Tubular Valve Member Patents (Class 236/12.18)
  • Patent number: 10487482
    Abstract: A valve assembly for a faucet assembly includes a housing, a thermal motor and a sealing element. The housing includes a first inlet that receives water from a first source, a spout outlet in fluid connection with the first inlet, and a second inlet that receives water from a second source. The thermal motor is within the housing and imparts linear force in an axial direction. The sealing element is operably coupled to move in response to the imparted linear force, and is configured to engage a seating element to form a seal between the second inlet and the spout outlet. The seating element is disposed axially between the motor and the sealing element, and movement of the sealing element in the axial direction breaks the formed seal to allow fluid flow within the housing between the second inlet and the spout outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Inventor: Scott E. Dolgos
  • Patent number: 9291281
    Abstract: Cooling apparatuses and methods are presented for facilitating dissipation of heat generated by one or more electronic components. The apparatuses include, for instance, a coolant-cooled heat sink and a thermostat-controlled valve. The heat sink includes one or more coolant-carrying channels and one or more valve wells intersecting the channels. The thermostat-controlled valve is disposed, at least partially, within a respective valve well so as to intersect a respective coolant-carrying channel, and includes a valve disk and a thermal-sensitive actuator mechanically coupled to rotate the valve disk. The valve disk is rotatable between an open position where coolant is allowed to flow through the respective coolant-carrying channel, and a closed position where coolant is blocked from flowing through the respective channel. The actuator rotates the valve disk between the open position and the closed position, dependent on heating of the thermal-sensitive actuator by the electronic component(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Levi A. Campbell, Richard C. Chu, Milnes P. David, Michael J. Ellsworth, Jr., Madhusudan K. Iyengar, Roger R. Schmidt, Robert E. Simons
  • Patent number: 9285050
    Abstract: Methods are presented for facilitating dissipation of heat generated by one or more electronic components. The methods include providing a coolant-cooled heat sink and a thermostat-controlled valve. The heat sink includes one or more coolant-carrying channels and one or more valve wells intersecting the channels. The thermostat-controlled valve is disposed, at least partially, within a respective valve well so as to intersect a respective coolant-carrying channel, and includes a valve disk and a thermal-sensitive actuator mechanically coupled to rotate the valve disk. The valve disk is rotatable between an open position where coolant is allowed to flow through the respective coolant-carrying channel, and a closed position where coolant is blocked from flowing through the respective channel. The actuator rotates the valve disk between the open position and the closed position, dependent on heating of the thermal-sensitive actuator by the electronic component(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Levi A. Campbell, Richard C. Chu, Milnes P. David, Michael J. Ellsworth, Jr., Madhusudan K. Iyengar, Roger R. Schmidt, Robert E. Simons
  • Patent number: 8881992
    Abstract: Provided is a valve assembly having a thermal valve member and a priority valve member that are shiftable to first and second positions in response to a temperature and pressure of a fluid flowing through the valve assembly. Consequently, the valve can provide for flow through a heating orifice under low temperature, high pressure conditions so that pressure drops in fluid lines coupled to the valve assembly may be prevented or reduced, allowing fluid lines with small diameters to be used in an aircraft or other fluid flow system, thereby reducing the weight of the aircraft or fluid flow system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
    Inventors: John Scott Vanderveen, Samuel C. Sayles
  • Patent number: 8544760
    Abstract: A mixing valve (10) includes a valve body (12) having a hot fluid inlet (14), a cold fluid inlet (16), a mixed fluid outlet (18), and a cavity (20) in the valve body (12) between the inlets (14, 16) and the outlet (18). Mixing valve (10) includes a liner (30, 130, 230, 430, 530, 630, 730, 830) positioned in valve body (12) and a valve member (40, 140, 240, 340, 440, 540, 640, 740, 840) movable therein between a first position restricting the flow of hot fluid and a second position. Liner (30, 130, 230, 430, 530, 630, 730, 830) includes a downstream valve seat (74, 174, 274, 474, 574, 674, 774) that, when engaged by valve member (40, 140, 240, 340, 440, 540, 640, 740, 840), restricts flow of hot fluid past valve member (40, 140, 240, 340, 440, 540, 640, 740, 840).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Magarl, LLC
    Inventor: Kevin B. Kline
  • Patent number: 8181886
    Abstract: The invention provides a thermostatic mixing valve for use within a water discharge fixture. The mixing valve comprises a cover defining an interior region, a stationary lower disk residing within the interior region, and a moveable upper disk. The lower and upper disks each have a central opening and at least one peripheral groove, wherein the grooves are alignable to form a peripheral water outlet. The mixing valve also includes a spindle assembly extending through the cover region and operably connected to the upper disk to enable alignment of the grooves and formation of the water outlet. A pressure relief cavity is formed between the spindle assembly and the cover, and wherein water flows through an opening in the spindle assembly and into the relief cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Xiamen Lota International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keping Li, Jusheng Xiong
