Mixing valve

Claim 2

In a fluid mixing valve, a valve member having first and second faces and a fluid exit orifice opening to said first face defined by contiguous surface portions of said valve member extending from said first face toward said second face, a pair of fluid inlet passageways opening to said contiguous surface portions between said first and second faces, at least a portion of said valve member being resiliently deformable and constructed such that part of said surface portions are spread apart when a force acting in a direction toward said first face is applied to said valve member, valve operating means engageable with said valve member for applying a deforming force acting toward said first face, means engaging said valve member restricting movement of said valve member in the direction of the applied force whereupon said valve operating means may be actuated to apply a deforming force acting in said direction to open selected portions of said fluid exit orifice thereby to selectively open at least part of one or parts of both of said fluid inlet passageways through said fluid exit orifice depending upon the location at which said deforming force is applied.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said valve member is generally cylindrical, said fluid exit orifice being circular, and wherein said valve operating means includes rotatable means rotatable about an axis aligned with the centerline of said circular fluid exit orifice and engaging said second face of said valve member at points axially aligned with parts of said fluid exit orifice.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said valve operating means comprises a manually operable valve control lever, said rotatable means comprising cam means connected to said control lever, a clutch ring rotatably movable and axially confined within and frictionally engaging said housing means in surrounding relation to said cam means And clampingly engaged therewith, said cam means including a protuberance projecting into an aperture in said clutch ring whereby said cam means may pivot about the point of engagement of said protuberance with said clutch ring to apply varying amounts of deforming force to said valve member.

Claim 5

In a fluid mixing valve, valve housing means having a mixing chamber, a valve member within said housing means, said valve member having a pair of fluid inlet passageways extending partially therethrough and a fluid exit orifice communicating between the inner ends of said fluid inlet passageways and an outer surface of said valve member opening to said mixing chamber, said fluid exit orifice being defined by contiguous surfaces of relatively movable parts of said valve member which comprise a generally circular outer rim and a generally cylindrical inner core which are normally in sealing engagement relative to one another, and at least said outer rim being made from resiliently deformable elastomeric material whereupon said parts may be moved relative to one another to open said fluid exit orifice, valve operating means for applying a deforming force to said valve member to open selected portions of said fluid exit orifice, and a fluid outlet passageways extending from said mixing chamber through said housing means.

Claim 6

In a fluid mixing valve, valve housing means having a mixing chamber, a valve member within said housing means, said valve member having a pair of fluid inlet passageways extending partially therethrough and a fluid exit orifice communicating between the inner ends of said fluid inlet passageways and an outer surface of said valve member opening to said mixing chamber, said fluid exit orifice being defined by contiguous surfaces of relatively movable parts of said valve member which comprise a generally circular outer rim and a generally cylindrical inner core which are normally in sealing engagement relative to one another, and at least said outer rim being made from resiliently deformable elastomeric material whereupon said parts may be moved relative to one another to open said fluid exit orifice, valve operating means for applying a deforming force to said valve member to open selected portions of said fluid exit orifice, and a fluid outlet passageways extending from said mixing chamber through said housing means.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said outer rim and said inner core are integrally formed from elastomeric material.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said fluid inlet passageways extend through said outer rim from its outer surface.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said fluid inlet passageways have axes perpendicular to the center axis of said inner core and mutually circumferentially spaced by substantially 90*.

Claim 10

A mixing valve comprising: housing means having spaced fluid delivery passageways, a mixing chamber, and a fluid outlet passageway leading from said mixing chamber to the exterior of said housing means, a valve member having an inner core and an elastomeric outer rim separated by a normally closed slit in the front surface of said valve member and extending at least partially into said valve member, said outer rim having a pair of spaced fluid inlet passageways open to said fluid delivery passageways and having spaced openings to said slit, abutment means fixed within said housing and engaging the front surface of said outer rim to prevent displacement of said valve member past said abutment means, and valve actuating means including means engageable with the rear surface of said valve member constructed and arranged for exerting a deforming force against the rear surface of said valve member to cause said inner core and said outer rim to separate along a portion of the engaged surfaces thereof whereupon said slit is widened to form a fluid exit orifice opening to said mixing chamber.

Claim 11

A mixing valve comprising: housing means having spaced fluid delivery passageways, a mixing chamber, and a fluid outlet passageway leading from said mixing chamber to the exterior of said housing means, a valve member having an inner core and an elastomeric outer rim separated by a normally closed slit in the front surface of said valve member and extending at least partially into said valve member, said outer rim having a pair of spaced fluid inlet passageways open to said fluid delivery passageways and having spaced openings to said slit, abutment means fixed within said housing and engaging the front surface of said outer rim to prevent displacement of said valve member past said abutment means, and valve actuating means including means engageable with the rear surface of said valve member constructed and arranged for exerting a deforming force against the rear surface of said valve member to cause said inner core and said outer rim to separate along a portion of the engaged surfaces thereof whereupon said slit is widened to form a fluid exit orifice opening to said mixing chamber.

