AU2014273877B2

AU2014273877B2 - Valve for a tap or faucet

Info

Publication number: AU2014273877B2
Application number: AU2014273877A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Marc Timothy Turk
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-04-30
Filing date: 2014-04-29
Publication date: 2017-03-02
Anticipated expiration: 2034-04-29
Also published as: ZA201508082B; MX2015015135A; EP2992258A2; WO2014194340A3; MX367390B; NZ714265A; BR112015027584A2; EP2992258A4; WO2014194340A2; MY176292A; AU2014273877A1; AP2015008961A0

Abstract

A screw-down mechanism (10) for a valve for a tap, the mechanism comprising a screw-down stem (12) locatable inside a valve housing (14), the base of the stem (12) being receivable in a valve seat (42), characterised in that the stem comprises an upper spline (20), coaxially mountable on a shaft (22), the lower portion of which is threaded (23), the base of the upper spline (20) including a first corrugated disk (24), engageable with a second corrugated disk (28) located on the shaft (22).

Description

2014273877 15 Nov 2016 1

VALVE FOR A TAP OR FAUCET

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a valve for a tap or faucet.

BACKGROUND ART A standard water tap generally comprises a simple screw-down mechanism including a soft rubber or neoprene washer which is screwed down onto a valve seat in order to stop the flow of water (also commonly referred to as a “globe valve”). The washer is located on the end of a threaded stem which is operated by screw action, using a rotatable handle.

When the washer becomes worn, degraded or broken water manages to seep past the washer, resulting in a leaking tap. One of the main causes of degraded or broken the washer is over tightening of the screw down mechanism, when the tap handle is subject to over vigorous winding.

It would be desirable to provide a tap which, at least partially, alleviates some of the abovementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with this invention, there is provided a screw-down mechanism for a valve for a tap, the mechanism comprising a screw-down stem locatable within an internal bore of a valve housing, the base of the stem being receivable in a valve seat, characterised in that the stem comprises an upper spline, coaxially mountable on a shaft, the lower portion of which is threaded, the base of the upper spline including a first top disk having a corrugated lower surface, engageable with a second bottom disk having a corrugated upper surface located on the shaft, the corrugated surfaces of the first and second disks being rotatable relative to one another when subjected to a predefined torque. 2014273877 15 Nov 2016 2

Comprises/comprising and grammatical variations thereof when used in this specification are to be taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components or groups thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the threaded shaft comprises three sections, with the first corrugated disk being separated from the base of the spline by an elastomeric compressible washer in the form of an O-ring’.

The upper part of the spline may extend beyond the top of the valve housing and be receivable in a complementally shaped recess in a rotatable tap handle.

There is further provided for the lower threaded shaft of the stem to be rotatable inside a complementally threaded casing, and for the casing to be shaped to rotate within the valve housing when subjected to a predefined rotational torque.

The internal bore of the valve housing may be of any cross sectional shape other than circular, and the external dimensions of the casing are preferably complementary in shape to the bore of the valve housing. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the bore of the valve housing is hexagonal in cross-section. A seal may be located on the base of the casing, receivable in the valve seat.

The shaft, casing and valve housing may be constructed from various materials including the standard brass and copper, but may also be constructed from a plastics material, including but not limited to ABS, PVC or polypropylene. 2014273877 15 Nov 2016 3

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRA WINGS A preferred embodiment of the invention is described below by way of example only and with reference to the following drawings, in which;

Figure 1 is an exploded view of the valve mechanism in its housing;

Figure 2 is an exploded view of the valve mechanism without the housing;

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of the assembled valve mechanism in its housing;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the assembled valve mechanism without the housing;

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view A-A of the assembled valve mechanism without the housing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to figures 1 to 5 in which like features of the invention are indicated by like numerals,

The screw-down mechanism 10 for a valve for a tap, includes a screw-down stem 12 located inside a valve housing 14, the base of the stem 12 being receivable in a valve seat 42. The stem 12 is rotatable inside a complementary threaded blind casing 18 at one end and the valve housing 14 at the other end.

The stem 12 is divided into an upper spline 20 coaxially connected to a shaft 22, the lower part of which is threaded 23. A first disk 24, the operative lower surface of which is corrugated, is attached to the base of the upper spline 20, and is separate from, but connected by a hex to the upper spline. This hex has an elastomeric compressible washer in the form of an O-ring 26. Washers 26 of different shore hardnesses can be used, depending on the torque that they are required to absorb. 4 2014273877 15 Nov 2016 A second disk 28, the operative upper surface of which is corrugated, is located on the shaft 22, above the threaded portion 23. O-ring seal 30 ensures that the threaded shaft 23 sits in the blind casing 18 in a sealing fit.

