WO2006090426A1

WO2006090426A1 - Thermostatic valve

Info

Publication number: WO2006090426A1
Application number: PCT/IT2006/000100
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alberto Filipponi
Original assignee: Opus Engineering S.R.L.
Priority date: 2005-02-25
Filing date: 2006-02-23
Publication date: 2006-08-31
Also published as: ITAN20050009A1

Abstract

The present invention refers to a device used to adjust the flow and mixture of hot and cold water in faucets with thermostatic valve, in which the said thermostatic valve is used both for the automatic adjustment of the water temperature and for the manual adjustment of the water flow delivered by the faucet.

Description

THERMOSTATIC VALVE

Description

The present patent application for industrial invention refers to a device used to adjust the flow and mixture of hot and cold water in faucets with thermostatic valve. In sanitary ware, such as basins, showers or bathtubs, the traditional pair of hot and cold water faucets is commonly replaced by a single faucet with mixing valve, which delivers water with flow and temperature selected by the user.

This type of mixers-faucets is generally provided with a lever that can be rotated right and left, as well as pushed up and down. The user can rotate the lever in either direction to adjust the water temperature, while maintaining the same water flow; while maintaining the same water temperature, the user can also push the lever up or down to adjust the water flow, which reaches the maximum value in the upper dead point at end-of-stroke, while the lower dead point is reached when the faucet is closed.

In addition to these types of faucets, technically defined as "mechanical mixer faucets" with manually actuated mixing valve, the market also offers faucets with thermostatic mixing valve that automatically maintains a constant temperature value as selected by the user. According to the valve operating principle, the two water flows, i.e. cold and hot water, are intercepted simultaneously and adjusted in such a way that the flow of mixed water has always the same temperature, regardless of the opening level of the faucet. This type of faucets is usually provided with one manoeuvring lever, i.e. the lever used to open and close the faucet, which is also used to adjust the water flow delivered by the faucet: a graduated rotating ring is normally provided next to the manoeuvring lever to set the desired temperature value. In view of the above, the present invention intends to simplify the structure and reduce the cost of this second type of faucets, provided with thermostatic mixing valve, which is always combined with a separate element specifically designed to adjust the water flow. In other words, all known models of faucets with thermostatic mixing valve are currently provided with two separate valves, actuated by separate manoeuvring elements, that is to say the automatically actuated mixing valve and the manually actuated flow adjustment valve. One of these faucets of known type is disclosed in the Italian patents BS 2000 U 0000084 and BS 2002 U 000118.

The purpose of the present invention is to improve the said faucets of known type, in such a way that the same valve can be used to mix the water and adjust the water flow, without altering the structural configuration and operating mode of the known and universally adopted thermostatic valves. In other words, the purpose of the present invention is to devise a solution that allows to use the thermostatic mixing valve of faucets of known type with thermostatic mixing valve of known type both for the automatic adjustment of the water temperature and for the manual adjustment of the water flow delivered by the faucet. Another purpose of the present invention is to obtain a device having the aforementioned functional characteristics and a structural configuration with interchangeable cartridge, suitable to be housed inside the body of the said "mechanical mixer faucets", thus replacing the mixing cartridge that is normally mounted inside the body of the latter type of faucets. The aforementioned purposes have been achieved by the device of the invention, whose characteristics are illustrated in detail in the following claims. For purposes of clarity the description of the device of the invention continues with reference to the enclosed drawings, which are intended for purposes of illustration only and not in a limiting sense, whereby: - fig. 1 is a cross-section with an axial plane of the device of the invention, in the embodiment integrated inside the faucet body and with flow adjustment valve in maximum flow position; - fig. 2 is the same as fig. 1 , except for the fact that the flow adjustment valve is in closed position;

- fig. 3 is a cross-section with an axial plane of the device of the invention, in which the two half-bodies that form the valve-body are shown in detached position;

