AU2006100043A4 - Tap Valve Assembly - Google Patents
Tap Valve Assembly Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- AU2006100043A4 AU2006100043A4 AU2006100043A AU2006100043A AU2006100043A4 AU 2006100043 A4 AU2006100043 A4 AU 2006100043A4 AU 2006100043 A AU2006100043 A AU 2006100043A AU 2006100043 A AU2006100043 A AU 2006100043A AU 2006100043 A4 AU2006100043 A4 AU 2006100043A4
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- AU
- Australia
- Prior art keywords
- disc
- spindle
- housing
- tap
- seal
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Ceased
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Description
AUSTRALIA
Patents Act 1990 INNOVATION PATENT SPECIFICATION Invention Title: Applicant: Tap Valve Assembly DRD Technology Pty Ltd The invention is described in the following statement.
k, 2 0 o The present invention relates to a tap valve assembly. In particular, this present invention relates to a valve suitable for use in a domestic tap of the ceramic disc type.
SConventional taps or faucets typically are formed with a tap body that has an inlet for connecting to a water supply and an outlet through which the water can flow. In order to control the flow of water between the inlet and the outlet, the tap also contains a 0 ovalve arrangement. The valve arrangement commonly includes a jumper valve 2positioned with a sealing surface opposed to a valve seat. By rotating a spindle, the o jumper valve is forced into sealing engagement on the top body with the valve seat, N 10 thereby closing the valve and stemming water flow. The valve may be opened by rotating the spindle whereby the jumper valve moves away from the valve seat permitting water to flow there through.
A variety of jumper valves are available that in use are urged against the valve seat by rotation of a spindle to stem the flow of water. This rotational/translational motion places significant stresses on the jumper valve, resulting in eventual failure and the need for frequent replacement of the jumper valve.
Following the development of ceramic disc valves, valves that enable a tap to be fully operated in less than a single rotation of a spindle, it has been considered desirable to replace a jumper valve with a ceramic disc valve in a conventional tap. However, taps that incorporate ceramic disc valves have been produced, they are generally of a substantially different configuration than conventional tap bodies which rely on the closure of an orifice that extends through a valve seat. It has long been considered desirable to produce a ceramic disc type valve that could be retro-fitted into conventional tap bodies in an effective and economic manner. Whilst ceramic disc valve assemblies for use in conventional tap bodies have been produced, they have not been cost effective. The replacement of a jumper valve is a very cheap maintenance item. Replacing the valve with a ceramic disc valve assembly increases the cost of the valve replacement approximately 100 fold. As a result, there has been a reluctance in the market place to adopt the use of ceramic disc valves as a practical replacement for ajumper valve in a conventional tap.
S3 o Ceramic disc valve assemblies for use in replacing jumper valves in conventional taps Shave housings which have been machined from metal blocks, such as blocks of brass.
The high cost of machining suitable housings has resulted, in part, in the high cost of the ceramic disc valve assembly. Furthermore, the repair of brass housings is prohibitively expensive and the entire ceramic disc assembly is generally discarded.
o We have now found that it is possible to form the housing for a ceramic disc valve 0 assembly for use in conventional taps by injection moulding a plastics material.
OAccording to the present invention there is provided a valve suitable for use in a N 10 domestic tap, the valve comprising a spindle, a pair of ceramic discs, a sealing member and a housing, wherein the spindle is operatively connected a first disc, said first disc having a lateral aperture and being rotatable within a predetermined arc relative to a second disc, said second disc having longitudinal aperture wherein in an operative condition the lateral aperture of the first disc is in fluid communication with the longitudinal aperture of the second disc and an aperture in the housing, said seal being disposed on the housing and adapted for engagement with a seat of a tap, wherein the predetermined arc is determined by a pair of stops between which a projection is constrained, wherein either the stops or the projection are disposed on the housing, and wherein engagement between the projection and the respective stops is a face to face engagement whereby potential shearing of the housing by normal operation of the spindle is reduced.
The valve of the present invention is suitable for use in a wide variety of conventional tap bodies. The valve of the present invention may be used in tap bodies having an integrally formed spout such as may be used in external applications. The valve of the present invention may also be used in taps that may be disposed remotely from the spout or outlet. Examples of tap bodies disposed remotely from a valve or outlet include internal taps such as may be used in bathrooms, laundry's and the like.
Typically in such applications a hot and cold tap may be provided through which water is passed to a common spout such as may be found in a basin or to a shower head or other outlet.
Conventional tap bodies to which the valve of the present invention is applicable have D 4
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0a seat onto which a valve may be positioned and which allows the tap to be closed.
