Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
WATER VALVE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a valve, and more particularly to a
water valve that can be used for switching two water sources.
b) Description of the Prior Art
Water equipment is usually available for cold water and hot water,
and warm water is also provided by mixing cold water and hot water. The
ratio of mixing cold water and hot water is always adjustable by a user
such that the user can have warm water in different temperatures he/she
needs. The mixing control of cold water and hot water is mainly
accomplished through the rotation of a water control valve.
However, the conventional water valve is disadvantageous because:
the conventional water control valve usually can only connect to one
water source. Thus, when the cold water and hot water are needed
simultaneously, it is necessary to install a water divider between pipes of
the water control valves, the cold water source and the hot water source,
or a user needs to additionally install a pulling handle on the water
control valve. As a result, it will greatly increase the complexity of the
1
CA 3051836 2019-08-13
whole water pipeline, and also when water is needed, the user has to
operate between the two water control valves and water divider, which
leads to inconvenience in use of water equipment. Therefore, there
remains a need for a new and improved design for a water valve to
overcome the problems presented above.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a water valve which comprises a
valve shell, and a rotating base is installed in the valve shell. A lower end
of the rotating base is sequentially connected to a driving valve piece
and a fixed valve piece, and the driving valve piece and the fixed valve
piece are installed in the valve shell. A center of a top portion of the
rotating base comprises a valve rod upwardly protruding out of the valve
shell. The rotating base is configured to engage with the driving valve
piece, and through operating the valve rod, the rotating base driven by
the valve rod is adapted to drive and have synchronous rotation with the
driving valve piece so as to change the relative positions between the
driving valve piece and the fixed valve piece and then to control on/off
operation of a faucet, ratio of hot water and cold water and the amount of
water flow. A base is coupled with and block a bottom portion of the valve
shell, thereby securing the fixed valve piece, the driving valve piece, and
2
CA 3051836 2019-08-13
the rotating base in the valve shell. The base comprises a water inlet
chamber, and a balanced valve is installed therein. When in use, the
water valve of the present invention is positioned into a valve chamber of
a shunt valve, and the shunt valve comprises a second cold water inlet,
a second hot water inlet, a first water channel and a second water
channel respectively penetrating through a bottom portion of the valve
chamber. The second cold water inlet and the second hot water inlet are
respectively connected to cold water source and hot water source, and
the first water channel and the second water channel are respectively
connected to two water equipments, such that through operating the
water valve of the present invention, cold water, hot water, or warm water
mixed from cold water and hot water is configured to flow through one of
the water equipments.
The valve shell comprises a housing, and an upper portion of
housing is connected to a ring portion which has a first opening at a
central portion thereof, and a diameter of the ring portion is smaller than
the housing. The rotating base, the driving valve piece, the fixed valve
piece are positioned in the housing of the valve shell, and the valve rod
is configured to upwardly protrude out of the valve shell through the first
opening. An inner surface of the ring portion comprises two protruding
3
CA 3051836 2019-08-13
blocks, and a concaved locating portion is formed on the inner surface of
the ring portion at a rotating path of the two protruding blocks. Also, a
locating piece is upwardly extended from an edge of the first opening. A
central portion of the rotating base is connected to the valve rod, and a
first driving block having an arc-edge protrudes from an edge of the
rotating base, and two blocking walls are respectively formed at two
lateral sides of the first driving block. Moreover, a slot is formed on an
upper surface of the first driving block, and a spring is installed therein.
Also, a locating bolt is downwardly coupled with the slot to bear against
the spring such that the spring is configured to keep pushing the locating
bolt upwardly. A first teeth portion is formed at an outer periphery of the
valve rod, and the first teeth portion has two limiting pieces. Each of the
limiting pieces has a second opening at a central portion thereof, and a
second teeth portion is formed at an inner periphery of the second
opening. The limiting pieces are disposed and engaged with the valve
rod through engaging the second teeth portions with the first teeth
portion. Each of the limiting pieces comprises a blocking portion, and the
limiting pieces are configured to be pulled out from and re-engaged with
the valve rod to adjust the separated angle between the two blocking
portions, thereby adjusting of temperature limit angle of the water valve.
