Patent ID: 8118057
Filing Date: 2012-02-21
Classification: F16K,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A mixing valve comprising: a housing including an outlet port, a cold water supply port, and a hot water supply port; a cap supported by the housing and including a plurality of splines; a valve plate including a first control opening in selective fluid communication with the cold water supply port, and a second control opening in selective fluid communication with the hot water supply port, the valve plate being supported for rotation relative to the cap; a stem operably coupled to the valve plate, wherein rotation of the stem causes rotation of the valve plate and simultaneous movement of the first control opening and the second control opening to determine the amount of fluid communication with the cold water supply port and the hot water supply port for controlling the flow rate and the temperature of water provided to the outlet port; a stop surface supported by the stem; a stop member including a plurality of splines configured to selectively engage the plurality of splines of the cap, a hot water stop shoulder engagable with the stop surface of the stem to limit rotational movement of the valve plate, and an engagement surface extending substantially perpendicular to the stem; a handle including a retaining surface, the handle operably coupled to the stem such that the retaining surface is engagable with the engagement surface of the stop member to restrict axial movement thereof; a retainer coupled to the cap and configured to cooperate with the stop member to limit axial movement of the stop member relative to the cap in the absence of the handle, while permitting selective rotational movement of the stop member relative to the cap; and wherein the stop member has a set mode of operation where the splines of the stop member engage with the splines of the cap, and an adjustment mode of operation where the stop member is axially displaced outwardly away from the cap such that the splines of the stop member are disengaged from the splines of the cap while the retainer retains the stop member to the cap.