- fig. 4 is a cross-section with an axial plane of the device of the invention in the embodiment with interchangeable cartridge, in which the flow is adjusted in maximum position;

- fig. 5 is the same as fig. 4, except for the fact that the flow adjustment valve is in closed position;

- fig. 6 is a cross-section with an axial plane of the device of the invention in the embodiment with cartridge, in which the two half-bodies that form the valve-body are shown in detached position;

- fig. 7 is a cross-section with an axial plane of the cartridge case; - fig. 8 is a cross-section of the device of the invention in the embodiment with cartridge, installed inside the body of a traditional mechanical mixer;

- figs. 9 and 10 are respectively a cross-section and a plan view of the housing in the body of a traditional mixer to house the mixing cartridge;

- fig. 11 is a sequence of diagrammatic views that show the interchangeability of the thermostatic mixing cartridge of the invention with the simple mixing cartridge normally used in mechanical mixer faucets. With reference to the enclosed figures, the device of the invention comprises a valve-body (C) with an axial conduit and a mixing and delivering chamber (1) in lower position, being in communication with the inlets (2 and 3) of cold and hot water, where the supply conduits of cold water (AF) and hot water (AC) end.

The inlets (2 and 3) consist in two thin annular gaps situated at different height on the lateral surface of the body (C) and separated by an intermediate collar (4), which is free to slide axially in both directions, until it reaches the two opposite end-of-stroke positions, in which the upper inlet gap (2), which corresponds to cold water, or the lower inlet gap (3), which corresponds to hot water, is alternatively closed. The collar (4) is associated with a thermostatic bulb (5) housed inside the mixing chamber (1) and free to slide axially, despite of the opposing action exerted by an opposite coaxial pair of helicoidal springs (6 and 7), the first spring (6) being situated inside the mixing chamber (1) and acting directly below the bulb (5), the second spring (7) being situated in higher position than the inlet gap (2) and acting above a cursor (8), which acts as stopper for the pin (5a) of the bulb (5).

The pin (5a) is partially inserted inside the bulb (5) and the section that projects from the bulb (5) has a higher length in case of higher temperature of the mixed water (AM) in which the bulb (5) is immersed.

The operation of this thermostatic valve is simple and totally traditional. The inlet section of each inlet gap (2 and 3) depends on the position of the collar (4) in intermediate position between them, which reduces the inlet section of the upper inlet gap (2) during the rising travel, with an equal increase of the lower inlet gap (3), and vice versa during the descending travel.

The rising or descending travel of the collar (4) depends on the dilatation of the thermostatic bulb (5), to which the collar (4) is associated; therefore, when the temperature of the water (AM) mixed in the chamber (1) deviates from the set value, the length of the bulb (5) changes and consequently the collar (4) is axially moved (4) in order to restore the set temperature value, conveniently reducing the section of one of the two inlet gaps (2 and 3) and increasing the other one. In brief, it can be stated that the temperature is automatically adjusted by the collar (4) associated with the thermostatic bulb (5).

The device of the invention also comprises traditional elements used to set the temperature of the water delivered by the faucet.

The said elements consist in a knob (9) associated with a rotating shaft (10), which- penetrates in the upper compartment (V) of the valve-body (C); the rotation of the shaft (10) determines the translation of the cursor (8), which stops the pin (5a) of the bulb (5), so that the stop position of the bulb (5) inside the mixing chamber (1) can be adjusted with the knob (9). Evidently, each stop position of the bulb (5) corresponds to a stop position of the collar (4), which, as illustrated above, corresponds to a specific temperature value of the water delivered by the faucet, determined by the mixture between the flow of hot water (AC) passing through the lower inlet gap (3) and the flow of cold water (AF) passing through the upper inlet gap

(2).

In order to adjust the water flow delivered by the said models of faucets with thermostatic valve, specific elements are currently used to intercept the two water flows, i.e. hot and cold water, According to the model, the said elements are situated upstream the inlet gaps (2 and 3) or downstream the mixing chamber (1).