  • Patent number: 8074893
    Abstract: The thermostatic cartridge (C) comprises a thermostatic assembly (2) for regulating the temperature of an outgoing mixture (F3) of incoming hot and cold fluids (F1 and F2), two ceramic disks (3, 4) for controlling the flow rates of the hot and cold fluids delivered to the thermostatic assembly, and a disk-actuating sleeve (5) receiving therein in leaktight manner the outer body (2.1) of the thermostatic assembly. To limit costs and any risk of leakage from the cartridge, the actuator sleeve is a single part that defines two internal channels (52, 53) for passing flows respectively of the hot and cold fluids from the disks to respective admission slots (2.2, 2.3) defined by the outer body of the thermostatic assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Vernet
    Inventor: Christian Mace
  • Patent number: 7905424
    Abstract: The invention provides a thermostatic mixing valve for use within a water discharge fixture. The mixing valve comprises a cover defining an interior region, a stationary lower disk residing within the interior region, and a moveable upper disk. The lower and upper disks each have a central opening and at least one peripheral groove, wherein the grooves are alignable to form a peripheral water outlet. The mixing valve also includes a spindle assembly extending through the cover region and operably connected to the upper disk to enable alignment of the grooves and formation of the water outlet. A pressure relief cavity is formed between the spindle assembly and the cover, and wherein water flows through an opening in the spindle assembly and into the relief cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Xiamen Lota Interntaional Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keping Li, Jusheng Xiong
  • Patent number: 7775450
    Abstract: An adjustable height housing enables a thermostatic mixing valve (TMV) with a dial permitting manual control of bathtub shower water temperature to be vertically mounted in a horizontal bathtub deck. The housing can be installed on a narrow bathtub rim yet also accommodates substantial substrate thickness of bathtub decks where required. Manual adjustment of hot and cold ring stops is performed from the top-side using only a screwdriver to gain access. The housing includes a long threaded outer sleeve which extends from near the top deck surface to the thermostatic mixing valve (TMV) cartridge body housing below, thereby accommodating any deck thickness from a 1/16 inch thick stainless steel tub edge to a compound deck construction up to 2¾ inches thick. The rotatable temperature dial is coupled to a cap rotatable by the adjustment handle which, in turn, rotates an adjustable extension shaft within the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Inventor: Jerome Warshawsky
  • Patent number: 7744007
    Abstract: Thermostatic mixing valves and systems for mixing fluids of dissimilar temperature are disclosed. A thermostatic mixing valve in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention can include an elongated valve body defining a cold fluid inlet, a hot fluid inlet, a mix fluid outlet and a mixing chamber, a fluid flow regulator for adjusting the flow of cold and hot fluid injected into the mixing chamber, and temperature selection means for adjusting the temperature of fluid contained within the mixing chamber. The valve body may have a vertical, in-line configuration wherein the hot fluid inlet, mixing chamber, and mix fluid outlet are substantially axially aligned along a vertical longitudinal axis of the valve body, allowing hot fluid to pass substantially vertically through the valve body towards the mix fluid outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph W. Beagen, Steve Goins
  • Patent number: 7740183
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a thermostatic mixer, including a device for the dynamic regulation of the cold water flow which supplies the mixer. A resistance is generated to the flow of cold water supplied to the thermostatic mixer when small flows of mixed water are required, and said resistance is lifted or reduced when large flows of mixed water are required. Said operation is automatically carried out by devices for dynamic regulation of flow, whereby the flow cross-section provided for the incoming cold water is reduced when the drawn flow is reduced and a larger flow cross-section reestablished when a larger flow is required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Masco Corporation of Indiana
    Inventor: Alfons Knapp
  • Patent number: 7717351
    Abstract: A mixing valve (10) includes a valve body (12) having a hot fluid inlet (14), a cold fluid inlet (16), a mixed fluid outlet (18), and a cavity (20) in the valve body (12) between the inlets (14, 16) and the outlet (18). Mixing valve (10) includes a liner (30, 130, 230, 430, 530, 630, 730, 830) positioned in valve body (12) and a valve member (40, 140, 240, 340, 440, 540, 640, 740, 840) movable therein between a first position restricting the flow of hot fluid and a second position. Liner (30, 130, 230, 430, 530, 630, 730, 830) includes a downstream valve seat (74, 174, 274, 474, 574, 674, 774) that, when engaged by valve member (40, 140, 240, 340, 440, 540, 640, 740, 840), restricts flow of hot fluid past valve member (40, 140, 240, 340, 440, 540, 640, 740, 840).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Margarl, LLC
    Inventor: Kevin B. Kline
  • Patent number: 7392955
    Abstract: A valve assembly for providing hot water includes a hot water side with a hot water inlet and a cold water side. The valve assembly also includes a central channel for fluid communication between the cold water side and the hot water side and a bypass valve portion. The bypass valve portion includes a thermostatic valve adapted to substantially block the fluid communication through the central channel between the cold water side and the hot water side when a temperature of water flowing through the central channel increases above a threshold temperature. The bypass valve portion also includes a temperature adjustment portion adapted to selectively vary the threshold temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Inventor: Karsten Laing
  • Publication number: 20080128522
    Abstract: An adjustable height housing enables a thermostatic mixing valve (TMV) with a dial permitting manual control of bathtub shower water temperature to be vertically mounted in a horizontal bathtub deck. The housing can be installed on a narrow bathtub rim yet also accommodates substantial substrate thickness of bathtub decks where required. Manual adjustment of hot and cold ring stops is performed from the top-side using only a screwdriver to gain access. The housing includes a long threaded outer sleeve which extends from near the top deck surface to the thermostatic mixing valve (TMV) cartridge body housing below, thereby accommodating any deck thickness from a 1/16 inch thick stainless steel tub edge to a compound deck construction up to 2¾ inches thick. The rotatable temperature dial is coupled to a cap rotatable by the adjustment handle which, in turn, rotates an adjustable extension shaft within the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Inventor: Jerome Warshawsky
  • Patent number: 7163157
    Abstract: An automatic compensating valve, e.g., for individual shower and tub/shower combination fixtures, has a valve body defining cold and hot water inlet flow passageways, a mixing chamber, a mixed temperate water outlet flow passageway, and an axial bore. The valve includes a plunger that defines, with other elements of the valve, a first orifice for communication of the cold water inlet with said mixing chamber and a second orifice for communication of hot water inlet with mixing chamber. The plunger is mounted within a mixing subassembly for axial movement within the bore, including in response to temperature of water within the mixing chamber to vary the ratio of flow of cold water through the first orifice to flow of hot water through the second orifice. The first orifice and the second orifice are arranged for flow of water transverse to axial movement of the plunger within the bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Watts Regulator Co.
    Inventors: Zoltan Goncze, James C. Graves
  • Patent number: 6938827
    Abstract: In a mixing valve for cold and hot water with thermostatic control of the mixed-water temperature by a thermostat (4) that is connected with a tubular double valve slide (3a, 3b) that is positioned by a temperature selector (5) and that is held in a housing (1) having at least one cold-water inlet (10), one hot-water inlet (11), and one mixed-water outlet (12), the inlet ports (22 and 23) of the mixing valve of the double valve slide (31, 3b) being oppositely controlled at opposite ends, it is suggested that the double valve slide (3a, 3b) have an annular web (31, 31a, 30b) formed with a smaller-diameter partition sleeve (31) that is axially shiftable at least at its end in a bore (24, 26) and that downstream of the inlet ports (22 and 23) the hot water and cold water each flow through respective passages (301) opening into an annular mixing compartment (302) in the web (30, 30a, 30b), the mixing compartment (302) extending radially through the partition sleeve (31) such that exiting mixed water is directed t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Rohe Water Technology AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Frank-Thomas Luig, Kai Huck
  • Publication number: 20040069484
    Abstract: A vehicle air conditioner has an air conditioning case in which a rotary door is provided in an intersection between a cooled and a heated air passage, and a face and a foot blow-out opening. The communicating area ratio(s) between an inlet-side opening of the rotary door and the cooled air passage, the heated air passage, or both the cooled and heated air passages can change by rotating the rotary door, so that the rotary door serves as an air-mix door. In addition, the communicating area ratio(s) between an outlet-side opening and the face opening, the foot opening, or both the face and foot openings can change, so that the rotary door serves as a mode switching door. The conditioned air can be prevented from being blown out through the face and foot openings by rotating the rotary door to a predetermined position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2003
    Publication date: April 15, 2004
    Inventors: Takahiro Tokunaga, Takuya Natsume
  • Publication number: 20040046037
    Abstract: A mixer tap for a shower has a body (1), with a cold water pipe connection (2), a hot water pipe connection (3) and a mixed water outlet connection (4). A flow control knob (5) and a water temperature control knob (6) are provided at the front of the tap. The tap a flow mixer cartrige (11), which is sealed in a cavity (12) in the body. The collor has three sealing grooves (15,16,17) carrying O-rings (115, 116, 117). The groove (16) and its O-ring (116) have a complementary, shuttle (52) arranged between rear and front barrel portions (31,41) to thermostatically control water temperature in cojunction with a thermostatic capsule (61) and the water temperature control knob (6). To the rear of the cartridge there is provided a flow controller (81). This is connected to the flow control knob (5) via actuation fingers (84), which pass through the shuttle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2003
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Inventor: Jeremy Philip Swadling