4
CA 3051836 2019-08-13
A bottom portion of the driving valve piece comprises a concave portion
to form a mixing chamber, and the mixing chamber is expanded from
one side thereof to increase the area of the mixing chamber. The fixed
valve piece comprises an arc-shaped cold water hole and an arc-shaped
hot water hole respectively and vertically penetrating through the fixed
valve piece, and the cold water hole and the hot water hole are formed
symmetrically on the fixed valve piece. A first water outlet hole and a
second water outlet hole respectively and vertically penetrate through
the fixed valve piece between the cold water hole and the hot water hole,
and the first water outlet hole and the second water outlet hole are
spaced apart toward opposed sides of the fixed valve piece. The base
has a water inlet chamber and a water outlet chamber formed therein,
and the water inlet chamber and the water outlet chamber are formed
separately. A first cold water inlet and a first hot water inlet, which are
formed separately, are connected at an upper end of the water inlet
chamber and vertically penetrate the base. Two water outlet chambers
are formed at two sides of the water inlet chamber, and the two water
outlet chambers are respectively connected to a first drain and a second
drain at upper ends thereof, and the first drain and the second drain
respectively vertically penetrate through the base. The rotating base, the
5
CA 3051836 2019-08-13
driving valve piece and the fixed valve piece in the housing are stacked in
sequence,
and the base is connected to the valve shell, the rotating base, the driving
valve piece
and the fixed valve piece are secured in the housing, and the fixed valve
piece is
engaged with an upper portion of the base. Also, the first cold water inlet,
the first hot
water inlet, the first drain, and the second drain of the base are
respectively aligned
with the cold water hole, the hot water hole, the first water outlet hole, and
the second
water outlet hole of the fixed valve piece. Before the valve rod is operated,
the mixing
chamber of the driving valve piece is misaligned with the hot water hole, the
first water
outlet hole, and the second water outlet hole of the fixed valve piece such
that cold
water and hot water are blocked by the driving valve piece and not flow out
from the
shunt valve. When the water valve of the present invention is positioned into
the valve
chamber of the shunt valve, the second cold water inlet, the second hot water
inlet,
the first water channel, and the second water channel of the shunt valve are
configured to directly or indirectly communicate with the first cold water
inlet, the first
hot water inlet, the first drain, the second drain of the base respectively.
According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a water valve
comprising, a valve shell, and a rotating base installed in the valve shell; a
lower end
of the rotating base sequentially connected to a driving valve piece and a
fixed valve
piece, and the driving valve piece and the fixed valve piece installed in the
valve shell;
a center of a top portion of the rotating base comprising a valve rod upwardly
protruding out of the valve shell; the rotating base configured to engage with
the
driving valve piece, and through operating the valve rod, the rotating base,
which is
driven by the valve rod, adapted to drive and have synchronous rotation with
the
6
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-12-04
driving valve piece so as to change the relative positions between the driving
valve
piece and the fixed valve piece and then to control on/off operation of a
faucet, ratio of
hot water and cold water and the amount of water flow; a base coupled with a
bottom
portion of the valve shell, thereby securing the fixed valve piece, the
driving valve
piece, and the rotating base in the valve shell; the base comprising a water
inlet
chamber, and a balanced valve installed therein; when in use, the water valve
positioned into a valve chamber of a shunt valve, and the shunt valve
comprising a
second cold water inlet, a second hot water inlet, a first water channel and a
second
water channel respectively penetrating through a bottom portion of the valve
chamber;
the second cold water inlet and the second hot water inlet respectively
connected to
cold water source and hot water source, and the first water channel and the
second
water channel respectively connected to two water equipments, so that through
operating the water valve, cold water, hot water, or warm water mixed from
cold water
and hot water configured to flow through one of the water equipments; wherein
the
valve shell comprises a housing, and an upper portion of housing is connected
to a
ring portion which has a first opening at a central portion thereof; a
diameter of the
ring portion is smaller than the housing; the rotating base, the driving valve
piece, the
fixed valve piece are positioned in the housing of the valve shell, and the
valve rod is
configured to upwardly protrude out of the valve shell through the first
opening; an
inner surface of the ring portion comprises two protruding blocks, and a
concaved
