AU2006200845C1

AU2006200845C1 - Plumbing Arrangements & Fittings

Info

Publication number: AU2006200845C1
Application number: AU2006200845A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Scott Alexander Michaels
Original assignee: Zetco Valves Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Zetco Valves Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2006-02-28
Filing date: 2006-02-28
Publication date: 2020-05-21
Anticipated expiration: 2026-02-28
Also published as: AU2006200845A1; AU2006200845B2

Abstract

A valve (31) useful in connecting an instantaneous gas water heater having threaded male gas and water inlets to existing pipework is disclosed. The requirement to include several additional fittings (15, -20) with their attendant cost, time for installation and additional (possible leaky) joins is avoided. A pipework arrangement, CIA a method of installation and a method of disconnection are also disclosed. 5183A-AU 1

Description

The present invention relates to plumbing fittings and, in particular, to the plumbing fittings used to connect an instantaneous gas operated water heater to a gas supply and to a cold water supply via respective isolation valves, however, the invention is not limited to this particular application.

Instantaneous gas operated water heaters are typically provided by the manufacturer with two threaded male connectors which constitute the water inlet and the gas inlet. Typically these are % of an inch in external diameter. The pipe work of the house, or other building where the hot water system is to be installed, is also % of an inch external diameter. The installation site, for example on a project home, has its pipe work terminated by a short length of pipe which protrudes from a wall, a floor, or the like.

In project homes and new buildings, the pipe work is normally installed long before the prime cost items such as hot water heaters are installed. Normally the installation of a water heater is delayed until just before occupancy in order to reduce the incidence of theft of such heaters. Similarly, existing heaters have a limited operational life and thus from time to time an existing heater must be disconnected from the pipe work and a new heater installed. In addition, it sometimes happens that an installed water heater is replaced under warranty as a result of some manufacturing defect.

Hitherto, a number of individual fittings have been required to interconnect the pipes supplying water and gas to the water heater. Traditionally these are as follows;

1. a male flared union

2. a female-female isolation valve

3. a male-female barrel union

The cost o f these three fittings is approximately as follows:

1. $3.72

2. $7.65

3. $6.13.......................giving a total of $17.50 for gas, and

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1. $4.17

2. $8.52

3. $6.81..............................giving a total of $19.50 for water.

In addition, the arrangement of the interconnection contains five joints each of which has the potential to leak. Furthermore, the overall arrangement is bulky and as such is not aesthetically pleasing and is time-consuming for the plumber to initially assemble and install.

In the Australian jurisdiction, both gas and water isolation valves are required by federal legislation and regulation, in order to be legally placed upon the market, to comply with various standards set by an Australian Standards organisation. The standards protect the public by ensuring that the valves are of a certain minimum quality and will perform as to the ability to withstand pressure, temperature, the ability to avoid corrosion over a minimum time period, and the like all of which lead to a safe environment which is not prbne to accident. This is particularly case for gas which is both under pressure and highly inflammable. Part of the standard requires that each valve be marked with the relevant authorisation which the valve manufacturer or distributor has received from Australian Standards as a result of sample products undergoing tests conducted by Australian Standards. Failure to mark a valve with such an Australian Standard authorisation, or the marking of a valve using another’s, authorisation, or the marking of the valve with an authorisation without having passed mandatory testing is a serious offence since it misleads plumbers into purchasing products which they assume meet the relevant standards but in fact may not do so.

Both gas and water valves are traditionally supplied with an inlet/outlet arrangement which is either female/female or male/female (and relatively rarely male/male). In all instances, the pipe diameter of the inlet and outlet are the same since the valve is intended to be installed within a pipe in order to control the flow through that pipe. In the event that it is necessary to change the diameter of the pipe work through which the controlled fluid flows, this job is assigned to a union or other connector which enables the change in diameter be accommodated.

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It is not known in Australia for gas and water valves to be supplied with a nut and tail fitting at the outlet of the valve. Such valves are known in other jurisdictions, however, the size of this fitting is always larger than the size of the inlet to the valve. For example, if a nut and tail fitting of three quarters of an inch external diameter is provided then the inlet of the valve is half an inch external diameter. Such a valve would not be suitable as an isolation valve for the inlet (either gas or water) of an instantaneous water heater since the reduced diameter of the valve inlet would result in serious flow restrictions and is thus contra indicated. Instead, the above-mentioned combination of two unions and a valve having the same inlet and outlet diameter is used.

