Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02694578 2012-08-15
TEMPERATURE CONTROLLING VALVE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a temperature controlling valve that is
adapted for a digital showering system to control a temperature of mixed hot
and
cold water, obtaining a desired showering temperature.
Description of the Prior Art
Conventional temperature controlling valve is controlled in a disc rotating
manner, and includes two elongated holes for flowing cold and hot waters
respectively, and when one disc rotates relative to another disc, an inverse
relationship exists between the cross sectional area of a first pore for
flowing hot
water and the cross sectional area of a second pore for flowing cold water so
as to
become increased or decreased relatively, controlling cold-water and hot-water
flowing amount to obtain a desired temperature. The discs are driven by a
driving
motor, wherein they are forced equally to engage with each other tightly,
thereby
preventing water from leak. However, such an operation will cause a large
friction
resistance. To overcome the friction resistance, a driving motor with high
torque
output is adapted for the temperature controlling valve at high cost and in a
large
size.
Furthermore, the conventional temperature controlling valve can not be
used to control temperature precisely, because the rotating travel of the disc
is
limited.
The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the
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afore-described disadvantages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a temperature controlling valve that is
capable of overcoming the shortcomings of the conventional temperature
controlling
valve.
The present invention also provides a temperature controlling valve adapted
for a digital showering system to control a temperature of mixed hot and cold
water,
obtaining a desired showering temperature.
A temperature controlling valve in accordance with the present invention
comprises:
a base including a first end wall, a second end wall, and a peripheral wall;
among the first end wall, the second end wall, and the peripheral wall being
defined
a receiving groove, the peripheral wall passing through a first tunnel for
flowing hot
water and a second tunnel for flowing cold water at two different axial
positions
respectively and communicating with the receiving groove, the peripheral wall
including a first passage arranged on one side thereof proximate to the second
end
wall so as to communicate with the receiving groove;
a temperature control set installed in the receiving groove of the base, and
between the temperature control set and the receiving groove being defined a
first
external chamber for receiving the hot water and communicating with the first
tunnel,
and a second external chamber receiving the cold water and communicating with
the
second tunnel; the temperature control set including a first internal chamber
for
receiving the hot water and a second internal chamber for receiving the cold
water,
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both of which are in communication with the first passage; the temperature
control
set further including a casing, and a rotating valve core movably contacting
with the
casing;
a water supplying means used in the casing and the valve core of the
temperature control set, and including a first pore for flowing the hot water
and
communicating with the first external chamber and the first internal chamber,
including a second pore for flowing the cold water and communicating with the
second external chamber and the second intenaal chamber, including a first
shield for
closing the first pore, and including a second shield for closing the second
pore; a
part of the first pore where is not closed by the first shield being defined a
cross
sectional area for flowing the hot water, and a part of the second pore where
is not
closed by the second shield being defined a cross sectional area for flowing
the hot
water; a cross sectional area of the first pore for flowing the cold water and
the cross
sectional area of the second pore for flowing the hot water are relatively
increased or
decreased with the rotation of the valve core in the casing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a temperature controlling valve being
installed to an outlet valve seat according to a first embodiment of the
present
invention;
Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the cross section of the outlet valve
seat of Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is another perspective view showing the cross section of the outlet
valve seat of Fig. 1;
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Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view showing the assembly of the temperature
controlling valve according to the first embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the exploded components of a part of
the temperature controlling valve of the first embodiment of the present
invention;
Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the cross section of the assembly of a
temperature control set of the temperature controlling valve according to the
first
embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. '7 is a perspective view showing the cross section of the assembly of a
