Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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TITLE OF INVENTION
IMPROVEMENTS TO DIAPHRAGM PRESSURE BALANCING VALVES
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a single handle mixing valve for tub spouts
and shower heads
and more particularly to pressure balanced, volume and temperature controlled
mixing valves.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Most governing codes require that any tub or shower mixing valve include some
kind of a
pressure balancing mechanism which is capable of responding to abrupt changes
in pressure of
the hot and cold water supplies within a very short time to restore the
balance of the output flows
of hot and cold water to the same proportion as they were before the pressure
fluctuation
occurred.
Because such mixing valves must fit into a confined space, compromises must be
made between
performance of the valve and the space required for the valve in plumbing
installations. Most
prior art valves use a spool type poppet valve mechanism to provide a pressure
balance for the
hot and cold water supplies feeding the valve. Some of the prior art pressure
balancing
mechanisms are sufficiently complex so as to require the services of
sophisticated service
personnel to overhaul, dismantle or repair prior art valves.
It will be immediately apparent that a single handle mixing cartridge valve of
a compact size yet
capable of controlling large flows of hot and cold water according to pressure
fluctuations in the
inlet supplies is very desirable. Such a valve advantageously should include a
single cartridge
that is easily removed for repair or replacement.
RELEVANT PRIOR ART
United States Patent No. 5,501,244 Issued Mar. 26, 1996 teaches a single
handle pressure
balancing mixing valve which uses a diaphragm actuated poppet valve to
accomplish the
balancing function. The two balancing chambers on opposed sides of the
diaphragm are
pressurized at all times, requiring check valves at the inlets of the valve.
Water leaves the
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balancing chambers by moving toward the handle so that the valve stem is
subjected to the outlet
water pressure during operation of the valve. As the valve ages and wears, it
is possible that
water may leak at the valve stem. The throughflow through the valve tends to
be somewhat
throttled by partial flow restriction provided by the poppet mechanism.
United States Patent No. 5,441,076 Issued Aug. 15, 1995 teaches a single
handle pressure
balancing mixing valve utilizing a stationary cartridge in which a sleeve type
valve shuttles back
and forth driven partially by a diaphragm in response to fluctuations in input
pressures. Because
of the small area allowed for water passage in the throttle area, the valve is
limited to
applications where a relatively low throughput is acceptable. The output flow
of water from the
pressure balancing chambers is toward the valve stem and this valve may be
prone to leakage at
the valve stem as the various valve components are subjected to wear and scale
build up. This
valve also requires the presence of check valves to prevent cross-flow at the
inlets.
United States Patent No. 5,355,906 Issued Oct. 18, 1994 teaches a single
handle pressure
balancing mixing valve using a spool type poppet valve to achieve pressure
balance control.
Water flow in the valve is from the end of the valve remote from the stem
toward the stem.
Because the pressurized exit chamber of the valve is at the valve stem,
leaking at the stem end of
the valve may occur as the mechanism is subjected to wear and scale build up.
Flow rate through the poppet mechanism is somewhat restricted because of the
construction of
the piston and its surrounding chamber. The piston may have a sticking problem
when utilized in
low water supply pressure situations. Scale build up may be a problem. This
valve also has an
adjustable stop mechanism to limit the flow of hot water which may pass
through the valve into
the mixing chamber so that the maximum temperature of the water delivered by
the valve may
be preset to an acceptable temperature level.
United States Patent 6,325,089 to Breda teaches a valve that uses a rotatable
pressure balancing
chamber including a pair of exit ports in communication with the water
balancing chambers on
either side of the diaphragm equipped shuttle to control the water outlet
mixture which responds
to changes in inlet pressure in the respective balancing chambers to throttle
the water through the
valve. The pressure balancing chambers are isolated from the water supplies
feeding the valve
when the valve is in the "off' position. The pressure balancing chambers are
pre-pressurized
before any water is permitted to exit from the valve. However providing a
rotatable balancing
chamber has its own limitations with respect to operation and maintenance.
