AU2007203149B2

AU2007203149B2 - A jumper valve

Info

Publication number: AU2007203149B2
Application number: AU2007203149A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Henry Teasdale Fenwick
Original assignee: DIANA PURCELL
Current assignee: PURCELL DIANA
Priority date: 2006-07-06
Filing date: 2007-07-06
Publication date: 2009-12-17
Anticipated expiration: 2027-07-06
Also published as: AU2007203149B8; AU2007203149A1

Description

1 A JUMPER VALVE The present invention relates to a valve. The present invention has been devised as a "jumper" valve for use within a domestic water tap, but is capable of broader application. 5 It is commonly known in taps to use a tap washer, which is a disc of material such as a polymer, fixed either to a loose spindle or directly to the tap spindle. In conventional domestic taps, a jumper valve is often used in place of the tap washer. A jumper valve is an improvement on a conventional tap washer, and comprises a disc of sealing material having a rod extending in an axial 10 direction. The valve is free to move up and down within a tap body when the tap is open so that besides acting as a normal washer shutting off the water when the tap spindle is screwed down it also acts as check valve if the street water mains are opened. A conventional tap apparatus using a jumper valve comprises a handle, an 15 operating portion provided with a receiving recess for receiving the rod of the jumper valve and a main body through which water flow is facilitated, said body being provided with a valve seat. In such jumper valve systems, in order to effect a seal between the jumper valve and the valve seat of the tap apparatus, a bottom surface of the tap operating portion would need to be truly flat and parallel 20 to a top surface of the jumper valve sealing disc, with the lower surface of the jumper valve sealing disc being in parallel surface contact with an upper surface of the valve seat, and with the rod being exactly perpendicular However, this kind of system would require the machining of corresponding screw threads in the body, the operating portion and the handle, and as such the cost and process of 25 ensuring surfaces remain parallel would be prohibitively expensive. Conventional systems routinely used a compromise to overcome these difficulties, by fitting a soft washer underneath the lower portion of the jumper valve. The soft washer can be unevenly compressed to compensate for any inaccuracies in the orientation of the system. 30 In the conventional systems, each time the tap is opened, the jumper valve becomes free to rotate on its vertical axis, and each time the tap is closed the system requires maximum compression on a different part of the washer. This continuous uneven compression of the washer ultimately results in a reduction of 2 resilience which causes the need for increased pressure to be applied to the sealing disc to facilitate proper closure and sealing of the valve. Pressure from the operating portion is applied to the jumper valve in a rotary action, with the load being applied around the periphery of the sealing disc, 5 resulting in abrasion between the washer and the valve seat. The application of pressure coupled with the presence of any grit or dirt in the system results in wear and abrasion of both the valve seat and the surface of the washer. As a result of the wear to the valve seat and/or the washer, even greater pressure needs to be applied by the operating portion to facilitate closure. Such 10 pressure can cause the deformation and wear of the screw thread. Additionally it can prove difficult for some users (particularly the old and infirm) to apply the required pressure. As such, whilst known valves provide a leak proof seal and further provide adequate adjustment of the water flow, these systems are faced with problems 15 associated with both the washer and the valve seat being subject to wear over time, resulting in leakage. The present invention attempts to overcome at least in part the aforementioned disadvantages of previous jumper valve systems. In particular, the present invention seeks to provide a jumper valve system whereby pressure 20 is applied substantially evenly across the interface between the sealing portion and the valve seat, thereby reducing the problems such as wear and abrasion caused by the uneven pressure distribution in conventional systems. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a valve member comprising a sealing portion and a rod, the sealing portion having 25 an outer surface arranged to sealingly engage with a valve seat; and an inner surface having a rod engaging portion located substantially centrally thereof, whereby engagement of the rod with the rod engaging portion permits some angular movement of the rod relative to the sealing portion, and wherein a compressive force applied substantially axially to the rod causes the sealing 30 portion to align about the valve seat such that the compressive force is substantially evenly distributed around a portion of the outer surface in contact with the valve seat.

