Single-handle mixing and proportioning valve

Claim 2

A mixing and proportioning valve comprising a housing defining therein a chamber provided with first and second fluid inlet ports for respectively delivering first and second fluids and a fluid outlet port spaced from said fluid inlet ports, a valve seat in said housing at one end of said chamber and disposed between said inlet ports and said outlet port, a seal member mounted in said chamber adjacent to said valve seat and having first and second inlet passages and an outlet passage therethrough respectively registering at one end thereof with said first and second inlet ports and said outlet port, a valve plate slidably mounted in said chamber adjacent to said seal member and having a flow control surface thereon cooperating with the other ends of said inlet passages for determining the relative openings thereof and the combined volume of flow therethrough, seal loading means disposed between said valve seat and said seal member for urging said seal member into sealing engagement with the flow control surface of said valve plate, drive means mounted in said housing and being coupled to said valve plate for effecting sliding movement thereof with respect to said seal member, said drive means and said valve plate being constructed and arranged to accommodate volume control movement of said valve plate in a first range between a full-on position and a full-off position, said drive means and said valve plate being constructed and arranged to accommodate proportion control movement of said valve plate in a second range between a fullfirst fluid position and a full-second position, said valve plate being movable between said full-on position and said full-off position for any position of proportion control between said full-first fluid position and said full-second fluid position without changing said proportion control position, whereby said flow control surface cooperates with said passages to deliver first and second fluids from said fluid inlet ports in any desired volume in said first range of movement and in any desired proportions in said second range of movements to change the volume and proportions independently of each other throughout both said First range of movement and said second range of movement.

Claim 3

The mixing and proportioning valve set forth in claim 1, wherein said ports and said one end of said passages are all circular in shape and equal in diameter, the other ends of said inlet passages being identically rectangular in shape with the facing sides thereof being parallel to each other.

Claim 4

The mixing and proportioning valve set forth in claim 1, wherein said housing and said valve plate and said seal member are all cylindrical in shape and substantially circular in cross section.

Claim 5

A mixing and proportioning valve comprising a housing defining therein a chamber provided with first and second fluid inlet ports for respectively delivering first and second fluids and a fluid outlet port spaced from said fluid inlet ports, a valve seat in said housing at one end of said chamber and disposed between said inlet ports and said outlet port, a seal member mounted in said chamber adjacent to said valve seat and having first and second inlet passages and an outlet passage therethrough respectively registering at one end thereof with said first and second inlet ports and said outlet port, a valve plate slidably mounted in said chamber adjacent to said seal member and having a flow control surface thereon provided with a recess therein cooperating with the other ends of said inlet passages for determining the relative openings thereof and the combined volume of flow therethrough, a seal loading member disposed between said seal member and said valve seat and having apertures therethrough respectively registering with said ports and said passages, a pair of bosses respectively formed on opposite sides of said seal loading member and respectively abutting said valve seat and said seal member and each defining a plurality of regions respectively surrounding the adjacent ends of said apertures, the regions on one side of said seal loading member having a combined total area substantially equal to the combined total area of the regions on the other side of said seal loading member and greater than the flow area of said recess in said valve plate whereby hydraulic pressure urges said seal member and said valve plate into sealing engagement with each other, and drive means mounted in said housing and being coupled to said valve plate for effecting sliding movement thereof with respect to said seal member, said drive means and said valve plate being constructed and arranged to accommodate volume control movement of said valve plate in a first range between a full-on position and full-off position, said drive means and said valve plate being constructed and arranged to accommodate proportion control movement of said valve plate in a second range between a full-first fluid position and full-second fluid position, said valve plate being movable between said full-on position and said full-off position for any position of proportion control between said full-first fluid position and said full-second fluid position without changing said proportion control position, whereby said flow control surface cooperates with said passages to deliver first and second fluids from said fluid inlet ports in any desired volume in said first range of movement and in any desired proportions in said second range of movement to change the volume and proportions independently of each other throughout both said first range of movement and said second range of movement.

Claim 6

A mixing and proportioning valve comprising a housing defining therein a chamber provided with first and second fluid inlet ports for respectively delivering first and second fluids and a fluid outlet port spaced from said fluid inlet ports, a valve seat in said housing at one end of said chamber and disposed between said inlet ports and said outlet port, a seal member mounted in said chamber adjacent to said valve seat and having first and second inlet passages and an outlet passage therethrough respectively registering at one end thereof with said first and second inlet ports and said outlet port, a valve plate slidably mounted in said chamber adjacent to said seal member and having a flow control surface thereon provided with a recess therein cooperating with the other ends of said inlet passages for determining the relative openings thereof and the combined volume of flow therethrough, a seal loading member disposed between said seal member and said valve seat and having apertures therethrough respectively registering with said ports and said passages, a pair of bosses respectively formed on opposite sides of said seal loading member and respectively abutting said valve seat and said seal member and each defining a plurality of regions respectively surrounding the adjacent ends of said apertures, the regions on one side of said seal loading member having a combined total area substantially equal to the combined total area of the regions on the other side of said seal loading member and greater than the flow area of said recess in said valve plate whereby hydraulic pressure urges said seal member and said valve plate into sealing engagement with each other, and drive means mounted in said housing and being coupled to said valve plate for effecting sliding movement thereof with respect to said seal member, said drive means and said valve plate being constructed and arranged to accommodate volume control movement of said valve plate in a first range between a full-on position and full-off position, said drive means and said valve plate being constructed and arranged to accommodate proportion control movement of said valve plate in a second range between a full-first fluid position and full-second fluid position, said valve plate being movable between said full-on position and said full-off position for any position of proportion control between said full-first fluid position and said full-second fluid position without changing said proportion control position, whereby said flow control surface cooperates with said passages to deliver first and second fluids from said fluid inlet ports in any desired volume in said first range of movement and in any desired proportions in said second range of movement to change the volume and proportions independently of each other throughout both said first range of movement and said second range of movement.

