The present invention relates to a thermostatic device.
The present invention relates to the technical field of fittings, in particular
for sanitary use.
5 WO2005124495 describes a thermostatic control cartridge for a
thermostatic valve, which mixes a cold water flow with a hot water flow to form a
mixed water flow. The thermostatic cartridge comprises a spool that can be moved
in translation, the position of which determines the particular flow rate of the hot
and cold water flows to form the mixed water flow, thereby allowing the temperature
10 of the mixed water flow to be changed. The position of the spool is controlled by a
pivoting control element that can be operated by a user. For this purpose, the spool
is attached to an adjusting screw, the adjusting screw being moved in translation
by pivoting the control element, forming a screw-nut system with the control
element. In order to ensure thermostatic regulation of the mixture depending on
15 the temperature of the mixed water flow, the spool is moved by the adjusting screw
via a thermostatic element, one heat-sensitive part of which carries the spool. The
thermostatic element is interposed between a return spring, which bears against
the housing via the spool, and a support carried by the adjusting screw, such that
the spool can be moved relative to the support, i.e. relative to the screw.
20 An overtravel spring is interposed between the adjusting screw and the
support to prevent the cartridge from breaking when the spool is in the end position.
When the spool is in said position, if necessary, the support can be pressed into
the adjusting screw by the thermostatic element, against the overtravel spring,
while the thermostatic element bears against the housing via the spool in the end
25 position.
Because of this series arrangement of the screw-nut system, overtravel
spring and thermostatic element, it is difficult to produce cartridge that is axially
compact. To improve axial compactness, one idea would be to nest the screw-nut
system, overtravel spring and thermostatic element to be within each other.
30 However, this would lead to complex and structurally fragile parts that are difficult
to manufacture, especially for the adjusting screw and the support. Therefore, to
compensate for the structural fragility of these parts due to their complex shape, it
may be necessary to make them out of a metal material, which is relatively difficult
and expensive to manufacture, compared to a polymer plastic.
2
The invention therefore aims in particular to remedy the above-mentioned
disadvantages by providing a novel thermostatic device which, while absorbing an
overtravel of a thermoactuator, is more compact and easier to manufacture.
The invention relates to a thermostatic device comprising a housing, which
5 is configured to conduct water flows therein. The thermostatic device comprises a
regulator, which is contained within the housing, the regulator and the housing
being movable in translation relative to each other along a longitudinal axis of the
housing, to regulate the flow rate of at least one of said water flows. The
thermostatic device comprises a thermoactuator, which is contained in the housing
10 so as to be immersed in one of said water flows, the thermoactuator comprising a
primary part and a secondary part which move in translation relative to each other
along the longitudinal axis, depending on the temperature of the water flow in which
the thermoactuator is immersed, the primary part and the regulator being fixed in
translation relative to each other along the longitudinal axis. The thermostatic
15 device comprises a slide, the slide and the housing being movable in translation
relative to each other along the longitudinal axis, and fixed in rotation relative to
each other about the longitudinal axis. The thermostatic device comprises an
overtravel spring, which applies a primary return force on the slide along the
longitudinal axis.
20 According to the invention, in order to apply the primary return force on the
slide, the overtravel spring bears against the housing along the longitudinal axis.
In addition, the thermostatic device further comprises a rotatable drive part, the
rotatable drive part and the slide being helically connected to each other along and
about the longitudinal axis, the rotatable drive part and the secondary part being
25 fixed in translation relative to each other along the longitudinal axis.
One idea behind the invention is to provide that the overtravel spring and
the helical connection are in parallel with each other, so as to facilitate a coaxial
arrangement of the parts performing these functions in order to reduce the axial,
or even radial, space required by the thermostatic device. In this way, the
30 overtravel spring applies the primary return force to a screw-nut system of the
thermostatic device, consisting of the rotary drive part and the slide, by bearing
directly against the housing. In this case, this primary return force is applied directly
on the slide by the overtravel spring. In particular, the overtravel spring can be
arranged so as to radially surround all or part of the slide and the rotary drive part,
3
thereby reducing the space required. Furthermore, the slide and the rotary drive
part are of particularly simple, compact and structurally strong design, the invention
dispensing with the need to interpose a spring between the screw-nut system and
the thermoactuator or to accommodate a spring within the screw-nut system.