As mentioned earlier, in the valve of the invention the elements used for automatic temperature adjustment are also used as adjustment elements of the water flow. To that end, the valve-body (C) is made of two parts, a lower half-body (11) with the mixing chamber (1) and an upper half-body (12) with the cursor (8), where both the knob used to adjust the water flow and the knob used to select the temperature of the mixed water (AM) are situated.

The upper half-body (12) is hermetically tightened above the lower half-body (11 ) by means of a ring (13), which leaves the upper half-body (12) free to rotate around the longitudinal axis X-X of the valve-body (C).

The peculiarity of the device of the invention consists in the fact that the upper half-body (12) comprises an internal sleeve (12a), which slides axially, with the lower border (12b) above the upper border of the collar (4). In other words, the upper inlet gap (2) is bordered by the upper border of the collar (4) and by the lower border (12b) of the sliding sleeve (12a), while the lower inlet gap (3) is limited by the lower border of the collar (4) and by the opening (1 b) of the mixing chamber (1).

The sliding sleeve (12a) is free to translate axially upwards and downwards, between two end-of-stroke positions, which correspond, respectively, to the farthest or closest position between the lower border (12b) and the border of the opening (1 b) of the mixing chamber (1 ) . More exactly, the end-of-stroke position during the approaching travel is given by the collar (4), which is tightened between the lower border (12b) of the sliding sleeve (12a) and the opening (1b) of the mixing chamber (1 ), with consequent total closing of both inlet gaps (2 and 3), as shown in fig. 2. The top section of the upper half-body (12) has an external grooved profile (14) coupled with an external knob (14a), which is used by the user to drag the upper half-body (12) into rotation and consequently adjust the flow of the mixed water (AM) delivered by the faucet, until the maximum opening or total closing position. The rotation of the upper half-body (12) determines the axial translation of the sliding sleeve (12a), which is characterised by internal threading (15) and external grooved profile (16).

A threaded section (15a) of the half-body (12) is screwed into the internal threading (15), while the grooved profile (16) is coupled with a grooved profile (16a) situated in internal position in the lower half-body (11 ).

The coupling between the two grooved profiles (16 and 16a) forces the sliding sleeve (12a) to translate axially with respect to the lower half-body (11) until the threaded section (15a) rotates inside the threading (15). In this first embodiment of the device of the invention the lower half-body (11 ) is integrated into the faucet body (CR), which also contains the supply conduits of cold water (AF) and hot water (AC).

Although no reference is made to the seals shown in the enclosed figures, seals are evidently provided where necessary and experts of the art need no suggestions to identify the positions where the said seals are to be placed. As mentioned in the premise, another purpose of the present invention is to devise a special version of the device of the invention, with structural configuration with interchangeable cartridge, suitable to be housed inside the body of the said "mechanical mixer faucets", thus replacing the mixing cartridge that is normally mounted inside the body of the latter type of faucets.

This description continues with reference to figures 4 to 9, which show the device of the invention with cartridge configuration. Firstly, it must be said that many of the aforementioned parts are used in the cartridge embodiment, and therefore they will be identified with the same numeral, omitting the description of their configuration and operation, which remain unchanged. The interchangeable cartridge (100) comprises a basically cylindrical case that houses the upper half-body (12) and the lower half-body (110), which contain the thermostatic bulb (5) with collar (4) and spring (6) and the inlet conduits of hot water (AC) and cold water (AF), together with the outlet conduit of mixed water (AM). The cartridge (100) is composed of a cylindrical shell (101) on which the lower half-body (110) is inserted from below to cooperate with the upper half- body (12) inserted from above into the same shell (101 ) and hermetically tightened with a ring (13) characterised by the grooved profile (16a) designed to be coupled with the grooved profile (16) of the sliding sleeve (12a) incorporated inside the upper half-body (12).