casing of the temperature controlling valve according to the first embodiment
of the
present invention;
Fig. 8 is a plan view showing a valve core of the temperature controlling
valve according to the first embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 9 is a cross sectional view of a temperature control set of the
temperature controlling valve according to the first embodiment of the present
invention;
Fig. 10 is a perspective view showing a temperature controlling valve being
installed to another outlet valve seat according to a second embodiment of the
present invention;
Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing a cross section of an outlet valve seat
of Fig. 10;
Fig. 12 is a perspective view showing the assembly of a part of the outlet
valve seat of Fig. 10;
Fig. 13 is a perspective view showing the cross section of a part of the
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temperature controlling valve according to a second embodiment of the present
invention;
Fig. 14 is a perspective view showing the cross section of the exploded
components of a part of the temperature controlling valve according to the
second
embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 15 is a perspective view showing the exploded components of a
temperature control set according to the second embodiment of the present
invention;
Fig. 16 is a perspective view showing the assembly of a part of a
temperature controlling valve according to a third embodiment of the present
invention;
Fig. 17 is a perspective view showing the cross section of a part of the
temperature controlling valve according to the third embodiment of the present
invention;
Fig. 18 is a perspective view showing the assembly of a temperature control
set of the temperature controlling valve according to the third embodiment of
the
present invention;
Fig. 19 is a cross sectional view showing the assembly of the temperature
control set of the temperature controlling valve according to the third
embodiment of
the present invention;
Fig. 20 is a perspective view showing the exploded components of the
temperature control set of the temperature controlling valve according to the
third
embodiment of the present invention;
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Fig. 21 is a perspective view showing the cross section of a part of a
temperature controlling valve according to a fourth embodiment of the present
invention;
Fig. 22 is a perspective view showing the assembly of a temperature control
set of the temperature controlling valve according to the fourth embodiment of
the
present invention;
Fig. 23 is a cross sectional view showing the assembly of the temperature
control set of the temperature controlling valve according to the fourth
embodiment
of the present invention;
Fig. 24 is a perspective view showing the exploded components of the
temperature control set of the temperature controlling valve according to the
fourth
embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The present invention will be clearer from the following description when
viewed together with the accompanying drawings, which show, for purpose of
illustrations only, the preferred embodiment in accordance with the present
invention.
Referring to Figs. 1-3, a temperature controlling valve 1 according to a first
embodiment of the present invention is used in a digital showering system and
installed to an outlet valve seat 2, the outlet valve seat 2 includes a
pressure balance
valve 11 installed to an inlet end of the temperature controlling valve 1; an
outlet
piping 12 for receiving mixed cold and hot water installed to an outlet end of
the
temperature controlling valve 1; a first inlet piping 13 for receiving cold
water from
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a cold-water flowing piping and a second inlet piping 14 for receiving hot
water
from a hot-water flowing piping, both of which are installed to an inlet end
of the
pressure balance valve 11; a temperature sensor 15 installed in the outlet
piping 12 to
sense temperature of the mixed cold and hot water so as to facilitate
operation of the
temperature valve 1; two solenoid valves 16 installed to two different outflow
channels of the outlet piping 12 so as to control opening and closing of the
outflow
channels respectively. After the cold and the hot waters flow into the
pressure
balance valve 11 through the first and the second inlet pipings 13, 14, the
cold and
the hot waters are adjusted automatically to have a temperature balance
therebetween and then flow into the temperature controlling valve 1 at a
proper rate
to be mixed together, the mixed cold and hot water further flows to the outlet
piping
12 to be controlled by the solenoid valves 16 so that the mixed cold and hot
water is
supplied from an outlet 121.
The temperature controlling valve 1 can adjust inflow amount and mixed
rate of the cold and the hot waters automatically based on a temperature
sensed by
the temperature sensors 15 to control a temperature of the mixed cold and hot
water.
The outlet valve seat 2 is well-known, therefore further remarks are omitted.
The temperature controlling valve 1 includes a housing 20, a temperature
control set 30, a water supplying means 40, and a driving motor 50.
