Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02694583 2012-09-20
PRESSURE BALANCE VALVE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a pressure balance valve that is used to
adjust a pressure between cold and hot waters automatically to balance a
pressure
difference.
Description of the Prior Art
Conventional digital showering system includes an outlet device having a
temperature controlling valve and a temperature sensing element, the
temperature
controlling valve is used to set a desired temperature and to cooperate with
the
temperature sensing element to adjust a rate for mixing cold and hot waters so
that
the desired temperature of the mixed cold and hot water is obtained.
Conventional temperature controlling valve serves to control an inflow
amount and a mix rate of the cold and the hot waters by adjusting cross
sectional
areas of the pores to flow the cold and the hot waters individually so as to
further
control a temperature of the mixed cold and hot water, but when the pressures
of the
cold and the hot waters flowing through the pores are not equal, the
temperature can
not be controlled exactly, therefore a pressure balance valve is installed to
an inlet
end of the temperature control valve of the outlet device to adjust water
pressures of
the cold and the hot waters, keeping the pressure balanced between the cold
and the
hot waters in the temperature controlling valve.
Conventional pressure balance valve includes a housing, a valve core
installed to the housing, the valve core includes a cold-water pressure room
and a
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hot-water pressure room, both of which are spaced by a sensing wall, and the
sensing
wall includes a first surface to sense cold water and a second surface to
sense hot
water so that the pressures of the cold-water and the hot-water pressure rooms
influence the first and the second surfaces respectively, such that when a
difference
between the pressures of the cold and the hot waters are sensed, the valve
core slides
axially so that a pressure between the cold water in the cold-water room and
the hot
water in the hot-water room keeps balanced, thereby controlling the
temperature of
the mixed cold and hot water accurately.
Furthermore, many countries establish strict standard to limit an error valve
of the water flowing temperature of the outlet device, such as within positive
and
negative 2 degrees Celsius, but most outlet devices in the market still can
not be in
compliance with this standard.
The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the
afore-described disadvantages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a pressure balance valve that is capable of
overcoming the shortcomings of the conventional temperature controlling valve.
The present invention also provides a pressure balance valve that when a
pressure difference between the cold-water and the hot-water pressure rooms is
generated, the valve core adjusts flowing amount of the cold and the hot
waters to
eliminate the difference, thereby balancing water pressure.
A pressure balance valve in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the
present invention comprises:
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a housing including a first peripheral wall, a first end wall, and a second
end
wall to define an internal chamber; the first peripheral wall including a
cylinder
cavity defined therein to form most part of the internal chamber, and the
cavity
including two annular first openings arranged on two ends thereof
respectively; the
first peripheral wall including a first inlet to flow cold water and a second
inlet to
flow hot water, both of which are in communication with the cavity so that the
cold
and the hot waters from the first and the second inlets respectively flow into
the
cavity, and including a first outlet to flow the cold water and a second
outlet to flow
the hot water, both of which communicate with the cavity so that the cold and
the hot
waters from the cavity flow out of the first and the second outlets
individually; the
first and the second end walls including a first and a second limiting
elements to
limit flowing amount disposed on inner surfaces thereof respectively;
a valve core including a first loop, a second loop, and a pressure sensing
cliff between the first and the second loops; the valve core including a cold-
water
pressure room defined between one side of the pressure sensing cliff and the
first
loop, and including a hot-water pressure room defined between another side of
the
pressure sensing cliff and the second loop; the valve core being slidably
fitted to the
cavity to slide axially; the valve core including at least one first pore to
flow the cold
water defined between the first loop and the pressure sensing cliff so as to
communicate with the cold-water pressure room and the first inlet, and
including at
least one second pore to flow the hot water defined between the second loop
and the
pressure sensing cliff so as to communicate with the hot-water pressure room
and the
second inlet; the cavity including the two annular first openings arranged on
the two
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ends thereof and defined by the first and the second loops respectively, and
the first
and the second limiting elements being placed in the two annular first
openings of
the first and the second loops so that cross sectional areas of the two
annular first
openings to flow the cold and the hot waters are decreased to be less than
those of
the first and the second inlets.
