Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~,:~
The present invention relates to mixing valves and
particularly to those found within shower installations.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVFNTION
The prior art contains a host of valves used to
compensate for temperature differentials which occur when using
a shower facility. Some of these valves rely on thermostatic
devices which are connected to actuating members within a valve
and, for example, close down or reduce the opening of the hot
water inlet of the valve thus reducing the risk of the user
being scalded. Further, the prior art contains pressure
compensating valves for use in shower facilities which respond
to a pressure differential thereby reducing, for example, the
volume of hot water passing through the outlet of the valve and
reducing the risk of the user being scalded. The present
invention in a preferred embodiment thereof relates to a unique
pressure balancing valve which has application within a shower
facility.
U.S. Patent No. 4,469,121 and the corresponding
Canadian patent, No. 1,186,971, assigned to Stanadyne
Incorporated, describes a cycle valve for mixing hot and cold
water including a sleeve having axially spaced and radially non-
aligned hot and cold water inlets, the outlets in the sleeve
being intermediate the afore-mentioned inlets. The valve further
incorporates within the sleeve a non-reciprocal valve member to
control the mixture of hot and cold water at the sleeve outlet.
The valve member incorporates a hollow stem having water inle-t
and outlet ports wherein a purported seal is reciprocally
moveable in relation to a pressure balancing spool disposed
within the stem, said spool for balancing the pressures between
the hot and cold water flows. The afore-mentioned structure
- 2 - ~9~f'5
does not describe a truly sealless structure wherein the seals
may be corroded by the action of the hot water and/or scale and
sediment during the flow of hot water. Further the afore-
mentioned patents do not describe a cartridge-type valve mounted
within a housing incorporating diverting means to allow for ease
of installation and maintenance of the valve by the installer or
householder.
U.S. Patent No. 3,448,755, by Symmons, describes a
non-scald mixing valve incorporating a similar pressure
balancing spool as described in the afore-mentioned references
incorporating therein a diverter member having two radially
aligned bores in communication with the outlet passageway. The
diverter valve comprises an internal valve casing that is formed
integral with and in part consists of the outer wall of the
valve body and the internal partitions therein. This is best
observed in relation to Figure 2. However the valve presented
is not a cartridge valve and the diverting means contained
therein is merely for diverting the outlet from one path to
another. Further the patent does not describe diverting means
disposed proximate the inlet of the valve within the housing for
the valve, said housing containing an opening in communication
with the inlet ports, wherein a cartridge is disposed, said
cartridge being removable and replaceable. The afore mentioned
patent further does not allow for the instaLler to readily
rectify an error in connecting the hot and cold water supplies
to the valve, or allow for ease of maintenance thereof.
U.S. Patent No. 3,539,099, by Grohe of Germany,
describes a mixing valve unit which can be inserted into the
housing of a hot and cold water mixing faucet which is operated
by a thermostat to vary the relative amounts of hot and cold
~ .
~a
- 3 ~
water in accordance with the temperature of the mixed water.
The unit can be removed and replaced through an opening in the
housing. However the afore-mentioned structure does not
incorporate an integrated modular valve but merely provides a
removable sub-assembly separate from the actuating mechanism of
the valve and incorporating only -the thermostatically controlled
balancing portions of the valve.
U.S. Patent No. 4,"17,602 describes a valve
incorporating a sleeve having a water inlet and a water outlet.
The valve includes a stem moveable within the sleeve to control
the flow of water from the inlet to the outlet. A pressure
member is positioned within the sleeve wherein a fixed seal is
positioned between the stem and the pressure member, and further
a second seal is disposed, but in the stem in engagement with
the sleeve. Further, at column 2, line 22, the valve
construction is embodied as a cartridge wherein all of -the
components are assembled into a single unit which may be quickly
and simply replaced if the valve should leak. However the
afore-mentioned reference does not incorporate diverting means
which further allows for ease of installation or maintenance of
the valve should the installer incorrectly install the hot and
cold water inlets to the valve. Further, the afore-mentioned
reference incorporates grommets which will deteriorate when the
flow of water, and specifically hot water, acts upon the grommet
carrying sludge and scale from the water tank and lines. Such
action will result in the deterioration of the grammet unlike
that found in the seal arrangement of the instant invention.
Canadian Patent No~ 1,014,449, corresponding to U.S.
Patent No. 3,960,016, describes a water mixing valve with a
temperature indicator. Specifically referring to Figure 2 of
_ 4 - ~,93~S
the afore-mentioned reference, the construction of the invention
described therein may be observed, incorporating pressure
equalizing valve 86 which is slidably disposed within the main
valve assembly. The operation of the valve and the pressure
balancing aspects thereof are described at page 8 of the afore-
mentioned reference which describes thereat further references
on pages 7 and 8, such description being consistent with the
teachings of the authors of U.S. Patents 2,308,127, 3,099,996
and 3,448,755 previously described, acknowledging the fact that
mere pressure balancing found within the valve is not new within
the prior art. I-t is the unique combinations in the afore-
mentioned patents described above which distinguish the
structures beyond the prior art of record, thus allowing for
patentability.
U.S. Pa-tent No. 2,412,037 describes a valve containing
concentric sleeves wherein the ports therein align to allow the
passage of fluid therethrough.
U.S. Patent No. 4,312,377 describes a tubular valve
for the controlling of fluids incorporating an outer tubular
shell, having therein deformable grommets enclosed within a
sealing space between the outer shell and the inner tube
providing lateral tubular extensions projecting through the
outer ports.
U.S. Patent No. 4,493,343 describes a single lever
faucet assembly having a faucet control lever which is
reversibly mountable on either side of the faucet spout without
having to switch positions of the hot and cold water supplies
lines thereto. The faucet further includes a valve cartridge
which is easily disconnected from the faucet control lever for
replacement. However the afore-mentioned reference does not
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- 5 - ~ 7~
teach the incorporation of the actuation or control lever in
combination with the cartridge being replaceable as an
integrated unit. Further the afore-mentioned reference does not
include a housing containing inlet means for the hot and cold
water and further containing therein diverting means for
allowing the ease of installation of the housing and the easy
replacement of the cartridge by an installer or householder.