5 Advantageously, the slide and the rotary drive part can each be made of a single
monolithic piece of polymeric plastic material.
Advantageously, it follows from these provisions that, in an overtravel
configuration of the thermostatic device, the secondary part of the thermoactuator
can move the slide in translation with respect to the housing along the longitudinal
10 axis, by means of the rotary drive part, by bearing against the regulator, when the
regulator bears against the housing. The thermostatic device is therefore able to
absorb the overtravel of the thermoactuator with reduced space requirements and
complexity. Furthermore, it advantageously follows from these provisions that, in a
base configuration of the thermostatic device, the slide and the housing are
15 advantageously held fixed relative to each other in translation along the
longitudinal axis, under the action of the primary return force. In order to control
the regulator in this base configuration, the rotary drive part is rotated relative to
the housing and the slide about the longitudinal axis, for example, by means of a
control element which can be operated by a user. In other words, the regulator is
20 moved with the aid of the rotary drive part via the thermoactuator, so that the rotary
drive part has a function as a control part of the regulator. More precisely, the
rotation of the rotary drive part causes, by means of a helical connection, a
translation of said rotary drive part, and thus of the secondary part of the
thermoactuator, relative to the housing along the longitudinal axis, while the
25 regulator translates integrally with the primary part of the thermoactuator along the
longitudinal axis. As the regulator and the primary part of the thermoactuator are
fixed in translation relative to each other along the longitudinal axis, the translation
of the regulator is thermally controlled by the thermoactuator, depending on the
temperature of the water flow in which the thermoactuator is immersed.
30 Preferably, the thermostatic device comprises a control element which
projects from the housing so as to be operated by a user with respect to the
housing. Preferably, the control element and the housing are: fixed relative to each
other in translation along the longitudinal axis; and movable relative to each other
in rotation about the longitudinal axis. Preferably, the control element and the rotary
4
drive part are: movable relative to each other in translation along the longitudinal
axis; and fixed relative to each other in rotation about the longitudinal axis.
Preferably, the regulator and the housing are movable relative to each other
in translation along the longitudinal axis to a first end position of the regulator
5 relative to the housing, in which the regulator abuts the housing along the
longitudinal axis. Preferably, the slide and the housing are movable relative to each
other in translation along the longitudinal axis to a base position, in which the slide
abuts the housing along the longitudinal axis.
Preferably, the thermostatic device is configured to move between: a base
10 configuration, in which the slide is held in the base position under the action of the
primary return force; and an overtravel configuration, in which, while the regulator
is in the first end position, the slide is moved away from the base position by the
rotary drive part, against the primary return force, under the action of the
thermoactuator.
15 Preferably, the housing comprises a transverse wall through which the
thermoactuator passes, with the slide, the overtravel spring and the rotary drive
part being arranged on one side of the transverse wall and the regulator being
arranged on another side of the transverse wall. Preferably, the regulator and the
housing are movable relative to each other along the longitudinal axis to a second
20 end position of the regulator relative to the housing, opposite to the first end
position, in which the regulator abuts the housing along the longitudinal axis,
preferably against the transverse wall.
Preferably, the slide comprises external axial grooves, the housing
comprises internal axial grooves, and the internal axial grooves and the external
25 axial grooves cooperate with each other so that the slide and the housing are
movable relative to each other in translation along the longitudinal axis, and fixed
relative to each other in rotation about the longitudinal axis.
Preferably, the rotary drive part comprises an external thread centred on
the longitudinal axis, the slide comprises an internal thread centred on the
30 longitudinal axis, and the internal thread and the external thread co-operate with
each other so that the rotary drive part and the slide are in helical connection with
each other along and about the longitudinal axis, the slide surrounding the rotary
drive part about the longitudinal axis.
