GB2177385A

GB2177385A - Drain fitting

Info

Publication number: GB2177385A
Application number: GB08616030A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Graham Edward Williams; Colin Keith Britton
Original assignee: BAILEY GILL PRODUCTS Ltd
Current assignee: BAILEY GILL PRODUCTS Ltd
Priority date: 1985-07-02
Filing date: 1986-07-01
Publication date: 1987-01-21
Also published as: GB8616030D0; GB8516758D0

Abstract

A drain fitting, especially for a wet central heating radiator, comprises a bored stem (4) closed at one end by an apertured cap (6) screw-threadedly engaged with the stem. In its screwed-up position, the cap seals the bore (5) but when partially unscrewed liquid can drain through the apertures (9, 10) in the cap via the bore in the stem. The fitting has the advantage that it can be operated by hand, without the use of tools, and that it is not necessary fully to remove the cap from the stem in order to effect draining. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Fitting This invention relates to fittings and more particularly to a fitting for a fluid-containing system and including means whereby fluid, for example water, may readily be drained from part or all of the system.

The invention is especially, but not exclusively, concerned with fittings for use in conjunction with wet central heating radiators whereby such a radiator may readily be drained should it be necessary to do so, for example if the radiator needs to be replaced with a new one or temporarily removed, without the need to drain the rest of the system.

According to the present invention there is provided a fitting for a fluid-containing system, the fitting comprising a body portion having a bore therein one end of which, in use, communicates with the interior of the system and the other end of which is normally sealingly closed directly or indirectly by a cap located externally of, and engaged with, the body portion, the cap having one or more apertures therein and being movable relative to, whilst remaining engaged with, the body portion between a first, normal position in which said bore is closed as aforesaid and a second position in which the bore communicates with said aperture(s) whereby fluid in the system can drain from the aperture(s) via the bore.

In a preferred embodiment, the or each aperture in the cap is formed in the base thereof and is off-set from the central region of the base, the central region serving as, or supporting, a closure for the bore when the cap is in its normal position. The or each aperture may have any suitable configuration, for example of circular or generally elongate cross-section. The cap is preferably screwthreadedly engaged with the body portion, its normal position being obtained by screw-tightening the cap onto the body portion and its second position being obtained by partially unscrewing the cap to the extent necessary. Alternatively, for example, the cap could be engaged with the body portion by means of a bayonet-type connection.

The body portion of the fitting of the invention may be formed integrally with part of the system, for example it may be an integral part of a vessel or pipe-line. Alternativeiy, it may be formed as a separate part adapted to be connected to the system by, for example, a screwthreaded, compression or soldered connection.

As indicated above, a fitting of the invention is especially useful for use in conjunction with wet central heating radiators and for that application the fitting may conveniently comprise a T-shaped, hollow, body portion, one of the arms of the T being connectable to the radiator, the other arm being connectable to, or formed integrally with the body of, a radiator valve and the leg having the aforesaid bore extending axially therethrough and being provided with the cap at its outer end. In other words, the fitting is merely disposed between the usual radiator valve and the radiator, preferably with the leg of the T extending generally downwards.Thus, in order to drain the radiator, without having to drain the rest of the system, it is necessary only to close both of the usual radiator valves (ie the control valve and the balancing valve) followed by moving the cap to its second position, but without the need to remove it completely, whereby water in the radiator will drain from the aperture(s). Should it be necessary to interrupt the drainage process, this can simply be done by moving the cap back to its first, normal position, for example by screwing it up to tightness by hand in the case where the cap is screw-threadedly engaged with the body portion.

A fitting of the invention may be made of any suitable material(s), but will usually be made wholly of brass.

A fitting of the invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of the fitting, Figure 2 is an underplan view of one form of cap of the fitting shown in Figure 1, and Figure 3 is an underplan view of an alternative form of cap of the fitting shown in Figure 1.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, there is shown a fitting of the invention that is adapted for use with a wet central heating radiator (not shown). The fitting consists of a hollow body portion 1 in the form of a T having a bored arm 2 connectable to a conventional radiator valve and a bored arm 3 connectable to the radiator. The leg 4 of the T has an axial bore 5 extending therethrough which, at its upper end, leads into the bores of the arms 2 and 3 and the lower end of which is closed by a cap 6.

