Abstract:
A thermostatic mixing valve (TMV) having a mixing chamber with a plurality of pockets defined therein. The mixing chamber receives cold water flow and hot water flow that has been passed through respective flow inlets and mechanically forced into the pockets defined within the chamber due to axial movement of the plunger. As the hot and cold flow moves into and out of the pockets, the flow streams disperse rather than being maintained in separate flow streams toward the thermostatic element. Because of the increased agitation, the thermostatic element is therefore able to sense a more accurate mixed flow temperature even at low flow rates.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to and is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/357,149 filed on Feb. 17, 2006, which published on Aug. 23, 2007 as U.S. Patent Publication No. 2007/0194137, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. This application also claims priority to and is a utility application of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/887,531 filed on Jan. 31, 2007, the contents of which are also incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The present disclosure generally relates to fluid control valves and, more particularly, to thermostatic mixing valves. Even more particularly, the present disclosure relates to a thermostatic mixing valve that is adapted to accommodate a wide range of flows yet does not allow excess flow to bypass a sensing chamber surrounding a thermostat element of the valve. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Thermostatic mixing valves (TMVs) are well established and serve to provide a fluid (e.g., water) supply at a desired temperature. TMVs, also referred to as temperature-activated mixing valves, have a temperature responsive thermostat element, or thermal motor, operatively coupled to a valve member controlling fluid flows through hot and cold inlet ports of the valve. The mixed fluids are caused to impinge upon the thermal motor, which in turn expands and contracts and controls the relative proportions of hot and cold fluids passing through the valve. Consequently, when there is an undesirable rise in the temperature of the mixed fluid the thermal motor expands to cause the valve member to reduce the hot flow via the hot inlet port and increase the cold flow via the cold inlet port. Expansion of the thermal motor, therefore, restores the fluid supply temperature condition to that desired, with a converse operation when there is contraction of the thermal motor due to a fall in the mixed fluid temperature. 
     Large bore TMVs for hot water distribution systems are used to supply hot water for multiple outlets or faucets, such as groups of showers, washbasins, or baths. Large bore TMVs, which are also referred to as master mixing valves, are different than smaller, point-of-use TMVs, in that the large bore TMVs must be capable of passing substantial amounts of properly mixed water when a number of outlets are being used simultaneously. The internal arrangement of the large bore TMV, therefore, is designed such that the high flow rate can be passed without an unduly high-pressure drop. Thus, as its name implies, a large bore TMV is provided with relatively large internal passages to avoid causing any restriction to the mixed water flow under the maximum demand. 
     There are, however, drawbacks with large bore TMVs, such as achieving sufficient mixing of hot and cold water across a range of flow rates. When there is a low demand for mixed water the velocity of the hot and cold-water streams passing through the large bore TMV drops and is insufficient to mix the two streams fully. The result is that the streams may become laminar and mixing of the hot and cold supplies does not take place. If this happens, then the water surrounding the thermal motor is not fully mixed and as a result the thermal motor may receive a false signal. 
     One known approach for supplying multiple outlets is to provide a small bore TMV in parallel with a large bore TMV in combination with a pressure reducing valve or some other throttling device on the outlet of the large bore TMV. Thus, when there is a low demand for mixed water the hot and cold streams only pass through the small bore TMV. This approach, however, requires extra hardware in the form of two TMVs and a throttling device and, is therefore, more expensive and requires additional installation steps and maintenance. In addition, temperature regulation is more complicated due to its dependence on the function of two individual TMV thermal motor characteristics. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,604,687 provides another approach and discloses a high flow rate TMV that provides more accurate control of the valve outlet temperature in a low flow rate environment. The valve utilizes a flow-directing element that restricts the flow of water through the valve at low pressures and directs the flow of water toward the thermal motor, such that low flow rates are accommodated. The flow-directing element encircles the thermal motor and is formed from a flexible material so that it expands under pressure of water flowing through the valve, such that high flow rates are accommodated. At no time, however, is excess flow directed so that that it bypasses a “sensing chamber” surrounding the thermal motor. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,820,816, in contrast, provides a TMV for operation across a range of flow rates, wherein excess flow is directed so that that it does bypasses the sensing chamber surrounding the thermal motor. During low flow rate, or normal, operation, check valves in the TMV remain closed so the only pathway mixed water can follow is through the sensing chamber to a discharge portion and out the mixed water outlet. During high flow rate operation the check valves open and allow the mixed water to bypass the sensing chamber and flow directly to the discharge portion and out through the mixed water outlet. 
