GB2081841A

GB2081841A - Mixing tap assembly with shower facility

Info

Publication number: GB2081841A
Application number: GB8026042A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: RUBINETTERIE GIUSTINA SpA
Current assignee: RUBINETTERIE GIUSTINA SpA
Priority date: 1980-08-09
Filing date: 1980-08-09
Publication date: 1982-02-24
Also published as: GB2081841B

Abstract

A mixing tap assembly with shower facility has a mixing chamber (kA) communicating with an auxiliary chamber (CA) which opens to a bath outlet and a tubular valve member having a through passage communicating at one end with a shower outlet and opening at the other end through an enlarged frusto conical end portion (EP) is displaceable between a first position, against a spring, blocking the bath outlet and a second position, shown, in which the shower outlet is blocked. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Mixing tap assembly with shower facility This invention relates to mixing tap assemblies with a shower facility.

Mixing tap assemblies with a shower facility are known in which the water from manually controlled hot and cold taps is admitted to a mixing chamber which communicates with a common outlet or with a shower outlet.

Some known embodiments provide a stationary attachment for the shower and a control knob axially located to this attachment for manual operation, whereby as soon as the knob is moved to an "upper" position, the water pressure automatically maintains the knob in such upper position and automatically feeds the shower. As soon as the water pressure fails namely the hot water and/or the cold water cock plug are manually closed, the knob automatically returns to a position wherein the shower feed is interrupted, whereby water sprays are prevented if the hot and/or cold water cocks are manually opened. In the "automatic return" assemblies of the above recited kind constructional difficulties may not be avoided as it is necessary to provide the attachment for the shower and the attachment for the knob.

According to the present invention there is provided a mixing tap assembly with a shower facility comprising a mixing chamber communicating with manually controlled inlets for hot and cold water and with an auxiliary chamber communicating with a common outlet, and tubular valve member having a through passage communicating at one end with a shower outlet and opening at the other end through an enlarged frusto conical end portion, the valve member being displaceable against the effect of spring means to a first position in which the frusto-conical end portion interrupts communication between the mixing chamber and the auxiliary chamber two place the mixing chamber in communication with the shower outlet, the valve member being maintained in the first position by a balance between the water pressure in the mixing chamber and the effect of the spring means and the valve member being displaceable to a second position in which the frusto-conical end portion sealingly engages a wall portion of the mixing chamber under the influence of water pressure in the mixing chamber whereby the mixing chamber is isolated from the shower outlet and is in communication with the auxiliary chamber.

Preferably, the mixing chamber and the auxiliary chamber are formed in a housing to which a cup-shaped member is secured with the tubular member extending into the housing through the cup-shaped member for axial displacement, the spring means being disposed between the cupshaped member and an annular shoulder on the tubular member.

One embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is an elevational sectional view of a mixing tap assembly with a shower facility for a bath tub according to this invention shown in the shut-off position of the shower facility; Figure 2 shows a shower head displaceably carried on a support arm; Figure 3 is a sectional view of part of the assembly of Figure 1 with the shower facility in operation; and Figure 4 is an under plan to a larger scale of a tubular valve member incorporated in the assembly and as seen in the direction of the arrow FK of Figure 3.

The mixing tap assembly with shower facility of this example comprises a body or housing CR which is moulded by casting from a metal alloy and which defines a mixing chamber KA to which hot and cold water can be admitted through inlets manually controlled by taps RU and ru which respectively cooperate with valve seats SS-ss, respectively.

EM and em, respectively designate the hot and cold inlet pipes, and ES and es, respectively designate the packings cooperating with the valve seats SS-ss to control the flow of the hot or cold water.

An auxiliary chamber CA is cast within the body CR and communicates with a common outlet (not shown) for cold, hot or mixed water as the case may be. The auxiliary chamber CA communicates with the mixing chamber KA through an opening FO formed in a separating wall between the chambers and providing an annular valve seat.

An operating memberDEis provided and comprises a tubular valve member TUscrewed at one end EXto a control knob RR and formed at its other or inner end with an enlarged frusto-conical portion EP having a sealing O-ring OR, arranged to cooperate with an annular valve seat BHformed as a blind hole in a removable screw cap or plug CO which is threadedly engaged in the body CR and sealed by an O-ring OR!.

The annular valve seats FO and BH are axially aligned with each other and with the tubular member TUwhich latter has a passage TU' extending therethrough. In a first or upper position, as shown in Figure 3, the frusto-conical portion EP of the tubular valve member TUsealingly engages the annular valve seat FO to interrupt communication between the mixing chamber KA and the auxiliary chamber CA whilst opening the passage TU' to the mixing chamber KA. In a second or lower position, as shown in Figure 1, the frusto-conical portion EP sealingly engages the annular valve seat BHto isolate the passage TU' from the mixing chamber KA and to place the latter in communication with the auxiliary chamber CA.

The knob RR serves as a connection to a union RA for a flexible pipe FL connected to the shower head DO.

In order to facilitate the threaded engagement of the tubular member TUwith the know RR, the lower end of the passage TU' through tubular member TU, i.e., within the frusto-conical portion EP is formed of polygonal cross-section, in this example, hexagonal, for engagement by a suitable tool when the screw cap CO is removed. This can be seen at EE in Figure 4.

The tubular valve member TU extends through the base of an inverted substantially cup-shaped mem ber BUthe open end of which is externally threaded and threadedly engages the body CA with the interposition of a sealing O-ring ORIv. Intermediate its length, the tubular member TU is formed with an enlargement which provides an annular shoulder SP which slides within the cup-shaped member BU, an O-ring OR! ! being provided to ensure a seal. A return spring ML surrounds the tubular member TU between the shoulder SP and the base of the member BUand operates to bias the tubular member in the direction of the arrow FB towards the second position shown in Figure 1.

The area of the surface of the lower end of the tubular member TU is of a predetermined magnitude which is selected in relation to the strength of the spring ML to ensure that the tubular valve member TU is maintained in the first position as shown in Figure 3 by the influence of a predetermined minimum water pressure in the mixing chamber KA against the effect of the return spring ML.

In the normal condition of the mixing tap assem biy described, i.e., with the taps RU and ru switched off, the tubular valve member TU assumes the second position which is shown in Figure 1. In this position, the auxiliary chamber CA is in communication with the mixing chamber KA and the latter is isolated from the passage TU'. When either one or both of the taps RU and ru is switched on, water under pressure is admitted to the mixing chamber KA and flows through the annular valve FO to the auxiliary chamber CA and through the common outlet (not shown) to a bath or the like.The passage TU' is isolated from the mixing chamber KA by engagement of the frusto-conical end EP in the annular valve seat BH under the influence of the spring ML and water pressure acting in the direction of arrow FB on the frusto-conical end EP so that no water is delivered to the shower head DO.If it is required to use the shower, one or both the taps RU and ru is switched on to admit water under pressure to the mixing chamber KA and the tubular member TU is manually displaced axially upwards by means of the knob RR to bring the frusto-conical end EP into sealing engagement with the annular valve seat FO thereby isolating the auxiliary chamber and the common outlet from the mixing chamber KA and placing the passage TU' and hence the shower head DO in communication with the mixing chamber KA so that water is delivered under pressure to the shower head DO. The water pressure in the mixing chamber KA (usually of the order of 0.5 Atm.) acting on the surface SU at the lower end of the tubular member TU overcomes the effect of the return spring ML and maintains the tubular member TU in this position. As can be more clearly seen in Figure 1, the valve seat FO has a frusto-conical configuration which limits travel of the frusto-conical end portion EP in the upward direction and enhances the seal.

When the tap or taps is or are turned off, the water pressure in the mixing chamber KA drops and the tubular member TUreturns automatically under the influence of the spring ML to the position shown in Figure 1 and will remain in this position until the knob RR is manually operated thereby eliminating the possibility of water accidentally spraying from the shower head DO if one or both of the taps is turned on.

Claims

1. A mixing tap assembly with a shower facility comprising a mixing chamber communicating with manually controlled inlets for hot and cold water and with an auxiliary chamber communicating with a common outlet, and tubular valve member having a through passage communicating at one end with a shower outlet and opening at the other end through an enlarged frusto conical end portion, the valve member being displaceable against the effect of spring means to a first position in which the frusto-conical end portion interrupts communication.

between the mixing chamber and the auxiliary chamber to place the mixing chamber in communication with the shower outlet, the valve member being maintained in the first position by a balance between the water pressure in the mixing chamber and the effect of the spring means and the valve member being displaceable to a second position in which the frusto-conical end portion sealingly engages a wall portion of the mixing chamber under the influence of water pressure in the mixing chamber whereby the mixing chamber is isolated from the shower outlet and is in communication with the auxiliary chamber.

2. An assembly according to Claim 1 in which the mixing chamber and the auxiliary chamber are formed in a housing to which a cup-shaped member is secured with the tubular member extending into the housing through the cup-shaped member for axial displacement, the spring means being dis posed between the cup-shaped member and an annular shoulder on the tubular member.

3. An assembly according to Claim 1 or 2 in which the auxiliary chamber communicates with the mixing chamber through a first annular valve seat formed on a separating wall between the mixing chamber and the auxiliary chamber and engageable by the frusto-conical end portion in said first position, the first annular valve seat being axially aligned with a second annular valve seat formed in the wall portion and engageable by the frusto-conical end portion in said second position.

4. An assembly according to Claim 3 in which the wall portion in which the second annular valve seat is formed is provided by a removable screw cap or plug threadedly engaged in a housing containing the mixing chamber.

5. An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims in which the said other end of the through passage is of polygonal cross-section to facilitate threadedly connecting the end of the tubular member remote from the frusto-conical end portion to a manually engageable knob member.

6. A mixing tap assembly with a shower facility constructed, arranged and adapted to operate sub stantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.