The base 20 as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, includes a first end wall 21 disposed
on a top end thereof, a second end wall 22 mounted on a bottom end thereof,
and a
peripheral wall 23 fixed between the first and the second end walls 21, 22;
among
the first end wall 21, the second end wall 22, and the peripheral wall 23 is
defined a
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receiving groove 201; the peripheral wall 23 extends at two different axial
positions,
e.g., at a higher axial position and a lower axial position, to pass through a
first
tunnel 231 for flowing hot water and through a second tunnel 232 for flowing
cold
water 232 which are in communication with the receiving groove 201 and the
pressure balance valve 11 so as to flow the hot and the cold waters from the
pressure
balance valve 11 into the receiving groove 201 individually; the peripheral
wall 23
includes a first passage 233 arranged on one side thereof proximate to the
second
end wall 22 so as to communicate with the receiving groove 201 and the outlet
piping 12 such that the cold and the hot waters mix in the receiving groove
201 and
further flow to the outlet piping 12.
The base 20 further includes a body 20a and an upper housing 20b, the body
20a includes the peripheral wall 23 and the second end wall 22 formed therein,
and
peripheral wall 20a includes a cylinder fence 234 formed thereon and an
opening
235 attached on a top end thereof, the second end wall 22 includes a
positioning
fence 236 disposed therein to define a first hole 237 to communicate with the
first
passage 233.
The peripheral wall 23, the second end wall 22, and the outlet piping 12 are
integrally formed.
The upper housing 20b is positioned in the opening 235 of the upper
housing 20b to form the first end wall 21 and is retained with a top end of
the
peripheral wall 23 and a top end of the pressure balance valve 11 by using a
plurality
of screw bolts 211 so that the opening 235 is closed properly, and the
receiving
groove 201 is defined between the opening 235 and the body 20a.
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The upper housing 20b includes a second hole 212 mounted on a central
portion thereof, and includes a motor holder 213 extending from one side
thereof
adjacent to the pressure balance valve 11.
The temperature control set 30 as illustrated in Figs. 6-8, are installed in
the
receiving groove 201 of the base 20, and between the temperature control set
30 and
the receiving groove 201 are defined a first external chamber 301 for
receiving hot
water and communicating with the first tunnel 231, a second external chamber
302
for receiving cold water and communicating with the second tunnel 232; the
temperature control set 30 includes a first internal chamber 303 for receiving
hot
water and a second internal chamber 304 for receiving cold water, both of
which are
in communication with the first passage 233; the temperature control set 30
further
includes a casing 30a, a slidable sleeve attached in the casing 30a, and a
valve core
30b rotating at an original position.
The casing 30a includes a cylinder first peripheral rim 31, a first end rim 32
integrally connected onto a top end of the first peripheral rim 31, and a
second end
rim 33 arranged on a bottom end of the first peripheral rim 31; the first
peripheral
rim 31 includes a first projected wall 311, a second projected wall 312, and a
third
projected wall 313 radially extending from a top portion, a middle portion,
and a
bottom portion thereof respectively, and the first, the second, and the third
projected
walls 311, 312, 313 individually includes a first seal ring 314 retained
thereon to
engage with the receiving groove 201 of the base 20 so that between the first
peripheral rim 31 of the casing 30a and the inner fence 234 of the receiving
groove
201 of the base 20 are spaced apart to form the first external chamber 301 by
using
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the first seal rings 314 of the first, the second, and the third projected
walls 311, 312,
and 313.
The first end rim 32 includes a positioning slot 321 disposed on a central
portion thereof for receiving a bearing 320, and a top edge of the bearing 320
is
biased against by the second hole 212, the positioning slot 321 includes an
aperture
322 mounted on a central portion thereof.
The second end rim 33 includes a closed fixing segment 331, and the fixing
segment 331 includes a plurality of downward decreased first bores 332 fixed
therearound to communicate with the second internal chamber 304 so as to
further
communicate with the first passage 233 via the first hole 237.
The valve core 30b includes a cylinder second peripheral rim 34, a centrally
axial segment 35 extending along the second peripheral rim 34, and an
isolating rim
36 integrally connecting with the second peripheral rim 34 and the centrally
axial
segment 35.
