Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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SPECIFICATION
FLOW AND TEMPERATURE SEPARATION CONTROL VALVE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTTON
1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a flow and temperature control
valve, and particularly to a flow and temperature separation control valve
which can separately control water flow and water temperature.
2. PRIOR ART
[0002] Referring to Fig. 1, a conventional flow and temperature control
valve for a water faucet includes a valve housing 5, a control module 6
which includes a control lever 61 and a control lever seat 62, a driven
module 7 which includes a slide control plate 71, an upper ceramic plate 72,
a lower ceramic plate 73, and a water division seat ~.
[0003] Water flow is controlled through the control module 6 to linearly
adjust the slide control plate 71. Water temperature is controlled through
rotation of the upper ceramic plate 72. Therefore, the conventional flow
and temperature control valve has functions of water flow and temperature
control.
[O(l04] However, since the control module 6 for controlling water flow
and the driven module 7 for controlling water temperature are linked to
readily move together, it is hard to control water flow or water temperature
separately through the conventional flow and temperature control valve.
That's, when it is desired to change water flow, water temperature is also
changed undesirably, or when it is desired to change water temperature,
water flow is also changed undesirably. Thus, it is inconvenient to use the
conventional flow and temperature control valve.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a
flow and temperature separation control valve which includes a temperature
control module and a flow control module not linked to move together
thereby separately controlling water temperature and water flow for
convenient use.
[0006] To achieve the above-mentioned object, a flow and temperature
separation control valve in accordance with the present invention includes a
valve housing for connecting to a water faucet, a temperature control
module received in the valve housing for controlling the temperature of the
outputted water flow, and a flow control module received in the valve
housing for controlling the outputted flow. The valve housing includes an
upper housing and a lower housing. The temperature control module
includes a rotation shaft having a straight post non-interferentially
extending
from the upper portion of the upper housing, an upper ceramic plate
mounted on the bottom of the rotation shaft and rot:atable with the rotation
shaft, a lower ceramic plate disposed below the upper ceramic plate and
closely jointing to the upper ceramic plate, and a water division seat
mounted on the lower housing. The water division seat connects the lower
housing and the upper housing together. The water division seat, supports
the lower ceramic plate thereon. The flow control module includes a
rotation cover covering the upper portion of the upper housing, a driven
member received in the upper housing, and a flow control plate pivotally
disposed betwee the water division seat and the lower housing. A through
hole is defined in the center of the rotation cover for non-interferential
extension of the straight post of the rotation shaft. 1'he driven member
receives the rotation shaft, the upper ceramic plate, the lower ceranuc plate
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and the water division seat therein and is rotatable with the rotation cover.
The driven member is drivable the flow control plate to rotate.
(0007] Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present
invention will be drawn from the following detailed embodiments of the
present invention with attached drawings, in which:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[000$] Fig. 1 is an exploded view of a conventional flow and temperature
control valve;
[0009] Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a flow and temperature separation
control valve of the present invention;
[0010] Fig. 3 is an exploded view of Fig. 2;
[0011 ] Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a temperature control module;
[0012] Fig. 5 is an exploded view of Fig. 4;
[0013] Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a temperature restriction unit and
an upper housing of the temperature control module viewed from a top
angle;
(0014] Fig. 7 is an exploded view of a flow control module;
[HIS] Fig. 8 is an exploded view of a rotation cover and an upper
housing of the temperature control module;
(0016] Figs. 9-11 are schematic views showing operation of separately
controlling cold and hot water flows through the flow control module; and
[0017] Figs. 12-14 are schematic views showing operation of separately
controlling cold and hot water flows through the temperature control
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module.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0018] Referring to Figs. 2-3, a flow and temperature separation control
valve of the present invention includes a valve housing 1, a temperature
control module 2 and a flow control module 3.
[0019) The valve housing 1 for receiving the temperature control module
2 and the flow control module 3 therein includes a lower housing 11 and an
upper housing 12.
[0020] The lower housing 11 includes hot and cold water inlets 111, 112
respectively in communication to water faucets (not shown) and a mixed
water outlet 113. Each of the hot water inlet 111 and the cold water inlet
112 has a tubular rubber aqueduct sleeving 115 in which a compression
spring 114 is disposed. A pivot shaft 116 shaped as a short cylinder is
formed at the center of the lower housing 11. Two symmetrical upper tab
117 upwardly extend from the upper periphery of the lower housing 11.
An engaging hole 118 is defined in each of the upper tabs 117. A plurality
of positioning pins 119 each shaped as a short cylinder is formed at the
bottom of the lower housing: l l .
