AU2004202964A1 - Combined Back Flow Prevention Device and Hose Connector - Google Patents

Description

COMBINED BACK FLOW PREVENTION DEVICE AND HOSE

CONNECTOR

Field of the Invention This invention relates to back flow prevention devices and has particular relevance to back flow prevention devices for common water taps. The invention also relates to taps that incorporate a back flow prevention device.

Background Art External water hose taps as have been used in domestic and commercial situations have for many years, are commodity items and as such are sold at competitive prices.

Recent regulations however mean that the hose taps are required to be fitted with back flow protection to eliminate the possibility of water supplies becoming contaminated by back flows.

Hose connections are also to a large extent standardised, a particularly common type being a "snap-on" connector where a socket having compressible jaws snaps onto a male fitting which has been screw mounted to a hose tap.

An object of the present invention is to provide a back flow prevention device which combine with a hose connector enabling existing and newly installed taps to be adapted to suit the new requirements.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description which is given by way of example.

Disclosure of Invention According to the present invention, there is provided a back flow prevention valve and hose connector comprising: a valve body defining a valve chamber and providing means for connecting the body to a hose tap, an inlet to and an outlet from the valve chamber, a valve seat within the inlet, a biased valve positioned on the valve seat which separates the inlet and outlet, bleed apertures from the inlet chamber beneath the valve which allow fluid to bleed from the outlet when a tap valve is closed, and a male hose connection formed on the outside of the body surrounding the inlet.

The biased valve may include a sealing member arranged to seal the bleed apertures when the hose tap is turned on such that fluid flows from the inlet to the outlet, said sealing member moving away from the bleed apertures when the hose tap is turned off such that fluid is able to pass between the outlet and the bleed apertures whilst avoiding fluid flow from the outlet back to the inlet.

The valve may include: a valve stem, (ii) an apertured stiff plate mounted on the valve stem and overlying a sealing washer, and (iii) a compression spring set between an upper end of the valve stem and the stiff plate, the arrangement and construction being such that in a first neutral position with the plate and sealing washer adjacent the valve seat fluid is able to pass between the outlet and the bleed apertures and in an operating position when pressure is applied to the valve as a result of the hose tap being turned on the sealing washer advances to seal off the bleed apertures whilst water is able to flow to the outlet via the apertured stiff plate.

The valve seat may be provided by a peripheral stepped ledge. The bleed apertures may extend downwardly from the peripheral stepped ledge to an outside of the valve body.

In another aspect of the present invention, the back flow prevention valve and hose connector may be integrated with a tap. Accordingly, in a second aspect, the present invention provides a tap having a back flow prevention valve and integrated hose connector comprising a tap body housing a tap control valve and a back flow prevention valve within the tap body and downstream of the tap control valve, the back flow prevention valve comprising: a valve body defining a valve chamber, an inlet to and an outlet from the valve chamber, a valve seat within the inlet, a biased valve positioned on the valve seat which separates the inlet and outlet, bleed apertures from the inlet chamber beneath the valve which allow fluid to bleed from the outlet when the valve is closed, and a male hose connection formed on the outside of the tap body surrounding the inlet.

Brief Description of the Drawings Aspects of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side/partial diagrammatic sectional view of a tap and combined device according to the present invention, and Figure 2 is a plan view of a valve mounting plate for the device of Figure 1, and Figure 3 is a sectional view of the device of Figure 1 shown in neutral and operating positions.

The following legend designates by reference number the elements of the device of the present invention: 1. Body 2. Inlet 3. Outlet 4. Valve seat Biased valve 6. Bleed apertures 7. Connector 8. Ledge 8a. Ridge 8b. Ridge 9. Wall Thread 11. Spout 12. Tap 13. Stem 14. Plate Sealing washer 17. Spring 18. Washer 19. Shoulder Washer 21. Aperture 22. Central Region 23. Apertures 24. Groove Ramp 26. Groove 27. Plate With respect firstly to Figure 1 of the drawings, the device of the present invention has a valve body defining a valve chamber generally indicated by arrow 1, an inlet 2 and an outlet 3 from the valve chamber, a valve seat generally indicated by arrow 4 within the inlet chamber and a biased diaphragm valve generally indicated by arrow 5 positioned on a valve seat.

A plurality of bleed apertures 6 allow fluid to escape from the outlet of the valve chamber in the event of a back flow.

A male hose connection generally indicated by arrow 7 is formed on the outside of the valve body 1 surrounding the outlet 3.

The valve seat includes a stepped peripheral ledge 8 and the bleed apertures 6 are situated in a wall 9 of the inlet below the ledge 8.

The entrance to the inlet is provided with an inner thread 10 for engagement with the external thread (not shown) of a spout 11 of a tap 12.

The valve 5 includes a valve stem 13, and an apertured stiff plate 14 which overlies a sealing washer The valve stem 13 mounts a compression spring 17 set between a washer 18 and the plate 14.

The valve stem 13 is provided with a shoulder 19 which supports a washer 20 positioned immediately below the sealing washer The sealing washer 15, the washers 18 and 20 are annular members fabricated or moulded in materials suitable to their function.

Figure 2 of the drawings illustrates in plan the plate 14.

The plate 14 is provided with a central aperture 21 a dished central region 22 and a plurality of equally spaced apertures 23. The plate can be formed from stainless steel.

The outer profile of the connector 7 is provided with a sealing ring groove 24, a ramp 25 leading to a groove 26 and a stop plate 27. This profile is designed to be complementary to the standard hose socket connectors.

Figure 3 of the drawings shows the device in a neutral condition.

As indicated by the path arrows of Figure 3, the valve 5 isolates the interiors of the spout 11 of the tap when it is turned off and any fluid which enters the device as a result ofbackflow is diverted via bleed apertures 6.

The ledge 8 is provided with two spaced ridges Sa and 8b.

When the tap is turned on, the water pressure acts on the stem, pushes the plate 14 down, the washer 15 seats on ridge Sa and seals off the bleed apertures 6 and because the valve stem is advanced, water is able to flow via apertures 23 into the outlet 3. The water flow path is illustrated by the path arrows to the right of figure 3.

When the tap is turned off, the biasing spring 17 returns the valve assembly to a neutral position.

The present invention provides an economic device for preventing backflow which utilises existing and new hose taps. It will also be appreciated that other embodiments of the present invention encompass a tap having the back flow prevention device as described herein and an integrated male connector formed on the tap body for connecting a hose to the tap. In such embodiments, the valve body as shown in figures 1 to 3 is suitably formed as part of the tap body.

Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of 3 0 example only and modifications and additions thereto may be made without departing from the spirit or scope thereof.

Claims (9)

1. A back flow prevention valve and hose connector comprising: a valve body defining a valve chamber and providing means for connecting the body to a hose tap, an inlet to and an outlet from the valve chamber, a valve seat within the inlet, a biased valve positioned on the valve seat which separates the inlet and outlet, bleed apertures from the inlet chamber beneath the valve which allow fluid to bleed from the outlet when the valve is closed, and a male hose connection formed on the outside of the body surrounding the inlet.

2. A back flow prevention valve and hose connector as claimed in claim I wherein the biased valve includes a sealing member arranged to seal the bleed apertures when the hose tap is turned on such that fluid flows from the inlet to the outlet, said sealing member moving away from the bleed apertures when the hose tap is turned off such that fluid is able to pass between the outlet and the bleed apertures 2 0 whilst avoiding fluid flow from the outlet back to the inlet.

3. A back flow prevention valve and hose connector as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the valve includes: a valve stem, (ii) an apertured stiff plate mounted on the valve stem and overlying a sealing washer, and (iii) a compression spring set between an upper end of the valve stem and the stiff plate, the arrangement and construction being such that in a first neutral position with the plate and sealing washer adjacent the valve seat fluid is able to pass between the outlet and the bleed apertures and in an operating position when pressure is applied to the valve as a result of the hose tap being turned on the sealing washer advances to seal off the bleed apertures whilst water is able to flow to the outlet via the apertured stiff plate.

4. A back flow prevention valve and hose connector as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the valve seat is provided by a peripheral stepped ledge and the bleed apertures extend downwardly from the peripheral stepped ledge to an outside of the valve body.

A tap having back flow prevention valve and integrated hose connector comprising a tap body housing a tap control valve and a back flow prevention valve within the tap body and downstream of the tap control valve, the back flow prevention valve comprising: a valve body defining a valve chamber, an inlet to and an outlet from the valve chamber, a valve seat within the inlet, a biased valve positioned on the valve seat which separates the inlet and outlet, and bleed apertures from the inlet chamber beneath the valve which allow fluid to bleed from the outlet when the valve is closed, and a male hose connection formed on the outside. of the tap body surrounding the inlet.

6. A tap as claimed in claim 5 wherein the biased valve includes a sealing member arranged to seal the bleed apertures when the tap control valve is turned on such that fluid flows from the inlet to the outlet, said sealing member moving away from the bleed apertures when the tap control valve is turned off such that fluid is able to pass between the outlet and the bleed apertures whilst avoiding fluid flow from the outlet back to the inlet.

7. A tap as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6 wherein the valve includes: a valve stem, (ii) an apertured stiff plate mounted on the valve stem and overlying a sealing washer, and (iii) a compression spring set between an upper end of the valve stem and the stiff plate, the arrangement and construction being such that in a first neutral position with the plate and sealing washer adjacent the valve seat fluid is able to pass between the outlet and the bleed apertures and in an operating position when pressure is applied to the valve as a result of the tap control valve being turned on the sealing washer advances to seal off the bleed apertures whilst water is able to flow to the outlet via the apertured stiff plate.

8. A tap as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 7 wherein the valve seat is provided by a peripheral stepped ledge and the bleed apertures extend downwardly from the peripheral stepped ledge to an outside of the tap body.

9. A back flow prevention valve and hose connector substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. A tap having back flow prevention valve and integrated hose connector substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this 1st day of July 2004 SCOTT ANGUS JESSOP By His Patent Attorneys CULLEN CO.