Water faucet with joystick cartridge

• US 20090126811A1
• Filed: 11/15/2007
• Published: 05/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xiamen Lota International Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Xiamen Lota International Company Limited
• Inventors: Zou, Feng, Lan, Xinlu, Li, Keping
• Granted Patent: US 8,327,882 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/625.400
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 11/0787 with both the supply and the discharge passages being on the same side of the closure members F16K11/0785 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86815 Multiple inlet with single outlet

Abstract

The invention provides a water faucet including a novel joystick mixing cartridge with internal structures that provide a direct path for water to be discharged from the faucet. The faucet includes a main body portion, a discharge segment and a handle that an operator actuates to deliver water at a desired temperature through the discharge segment. The cartridge includes a housing defining an internal chamber and a lower disk positioned within the chamber. The lower disk has a cold water inlet, a hot water inlet and a mixed water outlet. An intermediate disk is positioned adjacent the lower disk and includes a recessed mixing cavity extending inward from a lowermost wall. The intermediate disk includes a dual lobe sealing element that extends radially inward from the lowermost wall to provide the mixing cavity with an arcuate configuration. An upper disk is positioned adjacent the intermediate disk and a seat is positioned adjacent the upper disk within the chamber. A joystick extends through the seat and the housing for connection with a faucet handle. When an operator actuates the handle and joystick, the intermediate disk is moved within the chamber whereby the position of the mixing cavity relative to the hot and cold water inlets and the water outlet is varied to deliver water at the desired temperature.

Claims

1. A water faucet comprising:

a faucet having a main body portion, a discharge segment and a handle that an operator actuates to deliver water at a desired temperature through the discharge segment;

a cartridge assembly positioned within the main body portion, the cartridge assembly including;

a housing defining an internal chamber;

a lower disk positioned within the chamber, the lower disk having a cold water inlet, a hot water inlet and a mixed water outlet;

an intermediate disk positioned adjacent the lower disk within the chamber, the intermediate disk having a recessed mixing cavity extending inward from a lowermost wall that slidingly contacts the lower disk, the intermediate disk further having a dual lobe sealing element that extends radially inward from the lowermost wall to provide the mixing cavity with an arcuate configuration, the intermediate disk having a diameter that is less than a diameter of the lower disk;

an upper disk positioned adjacent the intermediate disk within the chamber, the upper disk having a central aperture and at least one engaging member that operably couples the upper disk to the intermediate disk;

a seat positioned adjacent the upper disk within the chamber, the seat having a central opening;

a joystick having an shaft extending through the seat opening and through the housing for connection with handle, the joystick further having a depending actuator that is received in the upper disk aperture to operably connect the joystick to the upper disk; and

,

wherein actuation of the handle and joystick results in movement of the upper disk and the intermediate disk whereby the position of the mixing cavity relative to the hot and cold water inlets and the water outlet is varied.

2. The water faucet of claim 1, wherein the sealing element of the intermediate disk has a lowermost surface that sealingly engages one of the hot water inlet and the cold water inlet when the joystick is moved between a hot water discharge position and a cold water discharge position.

3. The water faucet of claim 1, wherein when an operator moves the handle to attain a cold water discharge position, the intermediate disk is moved relative to the lower disk such that the arcuate mixing cavity is aligned with both the cold water inlet to allow for the entry of cold water into the mixing cavity and the mixed water outlet hole of the lower disk to allow for the discharge of cold water from the mixing cavity.

4. The water faucet of claim 3, wherein in the cold water discharge position, the sealing element of the intermediate disk is positioned over the hot water inlet to prevent the entry of hot water into the arcuate mixing cavity.

5. The water faucet of claim 1, wherein when an operator moves the handle to attain a hot water discharge position, the intermediate disk is moved relative to the lower disk such that the arcuate mixing cavity is aligned with both the hot water inlet to allow for the entry of hot water into the mixing cavity and the mixed water outlet hole of the lower disk to allow for the discharge of hot water from the mixing cavity.

6. The water faucet of claim 5, wherein in the hot water discharge position, the sealing element of the intermediate disk is positioned over the cold water inlet to prevent the entry of cold water into the arcuate mixing cavity.

