Mixing valve

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9650769-B2
Application number	US-201313799834-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 13, 2013
Priority date	Jun 22, 2012
Publication date	May 16, 2017
Grant date	May 16, 2017

Abstract

A mixing valve includes a first inlet for receiving a first fluid, a second inlet for receiving a second fluid, and a mixing chamber having a fluid outlet for outputting the first fluid or the second fluid or a mixture thereof. The mixing valve includes a first flow control valve for controlling the flow of the first fluid into the mixing chamber and a second flow control valve, separate from the first flow control valve, for controlling the flow of the second fluid into the mixing chamber. At least one of the first or second flow control valve includes at least two separate outlets into the mixing chamber.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A mixing valve comprising:
a first inlet chamber having a first outlet, a second outlet, and an inlet between the first and second outlets for receiving a first fluid;
a second inlet chamber having a first outlet, a second outlet, and an inlet between the first and second outlets for receiving a second fluid configured at a different temperature than the first fluid;
a mixing chamber having a fluid outlet for outputting the first fluid or the second fluid or a mixture thereof;
a first flow control valve for controlling the flow of only the first fluid from the first inlet chamber into the mixing chamber through the first and second outlets of the first inlet chamber, the first flow control valve comprising:
a first valve member that engages a first valve seat associated with the first outlet of the first inlet chamber in a closed position of the first flow control valve; and
a second valve member that engages a second valve seat associated with the second outlet of the first inlet chamber in the closed position of the first flow control valve;
wherein at least one of the first and second valve members of the first flow control valve is disposed in the first inlet chamber in an open position of the first flow control valve; and

a second flow control valve, separate from the first flow control valve, for controlling the flow of only the second fluid from the second inlet chamber into the mixing chamber through the first and second outlets of the second inlet chamber, the second flow control valve comprising:
a first valve member that engages a first valve seat associated with the first outlet of the second inlet chamber in a closed position of the second flow control valve; and
a second valve member that engages a second valve seat associated with the second outlet of the second inlet chamber in the closed position of the second flow control valve;
wherein at least one of the first and second valve members of the second flow control valve is disposed in the second inlet chamber in an open position of the second flow control valve.

2. The mixing valve of claim 1 , wherein the two separate valve outlets of each inlet chamber are formed at substantially opposite ends of such inlet chamber.

3. The mixing valve of claim 2 , wherein the first valve member of each flow control valve is received in the associated inlet chamber in the open position of the associated flow control valve and the associated second valve member is received in the mixing chamber in the open position of the flow control valve.

4. The mixing valve of claim 2 , wherein each flow control valve includes a valve member assembly including the first valve member and the second valve member.

5. The mixing valve of claim 4 , wherein each first valve member is arranged to be urged closed by fluid entering the associated inlet chamber through the associated inlet and the associated second valve member is arranged to be urged open by fluid entering the inlet chamber through the inlet.

6. The mixing valve of claim 5 , wherein the first and second valve members of each flow control valve are connected to a spool coupled to an actuator which controls the position of the valve members relative to their respective valve seats.

7. The mixing valve of claim 6 , wherein the actuator is an electrically powered motor.

8. The mixing valve of claim 7 , wherein the motor is a stepper motor.

9. The mixing valve of claim 4 , wherein each valve member assembly is balanced such that fluid flowing through the associated flow control valve exerts substantially no net force on the valve member assembly.

10. The mixing valve of claim 1 , wherein the first and second outlets of each inlet chamber are of similar size.

11. The mixing valve of claim 1 , wherein the at least two separate outlets are axially aligned.

12. The mixing valve of claim 4 , wherein each valve seat is located within the associated valve outlet.

13. The mixing valve of claim 12 , wherein each valve seat includes a cylindrical bore portion in which the associated valve member is slidably received in the closed position of the associated flow control valve.

14. The mixing valve of claim 4 , wherein each of the first and second valve seats of each inlet chamber is located at one end of the associated valve outlet.

15. The mixing valve of claim 4 , wherein each valve seat includes an end face against which the associated valve member seats in the closed position of the associated flow control valve.

16. The mixing valve of claim 1 , wherein the mixing valve includes a housing that houses the first and second flow control valves and includes apertures that form the inlet of the first inlet chamber, the inlet of the second inlet chamber, and the fluid outlet of the mixing chamber.

17. The mixing valve of claim 1 , wherein the housing is made of metal or an alloy and includes an electrically powered heating device configured to thermally disinfect the mixing valve.

18. The mixing valve of claim 17 , further comprising a controller configured to prevent discharge of water from the mixing valve when the electrically powered heating device is active.

19. The mixing valve of claim 1 , wherein the first and second flow control valves are configured to be connected to supplies of hot and cold water, respectively, and the mixing valve further comprises a controller for controlling the mixing valve in response to at least one of water temperature and flow rate.

20. The mixing valve of claim 1 , further comprising a sensor configured to monitor at least one of the temperature or flow rate of the outlet water and a controller configured to control at least one of a user-selected outlet water temperature or flow rate.

21. The mixing valve of claim 1 , further comprising a sensor configured to monitor at least one of the temperature of supplies of hot and cold water or the flow rate of the outlet water or flow rate of the outlet water and a controller configured to control at least one of a user-selected outlet water temperature or flow rate.

22. A mixing valve comprising:
a mixing chamber;
a first flow control valve having two outlets for controlling the flow of a first fluid from a first inlet into the mixing chamber, wherein the first inlet is located between the two outlets of the first flow control valve;
a second flow control valve having two outlets for controlling the flow of a second fluid configured at a different temperature than the first fluid from a second inlet into the mixing chamber, wherein the second inlet is located between the two outlets of the second flow control valve;
wherein each flow control valve includes a valve member assembly including a first valve member adapted to engage with a first valve seat associated with a first of the two valve outlets in a closed position of the flow control valve and a second valve member adapted to engage with a second, separate, valve seat associated with a second of the two valve outlets in the closed position of the flow control valve;
a first inlet chamber comprising the first inlet and the first and second valve seats associated with the valve member assembly of the first flow control valve, such that at least one valve member of the valve member assembly of the first flow control valve is disposed in the first inlet chamber in an open position of the first flow control valve; and
a second inlet chamber comprising the second inlet and the first and second valve seats associated with the valve memb

Assignees

• Kohler Mira Ltd

Inventors

• Peel Kevin T

Classifications

• F16K49/002

  Electric heating means · CPC title

• F16K11/20

  operated by separate actuating members (with one plug turning in another F16K11/12) · CPC title

• Y10T137/7759

  Responsive to change in rate of fluid flow · CPC title

• E03C1/0409

  Shower handles · CPC title

• E03B7/006

  Arrangements or methods for cleaning or refurbishing water conduits · CPC title