Abstract:
A mixed water control valve having a body and a spindle is disclosed. The body has two inlet pipes and two outlet pipes which are longitudinally corresponding to the two inlet pipes. The two inlet pipes are branched into a upper inlet pipe and a lower inlet pipe which are disposed in different height positions. The spindle is rotatably assembled in the body. The spindle has an upper and a lower inlets corresponding to the height of the upper and the lower inlet pipe and. The spindle also has an upper outlet and a lower outlet respectively corresponding to the two outlet pipe. Thereby, the spindle is detachable and convenient to repair and replace and the spindle is also capable of changing mounting directions to change the flowing directions of water and then to match the different arrangements of the inlet pipes of cold and hot water.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to a feed valve, and more particularly to a mixed water control valve capable of repairing easily and adapting to different arrangements of cold water pipe and hot water pipe. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Recently, the faucet for mixing water with different temperatures in the market is using two ceramic valves to control and mix water. The features of the ceramic valve are high hardness and good wear resistance, so the faucet using the ceramic valve generally has long life time. 
     However, the faucet using the ceramic valve has the problem of dust and rust deposit getting into between the two ceramic valves to make the two ceramic valves be blocked and unable to operate. Once the problem happens, it is not able to be repaired and the faucet is not able to continue using. A new faucet is needed to replace the old one. It is inconvenient for a user. 
     Therefore, the most important objective of this invention is how to design a faucet with mixed water control valve which is easy repair and use. 
     Next, for the convenience to arrange the pipes of some buildings, two sides of the partitions are designed to a room for providing water, such as a bathroom. Please refer to  FIG. 12 , which shows a top and sectional view of a part of a building. There is a piping space  83  between two partitions  81 ,  82 . A hot water pipe  84  and a cold water pipe  85  are longitudinally extending in the piping space  83 . Two sides of the partitions  81 ,  82  are respectively arranged a room for providing water (such as bathroom)  86 ,  87 . The hot water pipe  84  and the cold water pipe  85  are respectively extending hot water branch pipes  841 ,  842  and cold water branch pipes  851 ,  852  toward two rooms for providing water  86 ,  87 . These two rooms for providing water  86 ,  87  are capable of sharing one set of the hot water pipe  84  and the cold water pipe  85 . 
     However, the recent faucets have manufactured in normal standards, that is the left side of the faucet is the inlet pipe of hot water and the right side of the faucet is the inlet pipe of cold water which is adapting to the room for providing water  87  shown as  FIG. 12  but not adapting to the room for providing water  86  due to the arrangement of the cold water pipe and the hot water pipe in the room for providing water  86  is opposite to the normal standards (room for providing water  87 ). 
     If this, the inlet pipes of cold water and hot water should be re-directed by another pipes or another set of inlet pipes of cold water and hot water is needed to match the faucet. It is not convenient for users. 
     Therefore, the secondary objective of this invention is how to design a faucet with a mixed water control valve which is adapting to different arrangements of inlet pipes of cold water and hot water. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An objective of this invention is providing a mixed water control valve, which is using the pipes for mixing water to be disposed at the spindle, and the spindle is detachably disposed in the space of the body to achieve the effectives of repairing and using easily. 
     An another objective of this invention is providing a mixed water control valve, which is including two outlet pipes corresponding to each other, and the spindle is capable of mounting in different direction if need to achieve to adapt the different arrangements of cold water pipe and hot water pipe. 
     To achieve above objectives, a mixed water control valve is disclosed and comprises a body, having a first inlet pipe, a second inlet pipe opposite to the first inlet pipe, a first outlet pipe, and a second outlet pipe opposite to the first outlet pipe, the body also having a space, the first inlet pipe is branched to a first upper inlet pipe and a first lower inlet pipe, one end of the first upper inlet pipe away from the first inlet pipe and one end of the first lower inlet pipe away from the first inlet pipe are connected to the space, the second inlet pipe is branched to a second upper inlet pipe and a second lower inlet pipe, one end of the second upper inlet pipe away from the second inlet pipe and one end of the second lower inlet pipe away from the second inlet pipe are connected to the space, the first outlet pipe and the second outlet pipe are connected to the space; and a spindle, axially rotatably disposed in the space, a cavity is formed inside the spindle and a balance valve is disposed in the cavity to divide the cavity into an upper cavity and a lower cavity, the spindle is having an upper inlet corresponding to a height of the first inlet pipe and connecting to the upper cavity, the upper inlet is selectively corresponding to the first upper inlet pipe or the second upper inlet pipe, the spindle is having a lower inlet corresponding to a height of the first lower inlet pipe and connecting to the lower cavity, the lower inlet is selectively corresponding to the first lower inlet pipe or the second lower inlet pipe, the upper inlet and the lower inlet are radially corresponding to each other, the spindle is having an upper outlet and a lower outlet which are respectively corresponding to a height of the first outlet pipe, the upper outlet is connecting to the upper cavity and the lower outlet is connecting to the lower cavity, the upper outlet and the lower outlet are selectively corresponding to the first outlet pipe or the second outlet pipe; wherein the lower inlet is corresponding to the first lower inlet pipe and the upper outlet and the lower outlet are corresponding to the first outlet pipe while the upper inlet is corresponding to the second upper inlet pipe; in contrast, the lower inlet is corresponding to the second lower inlet pipe and the upper outlet and the lower outlet are corresponding to the second outlet pipe while the upper inlet of the spindle is corresponding to the first upper inlet pipe. 
     The spindle is capable of changing mounting directions. When the upper inlet of the spindle is corresponding to the second upper inlet pipe, the lower inlet is corresponding to the first lower inlet pipe and the upper outlet and the lower outlet are corresponding to the first outlet pipe to make the mixed water control valve is capable of flowing out from the first outlet pipe. In contrast, when the upper inlet of the spindle is corresponding to the first upper inlet pipe, the lower inlet is corresponding to the second lower inlet pipe and the upper outlet and the lower outlet are corresponding to the second outlet pipe to make the mixed water control valve is capable of flowing out from the first outlet pipe. It is capable of adapting to different arrangements of cold water pipe and hot water pipe. 
     Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those of skill in the art in view of the detailed description of preferred embodiments which follows, when considered together with the attached drawings and claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       All the objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed descriptions when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a pictorial drawing in accordance with this invention. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a top view in accordance with this invention. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates an exploded view in accordance with this invention. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a sectional view cut from line A-A in accordance with this invention. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a sectional view cut from line B-B in accordance with this invention. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a side view of a spindle in accordance with this invention. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a view of a operation state in accordance with this invention. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a view of another operation state in accordance with this invention. 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a view of another operation state in accordance with this invention. 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a view of another operation state in accordance with this invention. 
         FIG. 11  shows an arrangement drawing while in operation in accordance with this invention. 
         FIG. 12  shows a top and sectional view of a part of a building. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the drawings where like characteristics and features among the various figures are denoted by like reference characters. 
     Please refer to  FIGS. 1 to 6 , wherein  FIG. 1  illustrates a pictorial drawing in accordance with this invention,  FIG. 2  illustrates a top view in accordance with this invention,  FIG. 3  illustrates an exploded view in accordance with this invention,  FIG. 4  illustrates a sectional view cut from line A-A in accordance with this invention,  FIG. 5  illustrates a sectional view cut from line B-B in accordance with this invention, and  FIG. 6  illustrates a side view of a spindle in accordance with this invention. 
     The mixed water control valve  1  comprises a body  10 , a bushing  20 , a spindle  30 , and a balance valve  40 . 
     The body  10  is having a first inlet pipe  11 , a second inlet pipe  12  opposite to the first inlet pipe  11 , a first outlet pipe  13 , and a second outlet pipe  14  opposite to the first outlet pipe  13 . And the body  10  is also having a space  15  which is cylindrical. An opening  151  is disposed at one end of the space  15  to make the bushing  20 , the spindle  30  and the balance valve  40  to be assembled from the opening  151  into the space  15 , and the other end of the space  15  opposite to the opening  151  is closed. The body  10  is further having a cover  16  which is corresponding to the opening  151  to stop the bushing  20  and the spindle  30  to be assembled in the space  15 . 
     The first inlet pipe  11  is branched to a first upper inlet pipe  111  and a first lower inlet pipe  112 , and one end of the first upper inlet pipe  111  away from the first inlet pipe  11  and one end of the first lower inlet pipe  112  away from the first inlet pipe  11  are connected to the space  15 . The second inlet pipe  12  is branched to a second upper inlet pipe  121  and a second lower inlet pipe  122 , and one end of the second upper inlet pipe  121  away from the second inlet pipe  12  and one end of the second lower inlet pipe  122  away from the second inlet pipe  12  are connected to the space  15 . The first upper inlet pip  111  and the second upper inlet pipe  121  are positioned at the same height, and the first lower inlet pipe  112  and the second lower inlet pipe  122  are positioned at the same height. 
     The first outlet pipe  13  and the second outlet pipe  14  are connected to the space  15 . In this embodiment, the first outlet pipe  13  is having a first upper outlet  131  and a first lower outlet  132  longitudinally separately arranged to connect to the space  15 , and the second outlet pipe  14  is having a second upper outlet  141  and a second lower outlet  142  longitudinally separately arranged to connect to the space  15 . 
     The first outlet pipe  13  and the second outlet pipe  14  are positioned at the same height, and the height positions of the first outlet pipe  13  and the second outlet pipe  14  are located between the height positions of the first upper inlet pipe  111  and the first lower inlet pipe  112 . 
     The bushing  20  is disposed in the space  15  to separate the body  10  and the spindle  30 . The bushing  20  is fastened to the body  10  and the spindle  30  is rotatably disposed in the bushing  20 . Two recesses  152 ,  153  are radially opposite to each other and disposed at the body  10  adjacent to the opening  151  of the space  15 , and the bushing  20  is having two protruding blocks  201 ,  202  respectively corresponding to the two recesses  152 ,  153  to make the two protruding blocks  201 ,  202  embed the corresponding recesses  152 ,  153  to position the bushing  20 . 
     The bushing  20  is having a first hole  21 , a second hole  22 , a third hole  23 , a fourth hole  24 , a fifth hole  25 , and a sixth hole  26  respectively corresponding to the first upper inlet pipe  111 , the first lower inlet pipe  112 , the second upper inlet pipe  121 , the second lower inlet pipe  122  of the body  10 , the upper inlet  131 , and the lower inlet  132  of the body  10  to make water pass through. At least two first sealing members  27  are disposed between the bushing  20  and the body  10  to separate the first hole  21 , the third hole  23 , the fifth hole  25  and the sixth hole  26 , the second hole  22 , the fourth hole  24 . In this embodiment, each first sealing member  27  are composed of two surrounding portion  271 ,  272  and two longitudinal portions  273 ,  274 . 
     The spindle  30  is axially rotatably disposed in the bushing  20  which is disposed in the space  15 . A cavity  31  is formed inside the spindle  30 . The cavity  31  of the spindle  30  is run through the spindle  30  from one end of the spindle  30 , and a stopper  32  is assembled at the end of the cavity  31  passed through the spindle  30  to provide the balance valve  40  to assemble in the cavity  31 . And the balance valve  40  is disposed in the cavity  31  to divide the cavity  31  into an upper cavity  311  and a lower cavity  312 . The balance valve  40  is well-known and is omitted the detail descriptions. 
     The spindle  30  is having an upper inlet  33  corresponding to a height of the first inlet pipe  111 , and the upper inlet  33  of the spindle  30  is extending an angle (90˜120 degree in this embodiment) along its periphery and then connecting to the upper cavity  311 . The upper inlet  33  is selectively corresponding to the first upper inlet pipe  111  or the second upper inlet pipe  121 . The spindle  30  is having a lower inlet  34  corresponding to a height of the first lower inlet pipe  112 , and the lower inlet  34  of the spindle  30  is extending an angle (90˜120 degree in this embodiment) along the periphery and then connecting to the lower cavity  312 . The lower inlet  34  is selectively corresponding to the first lower inlet pipe  112  or the second lower inlet pipe  122 . The upper inlet  33  and the lower inlet  34  are radially corresponding to each other. 
