Mixing valve
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A valve assembly for controlling water flow in a faucet, the valve assembly including:
- a holder defining a longitudinal axis;
a laterally extending first sealing surface supported by the holder, the first sealing surface including a hot water inlet port, a cold water inlet port, and a mixed water outlet port;
a laterally extending second sealing surface supported by the holder, the second sealing surface sealingly engaging the first sealing surface and including an outer wall and a central portion defining a channel, the channel being movable with the second sealing surface relative to the first sealing surface for selective communication with the hot water inlet port, the cold water inlet port, and the mixed water outlet port, the channel configured to extend intermediate and laterally outwardly from the hot water inlet port and the cold water inlet port; and
wherein movement of the second sealing surface relative to the first sealing surface in a direction from the hot water inlet port to the cold water inlet port causes an increase in water flow through the hot water inlet port, movement of the second sealing surface relative to the first sealing surface in a direction from the cold water inlet port to the hot water inlet port causes an increase in water flow through the cold water inlet port, and movement of the second sealing surface relative to the first sealing surface in a direction from the mixed water outlet port to the hot and cold water inlet ports moves the central portion to close the hot and cold water inlet ports.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates generally to fluid control valves and, more particularly, to a mixing valve for use within a faucet.
273 Citations
24 Claims
-
1. A valve assembly for controlling water flow in a faucet, the valve assembly including:
-
a holder defining a longitudinal axis; a laterally extending first sealing surface supported by the holder, the first sealing surface including a hot water inlet port, a cold water inlet port, and a mixed water outlet port; a laterally extending second sealing surface supported by the holder, the second sealing surface sealingly engaging the first sealing surface and including an outer wall and a central portion defining a channel, the channel being movable with the second sealing surface relative to the first sealing surface for selective communication with the hot water inlet port, the cold water inlet port, and the mixed water outlet port, the channel configured to extend intermediate and laterally outwardly from the hot water inlet port and the cold water inlet port; and wherein movement of the second sealing surface relative to the first sealing surface in a direction from the hot water inlet port to the cold water inlet port causes an increase in water flow through the hot water inlet port, movement of the second sealing surface relative to the first sealing surface in a direction from the cold water inlet port to the hot water inlet port causes an increase in water flow through the cold water inlet port, and movement of the second sealing surface relative to the first sealing surface in a direction from the mixed water outlet port to the hot and cold water inlet ports moves the central portion to close the hot and cold water inlet ports. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. A valve assembly for controlling water flow in a faucet, the valve assembly comprising:
-
a holder defining a longitudinal axis; a laterally extending first sealing surface supported by the holder, the first sealing surface including a hot water inlet port and a cold water inlet port, each of the hot water inlet port and the cold water inlet port including an inner edge and an outer control edge positioned laterally outwardly from the inner edge; a laterally extending second sealing surface supported by the holder, the second sealing surface sealingly engaging the first sealing surface and including a channel including an inner channel edge and an outer channel edge positioned laterally outwardly from the inner channel edge, the inner channel edge configured to selectively overlap the outer control edges of the hot water inlet port and the cold water inlet port for providing fluid communication with the hot water inlet port, the cold water inlet port and the channel based upon the position of the second sealing surface relative to the first sealing surface; and a stem operably coupled to the second sealing surface and supported for pivoting movement about orthogonal axes extending within a plane parallel to the second sealing surface; wherein translational movement of the second sealing surface in a first direction moves the inner channel edge to changes the water flow rate through the hot water inlet port and the cold water inlet port, and translational movement of the second sealing surface in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction moves the inner channel edge to change the proportion of water flow through the hot water inlet port and the cold water inlet port; and wherein movement of the second sealing surface relative to the first sealing surface in a direction from the hot water inlet port to the cold water inlet port causes an increase in water flow through the hot water inlet port, and movement of the second sealing surface relative to the first sealing surface in a direction from the cold water inlet port to the hot water inlet port causes an increase in water flow through the cold water inlet port. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A valve assembly for controlling water flow in a faucet, the valve assembly comprising:
-
a holder defining a longitudinal axis; a laterally extending first sealing surface supported by the holder, the first sealing surface including a hot water inlet port and a cold water inlet port, each of the hot water inlet port and the cold water inlet port including an inner edge and an outer control edge positioned laterally outwardly from the inner edge; a laterally extending second sealing surface supported by the holder, the second sealing surface sealingly engaging the first sealing surface and including a channel including an inner channel edge and an outer channel edge positioned laterally outwardly from the inner channel edge, the inner channel edge configured to selectively overlap the outer control edges of the hot water inlet port and the cold water inlet port for providing fluid communication with the hot water inlet port, the cold water inlet port and the channel based upon the position of the second sealing surface relative to the first sealing surface; a stem operably coupled to the second sealing surface and supported for pivoting movement about orthogonal axes extending within a plane parallel to the second sealing surface; wherein translational movement of the second sealing surface in a first direction moves the inner channel edge to changes the water flow rate through the hot water inlet port and the cold water inlet port, and translational movement of the second sealing surface in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction moves the inner channel edge to change the proportion of water flow through the hot water inlet port and the cold water inlet port; wherein the first sealing surface is supported by a first sealing member, and the second sealing surface is supported by a second sealing member and aligned with the first sealing member along the longitudinal axis; and wherein the second sealing surface of the second sealing member includes an outer annular wall and a central portion that defines the channel, the central portion positioned intermediate the hot and cold water inlet ports.
