JP2001227012A - Single lever type combination faucet - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simplify the fixing structure of a lever of a single lever type combination faucet, and to provide the fixing structure requiring no locking member. SOLUTION: In this single lever type combination faucet capable of rotating a metallic almost quadrangular columnar valve element operating shaft 2 around a shaft by a resin lever 1 and operable by sliding a valve element in a holder 3 to a valve seat by inclining the axis of the valve element operating shaft 2 by a required angle, a fitting hole 4 is formed in one end part of the lever 1 so as to be loosely fitted to a side surface of the valve element operating shaft 2 by leaving clearance S1. A resin spacer 5 for arranging a plate-like inserting part 5b in an upright shape is installed on one surface of a disk part 5a to block up the clearance S1. An inserting hole 6 penetrates up to an outside surface of the lever 1 from the clearance S1. The plate-like inserting part 5b of the spacer 5 is inserted into the inserting hole 6 to directly press the side surface of the valve element operating shaft 2 to fit and integrally fix the fitting hole 4 and the valve element operating shaft 2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a single lever type mixing tap used for a hot and cold mixing faucet and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, a single-lever type mixing tap used for a hot-water mixing faucet or the like has a multi-way valve type cartridge type valve unit provided in a housing and projects from such a valve unit. Rotating the valve operating shaft around the axis with a single lever, or operating the valve so that its axis is inclined, adjusting the water output,
It can stop water, adjust the mixing ratio of hot and cold water, and adjust other mixing.

Incidentally, a valve seat having a plurality of inflow ports is fixed inside the valve device unit, and a valve body in contact with the valve seat surface is provided so as to be movable, and this valve body is easily placed on the valve seat surface. A single lever is mounted on the valve operating shaft in order to easily rotate the valve or to move the valve easily in the direction in which the valve shifts with respect to the valve seat if necessary.

The relationship between the single lever and the valve operating shaft will be described with reference to FIG. 6. The lever 20 of the conventional single lever type mixer tap has a square or other prismatic valve operating shaft 21 as a fulcrum. The valve body can be operated by rotating the valve body in the holder 22 of the valve device by rotating around the axis, or changing the horizontal angle of the lever 20 so as to incline the axis of the valve body operation shaft 21. is there.

[0005] In such a lever 20, a fitting hole 23 is formed at the end opposite to the grip portion, and the fitting hole 23 is fixed to the valve operating shaft 21 with a screw 24 in a state fitted thereto. A synthetic resin plate-like cap 25 for blindfold is attached from above.

As shown in FIGS. 6 (a) and 6 (b), the form of screwing the lever 20 to the valve operating shaft 21 is as follows.
A screw hole 26 is formed in the axial direction from the end face of the valve operating shaft 21, and a screw 24 is inserted into a through hole 27 formed at the end of the lever 20 and fixed, or as shown in FIG. Form a screw hole 30 in the lateral direction from the side of the part,
A screw 24 is screwed into this, and the tip of the screw is
9 is fixed by pressing.

[0007]

However, all of the above-mentioned conventional single-lever type mixing taps are screwed between the lever and the valve operating shaft to prevent loosening which usually increases the frictional resistance of the screw surface. Agent (trade name: Loctite, etc.)
Is applied and fixed in that state, so that there is a problem that it takes time to mount the lever.

[0008] Further, in the operation of mounting the lever, the degree of tightening of the screws tends to be uneven, so that there is also a problem that the accuracy of the finished product tends to be insufficient.

Further, when the mixing tap is used, there is a possibility that the anti-loosening agent may enter the sliding surface of the mixing valve little by little. There is a problem that liquid such as passing water is likely to leak.

On the other hand, the action of the anti-loosening agent to prevent the loosening of the screw gradually decreases with time, so that if the mixing tap is used for a long time, the screw becomes loose and it becomes difficult to operate the lever reliably. There is also.

[0011] Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problems, simplify the lever fixing structure of the single-lever mixer tap, and use an anti-loosening agent. The present invention is to provide a single-lever mixer tap that can operate the lever lightly and reliably even when the mixer tap is used for a long period of time.

