SE464889B - mixing valve - Google Patents

Abstract

A mixer valve (1) includes a housing (2) which is provided with a cold water inlet (5) and a hot water inlet (7) and a mixed water outlet (12). The flow delivered by the valve is regulated by means of a knob (15) which acts on a valve body (16). The opposite end of the housing is provided with a screw threaded opening (14) into which one of a number of different types of inserts can be screwed, these inserts functioning to regulate the mixing conditions of the valve. Thus, there can be used alternatively a thermostat control insert (30), a pressure and thermostat control insert (30') and a pressure control insert (30"). The prevailing characteristics of the distribution system determine which type of insert is selected in each individual case. All of the inserts have the same external configuration and dimensions, so that they can be fitted to the mixer housing without needing to be modified or adapted to the housing.

Description

464 889 characteristics of the distribution system - permanent or at different, unpredictable times - varied, so that for example in some cases large pressure variations have occurred in added hot water and / or cold water and in other cases the supplied hot water showed large temperature variations tioner.

An example of the latter type is SE, B, 7403239-2 (Publ. No. 383 404) (Vårgårda) which describes one with temperature control knob equipped with mixer valve which is also pressure controlled, ie set up to absorb pressure variations of supplied heat water and cold water. The mixer valve has no thermostat part and quantity control takes place by means of a lever located in to the temperature control knob. Accurate, thermostatically controlled temperature Thus, temperature control cannot be achieved with this mixer. valve.

SE, B, 7409845-0 (Publ. No. 406 963) (Pont-a-Mousson) describes a mixer tap made in the form of an insert in a mixer housing, which is equipped with a temperature control unit. The effort is additionally designed to act as a flow control valve and has a temperature control knob next to a flow control knob.

This mixer valve insert, which is rotationally symmetrical around its longitudinal axis and screwable at one end to a darhus lacks pressure equalization means and will work unsatisfactory in cases where pressure surges occur in the distribution system.

In other known mixer valves equipped with pressure control piston and thermostat control chain, these elements are arranged parallel to resp. one after the other, which gives blæ fi brvauülen unnecessarily large width aspen. length. Furthermore, since thermostats the part occupies a position near or in the area of the temperature the control cone, the thermostat part will sense another temperature than the final mixing temperature which 464 889 impairs the properties of the mixer valve¿ ie it does not become so effective as desired.

Object of the invention The present invention has for its object to provide a mixer valve which eliminates the above and other drawbacks parts of known mixer valves and which are easily adapted to the characteristics of the distribution system used.

Another object is to provide a mixer valve with opportunity in different individual cases to choose the most appropriate according to the solution without the cost of the mixer valve need to rise in height.

A further object is to provide a mixer valve with a mixer house so designed that it without change of its internal configuration and its internal dimensions allow regulation with different types of mechanisms depending on which requirements that in different individual cases are placed on the mixer valve.

A further object of an embodiment of the invention is to provide a simple insert with small axial length as in one and the same unit offers the possibility of both equalization as thermostat control.

These and other objects are fulfilled by a mixer valve according to the present invention, the essential features of which are given in the characterizing part of claim 1.

The invention enables the selection of a mixer insert depending on the characteristics of the current distribution system. If, for example, the management system is undersized with large variations at both pressure and temperature, an input is selected which enables control of both variables.

Within the scope of the invention there is furthermore the possibility that initially equip the mixer only for conventional thermal 464 889 governance and then supplement with other types of rate if the circumstances so would require to achieve higher comfort.

In practice, it is preferred that the different bet types have the same or substantially the same external configuration and dimensions at least for the part accommodated in the mixer housing.

Some special adaptation of the mixer housing is required not be undertaken in connection with a particular selected type of effort is applied in this. However, a long-term ongoing constructive adaptation of those involved in the operation itself elements depending on the type of bet in question and its uses.

It is essential that the hot water and cold water inlets in the the peripheral housing portion of the kit has the same or substantially the same situation with the different efforts. In practice, this can achieved by using the same cover part at the different bet types. In this way, the stakes can be the same external configuration and dimensions while their internal design differs depending on the actual use area.

