ROBINET A TEMPERATURE CONSTANTE

FAUCET WITH CONSTANT TEMPERATURE VALVE

Abrégé anglais

A constant temperature valve used in a faucet has a sleeve, an actuator
and a plurality of separate spring rings. A plurality of O-shaped rubber rings
is distributed longitudinally on an outer peripheral of the sleeve and divides
the outer peripheral of the sleeve into a plurality of sections. The actuator
forms a plurality of collars on a peripheral thereof for fitting with sections
of the sleeve. A plurality of grooves is defined in an outer peripheral of the
collars of the actuator for retaining the spring rings. Each spring ring forms
a gap for enhancing resiliency thereof. The spring rings shrink
appropriately to facilitate the actuator slidable relative to the sleeve 1
when
dirty or hair is filled between the actuator and the sleeve. Thus, the
constant
temperature valve accurately responds to temperature control requirement.
On the other hand, the spring rings and the grooves allow to lower
manufacture precision requirement of the actuator and sleeve.

Revendications

Claims:
1. A constant temperature valve used in a faucet, comprising:
a sleeve being mountable on the faucet and being cylindrical and hollow, a
plurality of O-shaped rubber rings being distributed longitudinally on
an outer peripheral of the sleeve and dividing the outer peripheral of the
sleeve into a plurality of sections;
an actuator being telescopically mounted in the sleeve with interval
therebetween, and forming a plurality of collars on an outer peripheral
thereof for fitting with sections of the sleeve, a plurality of grooves
being defined in an outer peripheral of the collars; and
a plurality of spring rings being received in the grooves of the actuator.
2. The constant temperature valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein each
spring ring forms a gap for enhancing resiliency thereof.
3. The constant temperature valve as . claimed in claim 1, wherein the
diameters of outer peripherals of the spring rings are slightly larger than
the diameter of an inner peripheral of the sleeve, and wherein the
diameters of inner peripherals of the spring rings are slightly larger than
the diameters of inner peripherals of the grooves of the actuator
4. The constant temperature valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein a pair of
cavities is respectively defined in opposite ends of the actuator for
providing water pressure to pull the actuator, and wherein a plurality of
through holes is defined in the peripheral of the actuator and
communicates with the cavities for allowing water to flow into the
cavities.
5. The constant temperature valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein each
section of the sleeve defines a plurality of inlet holes and outlet holes for
water inlet and outlet.
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Description

CA 02463432 2004-04-07 w '~
SPECIFICATION
FAUCET WITH CONSTANT TEMPERATURE VALVE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a faucet, and particularly to a
faucet with a constant temperature valve to control water temperature.
2. RELATED ART
[0002] Faucets are of a variety of types and shapes, and especially in
modern times more styles are designed. Of course, above all, people always
endeavor to design safe products, for instance, faucets preventing from scald.
In the art, faucets with all kinds of structures preventing from scald are put
into market.
[0003] Referring to Figs. 5 and 6, a conventional constant. temperature
valve used in a faucet 4' is illustrated to be mounted where hot and cool
water joins ,and by means of the constant temperature valve maintains
pressure of hot and cool water balance, and controls water temperature,
preventing that only hot water flows out thereby avoiding scald.
[0003] The conventional constant temperature valve includes a sleeve 1'
mounted on the valve 4', and an actuator 3' telescopically mounted on the
sleeve 1' . However, in order to allow the actuator 3' easily sliding relative
to
the sleeve 1', the cooperation precision therebetween has to meet a certain
requirement, so manufacture cost of high precision products cannot decrease.
On the other hand, for meeting requirement of high cooperation precision,
the interval between the actuator 3' and the sleeve 1' is small. Thus, as
shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the actuator 3' tends to be stopped by dirty or hair,
resulting in improper response of temperature control.

