AU2011101054A4 - Adaptor fitting - Google Patents

Abstract

An adaptor fitting 1 is provided for use in potable water plumbing applications. The fitting I comprises an inlet conduit 3 that is female threaded and two outlet conduits 4 that are male threaded. The three conduits 3 and 4 are arranged with axes 12 and 13 in the same plane and the angle between the inlet conduit axis and each outlet conduit axis is about 135 degrees. The fitting allows convenient provision of two water outlets from a single supply. Fla cP0

Description

5 ADAPTOR FITTING 10 FIELD OF THE INVENTION This innovation relates to an adaptor fitting that permits two water conduits to be connected to a single water supply connection. BACKGROUND A common requirement in the plumbing of domestic, commercial and 15 public buildings is to provide at internal locations multiple outlets from a single water supply point. This may arise during construction when it is desired to avoid or limit duplication of supply lines or in completed buildings where changes in usage render a single water outlet insufficient. Thus, a householder or apartment dweller may have a single water 20 outlet fitting at a location on a bathroom, kitchen or laundry wall, the fitting being dedicated to a single purpose such as supplying a bib tap or via a hose connection an appliance. a hose connection or bib tap) and may wish instead to have two taps, or to connect multiple appliances or to have both a tap and a hose connection to an appliance or a water purification system or, in a 25 bathroom, to provide a tap for use in cleaning activities as well as to continue water supply to a toilet cistern. Such requirements can be met by the use of combinations of conventional plumbing fittings, such as tee-pieces, elbow fittings and the like, either behind the wall or in front of the wall. Such installations can be 30 expensive, difficult to install behind a wall surface or unsightly if installed in front of the wall surface. It has been recognized by the present applicant that there is an unmet need to simplify such provision of internal multiple water outlets, and the present innovation addresses' that need at least for some cases, by provision 35 of a new adaptor fitting.