5
Preferably, the overtravel spring comprises a helical compression spring
centred on the longitudinal axis. Preferably, the overtravel spring is interposed
along the longitudinal axis between the slide and an axial surface forming part of
the housing, and is arranged so as to surround the internal thread.
5 Preferably, the thermostatic device further comprises a return spring which:
applies a secondary return force on the primary part of the thermoactuator or on
the regulator along the longitudinal axis, bearing against the housing along the
longitudinal axis. Preferably, the primary return force and the secondary return
force are in opposite directions, and the overtravel spring and the return spring are
10 configured such that the primary return force is greater than the secondary return
force.
Preferably, in order for the rotary drive part and the secondary part to be
fixed relative to each other in translation along the longitudinal axis, the
thermoactuator and the rotary drive part are held in abutment against each other
15 along the longitudinal axis under the action of the secondary return force.
Preferably, the thermoactuator is configured such that, as the temperature
increases, the secondary part moves relative to the primary part along the
longitudinal axis in a direction opposite to the direction of the primary return force.
Preferably, the thermostatic device comprises a mixer, which is formed by
20 the regulator and/or by a mixing compartment that forms part of the housing, the
mixer being configured to form an outgoing water flow by mixing two incoming
water flows, the incoming water flows and the outgoing water flow forming part of
the water flows conducted in the housing. Preferably, the position of the regulator
relative to the housing along the longitudinal axis controls the flow rate of the
25 incoming water flows to determine the proportion of the incoming water flows
forming the outgoing water flow.
The invention will be better understood from the description below, which
is given only as a non-limiting example, with reference to the drawings listed below.
[Fig. 1] is a perspective view of a thermostatic device according to a first
30 embodiment of the invention.
[Fig. 2] is a first longitudinal cross section of Figure 1.
[Fig. 3] is a second longitudinal cross section of Figure 1.
[Fig. 4] is a partial longitudinal cross section of Figure 1.
6
[Fig. 5] is a perspective view of a slide forming part of the thermostatic
device of Figures 1 to 4.
[Fig. 6] is a perspective view of a thermostatic device according to a second
embodiment of the invention.
5 [Fig. 7] is a longitudinal cross section of Figure 6.
[Fig. 8] is a perspective view of a slide forming part of the thermostatic
device of Figures 6 to 7.
Figures 1 to 5 show a thermostatic device according to a first embodiment
in accordance with the invention. This thermostatic device is preferably for sanitary
10 use, being connected to a sanitary water network, for example, for a dwelling or
professional premises.
The thermostatic device is in the form of a thermostatic cartridge, which, for
connection to the sanitary water system, is intended to be coupled to a base so as
to form a fitting system together. The fitting system is preferably a wall-mounted
15 system, the base being intended to be partially embedded in a wall, or more
generally in a masonry wall, whatever its orientation. The fitting system is
preferably a mixer tap for a shower or bath, the base being designed, for example,
to supply a shower head, a shower head and/or a bath spout. Alternatively, the
base forms the base of a sink or washbasin tap, the tap further comprising a
20 washbasin spout.
As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the thermostatic device comprises a housing 1,
as well as a regulator 2, a thermoactuator 3, a slide 4, a rotary drive part 5 and an
overtravel spring 6, which are contained in the housing 1. Preferably, the
thermostatic device further comprises a control element 7, which partially protrudes
25 from the housing, and a return spring 8, which is contained in the housing 1.
The housing 1 is designed to be the focal point of a circulation of water
flows, in this case water flows F1, F2 and F3, which are exchanged between the
thermostatic device and the base when the device is coupled to said base.
The device defines a longitudinal axis X1, which is fixed with respect to the
30 housing 1. Preferably, the regulator 2, the thermoactuator 3, the slide 4, the rotary
drive part 5, the spring 6, the element 7 and the spring 8 are centred on the axis
X1, and are therefore traversed by this axis X1.
