U.S. patent application number 10/624516 was filed with the patent office on 2005-01-27 for water outlet structure of ceramic control vavle for single-handled faucet.
This patent application is currently assigned to Kuching International Ltd.. Invention is credited to Chen, Mei-Li.
Application Number | 20050017083 10/624516 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34063405 |
Filed Date | 2005-01-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050017083 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chen, Mei-Li |
January 27, 2005 |
WATER OUTLET STRUCTURE OF CERAMIC CONTROL VAVLE FOR SINGLE-HANDLED
FAUCET
Abstract
A water outlet structure of a ceramic control valve for a
single-handled faucet is made up of a valve body having a housing
chamber for a regulating seat with a control stick joined thereto
to be adapted therein, and an upper switching control valve having
a regulating cavity of proper width and length disposed at the
lower bottom thereof matching to cold/hot water inlet holes and a
water outlet hole of a lower switching control valve, and cold/hot
water inlet passages and a water outlet passage of a switching
control valve. The regulating cavity thereof has a slant plane
facet defining at one front side in a trapezoid-like design. When
the handle of a faucet is pried upwards from the center or to the
right for the discharge of cold water, the upper switching control
valve activated by the control stick thereof will slide forwards
with the regulating cavity moved therewith to open the cold water
outlet hole, and the slant plane facet thereof will align in
parallel with a slant side of the hot water inlet hole to seal up
the discharge of hot water, preventing the waste of energy in the
constant on-and-off of the hot water heater and avoiding the danger
of burning the users by accident. Besides, the trapezoid-like
regulating cavity increased in width and provided with plane
surfaces at both sides thereof can also maintain the discharge of
cold water to the maximum in a smooth manner.
Inventors: |
Chen, Mei-Li; (Taipei,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
TROXELL LAW OFFICE PLLC
SUITE 1404
5205 LEESBURG PIKE
FALLS CHURCH
VA
22041
US
|
Assignee: |
Kuching International Ltd.
|
Family ID: |
34063405 |
Appl. No.: |
10/624516 |
Filed: |
July 23, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
236/12.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10T 137/86823 20150401;
G05D 23/1313 20130101; F16K 11/0787 20130101; Y10T 137/86718
20150401 |
Class at
Publication: |
236/012.1 |
International
Class: |
G05D 023/13 |
Claims
1. A water outlet structure of a ceramic control valve for a
single-handled faucet, comprising a valve body, a regulating seat,
an upper switching control valve, a lower switching control valve,
and a switching control base wherein the valve body has a housing
chamber disposed at the center thereof for the regulating seat with
a control stick joined thereto to be adapted therein, and the upper
switching control valve has a regulating cavity of proper width and
length disposed at the center of the lower bottom thereof matching
to cold/hot water inlet holes and a water outlet hole of the lower
switching control valve, and cold/hot water inlet passages and a
water outlet passage of the switching control valve thereof; the
water outlet structure being characterized by that, the regulating
cavity of the upper switching control valve having a slant plane
facet defining at one front side thereof in a trapezoidal design;
and the cold/hot water inlet holes of the lower switching control
valve having slant facets defined at one long side thereof
respectively; when the handle of a faucet is pried upwards from the
center or to the right for the discharge of cold water, the upper
switching control valve activated by the control stick thereof will
slide forwards with the regulating cavity moved therewith to open
the cold water inlet hole thereof for the discharge of cold water
via the water outlet hole and water outlet passage thereof, and the
slant plane facet of the regulating cavity will align in parallel
with the slant side of the hot water inlet hole to seal up the
discharge of hot water, preventing the waste of energy of the hot
water heater and avoiding the danger of burning the users by
accident.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention is related to a water outlet structure
of a ceramic control valve for a single-handled faucet, comprising
a valve body having a housing chamber for a regulating seat with a
control stick joined thereto to be adapted therein, and an upper
switching control valve, having a regulating cavity of proper width
and length defining the central lower bottom thereof, matching to a
lower switching control valve and a switching control base. When
the handle of a faucet is pried upwards from the center for the
discharge of cold water, the upper switching control valve
activated by the control stick thereof will slide forwards with the
regulating cavity moved therewith to open a cold water inlet hole
and sealed up a hot water inlet hole of the lower switching control
valve thereof via a slant plane facet, preventing the waste of
energy and the danger of burning the users by accident. Besides,
the regulating cavity increased in width and defined by plane
surfaces can also keep the discharge of water to the maximum in a
smooth manner.
