Constant-temperature valve element and mixing faucet comprising same

Abstract

The present invention relates to a valve cartridge comprising a housing (10) integrally mounted in a faucet body (3), and a thermostatic element (30) for controlling the position of a spool (20) to adjust the temperature of a mixed fluid formed by mixing a hot fluid and a cold fluid in a chamber (11) of the housing. The cartridge comprises a turbine (50) supported by the housing and arranged in the chamber so as to be rotated about an axis (X-X) of the chamber by the mixed fluid flowing in the chamber to the mixed fluid outlet (14). Said cartridge comprises at least one permanent magnet (60) supported by the turbine so as to rotate together with the turbine about said axis, and at least one coil (70) fixedly arranged on an outer surface (10A) of the housing through which the hot and cold fluids enter the chamber, when the turbine rotates, the permanent magnet generates current in the coil through electromagnetic induction.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a thermostatic valve element. The present invention also relates to a mixing faucet including such a thermostatic valve element.

[0002] The present invention more broadly relates to the field of sanitary devices for distributing fluids, in particular for distributing water, such as showers, bathtubs or washbasins. In order to regulate the temperature of the mixture of a hot fluid and a cold fluid, in particular the temperature of the mixture of hot and cold water in a sanitary device, it is known to use a thermostatic element and a slide valve arranged in a hollow housing. Once the housing is ready for direct integral mounting in the faucet body and has been pre-assembled to the thermostatic element and the slide valve, the corresponding assembly is generally referred to as a "thermostatic valve element", which is suitable for being mounted as a single unit in the faucet body. The thermostatic element includes a piston and a thermosensitive body. The piston is generally fixed relative to the housing and can translate along an axis relative to the thermosensitive body under the action of the thermal expansion of the thermostatic element. The slide valve is rigidly connected to the thermosensitive body. The slide valve is movably mounted along the inner axis of the housing chamber so as to close the first channel and the second channel in mutually opposite proportions. The first channel is axially defined between the slide valve and the housing and is supplied with hot fluid through the hot fluid inlet defined by the housing, and the second channel is axially defined between the slide valve and the housing and is supplied with cold fluid through the cold fluid inlet defined by the housing. The slide valve allows the hot fluid and the cold fluid to enter the chamber through these two channels, mix in the chamber and form a mixed fluid downstream of the slide valve, and the mixed fluid flows along the thermosensitive body of the thermostatic element in the chamber until it exits the housing. By changing the position of the piston relative to the housing, usually through a special control mechanism, the thermostatic regulation temperature, i.e., the equilibrium temperature, can be set, and the temperature of the mixed fluid is regulated around this equilibrium temperature. FR 2 921 709 provides an example of this type of valve element.

[0003] With the development of Internet of Things devices and home automation applications, it is now desirable that, in addition to the main fluid distribution function, sanitary devices can send and / or receive and / or process electronic data, which has led to equipping mixing faucets by adding electrical and / or electronic components. However, the presence of electrical and / or electronic components inside a mixing faucet (especially inside a mixing faucet with a thermostatic valve element) raises various limitations, particularly regarding the sealing conditions of the fluid circulating inside the mixing faucet and the problem of power supply to the electrical and / or electronic components. In this regard, there are hydroelectric power modules: such modules are directly and independently mounted inside the faucet body of the thermostatic valve element, enabling them to provide electrical signals that can be used for various purposes inside the faucet body. In fact, the installation and internal connection of the hydroelectric power module inside the faucet body (especially when there is a thermostatic valve element) are complex.

[0004] WO 2019 / 138027 discloses a thermostatic regulating device available in various embodiments. The thermostatic regulating device includes a body having an internal chamber, and a hot fluid and a cold fluid enter the internal chamber through respective inlets, mix to form a mixed fluid, and then are discharged from the chamber through a mixed fluid outlet. To this end, the thermostatic regulating device includes a thermostatic system for mixing the incoming hot fluid and cold fluid and for regulating the temperature of the discharged mixed fluid. The thermostatic regulating device further includes a turbogenerator for generating an electric current, and the electric current is sent to an electronic circuit through an electrical connection integrated within the body of the thermostatic regulating device. As explained in WO 2019 / 138027, the turbogenerator generally includes a hollow stator and an electromagnetic circuit, and a rotor with blades is disposed within the hollow stator. When the rotor rotates, the electromagnetic circuit generates an output voltage. WO 2019 / 138027 states that its turbogenerator is incorporated within the body of its thermostatic regulating device, or is entirely housed within a sleeve of the above-mentioned body, or is fully installed within a body portion of the above-mentioned body. In fact, WO 2019 / 138027 proposes that the turbogenerator adopt an "axial microturbine", which is precisely designed to be entirely housed within a mixing chamber defined within the body of the thermostatic regulating device.

[0005] The object of the present invention is to propose a novel thermostatic valve core that is particularly practical and efficient.

[0006] To this end, the subject matter of the present invention is a thermostatic valve core as defined in claim 1.

[0007] Another subject matter of the present invention is a mixing faucet as defined in claim 8.

