U.S. patent application number 09/832470 was filed with the patent office on 2002-10-17 for valve having safety structure for cutting off hot water.
Invention is credited to Shieh, Ming Don.
Application Number | 20020148501 09/832470 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25261741 |
Filed Date | 2002-10-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020148501 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Shieh, Ming Don |
October 17, 2002 |
VALVE HAVING SAFETY STRUCTURE FOR CUTTING OFF HOT WATER
Abstract
A valve device includes a cold water inlet and a hot water inlet
communicating with a chamber, and one or more ports, a valve
housing received in the chamber of the valve device and having a
channel for receiving a safety valve. A valve element is engaged in
the valve housing for controlling the flowing of the hot water and
the cold water through either of the ports. The safety valve may be
used for shutting off the hot water when the cold water is shut off
inadvertently, so as to prevent the users from being hurt by the
hot water inadvertently.
Inventors: |
Shieh, Ming Don; (Chang Hua
Hsien, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CHARLES E. BAXLEY
59 John Street-5th Floor
New York
NY
10038
US
|
Family ID: |
25261741 |
Appl. No.: |
09/832470 |
Filed: |
April 12, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
137/119.04 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10T 137/2521 20150401;
Y10T 137/8782 20150401; F16K 11/085 20130101; Y10T 137/87249
20150401; E03C 1/041 20130101; E03C 1/044 20130101; Y10T 137/2683
20150401 |
Class at
Publication: |
137/119.04 |
International
Class: |
G05D 011/03 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A valve comprising: a body including a chamber formed therein,
and including two inlets formed therein and communicating with said
chamber for receiving hot water and cold water into said chamber
thereof, said body including at least one port provided therein, a
valve housing received in said chamber of said body and including a
channel formed therein and communicating with said inlets of said
body for receiving the hot water and the cold water therefrom, a
valve means for controlling the flowing of the hot water and the
cold water through said at least one port of said body, and a
safety valve means received in said channel of said valve housing
for shutting off the hot water when the cold water is shut off.
2. The valve according to claim 1, wherein said valve housing
includes a space formed therein and includes two passages formed
therein and communicating with said channel and said space of said
valve housing.
3. The valve according to claim 2, wherein said valve body includes
a partition provided therein and having two orifices formed
therein, said valve housing includes two hubs extended therefrom
and engaged into said orifices of said valve body and communicating
with said passages of said valve housing.
4. The valve according to claim 2, wherein said valve housing
includes an outer peripheral portion having at least one peripheral
recess formed therein and includes at least one passageway formed
therein and communicating with said at least one peripheral recess
and said space of said valve housing.
5. The valve according to claim 4, wherein said valve means
includes a valve element rotatably received in said space of said
valve housing and having a pad for selectively blocking said at
least one passageway of said valve housing.
6. The valve according to claim 5 further comprising means for
biasing said pad to engage with said valve housing and to block
said at least one passageway of said valve housing.
7. The valve according to claim 5 further comprising means for
limiting a rotational movement of said valve element relative to
said valve housing.
8. A valve comprising: a body including a chamber formed therein,
and including two inlets formed therein and communicating with said
chamber for receiving hot water and cold water into said chamber
thereof, said body including a first port and a second port
provided therein, a valve housing received in said chamber of said
body and including a channel formed therein and communicating with
said inlets of said body for receiving the hot water and the cold
water therefrom, a valve means for controlling the flowing of the
hot water and the cold water through either of said first port or
said second port of said body, and a safety valve means received in
said channel of said valve housing for shutting off the hot water
when the cold water is shut off.
9. The valve according to claim 8, wherein said valve housing
includes a space formed therein and includes two passages formed
therein and communicating with said channel and said space of said
valve housing.
10. The valve according to claim 9, wherein said valve body
includes a partition provided therein and having two orifices
formed therein, said valve housing includes two hubs extended
therefrom and engaged into said orifices of said valve body and
communicating with said passages of said valve housing.
11. The valve according to claim 9, wherein said valve housing
includes an outer peripheral portion having two peripheral recesses
formed therein and communicating with said first and said second
ports of said body, and includes two passageways formed therein and
communicating with said peripheral recesses and said space of said
valve housing respectively.
12. The valve according to claim 11, wherein said valve means
includes a valve element rotatably received in said space of said
valve housing and having a pad for selectively blocking either of
said passageways of said valve housing.
13. The valve according to claim 12 further comprising means for
biasing said pad to engage with said valve housing and to block
either of said passageways of said valve housing.
14. The valve according to claim 12 further comprising means for
limiting a rotational movement of said valve element relative to
said valve housing.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a valve, and more
particularly to a valve having a safety structure or a safety
mechanism for automatically cutting off or shutting off the hot
water when the cold water is cut off and for preventing the users
from being hurt by the hot water inadvertently.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] Typical valves or faucets are coupled to the cold water and
the hot water reservoirs respectively for receiving the cold water
and the hot water therefrom and for allowing the cold water and the
hot water to be mixed within the valves or the faucets before
flowing out of the valves or the faucets.
