Water control fixture having auxiliary functions

Abstract

A water control fixture includes a housing having a plurality of ports defining a hot water inlet port, a cold water port, a fixture outlet port, and an auxiliary port. A flow control unit is configured to be selectively positioned in fluid communication with different combinations of the plurality of ports, wherein the flow control unit has a main passage in fluid communication with the hot water inlet port, the cold water port, and the fixture outlet port. The flow control unit controls the flow of water from the hot water inlet port and the cold water port to the fixture outlet port. The flow control unit has an auxiliary passage in fluid communication with the auxiliary port and at least one of the hot water inlet port, the cold water port, and the fixture outlet port to perform an auxiliary function.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A water control fixture, comprising:
 a housing having a plurality of ports defining a hot water inlet port, a cold water port, a fixture outlet port, and an auxiliary port, wherein water is dispensed from the housing via the fixture outlet port; and   a flow control unit operatively associated with the housing and the at least four ports, the flow control unit comprising an antiscald device in fluid communication with the auxiliary port, wherein the flow control unit fluidly couples the at least four ports in multiple combinations of ports to perform different functions, wherein a first set of the ports is fluidly coupled to perform a first function and a second set of the ports is fluidly coupled to perform a second function, wherein the flow control unit fluidly couples the hot water inlet port, the cold water port, and the fixture discharge port to perform a hot/cold mixing function, and wherein the flow control unit fluidly couples the auxiliary port and at least one of the hot water inlet port and the fixture discharge port to perform an antiscald function.   
     
     
         2 . The water control fixture of  claim 1 , wherein the antiscald device restricts fluid flow through at least one of the fixture discharge port and the auxiliary port based on a temperature of the water flowing through the flow control unit. 
     
     
         3 . The water control fixture of  claim 1 , wherein the antiscald device restricts fluid flow through at least one of the fixture discharge port and the auxiliary port based on the water pressure of the water flowing through the flow control unit. 
     
     
         4 . The water control fixture of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of ports comprises a dedicated return port configured to be in fluid communication with a dedicated hot water return line, and wherein the flow control unit comprises a bypass passage in fluid communication with the dedicated return port and the hot water inlet port, the flow control unit permitting recirculating flow through the bypass passage. 
     
     
         5 . The water control fixture of  claim 1 , wherein the antiscald device changes the flow from one of the hot water inlet port, the cold water port and the auxiliary port to change the mixture of the water dispensed from the fixture outlet port when the water temperature is above a predetermined amount. 
     
     
         6 . The water control fixture of  claim 1 , wherein the flow control unit includes a first operating valve having the main passage for controlling the flow of water from the hot water inlet port and the cold water port to the fixture outlet port, and wherein the flow control unit includes a bypass valve and having the auxiliary passage for permitting recirculating flow between the hot water inlet port and the auxiliary port. 
     
     
         7 . The water control fixture of  claim 1 , wherein the flow control unit is operable in a first set of positions that restrict water flow through the fixture outlet port and allow water flow between the auxiliary port and at least one of the hot water inlet port, the cold water port, and the fixture outlet port, a second set of positions that allow water flow through the fixture outlet port and allow water flow between the auxiliary port and at least one of the hot water inlet port, the cold water port, and the fixture outlet port. 
     
     
         8 . The water control fixture of  claim 7 , wherein the flow control unit is operable in a third set of positions that allow water flow through the fixture outlet port and restrict water flow through the auxiliary port. 
     
     
         9 . The water control fixture of  claim 1 , further comprising a plug received within at least one of the auxiliary port and the auxiliary passage for restricting flow through the auxiliary port. 
     
     
         10 . A water control fixture, comprising:
 a housing having a plurality of ports defining a hot water inlet port, a cold water port, a fixture outlet port, and an auxiliary port, wherein water is dispensed from the housing via the fixture outlet port;   a flow control unit operatively associated with the housing and the at least four ports, the flow control unit comprising an antiscald device in fluid communication with the auxiliary port, wherein the flow control unit fluidly couples the at least four ports in multiple combinations of ports to perform different functions, wherein a first set of the ports is fluidly coupled to perform a first function and a second set of the ports is fluidly coupled to perform a second function, wherein the flow control unit fluidly couples the hot water inlet port, the cold water port, and the fixture discharge port to perform a hot/cold mixing function, and wherein the flow control unit fluidly couples the auxiliary port and at least one of the hot water inlet port and the fixture discharge port to perform an antiscald function; and   a bypass valve in fluid communication with the hot water inlet port and at least one of the cold water port and the auxiliary port for permitting recirculating flow therebetween.   
     
     
         11 . The water control fixture of  claim 10 , wherein the antiscald device restricts fluid flow through at least one of the fixture discharge port and the auxiliary port based on a temperature of the water flowing through the flow control unit. 
     
     
         12 . The water control fixture of  claim 10 , wherein the antiscald device restricts fluid flow through at least one of the fixture discharge port and the auxiliary port based on the water pressure of the water flowing through the flow control unit. 
     
     
         13 . The water control fixture of  claim 10 , wherein the auxiliary port comprises a dedicated return port configured to be in fluid communication with a dedicated hot water return line, the bypass valve permitting recirculating flow to the dedicated hot water return line. 
     
     
         14 . The water control fixture of  claim 10 , wherein the bypass valve is operated based on a temperature of the water in the flow control unit. 
     
     
         15 . A water control fixture, comprising:
 a housing having a plurality of ports defining a hot water inlet port, a cold water port, a fixture outlet port, and an auxiliary port, wherein water is dispensed from the housing via the fixture outlet port;   a flow control unit operatively associated with the housing and the at least four ports, the flow control unit comprising a pressure balancing device in fluid communication with the auxiliary port, wherein the flow control unit fluidly couples the at least four ports in multiple combinations of ports to perform different functions, wherein a first set of the ports is fluidly coupled to perform a first function and a second set of the ports is fluidly coupled to perform a second function, wherein the flow control unit fluidly couples the hot water inlet port, the cold water port, and the fixture discharge port to perform a hot/cold mixing function, and wherein the flow control unit fluidly couples the auxiliary port and at least one of the hot water inlet port, the cold water port and the fixture discharge port to perform a pressure balance function, wherein the pressure balance device changes a mixture ratio of water from at least one of the hot water inlet port, the cold water inlet port and the auxiliary port during performance of the pressure balance function when a pressure of the water flowing through at least one of the hot water inlet port, the cold water port and the auxiliary port fluctuates beyond a threshold.   
     
     
         16 . The water control fixture of  claim 15 , wherein the pressure balance device restricts fluid flow through at least one of the fixture discharge port and the auxiliary port based on a water pressure of the water flowing through the flow control unit. 
     
     
         17 . The water control fixture of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of ports comprises a dedicated return port configured to be in fluid communication with a dedicated hot water return line, and wherein the flow control unit comprises a bypass passage in fluid communication with the dedicated return port and the hot water inlet port, the flow control unit permitting recirculating flow through the bypass passage. 
     
     
         18 . The water control fixture of  claim 15 , wherein the flow control unit includes a first operating valve having the main passage for controlling the flow of water from the hot water inlet port and the cold water port to the fixture outlet port, and wherein the flow control unit includes a bypass valve and having the auxiliary passage for permitting recirculating flow between the hot water inlet port and the auxiliary port.