FR2777623A1 - LEAD-FREE MIXING TAP HEAD, FOOD TYPE - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention concerns a food-type lead free mixing valve head. In contrast with current products, consisting of brass elements turned with lead, the invention concerns a mixing valve head whereof the main components, the body (1) and the shaft (2) are made of materials not containing lead. The body (1) is made of filled and reinforced plastic, the shaft (2) is made of stainless steel, thereby preventing any lead migration into the domestic supply water. In view of the harmful effects of lead on the human organism, this type of tap is useful in all cases where the running water dispensed must satisfy said specific health requirements concerning consumption. Improving features complete the basic invention and are designed to facilitate the assembly of elements constituting the tap head and also to contribute to the reduction of production costs.

Description

-1- The present invention relates to a tap head of the food type

  which allows the flow or stopping of hot or cold sanitary water, without pollution of the water by lead which could be released during its use.5 The heads of current ceramic taps have two main components, the body (1) and the axis (2) which are in

  contact with sanitary water during use. These two metallic components are mainly produced from bars of an alloy made up of copper, zinc and lead. This alloy commonly known as "free-cutting brass" can contain up to '' at 3% lead.

  In current use, from the current faucet head, the lead contained in the two main components can migrate into the water and thereby harm the health of people.These 15 food requirements, first Californians in the USA, become now global and are spreading due to the harmful effects of lead on the human body. The present valve head according to the invention overcomes this question.

  fact that the two main components - the body (1) and the axis (2) do not contain lead.

  materials is made up according to the following particular embodiment. The body (1) is made of food-grade plastic material, associated and loaded with reinforcing fibers. It is produced by an injection process of plastic materials, according to current processing techniques. The axis (2) is made of food-type stainless steel, also produced according to current processing techniques. The drawings (1), (2), (3) illustrate the invention. All other components are food-grade and lead-free. This bi-material component is the result of the adequacy between on the one hand, the food criteria of the two main components and the mechanical requirements on the other hand necessary to be able to ensure a good product life. Tests carried out on the mechanical strength of the components -2- and the water tightness showed that the results are at least equal and superior to those carried out with current products. These results compare with the standards in force compared to 500,000 cycles corresponding to the current lifetime5 of the products. The results obtained are explained by the fact of the improvement of the axial contact and rotation zones, of the friction conditions resulting from the friction components between metallic and plastic products. associated with good mechanical resistance. 10 Independently of the feed character, the following technical improvements have enabled, in addition to the reduction in the number of components, the following characterizations: a monobloc bonded joint (3), a holding device (4 ), a clamping device (5), a central tongue (10), a stiffener (11), a ringed, stepped, double-grooved joint (6), a e enlarged stop (12), increased contact surfaces; axial (15) (16) and radial (18) (19), a controlled clamping device (13). These new tap heads also have a cost of

  returns lower than the heads from machining carried out with free cutting brasses. This is due to the simplifi

  cation of shapes, reduction of the number of components, adaptation of shapes to new manufacturing techniques. The consequence is the simplification of the head assembly operations25 and also the reduction in the weight of the assembly. These new heads are interchangeable with the

  current products, the shapes can be standardized, they adapt to the requirements of automatic assembly machines.30 Drawing n l shows the valve head in section Drawing n 2, the double groove seal (6).

  Drawing n 3, the hex (13) of controlled tightening.

-3-

Claims (11)

