FR3067088A1 - MONOBLOC BODY VALVE WITH INTERNAL INSERT, PROCESS FOR PRODUCING THE SAME - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a water distribution tap (1) comprising: a hollow tubular tap body (2) and forming an internal channel (14) for circulating water with a first connection end (3) and a second connecting end (4), a sphere (9) having a passage opening (13) passing right through the sphere (9), the sphere (9) being disposed in the internal channel (14), between two sealing seats (8), an actuating member (10, 11) of the sphere (9) allowing, by rotation of the sphere, in the open position of the valve, putting in continuity the first end (3) at the second end (4) of the body (2) through the passage opening (13) of the sphere (9) and, in the closed position of the valve, a sealing dam between the first end (3) and the second end (4) of the body (2). According to the invention, the sphere (9), the two seats (8) and at least a part of the operating member (10, 11) are in an insert (6a, 6b, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12) and the body (2) is integral and is overmolded around the insert (6a, 6b, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12). A production method completes the invention.

Description

Technical field to which the invention relates

The present invention relates to a valve with a one-piece body and an internal insert for water distribution as well as a production method. It has applications in the field of water distribution and plumbing or taps.

TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND

Conventionally, taps or valves are made of different materials, in particular bronze, brass or plastic.

In these taps, many use a sphere to control the passage of water, the seal being provided by two substantially flexible seats which are just pressed against the sphere.

To achieve this compression, one usually uses a chamber in a valve body in which one comes to lodge the sphere between its two seats and the compression is applied by an attached assembly nipple, screwed from the outside or the inside, onto the valve body in order to obtain sealing.

Generally, the assembly nipple is locked to keep it in position. It is also necessary to seal it with the valve body. Glue can be used to ensure these two functions, but certain embodiments use a pin for mechanical locking and a seal to ensure sealing.

The bonding creates a fragile zone of the valve which is stressed during mounting operations by screwing on the network, but also by bending stresses, in particular in the event of misalignment of the pipes.

The use of such an assembly nipple also has an aesthetic and bulky drawback, in fact the inner part of the nipple and of the body must be at least as large as the size of the sphere and this often creates a protuberance on this part of the tap.

The object of the invention makes it possible to avoid the use of an assembly nipple, thereby eliminating its installation, tightening and locking phase. In addition, because the valve body is made in one piece, that is to say made in one piece, the sealing of the valve body is ensured.

Object of the invention

An internal insert is used around which the body is molded so as to be in one piece.

Thus, the invention relates to a tap for water distribution comprising:

- a tubular tap body, hollow and forming an internal water circulation channel with a first connection end and a second connection end,

- a barrier sphere comprising a passage opening passing right through the sphere, the sphere being arranged in the internal channel, between two sealing seats,

- a member for operating the sphere allowing, by rotation of the sphere, the continuity from the first end to the second end of the body via the passage opening of the sphere in the valve opening position and re-establishing a tight barrier between the first end and the second end of the body in the valve closed position.

According to the invention, the sphere, the two seats and at least part of the operating member are arranged inside a cage so as to form with this cage an insert, and the body is in one piece and is molded around the insert.

In various embodiments of the invention, the following means can be used alone or in any technically possible combination, are used:

- the valve body is axially elongated, the first connection end is opposite the second connection end,

- the valve body is straight and the passage opening is linear, according to a diameter of the sphere,

- the tap is at 90 ° and the passage opening is in L, according to two radii of the sphere perpendicular to each other,

the valve body is straight and also has a third, additional connection end at 90 ° to the first two and the sphere has a T-shaped opening,

- the valve is an intermediate stop valve,

- the tap is a terminal tap, at least one of the connection ends is an outlet to the open air,

- at least one of the connection ends is threaded,

- the cage is external and internally contains:

in a lower part of the cage, the two seats and the sphere, and in an upper part of the cage, a control shaft of the operating member and at least one seal of the control shaft, l 'control axis engaging on the sphere in order to be able to drive it in rotation,

