Automatic mixing device for use in a shower head
First Claim
1. A mixing device for mixing a first fluid with a second fluid, said second fluid being contained in a pressurized stream, said mixing device comprising a housing including second fluid inlet means, second fluid outlet means, second fluid conduit means for directing said second fluid stream from said second fluid inlet means to said second fluid outlet means, and a first fluid chamber within said housing for holding a predetermined quantity of said first fluid, said first fluid chamber including a closure surface, an inlet, and an outlet, and said mixing device further comprising membrane means slidably contained within said first fluid chamber, said membrane means including a first surface in contact with said first fluid within said first fluid chamber, a second surface facing said closure surface, and an orifice connecting said first and second surfaces so that said first fluid can flow out of said first fluid chamber through said orifice, bias means in contact with said first surface of said membrane means so as to normally urge said second surface of said membrane means against said closure surface so as to prevent the flow of said first fluid through said orifice, second fluid control means for selectively directing at least a portion of said second fluid stream through said inlet of said first fluid chamber against said second surface of said membrane means so as to urge said membrane means against said bias means to thereby separate said second surface of said membrane means from said closure surface and expose said orifice, thereby permitting any of said first fluid contained within said first fluid chamber to flow through said orifice so long as said second surface of said membrane means is separated from said closure surface and mix with said second fluid to create a fluid mixture, and fluid mixture conduit means for directing said fluid mixture from said outlet of said first fluid chamber to said second fluid conduit means.
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Abstract
A mixing device is disclosed for the purpose of mixing a first fluid with a second fluid contained in a pressurized stream. The device includes a first fluid chamber for holding the first fluid, which includes a closure surface, an inlet, and an outlet, a second fluid inlet, a second fluid outlet, a second fluid circuit for directing the second fluid stream from the second fluid inlet to the second fluid outlet, a membrane slidably contained within the first fluid chamber and having one surface facing the closure surface, and an orifice between the membrane surfaces so that the first fluid can flow through that orifice, a spring in contact with the inner surface of the membrane to normally urge its surface against the closure surface in order to prevent the flow of the first fluid through the orifice, a second fluid valve for selectively directing at least a portion of the second fluid stream through the inlet of the first fluid chamber against the outer surface of the membrane so as to urge it against the spring and thereby separate the surface of the membrane from the closure surface and permit the first fluid to flow through the orifice and mix with the second fluid to create a fluid mixture, and a fluid mixture conduit for directing the fluid mixture thus prepared from the outlet of the first fluid chamber to the second fluid outlet. This mixing device can thus be incorporated into a shower head or the like so as to permit the shower head to be operated either with the second fluid alone, or with a mixture of first and second fluids, and at the same time preventing any flow of first fluid when there is no flow of the second fluid.
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Citations
20 Claims
- 1. A mixing device for mixing a first fluid with a second fluid, said second fluid being contained in a pressurized stream, said mixing device comprising a housing including second fluid inlet means, second fluid outlet means, second fluid conduit means for directing said second fluid stream from said second fluid inlet means to said second fluid outlet means, and a first fluid chamber within said housing for holding a predetermined quantity of said first fluid, said first fluid chamber including a closure surface, an inlet, and an outlet, and said mixing device further comprising membrane means slidably contained within said first fluid chamber, said membrane means including a first surface in contact with said first fluid within said first fluid chamber, a second surface facing said closure surface, and an orifice connecting said first and second surfaces so that said first fluid can flow out of said first fluid chamber through said orifice, bias means in contact with said first surface of said membrane means so as to normally urge said second surface of said membrane means against said closure surface so as to prevent the flow of said first fluid through said orifice, second fluid control means for selectively directing at least a portion of said second fluid stream through said inlet of said first fluid chamber against said second surface of said membrane means so as to urge said membrane means against said bias means to thereby separate said second surface of said membrane means from said closure surface and expose said orifice, thereby permitting any of said first fluid contained within said first fluid chamber to flow through said orifice so long as said second surface of said membrane means is separated from said closure surface and mix with said second fluid to create a fluid mixture, and fluid mixture conduit means for directing said fluid mixture from said outlet of said first fluid chamber to said second fluid conduit means.
Specification