Antifriction liner for ceramic valve plates of single-handled mixing valve

Claim 1

In a mixing valve structure having wall means forming a valve recess, a ceramic valve seat in said recess and providing hot and cold water inlet ports opening in said recess, a frangible ceramic valve plate having a frontal surface slidable along said valve seat and having flow control recess means cooperable with said ports for determining the relative opening of said ports and the combined volume of flow therethrough, an operating arm for moving the valve plate, said arm having a ball part, means forming a socket for said ball part, means confining said arm for movement so that a plane fixed with respect to said arm includes the axis of said recess while said arm is tilted about its center and moved angularly about said axis, characterized by: said valve plate having a slot in its rear surface from said seat, said operating arm having a crosspin accommodated in said slot, said crosspin extending perpendicular to said plane, there being a plastic cap fitted on the valve plate and having flanges extending into the slot of said valve plate to be interposed between said crosspin and said slot of said valve plate whereby said ceramic valve plate is protected from abrasion and whereby the contact pressure between said operating arm and said valve plate is minimized when said valve plate is angularly moved.