Mixing sillcock

Abstract

In one embodiment, a frost-free sillcock is provided. The sillcock has a single handle which rotates to control the temperature of the discharged fluid. The handle also moves axially toward and away from a mounting surface to control the volume of fluid discharged from the sillcock. Furthermore, the sillcock has valve components disposed on the inside of the mounting surface which can be serviced from outside of the mounting surface

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
   
   
       21 . A frost-free mixing sillcock comprising:
 a spout for mounting on an exterior of a building;   a valve body for mounting inside the building, the valve body having inlets for connecting to a hot water supply and a cold water supply, and the valve body having an outlet;   a single handle operable to independently adjust temperature and flow rate of water discharging from the spout; and   a cartridge assembly operable to mix water from the hot water supply and the cold water supply for delivery through the outlet, the cartridge assembly operable to be disposed at least partially within the valve body;   wherein the cartridge assembly includes at least one assembly mechanism for removably securing the cartridge assembly relative to the valve body.   
   
   
       22 . The frost-free mixing sillcock of  claim 21 , wherein the outlet of the valve body defines an opening, the opening being sized and shaped to allow at least a portion of the cartridge assembly to pass therethrough. 
   
   
       23 . The frost-free mixing sillcock of  claim 22 , wherein passage of the at least a portion of the cartridge assembly through the opening, during insertion of the cartridge assembly in the valve body, causes the assembly mechanism to pass through the opening and engage the valve body to secure the cartridge assembly relative to the valve body. 
   
   
       24 . The frost-free mixing sillcock of  claim 23 , wherein application of an axial force is operable to allow removal of the cartridge assembly from the valve body. 
   
   
       25 . The frost-free mixing sillcock of  claim 21 , wherein the assembly mechanism includes a camming surface. 
   
   
       26 . The frost-free mixing sillcock of  claim 21 , wherein the assembly mechanism is a pair of snap wings. 
   
   
       27 . The frost-free mixing sillcock of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 a piston having at least one aperture disposed therein, the piston being at least partially disposed within the cartridge assembly; and   a stem disposed within a conduit and the spout, the stem being connected to the single handle at a first end and to the piston at a second end;   wherein the conduit extends between the valve body and the spout; and   wherein movement of the piston corresponds to movement of the single handle.   
   
   
       28 . The frost-free mixing sillcock of  claim 27 , wherein the cartridge assembly has a first aperture that is operable to allow hot water from the hot water supply to flow therethrough, and a second aperture that is operable to allow cold water from the cold water supply to flow therethrough;
 wherein the piston has a first aperture corresponding to the first aperture of the cartridge assembly and a second aperture corresponding to the second aperture of the cartridge assembly;   wherein the first aperture and the second aperture of the cartridge assembly are axially offset from each other; and   wherein the first aperture and the second aperture of the piston are axially offset from each other.   
   
   
       29 . The frost-free mixing sillcock of  claim 27 , wherein a back plug is disposed on a rear end of the piston;
 wherein a stem plug is disposed on a front end of the piston; and   wherein a vent tube is disposed through the back plug, through the piston, and through the stem plug to allow air pressure behind the back plug to vent through the vent tube, into the stem, and out the spout.   
   
   
       30 . The frost-free mixing sillcock of  claim 27 , wherein a connection mechanism connects the stem and the piston. 
   
   
       31 . The frost-free mixing sillcock of  claim 21 , wherein the cartridge assembly is operable to be serviced from the exterior of the building without unmounting the spout from the building. 
   
   
       32 . A frost-free mixing sillcock comprising:
 a spout for mounting on an exterior of a building;   a valve body for mounting inside the building, the valve body having inlets for connecting to a hot water supply and a cold water supply, and the valve body having an outlet;   a single handle operable to independently adjust temperature and flow rate of water discharging from the spout; and   a cartridge assembly operable to mix water from the hot water supply and the cold water supply for delivery through the outlet, the cartridge assembly operable to be disposed at least partially within the valve body;   wherein the cartridge assembly includes a first alignment mechanism;   wherein the valve body includes a second alignment mechanism; and   wherein the first alignment mechanism and the second alignment mechanism are operable to interface to properly align the cartridge assembly relative to the inlets of the valve body.   
   
   
       33 . The frost-free mixing sillcock of  claim 32 , wherein the outlet of the valve body defines an opening, the opening being sized and shaped to allow at least a portion of the cartridge assembly to pass therethrough. 
   
   
       34 . The frost-free mixing sillcock of  claim 33 , wherein the first alignment mechanism is a protrusion formed on an outer surface of the cartridge assembly; and
 wherein the second alignment mechanism is a notch formed in the valve body such that the at least a portion of the cartridge assembly can fit into the valve body in only one orientation.   
   
   
       35 . The frost-free mixing sillcock of  claim 32 , further comprising:
 a piston having at least one aperture disposed therein, the piston being at least partially disposed within the cartridge assembly; and   a stem disposed within a conduit and the spout, the stem being connected to the single handle at a first end and to the piston at a second end;   wherein the conduit extends between the valve body and the spout; and   wherein movement of the piston corresponds to movement of the single handle.   
   
   
       36 . The frost-free mixing sillcock of  claim 35 , wherein the cartridge assembly has a first aperture that is operable to allow hot water from the hot water supply to flow therethrough, and a second aperture that is operable to allow cold water from the cold water supply to flow therethrough;
 wherein the piston has a first aperture corresponding to the first aperture of the cartridge assembly and a second aperture corresponding to the second aperture of the cartridge assembly;   wherein the first aperture and the second aperture of the cartridge assembly are axially offset from each other; and   wherein the first aperture and the second aperture of the piston are axially offset from each other.   
   
   
       37 . The frost-free mixing sillcock of  claim 35 , wherein a back plug is disposed on a rear end of the piston;
 wherein a stem plug is disposed on a front end of the piston; and   wherein a vent tube is disposed through the back plug, through the piston, and through the stem plug to allow air pressure behind the back plug to vent through the vent tube, into the stem, and out the spout.   
   
   
       38 . The frost-free mixing sillcock of  claim 35 , wherein a connection mechanism connects the stem and the piston 
   
   
       39 . The frost-free mixing sillcock of  claim 32 , wherein the cartridge assembly is operable to be serviced from the exterior of the building without unmounting the spout from the building. 
   
   
       40 . A frost-free mixing sillcock comprising:
 a spout for mounting on an exterior of a building;   a valve body for mounting inside the building, the valve body having inlets for connecting to a hot water supply and a cold water supply, and the valve body having an outlet;   a single handle operable to independently adjust temperature and flow rate of water discharging from the spout; and   a cartridge assembly operable to mix water from the hot water supply and the cold water supply for delivery through the outlet, the cartridge assembly operable to be disposed at least partially within the valve body;   wherein the cartridge assembly includes at least one assembly mechanism for removably securing the cartridge assembly relative to the valve body;   wherein the cartridge assembly includes a first alignment mechanism;   wherein the valve body includes a second alignment mechanism; and   wherein the first alignment mechanism and the second alignment mechanism are operable to interface to properly align the cartridge assembly relative to the inlets of the valve body.