The second peripheral rim 34 and the first peripheral rim 31 contact with
each other as they rotate.
The centrally axial segment 35 of the valve core 30b includes a first end
portion 351 and a second end portion 352; the first end portion 351 extends
out of
the second hole 212 of the upper housing 20b through the aperture 322 of the
casing
30a, the bearing 320, and the second hole 212 of the upper housing 20b,
wherein the
centrally axial segment 35 includes a second seal ring 353 disposed on an
upper side
thereof to engage with the aperture 322, and the second seal ring 353 includes
a
stepped rim 354 formed on an upper side thereof to limit the bearing 320, the
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stepped rim 354 includes a pivotal portion 355 fixed on an upper side thereof
to be
fitted to the bearing 320, and the pivotal portion 355 includes a C-shaped
retainer
356 fitted to an upper side thereof to engage with the bearing 320, such that
a top
end of the centrally axial segment 35 of the valve core 30b rotates with the
casing
30a. The centrally axial segment 35 includes a third seal ring 357 retained
thereon
adjacent to the second end portion 352 to engage with the fixing segment 331
of the
second end rim 33 of the casing 30a so as to actuate the valve core 30b to
rotate
smoothly.
The isolating rim 36 of the valve core 30b is used to separate the first
internal chamber 303 from the second internal chamber 304, and includes a
plurality
of second bores 361 arranged thereon to communicate the first internal chamber
303
with the second internal chamber 304.
The first internal chamber 303 includes the centrally axial segment 35, the
second peripheral rim 34, the first peripheral rim 31, and the first end rim
32 defined
therein. The second internal chamber 304 includes the centrally axial segment
35,
the second peripheral rim 34, the first peripheral rim 31, and the second end
rim 33
defined therein.
The water supplying means 40 is used in the casing 30a and the valve core
30b of the temperature control set 30, and includes a first pore 41 for
flowing hot
water and communicating with the first external chamber 301 and the first
internal
chamber 303, includes a second pore 42 for flowing cold water and
communicating
with the second external chamber 302 and the second internal chamber 304,
includes
a first shield 43 for closing the first pore 41, and includes a second shield
44 for
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closing the second pore 42; a part of the first pore 41 where is not closed by
the first
shield 43 is defined a cross sectional area for flowing the hot water, and a
part of the
second pore 42 where is not closed by the second shield 44 is defined a cross
sectional area for flowing the hot water; a cross sectional area of the first
pore 41 for
flowing the cold water and the cross sectional area of the second pore 41 for
flowing
the hot water are relatively increased or decreased with the rotation of the
valve core
30b in the casing 30a.
The first and the second pores 41, 42 are disposed at a higher and a lower
axial positions of the first peripheral rim 31 of the casing 30a, and arranged
at two
symmetrical positions of the first peripheral rim 31 spaced 180 degree apart
from
each other. The first pore 41 is fixed on the first peripheral rim 31 so that
the first
external chamber 301 communicates with the first internal chamber 303. The
second
pore 42 is secured on the first peripheral rim 31 so as to communicate the
second
external chamber 302 with the second internal chamber 304.
The first and the second shields 43, 44 are arranged to a top and a bottom
sides of the second peripheral rim 34 of the valve core 30b respectively.
The first shield 43 extends from a top end of the second peripheral rim 34 as
shown as a first imaginary line in Fig. 8, and an upper zone of a first
imaginary line
is the first shield 43 with a spiral top edge 431 so that an axial height of
the first
shield 43 changes around a circumferential direction. If the first shield 43
is
expanded onto a plane as shown in Fig. 9, a first axial height hl is formed on
a
certain circumferential position, and when displacing rightward around a
predetermined circumferential direction from the first axial height hl, the
axial
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height hl becomes increased until a stepped portion where a second axial
height h2
and a third axial height h3 are formed, and the third axial height h3
displaces a
certain circumferential distance with the same circumferential direction until
the
third axial height h3 connects with the first axial height hl, thereby forming
a 360
degree of annular rim.