[0021) The upper housing 12 is generally close at the upper portion
thereof, hollow at the middle portion thereof and open at the lower poriton
thereof. A shaft through hole 121 is defined in the center of the upper
portion of the upper housing 12. Two symmetrical arcuate rotation
guidance grooves 122 are defined in the upper periphery of the upper
housing 12. A fan-shaped protruding restriction block 123 extends from
the upper end surface of the upper housing 12. An engaging recess 124 is
defined in the upper end surface of the upper housing 12. A metallic
strengthening block 125 with a through hole 126 being defined in the center
thereof is received in the engaging recess 124. Two symmetrical lower
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tabs 127 downwardly extend from the lower periphery of the upper housing
12. A receiving cutout 129 is defined adjacent to each lower tab 127 for
providing access to the upper tab 117 of the lower housing 11. An
engaging hole 128 is defined in each of the lower tabs 12'1.
[0022] Refernng to Fig. 4, the temperature control module 2 includes a
rotation shaft 21 for driving a temperature regulation mechanism, a
temperature restriction unit 22 for providing a temperature regulation range,
an upper ceramic plate 23 rotatable with the rotation shaft 21, a lower
ceramic plate 24 tightly jointing to the upper ceranuc plate 23, and a water
division seat 25 supporting the lower ceramic plate 24 thereon. The upper
ceramic plate 23, the lower ceramic plate 24 and the water division seat 25
are similar to prior art and so are not detailedly described herein.
[0023] The rotation shaft 21 is generally a reversed T-shape and is
received in the upper housing 12. The rotation shaft 21 has a straight post
211 projecting from the shaft through hole 121 of the upper housing 12.
The straight post 211 has a square cross section. A plurality of driving
blocks 212 extends from the bottom of the rotation shaft 21 (see Fig. 5) for
engaging with cavities defined in the upper ceramic plate 23.
(0024] The temperature restriction unit 22 includes a right restriction
block 221 and a left restriction block 225. A tube receiving hole 222 is
defined in the center of the right restriction bloclc 221. A wing-shaped
right block 223 (see Fig. 6) outwardly and downwardly extends from the
periphery of the right restriction block 221 for abutting against the
restriction block 123 of the upper housing 12 when rotating. A plurality of
successional aligning teeth 224 is formed at the inner side surface of the
right block 223 and at the peripheral surface of the right restriction block
221.
[0025] The left restriction block 225 has a tube 226 projecting from the
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center thereof for extendir~.g into the tube receiving hole 222 of the right
restriction block 221. A shaft receiving hole 227 is defined along an axis
of the left restriction block 225 and has a cross section consistent to that
of
the straight post 211 of the rotation shaft 21 for extension of the straight
post 211 of the rotation shaft 21 thereby rotating with the rotation shaft 21.
A wing-shaped left block 22$ (see Fig. 5) outwardly and upwardly extends
from the periphry of the Ieft restriction block 225 for abutting against the
restriction block 123 of the upper housing 12 when rotating. A plurality of
successional engaging teeth 229 is formed at the inner side surface of the
left block 22$ and at the peripheral surface of the left restriction block 225
for mating with the aligning teeth 224 of the right restriction block 221 and
the right block 223. The upper portion of the upper ceramic plate 23 has a
close end surface.
[0026) An arcuate receiving groove 251 is defined in the water division
seat 25 adjacent to the periphery thereof. T'wo pairs of engaging
protrusions 252 extend from the peripheral surface of the water division seat
25 for respectively engaging with the upper tabs 117 of the lower housing
11 and the lower tabs 127 of the upper housing 12.
[0027] Referring to Fig. 7, the flow control module 3 includes a rotation
cover 31, a driven member 32 and a flow control plate 33. The rotation
cover 31 covers the upper housing 12. A shaft through hole 311 is defined
in the center of the rotation cover 31 for non-interferential extension of the
straight post 211 of the rotation shaft 21. Two symmetrical driving plates
312 (see Fig. $) downwardly extend from the lower periphery of the rotation
cover 31 for respectively extending into the rotation guidance grooves 122
of the upper housing 12.
[0028] The driven member 32 is received in the upper housing 12. Two
symmetrical position restriction plates 321 upwardly extend from the upper
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periphery of the driven member 32. A mating cutout 322 is defined in
each of the position restriction plates 321 for insertion of the driving plate
312 of the rotation cover 31. A driven plate 323 downwardly extends from
the lower periphery of the driven member 32 for extending through the
receiving groove 251.
[0029] The flow control plate 33 is pivotally connected between the lower
housing 11 and the water division seat 25. A pivot shaft hole 331 is
defined in the center of the flow control plate 33 for extension of the pivot
shaft 116 of the lower housing 11. A mating cutout 332 is defined in the
periphery of the flow control plate 33 for receiving the driven plate 323 of
the driven member 32. A hot water through hole 333, a cold water through
hole 334, and a mixed water through hole 335 are respectively defined in
the flow control plate 33.
[0030] Referring to Figs. 3-$, in assembly, the assembling steps are
described as follows.