Further, more specific technical problems include:
A single-lever mixer tap that can be assembled without any hassle by simplifying the installation work of the lever as much as possible.Also, the installation state of the lever is reliable, and the accuracy of the finished product is high, Another object of the present invention is to provide a single-lever mixer tap which is free from rattling and other troubles in mounting the lever handle even after repeated use such as more than 200,000 times, and the valve body and valve seat are not easily damaged.

[0013]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in the invention according to each claim of the present application, a valve operating shaft is rotated around a single lever by a single lever or its axis is inclined. In a mixing tap having a single lever capable of operating a valve element, a fitting hole in which a side surface of a valve element operating shaft is loosely fitted with a gap left is formed in a resin lever, and a spacer large enough to close the gap is provided. At the same time, the insertion hole is provided to be opened to the outside of the lever, and a spacer is inserted into the insertion hole to fix the valve operating shaft fitted in the fitting hole to form a single lever type mixing tap.

In the above single-lever type mixing tap,
A structure in which the insertion hole of the spacer is an insertion hole penetrating the gap and the outer surface of the lever can be adopted.

Further, in the single-lever type mixing tap described above, it is possible to adopt a structure in which the insertion hole of the spacer is formed in a wedge shape with a deeper portion inside the lever along the gap, the shape being narrower.

In the single-lever type mixing tap configured as described above, the valve operating shaft is loosely fitted into the fitting hole of the resin lever with a gap left therebetween, so that the fitting operation between the lever and the valve operating shaft is performed. Is easy and quick. Then, simply insert the spacer into the spacer insertion hole that opens on the outside of the lever, there is no gap, and the fitting hole and the valve operating shaft are tightly fixed, so there is no need for a screwing structure or a loosening prevention agent. .

Since a fixed fixing force is obtained by the frictional engagement between the fitting hole and the valve element operating shaft, a single-lever mixer tap having high finishing accuracy of the product can be obtained.

In the above-mentioned structure, in the single-lever mixer tap having the spacer insertion hole formed so as to penetrate the gap and the outer surface of the lever, the spacer directly presses the side surface of the valve operating shaft so that the lever and the valve are opened. Since the body operation shaft is brought into close contact, a fixing force can be reliably obtained.

In the above-mentioned structure, in the single-lever mixer tap in which the spacer insertion hole is formed in a wedge shape inside the lever along the gap, the inserted spacer presses a narrow portion inside the insertion hole. spread. At this time, the fitting hole formed inside the lever is deformed so as to reduce the gap, and in the final deformed state, the side surface of the fitting hole is pressed against the valve element operating shaft.

In the single-lever type mixer tap having any one of the above structures, the valve body operation shaft is restricted from sliding in the axial direction by fitting into the side surface of the fitting hole and the side surface of the valve body operation shaft. It is preferable to use a single-lever type mixer tap having a structure in which the uneven portion is formed in order to securely fix the lever and the valve element operating shaft.

In the single-lever type mixing tap having such a structure, the fitting hole of the lever and the shaft for operating the valve body are formed by an uneven portion.
Since the lever is immovably locked in the axial direction, the lever is securely prevented from coming off.

Further, in the single-lever mixer tap having any of the above structures, the single-lever mixer tap has a linear projection formed on the surface of the spacer or the side face of the spacer insertion hole along the direction of insertion of the spacer. is there.

In the single-lever type mixing tap constructed as described above, the inserted spacer and the insertion hole are in contact with each other via the linear projection, and these are not in close contact with the entire surface, so that the contact area at the time of insertion and after insertion is small. As a result, the frictional resistance is reduced, and the spacer can be smoothly inserted when the spacer is inserted or the part is replaced.

[0024]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the single-lever type mixing tap according to the first embodiment uses a resin-made lever 1 to rotate a substantially quadrangular valve element operating shaft 2 made of metal such as brass. The valve body (not shown) in the holder 3 can be rotated two or more times by inclining the axis of the valve body operating shaft 2 by a required angle with respect to a vertical line. A single-lever mixer tap that is slid into contact with a valve seat having a valve hole, wherein one end of the lever 1 is formed in a bowl shape, and a fitting hole 4 is formed in the inside thereof.
Further, a plate-shaped (rectangular parallelepiped) insertion portion 5 is provided on one surface of the disk portion 5a.
Attach the resin spacer 5 provided with b upright,
Is obtained by closing the gap S _1, the fitting hole 4 is formed to fit loosely, leaving a gap S ₁ (rectangular parallelepiped) in the side surface of the valve gymnastics operating shaft 2.

