US1615730A - Mixing and distributing mechanism - Google Patents

Description

an o. w. VALLIJER 1615730 MIXING AND DISTRIBUTING MECHANISM Filed Aug. 30. 1926 2 sheets-sheet 1 o'. w. VALLJER MIXING AND DISTRIBUTING MECHANISM Jan. 25, 1927. 1,615,730

Filed Aug. 30, 192e 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Jan. 25, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ORVIS W. VALLIER, OF TATERTOWN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO J. B. WISE.' INCOR- 'PORATED, -OF WATERTOWN, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION .OFQNEVT MIXING ANI) DISTRIBUTING lYIEG'I-IA.N'ISIVL` Application filed August 30, 1926.

This invention relates to improvements in mixing valves, designed particularly tor use in .connection with tub land shower baths, and has for its object to provide in one simple and compact tting a complete mixing valve whereby water at .any temperature may be drawn from the usual cold and hot water sources vand a distributing mechanism by which themixture `may .be directed towards the tub as well as to the shower nozzle, in any volume from a mere trickle to the full capacity ot the system, by the manipulation ot simple controlling members. A further object-is to provide ya tour-way valve having separate cold'a-nd-hot water receiving leads, which is arranged to separately draw either colder hot water, or both cold and hot water in equal or different volumes and to discharge the water into a common chamber'. A further object is to provide a novel .distributing valve which is located in said chamber, the said valve being arranged to be seated mainly by the torce of the water pressure tor preventing leakage without requring any special packing. A furtherV Objectis to .provide a train vof gears tor positively operating the distributing valve, said gearsbeing controlled by a lever by which the. mixture may be delivered to the tub and to the shower in any volume at a single throw. A further object is to provide means for indexing .the movements ot the distributing lever and for indicating the destination as well as the volume ot water to be drawn from the mixing chamber. A turther object is to provide means tor positively stopping the .distributing lever when the valve is positioned for delivering the greatest volume 4ot water to either the tub or the shower. And a further object is to provide means for adjusting parts ot the distributing mechanism to conform to a relatively wide range of variations in roughing-iu measurements.

The various features and parts of the invention will be understood by the detailed description which follows, and by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 is a broken iront elevation of a tub and shower bath tix-ture, to which. my improvement is applied. Fig. 2 is a broken vertical section of a wall, in which the water supply pipes as well as the mixing and distributing valves are disposed, the exposed parts being the dial and the operating han- .Serial No. 132,567,

dle and lever. Fig. 3 is an enlarged rear end elevation of the mixing and distributing mechanism, showing the distributing lever in the neutral position. Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross-section, taken on ,line L -4 of Fig. 2, showing the distributing lever in position for discharging the tullvolume ot water to the tub. Fig. 5 is a similar view, taken on line 44 Fig. 2 Showing the distributing'lever in position for discharging the contents of the mixing .chamber toward the shower nozzle. Fig.`6- is .a bottom side view .and partial central longitudinal section, showing the mixing valvein position to produce warm.water;also .showing the distributing valve in p ositionV to supply the mixture to the shower nozzle. Fig. 7 is a transverse section, taken .on line 7 7 of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a transverse section, taken 01T line 8-8 of Fig. .6. Fig. 9 is respectively a side elevation and an end view of the conical `distributing valve. Fig 10 is respectively an outer end view and a `central longitudinal sect-ion ot the body` ofthe distributingA valve. vAnd Fig. ll is a side elevation ot the latter valve b-Ody. Fig.k12 is an enlarged face view ot the dialinscribed with indicia for the operating handles.

In the drawings, Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate a combination tub and shower bath and wa.- ter supply system, in which 2 represents the mixing-valve body, which receives the cold and hot water lrespectively through valveless conduits 3 ande. The cold,'warm, or hot water resulting from the operation ot the valve is discharged respectively towards the bath-,tub A and the lsllower-head B, by branch pipes 5 and .6, the said pipes being unobstructed, andl together with the Abody 2 comprising anl aligning conductor ot the simplest construction. The water tor the tub .and also for the shower-head` is selectively controlledby a mixing-valve 7, .and bya distributing-valve 8. In the preferred arrangement the pipes .3, 4, 5 and 6, `as well as .the main portion ot the body 2, are shown enclosedby .a hollow wall ll, so that only the operatinghandles or members and the usualdial, as 2- are exposed. The pipe v6 extends through ,the wall into the bath-room and is fitted with the usual shower-head B :(see Figs. l and 2).

