AU2016101409B4

AU2016101409B4 - Water distribution fitting and assemblies

Info

Publication number: AU2016101409B4
Application number: AU2016101409A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Norm Alfred Ladson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2015-08-04
Filing date: 2016-08-04
Publication date: 2023-02-16
Anticipated expiration: 2024-08-04
Also published as: AU2016101409A4

Abstract

A water distribution fitting 17 that allows water from a single supply conduit 9 to be distributed among three outlets 2,3 25 and 27, the outlets being able to be fitted with bib taps 3, 5 and 7 or to other fittings. Water distribution assemblies 1 and 79 using the fitting are also described.

Description

WATER DISTRIBUTION FITTING AND ASSEMBLIES FIELD

[0001] This invention relates to the field of water supply, with particular reference to provision of water for domestic and general residential use, and for gardening and horticulture applications. BACKGROUND

[0002] An increasingly common requirement is to provide multiple water inlets at a single location and from a single supply conduit, and also to enable individual control of such outlets. For example, a gardener or horticulturist may wish to use water from a single water supply conduit to supply a programmed irrigation device that provides trickle or spray irrigation to plants, an ordinary garden hose for hand watering (and perhaps car washing) and a tap usable to provide a little water for hand washing when required. It is inconvenient to disconnect the hose or irrigation device, even when they are provided with click-on fittings, to access water for a quick hand wash.

[0003] As another example, in a domestic or commercial kitchen application, there may be a requirement to connect a water outlet extending from a wall under a sink to a water tap, a dishwasher, and a refrigerator, preferably without alteration of any plumbing behind the wall.

[0004] Both of these requirements require three outlets that desirably can be controlled individually. The requirements can be met with multiple taps and combinations of various additional fittings, but with some or all of the following problems: complexity, multiple points of potential leakage, cost and plumbing time, unsightliness, and undesirable orientations of the taps or fittings.

[0005] This invention addresses the need for an easier way to provide multiple taps or outlets with other fittings. More particularly, three taps or outlets for other fittings can be connected to a single water supply conduit. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] According to the invention there is provided a water distribution fitting for distributing water from a single water supply conduit to three outlets comprising a body having an internal space, a water inlet passage communicating with the internal space, and first second and third water outlet passages communicating with the internal space, wherein: the water inlet passage extends axially within an inlet portion of the body that is pipe threaded for sealing engagement with an inlet conduit; the first second and third water outlet passages extend axially within first second and third pipe-threaded outlet portions respectively of the body that are pipe-threaded for sealing engagement with bib taps or other threaded fittings; thread axes of the inlet portion and the second outlet portion extend at least approximately collinearly with each other; and thread axes of the first and third outlet portions extend at least approximately collinearly with each other and at least approximately at right angles to the thread axis on the inlet portion.

[0007] Thus, the water inlet passage and the first second and third water outlet passages are arranged in a cruciform manner, with each of the four passages (inlet and three outlet) at approximately 90 degrees to two of the others.

[0008] It is preferred that the axes of the threads of the outlet portions are at least approximately co-planar. It is further preferred that the axis of the thread of the inlet portion is co-planar with the axes of the threads of the outlet portions.

[0009] Preferably, the inlet portion of the body has a thread of a first gender and the threads of each of the first second and third outlet portions are of a second gender opposite to the first gender.

[0010] That is, where the inlet portion of the body has a female thread the outlet portions preferably have male threads, and where the inlet portion of the body has a male thread the outlet portions preferably have female threads.

[0011] However, this is not to preclude the possibilities of the water distribution fitting having all threads (inlet portion and outlet portions) male or all threads female. Moreover, it may be convenient in some applications for other mixtures of male and female threads to be used, and the invention is not to be taken as limited to the embodiments explicitly described herein.

[0012] Similarly, any suitable combinations of thread sizes may be used. Convenient sizes for the threads of inlet and/or outlet portions for domestic and gardening applications could be chosen from, for example, 15mm, 20mm, 25mm BSP tapered threads, these being nominal size descriptors originally designated "half inch", three quarter inch" and "one inch".

[0013] Preferably, the body is formed of DR Brass. Preferably also, the water distribution fitting will be compliant with Australian Standard AS3688.

