Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02728603 2011-01-13
TEMPERATURE-CONTROLLING DEVICE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a temperature controlling device with a
temperature balance valve.
Description of the Prior Art
A conventional temperature controlling device with a pressure balance valve
is widely used in a showering equipment, wherein a handle of the temperature
controlling device is rotated to actuate a control lever, such that an upper
ceramic member and a fixed lower ceramic member are actuated to rotate.
Because the upper ceramic member includes an inflow chamber and a close face
formed on a bottom end thereof, when the handle is in a close state, a cold
and a
hot waters flow into a first hole to flow the cold water and a second hole to
flow
the hot water of the lower ceramic member from a first inlet to flow the cold
water and a second inlet to flow the hot water of the pressure balance valve
and
are stopped by the close face of the upper ceramic member, thereby closing the
temperature controlling device without flowing water.
When the handle is rotated to turn on the temperature controlling device, the
inflow chamber of the upper ceramic member is rotated to communicate with
the first hole of the lower ceramic member and a cavity to flow the cold and
the
hot waters so that the cold water flows into a channel to flow the cold and
the
hot waters from the first hole via the inflow chamber, the cavity, and a third
hole
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to flow the cold and the hot waters, thus flowing the cold water. After the
handle
is rotated continuously, the inflow chamber of the upper ceramic member
communicates with the second hole of the lower ceramic member gradually so
that after the cold and the hot waters from the first and the second holes
flow
into the inflow chamber, they are guided into the cavity to be mixed together
and
then flow out of the channel, flowing the mixed water. When a rotating angle
of
the handle is increased, a temperature of the mixed water becomes high. To
avoid a high temperature of the mixed water, the control lever is used to
match
with an adjusting mechanism, thereby limiting the rotating angle of the
control
lever.
However, the cavity of the lower ceramic member is fixed on one side of the
temperature controlling device, when the handle is turned, a water pressure is
gathered between the cavity and the inflow chamber to generate unsymmetrical
force, hence a rotating resistance of the upper ceramic member relative to the
lower ceramic member increases, the handle is not shifted smoothly.
Besides, when the inflow chamber communicates with the first hole of the
lower ceramic member, the cold waters from the first hole and the inflow
chamber generate a pressure difference to impact the cavity of the lower
ceramic
member, causing water hammer noises.
To decrease the rotating resistance of the upper ceramic member, lubricating
oil is applied on a contacting surface of the upper ceramic and the lower
ceramic,
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but the lubricating oil will disappear after a period of time to cause an
unsmooth
rotation of the handle.
Furthermore, the faucet is connected on a lower side of the temperature
controlling device, and a spray shower head is coupled on an upper side of the
temperature controlling device, a pull bar to distribute water is fixed on the
faucet and is in a turn-on state so that the handle of the temperature
controlling
device is rotated, the mixed water from the temperature controlling device is
guided to flow out of the faucet, supplying water from the faucet; and when
the
pull bar of the faucet is pulled upward, the flowing water is stopped, and
then
the mixed water is guided to flow out of the spray shower head, supplying
water
from the spray shower head. Nevertheless, a flowing direction of the mixed
water of the temperature controlling device is not limited only to flow out of
the
faucet, when the water flows out of the faucet, even though-the pull bar is
not
pulled upward, a part of the mixed water from the temperature controlling
device will flow toward the spray shower head, leaking water from the spray
shower head.
The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-
described
disadvantages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The primary object of the present invention is to provide a temperature
controlling device that is capable of overcoming the shortcomings of the
conventional temperature controlling device.
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Further object of the present invention is to provide a temperature
controlling
device that is capable of decreasing water impact and water hammer noises,
stabilizing water flow and preventing the spray shower head from leaking
water.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a temperature
controlling
device that is capable of lowering a rotating resistance of the upper ceramic
member so that the control shaft is rotated easily and smoothly.
Also another object of the present invention is to provide a temperature
controlling device that is capable of lubricating the lower ceramic member and
the close face of the upper ceramic member to decrease the rotating resistance
of
the upper ceramic member relative to the lower ceramic member, thereby
shifting the handle easily and stably.