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The following represents an analysis of the construction of the teachings of
my prior patent and
specifies the particular deficiencies in that structure. The valve of the `089
Patent was never
manufactured for many reasons including the fact that the costs of manufacture
were not
acceptable and the valve construction is complicated which the present
invention addresses. The
construction of my `089 Patent includes water flow from the bottom of the
cartridge and from
the housing as best seen in relation to Figure 3 and ports 64, 66, 174 and
173. The construction
included two half shells which captured therein the pressure balancing
shuttle. The cartridge fit
into a stationary sleeve held within the body. A mixing chamber occurred in
the space between
the stationary sleeve and the cartridge. With the mixing chamber being defined
inside of the
cartridge the hot and cold water could migrate across the seals at the hot and
cold inlet which
were not entirely isolated. Further the shuttle would be rotated along with
the cartridge and more
effort would be required to move the cartridge between the hot and cold
adjustable positions.
Further because the mixing chamber was internal the cartridge assembly was
more prone to the
wear and tear normally associated with sediment. The assembly included two
mating ceramic
discs located at the bottom of the cartridge, one stationary and one moveable
to control the flow
out of the valve. It was difficult to justify bringing it to market.
The present invention provides a construction which is much simplified and
easier to
manufacture with considerably less parts involved. The cost of manufacture is
significantly less.
However in providing the stationary shuttle assembly in the valve it is
necessary to make
provision for a check valve on the inlets of the water supply to ensure that
no cross-
contamination exists.
It is therefore a primary object of this invention to overcome all of the
deficiencies in the prior
art including my prior patent and provide a compact, simplified, easy to
manufacture improved
diaphragm pressure balancing valve assembly which addresses the deficiencies
found in my
prior construction and those of the prior art.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a stationary cartridge
assembly contained within
the improved diaphragm pressure balancing valve assembly of the present
invention wherein
only a preferably stainless steel disc assembly moves when the handle is
operated.
It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved diaphragm
pressure balancing valve
assembly which is easier to use for those who may be physically challenged.
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It is a further object of this invention to provide a single handle pressure
balancing mixing valve
wherein the pressure balancing mechanism is more sensitive to fluctuations in
input water
pressure than prior art valves.
It is a further object of this invention to supply a single handle pressure
balancing mixing valve
which utilizes comparatively large water outlet passageways and is essentially
silent in
operation and not prone to producing water hammer.
Further and other objects of the invention will be apparent to one skilled in
the art in reading the
following summary of the invention and the more detailed description of the
preferred
embodiments illustrated herein.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention there is provided an
improved diaphragm
pressure balancing valve assembly comprising a valve body having inlet and
outlet ports for the
flow of water into the valve and from the valve to a shower or a spout, said
body including an
opening being generally cylindrical at one end thereof to receive a cartridge
assembly, said
cartridge assembly including inlet and outlet parts for alignment with the
inlet and outlet ports of
the body, said cartridge including a stationary pressure balancing device and
preferably as taught
in my `089 Patent, namely a cylinder upon which rides a shuttle assembly
including a
diaphragm responsive to pressure differences causing the motion of the shuttle
on the cylinder
assembly, said diaphragm including a pressure balancing area at each side
proximate the hot and
cold water entry into the cartridge, the assembly including selective hot and
cold water outlet
ports in engagement with a preferred stainless steel disc assembly being
moveable in relation to
each of the hot and cold water outlet ports of the cartridge, each outlet
being sealed by
resiliently biased seals against which the preferred stainless steel plate
presses, said preferred
stainless steel disc being rotatable to and from positions allowing water to
pass out of the
cartridge, and then around the mixing chamber located between the body and the
cartridge and
subsequently exiting the valve to a spout or a shower, the preferred stainless
steel member being
held in position and being press fit in engagement with a cartridge sleeve and
with a stem portion
of the valve, said cartridge being held in position by supplementary members
of the housing for
example including a trim nut and body nut to ensure a press fit between the
members and the
preferred stainless steel member; wherein a much simplified, compact, cost
effective device has
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been provided with the pressure balancing shuttle being substantially
stationary as the valve is
operated.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention the stainless steel disc includes
cooperating hot and
cold water outlets having a generally kidney-shaped construction including a
bulbous head at one
end and a tail like portion at the other. The purpose of the construction of
these outlets is to
increase flow through the valve in relation to prior art embodiments, and in
particular as best
seen in relation to Figure 41 with respect to openings K1 and K2 as one
example. As shown in
Figure 41 because of the bulbous end of each of these openings K1 and K2 in
the stainless steel
disc 17 there is provided the ability to provide higher flow rate as the valve
rotates from the off
position through the 100% cold water, at 50/50 and 100% hot water. The general
kidney shape of
the opening through the stainless steel disc 17 provides this feature.
