A valve core with cooling function

Abstract

This utility model provides a valve core with a cold water discharge function, comprising a main body, a moving ceramic plate, a fixed ceramic plate, an operating part, and a drainage structure. The main body has an inlet channel, an outlet channel, and a drain channel. The operating part switches between the following states: a first state connects the inlet and outlet channels for normal water supply; a second state closes the inlet channel and connects the outlet and drain channels to discharge residual water from the pipe. The moving ceramic plate moves laterally driven by the operating part, cooperating with the fixed ceramic plate to switch the flow channels. This application effectively solves the problems of dripping water after the top spray is closed and cold water residue in the pipe, improving user comfort, reducing scale formation, and extending product life.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to a valve core with a cooling function. Background Technology

[0002] In modern bathroom fixtures, overhead showerheads are widely used in homes and public places due to their comfort and convenience. However, existing overhead showerhead systems have some significant technical problems during use, affecting user experience and long-term performance. In particular, after the showerhead is turned off, residual water in the pipes cannot drain promptly, causing water dripping for a period of time. This not only wastes water but also easily leads to water accumulation in the pipes, which can breed bacteria or build up scale over time, affecting water quality and the lifespan of the equipment.

[0003] Furthermore, the problem of residual cold water in the pipes is particularly prominent in winter or cold environments. When the overhead shower is turned on again, cold water flows out directly, causing discomfort to the user, especially in low temperatures. Although some thermostatic faucets now incorporate a cold water venting function, these structures usually require the cold water to be vented before the hot water comes out, prolonging the waiting time and failing to completely solve the problem of residual water in the pipes. Additionally, most use temperature-sensing elements, which can easily lead to higher overall costs and require more complex water circuit structures. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This utility model discloses a valve core with a cooling function, which aims to solve the problems mentioned above.

[0005] The present invention adopts the following solution:

[0006] A valve core with a cooling function includes a main body containing an inlet channel, an outlet channel, and a drain channel. The outlet channel is configured to connect with either the inlet channel or the drain channel. The main body also has an operating part that allows switching between a first state and a second state, and this operating part is user-operable. In the first state, the inlet channel connects with the outlet channel, allowing inlet water to flow through a pipe to an outlet device for discharge, while the drain channel does not allow water flow. In the second state, the inlet channel no longer supplies water to the pipe, the outlet channel and drain channel connect, and the water in the pipe flows back to the outlet channel and then is discharged through the drain channel, thus draining the water from the pipe.

[0007] In this embodiment of the utility model, the main body is provided with a moving ceramic plate and a fixed ceramic plate. The moving ceramic plate can move laterally relative to the fixed ceramic plate under the operation of the operated part. The fixed ceramic plate is provided with a water inlet hole, a water outlet hole and a drain hole. The moving ceramic plate is provided with a recessed water passage cavity. The water passage cavity can connect the water inlet hole and the water outlet hole, or the water passage cavity can connect the water outlet hole and the drain hole.

[0008] In this embodiment of the utility model, one end of the operating part is disposed inside the main body, and the other end of the operating part is disposed outside the main body for the user to operate; the operating part is configured to swing relative to the main body, so that one end of the operating part drives the moving ceramic piece to move laterally relative to the fixed ceramic piece.

[0009] In this embodiment of the utility model, a mounting base is provided inside the main body, and a lug is provided on the mounting base. A slot that can be adapted to the lug is provided inside the main body. The cooperation between the lug and the slot can prevent the mounting base from rotating relative to the main body. The operating part is provided with a channel that can be inserted into the mounting base, and the operating part is connected to the mounting base via a pin.

[0010] In this embodiment of the utility model, a movable block is also included, which is configured to move laterally in sync with the moving ceramic tile. A connecting hole is provided in the middle of the movable block, and one end of the operating part can extend into the connecting hole. The swing of the operating part relative to the main body can drive the movable block to move laterally.

[0011] In this embodiment of the utility model, the outer periphery of the movable block is provided with a snap-fit ​​block facing the moving ceramic piece, and the outer periphery of the moving ceramic piece is provided with a snap-fit ​​groove. The snap-fit ​​block can be inserted into the snap-fit ​​groove so that the movable block can move synchronously with the moving ceramic piece. The mounting base is provided with a guide groove on the side facing the movable block, and the upper end of the movable block can be disposed in the guide groove so that the moving ceramic piece can move laterally within the main body.