Canadian Patent No. 1,104,543 describes a seal member
which is moveable within a sleeve to rotate the seal member out
of line of flow of the water supply during operation of the
valve yet moving it back into registration of the water
discharge port 38 when the water is shut off. However such an
arrangement is not found to describe a pressure balancing
integrated cartridge system as does the instant invention.
Further examples of sealing members positioned on a
sleeve out of the path of flow through the stem outlet port are
found within U.S. Patent No. 4,395,018 and Canadian Patent No.
l,151,629. These references are cited for information purposes
only.
Nowhere within the prior art is found an integrated
modular valve assembly which incorporates diverting means within
a housing for a valve, said diverting means for communication
with the inlet means disposed within the housing of the valve,
said diverting means being moveable to allow for registration of
a variable number of inlet ports to a~low flow of water to a
mixing cartridge assembly disposed within the valve housing.
Further, nowhere in the prior art is there found such
a structure as described above further containing a pressure
balancing spool disposed within the cartridger said car-tridge
being easily removed from said housing and containing therein
~ .
- 6 - ~2~
all of the working portions of the valve including the actuating
or control lever, the pressure balancing spool if used, and the
remaining portions allowing the registration of the inlet ports
with an outlet mixing chamber disposed within the housing. It
is not absolutely critical that the housing con-tain a mixing
chamber but it is preferred.
Therefore it is an object of this invention to provide
an easily installed valve assembly which is easy to maintain by
the householder without the need of contracting specialized
installers.
It is a further object of this invention -to provide a
modular valve assembly which incorporates components which are
integrated and perform all of the operating functions of the
valve, found within a replaceable cartridge contained therein.
It is a further object of the invention to provide
diverting means for use with a valve assembly which allow for
ease of installation and maintenance.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a
safe valve assembly for use in shower installations reducing the
risk of scalding the user.
It is a further object of this invention to provide an
integrated valve assembly which may be installed in either a
vertical or horizontal plane which still functions with all the
attributes of the valve in either plane with -the excep-tion of
the balancing spool.
Further and other objects of the invention will become
apparent to a man skilled in the art when considering the
following summary of the invention and the more detailed
description of the preferred embodiments illustrated herein.
r4~
~ 7 ~ 1~ 3
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to these ends there is provided for use with
at least one fluid, and preferably said at least one fluid being
hot and cold water, a valve housing having a separate valve
actuation means contained therein in use, said valve housing
having two ends and having disposed therein at least two inlet
passages and at least one outlet passage, said housing
comprising at least one, preferably cylindrical, opening
extending within said housing from proximate one end thereof and
extending towards the other end thereof, said inlet passages and
outlet passages being in communication with said at least one
opening, each opening having disposed therein a flow diverting
means of a predetermined dimension having two ends and
compatibly shaped with each housing opening and extending from
one end within said housing in use, each diverting means being
hollow throughout some of its predetermined dimension proximate
an inlet passage and having at least two ports disposed upon the
perimeter of each diverting means and joined by said hollow,
each diverting means being moveable to align the hollow
proximate with an inlet passage if not initially aligned, one of
said at least two ports being moveable into alignmen-t with one
of said at least one outlet passages when the hollow is aligned
with an inlet passage; whereby in operation when one of the at
least two inlet passages of said housing is aligned with one of
said hollows of said diverting means, the flow of fluid will
pass through one of said at least two inlet passages to one of
said hollows of the diverting means which if necessary may be
moveably aligned with one of said at least two inlet passages,
the fluid thereafter passing through the hollow extending
through the interior of said diverting means and the aligned
A~
inlet passage to one of said at least two ports of the diverting
means, whereat the fluid passes from the housing of the valve to
the valve actuation means of the valve contained within said
housing, whereby said diverting means may be moved to redirect
the flow of fluid from said at least two inlet passages to
facilitate the proper functioning of the valve actuation means.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, the
valve actuatlon means contained within the valve housing may
comprise a spool cartridge comprising at least two concentri.c
cylinders of predetermined length one moveable and one
stationary in use wherein at least one of the concentric
cylinders contains seals disposed within openings therein, said
openings being disposed about the perimeter of the at least two
concentric cylinders wherein the seals are disposed in some of
: 15 the openings on one of the cylinders in use away from the flow
of fluid during operation of the valve and are aligned into
registration with openings disposed on another cylinder when the
fluid flow is ceased.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, the
valve actuation means may comprise a spool cartridge, said spool
cartridge comprising at least two concentric cylinders wherein
are disposed openings about the circumference of the at least
two cylinders, some of said openings on one of said cylinders
containing therein sealing means for engagement with
corresponding openings disposed within another of said
cylinders, one of said cylinders comprising a moveable stem
portion having contained therein openings for registration with
the openings disposed within the other cylinders, some of said
openings disposed within said moveable stem for engagement with
sealing means disposed within one of said cylinders when the
A
?3~
flow of the fluid within the valve actuation means ceases
thereby insuring the integrity of the sealing means and reducing
the risk of deterioration thereof; preferably said moveable stem
portion having disposed therein a hollow wherein a pressure
balancing spool having a moveable spool element disposed therein
and having second inlet passages disposed therein, preferably
said spool being substantially cylindrical in shape and being
contained within the hollow within said stem, said second inlet
passages being a communication with a hot and a cold water
chamber disposed within the spool element which effects the
pressure balancing action of the actuation means, said hot and
cold water chambers being in communication with second outlet
passages disposed within the perimeter of the spool
whereby when the flowof hot water is increased in relation to
the flow of coldwater, said spool element will move in a
direction to compensate for the increase in hot water in
a directionwhereby the openings disposed within the spool
for the hot water are closed by the blocking movement
of the perimeter of the spool element in relation to the
openings disposed within the perimeter of the spool,
wherein if the cold water volume increases beyond a set level
of the valve, said spool element will move in a
direction such that the perimeter of said spool element
will narrow the openings disposed within -the spool for cold
water resulting in a reduction of the volume of cold water
passing to the spool and thus balancing the valve at its preset
operating temperature.
