Thermostatic Mixing Valve Layout for One-Side Adjustment Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Thermostatic mixing valves (TMVs) installed in confined spaces make it difficult and cumbersome to access and adjust the adjusting members and control valves, hindering easy temperature setting and fluid flow regulation.
Innovation Solution
A fluid mixing assembly design with isolators and feed valves positioned to allow adjustments in a common direction, featuring a thermostatic mixing valve with a piston and thermal flush override, enabling easy access and adjustment of the adjusting members and fluid flow control, even in confined spaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the TMV and control valves are installed in confined cabinets or spaces, then the space utilization is improved, but the accessibility and adjustability of the adjusting members become difficult and cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the adjusting members of the TMV and control valves such that their adjusting axes extend in a common direction, allowing all adjustments to be made from the same side of the assembly. This dimensional arrangement enables accessibility in confined spaces by eliminating the need to access opposite sides of the installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The common adjusting axis direction serves multiple functions: it allows simultaneous access to all adjusting members (TMV and control valves), simplifies maintenance operations, and enables compact installation configurations while maintaining operational accessibility.
2Ease of operation
If the adjusting members are positioned for easy access, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional positioning requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the adjusting axis directions of the TMV and control valves into a common direction. This consolidation reduces the number of different adjustment orientations from multiple directions to a single common direction, simplifying the overall positioning configuration while maintaining ease of access.
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid mixing assembly (100) comprising a body (102) having a discharge outlet (114) for discharging fluid; a fluid mixing device (104) disposed in the body (102) and in fluid communication with the discharge outlet (114), the fluid mixing device (104) having an adjusting member (122) adjustable about a mixing adjusting axis (124) and configured to assist in controlling mixing of fluids in the fluid mixing device (104); a first isolator (132) in fluid communication with the fluid mixing device (104) and configured to be coupled in fluid communication to a first source of fluid, the first isolator (132) having an adjusting member (140) adjustable about a first isolator adjusting axis (138) and configured to control a flow of fluid through the first isolator (132); and a second isolator (144) in fluid communication with the fluid mixing device (104) and configured to be coupled in fluid communication to a second source of fluid, the second isolator (144) having an adjusting member (152) adjustable about a second isolator adjusting axis (150) and configured to control a flow of fluid through the second isolator (152). The first isolator (132) and the second isolator (144) are disposed relative to the fluid mixing device (104) such that the mixing adjusting axis (124), the first isolator adjusting axis (138), and the second isolator adjusting axis (150) extend substantially in a common direction.