A MIXER TAP

Abstract: A mixer tap for mixing two flowing media, e.g. hot water/cold water or water/steam, comprising an elongated housing (1) with two inlets (2, 3), one at each end portion of the housing and on the same side of the latter, and an outlet (4), which is provided opposite to inlet (2) on the opposite side of housing (1). A deflector means (5) in housing (1) is placed between one inlet (2) and the opposite outlet (4) to deflect the direction of the incoming medium into the longitudinal direction of housing (1) towards the second inlet (3) for admixture with the medium admitted through said inlet (3) in a counterflow. The resulting mixed medium is discharged through outlet (4). The deflector means (5) consists of a pipe (7) with a closed end (7c) and is provided with a plurality of ejector ports (7d).

Description: A mixer tap . The present invention relates to a mixer tap for mixing two flowing media, e.g. hot water/cold water or water/steam, of the kind as stated in the preamble of the following inde¬ pendent claim 1. A large number of different mixer taps is known and used for mixing, e.g. hot and cold water or water and steam and for mixing a plurality of other media in chemical industry and food processing industry. It is an object of the present invention to provide such a mixer tap, which is very simple and sturdy and shows good mixing capability as well as being inexpensive in production. This is achieved by the fact that in a mixer tap of the above mentioned kind a deflector means is provided to make the mixing operation more efficient, which means shows the characterizing features stated in the characterizing part of the following independent claim as well as of the following dependent claims. With a mixer tap which is designed as stated in the following claims, good mixing of media is achieved by the aid of very simple means in the shape of a deflector means which guides a flowing medium from an inlet at the first end portion of the housing across and into a flowing medium, which flows into the mixer tap housing from an inlet, which is provided in the second end portion of the housing, causing both media to mix before they are discharged through an outlet in the first end portion of the housing to the place of usage. The mixer tap is suitable for mixing cold water and hot water, and it is especially suitable for mixing cold water with steam so as to achieve a desired temperature of the discharged medium. The mixer tap according to the invention will be disclosed in more detail below with reference to an embodiment of the mixer tap shown in the drawing. Figures 1 and 2 show a known mixer tap with fastening brackets, as seen in cross section from one side, and in a top view; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the known deflector means of the mixer tap in the shape of an arched guide board; Figure 4 is a sectional view of the mixer tap according to the invention as seen from one side and with a deflector means in the shape of a pipe with exhaust ports; Figure 5 is a top view of the mixer tap with steam injector pipe shown in dashed lines; and Figures 6a, 6b show the steam injector pipe in an elevational view, and from below, respec¬ tively, relative to the orientation of the mixer tap in the above mentioned Figures. Figures 1 and 2 show a known mixer tap which comprises an elongated housing 1 in the shape of a parallelepiped and with a width B which in the shown embodiment approximately corresponds to twice the depth D of housing 1. Housing 1 is provided with fastening brackets la, lb at its ends for mounting on a support. In one of its elongated sides housing 1 is provided with two inlets 2, 3, one at each end portion of the housing, and an outlet 4 is provided opposite to one inlet 2 on the facing side of housing 1. The inlets and outlets are shown in the shape of connecting sleeves which are arranged normal to the longitudinal direction of housing 1 in its longitudinal sides. A deflector means 5 is provided inside housing 1 and is placed between inlet 2 and outlet 4 opposite to inlet 2 in order to deflect the direction of the medium flowing into inlet 2 into the longitudinal direction of housing 1, towards the other inlet 3 for admixture with medium flowing in from inlet 3 in a counterflow. The resulting mixed medium is then discharged through outlet 4. The deflector means 5 in the known embodiment of the mixer tap shown in Figures 1 and 2 consists of a guide board 6 extending across housing 1 from one wall to the other, and forming an arch 6a from one side 2a of inlet 2 down towards the longitudinal axis A of housing 1. The arch 6a of the guide board is here transformed into a straight portion 6b ending at a distance from the central portion of the housing. In Figure 1 said straight portion forms an acute angle with the longitudinal axis A of the housing and is inclined away from inlet 2. By varying the arch of the guide board as well as the length and direction of its straight portion 6b in practical experiments it is possible to achieve various guide boards which are suitable for mixing various media of different consistency. Figure 3 shows the guide board of Figure 1 in a perspective view. Figure 4 shows the mixer tap according to the invention, the mixing means of which consists of a pipe 7 - a steam injector pipe - with a closed end 7c. Pipe 7 is arched 7a from inlet 2 in the direction of the second inlet 3, and it is provided with a number of ejector ports 7d. As shown in Figure 4, arch 7a of pipe 7 is transformed into a straight pipe portion 7b, which extends in the longitudinal direction of housing 1, and in which ejector ports 7d are provided. Pipe portion 7b is parallel with the longitudinal axis A of housing 1 and is in the shown embodiment arranged in the longitudinal half of housing 1 which is closest to inlets 2 and 3. Ejector ports 7d are arranged in a row 8 along pipe portion 7b on the side of the latter facing the other longitudinal half of housing 1 with outlet 4. As shown in Figure 6, pipe portion 7b is provided with a central row 8 of ejector ports 7d as well as adjacent rows 8' of ejector ports 7d. The central row 8 is longer than both adjacent rows 8'. When steam flows in through inlet 2 and water through inlet 3, water will fill housing 1 at the same time as steam flows through pipe 7 and out of ejector ports 7d into the surroun¬ ding water to form a good mixture. Then the mixture of water and steam is discharged through outlet 4. Due to the three parallel rows 8, 8', and 8' of ejector ports 7d for steam, steam will flow out of said ports in a desired length of housing 1 and the jet will diverge across housing 1 for enhanced admixture with water. The mixing tap is mounted on a wall or another support by the aid of fastening brackets la, lb and is connected with supply pipes for media at connecting sleeves in inlets 2 and 3 as well as with a discharge pipe at outlet 4. At inlets 2 and 3 or in their supply pipes taps may be provided in a manner known per se for opening and closing supply of media. Said taps may be interlocked, e.g. to prevent unintentional opening of steam supply without simultaneous supply of water to the mixer tap. As known per se, this will prevent injuries due to scalding by ejected steam from outlet 4 or a pipe which is connected with the latter.

Claims: PATENT CLAIMS: 1. A mixer tap for mixing flowing media, e.g. hot water/cold water or water/steam, comprising an elongated housing (1) with two inlets (2, 3), one at each end portion of the housing and on the same side of the latter, and an outlet (4) provided opposite to inlet (2) on the opposite side of housing (1), which inlets (2, 3) and outlet (4), preferably in the shape of connecting sleeves, are provided normal to the longitudinal direction of housing (1), and where a deflector means (5) in housing (1) is placed between inlet (2) and opposite outlet (4) for deflection of the direction of the admitted medium into the longitudinal direction of housing (1) towards the second inlet (3) for admixture with the admitted medium from said inlet (3) before the resulting mixed medium flows out of outlet (4), c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that deflector means consists of a pipe (7) which has a closed end (7c) and extends forming an arch (7a) from inlet (2) in the direction of second inlet (3), as well as being provided with a number of ejector ports (7d) in the wall of pipe (7) which ports are arranged in a row in the longitudinal direction of pipe (7). 2. A mixer tap according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that arch (7a) of pipe (7) is transformed into a straight pipe portion (7b) which extends in the longitudinal direction of housing (1) and in which the ejector ports (7d) are provided. 3. A mixer tap according to claim 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that straight pipe portion (7b) extends in parallel with the longitudinal axis (A) of housing (1). 4. A mixer tap according to claim 3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that straight pipe portion (7b) is provided in the longitudinal half of housing (1) which is closest to inlets (2, 3) and is provided with at least one row (8) of ejector ports (7d) facing the other longitudinal half of housing (1). 5. A mixer tap according to claim 4, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that on both sides of said row (8) and spaced from the same a row (8') of ejector ports (7d) is provided. 6. A mixer tap according to claim 5, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the central row (8) is longer than adjacent rows (8').

Inventors: KNUTSEN JAN ERIK, NIELSEN TERJE, KNUTSEN, JAN, ERIK, NIELSEN, TERJE
Applicants: KNUTSEN JAN ERIK, NIELSEN TERJE, TERJAN AS, A/S TERJAN, KNUTSEN, JAN, ERIK, NIELSEN, TERJE
Application year: 1991
Main classification: F16K27
IPC codes: B01F3