Lever mechanism for a mixing valve
First Claim
1. In a lever mechanism for use with a mixing valve of the type wherein axial position controls flow volume and angular position controls mixture:
- (a) said valve having a body mounted in a fixture and a control valve stem guided by the body for angular movement about the stem axis and for rectilinear movement along the axis, the stem having an upwardly extending accessible end;
(b) a generally cylindrical fulcrum bracket forming an upper end element of said fixture and surrounding the extending end of said control valve stem, said fulcrum bracket having a radially outwardly opening fulcrum member receiving groove extending around at least a portion of the outer periphery thereof concentrically with said stem axis;
(c) an operating lever including a cowl freely overlying said fulcrum bracket and having attached to the inside thereof to be shielded by said cowl, a fulcrum member which projects into said fulcrum member receiving groove with radial clearance;
the upwardly extending end of said control valve stem being pivotally connected to the center of said cowl at a transverse axis perpendicular to said stem axis;
(d) tilting of said cowl about said fulcrum member causing axial movement of said valve stem to control flow volume, limited radial movement of said fulcrum member within said groove during said tilting permitting axial movement of said stem without binding, the angular extent of said groove being sufficient to permit angular motion of said cowl with concomitant mixture controlling angular movement of said stem;
(e) said lever having a handle part opposite said fulcrum member whereby said cowl serves as a working element in the transmission of lifting force to said stem.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The lever mechanism includes an easy-to-clean cowl which covers the end of a fixture containing a mixing valve. A generally cylindrical fulcrum bracket, attached to the valve body, forms the topmost static element of the fixture. The cowl has a central cup that projects centrally into the fulcrum bracket. The mixing valve control stem is pivotally coupled to the bottom of this cup. A cowl skirt surrounds the fulcrum bracket. A fulcrum member, advantageously either a pin or a ball, is attached to the cowl interior and projects into an annular, outwardly opening receiving groove at the periphery of the fulcrum bracket. Tilting of the operating lever cowl moves the valve stem axially to control flow volume. During such tilting the fulcrum member moves radially in the receiving groove; this changes the location of the fulcrum point so as to prevent lateral displacement of the valve stem. Angular motion of the cowl imparts concomitant mixture controlling angular movement to the mixing valve stem.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. In a lever mechanism for use with a mixing valve of the type wherein axial position controls flow volume and angular position controls mixture:
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(a) said valve having a body mounted in a fixture and a control valve stem guided by the body for angular movement about the stem axis and for rectilinear movement along the axis, the stem having an upwardly extending accessible end; (b) a generally cylindrical fulcrum bracket forming an upper end element of said fixture and surrounding the extending end of said control valve stem, said fulcrum bracket having a radially outwardly opening fulcrum member receiving groove extending around at least a portion of the outer periphery thereof concentrically with said stem axis; (c) an operating lever including a cowl freely overlying said fulcrum bracket and having attached to the inside thereof to be shielded by said cowl, a fulcrum member which projects into said fulcrum member receiving groove with radial clearance;
the upwardly extending end of said control valve stem being pivotally connected to the center of said cowl at a transverse axis perpendicular to said stem axis;(d) tilting of said cowl about said fulcrum member causing axial movement of said valve stem to control flow volume, limited radial movement of said fulcrum member within said groove during said tilting permitting axial movement of said stem without binding, the angular extent of said groove being sufficient to permit angular motion of said cowl with concomitant mixture controlling angular movement of said stem; (e) said lever having a handle part opposite said fulcrum member whereby said cowl serves as a working element in the transmission of lifting force to said stem. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. In a lever mechanism for use with a mixing valve of the type wherein axial position controls flow volume and angular position controls mixture:
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(a) said valve having a body mounted in a fixture and a removable control valve stem guided by the body for angular movement about the stem axis and for rectilinear movement along the axis, the stem having an upwardly extending accessible end, there being removable seal elements in the body cooperable with the stem; (b) a generally cylindrical fulcrum bracket forming an upper end element of said fixture and surrounding the extending end of said control valve stem, said fulcrum bracket being detachably secured to the upper end of said valve body to retain said removable control valve stem and removable seal elements within said body, said fulcrum bracket having a radially outwardly opening fulcrum member receiving groove extending around at least a portion of the outer periphery thereof concentrically with said stem axis; (c) an operating lever including a cowl freely overlying said fulcrum bracket and having attached to the inside thereof to be shielded by said cowl, a fulcrum member which projects into said fulcrum member receiving groove with radial clearance;
the upwardly extending end of said control valve stem being pivotally connected to the center of said cowl at a transverse axis perpendicular to said stem axis;(d) tilting of said cowl about said fulcrum member causing axial movement of said valve stem to control flow volume, limited radial movement of said fulcrum member within said groove during said tilting permitting axial movement of said stem without binding, the angular extent of said groove being sufficient to permit angular motion of said cowl with concomitant mixture controlling angular movement of said stem; (e) said lever having a handle part opposite said fulcrum member whereby said cowl serves as a working element in the transmission of lifting forces to said stem.
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9. In a lever mechanism for use with a mixing valve of the type wherein axial position controls flow volume and angular position controls mixture:
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(a) said valve having a body mounted in a fixture and a control valve stem guided by the body for angular movement about the stem axis and for rectilinear movement along the axis, the stem having an upwardly extending accessible end; (b) a generally cylindrical fulcrum bracket forming an upper end element of said fixture and surrounding the extending end of said control valve stem, said fulcrum bracket having a radially outwardly opening fulcrum member receiving groove extending around at least a portion of the outer periphery thereof concentrically with said stem axis; (c) an operating lever including a cowl freely overlying said fulcrum bracket and having attached to the inside thereof to be shielded by said cowl, a fulcrum member which projects into said fulcrum member receiving groove with radial clearance, the upwardly extending end of said control valve stem being pivotally connected to the center of said cowl at a transverse axis perpendicular to said stem axis; (d) a pair of pivot arms projecting downwardly from said cowl into said fulcrum bracket, said arms having opposed pivot pins extending radially inwardly therefrom; and (e) a yoke member attached to the end of said control valve stem and having recesses therein for receiving said pivot pins, said arms and said yoke cooperating to pivotally interconnect said valve stem and said cowl; (f) tilting of said cowl about said fulcrum member causing axial movement of said valve stem to control flow volume, limited radial movement of said fulcrum member within said groove during said tilting permitting axial movement of said stem without binding, the angular extent of said groove being sufficient to permit angular motion of said cowl with concomitant mixture controlling angular movement of said stem; (g) said lever having a handle part opposite said fulcrum member whereby said cowl serves as a working element in the transmission of lifting force to said stem. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. In a lever mechanism for use with a mixing valve of the type wherein axial position controls flow volume and angular position controls mixture:
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(a) said valve including a valve stem and seal members contained in a valve casing; (b) said casing guiding said stem for angular movement about its axis as well as for rectilinear movement along its axis; (c) a fulcrum bracket attached to the upper end of said casing, said fulcrum bracket having a generally cylindrical recess into the lower end of which projects the control stem of said mixing valve, the opposite end of said recess being open, the outer periphery of the wall of said cylindrical recess having a radially outwardly opening fulcrum member receiving groove extending concentrically of said stem axis; (d) a cowl overlying said fulcrum bracket, said cowl including a top having a central member projecting into the open end of said cylindrical recess, the lower end of said central member being pivotally connected to the end of said mixing valve control stem, said cowl also including a skirt extending from the periphery of said top and covering at least the receiving groove portion of said fulcrum bracket wall; and (e) a fulcrum member attached to the inner periphery of said cowl skirt and extending into said receiving groove, said fulcrum member cooperating with said groove to function as a fulcrum of variable radial location for lever motion of said cowl, such lever motion imparting axial movement to said mixing valve control stem without lateral displacement thereof, the angular extent of said receiving groove being sufficient to permit angular motion of said cowl with concomitant mixture controlling angular movement of said stem. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. In a lever mechanism for use with a mixing valve of the type wherein axial position controls flow volume and angular position controls mixture:
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(a) said valve including a valve stem and seal members contained in a valve casing; (b) said casing guiding said stem for angular movement about its axis as well as for rectilinear movement along its axis; (c) a fulcrum bracket attached to the upper end of said casing, said fulcrum bracket having a generally cylindrical recess into the lower end of which projects the control stem of said mixing valve, the opposite end of said recess being open, the outer periphery of the wall of said cylindrical recess having a radially outwardly opening fulcrum member receiving groove extending concentrically of said stem axis; (d) a cowl overlying said fulcrum bracket, said cowl including a top having a central member projecting into the open end of said cylindrical recess, the lower end of said central member being pivotally connected to the end of said mixing valve control stem, said cowl also including a skirt extending from the periphery of said top and covering at least the receiving groove portion of said fulcrum bracket wall; (e) a fulcrum member attached to the inner periphery of said cowl skirt and extending into said receiving groove, said fulcrum member cooperating with said groove to function as a fulcrum of variable radial location for lever motion of said cowl, such lever motion imparting axial movement to said mixing valve control stem without lateral displacement thereof, the angular extent of said receiving groove being sufficient to permit angular motion of said cowl with concomitant mixture controlling angular movement of said stem; and (f) said fulcrum member comprising a fulcrum pin, the middle of said fulcrum pin having a maximum diameter substantially equal to the width of said receiving groove, the ends of said fulcrum pin being attached to the interior of said cowl skirt, middle of said fulcrum pin being disposed within said receiving groove, the depth of said receiving groove being sufficient to accommodate the limited radial movement of said fulcrum pin imparted by lever motion of said cowl.