The mixing-valve comprises a tapered body, which is operatively disposed in `a correspondingly, tajliered seat .or chamber 7", and

is partially rotated by means of a stem 7, which extends outwardly beyond the dial 2', and is itted with a handle 7 b, by which the valve may be operated manually. The valve 7 is referablv formed with a mixing chamber 7e which communicates respectively with the cold and hot water pipes 8 and 4, by means oi radial ports 7d-7, as best seen in Figs. 6 and 7, in which the valve 7 is in position to draw water from both pipes 8 and t to be mixed in the chamber 7c .tor producing warm water. It will be understood that rotating the valve 7 slightly in either direction from the position oi Fig. '7 will el'ect the drawing oi the cold or hot water alone, and that by continuing the said rotation still farther, the supply ot' water to chamber 7C, may be entirely shut-oil. The dial in Figs. 1 and 12 bear marks indicating the extreme movements of the valve 7, as well as the temperature of the water at diii'erent stages of the said operations. The exposed end oi' the body 2 is closed by a threaded cap 2a, and this cap is telescoped loosely by a larger sleeve 2b, which is also threaded to the body, and may be screwed in opposite directions without disturbing the cap. rJlhe sleeve 2h has a flange 2c, which engages the outer face of the dial 2, and is employed for adjustably clamping the dial to the walls (11) in case there are variations in the thickness of the walls. Below the mixing chamber 7c, the body 2 is formed with a hollow portion, which is divided longitudinally by a wall 2d, the central plane of which includes the axial line of the pipes 3 and 4t, for pro viding separate chambers 2"m that collect the water for the tub and shower-head, the chambers 2"--2f having unrestricted communication respectively with the pipes 5 and 6. The water delivered by pipes 8 and 4 passes through ducts 2X- Y, which are formed in the wall 2d (see Figs. 6, 7 and 8). The rear end of the body is formed with a relatively large threaded opening a?, that normally communicates with both oit the chambers 2-2 (see Figs. 6 and 8).

My distributing mechanism will now be described: 12 represents an externally threaded bushing which screws into the opening .fr oi' the body,the bushing having a [lange 12 that overlaps the said opening. The bushing 12 preferably seats tightly against the bottom margin of the valve chamber 7 that surrounds the bottom end oit the mixing valve 7 (see Fig. 6). Beyond the flange 12 the bushing is formed with a hexagonal portion 12b to receive a wrench. The inner end of the bushing 12 is formed with a conical socket 12C and beyond the said socket is a smaller bore 12l. The bushing 12 is formed with diametric ports 12@'--12l, which respectively communicate with the chambers 2e-2f. The distributing Valve 8, comprises a bell-shaped portion 8 having a taper to closely lit the socket 12" oi the bushing. ',lhe bell 8 is formed with a concentric cavity 8, which aligns axially with the mixing chamber 7 C, and therefore receives the mixture directly from the said chamber. The bell portieri oit the valve 8 is formed with a single elongated circumferential port 8C, by which the water is discharged into chambers 29-2f when the valve is rotated. Beyond the bell 8', the valve 8 is formed with an integral stem 8, which journals in the bore 12d ol the bushing, and surrounding the base oi said stem is pret erably disposed a packing ring 8e, lor supplementing the normal metallic seal o'l' the bell portion with the bushing. The 'free end ot the stem 8l is preferably flattened at 8", and this portion is also perforated as at 8X. The valve 8 is operated a partial revolution ior dispensing the water toward the tub and shower-head by means oi" a pair ot gears 1st-14C The gear 14- is formed with a slotted opening to receive the flattened end ot' the stem 8% and is held in place thereon by means ot a pin 14a. This peculiar arrangement enables gear 14 to drive the valve 8. The gear 111 is rigidly mounted upon one end oi a shaft 15, the latter' being journaled in bearing-lugs 15', which may be integral with the body 2, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, 5 and '7. The shaft 15 extends forwardly parallel to the barrel of the body 2, and upon its forward end is slidably mounted a sleeve 1G which supports an operating lever 16, by which the distributing valve is manipulated. The lever and sleeve 18 may be made integral by drawing the sleeve, and the shaft 15 is preferably flattened as at 15a, as shown in Figs. 8, 1, and 5, for enabling the sleeve to drive the shalft. It is important that the valve 8 be stopped when it reaches the positions where the greatest volume oi water may be delivered to the tub and shower-head. To this end, the sleeve 16 is termed with a substantially semicircular flange 16 whose radii as measured troni the axis of the sleeve to its extremities 16--16c are greater than the radial distance from the axis ot the sleeve to the periphery oil the casing 2. igiy this arrangement the lever 'tti is allowed definite strokes in opposite directions and is positively sti'ipped by the engagement ot he points ltd-16 with theI barrel ot the body 2 (see Figs. t and 5), when the port 8 is moved into registry with the ports 121-12r ot the bushing 12, which means that the discharge o't' the water trom the valve 8 is at its greatest volume. rl'his will be understood by reference to Fig. 8, wherein the tull lines show the port 8" iu full registry with the port 12h The extreme positions oi the valve 8 correspond to the positions oi the lever 16 indicated at a and CZ in Figs. 1 and 12. The intermediate positions 7) and ill) c' indicate respectively the medium discharge to the shower and the neutral or closed position of the valve 8, as shown in Fig. 8. In order to provide clearance for the lever 16, between the dial 2 and the wall 11, the

flange ot the dial is eut away, as at 16d (see` liig. G).