     What is still desired is a new and improved thermostatic mixing valve. Preferably the thermostatic mixing valve will be adapted to accommodate a wide range of flows yet will not allow excess flow due to a high-flow rate to bypass a sensing chamber surrounding a thermal motor of the valve. 
     In addition, what is also desired is an improved thermostatic mixing valve that is adapted to accommodate low and high flow rates while maintaining accurate flow temperature outputs to the thermal motor. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The present disclosure provides a new and improved thermostatic mixing valve (TMV) adapted to accommodate a wide range of flows. According to one exemplary embodiment, the TMV includes a housing having first and second inlets and an outlet. First and second spaced-apart seats are received in the housing and define a mixing chamber between the first and the second inlets. The second seat separates the mixing chamber from a sensing chamber of the housing and includes a low-flow passageway and a high-flow passageway connecting the mixing chamber and the sensing chamber. The sensing chamber is separate from and connected to the outlet of the housing via outlet ports. 
     The TMV also includes a plunger movably received between the first and the second seats. The plunger and the first seat define a first valve opening controlling flow from the first inlet to the mixing chamber, and the plunger and the second seat define a second valve opening controlling flow from the second inlet to the mixing chamber. A thermal motor is located within the sensing chamber such that expansion of the thermal motor causes movement of the plunger towards the first seat, such that the first valve opening is closed and the second valve opening is opened. 
     The TMV also includes a check valve received in the high-flow passageway of the second seat. The check valve is adapted to open and allow additional flow from the mixing chamber to the sensing chamber upon fluid flow through the TMV rising to at least a predetermined high flow rate. The additional flow does not bypass the sensing chamber. 
     Among other aspects and advantages, the new and improved TMV of the present disclosure accommodates high-flow conditions as well as low-flow conditions. Yet the TMV of the present disclosure does not allow excess flow to bypass the sensing chamber containing the thermal motor. Even at high flow rates, therefore, the TMV accurately mixes fluid. 
     According to one aspect, the TMV further includes a cylindrical cartridge received within the housing. The first and the second seats, the plunger, and the thermal motor are coaxially mounted within the cartridge, and the mixing chamber and the sensing chamber are contained within and partially defined by the cartridge. The cartridge defines the outlet ports connecting the sensing chamber to the outlets of the housing, and further defines first inlet ports connecting the first inlet of the housing to the first valve opening and second inlet ports connecting the second inlet of the housing to the second valve opening. The cartridge allows easier assembly and disassembly of the TMV. In addition, the cartridge prevents the movable plunger from contacting the housing, and allows the more expensive housing to last longer while the less expensive plunger and valve seats are easily disassembled and replaced when worn. 
     According to an additional aspect, the housing of the TMV includes an upper portion defining the outlet secured to a lower portion defining the first and the second inlets, and the upper portion can be rotated about an axis of the housing with respect to the lower portion. This rotation feature is very helpful during installation of the TMV and allows the outlet to be oriented between 0° and 360° with respect to the inlets. 
     According to yet another embodiment of a TMV of the present invention, a TMV for relatively larger valve size, low flow-rate applications is provided having a housing with first and second inlets for receiving hot and cold flow, respectively, and an outlet for outputting a mixed flow. A plunger is further defined within the housing and received within a mixing chamber. The plunger allows fluid communication between the first and second inlets. The mixing chamber has a plurality of pockets for agitating and mixing the hot and cold flow received from the first and second inlets. A mixed flow is then output from the mixing chamber to a thermostat. The thermostat is located within the housing and extends to the plunger. Once a mixed flow temperature is determined, a thermostatic element controls the movement of the plunger in response to the mixed flow temperature. 
