FR3067088B1 - 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 arranged 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 one-piece body valve and internal insert for water distribution and a method of production. It has applications in the field of water distribution and plumbing or faucets.

Technological background

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

In these faucets, many use a sphere to control the passage of water, the seal being achieved by two substantially flexible seats that are compressed against the sphere.

To achieve this compression, a chamber is usually used in a valve body in which the sphere is housed between its two seats and the compression is applied by an assembly nipple reported, screwed from the outside or inside, on the valve body to obtain the seal. Generally, the assembly nipple is locked to maintain it in position. It is also necessary to ensure its tightness with the valve body. Glue can be used to provide these two functions, but some embodiments use a pin for mechanical locking and a seal to seal.

The bonding creates a zone of fragility of the valve which is solicited during the operations of assembly by screwing on the network, but also by bending stresses, in particular in case of misalignment of the pipes. The use of such an assembly nipple also has an aesthetic and congestion disadvantage, in fact the inner part of the nipple and the body must be at least as big as the size of the sphere and this often creates an outgrowth on the nipple. this part of the cock. The object of the invention avoids the use of an assembly nipple, eliminating at the same time its installation phase, clamping and locking. In addition, because the valve body is made integral, that is to say made in one piece, the sealing of the valve body is ensured.

Object of the invention

It is implemented an inner insert around which the body is overmoulded so as to be monobloc.

Thus, the invention relates to a valve for water distribution comprising: - a hollow tubular valve body and forming an internal water circulation channel with a first connecting end and a second connecting end, - a sphere dam having a passage opening passing right through the sphere, the sphere being disposed in the internal channel, between two sealing seats, - a maneuvering member of the sphere allowing, by rotation of the sphere, the setting in continuity from the first end to the second end of the body through the passage opening of the sphere in the open position of the valve and restoration of a sealing dam between the first end and the second end of the body in the position of closing the tap.

According to the invention, the sphere, the two seats and at least a 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 overmoulded around the insert.

In various embodiments of the invention, the following means can be used alone or in any technically possible combination, are employed: - the valve body is axially elongated, the first connecting end is opposite the second end; connection, - the valve body is straight and the opening of passage is linear, according to a diameter of the sphere, - the valve is at 90 ° and the opening of passage is in L, according to two perpendicular radii of the sphere between them, the valve body is straight and further comprises a third connection end, additional 90 ° of the two first and the sphere has a T-shaped opening, the valve is an intermediate shut-off valve, - the valve is a terminal valve, at least one of the connection ends is an outlet in the open air, - at least one of the connection ends is threaded, - the cage is external and contains internally: 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 axis, the control shaft engaging the sphere in order to drive it in rotation, - an upper end of the control shaft, high end opposite to the low end on the sphere side, is accessible by a opening of the cage, the cage consists of two contiguous hollow half-shells enclosing, in the lower part, the two seats and the sphere, and in the upper part, the control shaft and said at least one gasket. sealing of the control shaft, the sphere and at least a part of the operating member in contact with the sphere form a monobloc element, in the one-piece element consisting of the sphere and the part of the operating organ, said part of the body of maneuver is the control axis of the operating member, - in the one-piece element consisting of the sphere and the part of the operating member, said part of the operating member is the whole of the member maneuvering device, - the assembly of the two hollow half-shells contiguous to an outer pear shape with a substantially spherical shape in the lower part and a substantially cylindrical shape in the upper part, - the cage is constituted in the lower part of two half-shells concave hollow and in the upper part of a tubular ring, the tubular ring being hollow, one piece and being attached to an upper zone of the two half-shells contiguous, the two half-shells contiguous enclosing the two seats and the sphere, and the tubular ring enclosing the control shaft and said at least one seal of the control shaft, the tubular ring corresponds to the upper part of the cage and the assembly of the two hollow half-shells contiguous s corresponds to the lower part of the cage, - the assembly of the two hollow half-shells contiguous to a substantially spherical internal shape and the tubular ring has a substantially cylindrical internal shape, - the assembly of the two hollow half-shells contiguous to a substantially spherical outer shape and the tubular ring has a substantially cylindrical outer shape, - the upper zone of the two half-shells contiguous is side of the operating member, - the two half-shells are complementary to each other, - the two half-shells -coques are globally (to any locking means near) symmetrical to each other, - the two half-shells are generally symmetrical to each other 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 each other with respect to a vertical plane carried by the main axis of the faucet passing through the first and second ends of connection, - the two half-shells and the possible tubular ring are glued and / or welded together, - the two half-shells and the possible tubular ring comprise locking means, in particular by clipping, allowing a joining of the two half-shells contiguous to each other and the possible tubular ring to the two half-shells contiguous, - 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 consisting of two contiguous half-shells and a tubular ring with locking means, the joining of the two contiguous half-shells is obtained by at least two locking means , a first locking means in the upper zone of the two contiguous half-shells and a second locking means in a lower zone of the two half-shells contiguous, the lower zone being o positioned at the upper zone, the first locking means being constituted by a lower part of the tubular ring coming to grip an upper circular shoulder, upwards, of the upper zone of the two adjoining half-shells, the second locking means being constituted by by a ring coming to enclose a lower circular shoulder, downwards, of the lower zone of the two adjoining half-shells, - the upper circular shoulder of the two adjoining half-shells delimits an open passage for the control axis of the actuating member, - the lower circular shoulder of the two adjoining half-shells delimits a lower closed / solid zone of the cage, the lower circular shoulder of the two adjoining half-shells delimits an open lower zone of the cage, valve further comprises an operating head and the valve body and the actuating head comprise complementary stop and stop means for to eliminate a rotational stroke of the operating member between at least the opening and closing positions, - the insert furthermore comprises at least one additional seat for the sphere, said at least one additional seat being in position. low area and / or in a high zone of the lower part of the cage, - the cage is in a second moldable plastic material, - the valve body is in a first moldable plastic material, - the valve body is in a first machinable material, - the valve body is in a first moldable metal material, in particular brass or bronze or cast iron or iron, - the seats have joints, - the seats are seals, - the seats are teflon® or of equivalent material, - the seats are of elastomer or of equivalent material, - the seats are in the same material as the two half-shells, - the seats are one-piece with the two half-shells, that is to say that each seat is integrated with its half-shell and a part with it, - the seats are reported on the two half-shells, - the sphere is metallic, - the sphere is in material moldable plastic, - at least a part of the operating member is metallic, - at least a part of the operating member is made of moldable plastic material, - the first and second moldable plastics are identical, - the first and second mouldable plastics are different, - the second material is moldable, - the second material is machinable, - the plastic material is thermoplastic, - the plastic material is thermosetting, - the seats are molded in each half-shell, - the cage is in a second moldable metal material, in particular of brass or bronze or cast iron or iron, preferably, in the case where the valve body is in a first moldable metal material, the first and second mouldable metallic materials are identical, - the valve body is made of plastic and the cage made of metallic material, - the valve body is made of metallic material and the cage made of metallic material, - the valve body is made of metallic material and the plastic cage, - the valve body is made of plastic and the plastic cage, - the sphere further comprises a channel extending between the surface of the sphere and the passage opening and allowing in an intermediate position an opening controlled reduced flow rate lower than the flow rate of the open position, - in the case of a channel valve with an operating head with complementary means for stopping and abutment between the operating head and the operating body tap, said complementary means to lock, preferably lock, the rotational stroke of the actuating member in the intermediate position. The invention also relates to a method for producing a one-piece body valve.

According to the method, in order to produce the valve of the invention: two hollow half-shells and, optionally, a tubular ring, are molded to form an external cage intended to receive internally two seats, a sphere, a control shaft and at least one a seal of the control spindle, the cage being constituted either of two concave hollow half-shells, or of two concave hollow half-shells and of a tubular ring, - one installs in the two half-shells and the possible tubular ring: the two seats, the sphere, the control shaft and the said at least one seal of the control shaft, - the two half-shells are joined and possibly added possible tubular ring, which internally comprise the two seats, the sphere, the control shaft and said at least one seal of the control shaft in order to assemble and form an insert, and - is overmolded on the insert a valve body.

In one embodiment, a maneuvering head is further installed outside the valve body, on the free end of the control shaft.

Among the advantages of the invention, the valve obtained is unmountable and there is no risk of loosening. In addition, there is no need to seal between a reported nipple and the valve body since no nipple is implemented. As a result, there is no longer a risk of leakage. Finally, the injection molds to be produced for the faucet 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 that can be used with faucet body molds of different shapes. Similarly, the same cage can receive internal elements, including the sphere and its at least two seats or the control axis, partly standardized or not.

Detailed description of an example of realization

The following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, given as non-limiting examples, will make it clear what the invention consists of and how it can be achieved.

In the accompanying drawings: FIG. 1 represents a perspective view in longitudinal vertical section of a valve with a one-piece body overmolded on an inner insert according to the invention; FIG. 2 represents a perspective view of a valve with one-piece body according to the invention with this time an end connection nut, - Figure 3 shows a bottom view of the one-piece valve body of Figure 2, - Figure 4 shows a side view in longitudinal section AA of the valve FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the one-piece body valve of FIG. 2. In general, the overmolded valve of the invention has a valve body made of a material injectable, typically a plastic material, thermoplastic or thermosetting. The various other elements that make up the faucet obtained can be in plastic materials but they can also be in other materials such as bronze, brass ... A subset of the faucet constituting an insert around which is overmolded the body of the faucet. This insert has externally two half-shells can be identical, made of injected plastic material and in which half-shells are mounted internally: the control shaft and its / its seals and the sphere and its seats. These two adjoining half-shells thus form a cage for the elements inside the insert. This insert overmolded by the valve body is sealed by closing the mold during overmolding. The cage can in practice be made in two parts with two half-shells contiguous or three-piece with two half-shells contiguous and a tubular ring reported on the last two contiguous.

The half-shells are preferably configured to ensure direct contact with the mold of the valve body to ensure the compression of the seats necessary to seal the valve when closing the mold of the body.

1, by way of example, a valve 1 simple, straight, with two connecting ends, a first 3 and a second 4. The body 2 of the valve 1 results from overmolding a plastic material in a mold around an insert consisting of an outer cage 6a, 6b, 7 internally, in the lower part 6a, 6b of the cage, a sphere 9 and two seats 8 and, in the upper part of the cage, a control shaft 10 and its seals 12. The cage is constituted in its lower part of two half-shells 6a, 6b concave hollow, 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 shaft 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 contiguous.

The two half-shells 6a, 6b are generally identical to the complementary clipping means close allowing assembly and locking between them once contiguous. In this example, the two half-shells 6a, 6b of the lower part of the cage are contiguous to each other 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, the two half-shells 6a, 6b and the tubular ring 7 in this case, comprise reinforcing ribs and / or pins providing a stronger connection between the material or materials of the cage 6a, 6b, 7 and the material of the body 2 of the valve 1.

In a variant, the cage is in two pieces contiguous 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 protrudes from a control well of the body 2 made during overmolding of the body around the insert and corresponding to the upper part of the body. the cage. The control shaft 10 and the operating head 11 form the operating member.

In FIG. 2, a connecting nut 15 has been installed on the end 4 of the valve 1 and it is held there by means of an annular spring 16 visible in FIGS. 4 and 5. The body of the valve which is overmolded on the insert has on its outer surface relief patterns 18, 19 which may have several functions, including mechanical reinforcement but also grip for a key to maintain the valve in position when screwing on the upstream and / or downstream pipes.

Figure 5 provides a better view of the constituent elements of the exemplified valve and in particular the tubular ring 7 at the upper part of the cage which is a separate element of 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 upstream and downstream corresponding cage. The half-shells 6a, 6b have externally reinforcing edges which also allow a better grip of the molding of the body 2 of the valve on this part of the insert. The control shaft 10 is secured to the control 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 pin 10 and the tubular ring 7 (three-piece cage contiguous and assembled) or the upper part of the cage (two-piece cage contiguous) as the case may be, can be obtained with one or more joints 12. Rotating stops for the operating head 11 are integrated in the valve body, under the operating head. In another variant, the rotational stops of the operating head 11 can be integrated with the tubular ring 7 which is overmolded by the valve body 2 but whose upper end can be left protruding from the body 2. In such a case, the control head does not need to integrate rotational stop. The operating head can be a throttle or an imprint for an operating key. In a particular mode, the throttle valve can also be overmolded on the control shaft during the injection operation for overmolding 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 may be in the same material as that of the cage 6a, 6b, 7, which allows to remove these two parts relative to two seats 8 reported in the cage. The control shaft 10 and the sphere 9 may be formed as a single piece. The cage 6a, 6b, 7 may externally have small spikes of material intended to melt at the time of overmoulding of the body 2 to give greater strength to the valve made. The various 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 adopt various functional forms: threading, tapping , preceded or not by an elbow, threaded ring, collar arranged to receive a rotating nut, etc. The valve may be a 90 ° valve and / or comprise a sphere with a complex passage opening allowing different flow rates determined according to the position of the control head.