     Furthermore, the spindle  30  is having an upper outlet  35  and a lower outlet  36  which are respectively corresponding to the first upper outlet  131  and the first lower outlet  132  of the first outlet pipe  13 , and the upper outlet  35  is connecting to the upper cavity  311  and the lower outlet  36  is connecting to the to lower cavity  312 . The upper outlet  35  and the lower outlet  36  are selectively corresponding to the first upper outlet  131  and the first lower outlet  132  the first outlet pipe  13  or the second upper outlet  141  and the second lower outlet  142  of the second outlet pipe  14 . 
     In this embodiment, the upper outlet  35  and the lower outlet  36  of the spindle  30  are separated up and down and staggered left and right, shown as  FIG. 6 . The upper outlet  35  is relatively close to the upper inlet  33  and the lower outlet  36  is relatively close to the lower inlet  34 . And the upper outlet  35  and the lower outlet  36  are extending an angle (80˜100 degree in this embodiment) along a periphery to make the upper outlet  35  and the lower outlet  36  simultaneously or respectively be corresponding to the first upper outlet  131  and the first lower outlet  132  of the first outlet pipe  13  or make the upper outlet  35  and the lower outlet  26  simultaneously or respectively be corresponding to the second upper outlet  141  and the second lower outlet  142  of the second outlet pipe  14 . The upper outlet  35  is having a large opening section  351  adjacent to the upper inlet  33  and the lower outlet  36  is having a large opening section  361  adjacent to the lower inlet  34 . And the large opening section  351  of the upper outlet  35  and the large opening section  261  of the lower outlet  26  are staggered to each other. 
     A plurality of sealing members are covered at an outer edge of the spindle  30  to separate the upper inlet  33 , the upper outlet  35 , the lower outlet  36 , and the lower inlet  34 . In this embodiment, the sealing members are including two second sealing members  37  and a sealing ring  38 . Each second sealing member  37  is composed of two surrounding portions  371 ,  372  and at least two longitudinal portions  373 ,  374  connected two surrounding portions  371 ,  372  to make each second sealing members  37  and the sealing ring  38  be able to respectively separate the upper inlet  33 , the lower inlet  34 , the upper outlet  35 , and the lower outlet  36 . 
     A shaft portion  39  is extending from one end of the spindle  30 , and the shaft portion  39  is extending to pass through the space  15  to operate the rotation of the spindle  30 . 
     In addition, a part of the bushing  20  extending to the space  15  is protruding a fastening plate  51 , and spindle  30  is formed a fastening assembly  52  corresponding to the fastening plate  51 . The fastening plate  51  and the fastening assembly  52  are capable of restricting the angle of rotation of the spindle  30 . The fastening plate  51  and the fastening assembly  52  are well-known and are omitted the detail descriptions. 
     In real, the body is made from metal material, and the spindle is also made from metal material. The bushing disposed between the body and the spindle is made of the plastic material or the bronze material. Hence, the body and the spindle are uneasily abraded by using materials with different hardness. Therefore, if impurities such as dust and rust deposit get into the mixed water control valve of this invention, the problems such as scratch and wear are given to the bushing due to the body and the spindle made from much harder material (metal) and the bushing made from much softer material (plastic). It is easy to disassemble and replace while damage and further easy to repair and use with convenience. 
     Please refer to  FIGS. 7 to 10 , wherein  FIG. 7  illustrates a view of a operation state in accordance with this invention,  FIG. 8  illustrates a view of another operation state in accordance with this invention,  FIG. 9  illustrates a view of another operation state in accordance with this invention, and  FIG. 10  illustrates a view of another operation state in accordance with this invention. 
