FAUCET WITH INTEGRATED MIXING VALVE

1 . A faucet configured to receive a first fluid conduit and a second fluid conduit, wherein the faucet includes a mixer valve within a portion thereof that is configured to receive a first fluid from the first fluid conduit and a second fluid from the second fluid conduit and to output the first fluid or the second fluid or a blend the first and second fluids to a faucet outlet.

2 . The faucet of claim 1 , wherein the mixer valve comprises a first fluid inlet adapted to receive the first fluid from the first fluid conduit, a second fluid inlet adapted to receive the second fluid from the second fluid conduit, a fluid outlet, and a first flow control valve for controlling the flow of fluid from the first fluid inlet and a second flow control valve for controlling the flow of fluid from the second fluid inlet, each of the first and second flow control valves including a valve member assembly to control the fluid flow through the respective flow control valve, the valve member assembly and the fluid inlet of each of the first and second flow control valves adapted and arranged such that, when in use, fluid flowing through the first flow control valve exerts substantially no net force on the valve member assembly of the first flow control valve and fluid flowing through the second flow control valve exerts substantially no net force on the valve member assembly of the second flow control valve.

3 . The faucet of claim 1 , wherein the mixer valve comprises a first inlet for receiving the first fluid, a second inlet for receiving the second fluid, and a mixing chamber having a fluid outlet, the mixer valve including a first flow control valve for controlling the flow of the first fluid into the mixing chamber and a second flow control valve, separate from the first flow control valve, for controlling the flow of the second fluid into the mixing chamber, wherein at least the first or second flow control valve includes at least two separate outlets into the mixing chamber.

4 . The faucet of claim 3 , wherein both the first flow control valve and second flow control valve each include at least two separate outlets into the mixing chamber.

5 . The faucet of claim 4 , wherein each flow control valve includes a valve member assembly including a first valve member adapted to engage with a first valve seat associated with a first of the two valve outlets in a closed position of the flow control valve and a second valve member adapted to engage with a second, separate, valve seat associated with a second of the two valve outlets in the closed position of the flow control valve.

6 . The faucet of claim 1 , wherein the mixer valve is provided in a spout of the faucet.

7 . The faucet of claim 1 , wherein the faucet comprises a body configured to be provided above a surface to which the faucet is mounted and the mixer valve is provided within the body.

8 . The faucet of claim 1 , wherein the faucet includes a spray head configured to provide a plurality of different spray patterns.

9 . The faucet of claim 1 , wherein the first fluid conduit is configured to couple to a source of hot water and the second fluid conduit is configured to couple to a source of cold water, the sources of hot and cold water being located outside of the faucet.

10 . The faucet of claim 1 , wherein the faucet further includes an electronic controller configured to control at least one of the flow rate or the temperature of fluid output from the mixer valve.

11 . The faucet of claim 1 , further comprising an interface configured to allow a user of the faucet to control at least one of the flow rate or the temperature of fluid output from the mixer valve.

12 . The faucet of claim 11 , wherein the interface is provided on a portion of the faucet.

13 . The faucet of claim 12 , wherein the interface is provided on a base plate of the faucet.

14 . The faucet of claim 12 , wherein the interface comprises a touch screen.

15 . The faucet of claim 1 , wherein the mixer valve includes a plurality of linear actuators for moving valve assemblies within the mixer valve.

16 . The faucet of claim 15 , wherein the linear actuators are stepper motors.

17 . The faucet of claim 1 , wherein the mixer valve further comprises an electric heating element configured to heat a body of the mixer valve to allow a disinfecting routine to be performed to kill organisms within the mixer valve.

18 . A faucet comprising:

an escutcheon;

a body extending above the escutcheon, the body comprising a spout; and

a mixing valve within the body;

wherein the mixing valve includes a first inlet and a second inlet for receiving first and second fluids, respectively, and an outlet for directing a mixture of the first and second fluids toward an outlet of the faucet.

19 . The faucet of claim 18 , wherein the mixing valve is provided in a the spout.

20 . The faucet of claim 18 , wherein the faucet is configured to provide a plurality of different spray patterns.

21 . The faucet of claim 18 , wherein the mixing valve comprises a first flow control valve for controlling the flow of fluid from the first inlet and a second flow control valve for controlling the flow of fluid from the second inlet, each of the first and second flow control valves including a valve member assembly to control the fluid flow through the respective flow control valve, the valve member assembly and the inlet of each of the first and second flow control valves adapted and arranged such that, when in use, fluid flowing through the first flow control valve exerts substantially no net force on the valve member assembly of the first flow control valve and fluid flowing through the second flow control valve exerts substantially no net force on the valve member assembly of the second flow control valve.

