Valve cartridge

Claim 2

A valve cartridge for use in a faucet casing defining a cylindrical enclosure receiving said valve cartridge and closed at one end by a base and at the other end receiving an operating handle therethrough and having a water spout extending from the side of the casing and communicating with the enclosure therein, at least one water inlet extending through the casing base, said valve cartridge comprising a generally cyindrical housing fitting within the cylindrical enclosure of the associated faucet casing and including a base integral therewith and disposed against the casing base and having a chamber therein, an inlet port in said housing base interconnecting the water inlet in the casing base with said chamber and an outlet port in said housing interconnecting said chamber and the interior of the cylindrical enclosure and the spout of the associated faucet casing, valve means in said chamber for controlling the quantity of fluid delivered from said inlet port to said outlet port, and an operating handle mounted on said housing for controlling said valve means and extending through the other end of the associated faucet casing to an exposed position for grasping by a user, a recess in the side of said housing adjacent to said housing base and defining therewith flange means disposed on the associated casing base, said flange means having a plurality of openings extending therethrough for receiving fasteners to mount said valve cartridge upon the associated casing base within the associated faucet casing.

Claim 3

The valve cartridge set forth in claim 1, wherein the axes of said openings are inclined upwardly and outwardly with respect to the periphery of said housing so as to provide ready access by a tool to the associated fastener passing therethrough.

Claim 4

The valve cartridge set forth in claim 1, wherein three angularly spaced-apart recesses are provided in the side of said housing adjacent to said housing base and defining therewith three flange members disposed on the associated casing base, each of said flange members having an opening extending therethrough for receiving a fastener to mount said valve cartridge upon the associated casing base within the associated faucet casing.

Claim 5

A valve cartridge for use in a faucet casing defining a cylindrical enclosure receiving said valve cartridge and closed at one end by a base and at the other end receiving an operating handle therethrough and having a water spout extending from the side of the casing and communicating with the enclosure therein, at least one water inlet extending through the casing base, said valve cartridge comprising a generally cylindrical housing fitting within the cylindrical enclosure of the associated faucet casing and including a base integral therewith and disposed against the casing base and having a chamber therein, a recess in the side of said housing adjacent to said housing base and defining therewith flange means disposed on the associated casing base, said flange means having a plurality of openings extending therethrough for receiving fasteners to mount said valve cartridge upon the associated casing base within the associated faucet casing, an inlet port in said housing base interconnecting the water inlet in the casing base with said chamber and an outlet port in said housing interconnecting said chamber and the interior Of the cylindrical enclosure and the spout of the associated faucet casing, a support surface within said chamber surrounding and receiving said ports therethrough and disposed essentially parallel to the associated casing base, gasket means on said support surface isolating said ports from each other, a valve seat on said gasket means and having a sealing surface and at least two holes respectively in registration with said ports, a valve plate having a sealing surface in slidable engagement with said valve seat sealing surface and a bearing surface and fluid control means in said valve plate sealing surface, bearing means having a bearing surface in sliding engagement with the bearing surface of said valve plate, said valve plate being slidable between said valve seat and said bearing means to vary the position of said fluid control means to control the quantity of fluid delivered from said inlet port to said outlet port and thence to the associated spout, and an operating handle mounted on said housing for controlling said valve plate and extending through the other end of the associated faucet casing to an exposed position for grasping by a user.

Claim 6

A valve cartridge for use in a faucet casing defining a cylindrical enclosure receiving said valve cartridge and closed at one end by a base and at the other end receiving an operating handle therethrough and having a water spout extending from the side of the casing and communicating with the enclosure therein, at least one water inlet extending through the casing base, said valve cartridge comprising a generally cylindrical housing fitting within the cylindrical enclosure of the associated faucet casing and including a base integral therewith and disposed against the casing base and having a chamber therein, a recess in the side of said housing adjacent to said housing base and defining therewith flange means disposed on the associated casing base, said flange means having a plurality of openings extending therethrough for receiving fasteners to mount said valve cartridge upon the associated casing base within the associated faucet casing, an inlet port in said housing base interconnecting the water inlet in the casing base with said chamber and an outlet port in said housing interconnecting said chamber and the interior Of the cylindrical enclosure and the spout of the associated faucet casing, a support surface within said chamber surrounding and receiving said ports therethrough and disposed essentially parallel to the associated casing base, gasket means on said support surface isolating said ports from each other, a valve seat on said gasket means and having a sealing surface and at least two holes respectively in registration with said ports, a valve plate having a sealing surface in slidable engagement with said valve seat sealing surface and a bearing surface and fluid control means in said valve plate sealing surface, bearing means having a bearing surface in sliding engagement with the bearing surface of said valve plate, said valve plate being slidable between said valve seat and said bearing means to vary the position of said fluid control means to control the quantity of fluid delivered from said inlet port to said outlet port and thence to the associated spout, and an operating handle mounted on said housing for controlling said valve plate and extending through the other end of the associated faucet casing to an exposed position for grasping by a user.

