WO1990006465A1

WO1990006465A1 - A thermostat-controlled mixing valve

Info

Publication number: WO1990006465A1
Application number: PCT/SE1989/000717
Authority: WO
Inventors: Voldemar Riis
Original assignee: Vårgårda Armatur Ab
Priority date: 1988-12-08
Filing date: 1989-12-07
Publication date: 1990-06-14
Also published as: SE8804427L; AU4756090A; SE8804427D0

Abstract

A thermostat-controlled mixing valve for hot and cold water. In the mixing housing (1) there is arranged an insert (8) designed in one piece and inside which are arranged a temperature responsive element (10) and a control member (11) cooperating therewith. The insert (8) is along a part of its length provided with double axial partition walls (15, 16), at which the space between the walls forms a flow channel for either the hot or cold water, and where a passage (18) for the mixed water is arranged inside the inner partition wall. A connecting portion between the two partition walls (15, 16) forms an outlet channel (19) for the mixed water. The outer end edge (19') of the outlet channel (19) preferably forms a sealing surface for a stop valve (6).

Description

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A THERMOSTAT-CONTROLLED MIXING VALVE

The present invention refers to a thermostat-controlled mixing valve for two liquids, e.g. hot and cold water, and of the kind comprising a housing provided with an outlet and an inlet each for the liquids, a first operation member for regulating the amount of the liquid flowing out through the outlet and a second operation member for regulating the temperature of the liquid by means of a temperature respon- sive element cooperating with a control member for regula¬ ting the inflow areas of the liquids, said control member is axially displaceable in the housing.

Background of the invention

Such mixing valves usually comprise several parts held together by threaded joints, said parts form inlet channels for the liquids to the temperature responsive element and an outlet channel for the mixed liquid. These parts must be sealed with respect to each other and the mounting thereof is often complicated and time-consuming.

The object and most important features of the invention

The object of the present invention is to provide a mixing valve of the kind mentioned above, which has a simple and compact design and in which the inlet and outlet channels are built-in in one single unit. This has according to the invention been achieved by that in the housing there is arranged an insert designed in one piece and inside which said temperature responsive element and control member are arranged, said insert along a part of its length has double axial partition walls, at which the space between said partition makes a flow channel for one of the liquids, and a passage for the mixed liquid is formed inside the inner of said partition walls, and that a connecting portion between the two partition walls is provided for forming an outlet channel for the mixed liquid.

Description of the drawing

The invention will now be closer described with reference to an embodiment shown in the accompanying drawing, which shows an axial section through a mixing valve according to the invention.

Description of an embodiment

The thermostatic mixing valve comprises an elongated housing 1, at one end i which an inlet 2 for e.g. cold water is arranged and at the opposite end of which an inlet 3 for e.g. hot water is arranged. At the middle part of the hou¬ sing 1 an outlet 4 for mixed tempered water is arranged. The flow of the mixed water can be adjusted by a first operation member 5 cooperating with a stop valve 6 and the temperature of the water is adjusted by means of a second operation member 7.

In the housing 1 there is arranged a sleeve-shaped insert 8, which is sealed with respect to the housing and provides in- and outlet channels for the water through the housing. A spring 9 acts upon an end piece 14 to the insert 8. Inside the sleeve-shaped insert 8 there is arranged a temperature responsive element 10 and a control member 11 cooperating therewith.

The control member 11 comprises a sleeve which is displace- able in axial direction in the insert 8 and which has a radial partition wall 12 held in close contact with the temperature responsive element 10 by a spring 13, the abut- ting surface of which consists of the end piece 14. The spring 13 bears against the bottom of the control member 11, the partition wall 12, just opposite the contact surface thereof with the temperature responsive element 10. By this it is prevented that the control member tips when it is exerted to a pressing force from the spring 13. The control member 11 is guided by the end piece 14 of the insert 8 along its outside as well as its inside, at which tipping over is prevented when a pressing force is exerted by the temperature responsive element 10.