[0008] A basic concept of the present invention is to attempt to integrate a hydraulic turbine with a thermostatic valve core so as to have components suitable for being integrally installed in a faucet body. To this end, the thermostatic valve core according to the present invention simultaneously includes a rotating turbine and at least one coil. The turbine supports at least one permanent magnet and is driven by a mixed fluid flowing downstream of a slide valve whose position is adjusted by a thermostatic element. During the rotation of the turbine, a magnetic field of the permanent magnet induces an electric current in the coil. A housing of the thermostatic valve core, which is designed to be directly integrally installed into the faucet body, simultaneously supports the turbine equipped with the permanent magnet and the coil: the simultaneously supported turbine and permanent magnet are arranged in the housing, more precisely in a chamber of the housing where the mixed fluid flows, while the coil is arranged outside the housing, more precisely on an outer surface of the housing. On the outer surface of the housing, the coil can be effectively sealed to prevent fluid from flowing into and out of the housing, and the coil can be conveniently connected to recover the electric power generated by electromagnetic induction therefrom. As will be described later, aspects related to electrically connecting to one or more coils do not limit the present invention. In any case, the thermostatic valve core according to the present invention combines the constant temperature regulation function of the mixed fluid and the hydraulic power generation function in the form of a unit or a component. This unit or component is both autonomous (i.e., it is sufficient from the perspectives of hydraulics and electricity) and can be installed as a single unit inside the faucet body of a mixing faucet according to the present invention. Therefore, the thermostatic valve core according to the present invention is particularly practical and efficient, especially in the preparation work of equipping the mixing faucet of the present invention with instruments. The presence of the turbine in the chamber, just downstream of the thermostatic element, can advantageously eliminate the need to integrate a turbulator into the thermostatic valve core. In addition, as will be discussed in detail below, the thermostatic valve core according to its embodiments and the corresponding mixing faucet also have other advantages and benefits.

[0009] Other advantageous additional features of the thermostatic valve core according to the present invention and / or the mixing faucet according to the present invention are described in other claims.

[0010] The present invention will be better understood by reading the following description given only by way of example and referring to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0011] - Figure 1 is a perspective view of a valve core according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0012] - Figure 2 is Figure 1 a cross-sectional view taken along plane II, with the thermostatic valve core schematically shown inside a mixing faucet according to the present invention;

[0013] - Figure 3 is Figure 2 a cross-sectional view of the thermostatic valve core taken along line III-III shown in

[0014] - Figure 4 is Figure 1Similar views showing a second embodiment of a thermostatic valve element according to the present invention;

[0015] - Figure 5 is similar to Figure 1 similar views showing a third embodiment of a thermostatic valve element according to the present invention; and

[0016] - Figure 6 is Figure 5 a cross-sectional view of the median plane VI, in which the thermostatic valve element is schematically shown within a mixing faucet according to the present invention.

[0017] Figures 1 to 3 Shows a thermostatic valve element 1 arranged around and along a geometric axis X-X. The thermostatic valve element 1 is adapted to be fitted with means for supplying hot and cold fluids, which two fluids are mixed by the thermostatic valve element 1 to form a mixed fluid. The thermostatic valve element 1 is more particularly adapted to be fitted in a mixing faucet 2, which is only partially and schematically shown in Figure 2 and which distributes the mixed fluid, in particular the mixed water formed by mixing hot and cold water by the thermostatic valve element 1, the mixing faucet 2 belonging to a sanitary device such as a shower, a bathtub or a washbasin.

[0018] Before describing the thermostatic valve element 1 in detail, first attention is drawn to another component of the mixing faucet 2, namely its faucet body 3, within which the thermostatic valve element 1 is arranged in the assembled state of the mixing faucet 2. According to an embodiment which is both practical and in line with the requirements of the sanitary market, and which is implemented within the embodiment considered in the figures, the faucet body 3 has an overall tubular shape, the geometric axis of which is substantially aligned with the axis X-X of the thermostatic valve element 1 in the assembled state of the mixing faucet 2.

[0019] Whatever its embodiment, the faucet body 3 is provided with:

[0020] - a hot fluid inlet 4, which is only schematically indicated by an arrow in Figure 2 and which serves to supply and feed hot fluid into the faucet body 3,

[0021] - a cold fluid inlet 5, which is only schematically indicated by an arrow in Figure 2 and which serves to supply and feed cold fluid into the faucet body 3, and

[0022] - a mixed fluid outlet 6, which is only schematically indicated by an arrow in Figure 2 and which serves to discharge the mixed fluid to the outside of the faucet body 3, which allows the mixed fluid to flow from the inside to the outside of the faucet body 3.

[0023] Likewise, before describing the thermostatic valve element 1 in detail, it should be noted that in Figure 2In the illustrated embodiment, the mixer tap 2 further comprises another component, namely a flow regulating device 7. The flow regulating device 7 is only schematically shown in Figure 2 and its embodiment is not restrictive.

[0024] Regardless of its embodiment, the flow regulating device 7 is arranged within the tap body 3 so as to act on the flow of the mixed fluid within the tap body before the fluid reaches the mixed fluid outlet 6 and is discharged from the tap body 3. The function of the flow regulating device 7 is to regulate the flow rate of the mixed fluid flowing from the thermostatic valve element 1 to the mixed fluid outlet 6 before the mixed fluid exits the tap body 3 through the mixed fluid outlet 6. Thus, the flow regulating device 7 is used for switching between the closed state of the mixer tap 2 (in which the flow rate of the mixed fluid at the mixed fluid outlet 6 is zero, close to dripping) and the open state (in which the mixed fluid flows into the mixed fluid outlet 6 at a non-zero flow rate that allows the mixer tap 2 to be used normally). In fact, when the mixer tap 2 is in the open state, the flow regulating device 7 advantageously enables the regulation of the flow rate value of the mixed fluid flowing into the mixed fluid outlet 6.

[0025] As an example, the flow regulating device 7 is a ceramic disc system, and it should be noted that other embodiments well-known in the art can also be considered.