7
Unless otherwise stated, expressions such as "radial", "axial", "coaxial",
"longitudinal" and "transverse" refer to the longitudinal axis X1. The cross sections
in Figures 2, 3 and 4 are in three different planes including the axis X1.
The housing 1 comprises a base plate 11, through which the axis X1 passes
5 and by means of which the thermostatic device can be coupled to the base. The
base plate 11 is provided at a first axial end of the housing 1, shown towards the
bottom in Figures 2 and 3. The housing 1 also comprises a cover 12, through which
the axis X1 passes, which forms another axial end of the housing 1, opposite the
base plate 11. The cover 12 and the base plate 11 are thus distributed along the
10 axis X1. The cover 12 is passed through by the control element 7 and is firmly
connected to the base plate 11. A base direction X11 parallel to the axis X1 is
defined with respect to the housing 1, which runs from the cover 12 to the base
plate 11, or from the overtravel spring 6 to the thermoactuator 3.
Preferably, as can be seen in Figures 1 to 3, the housing 1 externally has
15 a generally circular shape about the axis X1, which is the case for the base plate
11 and the cover 12. To this end, part of the base plate 11 and the cover 12 form
an outer peripheral wall of the housing 1, surrounding the axis X1. Between the
axial ends of the housing 1, the base plate 11 and the cover 12 form, for example,
a succession of cylindrical walls with circular bases along the axis X1, which are
20 all centred on the axis X1.
Internally, the housing 1 preferably comprises a transverse wall 13, which
is, for example, formed by the base plate 11. The wall 13 is traversed by the axis
X1 and is preferably orthogonal to the axis X1. In the example, the wall 13 occupies
a cross section of the housing 1, separating the housing into a compartment 15
25 delimited by the base plate 11, and a compartment 14 delimited by the cover 12.
The compartments 14 and 15 are distributed along the axis X1, with compartment
15 being arranged in the direction X11 with respect to compartment 14.
The compartment 14 can be described as a "control compartment",
substantially containing the slide 4, the rotary drive part 5, the overtravel spring 6
30 and part of the control element 7. In the present example, the cover 12 has a bell
shape which is open in the direction X11, forming an opening 83 at the axial end
thereof. When the housing 1 is assembled, the cover 12 is fixed to the base plate
11, so that the base plate 11, in particular the wall 13, closes this opening 83, to
delimit the compartment 14 in the direction X11.
8
The compartment 15 can be described as a "mixing compartment",
containing the regulator 2, part of the thermoactuator 3 and the spring 8, and being
the focal point of the circulation of the water flows F1, F2 and F3. The base plate
11 is preferably sealed, whereas the compartment 14 is advantageously not
5 traversed by any water flow. As an alternative, however, the compartment 14 could
be flooded by the mixed water flow F3, the compartment 14 then being sealed from
the outside and from compartment 15, while being fluidically connected to
compartment 15 by passages suitable for the circulation of the water flow F3.
In any case, it is advantageous that the slide 4, the part 5 and the spring 6
10 are arranged on one side of the wall 13, while the regulator 2 is arranged on the
other side of the wall 13 so as to be separated from the slide 4, the part 5 and the
spring 6.
Here, the water flows F1 and F2 are incoming water flows, which are
admitted into the housing 1 from the base, when the housing 1 is coupled to the
15 base. The water flow F3 is an outgoing water flow, which is discharged from the
housing 1 and transmitted to the base when the housing is coupled to the base.
Flows F1 and F2 are advantageously water flows coming from a sanitary water
network supplying the base. Flow F3 is advantageously used to supply the spout
of the tap or the shower head of the fitting system.