In order to achieve the desired function, the efforts must then they applied in the mixer housing undergo recesses in the partitions between the inlet chambers for hot and cold water resp. in the partition between one of these chambers and the chamber for mixed water.

In practice, it is then preferred that said openings have design specified in claim 3. Thereby, simple is offered possibility of appropriate sealing between the mentioned the chambers, whereby the effort itself may present required special sealing means.

A suitable such sealing arrangement is specified in patent 464 889 requirement 4.

The combination of an O-ring seal and a metal seal entails a space saving in radial direction in relation to an arrangement where two O-rings were used.

One reason why it is not necessary 100% seal that two O-rings can offer is that a mixer valve of the type in question has in practice non-return valves that prevent overflow between hot water and cold water inlets. However, the device is such that an O-ring seal is provided between the inlet chamber for heating water and the mixing chamber thereby effectively preventing that hot water leaks directly into the mixing chamber at pressure drop in the cold water circuit.

One type of insert according to the invention is intended for temperature control, the insert having one of a thermostat element affected temperature control cone which is movable between two end positions, namely one in which hot water supply the supply is closed and the cold water supply is completely open and another end position, in which the relationship is satta.

This type of insert is characterized according to the invention by that the temperature control cone has a preferably central one portion with substantially the same outer diameter as the surrounding one the inner diameter of the sleeve.

Said portion suitably has the shape of a collar or fringe occupying a groove for an O-ring which provides seal between the inlet chambers for hot and cold water on both sides of the said, preferably central party. for another type of insert intended for both pressure and thermostat control, the temperature control cone has less diameter and is instead occupied in a this concentric ambient pressure control piston. 464 889 In the event of a pressure surge or an overpressure in either supply the hot or cold water line is the pressure control the piston is arranged to be displaced so that the corresponding inlet opening in the outer casing of the insert is reduced and a reduction of the supplied flow arises.

In this case, the pressure regulating piston has one or more portions whose outer diameter corresponds to the inner diameter of the sleeve. One centrally such a portion may have a recess for a seal, for example and O-ring. Furthermore, the thermostat control cone should have so much smaller outer diameter than the inner of the pressure control piston diameter that for the passage of water is expediently dimensioned chambers arise between the two control elements.

Of course, the essential thing is that they are relatively different the movable parts show a suitable fit so that displaceability is allowed without undesired friction losses. 'CGI.

Additional features of the invention will become apparent of the following description of some preferred embodiments forms of this.

The description is made in connection with the attached drawings.

Brief description of the drawing figures Fig. 1 is a partially cut-away plan view of one with a flow control knob fitted housing to a mixer valve according to the invention, in which three different types of inserts with the same external configuration is screwable to achieve of a complete mixer valve with depending on the selected insert type desired properties.

Fig. 2 is a part of Fig. 1 with a mixer insert mounted location.

Fig. 3 is a partially cut-away plan view of a thermostat control unit set up according to Fig. 1. 464 889 Fig. 4 is a perspective view of that in the insert according to Fig. 3 use the temperature control cone.

Fig. 5 is a cross-section of a central part of the temperature the control cone and the surrounding sleeve part.

Fig. 6 is a partially cut-away plan view of a pressure and thermal state-controlled intervention for alternative use in a mixed house according to Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the latter insert included pressure control piston resp. temperature control cone Fig. 8 is a cross-section through a central part of the insert according to Fig. 6.

Each other has corresponding parts on the different drawings given the same reference numerals, while distinguishing relevant parts depending on the specific nature of the various efforts regular figures have been given for the purpose of the thermostat controlled bet, provided with a prime sign (') for the pressure and thermostat controlled insert and fitted with auxiliary sign (") for the pressure-controlled insert.

Description of preferred embodiments Fig. 1 shows a partially cut-out mixer housing 2 into one mixer valve 1 which at the ends has threaded openings 3 resp. 4.

A flow control knob 15 can be screwed into one of the openings 3 which communicates with an outlet valve cone 16 which regulates it from the mixer valve via an outlet opening 12 delivered flow.

The other end of the mixer valve housing 2 has a threaded opening 464 889 4 in which a number of alternatively useful inserts are included. screwable, namely an insert 30 for thermostat control, a insert 30 'for pressure and thermostat control and an insert 30 "for pressure control. The training of these different types of efforts will be described in more detail below.