Therefore any equivalently
performing shape will suffice although the preferred shaped that Applicant has
ascertained
relates to the generally kidney-shaped or comet-like shape having a tail and a
bulbous head at
opposite ends.
Accordingly there is provided a stainless steel disc assembly for an improved
diaphragm
pressure balancing assembly wherein said pressure balancing assembly within
said assembly is
stationary and the shuttle does not move with the operation of the cartridge
but only in response
to pressure differentials and only the stainless steel disc moves as the
cartridge is operated from
the desired positions such as from the comfort positions for the individual
using the valve. The
details of the preferred embodiments of the invention will be described
hereinafter in relation to
the figures.
This invention is directed to a single handle pressure balancing mixing valve
which has a
cartridge incorporating a pressure balancing mechanism within its casing which
is not rotatable.
An actuating stem to which a handle is attached is rotated to operate the
valve. In rotating the
stem a water flow control platen, preferably stainless steel, having enlarged
offset hot and cold
preferably kidney shaped openings are moved to open or shut off the hot or
cold water flow
exiting the cartridge to a mixing chamber defined between the body and the
cartridge. The
cartridge includes a pressure chamber on either side of a diaphragm equipped
shuttle which
responds to changes in pressure in the respective chambers to throttle the
water through the valve
in response to changes in inlet pressures. The cartridge will pass the flow of
separate hot and
cold water to the water flow control platen. The platen is pressed against two
separate hot and
cold water spring biased seals surrounding the exit ports from the cartridge
downstream of the
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balancing chamber. The cartridge is accessible and removable from the stem end
of the valve
mechanism by the simple removal of a retainer.
The use of a diaphragm, in association with the sleeve type balancing
mechanism slidably
mounted on a stationary tube in the cartridge, assures a smooth immediate
response to small
fluctuations in supply pressure during operation of the valve. At the same
time, by maintaining
the diaphragm stationary as taught with this improvement, the resulting
balancing mechanism of
my pressure balancing valve is more precise in its action as well as less
prone to "sticking" due
to the accumulation of scale and sludge on the balancing sleeve.
The valve of this invention effectively positions the pressure balancing
chamber from the feed
water supply when the valve is in the "off' position. Turning the valve "on"
allows water to flow
through the various water passages. By maintaining the chambers stationary
during the operation
of the valve, a more precise compensation of water pressure differentials is
attained. The motion
of the platen will therefore cause water to flow through to the mixing
chamber, at 100 % hot,
50/50 hot and cold, and 100% hot enhancing the flow capabilities of the valve
to 10 gallons per
minute, because of the large substantially kidney shaped outlets of the
platen.
Another aspect of this invention is the inclusion of an adjustable stop
mechanism to adjust and
limit the rotational travel of the platen so that the flow of the hot water
may be restricted to a
preset flow rate by adjusting the position of the hot water stop of the valve.
This adjustment may
be conveniently carried out from a point outside the valve housing even after
the valve is
permanently installed and water is flowing in the valve. At any point in time
both the hot and
cold water flows can be shutoff by operating stops conveniently built into the
body of the valve
disposed at the inlets. The outlet to the tub spout is the preferred outlet of
the valve by the
provision of a venturi outlet to the shower of reduced cross section. Flow
will be sent to the
shower through the operation of a diverting mechanism only.
This invention provides a single handle pressure balancing mixing valve
wherein the pressure
balancing mechanism is more sensitive to fluctuations in input water pressure
than prior art
valves. The pressure balancing mechanism of applicant's valve continues to
function even in the
presence of lower inlet water pressure on both hot and cold water supplies
than the prior art
poppet type spool valves.
This invention provides a single handle pressure balancing mixing valve which
utilizes
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comparatively large water passageways (the openings to the cartridge outlet
upstream of the
mixing chamber are substantially kidney shaped) and is essentially silent in
operation and not
prone to producing water hammer.
This invention provides a single handle pressure balancing valve which may be
swiftly
dismantled and rebuilt without the removal of screws or other complicated
fastening devices
requiring special tools and skills.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 illustrates incross section and side view of the valve illustrated in
a preferred
embodiment of the invention.
Figure 2 illustrates a perspective view of the assembled valve illustrated in
a preferred
embodiment of the invention.
Figure 3 illustrates a top view of the valve of Figure 2.
