THERMOSENSITIVE FLOW CONTROL DEVICE

• US 3,856,206 A
• Filed: 07/26/1973
• Issued: 12/24/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Edward H. Bell, John R. Bell
• Original Assignee: Edward H. Bell, John R. Bell
• Inventors: Bell, Edward H., Bell, John R.
• Primary Examiner(s): King, Lloyd L.
• Application Number:
  US05/382,734
• Time in Patent Office: 516 Days
• Field of Search: 239/67,75,456,460 137/468 236/93
• US Class Current: 239/75
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/10 responsive to temperature or viscosity of liquid or other fluent material discharged
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/041 having provisions against scalding, e.g. temperature limiting devices, external covers
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/002 actuated by temperature variation thermo-electric F16K31/025
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/003 operated without a stable intermediate position, e.g. with snap action F16K31/56 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7737 Thermal responsive

Abstract

A thermosensitive flow control device, which can advantageously be used in a water spray head, includes a bimetallic snap disc flexurally movable relative to flow port means in the spray head. Normally, the snap disc is flexed away from the port means so that water discharges from the head as a spray; however, when the water temperature rises above a predetermined magnitude, the snap disc is flexed toward the port means to retard and diminish, but not eliminate, the flow therethrough. The water thus discharges from the head as a dribble until the temperature drops to a predetermined level, whereupon the disc automatically flexes away from the port means and the water once again discharges from the head as a spray.

Claims

1. A flow control device which retards flow of a liquid stream when the stream temperature exceeds a predetermined first temperature and which restores full flow when the stream temperature drops to or below a predetermined second and lower temperature, said device comprising:

a flow head connected to said liquid stream;

flow port means in said head through which said liquid stream flows;

a temperature responsive disc connected to said flow port means and positioned a preselected distance therefrom when said stream temperature is less than said predetermined first temperature, to permit full stream flow through said flow port means;

said disc having at least a portion thereof free for flexural movement toward and away from said flow port means with such flexural movement occurring in response to temperature variations in said liquid stream;

said disc arranged and constructed to be flexed toward said flow port means when said stream temperature exceeds said predetermined first temperature, to partially close said flow port means to provide a controlled reduced stream flow through said flow port means;

said disc portion arranged and constructed to be flexed away from said flow port means and returned to its predetermined spacing at said preselected distance from said flow port means when said stream temperature drops to or below said predetermined second and lower temperature, whereupon full stream flow through said port means is restored.

2. A flow control device as defined in claim 1 wherein said flow head is a shower head and wherein said liquid stream is water.

3. A flow control device as defined in claim 2 wherein said flow port means includes a plurality of individual flow ports spaced from each other.

4. A flow control device as defined in claim 3 wherein said portion of said disc which is free for flexural movement comprises the peripheral margin thereof and wherein said peripheral margin, when flexed toward said flow port means, partially covers said individual flow ports.

5. A flow control device as defined in claim 2 wherein said temperature responsive metallic disc is a unitary bimetallic snap disc.

6. An improvement as defined in claim 1 wherein said disc includes a central portion and a peripheral margin portion and wherein mounting means connect with said disc central portion to position said disc within said spray head.

7. An improvement as defined in claim 1 wherein said flow port means includes a plurality of post members, each of which has a bore formed therein for passage of water, and wherein said peripheral margin portion abuts against said post members when said flexural displacement occurs.

8. A flow valve for use in a water distribution system to diminish but not eliminate water flow when the water temperature rises about a predetermined magnitude, said flow valve comprising:

a plate member having a first surface adapted to be disposed in the upstream direction and an opposed second surface adapted to be disposed in the downstream direction;

a plurality of post members projecting outwardly from said first surface of said plate member;

means forming a plurality of bores, one extending through each of the post members and through said plate member to form a plurality of flow ports by which water from said upstream direction can flow through said posts and said plate member to pass to said downstream direction;

a thermosensitive bimetallic snap disc;

means connecting the center of said snap disc with said first surface of said plate member;

said snap disc being flexural in response to temperature variations and hence movable from a first or full flow permitting position to a second or flow diminishing position;

said snap disc having a peripheral margin spaced from said post members in said first position and abutted against said post members in said second position;

said snap disc normally being disposed in said first position to permit full flow around said disc and through said bores;

said snap disc being flexed when said water temperature rises above said predetermined magnitude to said disc to move to said second position and to cause said peripheral margin to abut against said post members to diminish flow through said bores;

said snap disc being flexed back to its first position when the water temperature drops by a sufficient amount, whereupon full flow through said bores can resume.

9. A flow valve as defined in claim 8 wherein said snap disc is circular and wherein said post members and hence said bores are arranged in a circular pattern.

10. A flow valve as defined in claim 9 wherein the diameter of said snap disc exceeds the diameter of said circular arrangement of post members whereby said peripheral margin abuts against the outermost edge of said post members.

11. A flow valve as defined in claim 8 wherein said plate member is circular and wherein the diameter of said plate member exceeds that of said snap disc to permit water flow around the exterior edge of said snap disc in either snap disc position.

12. A flow valve as defined in claim 11 wherein said means connecting said center of said snap disc with said first surface of said plate member includes a central projection extending in an upstream direction from the center of said plate member and a fastener projecting through an aperture in the center of said snap disc.

13. An improved shower head comprising:

a body means having an inlet end adapted to be connected to a water supply and having an opposed discharge end;

said body means having an internal chamber into which water flows from said inlet end;

said body means having a shaped opening at the discharge end thereof;

a water spreader disposed within said shaped opening to spread the water outwardly and along the walls defining said shaped opening, so the water discharges from said body means as a spray;

a plate member extending across said internal chamber;

said plate member having a plurality of flow ports therethrough;

a thermosensitive snap disc centrally connected with said plate member on the side thereof closest to said inlet end;

said snap disc having at least its peripheral margin portion flexurally movable between a first position flexed away from said plate member and a second position flexed toward said plate member;

said snap disc peripheral margin portion normally being disposed in said first position whereby water from said inlet flows into said internal chamber, around said snap disc, through said flow ports, to impinge upon said water spreader and discharge as a spray;

said snap disc peripheral margin portion being displaced to said second position when the temperature of said water exceeds a predetermined magnitude, said peripheral margin portion in said second position partially blocking said flow ports whereby the quantity of water passing through said flow ports and impinging upon said water spreader is materially reduced, so the water discharges from said body means as a dribble;

said snap disc peripheral margin portion being returned to said first position when the water temperature in said internal chamber is reduced to a preselected value whereupon the water will again discharge from said body means as a spray.

14. An improved shower head as defined in claim 13 wherein said plate member includes a plurality of post members extending toward said inlet end and wherein said flow ports are bores passing through said post members and said plate member, said snap disc peripheral margin portion abutting atainst said post members when said peripheral margin is displaced to said second position.

15. An improved shower head as defined in claim 13 wherein said snap disc is fabricated of a bimetallic alloy.