Claims (9)

HE ¥ ElMDSQrriQ ^ S 1 R €> bm ^ t: |; 1 |: for: dieFibuSbn of water comprising j - a body {2} of tubular faucet, hollow and forming an internal channel fl4) of water circulation mm a first connection end (3) ei. a second connection end. (4), - a sphere (9) dam having a passage opening (13) passing through the sphere (9), the sphere (9) being disposed in the inner channel (14), between two seats d sealing (8), - an actuator (10, 11) of the sphere (9) allowing, by rotation of the sphere, the continuity of the first end (8) at the second end (4) of the body (2). through the opening φ; passage (13) of the sphere: (9). in opening position of the valve, and recovery: of a: watertight barrier between the. first end (3) and the second end (4) of the body (2) in the closed position of the valve, the sphere (9), the two seats (8) and at least a part of the operating member (10, 11) being arranged at the interior of a cage (6a, 6b, 7) so as to form with this cage an insert (8a, 6b, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12), the body (2) being monobioc and superimposed around finsert (8a, 6b, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12), the cage (6a, 6b, 7) being external and enclosing internally: in a lower part of the cage, the two seats (B) and the sphere (9), and in an upper part: the cage, a control shaft (10) of the operating member and at least one seal (1¾) φ the control shaft (10), command fee (10) coming: engaged on the sphere (9) to be able to reentrate in rotation, the cage (6a, 6b, 7) being constituted in the lower part of two half-shells (6a, 6b) contiguous hollow , characterized in that it: the cage is constituted in the upper part of a tubular ring (7¾ the tubular ring (7): being: hollow, one piece and being attached to an upper zone of: two half-eoc | ues (8a, 6b) contiguous, the two half-shells (6a, 8b) ) enclosing (es; two seats (8) and the sphere (9), and the tubular ring (?) enclosing the controlled axis (10) and said at least one sealing jet (12) of the driven shaft (10), and that the two half-shells (8a, 6b) and the tubular ring (7) comprise locking means, in particular by means of capsizing, allowing the two half-shells (6a: 6b) contiguous with one another to banded fubuiaïre (7) to the two half-shells (6a, 6b) contiguous, 2. Tap (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that l! involves in; in addition to a maneuvering head: (II) and in that the robihét body (2) and the maneuver (11) comprise complementary means: stop: and abutment for delimiting a rotational stroke do j maneuvering orpne between at least the opening and closing positions. 3. Robiîiet (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sphere: {©) and au méinè (10) a portion of the maneuver 11) in contact withiphphéplfo® rnonobioc. 4. Robihei (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the body (2) of the faucet is: in a first plastic material mqulabie:., 5. Valve according to any one of the revendioaiiens: previous, characterized: eh: what cage (6a, 6b, 7) is in a second plastic material moutabié. 6. Tap according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the seats (S) are in one piece with the two half-shells (6a, 6b), 7. Tap according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the joining of the two contiguous half-shells is obtained by at least two locking means, a first locking means in the upper zone of the two half-shells contiguous and a second locking means in a low zone: the two half-shells contiguous, the lower zone being opposite to the upper zone, the first locking means being constituted by a lower part of the tubular ring coming to grip an upper circular spool to the at the top of the upper zone of the two adjoining half-hulls, the second locking means is constituted by a ring coming to enclose a lower cimulai shoulder, downwards, from the lower zone of the two adjoining half-hulls. 8. Faucet according to revendioation 7, characterized in that the lower circular shoulder of the two contiguous half-shells delimited a fefraéé lower zone / plein of the cage. 9. Faucet: according to one qu'cohqué previous claims; characterized in that the Sphere is made of moldable plastic mat, 1.Û, a method for the manufacture of the valve (1) with a non-reversible body of any preceding revision, characterized in that two half-coils (6a, 0b) are formed; ) and a tubular ring (7), to form an outer cage for receiving internally: two seats (δ), a sphere | 9}, a control axis (ΤΟ;) and .moine üh: seal of sealing (12.) of the control shaft (l $}; the cage being constituted by two demimoques (6a, 6b) contiguous hollow and a tubular ring (7 | one installs in the two demt-eques and : the tubular ring (7): the two seats (6), the sphere (9), the control shaft (10) and the at least one seal (12) of the control shaft (: 1¾ the two half-shells (8a .. 6b) are joined and the tubular ring (7) is added thereto, the two half-shells (6a, 6b) internally comprising the two seats (8). axis for controlling (10) and said at least one seal (12) of the control shaft (10) to assemble and form an insert (6a, 6b, 7, 8,% 10,12), overmold on finsert (0a, 6b, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12) the valve body (2).