A pressure balance valve in accordance with another preferred embodiment
of the present invention comprises:
a housing including a first peripheral wall, a first end wall, and a second
end
wall to define an internal chamber; the first peripheral wall including a
cylinder
cavity defined therein to form most part of the internal chamber; the first
peripheral
wall including a first inlet to flow cold water and a second inlet to flow hot
water,
both of which are in communication with the cavity so that the cold and the
hot
waters from the first and the second inlets respectively flow into the cavity,
and
including a first outlet to flow the cold water and a second outlet to flow
the hot
water, both of which communicate with the cavity so that the cold and the hot
waters
from the cavity flow out of the first and the second outlets individually;
a valve core including a first loop, a second loop, and a pressure sensing
cliff between the first and the second loops; the valve core including a cold-
water
pressure room defined between one side of the pressure sensing cliff and the
first
loop, and including a hot-water pressure room defined between another side of
the
pressure sensing cliff and the second loop; the valve core being slidably
fitted to the
cavity to slide axially; the valve core including at least one first pore to
flow the cold
water defined between the first loop and the pressure sensing cliff so as to
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communicate with the cold-water pressure room and the first inlet, and
including at
least one second pore to flow the hot water defined between the second loop
and the
pressure sensing cliff so as to communicate with the hot-water pressure room
and the
second inlet;
the cavity including two annular first openings arranged on two ends thereof
and defined by the first and the second loops respectively to flow the cold
and the
hot waters toward the first and the second outlets; wherein
wherein a cross sectional area of the first inlet is at least larger than 1.26
which is a ratio of cross sectional areas of the two annular first openings of
the
cavity and a cross sectional area of the first outlet; a cross sectional area
of the
second inlet is at least larger than 1.26 which is a ratio of the cross
sectional areas of
the two annular first openings of the cavity and a cross sectional area of the
second
outlet; and a sum of outflow amounts of the first and the second outlets is
larger than
a basic flowing amount.
According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a pressure balance
valve comprising a housing including a first peripheral wall, a first end
wall, and a
second end wall to define an internal chamber; the first peripheral wall
including a
cylinder cavity defined therein to form most part of the internal chamber, and
the
cavity including two annular first openings arranged on two ends thereof
respectively; the first peripheral wall including a first inlet to flow cold
water and a
second inlet to flow hot water, both of which are in communication with the
cavity
so that the cold and the hot waters from the first and the second inlets
respectively
flow into the cavity, and including a first outlet to flow the cold water and
a second
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outlet to flow the hot water, both of which communicate with the cavity so
that the
cold and the hot waters from the cavity flow out of the first and the second
outlets
individually; the first and the second end walls including a first and a
second limiting
elements to limit flowing amount disposed on inner surfaces thereof
respectively; a
valve core including a first loop, a second loop, and a pressure sensing cliff
between
the first and the second loops; the valve core including a cold-water pressure
room
defined between one side of the pressure sensing cliff and the first loop, and
including a hot-water pressure room defined between another side of the
pressure
sensing cliff and the second loop; the valve core being slidably fitted to the
cavity to
slide axially; the valve core including at least one first pore to flow the
cold water
defined between the first loop and the pressure sensing cliff so as to
communicate
with the cold-water pressure room and the first inlet, and including at least
one
second pore to flow the hot water defined between the second loop and the
pressure
sensing cliff so as to communicate with the hot-water pressure room and the
second
inlet; the cavity including the two annular first openings arranged on the two
ends
thereof and defined by the first and the second loops respectively, and the
first and
the second limiting elements being placed in the two annular first openings of
the
first and the second loops so that cross sectional areas of the two annular
first
openings to flow the cold and the hot waters are decreased to be less than
those of
the first and the second inlets.