Figure 4 illustrates a cross section side view of the valve body illustratred
in preferred
embodiment of the invention.
Figure 5 illustrates the valve body of Figure 4 rotated 90 degrees.
Figure 6 illustrates details of the assembly of disc plug 24 shown in a
preferred embodiment of
the invention.
Figure 7 illustrates the water inlet check devices of Figure 1 in closeup
cross-section and
perspective in a preferred embodiment of the invention.
Figure 8 illustrates the opposite check to Figure 7.
Figure 9 illustrates in side view the check plug device 3 of Figures 7 and 8.
Figure 10 illustrates the check plug of Figure 9 in top view.
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Figures 11 and 12 illustrates in perspective the trim nut 28 and body nut 29
best seen in Figure 1.
Figures 13 to 16 illustrates in top and perspective views the stop ring 11 and
temperature ring 12
best seen in Figure 1.
Figures 17 and 18 illustrates in cross section the interior of the cartridge
of the valve assembly
shown in a preferred embodiment of the invention.
Figures 19 to 22 illustrates in cross-section, top and cutout perspective the
waterways of the
cartridge of Figure 17 and shown in a preferred embodiment of the invention.
Figures 23 to 33 illustrates the shuttle assembly of Figure 1 in perspective,
and components
thereof in cross-section and cross section in a preferred embodiment of the
invention.
Figures 34 to 36 illustrates in cross-section the sequence of operation of the
shuttle assembly of
Figure 23 in a preferred embodiment of the invention.
Figures 37 to 40 illustrates in cross-section the position of parts K1 and K2
of the stainless steel
disc in relation to the outlets from the cartridge assembly and shown in a
preferred embodiment
of the invention.
Figures 41 to 44 illustrates the stainless steel disc 17 of the cartridge
assembly and the
corresponding grommet and spring in cross-section side and perspective views.
Figures 45 to 48 illustrate the cartridge stem of Figure 1 in top, section and
perspective views.
Figures 49 to 51 illustrate the cartridge sleeve of Figure 1 in top, section
and perspective views.
Detailed description of my invention and the improvements thereto.
The valve assembly as shown has a generally cylindrical shape which is shown
in a vertical
orientation for convenience of illustration, but it will usually be found that
the valve of this
invention will be installed having its cylindrical axis disposed in a
horizontal plane.
The housing I for the cartridge has a somewhat cylindrically shaped body
composed of a
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suitable metallic material such as brass, copper or a suitable alloy thereof,
white metal or some
other suitable metallic material.
A sliding shuttle member, is slidably mounted on the tubular member. The
shuttle is provided
with a series of ports which communicate with ports in the tubular member
respectively to
allow for co-operative pressure balancing compensation.
The diaphragm of the shuttle is sealed between shells and during assembly of
cartridge so as to
divide the internal cavities formed on opposing sides of the diaphragm into
two chambers. The
diaphragm is received in grooves in said shells and respectively and is sealed
by the compressive
forces placed on the peripheral ring section of diaphragm during assembly of
pressure balancing
cartridge .
An adjustable stop washer is provided to enable a tradesman to adjust the
upper limit of rotation
of the spindle and to thus limit the maximum flow of hot water allowed to pass
through the valve
(for the safety of persons using the valve). A corresponding stop member
engages the abutment
at the end of the washer to define the "off' position (which is not
adjustable) for the spindle and
the cartridge of valve.
Referring now to the Figures 1 generally there is illustrated in perspective a
housing I including
hot and cold water inlets which have integrally provided therewith check
valves to prevent cross
over of hot and cold water which also act as stops for the flow of hot and
cold water should it be
necessary to change the cartridge. The details of these check valves is
provided further in the
disclosure but they are those known to one skilled in the art having the
trademark NEOPERLTM.
The body therefore includes an opening best seen in Figure 4 for receipt of a
cartridge assembly
including a cartridge sleeve 10 held in position by the necessary hardware
including the trim nut
and the body nut 28 and 29 of Figures 11 and 12 which hold in position the
cartridge 10. The
stationary sleeve 21 carries the shuttle assembly including diaphragm 23 as
seen in Figure 17.
The details of a half shell construction and the diaphragm are found in my
prior U.S. Patent
6,325,089 and therefore the details of the construction of the pressure
balancing shuttle and the
trim nut and body nut are consistent with that of my prior mentioned patent.
