Abstract:
A temperature-controlled mixer valve contains a disk control for determining the quantity of mixed water flowing out of the valve. To the disk control is connected a regulating unit, which determines the mixed water temperature. The control disk is movable with respect to the fixed distributor disk in a first degree of freedom for determining the mixed water quantity. By control disk movement in a second degree of freedom, the desired temperature of the thermostatic valve is modified.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The invention is directed at a thermostatic fitting for sanitary purposes. Sanitary thermostatic fittings are e.g. used on a shower to supply mixed water with a mixed temperature between the hot and cold water temperature. Normally thermostatic fittings have an operating device making it possible to adjust the quantity of the outflowing water. A second operating element is used to determine the desired temperature of the mixed water by acting on the thermostatic valve. 
     Single lever mixer valves are known, in which by means of an operating device operating in a first direction it is possible to adjust the water quantity and in a second direction the water temperature. 
     A sanitary mixing set with a thermostatic control is known (WO 92/22862), in which the mixed water quantity is determined by a valve with disk control. The disk control contains a fixed distributor disk and a control disk movable with respect thereto in one direction. For modifying the mixed water temperature an operating device is provided on the thermostatic valve. 
     A thermostatically controlled mixer valve is also known (DE 19716307), in which a disk control is provided for regulating the quantity. The movable control disk is movable in one direction relative to the fixed distributor disk. The operating device is used for changing the mixed water desired temperature and also adjusts the mixed water quantity. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the invention is to provide a temperature-controlled mixer, which does not differ from existing single lever mixers with respect to its operation and installation dimensions. 
     The present invention proposes a temperature-controlled mixer valve that meets this and other objects. 
     The two ceramic disks together form a disk control. Both the fixed and the movable ceramic disk contain openings issuing into the control surface. The control surface is the surface of the two control disks which forms the bearing or contact surface. Through a more or less pronounced coincidence of these openings, a change to the cross-section is brought about. In the case of the valve proposed by the invention said disk control is exclusively used for controlling the mixed water quantity, whereas setting and regulating of the mixed water temperature is the responsibility of the regulating unit. 
     According to a further development of the invention the axis of the thermostat and therefore also its action direction is parallel to the control surface of the control disks. This permits a space-saving arrangement of the mixer valve, so that it can be housed in a small casing. 
     According to a further development of invention, the regulating unit is arranged in such a way that it is moved together with the control disk and this helps to bring about a small size of the arrangement. 
     According to a further development of the invention, the movable control disk is constructed so as to be movable in a second degree of freedom, said movement in a second degree of freedom preferably being brought about by the same lever as is used for controlling the mixed water quantity. This movement in a second degree of freedom can be utilized for other purposes. 
     It can in particular be provided that the movement of the control disk in the second degree of freedom does not lead to a change in the conditions of the flow cross-sections of the openings of the control disks between the flow path for the cold water and the flow path for the hot water. 
     According to a further development of the invention, the operating device is operable in a second movement direction, particularly for modifying the setting of the mixed water temperature. As a result the sanitary mixer valve can be operated in precisely the same way as a conventional single lever mixer valve, but with the difference that then the regulating unit for the mixed water temperature undergoes a modification to its desired value position. 
     It can additionally be provided that the adjustment of the desired temperature of the mixer valve can be set, so that e.g. in a random or middle position of the operating device it is possible to set the temperature to e.g. 38° C. 
     According to a further development of the invention, the regulation unit is positioned in such a way that the outlet for the mixed water and/or the extensible material element, considered in the flow direction, is between the hot water valve seat and the cold water valve seat. The two flows are then directed against one another downstream of the particular valve seat, so that there is a better mixing of the two flows and consequently the determination of the actual temperature of the mixed water by the regulating unit is ensured. 
     The regulating unit to be moved together with the movable control disk can, e.g. according to a further feature of the invention, be placed in the movable control disk. This can contain the entire geometry for the valve seats and the inflow and outflow. The control disk can e.g. be manufactured by ceramic extrusion. 
     It is also possible and is proposed by the invention that the regulating unit is located in the dog of the movable control disk. Said dog can e.g. be extruded from plastic. 
     According to a further development of the invention, to change the desired temperature an eccentric surface is provided, on which acts a component operatively connected to the regulating unit, e.g. an adjusting cap, which slides on the eccentric surface during the movement of the control disk. 
     The adjusting cap is preferably placed in the movable control disk and/or the dog in such a way that said parts can be moved together with one another. 
     According to a further development of the invention, the eccentric surface is formed on the inside of the wall of a cartridge casing, which can be in one piece. 
     It is also possible to construct the eccentric surface on the inside of a slider, which is located within a cartridge casing and extends in the circumferential direction. 
     It can in particular be provided that said slider is adjustable circumferentially with respect to the cartridge casing so as in this way to bring about a setting of the normal position of the mixer valve/thermostatic valve. 
     It is possible according to the invention to operatively connect the adjusting cap with the regulating unit in such a way that with a control disk movement in the quantity change direction there is no adjustment to the thermostat. 
     This can e.g. take place in that the regulating unit is supported with a tappet in a groove in the adjusting cap. The groove extends in the direction of the control disk quantity change. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Further features, details and advantages of the invention can be gathered from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, as well as the attached drawings, wherein show: 
     FIG. 1 An axial section through a valve cartridge according to the invention. 
     FIG. 2 An axial section along a plane displaced by 90°. 
     FIG. 3 A cross-section through the arrangement according to FIGS. 1 and 2. 
     FIG. 4 A plan view of the fixed distribution disk from above in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 5 A diagrammatic plan view from above of the movable control disk. 
     FIG. 6 Diagrammatically the association between both ceramic disks in several positions. 
     FIG. 7 A section corresponding to FIG. 1 in a further embodiment. 
     FIG. 8 A further axial section through a further embodiment. 
     FIG. 9 An axial section through a further embodiment. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIG. 1 is an axial section through a valve cartridge for insertion into a fitting casing. The valve cartridge  1  is terminated by a base  2 , which is provided with openings coinciding with the openings in the base of a fitting casing. The valve cartridge is inserted in a reception space of such a fitting casing which contains or forms the connections between the mixed water supply and discharge pipes. The cartridge casing only contains the actual mixer valve. FIG. 1 only shows one opening  3  in the base  2  of the cartridge  1  and said opening is used for the mixed water leaving the mixer valve. Above the base  2  in the cartridge casing  1  is secured a fixed, ceramic distributor disk  4 , which also has openings  5 . Said openings  5  pass from the underside of the control disk  4  resting on the base  2  to the facing control surface  7 . However, in said section they are not necessarily linear, but can instead be inclined, so that there need be no coincidence as regards the positioning of the issuing of openings  5  in the underside and control surface  7 . The water passages passing through the individual openings are mutually sealed by seals located in grooves  8 . 
     A movable control disk  9 , which is held in a mounting support  10 , rests on the fixed distributor disk  4 . The movable control disk  9  has openings  11 ,  12  (see FIG.  5 ), which can be made to coincide with the openings  5  of the fixed control disk  4 . For example, opening  11  is intended for hot water and opening  12  for cold water. Both openings  11 ,  12  lead into an annular space within the component comprising the movable control disk  9  and the mounting support  10 . From said inner space  13 , a circular opening  14  in the control disk  9  passes through an opening in the fixed distributor disk. Thus, the water can leave the valve from space  13  through the outlet opening  3  of the base  2 . 
     Into the space formed within the movable control disk  9  is inserted a regulating unit  15  having a novel construction. The regulating unit  15  contains an extensible material element  16 , which responds to temperature changes and reacts accordingly. The regulating unit has a piston-like valve element  17 , which can be axially displaced through the action of the extensible material element. The piston-like valve element  17  is in each case associated with the marginal surface around the opening and forms there in each case a valve seat, whereof one valve seat is intended for the cold water and the other for the hot. 
     The regulating unit  15  contains the valve element  17  in which is located the extensible material element  16  and acts by means of a tappet  19  surrounded by a further tappet  20 . A compression spring  21  is inserted between the two tappets  19 ,  20 . The outer tappet  20  engages on the inner surface  22  of an adjusting cap  23 , whose outside engages on the inside  24  of the cartridge casing. If the extensible material element  16  expands, it displaces the tappet  19  in such a way that by means of the unit formed by spring  21  and tappet  20  it moves the valve element  17  of regulating unit  15  to the left counter to the action of a further compression spring  24 . During this movement there is a reduction in the flow cross-section of the valve formed by the opening and the valve element  17 , whilst on the opposite side there is an increase in the spacing between the valve element  17  and the associated valve seat. Thus, the ratio of the flow cross-section of the hot water to the flow cross-section of the cold water is changed. Both flows flow through the openings formed by the valve element  17  into the space  13 , where mixing takes place. The extensible material element  16  is exposed to the temperature of said mixed water. The desired temperature can be modified by the radial movement of the adjusting cap  23  and therefore by varying the position of the valve element  17 . This radial displacement of the adjusting cap  23  will be explained hereinafter. 
     The dog  10  with the movable control disk  9  is guided by the bearing disk  26 , which also contains an opening for guiding the adjusting cap  23 . The bearing disk  26  has a bore  27  through which is passed the shaft  28  of a control lever  29 . Thus, by rotating the control lever  29  the bearing disk  26  and with it the movable control disk  9  can be rotated. 
     FIG. 2 shows a cross-section in a plane displaced by 90°. The lower end  30  of the control lever  29  engages in a depression  31  of the dog  10 . A rotation of the control lever  29  around shaft  28  consequently leads to a displacement of the dog  10  and therefore the movable control disk  9  along the control surface  7 . 
     FIG. 3 again shows the construction and arrangement of the regulating unit  15 . The possible water flows are provided through the variably aligned openings, certain of which are indicated by dashed lines in FIGS. 3,  4  and  6   a - 6   f . The flows are directed counter to one another, so that there is a good, thorough mixing in space  13 . 
     The displacement of the movable control disk  9  by pivoting the lever  29  about shaft  28  leads to a movement from right to left or left to right in FIG.  3 . During this displacement the adjusting cap  23  remains secured in the bearing sleeve  26  and consequently does not move with the same. Instead of this the outer tappet  20  slides on the corresponding surface of the adjusting cap  23 . 
     The adjusting cap  23  engages on the inside  24  of the cartridge casing  1 , said inside having an eccentric surface  33 , which extends over a quarter to a third of the circumference. On rotating the movable control disk  9  there is a change to the position of the valve element  17 , whereas on displacing the movable control disk  9  the adjusting cap  23  is not jointly moved. Thus, a change to the quantity of water flowing out of the mixer valve does not lead to a change in its temperature. 
     FIG. 4 is a plan view of the control surface  7  of the fixed distributor disk  4 . Below the fixed distributor disk can be seen the supply openings in the base  2  of cartridge  1  and these are indicated by dashed line circles. Into the control surface  7  of disk  4  issue the through openings  5  for the hot and cold water in the form of narrow slots running in the circumferential direction. The two openings have a differing spacing from the center of the disk  4 . The outer and inner edges are concentric. In the center of the disk is provided a circular opening serving as the outlet opening of the mixed water. 
     FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic plan view of the lower surface of the movable control disk  9  from above. This representation is chosen in this way to illustrate the issuing of the openings  11 ,  12  into the underside of disk  9  and namely with the same orientation as in FIG.  4 . This representation is so chosen because by superimposing the two representations the actual mixing situation can be revealed. In the centre of the movable control disk  9  is provided a circular opening  34 , whose diameter is much larger than the diameter of the central through opening  5  of the fixed distributor disk  4 . 
     The two cold and hot water openings  11 ,  12  are also constructed as concentric, narrow, arcuate slots, whose radially measured width is the same as the width of the openings  5 , but the arc length thereof is much shorter. 
     FIGS. 6 a  to  6   f  show possible different positions of the two control disks  4 ,  9  from above and namely in different displaced and rotated positions. FIG. 6 a  shows the position in which a high temperature is set, but the valve remains closed. This is apparent by the fact that the smaller, arcuate slots  11 ,  12  of the upper control disk  9  do not coincide with the openings  5  of the lower distributor disk  4 . 
     FIG. 6 b  shows with the temperature set hot and in an opened position. By displacing the movable control disk  9  from the position of FIG. 6 a  to the upper right and without rotation, said position is obtained. 
     FIG. 6 c  shows a central position, i.e., a position with medium temperature in the closed state. If the movable control disk  9  is moved upwards, gradually the openings of the upper and lower control disk are made to coincide, which finally gives the position of FIG. 6 d , where the valve is completely open. 
     FIGS. 6 e  and  6   f  show the “closed” and “open” positions in a cold temperature setting. 
     FIG. 7 shows a section corresponding to FIG. 1 in a second embodiment and here essentially only the regulating unit arrangement differs. The movable control disk  9  is constructed as a planar disk, so that the inner space  13  within the dog  10  is formed. At both ends and as a transition to the entrance spaces for the cold and hot water, the inner spacing  13  forms a shoulder  35 , said shoulders forming the valve seats for the valve element  17 . The valve element has a similar construction to that in the embodiment of FIG.  1 . Here again both the cold and hot water flow axially from the outside to the inside into the space  13 , where the extensible material element  16  in the regulating unit is provided. From there the mixed water flows through a central outlet from the cartridge. 
     FIG. 8 shows an embodiment in which the receptacle for the regulating unit is located in the movable control disk  9 , said receptacle being terminated by a cover  36 , into which engages the control lever  29 . Once again the valve seats are formed by tori and which once again the water flows axially from the outside to the inside and from the space  13  passes radially out of the valve. 
     FIG. 9 shows a modified embodiment, in which the regulating unit  15  has a different construction. It is located in the dog or mounting support  10 . The closure body  37  is here constructed as a one-piece sleeve, whose axial terminal ends form the valve seats with the opposing surfaces provided there. 
     In the embodiments according to FIGS. 8 and 9, sliders  38  are in each case provided on the inside of the cartridge casing  1  and their radial insides  39  form the eccentric surfaces for the adjusting cap  23  held in the dog  26 . The sliders  38  have an axial step  40  projecting from the casing  1  towards its outside. With the aid of said step  40  the eccentric can be circumferentially moved, so that the normal position of the eccentric in the circumferential direction can be modified. This makes it possible to associate the temperature of e.g. 38° C. with a specific control lever position.