22 . The faucet of claim 18 , wherein the mixing valve further comprises a mixing chamber, a first flow control valve for controlling the flow of the first fluid into the mixing chamber, and a second flow control valve, separate from the first flow control valve, for controlling the flow of the second fluid into the mixing chamber, wherein at least the first or second flow control valve includes at least two separate outlets into the mixing chamber.

23 . The faucet of claim 22 , wherein both the first flow control valve and second flow control valve each include at least two separate outlets into the mixing chamber.

24 . The faucet of claim 23 , wherein each flow control valve includes a valve member assembly including a first valve member adapted to engage with a first valve seat associated with a first of the two valve outlets in a closed position of the flow control valve and a second valve member adapted to engage with a second, separate, valve seat associated with a second of the two valve outlets in the closed position of the flow control valve.

25 . The faucet of claim 24 , wherein the mixing valve includes a first linear actuator for moving the first valve member assembly and a second linear actuator for moving the second valve member assembly.

26 . The faucet of claim 25 , wherein the linear actuators are stepper motors.

27 . The faucet of claim 18 , wherein the first inlet is configured to receive hot water and the second inlet is configured to receive cold water.

28 . The faucet of claim 18 , wherein the faucet further includes a controller configured to control at least one of the flow rate or the temperature of fluid output from the mixing valve.

29 . The faucet of claim 18 , further comprising an interface configured to allow a user of the faucet to control at least one of the flow rate or the temperature of fluid output from the mixing valve.

30 . The faucet of claim 29 , wherein the interface is provided on a portion of the faucet.

31 . The faucet of claim 30 , wherein the interface comprises a touch screen.

32 . The faucet of claim 18 , wherein the mixing valve further comprises an electric heating element extending through a portion of a body of the mixing valve and configured to heat the body of the mixing valve to allow a disinfecting routine to be performed to kill organisms within the mixing valve.

33 . A faucet comprising:

a spout configured to extend above a surface to which the faucet is mounted;

a mixing valve within the spout;

wherein the mixing valve includes first and second inlets for receiving fluids, a mixing chamber configured for mixing the received fluids, and an outlet for directing a mixture of the received fluids out of the spout.

34 . The faucet of claim 33 , wherein the faucet is configured to provide a plurality of different spray patterns.

35 . The faucet of claim 33 , wherein the mixing valve comprises a first flow control valve for controlling the flow of fluid from the first inlet and a second flow control valve for controlling the flow of fluid from the second inlet, each of the first and second flow control valves including a valve member assembly to control the fluid flow through the respective flow control valve, the valve member assembly and the inlet of each of the first and second flow control valves adapted and arranged such that, when in use, fluid flowing through the first flow control valve exerts substantially no net force on the valve member assembly of the first flow control valve and fluid flowing through the second flow control valve exerts substantially no net force on the valve member assembly of the second flow control valve.

36 . The faucet of claim 33 , wherein the mixing valve further comprises a first flow control valve for controlling the flow of a first fluid from the first inlet into the mixing chamber and a second flow control valve, separate from the first flow control valve, for controlling the flow of a second fluid from the second inlet into the mixing chamber, wherein at least the first or second flow control valve includes at least two separate outlets into the mixing chamber.

37 . The faucet of claim 36 , wherein both the first flow control valve and second flow control valve each include at least two separate outlets into the mixing chamber.

38 . The faucet of claim 37 , wherein each flow control valve includes a valve member assembly including a first valve member adapted to engage with a first valve seat associated with a first of the two valve outlets in a closed position of the flow control valve and a second valve member adapted to engage with a second, separate, valve seat associated with a second of the two valve outlets in the closed position of the flow control valve.

39 . The faucet of claim 38 , wherein the mixing valve includes a first linear actuator for moving the first valve member assembly and a second linear actuator for moving the second valve member assembly.

40 . The faucet of claim 39 , wherein the linear actuators are stepper motors.

41 . The faucet of claim 33 , wherein the first inlet is configured to receive hot water and the second inlet is configured to receive cold water.

42 . The faucet of claim 33 , wherein the faucet further includes a controller configured to control at least one of the flow rate or the temperature of fluid output from the mixing valve.

43 . The faucet of claim 33 , further comprising an interface configured to allow a user of the faucet to control at least one of the flow rate or the temperature of fluid output from the mixing valve.

44 . The faucet of claim 43 , wherein the interface is provided on a portion of the faucet.

45 . The faucet of claim 44 , wherein the interface comprises a touch screen.

46 . The faucet of claim 33 , wherein the mixing valve further comprises a heater configured to heat a body of the mixing valve to allow a disinfecting routine to be performed to kill organisms within the mixing valve.