Patent Application
20120222763
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a faucet, and more particularly to a valve which is installed in a faucet for controlling the mix of hot water and cold water.
2. Description of the Prior Art
To avoid water being output with unstable temperature by the pressure changes of the hot and cold water sources, conventional faucets are installed with a movable valve to make a cold and hot water pipe respectively pass through two ends of the valve. The pressure will push the valve to move so as to change the diameter of the cold and hot water pipe, when the pressure of the cold and hot water pipe changes. Thereby, the flow amount of the cold and hot water pipe will be kept in balance as shown in TW 493712.
However, said valve is connected into the cold and hot water pipe, so users need to prevent leakage therefrom and to position other components while installing said valve. In other words, it is complicated to install said valve to a faucet. Therefore, the present invention is arisen to obviate or at least mitigate the above mentioned disadvantages.
The main object of the present invention is to provide a faucet valve, which can balance the mix of the cold and hot water flow, and the faucet valve can be installed easily.
To achieve the above and other objects, a faucet valve of the present invention includes a shell, a bottom cover, a pressure valve, a mix valve and a control head.
The shell has a side wall and a partition. The side wall is disposed around the partition. The side wall and the partition define a first room. The partition is formed with a groove. The partition separates the groove and the first room. The partition is formed with a first opening and a second opening. The first opening and the second opening respectively communicate the first room with the groove. The shell further comprises an outlet which communicates with the first room.
The bottom cover is fixed to the shell and is formed with a recess. The recess and the groove are joined to form as a second room. The bottom cover is formed with a first flow hole and a second flow hole. The first flow hole and the second flow hole respectively communicate the second room with an external space.
The pressure valve is received in the second room so as to separate the first flow hole and the second flow hole. The first flow hole and the first opening define a first channel for water from outside flowing through the first channel and then entering into the first room. The second flow hole and the second opening define a second channel for water flowing from outside through the second channel and then entering into the first room. The pressure valve has a valve tube which is movable by a water pressure, so that the size of the first channel and the second channel is adjustable.
The mix valve is received in the first room. The mix valve makes water flow into the first room form the first opening and the second opening, and then be output to the outlet.
The control head is connected to the mix valve so as to control the amount of water flowing into the first room respectively from the first opening and the second opening.
Thereby, above-mentioned components can be assembled as the faucet valve which can be connected to an external hot and cold water source, and can also be connected to an external outlet with its outlet. The faucet valve is easy to be assembled in one time and can balance the cold and hot water flow amount with the pressure valve.
The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, which show, for purpose of illustrations only, the preferred embodiment(s) in accordance with the present invention.
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The shell 1 can be formed in one piece so as to be assembled with other components. Please refer to
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The pressure valve 3 is received in the second room. The pressure valve 3 separates the first flow hole 22 from the second flow hole 23. The first flow hole 22 and the first opening 15 define a first channel for water from outside flowing through the first channel and then entering into the first room 13. The second flow hole 23 and the second opening define a second channel for water from outside flowing through the second channel and then entering into the first room 13. A spacer 31 can be disposed between the pressure valve 3, the partition 11 and the bottom cover 2 so as to prevent from water leakage. The pressure valve 3 has a movable valve tube 32. The center of the valve tube 32 is closed and its two ends respectively connect to the first channel and the second channel. As the water pressure changes in the two channels the valve tube 32 is pushed to shift by the water pressure so as to change the size of the two channels. More specifically, the valve tube 32 can change the size of the minimum cross section inside of the two channels.
The mix vale 4 is received in the first room 13. The mix valve 4 can make water flow into the first room 13 from the first opening 15 and the second opening 16, and then be output to the outlet 17 after mixing. More specifically, the mix valve 4 comprises a fixed valve plate 41 and a controlling valve plate 42. The fixed valve plate 41 is formed with a first via hole 411, a second via hole 412 and a third via hole 413. The fixed valve plate 41 is received in the first room 13 and abuts against the partition 11. Further, a water proof gasket 43 can be disposed between the fixed valve plate 41 and the partition 11. The first via hole 411 communicates with the first opening 15, so that water from outside will flow through the first channel and then enter in the first via hole 411 inside of the firs room 13. The second via hole 412 communicates with the second opening 16, so that another water from outside will flow through the second channel and then enter in the second via hole 412 inside of the first room. The third via hole 413 communicates with the outlet 17. The controlling valve plate 42 abuts against the fixed valve plate 41, so that the controlling valve plate 42 can slide with respect to the fixed valve plate 41. The controlling valve plate 42 and the fixed valve plate 41 can be made from ceramics, and their surfaces are processed, such as polishing, so as to make their surface slippery and delicate. Thereby, when the controlling valve plate 42 abuts against the fixed valve plate 41, water cannot leak between the controlling valve plate 42 and the fixed valve plate 41. The controlling valve plate 42 is formed with a mix hole 421 which communicates with the third via hole 413. The first via hole 411 and the second via hole 412 respectively and selectively communicate with the mix hole 421 when the controlling valve plate 42 moves with respect to the fixed valve plate 41.
The control head is connected to the mix valve 4 so as to control the amount of water flowing into the first room 13 respectively form the first opening 15 and the second opening 16. More specifically, the control head includes a fixing block 51, a lid 52, a swivel member 53 and a toggle member 54. The fixing block 51 engages with the controlling valve plate 42 so as to be in a link-up relationship. The fixing block 51 has a hook portion 511. The lid 52 is fixed to the shell 1. The swivel member 53 is rotatably disposed to the lid 52. The toggle member 54 is pivotally disposed to the swivel member 53. An engaging portion 541 is disposed on one end of the toggle member 54. The engaging portion 541 engages with the hook portion 511, so that the toggle member 54 can drive the fixing block 51 to move when it sways, and further drive the controlling valve plate 42 to move. Also, the swivel member 53 can rotate with respect to the lid 52, so that the toggle member 54 and the fixing block then rotate to drive the controlling valve plate 42.
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The control head and the controlling valve plate 45 are in a link-up relationship. More specifically, the controlling valve plate 45 can be disposed with several projections 453, and the control head is disposed with several notches 55. Each of the projections 453 abuts against one of notches 55, so that controlling valve plate 45 is fixed to the control head, and the control head can drive the controlling valve plate 45 to rotate. The control head can be rotatably disposed in the shell 1, so that the control head can drive the controlling valve 45 to rotate.
Accordingly, the present invention joins the pressure valve and the mix valve into the shell, so that users can install the faucet valve to a faucet in one time without further assembling or positioning other components. That is to say that, the faucet valve can be installed efficiently. Moreover, the seal rings respectively encircle and abut against the ribs which are disposed on the partition so as to avoid water leakage.
