GB2325042A

GB2325042A - Wall mounted tap

Info

Publication number: GB2325042A
Application number: GB9709125A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ronald Luther Desmond Phillips; Stanley Warneford Thompson; Peter Graham Owers
Original assignee: WESTCO BUILDING COMPONENTS Ltd
Current assignee: WESTCO BUILDING COMPONENTS Ltd
Priority date: 1997-05-06
Filing date: 1997-05-06
Publication date: 1998-11-11
Anticipated expiration: 2017-05-06
Also published as: GB9709125D0; GB2325042B

Abstract

A tap comprises a housing (2) which defines a fluid conduit having an inlet (4) and a nozzle outlet (6,8). The inlet (4) is integrally formed with the housing (2) and is provided with means for forming a watertight flow connection to a fluid supply pipe. The housing (2) contains a main valve operable to isolate the outlet from the inlet. The housing includes an attachment means (10) which is formed integrally with the housing and by which the tap can be mounted on the surface of an upright wall.

Description

DESCRIPTION TAP The present invention relates to taps (faucets) and more particularly to the type of tap which is mounted on a vertical wall.

Such taps are commonly provided, for example, on exterior walls of houses for filling of watering cans, connection to hosepipes etc. Typically, the tap itself is coupled to the wall and to associated plumbing via a cast, elbowed conduit. One such known conduit has an externally threaded inlet for attachment to the water feed pipe, the inlet axis being vertical, an internally threaded horizontal outlet and an integrally formed flange. The flange has a planar rear surface and several screw holes, so that it can be abutted against and screwed to a vertical wall surface.

The tap itself has an externally threaded horizontal inlet which in use is screwed into the outlet of the conduit to mount the tap, and typically some sealing means such as an 0" ring or olive must be provided to form a watertight seal between tap and conduit.

In the UK, there is now a requirement that certain taps be provided with check valves for preventing any contaminant from being sucked back through the tap and thus potentially reaching the water supply. In the conventional tap described above, two of these are provided - one within the inlet of the tap itself and another in the tap's outlet nozzle - thus a check valve is provided on either side of the main valve of the tap (i.e. the valve used to turn the tap on or off).

The conventional tap/conduit assembly referred to above has three particular disadvantages: i. the tap/conduit connection may leak; ii the assembly is fairly large and heavy, and due to the necessary length of the tap/conduit connection projects some way from the wall on which it is mounted, which may make the assembly inconvenient and/or vulnerable to accidental damage; and iii the tap may rotate relative to the conduit, so that it's nozzle projects in an inappropriate direction.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a tap comprising a housing which defines a fluid conduit having an inlet and a nozzle outlet, the inlet being integrally formed with the housing and being provided with means for forming a watertight flow connection to a fluid supply pipe, the housing bearing a main valve operable to isolate the outlet from the inlet, and the housing having integrally formed attachment means by which the tap can be mounted on the surface of an upright wall.

Preferably, the housing is formed as a one piece casting.

Thus, the present invention makes possible a tap which is particularly constructionally simple and, because it has a minimum number of pipe connections, has a reduced likelihood of leaks. Lacking the tap/conduit connection, it can also have a reduced overhang from the wall, and so be smaller, more convenient and less prone to damage.

It is particularly preferred that the inlet is generally cylindrical and the shape of the housing is such that when the tap is mounted on the wall, with its outlet directed generally downwardly, the axis of the inlet is upright so that the inlet can be directly connected to an upright fluid supply pipe.

The inlet is preferably externally threaded. This facilitates connection to the supply pipe.

It is particularly preferred that the tap further comprises a compression fitting for connection to the supply pipe.

The attachment means most preferably comprise a substantially planar surface for abutment against the wall.

This may be formed on a flange of the housing.

Screw holes are preferably provided in the flange. The flange most preferably comprises left and right laterally projecting portions having screw holes adjacent their lateral extremities.

It is particularly preferred that a one way valve is provided within the inlet. A one way valve is preferably provided, additionally or alternatively, in the outlet, preferably within the housing itself.

The one way valve in the inlet can be straight forwardly accessed for maintenance or disassembly by taking apart the tap/fluid supply pipe connection.

A specific embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying figures, in which: Fig. 1 is a cross sectional view of a tap (or, more specifically, a bibcock) constructed in accordance with the present invention; and Fig. 2 is a view, from the rear, of a flange forming part of the tap, the remainder of the tap being omitted.

The tap's construction is based on a unitary housing 2 which defines an inlet 4, an outlet 6 to which is attached a nozzle 8, and a rear attachment flange 10 by which the tap can be mounted on a vertical wall surface.

