GB2065468A

GB2065468A - Adjustable plumbing connections

Info

Publication number: GB2065468A
Application number: GB8039063A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Pegler Ltd
Current assignee: Pegler Ltd
Priority date: 1979-12-17
Filing date: 1980-12-05
Publication date: 1981-07-01
Also published as: GB2065468B

Abstract

A three-hole water fitting for a basin or bath fitting comprise a pair of sidecocks (10, 12) connected to a centrebody (14) by means of a pair of connection assemblies. In order that the fitting can be installed quickly and easily, the pair of connection assemblies are each constituted by a connecting pipe (34) and a member (40) with a part-spherical head portion (24) at one end giving a swivelable connection into the centrebody, the pipe (34) having at its other end a telescopic connection (28), (30), (32) into the sidecock concerned. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Adjustable plumbing connections The invention relates to adjustable plumbing connections.

It is a particular problem in connection with the fitment of so-called three-hole water fittings to bidets and other three-hole basins and to baths that the positioning and spacing of the three holes in such basins and baths has not yet been completely standardised. Consequently, some means have to be provided whereby the distance and outlet angles between the sidecocks and the centrebody can be adjusted at the time of fitting. At the present time it is customary to establish the required connections between the sidecocks and centrebody by means of flexible hose made of rubber or of a synthetic plastics material. However, this is not entirely satisfactory for the following reasons:- 1. The flexible hose has to be cut to length by the person carrying out the installation.

2. Watertight connections are difficult to achieve, especially when access to the fitments is limited, and this is frequently the case, 3. Such connections are subject to deterioration after long periods of service, and in these circumstances, where leakages may be very small to start with, the fault may go undetected for a considerable time before remedial work is carried out, by which time extensive damage may have been caused both to house structure and decorations.

It is the object of the invention to provide an adjustable plumbing connection by means of which these difficulties will be at least alleviated.

According to the invention, there is provided a three-hole water fitting for a bidet or other three-hole basin or bath, the fitting comprising a pair of sidecocks each connected to a centrebody, connection assemblies between the sidecocks and centrebody being constituted by respective swivelable connections into the centrebody and respective telescopic connections into or with respect to the sidecocks. Each connection assembly may be constituted by a connecting pipe formed integrally at one end with a part-spherical head portion for making the swivelable connection at the centrebody, the other end of the connecting pipe being a sliding fit through a gland of the respective sidecock.Alternatively, each connection assembly may be constituted bya connecting pipe extending slidably and in fluidtight manner through a part-spherical element for making the swivelable connection, and in this case the other end of the connecting pipe could either by a sliding fit through a gland of the respective sidecock or could be rigidly connected thereto, for example by means of a compression type fitting.

In order that the invention may be fully understood and readily carried into effect, the same will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which Fig. lisa part-spherical front view through a three-hole water fitting embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 in Fig. 1, and Figs. 3,4,5 and 6 are views which will presently be referred to when describing possible modifications.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the three-hole water fitting there illustrated is for a bidet and inciudes a pair of sidecocks generaily indicated 10 and 12 for controlling the flow of hot and cold water respectively, and a centrebody generally indicated 14 to which the sidecocks are connected one on each side. However, as shown in plan view in Fig.

2, the three components are in this particular case not located in a single plane but are located according to the positioning of the three holes in the bidet in which the fitting is to be used (and as mentioned earlier neither the centre distances nor the offset relationship of the three holes in bidets and other three-hole basins and baths is standardised). Spigot connections 16 which are formed integrally with the valve housing 18 of the centrebody are located in a single plane and are located in a plane substantially parallel to but offset from a plane which contains the sidecocks. Each sidecock, being provided with only a single spigot connection 20, can of course be positioned so that the spigot connection extends towards the respective spigot connection of the centrebody.

Respective connection assemblies by means of which the sidecocks and centrebody are hydraulically connected are both the same but only one of these is shown in section in Fig. As shown, this is constituted by an assembly including a connecting pipe 34 and an element 40 with a part-spherical head 24, one end ofthe connecting pipe being connected into the respective sidecock by soldering. The partspherical head of the element 40 on the other hand is held against a resilient sealing insert 25 within the mouth of the spigot connection 16 by an annular nut 26 so that it forms a swivelable connection into the centrebody.The other end of the connecting pipe 34 is a sliding fit through a gland constituted by an O-ring 28 encircling the connecting pipe, a washer 30 and an annular nut 32 engaging a screwthreaded portion of a sleeve-like extension of the element 40.

It will be understood that this constitutes a telescopic connection with respect to the sidecock.

