Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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This invention relates to hot and cold water mixer
taps, used for example in conjunction with sanitary units such as
wash basins, baths, and the like, having a noise attenuator.
The invention will be described, by way of example,
with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-
Fig. l is a sectioned side elevation of a mixer tap
provided with one embodiment of a noise reduction device accord-
in to the invention;
Fig. PA is a sectional front elevation taken along the
line Y-Y in Fig. l;
Fig. 2B is an enlarged bottom view taken along the line
X-X in Fig., lug. PA is an enlarged plan view of a sound
attenuator;
Fig. 3B is an enlarged, sectioned side elevation taken
along the line Z-Z in Fig. 4B;
Fig. 3C is a bottom view in perspective of a movable
plate valve alone;
Figs PA, 4B, 4C and ED illustrate the manner of open
in a valve mechanism;
Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of a valve operating
mechanism roughly assembled;
Figs PA, 6B, PA, 7B, 7C and ED are perspective views
of each part of the valve operating mechanism; and
Figs PA and 8B illustrate prior art noise reduction
devices for mixer taps.
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Noise attenuators for mixer taps are known from
Japanese Utility Model Publication No. ~298/1982.
Such known noise attenuators are shown in Figs PA and
8B. The known attenuator shown in Fig. PA comprises an elongate
net member 56 bent in the shape of the letter "V" and set in a
fluid passage 55 of a movable plate valve 54 by utilizing its
inherent resilience, in such a manner that the net member 56
extends across the fluid passage 55. The attenuator shown in
Fig. 8B also comprises a net member aye which is bent in the
shape of a butterfly and set in a fluid passage aye by utilizing
the inherent resilience of the net member.
In these noise attenuators, the net member is set in
the water passage to extend across the direction of water flow,
so that substantially the whole ox the extraneous matter con-
twined in the water can be collected conveniently. However, when
extraneous matter begins to clog the net member, the water, the
flow rate
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and prefigure of which are very high even when the valve
is opened with the net member in a non-clogged state,
slows against the net member with a great impact. In
this case, the resilience of the net member alone is
S unable to withstand such a high water pressure and
hence, the net member is readily deformed. When the net
member is clogged in a one-sided manner, the wow rate
of either the hot or the cold water it limited greatly.
This hampers the smooth operation of the valve so that
the temperature-regulating efficiency decreases to a
great extent. In order to remove the extraneous matte
from the net member, it is necessary to disassemble the
valve and this often requires the services of a skilled
person such as a plumber.
The invention thus seeks to provide a mixer tap with
an improved noise attenuator.
According to the invention, there is provided a
mixes tap having hot and cold water inlets, a water
outlet, a valve mechanism for controlling the relative
amounts of hot and cold water supplied prom the hot and
cold water inlets to the water outlet, and a noise
attenuator for reducing the noise which would otherwise
be generated upon sudden opening of the valve mechanism,
wherein the valve mechanism comprises a fixed plate
valve and a movable plate valve, the movable plate valve
being arranged in opposition to the fixed plate valve,
2 I
being slid able with respect to the fixed plate valve and having
therein a water through flow chamber with a water inlet region
and a water outlet region, and wherein the noise attenuator come
proses a sound attenuating member mounted in firm contact with a
wall portion ox the chamber in the inlet region thereof such that
water entering the chamber impinges upon or skims along the sound
attenuator.
In one embodiment of the present invention the sound
attenuating member is of permeable construction. Desirably the
sound attenuating member is of permeable metal construction.
In another embodiment of the present invention the
noise attenuator also comprises a support member which holds the
sound attenuating member firmly against a wall portion of the
chamber in an inlet region thereof. Suitably the support member
is of generally H-shaped configuration and is wedged in the champ
bier with the sound attenuating member between one limb of the
support member and the aforesaid wall portion of the chamber.
Desirably the support member is of synthetic resin material.