According to yet another aspect oE the invention,
there is provided a reversible modular valve assembly,
said modular valve assembly comprising a housing having
1~9~
-- 10 --
two ends and having at l.east two in].et passages disposed
within said housing for allowing the passage of hot and
cold water through each of one of said inlet passages,
said housing comprising at least one preferably cylindrical
opening extending within said housing from proximate one
end thereof extending towards the other end thereof, said at
least one opening having disposed upon the perimeter
thereof at least two outlet passages being in communication with
said at least one opening and being disposed about the
perimeter of the extension of said opening; said opening having
disposed therein at least one flow diverting means having two
~nds and being of a predetermined dimension compatibly
shaped wi.th said at least one opening and extending within said
housing in use, each diverting means being hollow throughout
some of its predetermined dimension proximate an inlet passage
and having at least two ports joined by said hollow disposed
upon the perimeter thereof, said diverting means being moveable
to, if not already aligned, align the hollow thereof with one of
said at least two inlet passages of said housing wherein one of
said ports of said diverting means is moveably aligned with one
of said outlet passages of said openings when the hollow is
aligned with one of said at least one inlet passages, whereby in
operation when one of the at least two inlet passages of said
housing is aligned if necessary with the hollow of said
diverting means, the flow of fluid will pass through one of said
at least two inlet passages through said hollow of the diverting
means, through the hollow extending through the interior of said
diverting means to one of said at least two ports through to one
of said at least two outlet passages whereat the hot and/or cold
3A water passes from the housing of the valve to a valve actuation
means of the valve contained within said housing, whereby said
diverting means may be moved to redirect the flow of hot and/or
cold water from said at least two inlet passages to facilitate
the proper functioning of the valve actuation means; said
housing further comprising a-t least a second opening extending
from proximate one end of the valve housing to proximate the
other end of the housing, said at least a second opening having
contained therein in use a replaceable cartridge comprising the
valve actuation means of the valve, said replaceable cartridge
having two ends and having disposed at one end thereof control.
means for controlling the positioning of the valve, said control
means allowing for the movement and registration of the
components within the cartridge assembly, said cartridge
assembly comprising at least two hollow cylindrical members,
said at lea#t two hollow cylindrical members having disposed
within the circumference thereof between their ends openings
which are in registration with the outlet passages of said
housing to allow for introduction of hot and cold water into the
cartridge assembly, some of said openings on one of said
cylinders including sealing means therein for sealing engagement
with some of the openings on another of said cylinders in use,
one of said at least two cylindrical members comprising a stem
portion having disposed at one end thereof the control means of
the valve cartridge, said stem portion extending from one end of
the housing and preferably being hollow at said one end thereof
remote said control portion, said stem portion having disposed
therein about the circumference thereof between the ends thereof
openings which align in use with the openings of one of the
remaining cylindrical portions containing the sealing means,
said stem portion being moveable in relation to said cylindrical
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- 12 - ~'93~S
portions and to the sealing means contained therein wherein some
of the sealing means disposed within some cylindrical portions
are out of alignment with the flow of hot and/or cold water
during the operation of the valve and engage some of the
openings of said stem portion only when the valve flow ceases
and the openings containing the sealing means are in
registration with some of the openi.ngs disposed within the stem
portion, said stem portion having contained therein openings
passing through to the hollow thereof some of said openings
being in communication with some of the openings disposed upon
the remaining cylindrical members and being in communication
with the outlet passages disposed within said housing,
preferably the housing having disposed therein a mixing chamber
being in communication with the outlet passages of said housing
when transferring thewater from the cartridge portion of the
valve to the housing portion of the valve through to a faucet or
shower head; preferably the stem portion of said car-tridge
having contained within the hollow thereof a pressure balancing
spool having a moveable spool element disposed therein, the
spool having second inlet passages and second outlet passages
disposed upon the circumference thereof, said second inlet
: passages being in communication with a hot water first chamber
and a cold water second chamber, said second inlet passages
allowing for the passage of water into said chambers thus
affecting the pressure balancing of the valve assembly, said
spool element comprising a wall portion having two ends
separating said first and said second chambers, said wall
portion having disposed within the surface tnereof substantially
concaved portions of predetermined dimensions which translate
any pressure gradient between said first chamber and said second
~14
- 13 - ~ ~3~
chamber, said spool element thus floating within the hollow of
said spool in a direction consistent with the pressure gradient
between said first and said second chamber as exerted upon the
wall portions thereof allowiny for the movement of said spool
element in the direction of the higher water pressure, wherein
the perimeter of the spool element moves in relation to the
openings disposed upon the perimeter of the spool thus affecting
a reduction in the passage through which the fluid exerting the
greater pressure passes.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, the
valve assembly may comprise stop means disposed within the stem
portion of the cartridge for limiting the movement of the stem
portion thereof.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, the
seals disposed within the at least two hollow cylindrical
members are maintained out of line of the flow of at least the
hot water of the valve assembly in use.
According to yet another aspect of the invention,
means may be provided within the valve assembly for providing
volume adjustment in the valve operation.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, the
pressure balancing spool of the valve actuation means may
comprise a washerless spool element being manufactured with
close tolerances to be contained within a hollow of the spool of
the valve actuation means, said pressure balancing spool element
comprising no washers yet being moveable within the hollow of
said spool, and having sealing surfaces disposed on the
perimeter thereof when manufactured.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, the
valve housing may incorporate outlet diverting means in
t~3~t5
communication with said housing to allow for diversion of fluid
from the outlet of said housing to a faucet or to a shower head.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, the
openings within some of the cylinders may comprise bevelled
portions within the perimeter of said openings which anchor the
sealing means in said openings; preferably said sealing means
being oversized resilient sealing rings.
