COLD/HOT WATER BALANCE VALVE WITH BURN-PROOF FUNCTIONS

• US 20130087231A1
• Filed: 10/10/2011
• Published: 04/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Paijo Co., Ltd., Ping-Jung Tung
• Original Assignee: Paijo Co., Ltd., Ping-Jung Tung
• Inventors: TUNG, Ping-Jung
• Granted Patent: US 9,016,302 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/606
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 11/048 with valve seats positioned between movable valve members
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 11/0716 with fluid passages through the valve member F16K11/0704, F16K11/0708, F16K11/0712 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/2521 Flow comparison or differential response
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86879 Reciprocating valve unit
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87684 Valve in each inlet

Abstract

A cold/hot water balance valve prevents burning or scalding of the users. The valve is accommodated in the holding space preset into a dual-temperature ceramic valve. The balance valve mainly includes a hot water stop flange, protruded from a first lateral end wall, and meshed with a first end of a moveable spool to block a hot water stream when the first end shifts towards the first lateral end wall. A minimum cold water retaining portion is protruded from the second lateral end wall. When the second end of the moveable spool shifts towards the second lateral end wall, the minimum cold water retaining portion will be abutted onto the second end of the moveable spool, such that a minimum flow gap is reserved between the second end and the second lateral end wall, allowing for constant flow of water stream through the cold water slot of the moveable spool.

Claims

1. A burning-proof cold/hot water balance valve, which is accommodated in a holding space preset into a dual-temperature ceramic valve;

said holding space has a cold water inlet and a hot water inlet arranged at interval on the bottom, a cold water outlet and a hot water outlet arranged at interval on the top, as well as a first and a second lateral end wall at both ends;

said balance valve comprising;

a fixed valve pipe, a transverse hollow pipe, having a first port opposite to the first lateral end wall, a second port opposite to the second lateral end wall, a cold water opening connected with the cold water inlet, and a hot water opening connected with the hot water inlet;

the first port is connected with the hot water outlet, and the second port connected with the cold water outlet;

a moveable spool, which is transversely assembled into the fixed valve pipe in a transverse movement state;

the moveable spool is provided with a first and a second end, of which the first end is recessed to form a hot water slot, and the second end is recessed to form a cold water slot;

the hot and cold water slots are separated by a partition;

the hot water slot is provided with a hot water punch hole connected with the hot water opening of the fixed valve pipe, and the cold water slot is provided with a cold water punch hole connected with the cold water opening of the fixed valve pipe;

a hot water stop flange, protruded from the first lateral end wall of the holding space, and meshed with the first end of the moveable spool to block off tightly hot water stream when the first end shifts towards the first lateral end wall;

a minimum cold water retaining portion, protruded from the second lateral end wall of the holding space;

when the second end of the moveable spool shifts towards the second lateral end wall, the minimum cold water retaining portion will be abutted onto the second end of the moveable spool, such that a minimum flow gap is reserved between the second end and the second lateral end wall, allowing for constant flow of water stream through the cold water slot of the moveable spool;

when the dual-temperature ceramic valve is switched to full hot water mode, the cold/hot water balance valve blocks off the hot water stream and prevent scalding;

when the dual-temperature ceramic valve is switched to full cold water mode, the cold/hot water balance valve enables continuous flow of the cold water stream.

2. The structure defined in claim 1, wherein the bottom of the dual-temperature ceramic valve includes a long-legged pedestal, at bottom of which an inlet pipe groove is set for assembly and positioning of a combined inlet pipe assembly;

the combined inlet pipe assembly has a cold water pipe and a hot water pipe;

two protruding footstands are set laterally at the bottom of the long-legged pedestal;

an embedded column is set at bottom of two protruding footstands;

of which the cold, hot water pipes have lower nozzles, which are mated closely with the upper nozzles of the inlet pipe groove and the open abutting side;

the abutting sides of the cold/hot water pipes are assembled to form a holding space for the balance valve.

3. The structure defined in claim 2, wherein the inlet pipe groove is shaped by a convex ringed frame, and anon-equilateral, anti-dull embedded groove is partially set on the convex ringed frame, such that a non-equilateral, anti-dull embedded flange is set laterally on upper nozzles of the cold/ hot water pipes of the combined inlet pipe assembly.

4. The structure defined in claim 1, wherein the hot water stop flange is of a protruding ringed body.

5. The structure defined in claim 1, wherein the minimum cold water retaining portion contains at least a bulge set on said second lateral end wall.