MIXING VALVE
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A valve assembly for controlling water flow and reducing noise in a faucet, the valve assembly including:
- a valve body including a hot water inlet, a cold water inlet, and an outlet;
a lower disc supported by the valve body and including a first port communicating with the hot water inlet, a second port communicating with the cold water inlet, and a third port communicating with the outlet;
an upper disc having an upper surface and a lower surface, the lower surface configured to communicate with the lower disc to define a closed flow channel having a width and a depth, the flow channel providing selective communication between the first and second ports and the third port, the width inversely varying with the depth in a first portion of the flow channel extending between each of the first and second ports and the third port; and
a stem operably coupled to the upper surface of the upper disc and configured for selective pivotal movement about orthogonal axes extending within a plane parallel to the upper disc.
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Abstract
The present invention relates generally to fluid control valves and, more particularly, to a mixing valve for use within a faucet.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A valve assembly for controlling water flow and reducing noise in a faucet, the valve assembly including:
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a valve body including a hot water inlet, a cold water inlet, and an outlet; a lower disc supported by the valve body and including a first port communicating with the hot water inlet, a second port communicating with the cold water inlet, and a third port communicating with the outlet; an upper disc having an upper surface and a lower surface, the lower surface configured to communicate with the lower disc to define a closed flow channel having a width and a depth, the flow channel providing selective communication between the first and second ports and the third port, the width inversely varying with the depth in a first portion of the flow channel extending between each of the first and second ports and the third port; and a stem operably coupled to the upper surface of the upper disc and configured for selective pivotal movement about orthogonal axes extending within a plane parallel to the upper disc. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A valve assembly for controlling water flow and reducing noise in a faucet, the valve assembly including:
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a valve body including a hot water inlet, a cold water inlet, and an outlet; a lower disc supported by the valve body and including a first port corresponding to the hot water inlet, a second port corresponding to the cold water inlet, and a third port corresponding to the outlet; an upper disc having a lower surface positioned in sealing communication with the lower disc and including an inner channel edge and an outer channel edge defining a closed channel between the first, second, and third ports, the closed channel having an upstream portion and a downstream portion between each of the first and third ports and the second and third ports, the upstream portion including a width and a depth varying inversely to reduce downstream flow restrictions, the closed channel extending around a center portion of the lower surface and configured to mix hot water from the first port and cold water from the second port before reaching the third port, the center portion of the lower surface configured to selectively seal the first port and the second port from the third port; and a stem operably coupled to the upper disc and configured for pivotal movement about orthogonal axes extending within a plane parallel to the upper disc. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A valve assembly for controlling water flow and reducing noise in a faucet, the valve assembly including:
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a valve body including a hot water inlet, a cold water inlet, and an outlet; a lower disc supported by the valve body and including a first port corresponding to the hot water inlet, a second port corresponding to the cold water inlet, and a third port corresponding to the outlet; an upper disc having an upper surface and a lower surface, the lower surface positioned in communication with the lower disc and including an inner channel edge and an outer channel edge defining a closed flow channel having a width and a depth, the flow channel providing selective communication between the first and second ports and the third port, the width inversely varying with the depth in a first portion of the flow channel between each of the first and second ports and third port, the closed peripheral channel configured to mix hot water from the first port and cold water from the second port before reaching the third port; and a stem assembly including a ball supported for pivotal movement about a first axis and a second axis orthogonal to the first axis, a stem extending upwardly from the ball, and a knuckle extending downwardly from the ball and operably coupled to the upper surface of the upper disc, the stem assembly providing pivotal movement about the first axis and the second axis to change a water flow rate through the first, second, and third ports. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification