THERMOSTATIC CARTRIDGE FOR CONTROLLING HOT AND COLD
FLUIDS TO BE MIXED
The present invention relates to a thermostatic cartridge for controlling hot and
5 cold fluids to be mixed, in particular hot water and cold water within a sanitation facility.
In this type of cartridge, the thermostatic control is obtained using a thermostatic
element expandable along an axis, on the one hand comprising a piston that is normally
stationary relative to a hollow base of the cartridge, and on the other hand comprising a
body rigidly connected to a control spool. This spool is movable along the axis inside the
10 base of the cartridge so as to inversely vary the flow sections of the two fluids, called "hot
fluid" and "cold fluid", supplying the base through a first of its axial sides, in order to mix
those fluids in variable proportions to obtain, downstream from the spool, a fluid, called
"mixed fluid", that flows along a heat-sensitive part of the thermostatic element and leaves
the base through its second axial side. By modifying the position of the piston relative to
15 the base, generally using an ad hoc adjusting mechanism, the thermostatic control
temperature is set, i.e., the equilibrium temperature around which the temperature of the
mixed fluid is controlled. This type of cartridge advantageously incorporates discs for
controlling the flow rate of the cold and hot fluids sent toward the spool, those discs being
arranged overhanging the first axial side of the basin and being supplied with the cold and
20 hot fluids via flow channels extending from the second side to the first axial side of the
base. It is even possible to have only one lever to control both these discs for controlling
the flow rate and the aforementioned temperature adjusting mechanism: in that case, the
thermostatic cartridge is described as single-control. WO-A- 96126475 provides one
example of this.
25 In practice, the movements of the spool between two extreme positions, for which
the flow of hot fluid is completely closed and the flow of cold fluid is completely closed,
respectively, are approxitnately a millilneter, or oven less, within standal-d-sizetl
caitridges. As a resrrlt, the maximum flow rates of hot fluid and cold fluid that can be
allowed into the base of those cartridges are limited. This limitation of the hot fluid and
30 cold fluid flow rates is accentuated by the fact that the arrival of these fluids at the control
spool is concentrated on limited respective portions of the outer periphery of the spool: in
fact, the hot and cold fluids are respectively brought to the spool by having to cross
through part of the base of the cartridge, while taking into account the more or less
restrictive environment in which the base is to be installed. To bypass this difficulty, it is
35 known, for example from the aforementioned document WO-A-96126475, to hollow, within
the base of the cartridge, peripheral grooves for distributing fluid around the spool, the hot
fluid and cold fluid intakes respectively emerging in those grooves. However, in practice,
2
this solution tends to reduce the inner diameter of the base in favor of its thickness to
hollow the aforementioned grooves therein, which in particular limits the outer diameter of
the spool and therefore limits the maximum fluid flow rates that can be controlled by that
spool. Furthermore, this solution is expensive to implement, since manufacturing the base
5 is complex: in the event the base is made by molding plastic material, the molding core
necessarily has a large diameter to accommodate the presence of retractable pins that
are necessary to mold the aforementioned grooves, as well as their junction with the hot
fluid and cold fluid intakes.
One alternative to the solution disclosed in WO-A-96126475 consists of inwardly
10 providing the base with a distributor for the hot and cold fluids, making it possible to orient
the fluid coming from the cold fluid inlet, the hot fluid inlet, respectively, toward the spool
on its outer perimeter. The base can then be made using a less complex mold for injecting
plastic material. However, due to the presence of the distributor, this design requires a
larger number of pieces, as well as multiple seals to ensure tightness between those
15 pieces. This solution leads to a more complicated assembly method, since a large number
of pieces must be placed and tightness tests must be conducted to verify the presence
and performance of the seals.
The aim of the present invention is to propose a cartridge of the aforementioned
type, the base of which remains simple and cost-effective to manufacture, while making it
20 possible to favor the flow of high fluid flow rates.
To that end, the invention relates to a thermostatic cartridge for controlling hot and
cold fluids to be mixed, as defined in claim 1.
One of the ideas at the base of the invention is to seek to make the hot and cold
fluids flow all around the spool, so that those fluids supply the entire periphery of that
25 spool from the inside of the base, all taking advantage of the specific shapes of the spool,
the base and a piece fixedly attached in the outlet orifice thereof, having noted that said
attacheti piece advantageously consists of a tubular bearing piece for a return spring
associated with the thermostatic element of the cartridge. According to the invention,
rather than the cold fluid and hot fluid distribution channels, which completely surround the
30 spool, being delimited axially only by the base while giving those channels a groove shape
as cited above, one of those distribution channels is axially downwardly closed, i.e.,
toward the axial side on which the outlet orifice emerges for mixing the cold and hot fluids,
directly by the spool, more specifically directly by a dedicated part of the latter, configured
in an ad hoc manner, while the other distribution channel is axially downwardly closed
35 directly by the aforementioned attached piece. It will be understood that these distribution
channels can then be dimensioned in an extended manner, both from the central axis of
the base, each distribution channel advantageously being able to run over 360" around
3
the axis, and radially to that axis, taking advantage of the radial thickness of the
aforementioned dedicated part of the spool and the tubular wall of the attached piece. As
a result, strong cold and hot fluid flow rates can flow through the base up to the spool.
When the base is made by molding a plastic material, the molding constraints are
5 reduced, since it is possible to avoid undercuts for molding the distribution channels and,
advantageously, their junction with the inlet orifices for the cold and hot fluids: without
using pins retractable in the molding core, it is advantageously possible for the base to be
axially stripped upward, naturally.
Additional advantageous features of the cartridge according to the invention,
10 considered alone or according to any technically possible combination, are specified in the
dependent claims.
The invention will be better understood upon reading the following description,
provided solely as an example and done in reference to the drawings, in which:
- figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a thermostatic cartridge according to
15 the invention;
-figure 2 is a view similar to figure 1, from another viewing angle;
- figure 3 is a partial longitudinal sectional view of the cartridge of figure 1 in the
assembled state; and
- figures 4 to 7 are sectional views respectively along lines IV-IV, V-V, VI-VI and
20 VII-VII of figure 3.
Figures 1 to 7 show a thermostatic cartridge 1 that is arranged around and along a
central axis X-X. This cartridge is suitable for equipping a faucet mixing hot water and cold
water, not shown as such in the figures, or more generally, for equipping a sanitary facility.
For convenience, the rest of the description is oriented relative to the axis X-X,
25 considering that the terms "upper" and "top" correspond to an axial direction turned
toward the upper part of figure 3, while the terms "lower" and "bottom" correspond to an
axial direction in the opposite dil-ectiori.
The thermostatic cartridge 1 includes an upper ho~~sin2g a nd a lower base 10,
which, in the assembled state of the cartridge, are fixedly assembled to one another.
30 The base 10 has a globally cylindrical outer shape, centered on the axis X-X and
with a circular base. As clearly shown in figure 3, the base 10 delimits, over its entire axial
dimension, a cold water flow channel 11 and a hot water flow channel 12, each of those
channels connecting the upper side 10A and the lower side 10B of the base 10 to one
another, emerging freely on those upper and lower sides.
35 The base 10 also delimits an inner chamber 13, which is substantially centered on
the axis X-X, as well as a cold water inlet orifice 14 and a hot water inlet orifice 15, which,
at their upper end, emerge on the upper side 10A of the base 10, while, at their lower end
4
that is situated along the direction of the axis X-X, in an intermediate part of the base 10,
the inlet orifices 14 and 15 emerge in the chamber 13.
As clearly shown in figures 3 and 4, the flow channels 11 and 12 and the inlet
orifices 14 and 15 are angularly and radially positioned relative to the axis X-X so as not to
5 communicate directly with one another. During use, the flow channels 11 and 12 are
provided to be respectively supplied with cold water and hot water, from the lower side
10B of the base 10, as indicated by arrows F1 and C1 in figure 3. Additionally, after
having left the base 10 through its upper side 10A and having flowed inside the housing 2
as mentioned in slightly more detail later, this cold water and this hot water are turned
10 back, from the inside of the housing 2, toward the upper side 10A of the base 10 so as to
respectively supply the inlet orifices 14 and 15, as indicated by arrows F2 and C2 in figure
3. This cold water and hot water, flowing downwardly in the inlet orifices 14 and 15,
respectively, next supply the chamber 13 in which they mix in the form of mixed water
which, as indicated by an arrow M in figure 3, is discharged from the chamber 13 via a
15 mixing outlet orifice 16, which is delimited by the base 10, while being centered on the
axis X-X, so as to place the chamber 13 in free fluid communication with the outside of the
base, emerging on the lower side 10B of the latter.
Advantageously, in particular to favor the cold water and hot water flow rates
respectively flowing in the inlet orifices 14 and 15, those inlet orifices 14 and 15 each
20 extend over approximately 180" around the axis X-X, while being diametrically opposite
one another, as clearly shown in figure 4.
As shown in figure 1 and as shown in more detail in figures 3 to 7, the inner
chamber 13 of the base 10 is stepped in the direction of the axis X-X, while being more
radially extended downward. More specifically, in its upper terminal axial part, the
25 chamber 13 is delimited by a cylindrical surface 13A, which is centered on the axis X-X,
which has a circular base, and which extends axially downward from the outer periphery
of the lower surface 17A of a wall 1'7 belonging to the upper pait of !lie base 10, that wall
17 axially closing the chamber 13 upwardly. As clearly shown in figures 3 and 5, the lower
terminal part of the cylindrical surface 13A extends, around the axis X-X, over 360", while,
30 as clearly shown in figures 3 and 4, the upper terminal part of the cylindrical surface 13A
does not extend over 360" around the axis X-X, but is interrupted around that axis, and in
the angular portion of the base 10 in which the cold water inlet orifice 14 extends: in other
words, at the axial level of the base 10 where both the upper terminal part of the
cylindrical surface 13A and the lower end of the inlet orifice 14 are situated, that inlet
35 orifice 14 emerges radially on the cylindrical surface 13A, which amounts to saying that,
around the axis X-X, the upper terminal part of the cylindrical surface 13A and the outlet of
the inlet orifice 14 follow one another, each extending over approximately 180".
5
Advantageously, as in the embodiment considered in the figures, the outer
peripheral part of the lower surface 17A of the closing wall 17, from which the cylindrical
surface 13A extends, extends in a geometric plane substantially perpendicular to the axis
X-x.
5 In its lower terminal axial part, the chamber 13 is delimited by a cylindrical surface
138, which is centered on the axis X-X, which has a circular base and which has a
diameter strictly larger than that of the cylindrical surface 13A. In the example
embodiment considered in the figures, the cylindrical surfaces 13A and 138 are
connected to one another by a stepped surface 13C, which is advantageously
10 substantially fitted in a plane perpendicular to the axis X-X. As clearly shown in figures 3
and 7, the lower terminal part of the cylindrical surface 138 extends, around the axis X-X,
over 360°, whereas, as clearly shown in figures 3 and 6, the upper terminal part of this
cylindrical surface 138 is interrupted around the axis X-X, in the angular portion of the
base 10 in which the hot water inlet orifice 15 extends. Thus, at the axial level of the base
15 10 where both the upper terminal part of the cylindrical surface 138 and the lower end of
the inlet orifice 15 are situated, that inlet orifice 15 emerges radially on the cylindrical
surface 138, which effectively means that, around the axis X-X, the upper terminal part of
the cylindrical surface 138 and the outlet of the orifice 15 follow one another, each
extending over approximately 180".
20 As indicated above, at its lower end, the chamber 13 emerges axially in the mixing
outlet orifice 16. More specifically, as shown in figure 3, this outlet orifice 16 has a
diameter strictly larger than that of the cylindrical surface 138 of the chamber 13, such
that said cylindrical surface 138 is connected to the outlet orifice 16 by a stepped surface
16A that is situated at the upper end of the outlet orifice 16 and that, in the example
25 embodiment considered here, fits into a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis X-X.
Furthermore, also as shown in fig~ire3 and as clearly shown in figure 2, the inside
of the outlet orifice 16 is tapped, the corl-esponcling thread 16B being substantially
centered on the axis X-X and extending from the lower end of the outlet orifice 16 toward
its upper end. In the assembled state of the cartridge 1, an attached piece 20 is fixedly
30 received inside the orifice 16, while being screwed in the thread 168, until it abuts axially
upwardly against the stepped surface 16A. As shown in figure 3, the upper terminal axial
part of the attached piece 20 is then arranged inside the lower part of the chamber 13,
while being received in a substantially adjusted manner inside the cylindrical surface 138,
as clearly shown in figure 7.
35 In practice, the attached piece 20 has a globally tubular shape, thus inwardly
delimiting a free volume for the flow of the mixture from the upper end to the lower end of
that attached piece 20. In other words, during use, the attached piece 20 is axially
6
crossed, through the inside, by the mixture of cold water and hot water coming from the
chamber 13.
