Shower head with integrated mixing valve

• US 9,260,844 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Issued: 02/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kohler MIRA Limited (Kohler Company)
• Original Assignee: Kohler MIRA Limited (Kohler Company)
• Inventors: Peel, Kevin T.
• Primary Examiner(s): HWU, DAVIS D
• Application Number:
  US13/829,244
• Publication Number:
  US 20130341425A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,069 Days
• Field of Search: 239/444, 239/436, 239/407, 239/412, 239/133, 239/67
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/18 Roses; Shower heads with means for adding soap or the like E03C1/046; jet regulators E03C1/08
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/24 incorporating means for heating the liquid or other fluent material, e.g. electrically
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 1/24 Applying particulate materials
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 7/006 Arrangements or methods for cleaning or refurbishing water conduits
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 7/074 Arrangement of water treatment devices
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 7/075 Arrangement of devices for control of pressure or flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 7/078 Combined units with different devices; Arrangement of different devices with respect to each other
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/02 Plumbing installations for fresh water
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/04 Water-basin installations specially adapted to wash-basins or baths valves, faucets, mixing valves, taps F16K
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/0404 Constructional or functional features of the spout
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/0409 Shower handles
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/044 having a heating or cooling apparatus in the supply line water heaters, e.g. with continuous flow, F24H
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/055 Electrical control devices, e.g. with push buttons, control panels or the like
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 1/44 Details of seats or valve members of double-seat valves
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 11/22 with an actuating member for each valve, e.g. interconnected to form multiple-way valves
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 11/24 with an electromagnetically-operated valve, e.g. for washing machines
• 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: F16K 19/006 Specially adapted for faucets
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 27/0263 multiple way valves
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/04 using a motor
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 49/002 : Electric heating means
• CPC Class Codes: F17D 1/00 : Pipe-line systems conveying articles or materials through a pipe- line by means of a fluid carrier B65G51/00, B65G53/00; liquids B67D; special devices for transferring liquids from bulk storage containers into vehicles or boats or vice versa, e.g. loading or unloading vehicles or portable containers B67D7/00; conveying material which has been excavated by a dredger or soil shifter through a pipe-line E02F7/10; sewer pipe-line systems E03F3/00; thermal insulation of pipe-lines F16L59/00; central heating systems F24D
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 11/13 : characterised by the use of electric means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 11/16 : Controlling mixing ratio of fluids having different temperatures, e.g. by sensing the temperature of a mixture of fluids having different viscosities
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1393 : characterised by the use of electric means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1858 : by varying the mixing ratio of fluids having different temperatures
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/19 : characterised by the use of electric means G05D23/1393 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1917 : using digital means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/0617 : specially adapted for fluid materials
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 999/99 : dummy group
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0318 : Processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0329 : Mixing of plural fluids of diverse characteristics or conditions
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0391 : Affecting flow by the addition of material or energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0424 : Liquid cleaning or flushing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/6606 : With electric heating element
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7759 : Responsive to change in rate of fluid flow
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8376 : Combined
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8593 : Systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86389 : Programmer or timer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87668 : Single actuator operates plural flow control means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87684 : Valve in each inlet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87692 : With common valve operator

Abstract

A shower head is configured to receive a first fluid conduit and a second fluid conduit, where the shower head includes a mixer valve within a portion thereof that is configured to receive a first fluid from the first fluid conduit and a second fluid from the second fluid conduit and to output the first fluid or the second fluid or a blend the first and second fluids to a shower head outlet.

Claims

1. A shower head configured to receive a first fluid conduit and a second fluid conduit, wherein the shower head includes a mixer valve within a portion thereof that is configured to receive a first fluid from the first fluid conduit and a second fluid from the second fluid conduit and to output the first fluid or the second fluid or a blend of the first and second fluids to a shower head outlet, wherein the mixer valve comprises:

a first fluid inlet adapted to receive the first fluid from the first fluid conduit;

a second fluid inlet adapted to receive the second fluid from the second fluid conduit;

a fluid outlet;

a first flow control valve for controlling the flow of fluid from the first fluid inlet; and

a second flow control valve for controlling the flow of fluid from the second fluid inlet,

wherein each of the first and second flow control valves includes a valve member assembly to control the fluid flow through the respective flow control valve; and

wherein, when in use, fluid flowing through the first flow control valve exerts substantially no net force on the valve member assembly of the first flow control valve and fluid flowing through the second flow control valve exerts substantially no net force on the valve member assembly of the second flow control valve, and wherein substantially no net force is a level of imbalance of up to ±

10% of the actuating force when fully force balanced.

2. The shower head of claim 1, wherein the mixer valve comprises a mixing chamber having the fluid outlet, and wherein at least one of the first or second flow control valve includes at least two separate outlets into the mixing chamber.