Claim 7

The mixing and proportioning valve set forth in claim 4, wherein said gasket includes an inner rigid plate, and an outer elastomeric layer on the outer surfaces of said inner plate in surrounding and contacting relationship therewith, said bosses being formed on said outer layer.

Claim 8

The mixing and proportioning valve set forth in claim 4, wherein each of said regions defined by said bosses is generally circular in shape.

Claim 9

The mixing and proportioning valve set forth in claim 4, wherein each of said regions defined by said bosses is generally circular in shape and is arranged eccentrically with respect to the associated passage and port.

Claim 10

A mixing and proportioning valve comprising a housing defining therein a chamber provided with first and second fluid inlet ports for respectively delivering first and second fluids and fluid outlet port spaced from said fluid inlet ports, a valve seat in said housing at one end of said chamber and disposed between said inlet ports and said outlet port, a seal member mounted in said chamber adjacent to said valve seat and having first and second inlet passages and an outlet passage therethrough respectively registering at one end thereof with said first and second inlet ports and said outlet port, a valve plate slidably mounted in said chamber adjacent to said seal member and having a flow control surface thereon provided with a recess therein cooperating with the other ends of said inlet passages for determining the relative openings thereof and the combined volume of flow therethrough, a seal loading member disposed between said seal member and said valve seat and having apertures therethrough respectively registering with said ports and said passages, the opposite sides of said seal loading member being respectively provided with a pair of recesses therein surrounding the opposite ends of said apertures, a pair of gaskets respectively shaped complementary to said recesses and receivable therein for lining the peripheries thereof and respectively abutting said valve seat and seal member, each of said gaskets dividing the associated recess into a plurality of regions respectively surrounding the adjacent ends of said apertures, the regions on one side of said seal loading member having a combined total area substantially equal to the combined total area of the regions on the other side of said seal loading member and substantially greater than the flow area of said recess in said valve plate whereby hydraulic pressure urges said seal member and said valve plate into sealing engagement with each other, and drive means mounted in said housing and being coupled to said valve plate for effecting sliding movement thereof with respect to said seal member, said drive means and said valve plate being constructed and arranged to accommodate volume control movement of said valve plate in a first range between a full-on position and full-off position, said drive means and said valve plate being constructed and arranged to accommodate proportion control movement of said valve plate in a second range between a full-first fluid position and full-second fluid position, said valve plate being movable between said full-on position and said full-off position for any position of proportion control between said full-first fluid position and said full-second fluid position without changing said proportion control position, whereby said flow control surface cooperates with said passages to deliver first and second fluids from said fluid inlet ports in any desired volume in said first range of movement and in any desired proportions in said second range of movement to change the volume and proportions independently of each other throughout both said first range of movement and said second range of movement.

Claim 11

A mixing and proportioning valve comprising a housing defining therein a chamber provided with first and second fluid inlet ports for respectively delivering first and second fluids and fluid outlet port spaced from said fluid inlet ports, a valve seat in said housing at one end of said chamber and disposed between said inlet ports and said outlet port, a seal member mounted in said chamber adjacent to said valve seat and having first and second inlet passages and an outlet passage therethrough respectively registering at one end thereof with said first and second inlet ports and said outlet port, a valve plate slidably mounted in said chamber adjacent to said seal member and having a flow control surface thereon provided with a recess therein cooperating with the other ends of said inlet passages for determining the relative openings thereof and the combined volume of flow therethrough, a seal loading member disposed between said seal member and said valve seat and having apertures therethrough respectively registering with said ports and said passages, the opposite sides of said seal loading member being respectively provided with a pair of recesses therein surrounding the opposite ends of said apertures, a pair of gaskets respectively shaped complementary to said recesses and receivable therein for lining the peripheries thereof and respectively abutting said valve seat and seal member, each of said gaskets dividing the associated recess into a plurality of regions respectively surrounding the adjacent ends of said apertures, the regions on one side of said seal loading member having a combined total area substantially equal to the combined total area of the regions on the other side of said seal loading member and substantially greater than the flow area of said recess in said valve plate whereby hydraulic pressure urges said seal member and said valve plate into sealing engagement with each other, and drive means mounted in said housing and being coupled to said valve plate for effecting sliding movement thereof with respect to said seal member, said drive means and said valve plate being constructed and arranged to accommodate volume control movement of said valve plate in a first range between a full-on position and full-off position, said drive means and said valve plate being constructed and arranged to accommodate proportion control movement of said valve plate in a second range between a full-first fluid position and full-second fluid position, said valve plate being movable between said full-on position and said full-off position for any position of proportion control between said full-first fluid position and said full-second fluid position without changing said proportion control position, whereby said flow control surface cooperates with said passages to deliver first and second fluids from said fluid inlet ports in any desired volume in said first range of movement and in any desired proportions in said second range of movement to change the volume and proportions independently of each other throughout both said first range of movement and said second range of movement.

Claim 12

The mixing and proportioning valve set forth in claim 8, wherein said apertures are arranged in a substantially triangular pattern, each of said recesses in said seal loading member comprising three lobes intercommunicating centrally of said triangular pattern and respectively surrounding the adjacent ends of said apertures, and each of said gaskets being of integral single-piece construction and including three loops interconnected centrally of said triangular pattern and respectively seated in the three lobes of the associated recess.