The genesis the present invention is a desire to simplify the above mentioned arrangement and provide a relatively low-cost arrangement which enables a heater, or similar appliance, to be quickly and easily installed or removed.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a valve for controlling gas or liquid flow, said valve having a valve housing, a quasi-sphere having a through hole therein and being rotatably mounted within the housing and connected via a spindle with a handle means to permit said quasi-sphere to be rotated, wherein said valve housing has a through passage at one end thereof which terminates in a nut and tail fitting and the other end of which terminates in a pipe coupling, said nut and tail fitting and said pipe coupling being the same size.

Preferably the through passage is of substantially constant internal diameter which is substantially equal to the size of the hole through the quasi-sphere. Preferably the pipe coupling is selected from the class consisting of a flared . compression fitting, an olive compression fitting, and a cone type compression fitting (also known as a conetite (Trade Mark) compression fitting).

According to second aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a pipework arrangement for removably interconnecting gas and/or water pipes to an appliance having a male threaded connector, said arrangement comprising the abovementioned valve interconnecting said appliance connector and said pipe, that iQS ii ΐΊ-5-lC^y

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2006200845 4 Dec 2009 end of said valve adjacent said appliance having said nut and tail fitting, and the other end of said valve having a pipe coupling.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of installing an appliance having a male threaded connector to an existing pipe, said method comprising the steps of:

(1) selecting the abovementioned valve having a nut and tail fitting at one end and a pipe coupling at the other end, (2) interconnecting said pipe coupling and said pipe, and (3) interconnecting said nut and tail fitting and said male threaded connector.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view from below of an instantaneous gas water heater showing its gas and water inlets and the previously installed pipework,

Fig. 2 is an exploded side view of the prior art assembly of plumbing fittings, and

Fig. 3 is an exploded side view of the plumbing fittings of the preferred embodiment.

As seen in Fig. 1, an instantaneous gas water heater 1 has a base 2 from which extends a water inlet 3 (which includes a pressure regulating device) and a gas inlet 4. Both inlets 3, 4 are provided with threaded male connectors which are % inch in external diameter. These inlets are to be connected to respective water and gas pipes 6, 7 which are also % inch in external diameter and either copper or plastics.

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The prior art fittings required to make the necessary interconnection are illustrated in Fig. 2. These essentially consist of a valve 11 having a female inlet 12 and a female outlet 13; a male flared union 15 which consists of a nut 16 and union body 17; and a male-female barrel union 20 which includes both the union body 21 and joining nut 22.

In this arrangement there are five joins which are required to be made by the plumber. The first is from the inlet 3, 4 to the female outlet of the joining nut 22. The second is between the joining nut 22 and the male outlet of the union body 21. The third join is between the male inlet of the union body 21 and the female outlet 13 of the valve 11. The fourth join is between the male outlet of the union body 17 and the female inlet 12 of the valve 11. Finally, the fifth join is between the gas or water pipe 6, 7 after the nut 16 has been passed onto the pipe and the free end of the pipe flared, and the inlet of the union body 17.

Once all these joins have been effected, the valve 11 controls the flow of either gas or water from the pipe 6, 7 into the inlet 3, 4 as desired. In the event that it is necessary to replace the water heater 1 for any reason, then the joining nut 22 is backed off and the water heater 1 is removed together with the two joining nuts 22 still connected to the respective inlets 3, 4. Thus in order to install a replacement water heater 1, it is necessary either to provide new joining nuts 22, or to remove the joining nuts 22 from the old heater and install them on the new heater.

One of the disadvantages which arises in relation to the prior art arrangement of Fig. 2, is that the overall distance of the assembled fitting from the union body 17 to the union body 21 is determined to some extent by the degree of engagement of the union bodies 17, 21 with the female inlet 12 and female outlet 13. Asa consequence, this introduces a degree of uncertainty as to the precise position at which the pipes 6, 7 should be cut and so this cutting step must be left until last when the exact size of the assembly is known.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described in relation to Fig. 3 from which it will be seen that the inlets 3, 4 and pipes 6, Ί are as before. Only a single fitting is required to effect the coupling and this is in the form

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2006200845 4 Dec 2009 of a valve 31 of new configuration having a pipe coupling at the inlet (and consisting of a male flared compression fitting) 32 and a nut and tail outlet 33.