SAs described above, it is conventional to use jumper valves in conventional tap bodies, the jumper valves being urged into engagement with the seat of the tap to close the tap. A spindle is mounted on the tap body, typically with a screw thread whereby rotation of the spindle causes a jumper valve engaged with one end of the spindle within the tap body to be urged into and out of engagement with the seat of the 0 o tap. In a conventional tap body, water flow is stemmed by the closure of the valve 0 across the seat of the tap.
S 10 The valve of the present invention is suitable for use in a variety of conventional domestic taps. The valve includes a plastic housing that can be engaged with the tap body where by a seal disposed on the housing is engaged with the seat of the tap.
Typically, the plastic housing may be screwed into the tap body in a conventional manner, analogous to the screwing in of a sleeve which supports a conventional spindle. Advantageously, once the housing is screwed into the body of the tap and the seal is engaged with the seat of the tap, movement of the seal against the seat is eliminated in use, as the operation of the tap is affected by the relative rotation of the ceramic discs (a locking collar can be used in a preferred embodiment to prevent unintended rotation of the body and seal within the tap body) and not of the seal relative to the seat as would be the case in a conventional jumper valve configuration.
The elimination of movement of the seal relative to the seat of the tap results in considerably less wear of the seal and permits the valve of the present invention to have a considerably longer operating life than a conventional jumper valve. Thus, the seal is static when tightened against the tap seat. The thread on the body and the adjusting collar allow the ceramic disc assembly to adjust to variations in the depth of the tap seat, such as if the tap seat has been "re-seated".
The spindle for use in the valve of the present invention is mounted for rotation. That is, the spindle needs to simply rotate within the housing with no translational movement. Thus, a smooth bore within the housing can be used to provide the rotational freedom for the spindle within the housing.
In a preferred configuration, the spindle may include one or more o-rings disposed o there on for engagement with the bore of the housing size to provide a liquid-tight seal for the spindle as well as lateral stability of the spindle within the housing. It is preferred that the spindle include two spaced apart o-rings that engage the bore of the housing to provide a liquid-tight seal and improved lateral stability.
SRotational resistance will be mainly determined by the compression of the bottom 0 S"seat" seal that presses on the bottom ceramic disc and increases the friction between 0the ceramic discs. The desired rotational resistance may be obtained by the extent to O which the body is screwed into the body. Insufficient rotational resistance will result 0 10 in a tap that feels too loose and is difficult to adjust. A spindle having too high rotational resistance will prove difficult to operate by children, women, the elderly and the infirm.
The spindle may be preferably include a circular flange that can engage a land within the housing to limit the translational movement of the spindle. The shank of the spindle may include a channel for receiving a circlip or other suitable locking member that can constrain the spindle in a desired location within the housing. It is preferred that an anti-friction washer be provided on the flange of the spindle so as to provide a desired resistance to rotation of the spindle within the housing. The use of an antifriction washer minimizes any catching between a spindle such as may be formed from brass and the land of the plastic housing. The anti-friction washer may also assist in reducing wear.
The plastics housing preferably retains the spindle for rotation within a close fitting bore to minimize any lateral movement of the spindle. The bore is typically located in the upper portion of the housing that extends from the tap body. The length of the bore is preferably sufficient to provide lateral stability of the spindle. We have found that the longer the spindle, the greater the length of the bore that is required.
The plastics housing has an aperture that, in an operative condition is in fluid communication with a lateral aperture on the first disc whereby fluid can flow through the aperture in the housing and through the respective apertures of the discs.
Preferably, the aperture in the housing is disposed on a side wall of the housing IND) 6 0 o whereby water flowing up through the orifice in the seat of the tap can pass through the respective apertures of the pair of ceramic discs and through an aperture in the side wall of the plastics housing whereby fluid can flow to a spout associated with the tap.
In a preferred configuration, the aperture in the housing may have projections extending against the aperture, which projections are adapted to aerate water flowing 0 othrough the valve Whilst not wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that the 0projections may also assist in reducing water surge and possible water hammer.
I 10 In a preferred configuration, the projections may be mounted on a rotatable member attached to the spindle and which retains the projections in alignment with the lateral orifice of the first disc. In a preferred form, the aerating projections may extend from an intermediate disc mounted on the spindle and onto which intermediate disc is mounted the first ceramic disc.
The pair of ceramic discs include a first and second disc. The first disc is rotatable within a predetermined arc relative to a second disc within the housing. The first disc is operatively connected to the spindle whereby rotation of the spindle causes the first disc to rotate relative to the second disc. In one form of the present invention, the first disc may be directly connected to the spindle, such as by a lug extending into a recess.
