Modular balanced pressure mixing valve with ceramic valve elements

• US 3,921,659 A
• Filed: 12/19/1973
• Issued: 11/25/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Charles J. Iii Rudewick
• Original Assignee: Charles J. Iii Rudewick
• Inventors: Rudewick, Charles J. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Klinksiek, Henry T.
• Application Number:
  US05/426,236
• Time in Patent Office: 706 Days
• Field of Search: 137/625.17,625.41,625.66,454.5,454.6,98,100 251/368
• US Class Current: 137/98
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 11/0746 with two or more closure plates comprising a single lever control
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 19/006 Specially adapted for faucets
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1313 without temperature sensing element
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/2514 Self-proportioning flow systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7668 Retained by bonnet or closure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86823 Rotary valve

Abstract

A balanced pressure mixing valve includes diaphragm actuated means for modulating hot and cold water flow to prevent scalding, and mating ceramic valve elements. The diaphragm and ceramic valve elements comprise a replaceable drop-in cartridge to facilitate installation. This cartridge does not contain any sealing means on the periphery thereof which facilitates installation in the valve body and avoids leakage usually associated with side sealing means which get nicked, torn, distorted or even lost during installation or replacement. The ceramic valve elements are designed for long life and assure full flow of water through the valve.

Claims

1. A balanced pressure mixing valve comprising a lower valve body with inlet and outlet openings therein, a mating upper valve bonnet with a valve stem extending therethrough capable of rotational movement with respect to the bonnet, a modular pressure balancing cartridge having hot and cold inlet ports in the bottom of the cartridge with sealing means therein for sealing engagement with the inlet openings in said valve body, hot and cold outlet ports in the top of the cartridge with sealing means therein, the cartridge having no sealing means on the sides thereof to facilitate placement in the valve body, diaphragmatic balanced pressure means in the cartridge separating flow of hot and cold water therethrough, ceramic valve seats positioned in the outlet ports of the cartridge, a ceramic regulator disk in sealing, sliding engagement with the ceramic valve seats with openIngs therethrough and operable by the stem through a limited angle of rotation to bring the disk openings into and out of registry with the ceramic valve seats, said rotational movement controlling both temperature and volume of water flowing through the mixing valve.

2. The mixing valve of claim 1 wherein rotation of the stem is transmitted to the regulator disk through a stop plate which fits within a slot formed in said disk.

3. The mixing valve of claim 2 wherein said ceramic valve seats are held in place by a retainer bracket, the bracket and the stop plate being adapted for mating engagement with each other to retain the ceramic regulator disk and valve seats in a single easily replaced assembly.

4. The mixing valve of claim 1 wherein the openings in the regulator disk are elongated, tapered, arcuate slots providing a mixture of water temperatures over a wide range from full cold to full hot.

5. The mixing valve of claim 1 wherein the regulator disk is a thin flat ceramic element having two tapered arcuate openings therethrough, each of said openings having a narrow tip in one quadrant of said disk and tapering outwardly therefrom to form a widened base in the opposite quadrant of the disk.

6. In a mixing valve containing hot and cold water conduits, valve elements comprising ceramic valve seats associated with each of the conduits having substantially flat upper surfaces, a ceramic regulator disk with elongated, tapered, arcuate openings therethrough and a substantially flat lower surface for sliding, sealing engagement with the upper surfaces of the valve seats, the disk adapted for movement through a limited angle of rotation about its axis to bring the openings therein into and out of registry with said valve seats to control both temperature and volume of water flowing from the conduits.

7. The mixing valve of claim 6, wherein the regulator disk and valve seats are held in sealing, sliding engagement with each other in a readily replaceable assembly by mating engagement of a stop plate mounted on said regulator disk with a retainer bracket holding said valve seats.

8. The mixing valve of claim 6, wherein the regulator disk is a thin flat ceramic element having two tapered arcuate openings therethrough, each of said openings having a narrow tip in one quadrant of said disk and tapering outwardly therefrom to form a widened base in the opposite quadrant of the disk.