As shown in FIG. 1 (a), the insertion hole 6 penetrates from the gap S ₁ to the outer surface of the lever 1, Figure 1
As shown in (c), when the plate-shaped insertion portion 5b of the spacer 5 is inserted into the insertion hole 6, the side surface of the valve element operation shaft 2 is pressed, and the fitting hole 4 and the valve element operation shaft 2 are moved. The valve body operating shaft 2 and the lever 1 are fitted and pressed together.

If the spacer 5 is formed by using the same kind of resin as the lever 1, it becomes a single lever type mixing tap which can be operated without any backlash even when used for a long period of time, by being integrated well in the pressed state. For example, the lever 1 and the disk portion 5a and the insertion portion 5b of the spacer 5 are made of the same ABS.
It is preferably formed of a resin (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer). In addition, the disk part 5a is
The spacer 5 is preferably provided to facilitate the work at the time of attachment / detachment, but the spacer 5 may be constituted only by the insertion portion 5b.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the first embodiment, a step-like convex portion 7 having a constant thickness is provided at a lower edge portion of one side surface of a fitting hole 4 opened in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and has a constant thickness across the side surface. A quadrangular groove-shaped recess 8 fitted in this is provided on the side surface of the valve body operating shaft 2, and when these are fitted together, the valve body operating shaft 2 in the fitting hole 4 is formed.
In the axial direction can be prevented.

The spacer 5 shown in FIG. 1 has a rectangular parallelepiped insertion portion 5b whose surface is formed smoothly, but as shown in FIG. 2, a line is formed on the surface of the insertion portion 5b along the insertion direction. It is preferable to form the strip projections 9 and other projections of a known shape because the insertion and removal of the spacer 5 can be performed smoothly.

Usually, the linear projections 9 are formed in a plurality of rows in order to enhance the operability, but the height is sufficient if, for example, about 0.1 to 1.0 mm. Also, even if such a linear projection is formed on the side surface of the spacer insertion hole 6, the same operation as described above can be expected.

The second embodiment shown in FIG. 3 is a modification of the first embodiment, in which the form of the portion of the lever 1 to be fitted to the valve operating shaft 2 is partially changed. It is composed of exactly the same parts as in the embodiment.

That is, the lever 10 of the second embodiment is
Insertion holes 11 of the spacer 5, and is formed inside the deep portion narrower wedge lever 10 along the clearance S _2. The gap S ₂ has a shape similar to a wedge (reverse) corresponding to the shape of the insertion hole 11.

In the single-lever mixer tap according to the second embodiment, the rectangular parallelepiped insertion portion 5b of the spacer 5 is
Because the narrow part inside 1 is pushed open, the fitting hole 12 is
Modified as clearance S ₂ is decreased, during the final deformation side and the side surface of the valve gymnastics operating shaft 2 of the fitting hole 12 is pressed and fit stepped projection 13 and the recess 8 completely fits, and Crimp.

Next, in the third embodiment shown in FIG. 4, no step-like projection is formed on the side surface of the fitting hole 12 (see FIG. 3) formed in the second embodiment. Insertion hole 15 formed near and along the fitting hole 14 formed in
Is formed in a wedge shape, and a substantially rectangular parallelepiped valve element operating shaft 1 is formed.
6, a wedge-shaped notch 18 is formed on one side surface, the end of which is formed into an inverted shape of a quadrangular frustum, and a gap S _{3 of the} fitting hole 14 is formed.
Is a wedge-shaped notch having substantially the same size as the above-mentioned wedge-shaped notch.

In the third embodiment assembled as shown in FIG. 4B, there is no part that moves between the valve body operating shaft 16 and the fitting hole 14, and there is no rattling even after long-term use. Lever operation can be reliably obtained.

[0036]

EXAMPLE 1 A single-lever mixer tap according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 was used in which the surface of a rectangular parallelepiped insertion portion of a spacer was formed as a smooth surface, and was used as a lever and a spacer. An injection molded product of ABS resin (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer) was used, and a brass cut product was used as a valve operating shaft.