Claim 12

The mixing valve of claim 8 wherein said housing means includes a valve body having a bore receiving said valve member, said valve member being radially compressed by said bore.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said housing means comprises a housing body having a bore therein, said valve member being located adjacent one end of said bore, said housing means further including a hollow, generally cylindrical housing cap received within said bore, said housing cap being closed at one end, and having spaced, isolated annular recesses in its outer surface, one of said recesses providing fluid communication from said mixing chamber to a first opening exteriorly of said body and the other of said recesses providing fluid communication through said body to a second opening exteriorly of said body.

Claim 14

In a fluid mixing valve, valve housing means defining a closed bore, said valve housing means having a pair of fluid delivery passageways through the wall thereof and opening to said bore intermediate its ends, a valve member confined within said bore and closing said bore intermediate its ends, said valve member having a pair of fluid inlet passageways, one end of each of said fluid inlet passageways being aligned with the inner ends of said fluid delivery passageway, said valve member further having spaced front and rear surfaces facing opposite ends of said bore and said valve member having relatively movable parts, the contiguous surfaces of which are normally in sealing engagement and define a slit opening to said front surface and open to the inner ends of said fluid inlet passageway, said front surface and one end of said bore defining a mixing chamber, a fluid outlet passageway extending through the wall of said housing means from said mixing chamber, said rear surface and the other end of said bore defining a chamber, valve operating means including means engaging said rear surface mounted for rotatable and pivotal movement in said chamber and further including control means projecting from said chamber exteriorly of said housing, at least one of said parts of said valve member being resiliently deformable whereby portions of said slit may be spread in response to said pivotal movement of said valve operating means, the portions so spread being determined by the rotary position of said valve operating means.

Claim 15

In a fluid mixing valve, valve housing means defining a closed bore, said valve housing means having a pair of fluid delivery passageways through the wall thereof and opening to said bore intermediate its ends, a valve member confined within said bore and closing said bore intermediate its ends, said valve member having a pair of fluid inlet passageways, one end of each of said fluid inlet passageways being aligned with the inner ends of said fluid delivery passageway, said valve member further having spaced front and rear surfaces facing opposite ends of said bore and said valve member having relatively movable parts, the contiguous surfaces of which are normally in sealing engagement and define a slit opening to said front surface and open to the inner ends of said fluid inlet passageway, said front surface and one end of said bore defining a mixing chamber, a fluid outlet passageway extending through the wall of said housing means from said mixing chamber, said rear surface and the other end of said bore defining a chamber, valve operating means including means engaging said rear surface mounted for rotatable and pivotal movement in said chamber and further including control means projecting from said chamber exteriorly of said housing, at least one of said parts of said valve member being resiliently deformable whereby portions of said slit may be spread in response to said pivotal movement of said valve operating means, the portions so spread being determined by the rotary position of said valve operating means.

Claim 16

In a single lever faucet of the type having valve housing means confining a mixing valve member responsive to pivotal and rotational movement of a control lever for apportioning the hot and cold water supplied to a mixing chamber, the improvement comprising cam means on said control lever engaged with said valve member, and a clutch ring made of spring material clampingly surrounding said cam means and axially confined within said housing means for frictionally resisted rotation therein, said cam means and said clutch ring having interengaging surfaces about which said cam means may be pivoted.

Claim 17

In a single lever faucet of the type having valve housing means confining a mixing valve member responsive to pivotal and rotational movement of a control lever for apportioning the hot and cold water supplied to a mixing chamber, the improvement comprising cam means on said control lever engaged with said valve member, and a clutch ring made of spring material clampingly surrounding said cam means and axially confined within said housing means for frictionally resisted rotation therein, said cam means and said clutch ring having interengaging surfaces about which said cam means may be pivoted.

Claim 18

The improvement of claim 12 wherein said valve member is at least partially elastomeric and has parts deformed and separated upon pivotal movement of said cam means toward said valve member.

Claim 19

The improvement of claim 12 further including an escutcheon having an aperture in its rear wall, said control lever projecting through said aperture, and means connecting said housing means to said escutcheon.

Claim 20

The improvement of claim 12 wherein said clutch ring is movable in said housing generally transversely of the axis of rotation of said control lever.

Claim 21

The improvement of claim 12 wherein said cam means includes a rotatable cam and a bearing disc with a hub received by a bore in said cam, said bearing disc being confined between said cam and said valve member.

Claim 22

The improvement of claim 16 further including adjusting means engaging said hub of said bearing disc and connected to said lever for presetting the relative positions of said disc and said valve member.

Claim 23

A disc-shaped valve member having parallel front and rear surfaces, an arcuate slit opening to said front surface, said slit being defined by inwardly directed contiguous surface portions of said valve member, at least one fluid passageway extending through a portion of said valve member and opening to said slit between said front and rear surfaces, and being closed from said front and rear surfaces, said valve member including resiliently deformable portions adapted to be deformed by application of a deforming force to said rear surface to widen said slit along a portion of the length thereof and open said fluid passageway to said front surface.

