Mixing valve

• US 9,920,507 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2016
• Issued: 03/20/2018
• 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): PAQUETTE, IAN G
• Application Number:
  US15/140,144
• Publication Number:
  US 20160238144A1
• Time in Patent Office: 692 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 valve including a housing having a first inlet chamber defined by a first chamber wall and configured to receive the cold water, a second inlet chamber defined by a second chamber wall and configured to receive the hot water, and a mixing chamber configured to receive the cold water from the first inlet chamber and the hot water from the second inlet chamber, wherein at least a portion of the mixing chamber is located between the first and second chamber walls; a first flow control valve extending through the first inlet chamber and moveable relative to the housing for controlling the flow of cold water from the first inlet chamber to the mixing chamber; and a second flow control valve extending through the second inlet chamber and moveable relative to the housing for controlling the flow of hot water from the second inlet chamber to the mixing chamber.

Claims

1. A valve for use in a plumbing fixture for washing, bathing and showering, the valve being configured to control the mixing of a supply of cold water and a supply of hot water, the valve comprising:

a housing comprising a first inlet chamber defined by a first chamber wall and configured to receive the cold water, a second inlet chamber defined by a second chamber wall and configured to receive the hot water, and a mixing chamber configured to receive the cold water from the first inlet chamber and the hot water from the second inlet chamber, wherein at least a portion of the mixing chamber is located between the first chamber wall and the second chamber wall;

a first flow control valve extending through the first inlet chamber and moveable relative to the housing for controlling the flow of cold water from the first inlet chamber to the mixing chamber; and

a second flow control valve extending through the second inlet chamber and moveable relative to the housing for controlling the flow of hot water from the second inlet chamber to the mixing chamber;

wherein the first and second flow control valves are moveable independently of each other.

2. The valve of claim 1, wherein the mixing chamber is substantially H-shaped and the portion of the mixing chamber that is located between the first chamber wall and the second chamber wall is a central portion of the H-shaped mixing chamber.

3. The valve of claim 2, wherein the mixing chamber is substantially H-shaped in a cross-section.

4. The valve of claim 1, wherein the first inlet chamber is substantially T-shaped having a valve inlet and two valve outlets formed at substantially opposite ends of the first inlet chamber, and wherein the second inlet chamber is substantially T-shaped having a valve inlet and two valve outlets formed at substantially opposite ends of the second inlet chamber.

5. The valve of claim 4, wherein the two valve outlets of the first inlet chamber are defined at least in part by the first chamber wall and the two valve outlets of the second inlet chamber are defined at least in part by the second chamber wall.

6. The valve of claim 5, wherein each valve outlet includes a through bore with a cylindrical center section having a reduced diameter relative to two opposite end sections of the through bore.

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

8. The valve of claim 7, wherein the mixing chamber is substantially H-shaped having a central portion that is the portion of the mixing chamber located between the first chamber wall and the second chamber wall and two side portions, and wherein each flow control valve includes a spool that extends through each side portion of the substantially H-shaped mixing chamber.

9. A valve for use in a plumbing fixture for washing, bathing and showering, the valve being configured to control the mixing of a supply of cold water and a supply of hot water, the valve comprising:

a housing comprising a first inlet chamber defined by a first chamber wall and configured to receive the cold water, a second inlet chamber defined by a second chamber wall and configured to receive the hot water, and a mixing chamber configured to receive the cold water from the first inlet chamber and the hot water from the second inlet chamber, wherein at least a portion of the mixing chamber is located between the first chamber wall and the second chamber wall;

a first flow control valve extending through the first inlet chamber and moveable relative to the housing for controlling the flow of cold water from the first inlet chamber to the mixing chamber; and

a second flow control valve extending through the second inlet chamber and moveable relative to the housing for controlling the flow of hot water from the second inlet chamber to the mixing chamber;

wherein the first chamber wall defines at least a portion of each of two valve outlets fluidly connecting the first inlet chamber to the mixing chamber, and wherein the second chamber wall defines at least a portion of each of two valve outlets fluidly connecting the second inlet chamber to the mixing chamber.

10. The valve of claim 9, wherein each inlet chamber of the first and second inlet chambers is substantially T-shaped having a valve inlet and the two valve outlets formed at substantially opposite ends of the valve inlet chamber.

11. The valve of claim 9,

wherein each valve outlet has a size and the mixing valve has a flow coefficient that when both the first and second flow control valves are in a full open position, the valve outputs a first flow rate of water;

when both the first and second flow control valves are in a mid-open position, the valve outputs a second flow rate of water; and

when both the first and second flow control valves are in a position that is less than the mid-open position, the valve outputs a third flow rate of water.

12. The valve of claim 11, wherein the first flow rate is 30 to 50 liters per minute, the second flow rate is 10 to 30 liters per minute, and the third flow rate is less than 10 liters per minute.

13. The valve of claim 12, wherein each valve outlet has a diameter of about 6 mm diameter and a flow coefficient of about 2.5.

14. The valve of claim 11, wherein the first flow control valve and the second flow control valve are arranged side by side in parallel and on opposite sides of the mixing chamber.

15. The valve of claim 14, further comprising a heating element that extends substantially parallel to the first and second flow control valves, wherein the heating element is configured to heat at least a portion of the mixing valve to a temperature that disinfects the portion.

16. The valve of claim 15, further comprising a thermistor that monitors the temperature during the disinfection cycle and controls a power input to the heating element to control the temperature to prevent overheating of the housing.

17. A valve for use in a plumbing fixture for washing, bathing and showering, the valve comprising:

a housing comprising a first inlet chamber configured to receive cold water, a second inlet chamber configured to receive hot water, and a mixing chamber configured to receive the cold water from the first inlet chamber and the hot water from the second inlet chamber;

a first flow control valve moveable relative to the housing for controlling a flow of the cold water from the first inlet chamber to the mixing chamber;

a second flow control valve moveable relative to the housing for controlling a flow of the hot water from the second inlet chamber to the mixing chamber;

a heating element that is located in the housing and is provided adjacent to the mixing chamber to heat the housing to a temperature to disinfect an internal waterway of the housing; and

a thermistor for monitoring the temperature during the disinfection cycle and controlling the power input to the heating element to control the temperature to prevent overheating of the housing.

18. The valve of claim 17, wherein the housing includes a metal or an alloy and has a thermal mass such that the heating element is able to heat the housing to disinfect the internal waterway of the housing with a power of not more than 10 watts.

19. The valve of claim 18, wherein the housing is insulated such that exposed external surfaces are not heated to the temperature.

20. The valve of claim 18, wherein the first inlet chamber is defined by a first chamber wall, the second inlet chamber is defined by a second chamber wall, and the mixing chamber is located between the first chamber wall and the second chamber wall.