Flow control device

• US 4,429,422 A
• Filed: 10/09/1981
• Issued: 02/07/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Oliver N. Wareham
• Original Assignee: Oliver N. Wareham
• Inventors: Wareham, Oliver N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shepperd, John W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Putnam, Kenneth S.
• Application Number:
  US06/310,299
• Time in Patent Office: 851 Days
• Field of Search: 4/191-195, 137/111, 137/114, 137/606, 236/12, 236/12.12, 236/12.15
• US Class Current: 4/676
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 19/00 Arrangements of valves and flow lines specially adapted for mixing fluids multiple-way valves F16K11/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/2572 One inflow supplements another

Abstract

A liquid flow control device is disclosed for delivering either cold water or hot water mixed with cold water comprising a chamber having an inlet for cold water and an inlet for either hot water or mixed hot and cold water and a discharge outlet for connection to a sink delivery fitting, a solenoid operated valve which stops and starts the flow of cold water through the chamber, a solenoid operated valve which stops and starts the flow of hot water or mixed hot and cold water through the chamber and a switch for each solenoid the arrangement being such that some cold water flows through the device each time the latter operates.

Claims

1. A liquid flow control device for delivering from a hot water supply and a cold water supply either cold water or hot water mixed with cold water, said flow control device comprising a chamber having a first inlet, a second inlet and a discharge outlet for connection to a sink delivery fitting, means connecting said first inlet to said cold water supply means for connecting said second inlet to said hot water supply, means for connecting said first inlet to said second inlet by a breech pipe, a one way valve interposed in said breech pipe for preventing the transfer of hot water to said first inlet while permitting transfer of cold water to said second inlet, a solenoid operated valve which stops and starts the flow of water through said first inlet into said chamber, a solenoid operated valve which stops and starts the flow of water through said second inlet into said chamber, and switch means for controlling said solenoids so that some cold water flows through the liquid flow control device each time it operates.

2. A liquid flow control device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the supply of water to each solenoid operated valve is subject to a flow rate adjuster.

3. A liquid flow control device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the flow rate adjuster is a screw tap.

4. A liquid flow control device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the breech pipe is connected between the two inlets at sites between the flow rate adjusters and the chamber.

5. A liquid flow control device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the breech pipe is connected between the two inlets upstream of the flow rate adjusters.

6. A liquid flow control device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the breech pipe is connected between the two inlets at a site upstream of the flow rate adjuster in the cold water inlet and a site between the flow rate adjuster of the hot water inlet and the chamber.

7. A liquid flow control device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the breech pipe also contains a further flow rate adjuster.

8. A liquid flow control device as claimed in claim 7 wherein the further flow rate adjuster is a screw tap.

9. A liquid flow control device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the solenoid operated valves are associated with the chamber.

10. A liquid flow control device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the outlet has a thermo-responsive means capable of cancelling the operation of the solenoid operated valve which controls the hot water.

11. A liquid flow control device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the switches are actuated by air pressure means provided by a bellows.

12. A liquid flow control device as claimed in claim 2 wherein a plurality of chambers and associated outlets are each supplied by a common hot water supply and flow rate adjuster, a common cold water supply and flow rate adjuster and a breech pipe bridging the hot and cold water supplies containing a one way valve and further flow rate adjuster.

13. A liquid flow control device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said switch means is actuated by proximity sensing means.

14. A liquid flow control device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said switch means is actuated by an interrupted light beam and photo-sensitive device.

15. A liquid flow control device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said switch means is actuated by a contact button.

16. A kit of parts for a hot and cold water supply installation comprising:

(a) a chamber provided with solenoid operated valves, a hot water inlet extending from the junction with an integral screw tap, a cold water inlet extending from the junction with an integral screw tap, a pipe containing a one way valve and a screw tap connecting the cold water inlet upstream of the associated screw tap with the hot water inlet at a site between the associated screw tap and the associated solenoid operated valve, a union for each inlet for connection to respective hot and cold supply pipes, a union on the pipe junction for connection to a sink supply fitting;

(b) switches for the solenoid operated valves and

(c) a transformer for providing current to operate the solenoid operated valves.

17. A conversion kit for a sink installation comprising a chamber provided with an inlet for cold water, an inlet for either hot water or mixed hot water and cold water, an outlet adapted for connection to a sink supply fitting two solenoid operated valves which control the flow of the cold water and the flow of the hot water or mixed hot and cold water, the two inlets being connected to opposite sides of a breech pipe assembly containing a flow control adjuster and a one way valve, the ends of the breech pipe terminating in fittings for connection to screw taps and switches for the solenoid operated valves.