[0026] In fact, the flow regulating device 7 is advantageously controlled by a button 7.1 or a similar control element, which can be accessed by the user from the outside of the tap body 3 and which is generally movable relative to the tap body 3, in particular rotatable about the axis X-X, for the purpose of controlling the flow regulating device 7.

[0027] The thermostatic valve element 1 comprises a hollow housing 10 as a main external component. The housing 10 is designed to be directly integrally mounted in the tap body 3.

[0028] The housing 10 has an internal space which forms a chamber 11 centered on the axis X-X. In other words, the housing 10 internally defines the chamber 11. The mixing of the hot fluid and the cold fluid for the operation of the thermostatic valve element 1 to form the mixed fluid takes place in the chamber 11.

[0029] The housing 10 is provided with the following which are different from each other:

[0030] - A hot fluid inlet 12 which connects the outside of the housing 10 to the chamber 11 and through which the hot fluid enters the chamber from the outside of the housing 10 (more precisely from the outer surface 10A of the housing 10).

[0031] - A cold fluid inlet 13, which connects the exterior of the housing 10 to the chamber 11 and through which cold fluid enters the chamber from the exterior of the housing 10 (more precisely, from the outer surface 10A of the housing 10), and

[0032] - A mixed fluid outlet 14, which connects the exterior of the housing 10 to the chamber 11 and through which mixed fluid flows from the chamber 11 to the exterior of the housing 10.

[0033] In the embodiment considered in the figure, the housing 10 has a generally tubular shape, which is centered on the axis X-X and whose outer side surface constitutes the outer surface 10A. The hot fluid inlet 12 and the cold fluid inlet 13 each extend transversely or even radially from the chamber 11 towards the axis X-X. As for the mixed fluid outlet 14, it also extends from the chamber 11 parallel to the axis X-X and is even substantially centered on this axis.

[0034] For various reasons, especially regarding the assembly of the thermostatic valve core 1, in the embodiment considered in the figure, the housing 10 advantageously includes two different outer shells 15 and 16, which are arranged in sequence along the axis X-X and may partially overlap each other. The outer shell 15 defines the mixed fluid outlet 14. In the assembled state of the thermostatic valve core 1, the outer shells 15 and 16 are fixedly connected to each other here by a threaded connection. It should be noted that other fixing methods can also be considered. The chamber 11 is jointly defined by the outer shells 15 and 16, and it is formed by the inner space of the outer shell 15 and the inner space of the outer shell 16 in sequence along the axis X-X. Similarly, the outer surface 10A is partially defined by the outer shell 15 and the remaining part is defined by the outer shell 16. In the embodiment considered in the figure, the hot fluid inlet 12 and the cold fluid inlet 13 are defined by the outer shell 16, but alternative embodiments can also be considered in this regard.

[0035] In any case, in the assembled state of the mixing faucet 2, the hot fluid inlet 12, the cold fluid inlet 13 and the mixed fluid outlet 14 are respectively connected to the hot fluid inlet 4, the cold fluid inlet 5 and the mixed fluid outlet 6 within the faucet body 3. These different connections are sealed with respect to the corresponding fluids, and here the sealing is achieved by seals 17.1, seals 17.2, seals 17.3 and seals 17.4. These seals are supported by the housing 10, especially on the outer surface 10A of the housing 10, and in the assembled state of the mixing faucet 2, these seals are pressed (especially radially along the axis X-X) between the housing 10 and the faucet body 3. In the embodiment considered in the figure, the seals 17.1 and the seals 17.2 are supported by the outer shell 15, while the seals 17.3 and the seals 17.4 are supported by the outer shell 16. It should be noted that other layouts are possible in variants not shown.

[0036] The thermostatic valve element 1 further includes a spool valve 20, which is mounted within the chamber 11 so as to be easily movable along the axis X-X between two end positions, namely:

[0037] - A first end position, in which the valve seat 20A of the spool valve 20 is located at the first axial end of the lower end of the spool valve and axially abuts against the valve seat 10B of the housing 10, and the valve seat 10B is located at the outlet level of the hot fluid inlet 12 along the axis X-X and substantially within the chamber 11, and

[0038] - A second end position, in which the valve seat 20B of the spool valve 20 is located at the axial end of the upper end of the spool valve 20 and abuts against the valve seat 10C of the housing 10, and the valve seat 10C is located at the outlet level of the cold fluid inlet 13 along the axis X-X and substantially within the chamber 11.

[0039] In the form of the embodiment considered in the figure, the valve seat 10B of the housing 10 is formed by the outer casing 15, more precisely by the axial end edge of the outer casing 15, while the valve seat 10C is formed by the outer casing 16, more precisely by the internal shoulder of the outer casing 16.

[0040] In any case, the axial dimension of the spool valve 20 that separates its opposite valve seats 20A and 20B from each other is smaller than the axial distance that separates the valve seats 10B and 10C of the housing 10 from each other. Thus, the valve seat 20A of the spool valve 20 and the valve seat 10B of the housing 10 define a hot fluid passage P1 therebetween along the axis X-X, and the hot fluid inlet 12 exits through this hot fluid passage P1 and enters the chamber 11. Similarly, the valve seat 20B of the spool valve 20 and the valve seat 10C of the housing 10 define a cold fluid passage P2 therebetween along the axis X-X, and the cold fluid inlet 13 exits through this cold fluid passage P2 and enters the chamber 11.