The interior of the valve 31 is substantially conventional, the valve having a quasi-sphere with a through hole which is the same diameter as the interior of the inlet 32 and outlet 33. The quasi-sphere is rotated by means of a conventional spindle 34 to which a conventional handle 35 is attached and makes the rotation possible. The cost of the valve 31 is comparable to, or only slightly more expensive than, that of the prior art valve 11 so effectively most of the cost of the union 15 and union 20 is saved.

In order to complete the assembly, the pipe 6, 7 is cut to size so that it mates with the known overall length of the valve 31 and the position of the inlet 3, 4. Then the nut 36 of the pipe coupling 32 is passed over the pipe 6, 7 and the free end of the pipe flared in conventional fashion. The free end is then abutted against the annular surface 37 of the inlet 32 and the nut 36 tightened to compress the flared free end of the pipe 6, 7 against the valve 31. Then a washer (not illustrated but conventional) is placed within the nut 42 of the outlet 33 and the nut 42 tightened in order to complete the connection between the valve 31 and the inlet 3, 4.

Not only is this assembly procedure on installation quick and easy, but there are only two joints to create possible leaks rather than the previous five. Furthermore, in the event of removal or replacement of the water heater 1, the valve 31 is closed (if it is not closed already) and the nut 42 is rotated off the inlet 3, 4 thereby enabling the water heater 1 to be removed and a new one installed in its place. The only action being required on such a replacement installation is to ensure that the washer within the nut 42 is in place and then tighten the nut 42.

The foregoing describes only one embodiment of the present invention and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the plumbing arts, can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, different types of pipe couplings (each conventional) can be used in place of the pipe coupling 32 on the valve 31. These pipe couplings include an olive compression fitting, and a cone type compression fitting .

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The term “comprising” (and its grammatical variations) as used herein is used .in the inclusive sense of “including” or “having” and not in the exclusive sense of “consisting only of’.

Claims

The claims defining the invention are as follows

1. A valve for controlling gas or liquid flow, said valve having a valve housing, a quasi-sphere having a through hole therein and being rotatably mounted within the housing and connected via a spindle with a handle means to permit said quasi-sphere to be rotated, wherein said valve housing has a through passage at one end thereof which terminates in a nut and tail fitting and the other end of which terminates in a pipe coupling, said nut and tail fitting and said pipe coupling being the same size.
2. The valve as claimed in claim 1 wherein said through passage has a substantially constant internal diameter which is substantially equal to the diameter of the hole through said quasi-sphere.
3. The valve as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein said pipe coupling is selected from the class consisting of: a flared compression fitting, an olive compression fitting, and a cone type compression fitting
4. The valve as claimed in any one of claims 1-3 and rated for both gas and water.
5. A valve substantially as herein described with reference to Fig. 3 of the drawings.
6. A pipework arrangement for removably interconnecting gas and/or water pipes to an appliance having a male threaded connector, said arrangement comprising a valve interconnecting said appliance connector and said pipe, said valve being as claimed in any one of claims 1-5.
7. A pipework arrangement for removably interconnecting gas and/or water pipes to an appliance having a male threaded connector, said arrangement being substantially as herein described with reference to Fig. 3 of the drawings.
8. A method of installing an appliance having a male threaded connector to an existing pipe, said method comprising the steps of:

(1) selecting a valve having a nut and tail fitting at one end and a pipe coupling at the other end and being as claimed in any one of claims 1-5, (2) interconnecting said pipe coupling and said pipe, and (3) interconnecting said nut and tail fitting and said male threaded connector.

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9. A method of installing an appliance having a male connector threaded to an existing pipe, said method being substantially as herein described with reference to Figs.l and 3 of the drawings.

5 10. A valve as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 when used in controlling gas or liquid flow to an instantaneous gas operated water heater.

11. A pipework arrangement as claimed in claim 6 or 7, wherein said appliance is an instantaneous gas operated water heater.

12. A method as claimed in claim 8 or 9, wherein said appliance is an
10 instantaneous gas operated gas heater.