AU3432602A - Flow restriction device - Google Patents

Description

S&FRef: 583558

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

Name and Address of Applicant: Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: Invention Title: Christopher William McDonald 9 Kaluna Street Putney New South Wales 2112 Australia Christopher William McDonald Spruson Ferguson St Martins Tower,Level 31 Market Street Sydney NSW 2000 (CCN 3710000177) Flow Restriction Device ASSOCIATED PROVISIONAL APPLICATION DETAILS [33] Country [31] Applic. No(s) AU PR5751 [32] Application Date 18 Jun 2001 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- 5815c FLOW RESTRICTION DEVICE Technical Field The present invention relates to flow restriction devices to be included to control the flow of water through taps.

Background of the Invention It is desirable to control the maximum flow from a tap. To this end, previous devices have been proposed, such as the flow restriction devices described in Australian Patents 599955 and 705264.

Previously known devices such as the above-mentioned flow control devices require a thread to be formed in the body of the tap so that the flow restriction device can be engaged therein. This is time-consuming and expensive.

There is also known a device which is inserted in a tap and which does not require threaded engagement with the body of the tap. Essentially the device has a stem which passes through the tap valve seat and is intended to be retained in position by means of an ring compressed between the stem and the body of the tap. It is known for these devices occasionally to fail by coming dislodged and preventing the tap being turned off.

Object of the Invention It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate at least one of the above disadvantages.

Summary of the Invention There is disclosed herein a flow restriction device to be located in a tap to restrict flow of water therethrough, said tap having a tap body with a tap seat and a handle assembly operable to regulate the flow of water through the tap seat, said device including: a device body having a stem, said stem including passage means to allow water to pass through the stem while restricting said flow, and a base extending upstream of the stem, said base including a base passage extending to said passage means so that water can flow through the device; and wherein [1A\DAYL1B\LIBTT]03027.doc:yxa said device body is adapted to be located between said tap body and handle assembly so that in use said device body is retained in position thereby with said stem projecting downstream of said tap seat.

Preferably, the above flow restriction device further includes a seal to extend between the stem and the tap body to sealingly connect the stem and tap body.

Preferably in the above flow restriction device said seal inhibits movement of the device relative to the tap body.

Preferably, in the above flow restriction device said passage means includes a stem longitudinal passage extending from the base passage, and at least one transverse passage extending from the stem longitudinal passage so that water may leave the device.

Preferably, in the above flow restriction device said base is adapted to extend between said seat and handle assembly so as to be retained in position thereby.

Preferably, the above flow restriction device further includes a seal to be located between the base and the tap body to sealingly connect the base and tap body.

Preferably, in the above flow restriction device said base passage is a base longitudinal passage, and said base further includes at least one transverse passage extending to said base longitudinal passage via which water enters the device.

There is further disclosed herein, in combination a tap having a tap body with a tap seat and a handle assembly and a member engaged by the handle assembly and moved thereby to regulate said flow through said tap seat, and the above flow restriction device.

Preferably, in the above combination said base is secured between the tap body and handle assembly, and said member is a washer member that extends into the base passage and is movable relative to said device body to regulate the flow through said base passage.

Preferably, in the above combination the flow restriction device includes a device valve seat which is engaged by said washer member to close said base passage.

Preferably, in the above combination the flow restriction device said device valve seat is frusto-conical so as to taper from the base passage, with said device seat being engaged by said washer member.

Preferably, in the above flow restriction device said tap is a ceramic cartridge type tap and said base includes a lip to be secured between a ceramic disc cartridge of the tap and the tap body.

[I :\DAYLIB\LLBTT]03027.doc:yxa Preferably, in the above flow restriction device said lip is located at an upstream extremity of said base.

Preferably, in the above combination the flow restriction device said lip is received between said cartridge and tap body.