7. The water faucet of claim 1, wherein when an operator moves the handle to attain a warm water discharge position, the intermediate disk is moved relative to the lower disk such that the arcuate mixing cavity is aligned with (a) a portion of both the cold water and hot water inlets to allow for the entry of both cold and hot water into the mixing cavity, and (b) the water outlet hole of the lower disk to allow for the discharge of warm water from the mixing cavity.

8. The water faucet of claim 7, wherein in the warm water discharge position, the sealing element of the intermediate disk is positioned over a portion of both the cold water and hot water inlets to reduce the volumetric flow of hot and cold water into the arcuate mixing cavity.

9. The water faucet of claim 1, wherein when an operator moves the handle to attain a closed water discharge position, the intermediate disk is moved relative to the lower disk such that (a) the sealing element is positioned over both the cold water and hot water inlets to prevent the flow of water into the arcuate mixing cavity, and (b) the arcuate mixing cavity is aligned with the water outlet hole of the lower disk.

10. A water faucet comprising:

a faucet body having a main body portion, a discharge segment and a handle that an operator actuates to deliver hot, warm or cold water at a desired volume through the discharge segment;

a cartridge assembly positioned within the main body portion, the cartridge assembly including;

a housing defining an internal chamber;

a lower disk positioned within the chamber and having an X axis and Y axis that define four quadrants wherein the first and fourth quadrants are directed away from the discharge segment of the faucet body, and the second and third quadrants are directed towards the discharge segment, the lower disk having a cold water inlet in the first quadrant, a hot water inlet in the fourth quadrant and a water outlet hole in the second and third quadrants;

an intermediate disk slidingly positioned on the lower disk within the chamber, the intermediate disk having an arcuate recessed mixing cavity and a sealing element that extends radially inward from an outermost wall of the disk and into the mixing cavity, wherein the intermediate disk has a diameter less than a diameter of the lower disk whereby the intermediate disk is slidable on the lower disk within the chamber;

an upper disk having a central aperture and at least one engaging member that operably couples the upper disk to the intermediate disk;

a joystick having a shaft extending through the housing for connection with the handle, the joystick further having a depending actuator that is received in the upper disk aperture to operably connect the joystick to the upper disk and the intermediate disk; and

,

wherein actuation of the handle results in movement of the intermediate disk on the lower disk whereby the position of the mixing cavity and the sealing element relative to the hot and cold water inlets and the water outlet is varied, and wherein water at desired temperature and volume is discharged through the water outlet of the lower disk and the discharge segment of the faucet body.

11. The water faucet of claim 10, wherein the sealing element comprises a stem extending inward from the outer disk wall, the sealing element further having first and second lobes extending from the stem into the mixing cavity.

12. The water faucet of claim 11, wherein when an operator moves the handle to attain a cold water discharge position, the intermediate disk is moved relative to the lower disk such that (a) the arcuate mixing cavity is aligned with both the cold water inlet and the mixed water outlet, and (b) a periphery of the intermediate disk is coincident with a periphery of the lower disk in the third quadrant.

13. The water faucet of claim 12, wherein in the cold water discharge position, the stem and the second lobe of sealing element of the intermediate disk are positioned over the hot water inlet to prevent the entry of hot water into the arcuate mixing cavity.

14. The water faucet of claim 11, wherein when an operator moves the handle to attain a hot water discharge position, the intermediate disk is moved relative to the lower disk such that (a) the arcuate mixing cavity is aligned with both the hot water inlet and the mixed water outlet, and (b) a periphery of the intermediate disk is coincident with a periphery of the lower disk in the second quadrant.

15. The water faucet of claim 14, wherein in the hot water discharge position, the stem and first lobe of the sealing element of the intermediate disk is positioned over the cold water inlet to prevent the entry of cold water into the arcuate mixing cavity.

16. The water faucet of claim 11, wherein when an operator moves the handle to attain a warm water discharge position, the intermediate disk is moved relative to the lower disk such that (a) the arcuate mixing cavity is aligned with a portion of both the cold water and hot water inlets and the mixed water outlet, and (b) a periphery of the intermediate disk is coincident with a periphery of the lower disk in the region between the second and third quadrants.

17. The water faucet of claim 16, wherein in the warm water discharge position, the stem of the sealing element of the intermediate disk is positioned over a portion of both the cold water and hot water inlets to reduce the volumetric flow of hot and cold water into the arcuate mixing cavity.