BRIEF DES~IPTION OF THE DRA~INGS
Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of the valve
assembly itemi~ing all the components thereof in a preferred
embodiment of the invention.
Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the valve
assembly partially exploded to illustrate the internal
components thereof and the interrelationship of the components
thereof in a preferred embodiment of the invention.
Figure 3 is a close-up cross-sectional view of the
valve assembly detailing the diverter mechanism thereof in a
preferred embodiment of the invention.
Figures 3a and 3b are similar views to Figure 3 with
the fluid flow being illustrated and the functioning of the
diverting mechanism and the interrelationships thereof with the
components of the housing in a preferred embodiment of the
invention.
Figures 4 and 5 are top views illustrating the
interrelationship of the actuating portions of the valve
assembly and blocking mechanisms thereof in a preferred
embodiment of the invention.
Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken through a
plane vertically extending `between the inlets 21 and 22 and
S
thereat bisecting the valve in a preferred embodiment of the
invention.
Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view simi].ar to that
illustrated in Figure 6 taken through a vertical plane passing
through the center of the outlets 29a and 29b, respectively,
thereby bisecting the valve to illustrate the interrelationship
between the components thereof in a preferred embodiment of the
invention.
Figures 8 and 9 illustrate the in-terrelationship
between the internal sleeve portion 40 and the stem portion 50
at two predetermined operating positions of the valve in a
preferred embodiment of the invention.
Figures 10, 11 and 12 illustrate in close-up cross-
sectional view the resilient seals 45b positioned and anchoring
within the opening 46b of internal sleeve 40 in a preferred
embodiment of the invention.
Figures 13, 14 and 15 illustrate in schematic fashion
the interrelationship between the openings disposed on the
internal sleeve 40 in rela-tionship to the openings disposed upon
the stem portion 50 in a preferred embodiment of the invention.
DETAI~ED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring IIOW to Figure 1, the valve assembly 10 is
illustrated in exploded perspective view in order to detail all
of the components thereof and the marrying of said components.
It is of course not necessary to limit the construction of the
valve assembly as illustrated in Figure 1 and such is provided
for example only. Therefore within valve assembly 10 there is
found a housing 20 having internal channels formed therein for
the passage of water to and from the valve cartridge in use.
There is therefore provided an inlet 21 and 22 at opposite sides
- 16 ~ 3~
of the valve housing. The valve housing is of a prede-termined
height such that the cartridge when assembled will fit within an
opening 5 found therein. The opening 5 is in communication at
the bottom thereof with a mixing chamber 20a when the cartridge
is inserted into the housing. The mixing chamber is defined by
the bottom of the cartridge not shown and the bottom of the
housing 20b. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, 20b is
removable in order to allow for the proper manufacture of the
housing 20 with all of the interrelated channels and waterways
therein. Thus is provided inlet channels or openings 21 and 22
and outlet portions 29a and 29b. Inlet portions 21 and 22 allow
for the introduction of the hot and cold water into the valve
assembly. The inlet portions 21 and 22 have in communication
therewith extending upwardly therefrom substantially cylindrical
waterways 26b and 26a not shown having disposed about the
perimeter thereof proximate the opening 5 two outlets 27b and
28b, for example in the case of waterway 26b, and having
disposed at the end thereof remote the inlet a threaded portion
25b and 25a. Outlets 29a and 29b have in communication
therewith outlet waterways 23a and 23. Outlet waterway 23a
extends upwardly from the mixing chamber 20a towards the outlet
29b the use of which will be described hereinafter. Waterway
outlet 23 has disposed at the extremes thereof inlets 23d and
23b which serve to return the water from the valve cartridge
assembly to the housing and to either the mixing chamber 20a or
to the outlet port 29a, the use of which will be described
hereinafter.
Extending within the housing and specfically within
the ports 25a and 25b, respectively, are found when assembled
diverting mechanisms 70a and 70b which are inserted within the
- 17 - ~Z9~ s
openings and placed into communication with the inlets 21 and
22, respectively. The diverting mechanisms 70a and 70b have
disposed at the top thereof a head similar to that found within
slotted bolts and having disposed below the heads 74a and 74b,
respectively, threaded portions 75a and 75b, respectively. The
threading will allow the fastening of the diverting mechanisms
within the openings and channels 26a and 26b. Preferably the
diverting mechanisms 70a and 70b a:re manufactured from plastic
and are hollow through the bottoms thereof to allow any hot
and/or cold water to pass through the bottoms thereof and out of
one of the outlet openings 71a or 71b, or 72a or 71c. 71a and
72a are disposed at 1800 separation upon the perimeter of the
diverting mechanism 70a. Further the openings 71a and 72a are
not radially aligned. In a similar way when considering the
diverting mechanism 7Ob, the outlets 7lb or 71c are not radially
aligned and are differentiated by 1800. Further when installed
within the opening 26b, 71b will when rotated align with the
outlet 27b, or 71c when rotated will align with the outlet 28b.
The diverting mechanisms 70a and 70b are therefore provided to
allow for a mechanism which can simply redivert the flow of
water to the cartridge should the hot or cold water of the valve
assembly not be correctly provided for during installation.
This feature of the valve will be better described in relation
to Figures 3, 3a and 3b.
Referring now to the cartridge portion of Figure 1,
there is found an outer sleeve portion 30 having disposed
therein annular seals and corresponding grooves 33, 32 and 31.
Further disposed within the perimeter of the sleeve and passing
through said sleeve are openings 30b and 30a which are
illustrated in dotted lines to describe their position in
~9;~'7Si
relation to the openings 34 and 36. Member 30 is a sta-tionary
member and i9 fixed within the housing 20 by pin 38a passing
through openings 38b and 5a. A hole i5 disposed at the bottom
of outer sleeve 37 wherein will pass a pin 37a disposed upon the
internal sleeve 40.