     Firstly, please refer to  FIG. 7 . The mixed water control valve  1  in normal state is that the first inlet pipe  11  connects a hot water pipe (not shown) and the second inlet pipe  12  connects a cold water pipe (not shown). When the spindle  30  is not rotated, the upper inlet  33  is located at front central position in  FIG. 7  and the lower inlet  34  (not shown in  FIG. 7 ) is located at back central position in  FIG. 7 , i.e. the upper inlet  33  and the lower inlet  34  are not corresponding to any one of the first upper inlet pipe  111 , the first lower inlet pipe  112 , the second upper inlet pipe  121 , or the second lower inlet pipe  122  to make the mixed water control valve  1  is in close state. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 8 . When the spindle  30  is turned right an angle, a part of the upper inlet  33  of the spindle  30  is coupled to the second upper inlet pipe  121  and the large opening section  351  of the upper outlet  35  is coupled to the first upper outlet  131  to make cold water flow from the second upper inlet pipe  121  via the upper inlet  33  to the upper capacity  311 , and then flow from the upper outlet  35  via the first upper outlet  131  to the first outlet pipe  13  and flows out. Simultaneously, a part of the lower inlet  34  of the spindle  30  is coupled to the first lower inlet  112 , but the lower outlet  36  is not coupled to the first lower outlet  132 , so hot water only flows from the lower inlet  34  to lower capacity  312  but hot water does not flow to the first outlet pipe  13 . Therefore,  FIG. 8  shows the state of flowing out cold water. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 9 . When the spindle  30  is further turned right an angle compared to  FIG. 8 , the upper inlet  33  of the spindle  30  is coupled to the second upper inlet pipe  121  and the upper outlet  35  is coupled to the first upper outlet  131  to make cold water flow from the second upper inlet pipe  121  via the upper inlet  33  to the upper capacity  311  and then flow from the upper outlet  35  via the first outlet  131  to the first outlet pipe  13  and flow out. Simultaneously, the lower inlet  34  of the spindle  30  is coupled to the first lower inlet  112  and the lower outlet  36  is coupled to the first lower outlet  132  to make hot water flow from the first lower inlet pipe  112  via the lower inlet  34  to the lower capacity  312  and then flow from the lower outlet  36  via the first lower outlet  132  to the first outlet pipe  13  and flow out. Therefore,  FIG. 9  shows the state of flowing out mixed water. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 10 . When the spindle  30  is further turned right an angle compared to  FIG. 9 , a part of the upper inlet  33  is still coupled to the second upper inlet pipe  121  but the upper outlet  35  has been staggered with the first upper outlet  131  and not coupled each other, so cold water does not flow out from the first upper outlet  131 . Simultaneously, the lower inlet  34  of the spindle  30  is coupled to the first lower inlet pipe  112  and the large opening section  361  of the lower outlet  36  is coupled to the first lower outlet  132 , so hot water flows from the lower inlet  34  to lower capacity  312 , and then flows from the first lower outlet  132  to the first outlet pipe  13  and flows out. Therefore,  FIG. 10  shows the state of flowing out hot water. 
     Finally, please refer to  FIG. 11 , which shows an arrangement drawing while in operation in accordance with this invention. When a cold water pipe (not shown) and a hot water pipe (not shown) is in a normal arrangement (lower position shown as  FIG. 11 ), the mixed water control valve  1  is coupled to the hot water pipe by the first inlet pipe  11  and coupled to the cold water pipe by the second inlet pipe  12 , and then water flows out from the first outlet pipe  13 . When the cold water pipe (not shown) and the hot water pipe (not shown) is in an opposite arrangement (upper position shown as  FIG. 11 ), the first inlet pipe  11  is coupled to the hot water pipe (not shown) and the second inlet pipe  12  is coupled to the cold water pipe (not shown), and then the bushing and the to spindle are turned 180 degree to be re-positioned by tools. Therefore, the upper inlet of the spindle is corresponding to the first upper inlet pipe, the lower inlet is corresponding to the second lower inlet pipe, and the upper outlet and the lower outlet are corresponding to the second outlet pipe to flow out from the second outlet pipe  14 . 
     In summary, the mixed water control valve of this invention is capable of achieving to adapt different arrangements of cold water pipe and hot water pipe. 
     Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is not used to limit the invention. It is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.