GB2123119A

GB2123119A - Fluid control valve

Info

Publication number: GB2123119A
Application number: GB08318236A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Roger John Vowles
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-07-06
Filing date: 1983-07-05
Publication date: 1984-01-25
Also published as: GB2123119B; GB8318236D0

Abstract

A fluid control valve includes a housing which provides an inlet 54, a controllable outlet 56 and a permanent outlet 31. A spindle 36 is displaceable within the housing, bears a washer 40 and is urgable towards a seat 50 in the housing so as to control the flow to the outlet 56. A through passage 42 extends through the washer 40 and part of the length of the spindle 36 to a chamber 30 in the housing which communicates with the second outlet 31. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Fluid control valve The present invention relates to a fluid control valve. It particularly relates to a fluid control valve having at least two outlets. In a particular form, it relates to a domestic water tap having an ordinary controllable outlet, and a secondary output, e.g. for feeding a washing machine, independently of the control of the first outlet.

According to the present invention in a first aspect, there is provided a fluid control valve comprising a housing having an inlet and an outlet, and an element displaceable within the housing to control communication between the inlet and the outlet; wherein the displaceable element has a through-passage for communicating fluid from the inlet to a second outlet. The housing may provide a valve seat and the displaceable element may provide a washer, the arrangement being such that these cooperate so that displacement of the element controls communication past the seat to the first outlet. The housing may have an elongate second chamber communicating with the second outlet and with the downstream end of said through-passage, for at least part of the range of displacement of the element.

In another aspect the invention provides a tap assembly including such a fluid control valve, wherein in use the first outlet provides a controllable output, and the second outlet is arranged to provide an output even when the first outlet is closed. The second outlet may be permanently connected to the inlet via the through-passage, or it too may be arranged to be controllable.

In a third aspect the invention provides a tap top assembly for fitting to a tap fixed portion, the tap top assembly including a said displaceable element with a through-passage, and at least part of said housing defining the second outlet. Thus, a conventional tap may be provided with a service valve outlet by simply replacing its tap top assembly. This is an easy operation, not requiring any plumbing skill or access to the pipes beneath the tap.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a vertical section through a tap top assembly embodying the present invention; and Figure 2 is a similar view showing the tap top assembly fitted to a tap, and with the spindle lowered.

The tap top assembly 10 has a body portion 1 2 with an elongate axial passage 14.

Upper (16) and lower (18) portions of the passage 14 are threaded. Slightly below the upper threaded portion 16, there is an annular protrusion 20 which provides a seat for a spindle seal 22. Likewise, slightly above the lower threaded portion 1 8 there is a protrusion 24 which provides a seat for a lower spindle seal 26. There is a further protrusion 28 above the lower seal 26. The opposed faces of the protrusions 20 and 28 are concave and slope towards one another, so that together with the wall of the axial passage 14 they define a chamber 30, which has an outlet 31 via a conduit portion 34.

A bush 35, having an enlarged head 33 is screwed into the upper threaded portion 1 6.

A rising spindle 36 passes through the aper tura in the bush 35, and extends entirely through the body portion 12. Its lower end portion is dimensioned and threaded so as to engage the lower threaded portion 18. At its lower end there is an abutment piece 38 bearing a washer 40. These are apertured, and lead to a through passage 42 which extends up the spindle 36 into the region of a chamber 30, into which it opens via a lateral opening 44. The spindle 36 bears a handle 46 at top. Rotation causes the washer 40 to be raised or lowered; it is in a raised position in Fig. 1, and in a lowered position in Fig. 2, where it can be seen to abut a seat 50 of a tap base 52. The base 52 has a lower inlet 54 and a lateral outlet 56 for water, communication between these being through the (annular) seat 50.Thus the washer 40 in the position shown in Fig. 2 closes off the outlet 56 from the inlet 54. However, the outlet 32 is still in direct communication with the inlet 54. The handle 46 can be turned to communicate the outlet 56 with inlet 54 to a greater or lesser extent, so that the outlet 56 can have the normal function of a tap outlet. This does not interfere with the passage of water through the outer outlet 31.

It will be appreciated that a tap top assembly of the type shown can be of great utility. For example, it is often desirable to be able to take a water supply from a domestic tap, e.g. to supply a washing machine. Particularly with modern tap designs, it is extremely difficult to connect a hose to the standard tap outlet. Of course, even when this is possible, it puts the tap out of use for general purposes while the washing machine or other apparatus is in use. The conventional alternative of "plumbing in" is elaborate and expensive, usually requiring the services of a plumber. By means of the present invention, it can be a simple job to unscrew an existing tap top, and simply screw in a tap top embodying the present invention.

It will be appreciated that much variation is possible in embodiments of the invention. For example, the illustrated embodiment employs a rising spindle tap, but it could equally well be embodied as a non-rising spindle tap.

Furthermore, the application of the invention is not limited to water taps, or indeed to liquid taps at all. It may be generally applied wherever it is desired to have two different outlets, particularly when it is desired that one of these should be maintainable "open" when the other is closed. For example, a gas cylinder may be provided with a valve assembly embodying the invention, with the secondary outlet (that not controlled by the spindle) possibly being used to feed a pressure gauge.

The flow from the secondary outlet may be controlled by a further valve inserted in that flow. Alternatively, means may be provided within the tap top assembly 10 for controlling it.

Claims

1. A fluid control valve comprising a housing having an inlet and an outlet, and an element displaceable within the housing to control communication between the inlet and the outlet; wherein the displaceable element has a through passage for communicating fluids from the inlet to a second outlet.

2. A fluid control valve according to claim 1 wherein the housing provides a valve seat and the displacable element provides a washer, displacement of the element controlling communication past the seat to said first outlet.

3. A fluid control valve according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said housing has an elongate upper chamber communicating with the second outlet and with the downstream end of said through passage for at least part of the range of displacement of the element.

4. A tap assembly including a fluid control valve according to any proceding claim wherein in use the first outlet provides a controllable output and the second outlet is arranged to provide an output even when the first outlet is closed.

5. A tap top assembly for use in a tap assembly according to claim 4, comprising said displaceable element and at least a portion of said housing providing said second outlet.

6. A fluid control valve, a tap assembly, or a tap top assembly substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.