Flow control valve

• US 9,689,149 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Issued: 06/27/2017
• 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): McManmon, Mary
• Assistant Examiner(s): PAQUETTE, IAN G
• Application Number:
  US13/830,896
• Publication Number:
  US 20130340851A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,566 Days
• Field of Search: 137602, 137896, 137897, 137606, 137607, 137613, 137801, 13759901, 13759903, 13759908, 13759912, 13759914, 13759916, 13760102, 13760114, 137341, 236 121, 236 1211, 236 1212, 236236
• 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 flow control valve includes a valve inlet configured to receive a fluid, a valve outlet configured to output the fluid, and a valve member assembly for controlling the fluid flow through the flow control valve. The valve member assembly and the valve inlet are configured such that, when in use, fluid flowing through the flow control valve exerts substantially no net force on the valve member assembly.

Claims

1. A flow control valve comprising:

a valve inlet configured to receive a fluid;

a valve outlet configured to output the fluid; and

a valve member assembly for controlling the fluid flow through the flow control valve, the valve member assembly comprising;

a first valve member having a first convex portion facing the valve outlet portion and including a first seal disposed thereon, wherein the first seal is made from a different material than the first valve member and is configured to engage with a first valve seat in a closed position of the flow control valve, wherein the first valve member is arranged to be urged closed by fluid entering through the valve inlet;

a second valve member having a second convex portion facing the first valve member and including a second seal disposed thereon, wherein the second seal is made from a different material than the second valve member and is configured to engage with a second, separate, valve seat in the closed position of the flow control valve, wherein the second valve member is arranged to be urged open by fluid entering through the valve inlet; and

a spool, wherein the spool, the first valve member, and the second valve member are formed of the same material and are integrally formed with each other;

wherein each of the first seal and the second seal is an O-ring made from an elastomeric material; and

wherein the valve member assembly and the valve inlet are configured such that, when in use, fluid flowing through the flow control valve exerts substantially no net force on the valve member assembly.

2. The flow control valve of claim 1, wherein the valve includes a housing that houses the flow control valve and includes apertures that form the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet.

3. The flow control valve of claim 1, wherein the spool is coupled directly to an electrically powered motor which controls the position of the first valve member and the second valve member relative to their respective valve seats.

4. The flow control valve of claim 3, wherein the motor comprises a stepper motor.

5. The flow control valve of claim 1, wherein the valve is connected to a supply of water and is configured to be controlled in response to water flow rate.

6. The flow control valve of claim 5, further comprising a sensor device configured to monitor flow rate of the outlet water and the controller is configured to control the valve to achieve and maintain a user selected flow rate.

7. The flow control valve of claim 1, wherein the valve inlet is located between the first valve member and the second valve member.

8. The flow control valve of claim 7, wherein the valve inlet opens into a valve inlet chamber defined by a chamber wall having a first valve outlet and a second valve outlet formed therein.

9. The flow control valve of claim 8, wherein the first valve seat is associated with the first valve outlet and the second valve seat is associated with the second valve outlet.

10. The flow control valve of claim 8, wherein the first and second valve outlets are of similar size.

11. The flow control valve of claim 8, wherein the first and second valve outlets are axially aligned.

12. The flow control valve of claim 8, wherein the valve seats are located within the valve outlets.

13. The flow control valve of claim 12, wherein the valve seats include a cylindrical bore portion of the valve outlets in which the valve members are slidably received in the closed position with the first seal contacting the cylindrical bore portion of the first valve seat and the second seal contacting the cylindrical bore portion of the second valve seat, and wherein each cylindrical bore portion is included between two end portions that are tapered outwardly away from the cylindrical bore portion and the valve member assembly.

14. The flow control valve of claim 8, wherein the valve seats are located at one end of the valve outlets.

15. The flow control valve of claim 14, wherein the valve seats include an end face of the valve outlets against which the valve members seat in the closed position.

16. The flow control valve of claim 8, wherein the flow control valve includes an outlet chamber that includes the fluid outlet and is arranged to receive fluid from the first and second valve outlets.

17. The flow control valve of claim 16, wherein the first valve member is received in the valve inlet chamber in an open position of the flow control valve and the second valve member is received in the outlet chamber in the open position of the flow control valve.

18. A flow control valve for a plumbing fixture, the flow control valve comprising:

a housing having a valve inlet configured to receive water and a valve outlet configured to output water;

a valve member assembly in the housing for controlling water flow through the flow control valve, the valve member assembly comprising;

a first valve member including a first seal disposed thereon, wherein the first seal is made from a different material than the first valve member and is configured to engage with a first valve seat of the housing in a closed position of the flow control valve;

a second valve member including a second seal disposed thereon, wherein the second seal is made from a different material than the second valve member and is configured to engage with a second, separate, valve seat of the housing in the closed position of the flow control valve; and

an electrically powered heating device located in the housing for thermally disinfecting the flow control valve;

wherein the housing is made of a metal or an alloy and has a thermal mass such that the electrically powered heating device is able to heat the housing to disinfect the flow control valve with a power of not more than 10 watts.