- a high end of the control axis, high end opposite to the low end on the sphere side, is accessible by an opening of the cage,

- The cage consists of two adjoining hollow half-shells containing, in the lower part, the two seats and the sphere, and, in the upper part, the control axis and said at least one seal of the control axis,

- the sphere and at least part of the operating member in contact with the sphere form a one-piece element,

- in the one-piece element consisting of the sphere and of the part of the operating member, said part of the operating member is the control axis of the operating member,

- in the monobloc element consisting of the sphere and of the part of the operating member, said part of the operating member is the whole of the operating member,

- the assembly of the two hollow half-shells attached to an external pear shape with a substantially spherical shape at the bottom and a substantially cylindrical shape at the top,

- The cage is made up in the lower part of two joined hollow half-shells and in the upper part of a tubular ring, the tubular ring being hollow, in one piece and being attached to an upper area of the two joined half-shells, the two adjoining half-shells enclosing the two seats and the sphere, and the tubular ring enclosing the control shaft and said at least one seal for the control shaft,

- the tubular ring corresponds to the upper part of the cage and the assembly of the two hollow adjoining half-shells corresponds to the lower part of the cage,

- the assembly of the two hollow half-shells attached to a substantially spherical internal shape and the tubular ring has a substantially cylindrical internal shape,

- the assembly of the two hollow half-shells attached to a substantially spherical external shape and the tubular ring has a substantially cylindrical external shape,

- the upper zone of the two joined half-shells is on the side of the operating member,

- the two half-shells are complementary to each other,

- the two half-shells are generally (apart from any locking means) symmetrical with one another,

- the two half-shells are generally symmetrical with respect to a vertical plane perpendicular to the main axis of the valve passing through the first and second connection ends,

- the two half-shells are generally symmetrical with respect to a vertical plane carried by the main axis of the valve passing through the first and second connection ends,

- the two half-shells and the possible tubular ring are glued and / or welded together,

- the two half-shells and the possible tubular ring include locking means, in particular by clipping, allowing the two demicoques joined together as well as the possible tubular ring to the two joined demicoques,

the locking means are complementary to each other, in particular of the male-female type, between the two half-shells and, optionally, with the tubular ring,

- in the case of a cage made up of two joined half-shells and a tubular ring with locking means, the two joined half-shells are joined together at least two locking means, a first locking means in upper zone of the two joined half-shells and a second locking means in a lower zone of the two joined half-shells, the lower zone being opposite to the upper zone, the first locking means being constituted by a lower part of the tubular ring enclosing an upper circular shoulder, upwards, of the upper zone of the two joined half-shells, the second locking means consisting of a ring enclosing a lower circular shoulder, downwards, of the lower zone of the two half -shells attached,

- the upper circular shoulder of the two adjoining half-shells delimits an open passage for the control axis of the operating member,

- the lower circular shoulder of the two joined half-shells defines a closed / full lower zone of the cage,

- the lower circular shoulder of the two joined half-shells defines an open lower zone of the cage,

- The valve further comprises an operating head and the valve body and the operating head comprise additional stop and stop means making it possible to delimit a rotation stroke of the operating member between at least the positions of opening and closing,

- the insert has internally, in addition, at least one additional seat for the sphere, said at least one additional seat being in the lower region and / or in an upper region of the lower part of the cage,

- the cage is made of a second moldable plastic,

- the valve body is made of a first moldable plastic material,

- the valve body is made of a machinable raw material,

- the valve body is made of a first moldable metallic material, in particular brass or bronze or cast iron or iron,

- the seats have seals,

- the seats are seals,

- the seats are made of Teflon® or an equivalent material,

- the seats are made of elastomer or an equivalent material,

- the seats are made of the same material as the two half-shells,

- the seats are monobloc with the two half-shells, that is to say that each seat is integrated into its half-shell and in one piece with it,

