FR2624243A1 - Control assembly, cut-off and time-delay assembly for a time-delayed tap, liquid-distribution installation including such a time-delayed tap, method for mounting such a time-delayed tap - Google Patents

Abstract

Time-delayed tap intended to be associated with a main liquid pipe line 2 of a liquid installation, which includes a control assembly 6 and a cut-off and time-delay assembly 7 which are structurally distinct and separated from one another, connected to one another by two secondary pipelines 8, 9 associated, on the one hand, to the supply and outlet of the control assembly 6 and, on the other hand, to the two supply and outlet connections of the cut-off and time-delay assembly 7, which has the prime effect of limiting the size of the control assembly 6, and consequently of facilitating the mounting of the time-delayed tap 1.

Description

CONTROL ASSEMBLY, SECTIONING AND
TIMING FOR A TIMED TAP. INSTALLATION OF
DISPENSING LIQUID COHAVING SUCH A TIMED TAP.

METHOD FOR MOUNTING SUCH A TIMED TAP
The invention relates to a control assembly, a sectioning and timing assembly both forming part of the same timed tap intended to be associated with a main pipe of a liquid distribution installation; a liquid distribution installation comprising such a timed tap; and a method of mounting such a timed valve.

There are already known timed taps intended to be associated with a main liquid pipe of a liquid distribution installation which comprises a control assembly and a sectioning and timing assembly. These two sets of control and sectioning and time delay form a unitary structural whole, being grouped together.

The control unit can be the subject of different variant embodiments. In a known variant, the control assembly, structurally associated in a unitary whole with the sectioning and timing assembly comprises a control member in the form of a flexible membrane of generally planar shape, fixed to a protective plate. with central hole, itself fixed rigidly and removably by screws to a flange of the valve body.

Such a timed tap in this embodiment is particularly well suited to controlling the distribution of water from a sink or equivalent of a building for collective use such as offices, equivalent, etc. In this case, the pipeline main liquid of the liquid distribution installation with which the timed valve is associated is housed in a reserve provided in the construction floor, reserve in which is embedded the assembly of the timed tap whose control membrane is flush with the face top of the floor. In this case, the user controls the distribution of liquid by pressing with his foot on the control membrane.

Such a timed tap is mounted by providing a reserve in the floor, after its constitution, then by housing in this reserve the main pipe, the tap itself and a liquid distribution pipe going from the timed tap to the distribution point. for example on the sink.

Due to its structure, such a timed tap of the state of the art has a large bulk in the vertical axial direction, corresponding to the thickness of the tap since the control assembly and the sectioning and timing assembly are nested. and superimposed. For example, this thickness can be of the order of 5 to 7 cm. I1 follows that the mounting of such a valve is made all the more difficult since the realization of the reserve in the already constituted floor is practically proportional to the importance of said reserve. In addition and taking into account the size of such a timed tap, the screws for fixing the control membrane support plate to the body flange are located on the external periphery of said plate and are therefore visible and accessible from the outside, which at the same time is unsightly and above all can affect the integrity of the screws which may hinder their unscrewing as well as their re-tightening.

The invention aims to remedy these drawbacks and for this purpose it first of all proposes a control assembly forming part of a timed tap intended to be associated with a main liquid pipe of a liquid distribution installation, together control comprising firstly a rigid body, secondly a movable valve mounted in the body capable of establishing or cutting the communication for the liquid between a liquid inlet and outlet, normally in the closed cut-off position and, thirdly place, a valve operating member, in which the control assembly forms, by itself, a unitary structural whole, in particular structurally distinct from a sectioning and timing assembly also forming part of said timed tap.

The invention proposes spreading such a sectioning and timing assembly also forming part of the timed tap, comprising, firstly, a rigid body, secondly a movable valve mounted in the body capable of establishing communication for the liquid between a supply and outlet of the liquid, normally in the closed cut-off position, thirdly, a spring urging the valve in the closed cut-off position and, fourthly, two chambers for the delay located on either side of the valve connected by a calibrated passage, in which the sectioning and timing assembly forms, by itself, a unitary structural whole, in particular structurally distinct from the control assembly also forming part of said timed valve.

The invention then proposes a timed tap comprising such a control assembly and such a sectioning and timing assembly, these two assemblies being structurally distinct and separated from one another, connected to one another by two secondary pipes associated on the one hand with the supply and the output of the control unit and, on the other hand, with the two supply and output connections of the sectioning and delay unit, which has for effect of limiting the size of the control assembly and consequently facilitating the mounting of the time-delay valve.