[0041] It should be understood that when the spool valve 20 is in its first end position, the spool valve closes the hot fluid passage P1 and thus completely closes (to near-dripping) the hot fluid inlet within the chamber 11, while opening the cold fluid inlet within the chamber as widely as possible by opening the cold fluid passage P2. Conversely, when the spool valve 20 is in its second end position, the spool valve closes the cold fluid passage P2 and thus completely closes (to near-dripping) the cold fluid inlet within the chamber 11, while opening the hot fluid inlet within the chamber as widely as possible through the hot fluid passage P1. Of course, depending on the position of the spool valve 20 along the axis X-X between the first end position and the second end position, the respective closures of the hot fluid passage P1 and the cold fluid passage P2 vary inversely, which is equivalent to saying that the amounts of hot fluid and cold fluid within the chamber 11 are adjusted by the spool valve 20 in inverse proportions according to its axial position. In Figure 2In the figure, the spool valve 20 is in an intermediate position between the first end position and the second end position. In addition, the flow of the hot fluid in the hot fluid passage P1 and the flow of the cold fluid in the cold fluid passage P2 are respectively indicated by arrows F1 and F2, while the flow of the mixed fluid in the chamber 11 (especially downstream of the spool valve 20 until the mixed fluid outlet 14) is indicated by arrow F3.

[0042] To drive the spool valve 20 to move along the central axis X-X, the thermostatic spool 1 includes a thermostatic element 30, which includes a thermosensitive body 31 and a piston 32. The thermosensitive body 31 and the piston 3 are substantially centered on the axis X-X in the assembled state of the thermostatic spool 1. The thermostatic element 30 is designed such that its thermosensitive body 31 and its piston 32 can move relative to each other along the axis X-X. This relative movement is controlled by the temperature change applied to the thermosensitive body 31 and is driven by the thermostatic element 30. For this purpose, the thermosensitive body 31 includes a thermally expandable material. During the expansion process, the thermally expandable material triggers the piston 32 to extend relative to the thermosensitive body 31, and during the contraction process, the thermally expandable material allows the piston to retract relative to the thermosensitive body. The thermostatic element 30 can be considered in other thermally driven forms. In all cases, in order to make the relative axial movement between the thermosensitive body 31 and the piston 32 be controlled by the temperature of the mixed fluid contained in the chamber 11, the thermosensitive body 31 is at least partially arranged in the chamber 11 so as to be in contact with the mixed fluid.

[0043] The thermosensitive body 31 is fixed to the spool valve 20, for example, by threaded fastening. It should be emphasized that the implementation of the rigid connection between the spool valve 20 and the thermosensitive body 31 is not restrictive, and most importantly, this rigid connection extends to a kinematic connection from one to the other, aiming to move the spool valve so as to close the hot fluid passage P1 and the cold fluid passage P2 in opposite proportions. The piston 32 is connected to the housing 10 by a mechanism labeled 40 and will be described in detail below.

[0044] Assuming that the mechanism 40 maintains the piston 32 in a fixed position relative to the housing 10 along the axis X-X, the temperature of the mixed fluid at the mixed fluid outlet 14 is regulated in a constant temperature manner by the spool valve 20 and the thermostat element 30. Indeed, under this assumption, the temperature of the mixed fluid directly depends on the respective amounts of the hot fluid and the cold fluid entering the chamber 11 through the hot fluid passage P1 and the cold fluid passage P2 (which are more or less closed by the spool valve 20 as described above). If the supply of the hot fluid and / or the cold fluid to the thermostat spool 1 is disturbed and, for example, the temperature of the mixed fluid increases, the piston 32 will extend axially relative to the thermosensitive body 31, which thus causes the thermosensitive body 31 and the spool valve 20 to move in the direction of the mixed fluid outlet 14: the proportion of the hot fluid circulating through the hot fluid passage P1 decreases, while, conversely, the proportion of the cold fluid circulating through the cold fluid passage P2 increases, which results in a decrease in the temperature of the mixed fluid. When the temperature of the mixed fluid decreases, the opposite reaction occurs, and it should be noted that a compression spring 33 is provided for resetting the thermosensitive body 31 and the piston 32 towards each other when the piston retracts, for example, when the thermally expandable material included in the thermosensitive body 31 contracts. In fact, it should be understood that, on the one hand, the reset spring 33 is axially arranged between the housing 10 (or a component fixedly connected thereto) and the thermosensitive body 31 (or a component fixedly connected thereto). Here, the reset spring 33 is thus axially arranged between the outer casing 15 and the thermosensitive body 31. The temperature correction of the mixed fluid results in a regulation balance of the temperature of the mixed fluid at the constant temperature regulation temperature, and this regulation balance depends on the position of the piston 32 along the axis X-X applied by the mechanism 40.

[0045] The mechanism 40 can be used to adjust the value of the constant temperature regulation temperature and thereby control the temperature of the fluid by acting on the axial position of the piston 32. The mechanism 40 is supported by the housing 10, here by the outer casing 16. In the example of the embodiment shown in the figure, the mechanism 40 includes a stop 41 against which the end of the piston 32 (axially opposite to the thermosensitive body 31) abuts axially, and this stop is mounted to slide along the axis X-X within a nut 42, and an overtravel spring 43 is axially inserted between the stop 41 and the nut 42. Thus, the axial position of the nut 42 within the housing 10 and the height of the stop 41 can be adjusted by the adjusting screw 44, and the adjusting screw 44 is centered on the axis X-X, and the end thereof axially opposite to the thermostat element 30 projects from the housing 10 (here the outer casing 16) so as to be rotationally connected to an operating handle (not shown in the figure). At its end facing the thermostat element 30, the adjusting screw 44 is screwed into the nut 42, and the nut 42 is generally rotationally connected to the housing 10 (here the outer casing 16) around the axis X-X by a spline engagement method. Therefore, when the screw 44 rotates about its own axis X-X, the nut 42 moves axially, which triggers the corresponding drive of the stop 41 by means of the overtravel spring 43. It should be emphasized that the stiffness of the overtravel spring 43 is substantially much greater than that of the reset spring 33.

[0046] The structure and operation of mechanism 40 are not described further herein, as it is understood that the reader may refer to FR 2869 087. It should be noted that the embodiments of mechanism 40 are not limited thereto: other embodiments are known in the prior art, such as in FR 2 921 709, FR 2 774 740 and FR 2 870611. Additionally, as a variant (not shown), if the temperature value of the mixture of the hot fluid and the cold fluid regulated by the spool valve 20 does not need to be adjusted, mechanism 40 can be omitted from the thermostatic valve core 1, and then the piston 32 is fixedly connected to the housing 10.

[0047] In addition to the spool valve 20 and the thermostatic element 30 (which, as described in detail above, endows the thermostatic valve core 1 with the thermostatic regulation function), the thermostatic valve core 1 further includes other components that endow it with a hydraulic power generation function and will be discussed in detail below.

[0048] Thus, the thermostatic valve core 1 includes a turbine 50, which is designed to partially convert the flow energy of the mixed fluid into mechanical energy by the rotation of the turbine 50 itself. More precisely, the turbine 50 is supported by the housing 10 so as to be able to rotate about the axis X-X, and the turbine 50 is arranged in the chamber 11 so as to rotate relative to the housing 10 by the mixed fluid flowing in the chamber towards the mixed fluid outlet 14.

[0049] As Figure 2 clearly visible, the turbine 50 is arranged in the chamber 11, along the flow direction of the mixed fluid in the chamber 11, downstream of the spool valve 20 and the thermostatic element 30 and upstream of the mixed fluid outlet 14. Thus, according to a practical and effective arrangement, the turbine 50 is supported by the outer shell 15 of the housing 10 and is able to rotate about the axis X-X on the outer shell 15. For this purpose, in the embodiment envisaged in the figure, the outer shell 15 advantageously includes a tubular wall 15.1 centered on the axis X-X, and the turbine 50 is coaxially arranged therein. According to the preferred dimensional design for improving the driving performance of the turbine 50 by the mixed fluid flowing in the tubular wall 15.1, the inner diameter of the tubular wall 15.1 is substantially adjusted to the outer diameter of the turbine 50, as Figure 3Clearly visible; in other words, the channel cross-section of the tubular wall 15.1 is substantially adjusted to the cross-section swept by the turbine 50 during rotation within the axial range where the turbine 50 is located. In addition, the housing 15 advantageously includes bearings 15.2 and 15.3, which support and guide the central hub 51 of the turbine 50 to rotate around the axis X-X, and the central hub 51 is aligned with the axis X-X. Here, the bearings 15.2 and 15.3 are respectively located at the axial two ends of the central hub 51, and the bearing 15.3 is substantially located at the mixed fluid outlet 14 along the axis X-X. The bearings 15.2 and 15.3 are arranged within the tubular wall 15.1 and are fixedly connected to the tubular wall 15.1 by any suitable means (here by threaded connection). In fact, the bearings 15.2 and 15.3 are perforated to allow the mixed fluid in the chamber 11 (especially in the direction along the axis X-X) to flow towards the mixed fluid outlet 14; the corresponding holes of the bearing 15.3 are visible in Figure 3 while in Figure 2 the corresponding holes of the bearings 15.2 and 15.3 are schematically shown by dashed lines.

[0050] Regardless of the implementation of the turbine 50 and its arrangement in the chamber 11, the specific features related to the rotation of the turbine 50 driven by the mixed fluid flowing in the chamber 11 are not restrictive. In this regard, according to a practical and reliable implementation (as shown in the figure), the turbine 50 is provided with blades 52 or elements with similar functions, and the flow of the mixed fluid in the chamber 11 exerts a mechanical action on the blades 52 or elements with similar functions. Here, the blades 52 or elements with similar functions extend laterally outward from the central hub 51 along the axis X-X.

[0051] Also related to the hydroelectric power generation function mentioned above, the thermostatic valve core 1 includes a permanent magnet 60 and a coil 70, which together constitute an alternator for generating electricity.

[0052] The permanent magnet 60 (here set to three, but its quantity is not limited) is supported by the turbine 50 so as to rotate around the axis X-X together with the turbine 50. According to a simple and practical implementation shown in the figure, the permanent magnet 60 is fixedly supported by the turbine 50, especially to rotate around the axis X-X together with the turbine 50. For this purpose, various assembly methods can be adopted between the turbine 50 and the permanent magnet 60, especially by overmolding, matching shapes, direct installation mechanical anchoring, etc. In any case, the permanent magnet 60 can be advantageously arranged on the outer periphery of the turbine 50, maintaining the same radial spacing from the axis X-X, and regularly distributed around the axis X-X, as Figure 3 clearly visible.

