VARIABLE FLOW FLUID TEMPERING VALVE
First Claim
1. A fluid tempering valve, including:
- a housing defining a first fluid inlet for receiving fluid at a first temperature, said first fluid inlet being in fluid communication with a spaced-apart first fluid port, and a second fluid inlet for receiving fluid at a second temperature higher than said first temperature, said second fluid inlet being in fluid communication with a spaced-apart second fluid port;
first valve means for receiving fluid from said first and second fluid inlets and mixing said fluid to maintain a preselected temperature;
second valve means for receiving fluid from said first and second fluid ports and mixing said fluid to maintain a preselected temperature;
bypass means for directing mixed fluid from said first valve means to said second valve means;
third valve means responsive to the flow rate through said first valve means, said third valve means for blocking flow communication between said first fluid inlet and said first fluid port, and between said second fluid inlet and said second fluid port, when said flow rate is less than a preselected value, and said third valve means permitting fluid communication from said first fluid inlet to said first fluid port, and from said second fluid inlet to said second fluid port, when said flow rate is equal to or greater than said preselected value.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A tempering valve is connected to hot and cold water supplies. The tempering valve has first and second thermal valves, each of which mixes hot and cold water flows to produce a tempered flow at a selected temperature the mixed flow from the first thermal valve bypasses through the second thermal valve. A small valve assembly is responsive to the flow rate therethrough. At low flow rates, direct hot and cold water flow paths to the second thermal valve are blocked. At or above a selected transition flow rate, the small valve assembly opens to permit direct hot and cold water flows from hot and cold water inlets to the second thermal valve. The tempering valve may include a failure protection valve which shuts off all flow in case of a cold water supply failure.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A fluid tempering valve, including:
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a housing defining a first fluid inlet for receiving fluid at a first temperature, said first fluid inlet being in fluid communication with a spaced-apart first fluid port, and a second fluid inlet for receiving fluid at a second temperature higher than said first temperature, said second fluid inlet being in fluid communication with a spaced-apart second fluid port;
first valve means for receiving fluid from said first and second fluid inlets and mixing said fluid to maintain a preselected temperature;
second valve means for receiving fluid from said first and second fluid ports and mixing said fluid to maintain a preselected temperature;
bypass means for directing mixed fluid from said first valve means to said second valve means;
third valve means responsive to the flow rate through said first valve means, said third valve means for blocking flow communication between said first fluid inlet and said first fluid port, and between said second fluid inlet and said second fluid port, when said flow rate is less than a preselected value, and said third valve means permitting fluid communication from said first fluid inlet to said first fluid port, and from said second fluid inlet to said second fluid port, when said flow rate is equal to or greater than said preselected value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A tempering valve, including:
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a housing defining;
first and second spaced-apart bores;
a cold fluid inlet for receiving a fluid at a first temperature, said cold fluid inlet having a cold fluid check valve disposed therein which allows flow from said cold fluid inlet to said first bore but prevents flow in the opposite direction;
a hot fluid inlet for receiving a fluid at a second temperature greater than said first temperature, said hot fluid inlet having a hot fluid check valve disposed therein which allows flow from said hot fluid inlet to said first bore but prevents flow in the opposite direction;
a hot fluid port spaced-apart from said hot fluid inlet and connected in flow communication with said first and second bores;
a cold fluid port spaced-apart from said cold fluid inlet and connected in flow communication with said first and second bores;
an outlet port; and
a bypass passage connecting said first and second bores;
a small valve assembly disposed in said first bore, including;
an outer sleeve having upper and lower ends and being movable between a closed position wherein fluid flow is blocked from said first fluid inlet to said first fluid port, and from said second fluid inlet to said second fluid port, and an open position wherein fluid flow is permitted from said first fluid inlet to said first fluid port, and from said second fluid inlet to said second fluid port;
a first thermal valve disposed in said outer sleeve, said small thermal valve operative to control the relative proportions of fluid flows from said hot and cold water inlets to said bypass passage for maintaining a preselected fluid temperature; and
a large valve assembly disposed in said first bore, including a second thermal valve, said second thermal valve operative to control the relative proportions of flow from said hot and cold water ports to said outlet port for maintaining a preselected fluid temperature;
wherein said small valve assembly moves to said closed position when the flow therethrough is less than a preselected rate, and said small valve assembly moves to said open position when the flow therethrough is equal to or greater than said preselected rate, and wherein the flow from said first thermal valve passes from said bypass passage to said outlet port through said second thermal valve regardless of the position of said small valve assembly. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification