem'22, as shown. 7

The case is 7 formed with four centrally located circumferentially spaced ports 41-42-4344 respectively. Ports 41 and 42 are diametrically-opposite each other and connected to respective'cold and hot water conduit branches 13 of the case, whileports 43 and 44 are similarly. located with respect to each other on a line at right angles to that-of the ports 4142. From port 44 a downward discharge spout is formed on the case, while from the'port, 43 a conduit branch is formed on the upper side of the case between the branches 13, this third branch being adapted to'be connected to a shower outlet, forwhich' I purpose it is intended.

The distancebetweenthe ports of the case is in each instance approximately twice the width of the ports. 1 The plug 38 is'tubular and formed with three ports, numbered 35, 36 and 37 respectively, circumferentially spaced in 'ar plane with the ports of the case. The

distance between the ports 35 and 36 is ap- 1 proximately degrees, and is such that with V the port 35 alined with cold water. port 41 ofthe case, the port'36 willextend'clockwise beyond the port 43 of the case, the side of the port 36 toward port35 being advanced similarlyabout halfway across the port 43 in a clockwise direction, as shown'in' Figure 3. The port 36 is considerably wider than the port 35, while port 37 is of the same width as port 35;- The distance between ports 37 and Y 35 is greater than that between ports 35, and 36, so that whenthe ports 35 and 36 are in the positions last named with respect to ports 41 and 43 of the case, port 44 will becovered and port 37 located a distance counter clock- I wise from port 44 equal to, the opening of the port 43. Consequently, in clockwise rotation of the plug from thisposition, spray port 43 willtbe closed when tub-port 44 isopened.

The distance between ports 36 and 37 is suf- T ficiently great to close port 42 during movement of the plug for a short distance more than sufficient to open the port 44 as last mentioned, but on further movement port 42 will be opened while port 41 is open substantially. lVith the ports positioned as in Figure 3, port 8'7 is immediately adjacent port 42, so that counter clockwise rotation of the plug will begin admission of hot water while ports 35 and 41 are still in substantial lap position. On counter clockwise movement of the plug until port 42 is closed, the material at the opposite side of the plug will. also close port 41, so that both hot and cold water are shut oil.

The interior of the plug is cylindrical and smoothly finished, and has longitudinally slidable and rotatable therein a reciprocating valve 18, adapted to be projected longitudi nally over the ports of the plug or withdrawn from the ports. This valve 18 is operated by means of'an integrally or otherwise connected screw stem 22 which has threaded engagement in the cap 32 and is rotated by means of a handle 34. v

Operation of the handle 1? secures adjustment of the temperatures of flowing water as desired, after which, by operation of the handle 34 the quantity and force of the jets or streams ejected is determined.

The construction shown enables location of the temperature controlling handle at an extreme opposite side of the appliance from the handle by which the volume is controlled, and permits manipulation of one without liability of casual operation of the other, yet permitting simultaneous operation of the two very conveniently, when thatis desired.

With the parts in the position shown in full lines, it will be seen that cold water will be admitted to the port 43, and continued movement of the plug counter clockwise will finally admit hot water from the port 42, a cutting oil" of col-d water beginning as soon as opening of the plug port 37 occurs. The port 36 of the plug will remain in lap relation to the port 34 throughout this full move ment. The plug is rotatable to bring the port 36 at the opposite side of the device from that shown, in which event operation for supply of water to the port 44 may be secured with heat-modulating function, in accordance with the operation above described in relation to port 43.

It will be seen that an extremely simple construction of valve is provided, having various advantages desired in such appliances, liable in a minimum degree to derangement by wear or rough usage, its operation being readily understood by persons without expert knowledge, and the device is readily adapted to permit readily replacement of parts when required.

The valve is adapted to use to divert water from the ordinary bath tub outlet and to modulate the temperature and volume for each of these outlets, by the simplest opera tions. It is an advantage that when a desirable temperature of water is ascertained for the bath outlet, positioning of the handle 17 at a diametrically opposite position will give the same condition for the spray outlet. It thus involves three functions 1, temperature regulation 2, separate volume control, and 3, selective delivery at difierent points, by the use of the same two valve members I claim:

A mixing valve for the purposes described consisting of a case, a tubular plug movable therein extending beyond both ends of the case, said plug and case having ports adapted to lap variously for variable mixing of two liquids admitted through respective ports of the case and for discharge of the mixture, a valve longitudinally movable in the plug to limit flow of liquid through the ports of the plug, said plug being conical, and open at its smaller end, a cap threaded on and closing the small end of the plug,a spring confined between the cap and case, said valve in the plug having a stem movable in and projecting through the cap, the plug having a handle at its large end, and a handle on the stem.

In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature.

WILLIAM E. FOSTER.

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