The insert 8 has double axial partition walls 15 and 16 between the.inlet 2 and the control member 11, at which the space between the walls 15 and 16 makes a flow channel 17 for the liquid from the inlet 2, e.g. the cold water. The end edge 16' of the inner partition wall 16 makes in coope¬ ration with the control member 11 a control slot for the cold water. The control slot for the hot water is formed between the opposite end of the control member 11 and a circumferential edge 14' of the end piece 14 of the insert 8, located in connection to a number of radial openings 14' ' in the end piece 14.

The mixed water flows towards the outlet 4 via the passage 18 that is formed inside the inner partition wall 16 and about the temperature responsive element 10. In connection to the outlet 4 the partition walls 15 and 16 are inter- connected and form a ring-shaped outlet channel 19 for the mixed water. The outer end edge 19' of the outlet channel 19 forms a sealing surface for the stop valve 6.

The control member 11 is by means of the second operation member 7 axially displaceable in the housing 1 by way of a spindle 20, which is threaded in a sleeve 21, which with a radial wall 22 bears against the temperature responsive element 10. By changing the axial position of the control member 11 the size of the control slots are changed and by that the mixing proportion of hot and cold water is changed. When the temperature of the mixed water is changed over or below the set temperature the length of the temperature responsive element 10 is increased or reduced respectively, which causes an axial displacement of the control member 11 and by that a change of the mixing proportion for the hot and cold water.

The insert 8 is preferably manufactured by plastic material, which gives a cheap manufacture and simple mounting, since snap-in locks can be used instead of threaded joints. A further advantage is that all functional parts can be manu- factured by.plastic material, at which the corrosion problem is eliminated. Corrosion is a serious problem for details of copper alloys, which are used in conventional mixing valves.

The end piece 14 which is connected through a threaded joint is moveable in axial direction with respect to the rest of the insert 8 against the action of the spring, at which excess motions of the temperature responsive element 10 can be compensated.

The invention is of course not limited to the shown embodi¬ ment but a plurality of modifications are possible within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A thermostat-controlled mixing valve for two liquids, e.g. hot and cold water, and of the kind comprising a hou¬ sing (1) provided with an outlet (4) and an inlet each (2,3) for the liquids, a first operation member (5) for regulating the amount of the liquid flowing out through the outlet and a second operation member (7) for regulating the temperature of the liquid by means of a temperature responsive element (10) cooperating with a control member (11) for regulating the inflow areas of the liquids, said control member is axially displaceable in the housing (1), c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n ^ that in the housing (1) there is arranged an insert (8) designed in one piece and inside which said temperature responsive element and control member (11) are arranged, said insert along a part of its length has double axial partition walls (15,16), at which the space between said partition makes a flow channel (17) for one of the liquids, and a passage (18) for the mixed liquid is formed inside the inner of said partition walls, and that a connecting portion between the two partition walls (15,16) is provided for forming an outlet channel (19) for the mixed liquid.

2. A mixing valve according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n, that the outer end edge (19') of the outlet channel (19) makes a sealing surface for a stop valve (6).

3. A mixing valve according to claim 1 or 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n, that one of the end edges (16' ) of the inner partition wall (16) cooperates with said control valve (11) for forming a regulating surface for one of the liquids.

4. A mixing valve according to any of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n, that the insert (8) has an end piece (14) facing the inlet (3) for one of the liquids and being provided with a number of inlet openings (14' ) for said liquid and in connection to said openings (14^• ' ) is provided with a circumferential edge (14'), which in cooperation with the control member (11) makes a regulating surface for the other liquid.

5. A mixing, valve according to claim 4, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i , that the end piece (14) against the action of a spring (9) by actuation of the control member (11) is axially displace¬ able with respect to the rest of the insert.

6. A mixing valve according to cliam 5, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n, that the insert (8) as well as the end piece (14) are manu¬ factured of plastic material and connected to each other through snap-in locks.