[0012] In this embodiment of the utility model, the outer periphery of the fixed ceramic piece is provided with a groove, and the inner periphery of the main body is provided with a rib. The rib can be adapted to connect with the groove so that the fixed ceramic piece can be fixed laterally in the main body.

[0013] In this embodiment of the utility model, the mounting base is further provided with two gear grooves, and the operating part is provided with a countersunk hole. A matching spring and a ball are disposed in the countersunk hole, and the ball can be placed in the gear groove to indicate whether the main body is in the first state or the second state.

[0014] In this embodiment of the utility model, the main body includes a cooperating upper shell and a lower shell, and the fixed ceramic plate can be horizontally fixed in the lower shell; the lower shell is provided with a water inlet, a water outlet and a drain outlet, the water inlet can form the water inlet channel with the water inlet hole, the water outlet can form the water outlet channel with the water outlet hole, and the drain outlet can form the drain outlet channel with the drain hole; a sealing ring is also provided between the lower shell and the fixed ceramic plate.

[0015] In this embodiment of the utility model, the upper end of the lower housing is provided with an upwardly protruding connecting piece, the connecting piece is provided with a card interface, and the periphery of the upper housing is provided with a card block, the card block can be engaged in the card interface; the lower end of the card block is provided with a first guide slope, and the upper end of the connecting piece is provided with a second guide slope, the first guide slope can be adapted to the second guide slope to facilitate the card block being guided into the card interface.

[0016] This utility model provides a valve core with a cold water drainage function, which has the following beneficial effects: First, by connecting the water outlet channel and the water outlet channel when closed, residual water in the pipe is effectively drained, avoiding prolonged dripping after the top spray is turned off, thus improving the user experience; Second, hot water is output directly without waiting for cold water to drain during the next use, which significantly improves the comfort of use, especially in low-temperature environments; Finally, timely drainage reduces the time water accumulates in the pipe, lowers the possibility of scale formation, and extends the product's service life.

[0017] In summary, this invention addresses the shortcomings of existing technologies through innovative flow channel design and operating mechanism, providing a more efficient and comfortable user experience, while also possessing promising market application prospects. Attached Figure Description

[0018] To more clearly illustrate the technical solution of this utility model, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0019] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present utility model.

[0020] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the first state of this utility model embodiment.

[0021] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the second state of this utility model embodiment.

[0022] Figure 4 This is an explosion illustration in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1.

[0023] Figure 5 This is an explosion illustration in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 . Detailed Implementation

[0024] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this utility model clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this utility model, not all embodiments.

[0025] Referring to the accompanying drawings, the structure of the main body 1 and the layout of its internal core components are described first. The main body 1 consists of an upper shell 27 and a lower shell 28, which are tightly connected by a locking block 35 engaging with a locking interface 34 on a connecting piece 33. During assembly, the first guide slope 36 at the lower end of the locking block 35 matches the second guide slope 37 at the upper end of the connecting piece 33, facilitating the smooth insertion of the locking block 35 into the locking interface 34 and ensuring a secure connection between the upper and lower shells. A ceramic plate 7 is horizontally fixed inside the lower shell 28. The outer periphery of the ceramic plate 7 has a groove 21 that engages with the protruding ribs 22 on the inner wall of the lower shell 28, firmly confining the ceramic plate 7 within the shell and preventing displacement. The ceramic plate 7 has an inlet hole 8, an outlet hole 9, and a drain hole 10. Meanwhile, the lower housing 28 also has an inlet 29, an outlet 30, and a drain hole 31. These interfaces, together with the corresponding holes on the ceramic plate 7, form a complete flow channel system, namely an inlet flow channel 2, an outlet flow channel 3, and a drain flow channel 4. A sealing ring 32 is installed between the lower housing 28 and the ceramic plate 7 to ensure the sealing between the flow channels and prevent water leakage.