The internal sleeve 40 has as its major purpose a
retaining function for the non-aligning seal members 45b and
45a, respectively. The seals are disposed within openings 46b
and 46a found at the top and the bottom of the internal sleeve.
The seals are anchored by a unique bevelled anchoring lip 49 and
48, the details of which will be described in relation to
Figures 10 through 12. Disposed about the perimeter of the
internal sleeve 40 are sealing members 41 and 42. Openings 47a
and 47b are disposed within the sleeve as well to provide for
inlets of the water passing through the valve. Internal sleeve
40 is not absolutely necessary in every alternative embodiment
of the instant invention but may be eliminated in many instances
depending upon the functions of the valves in design. For
example the outer sleeve member 30 may contain the non-aligning
seal members thus eliminating the need for the internal sleeve.
However by providing tne internal sleeve, it is felt that a more
definite seal is obtained especially when oversized sealing
rings 45a and 45b are used.
Internal sleeve 40 has contained therein when
assembled the actuation portion of the valve 50 referred to as a
stem to which the handle will be affixed upon upper portion 56
for rotation of the stem within the valve cartridge. The stem
contains upper and lower arcuate portions 50a and 50b, the use
of which will be described hereinafter, but are specifically
used to limit the rotation of the valve stem. A seal 50c is
- 1 9 ::a2~
provided to ensure integrity of the valve assembly. Further
there are provided a multiplicity of inlets 55a through 55d
which allow for the passage of water into the stem portion which
is preferably hollow in the illustrated invention but not
necessarily so in every alternative embodiment thereof. Seals
51a and 51b are provided to prevent the passagé of inlet water
toward the outlets 53 and 54 in use. Such practice is known
within the art.
Contained within the hollow of stem portion 50 is a
spool portion having inlet means 61 and 62 dispose~ about the
perimeter thereof and outlets 64 and 63 located at the top and
circumscribing the bottom thereof. The spool portion is
manufactured from stainless steel and may be machined to the
exact tolerances required so that sealing portions 60a, 60b, 60c
and 60d will seal against the internal diameter of the stem
portion 50 without the use of resilient seals. However, in
alternative embodiments of the invention, the resilient seals
may be used. In the illustrated example of a preferred
embodiment of the invention, the spool is a pressure balancing
spool allowing for the movement of said spool within the opening
disposed within the bottom of the stem portion 50, such that the
spool may respond to pressure differentials between the hot and
cold water side of the valve. When assembled the valve provides
for a cartridge spool valve assembly within a housing wherein
the water pressure is continually within the internal spool of
the valve, there being no seals to eliminate the flow of water
other than the diverting mechanisms 70a and 70b, should
replacement of the cartridge be necessary. The only control
therefore of the water flow from the valve is upon the outlet
ports disposed upon the top and bottom portions of each of the
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- 20 - ~ ~3~
members of the valve car-tridge assembly. I'he water will be
therefore free to flow through said outlets unless the resilient
sealing means disposed within the internal sleeve 40 prevents
the passage of water through the outlets hereinafter described,
as best illustrated in relationship to Figures 8 and 9.
Referring now to Figure 2 wherein the entire valve
assembly is illustrated with all of the components assembled
with the exception of the control knob which is exploded in
order to observe the internal workings of the valve assembly.
Thus the valve assembly 10 comprises the housing 20 as described
in relation to Figure 1 having a diverting mechanism 70b located
within the openings 26b wherein the water inlet 22 has a channel
22a in communication with the internal opening 26b within which
the diverting mechanism is found. A diverting mechanism 70b has
a hollow 76b disposed therein to allow for passage of the water
through inlet 22 and through to inlets 27b or 23b. In the
example illustrated, the diverting means is aligned such that
the hole or opening 71b is aligned with the hole or opening 27b.
This will allow the passage of water into the upper portion of
the valve cartridge assembly and will define the upper inlet
portion as for example the hot water portion of the valve.
Similarly the diverting mechanism 70a will be aligned to allow
for the flow of the cold water to the bottom inlet port of the
valve not illustrated. Thus the water will pass through the
housing means into the cartridge portion of the valve toward the
central openings thereof through the outer sleeve 30 through
inlets 34 and 36 through the internal sleeve 40 pinned to the
outer sleeve 30 at pin 37a through opening 37 and therefore
preventing rotation or any movement of the internal sleeve 40.
Therefore the holes or openings 47a and 47b will be in alignment
i5
- 21 -
with openings 34 and 31 allowing passage of the hot and cold
water into the stem portion of the valve 50 which has openings
55a through 55d disposed thereupon to provide channels as best
illustrated in relation to Figures 6 and 7 to allow for the
passage of flow into the valve center or when used the spool
members 60 wherein the spool portion will respond to the
pressure differentials between the constant inlet hot and inlet
cold water pressures and thereby reduce the amount of either hot
or cold water for a given setting should the cold water pressure
go down or the hot water pressure go up. Thus it can be seen
that the hot water in this example will pass into the chambers
65 while the cold water will pass into the chamber 66 and effect
the pressure balancing function of the valve. The hot water
will not intermix with the cold water but will pass through
outlet 64 then through outlet 53 of member 50 passing through
outlet 46b1 disposed upon the internal sleeve and then finally
through outlet 30b through to the outlet within the housing 23d
and down through a predetermined outlet of the valve. Similarly
: cold water will pass through the outlet 63 disposed at the
bottom of the spool and pass through the hollow stem portion at
outlet 54, the internal sleeve portion at outlet 46a1 and the
outer sleeve at outlet 30a through to the predetermined outlet
of the valve as established by the user.
