Abstract: A retaining nut for a faucet assembly which serves the dual purpose of mounting the valve body to the faucet housing while also retaining the valving member within the valve body. The nut is preferably made of plastic and includes a resilient annular flange which cooperates with the faucet housing to seal the periphery of the valve body. The resilient properties of the annular flange maintain engagement despite movement and separation during use of the faucet and initial manufacturing tolerances. The outer surface of the faucet nut includes a series of ribs to facilitate manual removal in addition to the hexagonal configuration for removal using an appropriate hand tool.

Abstract: The invention relates to a motor-powered roof ventilator or extractor fan having its motor-impellor unit mounted within the housing for mounting on the roof or wall of a building. The centrifugal impellor draws in air through a base member adapted for attachment to the roof by way of an intermediate mount and expels it through oblique, diverging outlet ports away from the roof. The outlet ports are constituted by the ends of channel-like, mutually opposite side parts of the housing which are hinged to the base member and may be folded away from the rest of the housing to uncover the centrifugal impellor and the motor for inspection and servicing.

Abstract: A mixing valve for a faucet includes a faucet body with a chamber that receives a cartridge. The cartridge has an axially movable bottom section which seats a fixed plate. A movable plate is housed in the cartridge above the fixed plate and is connected to a controlling handle to cooperate with the fixed plate so as to regulate water flow in the mixing proportions. The bottom of the cartridge can axially move and is provided with two seals one operated between the cartridge and the faucet body and the other between the cartridge bottom and fixed plate. The total working area within the seal between the cartridge and faucet is larger than the total working area within the seal between the cartridge and fixed plate so that hydraulic pressure working within these areas finds the hydraulic force which biases the cartridge bottom upward to compress it against the fixed plate and the fixed plate against the movable plate.

Abstract: A mixing valve 10 has a cartridge assembly 20 therein which has stationary plate 22 having hot and cold openings 24 and 26 and a movable plate 28 slidably mounted thereupon. The movable plate has a surface 29 abutting plate 22 free from apertures. Valve plate 28 moves translationally between an open and closed position and rotated between a cold and hot position. The valve plate can be rotated through approximately 180 degrees with a tooth 66 of plate 28 leveling the mixing profile at the comfort zone between the hot and cold positions (FIG. 1). The valve plate 28 is controlled by a drive lever that can be either rotated about a vertical axis or moved in a vertical plane.

Abstract: An underreamer including a body having a bore therethrough, an arm mounted at its upper end to the body, a conical cutter mounted for rotation on the lower end of each arm, a cup-shaped thrust bearing between the cutter and the arm, means extending through the arm to secure the cutter on the arm including pin elements that extend into a groove in the cutter to prevent rotation movement between the arm and the thrust bearing to lock the thrust bearing to the arm. The arms are pivotally mounted in slots in the body and means are provided for moving the arms to their cutting position with their lower ends positioned radially outward from the body.

Abstract: An electronic steam humidifier includes a reservoir drawer having boiling electrodes submerged in water provided by a solenoid fill valve energized by a dual reference level current start-up circuit which is responsive to the current flow through the water from an AC source as measured by a current detection circuit. A system operation counter initiates a flush/drain operation after a certain time period of operation to flush mineral deposits from the reservoir through a siphon tube to a drain trough. A current control circuit includes a pulse width modulator connected to a triac for reducing the average current to the boiling electrodes during an overcurrent condition as indicated by a comparator coupled to the current detection circuit. A reservoir interlock mechanism initiates a flush/drain operation when the reservoir drawer assembly is removed for maintenance.

Abstract: A rotatable valve assembly for a faucet having an interchangable stainless steel plate which forms the interior flow passage of the valving member. The plate is secured to the valving member by depending tabs which engage reinforcement ribs formed in the valving member. The flow plate is of a one-piece stamped construction with the tabs formed coplanar with the plate and bent perpendicular to the plate prior to attachment of the flow plate. An aperture is formed in the plate which cooperates with an inlet port formed in the bottom wall of the valve body to control the water flow through the assembly.

Abstract: A valve assembly comprising a temperature responsive servomechanism adapted to combine hot and cold water under pressure to produce a constant preselected temperature of water at an outlet.The valve assembly comprises a housing having a valving cavity, a hot water inlet leading to the valving cavity, a cold water inlet leading to the valving cavity, and a mixed water outlet passageway leading from the valving cavity. A valve member translates in the valving cavity and divides the cavity into two auxiliary chambers. A passageway through the valve member allows fluid to flow from each of the inlets to the outlet passageway at a rate that varies as the valve member translates. Passageways in the valve member permit a portion of the mixed water to flow into the auxiliary chambers. An auxiliary passageway is provided between each of the auxiliary chambers and the outlet passageway. A temperature responsive element is provided within the outlet passageway.

Abstract: A faucet valve 10 includes a ball valve 28 seated in a valve chamber 18. The ball valve 28 has a plurality of apertures 46 circumferentially spaced about the control stem 32 which extends through an opening 60 in the cap assembly 48 of the valve housing 16. A check valve 66 is formed within the hollow interior 62 of the ball valve and includes a disc section 70 that mounts a flap valve 78. A shield formed by a cylindrical wall 80 downwardly depending from the disc section 70 and a snap ring 84 fitted on the lower end of the cylindrical wall protects the flap valve from undue water turbulence. Negative pressure in the supply inlet opens the flap valve 78 to draw air through passageway 64 formed by the apertures 46 and auxiliary opening 60 and hollow interior 62 of the ball valve seated in the valve chamber 18.

Abstract: A joint for a plastic bathtub includes a tub support member that has two channels. The first receives a flange of the bathtub. The support member has its second channel receiving fasteners which affix the support member to a wall. A trim molding is then snap fitted over the second channel to conceal the fasteners and to provide for an aesthetically appealing joint appearance. End caps have fingers which are received in the second channel and are caulked in place to conceal the open end of the joint.