locating portion is formed on the inner surface of the ring portion at a
rotating path of
the two protruding blocks; a locating piece is upwardly extended from an edge
of the
first opening; wherein a central portion of the rotating base is connected to
the valve
6a
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-12-04
rod, and a first driving block having an arc-edge protrudes from an edge of
the
rotating base, and two blocking walls are respectively formed at two lateral
sides of
the first driving block; a slot is formed on an upper surface of the first
driving block,
and a spring is installed therein; a locating bolt is downwardly coupled with
the slot to
bear against the spring such that the spring is configured to keep pushing the
locating
bolt upwardly; a first teeth portion is formed at an outer periphery of the
valve rod, and
the first teeth portion has two limiting pieces; each of the limiting pieces
has a second
opening at a central portion thereof, and a second teeth portion is formed at
an inner
periphery of the second opening; the limiting pieces are disposed and engaged
with
the valve rod through engaging the second teeth portions with the first teeth
portion;
each of the limiting pieces comprises a blocking portion, and the limiting
pieces are
configured to be pulled out from and re-engaged with the valve rod to adjust
the
separated angle between the two blocking portions, thereby adjusting of
temperature
limit angle of the water valve; wherein a bottom portion of the driving valve
piece
comprises a concave portion to form a mixing chamber, and the mixing chamber
is
expanded from one side thereof to increase the area of the mixing chamber;
wherein
the fixed valve piece comprises an arc-shaped cold water hole and an arc-
shaped hot
water hole respectively and vertically penetrating through the fixed valve
piece, and
the cold water hole and the hot water hole are formed symmetrically on the
fixed valve
piece; a first water outlet hole and a second water outlet hole respectively
and
vertically penetrate through the fixed valve piece between the cold water hole
and the
hot water hole, and the first water outlet hole and the second water outlet
hole are
spaced apart toward opposed sides of the fixed valve piece; and wherein the
base
6b
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-12-04
has a water inlet chamber and a water outlet chamber formed therein, and the
water
inlet chamber and the water outlet chamber are formed separately; a first cold
water
inlet and a first hot water inlet, which are formed separately, are connected
at an
upper end of the water inlet chamber and vertically penetrate the base; two
water
outlet chambers are formed at two sides of the water inlet chamber, and the
two water
outlet chambers are respectively connected to a first drain and a second drain
at
upper ends thereof, and the first drain and the second drain respectively
vertically
penetrate through the base; the rotating base, the driving valve piece and the
fixed
valve piece in the housing are stacked in sequence, and the base is connected
to the
valve shell, the rotating base, the driving valve piece and the fixed valve
piece are
secured in the housing, and the fixed valve piece is engaged with an upper
portion of
the base; the first cold water inlet, the first hot water inlet, the first
drain, and the
second drain of the base are respectively aligned with the cold water hole,
the hot
water hole, the first water outlet hole, and the second water outlet hole of
the fixed
valve piece; before the valve rod is operated, the mixing chamber of the
driving valve
piece is misaligned with the hot water hole, the first water outlet hole, and
the second
water outlet hole of the fixed valve piece such that cold water and hot water
are
blocked by the driving valve piece and not flow out from the shunt valve; when
the
water valve is positioned into the valve chamber of the shunt valve, the
second cold
water inlet, the second hot water inlet, the first water channel, and the
second water
channel of the shunt valve are configured to communicate with the first cold
water
inlet, the first hot water inlet, the first drain, the second drain of the
base respectively.
6c
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-12-04
Comparing with conventional water valve, the present invention is
advantageous because: (i) the water valve of the present invention can
6d
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-12-04
control two water equipments in mixing cold water and hot water without
installing a water divider between pipes of the water valve or a pulling
handle, which simplifies the whole water pipeline and eliminate risk of
touching the pulling handle by mistake when in use; (ii) a user can
operate single handle of the water valve toward two opposed directions
to control two water equipments for use of water, which saves labor and
time; and (iii) the cooperation between the protruding blocks, the first
driving block, the locating piece, and the limiting pieces can prevent the
water valve from being over-rotated or prevent a user from burns due to
hot water draining out instantly, thereby achieving multiple protective
effects.
