Trim system for fluid control valve

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9725889-B2
Application number	US-201514745031-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 19, 2015
Priority date	Jun 19, 2014
Publication date	Aug 8, 2017
Grant date	Aug 8, 2017

Abstract

A trim system for a fluid control valve that includes a first stem driver coupled to a first actuator of the valve, a cage coupled to the first stem driver, a first handle coupled to the cage, a second stem driver coupled to a second actuator of the valve, and a second handle coupled to the second stem driver. The first stem driver and the cage are configured to compensate for axial and angular misalignment between the first handle and the first actuator, and the second stem driver and the second handle are configured to compensate for axial and angular misalignment between the second handle and the second actuator. Rotation of the first handle is configured to rotate the first actuator through the first stem driver and the cage, and rotation of the second handle is configured to rotate the second actuator through the second stem driver.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A trim system for controlling a fluid control valve for a kitchen or bath fixture, the fluid control valve having a first actuator configured to control one of a flow rate and a temperature of water from the valve and a second actuator configured to control the other of the flow rate and temperature of water from the valve, the trim system comprising:
a first stem driver coupled to the first actuator of the fluid control valve;
a cage coupled to the first stem driver;
a first handle coupled to the cage;
a second stem driver coupled to the second actuator of the fluid control valve; and
a second handle coupled to the second stem driver;
wherein the first stem driver and the cage are configured to compensate for axial and angular misalignment between the first handle and the first actuator, and the second stem driver and the second handle are configured to compensate for axial and angular misalignment between the second handle and the second actuator;
wherein rotation of the first handle is configured to rotate the first actuator through the first stem driver and the cage, and rotation of the second handle is configured to rotate the second actuator through the second stem driver; and
wherein the first stem driver and the cage are disposed in a bore of the second stem driver, such that the second stem driver extends circumferentially around the first stem driver and the cage.

2. The trim system of claim 1 , wherein an axially extending slot is disposed in the cage, and wherein the first stem driver comprises a lug that extends radially from a shaft through the axially extending slot.

3. The trim system of claim 1 , wherein the cage includes a plurality of axially extending slots, and wherein the first stem driver comprises a plurality of lugs extending radially from a shaft, such that each lug extends through one slot in the cage.

4. The trim system of claim 1 , wherein the first handle and the second handle rotate independently of one another about a common axis of rotation.

5. The trim system of claim 1 , wherein the first stem driver and the cage are configured to compensate for a range of distances between the first handle and the first actuator, and the second stem driver and the second handle are configured to compensate for a range of distances between the second handle and the second actuator.

6. A trim system for controlling a fluid control valve for a kitchen or bath fixture, the fluid control valve having a first actuator configured to control one of a flow rate and a temperature of water from the valve and a second actuator configured to control the other of the flow rate and temperature of water from the valve, the trim system comprising:
a first stem driver coupled to the first actuator of the fluid control valve;
a cage coupled to the first stem driver;
a first handle coupled to the cage;
a second stem driver coupled to the second actuator of the fluid control valve; and
a second handle coupled to the second stem driver;
wherein the first stem driver and the cage are configured to compensate for axial and angular misalignment between the first handle and the first actuator, and the second stem driver and the second handle are configured to compensate for axial and angular misalignment between the second handle and the second actuator;
wherein rotation of the first handle is configured to rotate the first actuator through the first stem driver and the cage, and rotation of the second handle is configured to rotate the second actuator through the second stem driver;
wherein the second stem driver comprises a body and a lug extending radially from the body; and
wherein the lug is received in a channel of the second handle.

7. The trim system of claim 6 , wherein the first stem driver and the cage are disposed in a bore of the second stem driver, such that the second stem driver extends circumferentially around the first stem driver and the cage.

8. A trim system for controlling a fluid control valve for a kitchen or bath fixture, the fluid control valve having a first actuator configured to control one of a flow rate and a temperature of water from the valve and a second actuator configured to control the other of the flow rate and temperature of water from the valve, the trim system comprising:
a first stem driver coupled to the first actuator of the fluid control valve;
a cage coupled to the first stem driver;
a first handle coupled to the cage;
a second stem driver coupled to the second actuator of the fluid control valve; and
a second handle coupled to the second stem driver;
wherein the first stem driver and the cage are configured to compensate for axial and angular misalignment between the first handle and the first actuator, and the second stem driver and the second handle are configured to compensate for axial and angular misalignment between the second handle and the second actuator;
wherein rotation of the first handle is configured to rotate the first actuator through the first stem driver and the cage, and rotation of the second handle is configured to rotate the second actuator through the second stem driver;
wherein the second handle includes a plurality of channels;
wherein the second stem driver comprises a plurality of lugs extending radially from a body thereof; and
wherein each lug is received within one channel in the second handle.

9. The trim system of claim 8 , wherein the first stem driver and the cage are disposed in a bore of the second stem driver, such that the second stem driver extends circumferentially around the first stem driver and the cage.

10. A trim system for controlling a fluid control valve for a kitchen or bath fixture, the fluid control valve having a first actuator configured to control one of a flow rate and a temperature of water from the valve and a second actuator configured to control the other of the flow rate and temperature of water from the valve, the trim system comprising:
a first stem driver coupled to the first actuator of the fluid control valve;
a cage coupled to the first stem driver;
a first handle coupled to the cage;
a second stem driver coupled to the second actuator of the fluid control valve; and
a second handle coupled to the second stem driver;
wherein the first stem driver and the cage are configured to compensate for axial and angular misalignment between the first handle and the first actuator, and the second stem driver and the second handle are configured to compensate for axial and angular misalignment between the second handle and the second actuator;
wherein rotation of the first handle is configured to rotate the first actuator through the first stem driver and the cage, and rotation of the second handle is configured to rotate the second actuator through the second stem driver;
wherein the first actuator of the fluid control valve comprises a plurality of teeth;
wherein the first stem driver comprises a base having a plurality of teeth extending from the base;
wherein the teeth of the first stem driver are configured to engage the teeth of the first actuator; and
wherein the teeth of the first stem driver are configured to shear at a first torque on the first handle, the fluid control valve is configured to fail at a second torque on the first handle, and the first torque is less than the second torque.

11. The trim system of claim 10 , wherein the first stem driver and the cage are disposed in a bore of the second stem driver, such that the second stem driver extends circumferentially around the first stem driver and the cage.

12. The trim system of claim 10 , wherein the second stem driver comprises a body and a lug exten

Assignees

• Kohler Co

Inventors

• Wilson John M
• Slothower Erich D
• Ford Keegan J
• Aykens Steven
• Wanasek James T

Classifications

• Y10T137/0441

  Repairing, securing, replacing, or servicing pipe joint, valve, or tank · CPC title

• E03C2201/50

  Constructional features of escutcheons for domestic plumbing installations · CPC title

• Y10T137/86815

  Multiple inlet with single outlet · CPC title

• Y10T137/598

  With repair, tapping, assembly, or disassembly means · CPC title

• E03C1/021 Primary

  Devices for positioning or connecting of water supply lines (connection to the tap body E03C1/0403) · CPC title