[0005] In order to solve the problems, U.S. Pat. No. 5,839,471 to
Yang discloses a safety valve provided for automatically cutting
off or shutting off the hot water when the cold water is cut off
and for preventing the users from being hurt by the hot water
inadvertently. However, the safety valve is separated from the
faucet and is required to be attached to or coupled to the faucet
before the safety valve may be used or operated. However, it will
be difficult for the users to introduce or to couple the safety
valve to the faucets. Experts or skillful persons are required to
couple the safety valve to the faucets.
[0006] The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate
the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional valves or
faucets.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide
a valve including a safety structure or a safety mechanism for
automatically cutting off or shutting off the hot water when the
cold water is cut off and for preventing the users from being hurt
by the hot water inadvertently.
[0008] In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is
provided a valve comprising a body including a chamber formed
therein, and including two inlets formed therein and communicating
with the chamber for receiving hot water and cold water into the
chamber thereof, the body including a first port and a second port
provided therein, a valve housing received in the chamber of the
body and including a channel formed therein and communicating with
the inlets of the body for receiving the hot water and the cold
water therefrom, a valve means for controlling the flowing of the
hot water and the cold water through either of the first port or
the second port of the body, and a safety valve means received in
the channel of the valve housing for shutting off the hot water
when the cold water is shut off and for preventing the hot water
from hurting the users inadvertently.
[0009] The valve housing includes a space and two passages
communicating with the channel and the space of the valve housing.
The valve body has two orifices formed in a partition, the valve
housing has two hubs engaged into the orifices of the valve body
and communicating with the passages of the valve housing.
[0010] The valve housing includes an outer peripheral portion
having two peripheral recesses formed therein and communicating
with the first and the second ports of the body, and includes two
passageways formed therein and communicating with the peripheral
recesses and the space of the valve housing respectively.
[0011] The valve means includes a valve element rotatably received
in the space of the valve housing and having a pad for selectively
blocking either of the passageways of the valve housing.
[0012] A spring biasing device may further be provided for biasing
the pad to engage with the valve housing and to block either of the
passageways of the valve housing. A device may further be provided
for limiting a rotational movement of the valve element relative to
the valve housing.
[0013] Further objectives and advantages of the present invention
will become apparent from a careful reading of a detailed
description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a valve in accordance with the
present invention;
[0015] FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 2-2 of
FIG. 3; and
[0016] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 3-3 of
FIG. 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0017] Referring to the drawings, a valve in accordance with the
present invention comprises a valve body or a faucet body 10
including a chamber 11 formed therein and including two inlets 12,
13 formed therein for coupling to the cold water and the hot water
reservoirs respectively and for receiving the cold water and the
hot water therefrom and for allowing the cold water and the hot
water to be mixed within the chamber 11 of the body 10 before
flowing out of the body 10. The body 10 includes a partition 101
provided in the inner portion thereof (FIG. 2) and having two
orifices 102 formed therein for communicating the inlets 12, 13
with the chamber 11 of the body 10 respectively. The body 10
includes a lower port 14 and an upper port 15 for coupling to a
faucet member 18 and a shower head respectively, and includes two
valve openings 141, 151 (FIG. 3) formed therein for communicating
the ports 14, 15 with the chamber 11 of the body 10.
[0018] A valve housing 20 is received in the chamber 11 of the body
10, and includes a lateral channel 21 formed therein, and includes
a space 24 formed therein, and includes two passages 25, 251 formed
therein and communicating with the lateral channel 21 and the space
24 thereof, and includes two hubs 22, 220 extended therefrom and
communicating with the passages 25, 251 respectively and engaged
into the orifices 102 of the body 10, for allowing the cold water
and the hot water from the inlets 12, 13 to flow into the lateral
channel 21 and the space 24 of the valve housing 20, and for
preventing the valve housing 20 from rotating relative to the body
10. Two sealing rings 221 are engaged between the hubs 22, 220 and
the partition 101 of the body 10 for making a water tight seal
therebetween. The valve housing 20 includes two annular or
peripheral recesses 201, 203 formed in the outer peripheral portion
thereof and includes two passageways 26, 261 formed therein for
communicating the space 24 with the peripheral recesses 201, 203
thereof respectively.