From the foregoing it will be understood that thc operator iirst manipulates the handle 7", tor drawing either cold, warm or hot water by the swinging oit the handle 7b so as to point to the corresponding marks on the dial. The handle may then be lett in said position. The operator next manipulates lever 16 in the proper direction for supplying either the tub or the shower-head, as explained. At the end oi' the bathing exercise the operator should swing the lever' 1,6 to the neutral position c. The handle 7b may then be swung to the oti' position, which relieves the valve 8 ot' the pressure, and provides a double safe-guard against leakage while the bath tixture is not in use.

My combined mixing and distributing mechanism is extremely simple, and eliminates a number ot shut-off and other valves and parts which have heretofore been employed for controlling the supply ot water to the tubs and shower-heads. mechanism reduces the selective operations oi' the water supply to the simplest terms. The mechanism may be produced at rela tively small cost, and its installation may be effected in less time and at less expense than any fitting of the class known to me. When the mixing and distributing device is once properly installed it needs no attention or care, and neither of the valves require any adjusting or packing.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, is i l. The combination with a hollow body having a Valve chamber receiving cold and hot water, a valve in said chamber for selectively drawing and mixing the water, and means for opera-ting said valve, of a valve receiving the mixed water and selectively dispensing the water toward a tub and shower-head, gears for rotating the dispensing valve, a rocking lever for operating said gears, and means on the. lever engageable with the body at points spaced from the water receiving and dispensing points for stopping said lever when the dispensing valve is in position to supply the greatest volume of the water.

2. The combination with a hollow7 body having a valve chamber receiving cold and hot water and having separate chambers that communicate with a bath-tub and a shower-head, and a valve in said valve chamber adapted to selectively draw and mix the cold and hot water, of a hollow valve adapted to receive the mixture trom the first valve and to dispense the mixture toward said The present separate chambers, a lever 'for operating the second valve, and means on the lever engageable with the body at points spaced Jfrom the water receiving and dispensing points for stopping the movements of said lever when the second valve is in position to dispense the greatest volume of' the mixture.

3. A hollow body formed with a valve chamber communicating with cold and hot water inlets and having separate chambers communicating with a bath-tub and a shower-head, said body having an opening` in one end communicating with the separate chambers, a valve in the valve chamber adapted to dra-w and mix the water received from said inlets, a valve interposed between the valve chamber and said separate chambers for controlling the iow of the water toward the tub and shower-head, means for operating the mixing valve, means for rocking said second valve for charging the separate chambers with the mixture during the final movements of said valve, and means for stopping the second valve when the flow of water to the tub and shower-head reaches the maximum volume including means on the rocking means of the second valve engageable with the body at points spaced from the water receiving and dispensing points.

et. The combination with a valve body having cold and hot water inlets and having separate chambers communicating with a bath-tub and a shower-head, of a valve adapted to be adjusted for selectively drawing water of different temperatures through said inlets, a valve interposed between the first valve and the separate chambers adapted to be rocked in opposite directions for directing the mixture received from the first valve alternately toward the separate chambers, a lever for rocking the second valve, and means carri-ed by said lever adapted to engage said body at points spaced from the water receiving and dispensing points for limiting the rocking movements of said second valves.

5. In a device of the type set forth, a body provided with hot and cold water inlets and with separate outlets, said body having a mixing chamber and a hollow part therebelow, a diametrical wall dividing the hollow part to provide a pair of separate chambers, which latter communicat-e with the respective separate outlets, said wall having ports communicating with the water inlets, and each of which ports ent/ers the mixing chamber, a hollow valve in the mixing chamber interposed between the wall ports and having ports for registry with the wall ports, a second hollow valve below the first valve having a port for registry with the outlets, and separate means for operating the valves.

6. In combination with a body having a mixing chamber provided with hot and cold Water inlets and having separate outlets, a valve in said chamber for Controlling the inlets, a distributing valve for controlling the outlets, and means to operate the distributing valve including a lever, and means Carried by the lever and engageable with the body at points spaced from said inlets and outlets to limit throw of the lever in both directions.

7. ln combination with a body having a mixing chamber provided with hot and cold Water inlets and having separat-e outlets, a valve in said chamber for controllingl the inlets, a distributing valve For controlling the outlets, and means to operate the distributing valve including a lever, and amenibel carried by the lever and having' spaced pointed ends engageable with the body to limitmovement of the lever in both directions.

8. In combination with a body having a IniXing chamber provided with hot and Cold water inlets and having separate outlets, a valve to control the inlets, a distributing valve for controlling' the outlets, a dial on the body, means to aetuate the distributingr valve, including a shaft, a. lever having a sleeve mounted on an end ot the shaft and ai'i'ai'iged to the rear of the dial and closely adjacent thereto, and a flange on the sleeve having Aparts engageable with the body to limit movement of the lever.

In testimony whereof I aiiiX my signature.

oRvIs W. vALLIER.

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