Claim 7

The valve cartridge set forth in claim 4, wherein said housing base and said support surface have two inlet ports therein for receiving cold water and hot water respectively therethrough.

Claim 8

The valve cartridge set forth in claim 4, wherein said fluid control means is a recess formed in said valve plate sealing surface.

Claim 9

A valve cartridge for use in a faucet casing defining a cylindrical enclosure receiving said valve cartridge and closed at one end by a base and at the other end receiving an operating handle therethrough and having a water spout extending from the side of the casing and communicating with the enclosure therein, a cold water inlet and a hot water inlet extending through the casing base, said valve cartridge comprising a generally cylindrical housing fitting within the cylindrical enclosure of the associated faucet casing and including a base integral therewith and disposed against the casing base and having a chamber therein, a recess in the side of said housing adjacent to said housing base and defining therewith flange means disposed on the associated casing base, said flange means having a plurality of openings extending therethrough for receiving fasteners to mount said valve cartridge upon the associated casing base within the associated faucet casing, a cold water inlet port and a hot water inlet port in said housing base respectively interconnecting the cold water inlet and the hot water inlet in the casing base with said chamber and an outlet port in said housing interconnecting said chamber and the interior of the cylindrical enclosure and the spout of the associated faucet casing, a support surface within said chamber surrounding and receiving said ports therethrough and disposed essentially parallel to the associated casing base, gasket means on said support surface isolating said ports from each other, a valve seat on said gasket means and having a sealing surface and at least three holes respectively in registration with said ports, a valve plate having a sealing surface in slidable engagement with said valve seat sealing surface and a bearing surface and fluid control means in said valve plate sealing surface, bearing means having a bearing surface in sliding engagement with the bearing surface of said valve plate, said valve plate being slidable between said valve seat and said bearing means to vary the position of said fluid control means to control the quantity of fluid delivered from said inlet ports to said outlet port and thence to the associated spout, and drive means mounted in said housing and coupled to said valve plate for effecting sliding movement thereof with respect to said valve seat, 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, in the first range 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-cold water position and a full-hot water 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-cold water position and said full-hot water position without changing said proportion control position, whereby said fluid control means cooperates with said holes to deliver cold and hot water from said inlet and outlet ports in any desired volume in said first range of movement and in any desired proportions in said second range of movements so that the volume and proportions are independent of each other throughout both said first range of movement and said second range of movement.

Claim 10

A valve cartridge for use in a faucet casing defining a cylindrical enclosure receiving said valve cartridge and closed at one end by a base and at the other end receiving an operating handle therethrough and having a water spout extending from the side of the casing and communicating with the enclosure therein, a cold water inlet and a hot water inlet extending through the casing base, said valve cartridge comprising a generally cylindrical housing fitting within the cylindrical enclosure of the associated faucet casing and including a base integral therewith and disposed against the casing base and having a chamber therein, a recess in the side of said housing adjacent to said housing base and defining therewith flange means disposed on the associated casing base, said flange means having a plurality of openings extending therethrough for receiving fasteners to mount said valve cartridge upon the associated casing base within the associated faucet casing, a cold water inlet port and a hot water inlet port in said housing base respectively interconnecting the cold water inlet and the hot water inlet in the casing base with said chamber and an outlet port in said housing interconnecting said chamber and the interior of the cylindrical enclosure and the spout of the associated faucet casing, a support surface within said chamber surrounding and receiving said ports therethrough and disposed essentially parallel to the associated casing base, gasket means on said support surface isolating said ports from each other, a valve seat on said gasket means and having a sealing surface and at least three holes respectively in registration with said ports, a valve plate having a sealing surface in slidable engagement with said valve seat sealing surface and a bearing surface and fluid control means in said valve plate sealing surface, bearing means having a bearing surface in sliding engagement with the bearing surface of said valve plate, said valve plate being slidable between said valve seat and said bearing means to vary the position of said fluid control means to control the quantity of fluid delivered from said inlet ports to said outlet port and thence to the associated spout, and drive means mounted in said housing and coupled to said valve plate for effecting sliding movement thereof with respect to said valve seat, 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, in the first range 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-cold water position and a full-hot water 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-cold water position and said full-hot water position without changing said proportion control position, whereby said fluid control means cooperates with said holes to deliver cold and hot water from said inlet and outlet ports in any desired volume in said first range of movement and in any desired proportions in said second range of movements so that the volume and proportions are independent of each other throughout both said first range of movement and said second range of movement.