Furthermore, the noise eliminating posts of the base are capable of providing
shock absorbing and water guiding effects to eliminate water hammer resulting
from the pressure difference.
To obtain the above objectives, a temperature controlling device provided by
the present invention contains:
a base including a top wall and a peripheral wall to define a chamber with a
mouth facing downward; the top wall including a first hole to flow the cold
water and a second hole to flow the hot water, both of which are symmetrical
to
each other and communicate with the chamber; between one side of a bottom
end of the peripheral wall and the top wall being defined a tunnel to flow the
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cold and the hot waters separating from the chamber, the top wall including a
plurality of noise eliminating posts arranged thereon relative to the tunnel;
a temperature balance valve retained in the chamber of the base and including
a first inlet to flow the cold water and a second inlet to flow the hot water,
both
of which are disposed on two sides of a bottom end of the temperature balance
valve respectively, a first outlet to flow the cold water and a second outlet
to
flow the hot water, both of which are disposed on two sides of a top end of
the
temperature balance valve respectively are communicated with the first hole
and
the second hole individually;
a lower ceramic member installed on the top wall of the base and including a
wing-shaped second cavity disposed on a top surface thereof, a first orifice
to
flow the cold water and a second orifice to flow the hot water fixed on two
sides
of the second cavity respectively to communicate with the first hole and the
second hole of the top wall of the base; the second cavity including a first
opening fixed on one end thereof to insert the noise eliminating post of the
base
into the second cavity therefrom and a second opening fixed on another end
thereof to communicate with the tunnel of the base;
an upper ceramic member actuated to be fixed on a top end of the lower
ceramic member and including a wing-shaped third cavity disposed on a bottom
end thereof to correspond to the first orifice, the second orifice, and the
second
cavity of the lower ceramic member; the third cavity including a close face
defined on a bottom surface thereof to close or open the first orifice and the
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second orifice of the lower ceramic member with a rotation of the upper
ceramic
member;
a control shaft including an extension and a radial extending disc disposed on
a bottom end of the extension; the control shaft including a forcing end
disposed
on a top end thereof to input a rotating power;
a housing served to cover the base, and between the housing and the base
being defined a receiving space to receive and limit the lower ceramic member,
the upper ceramic member, and the control shaft, and the housing includes an
aperture fixed on a top end thereof to communicate with the receiving space
and
to extend out of the extension of the control shaft.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a cross sectional view showing a temperature controlling device of a
preferred embodiment of the present invention being installed in a showering
equipment;
Fig. 2 is another cross sectional view showing the temperature controlling
device of the preferred embodiment of the present invention being installed in
the showering equipment;
Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the assembly of the temperature
controlling device according to the preferred embodiment of the present
invention;
Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view taken along the line A-A of Fig. 3;
Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view taken along the line B-B of Fig. 3;
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Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the exploded components of the
temperature controlling device according to the preferred embodiment of the
present invention;
Fig. 7 is another perspective view showing the exploded components of the
temperature controlling device according to the preferred embodiment of the
present invention;
Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional plan view showing the assembly of a base of the
temperature controlling device according to the preferred embodiment of the
present invention;
Fig. 9 is another cross-sectional plan view showing the assembly of the base
of the temperature controlling device according to the preferred embodiment of
the present invention;
Fig. 10 is a perspective view showing the exploded components of a pressure
balance valve of the temperature controlling device according to the preferred
embodiment of the present invention;
. Fig. 11 is a cross sectional view showing the assembly of the pressure
balance
valve of the temperature controlling device according to the preferred
embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 12 is a perspective view showing a lower ceramic member of the
temperature controlling device of the preferred embodiment of the present
invention being fixed on the base;
Fig. 13 is a cross sectional view showing a housing of the temperature
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controlling device of the preferred embodiment of the present invention being
fixed on the base;
Fig. 14 is a cross-sectional plan view showing the operation of the
temperature
controlling device according to the preferred embodiment of the present
invention;
Fig. 15 is another cross-sectional plan view showing the operation of the
temperature controlling device according to the preferred embodiment of the
present invention;
Fig. 16 is another cross-sectional plan view showing the operation of the
temperature controlling device 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.