[0053] As Figures 1 to 3It is clearly visible that the coil 70 is fixedly supported by the housing 10, and the coil 70 is arranged on the outer surface 10A of the housing 10 such that when the turbine 50 rotates relative to the housing 10 about the axis X-X, an electric current is generated in the coil 70 by electromagnetic induction of the permanent magnet 60. In other words, during the rotation of the turbine 50, the magnetic field generated by the permanent magnet 60 induces an electric current in the coil 70, and this electromagnetic induction itself is well known. In fact, the electric current generated in the coil 70 is an alternating current. It should be noted that in the example shown in the figure, two coils 70 are provided, and they are diametrically opposed with respect to the axis X-X. However, the number of coils 70 does not limit the present invention. It should be noted that it is well known that the number affects the characteristics of the electric current generated in the actually existing coils 70, especially the phase characteristics.

[0054] According to a practical and effective arrangement shown in the figure, the coil 70 is supported by the outer shell 15 of the housing 10 and fixedly installed on a part of the outer surface 10A defined by the outer shell 15. More specifically, as Figure 2 and Figure 3 It is clearly visible that the coil 70 and the permanent magnet 60 are arranged radially on both sides of the tube wall 15.1 of the outer shell 15 along the axis X-X. In addition, the radial thickness of the tube wall 15.1 advantageously corresponds to the radial spacing between the coil 70 and the permanent magnet 60 (excluding the assembly and operation clearances). Of course, in order for electromagnetic induction to produce its effect, the tube wall 15.1 is made of a material that is transparent to the magnetic field generated by the permanent magnet 60, such as a plastic material.

[0055] In any case, the coil 70 is advantageously arranged in the dry zone Z10 defined by the housing 10 (here the outer shell 15) on the outer surface 10A. The dry zone Z10 is sealed here against the hot fluid, cold fluid and mixed fluid by the seal 17.1 and the seal 17.2. In the assembled state of the mixing faucet 2, the dry zone Z10 is closed by the faucet body 3 and thus forms a compartment of the internal space of the faucet body 3, which is sealed and isolated from the rest of the internal space.

[0056] During operation, once the mixed fluid flows in the chamber 11 towards the mixed fluid outlet 14, the corresponding mixed fluid flow causes the turbine 50 to rotate, thereby driving the permanent magnet 70 to rotate about the axis X-X, and inducing an electric current in the coil 70 by electromagnetic induction.

[0057] The electric power generated in the coil 70 can have various uses, and this aspect does not limit the present invention. In Figures 1 to 3 the shown embodiment, the coils 70 are connected in series with each other and their two terminals are respectively connected to two electrical connection pins 80 through wire connections. The electrical connection pins 80 (which are powered by the coil 70 and are advantageously arranged in the dry zone Z10) can be connected to a plurality of other electrical and / or electronic components for power supply (Figures 1 to 3 is not shown).

[0058] Figure 4 A thermostatic valve element 101 is shown, which is functionally similar to the thermostatic valve element 1, and in this regard, it includes, among other things, a housing 110, which is functionally or even structurally similar to the housing 10. The housing 110 defines a dry zone Z110 on its outer surface, and the dry zone Z110 is functionally or even structurally similar to the dry zone Z10. The thermostatic valve element 101 differs from the thermostatic valve element 1 in the arrangement related to the electrical and / or electronic components powered by the hydroelectric power generation function of the thermostatic valve element 101.

[0059] More specifically, the thermostatic valve element 101 includes a coil 170, which is functionally or even structurally similar to the coil 70, Figure 4 and only one coil 170 is visible therein. The terminals of the coil 170 are connected to the conductors of a printed circuit 181 arranged in the dry zone Z110. Here, the printed circuit 181 includes an insulating bracket mechanically supported by the outer surface of the housing 110.

[0060] In addition, the thermostatic valve element 101 includes one or more temperature sensors, and here two are provided, respectively labeled 182 and 183. The sensors 182 and 183 are supported by the housing 110 and pass through the housing 110 in a sealed manner. As Figure 4 is clearly visible, the sensor 182 extends from the end 182.1 to the end 182.2 substantially parallel to the axis X-X here. The end 182.1 interacts by contacting the hot fluid. The end 182.1 is located at the hot fluid inlet or just upstream thereof. The end 182.2 appears in the dry zone Z110, and it provides an electrical signal reflecting the influence of the temperature on the end 182.1. Therefore, the sensor 182 can measure the temperature of the hot fluid entering the thermostatic valve element 101. The sensor 183 extends transversely along the axis X-X from the end 183.1 to the end 183.2 here. The end 183.1 interacts by contacting the mixed fluid. The end 183.1 is located at the mixed fluid outlet or its upstream. The end 183.2 appears in the dry zone Z110, and it provides an electrical signal reflecting the influence of the temperature on the end 183.1. Therefore, the sensor 183 can measure the temperature of the mixed fluid leaving the thermostatic valve element 101. This arrangement of the temperature sensors 182 and 183 makes full use of the integrated arrangement of the hydroelectric power generation functional components of the thermostatic valve element 101. Here, the electrical signals provided by the sensors 182 and 183 respectively are transmitted to the printed circuit 181.

[0061] Thus, the presence of the dry zone Z110 accommodating the coil 170 enables the thermostatic valve element 101 to reliably and efficiently integrate and power the printed circuit 181, the temperature sensors 182 and 183. This reflects the diversity of the electrical and / or electronic components that can be integrated in the thermostatic valve element according to the invention.