Claim 11

A valve cartridge comprising a plastic housing having a chamber therein defined at least in part by a recess surface having at least one port communicating therewith a shoulder in said chamber spaced from said recess surface, resilient deformable gasket means mounted on said recess surface and having an uncompressed shape extending toward said shoulder, valve means in said chamber for controlling the quantity of fluid through said port and pressing against said gasket means and extending upwardly beyond said shoulder when said gasket means is in the uncompressed condition thereof, bearing means having a bearing surface in engagement with said valve means and fixedly positioned upon said shoulder to press said valve means against said gasket means, a plastic support member pressing against said bearing means to hold said bearing means against said shoulder, and an ultrasonic weld between said plastic housing and said plastic support member to hold said bearing means upon said shoulder and in turn to press against said valve means to compress said gasket means so as to squeeze said gasket means a predetermined amount thus to supply a known force to provide a fluid-tight seal between said recess surface and said valve means.

Claim 12

A valve cartridge comprising a plastic housing having a chamber therein defined at least in part by a recess surface having at least one port communicating therewith a shoulder in said chamber spaced from said recess surface, resilient deformable gasket means mounted on said recess surface and having an uncompressed shape extending toward said shoulder, valve means in said chamber for controlling the quantity of fluid through said port and pressing against said gasket means and extending upwardly beyond said shoulder when said gasket means is in the uncompressed condition thereof, bearing means having a bearing surface in engagement with said valve means and fixedly positioned upon said shoulder to press said valve means against said gasket means, a plastic support member pressing against said bearing means to hold said bearing means against said shoulder, and an ultrasonic weld between said plastic housing and said plastic support member to hold said bearing means upon said shoulder and in turn to press against said valve means to compress said gasket means so as to squeeze said gasket means a predetermined amount thus to supply a known force to provide a fluid-tight seal between said recess surface and said valve means.

Claim 13

A valve cartridge comprising a plastic housing having a chamber therein defined at least in part by a generally flat recess surface having inlet and outlet ports communicating therewith, a shoulder in said chamber spaced a predetermined distance from the plane of said recess surface, resilient deformable gasket means mounted on said recess surface and having an uncompressed shape extending toward said shoulder, a valve seat pressing against said gasket means and compressing said gasket means to isolate said ports from each other in a fluid-tight manner, said valve seat having a sealing surface and at least two holes respectively in registration with said ports, a valve plate having a sealing surface in sliding engagement with said valve seat sealing surface and a bearing surface and fluid control means in said valve plate sealing surface, bearing means having a bearing surface in sliding engagement with the bearing surface of said valve plate and fixedly positioned upon said shoulder to press said valve plate against said valve seat and to press said valve seat against said gasket means to compress the same, said valve plate being slidable between said valve seat and said bearing means to vary the position of said fluid control means to control the quantity of fluid delivered from said inlet port to said outlet port, a plastic bearing support pressing against said bearing means to hold said bearing means against said shoulder, an ultrasonic weld between said plastic housing and said plastic bearing support to hold said bearing means upon said shoulder, and an operating handle mounted on said bearing support for controlling said valve plate and extending therefrom to an exposed position for grasping by a user, said bearing support and said bearing means and said valve plate and said valve seat cooperating to squeeze said gasket means a predetermined amount thus to supply a known forCe to provide a fluid-tight seal between said sealing surfaces and a predetermined amount of friction therebetween thereby to give a constant feel to a user manipulating said operating handle.

Claim 14

A valve cartridge comprising a plastic housing having a chamber therein defined at least in part by a generally flat recess surface having inlet and outlet ports communicating therewith, a shoulder in said chamber spaced a predetermined distance from the plane of said recess surface, resilient deformable gasket means mounted on said recess surface and having an uncompressed shape extending toward said shoulder, a valve seat pressing against said gasket means and compressing said gasket means to isolate said ports from each other in a fluid-tight manner, said valve seat having a sealing surface and at least two holes respectively in registration with said ports, a valve plate having a sealing surface in sliding engagement with said valve seat sealing surface and a bearing surface and fluid control means in said valve plate sealing surface, bearing means having a bearing surface in sliding engagement with the bearing surface of said valve plate and fixedly positioned upon said shoulder to press said valve plate against said valve seat and to press said valve seat against said gasket means to compress the same, said valve plate being slidable between said valve seat and said bearing means to vary the position of said fluid control means to control the quantity of fluid delivered from said inlet port to said outlet port, a plastic bearing support pressing against said bearing means to hold said bearing means against said shoulder, an ultrasonic weld between said plastic housing and said plastic bearing support to hold said bearing means upon said shoulder, and an operating handle mounted on said bearing support for controlling said valve plate and extending therefrom to an exposed position for grasping by a user, said bearing support and said bearing means and said valve plate and said valve seat cooperating to squeeze said gasket means a predetermined amount thus to supply a known forCe to provide a fluid-tight seal between said sealing surfaces and a predetermined amount of friction therebetween thereby to give a constant feel to a user manipulating said operating handle.