In one form, a lug extending from the base of the spindle can engage a corresponding recess in the top of the first disc so as to cause the first disc and the spindle to rotate in unison. In a preferred form of the present invention an intermediate disc may be disposed between the spindle and first ceramic disc. The intermediate disc may act as a spacer to provide operative connection between the spindle and the first disc whilst positioning the first disc relative to the spindle in a desired location, such as adjacent a pre-formed orifice in the plastics housing. The intermediate disc may be used to support water flow restriction devices or aeration devices and other desired preferred elements for particular applications.
The first disc has at least one lateral aperture. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first disc has a pair of opposed lateral apertures. The lateral apertures may be formed to extend from the base of the first disc and out through the ID 7
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o side wall of the first disc. As the first disc is formed from a ceramic material, it is preferred that the configuration of the ceramic disc be as structural simple as practical, we have found that a particularly preferred first disc configuration includes a pair of opposed segment shaped apertures of the disc when viewed in cross section. The apertures extend from the base of the first disc and out through the side wall there of It is preferred that the top of the first disc includes a supporting member so as to 0 opermit the ceramic disc to be sufficiently strong to avoid breakage near the apex of the 0opposed apertures. The top surface of the aperture may be preferably curved so to o deflect the upward flow of water up through the first disc and out through the side N 10 walls thereof.
The first disc may also preferably include either a lug extending there from or recess extending there in to allow for engagement with either a spindle directly or via a suitable spacer as described above.
The second disc has a longitudinal aperture that extends there through. The longitudinal aperture of the second disc is open to the orifice that extends through the seat of the tap. The second disc preferably includes two opposed apertures that align with the apertures of the first disc. The apertures of the second disc may be sized to restrict water flow there through in order to provide appropriate water saving benefits on the valve. In a preferred configuration the second discs includes an outer ring in order to strengthen the second disc.
The second disc is preferably mounted to resist rotation within the housing. In a preferred form of the present invention, the second disc includes a lug extending there from for engagement within a suitably located channel within the housing. The positioning of the lug or lugs within the channel or channels can be used to prevent rotation of the second disc whereby upon rotation of the spindle the first disc is caused to rotate relative to the second disc.
The upper surface of the second disc and the lower surface of the first disc are preferably machined to provide a waterproof seal there between whereby the flow of water is constrained to through the respective apertures.
O8 0 IND SIt will be appreciated that the exact configuration of the ceramic discs is not narrowly critical to the operation of the present invention, save that they can be disposed within a housing and be relatively rotatable whereby respective apertures may be aligned so that the flow of fluid through the valve may be controlled.
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oThe first disc is rotatable within a predetermined arc relative to the second disc within
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the housing. The predetermined arc is determined by a pair of stops between which a 10 projection is constrained. In a preferred form of the present invention, a shoulder, or
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10 pair of shoulders are disposed on the spindle that provide a rotational discontinuity on one section of the spindle. Preferably the discontinuity is adjacent to the flange. The opposed shoulders of the spindle in the preferred embodiment may rotate within an arcuate channel or channels positioned within the housing. A pair of stops at the end of the channel or channels constrain the shoulder of the spindle whereby rotation of the spindle is limited. The engagement between the projection and the respective stops in the present invention is a face to face engagement whereby potential shearing of the housing by normal operation of the spindle is reduced or eliminated as a result of the body being made of plastic. It will be understood that by face to face engagement between the projection and respective stops, the engagement is by substantially flat faces that engage in a substantially parallel configuration it will be appreciated that a limited divergence from parallel may be permitted but that stress concentrations result in from point loading is avoided.
In a /4 turn tap, a single protrusion may form the pair of stops, whereas in a turn tap a pair of protrusions may be used to form the pair of stops.
In an alternative embodiment, a projection may extend from the housing and be received within a suitable recess in the spindle, the spindle providing the respective stops.
The valve of the present invention further comprises a seal that is disposed on the housing and is adapted for engagement with a seat of a tap. Preferably the seal is in the form of a compressible seal which can be brought into an engagement with the i IND 9 0 0 seat of the tap. A preferred seal for use with the present invention is a seal formed Sfrom a suitable elastic material such as a silicone or polyurethane. Preferably the seal may include a supporting member such as a metal ring or rigid plastic ring that limits the compression of the seal so that the seal provides sufficient resilience to ensure that the seal spaces the plastics housing from the seat whilst providing a water tight seal.
oThe present invention will now be described with reference to the accompany drawings that are provided for illustrative purposes and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure.