The mixer valve housing otherwise has one of a threaded washer 5a closed inlet opening for cold water and another of a threaded washer 7a closed inlet opening for hot water.

In these openings there are in use not shown back- valves.

The inlet openings 5 and 7 are connected to each other an inlet chamber 6 resp. 8 for cold and hot water which inlet chambers are delimited from each other by an intermediate horizontal partition 2a.

The mixer valve housing occupies an additional partition wall 2b which delimits the hot water inlet chamber 8 from one to the other side of the partition existing mixing chamber 9.

In the mixer valve housing 2 there is also an additional separator. wall 2c having a seat 11 for the outlet valve cone 16.

This partition 2c delimits the mixing chamber 9 from the outlet the flue chamber 10 which communicates with the mixer valve outlet opening 12. The walls 2a, 2b have openings 17 resp. 19.

As stated above, different types of inserts can be designated 30, 30 'and 30 "in Fig. 1 are screwed into the mixer valve housing opening 4 to impart the desired characteristics to the mixing valve creates.

These inserts 30, 30 'and 30 "have the same external configuration and dimensions and all have a temperature control knob 35, a central sleeve part 33 provided with slot-shaped inlet openings 36, 37 for cold resp. hot water and an exterior hot water seat 38 at the end facing away from the steering wheel 35. 07 464 889 Fig. 2 shows how the inserts are sealed in relation to the mixer valve housing 2. At a distance from its front end, each insert thus has a groove 31 which takes an O-ring 32. This 0-ring provides sealing of the partition wall 2b in the mixer valve housing which - as above mentioned - delimits the inlet chamber 8 for hot water from the mixing chamber 9.

In the partition 2a between the inlet chamber 6 for cold water and the hot water inlet chamber 8 has the inserts another type of seal, namely only metal surfaces in contact together. In the partition 2a there is thus a shoulder 2e corresponding to a corresponding shoulder 33a in the sleeve part 33 outer periphery, in which the sleeve portion 33 undergoes a minor diameter increase.

In practice, a metal sealing of this kind, then the hot water and cold water inlets exhibits non-return valves. As a result, a not insignificant space saving in radial direction has been achieved.

The interior of the thermostat-controlled insert shown in Figs. 3-5 30 will now be described in more detail.

Centrally inside the sleeve 33 with the slit-shaped cold and hot water inlets 36 resp. 37, the above-mentioned temperature the control cone 51 with its flange arranged in the middle or collar 51a. This has a peripheral groove 51b which occupies an O-ring 52.

The temperature control cone 51 is movable between two end positions.

In one, the left end edge of the control cone 51 strikes one opposite end edge to the aforementioned hot water seat 38 (as forms the left end portion of the insert 30) and thereby shuts off the hot water supply via the inlet opening 37, the space 53 between the control cone 51 and the sleeve 33 and the gap 54 to 464 889 10 the 30 interior of the insert.

Correspondingly, the control cone 51 in its right turns off end position, where its other end edge abuts against a cold water seat 55, the cold water supply to the insert 30 interior via the inlet 36, the space 56 and the gap 57.

The movement of the control cone between these two end positions is controlled by a thermostat element 50 which expands in the usual manner at heating ooh thereby displacing a transfer element 59 to the left.

This movement takes place against the action of a return spring 65 which is held between a shoulder on the hot water seat 38 and an end edge of axial strip elements 66 which join the upper guide member 59 with control cone 51.

The position of the thermostat element 50 is set in the usual way by means of the temperature control knob 35. The thermostat element is is then actuated via a part 50a and a pin part 50b, whose end is accommodated in a spindle extension 67. This is surrounded of a guide 68 of plastic and abuts against an adjacent horizontal spindle inner part 69, which is affected by a safety spring 70.

A scald protection ring 71 prevents temperature control the knob 35 can be turned too far.

Fig. 3 shows the temperature control cone 51 in its center position where equal flows of hot water and cold water pass via the space 39 in the interior of the control piston 51 and to the the body 40c of the state element 50 surrounding the space 40c.

