US3154101A - Mixing valve unit - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 27, 1964 AF. cRAvlTs MIXING VALVE UNIT Filed Feb. 12, 1962 United States Patent C 3,154,101 MIXING VALVE UNIT Phillip Cravits, Burbank, Calif., assigner, by mesne assignments, to Cronarne, Incorporated, Chicago, lill., a corporation of illinois Filed Feb. 12, 1962, Ser. No. 172,563 3 Claims. (Ci. 137-6414) The invention relates to a valve structure genenally,

and particularly to a valve structure having utility in a fountain brush arrangement utilized in a manual dishwashing operation or the like.

It will be understood that manual fountain brushes per se are usually associated with a kitchen sink unit. The assembly comprises 1a combination brush and nozzle through which is transported a washing Water, said brush and nozzle assembly being incorporated in a handle arrangement whereby the housewife may concurrently scrub her dishes while the `arrangement delivers washing water thereto. Additionally, the arrangement is provided with a valve having a manually operable push-button associated therewith for convenient operation by the housewife. The valve is in communication with a supply of cleansing agent in liquid form, such as soap or detergent, whereby upon manual depression of the push-button, the housewife may bleed to the dishwlashing water a measured quantity of cleansing agent which aids in the dish cleaning operation.

With the function in mind, it will be understood that devices of this nature must initially provide a valve comprising a positive and mechanically fool-proof seal so that when the push-button is in the closed condition, the housewife is assured that clear, uncontaminated water will be delivered for the dish rinsing operation. This requirement is dictated by the fact that gummy soap or detergent residue accidentally left deposited on the dishes is per se a health hazard.

It will also be understood that the general flow rate of water utilized in this operation may usually be anticipated within determined ranges. With this thought in mind, adequate valve design should reasonably accommodate ow of detergent to the washing water having inherent therein a controlled maximum dispensing charracteristic per unit of time. This feature avoids uncon- `trolled, excessive detergent use and has the effect of rendering a particular brush dishwashing device more commercially eiiicient.

A further problem encountered relative to the use of this type of equipment -involves :the fact that the relatively thick liquid suspension of the soap, detergent or the like tends to congeal or harden in the equipment during periods of non-use. It has been found that this congealing or :contaminant build-up occurs particularly in the areas of valve ports or orifices and the like. Of course, build-up of congealed or crusted material in these areas alfects the liquid flow characteristic of the entire brush arrangement. It has been found, in some cases, such material completely blocks detergent dispensing passages or orifices effectively rendering the equipment inoperative.

Fountain brush equipment additionally must meet the demands of rather severe and frequent use, therefore, the design should reasonably provide sound mechanical operation While affording the advantages of simplicity in structure and economy in construction.

The herein disclosed invention remedies the mentioned disadvantages -and further provides the referred todesirable characteristics. Generally, the device here under consideration comprises a manually operable valve arrangement having associated therewith an inlet port and an outlet port, said valve arrangement communicating with a source of dispensed liquid such as the mentioned ICC soap, detergent or the like. Within the valve, movable seal means are provided and arranged upon valve operation to mechanically vary the effective fluid transmission apertures of both of said ports.

Specifically, the valve comprises a detergent dispensing line in communication with a central valve chamber. An outlet pont communicates with the mentioned chamber and has its other end in communication with a venturi section of a main water passage. It will be noted that in the design disclosed, the axes of the dispensing line and the outlet passage are in angular relation to each other. The mentioned valve chamber is sealed at one end thereof by a flexible closure element secured to the walls of the chamber. Above the closure element, a manual ypushbutton is provided which extends outboardly of the brush handle to provide easy manual manipulation. The lower end of the push-button is arranged to physically abut the mentioned closure element. Within the chamber, la seal element, which is preferably a cylindrical ball, is normally disposed in closure relationship with the detergent dispensing line by virtue of the biasing action of a compressed helical spring having its opposed ends in engagement with the ball seal land the wall of the chamber. The ball normally is located immediately adjacent the closure element, the latter, as noted, being abut/ted by the lower end of the push-button.

From this brief description 0f the structure, it will be evident that upon manual depression of the push-button, the ball closure seal is caused to rock from its seat in closure relationship with the detergent dispensing line and into mechanical alignment with the Ioutlet port. Upon release of the push-button, the mentioned coil spring is operative to return the ball to closure relationship with the dispensing line and this motion is also effective to return the push-button to its normally raised position.

The above mentioned advantages and others will become apparent when reference is had to the following specification ,and to the associated drawings, wherein:

FIGURE l is a side elevational view of a typical dishwashing brush arrangement;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2 2 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the valve arrangement shown in FIGURE 2.