The first shield 43 serves to close the first pore 41 as shown in Fig. 9, and
a
bottom side of the first pore 41 and a bottom side of the first shield 43 are
located at
the same axial height so that when a center of the first pore 41 is located at
a first
circumferential position P1, the cross sectional area of the first pore 41
closed by the
first shield 43 becomes smallest, and a first cross sectional area Al of the
first pore
41 for flowing the hot water becomes largest, such that the hot water from the
first
external chamber 301 flows into the first internal chamber 303 at the largest
amount
to enhance a mixed rate of the hot water. When the center of the first pore 41
is
located at a second and a third circumferential positions P2 and P2, a second
and a
third cross sectional areas A2, A3 for flowing hot water become decreased or
the
second and the third cross sectional areas A2, A3 are shielded completely
without
flowing water. In this embodiment, the first pore 41 changes along the
circumferential direction by rotating the valve core 30b so that a top end of
the
second peripheral rim 34 integrally couples with the first shield 43 to rotate
in
relation to the first pore 41.
The second shield 44 extends along a bottom end of the second peripheral
rim 34 as illustrated in Fig. 7, and on a connection of the second peripheral
rim 34
and the second shield 44 is formed a second imaginary line, wherein a lower
zone of
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the second imaginary line is the second shield 44 with a spiral bottom edge
441 so
that an axial height of the first shield 44 changes around the circumferential
direction.
If the second shield 44 is expanded onto a plane as illustrated in Fig. 9, a
fourth axial
height h4 is formed on a certain circumferential position, and when displacing
leftward around a predetermined circumferential direction from the fourth
axial
height h4, the axial height h4 becomes increased until a fifth axial height h5
becomes largest to obtain a border of the second shield 44, and the second
shield 44
includes a cutout 442 extending around a circumferential side thereof, two
sides of
the cutout 442 communicate with two borders of the second shield 44.
The second shield 44 is used to close the second pore 42 properly, and a
closing structure and operation are the same as these of the first shield 43,
thus
further remarks are omitted. It is to be noted that when the valve core 30b
rotates
with the first and the second shields 43, 44 in the circumferential direction,
the cross
sectional area of the first pore 41 for flowing hot water becomes decreased,
and the
cross sectional area of the second pore 42 for flowing cold water becomes
increased,
e.g., an inverse relationship exists between the cross sectional area of the
first pore
41 for flowing the hot water and the cross sectional area of the second pore
42 for
flowing the cold water, and when the valve core 30b rotates toward another
circumferential direction, the cross sectional area of the first pore 41 for
flowing the
hot water becomes increased, and the cross sectional area of the second pore
42 for
flowing the cold water becomes decreased, but the inverse relationship between
the
cross sectional area of the first pore 41 for flowing the hot water and the
cross
sectional area of the second pore 42 for flowing the cold water remains
unchanged.
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Furthermore, when an axial height of the second shield 44 is at the highest
position, the second pore 42 is not closed completely to supply cold water,
but when
an axial height of the first shield 43 is at the highest position, the second
pore 42 is
closed completely that can not supply hot water any more to comply with actual
demand, wherein the second pore 42 is located at the cutout 442 of the second
shield
44 to flow cold water at the largest amount.
The driving motor 50 as illustrated in Figs. 1, 4, and 5 is installed to the
motor holder 213 of the upper housing 20b, an output shaft 51 is connected to
the
valve core 30b by ways of a coupling member 511 and two retaining elements 512
from the first end portion 351 of the centrally axial:segment 35 of the upper
housing
20b to actuate the valve core 30b to rotate.
The second peripheral rim 34 of the valve core 30b contacts with the first
peripheral rim 31 of the casing 30a and rotates relative to the first
peripheral rim 31
of the casing 30a, and the first peripheral rim 31 integrally extends to form
the first
and the second shields 43, 44, the first and the second shields 43, 44 contact
with the
first peripheral rim 31 of the casing 30a and rotate to achieve a closing
effect.