Referring now to Figures 1 to 3 it can clearly be seen that all the parts are
assembled in
association with one another with the outlets from the cartridge including
seals 16 positioned
within port 16a against the stainless steel moveable disc 17 held in position
within the assembly
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and retained by the diverting stem 27 having portions 27b on the diverting
stem 27 to engage the
stainless steel disc 17 in a press fit relationship proximate portions 27b.
The entire assembly is
held together via the trim and body nuts 28 and 29. Water will therefore flow
through the valve
assembly, through the hot and cold water inlets, into the shuttle chamber
causing the pressure
balancing differential to be determined by the water pressure differences
around the shuttle
assembly as previously described in my prior patent, and out the outlets 16
for both hot and cold
water. When in the closed position the stainless steel disc abuts against the
sealing members 16
until such time as the stem is operated by a handle as described herein to
move the stainless steel
disc so that the kidney-shaped outlets are aligned in whole or in part with
the opening 16a
allowing water to pass around the perimeter assembly in the space defined
between the body and
the cartridge acting as a mixing chamber and ultimately out of the ports SH or
TB from the valve
as best seen in the perspective view of Figure 2. The kidney-shaped openings
of the stainless
steel disc are offset to one another to provide for the alignment of 100% hot
water flowing from
the valve assembly, 50% hot 50% cold water flowing from the valve assembly and
100% cold
water flowing from the assembly.
Refer now to the figures and initially particularly Figures 2 and 3, there is
provided an improved
pressure balancing single handle valve including a body 1, including inlets
100 H and 100 C for
hot and cold water respectively. The valve also includes a shower outlet SH
and a tub outlet TB
orientated at 90 degrees to the water inlets. A hot and cold water shutoff and
check 3 is provided
for hot and cold water as best seen in Figure 3 to enable shutoff of the water
supply to the valve
and for the simple replacement of the cartridge contained in the valve housing
1 which will be
described hereafter. The shutoff mechanisms 3 are check plugs of the type
manufactured by and
under the trademark NEOPEARLE TM, although the structure of these check
mechanisms 3 will
be described hereinafter. Such structure are known in the art. It is only the
use of the
NEOPEARLETM construction with this present invention that is considered to be
unique. The
housing therefore 1 includes a trim nut 28 and a body nut 29 which work
together to maintain the
cartridge in position during the operation of the valve. The spline extension
14 on the sleeve 26
is utilized for maintaining a handle to allow the user to operate the valve.
The handle is not
shown with these illustrations.
As best seen in Figure 1, the spline extension extends down to the spline of
the valve assembly
which is in engagement with the diverting stem 27 which presses against a
stainless steel disk 17
to keep said disk in engagement with sealing grommets 16 which are resiliently
biased by spring
members 19 to maintain pressure against this stainless steel disk 17. The
diverting stem engages
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the stainless steel disk 17 via detents 27a through 27h engaging portions of
17a, 17b, and 17c of
the stainless steel disk 17 as best seen in figures 41 and 47. In this way, as
the valve is operated,
the stainless steel disk will rotate and provide for the flow of hot and cold
water from the valve
to exit into a mixing chamber defined between the said body 1 and said
cartridge shell 10 as best
seen in relation to Figure 19. Said shell 10 therefore includes two halves
which when assembled
provide for the exterior of the cartridge that is seen in part in Figure 21
and Figure 20.