The base of the lower half-body (110) is provided with a series of three holes, having the same diameter and location as the three holes situated on the bottom of the cartridges that are normally mounted in mechanical mixers. With reference to figures 8, 9 and 10, in mechanical mixers the inlet of hot and cold water together with the outlet of mixed water are located on the bottom of the mixing cartridge, which is exactly housed inside the body of the mechanical mixer (CMM), which contains a housing (S) with a corresponding series of three holes on the bottom:

- the inlet hole of hot water (FAC) - the inlet hole of cold water (FAF)

- the outlet hole of mixed water (FAM).

As shown in fig. 11 , the housing (S) can alternatively and indifferently contain the cartridge (100) or a cartridge (100a) of the type used in mechanical mixers. Numeral (140) indicates the ring used to fix the cartridge (110) to the body of the mechanical mixer (CMM).

Claims

1 ) Device used to adjust water flow and mixture in faucets with thermostatic valve, of the type comprising a valve-body (C) with an upper half-body (12) and a lower half-body (11 , 110), in which a thermostatic mixing valve of known type operates, being formed by a thermostatic bulb (5) housed inside a mixing chamber (1 ) and free to translate axially, which supports a collar (4) that simultaneously intercepts the flow of hot water (AC) and cold water (AF), dividing the inlet gap (2) of cold water (AF) in order to increase or reduce the inlet gap (3) of hot water (AC), in such a way that the flow of mixed water (AM) delivered by the faucet maintains the temperature value set by means of a knob (9) coupled with a shaft (10) located on the upper half-body (12) designed to actuate a cursor (8) that acts as stop for the pin (5a) of the bulb (5), device being characterised in that the upper half-body (12) comprises an internal sleeve (12a), whose lower border (12b) is higher than the upper border of the collar (4) and translates axially, by means of an actuation knob (14a), between an upper dead point and a lower dead point, where it touches the collar (4), which is tightened between the lower border (12b) of the sliding sleeve (12a) and the opening (1 b) of the mixing chamber (1 ), consequently closing both inlet gaps (2 and 3).

2) Device as defined in claim 1 , characterised in that the top section of the upper half-body (12) has an external grooved profile (14) coupled with an external knob (14a), whose rotation determines the axial translation of the sliding sleeve (12a).

3) Device as defined in the above claim, characterised in that the sliding sleeve (12a) is provided with internal threading (15) and external grooved profile (16), it being provided that a threaded section (15a) of the upper half- body (12) is screwed into the internal threading (15), while the grooved profile (16) is coupled with a grooved profile (16a) situated inside the lower half-body (11 , 110); it also being provided that the upper half-body (12) is hermetically tightened above the lower half-body (11 , 110) by means of a ring (13) that leaves the upper half-body (12) free to rotate around the longitudinal axis X-X of the valve-body (C ).

5) Device as defined in one or more claims from 1 to 3, characterised in that the lower half-body (110) is incorporated inside a cartridge (100) that comprises a basically cylindrical case, which houses the upper half-body (12) and the lower half-body (110), which contains the thermostatic bulb (5) with collar (4) and the inlet conduits of hot water (AC) and cold water (AF), together with the outlet conduit of mixed water (AM).

6) Device as defined in claim 5, characterised in that the cartridge (100) is composed of a cylindrical shell (101) on which the lower half-body (110) is inserted from below to cooperate with the upper half-body (12) inserted from above into the same shell (101) and hermetically tightened with a ring (13) characterised by the grooved profile (16a) designed to be coupled with the grooved profile (16) of the sliding sleeve (12a) incorporated inside the upper half-body (12). 7) Device as defined in claim 5, characterised in that the base of the lower half-body (110) is provided with a series of three holes that correspond to the inlet conduits of hot water (AC) and cold water (AF), as well as to the outlet conduit of mixed water (AM), it being provided that the said series of holes has the same diameter and location as the three holes (FAC, FAF and FAM) situated on the bottom of the housing (S) in the body (CMM) of mechanical mixers to house an ordinary mixing cartridge (100a) without thermostatic valve.