초록

A mixing valve for use with a faucet. The mixing valve includes a rotatable flow control member having a flow control channel with circumferentially space flow control portions for controlling temperature and flow rate of outlet water.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A mixing valve comprising: a first flow control member including a first surface, a hot water inlet port, and a cold water inlet port;a second flow control member including a second surface facing the first surface of the first flow control member, the second flow control member being supported f

1. A mixing valve comprising: a first flow control member including a first surface, a hot water inlet port, and a cold water inlet port;a second flow control member including a second surface facing the first surface of the first flow control member, the second flow control member being supported for rotation about a center axis extending perpendicular to the second surface such that the second surface is in sliding contact with the first surface;a flow control channel extending inwardly from the second surface of the second flow control member, the flow control channel including a first hot water flow control portion, a first cold water flow control portion circumferentially spaced from the first hot water flow control portion, a second hot water flow control portion circumferentially spaced intermediate the first cold water flow control portion and the first hot water flow control portion in a first angular direction from the first cold water flow control portion, and a second cold water flow control portion circumferentially spaced intermediate the first cold water flow control portion and the first hot water flow control portion in a second angular direction from the first cold water flow control portion, the first angular direction being one of clockwise and counterclockwise, and the second angular direction being the other of counterclockwise and clockwise;a carrier operably coupled to the second flow control member for rotating the flow control portions of the flow control channel in an arcuate path about the center axis;wherein rotation of the second flow control member about the center axis within a first angular range aligns at least one of the first hot water flow control portion with the hot water inlet port, and the first cold water flow control portion with the cold water inlet port for permitting fluid flow at a first flow rate through the flow control channel; andwherein rotation of the second flow control member about the center axis within a second angular range aligns at least one of the second hot water flow control portion with the hot water inlet port, and the second cold water flow control portion with the cold water inlet port for permitting fluid flow at a second flow rate through the flow control channel. 2. The mixing valve of claim 1, wherein rotation of the second flow control member within the first angular range controls the temperature of water within the flow control channel by varying the ratio of water flowing through the first hot water flow control portion and the first cold water flow control portion, and rotation of the second flow control member within the second angular range controls the temperature of water within the flow control channel by varying the ratio of water flowing through the second hot water flow control portion and the second cold water flow control portion. 3. The mixing valve of claim 1, wherein: the first hot water flow control portion and the first cold water flow control portion each includes an outer control edge;the second hot water flow control portion and the second cold water flow control portion each includes an outer control edge; andthe outer control edges of the second hot water flow control portion and the second cold water flow control portion are disposed radially outwardly from the outer control edges of the first hot water flow control portion and the first cold water flow control portion. 4. The mixing valve of claim 3, further comprising a central chamber fluidly coupling the first hot water flow control portion and the first cold water flow control portion with the second hot water flow control portion and the second cold water flow control portion. 5. The mixing valve of claim 1, further comprising a valve body including an interface cooperating with the first flow control member, a hot water inlet conduit in fluid communication with the hot water inlet port, and a cold water inlet conduit in fluid communication with the cold water inlet port. 6. The mixing valve of claim 5, further comprising a gasket positioned intermediate the interface of the valve body and the first flow control member, the gasket providing a seal between the hot water inlet conduit and the hot water inlet port, and the cold water inlet conduit and the cold water inlet port. 7. The mixing valve of claim 5, further comprising a housing cooperating with the valve body and defining a chamber receiving the first flow control member, the second flow control member, and the carrier. 8. The mixing valve of claim 5, wherein: the first flow control member further includes a mixed water outlet port positioned intermediate the hot water inlet port and the cold water inlet port; andthe valve body includes a mixed water outlet conduit in fluid communication with the mixed water outlet port. 9. The mixing valve of claim 1, wherein the carrier includes a base operably coupled to the second flow control member, and a stem supported by the base and extending longitudinally along the center axis. 10. The mixing valve of claim 9, further comprising: a housing receiving the first flow control member, the second flow control member, and the base of the carrier; anda bearing ring positioned intermediate the housing and the base of the carrier, the stem extending through the bearing ring. 11. The mixing valve of claim 1, wherein the second flow control member includes a plate, and the flow control channel comprises a closed recess formed within the plate. 12. The mixing valve of claim 1, wherein the cross-sectional area of each of the first hot water flow control portion and the first cold water flow control portion is different from the cross-sectional area of each of the second hot water flow control portion and the second cold water flow control portion. 