In a still further embodiment of the present invention
the movable plate valve has an escape groove therein arranged to
provide restricted communication between the cold water inlet and
the chamber when the hot water inlet is fully open and the closed
water inlet is otherwise closed. Suitably the tap provides a
valve operating assembly comprising a cylindrical valve case, a
ring mounted in the valve case for limited angular movement, a
journal box extending through the ring, the journal box being of
rectangular cross-section and being slid able relative to the ring
along a diameter thereof, an operating member mounted in the bore
of the journal box for pivotal movement about a pivot pin located
in diametrically opposite holes in the ring and extending through
elongate slots in opposed walls of the journal box, the movable
plate valve being movable with the journal box in an angular
direction when the operating arm, journal box and ring are disk
- 3 -
placed angularly about the axis of the valve case and in a direct
lion transverse to said axis when the operating arm is pivoted
about the pivot pin.
In a particular aspect thereof the present invention
provides a mixer tap having hot and cold water inlets, a water
outlet, a valve mechanism for controlling the relative amounts of
hot and cold water supplied from the hot and cold water inlets to
the water outlet, and a noise attenuator for reducing the noise
which would otherwise be generated upon sudden opening of the
valve mechanism, wherein the valve mechanism comprises a fixed
plate valve and a movable plate valve, the movable plate valve
being arranged in opposition to the fixed plate valve, being
slid able with respect to -the fixed plate valve and having therein
a water through flow chamber, which is defined by an inner end
wall and by a side wall perpendicular to the general plane of the
movable plate valve and which has a water inlet region and a
water outlet region, and wherein the noise attenuator comprises a
sound attenuating member of permeable construction and a support
member which holds the sound attenuating member in firm contact
with a portion of the side wall of the chamber in the inlet
region thereof such that water entering the chamber impinges upon
or skims along the sound attenuator.
Referring firstly to Figs PA, 3B and PA, the noise
attenuator l shown -therein comprises a plate type sound attenuate
in member 2 preferably composed of porous expanded or foamed
metal, a net or steel. wool, and a support member 4 having a sub-
staunchly H-shaped horizontal section. The support member 4
holds the sound attenuating member 2 against a wall portion of a
water through flow chamber which will be described later. The
support member 4 has arcuate contact limbs aye at opposite ends
thereof, and the distance between these contact limbs is sub Stan-
tidally equal to the largest inner dimension of the chamber 3 and
yet short enough to hold the sound attenuating member 2 between
the contact limb 5 and the opposed wall portion of the chamber 3.
4 -
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The chamber is formed by providing a recess in one face 41 of a
disc-type movable plate valve 6 which is mounded from a ceramic
material and which cooperates with a fixed plate valve lo to form
a valve
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mechanism lo. The chamber 3 is closed along one major
face and has two rectilinear sides and two part-circular
ends 7 and 8. The noise attenuator 1 it set in the
chamber 3 so that the support member 4 is interposed
between the semi-circular ends of the chamber 3 and the
sound attenuating member 2 is held firmly against the
j end 7 of the chamber 3 with one surface thereof in
parallel with the end 7 of the chamber 3.
A substantially acute recess 27 is provided in
lo face 41 of the movable plate valve adjacent to end 8 ox
the chamber 3 as shown in Figs. 3B and 3C.
Oil-impregnated material 30 is provided in this recess
27. Alternatively a lubricant may be packed directly in
the recess 27, or attached forcibly and resiliently to
the portion of the fixed plate valve 10 which it on the
side of the recess 27, i.e. face aye.
A variable escape groove 40 is provided in the face
41 of the movable plate valve. The groove 40 is shallow
and short. The through flow chamber 3 and the water
inlet 14 communicate with each other via the groove I
only when the groove is in the position shown in
Fig. ED. This groove 40 is Jo allow for the escape of
cold water contained between one chamber 3 and a check
valve 42 of a check valve unit C (Fig. PA), which is
provided in an upstream water passage I when this cold
water is heated by hot water passing continuously
through the chamber 3.
