Masco Corporation

Masco Corporation of Indiana

Gevipi A.g.

Other

Alfons Knapp

Joe D Hutto

Roland Grassberger

Gunter Buzzi

Robert D Roland

Daniel E Wittum

Francesco Knapp

The disclosure relates to a thermostatic mixer, including a device for the dynamic regulation of the cold water flow which supplies the mixer. A resistance is generated to the flow of cold water supplied to the thermostatic mixer when small flows of mixed water are required, and said resistance is lifted or reduced when large flows of mixed water are required. Said operation is automatically carried out by devices for dynamic regulation of flow, whereby the flow cross-section provided for the incoming cold water is reduced when the drawn flow is reduced and a larger flow cross-section reestablished when a larger flow is required.

Thermostatic mixer with device for dynamic regulation of a water flow

The disclosure relates to a device for dynamic adjustment of a water flow, used to stabilize the operational mode of a thermostatic mixing tap. The inventive device includes a valve consisting of a piston and a return spring forcing the piston into a first position, said piston being displaced into two positions according to the flow. When the flow is lower than a threshold value, the piston is located in the first position and a flow limited means limits the flow. When the flow exceeds the threshold value, the piston is displaced into the second position and the flow limiting means is obviated.

Device for dynamic control of a water flow

The disclosure relates to a device for dynamic control of a water flow, including the following items in a body: a feed chamber, a discharge chamber and a piston arranged between the feed chamber and the discharge chamber. The piston can be displaced from a first position, which is offset towards the feed chamber and wherein the piston narrows the flow between the feed chamber and the discharge chamber, and a second position, which is offset towards the discharge chamber and wherein the piston does not narrow the flow between the feed chamber and the discharge chamber.

Disclosed is a device for taking showers at alternating temperatures. The device is used with a delivery pipe for one or several shower heads, a hot water pipe that is connected to the outlet of a thermostatic mixer, and a cold water pipe which is connected to a water pipe. The device includes a switching means regarding the hot water pipe and the cold water pipe. The switching means is provided with a first control means and a second control means, both of which can be moved into two positions in such a way that the second control means is in a first position when the first control means does not connect the delivery pipe to the cold water pipe while the second control means is in a second position when the first control means connects the delivery pipe to the cold water pipe.

Perfected device for taking showers at alternating temperatures

The disclosure relates to a thermostatic mixer, including a device for the dynamic regulation of cold water flow which supplies the mixer. A resistance is generated to the flow of cold water supplied to the thermostatic mixer when small flows of mixed water are required, and said resistance is lifted or reduced when large flows of mixed water are required. Said operation is automatically carried out by devices for dynamic regulation of flow, whereby the flow cross-section provided for the incoming cold water is reduced when the drawn flow is reduced and a larger flow cross-section reestablished when a larger flow is required.

A mixing valve cartridge assembly having an envelope, a bottom member integral with the envelope, a fixed plate and a movable plate, both made from a hard material, a means for operating the movable plate, and a retaining cover for the cartridge envelope, such that the entire valve cartridge envelope may be assembled by inserting the cartridge components from the top of the envelope.

Cartridge for a mixing valve and process for its instrumental assembly

A valve installed at the inlet of a thermostatic mixing device for automatically stabilizing the operation of the thermostatic device by maintaining the pressure within the thermostatic mixing device close to the water supply pressure, thereby making the thermostatic device response to small pressure changes while maintaining the fluid flow through the device. The valve comprises a tubular body inserted within the water supply line, a holding seat within the tubular body, a cursor that moves within the valve body with respect to the seat, the cursor moving between a first position where the seat is partially occluded and a second position where the seat is substantially clear. The cursor is subjected to the pressure existing inside the thermostatic mixing device, and a spring positioned with the valve body that acts upon the cursor to urge the cursor towards the first cursor position.

Automatic valve for the stabilization of a thermostatic mixing device

A new use of a flow rate regulating device ( ) is disclosed whose feature consists of the fact that, when inserted in a water pipeline, it permits the passage of a flow of water having a substantially constant flow rate and predetermined in keeping with the variation within certain limits of the pressure at which the water is supplied to the device, thus constituting a variable resistance that is opposed to the water flow. The new use is especially designed to perform the function of reducing the temperature peak presented by the mixed water drawn from a thermostatic mixing device ( ) during the transitory period of regulation when the pressure of the water supplied to one of the inlets ( ) of the thermostatic mixing device ( ) varies abruptly with respect to the pressure of the water supplied to the other inlet of the thermostatic mixing device ( ). The new use consists of the insertion of the flow rate regulating device ( ) in the passage of at least one of the flows of supply of cold water and hot water (inlets ) directed to the thermostatic mixing device ( ). The flow rate regulator ( ) can be inserted on the passage of both supply flows of cold and hot water, of the hot water supply flow only, or, and preferably, of the cold water supply flow only.