Claim 13

The mixing and proportioning valve set forth in claim 8, wherein said apertures are arranged in a substantially triangular pattern, each of said recesses in said seal loading member comprising three lobes intercommunicating centrally of said triangular pattern and respectively Surrounding the adjacent ends of said apertures, each of said recesses in said seal loading member defining three substantially semi-cylindrical rims respectively disposed about the portions of the adjacent ends of said apertures facing inwardly of said triangular pattern, and each of said gaskets being of integral single-piece construction and including three loops interconnected centrally of said triangular pattern and respectively seated in the three lobes of the associated recess, said rims serving to prevent said gaskets from obstructing said apertures.

Claim 14

A mixing and proportioning valve comprising a housing defining therein a chamber provided with first and second fluid inlet ports for respectively delivering first and second fluids and a fluid outlet port spaced from said fluid inlet ports, a valve seat in said housing at one end of said chamber and disposed between said inlet ports and said outlet port, a seal member mounted in said chamber adjacent to said valve seat and having first and second inlet passages and an outlet passage therethrough respectively registering at one end thereof with said first and second inlet ports and said outlet port, a valve plate slidably mounted in said chamber adjacent to said seal member and having a flow control surface thereon provided with a cavity therein adapted for registration with the other ends of said passages, said cavity being shaped and arranged simultaneously to span said outlet passage and only one of said inlet passages and simultaneously to span said outlet passage and substantially one half of each of said inlet passages, seal loading means disposed between said valve seat and said seal member for urging said seal member into sealing engagement with the flow control surface of said valve plate, drive means mounted in said housing and being coupled to said valve plate for effecting sliding movement thereof with respect to said seal member, said drive means and said valve plate being constructed and arranged to accommodate volume control movement of said valve plate in a first range between a full-on position wherein said cavity is in complete registry with said fluid outlets and a selected combination of said fluid inlets and full-off position wherein said cavity is out of registry with said fluid inlets, said drive means and said valve plate being constructed and arranged to accommodate proportion control movement of said valve plate in a second range between a full-first fluid position wherein said cavity is in complete registry with said fluid outlet and only said second-fluid inlet, said valve plate being movable between said full-on position and said full-off position for any position of proportion control between said full-first fluid position and said full-second fluid position without changing said proportion control position, whereby said flow control surface cooperates with said passages to deliver first and second fluids from said fluid inlet ports in any desired volume in said first range of movement and in any desired proportions in said second range of movement to change the volume and proportions independently of each other throughout both said first range of movement and said second range of movement.

Claim 15

A mixing and proportioning valve comprising a housing defining therein a chamber provided with first and second fluid inlet ports for respectively delivering first and second fluids and a fluid outlet port spaced from said fluid inlet ports, a valve seat in said housing at one end of said chamber and disposed between said inlet ports and said outlet port, a seal member mounted in said chamber adjacent to said valve seat and having first and second inlet passages and an outlet passage therethrough respectively registering at one end thereof with said first and second inlet ports and said outlet port, a valve plate slidably mounted in said chamber adjacent to said seal member and having a flow control surface thereon provided with a cavity therein adapted for registration with the other ends of said passages, said cavity being shaped and arranged simultaneously to span said outlet passage and only one of said inlet passages and simultaneously to span said outlet passage and substantially one half of each of said inlet passages, seal loading means disposed between said valve seat and said seal member for urging said seal member into sealing engagement with the flow control surface of said valve plate, drive means mounted in said housing and being coupled to said valve plate for effecting sliding movement thereof with respect to said seal member, said drive means and said valve plate being constructed and arranged to accommodate volume control movement of said valve plate in a first range between a full-on position wherein said cavity is in complete registry with said fluid outlets and a selected combination of said fluid inlets and full-off position wherein said cavity is out of registry with said fluid inlets, said drive means and said valve plate being constructed and arranged to accommodate proportion control movement of said valve plate in a second range between a full-first fluid position wherein said cavity is in complete registry with said fluid outlet and only said second-fluid inlet, said valve plate being movable between said full-on position and said full-off position for any position of proportion control between said full-first fluid position and said full-second fluid position without changing said proportion control position, whereby said flow control surface cooperates with said passages to deliver first and second fluids from said fluid inlet ports in any desired volume in said first range of movement and in any desired proportions in said second range of movement to change the volume and proportions independently of each other throughout both said first range of movement and said second range of movement.

Claim 16

The mixing and proportioning valve set forth in claim 11, wherein said passages are arranged in a substantially triangular pattern.

Claim 17

The mixing and proportioning valve set forth in claim 11, wherein said passages are arranged in a substantially triangular pattern, said other ends of said inlet passages being identically rectangular in shape with the facing sides thereof disposed parallel to each other and spaced apart a distance less than their width in the direction normal to said facing sides, said cavity being generally T-shaped and having a substantially rectangular base portion disposed toward said inlet passages and a cross portion disposed toward said outlet passage.

