GB2134219A

GB2134219A - Fluid flow control valves

Info

Publication number: GB2134219A
Application number: GB08225008A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Avery Colin Mcewen
Original assignee: SANITARY APPLIANCES Ltd
Current assignee: SANITARY APPLIANCES Ltd
Priority date: 1982-09-02
Filing date: 1982-09-02
Publication date: 1984-08-08
Also published as: GB2134219B

Abstract

A flow control valve assembly for use with an "under-sink" water heater comprises a housing (5) formed with a valve seating (11) located between a cold water inlet to a cold water outlet in the housing (5). A flow control valve (29) carried at one end of a non-rising spindle (26) co-operates with the seating (11) to control flow from the cold water inlet to the cold water outlet. The spindle (26) is operatively connected to a top spindle (38) in a sink mounted tap by a coupling (35, 36, 41, 42) which provides for axial misalignment of the spindles and for variations in the axial locations of the spindle ends joined by the coupling. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to fluid flow control valves This invention relates to fluid flow control valves and has particular application to valves for controlling the flow of water, more especially in domestic premises, but also in commercial applications.

In some domestic commercial premises, it is not possible to instal a conventional hot water system, i.e.

one in which gravityfeed is relied on. In such premises, it is sometimes practicable to employ a displacementwaterstorage heater as the source of hot water. The storage heater may be located under or close to a sink and the supply of hotwaterto the sink is controlled by a valve that regulates the flow of cold waterfrom a mains supply to the storage heater. The control valve is located beneath the sink but is operated from a tap fitted to the sinkvia a relatively long control member.

The use of such relatively long control members in the circumstances described gives rise to tolerance problems and close tolerances must be observed if the valve is to function correctly.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a control valve of a constructiqn able to accommodate a wider range oftolerances and allow easy installation and yet function correctly.

According to the present invention, a fluid flow control valve assembly comprises a housing with a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, a flow control valve for controlling fluid flowfrom the inletto the outlet, and means for operating the valve comprising a first spindle carrying the valve and a second spindle connected to thefirst spindle buy a coupling that accommodates axial misalignment of the spindles as well as variation in the longitudinal position of one spindle relatively to the other.

Byway of example only, an embodimentofthe invention will now be described in greater detail with referenceto the accompanying drawings of which: Fig. lisa blockschematic illustration of a hotwater supply system including a tap embodying the invention, and, Fig. 2 is a side view partly in section of a flow control tap embodying the invention.

Fig. l,shows in block schematic form only and not to scale, a cylinder 1 constituting a displacement storage heater with an inlet 2 for cold water and an outlet 3 for hot water. The cylinder 1 also contains a thermostatically-controlled immersion heaterbutthis is not shown in the drawing.

The supply of displacement cold water from a mains water supply 4 is controlled by a flow control valve in a housing 5. The valve is operated from a tap 6 via a control member not shown that is coupled at one end to the tap lever 7 and atthe other end to the control valve. The control member passes downwardly through the body 8 ofthetap through an extension 9 thereof and into the housing 5 secu red to the extension 9. The hot water outlet 3 is coupled to the upper part of the housing 5.

On operating lever7 to open the valve, cold water flows from mains supply 4 into the cylinder displacing hot water therefrom. The displaced hot water leaves the cylinder via outlet 3 and flows upwardlythrough extension 9 and leaves the tap via the spout 10.

Referring now to Fig. 2, the housing 5 which is of generally cylindrical form is machined to provide an internal passageway, the lower part 11 of which is of a slightly greater diameterthan the upper part 12.

Separating thetwo parts 11,12 is a part 13 overwhich the transverse cross-section is non-circular, for example hexagonal.

The housing 5 is open at both ends. The lower (as seen in Fig. 2) end is screw-threaded to recieve a connector 14formed with a valve seating 15 and an externally threaded extension 16 by means of which connection is made to the mains supply as shown in Fig. 1. A leak-preventing washer 17 is located as shown.

Adjacent its lower end, housing 5 has a side aperture 18 in which is soldered or otherwise secured a pipe connector 19 by means of which connection is made to the cold water inlet 2 (Fig. 1) of the storage cylinder 1.

