Self-proportioning Flow Systems Patents (Class 137/98)
  • Publication number: 20030183275
    Abstract: A faucet housing includes two barrels each having an inlet port for receiving hot and cold water, and an outlet port. A receptacle and two conduits are coupled between the barrels. One of the barrels has a partition for separating the barrel into two spaces and for communicating with the conduits. A casing is disposed in the other barrel and the receptacle and has a bore for receiving a tube and a valve member. One or more check valves are engaged in either or both of the inlet ports of the barrels for preventing backward water flow and for maintaining water pressure in the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2002
    Publication date: October 2, 2003
    Inventor: Tsai Chen Yang
  • Publication number: 20030145886
    Abstract: Regulator for precision control of pressure based on a means of measuring pressure differentials. More specifically, the present invention provides a pressure control that tracks a relatively high background pressure, and applies a positive or negative offset to create the small pressure differentials that can be utilized to transport fluids within a capillary network. The present invention is also directed to a method of controlling microfluidic elements (such as donut cavities) with a high degree of precision. In high performance liquid chromatography applications, this is accomplished using tracking pressure regulators to measure and respond to the difference between the liquid pump pressure and the regulated pneumatic pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2002
    Publication date: August 7, 2003
    Inventors: Carlton H. Paul, Guy B. Praria, Jeffrey H. Stokes
  • Publication number: 20030131883
    Abstract: The invention relates to a valve combination which is characterized in that the valve combination has a passive valve and an active valve. The active valve is provided with means for an active influence of the control position of a closing element and regulates the fluid flow at a high pressure. The passive valve controls the fluid flow at low pressure. The passive valve and the active valve are integrated into the cooling system pump circuit such that the pressure difference between the high and low fluid pressure and the control positions of the active valve determine the control position of the passive valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2002
    Publication date: July 17, 2003
    Inventor: Marion Lorenz-Bornert
  • Publication number: 20030131882
    Abstract: An improved structural arrangement of a pressure balancing valve of the type where flow between two unequal pressure flowing fluids introduced at the valve inlets is regulated to produce substantially equal pressure flowing fluids at its outlets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2002
    Publication date: July 17, 2003
    Inventor: Lawrence A. Kolze
  • Patent number: 6583525
    Abstract: The subject invention is a valve for regulating the viscosity of fluid utilized by an integrated drive generator (IDG). The valve includes a housing defining a bore having a first inlet supplying “cold” hydraulic fluid at a first viscosity and a second inlet supplying “hot” hydraulic fluid at a second viscosity. A spool valve disposed within the bore has at least one land to proportionally control the flow of hydraulic fluid through the inlets. Hydraulic fluid from the first and second inlets mixes within the valve and exits the valve through an outlet at an optimum viscosity for the operation of the IDG. A flow restrictor creates a pressure force on the spool valve that is proportional to the viscosity of the hydraulic fluid flowing to the IDG.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand
    Inventors: Gerald P. Dyer, Richard Hector Bostiga
  • Patent number: 6581622
    Abstract: A divider combiner valve using only one spool without any springs. The correct holes open and close by check valves. These are simple and reliable. There is no chance of the holes not being in the correct location. Since there is only one spool, contamination cannot keep the spools from shifting into their correct relationship with each other. The extra pressure drops, needed to overcome the spring forces in the earlier designs, have been eliminated all together. Also, the number of spools has been reduced from two or three down to a single spool, thus reducing the cost to manufacture the finished valve. Because there is only one spool, clearances are closer. There is less internal leakage, more accuracy while the cylinders are in motion. This closer clearance tends to lock the loads rather than transfer oil from one cylinder to the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Inventors: Glen Brand, Timmy L. Chew
  • Patent number: 6546948
    Abstract: A mixer valve assembly is provided comprising a pressure balancer cartridge including radially extending lugs, a mixer valve in fluid communication with, and supported by the pressure balancer cartridge, and a housing fitted over the pressure balancer cartridge and the mixer valve, the housing including notches for coupling to the lugs. The mixer valve can be used as part of a water faucet assembly. In this respect, a water faucet assembly is also provided comprising a faucet body including a sleeve, a base provided at one end of the sleeve, and fluid passages formed in the base, and a mixer valve assembly, disposed within the faucet body, including a pressure balancer cartridge including radially extending lugs, a mixer valve in fluid communication with, and supported by the pressure balancer cartridge, and a housing fitted over the pressure balancer cartridge and the mixer valve, the housing including notches for coupling to the lugs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: American Faucet Inc.
    Inventor: Umberto Tarzia
  • Publication number: 20030034067
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for distributing a fluid. A fluid distribution device includes a flow chamber comprising an inlet and an outlet, an equalization chamber; and a diaphragm separating the flow chamber and the equalization chamber, wherein a valve positioned in a flow path between the flow chamber inlet and the flow chamber outlet comprises a valve body coupled to the diaphragm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2001
    Publication date: February 20, 2003
    Inventor: David Haruch
  • Patent number: 6497244
    Abstract: A fluid flow proportioning device including spool type valve elements (12,14,16) opposite end portions of which reciprocate in oppositely disposed and spaced apart valve block halves (100,102). So that the fluids being proportioned can never mix within the device despite the spool portions being devoid of sealing element within the cylindrical bores (13,15,17) in which they are slideable, central portions (21) of the valve elements are of smaller diameter than the diameters of the cylindrical bores (13,15,17) in which the valve elements are located, and resilient seals (105) encircle the portions (21) where they extend outwards from the valve block halves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2002
    Inventor: David Needham
  • Publication number: 20020179144
    Abstract: A valve assembly for mixing hot and cold water includes a generally cylindrical sleeve having hot and cold inlets and outlets and a rotatable non-reciprocal valve member positioned therein-to control the mixture of hot and cold water in the outlet stream. The valve member has a hollow stem tube having hot and cold inlet and outlet ports which are rotatably engageable with the hot and cold inlets and outlets of the sleeve. The sleeve hot water outlet is generally larger than the sleeve cold water outlet. The sleeve and stem tube inlets and outlets are not limited to a particular shape and/or geometry. The fluid engagement between the sleeve hot and cold water outlets and the stem tube hot and cold water outlets provides a large mixed water temperature range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2002
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Inventors: James F. Dempsey, John C. Holzheimer, Matt R. Kesti, Matthew R. Fehlner, Bryan Garvin
  • Patent number: 6427713
    Abstract: A valve assembly for mixing hot and cold water includes a generally cylindrical sleeve having hot and cold inlets and outlets and a rotable non-reciprocal valve member positioned therein to control the mixture of hot and cold water in the outlet stream. The valve member has a hollow stem tube having hot and cold inlet and outlet ports which are rotably engageable with the hot and cold inlets and outlets of the sleeve. The stem tube hot water inlet port has at least one tapered portion with is engageable with a tapered portion of the sleeve to provide a larger range of mixed range temperatures in the resulting outlet stream. Sleeve ribs, rims and raised edges provide a smoother fluid passageway for increased flow and for the eliminating of stacking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Moen Incorporated
    Inventors: James F. Dempsey, John C. Holzheimer, Matt R. Kesti
  • Publication number: 20020088487
    Abstract: A divider combiner valve using only one spool without any springs. The correct holes open and close by ball and seat type check valves although these could be a poppet or disk as well and these valves may be located in the valve body, the spool, or both. These are simple and reliable. There is no chance of the holes not being in the correct location. Since there is only one spool, contamination cannot keep the spools from shifting into their correct relationship with each other. The extra pressure drops, needed to overcome the spring forces in the earlier designs, have been eliminated all together. Also, the number of spools has been reduced from two or three down to a single spool, thus reducing the cost to manufacture the finished valve. Because there is only one spool, clearances are closer. There is less internal leakage, more accuracy while the cylinders are in motion. This closer clearance tends to lock the loads rather than transfer oil from one cylinder to the other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2001
    Publication date: July 11, 2002
    Inventors: Glen Brand, Timmy L. Chew
  • Publication number: 20020059953
    Abstract: A mixer valve assembly is provided comprising a pressure balancer cartridge including radially extending lugs, a mixer valve in fluid communication with, and supported by the pressure balancer cartridge, and a housing fitted over the pressure balancer cartridge and the mixer valve, the housing including notches for coupling to the lugs. The mixer valve can be used as part of a water faucet assembly. In this respect, a water faucet assembly is also provided comprising a faucet body including a sleeve, a base provided at one end of the sleeve, and fluid passages formed in the base, and a mixer valve assembly, disposed within the faucet body, including a pressure balancer cartridge including radially extending lugs, a mixer valve in fluid communication with, and supported by the pressure balancer cartridge, and a housing fitted over the pressure balancer cartridge and the mixer valve, the housing including notches for coupling to the lugs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2001
    Publication date: May 23, 2002
    Inventor: Umberto Tarzia
  • Publication number: 20020046769
    Abstract: A divider combiner valve using only one spool without any springs. The correct holes open and close by check valves. These are simple and reliable. There is no chance of the holes not being in the correct location. Since there is only one spool, contamination cannot keep the spools from shifting into their correct relationship with each other. The extra pressure drops, needed to overcome the spring forces in the earlier designs, have been eliminated all together. Also, the number of spools has been reduced from two or three down to a single spool, thus reducing the cost to manufacture the finished valve. Because there is only one spool, clearances are closer. There is less internal leakage, more accuracy while the cylinders are in motion. This closer clearance tends to lock the loads rather than transfer oil from one cylinder to the other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2001
    Publication date: April 25, 2002
    Inventors: Glen Brand, Timmy L. Chew
  • Patent number: 6325089
    Abstract: This valve uses a rotatable balancing chamber to control the waterflow into the balancing chamber. A pair of exit ports on the rotatable balancing chamber are in communication with the balancing chambers on either side of a diaphragm equipped shuttle to control the outlet mixture of hot and cold water. The diaphragm equipped shuttle responds to changes in pressure in the respective balance chambers to throttle the water through the valve in response to changes in inlet pressures. The pressure balancing chambers are isolated from the water supplies feeding the valve when the valve is in the “off” position, and the pressure balancing chambers are pre-pressurized before any water is permitted to exit from the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Inventor: Silvano Breda
  • Patent number: 6299657
    Abstract: In the reaction process, at least two educts A, B are divided by a system, assigned to each of them, of slit-like microchannels 1a, 1b into spatially separate fluid lamellae, which then emerge into a common mixing and reaction space 4. The fluid lamellae here have a thickness <1,000 &mgr;m, preferably <100 &mgr;m, at a width thickness ratio of at least 10. It is essential here that educts A, B can emerge as thin fluid lamellae 6a, 6b into the mixing/reaction space 4, each fluid lamella 6a of an educt A being led into the mixing/reaction space 4 in the immediate vicinity of a fluid lamella 6b of another educt B. The adjacent fluid lamellae 6a, 6b then subsequently mix by diffusion and/or turbulence. As a result, the mixing operation is accelerated substantially compared with conventional reactors. In the case of rapid chemical reactions, the formation of undesirable by-products or secondary products is largely prevented in this manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Bayer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Klaus Schubert, Wilhelm Bier, Gerd Linder, Erhard Herrmann, Bernd Koglin, Thomas Menzel, Christine Maul
  • Patent number: 6273120
    Abstract: A device for introducing a liquid reducing agent into an exhaust gas purification system includes a gas line for receiving and carrying a gas, a reducing agent line for receiving and carrying a liquid reducing agent, a mixing chamber for mixing the reducing agent with the gas, the mixing chamber fluidically connected to the gas line and to the aid reducing agent line, a metering valve disposed in the reducing agent line; and a control device for controlling a pressure in the reducing agent line dependent upon a gas pressure in the gas line. The control device can also be used for controlling the reducing agent throughput in the reducing agent line in dependence on the gas pressure in the gas line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Lothar Hofmann, Wieland Mathes
  • Patent number: 6267134
    Abstract: A wall mounted mixer valve with pressure balance to automatically suspend the supply of hot water once the pressure of cold water drops to prevent accidental burning by hot water is essentially comprised of a body, a pressure balance device, a ball assembly, a washer, a packing cover, a cylinder, a bonnet, a rose, and a handle; within, an accommodation slot and a water outlet are provided in a base inside the body, an water inlet is each provided respectively to one edge of two shallow grooves in the middle section of said slot and a water outlet is each provided to the external side of said two grooves; a shutoff valve is protruded from the bottom of said slot with the inner edge of said shutoff valve internally threaded; the pressure balance device is comprised of an outer sleeve, an inner sleeve and a lid with the center and both RH and LH ends of said outer sleeve each provided with a packing retainer ring, one perforated spacer slot is each provided on the wall among said three packing retainer ring, a h
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Assignee: Tai Yi Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Cheng-Tung Chen
  • Patent number: 6263899
    Abstract: A novel non-scald mixing valve is provided of the type that utilizes a pressure-balancing piston to sense a change in the set flow conditions and automatically open or closes orifice to compensate for the change, the valve being characterized by the use of ceramic valving elements to provide both the valve shut-off function and the temperature-ratioing function. The ceramic valving elements fulfill the requirement that the positive shut-off function must be accomplished up-stream of the sensing pressure-balancing piston in order to avoid the use of check valves in the hot and cold water supplies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: Symmons Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Jerrold Zindler
  • Patent number: 6227227
    Abstract: A single meter blending fuel dispensing system utilizing a pair of proportional flow control valves each having a pressure transducer positioned aft of the valve flow control mechanism. A computer controller is used to program a desired fuel mixture by varying the pressure for each flow control valve. A pressure decrease in one valve produces a corresponding pressure increase in the other valve. A third pressure transducer can be situated downstream of the valves and is set such that the pressure it receives cannot exceed that of the two valve pressures. Flow meters can be substituted for the pressure sensors. A calibration method for calibrating the positive displacement meter is also disclosed. At installation the positive displacement meter is at its most accurate and is synchronized with the less accurate pressure sensors or flow meters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Masconi Commerce Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Edward S. Poleshuk, Joseph D. Long
  • Publication number: 20010000282
    Abstract: A single meter blending fuel dispensing system utilizing a pair of proportional flow control valves each having a pressure transducer positioned aft of the valve flow control mechanism. A computer controller is used to program a desired fuel mixture by varying the pressure for each flow control valve. A pressure decrease in one valve produces a corresponding pressure increase in the other valve. A third pressure transducer can be situated downstream of the valves and is set such that the pressure it receives cannot exceed that of the two valve pressures. Flow meters can be substituted for the pressure sensors. A calibration method for calibrating the positive displacement meter is also disclosed. At installation the positive displacement meter is at its most accurate and is synchronized with the less accurate pressure sensors or flow meters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2000
    Publication date: April 19, 2001
    Inventors: Edward S. Poleshuk, Joseph D. Long
  • Patent number: 6196250
    Abstract: A pressure balanced valve assembly for mixing hot water and cold water includes a body with two inlets which communicates with two respective outlets in the body, a flexible balanced member securely located between the two pairs of the inlet and the outlet. Two side members are engaged with the two inlets and each of the side members has a plurality of L-shaped inlet paths in the outside thereof and a chamber in the inside thereof, wherein the inlet paths communicate with the corresponding chamber. Two rods each have one end thereof connected to the two sides of the balanced member and the other end thereof removably received in the chamber and engagable with the inner periphery of the inlet corresponding thereto. The water entering from the inlets of the body will not impact the balanced member directly which is therefore operated precisely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Metal Industries Research Development Center
    Inventors: Tin-Kai Lin, Hung-Yin Chen
  • Patent number: 6182682
    Abstract: An improved pressure balance device for use in a faucet is made up of a pair of symmetric semi-cylindrical units and a tubular water inlet cap. Each semi-cylindrical unit has a semi-circular cross section and on each edge of the vertical face thereof is disposed a locking protrusion and a retaining recess at the middle position thereof respectively. Under the locking protrusion and the retaining recess is disposed a radially extended lug respectively. At the central position of the arc peripheral surface of each semi-cylindrical unit is placed a wedge-shaped locking latch. The tubular water inlet cap is provided with two symmetric inverted U-shaped engagement recesses at the bottom rim thereof and right between the two engagement recesses, in either direction, is disposed a retaining hole whereby the water inlet cap can be snapped into engagement with the two assembled semi-cylindrical units and be locked integrally together with ease and speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: Kuching International Ltd.
    Inventor: Mei-Lee Chen
  • Patent number: 6176250
    Abstract: A pressure balanced valve assembly includes a casing having a proportioning member received in a passage defined in the casing. Two inlets and two outlets are respectively defined in two opposite ends of the casing. The proportioning member has a central passage defined therethrough, two apertures defined through the wall of the proportioning member and communicating with the central passage. The position of each of the two apertures of the proportioning member is moved relative to the two inlets of the casing when the water pressure in the casing moves the proportioning member so as to change the opening of the two inlets of the casing by the wall of the proportioning member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: Metal Industries Research Development Center
    Inventors: Tin-Kai Lin, Hung-Yin Chen
  • Patent number: 6138705
    Abstract: An improved pressure balance valve has a valve embodiment, a sleeve , a balance valve and a sealing cap. The balance valve is housed in the tubular sleeve which is further removably secured to the sealing cap. The sealing cap is detachably fixed to an opening of the valve embodiment so that both the balance valve and the sleeve are taken out with ease for cleansing purpose. The sleeve is provided with 3 ring grooves for housing sealing rings therein so as to effectively prevent hot and cold water from intermixing due to leakage. The balance valve is opened at both ends so as to permit water to be discharged in a better manner. Between every two ring grooves of the sleeve is defined a cold or hot water section and each water section is provided with 4 spaced cold water outer inlets or 4 spaced hot water outer inlets. The balance valve is also provided with 4 cold water inner inlets or 4 hot water inner inlets in each section divided by the partition board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Inventor: Cheng-Tung Chen
  • Patent number: 6123094
    Abstract: A valve assembly is provided including a housing having an opening wherein a cartridge is inserted. The housing has axially aligned inlets and outlets for hot and cold water. The cartridge includes a stationary sleeve containing a rotatable stem member. The stem member carries a compound seal having a first primary sealing portion for sealing the inlet of the stationary sleeve and a secondary seal portion for separating first and second chamber areas of the stem member. Preferably the outlets of said moveable stem and said stationary sleeve are substantially L-shaped, and inverted L-shaped respectively, which are selectively alignable to provide for an increased volume of water through the valve assembly. The housing includes a dividing dam in the outlet splitting the outlet in two.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignee: Silvano Breda
    Inventor: Silvano Breda
  • Patent number: 6095176
    Abstract: A mixing valve includes a housing having two inlets for receiving cold water and hot water. A valve member is secured in the housing and includes a membrane that may be easily secured between two casings. A valve stem is slidably engaged in the casings and has a middle portion secured to the membrane. The valve stem has two valve elements for engaging with the valve seats of the casings and for blocking the hot water when the cold water is not supplied to the housing. One or more control valves may be exchangeably secured to the valve member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Inventor: Tsai Chen Yang
  • Patent number: 6050285
    Abstract: A pressure balancing valve and method of assembly is disclosed. The valve includes a pressure balancer cartridge having a poppet assembly made up of releasably connectable poppet valves movably mounted on opposite sides of a diaphragm. The pressure balancer cartridge utilizes compliant members mounted on water flow controlling orifices to form a sealable opening in cooperation with the closure surface of a respective poppet. Each poppet has a reduced diameter end that fits within a damping chamber and uses a sealing member mounted on each poppet valve to increase tolerances and improve manufacturing yield. The method includes the step of aligning poppet halves and connecting the interlocking connectors of the two halves through a diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: Mark Controls Corporation
    Inventors: Zoltan Goncze, Dane F. Watkins
  • Patent number: 6029687
    Abstract: An assembling structure for balance valve of cold/hot water mixing valve. The assembling structure includes a mixing valve cartridge a bottom wall of which is formed with a lower balance valve cavity above the cold and hot water incoming holes thereof, and a circular balance valve cover board formed with cold and hot water incoming holes and mixing water outgoing hole corresponding to the water holes of the cartridge. A lower surface of the balance valve cover board is formed with an upper balance valve cavity at the cold and hot water incoming holes thereof. The lower surface of the balance valve cover board is further formed with a sealing groove along the edges of the mixing water outgoing hole and the upper balance valve cavity. When the balance valve cover board is fixedly rested on the upper surface of the bottom wall of the cartridge, the cover board via a balance valve seal is sealedly positioned in the sealing groove and pressed by the bottom wall of the cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Inventor: Chia-Bo Chang
  • Patent number: 6016825
    Abstract: The invention relates to a metering device for the metered admixture of a first fluid in a second fluid. The device comprises a housing (10) with a first inlet (15, 16), a second inlet (11), and an outlet (14) for a mixture of the two fluids. The housing (10) also contains a moving body (18) which is so arranged as to be influenced by a flow of fluid through the housing and exhibits means for regulating the first fluid, in such a way that a change in the flow at the outlet (14) produces a change in the flow of the first fluid. The inlet (15, 16) for the first fluid is connected to a tubular channel (17), which is centered essentially coaxially inside the outlet (14). The body (18) is mounted so that it is capable of displacement along the outside of the tubular channel (17), against the effect of a spring device (21) acting in a direction downstream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2000
    Assignee: Rigab Raddningsutrustning 1 Goteborg AG
    Inventor: Ulf Andersson
  • Patent number: 6012476
    Abstract: An improved pressure balancer is mounted to a water inlet passage of a mixing faucet. Its improvement is characterized by the adoption of a mixing chamber, defined at one end of a valve control shaft, in which a plurality of upright turbulence rods are disposed, and a pair of identical silencing screens that are fit in the mixing chamber at the same time so as to effectively reduce the operational noise of a faucet. Moreover, a threaded flange is provided next to the rubber diaphragm on a balance rod to allow a compression nut to be mounted to the balance rod with one side thereof in abutment against the diaphragm. Thus, the diaphragm can be protected from being overturned inside out as a result of excessive water pressure applied to the diaphragm in operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2000
    Assignee: Chung-Cheng Faucet Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hsi-Chia Ko
  • Patent number: 6009893
    Abstract: An assembling structure for balance valve of cold/hot water mixing valve, which includes a balance valve shade board for assembling a water pressure balance valve with the bottom of the mixing valve. A lower surface of the bottom wall of the mixing valve cartridge is formed with an upper balance valve cavity near the cold and hot water incoming holes. Two sides of the bottom wall of the cartridge are formed with latch holes. The balance valve shade board are also formed with a cold and a hot water incoming holes and a mixing water outgoing hole. An upper surface of the balance valve shade board is formed with a lower balance valve cavity near the cold and hot water incoming holes. The upper surface of the balance valve shade board is further formed with a sealing groove along the edges of the mixing water outgoing hole and the lower balance valve cavity. Two sides of the edge of the shade board are disposed with upward extending resilient latch hooks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Inventor: Chia-Bo Chang
  • Patent number: 5983918
    Abstract: A balancing valve assembly of a cold and hot water mixing valve including a mixing valve casing having a bottom wall provided with a depression for receiving a balancing valve cover plate. Cold and hot water inlets are provided in the depression, and a balancing valve lower cavity is disposed above the cold and hot water inlets. A balancing valve upper cavity is provided below cold and hot water inlets on the balancing valve cover plate. A washer is disposed between the mixing valve casing and the balancing valve cover plate when coupled so that the balancing valve lower cavity of the casing and the balancing valve upper cavity of the balancing valve cover plate together form a leakage-free space in which a balancing valve body may be secured, thus achieving a structure that is simple and quick to assemble and remains secured alter assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Inventor: Chia-Bo Chang
  • Patent number: 5975107
    Abstract: A balancing valve has a housing formed with a pair of inlet ports and a pair of coaxial tubes having outer ends seated in the housing at the ports and opposite confronting and axially closed inner ends. The tubes are each formed with a radially throughgoing aperture and a flexible membrane has a center sealingly engaged between and fixed to the inner ends and an outer periphery seated in the housing and defines a respective compartment around each of the tubes. A pair of like sleeves coaxially surrounding the tubes each have an inner end fixed to the membrane offset from the center and from the outer periphery and an outer end. Formations on the outer ends of the sleeves and on the tubes form annular valve openings of flow cross sections dependent on an axial position of the sleeves relative to the tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Friedrich Grohe AG
    Inventors: Gunter Uwe Brock, Richard Cruickshank, Shane Pinder
  • Patent number: 5884652
    Abstract: A pressure balancer system 10 having a pressure balancer 20 and a temperature controller 24 on one side of the system and a volume controller 14 on the other side of the system. The pressure balancer 20 receives hot and cold water which it discharges into the temperature controller 24 at substantially constant preselected pressure. The temperature controller 24 is adjustable to set the temperature of the flow to keep the temperature of the anti-scald below the maximum temperature of between 115.degree. F. and 120.degree. F. The volume controller received the temperature adjusted flow from the temperature controller and will set the volume of the flow at the desired volume for discharge therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignee: Emhart Inc.
    Inventors: Yuhung Edward Yeh, William David Cook, Mark Steven Bloom
  • Patent number: 5829469
    Abstract: This apparatus is to retrofit an existing, non pressure balanced mixing valve to provide pressure balanced operation. The apparatus includes a diverter which leads hot and cold water out of the existing valve body to a pressure balanced mixing valve. The mixed blended water from the pressure balanced mixing valve is returned to the diverter which directs the blended water to the existing outlet(s) in the existing valve body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignee: Joseph P. Sileno, Jr. Revocable Trust
    Inventors: Joseph P. Sileno, Jr., Gary R. Mueller
  • Patent number: 5780748
    Abstract: This disclosure provides a novel flow device having a fourth root pressure versus flow characteristic. The flow device includes an inlet, an orifice that focusses fluid pressure, a pair of parallel plates (or other surfaces which can be modeled as parallel plates), and an outlet. Preferably, the pair of parallel plates are a pair of two flat disks, one of which has a central aperture. When the device is used as a flow restrictor, the central aperture forms a seat against which the second plate (the impeder plate) is biased to restrict fluid flow. The orifice provides fluid pressure through the aperture, which forces the second plate away from the first plate, and against the bias. Fluid flow through the plates is directly proportional to displacement between the plates, and spent fluid escapes via a radial periphery of the second plate. Preferably, the second plate is mounted to a housing by a set of springs which also contain a strain gauge, such that displacement can be electronically measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventor: Phillip W. Barth
  • Patent number: 5732729
    Abstract: A valve includes two outlet ports and two inlets communicating with a chamber and includes two valve seats. A membrane is secured in the chamber. Two plugs are slidably engaged in the inlets for engaging with the valve seats and each includes one end engaged with the membrane and the other end slidably engaged with a cap. Two springs are engaged between the plugs and the caps for balancing the membrane and the plugs. One of the plugs is forced to engage with the valve seat by water from the inlet when no water is supplied to the other inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Inventor: Ming Don Shieh
  • Patent number: 5730171
    Abstract: A valve assembly 30 having a pressure balancer 38 disposed in a housing 32 in which is formed a chamber 48. A one-piece poppet unit 46 is mounted for movement in the chamber 48. The poppet unit 46 has a shaft 51 with a circular disc 106 to which is bonded a diaphragm 56 and a pair of poppets 52 and 54 formed at either end thereof. The diaphragm 56 divides the chamber to form a compartment on either side thereof in which there is zero leakage across the diaphragm 56 of the poppet unit 46 and eliminating any cross-flow leakage between the hot and cold water, respectively, in the chamber compartments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Assignee: Emhart Inc.
    Inventor: Shahriar Nick Niakan
  • Patent number: 5676888
    Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus for improving the water quality for hair and body care, wherein an exact impregnation ratio between CO2 and water may be maintained even at low water pressure by using a step piston 11, namely by using CO2 compressed gas cartridges which are refillable with CO2 compressed gas, and by eliminating cartridges into which water or moisture has penetrated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1997
    Assignee: Technica Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Alexander Kuckens, Horst Kohl
  • Patent number: 5632295
    Abstract: An arrangement for adding an odorant to a consumer gas which is distributed to a consumer site, in order to indicate to people in the vicinity of the risk of fire, explosion, poisoning, suffocation or some other danger, should consumer gas leak into the surrounding atmosphere. The odorant is dissolved in a condensed vehicle gas in a pressure vessel (3), to obtain a solution, master gas, which includes a liquid phase (6) and a gas phase (7). The consumer gas is diluted with an adapted quantity of the liquid phase of the master gas, which is vaporized prior to being mixed with the consumer gas. To this end, the arrangement includes means (18) for correcting the relationship between the two gas flows during the dilution process with respect to the increase in the concentration of odorant in the liquid phase (6) of the master gas that results from the decreasing relationship between the quantity of liquid gas and gas phase (7) in the pressure vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1997
    Assignee: AGA Aktiebolag
    Inventor: Erik Sm.ang.rs
  • Patent number: 5558116
    Abstract: A metering cap in which a first component of a flowable material is squeezed out of a cartridge (C) which can be emptied by means of a press (P). The main component flows through a feed line (8) to an outlet line (11) and, in the process, drives two rotors (31) seated in a metering chamber (9) in a housing (1). Gear wheels (34) are seated on the shafts (30) of the rotors (31), which mesh with each other and, in this way, form a gear pump (24). The gear pump (24) conveys an admixing component from an integrated container (18) through a second feed line (23) into the outlet line (11). At least two components can be admixed in a metered manner in an extremely exact ratio to each other by the metering cap of this invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1996
    Assignee: Createchnic AG
    Inventor: Werner F. Dubach
  • Patent number: 5544674
    Abstract: A gas mixing valve has first and second inlet chambers linked to supplies of a first and second gas, and a mixing chamber having a blended gas outlet. The inlet chambers are connected to the mixing chamber via first and second control valves, each valve having a valve seat and valve member with opposing Surfaces defining a flow control orifice. Each valve seat and valve member are relatively movable between a closed position in which no flow occurs and a maximum opening position to define a series of orifices of progressively increasing area corresponding to the same geometrical progression. The position of each valve member can be controlled to provide a desired mixing ratio. Each valve seat is provided in a respective piston, and the pistons are tied together to move in response to variations in pressure drop across each piston, in order to vary the orifice size to compensate for changes in flow rate without changing the mixing ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1996
    Assignee: Infrasonics, Inc.
    Inventor: Edmund F. Kelly
  • Patent number: 5501244
    Abstract: A valve assembly 30 includes a pressure balancer 38 and a water mixing control element 150. Hot and cold water flow through pressure balancer 38 and a throttle plate 200 and into a mixing chamber 144 where selected amounts of the hot and cold water are mixed to a temperature level selected by a user. If the pressure of the cold water changes, the pressure balancer 38 responds and adjusts the amount of hot water flowing to the mixing chamber 144 to maintain the temperature of the mixed water as initially selected. If the cold water pressure fails, pressure balancer 38 responds and turns off the hot water to prevent scalding the user. Pressure balancer 38 responds in similar fashion to changes or failure in the pressure of the hot water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1996
    Assignee: Emhart Inc.
    Inventor: Niakan Shahriar
  • Patent number: 5455076
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods and apparatus for effectively proportioning a mixture of compressible and non-compressible fluids, wherein the resulting mixture has an almost constant density. The present invention is particularly useful for admixing supercritical fluids with polymeric coating compositions for various spray applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1995
    Assignee: Union Carbide Chemicals & Plastics Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Chinsoo S. Lee, Richard A. Engelman, James A. Condron
  • Patent number: 5452737
    Abstract: A device for the blending of gases or liquids having an inlet adapter, a main body, an outlet adaptor, a valve plate, and a spring arm. Air enters the inlet adaptor and passes through an air port in the main body. Fuel is supplied to a fuel port in the main body through a nipple and a passage. The fuel port and the air port share a common valve seating plane and are aligned side by side along the innermost edge of the valve seating plane. The spring arm applies a force to the valve plate which forces the valve plate towards the valve seating plane. The valve plate pivots about the innermost edge of the valve seating plane in response to the downstream demand for the blend and forms a common angle above the air and fuel ports, which results in proportionally exposed port areas. The downstream demand for the blend provides a pressure difference across the valve plate which acts against the valve plate spring to position the valve plate to a balanced position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1995
    Inventor: James M. Jones
  • Patent number: 5445181
    Abstract: There is disclosed a pressure-compensated mixing valve of the diaphragm and reciprocating piston type, wherein a flexible connection between the diaphragm and the pistons is provided. This flexible connection affords a self-alignment of the pistons in water inlet passages. In a preferred manner, this is used with a mixing valve providing alignment of a ported ring member that also provides in part an internal stop feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1995
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Weldon R. Kuhn, Dana F. Buccicone
  • Patent number: 5441075
    Abstract: The invention relates to a shower control valve assembly which includes a casing mountable in a wall with inlets for hot and cold water. A cartridge is insertable into the casing in one of two orientations so that the hot water inlet of the cartridge can be aligned with either one of the casing inlets, depending on which one is the hot water inlet. The casing has two outlets, one for the shower and the other for the tub. There is an integral bypass which takes water from the tub outlet to the shower outlet upon activation of a diverter valve. The cartridge is of the pressure and temperature balancing type, with water of the desired temperature flowing to the tub outlet and then to the tub or shower as desired. The cartridge uses a rotatable mixing valve disc having arcuate ports therethrough for hot and cold water, each port being alignable with a corresponding passage in the cartridge that communicates with an inlet chamber for water of the appropriate temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1995
    Assignee: Friedrich Grohe Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Manamohan Clare
  • Patent number: 5407267
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for combining multiple components to form a coating material formulation in which one of the components is a resin, another component is a supercritical fluid employed as a fluid diluent, and, preferably, the third component is a catalyst. Two of the components are transmitted through separate flow paths to a first mixer within which they are combined to form a mixture, and then the third component is added to the mixture in a second mixer to form the coating material formulation for discharge by one or more coating dispensers or spray guns onto a substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1995
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventors: Dennis Davis, Harold D. Beam, Jeffrey J. Kruke
  • Patent number: 5355906
    Abstract: A mixing valve comprising a modular cartridge non-rotatably mounted in a housing. The cartridge includes inlet passages in its bottom portion, outlet passages in its top portion, and a pressure balance valve intermediate and in communication with said inlet and outlet passages. The inlet passages are in communication at their downstream ends with supply ports in the housing. The outlet passages are in communication at their upstream ends with a volume and temperature control valve plate. The volume and temperature control valve plate is rotatable to align or misalign outlet apertures in said plate with the outlet passages in the cartridge. The rotation of the plate is controlled by a stem attached to a handle. Means are provided to adjust the maximum water temperature. The temperature adjustment means include an orienting stem ring having an opening shaped to receive a complementary shaped section of the stem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1994
    Assignee: Masco Corporation of Indiana
    Inventors: Garry Marty, Diana Smolkin