To enable a further understanding of the said objectives and the
technological methods of the invention herein, the brief description of the
drawings below is followed by the detailed description of the preferred
embodiments.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional assembly view of a water valve of the
present invention.
FIG. 2 is a three-dimensional exploded view of the water valve of the
present invention.
7
CA 3051836 2019-08-13
FIG. 3 is a three-dimensional exploded view from another angle of the
water valve of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a schematic view illustrating the water valve of the present
invention is installed in a shunt valve.
FIG. 5 is a schematic view illustrating a position of a valve rod when the
water valve of the present invention is turned off.
FIG. 6 is a schematic view illustrating a relative position between a
driving valve piece and a fixed valve piece when the water valve of the
present invention is turned off.
FIG. 7 is a schematic view illustrating a position of the valve rod when
cold water is provided from a single water equipment through the water
valve of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a schematic view illustrating a relative position between the
driving valve piece and the fixed valve piece when cold water is provided
from the single water equipment through the water valve of the present
invention.
FIG. 9 is a sectional view of FIG. 7 along line A-A.
FIG. 10 is a sectional view of FIG. 7 along line B-B.
FIG. 11 is a schematic view illustrating a position of the valve rod when
warm water mixed from cold water and hot water is provided from a
8
CA 3051836 2019-08-13
single water equipment through the water valve of the present invention.
FIG. 12 is a schematic view illustrating a relative position between the
driving valve piece and the fixed valve piece when warm water mixed
from cold water and hot water is provided from the single water
equipment through the water valve of the present invention.
FIG. 13 is a schematic view illustrating a position of the valve rod when
hot water is provided from a single water equipment through the water
valve of the present invention.
FIG. 14 is a schematic view illustrating a relative position between the
io driving valve piece and the fixed valve piece when hot water is provided
from the single water equipment through the water valve of the present
invention.
FIG. 15 is a schematic view illustrating a position of the valve rod when
warn water mixed from cold water and hot water is provided from the
is other water equipment through the water valve of the present invention.
FIG. 16 is a schematic view illustrating a relative position between the
driving valve piece and the fixed valve piece when warn water mixed
from cold water and hot water is provided from the other water
equipment through the water valve of the present invention.
20 FIG. 17 is a sectional view of FIG. 15 along line A-A.
9
CA 3051836 2019-08-13
FIG. 18 is a sectional view of FIG. 15 along line B-B.
FIG. 19 is a schematic view illustrating positions of two limiting pieces
are adjusted.
FIG. 20 is a schematic view illustrating the maximum rotation angle of
the water valve of the present invention is limited by the two limiting
pieces.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The detailed description set forth below is intended as a description
of the presently exemplary device provided in accordance with aspects
of the present invention and is not intended to represent the only forms
in which the present invention may be prepared or utilized. It is to be
understood, rather, that the same or equivalent functions and
components may be accomplished by different embodiments that are
also intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of the
invention.
Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used
herein have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of
ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although any
methods, devices and materials similar or equivalent to those described
CA 3051836 2019-08-13
can be used in the practice or testing of the invention, the exemplary
methods,
devices and materials are now described.
All publications mentioned are for the purpose of describing and disclosing,
for
example, the designs and methodologies that are described in the publications
that
might be used in connection with the presently described invention. The
publications
listed or discussed above, below and throughout the text are provided solely
for their
disclosure prior to the filing date of the present application. Nothing herein
is to be
construed as an admission that the inventors are not entitled to antedate such
disclosure by virtue of prior invention.