Referring to figure 3, when assembled, the upper spline 20 extends through the top of the valve housing 14 and is receivable in a complementally shaped recess in a rotatable tap handle 40.

An elastomeric seal or washer 19 is located on the base of the casing 18, receivable in the valve seat 42.

In this embodiment, the entire mechanism is plastic, however, it is to be understood that standard copper or brass tap housings could also be used.

In use, rotation of the tap handle 40 causes rotation of the stem 12 inside the complementally threaded blind casing 18, rotation in one direction causing the casing 18 to wind down the shaft 23 and towards the valve seat 42 until the seal 19 engages with the valve seat 42. Once the seal 19 engages with the valve seat 42, the casing 18 cannot wind any further down the shaft. At this stage, further rotational torque applied to the spline 20, through the handle 40 will be absorbed by the compressible elastomeric washer 26, up to a certain point, dependant upon the shore hardness of the washer 26. Should still further rotational torque be applied to the spline 20, the top corrugated disk 24 will slip over the bottom corrugated disk 28,one notch or corrugation at a time and rotate with the torque, relieving the load and preventing the rotational torque from breaking the washer 19 or threading the valve mechanism.

In addition, further rotational torque applied to the spline may also result in the casing 18 rotating slightly in the valve housing 14, thus preventing the threads of the shaft and casing from threading under added pressure, or preventing the valve mechanism from breaking. This slippage is aided by the fact that the external dimensions of the casing are slightly smaller than the bore of the housing, and by the existence of rounded corners 32 on the casing 18. 2014273877 15 Nov 2016 5

Similarly, rotation of the handle 40 in the other direction will cause the casing 18 to wind up the shaft 23 away from the valve seat 42, thus opening up the valve and allowing water to flow from the tap. Once the casing 18 has been fully retracted, and can be wound no further, additional rotational torque applied to the shaft through turning the handle 40, will result in the top corrugated disk 24 slipping over the bottom corrugated disk 28, one notch or corrugation at a time and rotating with the torque, relieving the load and preventing the rotational torque from breaking the washer 19 or threading the valve mechanism.

Numerous modifications to this embodiment are possible, without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the dimensions of the bore may be any shape other than circular.

The invention therefore provides a novel mechanism for regulating the flow of a water tap.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A screw-down mechanism for a valve for a tap, the mechanism comprising a screw-down stem locatable within an internal bore of a valve housing, the base of the stem being receivable in a valve seat, characterised in that the stem comprises an upper spline, coaxially mountable on a shaft, the lower portion of which is threaded, the base of the upper spline including a first top disk having a corrugated lower surface, engageable with a second bottom disk having a corrugated upper surface located on the shaft, the corrugated surfaces of the first and second disks being rotatable relative to one another when subjected to a predefined torque.
2. A screw-down mechanism for a valve for a tap as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the first disk is separated from the base of the spline by a compressible washer in the form of an O-ring.
3. A screw-down mechanism for a valve for a tap as claimed in either of claims 1 or 2, characterised in that the upper part of the spline extends beyond the top of the valve housing and is receivable in a complementally shaped recess in a rotatable tap handle.
4. A screw-down mechanism for a valve for a tap as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the threaded lower shaft is rotatable inside a complementally threaded blind casing, the base of which is receivable in the valve seat.
5. A screw-down mechanism for a valve for a tap as claimed in claim 4 characterised in that a seal is located on the base of the casing, receivable in the valve seat.
6. A screw-down mechanism for a valve for a tap as claimed in any of claims 4 or 5, characterised in that the casing is shaped to rotate within the bore of the valve housing when subjected to a predefined rotational torque.
7. A screw-down mechanism for a valve for a tap as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6 characterised in that the internal bore of the valve housing is of any cross sectional shape other than circular.
8. A screw-down mechanism for a valve for a tap as claimed in either of claims 6 or 7, characterised in that the external dimensions of the casing are complementary in shape to the bore of the valve housing.
9. A screw-down mechanism for a valve for a tap as claimed in either of claims 7 or 8, characterised in that the bore of the valve housing is hexagonal in cross-section.
10. A screw-down mechanism for a valve for a tap as claimed in any of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the shaft, casing and valve housing are constructed from various materials including but not limited to brass, copper and plastics material.
11. A screw-down mechanism for a valve for a tap as claimed in claim 10 characterised in that the shaft, casing and valve housing are constructed from plastics material including but not limited to ABS, PVC or polypropylene.