[0019] Either or both of the cold water and the hot water from the
inlets 12, 13 may flow into the space 24 and the lateral channel 21
of the valve housing 20 via the passages 25, 251 of the valve
housing 20, and may thus flow into the ports 14, 15 via the
passageways 26, 261 and the peripheral recesses 201, 203 of the
valve housing 20. The cold water and/or the hot water from the
inlets 12, 13 may thus flow out through the faucet member 18 or the
shower head via the peripheral recesses 201, 203 of the valve
housing 20 respectively. One or more sealing rings 27 may be
engaged onto the outer peripheral portion of the valve housing 20
for making a water tight seal between the valve housing 20 and the
body 10 and for preventing the water from flowing between the
peripheral recesses 201, 203 of the valve housing 20.
[0020] The valve housing 20 includes a notch 28 formed in the outer
end thereof and defined by or formed or defined between two
shoulders or stops 29. A valve element 40 is rotatably received in
the space 24 of the valve housing 20 and includes a protrusion 42
extended radially outward therefrom for engaging in the notch 28 of
the valve housing 20 and for limiting the rotational movement of
the valve element 40 relative to the valve housing 20. The valve
element 40 includes one or more cavities 44 formed therein. A block
member or a pad 41 includes one or more legs 45 extended therefrom
and slidably engaged into the cavities 44 of the valve element 40.
One or more springs 47 are engaged on the legs 45 and biased
between the valve element 40 and the pad 41 for biasing the pad 41
to engage with the valve housing 20 and to block either of the
passageways 26, 261 of the valve housing 20. The valve element 40
may include a peripheral recess 48 and/or one or more passages
formed therein, particularly formed in the outer peripheral portion
thereof for allowing the water from the lateral channel 21 or the
passages 25, 251 of the valve housing 20 to flow through the space
24 and the passageways 26, 261 of the valve housing 20.
[0021] A handle 17 may be coupled to an extension 23 of the valve
element 40 in order to rotate the valve element 40 and to block
either of the passageways 26, 261 of the valve housing 20 by the
pad 41. A cover 16 may be threaded to the body 10 for retaining the
valve element 40 and the valve housing 20 within the body 10. It is
to be noted that the engagement of the protrusion 42 of the valve
element 40 with the stops 29 of the valve housing 20 may be used to
determine or to maintain the blocking of the pad 41 with either of
the passageways 26, 261 of the valve housing 20. For example, when
the protrusion 42 of the valve element 40 is engaged with one of
the stops 29 of the valve housing 20, the pad 41 may be used to
block one of the passageways 26, 261 of the valve housing 20. When
the protrusion 42 of the valve element 40 is engaged with the other
stop 29 of the valve housing 20, the pad 41 may be used to block
the other passageway 26, 261 of the valve housing 20, such that the
water may be controlled to flow out through either of the ports 14,
15 or either of the faucet element 18 or the shower head by the
valve element 40.
[0022] A safety valve 30 includes an outer valve member 31 slidably
received in the lateral channel 21 of the valve housing 20, and an
inner valve member 32 slidably received in the outer valve member
31, and a cap 23 may be secured to the valve housing 20 for
blocking and retaining the valve members 31, 32 within the valve
housing 20. When both the cold water and the hot water flow into
the safety valve 30 via the passages 25, 251 of the valve housing
20, the valve members 31, 32 may be used to block and to shut off
the hot water when the cold water is cut off or shut off
inadvertently, in order to prevent the users from being hurt by the
hot water inadvertently. The operation of the valve members 31, 32
of the safety valve 30 has been disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
5,839,471 to Yang, which is taken as a reference for the present
invention.
[0023] In operation, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, either or both of the
cold water and the hot water from the inlets 12, 13 may flow into
the space 24 and the lateral channel 21 of the valve housing 20 via
the passages 25, 251 of the valve housing 20, and may thus flow out
of either of the faucet member 18 or the shower head via the ports
14, 15 and the passageways 26, 261 and the peripheral recesses 201,
203 of the valve housing 20. The valve element 40 may be used to
control the cold water and/or the hot water to flow out through
either of the passageways 26, 261 of the valve housing 20 by
blocking either of the passageways 26, 261 of the valve housing 20
with the pad 41. The safety valve 30 may be used to shut off the
hot water when the cold water is shut off inadvertently, in order
to prevent the users from being hurt by the hot water
inadvertently.
[0024] It is to be noted that the users may obtain a faucet having
a valve element 40 for controlling the outward flowing of the water
through either of the faucet member 18 or the shower head. The
safety valve 30 may be used to shut off the hot water when the cold
water is shut off inadvertently. The users are not required to
attach or to couple an additional or a separate safety valve to the
typical faucet.
[0025] Accordingly, the valve in accordance with the present
invention includes a safety structure or a safety mechanism for
automatically cutting off or shutting off the hot water when the
cold water is cut off and for preventing the users from being hurt
by the hot water inadvertently.
[0026] Although this invention has been described with a certain
degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present
disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous
changes in the detailed construction and the combination and
arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the
spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
* * * * *