In order to further understand the goal, characteristics and effect of the
present
invention, a number of embodiments along with the drawings are illustrated as
following:
Referring to FIGs. 1 to 6, the present invention provides a water valve which
comprises a valve shell (10), and a rotating base (20) is installed in the
valve shell
.. (10). A lower end of the rotating base (20) is sequentially connected to a
driving valve
piece (30) and a fixed valve piece (40), and the driving valve piece (30) and
the fixed
valve piece (40) are installed in the valve shell (10). A center of a top
portion of the
rotating base (20) comprises a valve rod (21) upwardly protruding out of
11
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-12-04
the valve shell (10). The rotating base (20) is configured to engage with
the driving valve piece (30), and through operating the valve rod (21), the
rotating base (20) driven by the valve rod (21) is adapted to drive and
have synchronous rotation with the driving valve piece (30) so as to
change the relative positions between the driving valve piece (30) and
the fixed valve piece (40) and then to control on/off operation of a faucet,
ratio of hot water and cold water and the amount of water flow. A base
(50) is coupled with and block a bottom portion of the valve shell (10),
thereby securing the fixed valve piece (40), the driving valve piece (30)
and the rotating base (20) in the valve shell (10). The base (50)
comprises a water inlet chamber (51), and a balanced valve (60) is
installed therein. When in use, the water valve of the present invention is
positioned into a valve chamber (71) of a shunt valve (70), and the shunt
valve (70) comprises a second cold water inlet (72), a second hot water
inlet (73), a first water channel (74) and a second water channel (75)
respectively penetrating through a bottom portion of the valve chamber
(71). The second cold water inlet (72) and the second hot water inlet (73)
are respectively connected to cold water source and hot water source,
and the first water channel (74) and the second water channel (75) are
12
CA 3051836 2019-08-13
respectively connected to two water equipments, such that through
operating the water valve of the present invention, cold water, hot water,
or warm water mixed from cold water and hot water is configured to flow
through one of the water equipments.
The valve shell (10) comprises a housing (11), and an upper portion
of housing (11) is connected to a ring portion (12) which has a first
opening (13) at a central portion thereof, and a diameter of the ring
portion (12) is smaller than the housing (11). The rotating base (20), the
driving valve piece (30), the fixed valve piece (40) are positioned in the
housing (11) of the valve shell (10), and the valve rod (21) is configured
to upwardly protrude out of the valve shell (10) through the first opening
(13). An inner surface of the ring portion (12) comprises two protruding
blocks (14), and a concaved locating portion (15) is formed on the inner
surface of the ring portion (12) at a rotating path of the two protruding
blocks (14). Also, a locating piece (16) is upwardly extended from an
edge of the first opening (13). A central portion of the rotating base (20)
is connected to the valve rod (21), and a first driving block (201) having
an arc-edge protrudes from an edge of the rotating base (20), and two
blocking walls (202) are respectively formed at two lateral sides of the
first driving block (201). Moreover, a slot is formed on an upper surface
13
CA 3051836 2019-08-13
of the first driving block (201), and a spring (22) is installed therein.
Also,
a locating bolt (23) is downwardly coupled with the slot to bear against
the spring (22) such that the spring (22) is configured to keep pushing
the locating bolt (23) upwardly. A first teeth portion (211) is formed at an
outer periphery of the valve rod (21), and the first teeth portion (211) has
two limiting pieces (24). Each of the limiting pieces (24) has a second
opening at a central portion thereof, and a second teeth portion (241) is
formed at an inner periphery of the second opening. The limiting pieces
(24) are disposed and engaged with the valve rod (21) through engaging
the second teeth portions (241) with the first teeth portion (211). Each of
the limiting pieces (24) comprises a blocking portion, and the limiting
pieces (24) are configured to be pulled out from and re-engaged with the
valve rod (21) to adjust the separated angle between the two blocking
portions, thereby adjusting of temperature limit angle of the water valve.
A bottom portion of the driving valve piece (30) comprises a concave
portion to form a mixing chamber (31), and the mixing chamber (31) is
expanded from one side thereof to increase the area of the mixing
chamber (31). The fixed valve piece (40) comprises an arc-shaped cold
water hole (41) and an arc-shaped hot water hole (42) respectively and
vertically penetrating through the fixed valve piece (40), and the cold
14
CA 3051836 2019-08-13
water hole (41) and the hot water hole (42) are formed symmetrically on
the fixed valve piece (40). A first water outlet hole (43) and a second
water outlet hole (44) respectively and vertically penetrate through the
fixed valve piece (40) between the cold water hole (41) and the hot water
hole (42), and the first water outlet hole (43) and the second water outlet
hole (44) are spaced apart toward opposed sides of the fixed valve piece
(40). The base (50) has a water inlet chamber (51) and a water outlet
chamber (52) formed therein, and the water inlet chamber (51) and the
water outlet chamber (52) are formed separately. A first cold water inlet
1.0 (53) and a first hot water inlet (54), which are formed separately, are
connected at an upper end of the water inlet chamber (51) and vertically
penetrate the base (50). Two water outlet chambers (52) are formed at
two sides of the water inlet chamber (51), and the two water outlet
chambers (52) are respectively connected to a first drain (55) and a
second drain (56) at upper ends thereof, and the first drain (55) and the
second drain (56) respectively vertically penetrate through the base (50).
