GB2154705A - Unitary cock structure for dual water delivery - Google Patents

Abstract

A unitary cock structure for dual water delivery comprises a one-piece structure defining an inner distribution chamber (6) accommodating a single valve assembly (9) which controls a cold water intake conduit (40, Fig. 2) and a hot water intake conduit (41), as well as a cold water delivery conduit (19) and hot water delivery conduit (21) which are formed separately within a common delivery spout (3). A single actuator element (70) for the valve assembly (9) separately and/or simultaneously controls the cold water and hot water flow rates. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Unitary cock structure for dual water delivery The present invention relates to a unitary cock structure for dual water delivery.

As is known in the art, the construction of a hot and cold water delivery cock for use with washbasins, sinks bath tubs, etc., requires in some cases that the cold water and hot water delivery flows be kept fully separated to prevent the occurrence of mutual contamination.

To fill such requirements, which in some cases are enforced by regulatory bodies, it has been past practice to provide fully separated cocks, one for cold water and another for hot water, having two discrete spaced-apart delivery spouts.

That approach could be occasionally unpractical, and cocks have been proposed for the delivery of separate water flows, which comprise a single delivery spout, through which spout a hot water delivery conduit and a cold water delivery conduit are formed separately.

However, the latter approach has the disadvantage of involving the provision of two discrete valve assemblies for cold and hot water control, and accordingly, of two separate operating arrangement.

This invention sets out to obviate such prior problems by providing a unitary cock structure for dual water delivery, which affords single lever operation for both the hot and cold water conduits, while permitting adjustment of their flow rates with one operation.

Within that general aim, it is possible to arrange that a cock structure according to the invention is highly convenient and versatile to use, and only requires a single hole formed in a sink, washbasin, or the like, for the installation of the cock itself and its controls.

It is further possible to arrange that this cock structure is quite functional and versatile to use, and gives full assurance of being safe and reliable in operation.

It is also possible to arrange that the cock structure of this invention can be readily fabricated from commercially available materials, and be competitive from a purely economical standpoint.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a unitary cock structure for dual water delivery, characterised in that it comprises a one-piece structure defining on its interior a distribution chamber accommodating a single valve assembly controlling both a cold water intake conduit and hot water intake conduit, as well as a cold water delively conduit and hot water delivery conduit provided separately within a common delivery spout, and a single actuator element adapted for operating said valve assembly associated with said one-piece structure and separately and or simultaneously controlling the cold and hot flow rates.

Further features and advantages of the invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of a unitary cock structure for dual water delivery, with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a partly cut-away side elevation view of a cock according to this invention; Figure 2 is an exploded view of the valve assembly incorporated within this cock; Figure 3 is a sectional view of this cock taken on a diametrical plane; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the distributor body; Figure 5 is a detail sectional view of a sealing gasket; and Figures 6 to 9 schematically illustrate how the valve assembly is positioned to provide respectively, the cut-off, the cold and hot water delivery, and the cold water, and hot water only, delivery conditions.

With reference to the drawing views, a unitary cock structure for dual water delivery according to the invention, as generally indicated by the reference numeral 1, comprises a one-piece structure adapted for association with a washbasin, sink, and the like, which includes a base block or ring nut 2, to which a delivery spout 3 is connected which has a collar 4 adapted to be mounted on top of the base block 2 and overlaid by a cap 5.

A distribution chamber, generally indicated at 6, is defined internally to accommodate a valve assembly comprising a distributor body 8 on which a valve body or cartridge, generally indicated at 9, is mounted.

In greater detail, the distributor body 8 has a substantially cylindrical shape and is provided at the bottom with a threaded portion 10 for coupling to the base block 2; from the bottom portion of the distributor body 8 there also extends a stud bolt 11 for fastening to a sink, washbasin, or the like.

The distributor body 8 defines on its lateral surface an upper annular zone 1 5 and lower annular zone 1 6 which are separated by annular sealing gaskets 1 7 and sealed from the outside by annular sealing gaskets which engage with the interior of the collar 4.

The collar 4 defines correspondingly an upper annular chamber 1 8 at the upper annular zone 1 5 and in communication with a cold water delivery conduit 1 9 defined within the delivery spout 3. Further, the collar 4 defines a lower annular chamber 20 located at the lower annular zone 1 6 and in communication with the hot water delivery conduit, indicated at 21, also formed within the delivery spout 3 and separated from the cold water delivery conduit 21.

The cold water delivery conduit 21 joins axially with the delivery outlet 22 defined at the end of the delivery spout 3.

Accommodated in the distribution chamber 6, above the distributor body 8 is the valve body 9, comprising a cartridge which includes a fixed ceramic pad of flat configuration, indicated at 30, formed with a cold water intake hole or port 32, a hot water intake hole or port 33, a cold water outlet hole or port 34, and a hot water outlet hole or port 35.

The holes 32, 33, 34, and 35 may be arranged in alignment with corresponding holes, indicated at 32', 33', 34', and 35', defined on the top face of the distributor body 8 and respectively in communication with the cold water intake conduit 40, hot water intake conduit 41, a connection segment for cold water delivery 42 opening into the annular chamber 18, and a connection segment for hot water delivery 43 opening into the annular chamber 20.