-
-
15. A valve assembly for controlling water flow in a faucet, the valve assembly comprising:
-
a holder defining a longitudinal axis; a laterally extending first sealing surface supported by the holder, the first sealing surface including a hot water inlet port and a cold water inlet port, each of the hot water inlet port and the cold water inlet port including an inner edge and an outer control edge positioned laterally outwardly from the inner edge; a laterally extending second sealing surface supported by the holder, the second sealing surface sealingly engaging the first sealing surface and including a channel including an inner channel edge and an outer channel edge positioned laterally outwardly from the inner channel edge, the inner channel edge configured to selectively overlap the outer control edges of the hot water inlet port and the cold water inlet port for providing fluid communication with the hot water inlet port, the cold water inlet port and the channel based upon the position of the second sealing surface relative to the first sealing surface; a stem operably coupled to the second sealing surface and supported for pivoting movement about orthogonal axes extending within a plane parallel to the second sealing surface; wherein translational movement of the second sealing surface in a first direction moves the inner channel edge to changes the water flow rate through the hot water inlet port and the cold water inlet port, and translational movement of the second sealing surface in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction moves the inner channel edge to change the proportion of water flow through the hot water inlet port and the cold water inlet port; and wherein the channel is configured to extend substantially circumferentially between the hot water inlet port and the cold water inlet port.
-
-
16. A valve assembly for controlling water flow in a faucet, the valve assembly comprising:
-
a holder defining a longitudinal axis; a laterally extending first sealing surface supported by the holder, the first sealing surface including a hot water inlet port and a cold water inlet port, each of the hot water inlet port and the cold water inlet port including an inner edge and an outer control edge positioned laterally outwardly from the inner edge; a laterally extending second sealing surface supported by the holder, the second sealing surface sealingly engaging the first sealing surface and including a channel including an inner channel edge and an outer channel edge positioned laterally outwardly from the inner channel edge, the inner channel edge configured to selectively overlap the outer control edges of the hot water inlet port and the cold water inlet port for providing fluid communication with the hot water inlet port, the cold water inlet port and the channel based upon the position of the second sealing surface relative to the first sealing surface; a stem operably coupled to the second sealing surface and supported for pivoting movement about orthogonal axes extending within a plane parallel to the second sealing surface; wherein translational movement of the second sealing surface in a first direction moves the inner channel edge to changes the water flow rate through the hot water inlet port and the cold water inlet port, and translational movement of the second sealing surface in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction moves the inner channel edge to change the proportion of water flow through the hot water inlet port and the cold water inlet port; and wherein; the first sealing surface includes a mixed water outlet port; the second sealing surface includes a central portion; and movement of the second sealing surface relative to the first sealing surface in a direction from the hot water inlet port to the cold water inlet port causes an increase in water flow through the hot water inlet port, movement of the second sealing surface relative to the first sealing surface in a direction from the cold water inlet port to the hot water inlet port causes an increase in water flow through the cold water inlet port, and movement of the second sealing surface relative to the first sealing surface in a direction from the mixed water outlet port to the hot and cold water inlet ports moves the central portion to close the hot and cold water inlet ports.
-
-
17. A valve assembly for controlling water flow in a faucet, the valve assembly comprising:
-
a holder; a first sealing member supported by the holder and including a first sealing surface, the first sealing surface including a hot water inlet port and a cold water inlet port, each of the hot water inlet port and the cold water inlet port including a control edge; and a second sealing member supported by the holder and including a second sealing surface, the second sealing surface sealingly engaging the first sealing surface and including an outer wall and a central portion defining a channel configured to extend radially outwardly relative to the control edge of the hot water inlet port and the cold water inlet port; wherein translational movement of the second sealing surface along a first axis changes the water flow rate through the hot water inlet port and the cold water inlet port, and translational movement of the second sealing surface along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis changes the proportion of water flow through the first and second ports, such that movement of the second sealing surface relative to the first sealing surface in a direction along the first axis from the hot water inlet port to the cold water inlet port causes an increase in water flow through the hot water inlet port, movement of the second sealing surface relative to the first sealing surface in a direction along the first axis from the cold water inlet port to the hot water inlet port causes an increase in water flow through the cold water inlet port, and movement of the second sealing surface relative to the first sealing surface in a direction along the second axis from the mixed water outlet port to the hot and cold water inlet ports moves the central portion to close the hot and cold water inlet ports. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
-
Specification