Fluid mixture control valve
US5108032A · kind A · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 14, 1989 |
| Grant date | Apr 28, 1992 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 14, 2009 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T137/86871
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A fluid mixing valve designed for hot/cold water mixing in showers provides fully adjustable proportioning independent of flow rate. It may be thermostat controlled for convenience, and to save water by avoiding iterative manual adjustment. It comprises a rotor enclosed in a fitted case, the case having adjacent fluid inlets and an elongated outlet. The rotor has a throat, one end of which registers with the inlets in varying proportion depending on the position of the rotor. A linkage arm within the elongated outlet connects between the rotor and a control shaft. This arm transmits control movements from shaft to rotor, and is also the thermostatic element. Hydrodynamic forces are neutral against the rotational moment of the rotor, avoiding rotor oscillation. Damping means are described. Mixing occurs immediately in the throat, and is completed prior to the thermostat. This valve is expected to be used with a downstream flow valve.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.