The interrelationship of the seals disposed upon the
perimeter of each of the respective cartridge portions is
illustrated in Figure 2 in order to illustrate how the inlet
waterways are kept separate from the outlet waterways at all
time and that no internal mixing is accomplished between -the hot
ànd cold water streams wi-thin the valve cartridge in the
pre~erred embodiment of the invention but it is accomplished
~.
- 22 ~ ~2~7~
within the housing portion of the valve assembly. It may also
be observed in relation to Figure 2 by rotating the valve stem
50 in the direction illustrated in a counterclockwise direction,
the interrelationship of the openings as described in relation
to Figure 2 will change, thus the amount of water, hot or cold,
passing into the interior of the valve may be limited by the
rotation and -the registration of the openings disposed within
stem portion 50 in relation to a fixed internal sleeve 40 and
outer sleeve 30.
Referring now to Figures 3, 3a and 3b, a close-up of
the diverting mechanisms exemplified by 70b is illustrated,
carried within opening 26 within housing 20 and having a hollow
26b in registration with the water inlet 22. Diverting
mechanism 70b has seal 73b to prevent the passage of water
thereby. As illustrated the hollow 76 as top and bottom
disposed an opening 71b and an opening 71c, respectively, which
will register with outlets 27b and 28b if rotated for
registration. Figure 3a illustrates the registratton of the
opening 71b with the outlet 27b thereby allowing the liquid to
flow along the path W, Wl and W2 by preventing any fluid from
entering the opening 28b having the annular skirt 70a1 covering
the opening 28b and preventing the passage of water therein.
Alternatively Figure 3b illustrates a diverter mechanism
positioned so that opening 71c registers with opening 28b
whereby the annular skirt 70al prevents the passage of water
through to outlet 27b wherein the flow path of water will be
from W to W3 to W4.
In an alternative embodiment of the invention a check
valve not illustrated in relation to any of the figures may be
disposed within the inlet 22 or 26b, for example, as a safety
- 23 -
'S
feature preventing any backflow of water throuyh the valve
should the seals fail within the valve.
Referring specifically to Figure 3, portions 27c and
28c are provided as stops inserted therein within the housing
after manufacture of all of the necessary waterways within the
housing. It is of course understood that the afore~mentioned
members are in one embodiment of the invention and may not be
present in all embodiments of the invention should a method be
determined for providing the waterways eliminating the need for
stops 27c and 28c. Further alternatives exist for the diverting
mechanism as illustrated having two portions or openings 71b and
71c located in 1800 in non-aligned positions top and bottom of
the opening or channel 76 within the interior of the diverting
mechanism 70b. It is of course understood that any alternative
workable number of openings and diverting positions may be used
in relation to the use of such diverting means and not limiting
its use through only the passage of hot and cold water.
Referring now to Figures 4 and 5, wherein the valve
housing 20 is illustrated in part having contained therein the
valve stem 50 and the outer sleeve 30. ~he movement of the stem
50 is restricted by the pin 39 which threadably engages and
passes through the outer sleeve 30, the top stem por-tion
thereof, to abut against the arcuate portions E2 and El,
respectively, as the stem 50 is rotated the full extent of its
available path. Such a rotation limitation is necessary in
order to restrict the alignment of the holes disposed within the
cartridge assembly and the alternatives of registration thereof.
If such a stop were not provided then it would not be
predictable by the user as to the volume of hot and/or cold
water passing through the valve to the faucet or shower. By
- 2~ -
3L;~93~7~
providinq such a stop mechanism the flow of water will pass
through a cycle as best seen in relation to Figures 13 through
15 wherein the mixture of hot and cold water is described
without allowance for the adjustment of the volume of -the cold
or hot water. Such volume adjustment is found within the art
and may be depicted in an alternative embodiment of the
invention by pushing and pulling the knob portion 13, or by
providing a completing separate mechanism for effecting such a
purpose.
The head of the pin 39, 39a, is disposed within the
channel or retaining groove 16a as best illustrated in relation
to Figure 2 to prevent any movement -thereof while using the
valve mechanism.
Referring now to Figure 6, the valve assembly is
illustrated in cross~section in an attempt to illustrate the
flow of hot and cold water into the valve cartridge from the
housing in detail. Thus waterway 21 and 22 are provided as
inlets to the housing of the valve assembly, said waterways
being in communication with channels 21a and 22a, respectively,
disposed at the bottom of openings 25a and 25b, respectively.
Within the openings are found a diverting mechanism 70a and 70b
being hollow through some of its length and having disposed
about the hollow an annular skirt 70bl and 70al, respectively.
Disposed within the skirt are openings 71a and 72a in relation
to diverting mechanism 70a, and 71b and 71c in relation to
diverting mechanism 70b. The rotation of the diverting
mechanisms 70a and 70b will allow for the passage of fluid and
specifically hot and cold water through the predetermined
inlets. In relati.on to Figure 6 the diverting mechanism 70b is
aligned such that opening 71b is aligned with port 27b of the
~ .
- 25 - ~93~
housing 20 and such that diverting mechanism 70a and
specifically port 72a is aligned with opening 28a of the valve
housing 20. Therefore fluid will pass through inlet 21 through
opening 21a through the hollow of diverting mechanism 70a
through channel 76a into outlet 28a through port 31 of the outer
sleeve 30 through port 46a the internal sleeve 40 through the
inlet 50b of the rotatable stem 50, through the inlet port 62 of
the valve spool and into the chamber 66 at the center of the
valve. Similarly the water inlet 22 will allow fluid to pass
through waterway 22a through hollow channel 76b passlng through
opening 71b in said diverting mechanism 70b passing through
opening 27b of the valve housing passing through openings 34 of
the outer sleeve 46b of the inner sleeve through opening 55b of
the rotatable stem and into the opening 61 of the internal spool
or poppet entering thereat chamber 65. The water will then pass
from chamber 65 through to outlet 64 the passage of which
incorporates a similar path to the inlet thereof. Further the
water within chamber 66 aside from effecting a pressure balance
with the pressure of the water in chamber 65 will pass out
through openings 63 toward the outlets oE the valve structure
similar as the inlet to the valve structure which will
heretofore be described in relation to Figure 7. Disposed at
the bottom of the valve as best seen in relation to Figure 6 is
the mixing chamber 20a which incorporates the bottom plate 20b
of the housing 20 and the bottom portion of the car-tridge, the
bottom portion being portion ~ which describes a mixing chamber
28 between the bottom of the housing and the bottom of the
cartridge. Said mixing chamber will be described in relation to
Figure 7.
