1 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Invention title: Advanced Mixer Tap Retrofit Arrangement Applicant: Ratna Pullela This invention is described in the following statement 2 Advanced Mixer Tap Retrofit Arrangement Field of Invention The invention relates to use of existing spout fitting and downstream pipe fittings to 5 install a mixer tap to a standard two spindle tap fitting. In another aspect, the present invention also deals with installation of this arrangement. Background to the Invention The use of mixer taps in domestic and commercial applications is now commonplace. 10 The mixer tap contains a hot water inlet and a cold water inlet which enters the mixer valve when the single tap handle is actuated, the mixed water then leaves through the tap outlet. The mixer tap handle can adjust the flow of water on or off and also the water 15 temperature by adjusting the tap handle to increase or decrease the relative proportion of hot and cold water entering the mixer valve. Conventional tap arrangements typically comprise two taps, a hot water tap and a cold water tap and which are connected to a single outlet. Each tap comprises a 20 valve that sits on a valve seat. A spindle actuates the valve and screws into the housing with the valve seat. The cold water tap extends from the cold water line and the hot water tap from the hot water line. The water is mixed when the hot and cold water taps are turned on, 25 the temperature of the water reaching the outlet is determined by the relative flow of water from each line. The conventional tap design has the hot water and cold water lines and the outlet line (which is downstream from the hot and cold water taps) inside the wall making it 30 difficult to retrofit without breaking the wall panels. There have been many proposals to retrofit conventional two tap arrangements to a mixer tap, but these all either require the external fitment of rigid or flexible hose to communicate water from the mixer tap downstream to the mixer outlet. These 35 configurations make the pipes inside the wall which traditionally communicated water to the outlets such as shower heads of bath spouts redundant. More extensive retrofitting arrangements whereby wall panels are broken to expose existing internal pipes and new piping configurations installed are even more costly and time consuming and increase the risk of pipe leakage. 40 These disadvantages are overcome by this present invention, which provides an advanced valve which uses the existing spindle housing to divert the hot or cold water to the mixer tap inlet and once the mixer tap is activated the mixed water is communicated downstream to the single outlet using the existing pipes fitted. 45 This invention is an effective modification to the mixer tap arrangement to provide water and energy savings without damage to existing walls whilst not replicating the internal wall pipe fittings.
3 Brief Description of the Invention The present invention provides installation of a mixer tap utilising existing spindle housings and downstream pipe fittings to a conventional two tap configuration. The 5 invention is suited to a conventional two tap configuration where there is a separate hot water line and a cold water line connected to a hot water tap and a cold water tap respectively. Downstream of the taps is a single outlet or spout. The invention differentiates itself from other proposals through the application of an 10 advanced valve (Valve Type 2) which diverts the inlet water (which would have previously flowed to the outlet when the tap spindle is activated) to the inlet of the mixer tap. Once the mixer tap is activated the mixed water flows to the existing spindle housing and is separated from the inlet water in the spindle housing. The mixed water flows downstream to the outlet. 15 The first component comprises a valve that connects to the cold water line and screws into the existing housing once the cold or hot water tap spindle is removed. The valve prevents water from the cold water line entering the outlet line (downstream pipe) and instead redirects it through a pipe to the cold water inlet on 20 the mixer tap. The pipe that diverts water from the cold water line can comprise either a fitted threaded pipe or a flexible hose and encased by a non-pressurised pipe. 25 If a fitted threaded pipe is used then the length of the pipe between the valve housing and the inlet to the mixer can be adjusted by rotating the thread clockwise or anticlockwise to decrease or increase the length of pipe. The pipe is located external to the wall. It will be appreciated that a number of other arrangements may be used to join the outlet of the cold or hot water spindle housing to the mixer inlet or from the 30 mixer outlet. The second component is a valve that connects to the hot water line and which screws into the existing housing once the hot water tap spindle is removed. The valve diverts water from the hot water line to the hot water