FR3146974A3 - THERMAL REGULATION CARTRIDGE - Google Patents

Abstract

THERMALLY REGULATED CARTRIDGE The cartridge (10) is positioned inside the body (100) so that each incoming water opening (30, 40) of the first part (13) coincides with each independent and sealed housing formed between the faucet body (100) and the first part (13) of the cartridge (10). The openings (31, 41) of the second part (14), by moving together with the second part (14), are positioned according to an opening coincidence with the openings (30, 40) of the first part (13) of the cartridge (10), their coincidence ratio being determined by the rotation of the axis (11). The openings (31,41) of the second part (14) are at least elongated in the direction of rotation, to form an opening arc coinciding progressively with the openings (30,40) of the first part (13), as the second part (14) rotates. Figure for abstract: Figure 4

Description

THERMAL REGULATION CARTRIDGE

The present invention relates to a thermally regulated cartridge, i.e. used as a mixing valve for hot and cold water inside taps, the inlet of the hydraulic lines of which is located in separate areas of the tap body, such as shower taps, guiding for example at least two types of hydraulic lines through the tap body to the water inlet areas in the cartridge.

Background of the invention

In conventional shower faucets, the inlets of the hydraulic lines carrying the water to be mixed are located on different and considerably separated parts of the faucet body, compared, for example, to conventional sink faucets which have two contiguous water inlets, at the base of the faucet and the inner cartridge.

This type of faucet, whose inlet of the hydraulic lines is configured in separate areas of its body, allows to conventionally have an independent cartridge with a corresponding button for each incoming water line. In this known configuration, each button is located, with its cartridge, at each end of the faucet body, according to a usual horizontal configuration.

The use of a single mixing cartridge, which must guide each hydraulic line inlet to its corresponding inlet in the cartridge, is also known. This configuration of internal lines in the valve body is known on shower valves with a single-control actuation cartridge, regulating both the mixing ratio and the supply flow rate, or on thermostatic type shower valves with a thermostatic mixing control cartridge.

In this configuration of thermostatic type taps, the cartridge configuration is totally different from that of conventional single-control cartridges. The thermostatic cartridges have an axial configuration, where the inlet of each hydraulic line is guided to a different section of the cartridge, with inlets at the side walls, independent and sealed from each other, so that the internal thermostatic system can perform its mixing in a conventional way.

These thermostatic cartridges offer great comfort on systems with variations in pressure and flow rate of each hydraulic pipe, since once the mixing ratio determining the temperature during the shower has been chosen by the user, the thermostatic cartridge proceeds, with the temperature, to a slight automatic regulation of the flow of incoming water and the proportion of the mixture, according to any variations in the conditions of each of the hydraulic pipes. This is generally achieved through a principle based on the use of a temperature-sensitive thermostatic mixer, conventionally based on the expansion and contraction of a metal element according to the temperature of the mixture.

This mechanism makes thermostatic cartridges more expensive, and therefore also more expensive to replace, than single-control or other mechanical cartridges. Furthermore, with today's boilers and water supply systems, differences in water supply conditions tend to level out, so that for many new installations, these thermostatic systems are no longer so essential in ensuring consistent mixed water conditions throughout a shower.

In accordance with all of the above, it is necessary to provide a cartridge-type device, allowing the replacement of thermostatic tap cartridges, with an axial configuration and a body specifically designed for this water inlet configuration, with a device allowing good adaptation and good operation inside the assembly where the conventional thermostatic cartridge was previously mounted.

Description of the invention

The objective of the present invention is to provide a thermally regulated faucet cartridge with an axial configuration, having a water inlet through the side walls of the cartridge and a mechanical water mixture regulated by the user, with a configuration suitable for faucets configured for conventional thermostatic cartridges. The provision of a faucet including said axially configured cartridge is also an objective of the present invention.

For the sake of clarity, when the present invention refers to a thermally regulated cartridge, it is understood to mean a mixing cartridge provided with a system for regulating the temperature of the water delivered to the user, operating by mechanical regulation of the ratio of cold water and hot water, which mix therein before being delivered to the user.

Also for the sake of clarity, when the present invention refers to a thermally regulated cartridge having an axial configuration, it is to be understood a cartridge which, in addition to having the thermal regulation characteristics indicated above, has an axial configuration having two water inlet zones, configured by housings for discharging water from the hydraulic lines into spaces with a transverse annular section relative to the axis of rotation of the regulation, the inlet thus taking place at the cartridge, via its side walls and from these housings, and where these water supply housings in the cartridge are sealed from each other and conventionally contiguous longitudinally, namely along the axis of rotation of the regulation.

In accordance with the objectives of the invention, and according to a first aspect, the present invention is based on a thermally regulated tap cartridge having an axial configuration, with at least two independent and sealed water inlets at the walls of the axial thermally regulated cartridge, which coincide with the two water inlets of the hydraulic water supply lines guided by the tap body.

Advantageously, the thermally regulated cartridge having an axial configuration is configured to comprise:

 An axis for transmitting the regulating movement of the tap control button regulating the water mixture ratio;

 A cartridge body comprising two concentric parts inserted, at least partially, one into the other, where:

o A first external part fixed relative to the body of the tap having an internal cavity, configured so as to allow the sealed passage of the axis and the sealed internal installation of a second part, where the first part has, at least, a first and a second inlet opening for each of the two water inlets guided by the body of the tap, at least one for each water pipe guided by the body of the tap;

o A first external part fixed relative to the body of the tap having an internal cavity open at both ends, configured so as to allow the sealed passage of the transmission shaft through one of its ends and to allow, through its other end, the sealed internal installation of a second part, where the first part has at least a first and a second inlet opening for each of the two water inlets guided by the body of the tap, at least one for each water pipe guided by the body of the tap;

o A second internal part and fixed to the transmission axis of the regulating movement of the tap button, with relative rotational movement with respect to the first external part in which it is at least partially inserted, where this second part has an internal cavity serving as a mixing chamber with which communicate at least two water inlet openings, one for each type of water inlet from the first part, located in the same transverse projection as the incoming water openings from the first part, and being, at least the two openings, sealed with respect to the rest of the cavity formed between the first and second parts of the axial thermal regulation cartridge, this second part having a mixed water outlet.

Advantageously, according to this invention, the cartridge is positioned inside the body of the tap, so that each incoming water opening of the first part coincides with each independent and sealed housing formed between the body of the tap and the first part of the axial thermal regulation cartridge, for each of the two water inlets guided by the body of the tap from each hydraulic water supply pipe. The axial thermal regulation cartridge is thus configured so as to be able to replace a thermostatic type cartridge within the same body of the tap, thanks to its shape compatible with installation in the body of the tap, as well as to its connection openings to the housings for receiving the water guided by the body of the tap.

Also advantageously, the openings of the second part, by moving together with the second part, are positioned in an opening coincidence with the openings of the first part of the cartridge, their coincidence ratio being determined by the rotation of the axis.

Finally, the invention is also advantageously characterized in that the openings of the second part are at least elongated in the direction of rotation, to form an opening arc gradually coinciding with the openings of the first part, as the second part rotates.

This configuration allows for a thermally regulated cartridge with an axial configuration, configured so as to be able to advantageously replace thermostatic cartridges, correctly adapting to the internal configuration of the tap body and having a lateral arrangement of the water inlets in the cartridge by means of two axial modules sealed between them, that is, two sealed housings formed between the existing tap body and the first external part of the new axial thermally regulated cartridge. This allows the user to be able to use one or the other system in an easily interchangeable manner.

This same configuration allows for an axial thermal regulation cartridge ensuring progressive regulation of the mixture, thanks to the elongated configuration of its openings, so that said regulation is finer than the circular openings of other types of valves.

The entire body of the axially regulated cartridge is sealed with respect to the body of the tap, with the logical exception of the guided inlets of the hydraulic lines and the mixed water outlet of the cartridge, sealingly connecting the areas of the cartridge joined to it. This sealing of the assembly is ensured by means of seals arranged, at least, in the inlet area of the transmission shaft of the regulating movement and at the level of the clearance between the two internal and external parts, in addition to those indicated at the level of the water inlets in the cartridge and the mixed water outlet.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first and second parts are cylindrical and concentric, configured to allow relative radial movement between them, without losing the sealing of the inlet openings in the mixing chamber of the cartridge. Optionally, the radii of each longitudinal section of each part may vary depending on the need to create water inlet chambers between the parts or other configurations, but always maintaining the sealing between the indicated parts.

Also preferably, the sealing of the openings of the second part, allowing the entry of water into the mixing chamber, is ensured by seals which follow the contour of these openings. This advantageous configuration of the sealing of the area of the openings of the second part, prevents the transfer of water to other areas or the entry of water through the openings, in positions which should not allow it.

Also optionally, although preferred, the openings of the first part are elongated in the direction of rotation to form an opening arc. This increases the progressiveness and fine regulation of the flow rate of each hydraulic line passing through the mixing chamber.

According to an optional and preferred embodiment of the invention, the first and second parts both comprise two openings for each of the inlets corresponding to each incoming hydraulic line. These openings are offset in different radial zones of each zone and at different longitudinal points.

Optionally also although preferably, the openings of the first part and the openings of the second part are configured so that, at at least one point of the rotation between the two parts, when one of the openings of the second part coincides with the opening of the first part, corresponding to the same sealed water inlet relative to the other, the other opening of the second part does not coincide and thus prevents any entry of water through the opening of the first part, so that at the time of rotation of the second part relative to the first, the areas of coincidence and therefore of entry of water into the mixing chamber decrease and increase progressively with the angle of rotation.

This configuration allows a gap between the coincidence of the openings of each of the cold and hot water inlets, so that the point with a preferably total coincidence between the openings of the first and second corresponding parts, for example, at the cold water inlet, the openings of the first and second parts associated with the hot water inlet do not coincide. In this way, at the beginning of the rotation of the second internal part, the coincidence section of the openings associated with the cold water decreases and the coincidence section between the openings associated with the hot water inlet increases, to reach the setting desired by the user.

Also in accordance with the objectives of the invention, and according to a second aspect, the present invention is also based on a water mixing tap, comprising water inlets of hydraulic pipes guided by the tap body to the water inlets of a mixing cartridge with axial thermal regulation. This communication with the cartridge inlets is carried out laterally by the creation of water evacuation housings in the corresponding sealed spaces, between the tap body and the cartridge.

Advantageously, the tap comprises an axial thermally regulated mixing cartridge, as indicated in the first aspect of the invention.

With this configuration, a faucet such as a thermostatic shower faucet allows the replacement of an initially thermostatic cartridge with this type of cartridge, preferred due to its greater durability and lower cost, allowing great progressiveness of regulation and an installation identical to that of thermostatic cartridges, thus avoiding the need to change the faucet or purchase another thermostatic cartridge.

Brief description of the figures

To facilitate understanding of the presentation, attached are drawings representing, schematically and solely as a non-limiting example, a practical case of an embodiment.

There is a perspective view of a faucet equipped with a thermostatic cartridge according to the state of the art.

There is a perspective view of an axial thermally regulated cartridge as described in the invention.

There is an exploded view of the axial thermal regulation cartridge shown in .

there shows cross-sectional views of the complete axial thermal control cartridge shown in (figure 4a); as well as the first part (figure 4b) and the second part (figure 4c), separately.

Description of a preferred embodiment of the invention

In the present preferred embodiment of the invention, and as shown in Figures 2 to 4, we have an axial thermal regulation cartridge (10) that can be installed in a faucet body (100) configured for the installation of a thermostatic cartridge (10'), as shown in , and corresponding to the state of the art.

As this shows , and as is known from the prior art, the body of this type of faucet (100), a thermostatic shower faucet, has a longitudinal configuration along the axis of rotation of the regulating controls, comprising at one end of its body, the control for regulating the mixing ratio of the water associated with the thermostatic cartridge (10'), and at its other end, the control corresponding to the flow regulating device (50). On this known type of faucet, the water is guided from the two hot water (101) and cold water (102) inlets of the faucet body (100), to the independent and mutually sealed housings, connected to the lateral inlets of the cartridge (100'). Functionally, other types of alternative faucets may be compatible with the axial thermally regulated cartridge (10) of the present invention, provided that at least two types of incoming water to be mixed are guided to the side walls of the axial thermally regulated mixing cartridge in independent sealed housings formed between these interior conduits, through the faucet body and the inlets of the axial thermally regulated cartridge.