The valve body 9 has on its interior a movable pad, also of flat configuration, made of ceramic material and designated with the reference numeral 50, which is slidably rotatable over the fixed pad 30.

On its mating face, the movable pad 50 is formed with a first connection groove 51 for connecting the hole 32 to the hole 34, and with a second connection groove 52 for connecting the hole 33 to the hole 35.

The pad 50 is moved through a swivel connection assembly generally indicated at 60, which is carried on a spherical cap adapted for coupling to the cap 5 and having an actuator element in the form of a lever 70.

The spherical cap 61 can be rotated about a substantially horizontal axis, perpendicular to the axial extension of the valve body to control the overall flow rate, and rotated about a substantially perpendicular axis relatively to the former axis to control the volume of hot water or cold being delivered..

As diagramatically shown in Fig. 6, in the cut-off condition, the movable pad 50 is positioned with the grooves 51 and 52 removed from the holes 32 and 33, thereby no water is delivered. In Fig. 7, the pad 50 has been positioned to align the grooves 52 and 51 with the holes 32 and 33, as well as with the holes 34 and 35, thereby hot and cold water is delivered simultaneously. This switch-over action is obtained by turning the actuator lever 70 upwards, as diagrammatically represented by the dash outline in Fig. 1.

By rotating the actuator lever 70 to turn the movable pad 50 about its vertical axis, either cold water only (Fig. 8) or hot water only (Fig.

9) can be delivered.

Of course, a range of intermediate positions are afforded whereat the relative proportions of hot and cold water are correspondingly varied.

It should be added to the foregoing that the annular gaskets 1 7 used on the distributor body comprise a band-like portion, indicated at 80, which is received in recesses formed on the distributor body 8, at one end whereof a lipped portion 81 extends which is slightly enlarged and located externally of the bandlike portion.

It may be appreciated from the above description that the invention accomplishes its objects, and in particular, it should be emphasized that a single lever operation cock is provided which affords dual water delivery capabilities, while keeping the hot and cold water conduits strictly separated throughout, by utilising in practice, a single valve body or element effective to provide control of the overall flow rate, as well as of the individual flow rates, i.e. the cold and hot water flow rates.

The invention as disclosed is susceptible to many modifications and changes without departing from the purview of the instant inventive concept.

All of the details, moreover, may be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.

Claims (8)

1. A unitary cock structure for dual water delivery, characterised in that it comprises a one-piece structure defining on its interior a distribution chamber accommodating a single valve assembly controlling both a cold water intake conduit and hot water intake conduit, as well as a cold water delivery conduit and hot water delivery conduit provided separately within a common delivery spout, and a single actuator element adapted for operating said valve assembly associated with said one-piece structure and separately and/or simultaneously controlling the cold and hot water flow rates.

2. A cock structure according to Claim 1, characterised in that said valve assembly includes a distributor body of substantially cylindrical shape and adapted to define, on the lateral surface thereof, an upper annular zone positionable at the upper annular chamber in communication with said cold water delivery conduit, said distributor body defining a lower annular zone positionable at a lower annular chamber in communication with the hot water delivery conduit.

3. A cock structure according to the preceding claims, characterised in that said distributor body is formed, at the uppermost face thereof, with a cold water intake hole in communication with the cold water intake conduit positionable in alignment with a cold water intake hole provided in the valve body of said valve assembly, also provided being a hot water intake hole positionable in alignment with a respective hot water intake hole defined in said valve body, a cold water outlet hole positionable in alignment with a respective cold water outlet hole in said valve body, and a hot water outlet hole positionable in alignment with a respective hot water outlet hole defined in said valve body, said cold water outlet hole being in communication with said upper annular zone and said hot water outlet hole being in communication with said lower annular zone.

4. A cock structure according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that said valve body has a fixed ceramic pad formed with said cold water intake, hot water intake, cold water outlet, and hot water outlet holes, with the top of said fixed pad there engaging in sealed sliding relationship a movable ceramic pad defining on its mating surface a first groove for communicating said cold water intake hole with said cold water outlet hole, and a second groove for communicating said hot water intake hole with said hot water outlet hole.

5. A cock structure according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises a swivel connection assembly for moving said movable pad relatively to said fixed pad, thereby controlling the mutual communication of said cold water intake holes and cold water outlet holes, as well as of said hot water intake holes and hot water outlet holes.

6. A cock structure according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that said swivel connection assembly is connected to a spherical cap having said actuator element set for oscillation about a substantially horizontal axis, perpendicular to the axis of said distributor body, thereby to control the overall flow rate of the water flows being delivered, as well as about a perpendicular axis to said horizontal axis, thereby to control the proportion between the cold and hot water being delivered.

7. A cock structure according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises annular gaskets for separating said upper annular zone from said lower annular zone and including a band-like annular element from one end whereof there extends a lipped annular portion located concentrically with and on the exterior of said bandlike portion.

8. A unitary cock structure for dual water delivery, characterised in that it comprises one or more of the features herein described and/ or illustrated.