Before describing the other components of the cartridge 1, it will be noted that the
stepped shape of the inner chamber 13 of the base 10, described in detail above, allows
5 the base to be obtained easily by molding plastic, in particular injected plastic. Indeed,
during the manufacture of the base 10 by molding, a molding core can advantageously be
provided to occupy the chamber 13 such that, without using a retractable molding pin, the
stripping of the base 10 consists of downwardly unscrewing the core, that stripping being
particularly easy without any undercut.
10 The thermostatic cartridge 1 also includes a spool 30 which, as clearly shown in
figures 1 and 2, has a globally tubular shape, with a circular base and centered on an axis
which, in the assembled state of the cartridge, is aligned with the axis X-X. Consequently,
for convenience, the rest of the description of the spool 30 is oriented relative to the axis
X-X.
15 As clearly shown in figure 3, the spool 30 includes, along the axis X-X:
- an. upper terminal part 31 having a cylindrical outer face 31A, centered on the
axis X-X, with a circular base and having a diameter strictly smaller than the diameter of
the cylindrical surface 13A of the chamber 13;
- a lower terminal part 32 having an outer face 32A that is substantially
20 frustoconical, centered on the axis X-X, with a circular and downwardly divergent base;
and
- an intermediate part 33, which connects the upper 31 and lower 32 terminal parts
to one another and has a substantially cylindrical outer face 33A, which is centered on the
axis X-X, which has a circular base, which has a diameter substantially equal to that of the
25 cylindrical surface 13A, and inside which a peripheral groove 338 is hollowed inside which
a sealing gasket is received.
The spool 30 is mounted on the base 10, more specifically inside its inner cliamber
13, movably along the axis X-X between two extreme positions, i.e.:
- an upper extreme position, in which the upper face 30A of the spool 30 bears
30 against an annular seat 17B, which is secured to the base 10, while being supported by
the lower surface 17A of the closing wall 17, having noted that, in the example
embodiment considered here, this seat 178 is provided slightly downwardly axially
protruding from the rest of the lower surface 17A of the closing wall 17, and
- a lower extreme position, in which the lower face 308 of the spool 30 bears
35 against an annular seat 20A, which is secured to the attached piece 20, while being
delimited by the upper end edge of that attached piece 20.
7
Inasmuch as the total axial dimension of the spool 30, separating its opposite
faces 30A and 308 from one another, is smaller than the axial distance separating the
seats 178 and 20A from one another, it will be understood that, when the spool 30 is in its
lower extreme position, the spool closes off the intake of hot water inside the seat 20A,
5 while maximally opening a cold water passage F3, which is axially delimited between the
upper face 30A of the spool 30 and the seat 178. Conversely, when the spool 30 is in its
upper extreme position, the spool closes off the intake of cold water inside the seat 178,
while maximally opening a hot water passage C3 that is axially delimited between the
lower face 308 of the spool 30 and the seat 20A. Of course, depending on the position of
10 the spool 30 along the axis X-X between its upper and lower extreme positions, the
respective flow sections of the cold water passage F3 and the hot water passage C3 vary
inversely, which means that the quantities of cold water and hot water allowed inside the
seats 178 and 20A are controlled, in inverse respective proportions, by the spool 30
depending on its axial position. In figure 3, the spool 30 occupies an intermediate axial
15 position between its upper and lower extreme positions.
To ensure guiding of the movable assembly of the spool 30 in the chamber 13 of
the base 10, the intermediate part 33 of the spool 30 is received in a substantially
adjusted manner inside the lower terminal part of the cylindrical surface 13A of the
chamber 13, with radial interposition of the sealing gasket housed in the groove 33B of the
20 intermediate part 33 of the spool 30.
Above the sliding and tight bearing zone of the spool 30 against the lower terminal
'part of the cylindrical surface 13A of the chamber 13, a channel F4 is provided for
distributing cold water on the spool 30. More specifically, this cold water distribution
channel F4 is axially delimited on top by the base 10, and on bottom by the spool 30, i.e.,
25 this channel F4 is axially upwardly closed by the outer peripheral part of the lower surface
17A of the closing wall 17 of the base 10, while said channel F4 is axially clownwardly
closed by the spool 30, more specifically by ihe junction between its upper 31 ant1
intermediate 33 parts, as clearly shown in figure 3. Furthermore, as clearly shown in
figures 3 and 4, the cold water distribution channel F4 is radially inwardly closed by the
30 upper part 31 of the spool 30, more specifically by its cylindrical outer face 31A.