Referring to Figs. 1-3, a temperature controlling device 1 according to a
preferred embodiment of the present invention is installed in a cross water
pipe
2 of a showering equipment, the water pipe 2 includes a first channel 2a to
flow
cold water and a second channel 2b to flow hot water, both of which are
separated apart from each other, so that the cold and the hot waters are
guided
into the temperature controlling device 1, the temperature controlling device
1
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also includes a third channel 2c and a fourth channel 2d, both of which are in
communication with each other; wherein the third channel 2c is coupled with a
faucet and includes a lever disposed thereon to distribute the waters; the
fourth
channel 2d is connected with a spray shower head; when turning on the
temperature controlling device 1 by rotating a handle of the temperature
controlling device 1, the cold and the hot waters from the temperature
controlling device 1 flow out of the faucet via the third channel 2c; when a
lever
of the third channel 2c is pulled upward, the cold and the hot waters are
guided
into the spray shower head through the fourth channel '2d and then flow out of
the spray shower head.
As shown in Figs. 4-7, the temperature controlling device 1 comprises a base
10, a pressure balance valve 20, a lower ceramic member 30, an upper ceramic
member 40, a control shaft 50, a housing 60, an adjusting mechanism 70, and a
watering component 80.
With reference to Figs. 8 and 9, the base 10 includes a top wall 11 and a
peripheral wall 12 to define a chamber 13 with a mouth facing downward; the
top wall 11 includes a first hole 111 to flow the cold water and a second hole
112
to flow the hot water, both of which are symmetrical to each other and
communicate with the chamber 13; between one side of a bottom end of the
peripheral wall 12 and the top wall 11 is defined a tunnel 14 to flow the cold
and
the hot waters separating from the chamber 13, the top wall 11 includes a
plurality of noise eliminating posts 113 arranged thereon relative to the
tunnel
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14.
The peripheral wall 12 of the base 10 includes a number of positioning blocks
121 formed on a top end thereof; there are five positioning blocks 121
provided
in this embodiment, and among three of the positioning blocks 121 are
equiangularly arranged three integrally connected hooks 122 respectively.
The tunnel 14 of the base 10 includes a first locking projection 141 disposed
on an inner surface thereof relative to the chamber 13, and the peripheral
wall 12
includes a stepped fringe 123 fixed on a middle section thereof, the stepped
fringe 123 includes two limiting tabs 124 fixed thereon.
As illustrated in Fig. 10 and 11, the temperature balance valve 20 is retained
in
the chamber 13 of the base 10 and includes a holder 21, a casing 22 secured in
the holder 21, and a valve core 23 moving axially in the casing 22.
The holder 21 is comprised of two symmetrical covers 210 which are
separated apart from each other and combined together, and a first cavity 201
is
defined between the combined covers 210, one of the covers 210 includes a
first
inlet 211 to flow the cold water disposed on a bottom end thereof, a first
outlet
212 to flow the cold water fixed on a top end thereof, and another cover 210
includes a second inlet 213 to flow the hot water formed on a bottom end
thereof
and a second outlet 214 to flow the hot water arranged on a top end thereof,
and
the first outlet 212 and the second outlet 214 are communicated with the first
hole 111 and the second hole 112 individually.
The casing 22 is defined in the first cavity 201 of the holder 21, and
includes a
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plurality of first cold-water grooves 221 to communicate with the first inlet
211
and a number of first hot-water grooves 222 to communicate with the second
inlet 213.
The valve core 23 moves axially in the casing 22 and formed in a sleeve shape
and includes an annular fringe 231, a sensing fringe 232 connected with the
annular fringe 231, a cold-water pressure room 233 and a hot-water pressure
room 234 defined in the annular fringe 231 of two sides of the sensing fringe
232, and a plurality of second cold-water grooves 235 to communicate with the
first cold-water grooves 221 individually, the hot-water pressure room 234
includes a number of second hot-water grooves 236 to communicate with the
first hot-water grooves 222 respectively. When a pressure difference between
the
cold water of the cold-water pressure room 233 and the hot water of the
hot-water pressure room 234 generates, the valve core 23 moves automatically,
an overlapped cross-sectional area of the first cold-water grooves 221 and the
second cold-water grooves 235 and an overlapped cross-sectional area of the
first hot-water grooves 222 and the second hot-water grooves 236 are changed
so that an inflow amount of the cold and the hot waters are changed
accordingly
to balance the water pressure.