inlet on the mixer. The 35 valve also prevents water from the hot water line entering the outlet line. Once the mixer valve is actuated water from the hot water inlet and cold water inlet enter the mixer valve via a fixed pipe or flexible hose. Water passes to the outlet line through the valve and housing in the hot water line to the outlet line via a fixed pipe 40 or flexible hose and downstream to the outlet. The pipe fittings which are external to the wall will comprise a housing that supports the mixer tap and fixed or flexible pipes which are attached to the spindle housing on the hot water and coldwater lines. No additional fitment is required for the outlet since 45 this will remain unchanged and utilise existing and standard fittings installed inside or external to the wall. The present invention provides an improvement over previous inventions principally in relation to the valve used in the hot water line spindle housing. 50 The first aspect of the valve is that once screwed into the hot water spindle housing it seals off the hot water inlet, diverting the hot water to the inlet on the mixer tap. The second aspect of the valve is that it contains a secondary chamber that allows mixed 4 water from the mixer outlet to flow through the spindle housing and downstream to the outlet line to the outlet or spout. In some embodiments this valve can be fitted on the cold water line. In other 5 embodiments this valve can be fitted on both lines. The present invention can be used with most two tap configuration which are connected to a single outlet. The invention requires the removal of the hot water and cold water tap spindles from the housing prior to installation. This configuration is 10 typically seen in a shower recess or bathtub. Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 shows a front view schematic representation of present invention, Conversion of a conventional two tap arrangement to a single mixer tap utilising 15 existing spouts and downstream pipe fittings; Figure 2 shows a cross section of a conventional tap spindle and housing with inlet and outlet lines; Figure 3 shows a cross section of the valve type 1 screwed into the standard spindle housing; 20 Figure 4 shows a cross section of valve type 2 screwed into the standard spindle housing and the separation of chambers in the spindle housing between the hot/cold water inlet line and the outlet or downstream line; Figure 5 shows a cross section view of the external fitted or flexible pipe connecting the cold water line or the hot water line to the mixer tap and outlet or downstream 25 line; Figure 6 and 6A shows a plan view and a perspective view of the mixer tap configuration and external piping with fitment of the valve type 2 to the hot water spindle housing; Figure 7 and 7A shows a plan and front view of the mixer retrofit design. 30 Figure 8 shows perspective view of an alternate retrofit option with valve type 2 fitted to the cold water inlet and alternated downstream with the valve type 1 fitted to the downstream of outlet line. Figure 9 shows a perspective view of the standard or alternate fitment of valves but with placement of the mixer casing and mechanism in the centre. 35 Figure 10 shows a perspective view of the standard and alternate retrofit option but with a vertical orientation Detailed Description of the Drawings It will be understood that the drawings are provided to illustrate the embodiments of 40 the present invention. Thus it will be understood that the present invention should not be considered to limit solely the features shown in the drawings. Figure 1 shows a conventional hot water and coldwater tap configuration which once activated by turning the tap spindle allows the mixing of water in line downstream of the cold water inlet and tap with the water in the line downstream of the hot water tap 45 and then to the outlet as mixed water. This schematic representation of the invention shows the option whereby the cold water line is diverted to the mixer tap where it is 5 mixed with water from the hot water inlet line. The mixed water flows downstream to the outlet using the existing hot water outlet line. This present invention encompasses the valve fitted onto the hot water line facilitates this arrangement of retrofitting and utilising the existing in wall pipe fittings without breaking the wall 5 panels. Figure 2 shows a cross sectional view of a conventional hot and cold water tap housing and spindle. Hot or cold water flows into the housing from point A to point B and then when the spindle is lifted by turning the tap spindle, the water flows through to the outlet or downstream line at point D. 10 This invention will not alter the spindle housing or inlet or outlet chambers but through the application of valve type 1 and valve type 2 alter the traditional flow of hot and cold water from the inlet lines and mixed water to the existing outlet or downstream lines. Figure 3 depicts valve type 1 which can be fitted either to spindle housing connected 15 to the hot water or cold water inlet lines. If Valve type 1 is fitted to the spindle housing connected to the cold water inlet line then Valve type 2 is fitted to the spindle housing connected to the hot water line or vice versa. In some embodiments valve type 2 can be fitted on both spindle housings connected to the hot and cold water lines. 