  1) To avoid the migration of lead into the water, certain current valve heads, made from free-cutting brass, may have protection on the two main components (2) and the body (1) 5 This type of surface protection: varnish, tinning, nickel plating, can constitute a barrier between water on the one hand and the metal element on the other hand. This protection after wear of the coating can become ineffective and migration lead in the water is still possible.A plentiful rinsing with water10 carried out prior to the surface protection operation, on the two parts which are the body (1) and the axis (2) does not allow guarantee, even after stabilization, that the lead contained no longer migrates into water. The invention is a bi-material device, characterized in that the body (1) is made of a food-type material inside which pivots an axis (2) of different but equal material is lying   of food type. A special ringed, stepped, double groove seal (6) is mounted on the body (1). The other components such as the two seals (7) and the two ceramics (8) and (9) are 20 by classical and known principles.   2) The current tap heads have an attached seal under the head which seals the water after tightening the head on the tap. The device according to claim (1) is characterized in that the body (1) 25 has a seal (3) adhered to the body to form a one-piece assembly. This adhered seal constitutes the seal after the head has been tightened on the valve seat. 3) Current tap heads have a device   mechanical insert called clips or bar. This device is intended to maintain the axis (2) on the body (1).   The device according to claim (1) is characterized in that the body (1) directly comprises an integrated elastic holding device (4) segmented or annular. This device is intended to retain the axis (2) after a simple setting place of the latter in the body (1). The device (4) coming by elastic reaction to be housed in a clearance of -4-   the axis (2) and thus maintain it on the body (1).   tion is accompanied by the removal of the indicated mechanical device, clips or bar. 4) Current valve heads do not have a mechanical seal retaining system (6). This seal (6) escapes from the assembly once assembly has been completed. Device according to claim (1) characterized in that the body (1) comprises a segmented clamping system (5) intended to hold the seal (6) in place on the body (1). When the seal is put in place (6), the elastic segmented pinching system (5) moves apart thanks to the end chamfer which allows the fitting of the seal (6) and by closing no longer allows the seal (6) to escape. 5) The current valve heads include, for some, a retaining tab which keeps the low ceramic in rotation (8) The rotary is kept by the lower part of the ceramic. Device according to claim (1) characterized in that the middle tongue (10) is located as close as possible to the plane of friction of the two ceramics. As a result, the middle tongue (10) reduces the stress concentrations on the two ceramics (8) (9) and the tilting torque. 6) The current valve heads have two lateral water passages. The device according to claim (1) characterized in that the body (1) comprises a central stiffener (11). This reinforcement contributes to the improvement of the holding.   mechanical end of the body (1) but also to reduce the noise of the valve head. In operation, the water jet is split in two and on each side of the stiffener.30 This arrangement reduces the "blow" effect of ram ".   7) Current tap heads have a retaining gasket which ensures water tightness when mounting   the head on the seat and maintaining contact between the two ceramics (8) and (9). Possible deviations in dimensions between the valve head and the seat can cause water leaks. Device according to claims (1) (4) (5) characterized   in that the corrugated food seal (6) according to the drawing (2) comprises a flexible silicone part (20) with double groove (22) -5- and (23), glued and adhered to a metal ring (21) stepped and drilled with eight holding holes. The groove (22) maintains in contact at constant pressure the ceramics (8) and (9). The groove (23) will allow during mounting of the head to allow sufficient deformation to ensure a good sealing   with the valve seat. These two grooves (22) and (23) quali-   of reagents are tilted at an alfa angle of 150.   This system makes it possible to compensate for deviations in dimensions during assembly. Maintaining and centering the seal (6) is achieved by the reaction to the deformation of the groove (22) on the shoulder of the metal ring (21 ), when in contact with the right part of the clamping device (5). 8) The current valve heads have technically delicate metal stops on the body and on the axis, and mainly on the body (1). These stops of small sections are subjected to impact stresses each time the tap is opened and closed. The device according to claim (1) is characterized in that the design of the body (1) makes it possible to produce an enlarged stop (12) 5.3 mm in width. This stop is also widened on the axis (2) to 5 Wear and the phenomenon of   "matting" are thus considerably reduced.   9) The current valve heads have on the axis and for some, a wear part on the diameter (16).   The device and according to claims (1) and (8) is characterized in that five positive and "adjusted" contact points,   three points (15), the contact point (16) and the point (24), help reduce the tilting torque and therefore reduce the force (14). The consequences are improved guidance, the reduction of wear at the contact points (15), (16), (24) but also better wear resistance of the seals (7).   improvement is accompanied by the elimination of the wear part indicated. Friction being directly ensured by the contact of the metal pin (2) on the plastic of the body (1) 35 10) Current tap heads have a "friction / wear" washer on the diameter (18) to compensate   ser the significant axial force (17) caused by the reaction of the seal (6) on the mechanism. -6-   According to claims (1), (7), (9) the device is characterized   erected in that the axial force (17) is transferred to two supports (18) and (19). This improvement is accompanied by the elimination of the friction washer indicated. The friction is thus distributed over a larger surface. is also directly ensured by the contact of the metal pin (2) on the plastic of the body (1). 11) Current tap heads have on the body a hexagon intended for the passage of a key to perform   tightening the head on the tap. According to all of the claims and the drawing (3), the   device is characterized in that the hexagon (13) intended for the passage of the key for tightening, has a residual width of the dishes at 6 mm. This arrangement allows controlled tightening of the head on the body of the tap to escape from the hexagon (13) after torque tightening. The width of the plate (25) to six millimeters corresponds to a reduction   30% on the total width of this plate. The six notches (26) allow the key to escape after tightening carried out on a hexagon of seventeen millimeters.