According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a pressure
balance valve comprising a housing including a first peripheral wall, a first
end wall,
and a second end wall to define an internal chamber; the first peripheral wall
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including a cylinder cavity defined therein to form most part of the internal
chamber;
the first peripheral wall including a first inlet to flow cold water and a
second inlet to
flow hot water, both of which are in communication with the cavity so that the
cold
and the hot waters from the first and the second inlets respectively flow into
the
S cavity, and including a first outlet to flow the cold water and a second
outlet to flow
the hot water, both of which communicate with the cavity so that the cold and
the hot
waters from the cavity flow out of the first and the second outlets
individually; a
valve core including a first loop, a second loop, and a pressure sensing cliff
between
the first and the second loops; the valve core including a cold-water pressure
room
defined between one side of the pressure sensing cliff and the first loop, and
including a hot-water pressure room defined between another side of the
pressure
sensing cliff and the second loop; the valve core being slidably fitted to the
cavity to
slide axially; the valve core including at least one first pore to flow the
cold water
defined between the first loop and the pressure sensing cliff so as to
communicate
with the cold-water pressure room and the first inlet, and including at least
one
second pore to flow the hot water defined between the second loop and the
pressure
sensing cliff so as to communicate with the hot-water pressure room and the
second
inlet; the cavity including two annular first openings arranged on two ends
thereof
and defined by the first and the second loops respectively to flow the cold
and the
hot waters toward the first and the second outlets; wherein a cross sectional
area of
the first inlet is at least larger than 1.26 which is a ratio of cross
sectional areas of the
two annular first openings of the cavity and a cross sectional area of the
first outlet; a
cross sectional area of the second inlet is at least larger than 1.26 which is
a ratio of
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the cross sectional areas of the two annular first openings of the cavity and
a cross
sectional area of the second outlet; and a sum of outflow amounts of the first
and the
second outlets is larger than a basic flowing amount.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the assembly of a pressure balance
valve according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is another perspective view showing the assembly of the pressure
balance valve according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG 3 is a perspective view showing the cross sectional of the assembly of
the pressure balance valve according to the preferred embodiment of the
present
invention;
FIG 4 is a cross sectional view showing the assembly of the pressure
balance valve according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG 5 is a perspective view showing the exploded components of the
pressure balance valve according to the preferred embodiment of the present
invention;
FIG 6 is a cross sectional view showing the assembly of a housing of the
pressure balance valve according to the preferred embodiment of the present
invention;
FIG 7 is a cross sectional view showing the assembly of a sleeve member
of the pressure balance valve according to the preferred embodiment of the
present
invention;
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FIG 8 is a perspective view showing the assembly of a plug element of the
pressure balance valve according to the preferred embodiment of the present
invention;
FIG 9 is another perspective view showing the assembly of a plug element
of the pressure balance valve according to the preferred embodiment of the
present
invention;
FIG 10 is a cross sectional view showing the assembly of a valve core of
the pressure balance valve according to the preferred embodiment of the
present
invention;
FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view showing the assembly of the sleeve
member and the valve core according to the preferred embodiment of the present
invention;
FIG. 12 is a cross sectional view showing the operation of the valve core
according to the preferred 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.
With reference to Figs. 1-5, a pressure balance valve 1 according to a
preferred embodiment of the present invention is installed to an outlet device
of a
showering system, cooperates with a temperature controlling valve to adjust a
water
temperature, and comprises a housing 10 and a valve core 20.
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The housing 10, as shown in Fig. 6, is formed in a circular column shape,
and includes a circular top surface 11 and a circular bottom surface 12, and
includes
a first peripheral wall 13, a first end wall 14, and a second end wall 15 to
define an
internal chamber 101. The first peripheral wall 13 includes a cylinder cavity
102
defined therein to form most part of the internal chamber 101, and the cavity
102
includes two annular first openings arranged on two ends thereof respectively.
The
first peripheral wall 13 includes a first inlet 13a to flow cold water and a
second inlet
13b to flow hot water, both of which are in communication with the cavity 102
so
that the cold and the hot waters from the first and the second inlets 13a, 13b
respectively flow into the cavity 102, and includes a first outlet 13c to flow
the cold
water and a second outlet 13d to flow the hot water, both of which communicate
with the cavity 102 so that the cold and the hot waters from the cavity 102
flow out
of the first and the second outlets 13c, 13d individually. The first and the
second end
walls 14, 15 include a first and a second limiting elements 141, 151 to limit
flowing
amount disposed on inner surfaces thereof respectively.