18. The water faucet of claim 11, wherein when an operator moves the handle to attain a closed water discharge position, the intermediate disk is moved relative to the lower disk such that (a) the first lobe of the sealing element is positioned over the cold water inlet to prevent the flow of water into the mixing cavity, (b) the second lobe of the sealing element is positioned over the hot water inlet to prevent the flow of water into the mixing cavity, and (c) a periphery of the intermediate disk is coincident with a periphery of the lower disk in the region between the first and fourth quadrants.

19. The water faucet of claim 11, further comprising a base connected to the housing to enclose the internal mixing cavity, the base having an X axis and Y axis that define four quadrants wherein the first and fourth quadrants are directed away from the discharge segment of the faucet body, and the second and third quadrants are directed towards the discharge segment, the base having a cold water inlet in the first quadrant, a hot water inlet in the fourth quadrant and a mixed water outlet in the second and third quadrants.

20. A cartridge assembly for use within a water faucet, the cartridge assembly comprising:

a housing defining an internal chamber;

a lower disk positioned within the chamber and having an X axis and Y axis that define four quadrants, the lower disk having a cold water inlet in the first quadrant, a hot water inlet in the fourth quadrant and a water outlet hole in the second and third quadrants;

an intermediate disk slidingly positioned on the lower disk within the chamber, the intermediate disk having an arcuate recessed mixing cavity and a sealing element that extends radially inward from an outermost wall of the disk and into the mixing cavity, wherein the intermediate disk has a diameter less than a diameter of the lower disk whereby the intermediate disk is slidable on the lower disk within the chamber;

an upper disk having a central aperture and at least one engaging member that operably couples the upper disk to the intermediate disk;

a seat positioned adjacent the upper disk within the chamber, the seat having a central opening; and

,

a joystick having a shaft extending through the seat opening and through the housing, the joystick further having a depending actuator that is received in the upper disk aperture to operably connect the joystick to the upper disk and the intermediate disk; and

,

wherein actuation of the joystick results in movement of the upper disk and the intermediate disk whereby the position of the mixing cavity relative to the hot and cold water inlets and the water outlet hole is varied.

21. The cartridge assembly of claim 20, wherein the sealing element comprises a stem extending inward from the outer disk wall, the sealing element further having first and second lobes extending from the stem into the mixing cavity.

22. The cartridge assembly of claim 21, wherein when an operator moves the joystick to attain a cold water discharge position, the intermediate disk is moved relative to the lower disk such that (a) the arcuate mixing cavity is aligned with both the cold water inlet and the mixed water outlet of the lower disk, (b) the stem and the second lobe of the sealing element are positioned over the hot water inlet to prevent the entry of hot water into the mixing cavity, and (c) a periphery of the intermediate disk is coincident with a periphery of the lower disk in the third quadrant.

23. The cartridge assembly of claim 21, wherein when an operator moves the joystick to attain a hot water discharge position, the intermediate disk is moved relative to the lower disk such that (a) the arcuate mixing cavity is aligned with both the hot water inlet and the mixed water outlet hole of the lower disk, (b) the stem and the first lobe of sealing element are positioned over the cold water inlet to prevent the entry of cold water into the mixing cavity, and (c) a periphery of the intermediate disk is coincident with a periphery of the lower disk in the second quadrant.

24. The cartridge assembly of claim 21, wherein when an operator moves the handle to attain a warm water discharge position, the intermediate disk is moved relative to the lower disk such that (a) the arcuate mixing cavity is aligned with a portion of both the cold water and hot water inlets and the mixed water outlet, (b) the stem of the sealing element is positioned over a portion of both the cold water and hot water inlets to reduce the volumetric flow of hot and cold water into the mixing cavity, and (c) a periphery of the intermediate disk is coincident with a periphery of the lower disk in the region between the second and third quadrants.

25. The cartridge assembly of claim 21, wherein when an operator moves the handle to attain a closed water discharge position, the intermediate disk is moved relative to the lower disk such that (a) the first lobe of the sealing element is positioned over the cold water inlet to prevent the flow of water into the mixing cavity, (b) the second lobe of the sealing element is positioned over the hot water inlet to prevent the flow water into the mixing cavity, and (c) a periphery of the intermediate disk is coincident with a periphery of the lower disk in the region between the first and fourth quadrants