The invention also relates to a liquid distribution installation comprising at least one main pipe, at least one water distribution device such as sink, shower <toilet or the like, at least one timed tap each associated with a main pipe, carried by construction elements, in particular floor, vertical partition, or other, of a fixed construction, in which the timed tap is of the type mentioned previously with control assembly and sectioning and timing assembly structurally distinct from each other .

Finally, the invention proposes a method of mounting such a timed tap in such a liquid distribution installation, in which a reserve is provided in a floor, the sectioning and timing assembly is associated with a main pipe, the secondary pipes are placed in the floor reserve, the control assembly is embedded in said reserve, the two control and sectioning and timing assemblies are connected to one another with the secondary pipes.

The invention makes it possible to have a control assembly of reduced size, in particular in the direction of the thickness. It follows, in combination, on the one hand that the reserve to be provided in the floor for mounting the valve can be smaller, in volume, in particular in depth and / or in width, with the advantages of delay and cost of realization which result from it and, on the other hand that the radial overall dimensions (in generally horizontal direction) of the control unit is also more restricted what authorizes a particular arrangement of the fixing screws of the membrane support protection plate control to the flange of the body of the control assembly such that the screws are invisible, being located to the right and below the membrane therefore hidden and protected by the latter.

This reduction in the size of the reserve provided in the floor for mounting the timed tap and all the more noticeable since the secondary pipes of the timed tap according to the invention are only intended for controlling the sectioning and delay, so do not require a large liquid flow rate so that secondary piping cps can be of a limited diameter very much smaller than that of the main pipeline having to accept a liquid flow rate for the much larger liquid distribution point.

The other characteristics of the invention will emerge from the description which follows with reference to the accompanying drawings in which
Figure 1 is a schematic view, in section through a plane
vertical, of a liquid distribution installation according to the inversion.

Figures 2, 3, 4, 5 are four schematic views
respectively rear, side, bottom, top of a
control assembly according to the invention.

Figure 6 is a schematic view, in section through an axial plane
vertical along line VI-VI of FIG. 4, at a larger
scale, illustrating the control assembly according to the invention.

Figure 7 is a schematic view, in coupe with a plan
axial, on a larger scale, of a sectioning assembly and
timer according to the invention.

The invention relates to a timed tap 1 intended to be associated with a main liquid line 2 of a liquid distribution installation 3.

Such an installation 3 comprises at least one such main pipe 2, at least one liquid distribution device such as a sink, shower, toilet or the like, at least one timed tap 1, the timed tap or taps 1, the main pipe or pipes 2, the apparatus or apparatus 4 being carried by construction elements 5, in particular floor 5a, vertical partition 5b, or the like, of a construction.

A typical embodiment of the invention is that where the device 4 is a sink, the liquid dispensed is water, the timed tap 1 is controlled by the foot by a user of said sink, the tap 1 being controlled. embedded in the floor 5a. The main pipe 2 is a water riser or a bypass or even a tapping on a riser, of a sufficient diameter to ensure a sufficient flow of water to the device 4. For example, the main pipe 2 can have a diameter of around 2cm.

According to the invention, the timed tap 1 comprises a control assembly 6, a sectioning and timing assembly 7, the two assemblies 6 and 7 being structurally distinct and spaced from one another, connected one to the other. 'Other by two secondary pipes 8, 9, as described in detail latercment.

The control assembly 6 will now be described in more detail with particular reference to FIGS. 2 to 6. The control assembly 6 comprises firstly a rigid body 10, secondly a movable valve 11 mounted in the body 10 , capable of establishing or cutting off the communication for the liquid between a supply 12 and an outlet 13 for liquid, normally in the closed cut-off position and, thirdly, an operating member 14 of the valve 11. This control assembly 6 forms , by itself, a unitary structural whole, in particular structurally distinct from the sectioning and timing assembly 7.

The operating member 14 is, in the particular form envisaged, a flexible, impermeable membrane, with elastic deformation, having a certain resistance to return, by itself to a rest position, of generally planar shape, fixed to a protection plate 15 with central hole 16 corresponding to a hole in the body 10. The protection plate 15 is itself rigidly and removably fixed by screws 17 to a flange 18 of the body 10. The membrane 14 is located at least at right of the central hole 16 so as to allow acting on the valve 11 opposite.

The screws 17, as well as the corresponding passage holes 17a formed in the protection plate 15 are located near the central hole 16 and in line with the membrane 14, in particular in the immediate vicinity of its external peripheral edge 19. This constructive arrangement is made possible by the limited radial size of the control assembly resulting from the dissociation of the control assembly 6 and the sectioning and timing assembly 7, in particular. This constructive arrangement has the effect that the screws 17 are hidden and protected by the membrane 14.