- the seats are attached to the two half-shells,

- the sphere is metallic,

- the sphere is made of moldable plastic,

- at least part of the actuator is metallic,

- at least part of the operating member is made of moldable plastic,

- the first and second moldable plastics are identical,

- the first and second moldable plastics are different,

- the second material is moldable,

- the second material is machinable,

- the plastic is thermoplastic,

- the plastic is thermosetting,

- the seats are molded in each half-shell,

- The cage is in a second moldable metallic material, in particular brass or bronze or cast iron or iron, preferably, in the case where the valve body is in a first moldable metallic material, the first and second moldable metallic materials are the same,

- the valve body is made of plastic and the cage of metallic material,

- the valve body is made of metallic material and the cage of metallic material,

- the valve body is made of metallic material and the cage of plastic material,

- the valve body is made of plastic and the cage of plastic,

- the sphere also comprises an extended canaliculus between the surface of the sphere and the passage opening and allowing, in an intermediate position, an opening with a controlled reduced flow rate of flow lower than the flow rate of the open position,

- in the case of a valve with a canaliculus and an operating head with additional stop and stop means between the operating head and a valve body, said additional means make it possible to block, preferably lock, the rotation stroke of the operating member in the intermediate position.

The invention also relates to a method for producing a valve with a one-piece body.

According to the method, to make the valve of the invention:

- Two hollow half-shells and, possibly a tubular ring, are molded to form an external cage intended to internally receive two seats, a sphere, a control axis and at least one seal for the control axis, the cage consisting either of two adjoining hollow half-shells, or of two adjoining hollow half-shells and of a tubular ring,

- it is installed in the two half-shells and the possible tubular ring: the two seats, the sphere, the control shaft and said at least one seal for the control shaft,

- the two half-shells are joined and, optionally, the possible tubular ring is added thereto, which internally comprise the two seats, the sphere, the control axis and said at least one seal for the axis of order to assemble and form an insert, and

- a valve body is molded onto the insert.

In one embodiment, an operating head is also installed outside the valve body, on the free end of the control shaft.

Among the advantages of the invention, the valve obtained is non-removable and there is no risk of loosening. In addition, there is no need to seal between an attached nipple and the valve body since no nipple is used. As a result, there is no longer any risk of leakage. Finally, the injection molds to be produced for the valve of the invention are less complex and therefore less expensive. In particular, there is no need for an eclipsable core in the mold. Finally, a certain standardization is possible because it is possible to produce a standard insert usable with molds of valve bodies of different shapes. Similarly, the same cage can receive internal elements, in particular the sphere and its at least two seats or the control axis, partly standardized or not.

Detailed description of an exemplary embodiment

The description which follows with reference to the appended drawings, given by way of nonlimiting examples, will make it clear what the invention consists of and how it can be carried out.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 represents a perspective view in longitudinal vertical section of a tap with a one-piece body molded onto an interior insert according to the invention,

FIG. 2 represents a perspective view of a one-piece body valve according to the invention, this time with an end connection nut,

FIG. 3 represents a bottom view of the valve with a one-piece body of FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 represents a side view in longitudinal section A-A of the one-piece body valve of FIG. 2, and

FIG. 5 represents an exploded view of the valve with a one-piece body of FIG. 2.

Generally, the overmolded tap of the invention has a tap body made with an injectable material, typically a plastic, thermoplastic or thermosetting material. The various other elements that make up the valve obtained can themselves be made of plastic materials but they can also be made of other materials such as bronze, brass ... We produce a sub-assembly of the valve constituting an insert around which is overmolded the valve body. This insert has two externally identical half-shells, made of injected plastic and in which half-shells are mounted internally: the control shaft and its / its seals as well as the sphere and its seats. These two adjoining half-shells therefore form a cage for the elements inside the insert. This insert overmolded by the body of the tap is sealed by closing the mold during overmolding. The cage can in practice be made in two pieces with two adjoining half-shells or in three pieces with two adjoining half-shells and a tubular ring attached to these last two joined.

The half-shells are preferably configured to ensure direct contact with the mold of the valve body in order to ensure the compression of the seats necessary for sealing the valve when the body mold is closed.

We will describe in relation to FIG. 1, by way of example, a simple, straight tap 1, with two connection ends, a first 3 and a second 4. The body of the tap 1 results from an overmolding of a plastic material in a mold around an insert consisting of a cage 6a, 6b, 7 outside comprising internally, in the lower part 6a, 6b of the cage, a sphere 9 and two seats 8 as well as, in the upper part of the cage, a control pin 10 and its seals 12. The cage consists in its lower part of two half-shells 6a, 6b hollow contiguous, of generally spherical internal shape to receive the sphere and its seats 8 and, in its upper part, a tubular ring 7 receiving the control pin 10 and its seals 12. The two half-shells 6a, 6b are preferably clipped together and the tubular ring is taken in or clipped on the two half-shells 6a, 6b joined together.

The two half-shells 6a, 6b are generally identical to the complementary clipping means, allowing assembly and locking between them once joined. In this example, the two half-shells 6a, 6b of the lower part of the cage are joined together on a vertical plane perpendicular to the main longitudinal axis of the valve so that each seat 8 is on a half-shell 6a, 6b given.

The outer faces of the cage, of the two half-shells 6a, 6b and of the tubular ring 7 in this case, include reinforcing ribs and / or pins ensuring a stronger connection between the material or materials of the cage 6a, 6b, 7 and the material of the body 2 of the tap 1.

In a variant, the cage is in two joined pieces instead of the three 6a, 6b, 7 described above.

An operating head 11 is fixed to the upper end of the control shaft 10 which is flush with or overflows from a control well of the body 2 produced during the overmolding of the body around the insert and corresponding to the upper part of the cage. The control shaft 10 and the operating head 11 form the operating member.

In FIG. 2, a connection nut 15 has been installed on the end 4 of the valve 1 and is held there by an annular spring 16 visible in FIGS. 4 and

5. The body of the tap which is overmolded on the insert has on its external surface relief patterns 18, 19 which can have several functions including mechanical reinforcement but also for taking a key in order to hold the tap in position during screwing on the upstream and / or downstream pipes.

FIG. 5 allows a better view of the constituent elements of the exemplified tap and in particular the tubular ring 7 at the upper part of the cage which is an element distinct from the half-shells 6a, 6b. In a variant, the upper part of the cage is divided in half into two upstream and downstream parts and each upstream and downstream half of the upper part of the cage is in one piece with the corresponding upstream and downstream cage. The half-shells 6a, 6b externally have reinforcement edges which also allow better grip of the molding of the body of the valve 2 on this part of the insert. The control axis 10 is secured to the operating head by a star washer 17.

The invention can be declined in many other ways. As examples of alternative embodiments, the following may be mentioned. The seal between the control axis 10 and the tubular ring 7 (cage in three joined and assembled pieces) or the upper part of the cage (cage in two joined pieces) as the case may be, can be obtained with one or more seals sealing 12. Rotational stops for the operating head 11 are integrated into the valve body, under the operating head. In another variant, the rotational stops of the operating head 11 can be integrated into the tubular ring 7 which is overmolded by the valve body 2 but the upper end of which can be left projecting from the body 2. In such a case, the operating head does not need to incorporate a rotation stop. The operating head can be an operating butterfly or an imprint for an operating key. In a particular embodiment, the operating butterfly can also be overmolded on the control shaft during the injection operation for overmolding of the valve body 2. The operating head can be locked in the open or closed position by a lock and key system. The seats 8 can be made of the same material as that of the cage 6a, 6b, 7, which makes it possible to remove these two parts with respect to two seats 8 added in the cage. The control axis 10 and the sphere 9 can be produced as a single piece. The cage 6a, 6b, 7 may externally have small pins of material intended to melt at the time of the molding of the body 2 to give greater strength to the tap produced. The different parts forming the cage can be clipped together to facilitate the maintenance of all the elements of the insert before and during the overmolding phase of the body 2. The connection ends of the valve can take various functional forms: threading, tapping , whether or not preceded by an elbow, threaded ring, flange fitted to receive a swivel nut, etc. The tap can be a 90 ° tap and / or have a sphere with a complex passage opening allowing different flow rates determined according to the position of the operating head.

