GB2097702A

GB2097702A - Cleaning device for water tap valve seating

Info

Publication number: GB2097702A
Application number: GB8113838A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1981-05-06
Filing date: 1981-05-06
Publication date: 1982-11-10
Also published as: GB2097702B

Abstract

A device for cleaning deposits from manually operable water tap valve seatings comprises an abrading or cutting head (3) carried by a spindle (2) which is rotatably received in a housing (5,6) adapted to be fixedly secured to the water tap body. The spindle usually is movable axially with respect to the housing and has an operating knob (1). Preferably the housing comprises a connecting cone (6) which is both externally and internally threaded for use with internally and externally threaded water tap bodies. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Faucet seating cleaning device The present invention relates to the cleaning of the seatings of faucets and provides a device for this purpose.

The term "faucet" as used in this Specification means a manually operable water tap in which a stem carrying a plunger is moved axially to lift and lower the plunger off and to a seating to regulate the flow of water through the tap. After prolonged use, the faucet seating becomes encrusted with calcium and other deposits which impede closure of the seating by the plunger. As far as the Applicant is aware there are no devices available for cleaning the deposits from the seating. Instead, the faucet is replaced and a damaged faucet thrown away.

The object of the present invention is to provide a simple and effect device for the cleaning of deposits from faucet seatings.

According to the present invention, there is provided a device for cleaning the seating of a faucet (as hereinbefore defined), said device comprising a housing adapted to be fixedly secured to the body of the faucet; a spindle rotatable received in said housing; and an abrading or cutting head carried by the spindle for rotation therewith to clean the seating, the arrangement being such that the housing can be secured to the body of the faucet with the spindle extending through the plunger-receiving orifice thereof to engage the abrading or cutting head with the seating.

Preferably, the housing is externally threaded for engaging an internal thread of the faucet body.

Additionally or alternatively, the housing can be internally threaded for engaging an external thread of the faucet body. Preferably the housing comprises a connecting cone which is both externally and internally threaded for screwing into or onto an internal or external thread respectively of the faucet body. This connecting cone enables the same device to be used with internally and with externally threaded faucets. It will be appreciated that the cone is inverted for connection to an externally threaded faucet compared with its condition for use with an internally threaded faucet. It is especially preferred that both the internal and external threads of the connecting cone are universal threads engaging at least for one half turn different standard faucet threads.

In order to provide for adjustment of the device, it is preferred that the housing has a threaded axial bore into which is adjustably screwed an externally threaded sleeve rotatably receiving the spindle.

The spindle can be adapted to be received in the bit-holder of a drill but it is particularly preferred that the spindle should have a handle for manual rotation thereof. It is also preferred that the spindle is movable axially with respect to the housing between a withdrawn and an extended position to adjust the position of the head relative to the seating to be cleaned. Usually, the spindle will be biassed by spring means into its withdrawn position. Conveniently, the spring means can comprise a compression spring coaxially mounted on the spindle between the housing and the head. A second compression spring can be coaxially mounted on the spindle between the housing and a handle on the upper end of the spindle to resiliently resist depression of the spindle.

The head can be any abrading or cutting head but is preferably in the form of a disc fixedly secured to the spindle. It is particularly preferred that the head is a milling cutter disc.

In order to use the device of the invention, the removable parts of the faucet (including the handle, stem and plunger assembly) are removed from the faucet body. The head of the device is then inserted through the plunger-receiving orifice of the faucet body and the device housing secured to the faucet body. Appropriate adjustments or movements, such as depression of the spindle handle, are then made to bring the head into contact with the faucet seating. Such rotation of the spindle causes the head to abrade or cut deposits from the seating. The device is then removed from the faucet body and the removable parts of the faucet replaced for re-use of the faucet.

The following is a description by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings of a device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention. In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a device for cleaning deposits from faucet seatings; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the connecting cone of the device of Figure 1 viewed from the opposite direction to that of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a diagrammatic representation of a modification of the device of Figure 1 in use.

Referring first to Figure 1, a device for cleaning faucet seatings comprises an arbor (i.e. spindle) 2 which is rotatably and slidably received in an externally threaded sleeve 5. A handle in the form of a knob 1 is screwed to the arbor 2 at one end thereof and a milling cutter disc 3 is screwed to the arbor 2 at the other end thereof. Compression springs 4 acts between the ends of the sleeve 5 and the knob 1 and cutter disc 3 respectively. A connecting cone 6 has at its smaller end a threaded axial bore threadably receiving the sleeve 5. The position of the sleeve 5 relative to the connecting cone 6 can be adjusted by twisting the sleeve 5 relative to the cone. The cone 6 is threaded externally at 7 and internally at 8 in a manner which will engage at least for one halfturn all the standard threads used for faucets.

In the arrangement shown in Figure 1, a device is set up for use with an internally threaded faucet (see Figure 2). When the device is to be used for an externally threaded faucet, the device is reassembled with the connecting cone inverted from the position shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows in use a modification of the device of Figure 1 in which there is no sleeve 5 and an annular disc 6' is provided to rest upon the wider end of the connecting cone 6. The device is screwed into the body 10 to a faucet fitted to a sink 11 after removal from the faucet of the removable parts thereof. Pressure and a twisting action is imparted to the knob 1 by an operator's hand 9 to cause the cutter disc 3 to engage and clean deposits from the seating within the faucet body 10.

It will be appreciated that the invention is not restricted to the particular details described above but that numerous modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

It will be appreciated that reference in this Specification (including the Claims thereof) to cleaning a seat includes the actual grinding of the seat in addition to or as an alternative to cleaning deposits from the seat.

Claims

1. A device for cleaning the seating of a faucet (as hereinbefore defined), said device comprising a housing adapted to be fixedly secured to the body of the faucet; a spindle rotatably received in said housing; and an abrading or cutting head carried by the spindle for rotation therewith to clean the seating, the arrangement being such that the housing can be secured to the body of the faucet with the spindle extending through the plunger-receiving orifice thereof to engage the abrading or cutting head with the seating.

2. A device as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the housing is externally threaded for engaging an internal thread of the faucet body.

3. A device as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the housing is internally threaded for en gaging an external thread of the faucet body.

4. A device as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the housing comprises a connecting cone which is both externally and internally threaded for engaging into or onto an internal or external thread respectively of the faucet body.

5. A device as claimed in Claim 4 wherein the said threads are universal engaging at least for one half turn different standard faucet threads.

6. A device as claimed in any one of the preced ing claims wherein the housing has a threaded axial bore into which is adjustably screwed an externally threaded sleeve rotatably receiving the spindle.

7. A device as claimed in any one of the preced ing claims wherein the spindle has a handle for manual rotation thereof.

8. A device as claimed in any one of the preced ing claims wherein the spindle is movable axially with respect to the housing between a withdrawn and an extended position.

9. A device as claimed in Claim 8 comprising spring means biassing the spindle to its withdrawn position.

10. A device as claimed in Claim 9 wherein said spring means comprises a compression spring coa xially mounted on the spindle between the housing and the head.

11. A device as claimed in Claim 10 including a second compression spring coaxially mounted on the spindle between the housing and a handle to resiliently resist depression of the spindle.

12. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the head is a disc fixedly secured to the spindle.

13. A device as claimed in Claim 12 wherein the head is removable from the spindle.

14. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the head is a milling cutter.

15. A device for the cleaning of deposits from faucet seatings substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 and 2 or Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.