The axial thermal regulation cartridge (10) of the present preferred embodiment is formed of a body (12) composed of two concentric cylindrical parts (13, 14), a first (13) external and a second (14) internal, inserted practically entirely in the internal cavity (20) of the first part (13). This first part allows the sealed passage of the axis (11) and the sealed internal installation of a second part (14).

The first part (13) remains fixed and sealed relative to the body of the tap, each of the lateral openings (30, 40) of its side walls (21) being located in each of the independent and sealed housings of the guided water inlet of each of the hydraulic pipes (101, 102), formed between the body of the tap (100) and said first part (13). These openings (30, 40) are configured so that two of them (30) are radially offset in the housing to guide the hot water, while the other two (40) are radially offset in the housing to guide the cold water, these housings being independent and sealed between them so as not to generate undesirable transfer between the two types of water.

The second part (14) is arranged inside the first part (13) and has a relative rotational movement with respect to the first part (13) and around the concentric axis of the two cylindrical parts (13, 14). This second part (14) is fixed to the transmission axis (11) of the regulating movement of the knob of the control for adjusting the ratio of the cold water and hot water mixture, maintaining the sealing of the entire axial thermally regulated cartridge (10).

The second part (14) has openings (31, 41) for incoming water from the openings (30, 40) of the first part (13) to the mixing chamber (15) internal to this second part (14), so that the mixed water can exit through an outlet (16) of said mixed water. To establish the mixing ratio in accordance with the setting established by the user on the button causing the rotation of the axis (12) transmitting the movement of the control at the level of the second part (14), two openings (31) of this second part are positioned in the same cross-sectional projection as the hot water openings (30) of the first part (13). Likewise, two other openings (41) of this second part are positioned in the same radial projection section as the cold water openings (40) of the first part (13).

The openings (31,41) of the second part are surrounded by a sealing gasket (17) which comes into contact with the internal face of the first part (13) so that, in the absence of coincidence between their opening sections (31,41) during its rotational movement, with the openings (30,40) of the first part (13), water does not enter the mixing chamber (15) of the axial thermally regulated cartridge (10).

In this present embodiment, all these openings (30,40,31,41) of the first (13) and second (14) parts are made according to an elongated configuration, rectangular in this case) in the direction of rotation, having arc-shaped perimeter openings which allow a progressive coincidence of the opening sections coinciding between the openings of said parts (13,14) and therefore of the differentiated entry of each type of water to be mixed, cold and hot.

The radial arrangement of the openings (31, 41) of the second part (14) relative to the openings of the first part (30, 40) is such that at at least one point of the rotation between the two parts (13, 14), when one of the openings (31) of the second part (14) coincides with the opening (30) of the first part (13), corresponding to the same hot water inlet (101), the other opening (41) of the second part (14) does not coincide, preventing water from entering through the opening (40) of the first part (14), so that at the time of rotation of the second part (14) relative to the first (13), the areas of coincidence and therefore of penetration of water into the mixing chamber (15), decrease and increase progressively with the angle of rotation of this second part (14).

In this way, when the user adjusts the tap to request all hot or cold water, only the openings (30-31 or 40-41) associated with the type of water requested, hot or cold, coincide in the position of greatest coincidence section, while the other openings (30-31 or 40-41) associated with the type of water not requested by the user remain sealed and do not receive any water passage. During the adjustment and therefore the rotation of the axis (11), the rotation of the second piece (14) is carried out according to the variation of coincidences between the previous openings (30-31 or 40-41), increasing and decreasing correspondingly to the rotation and thus progressively generating, due to the elongated shape of said openings (30, 31, 40, 41), the ratio of the water mixture desired by the user.

In an alternative embodiment, according to a common operating principle, the openings for each type of water may be 1 or greater than 2 in number. Similarly, the shape of the openings may vary while retaining at least the elongated shape of the openings (31,41) of the second part (14).

The axial thermal regulation cartridge (10) of these embodiments allows its installation in a conventional thermostatic type tap (100), and thus, the replacement of said thermostatic cartridge as well as the operation of the tap according to a manual and progressive adjustment mode of the mixing ratio, without the user being obliged to replace the thermostatic cartridge with another cartridge having the same characteristics if he does not wish to do so.

Although reference is made to concrete embodiments of the invention, it will be obvious to a person skilled in the art that the thermally regulated cartridge with an axial configuration and the valve containing it, as described herein, are subject to numerous modifications and variations, and that all the details indicated may be replaced by other technically equivalent elements, without departing from the scope of protection defined by the appended claims.