An anti-torque value generating from the friction between the first shield 43,
the second shield 44, the valve core 30b, and the casing 30a is less than 0.1N-
M,
therefore the driving motor 50 with a lower torque output can cooperate with
the
power requirement of the present invention to lower cost and size of the
driving
motor.
Thereby, the temperature controlling valve of the present invention can
control the temperature of the mixed cold and hot water precisely, and the
size of the
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driving motor 50 is lowered to decrease the size of the outlet valve seat 2 as
well.
With reference to Figs. 3, 4, and 6, the hot and the cold waters flow into the
first external chamber 301 and the second external chamber 302 respectively
from
the first tunnel 231 and the second tunnel 232 through the first pore 41 and
the
second pore 42, and further flow into the first internal chamber 303 and the
second
internal chamber 304, wherein the hot water in the first internal chamber 303
flows
into the second internal chamber 304 from the second bores 361 of the
isolating rim
36 to mix with the cold water, and then the mixed cold and hot water flows
downward to the first passage 233 from the first bores 332 of the second end
rim 33,
finishing hot and cold water mixing process. Thereby, the driving motor 50
actuates
the valve core 30b to rotate based on the temperature sensed by the
temperature
sensor 15 to adjust mixing rate of the cold and the hot waters freely. Because
the
valve core 30b is rotated to a predetermined direction, the cross sectional
area of the
first pore 41 for flowing the hot water and the cross sectional area of the
second pore
41 for flowing the cold water are adjusted to control the mixed rate of the
cold and
the hot waters. Besides, the cold water is used as the mixed water completely
according to actual demand.
As illustrated in Figs. 10-12, a temperature controlling valve la according
to a second embodiment of the present invention is installed to another type
of outlet
valve seat 2, and a different structure of the temperature controlling valve
la from
that of the temperature controlling valve 1 of the first embodiment includes:
a. The temperature controlling valve 1 of the first embodiment is installed
vertically, therefore the centrally axial segment 35 of the valve core 30b
extends
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vertically, and the driving motor 50 is actuated to rotate along a vertically
axial line.
But, the temperature controlling valve la of the second embodiment is
installed
horizontally, therefore the centrally axial segment 35 of the valve core 30b
extends
horizontally, and the driving motor 50 is actuated to rotate along a
horizontally axial
line.
b. The driving motor 50 of the first embodiment is connected with the first
end portion 351 of the centrally axial segment 35 of the valve core 30b to be
actuated to rotate by using the coupling member 511 and the retaining members
512.
But the driving motor 50 of the second embodiment is coupled with a belt wheel
514
of the first end portion 351 of the valve core 30b to be actuated to rotate.
c. The temperature controlling valve 1 of the first embodiment connects
with the base 20, the pressure balance valve 11, and the outlet piping 12.
However,
the temperature controlling valve la of the second embodiment further
comprises a
cover 60 covered thereon to receive a base 20, accordingly the base 20 is an
independent component to be replaced removably, and the cover 60 includes a
cylinder member 61 and a lid 62 screwed to one side of the cylinder member 61,
and
the lid 62 includes an abutting tab 621 formed on an inner side thereof to
limit the
upper housing 20b, so that the upper housing 20b is movably engaged to the
body
20a without using the screw bolts 211. Due to the upper housing 20b engages
with
the body 20a tightly, the first end rim 32 of the first embodiment is not
necessary in
the second embodiment but is replaced by the first end wall 21. As shown in
Figs. 11,
13, the first peripheral rim 31 includes an orifice attached on one end
thereof
opposite to the first end wall 21.