     If a colder temperature is desired, the plunger is lowered between the first and second seats and, thereby, more cold flow is allowed in by the second inlet and less hot flow from the first inlet. The temperature-adjusted fluid is then brought to the mixing chamber. Alternatively, if a warmer temperature is desired, the plunger is lowered between the first and second seats; more hot flow is allowed in by the first inlet and less cold flow from the second inlet and subsequently brought to the mixing chamber. The cycle continues until the thermostatic element reads a desired temperature, at which time the mixed flow is output to the outlet. 
     The pockets of the mixing chamber are designed to provide a more accurate mixing. These pockets may be substantially identical. In one embodiment, the pockets are formed adjacent to each other about the longitudinal axis of the housing. In yet another embodiment, the plurality of pockets form an annular passage having radial partitions. The pockets are further positioned concentrically about the plunger so that when the plunger moves from a proximal to a distal direction, hot and cold flow is brought into the mixing chamber. 
     A sensing chamber may also be formed in the low flow-rate TMV of the present invention. The sensing chamber receives the mixed flow stream from the mixing chamber. It is positioned between the mixing chamber and the outlet within the housing. A thermal motor is also at least partially within the sensing chamber and controls movement of the plunger. The thermal motor is responsive to a temperature of the mixed flow stream. As a result of the subject technology, the TMV may have an outlet temperature set as desired such as from 90° to 160° F. If the cold water temperature is under 90°, or the hot water temperature is over 160°, the TMV combines the flows to create an outlet flow that is mixed water of the desired temperature. 
     Additional aspects and advantages of the present disclosure will become readily apparent to those skilled in this art from the following detailed description, wherein only an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is shown and described, simply by way of illustration of the best mode contemplated for carrying out the present disclosure. As will be realized, the present disclosure is capable of other and different embodiments, and its several details are capable of modifications in various obvious respects, all without departing from the disclosure. Accordingly, the drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       Reference is made to the attached drawings, wherein elements having the same reference character designations represent like elements throughout, and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a thermostatic mixing valve (TMV) constructed in accordance with the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a side elevation view of the TMV of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a side elevation view of the TMV of  FIG. 1  shown rotated 90° from the position shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the TMV of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged sectional view of the TMV of  FIG. 1  taken along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is an enlarged sectional view, in perspective, of the TMV of  FIG. 1  taken along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 7A  is a further enlarged sectional view of the TMV of  FIG. 1  contained within circle  7  of  FIG. 5 , wherein low-flow conditions are illustrated; 
         FIG. 7B  is a further enlarged sectional view of the TMV of  FIG. 1  contained within circle  7  of  FIG. 5 , wherein high-flow conditions are illustrated; 
         FIG. 8  is an exploded side elevation view of the TMV of  FIG. 1  shown rotated 180° from the position shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 9  is an exploded sectional view of the TMV of  FIG. 1  taken along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 10  is an exploded top perspective exploded view of the TMV of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a top perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of a TMV constructed in accordance with the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 12  is an enlarged sectional view of the TMV of  FIG. 11  to illustrate the mixing chamber with a plurality of agitating pockets; 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective sectional view of the TMV of  FIG. 1  shown rotated 90° from the position shown in  FIG. 11 ; 
         FIG. 14A  is a sectional view of the TMV of  FIG. 11  to illustrate the plunger positioned to allow only cold water to flow into the mixing chamber; 
         FIG. 14B  is a detailed view to illustrate the position of the plunger in circle B of  FIG. 14A . 
         FIG. 15A  is a sectional view of the TMV of  FIG. 11  to illustrate the plunger positioned to allow only hot water to flow into the mixing chamber; 
         FIG. 15B  is a detailed view to illustrate the position of the plunger in circle B of  FIG. 15A . 
         FIG. 16A  is a sectional view of the TMV of  FIG. 11  to illustrate the plunger positioned to allow hot and cold water to flow into the mixing chamber; 
         FIG. 16B  is a detailed view to illustrate the position of the plunger in circle B of  FIG. 16A . 
         FIG. 17  is a perspective view of a mixing chamber portion, namely a plunger and funnel for the housing of the TMV according to  FIG. 11 ; 
         FIG. 18  is a sectional view of the mixing chamber portion of  FIG. 17 ; 
         FIG. 19  is a top or distal perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of a TMV constructed in accordance with the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 20  is an enlarged sectional view of the TMV of  FIG. 19  to illustrate the mixing chamber with a plurality of agitating pockets. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to the figures, an exemplary embodiment of a new and improved thermostatic mixing valve (TMV)  10  according to the present disclosure is shown. Among other benefits, the new and improved TMV  10  of the present disclosure accommodates high-flow conditions as well as low-flow conditions. Yet the TMV  10  of the present disclosure does not allow excess flow to bypass a sensing chamber  12  containing a thermostatic element  14  of the valve. Even at high flow rates, therefore, the TMV  10  accurately mixes hot and cold fluid. All relative descriptions herein such as upper, lower, left, right, up, and down are with reference to the Figures, and not meant in a limiting sense. 
     The new and improved TMV  10  also includes a cartridge  68  that simplifies assembly of the TMV and the replacement of parts within the TMV. In addition, the new and improved TMV  10  includes a housing  16  having an upper portion  80  secured to a lower portion  82  by the cartridge  68 . The upper portion  80  of the housing  16  can be rotated about axis A with respect to the lower portion  82  in order to allow an outlet  22  of the upper portion to be oriented between 0° and 360° with respect to inlets  18 ,  20  of the lower portion  82  during installation of the TMV  10 . The rotation feature is provided to ease connecting conduits to the TMV  10  during installation of the TMV (e.g., an inlet pipe connected to the TMV does not have to be aligned with an outlet pipe connected to the TMV). 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-6 , the first inlet  18  of the TMV  10  is for receiving a first fluid and the second inlet  20  is for receiving a second fluid, and the outlet  22  is for discharging a mixture of the first and the second fluids. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the first inlet  18  is designed to receive hot water, the second inlet  20  is designed to receive cold water, and tempered water is discharged from the outlet  22 . 
     First and second spaced-apart seats  24 ,  26  are received in the housing  16  and define a mixing chamber  28  between the first and the second inlets  18 ,  20 . The second seat  26  separates the mixing chamber  28  from the sensing chamber  12  of the housing  16  and includes a low-flow passageway  30  and a high-flow passageway  32  connecting the mixing chamber  28  and the sensing chamber  12 . The sensing chamber  12  is connected to the outlet  22  of the housing  16  via outlet ports  34 . 
     The TMV  10  also includes a plunger  36  received in the mixing chamber  28  that is movably between the first and the second seats  24 ,  26 . The plunger  36  and the first seat  24  define a first valve opening  38  that controls flow from the first inlet  18  to the mixing chamber  28 , and the plunger  36  and the second seat  26  define a second valve opening  40  that controls flow from the second inlet  20  to the mixing chamber  28 . A spring  42  biases the plunger  36  away from the first seat  24  to open the first valve opening  38  and close the second valve  40  opening (i.e., more hot water and less cold water). 
     The thermostat element, or thermal motor  14 , is at least partially located within the sensing chamber  12  and extends to the plunger  36 . The thermal motor  14  includes a temperature responsive (expandable) piston  44  that extends from a cylinder  46  connected by a flange  48  to a casing  50 . In general, the casing  50  contains a thermally expandable wax material, which pushes against the piston  44  to increase the overall length of the thermal motor  14  as a temperature of the wax increases. Expansion of the thermal motor  14 , therefore, causes movement of the plunger  36  against the spring  42  and towards the first seat  24 , such that the first valve opening  38  is closed and the second valve opening  40  is opened (i.e., less hot water and more cold water). The thermal motor  14  controls the temperature of the mixed fluid. 
     The TMV  10  also includes a check valve  52  received in the high-flow passageway  32  of the second seat  26 . The check valve  52  is adapted to open and allow additional flow from the mixing chamber  28  to the sensing chamber  12  upon fluid flow through the TMV  10  rising to at least a predetermined high flow rate. The check valve  52  opens in response to a predetermined increase in pressure drop between the mixing chamber  28  and the sensing chamber  12 . At all times, however, the excess flow passing through the open check valve  52  is directed through the sensing chamber  12  containing the thermal motor  14  of the TMV  10 . None of the mixed fluid is allowed to bypass the sensing chamber  12 . 
     The check valve  52  can be of any type sensitive to pressure. The check valve  52  may be spring-loaded and open completely once a certain pressure has been reached, or can be a valve of a type that opens gradually in response to a rise in pressure. If more than one check valve  52  is used, it is also possible to configure the valves to be responsive to different pressure values such that they react in sequence to changes in pressure. Thus as the pressure increases, more valves open, and as the pressure decreases the valves close again. The check valve(s) may be of any configuration or number to allow the desired fluid pressure dependent bypass of fluid necessary to allow the proper functioning of the TMV  10 . 
     In the exemplary embodiment shown, the low-flow passageway  30  is centrally located in the second seat  26 , and the second seat  26  includes a plurality of the high-flow passageways  32  arrayed around the low-flow passageway  30 . Each high-flow passageway  32  contains one of the check valves  52 . The arrayed high-flow passageways  32  of the second seat  26  are shown best in  FIG. 10  of the drawings. Each of the check valves comprises a spring-loaded check valve  52  that opens completely once the predetermined high rate of flow has been reached, and then closes completely once the flow drops. 
       FIG. 7A  illustrates low-flow conditions within the TMV  10 , while  FIG. 7B  illustrates high-flow conditions. As shown, during low-flow conditions fluid is only allowed to pass through the low-flow passageway  30  of the second seat  26 , while during high-flow conditions fluid is also allowed to flow through the high-flow passageways  32 . As shown in  FIGS. 7A and 7B , the TMV  10  also includes a flow-directing element  54  extending from the second seat  26  that directs fluid flow from the high-flow passageways  32  towards the thermal motor  14 . In one exemplary embodiment the flow-directing element  54  is rigid. Alternatively, the flow-directing element  54  can be flexible. 
     In the exemplary embodiment shown, the plunger  36  includes a socket  56  extending through the low-flow passageway  30  of the second seat  26 . The socket  56  has openings for allowing flow through the low-flow passageway  30 , and the thermal motor  14  is received in the socket  56 . The casing  50  of the thermal motor  14  is partially received in the socket  56  of the plunger  36 , and at least a portion of the casing  50  of the thermal motor  14  is received in the sensing chamber  12 . The socket  56  is shown in  FIGS. 5-10  of the drawings. 
     In the exemplary embodiment shown, the second seat  26  includes a funnel  58  on an underside thereof for directing fluid from the mixing chamber  28  to the low-flow passageway  30 . The plunger  36  includes coaxial inner and outer tubes  60 ,  62  connected by a lateral wall  64 . Fins  67  are provided between the inner and outer tubes  60 ,  62 , and the lateral wall  64  includes apertures  66  for allowing the mixture of fluid flow from the first and the second valve openings  38 ,  40 . A bottom edge of the outer tube  62  forms the first valve opening  38  in combination with the first seat  24 , and a top edge of the outer tube  62  forms the second valve opening  40  in combination with the second seat  26 . 
     According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the TMV  10  further includes the cartridge  68  received within the housing  16 . The cartridge  68  is shown in  FIGS. 5 ,  6 , and  8 - 10  of the drawings. The first and the second seats  24 ,  26 , the plunger  36 , and the thermal motor  14  are coaxially mounted within the cartridge  68 , which is generally cylindrical, and the mixing chamber  28  and the sensing chamber  12  are contained within and partially defined by the cartridge  68 . 
     The cartridge  68  defines the outlet ports  34  connecting the sensing chamber  12  to the outlets  22  of the housing  16 , and further defines first inlet ports  70  connecting the first valve opening  38  to the first inlet  18  of the housing  16  and second inlet ports  72  connecting the second valve opening  40  to the second inlet  20  of the housing  16 . Screw threads secure the cartridge  68  within the housing  16 , and secure the first and the second seats  24 ,  26  within the cartridge  68 . The cartridge  68  allows easier assembly and disassembly of the TMV  10 . In addition, the cartridge  68  prevents the movable plunger  36  from contacting the housing  16 , and allows the more expensive housing  16  to last longer while the less expensive plunger  36  and valve seats  24 ,  26  are easily disassembled and replaced when worn. 
     It should be understood, however, that a TMV including a cartridge and a TMV including high-flow passageways and check valves are separate and independent inventions, which may be combined in a single TMV as shown in the exemplary embodiment of the drawings. Alternatively, a TMV constructed in accordance with the present disclosure can include the high-flow passageways and the check valves, but not include the cartridge. 
     In the exemplary embodiment shown, the housing  16  further comprises an annular first inlet chamber  74  connected to the first inlet  18  and surrounding the first inlet ports  70  of the cartridge  68 , an annular second inlet chamber  76  connected to the second inlet  20  and surrounding the second inlet ports  72  of the cartridge  68 , and an annular outlet chamber  78  connected to the outlet  22  and surrounding the outlet ports  34  of the cartridge  68 . These chambers are shown in  FIGS. 5 ,  6 , and  9  of the drawings. 
     According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the housing  16  includes the upper portion  80  secured to the lower portion  82  by the cartridge  68 . As illustrated by rotation arrows in  FIGS. 1 ,  4 , and  6 , the TMV  10  is adapted such that the upper portion  80  of the housing  16  can be rotated with respect to the lower portion  82 . This rotation feature is very helpful during installation of the TMV  10  and allows the outlet  18  to be oriented between 0 and 360° with respect to the first inlet  18  or the second inlet  20 . In the exemplary embodiment shown, the first inlet  18 , the second inlet  20 , and the outlet  18  all extend radially outwardly from a central axis A of the TMV  10 . 
     In the exemplary embodiment shown, the cartridge  68  is secured to the lower portion  82  by the screw threads, and in-turn includes a lip  120  that holds the upper portion  80  against the lower portion  82 . The upper portion  80  includes a female extension  122  that is received over a male extension  124  of the lower portion  82 . The lip  120  of the cartridge  68 , the female extension  122  of the upper portion  80 , and the male extension  124  of the lower portion  82  are provided with smooth surfaces such that the upper portion  80  can be rotated on the lower portion  82  and the cartridge  68 . In an alternative embodiment, the upper portion  80  can be provided with a male extension and the lower portion  82  can be provided with a female extension. 
     The TMV  10  also includes an adjustable motor positioning assembly including a setscrew  90 , a case  92 , a spring  94 , a cap  96 , and a retainer ring  98 . The TMV  10  further includes numerous o-rings  100  providing fluid-tight seals between the assembled parts of the TMV. In the exemplary embodiment shown, a label  110  is secured to an exposed top of the cartridge  68  with screws or by other means. 
     Referring to now  FIG. 11 , an exemplary embodiment of another TMV is shown in perspective view and referred to generally by the reference numeral  200 . The TMV  200  is particularly advantageous for relatively larger valve size, low flow rate applications because the TMV  200  provides increased mixing of hot and cold flows. The increased mixing improves the performance of the TMV  200 . As will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the pertinent art, the TMV  200  utilizes similar principles to the TMV  10  described above. Accordingly, like reference numerals preceded by the numeral “2” are used to indicate like elements when possible. The primary differences of the TMV  200  in comparison to the TMV  10  are the structure of the plunger and funnel to create a plurality of agitating pockets, and the omission of check valves. The following description is directed largely to these differences. 