The first and the second limiting elements 141, 151 are designed in an
annular column shape, and include conical surfaces 142, 152 mounted on distal
ends
thereof individually to guide water.
With reference to Figs. 5 and 6, the housing 10 is comprised of a body 10a,
a sleeve member 10b, and a plug element 10c.
The body 10a includes the circular top surface 11, the circular bottom
surface 12, the first end wall 14, and the first limiting element 141, and
further
includes a second peripheral wall 16 integrally connecting with the circular
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CA 02694583 2012-09-20
surface 11, the circular bottom surface 12, and the first end wall 14 to form
a part of
the first peripheral wall 13.
An inner surface 161 of the second peripheral wall 16 includes two second
openings fixed thereon relative to the circular bottom surface 12 to define a
first hole
131 to flow the cold water and a first orifice 132 to flow the hot water, and
the first
hole 131 is used to form a part of the first inlet 13a, and the first orifice
132 serves to
form a part of the second inlet 13b. The inner surface 161 also includes two
third
openings attached thereon in relation to the circular top surface 11 to form
the first
outlet 13c and the second outlet 13d individually, and includes a first
stepped rim
162 formed thereon relative to the first end wall 14.
The first peripheral wall 13 includes a bore 17 disposed thereon relative to
the first end wall 14 as shown in Fig. 5, and the bore 17 includes a second
stepped
rim 171 mounted thereon and a stop tab 172 fixed on a top end thereof.
The body 1Oa includes a first channel 111 to flow mixed cold and hot water
arranged between the circular top surface 11 and the circular bottom surface
12 so as
to flow the mixed cold and hot water from the temperature controlling valve.
The sleeve member 10b, as illustrated in Figs. 4, 5, and 7 is placed into the
second peripheral wall 16 of the body 10a through the bore 17, and includes a
first
fence 181 and a second fence 182 attached on two ends thereof individually,
and
includes a middle fence 183 between the first and the second fences 181, 182,
between the first fence 181 and the middle fence 183 and between the middle
fence
183 and the second fence 182 are arranged a plurality of connecting ribs 184
which
are spaced apart from each other, such that between the first fence 181, the
second
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CA 02694583 2012-09-20
fence 182, and the middle fence 183 are defined a number of second holes 185
to
flow the cold water and a plurality of second orifices 186 to flow the hot
water.
The sleeve member 10b allows to define the cavity 102 by using the first
fence 181, the second fence 182, the middle fence 183, and the connecting ribs
184.
The first fence 181 of the sleeve member 10b engages with the first stepped
rim 162 of the second peripheral wall 16 so that the sleeve member 10b is
retained
exactly, and the second holes 185 are in communication with the first hole 131
to
define the first inlet 13a as shown in Fig. 6. The second orifices 186
communicate
with the first orifice 132 to define the second inlet 13b.
Each of the first fence 181, the second fence 182, and the middle fence 183
includes a first seal ring 187 retained thereon to engage with the inner
surface 161 of
the second peripheral wall 16, and a diameter of an outer surface of the
connecting
rib 184 is less than that of an outer rim of each of the first fence 181, the
second
fence 182, and the middle fence 183, accordingly between the outer surface of
the
connecting rib 184 and the inner surface 161 of the second peripheral wall 16
is
defined a gap 188 so that a partial water from the first hole 131 flows
through the
gap 188, and then flows into the cavity 102 via the second holes 185.
Likewise, a
partial water from the first orifice 132 flows through the gap 188, and then
flows into
the cavity 102 via the second orifices 186.
The plug element 10c, as illustrated in Figs. 6, 8, and 9, is formed in a
circular plug shape, and is fixed to the bore 17 of the body 10a so as to
close the bore
17 and to form the second end wall 15 of the housing 10 and the second
limiting
element 151.