A shuttle assembly including a moveable sleeve 20 and a stationary sleeve 21
provides for the
pressure compensating aspect of the valve assembly. The diaphragm 23 engages
the moving
sleeve 20 proximate the inner radius of said diaphragm and further engages the
two meeting shell
halves of the cartridge proximate the perimeter of said diaphragm 23. The
anchored perimeter of
the diaphragm allows for the flexing of the diaphragm and the movement of the
moving sleeve
20 in relation to pressure differentials between the hot and cold water
sources. For example
assuming a steady state condition during operation of the valve and a
subsequent operation of a
toilet, this may cause a reduction in the flow of cold water to the valve and
as a result, the hot
water side of the valve construction will dominate and cause the motion of the
pressure
balancing device and the moveable sleeve 20 toward the cold water side. In
doing so, the ports
allowing water to flow into the hot water side of the valve will be shut down
or closed somewhat
in order to compensate for the pressure differential. This construction was
described in my prior
patent and the reader is referred thereto for a more detailed explanation of
the diaphragm
pressure balancing device. The details of that construction are hereby
incorporated by reference
in its entirety in relation to the diaphragm 23, moving sleeve 20 and the
stationary sleeve 21 in
relation to the pressure compensating aspects thereof. Please refer to Figure
17 in this regard
showing in the details of the moveable sleeve 20, stationary sleeve 21 and the
diaphragm
assembly 23 and the various openings for hot and cold water therethrough
including opening
134h on the left side of the valve, opening 134c on the right side of the
valve to allow water into
chamber portions 135h and 135c respectively for hot and cold water causing the
motion from left
to right of the moveable sleeve 20 anchored to the diaphragm 23 to compensate
for the pressure
differentials. The hot and cold water as best seen in Figure 17 will exit
separately from the
shuttle assembly from outlets 145h and 144c to exit ports 125h and 125c which
contain the
resiliently biased grommet 16 biased by said springs 19 in said ports to allow
water to exit
through outlets K1 and K2 provided in the stainless steel disk 17. These
outlets are provided to
permit exit of hot and cold water from the valve and to the mixing chamber
defined between the
body 1 and the cartridge assembly seen in Figure 17 and 18.
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Referring to figures 11 and 12 these illustrate the body nut 29 and the trim
nut 28 best seen in
Figure 1, 2 and 3. In order to maintain the cartridge previously described
within the opening in
the body 1 especially in relation to Figures 4 and 5, the trim nut and body
nut assembly therefore
as seen in Figure 1 and 2 capture the sleeve 26 which is sealed in relation to
the cartridge via the
trim nut and body nut which are threaded internally within openings 29a and
28a to receive the
sleeve spline engaging the corresponding trim nut 28 and the body nut 29.
Below the trim nut and body body nut are disposed a stop 11 and a temperature
controlling rim
12 that is best seen in relation to Figures 13 through 16 which are positioned
so that portion 11 a
buts up against portion 12a so as to limit the rotation of the stainless steel
disk 17 to prevent
scalding of the bather. This attribute was described in my prior "089 US
Patent" and the details
thereof are incorporated by reference in their entirety in relation to this
safety mechanism of a
combination of the stop ring 11 and the temperature controlling 12.
Referring now to the Figures 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 as previously described housing
1 is included with
the valve which includes hot and cold water inlets 100h and 100c to permit
water to enter into
the cartridge assembly through the NEOPEARLETM check mechanisms 3 as best seen
in Figures
7 and 8 which provides the flow of water from the hot water inlet 100H into
the inlet 103 and
thereafter into the shuttle assembly, but prevents the cross over of hot and
cold water by the
check member 3 resiliently biased by 96 against the sealing portions Si and S2
of each of the
check mechanisms 3.
The body therefore 1 includes a separate shower SH and tub outlet TB with the
outlet to the tub
being the preferred outlet in view of venturi 109 provided in the body. It is
only with the
operation of the typical diverting mechanism that the outlet will flow to the
shower SH. In order
to manufacture the valve from brass, for example, the valve body particularly
1 has a plug 24
inserted in a hole that was previously used for manufacturing in forming the
inlet ports 103
which are subsequently plugged with a typically plug disk plug 24 anchored in
position by
bending the surrounding material at 98 and 99 to engage the beveled end of
said plug 24.