Directing attention to FIGURE l, it will be again noted that :a typical dishwashing brush assembly is indicated generally at 2. The brush .assembly includes a handle 4 for manual grasping thereof and a multiple passage hose 6 communicating with the end of the handle 4. A nozzle section 8 extends forwardly from the handle 4 and rnay be demountably connected to said handle in any conventional manner as, for example, by threaded bushing 10. A brush arrangement 12 is mounted on the extremity of the nozzle section 8 whereby the brushes 14 thereon are conveniently arranged to engage a dish or the like while concurrently therewith a plurality of fine streams of cleansing Water are deposited on the dish via structure within the brush head 12 Iand in the well known manner.

The hose 6, las noted, conventionally contains a plurality of passages (not shown). It will be understood, however, that one of the passages is connected in the usual manner to a Water supply and communicates with Water passage 16 Within the brush handle 4. Another pas-sage (not shown) of the hose 6 may be con- Ventiorrally connected to any dispensed liquid supply such as a detergent or soap reservoir' or the like. Again, said detergent dispensing line is arnanged to communicate with detergent dispensing line 18 in the handle 4.

Considering FIGURES 2 and 3, it will be understood that the handle 4, which may be of plastic construction as at 20, is provided with a bore 22, said bore 22 communicating with a counterbore 24, the latter being exposed to the surface of the handle 4. The counter-bore 24 may be threaded `as at 26 and receives a push-button mounting collar element 28 by threadable reception therein. The button retaining collar 2S telescopically receives push-button 30 for retention therein, said push-button being preferably made of a suitable plastic material and having a manually 'actuatable cap portion 32 extending above the handle at surface 4. The push-button Si? extends downwardly through the counter-bore 24 and is provided with a pressure knob 34 at the lower end thereof. A flexible closure element 36 is positioned at the lower end of the counter-bore 24 and in shouldered engagement with the inwardly projecting wall which defines the bore or chamber 22. In this position, the ilexible closure element 36 denes the upper element of the cavity 22. The push-button retaining collar 28 pressure engages the annular portion of the closure element 36 to iirmly lock same against the walls of the aperture 22 and to provide a positive seal at that point.

As earlier noted, the dispensing passage 18 is provided in the handle 4 and has its inner end communicating with the chamber 22. At the lower side of the chamber 22, an output port 40 is provided, said output port extending generally downwardly to a point whereat it communicates as at 42 with venturi section 44 of the water passage tube 16. In `the preferred embodiment, the outlet port 40 is provided with a relatively large cross-sectional area at its point of communication with the chamber 22 and tapers downwardly ltherefrom to a relatively smaller cross-sectional area at its point of communication with the venturi section 44 of the water passage 16.

To provide means for controlling flow of dispensed liquid through the valve, a ball 48 is movably positioned within chamber 22. Said ball 4S is preferably formed of non-corrosive material such as stainless `steel or the like. An aperture or cavity Sil is formed in the wall and in opposed aligned relationship with the longitudinal axes of the dispensing passage 18. A helical coiled spring 52 has one end disposed within the cavity 50 and extends outwardly therefrom to project into the chamber 22 whereat it is in pressured engagement with the adjacent side of the ball 48. In the preferred embodiment, the spring S2 may be composed of a suitable material such as stainless steel and is also provided with coils having an increasing pitch diameter whereby its relatively large end receives and cradles a substantial segment of the arcuate surface of the ball 48. It will thus be understood that the spring 52 acts to normally bias the ball 48 into sealing engagement with the dispensing passage 18 as at the seat 54, thereby providing closure of the dispensing passage 18 `and preventing flow therethrough.

Briey describing the operation of the disclosed arrangement, it will be understood that when the brush arrangement iS in use, water is normally owing through the passage 16 to a point of dispensing at the brushes 14. As the water passes through the venturi section 44, a velocity increase results with a concomitant pressure drop in the area of communication with the outlet passage 40.

When the operator desires to dispense a portion of the liquid detergent or the like to the iiowing water, the pushbutton 30 is depressed whereby .the ball 48 is rocked downwardly .to a position shown in phantom lines as at 60 whereat it engages a portion of the peripheral edge of the outlet passage 40 along only one side of the passage. In this position, the outlet passage 40 is not completely closed as a partial annular aperture exists around portions of the ball as shown. When the operator releases pressure on the push-button 30, the spring 52 again rockably biases the ball 43 upwardly to seat same as at 54, thereby closing the passage 18. Concurrently therewith, the biasing action of the spring 52 exerts an upward pressure on the closure element 36 thereby returning the push-button to its maximum upward position.

With the ball in its maximum depressed condition or in any intermediate position thereof, depending on the degree of depression of the push-button 30 whereby the valve is in open condition, it will be understood that the area of low pressure created in the venturi 44 acts to draw liquid detergent, in appropriate amounts, from the passage 18 through the chamber 22, downwardly through the outlet port 4t), and into appropriate `admixture with the moving water in the line 16. This, of course, will result in view of the fact that an area of sub-atmospheric pressure is created in the venturi section 44 while the liquid in the line 1S is at atmospheric pressure.