Claim 18

A single-handle mixing and proportioning valve comprising a housing defining therein a chamber prOvided with first and second fluid inlet ports for respectively delivering first and second fluids and a fluid outlet port spaced from said fluid inlet ports, a valve seat in said housing at one end of said chamber and disposed between said inlet ports and said outlet port, a valve plate slidably mounted in said chamber adjacent to said valve seat and having a substantially rectangular recess therein and having a flow control surface thereon cooperating with said inlet ports for determining the relative openings thereof and the combined volume of flow therethrough, a bearing member pivotally mounted on said housing in said chamber adjacent to said valve plate for pivotal movement about a first axis, a lever pivotally mounted in said bearing member for pivotal movement with respect thereto about a second axis in directions only parallel to said first axis, said lever having a handle at one end thereof and being provided at the other end thereof with a coupling member having an outer surface shaped to form four intersecting semi-cylinders arranged with the axes thereof defining a rectangle and being receivable in said rectangular recess in said valve plate for coupling said lever to said valve plate for effecting sliding movement thereof with respect to said valve seat, said lever and said bearing member cooperating to accommodate volume control movement of said handle and said valve plate in a first range between a full-on position and a full-off position when said lever pivots about said second axis, said lever and said bearing member cooperating to accommodate proportion control movement of said handle and said valve plate in a second range between a full-first fluid position and full-second fluid position when said lever pivots with said bearing member about said first axis, said handle and said valve plate being movable between said full-on position and said full-off position for any position of proportion control between said full-first fluid position and said full-second fluid position without changing said proportion control position, whereby said flow control surface cooperates with said passages to deliver first and second fluids from said fluid inlet ports in any desired volume in said first range of movement and in any desired proportions in said second range of movement to change the volume and proportions independently of each other throughout both said first range of movement and said second range of movement.

Claim 19

A single-handle mixing and proportioning valve comprising a housing defining therein a chamber prOvided with first and second fluid inlet ports for respectively delivering first and second fluids and a fluid outlet port spaced from said fluid inlet ports, a valve seat in said housing at one end of said chamber and disposed between said inlet ports and said outlet port, a valve plate slidably mounted in said chamber adjacent to said valve seat and having a substantially rectangular recess therein and having a flow control surface thereon cooperating with said inlet ports for determining the relative openings thereof and the combined volume of flow therethrough, a bearing member pivotally mounted on said housing in said chamber adjacent to said valve plate for pivotal movement about a first axis, a lever pivotally mounted in said bearing member for pivotal movement with respect thereto about a second axis in directions only parallel to said first axis, said lever having a handle at one end thereof and being provided at the other end thereof with a coupling member having an outer surface shaped to form four intersecting semi-cylinders arranged with the axes thereof defining a rectangle and being receivable in said rectangular recess in said valve plate for coupling said lever to said valve plate for effecting sliding movement thereof with respect to said valve seat, said lever and said bearing member cooperating to accommodate volume control movement of said handle and said valve plate in a first range between a full-on position and a full-off position when said lever pivots about said second axis, said lever and said bearing member cooperating to accommodate proportion control movement of said handle and said valve plate in a second range between a full-first fluid position and full-second fluid position when said lever pivots with said bearing member about said first axis, said handle and said valve plate being movable between said full-on position and said full-off position for any position of proportion control between said full-first fluid position and said full-second fluid position without changing said proportion control position, whereby said flow control surface cooperates with said passages to deliver first and second fluids from said fluid inlet ports in any desired volume in said first range of movement and in any desired proportions in said second range of movement to change the volume and proportions independently of each other throughout both said first range of movement and said second range of movement.

Claim 20

A single-handle mixing and proportioning valve comprising a housing defining therein a chamber provided with first and second fluid inlet ports for respectively delivering first and second fluids and a fluid outlet port spaced from said fluid inlet ports, a valve seat in said housing at one end of said chamber and disposed between said inlet ports and said outlet port, a valve plate slidably mounted in said chamber adjacent to said valve seat and having a flow control surface thereon cooperating with said inlet ports for determining the relative openings thereof and the combined volume of flow therethrough, a bearing member pivotally mounted on said housing in said chamber adjacent to said valve plate for pivotal movement about a first axis and having a centrally disposed opening therethrough, one end of said opening being shaped to form a part-spherical socket and the other end of said opening being shaped to form a slot adjacent to said valve plate and extending generally parallel to said first axis, a lever extending through said opening and having a ball portion mounted in said socket for pivotal movement of said lever with respect to said bearing member, said lever having a handle at one end thereof and being coupled at the other end thereof to said valve plate for effecting sliding movement thereof with respect to said valve seat, the portion of said lever disposed in said slot having a thickness only slightly less than the width of said slot for confining said lever to movement with respect to said bearing member in a direction longituDinally of said slot, said lever and said bearing member cooperating to accommodate volume control movement of said handle and said valve plate in a first range between a full-on position and a full-off position when said lever moves longitudinally of said slot, said lever and said bearing member cooperating to accommodate proportion control movement of said handle and said valve plate in a second range between a full-first fluid position and a full-second fluid position when said lever pivots with said bearing member about said first axis, said handle and said valve plate being movable between said full-on position and said full-off position for any position of proportion control between said full-first fluid position and said full-second fluid position without changing said proportion control position, whereby said flow control surface cooperates with said passages to deliver first and second fluids from said fluid inlet ports in any desired volume in said first range of movement and in any desired proportions in said second range of movement to change the volume and proportions independently of each other throughout both said first range of movement and said second range of movement.

