Mixing valve assembly

Claim 2

A valve assembly comprising a plastic centerpiece that forms a mixing chamber; two plastic conduits that extend from the centerpiece in communication with said mixing chamber; and two plastic end pieces each adapted to form a valve structure, each with a recess for receiving an extending end of one of said two conduits, at least a first portion of said recess being cylindrical and a second portion being noncylindrical; the extending end of each of said conduits having a cylindrical portion adapted to be received in the cylindrical portion of the recess of one of said end pieces and a noncylindrical portion adapted to be received in said second portion, to be bonded thereto and to align the end piece in a predetermined orientation relative to the conduit received therein; and an annular groove in said cylindrical portion of one of each mating conduit and end piece adapted to receive an O-ring.

Claim 3

A valve assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said annular groove is located in said cylindrical portion of each conduit.

Claim 4

A valve assembly as defined in claim 2 wherein said noncylindrical portions at the extending ends of said conduits are cylindrical except for a flat portion and the flat portion of each faces in an opposite directon from the other.

Claim 5

An underbody mixing valve assembly comprising a plastic mixing chamber having a central portion with a cavity and conduit portion extending therefrom in opposite directions, and two identically constructed plastic end pieces adhered, one to each of said conduit portions, with an adhesive or solvent bond; each of said end pieces having a central passageway and a transverse passageway in communication therewith, a stepped recess forming a part of said transverse passageway and having a cylindrical part and a noncylindrical part axially outward of said cylindrical part; each outer end of said conduit portions having a radial shoulder and a nipple extending therebeyond, said radial shoulder abutting an end surface of the connected end piece and said nipple being received in said stepped recess with a close fit, the outer end portion of said nipple being cylindrical and containing an annular groove and the portion of said nipple adjacent said radial shoulder having a noncylindrical contour that mates with said noncylindrical part of said recess; an O-ring in the annular groove of each nipple; and an adhesive bond between each nipple and the receiving recess of the connected end piece along said mating Noncylindrical portions.

Claim 6

An underbody mixing valve assembly comprising a plastic mixing chamber having a central portion with a cavity and conduit portion extending therefrom in opposite directions, and two identically constructed plastic end pieces adhered, one to each of said conduit portions, with an adhesive or solvent bond; each of said end pieces having a central passageway and a transverse passageway in communication therewith, a stepped recess forming a part of said transverse passageway and having a cylindrical part and a noncylindrical part axially outward of said cylindrical part; each outer end of said conduit portions having a radial shoulder and a nipple extending therebeyond, said radial shoulder abutting an end surface of the connected end piece and said nipple being received in said stepped recess with a close fit, the outer end portion of said nipple being cylindrical and containing an annular groove and the portion of said nipple adjacent said radial shoulder having a noncylindrical contour that mates with said noncylindrical part of said recess; an O-ring in the annular groove of each nipple; and an adhesive bond between each nipple and the receiving recess of the connected end piece along said mating Noncylindrical portions.

Claim 7

A valve assembly comprising a plastic centerpiece that forms a mixing chamber and two plastic end pieces each adapted to form a valve structure, said centerpiece and end pieces having interconnected conduit portions, the interconnections therebetween being provided by mating portions of the conduits including a recess forming a part of one conduit portion and an end of the connected conduit portion that is received therein in mating relationship, said mating conduit portions each including a surface that interengages with that of the other to prevent mating of the conduit portions unless they are in predetermined alignment and that prevents relative rotation of the conduit portions after they are in mating relationship, an annular groove in one mating conduit portion of each interconnection, an O-ring in each said annular groove, and means bonding said mating conduit portions together.

Claim 8

A valve assembly comprising a plastic centerpiece that forms a mixing chamber and two plastic end pieces each adapted to form a valve structure, said centerpiece and end pieces having interconnected conduit portions, the interconnections therebetween being provided by mating portions of the conduits including a recess forming a part of one conduit portion and an end of the connected conduit portion that is received therein in mating relationship, said mating conduit portions each including a surface that interengages with that of the other to prevent mating of the conduit portions unless they are in predetermined alignment and that prevents relative rotation of the conduit portions after they are in mating relationship, an annular groove in one mating conduit portion of each interconnection, an O-ring in each said annular groove, and means bonding said mating conduit portions together.

Claim 9

A mixing valve assembly comprising a plastic mixing chamber having a central portion with a cavity and conduit portions extending therefrom in opposite directions, and two identically constructed plastic end pieces adapted to form valve structure attached one to the end of each conduit portion, each of said end pieces having a central passageway and a transverse passageway in communication therewith, a recess in one of said transverse passageway and attached conduit portion and a nipple at the end of the other, said recess having a portion formed by a surface of revolution and a portion axially displaced therefrom formed by a surface of nonrevolution and said nipple being shaped to be received in said recess with a close fit, one portion of said nipple being formed of a surface of revolution and another portion having a surface of nonrevolution, an annular groove in the surface of revolution of one of said recess and nipple, an O-ring in said annular groove, and means bonding the end pieces to the conduit portions of said mixing chamber.

Claim 10

A mixing valve assembly comprising a plastic mixing chamber having a central portion with a cavity and conduit portions extending therefrom in opposite directions, and two identically constructed plastic end pieces adapted to form valve structure attached one to the end of each conduit portion, each of said end pieces having a central passageway and a transverse passageway in communication therewith, a recess in one of said transverse passageway and attached conduit portion and a nipple at the end of the other, said recess having a portion formed by a surface of revolution and a portion axially displaced therefrom formed by a surface of nonrevolution and said nipple being shaped to be received in said recess with a close fit, one portion of said nipple being formed of a surface of revolution and another portion having a surface of nonrevolution, an annular groove in the surface of revolution of one of said recess and nipple, an O-ring in said annular groove, and means bonding the end pieces to the conduit portions of said mixing chamber.