[0014] In a further embodiment, the invention provides a water distribution assembly comprising: a water supply conduit sealingly connected to alugged elbow fitting mounted on an upright surface; a water distribution fitting according in any suitable one of the forms described herein, with its water inlet passage in fluid communication with the water supply conduit via the lugged elbow fitting; and at least one bib tap sealingly connected to the body so as to be in fluid communication with a water outlet passage of the water distribution fitting.

[0015] An arrangement such as this may be used in a garden environment, the lugged elbow being secured to a stake or post, or in or on a building where the lugged elbow is secured to a wall.

[0016] In a further embodiment the invention provides a water distribution assembly comprising: a water distribution fitting in any suitable one of the forms described herein, with its water inlet passage in fluid communication with a source of water; ninety-degree elbow fittings threadably and sealingly engaged with the first and third outlet portions of the body and so oriented that outlets of the elbow fittings are oriented at least approximately parallel to the second water outlet passage.

[0017] Such a water distribution assembly may further comprise three bib taps of which one bib tap is sealingly and threadably engaged with the second outlet portion of the water distribution fitting and each of the remaining bib taps is engaged with the outlet of one of the ninety-degree elbow fittings. This arrangement advantageously provides three taps, side by side and oriented in the same direction.

[0018] The term "bib tap" as used in this specification means a tap of the type intended to be connected to a horizontally directed water supply conduit and to direct water downward when turned on.

[0019] The word "comprise" and derivatives thereof such as comprised, comprising, comprised in, and the like when used in relation to integers or steps are intended to convey the presence of those integers or steps, but not to preclude the possible presence of additional integers or steps.

[0020] The invention will be described in further detail below by reference to the attached Figures, of which the following are descriptions:

[0021] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a water distribution assembly according to the invention;

[0022] Figure 2 is a plan view of a water distribution fitting according to the invention as shown in use in the water distribution assembly of Figure 1;

[0023] Figure 3 is a viewlooking in the direction of arrow "A" of the water distribution fitting as shown in Figure 2;

[0024] Figure 4 is a cross sectional view of the water distribution fitting as shown in Figure 3, the section being taken at station "4-4";

[0025] Figure 5 is a plan view of a further water distribution fitting according to the invention;

[0026] Figure 6 is a view of the water distribution fitting as shown in Figure 5, looking in the direction of arrow "B";

[0027] Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the water distribution fitting as shown in Figure 6, the section being taken at station"7-&;

[0029] Figure 8 is a plan view of a modified version of the water distribution assembly shown in Figure 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0030] Figure 1 shows a water distribution assembly 1 embodying the invention. The assembly 1 would be suitable for the use in a garden environment and provides three bib taps 3, 5 and 7, fed with water by a single conduit 9 that extends upwardly on a stake 11 and is connected to a lugged elbow fitting 13 of known type secured on the stake 11. Although not shown in full, stake 11 would in practice be driven or otherwise secured in the ground at its lower end. Lugged elbow fittings having both female-threaded outlets and male-threaded outlets are known, and lugged elbow 13 has a female outlet 15.

[0031] Threadaby and sealingly secured to the outlet 15 of lugged elbow fitting 13 is a water distribution fitting 17 according to the invention. Bib taps 3, 5 and 7 are sealingly and threadably secured to water distribution fitting 17.

[0032] Water distribution fitting 17 is shown in Figure 2, 3 and 4. Figure 2 is a plan view in the sense that it is shown as it would be seen looking downwardly at assembly 1 in the direction of arrow 19 in Figure 1.

[0033] Fitting 17 has an inlet portion 21 and first, second and third outlet portions 23, and 27. Inlet portion 21 has an external (male) pipe thread 29 with a central axis 31. Extending through inlet portion 21 along axis 31 is a water inlet passage 33. Axis 31 is also the central axis of a female pipe thread 35 of second outlet portion 25, and through outlet portion 25 extends a second water outlet passage 37.

[0034] Extending through and transversely of (i.e. perpendicular to) axis 31 is an axis 39 which is the central axis of threads 41 and 43 of first and third outlet portions 23 and 27. First water outlet passage 45 extends along axis 39 in first outlet portion 23 and third water outlet passage 47 extends along axis 39 in third outlet portion 27.