20 In the present example, as detailed below, the regulator 2 and the mixing
compartment 15 together form a mixer, which, when the housing 1 is coupled to
the base, is configured to form the outgoing water flow F3, by mixing the flows F1
and F2 admitted into the housing 1. Preferably, the device is designed so that the
flow F1 is a hot water flow while the flow F2 is a cold water flow. "Cold water" is
25 understood to mean unheated running water, which is generally at a temperature
slightly below or equal to the ambient temperature. "Hot water" is understood to
mean running water that has been heated by a sanitary heating system. More
generally, hot water has a higher temperature than cold water. Therefore, the water
flow F3 resulting from the mixing of flows F1 and F2 by the mixer is at an
30 intermediate temperature between those of flows F1 and F2, which depends on
the proportion of flows F1 and F2 for the mixture. The flow F3 can be described as
a mixed water flow and the thermostatic device as a thermostatic mixing device.
The housing 1 comprises an inlet chamber 16 for conducting the water flow
F1 within the housing 1 from the base to the regulator 2. The housing 1 comprises
9
an inlet chamber 17 for conducting the water flow F2 within the housing 1 from the
base to the regulator 2. The housing 1 comprises an outlet chamber 18 for
conducting the water flow F3 within the housing 1 from the regulator 2 to the base.
The chambers 16, 17 and 18 together form the compartment 15 for mixing the
5 flows F1 and F2 to form the flow F3, with the assistance of the regulator 2.
In the present example, the base plate 11 advantageously comprises a ring
20 and a bottom wall 21. The ring 20 connects the wall 13 to the bottom wall 21.
The ring 20 forms a peripheral wall of the housing 1, in particular of the base plate
11, which radially delimits the compartment 15. The ring 20 is generally circular
10 about the axis X1, i.e. centred on the axis X1. The bottom wall 21 is a transverse
wall, for example, a wall orthogonal to the axis X1, which occupies the cross
section of the ring 20 to close the housing 1 at one of the axial ends thereof. More
generally, the base plate 11 closes the housing 1 at one of the axial ends thereof.
The compartment 15 extends axially from the wall 13 to the axial end of the housing
15 1 in the direction X11, the bottom wall 21 being arranged between this end and the
wall 13.
Preferably, when the housing 1 is coupled to the base, the base plate 11 is
received in a receptacle 60 forming part of the base, the base plate 11 and the
receptacle 60 being complementary. The receptacle 60 is shown schematically in
20 dotted lines in Figures 2 and 3. The base plate 11 forms a male part while the
receptacle 60 of the base forms a complementary female part.
Preferably, as can be seen in Figure 1, the housing 1 has pins 41 and 42,
i.e. rods which project parallel to the axis X1, and which are designed to cooperate
with complementary guides which open into the receptacle 60. The pins 41 and
25 42, which are plugged into the guides, constitute a locator which ensures that the
positioning of the housing in the receptacle 60 is correct for the coupling, in
particular for the orientation of the housing 1 in relation to the base about the axis
X1.
Advantageously, the thermostatic device comprises a circular peripheral
30 seal 30, such as an O-ring, which is centred on the axis X1. The seal 30 is carried
by the ring 20, by surrounding the ring 20. When the housing 1 is coupled to the
base, the seal 30 is in radial contact with a peripheral wall 61 of the receptacle 60
to ensure a watertight seal of the coupling, as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3.
Advantageously, the wall 61 is circular about an axis of the base, which is coaxial
10
with the axis X1 when the housing 1 is coupled. When the housing 1 is coupled,
the peripheral wall 61 surrounds the base plate 11. The base receptacle 60 has a
bottom wall 62, which is transverse and closes the wall 61. When the housing 1 is
coupled, the wall 62 is traversed by the axis X1 and is preferably orthogonal to the
5 axis X1. When the housing 1 is coupled, the thermostatic device advantageously
comes into axial abutment along the direction X11 against the wall 62.
The receptacle 60, which is open when the housing 1 is not coupled, is
sealed by the base plate 11 when the housing 1 is coupled, due to the fact that the
seal 30 is interposed radially between the ring 20 and the wall 61. In the mated
10 configuration, the base plate 11 and the receptacle 60 together define an interstitial
chamber 63. A watertight seal between the chamber 63 and the outside of the
valve system is then provided by the seal 30.