CA 02463432 2004-04-07
SUMM ARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a
constant temperature valve of a faucet, which allows to lower manufacture
precision requirement thereby decreasing manufacture cost.
[0005) Another object of the present invention is to provide a constant
temperature valve of a faucet, which always properly responds to
temperature control.
[0006] The constant temperature valve of the present invention comprises
a sleeve, an actuator and a plurality of separate spring rings. The sleeve is
cylindrical and hollow and is mounted on a faucet in assembly A plurality of
O-shaped rubber rings is distributed longitudinally on an outer peripheral of
the sleeve and divides the outer peripheral of the sleeve into a plurality of
sections. The actuator forms a plurality of collars on an outer peripheral
thereof for fitting with sections of the sleeve. A plurality of grooves is
defined in an outer peripheral of the collars of the actuator for retaining
the
spring rings. Each spring ring forms a gap for enhancing resiliency thereof.
The diameters of outer peripherals of the spring rings are slightly larger
than
the diameter of an inner peripheral of the sleeve. The diameters of inner
peripherals of the spring rings are slightly larger than the diameters of
inner
peripherals of the grooves of the actuator.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] Fig. 1 is an exploded view of a constant temperature valve of the
present invention.
[0008] Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 2-2 in Fig. 1.
[0009] Fig. 3 is a partially enlarged view of the constant temperature
valve of Fig. 2.
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[OOIO] Fig. 4 is another partially enlarged view of the constant
temperature valve of Fig. 2.
[0011] Fig. 5 is an exploded view of a conventional constant temperature
valve.
[0012] Fig. 6 is an exploded view of the conventional constant
temperature valve of Fig. 5 and a part of a faucet.
[0010] Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 7-7 in Fig. 5.
[0010] Fig. 8 is a partially enlarged view of the conventional constant
temperature valve of Fig. 7.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0013] With reference to Fig. 1, a constant temperature valve in
accordance with the present invention comprises a sleeve 1, an actuator 2
and a plurality of separate spring rings 24.
[0013] The sleeve 1 is cylindrical and hollow and is mounted on a faucet
4 in assembly A plurality of O-shaped rubber rings 11 is mounted around
the sleeve 1. The rubber rings 11 are distributed longitudinally on an outer
peripheral of the sleeve 1 and divide the outer peripheral of the sleeve 1
into
a plurality of sections. Each section defines a plurality of inlet holes 12
and
outlet holes 13 for water inlet and outlet.
[0014] The actuator 2 is telescopically mounted in the sleeve 1 with
interval therebetween. The actuator 2 forms a plurality of collars 25 on a
peripheral thereof for fitting with sections of the sleeve 1. A pair of
cavities
21 is respectively defined in opposite ends of the actuator 2 for providing
water pressure to pull the actuator 2. A plurality of through holes 22 is
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CA 02463432 2004-04-07
defined in the peripheral of the actuator 2 and communicates with the
cavities 21 for allowing water to flow into the cavities 21.
[0015) A plurality of grooves 23 is defined in an outer peripheral of the
collars 25 of the actuator 2 for retaining the spring rings 24. Each spring
ring
24 forms a gap 241 for enhancing resiliency thereof.
[0016] Further referring to Figs. 2 and 3, the diameters of outer peripherals
of the spring rings 24 are slightly larger than the diameter of an inner
peripheral of the sleeve 1. The diameters of inner peripherals of the spring
rings 24 are slightly larger than the diameters of inner peripherals of the
grooves 23 of the actuator 2. The diameters of the spring rings 24 are
slightly changeable because of the gaps 241.
[0016] In assembly, the spring rings 24 are received in the grooves 23 of
the actuator 2. The actuator 2 is slidably received in the sleeve 1, and the
collars 25 are fitted to inner peripherals of the sleeve 1. As shown in Fig.
4,
the spring rings 24 shrink appropriately to facilitate the actuator 2 slidable
relative to the sleeve 1 when dirty or hair is filled between the actuator 2
and
the sleeve 1. Thus, the constant temperature valve accurately responds
temperature control requirement. On the other hand, the spring rings 24
between the actuator 2 and the sleeve 1 reduce resistance force of the
actuator 2 when the actuator 2 moves relative to the sleeve 1. Moreover, due
to resiliency of the spring rings 24, the spring rings 24 received in the
grooves 23 allow to lower manufacture precision requirement of the actuator
2 and sleeve 1.
[0017] It is understood that the invention rnay be embodied in other
forms without departing from the spirit thereof. Thus, the present examples
and embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not
restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details given
herein.
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