The cap 6 is screw-threadedly engaged with the external surface of the leg 4 of the T and, in Figure 1, is shown to be in its first, normal, position. In that position, a tapered closure 7 sealingly engages a tapered seat 8 formed at the outer extremity of the bore 5. As can be seen, the closure 7 is formed integrally with the rest of the cap 6 and, as such, the cap 6 directly closes the bore 5 in the closed position. However, the closure could be a separately formed component, for example a washer supported on the base of the cap 6 whereby the latter serves indirectiy to close the bore 5 in the closed position.

The base of the cap 6, between its side wall and the closure 7, is formed with a pair of apertures 9 and 10. Figures 2 and 3 show alternative forms of aperture 9, 10 being of circular and arcuate cross-section respectively.

In order to drain a radiator to which the fitting illustrated is connected, without having to drain the rest of the system, both radiator valves would be turned off as described ear lier and the cap 6 would then simply be partially unscrewed by hand so moving the clo sure 7 out of engagement with the seat 8 and allowing water to flow from the radiator and out of the apertures 9 and 10 via the bore 5.

To facilitate manual screwing up and unscrewing of the cap 6, its external cylindrical surface is preferably knurled. In order to prevent removal of the cap 6 from the leg 4, and therefore possible loss of the cap, the cap is formed with an annular detent lip 11 which, during unscrewing of the cap, eventually abuts an undercut, annular surface 12 formed in the external surface of the leg 4. Thus, the cap 6 is held captive on the leg 4.

Whilst a fitting of the invention is particularly useful for use in conjunction with wet central heating radiators, it will be appreciated that such a fitting, in appropriate form, could usefully and advantageously be employed in other contexts where the draining off of fluid might be required. For example, a fitting of the invention could be used instead of a conventional MT cock which, unlike a preferred form of fitting of the invention, usually requires the use of a special key or other tool to open and close it. Further, for example, a fitting of the invention, preferably in the form of an axially bored cylindrical spigot closed at its free end by the cap, could be connected to, or form an integral part of, the main body of a fluid flow control valve, such as a wet central heating radiator valve, whereby fluid in part of a system, for example a wet central heating radiator, to which the valve is, in use, connected may be drained off via the fitting (by partially unscrewing the cap) when that valve, and the usual further valve, are in their closed positions. In other words, a fitting of the invention may, for example, replace the drain facility (11, 15) described in our prior UK Patent Specification No 2 048 436, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference thereto.

Claims

1. A fitting for a fluid-containing system, the fitting comprising a body portion having a bore therein one end of which, in use, communicates with the interior of the system and the other end of which is normally sealingly closed directly or indirectly by a cap located externally of, and engaged with, the body portion, the cap having one or more apertures therein and being movable relative to, whilst remaining engaged with, the body portion between a first, normal position in which said bore is closed as aforesaid and a second position in which the bore communicates with said aperture(s) whereby fluid in the system can drain from the aperture(s) via the bore.

2. A fitting as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the or each aperture in the cap is formed in the base thereof and is off-set from the central region of the base, the central region serving as, or supporting, a closure for the bore when the cap is in its normal position.

3. A fitting as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the cap is screw-threadedly engaged with the body portion.

4. A fitting as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the cap is held captive on the body portion.

5. A fitting as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4, especially for use in conjunction with a wet central heating radiator, comprising a generally T-shaped hollow body portion, one of the arms thereof being connectable to the radiator, the other arm being connectable to, or integral with the body of, a radiator valve and the leg having the aforesaid bore extending axially therethrough and being provided with the cap at its free end.

6. A fitting as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4 connected to, or integral with, the main body of a fluid flow control valve, especially a wet central heating radiator valve, whereby fluid in part of a system, for example a wet central heating radiator, to which the valve is, in use, connected may be drained off via the fitting when the valve is in its closed position.

7. A fitting substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in.

the accompanying drawings.