N Figure 1 shows an assembled tap including a tap valve assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 shows the tap of figure 1 with the collar removed; Figure 3 shows the tap further disassembled with the tap valve assembly and the collar removed; Figure 4 shows a top view of the tap body; Figure 5 shows an upper rear view of the ceramic body; Figure 6 shows a side view of the ceramic valve assembly; Figure 7 shows a body view of the ceramic valve assembly; Figure 8 shows a perspective view of the rear of the ceramic valve assembly; Figure 9 shows a side view of the ceramic valve assembly with the circlip removed; Figure 10 shows a perspective view of the ceramic valve assembly with the circlip and the base seal removed; IN
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o Figure 11 shows a perspective view of the ceramic valve assembly with the base washer having its reinforcing ring removed; Figure 12 shows a partially disassembled view of the ceramic valve assembly shown in figure 11;
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oFigure 13 shows a side view of the housing of the ceramic valve assembly;
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o Figure 14 shows a base perspective view of the ceramic valve assembly housing;
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01 i Figure 15 shows a second base perspective view of the ceramic valve assembly housing; Figure 16 shows a side view of the spindle attached to the ceramic discs; Figure 17 shows a side view of a partially disassembled spindle; Figure 18 shows a top view of the ceramic disc assembly; Figure 19 shows the partially disassembled ceramic disc assembly; Figure 20 shows a top view of the ceramic disc spacer; Figure 21 shows a bottom view of the ceramic disc spacer; Figure 22 shows a side view of the ceramic disc spacer; Figure 23 shows a side view of the pair of ceramic discs in a closed condition; Figure 24 shows a the pair of ceramic discs of figure 23 in an open condition; Figure 25 shows a bottom view of the respective components of the pair of ceramic discs; Va 11
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IND
Figure 26 shows a top view of the respective components of the pair of ceramic discs.
The figures show a tap 1 which includes a tap body 2 and a collar 3 housing a ceramic valve assembly 4. The ceramic valve assembly 4 is screwed into the tap body 2 and a washer 5 is placed over the ceramic valve assembly 4 and the collar 3 screwed down 0 oon the tap valve assembly 4. The collar 3 locks the ceramic valve assembly 4 into the 0 tap body 2 and provides a liquid-tight seal which prevents water escaping around the o external plastic thread of the ceramic valve assembly 4. The collar 3 also provides an 10 external thread for the attachment of a flange, such as in a basin set. In certain applications, such as external taps, mini-cistern valves and the like collars without an external thread and a specially designed outer surface.
The ceramic valve assembly 4 is screwed into the tap body 2 until the base washer 6 presses against the tap seat 7 to form a water tight seal. The washer 5 is placed over the ceramic valve assembly 4 and the collar 3 is screwed down over the tap valve assembly 4 to retain the ceramic valve assembly 4 in water tight engagement with the tap seat 7. (Note washer 5 could be, alternatively, an o-ring inset into the collar 3.) In an open condition, water can flow through the orifice 8 encircled by the tap seat 7 and out through the spout 9 of the tap body 2. A second orifice 10 can communicate with aperture 11 in the side wall of the housing 12 of the ceramic valve assembly 4 whereby water can flow up through the orifice 8, through the ceramic valve assembly 4, through orifice 10 and aperture 11 and out through spout 9.
The compression of the base seal 6 against the tap seat 7 urges the base disc 34 against the upper disc 33 which controls the rotational resistance of the spindle 14.
The spindle 14 is retained in the housing 12 by circlip 15 that is received in channel 16 within the spindle 14. Spindle 14 includes a pair of o-rings 17, 17a which are received within a bore within the housing 12 and act to provide a water seal as well as a degree of lateral stability of the spindle 14 as it rotates within the housing 12.
IN 12
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o The sealing washer 6 includes a strengthening ring 18 which has been removed for ease of viewing in figure 11. The strengthening ring 18 is retained within the sealing washer 6 to ensure that the sealer washer 6 is not overcompressed.
The housing 12 includes an external threaded portion 19 that can be screwed into the tap body 2. The threaded portion 19 also allows the collar 3 to be screwed onto the
O
othreaded portion 19 and into engagement with the tap body 2 and washer 0 o The housing 12 also includes an o-ring 20 that engages the inside of the collar 3 to 0 form a water tight seal. The housing 12 also includes a pair of opposed apertures 11 in the side wall thereof through which water may egress when the ceramic discs are in an open condition. The housing 12 includes a pair of opposed stops 22 against which a projection 23 on the spindle 14 engages in face to face relationship.