Preferably, the liquid inlet and outlet 12, 13 are of different diameters, so as to ensure the safety of the mounting direction of the control assembly 6, relative to the sectioning and timing assembly 7. This constructive arrangement is made possible by the fact that the flow rate passing through the supply and the outlet 12, 13 is limited, this flow rate being used for the sole control of the disconnection and timing assembly 7 and not for supplying liquid 4.

The control assembly 6 may also include a spring 20 urging the valve 11 in the closed cut-off position, an O-ring 21 carried by the valve 11 ensuring the seal, a passage 22 for the liquid between the inlet 12 and the outlet 13, via the valve 11. For example, the feed 12 is of larger diameter than the outlet 13; the feed opens into the central bottom portion 22a of the passage 22 in communication, via the valve 11, with a top portion 22b in, which opens laterally the outlet 13. The body 10 in this case comprises a bottom forming a bowl 10a to which adjoining the part 22a of the passage 22, a cover 10b in which the valve 11 is mounted, and an outer jacket 10c defining with the cover lOb and opposite the bottom 10a the part 22b of the passage 22. The flange 18 is then constituted by the part of the shirt 10c opposite the bottom 10a and adjacent to the opening of the body. The liner tOc is of sufficient thickness to allow the production of tapped holes 23 for the screws 17 as well as possibly a tapped hole 24 for a holding rod 25 of the assembly 6 in the ground. In this situation, the control assembly 6 has an axis 26 which is the axis of the valve 11, normally placed vertically in the installation, the axes of the inlet 12 and outlet 13 being orthogonal to the axis 26.

As is clear from the above description, the valve 11 of the control assembly 6 does not, in itself, constitute the main valve for cutting off the distribution of the liquid to the device 4.

Such a control assembly 6 also has the characteristic of being of reduced bulk, in particular in the direction of the axis 26, corresponding to the thickness. For example, it has been possible to produce a control assembly 6 whose thickness, counted along the axis 26, in the opposite direction to the membrane 14 and from the plate 15 is less than 3 cm, in particular is equal to 2.8cm. In addition, and as indicated above, the diameter of the feed 12 and outlet 13 can be significantly less than the diameter of the main pipe 2. For example, the feed 12 and outlet 13 can have diameters of 8mm and 6mm respectively.

The control assembly 6 which has just been described operates in the following manner (FIG. 6). Normally, that is to say in the absence of external stress, mainly on the part of a user, the valve 11 is in the closed cut-off position, thanks to the spring 20, the O-ring 21 being applied to its seat. . Under these conditions, the passage 22 is interrupted, by the valve 11, between the inlet 12 and the outlet 13. When a user wishes to use the control assembly 6, he presses on the membrane 14, in particular with the foot, so as to deform this membrane, which is made possible since it is flexible, which has the effect of acting by moving the valve 11, against the spring 20 by moving the O-ring 21 away from its seat. passage 22 is then continuous between the supply 12 and the exit 13, via the passage parts 22a and 22b.

We will now describe more particularly the sectioning and timing assembly 7 with more specific reference to FIG. 7. This sectioning and timing assembly comprises, firstly, a rigid body 27, secondly a valve 28 mounted in the body sliding along an axis 29, capable of establishing or cutting the communication for the liquid between a supply 30 and an outlet 31 of the liquid, normally in the closed cut-off position, thirdly a spring 32 urging the valve 28 in the closed cut-off position and, fourthly, two chambers for time delay respectively 33 and 34 located on either side of valve 28, connected to each other by a calibrated passage 35 formed in valve 28 .

According to the invention, the sectioning and timing assembly 7 forms, by itself, a unitary structural whole, in particular structurally distinct from the control assembly 6 previously described.

The inlet 30 and the outlet 31 are arranged along an axis 36 orthogonal to the axis 29 of sliding of the valve 28. The inlet 30 and the outlet 31 are intended to be connected to the main pipe 2. For this reason, the inlet 30 and the outlet 31 are of large diameter, corresponding to that of the main pipe 2. Between the inlet 30 and the outlet 31, there is a passage 37 defined by the body 27, passage 37 on which is interposed the valve 28, so that this passage 37 can be opened or, on the contrary, closed depending on whether the valve 28 is itself open or closed.

The sectioning and timing assembly 7 also includes two connections for supplying and leaving the liquid 38, 39, in communication with the two chambers for timing 33, 34, in particular arranged on. along the axis 29. These two connections 38, 39 are of diameters suitable for those of the secondary pipes 8, 9. They are therefore of a diameter significantly smaller than that of the feed 30 and outlet 31.