3. The shower head of claim 2, wherein both the first flow control valve and second flow control valve each include at least two separate outlets into the mixing chamber.

4. The shower head of claim 3, wherein each valve member assembly includes a first valve member adapted to engage with a first valve seat associated with a first of the two valve outlets in a closed position of the flow control valve and a second valve member adapted to engage with a second, separate, valve seat associated with a second of the two valve outlets in the closed position of the flow control valve.

5. The shower head of claim 1, wherein the mixer valve is provided in a stem of the shower head.

6. The shower head of claim 1, wherein the shower head is a fixed shower head.

7. The shower head of claim 1, wherein the shower head comprises a movable handset.

8. The shower head of claim 1, wherein the shower head includes a spray head configured to provide a plurality of different spray patterns.

9. The shower head of claim 1, wherein the first fluid conduit is configured to couple to a source of hot water and the second fluid conduit is configured to couple to a source of cold water, the sources of hot and cold water being located outside of the shower head.

10. The shower head of claim 1, wherein the shower head further includes a controller configured to control at least one of the flow rate or the temperature of fluid output from the mixer valve.

11. The shower head of claim 1, further comprising an interface configured to allow a user of the shower head to control at least one of the flow rate or the temperature of fluid output from the mixer valve.

12. The shower head of claim 11, wherein the interface is provided on a portion of the shower head.

13. The shower head of claim 12, wherein the interface comprises a touch screen.

14. The shower head of claim 1, wherein the shower head includes a stem portion in which the first and second fluid conduits are received by the mixer valve and at least one outlet to discharge fluid from the mixer valve.

15. The shower head of claim 1, wherein the mixer valve includes a plurality of linear actuators for moving valve assemblies within the mixer valve.

16. The shower head of claim 15, wherein the linear actuators are stepper motors.

17. The shower head of claim 1, wherein the mixer valve further comprises an electric heating element configured to heat a body of the mixer valve to allow a disinfecting routine to be performed to kill organisms within the mixer valve.

18. A shower head comprising:

a body;

a mixing valve within the body of the shower head;

a first flow control valve for controlling the flow of fluid from a first inlet; and

a second flow control valve for controlling the flow of fluid from a second inlet;

wherein each of the first and second flow control valves includes a valve member assembly to control the fluid flow through the respective flow control valve;

wherein the mixing valve includes a first inlet and a second inlet for receiving first and second fluids, respectively, and an outlet for directing a mixture of the first and second fluids toward an outlet of the shower head; and

wherein the valve member assembly and the inlet of each of the first and second flow control valves are adapted and arranged such that, when in use, fluid flowing through the first flow control valve exerts substantially no net force on the valve member assembly of the first flow control valve and fluid flowing through the second flow control valve exerts substantially no net force on the valve member assembly of the second flow control valve.

19. The shower head of claim 18, wherein the shower head is a fixed shower head.

20. The shower head of claim 19, wherein the mixing valve is provided in a stem of the shower head.

21. The shower head of claim 18, wherein the shower head comprises a movable handset.

22. The shower head of claim 21, wherein the mixing valve is provided in a stem of the shower head.

23. The shower head of claim 18, wherein the shower head includes a spray head configured to provide a plurality of different spray patterns.

24. The shower head of claim 18, wherein the mixing valve further comprises a mixing chamber, and the second flow control valve is separate from the first flow control valve, wherein at least one of the first flow control valve or the second flow control valve includes at least two separate outlets into the mixing chamber.

25. The shower head of claim 24, wherein both the first flow control valve and second flow control valve each include at least two separate outlets into the mixing chamber.

26. The shower head of claim 18, wherein the mixing valve further comprises an electric heating element configured to heat a body of the mixing valve to allow a disinfecting routine to be performed to kill organisms within the mixing valve.

27. A shower head comprising:

a body;

a mixing valve within the body of the shower head, the mixing valve comprising;

a first inlet for receiving a first fluid;

a second inlet for receiving a second fluid;

a mixing chamber;

a first flow control valve for controlling the flow of the first fluid from the first inlet, the first flow control valve including at least two separate outlets into the mixing chamber;

a second flow control valve for controlling the flow of the second fluid from the second inlet, wherein the second flow control valve is separate from the first flow control valve and includes at least two separate outlets into the mixing chamber; and

an outlet for directing a mixture of the first and second fluids toward an outlet of the shower head;

wherein each of the first and second flow control valves comprises a valve member assembly that includes a first valve member adapted to engage with a first valve seat associated with a first of the two valve outlets in a closed position of the flow control valve and a second valve member adapted to engage with a second, separate, valve seat associated with a second of the two valve outlets in the closed position of the flow control valve.