Spindle 14 includes a pair of o-rings 17, 17a and includes a land 24 which is retained against a corresponding land within the housing so as to locate the spindle 14. A washer 25 is positioned on the land 24 so as to provide a reduced friction contact between the spindle 14 and the housing 12. The disc assembly 26 includes a spacer 27 and a pair of ceramic discs 28. The spacer 27 has an upper surface for engagement with a locating projection 29 on the base of the spindle 14. The spacer 27 has a pair of corresponding recesses 30 into which the projection 29 is received. Spacer 27 also has a projection 31 for engaging a corresponding aperture 32 in upper disc 33. The spacer 27 also includes a series of fingers 34a that project across the aperture 11 in the housing 12 so as to aerate the water passing therethrough.
The ceramic disc assembly 26 includes an upper disc 33 and a lower disc 34. In an open condition as shown in figure 24, an aperture 35 in the lower disc 34 communicates with a corresponding aperture 36 in the upper disc 33 allowing water to pass therethrough and out through the aperture 21 in the side of the housing 12. In a closed condition as shown in figure 23, the respective apertures 35 and 36 are not in communication and water does not flow therethrough.
Claims (4)
1. A valve suitable for use in a domestic tap, the valve comprising a spindle, a pair of ceramic discs, a sealing member and a housing, wherein the spindle is operatively connected a first disc, said first disc having a lateral aperture and being rotatable within a predetermined arc relative to a second disc, said second disc having longitudinal aperture wherein in an operative condition the lateral aperture of the first 0 o disc is in fluid communication with the longitudinal aperture of the second disc and an 0 aperture in the housing, said seal being disposed on the housing and adapted for engagement with a seat of a tap, wherein the predetermined arc is determined by a pair of stops between which a projection is constrained, wherein either the stops or the projection are disposed on the housing, and wherein engagement between the projection and the respective stops is a face to face engagement whereby potential shearing of the housing by normal operation of the spindle is reduced.
2. A water valve according to claim I wherein an intermediate disc may be disposed between the spindle and first ceramic disc wherein the intermediate disc provides operative connection between the spindle and the first disc whilst positioning the first disc relative to the spindle in a desired location.
3. A valve according to either claim 1 or claim 2 wherein a pair of shoulders are disposed on the spindle that provide a rotational discontinuity on one section of the spindle whereby the opposed shoulders of the spindle rotate within arcuate channels positioned within the housing and wherein a pair of stops at the end of the channels contain the shoulder of the spindle whereby rotation of the spindle is limited.
4. A valve according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the valve further comprises a seal that is disposed on the housing and is adapted for engagement with a seat of a tap wherein the seal is in the form of a compressible seal which can be brought into an engagement with the seat of the tap. A valve according to claim 4 wherein the seal includes a supporting member that limits the compression of the seal so that the seal provides sufficient resilience to ensure that the seal spaces the plastics housing from the seat whilst providing a water tight seal. Dated this 19 th Day of January 2006 DRD Technology Pty Ltd By their Patent Attorneys CULLEN CO.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| AU2006100043A AU2006100043A4 (en) | 2006-01-19 | 2006-01-19 | Tap Valve Assembly |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| AU2006100043A AU2006100043A4 (en) | 2006-01-19 | 2006-01-19 | Tap Valve Assembly |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| AU2006100043A4 true AU2006100043A4 (en) | 2007-12-13 |
Family
ID=38846702
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| AU2006100043A Ceased AU2006100043A4 (en) | 2006-01-19 | 2006-01-19 | Tap Valve Assembly |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| AU (1) | AU2006100043A4 (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN103659268A (en) * | 2013-12-26 | 2014-03-26 | 郑祥模 | Ceramic fixed sheet assembling module for automatic valve element assembling machine |
-
2006
- 2006-01-19 AU AU2006100043A patent/AU2006100043A4/en not_active Ceased
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN103659268A (en) * | 2013-12-26 | 2014-03-26 | 郑祥模 | Ceramic fixed sheet assembling module for automatic valve element assembling machine |
| CN103659268B (en) * | 2013-12-26 | 2016-04-13 | 严松法 | For the ceramic still load module of spool automatic assembling machine |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| NA | Applications received for extensions of time, section 223 |
Free format text: AN APPLICATION TO EXTEND THE TIME FROM 24 MAR 2006 TO 24 AUG 2007 IN WHICH TO COMPLY WITH A DIRECTION UNDER REG. 3.2B HAS BEEN FILED . |
|
| NB | Applications allowed - extensions of time section 223(2) |
Free format text: THE TIME IN WHICH TO COMPLY WITH A DIRECTION UNDER REG. 3.2B HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO 24 AUG 2007. |
|
| FGI | Letters patent sealed or granted (innovation patent) | ||
| MK22 | Patent ceased section 143a(d), or expired - non payment of renewal fee or expiry |