[0026] The moving ceramic plate 6 is located above the fixed ceramic plate 7 and can move laterally relative to the fixed ceramic plate 7 under the drive of the operating part 5. The moving ceramic plate 6 has a recessed water passage cavity 11, which is the core of the water flow switching. When the valve core is in the first state, the operating part 5 swings to move the moving ceramic plate 6 to one side, so that the water passage cavity 11 connects the water inlet hole 8 and the water outlet hole 9. At this time, the water inlet channel 2 is connected to the water outlet channel 3, and the water flows in from the water inlet 29 and flows through the water outlet 30 to the water outlet device (such as the top spray; not shown in the figure, but the same or similar to the prior art), while the drain channel 4 remains closed. In this state, the valve core performs normal water discharge. When the valve core switches to the second state, the operating part 5 swings in the opposite direction, and the moving ceramic plate 6 moves to the other side, connecting the water passage 11 with the water outlet 9 and the drain hole 10. At this time, the water inlet channel 2 is cut off, while the water outlet channel 3 is connected to the drain channel 4. Water no longer enters the valve core through the water inlet channel, and the residual water stored in the pipe and the top spray flows back and is discharged through the drain port 31, thus effectively avoiding the phenomenon of prolonged dripping after the top spray is turned off. At the same time, in the second state, the water can quickly flow from high to low due to its own gravity, thus draining water. Because the valve core only has two states, namely the water outlet state, when the water source is turned off, it can quickly drain water from the pipe (not shown in the figure, but the same or similar to the prior art). There is no water residue in the pipe, which can also prevent the water from freezing and causing blockage, especially in the cold winter.

[0027] One end of the operating part 5 extends into the main body 1 and connects with the mounting base 13, while the other end extends out of the main body 1 for user operation. The mounting base 13 has a lug 14 that engages with a slot 15 on the inner wall of the main body 1, ensuring the mounting base 13 remains fixed within the main body 1. The operating part 5 is connected to the mounting base 13 via a pin 12, and its swinging motion is transmitted to the moving block 16. The moving block 16 has a connecting hole 17 in its center, and one end of the operating part 5 is inserted into the connecting hole 17, allowing the swinging motion of the operating part 5 to drive the moving block 16 to move laterally. The outer periphery of the moving block 16 has a locking block 18 that engages with a locking groove 19 on the outer periphery of the moving ceramic piece 6, ensuring synchronous movement between the moving block 16 and the moving ceramic piece 6. The mounting base 13 has a guide groove 20 on the side facing the moving block 16, and the upper end of the moving block 16 is embedded in the guide groove 20, providing stable guidance for the lateral movement of the moving ceramic piece 6.

[0028] To clearly indicate the valve core's state, the mounting base 13 is equipped with two position grooves 23, and the operating part 5 has a countersunk hole 24, within which a spring 25 and a ball bearing 26 are disposed. When the valve core is in the first or second state, the ball bearing 26 is positioned in the corresponding position groove 23, providing clear operational feedback to the user. Furthermore, this design ensures the valve core remains stable after switching states, preventing unexpected changes in its state due to external vibrations or water flow impacts.

[0029] The operating principle of this invention is as follows: The user manipulates the operating unit 5 to make it swing. The swing of the operating unit 5 is transmitted to the moving block 16 through the pin 12, causing the moving block 16 to move laterally. The locking block 18 of the moving block 16 cooperates with the locking groove 19 of the moving ceramic plate 6, so that the moving ceramic plate 6 moves laterally synchronously. The water passage chamber 11 of the moving ceramic plate 6 selectively connects the water inlet hole 8, the water outlet hole 9, and the drain hole 10 according to the position change, so as to switch the valve core state. In the first state, the water passage chamber 11 connects the water inlet hole 8 and the water outlet hole 9 to achieve normal water supply; in the second state, the water passage chamber 11 connects the water outlet hole 9 and the drain hole 10 to discharge the residual water in the pipe. This design not only solves the problem of long-term dripping after the top spray is closed, but also reduces the time of water accumulation in the pipe and reduces the possibility of scale formation.

[0030] In practical applications, such as in a home bathroom, when the user turns off the overhead shower, the valve core automatically switches to the second state, draining residual water from the pipes and the showerhead to prevent dripping. The next time the shower is used, since there is no cold water residue in the pipes, the user can directly obtain hot water, significantly improving comfort, especially in winter. Furthermore, when this structure is applied to faucets, a complex design is unnecessary; a simple drain channel connected to the drain outlet is sufficient. Closing the valve core automatically drains the water, integrating the cold water drainage function directly into the valve core structure. This effectively reduces the size of the faucet and optimizes the water channel structure, significantly lowering the cost of the faucet.

