Plumbing fixture with integrated mixing valve

• US 9,758,950 B2
• Filed: 06/02/2016
• Issued: 09/12/2017
• 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:
  US15/171,185
• Publication Number:
  US 20160274602A1
• Time in Patent Office: 467 Days
• 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 plumbing fixture having a body and a mixing valve provided within and separate from the body. The mixing valve has a housing that is separable from and disposed within the body, wherein the housing includes a mixing chamber for receiving cold water, hot water or a mixture thereof; a first flow control valve for controlling a flow of cold water to the mixing chamber; and a second flow control valve for controlling a flow of hot water to the mixing chamber. Each flow control valve has a first valve member, which is configured to engage with a valve seat of the housing in a closed position, and a second valve member, which is configured to engage with a separate valve seat of the housing in the closed position. A portion of the mixing chamber in the housing is located between the first and second flow control valves.

Claims

1. A plumbing fixture for washing, showering, or bathing that receives a supply of cold water and a supply of hot water, the plumbing fixture comprising:

a body for mounting the plumbing fixture to another object;

a mixing valve provided within and separable from the body, the mixing valve comprising;

a housing disposed within and separable from the body, wherein the housing includes a mixing chamber for receiving cold water, hot water, or a mixture of hot and cold water;

a first flow control valve for controlling a flow of cold water to the mixing chamber; and

a second flow control valve for controlling a flow of hot water to the mixing chamber;

wherein the first and second flow control valves each comprise a first valve member that is configured to engage with a valve seat of the housing in a closed position of the flow control valve and a second valve member that is configured to engage with a separate valve seat of the housing in the closed position; and

wherein a portion of the mixing chamber in the housing is located between first and second flow control valves.

2. The plumbing fixture of claim 1, wherein the first valve member is urged closed by water entering through the valve inlet and the second valve member is 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.

3. The plumbing fixture of claim 1, wherein the portion of the mixing chamber extends substantially parallel to a spool of each of the first and second flow control valves.

4. The plumbing fixture of claim 1, further comprising:

a first chamber wall defining the two valve seats engaged by the first flow control valve; and

a second chamber wall defining the two valve seats engaged by the second flow control valve;

wherein an inner edge of the first chamber wall extends substantially parallel to a spool of the first flow control valve, and an inner edge of the second chamber wall extends substantially parallel to a spool of the second flow control valve.

5. The plumbing fixture of claim 1, wherein the first flow control valve and the second flow control valve are arranged in side by side in parallel and on opposite sides of the portion of the mixing chamber.

6. The plumbing fixture of claim 5, wherein the housing includes a first inlet for receiving the cold water, and a second inlet for receiving the hot water.

7. The plumbing fixture of claim 6, wherein the first inlet is in a first side wall of the housing, the second inlet is in a second wall of the housing, and the first side wall is opposite and second side wall.

8. The plumbing fixture of claim 6, wherein the housing includes an outlet that outputs cold water, hot water, or the mixture of hot and cold water.

9. The plumbing fixture of claim 8, wherein the outlet of the housing is fluidly connected to a fluid conduit extending through the body of the plumbing fixture.

10. The plumbing fixture of claim 9, further comprising a heating element configured to heat a portion of the plumbing fixture to a temperature sufficient to kill bacteria in the portion.

11. The plumbing fixture of claim 10, wherein the heating element is located within the valve and the portion is at least part of the mixing chamber.

12. The plumbing fixture of claim 10, wherein the heating element is located outside the valve and the portion is the fluid conduit.

13. A plumbing fixture for washing, showering, or bathing that receives a supply of cold water and a supply of hot water, the plumbing fixture comprising:

a body having an outlet;

a mixing valve housing that is separable from and disposed within the body, the mixing valve housing comprising;

a mixing chamber fluidly connected to the outlet;

a cold water inlet chamber having a first chamber wall defining two outlets into the mixing chamber; and

a hot water inlet chamber having a second chamber wall defining two outlets into the mixing chamber;

wherein the first chamber wall is spaced apart from the second chamber wall with a portion of the mixing chamber extending therebetween;

a first flow control valve extending through the cold water inlet chamber and the mixing chamber, wherein the first flow control valve is moveable relative to the mixing valve housing to control a flow of cold water from the cold water inlet chamber to the outlet; and

a second flow control valve extending through the hot water inlet chamber and the mixing chamber, wherein the second flow control valve is moveable relative to the mixing valve housing to control a flow of hot water from the hot water inlet chamber to the outlet.

14. The plumbing fixture of claim 13, wherein an inner edge of each of the first and second chamber walls extends substantially parallel to a spool of each of the first and second flow control valves.

15. The plumbing fixture of claim 13, wherein the portion of the mixing chamber is elongated and is closed off at a first end by the mixing valve housing and opens to a valve outlet at a second end opposite the first end, and wherein the valve outlet is in fluid communication with the outlet of the body.

16. The plumbing fixture of claim 15, wherein the portion of the mixing chamber extends substantially parallel to a spool of each of the first and second flow control valves.

17. A plumbing fixture for washing, showering, or bathing that receives a supply of cold water and a supply of hot water, the plumbing fixture comprising:

a body having an outlet;

a mixing valve housing that is separable from and located within the body, the mixing valve housing comprising;

a mixing chamber fluidly connected to the outlet;

a cold water inlet chamber having a first chamber wall defining two outlets into the mixing chamber; and

a hot water inlet chamber having a second chamber wall defining two outlets into the mixing chamber;

wherein the first chamber wall is spaced apart from the second chamber wall with a portion of the mixing chamber extending therebetween;

a first control valve that is located within and moveable relative to the mixing valve housing to control a flow of cold water from the cold water inlet chamber to the mixing chamber;

a second control valve that is located within and moveable relative to the mixing valve housing to control a flow of hot water from the hot water inlet chamber to the mixing chamber;

a heater that is disposed in a bore of the mixing valve housing to heat an interior surface of the portion of the mixing chamber to a temperature that kills microorganisms on the interior surface.

18. The plumbing fixture of claim 17, wherein the heater heats the first and second chamber walls.

19. The plumbing fixture of claim 18, wherein the first flow control valve and the second flow control valve are arranged side by side and in parallel, and wherein the heater is parallel to the first and second flow control valves.

20. The plumbing fixture of claim 19, wherein the first flow control valve and the second flow control valve are arranged on opposite sides of the portion of the mixing chamber.