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The plug element 10c includes an outer periphery 191 on which a second
seal ring 192 is retained to engage with the bore 17, and includes an annular
projection 193 radially extending therefrom to retain with the second stepped
rim
171 of the bore 17.
The annular projection 193 of the plug element 10c includes a cutout 194
axially extending from a suitable position thereof, so that when assembling
the plug
element 10c, the cutout 194 is aligned to the stop tab 172 of the bore 17, and
the stop
tab 172 passes through the cutout 194 so that the plug element 10c is axially
placed
into the bore 17.
The plug element 10c includes a retaining groove 196 disposed on a
connection of the annular projection 193 and an external side plane 195, and
the
external side plane 195 is formed in an centrally extending curved surface so
that
plug element 10c is axially placed into the bore 17, and after the stop tab
172 passes
through the cutout 194, the plug element 10c is rotated appropriately so that
the stop
tab 172 is passed through the external side plane 195 to be rotated into the
retaining
groove 196, thus assembling the plug element 10c securely.
The external side plane 195 of the plug element 10c includes an elongated
slot 197 fixed on a central portion thereof to rotate the plug element 10c
after
inserting a predetermined tool.
An internal side plane 198 of the plug element 10c includes a circular
column member integrally extending from a center thereof to form the second
limiting element 151, and includes an arcuate positioning block 199 axially
extending therefrom to abut against the second fence 182 of the sleeve member
10b
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so that the sleeve member 10b is axially limited between the first stepped rim
162 of
the body 10a and the positioning block 199 of the plug element 10c.
The sleeve member 10b is fitted to an intermediate segment of the inner
surface 161 of the second peripheral wall 16 to define the first peripheral
wall 13 of
the housing 10, and the first outlet 13c and the second outlet 13d are placed
onto the
second peripheral wall 16 of the body 10a.
The valve core 20, as illustrated in Figs. 4, 5, 10, and 11, is placed to the
cavity 102 of the sleeve member 10c via the bore 17 of the body 10a and allows
to
slide along the cavity 102.
The valve core 20 includes a first loop 21, a second loop 22, and a pressure
sensing cliff 23 between the first and the second loops 21, 22, between the
first and
the second loops 21, 22 are defined a plurality of first coupling
reinforcements 24,
and between the second loop 22 and the pressure sensing cliff 23 are defined a
number of second coupling reinforcements 25 so that between any two abutting
first
coupling reinforcements 24 is defined a first pore 201 to flow the cold water,
and
between any two abutting second coupling reinforcements 25a is defined a
second
pore 202 to flow the hot water.
The first loop 21, the second loop 22, and the pressure sensing cliff 23 of
the valve core 20 contact with the first fence 181, the second fence 182, and
the
middle fence 183 of the sleeve member 10c individually so that the valve core
20 is
pushed to move along the cavity 102 axially.
The valve core 20 includes a cold-water pressure room 203 and a hot-water
pressure room 204 spaced apart on two sides thereof by using the pressure
sensing
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cliff 23, and the pressure sensing cliff 23 includes a first sensing membrane
231 to
sense a water pressure in the cold-water pressure room 203 and a second
sensing
membrane 232 to sense a water pressure in the hot-water pressure room 204.
Diameters of outer surfaces of the first and the second coupling
reinforcements 24, 25 of the valve core 20 are less than those of outer
surfaces of the
first, the second loops 21, 22, and the pressure sensing cliff 23 such that
among the
first, the second coupling reinforcements 24, 25, and the sleeve member lOc is
defined a cut 251.
The first pore 201 of the valve core 20 is opposite to the second hole 185 of
the sleeve member 10c so that the cold water from the second holes 185 flows
into
the cold-water pressure room 203 via the first pore 201, and after a partial
cold water
flows through the cut 251, it further flows into the cold-water pressure room
203
from the first pore 201. Likewise, the second pore 202 is opposite to the
second
orifices 186 of the sleeve member lOc so that the hot water from the second
orifices
186 flows into the hot-water pressure room 204 via the second pore 202, and
after a
partial hot water flows through the cut 251, it further flows into the hot-
water
pressure room 204 from the second pore 201.