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The fixed plate valve 10 is alto a disc type valve
mounded loom a ceramic material. A mixed water outlet
12 is provided in the conical region of the fixed plate
valve 10. The mixed water outlet 12 it in continuous
communication with the chamber 3 and it loomed in such a
manner that an outer edge potion Ox the outlet 12 ill
aligned with the end 8 of the chamber 3 when the valve
mechanism 15 is open. The fixed plate valve 10 is
provided with actuate hot and cold water inlets 13 and
I respectively, which communicate with the chamber 3
when the valve mechanism 15 is oxen. Indeed, as shown,
when the valve mechanism is open the outer peripheral
edges of the inlets 13 and 14 ace substantially in
alignment with the pact circular end surface 9 of the
chamber 3. When the end surface 9 is in the position
shown in Fig. 4B, it is opposed substantially equally to
the hot water inlet 13 and cold water inlet 14. When
the end ~ucface 9 is in the position shown in Fig. 4C,
the cold water inlet 14 is fully open. When the end
I surface 9 is in the position shown in Fig. ED, the hot
water inlet 13 is fully open.
The valve mechanism 15 it disposed in a valve
chamber 16 of the mixes tap A shown in Figs. PA and I
in a manner which will be described late, with the
mixed plate valve 10 held firmly in the valve chamber 16
and with the movable plate valve 6 mounted on top the
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fixed plate valve 10. The movable plate valve 6 is
connected to a valve operating mechanism whereby it can
be shifted from a valve-closing position shown in
Fig. PA to the position shown in Fig. 4B, in which hot
S and cold water are discharged at the same flow rate, ox
the position shown in Fig. 4C, in which the cold water
only is discharged, or the position shown in Fig. ED, in
which the hot water only is discharged, by moving a
journal box 17, which is joined to tenon-inserting
recesses 32 in the upper surface of the movable plate
valve 6, using a lever 19 connected to an operating arm
18 mounted in the journal box 17. The mixed water, hot
water or cold water passing through the chamber 3 f lows
into a water discharge pipe 21 as shown by an arrow, via
lo a passage 20 which is communicated with the outlet 12.
The hot water prom a hot water passage 22 shown in
Fig. PA flows f rum a hot water outlet 23 shown in
Fig. 2B, into the hot water inlet 13 shown in Fig. 4B.
The cold water f rum a cold waxer passage 24 f lows f rum a
cold water outlet 25 shown in Fig. 2B, into the cold
water water inlet 14 shown in Fig. 4B.
The valve-operating mechanism B is constructed in
the manner shown in Figs. 5, PA, 6B, PA, 7B, 7C and ED.
A cylindrical valve case 28 (Fig. 7C) has
rotation-pceventing members 31, which ace adapted to
prevent the journal box 17 from being turned
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excessively, inwardly of a guide groove 29 provided at
the upper open end of the valve case, and
tenon-inserting recesses 32, 32 at its lower open end.
The recesses 32, 32 are opposed to tenons 34, 34 on
valve seat 33 (Fig. PA) which is also provided with
bores 35, aye there through, in which packing rings 36,
aye (Fig. ED) are inserted. The journal box 17
(Fig. 7B) is of rectangular horizontal section with a
vertical bore 39 also of rectangular section. A movable
disc type seat member 37 having tenons aye on its bottom
surface is joined unnatural to the journal box 17. The
wider opposite side walls of the journal box 17 are
provided with aligned horizontally elongate bores 38.