The body 27 has a generally doubly cylindrical shape of axes 29 and 36. It has two end faces 40, 41, on the side of the connections 38, 39. The body 27 also includes a seat 42 with which the valve 28 provided cooperates an O-ring 43. At its outer periphery, the valve 28 also includes a lip seal 44 ensuring the sealing with a jacket 45 of the body 27, on the side of the end face 41. The rod 46 of the valve 28 opposite the end face 41, that is to say facing the end face 40 is cruciform or equivalent so as to provide a necessary passage for the liquid when the valve 28 is open.

The spring 32 is applied to the end face 41 and to the rear face 47 of the valve 28. The spring 32 urges the valve 28 in the direction of the distance from the end face 41 and in the direction of the approximation of the O-ring 43 on the seat 42.

Between the seat 42 and the valve 28 is formed an annular volume 48 for the liquid. The chamber 33 is formed between the end face 40 and the seat 42, on the side opposite the seals 43, 44.

This room is in communication on the one hand with the inlet branch 38 and, on the other hand via a hole 49, with the outlet 31.

The chamber 34 is defined by the rear face 47 of the valve 28 and the end face 41. It is in communication with the outlet connection 39.

The calibrated passage 35 opens on the one hand into the annular volume 48, between the two seals 43, 44 and, on the other hand into the chamber 34, in particular axially. A needle 50, fixed, in which the valve 28 is slidably mounted, makes it possible to avoid obstruction of the calibrated passage 35.

Such a sectioning and timing assembly 7 operates as follows: at rest, the valve 28 is closed, the O-ring 43 applied to its seat 42 taking into account the force exerted by the spring 32 and the presence of liquid in the chamber 34, the chamber 33 being empty since in communication with the outlet 31 through the hole 49. In this situation, the valve 28 closes the passage 37 between the inlet 30 and the outlet 31. The control of the assembly of sectioning and timing 7 consists in removing the liquid from the chamber 34, in particular via the chamber 33 and the hole 49, more particularly thanks to the control assembly 6. Due to the disappearance of the force exerted on the valve 28 by the liquid in the chamber 34, the valve 28 is then opened. It follows on the one hand that the liquid can pass from the supply 30 to the outlet 31, on the other hand, gradually quer the liquid can fill chamber 34 again, via the calibrated passage 35. When the chamber 34 is again filled with liquid, the valve 28 comes to close.

The invention also relates to a timed tap which comprises the two control 6, sectioning and timing 7 assemblies which have just been described. These two assemblies 6, 7 are connected to each other by two secondary pipes 8, 9. The secondary pipes 8, 9 are associated on the one hand with the supply 12 and the outlet 13 of the assembly of command 6 and, on the other hand, appeared at the two supply 38 and output 39 connections of the sectioning and timing unit 7.

As this results from the above, the dissociation of the control assembly 6 and the sectioning and timing assembly 7 has the primary effect of limiting the size of the control assembly 6 and as a consequence of facilitate assembly of the timed tap.

The invention also relates to a liquid distribution installation which includes such a timed tap 1.

In such an installation, the two secondary pipes 8, 9 are housed in a reserve 51 formed in a floor 5a.

In addition, the control assembly 6 can be embedded in this reserve 51. The sectioning and timing assembly 7 can be placed near or in a partition 5b, in particular at the level of an inspection hatch 52.

The reserve 51 formed in the floor is naturally suitable for the size of the pipes 8, 9 and of the control assembly 6. Since, as this results from the above, the control assembly 6 is the reduced size , like the secondary pipes 8, 9, it is possible to limit the dimensions, in particular transverse, of the reserve 51. For example, it is possible to provide a reserve 51 having, at the location of the secondary pipes 8, 9 a width of around 3cm. Also, in line with the control assembly 6, the reserve 31 may have a depth of the order of 3 cm.

Finally, the invention relates to a method for mounting such a timed tap 1 for such an installation. In this process, the reserve 51 is housed in the floor 5a, over the necessary length as a function of the location to be given to the control assembly 6, it being specified that the reserve 51 may be of limited transverse size, as mentioned above, the sectioning and timing assembly 7 is associated with a main pipe 2, the secondary pipes 8, 9 are placed in the reserve 51, the control assembly 6 is embedded in said reserve 51, and is connected to each other the two control 6 and sectioning and timing 7 sets with the secondary pipes 8, 9.