The first and the second limiting elements 141, 151 of the housing 10 are
inserted to the first and the second loops 21, 22 of the valve core 20 so that
between
the first loop 21 and the first limiting element 141 is defined a first tunnel
205, and
between the second loop 22 and the second limiting element 151 is defined a
second
tunnel 206, such that the cold water from the cold-water pressure room 203
flows
out of the first outlet 13c via the first tunnel 205, and the hot water from
the
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hot-water pressure room 204 flows out of the second outlet 13d through the
second
tunnel 206, wherein a cross sectional area of the first tunnel 205 to flow the
cold
water is less than that of the first inlet 13a, e.g., less than a cross
sectional area of the
first hole 131 to flow the cold water and a sum of cross sectional areas of
the second
holes 185 to flow the cold water. Also, a cross sectional area of the second
tunnel
206 to flow the water is smaller than that of the second inlet 13b, e.g.,
smaller than a
cross sectional area of the first orifice 132 to flow the hot water and a sum
of cross
sectional areas of the second orifices 186 to flow the hot water.
Referring to Fig. 12, the pressure balance valve 1 is applied the first and
the
second sensing membranes 231, 232 of the pressure sensing cliff 23 of the
valve core
to sense the water pressure in the cold-water pressure room 203 and the water
pressure in the hot-water pressure room 204, and when a difference between the
cold-water and the hot-water pressure rooms 203, 204 is generated, the valve
core 20
is influenced to slide axially along the sleeve member 10b so as to adjust
flowing
15 amount of the cold and the hot waters to eliminate a pressure difference,
thereby
balancing water pressure.
It is to be noted that two circular fourth openings on two ends of the valve
core 20 are closed individually by the first and the second limiting elements
141, 151,
so that a cross sectional area of the valve core 20 to flow the cold and the
hot waters
20 is decreased to remain the first and the second tunnels 205, 206, and cross
sectional
areas of the first and the second tunnels 205, 206 to flow the cold and the
hot waters
are controlled to be less than those of the first inlet 13a and the second
inlet 13b,
hence the cold water in the cold-water pressure room 203 and the hot water in
the
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hot-water pressure room 204 are not released to flow outward quickly, such
that an
enough pressure is gathered to make the first sensing membrane 231 and the
second
sensing membrane 232 of the pressure sensing cliff 23 sense cold and hot water
pressures, thus obtaining a pressure difference between the first and the
second
sensing membranes 231, 232 to be adjusted. Thereby, the temperature
controlling
valve to match with the pressure balance valve 1 is capable of controlling
temperature within positive and negative 2 degrees Celsius.
Furthermore, the cross sectional areas of the first outlet 13c to flow the
cold
water and the second outlet 13d to flow the hot water are lowered to be less
than
those of the first inlet 13a and the second inlet 13b to balance the pressure,
therefore
the first and the second limiting elements 141, 151 are not required.
To prevent outflow amount of the prevent invention from not matching with
a required standard, inflow amounts of the first inlet 13a and the second
inlet 13b are
increased to enhance the cross sectional areas of the first hole 131 and/or
the second
holes 185. Thereby, the cross sectional areas of the first outlet Be to flow
the cold
water and the second outlet 13d to flow the hot water are larger than those of
the first
and the second tunnels 205, 206 to flow the water.
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Table 1
Al A2 A3 A4 AI/A4 L P1 P2
35.66 83.76 95.02 50.26 1/1.40 7 22 22
35.66 83.76 95.02 44.17 1/1.23 6.9 22 22
35.66 83.76 95.02 38.48 1/1.07 6.8 22 22
35.66 83.76 95.02 33.18 1.07 6.8 22 22
35.66 83.76 95.02 28.27 1.26 6.8 23 23
35.66 83.76 95.02 23.75 1.50 6.7 24 24
35.66 83.76 95.02 19.63 1.81 6.6 25 25
35.66 83.76 95.02 15.9 2.24 5.6 29 29
35.66 83.76 95.02 12.56 2.83 5.3 30 30
35.66 83.76 95.02 9.62 3.70 4.9 31 31
Table 1 shows pressure gathering effects of a cold-water pressure room and
a hot-water pressure room, wherein inflow pressure of the cold and the hot
waters
are set under a condition of 45Psi.