An operating arm 18 has two planar sides with a
dimension there between which is slightly smaller than
the width of bore 39 and opposite non-planar edges
provided with projecting portions 44, 44 which contact
opposed inner surfaces 43, 43 of the journal box 17 (see
Fig 1) so as to shift the journal box 17 back forth in a
20 direction transverse to the longitudinal extent of the
bore 39 as the arm 18 is pivoted about a pin 50 which
extends through a bore 45 in the lower end of the arm
18. Ring 46 has a disc-like construction, and an
annular groove aye is provided in its outer
25 circumferential surface. Pin receiving bores aye, which
are aligned with the pin receiving bore 45, extend into
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the annular groove aye in a diametrical direction. The
I eying I further has a vertically extending rectangular
through bore 47 for receiving the journal box 17, and a
pair of rotation-preventing members aye, which are
opposed to the rotation-preventing members 31 at the
upper end of the valve case 28, at the upper end of the
ring clove to the two ends of the rectangular bore 47.
ring 49 provided on an open end of a cap 26 it fitted
in the guide groove 29 in the valve case 28 to complete
the valve-operating mechanism B The valve operating
mechanism B is shown assembled in Fig. 5 and in parts in
Figs. PA, 6B, PA, 7B, 7C and ED. The manner ox assembly
will now be described.
5! Firstly, the packing rings 36, aye are fitted in the
¦ 15 bores 35, aye of the valve seat 33, and the fixed plate
valve lo is placed on the valve seat 33 with the tenons
! 34 of the valve seat 33 located in the recesses 32 in
j the fixed plate valve 10. The movable plate valve 6 is
placed on the fixed plate valve lo so that the plate
valve 6 can be turned with respect to the plate valve lo
with the chamber 3 opposed to the hot water inlet 13,
cold water inlet 14 and outlet 12. The journal box 17
is then placed on the movable plate valve 6, and the
tenons aye, aye at the bottom of the former are located
in the recesses 32 in the latter. Then the ring 46 is
mounted on the journal box 17 from the upper end of the
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latter, and the operating arm 18 is inserted into the
bore 39 in the journal box 17. The pin-receiving bores
aye in the cuing 46, the elongate bores 38 in the journal
box 17 and the pin-receiving bore 45 in the operating
arm 18 are aligned with one another, and the pin 50 is
injected through these boxes. The resultant product is
mounted in the valve case I to complete the assembly of
the valve operating mechanism B. This valve operating
mechanism B is placed in the valve chamber 16 of the
mixer tap I, and the cap 26 is put on the valve chamber
16. When the assembly of the valve operating mechanism
B has been completed, the hot water passage 22 in the
mixer tap A and the hot water inlet 13 of the fixed
plate valve 10 ace communicated with each other, and the
cold water passage 24 and the cold water inlet 14 of the
fixed plate valve 10 are communicated with each other.
The outlet 12 and the passage 20 are communicated with
each other at the same time. us a result, the shifting
of the valve mechanism can be done freely by operating
the lever 19.
In order to discharge hot and cold water at the same
gate into the discharge pipe 21, the lever 19 shown in
Figs. 1 and 2 is pivoted upwardly, so that the movable
plate valve 6 connected to the lever 19 via the
operating shaft 18 is displaced quickly from the
valve-closing position shown in Fig. I to the position
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11
shown in Fig. 4B. This valve-opening operation causes
the hot and cold water inlet 13 and 14 to be opened to
the same level. Consequently, hot and cold water enters
the chamber 3, via the hot and the cold water inlets 13
and 14 at the same rote. A the hot and cold water
enters the chamber 3 it impinges upon or skims along the
lower end surface (in Fig. 3B) of the sound attenuating
member 2, as shown by arrows P in Fig. 3B, to
effectively deaden the noise of the water and prevent an
lo increase in internal pursues, which would otherwise
occur when the valve mechanism is opened suddenly. The
hot and cold water then pass through chamber 3 as shown
by an arrow Pi in Fig. 3B. The water then flows via the
outlet 12 (shown in Fig. 4B) and the passage 20 (shown
in Fig. 1) into discharge pipe 21 by which stage it has
been thoroughly mixed. When hotter water is required, -
the lever 19 is turned to left in Fig. 2 to increase the
area of the hot water inlet 13 in communication with the
chamber 3 and correspondingly decrease the area of the
cold water inlet 14 in communication with the chamber
3. When cooler water is required the lever 19 is turned
to the right in Fig. 2. The cap 26 is so designed that
it can be turned to left and right freely with the lever
19 .