Brief Description of the Drawings A preferred form of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a schematic parts exploded perspective view of a flow restriction device to be located within a tap to restrict the flow of water therethrough; Figure 2 is a schematic sectioned side elevation of the body of the device of Figure 1 installed in a tap; Figure 3 is a schematic sectioned side elevation of the washer member of the device of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a schematic sectioned side elevation of a modification of the flow restriction device of Figure 1; and Figure 5 is a schematic sectioned side elevation of a modification of the device of Figure Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments In Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings, there is schematically depicted a device 10 to be located in a tap having a body 11 providing a valve seat 12. Secured to the body 11 is a handle assembly 13 (not fully depicted) which handle assembly includes a shaft 14 that moves a washer member 15 to a position at which water cannot flow through the device The device 10 includes a body 16 comprising a stem 17 extending from a base 18.

The stem 17 has a longitudinal passage 19 consisting of a main passage portion extending to a passage portion 21 of smaller diameter. Extending from the passage portion 21 are transverse passages 22.

The base 18 includes a longitudinal passage 23 from which there extends transverse passages 24. The base 18 is also provided with a valve seat 25 which is frusto-conical so as to taper from the passage 23 to the passage portion Associated with the body 16 is the washer member 15. The washer member 15 has a body 25 including a first projection 26 that is received within the shaft 14, and a second projection 27 that is to extend into the passage portion 20. An annular flange 28 has an [1:\DAYL[B\LIBTT]03027.doc:yxa annular groove 29 that receives an ring 30 that engages the seat 25. The ring is retained in position by means of a ring 36 which is a press fit on the projection 27.

Engaged in an annular recess 31 is an ring 32 that sealingly connects the stem 17 with the tap body 11. An ring seal 33 is located in an annular recess 34 of the body 18 to sealingly connect the tap body 11 and base 18.

The base 18 is dimensioned so as to have a longitudinal length between the tap body 11 and handle assembly 13 such that the stem 17 cannot be moved so as to not project downstream through the seat 12. More particularly, the seal 32 is retained in a position engaged with the tap body 11. Typically, the seals 32 and 33 would be 1o compressed, with the seal 32 aiding to retain the stem 17 projecting through the seat 12.

Still further, the base 18 would have a longitudinal length slightly shorter than the distance between the tap body 11 and handle assembly 13. The spacers 37 aid in overcoming excess distance.

In operation of the above device 10 water would enter the passages 22 and flow to the passage 23 via the passage 19. Thereafter, water would exit the device via the passages 24. However, the handle assembly 13 is operable by rotating the handle to move the shaft 14 in the direction of the arrow 35. This movement would bring the ring into contact with the seat 25 thereby preventing further water flow. Flow would resume when the shaft 14 was moved in the opposite direction to the arrow Changes in the direction of flow of water through the device 10 as well as passage sizes restricts water flow. If so required, one or more spacers 37 may be located between the end of the base 18 and the handle assembly 13.

In particular, the flow of water through the device 10 is restricted by the passage portion 21 and the passages 22 extending generally normal thereto, with the passage portion 21 and passages 22 having relatively small diameters with respect to the passage 19. The passage portion 21 and passages 22 provide a flow restriction means that can be replaced with a commercially available flow restrictor. That is located within the passage 19 and replacing the passage portion 21 and passages 22 would be a commercially available flow restrictor.

In Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings, there is schematically depicted a flow restriction device 10 to be located in a "ceramic cartridge type tap body" a portion of which is identified by reference numeral 51. These cartridge type taps are known as quarter turn, half turn or three-quarter turn ceramic disc taps. In this embodiment, the [I:\DAYLB\LBTT03027.doc:yxa device 40 includes a body 41 comprising a stem 42 extending from a base 43. The stem 42 has a longitudinal passage 44 consisting of a main passage portion 45 extending to a passage portion 46 of smaller diameter. Extending from the passage portion 46 are transverse passages 47.

The base 43 includes a longitudinal passage 48 that communicates with the passage portion 45. More particularly, the passage portion 45 diminishes in cross-section from the longitudinal passage 48 to the passage portion 46.

