Internal assembly for a faucet

Abstract

The invention is an internal assembly for a faucet comprising an independent base portion; a main body portion; a sealing element; at least one discharge element; a handle that an operator actuates to deliver water at a desired temperature through the discharge element; an annulus, and a radial seal. The main body portion includes a lower disk. The lower disk has a cold water inlet, a hot water inlet and a mixed water outlet. An intermediate disk is positioned adjacent the lower disk. The intermediate disk has a recessed mixing cavity, and further has a dual lobe sealing element to provide the mixing cavity with an arcuate configuration. An upper disk is positioned adjacent to the intermediate disk, and has a central aperture and at least one engaging member that operably couples the upper disk to the intermediate disk. A seat is positioned adjacent the upper disk, and the seat has a central opening. A post and a fixing element, including a flange and an opening, receive a portion of the actuator ball of a joystick, and facilitate operable connection of the joystick with the upper disk. A joystick having a shaft extends through the seat opening, and through the main body. The joystick has a depending actuator that is received in the upper disk aperture to operably connect the joystick to the upper disk. Actuation of the joystick results in movement of the upper disk and intermediate disk, to vary the position of the mixing cavity relative to the hot and cold water inlets.

1 . An internal assembly for a faucet comprising:
 an independent base portion; a main body portion; a sealing element; at least one discharge element; a handle that an operator actuates to deliver water at a desired temperature through the discharge element; an annulus, and a radial seal;   the main body portion including:   a lower disk, the lower disk having a cold water inlet, a hot water inlet and a mixed water outlet;   an intermediate disk positioned adjacent the lower disk, the intermediate disk having a recessed mixing cavity, and further having a dual lobe sealing element to provide the mixing cavity with an arcuate configuration;   an upper disk positioned adjacent to the intermediate disk and having a central aperture and at least one engaging member that operably couples the upper disk to the intermediate disk;   a seat positioned adjacent the upper disk, the seat having a central opening;   a post and a fixing element, including a flange and an opening, the opening receiving a portion of the actuator ball of a joystick, and facilitating operable connection of the joystick with the upper disk;   the joystick further having a shaft extending through the seat opening and through the main body, the joystick further having a depending actuator that is received in the upper disk aperture to operably connect the joystick to the upper disk;   wherein actuation of the joystick results in movement of the upper disk and intermediate disk to vary the position of the mixing cavity relative to the hot and cold water inlets.   
   
   
       2 . The internal assembly for a faucet of  claim 1 , wherein the independent base portion is connected to a cold water line and a hot water line, and is mounted to a surface, wherein the main body portion is secured to the independent base portion by screws, and wherein the main body portion may be removed from the independent base portion without disconnecting the cold water line or the hot water line from the independent base portion. 
   
   
       3 . The internal assembly for a faucet of  claim 1 , wherein the main body portion has a cold water inlet hole, a hot water inlet hole, and a mixed water outlet hole such that the mixed water may be discharged directly from the main body through at least one of the discharge elements. 
   
   
       4 . The internal assembly for a faucet of  claim 3 , wherein the discharge elements comprise a spout connected to the main body portion, and a discharge line connected to the independent base portion, wherein the main body portion contains a change valve wherein actuation of the change valve changes the flow of discharged water between the spout and the discharge line. 
   
   
       5 . The internal assembly for a faucet of  claim 1 , wherein the radial seal comprises a U-ring, and the main body portion has an external arcuate recess and two holes for receiving the U-ring. 
   
   
       6 . The internal assembly for a faucet of  claim 1 , wherein the seat contains two outward projections and the main body has two internal arcuate recesses for receiving the seat and the annulus to transversely seal the faucet. 
   
   
       7 . The internal assembly for a faucet of  claim 1 , wherein the discharge elements include a spout and a water outlet line through the independent base portion. 
   
   
       8 . The internal assembly for a faucet of  claim 1 , wherein actuation of the joystick results in movement of the upper disk and intermediate disk to vary the position of the mixing cavity relative to the hot and cold water inlets and the mixed water outlet. 
   
   
       9 . The internal assembly for a faucet of  claim 1 , wherein the intermediate disk has a diameter less than a diameter of the lower disk.