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d. The first passage 233 of the first embodiment communicates with the
peripheral wall 23 of the body 20a proximate to the second end wall 22; and a
first
passage 233 of the second embodiment communicates with a central portion of
the
second end wall 22 of the body 20a as illustrated in Figs. 11 and 13.
e. The second peripheral rim 34, the centrally axial segment 35, and the
isolating rim 36 of the first embodiment are integrally formed, but the second
peripheral rim 34 and the isolating rim 36 of the second embodiment are worked
independently, the centrally axial segment 35 of the second embodiment is
formed
independently from the second peripheral rim 34 and the isolating rim 36, and
the
second peripheral rim 34, the centrally axial segment 35, and the isolating
rim 36 of
the second embodiment are assembled together easily by using the stepped rim
and
the limiting element. In addition, the second end rim 33 of the casing 30a of
the first
embodiment is comprised of a disc component, and the fixing segment 331 is a
closed component. A second end rim 33 of the second embodiment is integrally
formed with the casing 30a, and includes an open fixing segment 331 disposed
thereon so as to insert the second end portion 352 of the centrally axial
segment 35
to be retained.
With reference to Figs. 16-20, a different structure of a temperature
controlling valve lb of a third embodiment from that of the first embodiment
includes:
a. The first pore 41 and the second pore 42 of the water supplying means 40
of the first embodiment are fixed to the first peripheral rim 31 of the casing
30a of
the temperature control set 30, and the first shield 43 and the second shield
44 are
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mounted to the top and the bottom ends of the second peripheral rim 34 of the
valve
core 31. A first pore 41 and a second pore 42 of the second embodiment are
fixed to
the second peripheral rim 34 of the valve core 30b, the first shield 43 and
the second
shield 44 of the second embodiment are mounted to the first peripheral rim 31
of the
casing 30a.
b. The first peripheral rim 31 of the casing 30a of the second embodiment
includes the first shield 43 and the second shield 44 integrally extending
from the top
and the bottom ends thereof without the first and the second end rims 32, 33
and the
first and the third projected walls 311, 313 of the first embodiment.
Moreover, the
first peripheral rim 31 of the casing 30a includes an engaging periphery 315
disposed thereon adjacent to the second projected wall 312, and the receiving
groove
201 of the base 20 includes a stepped periphery 238 formed therein to retain
the
engaging periphery 315.
The valve core 30b includes a first pore 41 and a second pore 42 disposed
on two symmetrical positions of the second peripheral rim 34 opposite to the
first
shield 43 and the second shield 44 of the casing 30a, and the second
peripheral rim
34 includes a third end rim 37 mounted on a top end thereof and a fourth end
rim 38
secured on a bottom end thereof, the fourth end rim 38 includes a plurality of
third
bores 381 arranged thereon to communicate with the first passage 233.
The third end rim 37 includes a connecting axial section 371 integrally
extending from a center of a top end thereof to be driven by the driving motor
50 and
to replace the first end portion 351 of the centrally axial segment 35 so that
the first
end portion 351 connects with a bottom end of the third end rim 37 without
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extending outward, and a bottom end of the first end portion 351 couples with
the
fourth end rim 38, and the fourth end rim 38 includes a second end portion 352
extending from a center of the bottom surface thereof. The second peripheral
rim 34,
the third end rim 3'7, and the connecting axial section 371 of the third
embodiment
are integrally formed, and the centrally axial segment 35, the isolating rim
36, and
the fourth end rim 38 of the third embodiment are integrally formed.
Furthermore,
the second peripheral rim 34 includes a fourth seal ring 341 retained thereon
to
engages with the first hole 237 of the body 20a.
c. A first external chamber 301 of the third embodiment includes the
receiving groove 201, the first peripheral rim 31, the centrally axial segment
35, the
second peripheral rim 34, and the third end rim 37 defined therein; the second
external chamber 302 of the third embodiment includes the receiving groove
201,
the first seal ring 341 of the first peripheral rim 31, and the fourth seal
ring 341 of
the second peripheral rim 34 defined therein. The first internal chamber 303
includes
the second peripheral rim 34, the centrally axial segment 35, the isolating
rim 36,
and the third end rim 37 defined therein; the second internal chamber 304
includes
the second peripheral rim 34, the centrally axial segment 35, and the fourth
end rim
38 defined therein.