[0062] Figure 5 and Figure 6 Fig. shows a thermostatic valve element 201 and a mixing faucet 202, which are functionally similar to the thermostatic valve element 1 and the mixing faucet 2 respectively. In this regard, the thermostatic valve element 201 includes, among other things, a housing 210 and a turbine 250, which are functionally, or even structurally, similar to the housing 10 and the turbine 50 of the thermostatic valve element 1 respectively. The housing 210 defines, among other parts, a dry zone Z210, a chamber 211 and a mixed fluid outlet 214, which are similar to the dry zone Z10, the chamber 11 and the mixed fluid outlet 14 respectively. In addition, the housing 210 includes an outer housing 215, which is functionally similar to the outer housing 15 and includes a tubular wall 215.1, which is similar to the tubular wall 15.1. In addition, the mixing faucet 202 includes, among other things, a faucet body 203 and a flow regulating device 207, which are similar to the faucet body 3 and the regulating device 7 of the mixing faucet 2 respectively.

[0063] The mixing faucet 202 equipped with the thermostatic valve element 201 differs from the mixing faucet 2 equipped with the thermostatic valve element 1 in two different aspects, which will be described in detail below and which are independent of each other.

[0064] Regarding the first of these two aspects, the mixing faucet 202 includes a connector 208, which is arranged inside the faucet body 203 and connects the mixed fluid outlet 214 to the flow regulating device 207 by guiding the mixed fluid. Thus, the function of the connector 208 is to guide the mixed fluid between the thermostatic valve element 201 and the flow regulating device 207 inside the faucet body 203, especially without the need to rely on channels integrated into the wall thickness of the faucet body 203, as manufacturing such channels can be complex and expensive.

[0065] In addition, the connector 208, as an integral part, includes a bearing 208.1, which performs the same function as the bearing 15.3 of the thermostatic valve element 1. In other words, the bearing 208.1 integrated in the connector 208 supports and guides the central hub of the turbine 250 to rotate about the axis X-X, while the bearing 208.1 is fixedly arranged inside the pipe wall 215.1 and allows the mixed fluid flowing in the chamber 211 to flow towards the mixed fluid outlet 214. In fact, the bearing 208.1 is located at the mixed fluid outlet 214 along the axis X-X.

[0066] Regarding the second of the above two aspects, the flow regulating device 207 includes a control element 207.1 which is functionally similar to the control element 7.1 and is arranged to move relative to the faucet body 203, in particular to rotate about the axis X-X, for the purpose of controlling the flow regulating device 207. The flow regulating device 207 further includes a stop element 207.2 which is fixedly connected to the faucet body 203 by any suitable means and which forms a stop for the control element 207.1 when the control element 207.1 moves relative to the faucet body 203. The stop element 207.2 is generally used to block the movement of the control element 207.1 in a prominent position, for example to represent a water-saving position, in which position the prominent position can be overridden by a mechanical operation of the user so that the control element 207.1 moves past the stop element 207.2.

[0067] In addition, the mixer faucet 202 includes a connection element 209 which is clearly visible in Figure 5 and which, as Figure 6 shown, extends from the dry zone Z210 within the faucet body 203 to the stop element 207.2. The connection element 209 is capable of transmitting light waves and / or electromagnetic waves (such as WiFi waves or Bluetooth waves) to the stop element 207.2, the light waves and / or electromagnetic waves being generated by electrical and / or electronic components located in the dry zone Z210 and being powered by the hydroelectric power function of the valve element 201. As a non-limiting example, the connection element 209 includes a waveguide. It should be understood that regardless of its implementation, the connection element 209 is capable of transmitting the light and / or electromagnetic waves generated in the dry zone Z210 to the region of the mixer faucet 2, namely the stop element 207.2 of the flow regulating device 207, where these waves can be easily used and / or transmitted outside the faucet body 203 while being greatly less obstructed due to the presence of the faucet body 203.

[0068] Finally, various arrangements and variants of the thermostatic valve elements 1, 101 and 201 and of the mixer faucets 2 and 202 can be envisaged. Examples include:

[0069] - The arrangements for the thermostatic valve elements 1, 101 and 201 respectively are also applicable to other thermostatic valve elements; and / or

[0070] - As an optional arrangement, the thermostatic valve element 1, thermostatic valve element 101 or thermostatic valve element 201 includes an overflow valve at its mixed fluid outlet to prevent the turbine from rotating at too high a speed when the flow rate of the mixed fluid in the chamber is high; for example, the overflow valve includes a rubber sealing ring, and the shape of the sealing ring changes according to the pressure of the mixed fluid, so as to reduce the flow rate passing through when the pressure of the mixed fluid increases.

Claims

1. A thermostatic valve core (1; 101; 201), comprising: - A housing (10; 110; 210), which is adapted for direct integral mounting in a faucet body (3; 203) and has an internal space forming a chamber (11; 211), the chamber (11; 211) defining an axis (X-X) and hot fluid and cold fluid being mixed in the chamber to form a mixed fluid, wherein the housing is provided with a hot fluid inlet (12), a cold fluid inlet and a mixed fluid outlet (14; 214), the hot fluid enters the chamber from the outer surface (10A) of the housing through the hot fluid inlet (12), the cold fluid enters the chamber from the outer surface of the housing through the cold fluid inlet, and the mixed fluid flows out of the chamber through the mixed fluid outlet (14; 214) to the outside of the housing, - A thermostatic element (30), which includes a thermosensitive body (31) and a piston (32), the thermosensitive body (31) is arranged in the chamber to be in contact with the mixed fluid, the piston (32) is connected to the housing, and the thermosensitive body and the piston move relative to each other along the axis according to the temperature of the mixed fluid, - A slide valve (20) for adjusting the temperature of the mixed fluid, the slide valve is connected to the thermosensitive body so as to move in the chamber along the axis, thereby closing the hot fluid passage (P1) and the cold fluid passage (P2) in mutually opposite proportions, the hot fluid passage (P1) and the cold fluid passage (P2) are respectively defined between the slide valve and the housing along the axis, the hot fluid passage is supplied with hot fluid from the hot fluid inlet, and the cold fluid passage is supplied with cold fluid from the cold fluid inlet, and - A turbine (50; 250), which is supported by the housing (10; 110; 210) so as to rotate about the axis (X-X), and is arranged in the chamber (11; 211) such that the mixed fluid flowing through the chamber towards the mixed fluid outlet (14; 214) causes it to rotate relative to the housing, characterized in that the thermostatic valve core (1; 101; 201) comprises: - At least one permanent magnet (60), which is supported by the turbine (50; 250) so as to rotate with the turbine about the axis, and - At least one coil (70; 170), which is fixedly supported by the housing (10; 110; 210) and is arranged on the outer surface (10A) of the housing such that when the turbine rotates relative to the housing about the axis (X-X), at least one permanent magnet (60) generates an electric current in at least one coil by electromagnetic induction.

