METERING MIXING FAUCET

• US 20090044865A1
• Filed: 10/10/2008
• Published: 02/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ZURN Water LLC (Zurn Elkay Water Solutions Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Zurn Industries LLC (Zilco Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gustafson, John R., Thorp, Geoffrey D., Migliore, Michael F.
• Granted Patent: US 8,555,922 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/1
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 11/0856 having all the connecting conduits situated in more than one plane perpendicular to the axis of the plug
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 21/10 with hydraulic brake cylinder acting on the closure member
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0318 Processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86815 Multiple inlet with single outlet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86823 Rotary valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87692 With common valve operator

Abstract

A faucet includes a body with a first fluid inlet, a second fluid inlet, an outlet and a neck portion with a central cavity defined therein, a mixing chamber positioned within the central cavity of the neck portion of the body, a timing mechanism coupled to the mixing chamber and an operating handle coupled to the timing mechanism that is movable along a longitudinal axis from a closed position to an open position. The mixing chamber is rotatable about the longitudinal axis and includes a first inlet port and a second inlet port in fluid communication with the first and second fluid inlets of the body, respectively, and an outlet port in fluid communication with the outlet of the body. The operating handle is rotated about the longitudinal axis to determine a fluid temperature and pressed down along the longitudinal axis to the open position, thereby causing fluid flow through the outlet of the body and, upon release of the operating handle, the timing mechanism causes the operating handle to return to the closed position after a predetermined period of time, thereby stopping fluid flow through the outlet of the body.

Claims

1. A faucet comprising:

a body with a first fluid inlet, a second fluid inlet, an outlet and a neck portion with a central cavity defined therein;

a mixing chamber positioned within the central cavity of the neck portion of the body which is rotatable about a longitudinal axis, the mixing chamber including a first inlet port and a second inlet port in fluid communication with the first and second fluid inlets of the body, respectively, and an outlet port in fluid communication with the outlet of the body;

a timing mechanism coupled to the mixing chamber; and

an operating handle coupled to the timing mechanism that is movable along the longitudinal axis from a closed position to an open position,

wherein the operating handle is rotated about the longitudinal axis to determine a fluid temperature and pressed down along the longitudinal axis to the open position, thereby causing fluid flow through the outlet of the body and, upon release of the operating handle, the timing mechanism causes the operating handle to return to the closed position after a predetermined period of time, thereby stopping fluid flow through the outlet of the body.

2. The faucet of claim 1, wherein the first inlet port is provided about 180°

apart from the second inlet port on the mixing chamber.

3. The faucet of claim 1, wherein the rotation of the operating handle about the longitudinal axis produces rotation of the mixing chamber about the longitudinal axis causing the area of the first inlet port relative to the second inlet port to change, thereby changing a temperature of fluid flow from the outlet of the body.

4. The faucet of claim 1, wherein the first fluid inlet is coupled to a source of hot water and the second fluid inlet is coupled to a source of cold water.

5. The faucet of claim 1, wherein the mixing chamber includes a first fluid seal and a second fluid seal to seal the first inlet port, the second inlet port and the outlet port to the body.

6. The faucet of claim 5, wherein the first fluid seal and the second fluid seal are O-rings.

7. The faucet of claim 1, wherein the timing mechanism includes a timing cartridge and an actuator assembly.

8. The faucet of claim 1, further comprising a ring member positioned within the central cavity of the neck portion to stabilize the mixing chamber within the central cavity.

9. The faucet of claim 7, wherein the actuator assembly includes a biasing member that forces the operating handle to the closed position after the operating handle has been released.

10. A method of adjusting a temperature of a dispensed fluid, the method comprising the steps of:

a) providing a faucet comprising;

a body with a first fluid inlet, a second fluid inlet, an outlet and a neck portion with a central cavity defined therein;

a mixing chamber positioned within the central cavity of the neck portion of the body which is rotatable about a longitudinal axis, the mixing chamber including a first inlet port and a second inlet port in fluid communication with the first and second fluid inlets of the body, respectively, and an outlet port in fluid communication with the outlet of the body;

a timing mechanism coupled to the mixing chamber; and

an operating handle coupled to the timing mechanism that is movable along the longitudinal axis from a closed position to an open position;

b) rotating the operating handle about the longitudinal axis to determine a fluid temperature;

c) applying a downward force on the operating handle along the longitudinal axis to move the operating handle into the open position, thereby causing fluid flow through the outlet of the body; and

d) releasing the operating handle, thereby causing the timing mechanism to return the operating handle to the closed position after a predetermined period of time which stops fluid flow through the outlet of the body.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the first inlet port is provided about 180°

apart from the second inlet port on the mixing chamber.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein rotating the operating handle about the longitudinal axis produces rotation of the mixing chamber about the longitudinal axis causing the area of the first inlet port relative to the second inlet port to change, thereby changing a temperature of fluid flow from the outlet of the body.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the first fluid inlet is coupled to a source of hot water and the second fluid inlet is coupled to a source of cold water.

14. A faucet assembly comprising:

a body;

a mixing chamber positioned within the body, the mixing chamber including a first inlet port, a second inlet port and an outlet port;

a timing mechanism coupled to the mixing chamber; and

an operating handle coupled to the timing mechanism,

wherein the operating handle is rotated about a longitudinal axis to determine a fluid temperature and pressed down along the longitudinal axis to an open position, thereby causing fluid flow through the outlet port of the mixing chamber and, upon release of the operating handle, the timing mechanism causes the operating handle to return to a closed position after a predetermined period of time, thereby stopping fluid flow through the outlet port of the mixing chamber.

15. The faucet assembly of claim 14, wherein the first inlet port is provided about 180°

apart from the second inlet port on the mixing chamber.

16. The faucet assembly of claim 14, wherein the rotation of the operating handle about the longitudinal axis produces rotation of the mixing chamber about the longitudinal axis causing the area of the first inlet port relative to the second inlet port to change, thereby changing a temperature of fluid flow from the outlet port of the mixing chamber.

17. The faucet assembly of claim 14, wherein the mixing chamber includes a first fluid seal and a second fluid seal to seal the first inlet port, the second inlet port and the outlet port to the body.

18. The faucet assembly of claim 17, wherein the first fluid seal and the second fluid seal are O-rings.

19. The faucet assembly of claim 14, wherein the timing mechanism includes a timing cartridge and an actuator assembly.

20. The faucet assembly of claim 19, wherein the actuator assembly includes a biasing member that forces the operating handle to the closed position after the operating handle has been released.