[0002] Please refer to FIG. 1. A conventional water outlet
structure of a ceramic control valve for a single-handled faucet is
mainly made up of a valve body 10 having a housing chamber 11
disposed at the center for a regulating seat 20 with a control
stick 21 joined thereto to be adapted therein, and an upper
switching control valve 30 having an elongated oval regulating hole
31 defined at the center thereof matching to cold/hot water inlet
holes 41, 42 and a water outlet hole 43 of a lower switching
control valve 40, and cold/hot water inlet passages 51, 52 and a
water outlet passage 53 of a switching control base 50.
[0003] Please refer to FIG. 2. In practical use, the handle of a
faucet is pried upwards from the center for the discharge of water,
activating the control stick 21 to slide forwards the upper
switching control valve 20 and the elongated oval regulating hole
21 therewith, opening both the cold/hot water inlet holes 41, 42 of
the lower switching control valve 40 thereof in communication with
the elongated oval regulating hole 21 thereof for cold/hot water to
come out from the cold/hot water passages 51, 52 of the switching
control base 50 thereof Via the elongated oval regulating hole 21'
thereof, cold/hot water is discharged from the water outlet hole 43
and the water outlet passage 53 thereof respectively for use.
[0004] There are some drawbacks to such conventional water outlet
structure of a ceramic control valve for a single-handled faucet.
First, people usually pry up the handle of a faucet from the center
in hand-washing, which will activate the discharge of cold/hot
water at the same time, automatically igniting the hot water heater
and unnecessarily resulting in the waste of energy like gas,
electricity, or coals, etc. Second, the instant on-and-off of the
hot water heater within the short time of hand-washing may cause
the insufficiency of the ignition thereof and result in the leakage
of gas, jeopardizing the safety of the household. Third, the users
might carelessly get burned by hot water when prying up the handle
of the faucet from the center in hand-washing.
[0005] Please refer to FIG. 3. Another conventional water outlet
structure of a ceramic control valve for a single-handled faucet
comprises a valve body 10' having a housing chamber 11' disposed at
the center for a regulating seat 20' with a control stick 21'
joined thereto to be adapted therein. The regulating seat 20' is
engaged with an upper switching control valve 30', a lower
switching valve 40', and a switching control base 50'. At the
central lower bottom of the upper switching control valve 30' is
disposed a regulating groove 31' having an arc plane extending
outwards at one side and a straight plane 311' defining at the
other side thereof. The lower switching control valve 40' has a
large arc cold water inlet hole 41' and a small arc hot water inlet
hole 42' with an inner straight facet 421' disposed at one side
thereof, and a central water outlet hole 43' disposed at the other
side thereof. The regulating groove 31' of the upper switching
control valve 30' is matched to the large and small cold/hot water
inlet holes 41', 42' and the water outlet hole 43' of the lower
switching control valve 40', and cold/hot water inlet passages 51',
52' and a water outlet passage 53' of the switching control base
50.
[0006] Please refer to FIG. 4. In practical use, the handle of a
faucet is pried upwards from the center for the discharge of cold
water, activating the control stick 21' to slide forwards the upper
switching control valve 20' with the straight plane 311' of the
regulating groove 31' thereof moved therewith to abut the inner
straight facet 421' of the small arc hot water inlet hole 42' for
sealing up the discharge of hot water. Thus, via the regulating
groove 31', cold water coming out from the cold water passage 52'
of the switching control base 50' thereof and flowing through the
large arc cold water inlet hole 41' thereof is discharged from the
water outlet passage 53' thereof for use.