2. The thermostatic valve core according to claim 1, wherein the housing (10; 110; 210) defines a dry zone (Z10; Z110; Z210) on its outer surface (10A), the dry zone is sealed with respect to the hot fluid, the cold fluid and the mixed fluid, and at least one coil (70; 170) is arranged in the dry zone.

3. The thermostatic valve element according to claim 2, wherein the thermostatic valve element (1; 101; 201) further comprises one or more electrical and / or electronic components (80; 181, 182, 183), which are at least partially arranged in the dry area (Z10; Z110; Z210) and are powered by at least one coil (70; 170).

4. The thermostatic valve element according to claim 3, wherein the one or more electrical and / or electronic components comprise: - electrical connection pins (80), which are correspondingly connected to the terminals of the at least one coil (70), and / or - conductors of a printed circuit (181), and / or - temperature sensors (182, 183), which are supported by the housing (110) and pass through the housing in a sealed manner, extending from a first end (182.1, 183.1) that interacts by contacting a hot fluid, a cold fluid, or a mixed fluid to a second end (182.2, 183.2) that appears in the dry area (Z110), and which provide an electrical signal reflecting the influence of the temperature on the first end.

5. The thermostatic valve element according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing (10; 110; 210) comprises a first housing and a second housing (15, 16; 215), which are different from each other and are fixedly connected to each other in sequence along an axis (X-X), wherein the hot fluid passage (P1) is axially defined between the spool valve (20) and one of the first housing and the second housing, and the cold fluid passage (P2) is axially defined between the spool valve and the second housing, and wherein the first housing (15; 215) defines a mixed fluid outlet (14; 214) and simultaneously supports a turbine (50; 250) and at least one coil (70; 170).

6. The thermostatic valve element according to claim 5, wherein the first housing (15; 215) comprises a tubular wall (15.1; 215.1), which is centered on the axis (X-X), the turbine (50; 250) is arranged inside the tubular wall, and the tubular wall is transparent to the magnetic field generated by at least one permanent magnet (60), and wherein the at least one permanent magnet and the at least one coil (70; 170) are radially arranged on both sides of the tubular wall along the axis (X-X).

7. The thermostatic valve element according to claim 6, wherein the first housing (15; 215) further comprises bearings (15.2, 15.3; 208.1), which: - are respectively fixedly arranged inside the tubular wall (15.1; 215.1), while allowing the mixed fluid flowing in the chamber (11; 211) to pass through to the mixed fluid outlet (14; 214), and - support and guide the central hub (51) of the turbine (50; 250) to rotate around the axis (X-X).

8. A mixing faucet (2; 202), comprising: - the thermostatic valve element (1; 101; according to any one of the preceding claims 201)， - a faucet body (3; 203), a thermostatic valve element is arranged inside it such that the hot fluid inlet (12) is connected to the hot fluid inlet (4), the hot fluid enters the faucet body through the hot fluid inlet (4), the cold fluid inlet (13) is connected to the cold fluid inlet (5), the cold fluid enters the faucet body through the cold fluid inlet (5), and the mixed fluid outlet (14; 214) is connected to the mixed fluid outlet (6), and the mixed fluid flows from the inside of the faucet body to the outside through the mixed fluid outlet (6), and - a flow rate regulating device (7; 207), which is arranged inside the faucet body (3; 203) and is suitable for regulating the flow rate of the mixed fluid conveyed from the thermostatic valve element to the mixed fluid outlet.

9. The mixing faucet according to claim 8, wherein the mixing faucet (202) further comprises a connecting piece (208), the connecting piece is arranged inside the faucet body (203) and connects the mixed fluid outlet (214) to the flow rate regulating device (207) by guiding the mixed fluid, wherein the thermostatic valve element (201) is the thermostatic valve element according to claim 7, and one bearing (208.1) is integrated in the connecting piece (208).

10. The mixing faucet according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the flow rate regulating device (207) comprises: - a control element (207.1), which moves relative to the faucet body (203), and - a stop element (207.2), which is fixedly connected to the faucet body and forms a stop for the control element when the control element moves relative to the faucet body, wherein the thermostatic valve element (201) is the thermostatic valve element according to any one of claims 2 to 4, and wherein the mixing faucet (202) further comprises a connecting element (209), the connecting element extends from the dry area (Z210) to the stop element (207.2) inside the faucet body, and is suitable for transmitting light and / or electromagnetic waves generated in the dry area to the stop element.

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