When cold water alone it required, the lever 19 it
displaced fully to the right, to bring the movable plate
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12
valve to the position shown in Fig. 4C. Conversely,
when hot water alone is required, the levee 19 is
displaced fully to the left, to bring the movable plate
valve to the position shown in Fig. ED. When only hot
5 water is fed for a prolonged period, the cold water
trapped between the check valve unit C and the water
inlet 14 is heated gradually by the hot water passing
through the chamber 3 and the mixed water passe 20,
with the result that the cold water expands. Since
however the chamber and the cold water inlet 14 are
communicated with each other during this time via the
escape groove 40 the increase in volume of the cold
j water is relieved via the escape groove 40 into the
chamber 3. Consequently, an increase in the pressure in
, 15 the water passage 24 due to the continuously-fed hot
¦ water is avoided. This protects the check valve unit C
¦ and other parts against damage.
Jo The mixer tap described above has the following
¦ advantages.
(1) A jet stream of a pressure fluid, which occurs when
the valve mechanism is opened suddenly, and which flows
from the hot water inlet and cold water inlet into the
chamber impinges UpOrl or skims along the sound
attenuating member. Thus, the noise, which would
otherwise be caused by the jet stream of the water, is
reduced to a great extent.
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(2) eke the sound attenuating member is relatively
flat and is held firmly against the wall of the through
flow chamber by the support member, even when the sound
attenuating member is subjected to a jet stream of the
fluid continuously, it does not come off easily, nor it
it damaged. Moreover, the sound attenuating member does
not cesteict the flow rate of the fluid even when the
degree of clogging thereof varies, and is free from the
failure in its ability to regulate the temperature of
the fluid properly even when it is clogged.
(3) The design of the support member ox the noise
attenuator is such that it does not restrict the flow of
the water. Also, it does not come away even when the
water pressure is applied thereto.
I The escape groove in the movable plate valve
provides that the chamber and the cold water passage are
communicated with each other when only hot water is fed
continuously. Therefore, even when the cold water in
the cold water passage is heated by the hot water, and
thereby expanded, there is no build up of pressure in
the cold water passage which could otherwise damage the
check valve unit and other parts.
(5) Since the escape groove in the movable plate valve
is made shallow, the quantity per unit time of the water
escaping from the discharge water passage is extremely
small, and such water has no influence upon the
temperature of the hot water being fed,
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(6) An operating shaft having operating projections at
the front and reel portions thereof with respect to the
pivotal direction of the same shaft is supported in the
journal box via a pin so that the operating shaft can be
turned vertically and horizontally. The journal box it
supported in such a manner that it can be displaced
angularly and laterally about the pin within the ring.
Since the surface of the fixed plate valve is lubricated
with a lubricant provided in a recess in the movable
lo plate valve, the operating efficiency of the lever can
be improved to a great extent, and, moreover, the
shifting of the valve mechanism can be effected reliably.
(7) The sound attenuating member is arranged stably as
compared with that in a conventional noise attenuator.
lo lrhereore~ it does not become damaged and clogged.
~oceover, thermal expansion of the water can be
prevented owing to the escape groove, so that the valve
mechanism can be kept in an excellent operating
condition eon many years. In addition to the high
durability of the valve mechanism, which was attained
owing to the development of stable means for preventing
the thermal expansion ox the water, and increasing the
degree of lubrication of the adjacent surfaces of the
movable and fixed plate valves, the mixer tap has a
further advantage in that troublesome operation, such as
a treatment for a clogged sound attenuating member can
be rendered unnecessary.