Additionally, radially outwardly, the cold water distribution channel F4 is on the one hand
closed by the upper terminal part of the cylindrical surface 13A in the angular portion of
the base 10 in which that upper terminal part of the cylindrical surface 13A extends, and
on the other hand in free fluid communication with the lower outlet of the cold water inlet
35 orifice 14 in the remaining angular portion of the base 10. Thus, the cold water distribution
channel F4 extends, around the axis X-X, over 360°, without interruption, with the
understanding that, as an alternative that is not shown, a smaller circumferential expanse
8
can be considered. Owing to this channel F4, the cold water leaving the orifice 14 toward
the spool 30 is channeled all around the upper part 31 of that spool, from which the cold
water can supply the cold water passage F3 over its entire periphery: at any point of the
outer periphery of the spool 30, the supply of cold water for the passage F3 by the
5 distribution channel F4 is effective and homogenous, both radially across from the lower
outlet of the inlet orifice 14 and outside that outlet along the periphery of the base 10. It is
thus possible to allow the largest amount of cold water inside the seat 178, for a given
axial position of the spool 30.
In practice, to seek to saturate the passage F3 with cold water when a sufficient
10 cold water flow rate supplies the orifice 14 from the outside of the cartridge, typically under
normal supply conditions of the cartridge, the cylindrical surface 13A extends axially over
the entire axial dimension of the cold water distribution channel F4, as is also the case for
the example embodiment considered in the figures.
Likewise, below the sliding and tight bearing zone of the spool 30 against the lower
15 terminal part of the cylindrical surface 13A of the chamber 13, a channel C4 is provided
for distributing hot water around the spool 30. More specifically, as shown in figures 3 and
6, this hot water distribution channel C4 is axially delimited between the base 10 and the
attached piece 20, i.e., this distribution channel C4 is closed, axially upwardly, by the
stepped surface 13C, and closed, axially downwardly, by the upper terminal part of the
20 attached piece 20. Radially inwardly, the distribution channel C4 is closed by the lower
part 32 of the spool 30, more specifically by its frustoconical outer face 32A. Furthermore,
radially outwardly, the distribution channel C4 is on the one hand closed by the upper
terminal part of the cylindrical surface 13B in the angular portion of the base 10 in which
that upper terminal part of the surface 138 extends, and on the other hand in free fluid
25 communication with the lower outlet of the hot water inlet orifice 15 in the remaining
angular portion of the base. It will be understood that all of the preceding considerations
related to the cold water distribution channel F4 can be transposetl lo the hot water
distribution channel C4: in other words, the hot water flowing in the inlet orifice 15 flows in
the hot water distribution channel C4, wh,ile being distributed all around the spool 30, so
30 as to distribute the supply from the hot water passage C3 over the entire outer periphery
of the spool. Additionally, advantageously, to seek to saturate the passage C3 with hot
water, the cylindrical surface 13B extends axially over the entire axial dimension of that
hot water distribution channel C4, as in the example embodiment considered in the
figures.
35 It will be noted that, in order for the cold water allowed inside the seat 178 to be
able to reach and mix with the hot water allowed inside the seat 20A, then forming the
aforementioned mixture of cold water and hot water flowing, downstream from the spool,
9
to the outlet orifice 16, the spool 30 inwardly delimits one or more flow passages 34
connecting its opposite faces 30A and 308 to one another. This or these flow passage(s)
34 are not limiting on the present invention and will therefore not be described in more
detail.
5 To drive the movement of the spool 30 and thus control its axial position, the
thermostatic cartridge 1 includes a thermostatic element 40 whereof the body 41, which is
centered on the axis X-X in the assembled state of the cartridge, is fixedly secured to the
spool 30. A heat-sensitive part of that body 41 contains a thermodilatable material which,
under the action of the heat from the mixture of hot water and cold water, flowing
10 downstream from the spool 30 along that heat-sensitive part of the body 41, extends and
causes the relative movement, in translation along the axis X-X, of a piston 42 of the
thermostatic element 40, that piston 42 itself also being substantially centered on the axis
X-X in the assembled state of the cartridge.
