Patent ID: 6325089
Filing Date: 2001-12-04
Classification: G05D,Y10T

Abstract:
A pressure balancing water valve comprising a housing having a pair of inlet coupling devices mounted thereon, said inlet coupling devices being connected to sources of hot and cold pressurized water, said inlet coupling devices being in communication with a pair of ports formed in said housing at first and second predetermined locations in said housing,said housing having an outlet coupling device which is in communication with a mixing chamber formed in said housing,a rotatable cartridge mounted in said housing for rotation therein, said cartridge having a pair of inlet cartridge ports and a pair of outlet cartridge ports, said cartridge having a pair of pressure chambers formed therein on opposing sides of a pressure balancing diaphragm assembly,each of said inlet cartridge ports being selectively connectable to one of said inlet ports of said housing upon rotation of said cartridge within said housing to pressurize said cartridge chambers to an ""on"" position, andeach of said inlet cartridge ports being blocked from communication with each of said inlet ports in said housing upon rotation of said cartridge to an ""off"" position to depressurize said cartridge chamberswherein said cartridge is comprised of a pair of substantially identical half shells having a pair of suitable mating surfaces which sealingly engage a pressure diaphragm at is periphery to form a pair of cartridge chambers on opposing sides of said diaphragm in each shell, a pressure balancing valve assembly comprising the diaphragm, a tubular member, and a sliding sleeve mounted on said tubular member, said tubular member having cylindrical outer surface and having a pair of cylindraceous cavities formed in each end thereof, such that each cavity is in communication with a cartridge inlet port, each cavity having at least one opening at a predetermined location in each cavity passing from said cavity to said outer surface, said sliding sleeve mounted on said tubular member having an inner cylindraceous surface for mating with said tubular member, sealing means on said tubular member between the cavity openings to prevent water flow between said sleeve and said tubular member,said sliding sleeve having at least one pair of openings located in predetermined locations on said sleeve to cooperate with said openings in each cavity in said tubular member to provide a predetermined flow relationship into said chambers, in accordance with the pressures existing in each chamber, said diaphragm having a central aperture formed therein for receiving said sliding sleeve sealingly therein.