13. A mixing valve comprising: a first flow control member including a first surface and a first inlet port;a second flow control member including a second surface slidably engaging the first surface of the first flow control member;a flow control channel extending inwardly from the second surface of the second flow control member, the flow control channel including a central chamber, a first water flow control portion extending radially outwardly from the central chamber and including an outer control edge, a second water flow control portion extending radially outwardly from the central chamber and circumferentially spaced from the first water flow control portion, a portion of the second surface extending circumferentially between the first water flow control portion and the second water flow control portion, the second water flow control portion including an outer control edge positioned radially outwardly from the outer control edge of the first water flow control portion; anda carrier operably coupled to the second flow control member for moving the water flow control portions of the flow control channel;wherein full overlap of the first water flow control portion and the first inlet port defines a fluid passageway having a first cross-sectional flow area, and full overlap of the second water flow control portion and the first inlet port defines a fluid passageway having a second cross-sectional flow area, the first cross-sectional flow area being less than the second cross-sectional flow area, such that fluid flows through the first cross-sectional flow area at a first flow rate and fluid flows through the second cross-sectional flow area at a second flow rate, the first flow rate being less than the second flow rate. 14. The mixing valve of claim 13, wherein the second flow control member is supported for rotation about a center axis extending perpendicular to the second surface. 15. The mixing valve of claim 14, wherein: the first flow control member includes a second inlet port in spaced relation to the first inlet port;the first water flow control portion includes a first hot water flow control portion, and a first cold water flow control portion circumferentially spaced from the first hot water flow control portion;the second water flow control portion includes a second hot water flow control portion circumferentially spaced intermediate the first cold water flow control portion and the first hot water flow control portion in a first angular direction from the first cold water flow control portion, and a second cold water flow control portion circumferentially spaced intermediate the first cold water flow control portion and the first hot water flow control portion in a second angular direction from the first cold water flow control portion;wherein rotation of the second flow control member within a first angular range aligns at least one of the first hot water flow control portion with the first inlet port, and the first cold water flow control portion with the second inlet port for permitting fluid flow at a first flow rate through the flow control channel; andwherein rotation of the second flow control member within a second angular range aligns at least one of the second hot water flow control portion with the first inlet port, and the second cold water flow control portion with the second inlet port for permitting fluid flow at a second flow rate through the flow control channel. 16. The mixing valve of claim 15, further comprising a valve body including an interface cooperating with the first flow control member, a hot water inlet conduit in fluid communication with the first inlet port, and a cold water inlet conduit in fluid communication with the second inlet port. 17. The mixing valve of claim 16, further comprising a gasket positioned intermediate the interface of the valve body and the first flow control member, the gasket providing a seal between the hot water inlet conduit and the first inlet port, and the cold water inlet conduit and the second inlet port. 18. The mixing valve of claim 16, further comprising a housing cooperating with the valve body and defining a chamber receiving the first flow control member and the second flow control member. 19. The mixing valve of claim 16, wherein: the first flow control member further includes an outlet port positioned intermediate the hot water inlet port and the cold water inlet port; andthe valve body includes an outlet conduit in fluid communication with the outlet port. 20. The mixing valve of claim 14, wherein the carrier includes a base operably coupled to the second flow control member, and a stem supported by the base and extending longitudinally along the center axis. 21. The mixing valve of claim 13, wherein the second flow control member includes a plate, and the flow control channel comprises a closed recess formed within the plate. 22. The mixing valve of claim 13, further comprising an electric motor operably coupled to the carrier for moving the second flow control member. 23. A mixing valve comprising: a first flow control member including a first surface, a hot water inlet port, and a cold water inlet port;a second flow control member including a second surface facing the first surface of the first flow control member, the second flow control member being supported for rotation about a center axis extending perpendicular to the second surface such that the second surface is in sliding contact with the first surface; anda flow control channel extending inwardly from the second surface of the second flow control member;wherein the second flow control member is rotatable about the center axis between an off position, a first flow position, and a second flow position, the off position defined when the second surface of the second flow control member blocks water flow from passing through the hot water inlet port and the cold water inlet port, the first flow position defined by rotating the second flow control member about the center axis within a first angular range wherein the flow control channel permits water flow to pass through at least one of the hot water inlet port and the cold water inlet port at a substantially constant first flow rate from a full cold temperature to a full hot temperature, and the second flow position defined by rotating the second flow control member about the center axis within a second angular range wherein the flow control channel permits water flow to pass through at least one of the hot water inlet port and the cold water inlet port at a substantially constant second flow rate from a full cold temperature to a full hot temperature, wherein the second angular range is greater than the first angular range. 