Referring to Figs. 17 and 19, the hot and the cold waters flow into the first
and the second external chambers 301, 302 form the first and the second
tunnels 231,
232 respectively, and then flow into the first and the second internal
chambers 303,
304 through the first and the second pores 41, 42 individually, wherein the
hot water
in the first internal chamber 303 further flows to the second internal chamber
304 to
CA 02694578 2012-08-15
mix with the cold water via the second bores 361, and the driving motor 50 is
applied to actuate the valve core 30b to rotate for adjusting a mixed rate of
the cold
and the hot waters, thus adjusting the temperature of the mixed cold and the
hot
waters.
As shown in Figs. 21-24, a different structure of a temperature controlling
valve lb of a fourth embodiment from that of the first embodiment includes:
a. The first passages 233 of the first, the second, and the third embodiment
are connected to the peripheral wall 23 of the body 20a adjacent to the second
end
wall 22. A first passages 233 of the fourth embodiment is coupled to a central
section
of the peripheral wall 23 of the body 20a between the first and the second
external
chambers 301, 302, but is separated apart from the first and the second
external
chambers 301, 302.
b. Besides, between the first and the second external chambers 301, 302 of
the fourth embodiment is defined a third external chamber 305 for receiving
mixed
cold and hot waters, and between the first and the second internal chambers
303, 304
is defined a third internal chamber 306 for receiving the mixed cold and hot
water so
that the hot water from the first internal chamber 303 and the cold water from
the
second internal chamber 304 flow into the third internal chamber 306 to be
mixed
together, and then flow out of the first passage 233 through the third
external
chamber 305. The first peripheral rim 31 of the casing 30a of the fourth
embodiment
includes two annular projections 316 disposed on an outer surface thereof to
space a
determined axial distance apart from each other, and the annular projection
316
includes a fifth seal ring 317 mounted thereon to engage with the peripheral
wall 23
21
CA 02694578 2012-08-15
of the body 20a so that between the first peripheral rim 31 of the casing 30a
and the
receiving groove 201 of the base 20 is defined the third external chamber 305
by
ways of the fifth seal rings 317 of the annular projections 316 to space the
first and
the second external chambers 301, 302 apart from each other.
The centrally axial segment 35 of the valve core 30b includes two isolating
rims 36 radially extending from an outer surface thereof and separating a
predetermined axial distance apart so as to define the third internal chamber
306
between the isolating rims 36. The first peripheral rim 31 of the casing 30a
includes
a plurality of first ventilations 318 arranged thereon relative to the third
external
chamber 305, and the second peripheral rim 34 of the valve core 30b includes a
plurality of second ventilations 342 attached thereon relative to the third
internal
chamber 306, such that the third external chamber 305 and the third internal
chamber
306 are communication with each other, and the hot water in the first internal
chamber 303 and the cold water in the second internal chamber 304 flow into
the
third internal chamber 306 to be mixed together via the second bores 361 of
the
isolating rim 36, and then the mixed water in the third internal chamber 306
flows
into the third external chamber 305 through the second ventilations 342 and
the first
ventilations 318, and then flows into the first passage 233. It is to be noted
that the
fourth end rim 38 of the fourth embodiment is closed without providing the
third
bores 381 of the third embodiment thereon.
Moreover, the valve core 30b, the centrally axial segment 35, the isolating
rims 36, and the fourth end rim 38 are an integral component, and the first
end
portion 351 of the centrally axial segment 35 is in connected with the
isolating rim
22
CA 02694578 2012-08-15
36 without coupling with the third end rim 37, the second end portion 352
axially
retains with the second end wall 22 of the body 20a.
While we have shown and described various embodiments in accordance
with the present invention, it is clear to those skilled in the art that
further
embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present
invention.
23