The terminal part of the piston 42 opposite the body 41, in other words the upper
15 terminal part of the piston 42, is connected to the base 10 by a mechanical assembly 50,
which is housed inside the housing 2 and which, in a known manner, is able to adjust the
axial altitude of the piston 42 relative to the base 10, independently of the relative position
of the body 41: this means that this mechanical assembly 50 is designed to control the
temperature of the mixture of cold water and hot water leaving the base 10, by adjusting
20 the thermostatic equilibrium temperature around which the temperature of the mixture is
controlled. Inasmuch as the embodiment of the mechanical assembly 50 is not limiting on
the present invention, this mechanical assembly 50 is not shown in detail in the figures
and will not be described in more detail here, having nevertheless noted that, in the
example embodiment considered in the figures, this mechanical assembly 50 is
25 advantageously suitable for also controlling the flow rate of the mixture of cold water and
hot water leaving the base 10, by adjusting, typically s sing ceramic discs, the placement
ill communication of the cold water flow channel 11 with the cold water inlet orifice 14 ancl
the placement in the commt~nicatioo~fi the hot water flow channel 12 with the hot water
inlet orifice 15. Preferably and as is also the case for the example embodiment considered
30 in the figures, the mechanical assembly 50 includes a single lever 51 allowing the user to
control the flow rate and temperature of the mixture. In this respect, the reader may refer,
for example, to prior art document WO-A-20101072966, in the same applicant's name as
this document.
The thermostatic cartridge 1 further includes a compression spring 60, which acts
35 on the spool 30 so as to oppose the deployment of the piston 42 relative to the body 41 of
the thermostatic element 40, and which is axially inserted betweenthat spool and the
attached piece 20, as clearly shown in figure 3. It will must be understood that the
10
attached piece 20 combines the fixed bearing function for the spring 60, allowing the latter
to return the piston 42 to the inside of the body 41 during a contraction of the
thermodilatable material of the thermostatic element 40, the fixed bearing seat function for
the spool 30 when the latter is in its lower extreme position, and the downward axial
5 closing function of the hot water distribution channel C4.
Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described above and
illustrated, various alternatives and options being able to be considered without going
beyond the scope of this invention. For example:
- rather than having an essentially frustoconical outer shape, the lower terminal
10 part 32 of the spool 30 can be provided to be outwardly cylindrical, having nevertheless
noted that the frustoconical shape has the advantage of allowing a greater flow rate
through the cartridge 1 and contributes to facilitating stripping of the base; and/or
- rather than being screwed, the attached piece 20 can be clipped or welded or
glued to the base 10, or forcibly fitted in the base.

CLAIMS
1.- A thermostatic cartridge (1) for controlling cold and hot fluids to be mixed,
comprising:
- a hollow base (lo), which defines an axis (X-X) and which delimits both a first
5 inlet orifice (14) for a first of the cold and hot fluids, and a second inlet orifice (15) for the
second fluid, and an outlet orifice (16) for a mixture of the cold and hot fluids, the first and
second inlet orifices emerging separately on a first axial side (10A) of the base while the
outlet orifice emerges on a second axial side (10B) of the base, axially opposite the first
side;
10 - an attached piece (20), which is fixedly connected to the base (10) while being
arranged inside the outlet orifice (16), and axially through which the mixture flows;
- a spool (30) for controlling the temperature of the mixture, which:
- has first (30A) and second (30B) opposite axial faces, turned toward the
first axial side (10A) and the second axial side (10B) of the base (lo), respectively,
15 - delimits a first passage (F3) for the first fluid, said first passage being
axially delimited between the first axial face (30A) of the spool (30) and the base (lo),
supplies the outlet orifice (16), and is supplied by the first inlet orifice (14) via a first
channel (F4) for distributing the first fluid around the spool, which runs over at least one
portion of the outer periphery of the spool,
20 - delimits a second passage (C3) for the second fluid, said second passage
being axially delimited between the second axial face (30B) of the spool (30) and the
attached piece (20), supplies the outlet orifice (16), and is supplied by the second inlet
orifice (16) via a second channel (C4) for distributing the second fluid around the spool,
which runs over at least one portion of the outer periphery of the spool and which is
25 closed, axially toward the second axial side (10B) of the base (lo), by the attached piece
(20), and
- is niovecl snbstanlially along the axis (X-X) inside the base (10) so as to
inversely vary the respective flow sections of the first (F3) and second (C3) passages; and
- a thermostatic element (40), which includes a piston (42), connected to the base
30 (lo), and a body (41) fixedly connected to the spool (30), the piston and the body being
movable relative to one another substantially along the axis (X-X) under the action of the
expansion of a thermodilatable material contained in a heat-sensitive part of the body (41)
along which the mixture flows,
characterized in that the first distribution channel (F4) is closed, axially toward the second
35 axial side (108) of the base (lo), by the spool (30).