[0031] The foregoing description illustrates and describes preferred embodiments of the present invention. As previously stated, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the forms disclosed herein and should not be construed as excluding other embodiments. It can be used in various other combinations, modifications, and environments, and can be altered within the scope of the inventive concept described herein through the foregoing teachings or related technical or knowledge. Any modifications and variations made by those skilled in the art that do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention should be within the protection scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A valve core having a cold discharge function, comprising a main body of the valve core, characterized by, The main body is equipped with an inlet channel, an outlet channel, and a drain channel, wherein the outlet channel is configured to be connected to the inlet channel or the drain channel; the main body is also equipped with an operating part that allows the main body to switch between a first state and a second state, and the operating part is configured to be controlled by the user. When the main body is in the first state: the inlet channel can be connected to the outlet channel so that the inlet water flows through the pipe to the outlet equipment for water discharge, and the outlet channel does not allow water to flow. When the main body is in the second state, the inlet channel no longer supplies water to the pipe, the outlet channel and the drain channel are connected, the water in the pipe flows back to the outlet channel, and then is discharged through the drain channel, so as to discharge the water in the pipe.

2. The valve core with cold air discharge function according to claim 1, characterized in that, The main body is equipped with a moving ceramic plate and a fixed ceramic plate. The moving ceramic plate can move laterally relative to the fixed ceramic plate under the operation of the operating part. The fixed ceramic plate is equipped with a water inlet hole, a water outlet hole and a drain hole. The moving ceramic plate is equipped with a recessed water passage cavity. The water passage cavity can connect the water inlet hole and the water outlet hole, or the water passage cavity can connect the water outlet hole and the drain hole.

3. The valve core with cold air discharge function according to claim 2, characterized in that, One end of the operating part is disposed inside the main body, and the other end of the operating part is disposed outside the main body for the user to operate; the operating part is configured to swing relative to the main body, so that one end of the operating part drives the moving ceramic piece to move laterally relative to the fixed ceramic piece.

4. The valve core with cold air discharge function according to claim 3, characterized in that, The main body is provided with a mounting base, which has a lug. The main body is also provided with a slot that can be adapted to the lug. The engagement of the lug and the slot prevents the mounting base from rotating relative to the main body. The operating part is provided with a channel that can be inserted into the mounting base. The operating part is connected to the mounting base via a pin.

5. The valve core with cold air discharge function according to claim 4, characterized in that, It also includes a movable block configured to move laterally in sync with the moving ceramic tile. The movable block has a connecting hole in the middle, and one end of the operating part can extend into the connecting hole. The swing of the operating part relative to the main body can drive the movable block to move laterally.

6. The valve core with cold air discharge function according to claim 5, characterized in that, The outer periphery of the movable block is provided with a snap-fit ​​block facing the moving ceramic piece, and the outer periphery of the moving ceramic piece is provided with a snap-fit ​​groove. The snap-fit ​​block can be inserted into the snap-fit ​​groove so that the movable block can move synchronously with the moving ceramic piece. The mounting base is provided with a guide groove on the side facing the movable block, and the upper end of the movable block can be positioned in the guide groove so that the moving ceramic piece can move laterally within the main body.

7. The valve core with cold air discharge function according to claim 6, characterized in that, The outer periphery of the ceramic tile is provided with a groove, and the inner peripheral wall of the main body is provided with a rib. The rib can be adapted to connect with the groove so that the ceramic tile can be fixed laterally inside the main body.

8. The valve core with cold air discharge function according to claim 7, characterized in that, The mounting base is also equipped with two gear position grooves, and the operating part is provided with a countersunk hole. A matching spring and a ball are arranged in the countersunk hole. The ball can be placed in the gear position groove to determine whether the main body is in the first state or the second state.

9. A valve core with cold air discharge function according to any one of claims 2-8, characterized in that, The main body includes a matching upper shell and a lower shell. The fixed ceramic plate can be horizontally fixed inside the lower shell. The lower shell is provided with a water inlet, a water outlet and a drain outlet. The water inlet can form the water inlet channel with the water inlet hole, the water outlet can form the water outlet channel with the water outlet hole, and the drain outlet can form the drain outlet channel with the drain hole. A sealing ring is also provided between the lower shell and the fixed ceramic plate.

10. The valve core with cold air discharge function according to claim 9, characterized in that, The lower shell upper end is provided with an upwardly protruding connecting piece, the connecting piece is provided with a clamping interface, the upper shell peripheral side is provided with a clamping block, the clamping block can be clamped in the clamping interface; the clamping block lower end is provided with a first guide inclined surface, the connecting piece upper end is provided with a second guide inclined surface, the first guide inclined surface can be matched with the second guide inclined surface to facilitate the clamping block to be guided into the clamping interface.

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