Thermostatic shower valve
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A thermostatic valve comprising:
- a body with a wall, hot and cold water inlets,a cartridge assembly, the cartridge assembly includinga mixing chamber located within the cartridge assembly, an outlet chamber defined by and located radially between a cartridge assembly wall and the body wall,a ceramic valve located within the cartridge assembly at a top of the mixing chamber and a return spring located in a bottom of the mixing chamber, the ceramic valve being moveable between closed and open positions over a range of rotation,a thermostatic motor extending in the mixing chamber and located downstream of the return spring, the thermostatic motor being axially moveable within the cartridge assemblya shuttle attached to and moved by the thermostatic motor in a reciprocating motion, the shuttle including portions at least partially defining the mixing chamber,the shuttle also being attached to the return spring located in the bottom of the mixing chamber, anda rotatable valve stem coupled to the ceramic valve and rotation of the valve stem moving the ceramic valve between the closed and open positions, the ceramic valve being coupled to the thermostatic motor whereby rotation of the ceramic valve over a portion of the range of rotation is synchronously linked to axial movement of the thermostatic motor.
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Abstract
Embodiments include thermostatic valves for showers and tubs in which the temperature is regulated by a thermostatic motor/element. Both the flow from the valve and the temperature are controlled by a rotary stem. Hot and cold water is pre-mixed by passage through the coils of a return spring into a mixing chamber and a ceramic valve at the top of the mixing chamber controls flow of mixed water from the mixing chamber into an outlet chamber where fluctuations in the water temperature are eliminated before the water is conveyed to the shower or tub.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A thermostatic valve comprising:
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a body with a wall, hot and cold water inlets, a cartridge assembly, the cartridge assembly including a mixing chamber located within the cartridge assembly, an outlet chamber defined by and located radially between a cartridge assembly wall and the body wall, a ceramic valve located within the cartridge assembly at a top of the mixing chamber and a return spring located in a bottom of the mixing chamber, the ceramic valve being moveable between closed and open positions over a range of rotation, a thermostatic motor extending in the mixing chamber and located downstream of the return spring, the thermostatic motor being axially moveable within the cartridge assembly a shuttle attached to and moved by the thermostatic motor in a reciprocating motion, the shuttle including portions at least partially defining the mixing chamber, the shuttle also being attached to the return spring located in the bottom of the mixing chamber, and a rotatable valve stem coupled to the ceramic valve and rotation of the valve stem moving the ceramic valve between the closed and open positions, the ceramic valve being coupled to the thermostatic motor whereby rotation of the ceramic valve over a portion of the range of rotation is synchronously linked to axial movement of the thermostatic motor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 19, 20)
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13. A thermostatic valve comprising:
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a body with a body wall, the body also including a hot water inlet and a cold water inlet; a cartridge assembly received within the body, the cartridge assembly including a cartridge assembly wall cooperating with the body wall to define an outlet chamber located radially between the cartridge assembly wall and the body wall, the cartridge assembly further including a mixing chamber located within the cartridge assembly; a ceramic valve located within the cartridge assembly at a top of the mixing chamber and having portions defining a passage for mixed water to the outlet chamber, the ceramic valve being moveable between closed and open positions; a thermostatic motor extending in the mixing chamber and configured to axially move within the cartridge assembly; a shuttle attached to the thermostatic motor and a return spring and moved by the thermostatic motor in a reciprocating motion, the shuttle at least partially defining the mixing chamber, the shuttle further including a first valve seat and a second valve seat, the shuttle defining an unmixed water passageway axially along a cylindrical wall of the shuttle from the first valve seat to the second valve seat, the shuttle also defining a mixed water passageway radially extending from the second valve seat and directing mixed water into a bottom of the mixing chamber, and a rotatable valve stem coupled to the ceramic valve and rotation of the valve stem moving the ceramic valve between the closed and open positions, the ceramic valve being coupled to the thermostatic motor whereby rotation of the ceramic valve over a portion of the range of rotation is synchronously linked to axial movement of the thermostatic motor. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification