Sanitary mixing valve using thermostatic control

p0001The invention relates to a sanitary mixing valve with thermostatic control, with an actuator, having a fixed valve seat disc, a sliding on the valve seat disc for quantity control plate package and with a temperature-dependent control element, wherein the valve seat disc having a hot water inlet port and a cold water inlet opening, said disc package from a lower guide disc , an upper guide pulley and a provided between the lower guide disc and the upper guide disc regulating wheel, wherein the lower guide disc and the regulating wheel with hot water inlet opening and the cold water inlet opening of the valve seat disc communicating passage openings and the upper guide disc communicating with the passage openings of the regulating wheel pressure equalization chambers, and wherein the regulating wheel in a plane parallel to the surface of the adjustable guide disks for temperature control by means of the actuator into a temperature-determining starting position and controllable for temperature control by means of temperature-dependent Regelelemtens.

p0002In the known sanitary mixing valve, from which the invention proceeds (see. US-A-4,738,393 or DE-A 1-35 25 052), the temperature-dependent control elements substantially outside of the rate control and the temperature control and regulation is serving plate pack arranged, although it is arranged in between the guide discs of the disc package, spring-loaded regulating wheel acts and forms with the disc pack a functional and structural unit in the water space for the outflowing mixed water. As a result, the temperature control means of the temperature-dependent control element is relatively sluggish.

p0003The invention is thus based on the object to improve the known sanitary mixing valve, from which the invention proceeds so that the control wheel is controlled faster and more sensitive means of the temperature-dependent control element, so that the mixed water temperature is kept constant without sensible variations.

p0004The inventive sanitary mixing valve, in which the previously derived and object is achieved, is now characterized in that provided in the control wheel at least one communicating with the openings of the lower guide plate and / or the pressure equalization chambers of the upper guide disc mixing chamber and the temperature-dependent control element in the mixing chamber of the regulating wheel and / or disposed in a communicating with the mixing chamber recess of the regulating wheel and that subsets of the cold water and the warm water intreten into the mixing chamber and the mixed water flows around the control element. In the sanitary mixing valve according to the invention in the control disc so at least one mixing chamber is in addition to the through-openings is provided. Preferably a communicating with the openings of the lower guide disc mixing chamber and a communicating with the pressure equalization chambers of the upper guide disc mixing chamber are provided in the control disc, open the two mixing chambers in a recess of the regulating wheel and the temperature-dependent control element disposed in the mixing chambers or in the recess of the regulating wheel ,

p0005In the mixing valve according to the invention at least a portion of the cold water and the hot water in the regulating wheel is even mixed together and brought the mixing water over a short path directly to the temperature-dependent control element, so that when deviations of the mixed water temperature on the setpoint immediately triggered by the control element controlling the regulating wheel relatively done to the two guide discs.

p0006The invention and achieved by the invention benefits in connection with an embodiment shown in the drawings are explained; show it<ul><li>Fig. 1 shows a longitudinal section through a preferred embodiment of a sanitary mixing valve according to the invention,</li><li>FIG. 1a, in an exploded view, the fixed valve seat disc, the lower guide disc, the regulating disc, the temperature-dependent control element and the upper guide plate of the mixing valve of FIG. 1 </li><li>Fig. 2 shows a section through the sanitary mixing valve according to Fig. 1 along the line II-II,</li><li>FIGS. 3, respectively seen from above, the valve seat disc, the lower guide disk, the regulating wheel and the upper guide disc of the sanitary mixing valve according to Fig. 1, the regulating wheel slightly compared to the illustration in Fig. 1a changed,</li><li>FIG. 3b respectively viewed from below, the valve seat disc, the lower guide disk, the regulating wheel and the upper guide disc, which are shown as seen in Fig. 3 from above, and</li><li>Fig. 4 schematically, which consists of the lower guide disc, the regulating wheel and the upper guide disc disc package with realized waterways.</li></ul>

p0007The illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, sanitary mixing valve initially has a valve body 10 having a water outlet 11 and an actuator with an operating lever 12 and an attachable to the operating lever 12 on the operating handle, not shown. In the valve body 10, a cartridge housing 13 is inserted. Above the cartridge housing 13, a valve body cover 14 is provided which is fixed by means of a retaining ring 15 in the valve body 10th The valve body cover 14 has an actuating opening 16, reaches through the actuating lever of the 12th At the foot of the operating opening 16, an O-ring 17 is provided so that the operating lever 12 is movably sealed. At the bottom of the valve body 10 a hot water supply line 18 and a cold water supply line 19 are connected. Among the hot water supply line 18 and the cold water supply line 19 receiving through openings in the bottom of the valve body 10 corresponding passage openings in the bottom of the cartridge housing 13. In those foreseen in the bottom of the cartridge housing 13 through openings are seals 18 'and 19' used.

p0008On the bottom of the cartridge housing 13, a valve seat disk 20 with a hot water inlet opening 21 and a cold water inlet port 22 is initially set. On the valve seat disk 20 is a disk package is arranged opposite to the valve seat disc 20 is displaceable to a total amount control with the aid of the actuating member, so with the aid of the actuating lever 12th The plate pack consists of a lower guide plate 23, an upper guide plate 24 and a provided between the lower guide plate 23 and the upper guide plate 24 regulating wheel 25. The lower guide plate 23 has the hot water inlet opening 21 and the cold water inlet opening 22 of the valve seat disk 20 communicates through openings 28, 29 on, which are 34 typically associated with disk 25 through openings 33, - so that the openings 33, 34 of the control disc 25 - depending on the position of the disk package to the valve seat disc 20 - with the hot water inlet opening 21 and the cold water inlet opening 22 in the valve seat disc 20 can communicate. Further, the upper guide plate 24 with the passage openings 33, 34 of the regulating wheel 25 is associated pressure compensation chambers 36 is provided. The pressure compensation chambers 36 of the upper guide plate 24 can - depending on the position of the regulating wheel 25 - with the passage openings 33, 34 of the regulating wheel and the passage openings 28, 29 of the lower guide plate 23 and - in dependence on the position of the disk package relative to the valve seat disc 20 - communicate with the hot water inlet opening 21 and the cold water inlet opening 22 in the valve seat disc 20th Finally, as a further functional component necessary nor a temperature-dependent control element 39 is provided.

p0009As already stated, the regulating wheel 25 is adjustable relative to the temperature control by means of the actuator, ie by means of the operating lever 12 to the guide disks 23, 24 in a temperature-determining initial position. Moreover, the control disc 25 is relatively controllable for temperature control by means of the temperature-dependent control element 39 to the guide washers 23, 24th

p0010In the sanitary mixing valve in question ie a temperature control and regulation on the one hand a lot of control, on the other hand realized. The amount of control is effected by a linear displacement of the entire disk package relative to the valve seat disc 20, and by means of the actuating member and thus with the aid of the operating lever 12. The temperature control also takes place by a linear displacement, and that the regulating wheel 25 relative to the guide disks 23, 24, again with the aid of the actuating member and thus with the aid of the operating lever 12. the temperature control is finally carried out by a linear displacement, and, as in temperature control, by a linear displacement of the regulating wheel 25 relative to the guide disks 23, 24, however, Help the temperature-dependent control element. 39

p0011According to the invention is at least provided a communicating with the passage openings of the lower guide disc and / or with the pressure compensating chambers of the upper guide disc mixing chamber and disposed, the temperature-dependent control element in the mixing chamber of the regulating wheel and / or in communication with the mixing chamber recess of the regulating wheel in the regulating wheel. For the illustrated embodiment, as FIG. 1, 1a, 3a and 3b show that in the control disc 25 a communicating with the passage openings 28, 29 of the lower guide plate 23 mixing chamber 35 and the pressure equalization chambers 36 of the upper guide plate 24 communicating mixing chamber 35 are provided, the two mixing chambers 35 open into a recess 32 of the regulating wheel 25 and the temperature-dependent regulating element 39 is arranged in the recess 32 of the regulating wheel 25th Incidentally, as indicated only in FIG. 2, inserted into the mixing chambers 35 tissue material serving on the one hand the better mixing of the cold water and the hot water, on the other hand, a noise reduction.

p0012In the illustrated embodiment, the lower guide plate 23 and the regulating wheel 25 each have four through openings 28 and 29 respectively and 33 and 34, respectively, and communicate respectively two passage openings 28 and 29 of the lower guide plate 23 with the hot water inlet opening 21 or the cold water inlet opening 22 of valve seat disk 20 . in detail, the lower guide plate 23 on to its valve seat disk 20 facing side of the hot water inlet opening 21 and the cold water inlet opening 22 of valve seat disk 20 associated with the inlet slots 26, 27 and goes from the outer ends of the inlet slots 26, 27 each have a passage opening 28, 29 from ( see. Fig. 3b). The passage openings 28, 29 of the lower guide disc 23 have extensions 30 (see. FIG. 3a), which communicate with the lower mixing chambers 35 of the regulating wheel 25 in its generally disc 25 facing side. Since in the illustrated embodiment, the lower guide plate 23 and the regulating wheel 25 each have four through openings 28 and 29 respectively and 33 and 34 respectively comprise, the upper guide plate 24 at its the regulating wheel 25 side facing four pressure equalization chambers 36, namely the four passage openings 33, 34 of the control wheel 25 associated with pressure equalization chambers 36 (see. FIG. 3b).

p0013remains valid for the illustrated embodiment of a sanitary mixer tap according to the invention that the lower guide plate 23 and the upper guide plate 24 facing to their generally disc 25 pages each - other - pressure equalization chambers 37 subsets of the cold water and the warm water have and the pressure equalization chambers 37 on the provided outer boundary edges of the lower guide plate 23 and the upper guide plate 24 and outwardly open.

p0014In the illustrated embodiment, as FIG. 1 and 1a show the temperature-dependent control element 39 cylindrical and provided with a piston 40 and is as shown in FIGS. 1a, 3a and 3b show, the regulating wheel 25 running U-shaped, the U-legs 31 and limiting the recess 32 in the U-legs 31, the passage openings 33 and 34 and the mixing chambers are formed 35th

p0015Input is already running that 25 form a disc pack with the inventive sanitary mixing valve, the lower guide plate 23, the upper guide plate 24 and the regulating wheel. . By means of through-holes 50 in the guide washers 23, 24 penetrating bolts 51 - - How to Figure 1a shows the lower guide plate 23 and the upper guide plate 24 are the interposition of spacers 52 braced against each other, the length of the spacer sleeves 52 the for the displaceability of the regulating wheel 25 necessary distance between the lower guide plate 23 and the upper guide disc 24 ensures.

p0016With respect to the temperature-dependent regulating element 39 is still to be noted that, as in the figures 1 and 2, a the disk package border strap 41 is provided and between the two bar arms 42, 43 a return spring 44, the regulating wheel 25 and the temperature-dependent control element 39 are clamped. In detail, 25 are supported on the return spring 44 on the hanger arm 42, the regulating wheel to the return spring 44 and the temperature-dependent control element 39 on the one hand to the regulating wheel 25 and on the other hand - with its piston 40 - to the bracket leg 43, specifically to a provided on the hanger arm 43 adjustment screw , The bracket 41 is slidably mounted on a form-fitting fixed to the disc package control cage 45th For this purpose, engages a control cam 46 of the actuating lever 12 in a corresponding recess of the bracket 41, where the control cam 46 of the actuating lever 12 comprises an eccentric, so that a rotary motion of the operating lever 12 and thus converted rotational movement of the control cam 46 in a linear displacement of the bracket 41 becomes. The control cam 46 of the actuating lever 12 and the associated recess of the bracket 41 are designed so as to give a so-called. Comfort zone in which a relatively large rotation of the operating lever 12, only a small displacement of the bracket 41 and hence a small change in the temperature setting for the sequence Has.

p0017In the sanitary mixing valve according to the invention a portion of the cold water and the hot water in the regulating wheel 25 itself is mixed, in the mixing chambers 35, and the mixer is water over a short path directly to the temperature-dependent control element 39 so that of the case of deviations of the mixed water temperature the set mixed water temperature immediately occurs triggered by the control element 39 controls the regulating wheel 25 relative to the two guide washers 23, 24th

p0018Since in the illustrated embodiment of the sanitary mixer tap of the invention, the lower guide plate 23 and the upper guide plate 24 facing to their generally disc 25 pages pressure equalization chambers 37 comprise subsets of the cold water and the hot water, so have counter-pressure chambers 37, which are not the mixing chambers 35 of the regulating wheel communicate 25, it is possible, by a suitable dimensioning of the cross sections of the partial amounts of the cold and the hot water entering into the mixing chambers 35 of the regulating wheel 25, and the partial quantities of the cold water and the hot water that is not in the mixing chambers 35 regulating wheel 25 come to define each other and thus to determine the control behavior. Of course the rest, all subsets of the cold water and the hot water come together in the water room 38 of the mixing valve sanitäten invention. In the water chamber 38 then another mixture of total water supplied takes place before this leaves the sanitary mixing valve on the water spout 11th

p0019The watercourse by the inventive sanitary mixing valve is as follows:

p0020Pivotal movements of the actuator and thus of the operating lever 12 in the plane of the water outlet 11 cause a lot of control of the air flowing through the mixing valve the water, namely the fact that the disk package because of its the control cage 45 realized form-locking connection with the control cam 46 of the actuating lever 12 on the valve seat disc 20 is moved. Here, the inlet slots 26, 27 of the lower guide plate 23 with the hot water inlet opening 21 and the cold water inlet opening 22 of valve seat disk 20 cooperate, so that depending on the position of the disk package relative to the valve seat disk 20 may flow a corresponding amount of water through the mixing valve.

p0021The temperature control takes place by a rotation of the actuating member and thus by a rotation of the operating lever 12, the rotation of the operating lever 12 via the control cam 46 in a linear displacement of the bracket 41 and therefore in a linear displacement of the regulating wheel 25 relative to the guide disks 23, 24 is implemented. The relative position of the control wheel 25 with respect to the guide washers 23 and 24 determines the mixed water temperature.

p0022Subsets of the cold water and the hot water enters the one the guide washers 23, 24 facing the mixing chambers 35 of the regulating wheel 25th From the mixing chambers 35 produces the mixed water flows around the arranged in the control disc 25 temperature-dependent control element. The temperature-dependent control element 39 controls via the thermally responsive piston 40, the position of the control plate 25 relative to the guide disks 23, 24th