The rotating base (20), the driving valve piece (30) and the fixed valve
piece (40) in the housing (11) are stacked in sequence, and the base (50)
is connected to the valve shell (10), the rotating base (20), the driving
valve piece (30) and the fixed valve piece (40) are secured in the
CA 3051836 2019-08-13
housing (11), and the fixed valve piece (40) is engaged with an upper
portion of the base (50). Also, the first cold water inlet (53), the first hot
water inlet (54), the first drain (55), and the second drain (56) of the base
(50) are respectively aligned with the cold water hole (41), the hot water
hole (42), the first water outlet hole (43), and the second water outlet
hole (44) of the fixed valve piece (40). Before the valve rod (21) is
operated, the mixing chamber (31) of the driving valve piece (30) is
misaligned with the hot water hole (42), the first water outlet hole (43),
and the second water outlet hole (44) of the fixed valve piece (40) such
that cold water and hot water are blocked by the driving valve piece (30)
and not flow out from the shunt valve (70). When the water valve of the
present invention is positioned into the valve chamber (71) of the shunt
valve (70), the second cold water inlet (72), the second hot water inlet
(73), the first water channel (74), and the second water channel (75) of
the shunt valve (70) are configured to directly or indirectly communicate
with the first cold water inlet (53), the first hot water inlet (54), the
first
drain (55), the second drain (56) of the base (50) respectively. (Because
the first cold water inlet (53) and the first hot water inlet (54) are
indirectly
communicated through the balanced valve (60), and the second cold
16
CA 3051836 2019-08-13
water inlet (72) and the second hot water inlet (73) of the shunt valve
(70).
In one embodiment, an adapter (25) is connected to the valve rod
(21) such that through the adapter (25), the valve rod (21) is configured
to connect to different types of handles, and the adapter (25) is adapted
to limit the positions of the limiting pieces (24) on the valve rod (21).
In another embodiment, at least a second driving block (203)
protrudes from a bottom surface of the rotating base (20), and a top
surface of the driving valve piece (30) comprises a recess portion (32)
which is configured to engage with the second driving block (203) when
the rotating base (20) is coupled with the driving valve piece (30)' in the
housing (11).
In still another embodiment, a plurality of engaging slots (45) are
formed on an outer periphery of the fixed valve piece (40), and a plurality
of engaging pieces (57) upwardly protrude from an upper edge of the
base (50); each of the engaging pieces (57) is adapted to couple and
upwardly pass through the engaging slot (45) to hook on the valve shell
(10).
In a further embodiment, the shunt valve (70) is a four-way valve.
17
CA 3051836 2019-08-13
In still a further embodiment, the shunt valve (70) is embedded in a
wall, and a first water channel (74) is connected to a first water
equipment and a second water channel (75) is connected to a second
water equipment. In one embodiment, the first water equipment is a
shower head fixed on the wall, and the second water equipment is a
located under the shower head.
In actual application, the water valve of the present invention is
installed in the valve chamber (71) of the shunt valve (70) and is
connected to a handle through the valve rod (21). Through operating the
handle, a user can select one of the two water equipments for use
through the shunt valve (70), and also can adjust mixing ratio of hot
water and cold water when using. When the handle is not operated, the
locating bolt (23) borne against by the spring (22) is configured to couple
in the locating portion (15) as an initial position. Meanwhile, the mixing
chamber (31) of the driving valve piece (30) is adapted to misalign with
the hot water hole (42), the first water outlet hole (43), and the second
water outlet hole (44) of the fixed valve piece (40) so as to block cold
water and hot water from passing through, thereby turning off both of the
two water equipments (as shown in FIGs. 5 and 6).