Referring to Figs. 6, 7, and 12, the lower ceramic member 30 is installed on
the top wall 11 of the base 10 and includes a wing-shaped second cavity 31
disposed on a top surface thereof and a first orifice 32 to flow the cold
water and
a second orifice 33 to flow the hot water fixed on two sides of the second
cavity
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31 respectively to communicate with the first hole 111 and the second hole 112
of the top wall 11 of the base 10; the second cavity 31 includes a first
opening
311 fixed on one end thereof to insert the noise eliminating post 113 of the
base
into the second cavity 31 therefrom and a second opening 312 fixed on
5 another end thereof to communicate with the tunnel 14 of the base 10.
The lower ceramic member 30 includes a contacting face 34 defined on the
top surface thereof around the first orifice 32, the second orifice 33, and
the
second cavity 31, and the contacting face 34 includes a number of oil bores
341
arranged thereon to store lubricating oil.
10 The lower ceramic member 30 also includes a number of fixing slots 35
formed therearound; wherein there are five fixing slots 35 provided in this
embodiment to retain with the positioning blocks 121 of the peripheral wall 12
of the base 10 to position the lower ceramic member 30.
As illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7, the upper ceramic member 40 is actuated to be
fixed on a top end of the lower ceramic member 30 and includes a wing-shaped
third cavity 41 disposed on a bottom end thereof to correspond to the first
orifice
32, the second orifice 33, and the second cavity 31 of the lower ceramic
member
30; the third cavity 41 includes a close face 42 defined on a bottom surface
thereof to close or open the first orifice 32 and the second orifice 33 of the
lower
ceramic member 30 with a rotation of the upper ceramic member 40, and the
close face 42 is used to close the contacting face 34 of the lower ceramic
member 30, the lubricating oil stored in the oil bores 341 of the lower
ceramic
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member 30 is applied to lubricate the lower ceramic member 30 and the upper
ceramic member 40 to rotate smoothly.
The upper ceramic member 40 also includes a plurality of retaining notches 43,
wherein there are three retaining notches 43 arranged equiangularly in this
embodiment.
The control shaft 50 includes an extension 51 and a radial extending disc 52
disposed on a bottom end of the extension 51; the extension 51 is made of a
metal material, and the extending disc 52 is made of a plastic material and
integrally formed on a bottom end of the extension 51; the control shaft 50
includes a forcing end 511 disposed on a top end thereof to input a rotating
power, wherein the forcing end 511 of the control shaft 50 is rotated by using
a
fitted stem, and then the extending disc 52 is actuated to rotate the upper
ceramic member 40; wherein the extending disc 52 includes a number of second
locking projections 521 arranged on a bottom end thereof, and there are three
second locking projections 521 arranged equiangularly in this embodiment so as
to retain with the retaining notches 43 of the upper ceramic member 40,
thereby
actuating the upper ceramic member 40 to rotate.
Referring to Figs. 6, 7, and 13, the housing 60 is served to cover the base
10,
and between the housing 60 and the base 10 is defined a receiving space 601 to
receive and limit the lower ceramic member 30, the upper ceramic member 40,
and the control shaft 50, and the housing 60 includes an aperture 61 fixed on
a
top end thereof to communicate with the receiving space 601 and to extend out
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of the extension 51 of the control shaft 50.
The side face 62 of the housing 60 further includes a number of recesses 621
arranged thereon to retain with the hooks 122 of the base 10, thus connecting
the
housing 60 and the base 10 together, and includes at least one defining gap
622
formed on a bottom end thereof to retain with the limiting tabs 124 of the
base
10.
The adjusting mechanism 70 is fixed on the top end of the housing 60 and
retained with the extension 51 of the control shaft 50 to adjust and limit the
control shaft 50 to rotate. Due to the adjusting mechanism 70 is a well-know
art,
further remarks are omitted.