- 26 ~
Referring now -to Figure 7, the valve assembly is
illustrated in cross-section similar to that found in Figure 6
with the exception that the cross-section is through a vertical
plane bisecting the outlets 29a and 29b respectively. A11
portions illustrated within the valve assembly are similar to
those already described in relation to Figure 6 with the
exception of the path or waterway of outlet water passing
through the internal spool and having effected the pressure
balancing aspect of the valve in a preferred embodiment of the
valve. The water will then flow through outlet 64 of the spool
through outlet 53 of the stem through outlet 46b of the internal
sleeve 40 through outlet 30a of the outer sleeve 30 through
outlet port 23a in communication with waterway 23 disposed
within the valve housing. Similarly the fluid disposed within
interior chamber 66 will flow through outlets 63 of the spool
through outlets S4 of the moveable stem through outlet 45b of
-the internal sleeve through outlet 30b of the outer sleeve and
through outlet 23b of the housing into waterway 23.
. Once the fluids pass into waterway 23 they effec-tively
can pass through two paths. One such path is for the fluid to
mix and exit through outlet 29a which allows the water to flow
toward a shower head S not shown. The passage of the water
through outlet 29a is dependent upon the positioning of disk P2
in relation to opening 0. Should the disk P2 be positioned by
activating plunger Pl into registration with opening 0 then the
water will not flow through outlet 29a but will pass through
waterway 23 toward mixing chamber 20a disposed between bottom
portion B of stem 50 and the bottom plate 20b of the valve
housing. The mixing chamber will affect the mixing of the water
to a further extent prior to passing through waterway 23a and
- 27 - ~Z931~5
outlet 29b. The outlet 29b is in efEect the outlet in
communication with the faucet not shown. Because the distance
between the outlet and the faucet is considerably less than the
distance between the shower head and the outlet 29a, a mixing
chamber is provided to more thoroughly mix the water which said
mixing chamber is deemed unnecessary when considering the shower
portion of the valve. Of course the shower portion is not
absolutely necessary and may be eliminated from consideration if
the instant invention is not embodied in a shower application.
Further, the valve may not contain a spool within the hollow
center of stem 50 but may contain a solid center of the stem 50
wherein is disposed waterways in cornmunication with and
registrable with the openings disposed within the remaining
portions of the cartridge. Thus it may be seen that the
cartridge may be used and replaced with an equal cartridge or a
substitute cartridge not containing all of the attributes of the
cartridge being replaced. Further the components of the valve
assembly may be manufactured from plastic in order to provide an
economical valve.
When the spool portion is not included in the valve
and this would be typically found in installations when the
valve is installed in a vertical position, such installation of
course affecting gravity upon the spool and preventing for the
unique pressure balancing attributes of the spool. Further if
the valve is embodied and installed within a horizontal
position, the valve may or may not incorporate the spool but in
the preferred embodiment such spool exists. The pressure
balancing aspect of the spool is considered to be a safety
measure whereat if the cold water volume is cut off to the valve
for reasons such as the turning on of a tap in the household at
~' .
- 28 - 1~9~
another sink then in normal instances the hot water volume in
proportion to the cold water volume will increase creating a
scalding problem as is well known in the prior art. Thus as one
of the options of the instant invention a preferred embodiment
includes a non-scald spool incorporated in the valve which will
respond to and close down on the hot water inlet should the
volume of cold water be decreased. Further, should in the case
of a ruptured line, the water line supplying the cold water to
the valve rupture entirely cutting off the flow of cold water,
the flow of hot water will also further be cut off. Thus a
safety feature in this valve provides for more than that found
within the prior art in that not only does the valve compensate
for the differential in the volume available in either the hot
or cold water to a pre-established setting, but also safety
features are built into the valve to prevent a presentation of
water other than of a predetermined mix as defined by the user.
The pressure balancing spool provided may be of any alernative
configuration but preferably has the features as illustrated in
relation to Figure 1 wherein the outlet at the top 6~ and the
outlets at the bottom 63 provide for the passage of water after
the pressure balancing has been effected. The internal workings
of the spool are illustrated best in Figures 6 and 7 wherein a
wall portion WP of the spool element separates the two chambers
65 and 66, respectively, having a concave portion described in
said wall portion 1 and 2 against which the water pressures of
each chamber will be applied. As the water pressure is balanced
then the ports illustrated in relation to Figure 6 and
specifically port 61 will allow passage of water as they are not
being blocked by any portions of the spool element portions S,
T, U or V.
~'
- 29 - l~ S
When the spool element for example is pushed in the
direction toward discharge 64 then the portion V will close down
on the inlet 62 thereby preventing the passage of fluid into the
spool and hence out of the spool or if not preventing, shu-tting
down on the cross-section area of the opening of the inlet 62.
Further if the spool element should move in a direction
consistent with a greater force overcoming the fluid force
within chamber 66, then portions T and S may cover portions of
the inlet 61 and thereby preventing the ingress of fluid into
the chamber 65 resulting in a reduction in the flow of the
higher pressured fluid. Such a reaction will result in a
balancing of the fluid volume entering the valve and exiting the
valve. Such a mechanism is well known in the art, however the
preferred embodiment incorporates features which are unique to
the instant invention and therefore offered for information
purposes.
