US4562864A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Single handle mixing valve with outlet selection
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1983-11-02
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Granted: 1986-01-07
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Expires: 2003-11-02
Abstract
Abstract A liquid mixing valve includes a handle, a protective cover, a semi-circular cover, a spherical guide body, a water-stop washer, and a base defining a spherical cavity therein communicating with dual water outlet ports, a hot-water inlet port and a cold-water inlet port. By moving a handle, a spherical guide body within the spherical cavity is rotated in order to change the registry of a mixing cavity defined within the body with the cold-water and hot-water inlet ports and with the water outlet ports. Hence, the ratio between the portions of at least one of the water outlet ports and the portions of the cold-water and hot-water inlet ports communicating with the outlet port can be controlled to obtain the desired liquid temperature and volume flow rate. By turning the handle 180°, liquid flows from a different one of the outlet ports. In another embodiment, a guide body with dual mixing cavities is provided to permit direct adjustment and selection of output ports by simple longitudinal movement of the handle. In yet another embodiment, a cover of the base defines a rectangular aperture through which the adjustment handle extends. The handle is moved longitudinally to adjust water volume flow rate. Water temperature is adjusted by rotation of the handle, and the outlet port is selected by rotating the handle 180°. The guide body may define dual mixing cavities to permit selection of fluid outlets by simple rectilinear movement of the adjustment handle.
Inventors
- 👤 Tai-Her Yang
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 17:46
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16K; F16K11/00; F16K11/02; F16K11/08; F16K11/087; F16K27/00; F16K27/06; F16K27/067; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/8593; Y10T137/86493; Y10T137/86815; Y10T137/86823; Y10T137/86863; Y10T137/87056; Y10T137/87072; Y10T137/87249
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
224 words
A valve for mixing a first fluid with a second fluid, comprising: means for defining a spherical cavity; means for defining a first inlet port communicating with said spherical cavity for injecting a first fluid into said cavity; means for defining a second inlet port communicating with said spherical cavity for injecting a second fluid into said cavity; means for defining a first outlet port communicating with said spherical cavity for discharging liquid from said cavity; means for defining a second outlet port communicating with said spherical cavity for discharging liquid from said cavity; spherical guide body means for mixing said first and second injected fluids, said body means including means for defining at least one mixing cavity therein and means for defining a first substantially annular groove surrounding said mixing cavity; first seal means, disposed in said first groove, for preventing fluid from escaping from said spherical cavity through said first outlet port when said mixing cavity is in registry with said first outlet port but not with either of said first and second inlet ports; and handle means, connected to said guide body means, for selectively moving said mixing cavity alternately in registry with said first and second outlet ports, and for selectively moving said mixing cavity in registry with controllable portions of the areas of said first and/or second inlet ports.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
224 words
A valve for mixing a first fluid with a second fluid, comprising: means for defining a spherical cavity; means for defining a first inlet port communicating with said spherical cavity for injecting a first fluid into said cavity; means for defining a second inlet port communicating with said spherical cavity for injecting a second fluid into said cavity; means for defining a first outlet port communicating with said spherical cavity for discharging liquid from said cavity; means for defining a second outlet port communicating with said spherical cavity for discharging liquid from said cavity; spherical guide body means for mixing said first and second injected fluids, said body means including means for defining at least one mixing cavity therein and means for defining a first substantially annular groove surrounding said mixing cavity; first seal means, disposed in said first groove, for preventing fluid from escaping from said spherical cavity through said first outlet port when said mixing cavity is in registry with said first outlet port but not with either of said first and second inlet ports; and handle means, connected to said guide body means, for selectively moving said mixing cavity alternately in registry with said first and second outlet ports, and for selectively moving said mixing cavity in registry with controllable portions of the areas of said first and/or second inlet ports.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
69 words
A valve as in claim 1 wherein: said guide body means further includes means for defining a second substantially annular groove, said second groove surrounding said second outlet port whenever said mixing cavity is in registry with said first outlet port; and said valve further includes second seal means, disposed in said second groove, for selectively preventing liquid from escaping from said spherical cavity through said second outlet port.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
80 words
A valve as in claim 2 wherein said guide body means further includes means for defining a second mixing cavity not in communication with said first mixing cavity, said second mixing cavity surrounded by said second annular slot, said second mixing cavity being in registry with said second outlet port whenever said first mixing cavity is in registry with said first outlet port, said first and second mixing cavities being alternately in registry with said first and/or second inlet ports.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
70 words