It will thus be noted that the arrangement described provides a mechanically sound positive seal to initially insure positive closure of the detergent dispensing line 18 except during periods of desired activation. Further, it will be noted that the rocking action of the relatively hard metallic ball 48 from the point of closure with the passage 18 into mechanical relation with the upper edge of the outlet port 46 provides a mechanical `action that operates to dislodge any encrusted detergent material or the like which may form either at the outlet point of the line 1S or at the inlet point of the outlet port 40. By proper size relationship between the ball 48, its seat as at 54, and the dispensing line 13 and the opening of the Outlet port 40, a determined maximum amount of dispensed liquid only may be allowed to pass through the valve arrangement, thereby contributing tothe over all efliciency of the device as above noted.

Further, it will be readily understood that the arrangement is simple and positive in operation in that the single biasing spring functions not only .as a positioning element for the ball 48, but also acts as a spring return for the push-button 30, thereby providing simplicity of design and economy of construction.

Additionally, the tapered cross-section of the outlet passage 40 also provides a venturi effect for the moving dispensed liquid from the passage 18 through the chamber 22 and via the outlet passage port 40, thereby tending to increase its velocity and contributing to a proper admixture with the moving water in the line 16.

It is apparent from FIG. 3 that the valve chamber may be considered as having a tirst axis anda second axis with an inlet port on one side of lthe chamber on the rst axis and an outlet port on one side of the chamber on the second axis, with yielding means on the iirst axis on the side of the chamber opposite from the inlet valve biasing the valve member towards its closed position and with a diaphragm forming a side of the valve chamber adjacent the valve member and intersecting the second axis on the side of the chamber opposite from the outlet port. Thus one side of the valve member or ball 48 faces the diaphragm and the opposite side of the valve member faces the outlet port and is normally spaced from the outlet port. From an inspection of FIG. 3, it is apparent that inward deflection of the diaphragm rocks the ball about a portion of the rim of the outlet port as a fulcrum. It is further apparent from FIG. 3 that the two ports are close together so that as the ball approaches its limit position against a portion of the rim of the outlet port it progressively restricts the outlet port as it progressively opens the inlet port. Thus the valve meters the flow of detergent at a restricted rate throughout the range of manual `adjustment of the valve in contrast with a conventional valve in which the rate of iiow rises steeply as the valve member approaches its limit open position.

The disclosed arrangement is by way of illustration and not limitation and may be subject to modification without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a valve,

a valve chamber having an inlet port and an outlet port, with the axes of the two ports at van angle to each other;

a diaphragm forming a portion of the wall of the chamber and facing towards the outlet port in the general direction of the axis o f the outlet port;

a valve member in said chamber normally closing said inlet port,

one side of said valve member facing the diaphragm, the opposite side of the valve member facing said outlet port and being normally spaced therefrom;

yielding means biasing the valve member towards its closed position; and

means to deflect said diaphragm inward against said valve member to rock the valve member towards the outlet port about a portion of lthe rim of the inlet port as a fulcrum, the rims of the two ports being close together 'and .the portion of the rim of the outlet port that is furtherest from the inlet port being positioned to serve as a stop to limit the displacement movement of the valve member by the diaphragm whereby the Valve member progressively restricts the outlet port as it approaches its limit open position,

2. In a valve for controlling ow of additive uid from a source to a venturi zone in a. uid passage,

a valve chamber having a first axis and a second axis at least approximately perpendicular to each other;

an inlet port on one side of the chamber on the first axis in communication with said source;

an outlet port on one side of the chamber on the second axis in communication with said venturi zone;

a valve member in the chamber norm-ally closing said inlet port;

yielding means on said first axis on the side of the chamber opposite from the inlet port biasing the valve member towards its closed position;

a diaphragm adjacent the valve member and intersecting said second axis on the side of the chamber opposite from the outlet port; and

means to deflect the diaphragm inward against the valve member to rock the valve member towards the outlet port about a portion of the rim of the inlet port as a fulcrum.

3. A combination as set forth in claim 2 in which said outlet port is progressively tapered to accelerate the out- 15 ward flow into the Venturi zone..

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

Claims (1)

1. IN A VALVE, A VALVE CHAMBER HAVING AN INLET PORT AND AN OUTLET PORT, WITH THE AXES OF THE TWO PORTS AT AN ANGLE TO EACH OTHER; A DIAPHRAGM FORMING A PORTION OF THE WALL OF THE CHAMBER AND FACING TOWARDS THE OUTLET PORT IN THE GENERAL DIRECTION OF THE AXIS OF THE OUTLET PORT; A VALVE MEMBER IN SAID CHAMBER NORMALLY CLOSING SAID INLET PORT, ONE SIDE OF SAID VALVE MEMBER FACING THE DIAPHRAGM, THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE VALVE MEMBER FACING SAID OUTLET PORT AND BEING NORMALLY SPACED THEREFROM; YIELDING MEANS BIASING THE VALVE MEMBER TOWARDS ITS CLOSED POSITION; AND

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