[0035] This the water inlet passage 33 and the three water outlet passages 45, 37 and 47 all meet in an internal space 49 of the fitting 17 and so are in fluid communication with each other.

[0036] In assembly 1, bib tap 3 is screwed into first outlet portion 23, bib tap 5 is screwed into outlet portion 25, and bib tap 7 is screwed into outlet portion 27. Inlet portion 21 is screwed into outlet 15 of lugged elbow fitting 13. It will thus be seen that when water is supplied through water inlet passage 33, each of bib taps 3, 5 and 7 are also supplied with water.

[0037] The arrangement shown, in which the first and third water outlet passages are collinear and the water inlet passage 33 and second water outlet passage 37 are also collinear and perpendicular to axis 39 is preferred but some minor deviation from this cruciform arrangement is possible if required.

[0038] Water distribution fitting 17 lends itself readily to production by casting in DR Brass or other suitable alloys and subsequent machining. Tapered BSP threads are suitable.

[0039] Figures 5, 6 and 7 show views comparable to Figures 2, 3 and 4 of a further water distribution fitting 51 according to the invention. Fitting 51 differs from fitting 17 in the "gender" of its thread scheme. That is, an inlet portion 53 has a female thread and first second and third outlet portions 55, 57 and 59 have male threads 61, 63 and 65.

[0040] A water inlet passage 69 and second water outlet passage 71 extend along axis 67 of the threads 55 and 57. Similarly, first and third water outlet passages 73 and 75 extend along axis 77 which is the central axis of threads 61 and 65.

[0041] An assembly (not shown) similar in principle to assembly 1 could be made using water distribution fitting 51, but would require the use of female bib taps (not shown) and a lugged elbow fitting (not shown) with a male threaded outlet.

[0042] Fitting 51 would be suitable and convenient to use in the common situation in a building where a male threaded fitting extends out from a wall and it is desired to provide multiple taps or other fittings from that male threaded fitting. This situation may be encountered in under-sink situations for example.

[0043] The comments made above in relation to fitting 17 in respect of its manufacture and cruciform arrangement also apply to fitting 51.

[0044] It is not always convenient to have three taps (or other fittings) that are oriented in different directions as shown in Figure 1. However, fittings 17 and 51 may still be used where a different arrangement is more convenient. Figure 8 shows a water distribution assembly 79 that is identical to assembly 1 (including bib taps 3, 5 and 7) save for the inclusion of ninety-degree elbows 81 and 83 secured threadably to first and third outlet portions 23 and 27 respectively. Elbows 81 and 83 (shown as male-female elbows) are oriented to align taps 3 and 7 with tap 5 which is directly screwed in place in second outlet portion 25.

[0045] With different types of elbows or suitable adaptor fittings, fitting 51 could also be used in this way.

[0046] Thus, water distribution fittings according to the invention can conveniently enable multiple taps or other fittings to be oriented in the same direction.

Claims

1. A water distribution fitting for distributing water from a single water supply conduit to three outlets comprising a body having an internal space, a water inlet passage communicating with the internal space, and first second and third water outlet passages communicating with the internal space, wherein:

the water inlet passage extends axially within an inlet portion of the body that is pipe-threaded for sealing engagement with an inlet conduit;

the first second and third water outlet passages extend axially within first second and third pipe-threaded outlet portions respectively of the body that are pipe-threaded for sealing engagement with bib taps or other threaded fittings;

thread axes of the inlet portion and the second outlet portion extend at least approximately collinearly with each other;

thread axes of the first and third outlet portions extend at least approximately collinearly with each other and at least approximately at right angles to the thread axis on the inlet portion;

the inlet portion of the body has a male thread and the first second and third outlet portions have female threads, and

the water distribution fitting is formed entirely from a single casting.

2. A water distribution fitting according to claim 1 wherein the body is formed of DR Brass.

3. A water distribution assembly comprising:

a water supply conduit sealingly connected to a lugged elbow fitting mounted on an upright surface the lugged elbow fitting having a female-threaded outlet portion;

a water distribution fitting according to either of claims 1 or 2 with its inlet portion threadably secured to the outlet portion of the lugged elbow fitting; and

three bib taps sealingly connected to outlet portions of the water distribution fitting.