A valve as in claim 1 wherein said guide body means further includes means for defining a second mixing cavity not in communication with said first mixing cavity, said second mixing cavity being in registry with said second outlet port whenever said first mixing cavity is in registry with said first outlet port, said first and second mixing cavities being alternately in registry with said first and/or second inlet ports.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
190 words
A valve as in claim 4 wherein said handle means is manipulatable to move continuously along a first linear path between first and second positions, said first mixing cavity being in registry with said first outlet port and at least one of said first and second inlet ports when said handle means is moved to said first position, said second mixing cavity being in registry with said second outlet port and at least one of said first and second inlet ports when said handle means is moved to said second position, neither of said first and second mixing cavities being in registry with either of said first and second inlet ports when said handle is moved to a predetermined center position between said first and second positions, movement of said handle means between said center position and said first position simultaneously changing the portion of the areas of said first and second inlet ports communicating with said first mixing cavity, movement of said handle means between said center position and said second position simultaneously changing the area of said first and second inlet ports communicating with said second mixing cavity.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
55 words
A valve as in claim 5 wherein said handle means is also manipulatable to rotate, rotation of said handle means changing the ratio of the area of said first inlet port communicating with one of said first and second mixing cavities to the area of said second inlet port communicating with said one mixing cavity.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
79 words
A valve as in claim 5 wherein said handle means is also manipulatable to move continuously along a second linear path perpendicular to said first linear path between at least third and fourth positions, movement of said handle means along said second linear path changing the ratio of the area of said first inlet port communicating with one of said first and second mixing cavities to the area of said second inlet port communicating with said one mixing cavity.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
85 words
A valve as in claim 1 wherein said handle means is manipulatable to move continuously along a first linear path between first and second positions and to rotate, rotation of said handle means selecting the one of said first and second outlet ports in registry with said first mixing cavity, movement of said handle means along said linear path between said first and second positions simultaneously changing the portion of the areas of said first and second inlet ports communicating with said first mixing cavity.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
102 words
A valve as in claim 8 wherein: rotation of said handle means to said first position causes said first mixing cavity to be in registry with said first outlet port; rotation of said handle means to a second position causes said first mixing cavity to be in registry with said second outlet port; and rotation of said handle means between said first and second positions changes the ratio of the portion of the area of said first inlet port communicating with said first mixing cavity to the portion of the area of said second inlet port communicating with said first mixing cavity.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
75 words
A valve as in claim 8 wherein said handle means is also manipulatable to move continuously along a second linear path perpendicular to said first linear path between at least third and fourth positions, movement of said handle means along said second linear path changing the ratio of the area of said first inlet port communicating with said first mixing cavity to the area of said second inlet port communicating with said first mixing cavity.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
74 words
A valve as in claim 1 wherein said spherical cavity defining means includes: base means for defining a lower hemispherical cavity, said inlet and outlet ports communicating with said lower cavity; hemispherical cover means for defining an upper hemispherical cavity; means for engaging said cover means with said base means; and seal ring means, disposed within said cover means, for preventing liquid in said lower hemispherical cavity from escaping into said upper hemispherical cavity.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
A valve as in claim 11 wherein said cover means includes means for defining a substantially rectangular aperture, said handle means connecting to said guide means through said aperture.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
41 words
A valve as in claim 12 wherein said rectangular aperture has a first dimension slightly larger than the combined lengths of the diameters of said first and second inlet ports added to the distance between said first and second inlet ports.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
A valve as in claim 11 wherein said cover means includes means for defining a substantially linear slot, said handle means connecting to said guide body means through said slot.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
39 words
A valve as in claim 14 wherein the length of said slot is greater than the combined lengths of the diameters of said first and second inlet ports added to the distance between said first and second inlet ports.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
13 words
A valve as in claim 1 wherein said guide body is substantially solid.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-01-06 | 1989-07-08 | 1990-01-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-01-06 | 1993-07-08 | 1994-01-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-01-06 | 1997-07-08 | 1998-01-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |