Patent ID: 12222737

FIG.1shows a longitudinal section of an expansion material element1at a first temperature. The expansion material element1comprises a body5, which is cup-shaped in this case. The body5contains an expansion material3, which in this case is wax and has an additive4. The additive4is a powder and/or particles and mixed with the expansion material3. The additive4may be synthetic graphite, highly conductive graphite having a thermal conductivity of at least X S/m and/or boron nitride. Furthermore, the expansion material element has a working piston6, which is separated from the expansion material3by a flexible diaphragm7. The working piston6is guided in a guide opening13of a closure element14, such that the working piston6can be pressurized by the expansion material3in the guide opening13.

FIG.2shows a longitudinal section of the expansion material element1at a second temperature. Because the second temperature is higher than the first temperature, the expansion material3has expanded compared to the condition shown inFIG.1and has driven the working piston6some way out of the guide opening13. As the temperature drops, the volume of the expansion material3shrinks and the working piston6can be returned, for instance by a return spring (not shown here).

FIG.3shows a longitudinal section of a sanitary faucet8, which can be used in a shower, for instance. The sanitary faucet8comprises a faucet body12having a thermostatic mixing valve2with the expansion material element1shown inFIGS.1and2and a valve15. The faucet body12can be supplied with cold water via a cold-water intake16and with warm water via a warm-water intake17. The cold water and the warm water can be supplied to the thermostatic mixing valve2through fluid channels formed in the faucet body12. The thermostatic mixing valve2can mix the cold water and the warm water to form a mixed water having a desired mixed-water temperature. The thermostatic mixing valve2has a body element9that is (substantially) tubular in shape and extends along a longitudinal axis18of the thermostatic mixing valve2or along the faucet body12of the sanitary faucet8. At least one warm-water inlet20and at least one cold-water inlet21are formed in the cartridge head piece19of the thermostatic mixing valve2. The embodiment variant of the thermostatic mixing valve2shown here has a plurality of warm-water inlets20and cold-water inlets21distributed in a circumferential direction about the longitudinal axis18of the cartridge head piece19. The warm water can be routed into a mixing chamber10of the thermostatic mixing valve2via the warm-water inlets20and the cold-water inlets21. Consequently, the mixing chamber10is disposed downstream of the warm-water inlets20and of the cold-water inlets21. The warm water and the cold water can at least partially be mixed to a mixed water at a mixed-water temperature in the mixing chamber10. A mixed water outlet22, through which the mixed water of the mixed-water temperature can exit the thermostatic mixing valve2, is disposed downstream of the mixing chamber10. From the mixed water outlet22, the mixed water can be supplied to the valve15, the valve body23of which can be used to control a discharge of the mixed water from the sanitary faucet8.

The mixed-water temperature of the mixed water is determined by a mixing ratio between the warm water and the cold water and a warm-water temperature of the warm water and a cold-water temperature of the cold water. The thermostatic mixing valve2has an operating element24for adjusting the mixed-water temperature. The operating element24comprises an actuating handle25, which is connected in a non-rotatable manner to a control nut26of an overload unit27. The actuating handle25including the control nut26can thus be rotated about an axis of rotation28, which in this case is identical to the longitudinal axis18. When the actuating handle25is rotated, a spring sleeve29is moved in an axial direction30, i.e. in parallel to the longitudinal axis18. The motion of the spring sleeve29in the axial direction30is transmitted to an expansion material element1, which in turn moves a control element11in the way of a control gate valve in the axial direction30. Depending on the position of the control element11in the axial direction30, the control element11can alternately open and close a warm-water control gap (not visible here) and a cold-water control gap (not visible here). Depending on the position of the control gate valve11, a matching amount of warm water and cold water is routed to the thermostatic mixing valve2through the warm-water control gap and the cold-water control gap, from which the mixed water is mixed for a corresponding mixed-water temperature. Owing to the expansion material3of the expansion material element1shown inFIGS.1and2, the control element11can be actuated by the working piston6of the expansion material element1, also shown inFIGS.1and2, in such a way that the mixed water is kept at a (largely) constant mixed-water temperature. If, for instance, too much warm water or too little cold water flows into the thermostatic mixing valve2, the expansion material3of the expansion material element1heats up and expands, causing it to move the control element11in the axial direction30towards the mixed-water outlet22, decreasing the size of the warm-water control gap and increasing the size of the cold-water control gap. Then, less warm water and more cold water flows into the mixing chamber10. If, for instance, too much cold water or too little warm water flows into the thermostatic mixing valve2, the expansion material3of the expansion material element1contracts, causing the expansion material element1to move the control element11away from the mixed water outlet22, increasing the size of the warm-water control gap and decreasing the size of the cold-water control gap. Then, more warm water and less cold water flows into the mixing chamber10.

This invention renders achieving a particularly high reaction rate of an expansion material element possible.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

1expansion material element2thermostatic mixing valve3expansion material4additive5body6working piston7diaphragm8sanitary faucet9body element10mixing chamber11control element12faucet body13guide opening14closure element15valve16cold-water intake17warm-water intake18longitudinal axis19cartridge head piece20warm-water inlet21cold-water inlet22mixed-water outlet23valve body24operating element25actuating handle26control nut27overload unit28axis of rotation29spring sleeve30axial direction