Mixing unit and mixer tap including such a mixing unit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10590635-B2
Application number	US-201615750321-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 2, 2016
Priority date	Aug 3, 2015
Publication date	Mar 17, 2020
Grant date	Mar 17, 2020

Abstract

A mixing unit for a mixer tap has a first intake for a first incoming stream, and a second intake for a second incoming stream. The mixing unit mixes the first and second incoming streams in order to form an output stream, and has an outlet for the output stream. A thermostat includes a heat-sensitive portion and a translationally movable portion along an axis. A seal of the second intake is connected to the movable portion. A recess connects the outlet with the second intake and housing and is sealed by the heat-sensitive portion and the translationally movable portion. The outlet has an abutment to restrain the translational movement of the heat-sensitive portion along the axis, in a direction parallel to the axis and opposite to the seal. The abutment limits the movement of the heat-sensitive portion and the translationally movable portion outside of the recess to avoid breaking the tight seal.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A mixing unit for a mixer tap, which comprises:
a first inlet for a first incoming stream of fluid having a first temperature,
a second inlet for a second incoming stream of fluid having a second temperature higher than the first temperature,
a mixer for mixing the first and second incoming streams to form an output stream,
an outlet for the output stream,
a thermostat comprising:
a heat-sensitive part arranged at least partially in the outlet, and a moving part translatable relative to the heat-sensitive part along a first axis,
a seal of the second inlet connected to the moving part in translation along the first axis, and
a housing, configured to place the outlet in communication with the second inlet along the first axis, and wherein the heat sensitive part and the moving part are housed so as to tightly seal the communication between the outlet and the second inlet,
the outlet comprises a stop designed to retain the heat-sensitive part in translation along the first axis, in a direction parallel to the first axis and opposite the seal, the stop limiting the travel space of the heat sensitive part and the moving part are outside the housing to thus avoid a break in the tightness of the housing,
wherein the outlet is delimited by a peripheral wall whereof a portion, forming the stop, is substantially planar and oriented substantially orthogonally to the first axis.

2. The mixing unit according to claim 1 , wherein the heat-sensitive part is mounted bearing without play against the stop.

3. The mixing unit according to claim 1 , wherein it comprises a fastener via which the heat-sensitive part is secured to the housing, the heat-sensitive part being placed at a play distance from the stop, and being provided with a peripheral sealing gasket guaranteeing the tightness of the seal of the housing by the heat-sensitive part, the sealing gasket being in annular contact with the wall of the housing over a distance, measured parallel to the first axis, which is greater than the play distance.

4. The mixing unit according to claim 1 , wherein the seal is arranged relative to the moving part such that the latter can push the seal in a second direction opposite the direction, to a position sealing the second inlet, the mixing unit further comprising a return spring designed to return the seal in the direction, to an open position of the second inlet.

5. The mixing unit according to claim 1 , wherein the heat-sensitive part comprises, along the first axis:
a cup via which the stop is designed to retain the heat-sensitive part, the cup extending in the passage of the output stream at the outlet, and closing a thermodilatable body,
a guide of the moving part, wherein the housing extends from the cup and is provided with a peripheral sealing gasket in order to guarantee the tightness of the sealing of the housing by the heat-sensitive part, including when the heat-sensitive part is retained by the stop.

6. The mixing unit according to claim 1 , wherein it has a general cylindrical shape defining a main axis orthogonal to the first axis, the mixing unit comprising a lower face on the surface of which the first inlet and the second inlet emerge, the second inlet being extended by a baffled pipe comprising a sealable part of the seal, the sealable part extending substantially coaxially to the first axis, and which connects the second inlet to the mixer, the stop being traversed by the first axis.

7. The mixing unit according to claim 1 , wherein it comprises:
a cartridge containing the mixer, and
an additional case that is mounted bearing against the cartridge, and which comprises the thermostat.

8. The mixing unit according to claim 1 , wherein it comprises a control member, the mixer comprising a mixing chamber containing a set of mixing discs, which are made from ceramic, and at least one of which is actuated by the control member, to control the respective flow rate of the first incoming stream and the second incoming stream and to adjust both the temperature and the flow rate of the output stream by acting on the control member.

9. A mixer tap, which is equipped with a mixing unit according to claim 1 .

10. A mixing unit for a mixer tap, which comprises:
a first inlet for a first incoming stream of fluid having a first temperature,
a second inlet for a second incoming stream of fluid having a second temperature higher than the first temperature,
a mixer for mixing the first and second incoming streams to form an output stream,
an outlet for the output stream,
a thermostat comprising:
a heat-sensitive part arranged at least partially in the outlet, and a moving part translatable relative to the heat-sensitive part along a first axis,
a seal of the second inlet connected to the moving part in translation along the first axis, and
a housing, configured to place the outlet in communication with the second inlet along the first axis, and wherein the heat sensitive part and the moving part are housed so as to tightly seal the communication between the outlet and the second inlet,
the outlet comprises a stop designed to retain the heat-sensitive part in translation along the first axis, in a direction parallel to the first axis and opposite the seal, the stop limiting the travel space of the heat sensitive part and the moving part are outside the housing to thus avoid a break in the tightness of the housing,
wherein the mixing unit comprises a fastener via which the heat-sensitive part is secured to the housing, the heat-sensitive part being placed at a play distance from the stop, and being provided with a peripheral sealing gasket guaranteeing the tightness of the seal of the housing by the heat-sensitive part, the sealing gasket being in annular contact with the wall of the housing over a distance, measured parallel to the first axis, which is greater than the play distance.

11. The mixing unit according to claim 10 , wherein the heat-sensitive part is mounted bearing without play against the stop.

12. The mixing unit according to claim 10 , wherein the outlet is delimited by a peripheral wall whereof a portion, forming the stop, is substantially planar and oriented substantially orthogonally to the first axis.

13. The mixing unit according to claim 10 , wherein the seal is arranged relative to the moving part such that the latter can push the seal in a second direction opposite the direction, to a position sealing the second inlet, the mixing unit further comprising a return spring designed to return the seal in the direction, to an open position of the second inlet.

14. The mixing unit according to claim 10 , wherein the heat-sensitive part comprises, along the first axis:
a cup via which the stop is designed to retain the heat-sensitive part, the cup extending in the passage of the output stream at the outlet, and closing a thermodilatable body,
a guide of the moving part, wherein the housing extends from the cup and is provided with a peripheral sealing gasket in order to guarantee the tightness of the sealing of the housing by the heat-sensitive part, including when the heat-sensitive part is retained by the stop.

15. The mixing unit according to claim 10 , wherein it has a general cylindrical shape defining a main axis orthogonal to the first axis, the mixing unit comprising a lower face on the surface of which the first inlet and the second inlet emerge, the second inlet being extended by a baffled pipe comprising a sealable part of the seal, the sealable part extending substantially coaxially to the first axis, and which connects the second inlet to the mixer, the stop bei

Assignees

• Vernet

Inventors

• Fassolette Pierre-Olivier
• Maraux Thierry

Classifications

• E03C1/041 Primary

  having provisions against scalding, e.g. temperature limiting devices, external covers · CPC title

• G05D23/132 Primary

  with temperature sensing element · CPC title

• F16K31/002

  actuated by temperature variation (thermo-electric F16K31/025) · CPC title

• F16K17/38

  of excessive temperature · CPC title

• F16K11/0787

  with both the supply and the discharge passages being on the same side of the closure members (F16K11/0785 takes precedence) · CPC title