Adjacent its upper end, the housing 5 has a second side aperture 20 aligned with aperture 18 and in which is soldered or otherwise secured a pipe connector 21 by means of which connection is made to the hot water outlet 3 (Fig. 1) of the storage cylinder 1.

The upper end of the housing 5 has a tubular extension 22 of reduced outside diameterwhich locates in extension 9 of atap 23 and is secured to the extension by means of a union nut 24 and an internal cone connector 25 of the standard compression jaw type.

Located coaxiallywithin the extension 9 and housing 5 is a rigid spindle 26 forming partofthe control member. At its lower (as seen in Fig. 2) end, the spindle 26 is screw-threaded as at 27 to engage a washer plate 29 fitted with a washer 30. The external contourofthe portion 28 matches that of the part 13 and in the example shown in the drawing both are of hexagonal transverse cross section. The lower portion is of cylindrical form having an external groove in which is accommodated a leak-preventing '0' ring 31.

Secured to the spindle 26 just above screw-thread 27 is a split collar 32 that seats on a shoulder 33 formed between parts 12 and 13 ofthe internal passageway of the housing 5. Above the shoulder 33, a securing bush 34 is swaged on to the spindle 26.

The upper end part of the spindle 26 is of reduced diameter as at 35, the end being "coned" as shown.

Passing diametrically th rough portion 35 is a pin 36.

The tap 23 is of generally conventional external shape but, as will be seen from Fig. 2 is hollow and does not contain an internal valve seating orflow control valve. Instead, the head 37 of the tap is apertured to carry a rigid top spindle 38 to whose outer end is detachably secured an operating knob 39.

Leaking along the top spindle 38 where it passes through head 37 is prevented by 'O' rings 40.

The lower end of the top spindle 38 is formed with a blind bore 41 slotted diametrically as at42 over part of its length. The portion 35 of spindle 26 fits into bore 41, pin 36 engaging the slot 41.

The spindle 26 with the washer plate and washer mounted thereon is located in the housing 5 by first removing the connector 14 and inserting the spindle into the housing from below until the split collar 32 seats on shoulder 33. Bush 34 is then slipped overthe top end of the spindle and dropped down the latter.

The bush 34 comes to rest against the shoulder33 and is then swaged on to the spindle by means of a special tool that is passed overthe spindle. A groove in the spindle can be provided and the upper end ofthe bush is so formed as to facilitatethe swaging operation.

Afterthetap 23 has been secured in position in the conventional manner, the assembly comprising the spindle 26 and housing 5 is offered up to the tap extension 9, the spindle 26 passing upwardly through the extension to engage with the top spindle 38 in the manner described above. The housing 5 is then locked to the extension 9 using the union nut 24 and cone connector 25. Connections can then be made to the inlet and outlet 2,3 of the storage cylinder and to the mains water supply 4.

Rotation ofthe knob 39 causes the washer plate 29 and washer 30 to move awayfrom the seating 11 and admit cold waterto the storage cylinder. Hot water displaced by the cold water enters the housing via connector 21 and flows to the outlet spout ofthetap 23 via the annular gap between the spindle 26 and the portion 12 and extension 9.

The washer plate is held against rotation by the non-circulartransverse cross-sections of the parts 13 and 28whilstthe spindle 26 is held against axial movement bythe collar 32, bush 34 and the shoulder 33 between them. The spindle 26 and thus the top spindle 38 are non-rising.

It will be appreciated thatthe exact location of the pin 36 in the slot42 is not critical and will depend upon a numberoffactors i.e. machinery and assembly tolerances. In this way, variations in the exact longitudinal position oftheseating 1 1,the length of the spindle 26 and the location of the extent to which part 22 projects into extension 9 can be accommodated.

Thus, the coupling will also accommodate variations in the longitudinal position of one spindle relatively to the other.

In addition, the coupling between the thetopspindle 38 and spindle 26 will accommodate a degree of axial misalignment of the spindles becausethe internal diameter of the bore 41 is considerably greaterthan the external diameter of portion 35.

Such axial misalignment may be due to positional inaccuracies or it may be deliberate as in the case of the embodiment of Fig. where the tap 23 has an inclined body partto givethetap an aesthetically pleasing appearance and easier facility of use. In this respect, the tap 23 is different from the tap shown in Fig. 1 where the body portion is vertical. In that case, if there is any axial misalignment ofthe top spindle withinthetap and the spindle within the casing 5, it is accommodated by the coupling.

It will be appreciated thatthe collar 32 could be replaced by a circlip located in a suitable circumferential groove in the spindle 26.

The housing 5 may be of metal, for example brass, or it could be of a suitable plastic material. It is not essential thatthe body of the housing 5 be of one-piece construction as shown in Fig. 2. A two-piece construction could be used. One piece accommodating the flow control valve (seating 11, etc.) and the otherthe connection 21. The spindle 26 is common to both pieces and suitable leak-preventing fittings would be needed.

It will also be understood that the slotted blind bore could be formed in the upper end of spindle 26 and the reduced diameter portion and pin in the adjacent end of spindle 38.

Alternatively,the reduced diameter end 35 may haveadiametral slotthat engages a diametral pin located in the bore 41. In that case, the bore 41 is not slotted.

In another embodiment the upper end ofthe spindle 26 or lower end of spindle 38 is formed with a tapered end of non-cl rcular, for example hexagonal, trans- verse cross section to engage a paralled sided recess of non-circulartransverse cross section, for example hexagonal, in the end of spindle 38 or 26.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Afluid flow control valve assembly comprising a housing with a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, a flow control valve for controlling fluid flowfrom the inletto the outlet, and means for operating the valve comprising a first spindle carrying the valve and a second spindle connected to thefirstspindle bya coupling that accommodates axial misalignment of the spin- dles. 2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 in which the coupling comprises a bore formed in the end of one spindle that is telescopically engaged over the end of the other spindle and means for preventing rotation of one spindle relativelyto the other. 3. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 or 2 in which the coupling also accommodates variation in the longitudinal position of one spindle relatively to the other. 4. An assembly as claimed in claim 1,2 or3 in which the coupling comprises a pivotal connection between the first and second spindles. 5. An assembly as claimed in claim 4 in which the pivotal connection is such that its position along the longitudinal axis of one of the spindles is variable. 6. An assembly as claimed in claim 2,3,4 or 5 in which the means comprise a cross pin secured to one spindle and a cross slot in the other spindle. 7. An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the first spindle is held in the housing against axial movement, rotation ofthe first spindle causing axial movement of the flow control valve relatively to thefirstspindle. 8. An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in combination with a tap in which the second spindle is rotatably mounted and means for rotating the second spindle. 9. Afluidflow control member substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated by Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings. New claims or amendments to claims file on 28th April 83. Superseded claims 1-9. New or amended claims:- claims 1-10. CLAIMS

1. A fluid flow control valve assembly comprising a housing with a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, a flow control valve memberfor controlling fluid flow from the in let to the outlet and valve-operating means comprising a first spindle and a second spindle, the firstspindle being coupled to the valve member whereby rotation of the first spindle causes axial movementofthevalve member relative thereto, and the second spindle being connected to the first spindle by a coupling that transmits rotational movement from the second to the first spindle and accommodates axial misalignment of the spindles.

2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 in which the coupling comprises a bore formed in the end of one spindle that istelescopically engaged overthe end of the otherspindle and meansforpreventing rotation of one spindle relativelyto the other.

3. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 or 2 in which the coupling also accommodates variation in the longitudinal position of one spindle relatively to the other.

4. An assembly as claimed in claim 1,2 or3 in which the coupling comprises a pivotal connection betweenthefirstand second spindles.

5. An assembly as claimed in claim 4 in which the pivotal connection is such that its position along the longitudinal axis of one ofthespindles is variable.

6. An assembly as claimed in claim 2,3,4 or 5 in which the means comprise a cross pin secured to one spindle and a cross slot in the other spindle.

7. An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the first spindle is held in the housing against axial movement and the valve member is held in the housing against rotational movement.

8. An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in combination with a tap in which the second spindle is rotatably mounted and means for rotating the second spindle.

9. An assembly as claimed in claim 8, in which the tap is shapedthatthe axis of the second spindle is not aligned with the axis ofthefirstspindle.

10. Afluid flow control membersubstantiallyas herein described with reference to and as illustrated by Fig. 2 ofthe accompanying drawings.