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Mixing valve

  • US 9,340,958 B2
  • Filed: 03/12/2013
  • Issued: 05/17/2016
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2012
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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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.

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