The upper edge of the base 43 is provided with a lip 49 that engages the tap body 51.

A circular slot 50 is formed in the stem 42 to enable a tool to be inserted in the stem 42 for the purposes of removing the device The device 40 is securely held within the tap body 51 so as to project downstream from the seat 52. The lip 49 located at the upstream extremity of device 40 is clamped between the ceramic disc cartridge 53 and seat 52. The cartridge 53 is engaged by the handle assembly 54 which in turn is threadably engaged with the tap body 51. The handle assembly 51 would include co-operating discs, of which one is moved by the handle relative to the other disc to open and close the tap. Accordingly, one of the discs is moved relative to the seat 52 of the tap body 51 to effectively close or open the seat 52 with respect to water passing therethrough, that is to regulate the flow of water through the tap.

As can be seen from the drawings, the base 43 projects downstream from the seat 52.

In Figure 6, there is schematically depicted a device 60 which is a modification of the device 40 of Figure 5. In this embodiment, there is provided a cavity 61 that would receive a commercially available flow restriction device.

In the embodiments of Figures 5 and 6, the stem 42 would have a ceiling ring 52 that would engage a passage of the tap body into which the device 40 projects.

[1:\DAYLIB\UEBTT]03027.doc:yxa

Claims (15)

1. A flow restriction device to be located in a tap to restrict flow of water therethrough, said tap having a tap body with a tap seat and a handle assembly operable to regulate the flow of water through the tap seat, said device including: a device body having a stem, said stem including passage means to allow water to pass through the stem while restricting said flow, and a base extending upstream of the stem, said base including a base passage extending to said passage means so that water can flow through the device; and wherein said device body is adapted to be located between said tap body and handle assembly so that in use said device body is retained in position thereby with said stem projecting downstream of said tap seat.

2. The flow restriction device of claim 1 further including a seal to extend between the stem and the tap body to sealingly connect the stem and tap body.

3. The flow restriction device of claim 2 wherein said seal inhibits movement of the device relative to the tap body.

4. The flow restriction device of claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein said passage means includes a stem longitudinal passage extending from the base passage, and at least one transverse passage extending from the stem longitudinal passage so that water may leave the device.

5. The flow restriction device of anyone of claims 1 to 4 wherein said base is adapted to extend between said seat and handle assembly so as to be retained in position thereby.

6. The flow restriction device of claim 1, 2 or 3 further including a seal to be located between the base and the tap body to sealingly connect the base and tap body.

7. The flow restriction device of anyone of claims 1 to 6 wherein said base passage is a base longitudinal passage, and said base further includes at least one transverse passage extending to said base longitudinal passage via which water enters the device.

8. In combination a tap having a tap body with a tap seat and a handle assembly and a member engaged by the handle assembly and moved thereby to regulate said flow through said tap seat, and the flow restriction device of any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. The combination of claim 8 wherein said base is secured between the tap body and handle assembly, and said member is a washer member that extends into the [1\DAYLIB\LLBTT]03027.doc:yxa base passage and is movable relative to said device body to regulate the flow through said base passage.

The combination of claim 9 wherein said device includes a device valve seat which is engaged by said washer member to close said base passage.

11. The combination of claim 10 wherein said device valve seat is frusto-conical so as to taper from the base passage, with said device seat being engaged by said washer member.

12. The flow restriction device of anyone of claims 1 to 5 wherein the said tap is a ceramic cartridge type tap and said base includes a lip to be secured between a ceramic 1o disc cartridge of the tap and the tap body.

13. The flow restriction device of claim 12 wherein said lip is located at an upstream extremity of said base.

14. In combination a cartridge type tap and the flow restriction device of claim 12 or 13, and wherein said lip is received between said cartridge and tap body.

15. A flow restriction device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 4, Figure 5 or Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings. Dated 11 April, 2002 Christopher William McDonald Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person SPRUSON FERGUSON [I:\DAYLIB\LIBTT]03027.doc:yxa