Claim 24

A disc-shaped valve member having parallel front and rear surfaces, an arcuate slit opening to said front surface, said slit being defined by inwardly directed contiguous surface portions of said valve member, at least one fluid passageway extending through a portion of said valve member and opening to said slit between said front and rear surfaces, and being closed from said front and rear surfaces, said valve member including resiliently deformable portions adapted to be deformed by application of a deforming force to said rear surface to widen said slit along a portion of the length thereof and open said fluid passageway to said front surface.

Claim 25

The device of claim 18 wherein said valve member is formed in one piece from an elastomeric material.

Claim 26

The device of claim 19 wherein said slit is generally circular, the interior end of which terminates in a ring-shaped cavity.

Claim 27

The device of claim 19 further including a second fluid passageway opening to said slit between said front and rear surfaces, the openings to said slit of said first mentioned and said second fluid passageway being spaced apart along the length of said slit.

Claim 28

A valve member having spaced front and rear Surfaces with two relatively movable parts having confronting faces defining a slit opening to said front surface, one of said parts having a pair of fluid passageways opening to said slit, at least one of said parts being resilient and deformable whereby the width of portions of said slit may be changed by the application of a deforming force to said rear face, the other of said parts being generally cylindrical and encircled by said one of said parts, and the ends of said passageways opening to said slit having axes perpendicular to the center axis of said cylindrical part and mutually circumferentially spaced by approximately 90*.

Claim 29

A valve member having spaced front and rear Surfaces with two relatively movable parts having confronting faces defining a slit opening to said front surface, one of said parts having a pair of fluid passageways opening to said slit, at least one of said parts being resilient and deformable whereby the width of portions of said slit may be changed by the application of a deforming force to said rear face, the other of said parts being generally cylindrical and encircled by said one of said parts, and the ends of said passageways opening to said slit having axes perpendicular to the center axis of said cylindrical part and mutually circumferentially spaced by approximately 90*.

Claim 30

For use in a mixing valve, a deformable valve member comprising an outer rim of elastomeric material and an inner core received within said outer rim, said outer rim having a pair of spaced fluid passageways extending therethrough, and said valve member being constructed to have an undeformed shape wherein the outer surface of said inner core blocks the innermost ends of said fluid passageways.

Claim 31

For use in a mixing valve, a deformable valve member comprising an outer rim of elastomeric material and an inner core received within said outer rim, said outer rim having a pair of spaced fluid passageways extending therethrough, and said valve member being constructed to have an undeformed shape wherein the outer surface of said inner core blocks the innermost ends of said fluid passageways.

Claim 32

The valve member of claim 23 wherein said outer rim and said inner core are integrally formed from elastomeric material.

Claim 33

The valve member of claim 23 further including a web integral with said outer rim closing one end thereof, and wherein said inner core abuts said web and closes the other end of said rim except along the adjacent surfaces of said rim and said core.

Claim 34

The valve member of claim 23 wherein said outer rim is closed at both ends by said core and said core has a radially extending annular flange located in a recess at one end of said rim.

Claim 35

The valve member of claim 23 wherein said inner core has a resilient tongue projecting from one face thereof.

Claim 36

The valve member of claim 23 wherein said inner core is cylindrical and wherein the inner ends of said fluid passageways are circumferentially spaced by approximately 90*.

Claim 37

The valve member of claim 23 wherein said valve member has spaced, substantially planar front and rear faces, said outer rim is generally circular, and said inner core is generally cylindrical.

Claim 38

The valve member of claim 29 wherein said outer rim and said inner core are integrally formed from elastomeric material.

Claim 39

The valve member of claim 30 wherein said valve member has an interior, generally ring-shaped cavity adjacent said rear face, the web of said elastomeric material between said cavity and said rear face forming a hinge between said outer rim and said inner core.

Claim 40

The valve member of claim 29 further including a resilient tongue projecting forwardly from the front end face of said inner core.

Claim 41

For use in a mixing valve, a disc-shaped valve member having a closed rear surface and a front surface which is closed except along a circular, inwardly directed slit defined by contiguous surface portions of said valve member, a pair of fluid inlet passageways extending through the rim of said valve member along generally radial axes and opening to said slit internally of said valve member, said valve member including resiliently deformable portions adapted to be deformed by application of a deforming force to said rear surface and, when deformed, to cause said slit to widen along arcuate portions thereof.

Claim 42

For use in a mixing valve, a disc-shaped valve member having a closed rear surface and a front surface which is closed except along a circular, inwardly directed slit defined by contiguous surface portions of said valve member, a pair of fluid inlet passageways extending through the rim of said valve member along generally radial axes and opening to said slit internally of said valve member, said valve member including resiliently deformable portions adapted to be deformed by application of a deforming force to said rear surface and, when deformed, to cause said slit to widen along arcuate portions thereof.