Pressure gathering effects of the cold-water pressure room 203 and the
hot-water pressure room 204 are shown in the Table 1, wherein inflow pressure
of
the cold and the hot waters are set under a condition of 45Psi, and some
parameters
are set as follows:
Al represents cross sectional areas of the first hole 131 to flow the cold
water and the first orifice 132 to flow the hot water, and its area unit is
mm2 which is
a fixed parameter;
A2 denotes sums of the cross sectional areas of the second holes 185 to flow
the cold water and the second orifices 186 to flow the hot water, and its area
unit is
mm2 which is a fixed parameter;
A3 means a cross sectional area of each fourth opening of the valve core 20
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to flow water, and its area unit is mm2 which is a fixed parameter;
A4 is a cross sectional area of the first outlet Be to flow the cold water and
the second outlet 13d to flow the hot water, and its area unit is mm2 which is
a
variable parameter;
Al/A4 represents a ratio of the cross sectional areas of the first hole 131 to
flow the cold water and the first outlet Be to flow the cold water and also
represents
a ratio of the cross sectional areas of the first orifice 132 to flow the hot
water and
the second outlet 13d to flow the hot water, and this ratio is changed with a
change
of A4;
L denotes a sum of outflow amounts of the first outlet 13c to flow the cold
water and the second outlet 13d to flow the hot water, and its flowing unit is
GPM
which changes with the change of A4;
P1 means a pressure sensed in the cold-water pressure room 203, and its
pressure unit is Psi;
P2 means a pressure sensed in the hot-water pressure room 204, and its
pressure unit is Psi.
From the Table 1, A4 is closed from 50.6 m m2 to be lowered to 44.17 nun:,
38.48 mm2, 33.18 mm2, and less than Al, but the pressure value of P1, P2 is
fixed at
22 Psi, therefore when A4 is lowered, the gathered pressure does not change,
but
when A4 is further decreased to 28.27 mm2 smaller than 35.66 mm2 which is the
cross sectional area of Al, the pressure values of P1 and P2 change obviously,
e.g.,
they are increased from 22Psi to 23Psi so as to gather pressure. However, when
A4 is
lowered, the pressure values of P1 and P2 change greatly, while the flowing
amount
19
CA 02694583 2012-09-20
of L becomes decreased. To comply with a limitation of the flowing amount, the
pressure to flow the cold and the hot waters are set to 45 Psi, and a basic
flowing
amount is more than 4.4 GPM.
Table 2
Brand Al A2 A3 A4 A21A4
I 62.9 28.39 43 25.79 1.10
2 47.85 35.66 93.3 34.84 1.02
Table 2 shows pressure balance valves of two different brands, including
cross sectional areas of the first hole, the first orifice, the fourth
opening, the first
outlet, and the second outlet, sums of the cross sectional areas of the second
holes
and the second orifices, a ratio of the cross sectional areas of the first
hole and the
first outlet, and a ratio of the cross sectional areas of the first orifice
and the second
outlet.
The above tested data can be used to check a cross sectional area to flow
water between Al and A4 as shown in the Table 2. For example, brands 1 and 2
are
selected to check their pressure balance valves, wherein a cross sectional
area of A2
of the pressure balance valve of the brand 1 is less than that of Al, and a
cross
sectional area of A4 is smaller than that of A3 so that a pressure gathering
effect is
checked from a ratio of the cross sectional areas of A2 and A4, and the ratio
of the
cross sectional areas of A2 and A4 is 1.1 less than 1.26 from the Al/A4 of the
Table
1. Therefore, such a ratio of the brand 1 is not helpful to enhance the
pressure values
of P 1 and P2.
Also, the ratio of the cross sectional areas of A2/A4 of brand 2 is 1.02 less
CA 02694583 2012-09-20
than that of brand 1, accordingly it is not helpful to enhance the pressure
values of
P1 and P2 as well.
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