[0031] 1. Providing the lower housing 11 with leakproof gaskets 4
mounted on the upper and lower portions thereof; inserting the aqueduct
sleevings 115 each with the compression spring 114 received therein into
the hot water inlet 111 and the cold water inlet 112, thereby finishing the
assembly of the lower housing I 1;
[0032] 2. Horizontally placing the flow control plate 33 on the lower
housing 11, thereby finishing the assembly of the flow control plate 33;
[0033] 3. Providing the water division seat 25 with leakproof gaskets 4
being respectively attached to the upper and lower portions thereof to abut
against the flow control plate 33, engaging the engaging hole 118 of the
lower housing 11 with the engaging protrusion 252 of the water division
seat 25, thereby finishing the assembly of the lower housing 11, the flow
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control plate 33 and the water division seat 25;
[0034] 4. Aligningly placing the lower ceramic plate 24 on the water
division seat 25, thereby finishing the assembly of the lower ceramic plate
24; aligningly and closely jointing the upper ceramic plate 23 to the lower
ceramic plate 24, thereby finishing the assembly of the upper ceramic plate
23;
[0035] 5. Aligningly connecting the rotation shaft 21 to the upper ceramic
plate 23, thereby finishing the assembly of the rotation shaft 21;
[0036] 6. Connecting the driven member 32 to the water division seat 25
whereby the driven plate 323 extending through the receiving groove 251 of
the water division seat 25 and is received in the mating cutout 332 of the
flow control plate 33 thereby ftnishing the assembly of the driven member
32 and the flow control plate 33;
[~37] 7. Providing the upper housing 12 with the strengthening block
125 connected thereto to cover the above subassembly whereby the position
restriction plate 321 of the driven member 32 extends into the rotation
guidance groove 122 of the upper housing 12, and the engaging hole 129 of
the upper housing 12 engagingly receives the engaging protrusion 252 of
the water division seat 25, thereby finishing the assembly of the upper
housing 12 and the above subassembly;
[0038] 8. Connecting the temperature restriction unit 22 to the straight
post 211 of the rotation shaft 21, thereby finishing the assembly of the
temperature restriction unit 22 and the rotation shaft 21;
[0039] 9. Providing the rotation cover 31 to cover the upper housing 12
whereby the straight post 211 of the rotation shaft 21 extends through the
shaft through hole 311 of the rotation cover 31, and the driving plate 312 of
the rotation cover 31 extends through the rotation guidance groove 122 of
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the upper housing 12 and engages with the mating cutout 322 of the driven
member 32, thereby finishig the assembly of the flow and temperature
separation control valve of the present invention.
[0040] Referring to Figs. 9-11, operation of separately controlling cold
and hot water flows ( proportion of synchronous opening and closing, that's
water flow magnitude) is shown. Since the rotation cover 31 and the
straight post 211 of the rotation shaft 21 are not linked to move, when the
rotation cover 31 is rotated (see Fig. 7), the rotation shaft 21 is not driven
by
the rotation cover 31. Therefore, the driven member 32 is driven to rotate
by the driving plate 312 of the rotation cover 31, and then the flow control
plate 33 is driven to rotate by the driven plate 323 of the driven member 32.
Thus, the water flow is separately controlled through rotation of the flow
control plate 33 to control the synchronous opening and closing of the hot
water inlet 111 and the cold water inlet 112 of the lower housing 11.
(0041] Referring to Figs. 12-14, operation of separately controlling cold
and hot water flows ( proportion of relative opening and closing, that's
mixed proportion between the cold and hot water) is shown. Since the
rotation cover 31 and the straight post 211 of the rotation shaft 21 are not
linked to move, similarly the rotation cover 31 is not driven when the
rotation shaft 21 rotates (see Fig. 4). The upper ceramic plate 23 is driven
to rotate by the driving block 212 of the rotation cover 31. Therefore, the
position relationship between the upper ceramic plate 23 and the lower
ceramic plate 24 is changed and so mixed proportion of the cold and hot
water between the upper ceramic plate 23 and the lower ceramic plate 24 is
correspondingly changed. Then the mixed cold and hot water flows out
through the water division seat 25 and the mined water outlet 113 of the
lower housing 11 thereby separately controlling the temperature of the
outputted water flow.
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[0042] Referring to Fig. 6, a range of controlled temperature of the mixed
water flow may be set through configuring the angle between the right
block 223 and the left block 22$ of the temperature restriction unit 22, and
through the restriction block 123 of the upper housing 12, thereby
restricting the mar temperature of the mixed water flow for preventing from
hurting a user due to overhigh temperature of the rruxed water flow.
[0043] It is understood that the invention may be embodied in other
forms without departing from the spirit thereof. Thus, the present examples
and embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not
restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details given
herein.
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