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16. In a lever mechanism for use with a mixing valve of the type wherein axial position controls flow volume and angular position controls mixture:
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(a) said valve including a valve stem and seal members contained in a valve casing; (b) said casing guiding said stem for angular movement about its axis as well as for rectilinear movement along its axis; (c) a fulcrum bracket attached to the inner end of said casing, said fulcrum bracket having a generally cylindrical recess into the lower end of which projects the control stem of said mixing valve, the opposite end of said recess being open, the outer periphery of the wall of said cylindrical recess having a radially outwardly opening fulcrum member receiving groove extending concentrically of said stem axis; (d) a cowl overlying said fulcrum bracket, said cowl including a top having a central member projecting into the open end of said cylindrical recess, the lower end of said central member being pivotally connected to the end of said mixing valve control stem, said cowl also including a skirt extending from the periphery of said top and covering at least the receiving groove portion of said fulcrum bracket wall; (e) a fulcrum member attached to the inner periphery of said cowl skirt and extending into said receiving groove, said fulcrum member cooperating with said groove to function as a fulcrum of variable radial location for lever motion of said cowl, such lever motion imparting axial movement to said mixing valve control stem without lateral displacement thereof, the angular extent of said receiving groove being sufficient to permit angular motion of said cowl with concomitant mixture controlling angular movement of said stem; and (f) said fulcrum member comprising a fulcrum ball mounted at the end of a support anchored to said cowl skirt and extending inwardly thereof, said fulcrum ball being situated within said receiving groove and having a diameter substantially equal to the width thereof, the depth of said receiving groove being sufficient to accommodate the limited radial movement of said fulcrum ball imparted by lever motion of said cowl.
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17. In a lever mechanism for use with a mixing valve of the type wherein axial position controls flow volume and angular position controls mixture:
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(a) said valve including a valve stem and seal members contained in a valve casing; (b) said casing guiding said stem for angular movement about its axis as well as for rectilinear movement along its axis; (c) a fulcrum bracket attached to the upper end of said casing, said fulcrum bracket having a generally cylindrical recess into the lower end of which projects the control stem of said mixing valve, the opposite end of said recess being open, the outer periphery of the wall of said cylindrical recess having a radially outwardly opening fulcrum member receiving groove extending concentrically of said stem axis; (d) a cowl overlying said fulcrum bracket, said cowl including a top having a central member projecting into the open end of said cylindrical recess, the lower end of said central member being pivotally connected to the end of said mixing valve control stem, said cowl also including a skirt extending from the periphery of said top and covering at least the receiving groove portion of said fulcrum bracket wall; (e) said central member comprising a pair of pivot arms projecting downwardly from said cowl, said arms carrying a pair of coaxially aligned pivots, a yoke attached to the end of said mixing valve control stem and including upwardly opening recesses receiving said pivots, and a holddown overlying said yoke and including sections covering said recesses to form pivot receiving openings; and (f) a fulcrum member attached to the inner periphery of said cowl skirt and extending into said receiving groove, said fulcrum member cooperating with said groove to function as a fulcrum of variable radial location for lever motion of said cowl, such lever motion imparting axial movement to said mixing valve control stem without lateral displacement thereof, the angular extent of said receiving groove being sufficient to permit angular motion of said cowl with concomitant mixture controlling angular movement of said stem.
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18. In a single handled mixing valve:
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(a) a valve body; (b) a control member guided by the body for axial movement and for angular movement about its axis to control volume of flow and relative proportions respectively; (c) an actuator lever member for moving said control member, comprising a cup-like cowl extending over the upper end of said valve body; (d) means pivotally connecting the upper end of said control member and the central portion of said cowl whereby the cowl is mounted by the stem for angular movement about an axis perpendicular to the control member axis; (e) said valve body having a peripheral outwardly extending groove shielded by said cowl, said groove extending concentrically of said control axis; (f) said cowl having a fulcrum member on the inside thereof that fits with radial clearance in said outwardly extending groove whereby tilting movement of said cowl lifts and lowers said control member; (g) said actuator lever member also including a handle extension located diametrically opposite said fulcrum member thus to cause such tilting movement of said cowl; and (h) said cowl forming a mechanical link between said handle and said fulcrum member on opposite sides of said control member axis. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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Specification