The watering component 80 is positioned in the tunnel 14 of the base 10 and
includes a passage 81 disposed therein, wherein the passage 81 includes a
vertical path 811 and a horizontal path 812, both of which are in
communication
with each other, and between the vertical and the horizontal paths 811, 812 is
formed a 90 degree angle, the horizontal path 812 includes an outflow port 813
disposed on a distal end thereof so that a vertical flowing water from the
tunnel
14 is guided to generate a horizontal flowing water after making a turn, and
then
the horizontal flowing water is jetted out of the third channel 2c, thereby
forming a siphon effect opposite to the fourth channel 2d as shown in Fig. 1.
A profile of an outer surface of the watering component 80 matches with that
of the tunnel 14 so that the watering component 80 is retained in the tunnel
14,
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the watering component 80 includes an engaging cutout 82 fixed on the outer
surface thereof to retain with the first locking projection 141 of the tunnel
14.
With reference to Fig. 14, the first orifice 32 and the second orifice 33 of
the
lower ceramic member 30 are closed by the close face 42 of the upper ceramic
member 40 so that after the cold and the hot waters from the pressure balance
valve 20 flow into the first orifice 32 and the second orifice 33 of the lower
ceramic member 30, they can not further flow into the third cavity 41 of the
upper ceramic member 40, thus controlling the temperature controlling device 1
to be in a close state without flowing water.
Referring to Fig. 15, when desiring to take a shower, the temperature
controlling device 1 is turned on to drive the control shaft 50, thereafter
the
upper ceramic member 40 is actuated by the control shaft 50 to rotate toward a
predetermined direction, wherein the upper ceramic member 40 is rotated
toward an anti-clockwise direction so that the third cavity 41 of the upper
ceramic member 40 communicates with the noise eliminating posts 113 and the
first orifice 32, and then the cold water of the first orifice 32 flows into
the noise
eliminating posts 113 from one side of the third cavity 41, hence the noise
eliminating posts 113 are capable of being used to decrease water impact and
water hammer noises, stabilizing water flow.
Thereafter, the cold water which flows through the noise eliminating posts 113
further flows toward another side of the second opening 312 and then flows out
of the faucet via the tunnel 14, the watering component 80, and the outflow
port
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813; wherein the water is guided toward the third channel 2c directly to
generate
a jet flow so that the siphon effect opposite to the fourth channel 2d is
formed as
shown in Fig. 1. Thereby, a part of the water is stopped flowing toward the
fourth channel 2d, thus preventing the spray shower head from leaking water.
As illustrated in Fig. 16, the handle of the temperature controlling device I
is
rotated further, and the third cavity 41 of the upper ceramic member 40 is
aligned with the first orifice 32 completely, a communicating area of the
third
cavity 41 and the second orifice 33 is increased so that the cold and the hot
waters from the first and the second orifices 32, 33 are individually guided
into
the third cavity 41, and then the cold and the hot waters from the third
cavity 41
flow into the second cavity 31 of the lower ceramic member 30 to be mixed
together, thereafter the mixed water flows out of the third channel 2c through
the
second opening 312, the tunnel 14, the watering component 80, and the outflow
port 813, thereby flowing water from the faucet.
When shifting water from the faucet to the spray shower head, a rotating bar
of the faucet is pulled upward to close the faucet, and the mixed water from
the
temperature controlling device 1 is guided to the fourth channel 2d by ways of
a
water pressure effect, thus flowing water from the spray shower head.
The lower ceramic member 30 of the temperature controlling device 1 is
formed in a symmetrical wing shape to improve a conventional second cavity
formed in an unsymmetrical signal wing, therefore a rotating resistance of the
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upper ceramic member 40 is lowered so that the control shaft 50 is rotated
easily
and smoothly.
The oil bores 341 of the contacting face 34 of the lower ceramic member 30
are capable of lubricating the lower ceramic member 30 and the close face 42
of
the upper ceramic member 40 to decrease the rotating resistance of the upper
ceramic member 40 relative to the lower ceramic member 30, thereby shifting
the handle easily and stably.
Furthermore, the noise eliminating posts 113 of the base 10 are capable of
providing shock absorbing and water guiding effects to eliminate water hammer
resulting from the pressure difference.
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.
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