GB2554852A

GB2554852A - A valve fitment

Info

Publication number: GB2554852A
Application number: GB1612543.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Carrington Paul; Edward Lindley Christopher
Original assignee: Aquacheck Engineering H Ltd
Current assignee: Aquacheck Engineering H Ltd
Priority date: 2016-07-20
Filing date: 2016-07-20
Publication date: 2018-04-18
Anticipated expiration: 2036-07-20
Also published as: GB201612543D0; GB2554852B

Abstract

A valve fitment 1 for accommodating and attaching a valve, such as a non-return valve, to a fluid outlet by a screwing motion comprises two cooperating, interlockable parts 4, 5. One of the parts 5 carries a spring-loaded detent 22 that bears against a continuous but stepped spiral shoulder 20 defined by the other part 4. The detent bears against the stepped portion 21 of the shoulder to lock the two parts together when the fitment is rotated in a first direction to attach the valve to the fluid outlet. However, the detent travels around the shoulder and over the stepped portion so that the parts do not interlock when the fitment is rotated in an opposite direction thereby preventing the fitment from being unscrewed from the outlet. The two parts can comprise an inner 4 and an outer 5 part, with the inner part being located within the outer part, potentially completely covered, and defining a screw-thread via which the fitment is attached to the outlet. The outer part can carry the detent and the inner part defines the shoulder. Each part can carry a non-return valve insert, for instance in series along the longitudinal axis of the fitment.

Description

(71) Applicant(s):

Aquacheck Engineering H Limited (Incorporated in the United Kingdom)

York Street, HEYWOOD, Lancashire, OL10 4NR, (56) Documents Cited:

WO 2014/122266 A1 US 5031661 A1 KR20100100049

DE 019500848 C1

United Kingdom (72) Inventor(s):

Paul Carrington Christopher Edward Lindley (58) Field of Search:

INT CL E03B, E03C, F16L Other: EPODOC & WPI (74) Agent and/or Address for Service:

L J Bray & Co.

Raw Holme, Midgehole Road, HEBDEN BRIDGE, West Yorkshire, HX7 7AF, United Kingdom (54) Title ofthe Invention: A valve fitment

Abstract Title: Valve fitment with spring loaded detent to prevent unscrewing (57) A valve fitment 1 for accommodating and attaching a valve, such as a non-return valve, to a fluid outlet by a screwing motion comprises two cooperating, interlockable parts 4, 5. One ofthe parts 5 carries a spring-loaded detent 22 that bears against a continuous but stepped spiral shoulder 20 defined by the other part 4. The detent bears against the stepped portion 21 of the shoulder to lock the two parts together when the fitment is rotated in a first direction to attach the valve to the fluid outlet. However, the detent travels around the shoulder and over the stepped portion so that the parts do not interlock when the fitment is rotated in an opposite direction thereby preventing the fitment from being unscrewed from the outlet. The two parts can comprise an inner 4 and an outer 5 part, with the inner part being located within the outer part, potentially completely covered, and defining a screwthread via which the fitment is attached to the outlet. The outer part can carry the detent and the inner part defines the shoulder. Each part can carry a non-return valve insert, for instance in series along the longitudinal axis ofthe fitment.

A VALVE FITMENT

The present invention relates to a valve fitment and in particular to a fitment for attaching a valve to a fluid outlet.

Check valves or non-return valves are used in many applications but it is a legal requirement in the United Kingdom for double check valves to be used in the supply of mains water via stand pipes and exterior taps to prevent contamination of the mains supply. A double check valve is one wherein two non-return valves are located in series in a casing so that one can provide a back-up for the other. Hence, valves for attachment to the outlets of exterior taps should preferably be made so that once fitted they cannot be removed to prevent a user from avoiding the regulations laid down by the United Kingdom Water Authorities.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a valve fitment for attaching a valve to a fluid outlet such as an exterior tap or other fluid outlet that, once fitted to the outlet, cannot by removed therefrom by simply unscrewing it.

According to the present invention there is provided a valve fitment for accommodating and attaching a valve to a fluid outlet by a screwing motion, comprising two cooperating, interlockable parts, one of which locates a spring-loaded detent that bears against a continuous but stepped spiral shoulder defined by the other part, the detent bearing against the stepped portion of the shoulder to lock the two parts together when the fitment is rotated in a first direction to attach the valve to the fluid outlet but travelling around the shoulder over the stepped portion of the shoulder so that the parts do not interlock when the fitment is rotated in an opposite direction thereby preventing the fitment from being unscrewed from the outlet.

Preferably, each of the parts locates a non-return valve insert.

Other preferred but non-essential features of the present invention are described in the dependent claims appended hereto.

The present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a longitudinal crosssectional view of a valve fitment according to the invention.