Preferably, the secondary pipes 8, 9 are, initially, rigidly associated with one of the assemblies 6, 7, for example with the control assembly 6. In this case, a sufficient length of secondary pipes 8, 9 is provided. to allow in all or in most cases to connect the control assembly 6 to the sectioning and timing assembly 7.

Claims (13)

1) control assembly forming part of a timed tap (1) intended to be associated with a main pipe (2) of liquid from a liquid distribution installation, control assembly (6) comprising firstly a rigid body (10), secondly a movable valve (11) mounted in the body (10), capable of establishing or cutting the communication for the liquid between a supply (12) and an outlet (13) of the liquid, normally in position closed and, thirdly, an operating member (14) of the valve (11), characterized in that the control assembly (6) forms, by itself, a unitary structural whole, in particular structurally distinct from 'a sectioning and timing assembly - (7) also forming part of said timed tap (1). 2) control assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the operating member (14) is a flexible membrane, of generally planar shape, fixed to a protection plate (15) with central hole (16), it - even rigidly and removably attached by screws (17) to a flange (18) of the body (10), the membrane (14) being in line with the central hole (16) and making it possible to act on the valve (11). 3) control assembly according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the fixing screws (17) of the protective plate (15), therefore of the membrane (14), to the body (10) , in particular to its flange (18), as well as the corresponding passage holes (17a) formed in the protection plate (15) are located near the central hole (16) of the protection plate (15) and in line with the membrane (14), in particular in the immediate vicinity of its external peripheral edge (19), which has the effect that the screws (17) are hidden and protected by the membrane (14). 4) control assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the supply (12) and the outlet (13) of liquid are of different diameters so as to ensure the safety of the mounting direction of the control unit. 5) Sectioning and timing assembly forming part of a timed tap (1) intended to be associated with a main liquid line (2) of a liquid distribution installation, sectioning and timing assembly (7) comprising firstly a rigid body (27), secondly a movable valve (28) mounted in the body (27), capable of establishing or cutting communication for the liquid between a supply (30) and an outlet (31) liquid, normally in the closed cut-off position, thirdly, a spring (32) biasing the valve (28) in the closed cut-off position and, fourthly, two chambers (33, 34) for the time delay located on the other of the valve (28) connected by a calibrated passage (35), characterized in that the sectioning and timing assembly (7) forms, by itself, a unitary structural whole, in particular structurally distinct from a control assembly (6) also forming part of said timed tap. 6) sectioning and timing assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that it comprises, in addition to a supply and an outlet of the liquid (30, 31), two connections for supply and outlet of the liquid (38, 39 ) in communication with the two chambers for timing (33, 34). 7) Timed tap intended to be associated with a main pipe (2) of liquid from a liquid installation, characterized in that it comprises a control assembly (6) according to any one of claims 1 to 4 and a sectioning and timing assembly (7) according to any one of claims 5 and 6, these two assemblies (6, 7) being structurally distinct and spaced from one another, connected to each other by two secondary pipes (8, 9) associated on the one hand with the supply and the output (12, 13) of the control assembly (6) and, on the other hand with the two supply and output connections (38, 39) of the sectioning and timing assembly (7), which has the primary effect of limiting the size of the control assembly (6) and consequently facilitating the mounting of the timed valve (1 ). 8) Liquid distribution installation comprising at least one main pipe (2), at least one liquid distribution device (4) such as sink, shower, toilet or other, at least one timed tap (1), each associated with a main pipe (2), carried by construction elements in particular floor (5a), vertical partition (5b) or other of a construction, characterized in that the timed tap and according to claim 7. 9) Installation according to claim S, characterized in that the two secondary pipes (8, 9) are housed in a reserve (51) formed in a floor (5a). 10) Installation according to any one of claims 8 and 9, characterized in that the control assembly (6) is embedded in the reserve (51). 11) Installation according to any one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the sectioning and timing assembly (7) is placed near or in a partition (5b), in particular at the level of a hatch visit (52). 12) Installation according to any one of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that it comprises a reserve (51) in a floor (5a), for the housing of the secondary pipes (8, 9) and the embedding of the control assembly (6) to a depth of around-3cm maximum, and / or a width of around 3cm. 13) A method of mounting a timed tap intended to be associated with a main pipe (2) of liquid from a liquid distribution installation according to any one of claims 8 to 12, characterized in that one cleaning a reserve (51) in a floor (5a) and that the sectioning and timing assembly (7) is associated with a main pipe (2), the controls (6) are placed in the reserve in said reserve (51), the two control (6) and sectioning and timing (7) assemblies are connected to one another, with the secondary pipes (8, 9).