12
2.- The cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that the spool (30)
includes, along the axis (X-X):
- a first terminal part (31) and a second terminal part (32), which are axially
opposite one another and which respectively bear the first (30A) and second (308) axial
5 faces, and
- an intermediate part (33) that connects the first and second terminal parts to one
another;
and in that the base (10) inwardly has:
- a first substantially cylindrical surface (13A), which is substantially centered on
10 the axis (X-X), on which the first inlet orifice (14) emerges radially, between which and the
first terminal part (31) of the spool (30) the first distribution channel (F4) is radially
delimited, and against which the intermediate part (32) of the spool bears radially and
moves axially tightly, and
- a second substantially cylindrical surface (13B), which is substantially centered
15 on the axis (X-X), on which the second inlet orifice (16) emerges radially, between which
and the second terminal part (32) of the spool (30) the second distribution channel (C4) is
radially delimited, and inside which the attached piece (20) is arranged in a substantially
adjusted manner,
the diameter of the first substantially cylindrical surface (13A) being strictly smaller than
20 the diameter of the second substantially cylindrical surface (13B).
3.- The cartridge according to claim 2, characterized in that the first substantially
cylindrical surface (13A)'extends axially over the entire axial dimension of the first
distribution channel (F4).
25
4.- The cartridge according to one of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that the
second substarrtially cylindrical surface (13B) exterrds axially over the entire axial
dimension of the second distribution channel (C4).
30 5.- The cartridge according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the
first terminal part (31) of the spool (30) has, over substantially the entire axial expanse of
the first terminal part, a substantially cylindrical outer face (31A), which is substantially
centered on the axis (X-X).and the diameter of which is substantially smaller than the
diameter of the first substantially cylindrical surface (13A) of the base (10).
6.- The cartridge according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the
second terminal part (32) of the spool (30) has, over substantially the entire axial expanse
13
of the second terminal part, a substantially frustoconical outer face (32A), which' is
substantially centered on the axis (X-X) and which diverges toward the second axial side
(106) of the base (10).
5 7.- The cartridge according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in
that the first inlet orifice (14) and the second inlet orifice (15) extend, around the axis X-X,
over appl-oxirnately 180" and in a diametrically opposite manner.
.u 111 :: ::::~.lrlfiq:, :1ccortiln[j to anv one ot tho prccedln!g cia::??, charactzr~zeflI n
i G ii !:!;. il I,.: ii!:si 1c11:;ri 11~11t iic.1111 ;ila1111(F?l4 ) ~:):IC?I~:II~IO~LSIII(,I 11 I,.! ;.I;{IS ;<..);, .:. 3 ~ ~ J c .
9.- The cartridge according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in
that the second distribution channel (C4) extends, around the axis (X-X), over 360".
15 10.- The cartridge according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in
that the cartridge (I) further comprises a return spring (GO), which acts on the body (41) of
the thermostatic element (40) opposite the action of the expansion of the thermodilatable
material, and which, opposite that body (41), bears axially against the attached piece (20).
11.- The cartridge according to any one of the preceding"claims, characterized in
that the attached piece (20) is screwed into a thread (IGB) of the base (10).
12.- The cartridge according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in
that the base (10) further delimits:
25 - a first flow channel' (1 1) for the first fluid from the second axial side (10B) to the
first axial side (10A) of the base, and
- a second flow channel (12) fol- the secorid fluid frotii the second axial side to the
fist axial side of the base;
and in that the cartridge (I) further comprises means (50) for controlling the flow rate and
30 the tetnperature of the mixture, which are suitable both for modifying the axial position of
the piston (42) of the thermostatic element (40) relative to the base (10) and for adjustably
placing both the first flow channel (11) in communication with the first inlet orifice (14) and
the second flow channel (12) in communication with the second inlet orifice (15).