24. The mixing valve of claim 23, wherein the flow control channel includes a first hot water flow control portion, a first cold water flow control portion circumferentially spaced from the first hot water flow control portion, a second hot water flow control portion circumferentially spaced intermediate the first cold water flow control portion and the first hot water flow control portion in a first angular direction from the first cold water flow control portion, and a second cold water flow control portion circumferentially spaced intermediate the first cold water flow control portion and the first hot water flow control portion in a second angular direction from the first cold water flow control portion. 25. The mixing valve of claim 24, wherein rotation of the second flow control member within the first angular range controls the temperature of water within the flow control channel by varying the ratio of water flowing through the first hot water flow control portion and the first cold water flow control portion, and rotation of the second flow control member within the second angular range controls the temperature of water within the flow control channel by varying the ratio of water flowing through the second hot water flow control portion and the second cold water flow control portion. 26. The mixing valve of claim 24, wherein: the first hot water flow control portion and the first cold water flow control portion each includes an outer control edge;the second hot water flow control portion and the second cold water flow control portion each includes an outer control edge; andthe outer control edges of the second hot water flow control portion and the second cold water flow control portion are disposed radially outwardly from the outer control edges of the first hot water flow control portion and the first cold water flow control portion. 27. The mixing valve of claim 24, further comprising a central chamber fluidly coupling the first hot water flow control portion and the first cold water flow control portion with the second hot water flow control portion and the second cold water flow control portion. 28. The mixing valve of claim 23, further comprising a valve body including an interface cooperating with the first flow control member, a hot water inlet conduit in fluid communication with the hot water inlet port, and a cold water inlet conduit in fluid communication with the cold water inlet port. 29. The mixing valve of claim 28, further comprising a gasket positioned intermediate the interface of the valve body and the first flow control member, the gasket providing a seal between the hot water inlet conduit and the hot water inlet port, and the cold water inlet conduit and the cold water inlet port. 30. The mixing valve of claim 28, further comprising a housing cooperating with the valve body and defining a chamber receiving the first flow control member and the second flow control member. 31. The mixing valve of claim 28, wherein: the first flow control member further includes a mixed water outlet port positioned intermediate the hot water inlet port and the cold water inlet port; andthe valve body includes a mixed water outlet conduit in fluid communication with the mixed water outlet port. 32. The mixing valve of claim 23, further comprising a carrier including a base operably coupled to the second flow control member, and a stem supported by the base and extending longitudinally along the center axis. 33. The mixing valve of claim 23, wherein the second flow control member includes a plate, and the flow control channel comprises a closed recess formed within the plate. 34. The mixing valve of claim 23, further comprising an electric motor operably coupled to the second flow control member. 35. A mixing valve comprising: a first flow control member including a first surface and a first inlet port;a second flow control member including a second surface slidably engaging the first surface of the first flow control member;a flow control channel extending inwardly from the second surface of the second flow control member, the flow control channel including a central chamber, a first water flow control portion extending radially outwardly from the central chamber and including an outer control edge, a second water flow control portion extending radially outwardly from the central chamber and circumferentially spaced from the first water flow control portion, the second water flow control portion including an outer control edge positioned radially outwardly from the outer control edge of the first water flow control portion;a carrier operably coupled to the second flow control member for moving the water flow control portions of the flow control channel;wherein full overlap of the first water flow control portion and the first inlet port defines a fluid passageway having a first cross-sectional flow area, and full overlap of the second water flow control portion and the first inlet port defines a fluid passageway having a second cross-sectional flow area, the first cross-sectional flow area being less than the second cross-sectional flow area;wherein the second flow control member is supported for rotation about a center axis extending perpendicular to the second surface;the first flow control member includes a second inlet port in spaced relation to the first inlet port;the first water flow control portion includes a first hot water flow control portion, and a first cold water flow control portion circumferentially spaced from the first hot water flow control portion;the second water flow control portion includes a second hot water flow control portion circumferentially spaced intermediate the first cold water flow control portion and the first hot water flow control portion in a first angular direction from the first cold water flow control portion, and a second cold water flow control portion circumferentially spaced intermediate the first cold water flow control portion and the first hot water flow control portion in a second angular direction from the first cold water flow control portion;wherein rotation of the second flow control member within a first angular range aligns at least one of the first hot water flow control portion with the first inlet port, and the first cold water flow control portion with the second inlet port for permitting fluid flow at a first flow rate through the flow control channel; andwherein rotation of the second flow control member within a second angular range aligns at least one of the second hot water flow control portion with the first inlet port, and the second cold water flow control portion with the second inlet port for permitting fluid flow at a second flow rate through the flow control channel.