Flow rate regulator to reduce variation in temperature of water drawn from a mixing device

The showerhead ( ) includes a main housing ( ) that forms the central supply inlet ( ), a supply passage section ( ) for the central inlet and a peripheral deflector ( ). A disc ( ) is applied to the main housing ( ). The Venturi passages ( ) are made up between housing ( ) and the disc ( ). A showerhead ( ) is intended to deliver an aerated stream of water that has passed through and has been aerated by Venturi passages . The Venturi passages ( ) radially extend from the supply inlet ( ) toward the periphery ( ) of the head ( ). An air intake passage ( ) communicates with the ambient exterior and also communicates with the Venturi passage between its nozzle ( ) and diffuser ( ). The deflector ( ) is arranged to divert the aerated stream of water coming out of the individual Venturi passages in order to deliver them in substantially axial direction perpendicular to the plane ( ) of the showerhead.

Showerhead for delivering an aerated water stream by use of the venturi effect

A thermostatic regulator ( ) for a single handle mixer valve ( ) has a sensor ( ) mounted in a mixed water chamber ( ) for sensing the temperature of the outlet water. The sensor is connected to a valve ( ) that is mounted in the cold water supply line ( ) to restrict the availability of cold water when the water in the hot water line ( ) is down below a set temperature.

Thermostatic mixing valve with sequential manual control

An adjustable support for a shower, including a rod (,) installed in a substantially vertical position, which is supported near its midpoint by a support bracket (,) integrally formed with a mixing valve handle assembly (,). The rod (,) vertically extends in two branches (,), an upper branch (,) and a lower branch (,) that mounts shower holders (,) for retaining a hand held shower head (,). The holders (,) are slidably mounted longitudinally along the rod and are equipped with a fastener for affixing them in a desired position. The rod (,) can be slidably adjusted longitudinally with respect to the support bracket (,) and, in this case, the support bracket for the rod is provided with a fastener (,) for affixing the rod (,) in place. The rod can furthermore be supported by a bracket (,) in proximity of its upper end.

Adjustable support for a shower

An aerating device for a shower where the shower includes a water chamber having a connection for the supply of pressurized water and having a first perforated plate that forms a wall of the water chamber and that is provided with a plurality of holes. Each hole of the first plate is constructed as to project a single jet of water. The aerating device comprises a second perforated plate, positioned downstream from the first plate, to make an air chamber between the two plates. The second plate has a plurality of holes, each of which is aligned along the direction of projection of the respective jet of water of a corresponding hole of the first plate. An air intake is positioned between the air chamber and the outside environment. The aerating device makes it possible to aerate by way of the Venturi effect, at the outlet of the shower to eliminate any resistance after the jets have been formed for providing a highly efficient device.

Multiple jet shower with aeration device

A sequential mixing cartridge (,), for use with a cold and hot water mixing device, comprises with entry openings (,) for cold water and hot water and with a delivery opening (,) for mixed water. The interior of the body houses a sequential mixing slide valve (,) as well as operating members (,) for this mechanism partially protruding from the body. The shape and outside dimensions of the body as well as the arrangement of the inlet openings for cold water and hot water and for delivery of mixed water substantially match the construction and dimensions of a thermostatic mixing cartridge, thus achieving complete interchangeability with it. The sequential mixing mechanism (,) is preferably constructed to provide a delivery shut-off control member extension (,) for regulating the flow rate. Preferably, the body has inlet openings (,) for cold water and hot water on its outer surface and the delivery opening (,) for mixed water at its axial end that is axially opposite to the control member (,).

Sequential cartridge for a mixing device, exchangeable for thermostatic cartridge

Shower head with switching of spray mode

A pair of hard material plates form the control members for a sequential type mixing valve, the plates perform, during the control stroke, only a relative rotation around a rotation center, the fixed plate has two passage openings and the movable plate has at least one passage opening, the whole of a first portion of the fixed plate is located on one side of a first straight line passing through the rotation center is lacking in openings, both openings of the fixed plate occupy in their whole just less of a second portion of the fixed plate, lying with respect to the first straight line opposite the first portion of the fixed plate, both openings of the fixed plate are mutually separated by a rib having, at least in part, the minimum width needed for ensuring the seal, the whole of a first portion of the movable plate which is located on one side of a second straight line passing through the rotation center is lacking in openings, and the passage openings of the movable plate occupy in their whole only a part of a second portion of the movable plate, lying with respect to the second straight line opposite the first portion of the movable plate.

Growing community of inventors

Biberach/Riss, Germany

Alfons Knapp