Patent ID: 7407113

Claim:
A thermostatic valve for blocking the flow of fluid that may be used in a plumbing system comprising: a valve housing having a first compartment and a second compartment, where said first compartment includes a first inlet end and a first outlet end, and said second compartment includes a second inlet end and a second outlet end; a fluid passageway communicating between said first and second compartment; a first valve assembly housed in said first compartment and a second valve assembly housed in said second compartment, whereby said first valve assembly responds to fluid temperature changes and said second valve assembly responds to fluid temperature changes in fluid, such that said first valve assembly and said second valve assembly operatively cooperate to preclude the flow of scalding fluid; said first valve assembly including: a first spring associated with said valve housing proximate to said first outlet end; a first stopper biased by said first spring, where said first stopper includes a first face forming a first gap with said first outlet end; a first flange abutting a first shoulder in said first compartment, wherein said first flange permits the flow of fluid between said first inlet end and said first outlet end; a first thermostatic cylinder having a first cylinder body, a first piston housing, and a first piston wherein said first cylinder body abuts said first flange, said first piston axially extends through said first piston housing from said first cylinder body, said first cylinder body including a first temperature sensitive wax, wherein said first temperature sensitive wax and said first piston axially cooperate to produce axial movement of said first stopper to substantially block said first outlet end; a second spring biasing said first cylinder body against said first flange; said second valve assembly including: a second stopper biased by said second spring, where said second stopper includes a second face forming a second gap with said second outlet end; a second flange abuts a second shoulder in said second compartment, wherein said second flange permits the flow of fluid between said second inlet end and said second outlet end; a second thermostatic cylinder having a second cylinder body, a second piston housing, and a second piston; wherein said second cylinder body abuts said second flange, said second piston axially extends through said piston housing from said second cylinder body, said second cylinder body including a second temperature sensitive wax, wherein said second temperature sensitive wax and said second piston axially cooperate to produce axial movement of said second stopper to substantially block said second outlet end; a third spring biasing said second cylinder body against said second flange, and said third spring associated with said second compartment at said second inlet end.