2 SUMMARY OF THE INNOVATION According to the innovation there is provided an adaptor fitting for use in potable water plumbing of buildings the adaptor fitting having a body formed of DR Brass, the body integrally including: 5 an inlet conduit that is female-threaded for connection to a co-operating male-threaded tubular member through which a supply of water is available; and two outlet conduits each provided with a male pipe thread for attachment of female threaded fittings or connections, 10 wherein said inlet conduit and both said outlet conduits are in fluid communication with each other within the body, and wherein longitudinal axes of the threads of the three conduits lie within a single plane and are arranged in a "Y" configuration in the plane. In a preferred embodiment, there is between the longitudinal axis of the 15 inlet conduit thread and each of the longitudinal axes of the outlet conduit threads an angle of about 135 degrees. This arrangement has been found to provide adequate clearance between typical fittings likely to be used with the adaptor fitting, for example two bib taps of conventional design, and to provide short flow paths from inlet to the two outlets to minimize pressure losses. 20 Preferably, a section of the inlet conduit has formed externally thereon a spanner hexagon for use in threadingly securing the inlet conduit to the said co-operating male-threaded tubular member. For the range of intended applications, preferably either all three said threads are 1/2-inch BSP parallel threads or all three threads are 3/4-inch 25 BSP parallel threads. The male-threaded tubular member onto which the inlet conduit is screwed can have either a tapered or a parallel thread. Parallel threads on the outlet conduit are suited for use, for example, with flexible hoses having parallel threaded compression fittings on their ends. However, the preceding paragraph is not intended to preclude the 30 possibility of providing adaptor fittings in accordance with the innovation that have different thread sizes as between the inlet and outlet conduits, or even between the two outlet conduits. In a further aspect, the innovation provides a method for providing two male-threaded water outlet conduits from a single male-threaded tubular '3 member through which a water supply is available, including the step of screwing the inlet conduit of an adaptor fitting in any one of claims mentioned above onto a cooperating male-threaded tubular member through which a water supply is available. 5 For the intended use in plumbing for potable water supply, the body is formed from DR Brass, an alloy that avoids the problem of entry of Zinc into the water supply. Compliance with AS3688 is a requirement for use with potable water supplies. In order that the innovation may be better understood, it will now be 10 described non-limitingly by reference to preferred embodiments as shown in the attached Figures, of which: Figure 1 is a plan view of an adaptor fitting according to the innovation; Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the fitting shown in Figure 1, as seen from the direction of the arrow "A"; 15 Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken at the station "3 - 3" in Figure 2; Figure 4 is an exploded plan view of a possible application of the fitting shown in Figures 1 to 3. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 20 Figures 1 and 2 show an adaptor fitting 1 according to the present innovation. Fitting 1 is cast in DR Brass (for service with potable water) and has a body 2 consisting in essence of three intersecting conduits that are in fluid communication with each other - an inlet conduit 3, and two outlet conduits 4. 25 Inlet conduit 3 includes a female thread 5 ending at a shoulder 6 and a hexagonal section 7 suitable for gripping by a spanner. Thread 5 is either a 1/2 - inch BSP parallel thread. (In an alternative embodiment of the innovation, not shown, thread 5 would a 3/4 - inch BSP parallel thread.) In use of fitting 1, an internal passage 9 of inlet conduit 3 receives 30 water from a mating tubular member (see below). Each outlet conduit 4 has an internal passage 10 with a male-thread 11. Threads 11 are 1/2 - inch BSP parallel threads. (In the alternative version mentioned above, Threads 11 are 3/4 - inch BSP parallel threads. Passages 10 communicate with passage 9 within body 2. Bevelled surfaces 8 are 4 provided on ends of outlet conduits 4 for sealing of fittings having sealing members that cooperate with such surfaces. Axes 12 are the central axes of the male threads 11 and of passages 10. Axis 13 is the central axis of female thread 5 and of passage 9. Axes 12 5 and 13 lie in a single plane (the plane of station B - B), with the angle between each axis 12 and axis 13 being 135 degrees. An angle of approximately this size has been found desirable, for example where two bib taps (not shown) are to be fitted on threads 11 and comfortable access to and operation of them is required, yet adequate clearance between them must 10 also be provided. Figure 4 shows in an exploded plan view one typical possible application of fitting 1. A tubular, male-threaded member 20 extends outward from a wall surface 21 and can deliver a potable water supply therethrough. The requirement is to provide water to a bib tap 22 (shown as being of a type 15 often used for controlling water flow to domestic washing machines) and to a flexible water hose with a compression fitting having a captive nut 24 .As shown by arrow "C", the female-threaded inlet conduit 3 of fitting 1 is offered up and then screwed on to member 20, with the aid of spanner hexagon 7, to seal (using PTFE or other suitable sealant for sealing if 20 necessary). Similarly, tap 22 is offered up and screwed on to one of the threads 11 and the nut 24 on hose 23 is offered up and sealing screwed on to the other of threads 11. Although not shown on fitting 1, a spanner hexagon may be provided on either or each of conduits 4 adjacent to threads 11. Alternatively, a simple 25 flange (for example circular) may be provided. It is preferred for easy cleaning and suitable appearance,for interior applications that external surfaces of fitting 1 be chrome plated.

Claims (5)

1. An adaptor fitting for use in potable water plumbing of buildings the adaptor fitting having a body formed of DR Brass, the body integrally 5 including: an inlet conduit that is female-threaded for connection to a co-operating male-threaded tubular member through which a supply of water is available; and 10 two outlet conduits each provided with a male pipe thread for attachment of female threaded fittings or connections, wherein said inlet conduit and both said outlet conduits are in fluid 15 communication with each other within the body, and wherein longitudinal axes of the threads of the three conduits lie within a single plane and are arranged in a "Y" configuration in the plane. 20

2. An adaptor fitting according to claim 1 wherein there is between the longitudinal axis of the inlet conduit thread and each of the longitudinal axes of the outlet conduit threads an angle of about 135 degrees. 25

3. An adaptor fitting according to claim 1 or 2 wherein a section of the inlet conduit has formed externally thereon a spanner hexagon for use in threadingly securing the inlet conduit to the said co-operating male threaded tubular member. 30

4. An adaptor fitting according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein either all three said threads are 1/2-inch BSP parallel threads or all three threads are 3/4-inch BSP parallel threads.

5. A method for providing two male-threaded water outlet conduits from a 35 single male-threaded tubular member through which a water supply is 6 available, including the step of screwing the inlet conduit of an adaptor fitting according to any one of claims 1 to 4 onto a cooperating male threaded tubular member through which a water supply is available.