     The TMV  200  includes a housing  216 , which has an elongated structure. The housing  216  has a longitudinal axis A with a “proximal” portion  282  and a “distal” portion  280 . The housing  216  defines a cold inlet  220  and an opposing hot inlet  218 , both being located towards the proximal portion  282  of the housing  216 . The inlets  218 ,  220  receive a hot and cold fluid, respectively, in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis A. An outlet  222  is also formed near the distal portion  280  of the housing  216 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 12 and 13 , sectional view of the TMV are shown. The TMV  200  includes a mixing chamber  228  within the housing  216 . The mixing chamber  228  is in fluid communication with the cold inlet  220 , the hot inlet  218  and the outlet  222 . The mixing chamber  228  includes a plurality of agitating pockets  283  formed in the funnel  258 . The pockets  283  create turbulence to agitate and mix the cold and hot flows within the mixing chamber received from the respective inlets  218 ,  220  as described further below. 
     The plunger  236  interacts with the first or hot seat  224  and the second or cold  226  seat also provided within the housing  216 . Driven by the thermostatic element  214 , the plunger  236  moves along the longitudinal axis A between the first seat  224  and the second seat  226 . The relationship between the plunger  236  and the seats  224 ,  226  determines the influx of hot and cold flow. Specifically, the plunger  236  and the first seat  224  control an amount of hot flow from the first inlet  218  to the mixing chamber  228 , while the plunger  236  and the second seat  226  control an amount of cold flow from the second inlet  220  to the mixing chamber  228 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 14A-16B , the TMV  200  is shown with the plunger positioned in various positions. The flow paths across the seats  224 ,  226  are noted by flow arrows “a”.  FIGS. 14A and 14B , show the TMV  200  positioned to allow only cold water to flow into the mixing chamber  228  as would be desirable under certain conditions.  FIGS. 15A and 15B , show the TMV  200  positioned to allow only hot water to flow into the mixing chamber  228  as would be desirable under certain conditions. 
     Referring specifically to  FIGS. 16A and 16B , the TMV  200  is shown positioned to allow both hot and cold water to flow into the mixing chamber  228  for mixing, e.g., the mixing position, as would be desirable under certain conditions. Referring again to  FIGS. 12 and 13 , in the mixing position, the hot water path is generally shown with flow arrows “h” and the cold water path is generally shown with flow arrows “c”. After mixing, the mixed water path is shown generally with flow arrows “m”. 
     A spring  242  normally biases the plunger  236  away from the first seat  224 , for example, to allow fluid to flow in from the hot inlet  218  and close off cold flow from the cold inlet  220  (i.e., more hot water and less cold water). If a colder flow temperature is needed, a thermostatic element  214  attached to the plunger  236  overcomes the spring bias to move the plunger  236  away from the second seat  226  (i.e., more cold water and less hot water). The thermostatic element  214  is at least partially located in the sensing chamber  212 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 17 and 18 , the plunger  236  includes coaxial inner and outer tubes  260 ,  262  connected by a lateral wall  264 . Radial fins  267  are provided between the inner and outer tubes  260 ,  262 . A bottom edge  263  of the outer tube  262  forms the hot valve opening in combination with the first seat  224 , and a top edge  265  of the outer tube  262  forms the cold valve opening in combination with the second seat  226 . The lateral wall  264  of the plunger  236  has a plurality of passages  266  to allow the hot flow to enter the mixing chamber  228  as shown by arrows “h”. 
     After passing by the plunger  236  and seats  224 ,  226 , the water enters the mixing chamber  228 . The mixing chamber  228  is partially defined by the funnel  258 . The funnel  258  serves to mix the cold and hot flows and direct the resulting mixed flow into the sensing chamber  212 , shown by the dotted line in  FIG. 12 , via inner and outer annular passages  259   a ,  259   b . A distal portion  269  of the plunger  236  is received within the inner annular passage  259   a.    
     The passages  259   a ,  259   b  are defined by two coaxial central tubes  284   a ,  284   b . The central tubes  284   a ,  284   b  are connected to each other by radial partitions  285  and, in turn, the intermediate central tube  284   b  is connected to an outer tube  284   c  of the funnel  258  by additional radial partitions  288 . As best seen in  FIG. 18 , the axial length of funnel tubes  284   a - c  becomes progressively shorter in the axially inward direction so that the proximal portion of the funnel  258  defines a narrowing trapezoidal or funnel-shaped space  286 . The distal portion  269  of the plunger  236  has a complimentary configuration that nestles within the trapezoidal space  286 . As fluid flows generally into the pockets  283  and radially inwardly in the funnel  258 , the trapezoidal space  286  facilitates efficient flow and mixing. 
     The outer tube  284   c  and the intermediate tube  284   b  of the funnel  258  are also at least partially connected by a lateral wall  287 . The outer tube  284   c , the intermediate tube  284   b  and the lateral wall  287  of the funnel  258  define a plurality of pockets  283  specifically designed to address the issue of mixing of hot and cold flows. In the illustrated embodiment, each of the pockets  283  are substantially identical, however, the size and shape of the pockets may differ. As shown in  FIGS. 17 and 18 , each of the plurality of pockets  283  are adjacent to each other and form a overall ring or annular shape with the radial partitions  288  roughly intermediate the apertures  266  of the plunger  236  so that each pocket  283  axially aligns with an aperture  266 . The relative location, spacing, number and shape of the radial partitions may vary. Indeed, the partitions may be minimized so that the pockets  283  are actually a single annular mixing trough. Alternatively, the configuration of the lateral wall  287  and the tubes  284   a - c  could vary different shapes and include additional protrusions, annular flanges and the like to enhance mixing and flow. 
     The sectional views of  FIGS. 12 and 13  depict the orientation of the pockets  283  about the longitudinal axis A of the housing  216  in this embodiment. As the plunger  236  moves distally to the mixing position seen in  FIGS. 16   a  and  16   b , the pockets  283  become positioned concentrically about the plunger  236 . As hot and cold flows are received within the pockets  283  of the mixing chamber  228 , the pockets  283  receive and mix the hot and cold flows, combining the flow streams to pass outward. Then, the flow is split into the annular passages  259   a ,  259   b . As the mixed flow exits the annular passages  259   a ,  259   b , the mixed flow is output to the sensing chamber  212 . By virtue of the flow being well mixed, the thermostatic element  214  in the sensing chamber  212  operates more accurately. Eventually the mixed flow passes to the outlet  222  for consumption. 
     Referring to now  FIGS. 19 and 20 , an exemplary embodiment of still another TMV is shown in perspective and sectional views and referred to generally by the reference numeral  300 . The TMV  300  is particularly advantageous for a relatively larger bore valve because the TMV  300  also provides increased mixing of hot and cold flows. As will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the pertinent art, the TMV  300  utilizes similar principles to the TMVs  10 ,  200  described above. Accordingly, like reference numerals preceded by the numeral “3” are used to indicate like elements when possible. The primary difference of the TMV  300  in comparison to the TMVs  10 ,  200  is the simplified structure of the housing  316 . 
     By having a simplified one casting housing  316 , the TMV  300  is relatively easier and cheaper to manufacture that the TMV  200 . Despite the outlet  322  being oriented in a single direction as a disadvantage, many applications are well-suited to more cost effective designs. 
     The present disclosure, therefore, provides a new and improved thermostatic (master) mixing valve. It should be understood, however, that the exemplary embodiment described in this specification has been presented by way of illustration rather than limitation, and various modifications, combinations and substitutions may be effected by those skilled in the art without departure either in spirit or scope from this disclosure in its broader aspects and as set forth in the appended claims. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims. In addition, the mixing valve disclosed herein, and all elements thereof, are contained within the scope of at least one of the following claims. No elements of the presently disclosed thermostatic mixing valve are meant to be disclaimed.