Claim 21

A single-handle mixing and proportioning valve comprising a housing defining therein a chamber provided with first and second fluid inlet ports for respectively delivering first and second fluids and a fluid outlet port spaced from said fluid inlet ports, a valve seat in said housing at one end of said chamber and disposed between said inlet ports and said outlet port, a valve plate slidably mounted in said chamber adjacent to said valve seat and having a flow control surface thereon cooperating with said inlet ports for determining the relative openings thereof and the combined volume of flow therethrough, a bearing member pivotally mounted on said housing in said chamber adjacent to said valve plate for pivotal movement about a first axis and having a centrally disposed opening therethrough, one end of said opening being shaped to form a part-spherical socket and the other end of said opening being shaped to form a slot adjacent to said valve plate and extending generally parallel to said first axis, a lever extending through said opening and having a ball portion mounted in said socket for pivotal movement of said lever with respect to said bearing member, said lever having a handle at one end thereof and being coupled at the other end thereof to said valve plate for effecting sliding movement thereof with respect to said valve seat, the portion of said lever disposed in said slot having a thickness only slightly less than the width of said slot for confining said lever to movement with respect to said bearing member in a direction longituDinally of said slot, said lever and said bearing member cooperating to accommodate volume control movement of said handle and said valve plate in a first range between a full-on position and a full-off position when said lever moves longitudinally of said slot, said lever and said bearing member cooperating to accommodate proportion control movement of said handle and said valve plate in a second range between a full-first fluid position and a full-second fluid position when said lever pivots with said bearing member about said first axis, said handle and said valve plate being movable between said full-on position and said full-off position for any position of proportion control between said full-first fluid position and said full-second fluid position without changing said proportion control position, whereby said flow control surface cooperates with said passages to deliver first and second fluids from said fluid inlet ports in any desired volume in said first range of movement and in any desired proportions in said second range of movement to change the volume and proportions independently of each other throughout both said first range of movement and said second range of movement.

Claim 22

The single-handle mixing and proportioning valve set forth in claim 15, and further including an annular bearing cap connected to said bearing member adjacent to said one end of said opening, the inner surface of said bearing cap being shaped complementary to said part-spherical socket and forming a continuation thereof for confining said ball to said socket and preventing removal of said lever from said bearing member.

Claim 23

A single-handle mixing and proportioning valve comprising a housing defining therein a chamber provided with first and second fluid inlet ports for respectively delivering first and second fluids and a fluid outlet port spaced from said fluid inlet ports, a valve seat in said housing at one end of said chamber and disposed between said inlet ports and said outlet port, a valve plate slidably mounted in said chamber adjacent to said valve seat and having a substantially rectangular recess therein and having a flow control surface thereon cooperating with said inlet ports for determining the relative openings thereof and the combined volume of flow therethrough, a bearing member pivotally mounted on said housing in said chamber adjacent to said valve plate for pivotal movement about a first axis and having a centrally disposed opening therethrough, a pivot pin rotatably mounted on said bearing member in said opening and having the longitudinal axis thereof disposed substantially normal to said first axis, a lever extending through said opening and connected to said pivot pin for accommodating pivotal movement of said lever about the longitudinal axis of said pivot pin while preventing rotational movement of said lever about its own longitudinal axis, said lever having a handle at one end thereof and being provided at the other end thereof with a coupling member having an outer surface shaped to form four intersecting semi-cylinders arranged with the axes thereof defining a rectangle and being receivable in said rectangular recess in said valve plate for coupling said lever to said valve plate for effecting sliding movement thereof with respect to said valve seat, said lever and said bearing member cooperating to accommodate volume control movement of said handle and said valve plate in a first range between a full-on position and a full-off position when said lever pivots on said pivot pin, said lever and said bearing member cooperating to accommodate proportion control movement of said handle and said valve plate in a second range between a full-first fluid position and a full-second fluid position when said lever pivots with said bearing member about said first axis, said handle and said valve plate being movable between said full-on position and said full-off position for any position of proportion control between said full-first fluid position and said full-secOnd fluid position without changing said proportion control position, whereby said flow control surface cooperates with said passages to deliver first and second fluids from said fluid inlet ports in any desired volume in said first range of movement and in any desired proportions in said second range of movement to change the volume and proportions independently of each other throughout both said first range of movement and said second range of movement.

Claim 24

A single-handle mixing and proportioning valve comprising a housing defining therein a chamber provided with first and second fluid inlet ports for respectively delivering first and second fluids and a fluid outlet port spaced from said fluid inlet ports, a valve seat in said housing at one end of said chamber and disposed between said inlet ports and said outlet port, a valve plate slidably mounted in said chamber adjacent to said valve seat and having a substantially rectangular recess therein and having a flow control surface thereon cooperating with said inlet ports for determining the relative openings thereof and the combined volume of flow therethrough, a bearing member pivotally mounted on said housing in said chamber adjacent to said valve plate for pivotal movement about a first axis and having a centrally disposed opening therethrough, a pivot pin rotatably mounted on said bearing member in said opening and having the longitudinal axis thereof disposed substantially normal to said first axis, a lever extending through said opening and connected to said pivot pin for accommodating pivotal movement of said lever about the longitudinal axis of said pivot pin while preventing rotational movement of said lever about its own longitudinal axis, said lever having a handle at one end thereof and being provided at the other end thereof with a coupling member having an outer surface shaped to form four intersecting semi-cylinders arranged with the axes thereof defining a rectangle and being receivable in said rectangular recess in said valve plate for coupling said lever to said valve plate for effecting sliding movement thereof with respect to said valve seat, said lever and said bearing member cooperating to accommodate volume control movement of said handle and said valve plate in a first range between a full-on position and a full-off position when said lever pivots on said pivot pin, said lever and said bearing member cooperating to accommodate proportion control movement of said handle and said valve plate in a second range between a full-first fluid position and a full-second fluid position when said lever pivots with said bearing member about said first axis, said handle and said valve plate being movable between said full-on position and said full-off position for any position of proportion control between said full-first fluid position and said full-secOnd fluid position without changing said proportion control position, whereby said flow control surface cooperates with said passages to deliver first and second fluids from said fluid inlet ports in any desired volume in said first range of movement and in any desired proportions in said second range of movement to change the volume and proportions independently of each other throughout both said first range of movement and said second range of movement.