It will be understood that when the water fitting is being installed, the sidecocks will be only loosely located in their holes until the hydraulic connections have been established. The annular nuts 26 and 32 will only be fully tightened when the complete assembly has been set up loosely with the three main elements located at the required spacing and offset relationship determined by the holes in the bidet or other three-hole basin. It has been found that the assembly can be completed in a very short space of time, that is to say very much quicker than by the use of flexible hose. It will also be understood that the arrangement is such that a watertight connection can easily be achieved and that a connection such as this can be expected to last indefinitely, that is to say for the full life of the water fitting.

Referring now to Fig. 3, in a possible modification of the connection assembly described above the assembly is constituted by a connecting pipe 22 formed at one end with a part-spherical head portion 24, the latter being held against the resilient sealing insert 25 within the mouth of the spigot connection 16 by the annular nut 26 so that it forms the swivel able connection into the centrebody. The other end of the connecting pipe 22 is in this case a sliding fit through a gland in the spigot connection 20 of the respective sidecock, the gland again being constituted by a resilient O-ring 28 encircling the connect ing pipe, a washer 30 and an annular nut 32, the latter in this case engaging a screwthreaded portion of the spigot connection 20.

Referring now to Fig. 4 of the drawings, in a possible further modification of the arrangement lust described, the assembly is constituted by a connecting pipe 34 extending slidablythrough a partspherical element 36, the bore through the latter having an annular groove in which is accommodated an O-ring so that the connecting pipe can extend through the element 36 in a fluid-tight manner. In other respects this modified arrangement provides a swivelable connection as in the arrangement iltus trated in Fig 2.However, since in this case there is a telescopic facility between the connecting pipe and the part-spherical element, it will be understood that the other end of the connecting pipe may either be a sliding fit through a gland of the respective sidecock, as illustrated in Fig. 3, or could be rigidly connected thereto, for example by means of a compression type fitting or by soldering as in the arrangement of Fig. 1.

Referring now to Fig. 5, in an arrangement very similar two that illustrated in Fig. 1, the connecting pipe is shown to be slidable relative to the partspherical element 40 but in this case the latter is provided with a sleeve-like extension in a groove in which the O-ring 38 is accommodated. (In this view it will be seen that an alternative method has been adopted for establishing a fluid-tight seal between the part-spherical portion ofthe swivelable connection and the spigot connection in which it is located, this being the fitment of an O-ring 42 in a shallow depression in the spigot. Such an alternative method of establishing a seal at the part-spherical surface could of course be adopted with any ofthe connection assemblies illustrated).

The connecting pipes 34 in the arrangements illustrated in Figs. 1 and 5 can of course be connected into the respective sidecocks in various ways, for example by soldering or by the use of an adhesive or by screwthreaded connections.

Various other modifications may be made. For example, since a swivelable connection is required onlyforthe initial installation and will not be subject to constant wear, it is quite possible that the element 40 in the constructions of Figs. 1 and 5, the partspherical element 36 in the construction of Fig. 4, and the connecting pipe 22 and integral partspherical element 24 in the construction of Fig. 3 could be of moulded plastics construction, in which case of course the resilient sealing insert 25 or O-ring 42 as the case may be would not be required. It will of course be understood that there may be cases where the three holes in the bidet or other three-hole basin or bath are located in a common plane. A fitting embodying the invention is capable of being installed very quickly and easily to a wide range of three-hole basins and baths whether or not the three holes are in line and whatevertheir spacing.

Claims

1. Athree-hole waterfitting for a bidet or other three-hole basin or bath, the fitting comprising a pair of sidecocks each connected to a centrebody, con nectiOn assemblies between the sidecocks and centrebody being constituted by respective swivelable connections into the centrebody and respective telescopic connections into or with respect to the sidecocks

2. A three-hole water fitting according to claim 1, in which each connection assembly is constituted by a connecting pipe formed integrally at one end with, a part-spherical head portion for making the swivelable connection at the centrebody, the other end of the connecting pipe being a sliding fit through a gland of the respective sidecock.

3. Athree-hole water fitting according to claim 1, in which each connection assembly is constituted by a connecting pipe fixed to the side cock and extending slidablyand in fluid-tight mannerthrough a part-spherical element for making the swivelable connection into the centrebody.

4. Athree-hole water fitting according to claim 3, in which the other end of the connecting pipe of each connection assembly, that is to say an end remote from the part-spherical element, is a sliding fit through a gland of the respective sidecock.

5. A three-hole water fitting according to claim 3, in which the other end of the connecting pipe of each connection assembly, that is to say an end remote from the part-spherical element, is rigidly connected to the respective sidecock, for example by means of a compression type fitting.

6. Athree-hole waterfitting constructed, arranged and adapted to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.