The inlet 4 is cylindrical, its axis being upright when the tap is appropriately mounted, and has a compression fitting for connection to a water source comprising an externally threaded portion 12 at the lower end of the inlet for receiving a connector nut 14. In conventional manner, a connection between the inlet and an upright fluid supply pipe can be formed by inserting the end of the pipe in the inlet and tightening the connector nut 14 to sealingly deform an olive 16.

Disposed within the inlet 4 is a one way valve 16 comprising an annular valve seat and a movable valve member (formed as a resiliently biased piston) which permits water flow into the housing but prevents flow in the reverse direction, thereby preventing any contaminants present in the tap from reaching the water supply.

The tap has a conventional main valve for controlling water flow. The valve comprises a valve housing 18 threadedly received in an upwardly open neck 20 of the unitary housing 2 and sealed thereagainst by means of an "O" ring 22. A generally upright spindle 24 is threadedly received in the valve housing 18 enabling movement in its longitudinal direction and bears a manually operable handle 26 at its upper end and, at its lower end, a circular flange bearing on a resilient circular sealing washer 28.

A valve seat in the form of an annular surface facing the sealing washer 28 is defined within and by the housing 2 at the upper end of the inlet, and of course rotation of the handle 26 moves the sealing washer into or out of contact with the valve seat to open or close the tap.

The outlet 6 is generally cylindrical and lies downstream of the main valve, projecting forwardly and downwardly. It comprises a neck 29 formed by the unitary housing 2 and the nozzle 8, sealingly connected to the neck by means of a nut 30 received on an external thread formed on the neck.

Disposed within the neck 29 is a one way valve 32 oriented to permit water flow out of the outlet but to prevent flow in the reverse direction and thus preventing any contaminant from reaching the interior of the housing 2.

The rear attachment flange or web 10 is integrally formed with the housing 2 and comprises, as Fig. 2 shows, left and right laterally projecting wings defining a planar surface for abutment against the wall and having (clearance) screw holes adjacent their lateral extremities, so that the tap can be directly attached to the wall by a pair of screws or bolts.

A drainage plug in the form of a bolt 34 is threadedly received in a hole which is formed in a web of material forming part of the housing 2 at the internal angle between the inlet and outlet. The hole in question communicates with the interior of the inlet.

Claims

1. A tap comprising a housing which defines a fluid conduit having an inlet and a nozzle outlet, the inlet being integrally formed with the housing and being provided with means for forming a watertight flow connection to a fluid supply pipe, the housing bearing a main valve operable to isolate the outlet from the inlet, and the housing having integrally formed attachment means by which the tap can be mounted on the surface of an upright wall.

2. A tap as claimed in claim 1, in which the housing is formed as a one-piece casting.

3. A tap as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the inlet is generally cylindrical and the shape of the housing is such that when the tap is mounted on the wall, with its outlet directed generally downwardly, the axis of the inlet is upright so that the inlet can be directly connected to an upright fluid supply pipe.

4. A tap as claimed in claim 3 in which the inlet is externally threaded.

5. A tap as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a compression fitting for connection to a supply pipe.

6. A tap as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5, in which the attachment means comprises a substantially planar surface for abutment against the wall.

7. A tap as claimed in claim 6, wherein said substantially planar surface is formed on a flange of the housing.

8. A tap as claimed in claim 7, wherein said housing flange contains screw holes.

9. A tap as claimed in claim 8, wherein the flange comprises left and right laterally projecting portions having screw holes adjacent their lateral extremities.

10. A tap as claimed in any of claims 1 to 9, wherein a one-way valve is provided within the inlet.

11. A tap substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

11. A tap as claimed in any of claims 1 to 9, wherein a respective one-way valve is provided in the outlet and/or in the inlet.

12. A tap substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows

1. A tap comprising a housing which defines a fluid conduit having an inlet and a nozzle outlet, the inlet being integrally formed with the housing, the housing bearing a main valve operable to isolate the outlet from the inlet, and the housing having an integrally formed flange by means of which the tap can be mounted on the surface of an upright wall such that the inlet is downwardly directed for connection to an upright fluid supply pipe, means being provided for forming a watertight connection of the inlet to the fluid supply pipe.

3. A tap as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the inlet is generally cylindrical.

4. A tap as claimed in claim 3 in which the inlet is externally threaded.

5. A tap as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a compression fitting for forming the connection of the inlet to the fluid supply pipe.

6. A tap as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5, in which the flange has a substantially planar surface for abutment against the wall.

7. A tap as claimed in claim 6, wherein said housing flange contains screw holes.

8. A tap as claimed in claim 7, wherein the flange comprises left and right laterally projecting portions having screw holes adjacent their lateral extremities.

9. A tap as claimed in any of claims 1 to 8, wherein a one-way valve is provided within the inlet.

10. A tap as claimed in any of claims 1 to 8, wherein a respective one-way valve is provided in the outlet and/or in the inlet.