Mixing valve

• US 9,340,958 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2013
• Issued: 05/17/2016
• 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): McCalister, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): PAQUETTE, IAN G
• Application Number:
  US13/797,263
• Publication Number:
  US 20130340848A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,162 Days
• Field of Search: 137/602, 137/896, 137/897, 137/606, 137/607, 137/613, 137/801, 137/599.01, 137/599.03, 137/599.08, 137/599.12, 137/599.14, 137/599.16, 137/601.02, 137/601.14, 137/341, 236/12.1, 236/12.11, 236/12.12
• 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: 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 mixing valve includes a cold water inlet, a hot water inlet, and an outlet, first and second flow control valves for controlling the flow of hot and cold water. Each of the first and second flow control valves include a valve inlet, first and second valve outlets communicating with the outlet, and a valve member assembly to control the flow of water through the first and second valve outlets. Each valve member assembly includes a first valve member configured to engage with a first valve seat and a second valve member configured to engage with a second, separate, valve seat. The first valve member is configured to be urged closed by water entering through the valve inlet and the second valve member is configured to be urged open by water entering through the valve inlet such that water exerts substantially no net force on the valve members.

Claims

1. A mixing valve for use in controlling the mixture of two supplies of water having different temperatures, the mixing valve comprising:

a cold water inlet configured to receive a supply of cold water;

a hot water inlet configured to receive a supply of hot water;

an outlet configured to output cold water or hot water or a mixture thereof from the mixing valve;

a first flow control valve for controlling the flow of cold water from the cold water inlet to the water outlet;

a second flow control valve for controlling the flow of hot water from the hot water inlet to the water outlet;

a mixing chamber in fluid communication with the water outlet;

a first wall separating the mixing chamber and the cold water inlet; and

a second wall offset from the first wall and separating the mixing chamber and the hot water inlet;

wherein mixing of the hot water and the cold water occurs in the mixing chamber between the first wall and the second wall;

wherein each of the first and second flow control valves include a valve inlet communicating with the associated water inlet, first and second valve outlets communicating with the water outlet, and a valve member assembly to control the flow of water through the first and second valve outlets, the first and second valve outlets of each flow control valve being located in the mixing chamber, such that the mixing chamber is arranged to receive water from the first and second valve outlets of each flow control valve;

wherein each valve member assembly includes a first valve member configured to engage with a first valve seat associated with the first valve outlet in a closed position of the flow control valve and a second valve member configured to engage with a second, separate, valve seat associated with the second valve outlet in the closed position of the flow control valve;

wherein the first wall defines at least a portion of the each valve seat associated with the first flow control valve, and the second wall defines at least a portion of each valve seat associated with the second flow control valve; and

wherein the first valve member is configured to be urged closed by water entering through the valve inlet and the second valve member is configured to be urged open by water entering through the valve inlet such that, when in use, water flowing through the first flow control valve exerts substantially no net force on the valve member assembly of the first flow control valve and water flowing through the second flow control valve exerts substantially no net force on the valve member assembly of the second flow control valve.

2. The mixing valve of claim 1, wherein the valve inlet of each flow control valve is located between the first valve member and the second valve member of the valve member assembly.

3. The mixing valve of claim 1, wherein the first and second valve outlets of each flow control valve are arranged at opposite ends of the inlet chamber.

4. The mixing valve of claim 1, wherein the mixing valve includes a housing that defines the mixing chamber, and wherein each of the first and second flow control valves are locate within the mixing chamber.

5. The mixing valve of claim 1, wherein the first and second valve outlets are of similar size.

6. The mixing valve of claim 1, wherein the first and second valve outlets are axially aligned.

7. The mixing valve of claim 1, wherein the first and second valve seats are located within the first and second valve outlets.

8. The mixing valve of claims 1, wherein the first and second valve seats include a cylindrical bore portion of the valve outlets in which the first and second valve members are slidably received in the closed position.

9. The mixing valve of claim 1, wherein the first and second valve seats are located at one end of the first and second valve outlets.

10. The mixing valve of claim 1, wherein the first and second valve seats include an end face of the valve outlets against which the first and second valve members seat in the closed position.

11. The mixing valve of claim 1, further comprising a controller configured to control the first and second flow control valves in response to at least one of water temperature or flow rate.

12. The mixing valve of claim 1, further comprising a sensor device configured to monitor at least one of the temperature or flow rate of the water output from the outlet and a controller configured to control the flow control valves to achieve and maintain at least one of a user selected outlet water temperature or flow rate.

13. The mixing valve of claim 1, further comprising a sensor device configured to monitor at least one of the hot or cold water temperature or the flow rate of the water output from the outlet and a controller configured to control the flow control valves to achieve and maintain at least one of a user selected outlet temperature or flow rate.

14. The mixing valve of claim 1, wherein each flow control valve includes an inlet chamber and the valve inlet of each flow control valve opens into the inlet chamber.

15. The mixing valve of claim 14, wherein each flow control valve includes an inlet chamber and the valve inlet of each flow control valve opens into the inlet chamber and wherein the first valve member of the valve member assembly of each flow control valve is received in the associated inlet chamber in an open position of the flow control valve and the second valve member is received in a mixing chamber in the open position of the flow control valve.