Adjustment to the set temperature takes place by displacement of the temperature control cone 51 to the right or left on top stated methods while reducing either column 54 resp. 57 area.. 464 889 11 Fig. 5 shows on a larger scale the temperature surrounded by the sleeve 33. rature control cone 51 with its central collar or flange 51a provided with a groove 51b which receives an O-ring 52.

The insert 30 also has a number of parts which are off more or less conventional kind in an effort of here current type and therefore not described in more detail.

The distinguishing elements of the pressure and thermostat controlled the insert 30 'will now be described with reference to FIG. 6-8.

As mentioned above, the temperature control cone 51 'has smaller outer diameter than in the embodiment according to Figs. 3-5 but corresponds in terms of its general function in collaboration with the thermostat element 50 the embodiment described above the form. The control cone 51 'is slidably received in one Ambient pressure control piston 61 with portions, the outer diameter corresponds to the inner diameter of the sleeve 33, so that the piston 61 is movable in the sleeve under the influence of different pressures in cold water and hot water inlets 36 resp. 37 which pressures affects the 61 end edges of the piston.

The piston 61 has slit-shaped inlet openings 62, 63 on each side sides of a central sealing member 61b to be described below vase in connection with Fig. 8.

Between the pressure control piston 61 and the temperature control cone 51 'are formed spaces 75, 76 through which cold water resp. hot water is supplied to the inner spaces 39 and 40 of the insert.

Fig. 6 shows the position of the pressure control piston 61 when the same pressure prevails in the cold water and hot water inlets 36, 37. At a increase in pressure in e.g. the cold water inlet 36 is coming the piston to be displaced to the left whereby the cold water inlet 36 area is reduced and the area of the hot water inlet 37 increases. On in this way the desired pressure equalization is achieved. 464 889 12 The central sealing member 61b has a groove 61c which is most clearly shown in the section illustrated in FIG. IN! the section on a larger scale.

The groove 61c receives an O-ring 64 whose function is now to be determined. written. The 0-ring 64 has a slightly smaller diameter than that of the groove 61c depth, so that it without frictional engagement with the sleeve 33 inner wall included in the 61 piston's movements of the control piston.

The O-ring 64 thereby normally provides only small sealing effect between the hot water and cold water cone 61 side, which is most adequate because the hot water inlets and cold water inlets normally have non-return valves (non - shown).

In the end position shown in Fig. 8 in which the inlet 37 is the closure would be a pressure drop in the cold water inlet 36 be able to cause leakage of hot water to the cold water side in the narrow gap between the control cone 61 and the sleeve 33 with corresponding scalding risk at the mixer outlet 12 (Fig. 1).

However, the O-ring 64 in the groove 61c prevents such leakage this way. The O-ring moves at overpressure on the hot water side to the end position shown in Fig. 8 and provides complete sealing against the sleeve 33. The groove 61c has a curvature at the ends that the O-ring attaches to the sleeve with complete sealing of the control piston 61.

Fig. 8 also shows one corresponding to the O-ring 52 in Fig. 5 O-ring 52 '(though smaller in diameter than the former) in a groove 51'b in the temperature control cone 51 '. This O-ring g 52 'also provides closure simultaneously with the O-ring 64 against possible leakage between the temperature control piston 51 ' and part 61b in the event of a pressure drop in the cold water inlet 36. Normally, the O-ring 52 'does not prevent temperature control free movement of the piston 51 'relative to the external ~ 464 889 13 pressure control piston 61.

The internal configuration of the pressure printed circuit shown in Fig. 1 only controlled insert 30 "has not been shown in detail.

In this case, a pressure control piston with the same outer dimension and general design and function of the the steering piston 61 of Figs. 6-8.

However, this embodiment lacks a thermostat element 50 and associated parts, and the temperature control knob 35 affects a control cone in the usual way by mechanical means which provides for the opening and closing of the inlets for cold water resp. hot water.

In the event of pressure surges in one of the supply lines, one acts such pressure control piston as above in connection with fig. 6-8 described methods.

From the above description it has been shown that they alternatively useful inserts 30, 30 'and 30 "can be as desired and corresponding to the current distribution system properties are applied in one and the same mixer housing without special intervention needs to be undertaken in this.

