Tempered water mixing system

• US 5,350,112 A
• Filed: 11/03/1993
• Issued: 09/27/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Haws Corporation
• Original Assignee: HAW Company
• Inventors: Stein, Matthew I.
• Primary Examiner(s): TAPOLCAI, WILLIAM E
• Application Number:
  US08/146,951
• Time in Patent Office: 328 Days
• Field of Search: 236/12.13, 236/12.12, 137/89, 137/110, 4/900
• US Class Current: 236/12.13
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1393 characterised by the use of electric means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/2514 Self-proportioning flow systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/2562 Dividing and recombining

Abstract

A tempered water mixing system for applications such as emergency drench shower and eyewash stations, wherein the mixing system includes back-up control valves to ensure a substantial water flow without risk of user scalding in the event of malfunction of a main thermostatic mixing valve. The main mixing valve thermostatically blends cold and hot water supplies to provide a tempered discharge outflow at a selected temperature. A temperature limit control valve detects the discharge outflow temperature and responds to an excess temperature condition to modulate hot water flow in a manner reducing discharge temperature. A flow limit control valve detects the pressure differential between the discharge outflow and the cold water supply, and responds to a low flow condition represented by a high pressure differential to permit a make-up bypass flow of cold water past the main mixing valve.

Claims

1. A tempered water mixing system, comprising:

a main mixing valve for connection to a cold water supply and a hot water supply, and including means for blending the cold and hot water supplies to provide a discharge outflow having a selected temperature level;

a high limit temperature control valve including sensor means for detecting the temperature of the discharge outflow, and for modulating hot water flow to said main mixing valve when the temperature of the discharge outflow exceeds a preset limit; and

a flow control valve responsive to the pressure differential between the cold water supply and discharge outflow for bypassing a make-up flow of cold water past said main mixing valve to the discharge outflow when said pressure differential exceeds a predetermined limit.

2. The tempered water mixing system of claim 1 wherein said means for blending the cold and hot water supplies comprises a thermostatic motor.

3. A tempered water mixing system, comprising:

a main mixing valve having a cold water inlet, a hot water inlet, a discharge outlet, and thermostatic blending means for blending cold and hot water inflows coupled respectively to said cold and hot water inlets to provide a tempered water discharge outflow at a selected temperature level at said discharge outlet;

a cold water supply conduit for supplying cold water to said cold water inlet;

a hot water supply conduit for supplying hot water to said hot water inlet;

a discharge flow conduit connected to said discharge outlet;

a high temperature limit valve connected along said hot water supply conduit and including means responsive to the temperature of said discharge outflow for modulating hot water flow through said hot water supply conduit to prevent the temperature of the discharge outflow from exceeding a preset upper limit; and

a flow control valve connected between said cold water supply conduit and said discharge flow conduit and including means responsive to the pressure differential between the cold water supply and said discharge flow outlet conduit to permit a bypass flow of make-up cold water from said cold water supply conduit to said discharge outflow conduit when said pressure differential exceeds a predetermined limit.

4. The tempered water mixing system of claim 3 wherein said means for blending the cold and hot water supplies comprises a thermostatic motor.

5. The tempered water mixing system of claim 3 wherein said sensor means comprising a temperature sensor coupled to said discharge outflow conduit.

6. The tempered water mixing system of claim 3 wherein said flow control valve is connected along a bypass conduit connected between said cold water supply conduit and said discharge flow conduit.