Electronically controlled mixing valve

• US 4,558,817 A
• Filed: 07/28/1981
• Issued: 12/17/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/1980
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Friedrich Grohe Armaturenfabrik GmbH & Company
• Original Assignee: Friedrich Grohe Armaturenfabrik GmbH & Company
• Inventors: Kiendl, Harro
• Primary Examiner(s): Tapolcai, William E.
• Application Number:
  US06/287,621
• Time in Patent Office: 1,603 Days
• Field of Search: 236/12.15 M, 236/12.11 A, 236/12.12 AB, 137/88, 137/505.14
• US Class Current: 236/12.12
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 16/0655 using one spring-loaded membrane
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1393 characterised by the use of electric means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7797 Bias variable during operation

Abstract

In a pressure compensated mixing valve, the hot and cold water lines each include electrically actuated valves. Each valve has a movable valve rod coupled to a valve cone via a deformable member. The deformable members are acted upon such that as water pressure increases or decreases, the deformable member moves the valve cone to a more closed or opened position.

Claims

1. A mixing valve arrangement for mixing hot water from a first supply line and cold water from a second supply line to obtain a mixture of said hot and cold water at an outlet, said arrangement comprising:

first means for preselecting the temperature of said mixture;

a first supply valve coupled between said first supply line and said outlet;

a second supply valve coupled between said second supply line and said outlet;

second means for sensing the temperature of said mixture at said outlet;

third means responsive to said first and second means for generating mechanical forces for actuating said first and second supply valves;

each of said first and second supply valves comprising a valve body having an inlet chamber coupled to a respective one of said first or second supply lines and an outlet chamber coupled to said outlet, a valve opening between said first and second chambers, a movable valve cone for controlling fluid flow through said opening, a movable valve spindle extending from said valve body and displaceable in response to said mechanical forces, and an elastically deformable element coupled between said valve cone and said valve spindle for transmitting movements of said spindle to said valve cone, said deformable element being responsive to fluid pressure in said valve such that an increase in said fluid pressure causes deformation of said deformable element in a first direction to carry said valve cone in a direction to decrease fluid flow through said valve opening and a decrease in said fluid pressure causes deformation of said deformable element in a second direction to carry said valve cone in a direction to increase fluid flow through said valve opening, whereby fluid pressure downstream of said outlet chamber is maintained constant regardless of pressure variations in said inlet chamber.

2. A mixing valve arrangement in accordance with claim 1, wherein said elastically deformable element of at least one of said first or second supply valves comprises a pressure bellows disposed in said outlet chamber, one end of said bellows being connected to said valve spindle and the other end being connected to said valve cone via a spindle section.

3. A mixing valve arrangement in accordance with claim 1, wherein said elastically deformable element of at least one of said first or second supply valves comprises a diaphragm dividing said outlet chamber and a spring connected between one side of said diaphragm and said spindle, and a spindle section is coupled between the other side of said diaphragm and said valve cone.

4. A mixing valve arrangement in accordance with claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein said third means actuates said valve cones of said first and second supply valves in opposite directons.

5. A mixing valve arrangement in accordance with claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein said third means comprise a first electrical control element for actuating said first supply valve and a second electrical control element for actuating said second supply valve independently of said first supply valve.

6. A mixing valve arrangement in accordance with claim 4 comprising fifth means for measuring fluid volume at said outlet and coupled to said third means;

and sixth means coupled to said third means for preselecting said fluid volume.

7. A mixing valve arrangement in accordance with claim 5 comprising fifth means for measuring fluid volume at said outlet and coupled to said third means;

and sixth means coupled to said third means for preselecting said fluid volume.