Referring now to Figures 8 and 9, wherein the seals
45b and 45a disposed within the internal sleeve 40 are
illustrated in relation to the outlets which they circumscribe
46a and 46b, respectively. Referring to Figure ~, the
relationship between the outlets 53 of stem 50 and 54 and their
registration with outlets 46a and 46 of the internal sleeve and
the resilient mounting of the seals 45a and 45b prevent the flow
of fluid through the valve and out the openings thereof beyond
outlet 53. Such is accomplished by the pressing of the seals
45b and 45a against the annular surface of the internal diameter
of the outer sleeve 30. Such seals 45a and 95b are oversized in
order to effect this stoppage of the water flow. Of course
since the valve incorporates only two shut-off seals i-t is
imperative that the integrity of these seals be maintained at
- 30 - ~2~
all times. Therefore the seals 45a and g5b only come into
registration with the ou-tlets 53 and 54 when the flow of fluid
through the valve and specifically through the outlets ceases.
The pressure behind the flow of each fluid is available through
to the outlets at all times in operation of the valve. However,
the seal prevents the passage of fluid through outlets 46b1 and
46a1 until such time as the stem is rotated to prevent the
sealing surfaces of seals 45b and g5a from effecting the
stoppage of flow wherein the fluid will initially pass
circumferentially around the stem and pass through openings 46b1
and 46a1 respectively. Figure 9 illus-trates the partial
registration of openings 54 and 53 of stem 50 with openings 46b1
and 46al of internal sleeve 40. Such a registration will
describe in a preferred embodiment half cold and half water
position for the instant invention. However such a positioning
is predetermined by the interrelationship of the openings in the
sleeve in relation to the openings of the stem. As best
observed in Figure 9, the seals are out of line of flow of the
fluid and thus are not subject to degrading as those seals found
in the prior art, as a result of the action of hot water against
the for example neoprene rubber or the accumulation of scale and
sediment under the seal causing the longterm degradation
thereof.
Referring now to Figures 10, 11 and 12, there is
illustrated the positioning of the resilient seal 45b for
example in opening 46b of the internal sleeve 40. The internal
sleeve 40 having disposed proximate the bottom of the opening
46b adjacent the stem 50 and in Figure 10 the opening 53 of stem
50 bevelled portions L which provide a compression member
against which the resilient seal 45b may compress while
- 31 - ~2~3~S
preventing the degradation of the seal within opening 46b as
illustrated in Figure 11 by preventing the contact of the seal
with any sharp corners other than those of bevelled portion L.
Further the seal 45b is oversized as illustrated best in
relation to Figure 12 wherein the seal will compress agai.nst the
internal diameter of outer sleeve 30 to effectively seal off the
flow of fluid through opening 53 and 46b as illustrated in
relation to Figure 8. Thus the seal will be anchored within the
opening 46b and registered or aligned therein in relation to the
stem portion 50 by rotation thereof as illustrated in relation
to Figures 8 and 9 without binding, twisting or loosening of the
seal and further by preventing the degradation of the seal in
relation to accumulation of scale and sludge thereabout.
Referring now to Figures 13, 14 and 15, a schematic
series of views are presented illustrating the relationship of
the openings in stem 50 in relation to the internal sleeve 40 as
best illustrated in Figures 8 and 9 to depict the registration
of the openings and specifically the outlets which control the
flow of fluid from the valve of the preferred embodiment of the
invention. Thus in Figure 13 is illustrated a start of the
cycle wherein outlet 54 of the stem portion 50 is illustrated in
very slight registration with outlet 46a1 of the internal sleeve
40. At the same time the outlet 53 which is a hot water outlet
is differentiated distance N from the outlet 46b1 such that cold
water may flow initially during the starting cycle of the valve
but hot water will not pass through the valve until such time as
illustrated in Figure 14 that outlet 54 is in substantial
registration with outlet 46a1 wherein that coincident point in a
cycle of the valve outlet 53 for hot water will come into very
slight registration with the outlet 46h1 of the valve allowing
- 32 ~ 3~
the passage of some hot water therethrough un-til such time as
illustrated in Figure 15 that the cold water port 96a1 and 54
are in slight registration but the hot water port 53 and 46b1
are in substantially complete registration illustrating a full
hot position of the valve. By determining the lag or lead of
the hot water port in relation to the cold water and differing
the interva]. and different settings of the valve may be
accomplished. Thus by providing the openings in the sleeve 40
in relation to the openings 54 and 53 alternative cycles may be
determined within preferred embodiments of the invention.
Thus a valve assembly has been provided which
incorporates unique features for a cycled valve and used in a
preferred embodiment as a shower pressure compensating non-
scalding valve assembly incorporating all the portions described
above in a unique cartridge which may be removed from the valve
assembly by rotating of the diverting mechanisms 70b and 70a,
respectively, such that inlets 27a, 28a, 27b and 28b are blocked
by the circumferential skirts 70a1 and 70b1, respectively,
thereby cutting off the flow of water to the valve completely
and allowing for the removal of the cartridge by removing -the
corresponding fastening mechanisms 12, 38a and bottom cartridge
portion B and removing the entire cartridge and replacing the
said cartridge without requiring an installer to visit one's
home and without requiring the need to go down into the basement
of the home and shut off the hot water to the hot water heater
and further to shut off the cold water supplied to the house to
enable one to change one valve at one point.
By providing the unique diverting mechanisms, the
water supply may be shut off entirely to both sides of the valve
both hot and cold without the danger of flooding and without the
A
- 33 -
nuisance of creating a air hammer situation within the household
pipes wherein the pipes must be bled from all air contained
therein and then flushed. The instant invention provides a
unique assembly which the householder may maintain without
worrying about degradation of seals, however should maintenance
be required the maintenance may be effected by the householder.
The valve incorporates many safety features which also
makes the householder's job of maintaining the valve much
simpler than ever before.
As many changes may be made to the preferred
embodiments of the invention without departing from the scope of
the invention, it is intended that all matter contained herein
be interpreted as illustrative of the invention and not in a
limiting sense.