Claim 25

A single-handle mixing and proportioning valve comprising a housing defining therein a chamber provided with first and second fluid inlet ports for respectively delivering first and second fluids and a fluid outlet port spaced from said fluid inlet ports, a valve seat in said housing at one end of said chamber and disposed between said inlet ports and said outlet port, a valve plate slidably mounted in said chamber adjacent to said valve seat and having a substantially rectangular recess therein and having a flow control surface thereon cooperating with said inlet ports for determining the relative openings thereof and the combined volume of flow therethrough, a bearing member pivotally mounted on said housing in said chamber adjacent to said valve plate for pivotal movement about a first axis, a lever pivotally mounted in said bearing member for pivotal movement with respect thereto about a second axis in directions only parallel to said first axis, said lever and said bearing member being constructed and arranged to prevent rotational movement of said lever about the longitudinal axis thereof, one end of said lever having a handle thereon and the other end of said lever being provided with a coupling member having an outer surface shaped to form four intersecting semi-cylinders arranged with the axes thereof defining a rectangle and being receivable in said rectangular recess for effecting sliding movement of said valve plate with respect to said valve seat, said other end of said lever being shaped and dimensioned for cooperation with said rectangular recess to permit pivotal movement of said lever with respect to said valve plate while preventing rotational movement of said valve plate with respect to said lever, said lever and said bearing member cooperating to accommodate volume control movement of said handle and said valve plate in a first range between a full-on position and a full-off position when said lever pivots about said second axis, said lever and said bearing member cooperating to accommodate proportion control movement of said handle and said valve plate in a second range between a full-first fluid position and a full-second fluid position when said lever pivots with said bearing member about said first axis, said handle and said valve plate being movable between said full-on position and said full-off position for any position of proportion control between said full-first fluid position and said full-second fluid position without changing said proportion control position, whereby said flow control surface cooperates with said passages to deliver first and second fluids from said fluid inlet ports in any desired volume in said first range of movement and in any desired proportions in said second range of movement to change the volume and proportions independently of each other throughout both said first range of movement and said second range of movement.

Claim 26

A single-handle mixing and proportioning valve comprising a housing defining therein a chamber provided with first and second fluid inlet ports for respectively delivering first and second fluids and a fluid outlet port spaced from said fluid inlet ports, a valve seat in said housing at one end of said chamber and disposed between said inlet ports and said outlet port, a valve plate slidably mounted in said chamber adjacent to said valve seat and having a substantially rectangular recess therein and having a flow control surface thereon cooperating with said inlet ports for determining the relative openings thereof and the combined volume of flow therethrough, a bearing member pivotally mounted on said housing in said chamber adjacent to said valve plate for pivotal movement about a first axis, a lever pivotally mounted in said bearing member for pivotal movement with respect thereto about a second axis in directions only parallel to said first axis, said lever and said bearing member being constructed and arranged to prevent rotational movement of said lever about the longitudinal axis thereof, one end of said lever having a handle thereon and the other end of said lever being provided with a coupling member having an outer surface shaped to form four intersecting semi-cylinders arranged with the axes thereof defining a rectangle and being receivable in said rectangular recess for effecting sliding movement of said valve plate with respect to said valve seat, said other end of said lever being shaped and dimensioned for cooperation with said rectangular recess to permit pivotal movement of said lever with respect to said valve plate while preventing rotational movement of said valve plate with respect to said lever, said lever and said bearing member cooperating to accommodate volume control movement of said handle and said valve plate in a first range between a full-on position and a full-off position when said lever pivots about said second axis, said lever and said bearing member cooperating to accommodate proportion control movement of said handle and said valve plate in a second range between a full-first fluid position and a full-second fluid position when said lever pivots with said bearing member about said first axis, said handle and said valve plate being movable between said full-on position and said full-off position for any position of proportion control between said full-first fluid position and said full-second fluid position without changing said proportion control position, whereby said flow control surface cooperates with said passages to deliver first and second fluids from said fluid inlet ports in any desired volume in said first range of movement and in any desired proportions in said second range of movement to change the volume and proportions independently of each other throughout both said first range of movement and said second range of movement.

Claim 27

A single-handle mixing and proportioning valve comprising a housing defining therein a chamber provided with first and second fluid inlet ports for respectively delivering first and second fluids and a fluid outlet port spaced from said fluid inlet ports, a valve seat in said housing at one end of said chamber and disposed between said inlet ports and said outlet port, a seal member mounted in said chamber adjacent to said valve seat and having first and second inlet passages and an outlet passage therethrough respectively registering at one end thereof with said first and second inlet ports and said outlet port, a valve plate slidabLy mounted in said chamber adjacent to said seal member and having a flow control surface thereon provided with a recess therein cooperating with the other ends of said inlet passages for determining the relative openings thereof and the combined volume of flow therethrough, a seal loading member disposed between said seal member and said valve seat and having apertures therethrough respectively registering with said ports and said passages, a pair of bosses respectively formed on opposite sides of said seal loading member and respectively abutting said valve seat and said seal member and each defining a plurality of regions respectively surrounding the adjacent ends of said apertures, the regions on one side of said seal loading member having a combined total area substantially equal to the combined total area of the regions on the other side of said seal loading member and greater than the flow area of said recess in said valve plate whereby hydraulic pressure urges said seal member and said valve plate into sealing engagement with each other, a bearing member pivotally mounted on said housing in said chamber adjacent to said valve plate for pivotal movement about a first axis, and a lever pivotally mounted in said bearing member for pivotal movement with respect thereto about a second axis in directions only parallel to said first axis, said lever having a handle at one end thereof and being coupled at the other end thereof to said valve plate for effecting sliding movement thereof with respect to said valve seat, said lever and said bearing member cooperating to accommodate volume control movement of said handle and said valve plate in a first range between a full-on position and a full-off position when said lever pivots about said second axis, said lever and said bearing member cooperating to accommodate proportion control movement of said handle and said valve plate in a second range between a full-first fluid position and a full-second fluid position when said lever pivots with said bearing member about said first axis, said handle and said valve plate being movable between said full-on position and said full-off position for any position of proportion control between said full-first fluid position and said full-second fluid position without changing said proportion control position, whereby said flow control surface cooperates with said passages to deliver first and second fluids from said fluid inlet ports in any desired volume in said first range of movement and in any desired proportions in said second range of movement to change the volume and proportions independently of each other throughout both said first range of movement and said second range of movement.