I/We Claim:
1.- A thermostatic device, comprising:
• a housing (1; 101), which is configured to conduct water flows (F1, F2, F3;
5 F101, F102, F103) therein;
• a regulator (2; 102), which is contained in the housing (1; 101), the regulator
(2; 102) and the housing (1; 101) being movable relative to each other in
translation along a longitudinal axis (X1; X101) of the housing (1; 101), in
order to regulate the flow rate of at least one of said water flows (F1, F2,
10 F3; F101, F102, F103);
• a thermoactuator (3; 103), which is contained in the housing (1; 101) to be
immersed in one of said water flows (F1, F2, F3; F101, F102, F103), the
thermoactuator (3; 103) comprising a primary part (70; 170) and a
secondary part (71; 171) which move relative to each other in translation
15 along the longitudinal axis (X1; X101), depending on the temperature of the
water flow (F3; F103) in which the thermoactuator (3; 103) is immersed, the
primary part (70; 170) and the regulator (2; 102) being fixed relative to each
other in translation along the longitudinal axis (X1; X101);
• a slide (4; 104), the slide (4; 104) and the housing (1; 101) being:
20  movable relative to each other along the longitudinal axis (X1; X101),
and
 fixed relative to each other in rotation about the longitudinal axis (X1;
X101); and
• an overtravel spring (6; 106), which applies a primary return force (E6;
25 E106) on the slide (4; 104) along the longitudinal axis (X1; X101);
characterised in that:
• in order to apply the primary return force (E6; E106) on the slide (4; 104),
the overtravel spring (6; 106) bears against the housing (1; 101) along the
longitudinal axis (X1; X101); and
30 • the thermostatic device further comprises a rotary drive part (5; 105), the
rotary drive part (5; 105) and the slide (4; 104) being helically connected to
each other along and about the longitudinal axis (X1; X101), the rotary drive
34
part (5; 105) and the secondary part (71; 171) being fixed relative to each
other in translation along the longitudinal axis (X1; X101).
2.- The thermostatic device according claim 1, wherein:
• the thermostatic device comprises a control element (7; 107) which
5 protrudes from the housing (1; 101) so as to be operated by a user with
respect to the housing (1; 101);
• the control element (7; 107) and the housing (1; 101) are:
 fixed relative to each other in translation along the longitudinal axis (X1;
X101), and
10  movable relative to each other in rotation about the longitudinal axis
(X1; X101); and
• the control element (7; 107) and the rotary drive part (5; 105) are:
 movable relative to each other in translation along the longitudinal axis
(X1; X101), and
15  fixed to each other in rotation about the longitudinal axis (X1; X101).
3.- The thermostatic device according to either of the preceding claims, wherein:
• the regulator (2; 102) and the housing (1; 101) are movable relative to each
other in translation along the longitudinal axis (X1; X101), up to a first end
position of the regulator (2; 102) relative to the housing (1; 101), in which
20 the regulator (2; 102) abuts the housing (1; 101) along the longitudinal axis
(X1; X101);
• the slide (4; 104) and the housing (1; 101) are movable relative to each
other in translation along the longitudinal axis (X1; X101) up to a base
position, in which the slide (4; 104) abuts the housing (1; 101) along the
25 longitudinal axis (X1; X101); and
• the thermostatic device is configured to move between:
 a base configuration, in which the slide (4; 104) is held in the base
position under the action of the primary return force (E6; E106); and
 an overtravel configuration, in which, while the regulator (2; 102) is in
30 the first end position, the slide (4; 104) is moved away from the base
position by the rotary drive part (5; 105), against the primary return force
(E6; E106), under the action of the thermoactuator (3; 103).
