GB2103764A - Pillar tap - Google Patents

Abstract

A pillar tap including a control spindle (18) rotatably mounted in a head part (20). So that the tap can be manufactured at a lower cost than a conventional tap, the control spindle (18) is located in the head part (20) by means of a push-on-fix washer (40). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Pillar tap The invention relates to pillar taps, that is to say to the kind of water taps commonly mounted on domestic wash basins and baths for the dispensing of water thereto.

A pillar tap usually has a body part with a valve seat; a resilient washer secured to a carrier for movement towards and away from the valve seat for closing and opening the tap to fluid flow; a control spindle having screwthreaded engagement with the carrier; and a head part secured to an upper end of the body part, the control spindle being rotatably mounted in said head part. The arrangement is such that although the control spindle is rotatably mounted in the head part it is axially fixed relative thereto. The carrier member is mounted in the head part in such a way that it is non-rotatable but is axially slidable relative thereto.

The control spindle is usually located in the head part by means of a gland screw or carefully positioned circlip, that is to say, a shoulder which is formed on the spindle abuts against an abutment surface within the head part and the gland screw is engaged with the upwardly extended threaded part of the head. The forming of the thread on this part of the head is a relatively expensive manufacturing operation. When using a circlip to constrain the spindle in position, a groove on the plain portion of the spindle, which protrudes above the top face of the head, is required. The positioning of this groove on the spindle is critical and hence expensive. Also, if the relative dimensions of the threads in head and gland screw are not critically controlled, the axial movement of the spindle is increased and creates wobble in the control handle when used.In addition, this axial play will create undesirable dead movement in the control handle and thus reduce the effective control of fluid flow.

The invention has for its object to provide a construction of pillar tap which will be less expensive to manufacture than a pillar tap of conventional construction and which can be assembled more simply.

According to the invention, there is provided a pillar tap the control spindle of which is located in the head part of the tap by means of a so-called push-on-fix washer, that is to say, a shoulder which is formed on the spindle abuts against an abutment surface within the head part and the push-on-fix washer is engaged with a plain cylindrical portion of the spindle which projects from said head part, the arrangement being such that radially inwardly projecting and inclined tab portions of the push-on-fix washer allow the latter to be engaged with the plain cylindrical portion of the spindle and to be brought into abutment with the head part but resist any tendency for the washer to move away from said head part. A thrust washer will preferably be provided between the shoulder formed on the spindle and the abutment surface within the head part.A friction washer will preferably be provided between the head part and the push-on-fix washer.

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. 1 is an axial section through a pillar tap embodying the invention, before having been fitted with an operating handle, Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof, and Fig. 3 is a scrap view illustrating a possible modification which will be referred to.

Referring now to Fig. 1 of the drawings, the pillar tap there illustrated includes a body part 10 with a valve seat 12; a resilient washer 14 secured to a carrier 1 6 for movement towards and away from the valve seat for closing and opening the tap to fluid flow; a control spindle 1 8 having screwthreaded engagement with the carrier; and a head part 20 secured to an upper end of the body part. An outlet spout 22 which is formed integrally with the body part has a fluid flow passage 24 through which water can flow to the outlet when the washer has been lifted from its seat.

The carrier 1 6 is axially slidable within a downwardly projecting sleeve portion 26 of the head part and has an O-ring 28 forming a fluid tight seal between the two parts. (A further O-ring, indicated 30, is provided to form a fluid tight seal between the head part 20 and the body part 10).

Oppositely disposed key and slot formations, indicated 32, are provided between the carrier 1 6 and head part 20 so that the carrier is nonrotatable but axially slidable relative to the head part.

The control spindle is rotatably mounted in the head part but is axially fixed relative thereto, that is to say, a shoulder 34 which is formed on the spindle abuts against a thrust washer 36 which in turn abuts against an abutment surface 38 within the head part, and a so-called "push-on-fix" washer 40 is engaged with a plain cylindrical portion 42 of the spindle which projects from said head part. As shown, a friction washer 44 is provided between the head part and the push-onfix washer and the latter has radially inwardly projecting and inclined tab portions 46, the arrangement being such that said tab portions allow the washer to be slid along the plain cylindrical portion of the spindle and to be brought into abutment with the head part through the thrust washer but resist any tendency for the washer to move away from said head part.

The construction described above is less expensive to manufacture than a pillar tap of conventional construction principally because the tolerance control of the upper end of the control spindle with a gland screw or circlip is avoided but also because of the fact that assembly is simplified. The pressing of the push-on-fix washer into position can be carried out very quickly indeed and results in all axial movement of the spindle being eliminated whilst retaining the required freedom of rotational movement of the spindle.

Various modifications may be made. For example, in Fig. 3 there is illustrated a possible modification which comprises the fitting of an 0ring 48 in a groove in an upper part of the control spindle so that it forms a fluid tight seal where the spindle projects through the upper end of the head part. With this modification it will be understood that the O-ring 28 forming a fluid tight seal between the carrier 1 6 and the head part 26 will not be required. In addition, the O-ring 48 provides a very slight frictional resistance against rotation of the spindle, thus giving a steadying effect to the control spindle and consequently to the handle.

Claims (4)

1. A pillar tap the control spindle of which is located in the head part of the tap by means of a so-called push-on-fix washer, that is to say, a shoulder which is formed on the spindle abuts against an abutment surface within the head part and the push-on-fix washer is engaged with a plain cylindrical portion of the spindle which projects from said head part, the arrangement being such that radially inwardly projecting and inclined tab portions of the push-on-fix washer allow the latter to be engaged with the plain cylindrical portion of the spindle and to be brought into abutment with the head part but resist any tendency for the washer to move away from said head part.

2. A pillar tap according to claim 1, in which a thrust washer is provided between the shoulder formed on the spindle and the abutment surface within the head part.

3. A pillar tap according to either one of the preceding claims, in which a friction washer is provided between the head part and the push-onfix washer.

4. A pillar tap constructed, arranged and adapted to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.