19. The flow control valve of claim 18, further comprising a controller configured to disable the valve to prevent discharge of water during a thermal disinfection cycle in which the electrically powered heating device is active.

20. The flow control valve of claim 19, wherein the thermal disinfection cycle includes a heating cycle to heat the housing to a temperature of at least 65°

C. to disinfect waterways within the housing and a cool down cycle to allow the housing and water contained in the valve to cool down after the heating cycle.

21. A flow control valve for a plumbing fixture, the flow control valve comprising:

a housing having a valve inlet configured to receive water and a valve outlet chamber having an outlet for outputting the water;

an electrically powered heating device located in the housing and configured to heat to an elevated temperature sufficient for thermally disinfecting the flow control valve; and

a valve member assembly in the housing and comprising;

a spool;

a first valve member mounted on the spool and including a recess having a first O-ring disposed therein, wherein the first O-ring is adapted to engage with a first valve seat associated with a first valve outlet in a closed position of the flow control valve; and

a second valve member mounted on the spool and including a recess having a second O-ring disposed therein, wherein the second O-ring is adapted to engage with a second, separate, valve seat associated with a second, separate, valve outlet in the closed position of the flow control valve;

wherein the housing is insulated so that exposed external surfaces of the housing are not heated to the elevated temperature.

22. The flow control valve of claim 21, wherein the valve inlet opens into an elongate valve inlet chamber having the first and second separate valve outlets formed at substantially opposite ends of the valve chamber, with the valve inlet located between the valve outlets.

23. The flow control valve of claim 21, wherein the valve member assembly is balanced such that fluid flowing through the control valve exerts substantially no net force on the valve member assembly.

24. The flow control valve of claim 21, wherein the first valve member is arranged to be urged closed by fluid entering the inlet chamber through the inlet and the second valve member is arranged to be urged open by fluid entering the inlet chamber through the inlet.

25. The flow control valve of claim 21, wherein the valve seats are located within the valve outlets and the valve seats include a cylindrical bore portion of the valve outlets in which the valve members are slidably received in the closed position.

26. The flow control valve of claim 21, wherein the first valve member is received in the valve inlet chamber in the open position of the flow control valve and the second valve member is received in the outlet chamber in the open position of the flow control valve.

27. The flow control valve of claim 21, wherein the valve outlets are of similar size.

28. The flow control valve of claim 21, wherein the valve outlets are axially aligned.

29. The flow control valve of claim 21, wherein the valve seats are located at one end of the valve outlets.

30. The flow control valve of claim 29, wherein the valve seats include an end face of the valve outlets against which the valve members seat in the closed position.

31. The flow control valve of claim 21, wherein the valve is configured to be connected to a supply of water and is configured to be controlled in response to water flow rate.

32. The flow control valve of claim 31, further comprising a sensor device configured to monitor flow rate of the outlet water and the controller is configured to control the valve to achieve and maintain a user selected flow rate.

33. The flow control valve of claim 21, wherein the spool includes a connector portion coupled to an electrically powered motor which controls the position of the valve members relative to their respective valve seats.

34. The flow control valve of claim 33, wherein the spool includes a first end that is received in and guided by a bore of a valve housing and a second end having the connector portion coupled to the electrically powered motor.

35. The flow control valve of claim 34, wherein the electrically powered motor comprises a stepper motor that is connected directly to the valve housing, and wherein a third O-ring is disposed between the valve housing and the connector portion.

36. The flow control valve of claim 35, wherein the third O-ring is disposed in a groove in the valve housing.

37. The flow control valve of claim 21, wherein the valve includes a housing that houses the flow control valve and includes apertures that form the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet.

38. The flow control valve of claim 37, wherein the housing includes metal or alloy portions and the electrically powered heating device is located in the metal or alloy portions housing and is configured to heat the metal or alloy portions of the housing to a temperature of at least 65°

C. for a time of at least 5 minutes for thermally disinfecting the valve.

39. The flow control valve of claim 38, further comprising a controller configured to disable the valve to prevent discharge of water during a thermal disinfection cycle in which the electrically powered heating device is active, and wherein the housing is insulated so that exposed external surfaces are not heated to the temperature of at least 65°

C.

40. The flow control valve of claim 39, wherein the thermal disinfection cycle includes a heating cycle to heat waterways within the housing to the temperature of at least 65°

C. and a cool down cycle to allow the waterways within the housing and water contained in the valve to cool down after the heating cycle.