18
CA 3051836 2019-08-13
When one of the two water equipments is used, a user can turn the
handle in a first direction, and the valve rod (21) is configured to rotate
the rotating base (20), and the rotating base (20) is adapted to drive the
driving valve piece (30) to have synchronous rotation, and the mixing
chamber (31) is configured to align with the cold water hole (41) and the
first water outlet hole (43) such that cold water can flow through the
second cold water inlet (72), balanced valve (60), the first cold water inlet
(53), the cold water hole (41) to the mixing chamber (31), and then flow
through the first water outlet hole (43), the first drain (55), one of the
water outlet chamber (52), the first water channel (74) of the shunt valve
(70) to one of the water equipment (as shown in FIGs. 7 to 10). Also, the
mixing chamber (31) is misaligned with the second water outlet hole (44)
such that cold water and hot water will not pass through the second
water outlet hole (44), and the shunt valve (70) to the other water
equipment. For one water equipment, when warm water or hot water is
needed, the user can turn the handle in the first direction further such
that the mixing chamber (31) is configured to gradually align with the hot
water hole (42), and when the mixing chamber (31) is aligned with the
cold water hole (41), the first water outlet hole (43) and the hot water
zo hole (42) (as shown in FIGs 11 and 12), cold water and hot water are
19
CA 3051836 2019-08-13
mixed to form warm water for use. When the handle is turned further to
the maximum travel position, the mixing chamber (31) is completely
misaligned with the cold water hole (41) and only aligned with the first
water outlet hole (43) and the hot water hole (42) (as shown in FIGs. 13
and 14), and hot water is provided. The water valve of the present
invention is turned off when the handle is turned back to the initial
position, and the locating bolt (23) pushed by the spring (22) is
configured to re-engage into the locating portion (15).
When water needs to be transported to the other water equipment,
a user can turn the handle in a reverse direction such that the mixing
chamber (31) is configured to align with the cold water hole (41) and the
second water outlet hole (44), or to align with the cold water hole (41),
the second water outlet hole (44) and the hot water hole (42) (as shown
in FIGs. 15 to 18), or to align with the second water outlet hole (44) and
the hot water hole (42), so that cold water, warm water mixed from cold
water and hot water, or hot water is configured to flow through the
second water outlet hole (44), the second drain (56), the second water
channel (75) to the other water equipment. When the handle is turned in
either direction, each of the blocking walls (202) is configured to be
blocked by the protruding block (14) to limit the maximum travel distance
CA 3051836 2019-08-13
of the handle so as to prevent the valve rod (21), the rotating base (20),
and the driving valve piece (30) are over-rotated. Moreover, one of the
two limiting pieces (24) is configured to couple against one end of the
locating piece (16) when the valve rod (21) is rotated in either direction,
thereby preventing hot water from being suddenly turned on to maximum
and causing burns. Furthermore, a user can make adjustment to the
maximum temperature of hot water by adjust the separated angle
between the two blocking portions of the two limiting pieces (24) (as
shown in FIGs 19 and 20).
Comparing with conventional water valve, the present invention is
advantageous because: (i) the water valve of the present invention can
control two water equipments in mixing cold water and hot water without
installing a water divider between pipes of the water valve or a pulling
handle, which simplifies the whole water pipeline and eliminate risk of
touching the pulling handle by mistake when in use; (ii) a user can
operate single handle of the water valve toward two opposed directions
to control the two water equipments for use of water, which saves labor
and time; and (iii) the cooperation between the protruding blocks (14),
the first driving block (201), the locating piece (16), and the limiting
pieces (24) can prevent the water valve from being over-rotated or
21
CA 3051836 2019-08-13
prevent a user from burns due to hot water draining out instantly, thereby
achieving multiple protective effects.
The scope of the claims should not be limited by the preferred
embodiments set forth in the examples, but should be given the broadest
interpretation consistent with the description as a whole.
22
CA 3051836 2019-08-13