3 The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the jumper valve apparatus of an embodiment of the present invention; and 5 Figure 2 is a cut away view of a tap apparatus incorporating the jumper valve apparatus of Figure 1. Referring to the Figure 1, there is shown a valve apparatus 10 comprising a sealing portion 12 and a rod 14 for detachably engaging with the sealing portion 12. 10 1 n the embodiment of the present invention described herein the sealing portion 12 is a substantially circular member having an inner surface 16 and an outer surface 20. The upper surface portion 16 of the sealing portion 12 further include an upwardly extending annular rod engaging portion 18. The sealing portion 12 of the valve apparatus 10 is may be a one piece member formed of 15 molded plastics or metal. The outer surface 20 of the sealing portion 12 can be provided with a thin layer of soft material for engagement with a valve seat. Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the rod engaging portion 18 is a hollow substantially cylindrical annular member having a receiving surface 22 configured to centrally engage with the rod 14 of the valve apparatus 10. In a preferred embodiment of 20 the present invention, the receiving surface 22 is a dimpled surface arranged to receive a conical engagement surface of the rod 14. It will be appreciated that this arrangement permits the rod 14 to engage with the rod engaging portion 18 even where it is not exactly perpendicular to the sealing portion 12. Further, when engaged, a degree of angular movement of the rod 14 relative to the sealing 25 portion 12 is permitted. In the embodiment of the present invention described herein the rod 14 is a substantially cylindrical member having a conical end 24 for engaging with the rod receiving portion 18 of the sealing portion 12, and a tap engaging portion 26 for engaging with an operation member 30 provided in a tap apparatus. The rod 30 14 is preferably formed from a nonferrous metal or plastic material Alternative appropriate materials may include ceramics. Referring to Figure 2, a conventional tap apparatus comprises a handle 28 and a body portion 32. The handle 28 is engaged with an operating member 30, 4 such that rotation of the handle 28 in a clockwise direction moves the operating member 30 between a fully open position and a fully closed position. The body portion 32 is arranged to facilitate the flow of liquid, said body portion 32 being provided with a valve seat 34 having an opening 36. 5 In use, the sealing portion 12 of the valve apparatus 10 is provided such that the outer surface 20 is engaged with an upper surface of the valve seat 34 to releasably cover the opening 36, as seen in Figure 2. The conical portion 24 of the rod 14 is engaged with the rod receiving portion 18 provided on the innersurface 16 of the sealing portion 12, such that the 10 conical portion 24 of the rod 14 contacts the receiving surface 22 of the rod receiving portion 18. In the embodiment of the present invention described herein the tap engaging portion 26 detachably engages with the operating member 30 of the tap apparatus, such that movement of the operating member from an open position to 15 a closed position applies a downward pressure to the rod 14, causing the tapered portion 24 of the rod 14 to engage fully with the receiving surface 22 of the rod receiving portion 18 of the sealing portion 12. The downward pressure causes the outer surface 20 to make sealing contact with an upper surface of the valve seat 34 to prevent the flow of liquid through the opening 36 of the body portion 32. The 20 rod 14 contacts the rod receiving portion 18 in central position, thereby ensuring that the pressure placed on the sealing portion 12 is always substantially uniform. The nature of the engagement is such that a uniform pressure is applied even when the rod 14 is not strictly perpendicular to the sealing member 12. In other words, the nature of the engagement acts to centre the applied pressure. This 25 substantially uniform distribution of pressure across the sealing portion 12 ensures uniform contact of the outer surface 20 and the valve seat 34, thereby reducing the problems of wear and abrasion 'seen in prior art systems. When the tap handle 28 is rotated in an anticlockwise direction, the downward pressure is removed from the operating member 30 resulting in 30 alleviation in the pressure applied to the rod 14 and ultimately the sealing portion 12, such that the outer surface 20 breaks sealing contact with the valve seat 34, thereby facilitating the flow of liquid through the opening 36 of the body 32.

5 In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the rod portion 14 can be varied in length as a means to control the flow of fluid through the tap apparatus. Modifications and variations as would be apparent to a skilled addressee 5 are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A valve member comprising a sealing portion and a rod, the sealing portion having an outer surface arranged to sealingly engage with a valve seat; and an inner surface having a rod engaging portion located substantially centrally 5 thereof, whereby engagement of the rod with the rod engaging portion permits some angular movement of the rod relative to the sealing portion, and wherein a compressive force applied substantially axially to the rod causes the sealing portion to align about the valve seat such that the compressive force is substantially evenly distributed around a portion of the outer surface in contact 10 with the valve seat.

2. A valve member according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the rod may be detachably engaged with an operating portion of a tap apparatus.

3. A valve member according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the rod is detachably engaged with the rod engaging portion. 15

4. A valve member substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

5. A tap provided with a valve member according to any one of the preceding claims. DIANA PURCELL WATERMARK PATENT & TRADE MARK ATTORNEYS P31415AU00