The valve fitment l shown in the drawing comprises a housing adapted to locate two identical non-return valve inserts 2 and 3. The valve inserts 2 and 3 are conventional and are not shown in detail in the drawing. Each comprises a self-contained unit including a valve seat and a moveable member which can be displaced axially with regard to the seat against a spring bias which tends to close the valve member against the seat.

The fitment 1 comprises an inner part 4 and an outer part 5, each of which is adapted to carry the inserts 2 and 3 respectively in series along the longitudinal axis of the fitment 1.

The outer part 5 has a stepped body defining an axial bore 6 which accommodates at each end, in portions of increased diameter, the insert 3 and the inner part 4. The insert 3 is retained in position against a shoulder 7 by a circlip 8. The inner part is also retained against a shoulder 9 by an inturned flange 10 which is formed as a lip 11 around the rim of the bore 6 at one end of the part 5 and then turned inwards after location of the part 4 in the bore 6 during assembly so that the part 4 cannot afterwards be removed therefrom without destruction of the valve.

A test port 12, closable by a plug (not shown), is provided in the part

5. The provision of the port 12 is a requirement of the United Kingdom Water Authorities if the valve is for use in the supply of mains water so that an inspection of the valve can be made in situ without it having to be dismantled.

The inner part 4 also has a stepped body defining an axial bore 13 which in the assembled valve lies in line with the bore 6. In a portion of the bore 13 of reduced diameter is located the insert 2 which bears against the shoulder 9 and is held in position by an in-let sealing ring (not shown). The joint between the inner and out parts 4 and 5 is sealed by O-rings 14 and 15 located in annular grooves 16 and 17 respectively formed in the outer two diameters of the part 4.

The portion of the bore 13 of larger diameter is provided with an internal screw-thread 18 by means of which the valve can be screwed on to an exterior tap of other mains water outlet as will be described. The diameter of this portion of the bore 13 is, therefore, of standard size and corresponds to the diameter of the part at the other end of the valve which is also provided with an exterior screw thread 19 to enable other items such as a hose or to be connected thereto.

The stepped portion of the part 4 defines a shoulder 20 which is a continuous but stepped spiral, the face of the step 21 being shown in the drawing. Against this shoulder 20 bears a spring-loaded detent 22 comprising a pin which is located in a bore 23 defined by the outer part 5. If the inner part 4 is rotated in a one direction with respect to the outer part 5 then the detent 22 can travel completely around the shoulder 20 as it is urged down the step 21 by the spring bias. However, if the inner part 4 is rotated in the opposite direction with respect to the outer part 5 then the detent 22 travels around the shoulder 20 only until it contacts the step 21 and the two parts 4 and 5 interlock and cannot be rotated further relative to one another.

The direction of the spiral shoulder 21 is arranged so that if the valve fitment 1 is screwed to another component by means of the thread 18, then the two parts 4 and 5 interlock so that the whole fitment 1 can be rotated relative to the component to ensure a tight joint. However, if it is then desired to unscrew the valve fitment 1, rotation of the outer part 5 relative to the component will not rotate the inner part 5 as the detent 22 will travel around the shoulder 20 and over the step 21 so that removal of the fitment 1 by this means is thereby prevented.

The part 4 is completely covered by the outer part 5 when it has been attached to another component via the thread 18 so that it cannot be gripped by hand or by using a tool. In this way relative rotation of the outer part 5 thereto cannot be prevented.

In this example, a double check or non-return valve is described with particular emphasis on its use in the supply of mains water. However, it will be appreciated that the invention can be employed in any situation where a non-removable valve fitment is required, regardless of the type and number of valve inserts used.

Claims

1. A valve fitment for accommodating and attaching a valve to a fluid outlet by a screwing motion, comprising two cooperating, interlockable parts, one of which carries a spring-loaded detent that bears against a continuous but stepped spiral shoulder defined by the other part, the detent bearing against the stepped portion of the shoulder to lock the two parts together when the fitment is rotated in a first direction to attach the valve to the fluid outlet but travelling around the shoulder over the stepped portion of the shoulder so that the parts do not interlock when the fitment is rotated in an opposite direction thereby preventing the fitment from being unscrewed from the outlet.

2. A valve fitment as claimed in Claim l, wherein the two parts comprise an inner part and an outer part respectively with the inner part being located within the outer part and defining a screw-thread by means of which the fitment is attached to the outlet.

3. A valve fitment as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the inner part is completely covered by the outer part when it has been attached to the outlet.

4. A valve fitment as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3, wherein the outer part carries the detent and the inner part defines the shoulder.

5. A valve fitment as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 4, wherein each of the parts is adapted to carry a non-return valve insert.

6. A valve fitment as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the parts are adapted to carry the non-return valve inserts in series along the longitudinal axis of the fitment.

7- A valve fitment substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawing.

Intellectual

Property

Office

Application No: GB1612543.7 Examiner: Kris Wojciechowski