Mixing valve
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A mixing valve for use within a body of plumbing fixture, the mixing valve comprising:
- a housing configured to be located within the body, the housing comprising;
a first inlet that is configured to receive a first liquid;
a second inlet that is separate from the first inlet and is configured to receive a second liquid configured at a different temperature than the first liquid; and
a mixing chamber in selective fluid communication with the first and second inlets to receive one or both of the first and second liquids in order to output the first liquid, the second liquid, or a mixture of the first and second liquids;
a first flow control valve located within the housing and comprising a valve member assembly comprising a spool having a first end and a second end, a first valve member coupled to the spool, and a second valve member coupled to the spool, wherein the first and second valve members are spaced apart from each other and are configured to seal two separate outlets into the mixing chamber when the first flow control valve is in a closed position, and the first end of the spool is received in a guide bore of the housing; and
a stepper motor coupled to the second end of the spool and configured to simultaneously move the spool, the first valve member, and second valve member to selectively seal or unseal the two separate outlets.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A mixing valve includes an inlet and a flow control valve that includes a valve member assembly having a first valve member coupled to a second valve member. The first and second valve members are spaced apart from each other and are configured to seal two separate outlets when the flow control valve is in a closed position. The mixing valve also includes a stepper motor configured to simultaneously move the first and second valve members to selectively seal or unseal the two separate outlets.
118 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A mixing valve for use within a body of plumbing fixture, the mixing valve comprising:
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a housing configured to be located within the body, the housing comprising; a first inlet that is configured to receive a first liquid; a second inlet that is separate from the first inlet and is configured to receive a second liquid configured at a different temperature than the first liquid; and a mixing chamber in selective fluid communication with the first and second inlets to receive one or both of the first and second liquids in order to output the first liquid, the second liquid, or a mixture of the first and second liquids; a first flow control valve located within the housing and comprising a valve member assembly comprising a spool having a first end and a second end, a first valve member coupled to the spool, and a second valve member coupled to the spool, wherein the first and second valve members are spaced apart from each other and are configured to seal two separate outlets into the mixing chamber when the first flow control valve is in a closed position, and the first end of the spool is received in a guide bore of the housing; and a stepper motor coupled to the second end of the spool and configured to simultaneously move the spool, the first valve member, and second valve member to selectively seal or unseal the two separate outlets. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A mixing valve comprising:
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a housing; a first flow control valve comprising a spool having a first end slideably received in a first bore of the housing, a first valve member, and a second valve member, wherein the first and second valve members are coupled to the spool and spaced apart from each other, and wherein the first and second valve members are each configured to engage a separate valve seat when the first flow control valve is in a closed position so as to each seal a separate outlet into a mixing chamber; and a first stepper motor coupled to a second end of the spool of the first flow control valve and configured to simultaneously move the first and second valve members of the first flow control valve; a second flow control valve comprising a spool having a first end slideably received in a second bore of the housing, a first valve member, and a second valve member, wherein the first and second valve members are coupled to the spool and spaced apart from each other, and wherein the first and second valve members are each configured to engage a separate valve seat when the second flow control valve is in a closed position so as to each seal a separate outlet into the mixing chamber; and a second stepper motor coupled to a second end of the spool of the second flow control valve and configured to move the first and second valve members of the second flow control valve. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A mixing valve comprising:
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a housing comprising; a first inlet for introducing a first fluid into a first valve chamber; a second inlet for introducing a second fluid into a second valve chamber; a mixing chamber configured to receive the first and second fluids from the first and second valve chambers; a first valve member assembly associated with the first inlet and comprising a spool having a first end slideably received in a first guide bore of the housing; a second valve member assembly associated with the second inlet and comprising a spool having a first end slideably received in a second guide bore of the housing; a first stepper motor coupled to the spool of the first valve member assembly and configured to move the first valve member assembly; and a second stepper motor coupled to the spool of the second valve member assembly and configured to move the second valve member assembly; wherein each of the first and second valve member assemblies comprises two spaced-apart valve members disposed on the respective spool and configured to simultaneously open or close two separate outlets into the mixing chamber. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification