Thermostatic mixer device for sanitary use

• US 20080283620A1
• Filed: 04/10/2008
• Published: 11/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Masco Corporation Of Indiana (Masco Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Masco Corporation Of Indiana (Masco Corporation)
• Inventors: Knapp, Alfons
• Application Number:
  US12/082,353
• Publication Number:
  US 20080283620A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 236/12.16
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1346 with manual temperature setting means

Abstract

A thermostatic mixer device for sanitary use with a body, an inlet passage for hot water, an inlet passage for cold water, and a distribution passage for mixed water; a thermometric element installed partly within the distribution passage; a valve connected to the thermometric element and arranged so as to open or throttle, in a complementary fashion, the inlet passages, and a spring arranged so as to bias the valve; in which the spring is formed of a corrugated section. Illustratively, the spring is housed in an opening that extends peripherally around the distribution passage in which is installed the thermometric element, and this peripheral opening may constitute the internal portion of the inlet passage for the hot water.

Claims

1. A thermostatic mixer device for sanitary use comprising a body with an inlet passage for hot water, an inlet passage for cold water, and a distribution passage for mixed water;

a thermometric element installed partly inside said distribution passage;

a valve arranged so as to open or throttle, in a complementary fashion, said inlet passages, said valve being connected to the thermometric element by which it is controlled; and

a spring arranged to bias said valve in a direction opposite to the action of said thermometric element;

characterized in that said spring includes a corrugated section.

2. The thermostatic mixer device according to claim 1, characterized in that said spring is housed in an opening that extends peripherally around said distribution passage in which is installed said thermometric element.

3. The thermostatic mixer device according to claim 2, characterized in that said peripheral opening comprises an internal portion of said inlet passage for the cold water.

4. The thermostatic mixer device according to claim 2, characterized in that said peripheral opening comprises an internal portion of said inlet passage for the hot water.

5. The thermostatic mixer device according to claim 1, characterized in that said valve has a central portion which is linked to said thermometric element and which expands toward a bulb of said thermometric element, up to a diameter that closely corresponds to the adjacent portion of said bulb itself.

6. The thermostatic mixer device according to claim 1, characterized in that a ring is inserted between said valve, linked to said thermometric element, and a bulb of the thermometric element.

7. The thermostatic mixer according to claim 1, wherein said corrugated section of said spring is formed of steel.

8. A thermostatic mixer device comprising:

a body including a hot water inlet passage, a cold water inlet passage, and a mixed water distribution passage in fluid communication with said hot water inlet passage and said cold water inlet passage;

a thermostatic element at least partially received within said mixed water distribution passage;

a valve movably received within said body and operably coupled to said thermometric element to control water flow through said hot water inlet passage and said cold water inlet passage; and

a spring received within an opening extending peripherally around said distribution passage and operably coupled to said valve, said spring being configured to bias said valve in a direction opposite to the action of said thermometric element, said spring including a corrugated section.

9. The thermostatic mixer device of claim 8, wherein said corrugated section of said spring is formed of metal.

10. The thermostatic mixer device of claim 8, wherein said peripheral opening comprises an internal portion of said cold water inlet passage.

11. The thermostatic mixer device of claim 8, wherein said peripheral opening comprises an internal portion of said hot water inlet passage.

12. The thermostatic mixer device of claim 8, characterized in that said valve has a central portion which is linked to said thermometric element and which expands toward a bulb of said thermometric element, up to a diameter that closely corresponds to the adjacent portion of said bulb itself.

13. The thermostatic mixer device of claim 8, characterized in that a ring is inserted between said valve, linked to said thermometric element, and a bulb of the thermometric element.

14. The thermostatic mixer device of claim 8, wherein said corrugated section of said spring includes a ring having a plurality of undulations.