Claims (7)

Cartridge for a thermally regulated tap with an axial configuration, with at least two independent water inlets (30, 40) sealed by the side walls (21) of the axial thermally regulated cartridge (10), configured to coincide with the two guided water inlets (101, 102) by the tap body (100) of the hydraulic water supply lines, characterized in that the axial thermally regulated cartridge (10) comprises:
an axis (11) for transmitting the regulating movement of the tap control button regulating the water mixing ratio;
a cartridge body (12) comprising two concentric parts (13,14) inserted, at least partially, one into the other, where:
a first part (13) external and fixed relative to the body of the tap (100) having an internal cavity (20), configured so as to allow the sealed passage of the axis (11) and the sealed internal installation of a second part (14), where the first part (13) has, at least, a first (30) and a second (40) inlet opening for each of the two guided water inlets (101,102) by the body of the tap (100), at least one for each water pipe guided by the body of the tap (100);
a second internal part (14) fixed to the axis (11) for transmitting the regulating movement of the tap button, with relative rotational movement with respect to the first external part (13) in which it is at least partially inserted, where this second part (14) has an internal cavity serving as a mixing chamber (15) with which at least two water inlet openings (31, 41) communicate, one for each type of water inlet (30, 40) from the first part, located in the same transverse projection as the incoming water openings (30, 40) from the first part (13), and being, at least the two openings (31, 41), sealed with respect to the rest of the cavity (20) formed between the first (13) and the second (14) part of the axial thermal regulation cartridge (10), this second part (14) having a mixed water outlet (16);
wherein the cartridge (10) is configured to be positioned inside the tap body (100) such that each incoming water opening (30, 40) of the first part (13) coincides with each independent and sealed housing formed between the tap body (100) and the first part (13) of the axial thermally regulated cartridge (10), for each of the two guided water inlets (101, 102) by the tap body (100) from each hydraulic water supply line, wherein the axial thermally regulated cartridge (10) is configured to have shapes compatible with installation in the tap body (100), as well as connection openings to the housings for receiving the water guided by the tap body (100);
where the openings (31,41) of the second part (14), by moving together with the second part (14), are positioned according to an opening coincidence with the openings (30,40) of the first part (13) of the cartridge (10), their coincidence ratio being determined by the rotation of the axis (11); and
where the openings (31,41) of the second part (14) are at least elongated in the direction of rotation, to form an opening arc progressively coinciding with the openings (30,40) of the first part (13), as the second part (14) rotates. A thermally controlled cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the first (13) and second (14) parts are cylindrical and concentric, configured to allow relative radial movement therebetween without loss of sealing of the inlet openings into the mixing chamber of the cartridge. Thermally regulated cartridge according to claim 1 or 2, where the sealing of the openings (31,41) of the second part (14) allowing the entry of water into the mixing chamber (15) is ensured by seals (17) which follow the contour of these openings (31,41). A thermally regulated cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the openings (30, 40) of the first part (13) are elongated in the direction of rotation to form an opening arc. Thermally regulated cartridge according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first (13) and the second part (14) have two openings for each inlet corresponding to each hydraulic inlet line. Thermally regulated cartridge according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the openings (30,40) of the first part and the openings (31,41) of the second part (14) are configured so that, at at least one point of the rotation between the two parts (13, 14), when one of the openings (31) of the second part (14) coincides with the opening (30) of the first part (13), corresponding to the same water inlet (101) sealed relative to the other (102), the other opening (41) of the second part (14) does not coincide and thus prevents any entry of water through the opening (40) of the first part (13), so that at the moment of rotation of the second part (14) relative to the first (13), the areas of coincidence and therefore of entry of water into the mixing chamber (15) decrease and increase progressively with the angle of rotation. Water mixing tap comprising water inlets of hydraulic lines (101,102), guided by the tap body (100) to the water inlets of a thermally regulated mixing cartridge (10), where this communication with the inlets (30,40) of the cartridge (10) is carried out laterally by the creation of water evacuation housings in the corresponding sealed spaces, between the tap body (100) and the axial thermally regulated cartridge (10), characterized in that the tap comprises an axial thermally regulated mixing cartridge (10) as indicated in claims 1 to 6.