Furthermore, it has emerged that each type of effort has a simple and reliable, of essentially standard components existing design, which components can be easily mounted together by means of the end-threaded outer sleeve 33, which has the same configuration and dimensions for all types of interventions.

The various inserts also occupy special sealing means which does not prevent normal relative motion between adjacent horizontal components but as in the case of pressure drop or pressure shocks in the hot water or cold water inlet activate one sealing function. These sealing means can then be 464 889 14 all prevent scalding risk due to leakage of hot water into the cold water circuit in the insert, a risk which has been evident in previously known mixer valves.

IN)

Claims (8)

4 »<3 \ -P- en 00 ~ 1> 15 Patent claim Mixer valve with a housing (2) having openings, preferably threaded end openings, namely a first opening (3) for receiving a control knob (15) for an outlet valve cone (16), and a second opening (4) for a control insert provided with a control knob (35), which housing (2) comprises a) an inlet (5) for cold and an inlet (7) for hot water, b) a first partition wall (2a) delimiting an inlet chamber (6 ) for cold water from a hot water inlet chamber (8), c) a second partition (2b) delimiting one of the inlet chambers from a mixed water chamber (9), d) a third partition (2c) delimiting the mixing chamber (9) from an outlet chamber (10), the third partition wall (2c) having a seat (11) for the outlet valve cone (16), and e) an outlet opening (12) from the outlet chamber (10), characterized by two or more different types of inserts for varying control of the liquid flow in the mixer valve (1) such as e.g. an insert (30) for thermostat control, an insert (30 ') for pressure and thermostat control, and an insert (30 ") for pressure control only, which inserts are screwable into the second end opening (4) of the mixer valve. Mixer valve according to claim 1, characterized in that the different types of inserts have the same or substantially the same external configuration and dimensions at least for the part § accommodated in the mixer housing (2). Mixer valve according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the opening (17) for the inserts (30, 30 ', 30 ") in the partition wall (2a) between the inlet chamber (6) for cold water and the inlet chamber (8) for hot water has a larger diameter than the opening (19) in the partition wall (2b) between the inlet chamber (8) for hot water and the chamber (9) 41 for mixed water. Mixer valve according to Claim 3, characterized in that the inserts (30, 30 ', 30 ") have a groove (31) for an o-ring (32) for sealing between the mixing chamber (9) and the inlet chamber (8) for hot water. , while a shoulder-shaped metal surface (33a) provides sealing against the partition (2a) between the inlet chambers (6, 8) for cold water and hot water. Mixer valve according to one of Claims 1 to 4, in which the respective insert (30, 30 ', 30 ") has a central outer sleeve (33) with preferably slit-shaped inlets (36, 37) for cold water and hot water, respectively, characterized by that the outer sleeve (33) is provided at the ends with inner threads (33c, 33d), the rear (33d) for connection to a part (55) provided with a control knob (35), a spindle extension (67) and the cold water seat, and the front inner thread ( 33d) for connection to a part (38) receiving a mixing chamber (40). Mixer valve according to one of Claims 1 to 5, in which the insert has a temperature control cone (51) actuated by a thermostat element (50) which is movable between two end positions, namely one in which the hot water supply is switched off and the cold water supply completely open and another end position. in which the relationship is the opposite, characterized in that the temperature control cone (51) of the thermostatically controlled insert (30) has a preferably central portion (51a) with substantially the same outer diameter as the inner diameter of the sleeve (33). 464 889 17 Mixer valve according to one of Claims 1 to 5, provided with a pressure and thermostat-controlled insert, which insert comprises both a pressure control piston (61) and a temperature control cone (51 '), characterized in that the temperature control cone (51') ) has a smaller outer diameter than the inner diameter of the sleeve (33) and is concentrically accommodated in a surrounding pressure control piston (61) which at an overpressure in either inlet (36, 37) is displaced so that a corresponding inlet opening (62, 63) is reduced, which pressure control piston (61) has a portion (61a) whose outer diameter corresponds to the inner diameter of the sleeve. Mixer valve according to one of Claims 1 to 5, provided with a pressure-controlled insert (30 "), characterized in that the insert has a pressure-regulating piston whose outer diameter corresponds to the inner diameter of the sleeve (33) and at which insert the control knob (35) is actuated connected to a temperature control cone.