[0007] There are some disadvantages to the second conventional
water outlet structure of a ceramic control valve for a
single-handled faucet. Most of all, the regulating groove 31' is
rather narrow in width which permits only a small quantity of water
to flow there-through. Besides, an A-shaped space is defined at one
side by the arc plane of the regulating groove 31' thereof which
can hinder the smooth discharge of cold water there-from.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0008] It is, therefore, the primary purpose of the present
invention to provide a water outlet structure of a ceramic control
valve for a single-handled faucet, made up of a valve body, a
regulating seat with a control stick joined thereto, and an upper
switching control valve having a regulating cavity of proper width
and length disposed at the lower bottom thereof matching to
cold/hot water inlet holes and a water outlet hole of a lower
switching control valve, and cold/hot water inlet passages and a
water outlet passage of a switching control valve; whereby, when
the handle of a faucet is pried upwards from the center for the
discharge of cold water, the upper switching control valve
activated by the control stick thereof will slide forwards with the
regulating cavity moved therewith to open the cold water outlet
hole thereof, and a slant plane facet of the regulating cavity will
align in parallel with a slant side of the hot water inlet hole
thereof to seal up the discharge of hot water, preventing the waste
of energy in the constant on-and-off of the hot water heater and
avoiding the danger of burning the users by accident. Besides, the
regulating cavity in a trapezoid-like design is increased in width
and provided with plane surfaces at both sides thereof, keeping the
water discharge to the maximum in a smooth manner.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective exploded view of a conventional
water outlet structure of a ceramic control valve for a
single-handled faucet.
[0010] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the first conventional water
outlet structure of a ceramic control valve for a single-handled
faucet in practical use.
[0011] FIG. 3 is a perspective exploded view of another
conventional water outlet structure of a ceramic control valve for
a single-handled faucet.
[0012] FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the second conventional water
outlet structure of a ceramic control valve for a single-handled
faucet in practical use.
[0013] FIG. 5 is a perspective exploded view of the present
invention.
[0014] FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the present invention in
practical use.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0015] Please refer to FIG. 5. The present invention is related to
a water outlet structure of a ceramic control valve for a
single-handled faucet, comprising a valve body 10", a regulating
seat 20", an upper switching control valve 30", a lower switching
control valve 40", and a switching control base 50". The valve body
10" has a housing chamber 11" disposed at the center thereof for
the regulating seat 20" with a control stick 21" joined thereto to
be adapted therein. The regulating seat 20" thereof is matched to
the upper switching control valve 30", the lower switching control
valve 40", and the switching control base 50" thereof. The upper
switching control valve 30" has a regulating cavity 31" of proper
width and length disposed at the center of the lower bottom
thereof, and a slant plane facet 311" defining at one front side of
the regulating cavity 31" in a trapezoid-like design. A pair of
cold/hot water inlet holes 41", 42" with slant sides 411", 421"
defined at one long side thereof respectively are symmetrically
disposed at one side of the lower switching control valve 40",
while a water outlet hole 43" is provided at the middle of the
other side thereof. The regulating cavity 31 thereof is matched to
the cold/hot water inlet holes 41", 42" and the water outlet hole
43" of the lower switching control valve 40, and to cold/hot water
inlet passages 51", 52" and a water outlet passage 53" of the
switching control base 50" thereof.
[0016] Please refer to FIG. 6. In practical use, the handle of a
faucet is pried upwards from the center or to the right for the
discharge of cold water, moving the control stick 21" of the
regulating seat 20" to activate the upper switching control valve
30" therewith. The upper switching control valve 30" will slide
forwards, and the slant plane facet 311" of the regulating cavity
31" will move therewith to align in parallel with the slant side
421" of the hot water inlet hole 42" to seal up the discharge of
hot water. Meanwhile, the cold water inlet hole 41" of the lower
switching control valve 40" is revealed for cold water coming
through the cold water inlet passage 51" of the switching control
base 50" to flow there-from into the regulating cavity 31" and
channeled thereby to be discharged for use via the water outlet
hole 43" and the water outlet passage 53" of the lower switching
control valve 40" and the switching control base 50" thereof
respectively.
[0017] Thus, the slant plane facet 311" of the regulating cavity
31" thereof matching to the slant side 421" of the hot water inlet
hole 42" thereof can securely block the hot water discharge while
the regulating seat 20" thereof is switched for the discharge of
cold water in practical use, preventing the unnecessary waste of
energy in the constant on-and-off of the hot water heater and
avoiding the danger of burning the users by accident. Furthermore,
the regulating cavity 31" designed in a trapezoid-like shape and
increased in width can also maintain the discharge of cold water to
the maximum, permitting 32.89 L/min in large quantity and 0.1 bar 7
L/min under low water pressure. The plane surfaces defining both
sides of the regulating cavity 31" also facilitate the smooth
discharge of cold water in practical use.
* * * * *