20 The valve type 1 is screwed or placed into the tap spindle housing once the tap spindle has been removed. The fitment is such that the when the valve is in place there is a seal over the opening between chamber B and C in Figure 3. This allows water from the inlet line A in Figure 3 to be diverted across to the inlet line at the mixer tap via chamber C. The valve type 1 prevents water from the inlet line (Point A) 25 entering the existing outlet or downstream line (Point D) as depicted in Figure 3. Figure 4 depicts valve type 2, which is screwed into the tap spindle housing once the tap spindle has been removed. The fitment is such that when the valve is in place there is a seal over the opening between chamber B and C in Figure 4. This allows water from the inlet line A in Figure 4 to be diverted through chamber C directly to the 30 inlet on the mixer tap housing. Mixed water will flow from the mixer tap housing outlet line through chamber E, and is separated from the inlet line water of the mixer tap from Chamber C in Figure 4 by Valve Type 2. The mixed water flows from chamber E to the outlet or downstream line to the outlet D. Figure 5 depicts a cross sectional view of the fitted pipe which joins the water that is 35 diverted by valve type 1 to the mixer tap inlet line. The fitted pipe is threaded and can be wound clockwise or counter clockwise to vary the length of the pipe to fit the width between hot and cold water spindle housings. Rotating portion H would increase or decrease the distance between G and F. The rigid pipe would be a pressurised pipe fitting and could be of variable lengths. This configuration could also utilise rotating or 40 angled pipe or flexible hose and fittings to connect the diverted water from the inlet line to the mixer tap. If flexible housing is used then a non pressurised housing for this hosing would be required. Figure 6 and 6A depicts the plan view and perspective of the fitment of Valve 1 to the cold water tap spindle housing at J and the location of the fitted pipe or flexible hose 45 (G,H,F) and housing at mixer inlet at L. The diverted water from the coldwater inlet M is attached to the Mixer tap inlet L through housing (G,H,F). The hot water inlet N is attached to the mixer tap I at point K. The hot water has been diverted into the hot water mixer inlet line via Valve type 2. Water from the hot water inlet line N and the coldwater inlet line M are mixed in the mixer I and the mixed water leaves the mixer 50 through Valve type 2 to the downstream of hot water pipe 0 as depicted in Fig 6A.
6 Figure 7 and 7A shows the mixer retrofitted to the conventional tap spindle housing in a horizontal configuration and the existing outlet or downstream line is maintained in situ. Figure 8 shows a perspective view of the mixer tap fitted to either tap spindle housing 5 and fitment is dependant on the preference of the consumer. Figure 9 shows a perspective view of an alternate location for the mixer tap. The outlet or downstream line from the mixer tap in this configuration suggests that water diverted from the spindle tap housing from valve type 2 would require that the fitted pipe or flexible hose(s) which separates the inlet water to the mixer is separated (i.e. 10 pipe or flexible hose) from the mixed water flowing downstream from the mixer to the outlet. Figure 10 shows a perspective view of the mixer tap retrofitted to the conventional tap spindle housing in a vertical orientation and the existing outlet or downstream line is maintained in-situ 15 The present invention is an innovative step to use valve type 2 as a design modification to the existing mixer tap arrangements. The principal feature of this invention is the application of valve type 2 which separates inlet water (unmixed) from the existing inlet line to the mixer inlet from mixed water flowing from the mixer outlet downstream to the outlet, usually the shower head/outlet. 20 The valve type 2 enables the use of existing outlet downstream of the mixer tap and housing and the installation of a mixer tap to a conventional two tap and single outlet configuration. The present invention may be used in bathrooms, showers, kitchen sinks, laundry tubs and hob/wall basins. 25 It is accepted that licensed plumbers, other qualified tradesman or those skilled in the art may recognise that there are other variations or configurations to this design that may be adopted. It is considered that these are within the spirit and scope of this invention. 30 This invention is submitted on the 23 May 2010 by Ratna Pullela for inventors Ratna Pullela and Michael Berry.