Claim 28

A single-handle mixing and proportioning valve comprising a housing defining therein a chamber provided with first and second fluid inlet ports for respectively delivering first and second fluids and a fluid outlet port spaced from said fluid inlet ports, a valve seat in said housing at one end of said chamber and disposed between said inlet ports and said outlet port, a seal member mounted in said chamber adjacent to said valve seat and having first and second inlet passages and an outlet passage therethrough respectively registering at one end thereof with said first and second inlet ports and said outlet port, a valve plate slidabLy mounted in said chamber adjacent to said seal member and having a flow control surface thereon provided with a recess therein cooperating with the other ends of said inlet passages for determining the relative openings thereof and the combined volume of flow therethrough, a seal loading member disposed between said seal member and said valve seat and having apertures therethrough respectively registering with said ports and said passages, a pair of bosses respectively formed on opposite sides of said seal loading member and respectively abutting said valve seat and said seal member and each defining a plurality of regions respectively surrounding the adjacent ends of said apertures, the regions on one side of said seal loading member having a combined total area substantially equal to the combined total area of the regions on the other side of said seal loading member and greater than the flow area of said recess in said valve plate whereby hydraulic pressure urges said seal member and said valve plate into sealing engagement with each other, a bearing member pivotally mounted on said housing in said chamber adjacent to said valve plate for pivotal movement about a first axis, and a lever pivotally mounted in said bearing member for pivotal movement with respect thereto about a second axis in directions only parallel to said first axis, said lever having a handle at one end thereof and being coupled at the other end thereof to said valve plate for effecting sliding movement thereof with respect to said valve seat, said lever and said bearing member cooperating to accommodate volume control movement of said handle and said valve plate in a first range between a full-on position and a full-off position when said lever pivots about said second axis, said lever and said bearing member cooperating to accommodate proportion control movement of said handle and said valve plate in a second range between a full-first fluid position and a full-second fluid position when said lever pivots with said bearing member about said first axis, said handle and said valve plate being movable between said full-on position and said full-off position for any position of proportion control between said full-first fluid position and said full-second fluid position without changing said proportion control position, whereby said flow control surface cooperates with said passages to deliver first and second fluids from said fluid inlet ports in any desired volume in said first range of movement and in any desired proportions in said second range of movement to change the volume and proportions independently of each other throughout both said first range of movement and said second range of movement.

Claim 29

A single-handle mixing and proportioning valve comprising a housing defining therein a chamber provided with first and second fluid inlet ports for respectively delivering first and second fluids and a fluid outlet port spaced from said fluid inlet ports, a valve seat in said housing at one end of said chamber and disposed between said inlet ports and said outlet port, a seal member mounted in said chamber adjacent to said valve seat and having first and second inlet passages and an outlet passage therethrough respectively registering at one end thereof with said first and second inlet ports and said outlet port, a valve plate slidably mounted in said chamber adjacent to said seal member and having a flow control surface thereon provided with a recess therein cooperating with the other ends of said inlet passages for determining the relative openings thereof and the combined volume of flow therethrough, a seal loading member disposed between said seal member and said valve seat and having apertures therethrough respectively registering with said ports and said passages, the opposite sides of said seal loading member being respectively provided with a pair of recesses therein surrounding the opposite ends of said apertures, a pair of gaskets respectively shaped complementary to said recesses and receivable therein for lining the peripheries thereof and respectively abutting said valve seat and said seal member, each of said gaskets dividing the associated recess into a plurality of regions respectively surrounding the adjacent ends of said apertures, the regions on one side of said seal loading member having a combined total area substantially equal to the combined total area of the regions on the other side of said seal loading member and substantially greater than the flow area of said recess in said valve plate whereby hydraulic pressure urges said seal member and said valve plate into sealing engagement with each other, a bearing member pivotally mounted on said housing in said chamber adjacent to said valve plate for pivotal movement about a first axis, and a lever pivotally mounted in said bearing member for pivotal movement with respect thereto about a second axis in directions only parallel to said first axis, said lever having a handle at one end thereof and being coupled at the other end thereof to said valve plate for effecting sliding movement thereof with respect to said valve seat, said lever and said bearing member cooperating to accommodate volume control movement of said handle and said valve plate in a first range between a full-on position and a full-off position when said lever pivots about said second axis, said lever and said bearing member cooperating to accommodate proportion control movement of said handle and said valve plate in a second range between a full-first fluid position and a full-second fluid position when said lever pivots with said bearing member about said first axis, said handle and said valve plate being movable between said full-on position and said full-off position for any position of proportion control between said full-first fluid position and said full-second fluid position without changing said proportion control position, whereby said flow control surface cooperates with said passages to deliver first and second fluids from said fluid inlet ports in any desired volume in said first range of movement and in any desired proportions in said second range of movement to change the volume and proportions independently of each other throughout both said first range of movement and said second range of movement.