16. The mixing valve of claim 1, wherein the first and second valve members of each valve member assembly are connected to a spool that is coupled to an actuator which controls the position of the valve members relative to their respective valve seats.

17. The mixing valve of claim 16, wherein the actuator comprises an electrically powered motor.

18. The mixing valve of claim 17, wherein the motor comprises a stepper motor.

19. The mixing valve of claim 1, wherein the mixing valve includes a housing that houses the first and second flow control valves and includes apertures that form the cold water inlet, the hot water inlet and the water outlet.

20. The mixing valve of claim 19, wherein the housing is made of metal or alloy and includes an electrically powered heating device for thermally disinfecting the mixing valve.

21. The mixing valve of claim 20, wherein the mixing valve has an associated controller that is configured to disable operation of the mixing valve to prevent discharge of water during a thermal disinfection cycle in which the electrically powered heating device is active.

22. The mixing valve of claim 21, wherein the electrically powered heating device is configured to heat the housing to a temperature sufficient to disinfect waterways within the housing.

23. The mixing valve of claim 19, wherein the housing is made of metal or alloy and includes an electric heating element for thermally disinfecting the mixing valve.

24. The mixing valve of claim 23, wherein the mixing valve has an associated controller that is configured to disable operation of the mixing valve to prevent discharge of water during a thermal disinfection cycle in which the electric heating element is active.

25. The mixing valve of claim 24, wherein the electric heating element is configured to heat the housing to a temperature sufficient to disinfect waterways within the housing.

26. A mixing valve for use in controlling the mixture of two supplies of fluid, the mixing valve comprising:

a first inlet configured to receive a supply of a first fluid;

a second inlet configured to receive a supply of a second fluid;

a mixing chamber in fluid communication with the first and second inlets for creating a mixed fluid comprising the first fluid and the second fluid;

an outlet in fluid communication with the mixing chamber for directing the mixed fluid out of the mixing valve;

a first flow control valve associated with the first inlet;

a second flow control valve associated with the second inlet;

a first wall separating the mixing chamber and the first inlet and

a second wall offset from the first wall and separating the mixing chamber and the second inlet;

wherein mixing of the first fluid and the second fluid occurs in the mixing chamber between the first wall and the second wall;

wherein each of the first and second flow control valves include a valve inlet communicating with the associated water inlet, first and second valve outlets communicating with the water outlet, and a valve member assembly to control the flow of water through the first and second valve outlets, the first and second valve outlets of each flow control valve being located in the mixing chamber, such that the mixing chamber is arranged to receive water from the first and second valve outlets of each flow control valve;

wherein each valve member assembly includes a first valve member adapted to engage with a first valve seat associated with the first valve outlet 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 the second valve outlet in the closed position of the flow control valve;

wherein the first wall defines at least a portion of the each valve seat associated with the first flow control valve, and the second wall defines at least a portion of each valve seat associated with the second flow control valve; and

wherein the first valve member is configured to be urged closed by water entering through the valve inlet and the second valve member is configured to be urged open by water entering through the valve inlet 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.

27. The mixing valve of claim 26, wherein the valve inlet of each flow control valve is located between the first valve member and the second valve member of the valve member assembly.

28. The mixing valve of claim 26, wherein each flow control valve includes an inlet chamber and the valve inlet of each flow control valve opens into the inlet chamber.

29. The mixing valve of claim 26, wherein the first and second valve outlets of each flow control valve are arranged at opposite ends of the inlet chamber.

30. The mixing valve of claim 26, wherein the first and second valve outlets are of similar size and are axially aligned.

31. The mixing valve of claim 26, wherein the first and second valve seats are located within the first and second valve outlets, and wherein each of the first and second flow control valves are located within the mixing chamber.

32. The mixing valve of claim 26, wherein the first and second valve seats include a cylindrical bore portion of the valve outlets in which the first and second valve members are slidably received in the closed position.

33. The mixing valve of claim 26, wherein the first and second valve seats are located at one end of the first and second valve outlets.

34. The mixing valve of claim 26, wherein the first and second valve seats include an end face of the valve outlets against which the first and second valve members seat in the closed position.

35. The mixing valve of claim 26, wherein each flow control valve includes an inlet chamber and the valve inlet of each flow control valve opens into the inlet chamber and wherein the first valve member of the valve member assembly of each flow control valve is received in the associated inlet chamber in an open position of the flow control valve and the second valve member is received in the mixing chamber in the open position of the flow control valve.

36. The mixing valve of claim 26, wherein the mixing valve includes a housing that houses the first and second flow control valves and includes apertures that form the first inlet, the second inlet, and the outlet.

37. The mixing valve of claim 26, further comprising a controller configured to control the first and second flow control valves in response to at least one of fluid temperature or flow rate.

38. The mixing valve of claim 26, further comprising a sensor device configured to monitor at least one of the temperature or flow rate of the fluid output from the outlet and a controller configured to control the flow control valves to achieve and maintain at least one of a user selected outlet fluid temperature or flow rate.

39. The mixing valve of claim 26, wherein the first and second valve members of each valve member assembly are connected to a spool that is coupled to an actuator which controls the position of the valve members relative to their respective valve seats.

40. The mixing valve of claim 39, wherein the actuator comprises an electrically powered motor.

41. The mixing valve of claim 40, wherein the motor comprises a stepper motor.