Claims (11)

1. Tap (1) for water distribution comprising: - a body (2) of tubular tap, hollow and forming an internal channel (14) for circulation of water with a first connection end (3) and a second connection end (4), - a sphere (9) dam having a passage opening (13) passing right through the sphere (9), the sphere (9) being arranged in the internal channel (14), between two sealing seats (8) , - an operating member (10, 11) of the sphere (9) allowing, by rotation of the sphere, the continuity of the first end (3) to the second end (4) of the body (2) by the intermediate the passage opening (13) of the sphere (9) in the valve opening position, and the establishment of a tight barrier between the first end (3) and the second end (4) of the body ( 2) in the valve closed position, characterized in that the sphere (9), the two seats (8) and at least part of the operating member (10, 11) are arranged inside a cage (6a, 6b, 7) so as to form with this cage an insert (6a, 6b, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12) and in that the body (2) is in one piece and is overmolded around the insert (6a, 6b, 7, 8, 9,10,12). 2. Tap (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the cage (6a, 6b, 7) is external and contains internally: in a lower part of the cage, the two seats (8) and the sphere (9), and in an upper part of the cage, a control pin (10) of the operating member and at least one gasket sealing (12) of the control shaft (10), the control shaft (10) engaging on the sphere (9) so as to be able to drive it in rotation. 3. Tap (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the cage consists of two half-shells (6a, 6b) hollow contiguous enclosing, in the lower part, the two seats (8) and the sphere (9) , and, in the upper part, the control shaft (10) and said at least one seal (12) of the control shaft (10). 4. Tap (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the cage (6a, 6b, 7) consists in the lower part of two hollow half-shells (6a, 6b) joined together and in the upper part of a tubular ring (7), the tubular ring (7) being hollow, in one piece and being attached to an upper area of the two half-shells (6a, 6b) joined together, the two half-shells (6a, 6b) joined together containing the two seats (8) and the sphere (9), and the tubular ring (7) enclosing the control axis (10) and said at least one seal (12) of the control axis (10). 5. Tap (1) according to claim 3 or claim 4, characterized in that the two half-shells (6a, 6b) and the possible tubular ring (7) comprise locking means, in particular by clipping, allowing a joining of the two half-shells (6a, 6b) joined together as well as of the possible tubular ring (7) to the two half-shells (6a, 6b) joined together. 6. Tap (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises an operating head (11) and in that the valve body (2) and the operating head (11) comprise additional stop and stop means making it possible to delimit a rotation stroke of the operating member between at least the open and closed positions. 7. Tap (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sphere (9) and at least (10) a part of the operating member (10, 11) in contact with the sphere (9 ) form a one-piece element. 8. Tap (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the body (2) of the tap is made of a first moldable plastic. 9. Tap according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cage (6a, 6b, 7) is in a second moldable plastic. 10. Tap according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the seats (8) are in one piece with the two half-shells (6a, 6b). 11. A method of producing a one-piece body valve, characterized in that, to make the valve (1) of any one of the preceding claims, two hollow half-shells (6a, 6b) are molded and, optionally, a ring tubular (7), to form an external cage intended to internally receive two seats (8), a sphere (9), a control pin (10) and at least one seal (12) of the control pin (10), the cage being made up either of two joined hollow half-shells, or of two joined hollow half-shells (6a, 6b) and of a tubular ring (7), one installs in the two half-shells and l '' possible tubular ring (7): the two seats (8), the sphere (9), the control shaft (10) and said at least one seal (12) of the control shaft (10) , the two half-shells (6a, 6b) are joined and, optionally, the possible tubular ring (7) is added thereto, which internally comprise the two seats (8), the sphere (9), the control pin (10) and said at least one seal (12) of the control pin (10) in order to assemble and form an insert (6a, 6b, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12), the valve body (2) is molded onto the insert (6a, 6b, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12).