Referring now to Figures 22 through to 26 as shown the cartridge assembly
includes outlets
proximate the top thereof to engage with the outlets K1 and K2 of the
stainless steel disk portion
17. The cartridge housing is illustrated as assembled by screws in which when
assembling the
cartridge anchors the diaphragm 23 proximate the perimeter thereof in the
groove defined by the
two mating shells as best seen in relation to Figure 17 which groove anchors
the perimeter of the
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diaphragm 23 but allows the motion of the moveable sleeve 20 on the stationary
21 as was
described in prior paragraphs. Specifically referring to Figure 24 the
diaphragm is galvanized in
place to the moveable sleeve 20 the details of which are seen with respect to
portions 20a
through 20c of the moveable sleeve in Figure 26 and in Figure 24 with the
internal radius portion
of diaphragm 23 being anchored in place as shown. Thus the diaphragm can move
in
compensation to pressure differentials within the valve assembly and
corresponding shut off of
the hot water supply in the manner previously described in my US patent 089',
the details of
which are incorporated by reference in their entirety in relation to the
movement to the moveable
sleeve 20 on the stationary sleeve 21 with the ports 143h and 143c being open
and closed
respectively in relation to these pressure differentials. It is extremely
important that the
tolerances between the moving sleeve 20 and the stationary sleeve 21 be
extremely precise to
provide for this motion previously described and yet prevent water from
seeping out around the
sleeves. This is best seen in relation to Figures 27. A sequence of events for
this pressure
compensation for shutting off hot or cold water in the valve in events of
water loss to either the
hot or cold water flows is best seen in relation to Figures 34 and 36 which
illustrates fully hot
water passing through the valve assembly to a 50/50 mix of hot and cold water
in Figure 35 and
fully cold water in Figure 36. For example, referring to Figure 35 it can be
seen at 144h and
144c that the opening is partially closed for the water flow of hot and cold
water to allow for the
50/50 flow. The illustrations in Figures 34 and 36 show the hot water at 142h
fully open to the
cold water 140c fully open in Figure 36 with the cold water being fully closed
at 142 in Figure
34. These details will be fully understood by one skilled in the art
especially in view of the
knowledge of pressure balancing assemblies. The advantages of the diaphragm
has been
previously described both above and in my United States patent which responds
more positively
to pressure differentials than other pressure balancing constructions.
Refer now to Figure 19 in relation to Figures 37 though 40 there is
illustrated the motion of the
stainless steel disk 17 in relation to the combined halves of the cartridge
shells as best seen in
Figure 20. It will be noted that openings K1 and K2 of the stainless steel
disk 17 are rotated in
relation to the openings 16a and 16c of the cartridge assembly to allow for
the flow through the
valve from an off position as best seen in relation to Figure 37 through to a
fully hot position as
best seen in relation to Figure 40. The unique kidney shape of openings K1 and
K2 of the
stainless steel disk provide for an improved amount of input in the valve up
to 10 gallons per
minute. Please note that a very very small portion proximate tail end of
openings K1 and K2 are
necessary to allow a small flow of water into the valve at a fully cold and
hot position as best
seen in Figures 38 and 40. Otherwise, the shuttle operation would effectively
shut off the hot or
CA 02600077 2010-05-13
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cold water supplies in these circumstances. Further as best seen in relation
to the above
mentioned Figures the detent portions 17a, b and c are fully viewed which will
engage with
previously described diverting stem 27 to allow operation in the valve. This
is also seen in
relation to Figure 41.
Figures 42, 43 and 44 illustrate the details of resilient seal 16 in position
in opening 16, biased by
19 against the stainless steel disk 17 to ensure a positive operation of the
valve when the stainless
steel disk engages the diverting stem seen in relation to Figures 45 through
48 proximate detent
portions 27a through 27h. Rotation therefore of the diverting stem 27 will
cause rotation of the
stainless steel disk 17 engaged in the corresponding detent portions. No other
elements of the
valve assembly move. All other valve elements are stationary. A cartridge
sleeve 10 best seen
in relation to Figures 49 through 51 engage and holds in position the
diverting stem 27 for
movement thereof, the cartridge sleeve being stationary and accommodates the
operation of the
valve cartridge assembly. The cartridge sleeve is held in position on the body
specifically by
detents 10a with other detents provided on the body which is known in the art
as best seen in
relation to Figures 17 and 18.
Referring generally to all of the Figures, it can be seen that a very compact
single handle valve
construction is provided which minimizes the wear and tear in the valve by the
motion of the
stainless steel disk 17 to allow water to exit from the cartridge assembly. In
my previous
construction "089' patent" the entire shuttle assembly also moved at the same
time as the
operation of the handle portion. In doing so, a less accurate pressure
compensation was provided
in a very complex manner. The present invention is simple and easy to
manufacture and reliable.
The cartridge assembly may be replaced on the run by closing check plugs 3 and
preventing flow
into the valve to allow for simple replacement of the entire cartridge
assembly by the removal of
the trim nut and body nut only. Replacement of the cartridge and simple
assembly of the trim
nut and body nut makes the cartridge assembly repairable by the user. Once the
cartridge is
replaced, the check plugs are opened to allow water to flow back into the
valve assembly.
As many changes can be made to the preferred embodiments of the invention
without departing
from the scope thereof. All material disclosed herein is to be considered
illustrative of the
invention but not in a limiting sense.