28. The shower head of claim 27, wherein the valve member assembly and the inlet of each of the first and second flow control valves are adapted and arranged such that, when in use, fluid flowing through the first flow control valve exerts substantially no net force on the valve member assembly of the first flow control valve and fluid flowing through the second flow control valve exerts substantially no net force on the valve member assembly of the second flow control valve.

29. The shower head of claim 27, wherein the mixing valve includes a first linear actuator for moving the first valve member assembly and a second linear actuator for moving the second valve member assembly.

30. The shower head of claim 29, wherein the linear actuators are stepper motors.

31. The shower head of claim 27, wherein the first inlet is configured to receive hot water and the second inlet is configured to receive cold water.

32. The shower head of claim 27, wherein the shower head further includes a controller configured to control at least one of the flow rate or the temperature of fluid output from the mixing valve.

33. The shower head of claim 27, further comprising an interface configured to allow a user of the shower head to control at least one of the flow rate or the temperature of fluid output from the mixing valve.

34. The shower head of claim 33, wherein the interface is provided on a portion of the shower head.

35. The shower head of claim 34, wherein the interface comprises a touch screen.

36. A shower head comprising:

a body comprising a spray head and a stem;

a mixing valve within at least one of the spray head or the stem;

a first flow control valve for controlling the flow of fluid from a first inlet; and

a second flow control valve for controlling the flow of fluid from a second inlet;

wherein each of the first and second flow control valves includes a valve member assembly to control the fluid flow through the respective flow control valve;

wherein the mixing valve includes first and second inlets for receiving fluids, a mixing chamber configured for mixing the received fluids, and an outlet for directing a mixture of the received fluids out of the spray head; and

wherein the valve member assembly and the inlet of each of the first and second flow control valves are adapted and arranged such that, when in use, fluid flowing through the first flow control valve exerts substantially no net force on the valve member assembly of the first flow control valve and fluid flowing through the second flow control valve exerts substantially no net force on the valve member assembly of the second flow control valve.

37. The shower head of claim 36, wherein the stem is configured to act as a handle for the shower head, and wherein the shower head is configured as a movable hand shower.

38. The shower head of claim 36, wherein the shower head is a fixed shower head.

39. The shower head of claim 38, wherein the mixing valve is provided in a stem of the shower head.

40. The shower head of claim 36, wherein the spray head is configured to provide a plurality of different spray patterns.

41. The shower head of claim 36, wherein the first inlet is configured to receive hot water and the second inlet is configured to receive cold water.

42. The shower head of claim 36, wherein the shower head further includes a controller configured to control at least one of the flow rate or the temperature of fluid output from the mixing valve.

43. The shower head of claim 36, further comprising an interface configured to allow a user of the shower head to control at least one of the flow rate or the temperature of fluid output from the mixing valve.

44. The shower head of claim 43, wherein the interface is provided on a portion of the shower head.

45. The shower head of claim 44, wherein the interface comprises a touch screen.

46. The shower head of claim 36, wherein the mixing valve further comprises an electric heating element configured to heat a body of the mixing valve to allow a disinfecting routine to be performed to kill organisms within the mixing valve.

47. A shower head comprising:

a body comprising a spray head and a stem;

a first flow control valve;

a second flow control valve; and

a mixing valve within at least one of the spray head or the stem, the mixing valve including first and second inlets for receiving fluids, a mixing chamber configured for mixing the received fluids, and an outlet for directing a mixture of the received fluids out of the spray head;

wherein the first flow control valve includes a valve member assembly for controlling the flow of a first fluid from the first inlet into the mixing chamber and the second flow control valve, separate from the first flow control valve, includes a valve member assembly for controlling the flow of a second fluid from the second inlet into the mixing chamber; and

wherein at least one of the first flow control valve or the second flow control valve includes at least two separate outlets into the mixing chamber.

48. The shower head of claim 47, wherein the valve member assembly and the inlet of each of the first and second flow control valves are adapted and arranged such that, when in use, fluid flowing through the first flow control valve exerts substantially no net force on the valve member assembly of the first flow control valve and fluid flowing through the second flow control valve exerts substantially no net force on the valve member assembly of the second flow control valve.

49. The shower head of claim 47, wherein both the first flow control valve and second flow control valve each include at least two separate outlets into the mixing chamber.

50. The shower head of claim 49, wherein each valve member assembly includes a first valve member adapted to engage with a first valve seat associated with a first of the two valve outlets in a closed position of the flow control valve and a second valve member adapted to engage with a second, separate, valve seat associated with a second of the two valve outlets in the closed position of the flow control valve.

51. The shower head of claim 50, wherein the mixing valve includes a first linear actuator for moving the first valve member assembly and a second linear actuator for moving the second valve member assembly.

52. The shower head of claim 51, wherein the linear actuators are stepper motors.