Claim 30

A single-handle mixing and proportioning valve comprising a housing defining therein a chamber provided with first and second fluid inlet ports for respectively delivering first and second fluids and a fluid outlet port spaced from said fluid inlet ports, a valve seat in said housing at one end of said chamber and disposed between said inlet ports and said outlet port, a seal member mounted in said chamber adjacent to said valve seat and having first and second inlet passages and an outlet passage therethrough respectively registering at one end thereof with said first and second inlet ports and said outlet port, a valve plate slidably mounted in said chamber adjacent to said seal member and having a flow control surface thereon provided with a recess therein cooperating with the other ends of said inlet passages for determining the relative openings thereof and the combined volume of flow therethrough, a seal loading member disposed between said seal member and said valve seat and having apertures therethrough respectively registering with said ports and said passages, the opposite sides of said seal loading member being respectively provided with a pair of recesses therein surrounding the opposite ends of said apertures, a pair of gaskets respectively shaped complementary to said recesses and receivable therein for lining the peripheries thereof and respectively abutting said valve seat and said seal member, each of said gaskets dividing the associated recess into a plurality of regions respectively surrounding the adjacent ends of said apertures, the regions on one side of said seal loading member having a combined total area substantially equal to the combined total area of the regions on the other side of said seal loading member and substantially greater than the flow area of said recess in said valve plate whereby hydraulic pressure urges said seal member and said valve plate into sealing engagement with each other, a bearing member pivotally mounted on said housing in said chamber adjacent to said valve plate for pivotal movement about a first axis, and a lever pivotally mounted in said bearing member for pivotal movement with respect thereto about a second axis in directions only parallel to said first axis, said lever having a handle at one end thereof and being coupled at the other end thereof to said valve plate for effecting sliding movement thereof with respect to said valve seat, said lever and said bearing member cooperating to accommodate volume control movement of said handle and said valve plate in a first range between a full-on position and a full-off position when said lever pivots about said second axis, said lever and said bearing member cooperating to accommodate proportion control movement of said handle and said valve plate in a second range between a full-first fluid position and a full-second fluid position when said lever pivots with said bearing member about said first axis, said handle and said valve plate being movable between said full-on position and said full-off position for any position of proportion control between said full-first fluid position and said full-second fluid position without changing said proportion control position, whereby said flow control surface cooperates with said passages to deliver first and second fluids from said fluid inlet ports in any desired volume in said first range of movement and in any desired proportions in said second range of movement to change the volume and proportions independently of each other throughout both said first range of movement and said second range of movement.

Claim 31

A single-handle mixing and proportioning valve comprising a housing defining therein a chamber provided with first and second fluid inlet ports for respectively delivering first and second fluids and a fluid outlet port spaced from said fluid inlet ports, a valve seat in said housing at one end of said chamber and disposed between said inlet ports and said outlet port, a valve plate slidably mounted in said chamber adjacent to said valve seat and having a flow control surface thereon cooperating with said inlet ports for determining the relative openings thereof and the combined volume of flow therethrough, a bearing support disposed in said chamber adjacent to said valve plate and having a centrally disposed opening therethrough, a bearing member disposed in said opening adjacent to said valve plate and pivotally mounted on said support for pivotal movement with respect thereto about a first axis, a lever pivotally mounted in said bearing member for pivotal movement with respect thereto about a second axis in directions only parallel to said first axis, said lever having a handle at one end thereof and being coupled at the other end thereof to said valve plate for effecting sliding movement thereof with respect to said valve seat, said lever and said bearing member cooperating to accommodate volume control movement of said handle and said valve plate in a first range between a full-on position and a full-off position when said lever pivots about said second axis, said lever and said bearing member cooperating to accommodate proportion control movement of said handle and said valve plate in a second range between a full-first fluid position and a full-second fluid position when said lever pivots with said bearing Member about said first axis, said handle and said valve plate being movable between said full-on position and said full-off position for any position of proportion control between said full-first fluid position and said full-second fluid position without changing said proportion control position, whereby said flow control surface cooperates with said passages to deliver first and second fluids from said fluid inlet ports in any desired volume in said first range of movement and in any desired proportions in said second range of movement to change the volume and proportions independently of each other throughout both said first range of movement and said second range of movement.

Claim 32

A single-handle mixing and proportioning valve comprising a housing defining therein a chamber provided with first and second fluid inlet ports for respectively delivering first and second fluids and a fluid outlet port spaced from said fluid inlet ports, a valve seat in said housing at one end of said chamber and disposed between said inlet ports and said outlet port, a valve plate slidably mounted in said chamber adjacent to said valve seat and having a flow control surface thereon cooperating with said inlet ports for determining the relative openings thereof and the combined volume of flow therethrough, a bearing support disposed in said chamber adjacent to said valve plate and having a centrally disposed opening therethrough, a bearing member disposed in said opening adjacent to said valve plate and pivotally mounted on said support for pivotal movement with respect thereto about a first axis, a lever pivotally mounted in said bearing member for pivotal movement with respect thereto about a second axis in directions only parallel to said first axis, said lever having a handle at one end thereof and being coupled at the other end thereof to said valve plate for effecting sliding movement thereof with respect to said valve seat, said lever and said bearing member cooperating to accommodate volume control movement of said handle and said valve plate in a first range between a full-on position and a full-off position when said lever pivots about said second axis, said lever and said bearing member cooperating to accommodate proportion control movement of said handle and said valve plate in a second range between a full-first fluid position and a full-second fluid position when said lever pivots with said bearing Member about said first axis, said handle and said valve plate being movable between said full-on position and said full-off position for any position of proportion control between said full-first fluid position and said full-second fluid position without changing said proportion control position, whereby said flow control surface cooperates with said passages to deliver first and second fluids from said fluid inlet ports in any desired volume in said first range of movement and in any desired proportions in said second range of movement to change the volume and proportions independently of each other throughout both said first range of movement and said second range of movement.