4.- The thermostatic device according to claim 3, wherein:
35
• the housing (1; 101) comprises a transverse wall (13; 113) through which
the thermoactuator (3; 103) passes, with the slide (4; 104), the overtravel
spring (6; 106) and the rotary drive part (5; 105) being arranged on one side
of the transverse wall (13; 113) and the regulator (2; 102) being arranged
5 on another side of the transverse wall (13; 113); and
• the regulator (2; 102) and the housing (1; 101) are movable relative to each
other along the longitudinal axis (X1; X101) up to a second end position of
the regulator (2; 102) relative to the housing (1; 101), opposite the first end
position, in which the regulator (2; 102) abuts the housing (1; 101) along
10 the longitudinal axis (X1; X101), preferably against the transverse wall (13;
113).
5.- The thermostatic device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein:
• the slide (4; 104) comprises external axial grooves (78; 178);
• the housing (1; 101) comprises internal axial grooves (79; 179);
15 • the internal axial grooves (79; 179) and the external axial grooves (78; 178)
cooperate with each other such that the slide (4; 104) and the housing (1;
101) are:
 movable relative to each other in translation along the longitudinal axis
(X1; X101), and
20  fixed to each other in rotation about the longitudinal axis (X1; X101).
6.- The thermostatic device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein:
• the rotary drive part (5; 105) comprises an external thread (88; 188) centred
on the longitudinal axis (X1; X101);
• the slide (4; 104) comprises an internal thread (87; 187) centred on the
25 longitudinal axis (X1; X101); and
• the internal thread (87; 187) and the external thread (88; 188) cooperate
with each other such that the rotary drive part (5; 105) and the slide (4; 104)
are in helical connection with each other along and about the longitudinal
axis (X1; X101), the slide (4; 104) surrounding the rotary drive part (5; 105)
30 about the longitudinal axis (X1; X101).
7.- The thermostatic device according to claim 6, wherein the overtravel spring (6;
106):
36
• comprises a helical compression spring centred on the longitudinal axis
(X1; X101);
• is interposed, along the longitudinal axis (X1; X101), between the slide (4;
104) and an axial surface (84; 184) forming part of the housing (1; 101);
5 and
• is arranged so as to surround the internal thread (87; 187).
8.- The thermostatic device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein:
• the thermostatic device further comprises a return spring (8; 108), which
applies a secondary return force (E8; E108) on the primary part (70; 170)
10 of the thermoactuator (3; 103) or on the regulator (2; 102) along the
longitudinal axis (X1; X101), by bearing against the housing (1; 101) along
the longitudinal axis (X1; X101);
• the primary return force (E6; E106) and the secondary return force (E8;
E108) are in opposite directions; and
15 • the overtravel spring (6; 106) and the return spring (8; 108) are configured
such that the primary return force (E6; E106) is higher than the secondary
return force (E8; 108).
9.- The thermostatic device according to claim 8, in which, in order for the rotary
drive part (5; 105) and the secondary part (71; 171) to be fixed relative to each
20 other in translation along the longitudinal axis (X1; X101), the thermoactuator
(3; 103) and the rotary drive part (5; 105) are held in abutment against each
other along the longitudinal axis (X1; X101) under the action of the secondary
return force (E8; E108).
10.- The thermostatic device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein
25 the thermoactuator (3; 103) is configured such that, when the temperature
increases, the secondary part (71; 171) moves with respect to the primary part
(70; 170) along the longitudinal axis (X1; X101), in a direction opposite to the
direction of the primary return force (E6; E106).
11.- The thermostatic device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein:
30 • the thermostatic device comprises a mixer, which is formed by the regulator
(2; 102) and/or by a mixing compartment (15; 115) forming part of the
housing (1; 101), the mixer being configured to form an outgoing water flow
(F3 ; F103) by mixing two incoming water flows (F1, F2; F101, F102), the
37
incoming water flows (F1, F2; F101, F102) and the outgoing water flow (F3;
F103) forming part of said water flows (F1, F2, F3; F101, F102, F103)
conducted in the housing (1; 101); and
• the position of the regulator (2; 102) relative to the housing (1; 101) along
5 the longitudinal axis (X1; X101) regulates the flow rate of the incoming
water flows (F1, F2; F101, F102) to determine the proportion of the
incoming water flows forming the outgoing water flow (F3; F103).