Patent ID: 7240850

Claim:
A thermostatic mixing valve having a hot water inlet for connection to a supply of hot water, a cold water inlet for connection to a supply of cold water, an outlet for temperature controlled water, valve means for controlling the relative proportions of hot and cold water admitted to a mixing chamber, the outlet communicating with the mixing chamber to receive temperature controlled water having a desired temperature, temperature control means for adjusting the valve means in accordance with the desired temperature of the temperature controlled water, each inlet communicating with a respective multi-stage annular plenum chamber constructed and arranged upstream of said valve means to distribute flow of water to porting of the valve means for admitting the water to the mixing chamber, wherein each said multi-stage plenum chamber has an annular outer chamber communicating with the associated inlet and an annular inner chamber communication with said porting, wherein said annular chambers are configured to distribute flow of water to porting of the valve means for admitting the water to the mixing chamber, and wherein water enters and exits each annular chamber at positions axially spaced from each other.