The single-lever mixer tap was subjected to the following durability test to evaluate the operating condition of the lever. The results are shown in Table 1.

[Durability test in use of single-lever type mixer tap] A durability tester (manufactured by NTN Precision Resin Co., Ltd.) for automatically operating the lever in a predetermined direction is attached. As shown in FIG. (It is also called a handle.) 19
From the lower right end (water stop) to the upper right end (cold water) → upper left end (hot water 80 ° C) → lower left end (water stop) → upper left end (hot water 80)
℃) → upper center (hot water 45 ° C) → lower center (water stop) → upper center (hot water 45 ° C) → upper right end (cold water) → lower right end (water stop) as one cycle (25 seconds required), Check the lever fixing condition every 50,000 cycles.
The durability up to 10,000 cycles was examined.

Here, the evaluation of the durability at every 50,000 cycles is based on the movement angle of the lever (play angle) when the lever moves in play without holding the lever up and down and applying force.
Was measured with the upper part of the valve operating shaft as the center point. At this time, the case where the moving angle was less than 2 degrees was indicated by 印, the case where it was 2 degrees or more and less than 5 degrees was indicated by Δ, and the case where the moving angle was 5 degrees or more was indicated by ×, the results were shown in Table 1. .

[0040]

[Table 1]

Example 2 Regarding the single-lever type mixing tap according to the second embodiment shown in FIG. 3, a linear projection 9 having a height of 0.3 mm and a triangular cross section was formed on the surface of the spacer along the insertion direction (FIG. 2). ) Was formed, and as in Example 1, an injection molded product of ABS resin was used as the lever and the spacer, and a brass cut product was used for the valve body operating shaft.

The single-lever mixer tap was subjected to the above-mentioned endurance test, and the operating condition of the lever was evaluated. The results are shown in Table 1.

Example 3 A single-lever mixer tap was prepared in exactly the same manner as in Example 2, except that the spacer was an injection-molded product of polyacetal resin (POM).

The single-lever mixer tap was subjected to the above-mentioned endurance test, and the operating condition of the lever was evaluated. The results are shown in Table 1.

Comparative Example 1 In the conventional single-lever mixer tap shown in FIG. 6, a screw 24 was fixed without applying a loosening preventive agent. In addition, an injection molded product of ABS resin (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer) was used as the lever, and a brass cut product was used as the valve operating shaft.

The single-lever mixer tap was subjected to the above-mentioned endurance test, and the operating condition of the lever was evaluated. The results are shown in Table 1.

Comparative Example 2 In the single-lever mixer tap of the first conventional example shown in FIG. 6, a screw 24 was coated with an anti-loosening agent (manufactured by Nippon Loctite, Loctite) and fixed.

The single-lever mixer tap was subjected to the above-mentioned durability test to evaluate the operating condition of the lever. The results are shown in Table 1.

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 3 In the single-lever mixer tap of the second conventional example shown in FIG. 7, a screw 24 was coated with an anti-loosening agent (manufactured by Nippon Loctite, Loctite) and fixed.

The single-lever mixer tap was subjected to the above-mentioned endurance test, and the operating condition of the lever was evaluated. The results are shown in Table 1.

As is evident from the results in Table 1, the single-lever mixer taps of Comparative Examples 1 to 3 in which the levers were screwed to the valve operating shaft were subjected to a use durability test up to 50,000 cycles. Was good, but rattling occurred in the lever operation feeling before and after 100,000 to 200,000 cycles.

However, in the single-lever type mixer taps of Examples 1 to 3, no rattling of the lever was observed in the evaluation of the use durability after 200,000 cycles.

Although the use durability test was continued up to 250,000 cycles, in Example 3 in which the type of the synthetic resin forming the lever and the spacer was different, the lever operation feeling rattled.

Further, in the second and third embodiments in which the linear projections are formed on the surface of the spacer, the insertion and removal of the spacer are performed more smoothly than in the first embodiment in which the linear projections are not formed on the surface of the spacer. And no difference in operation feeling in the durability test described above.

[0055]

As described above, the invention according to each claim of the present application forms the fitting hole in which the side surface of the valve operating shaft is loosely fitted in the resin lever of the single lever type mixing tap with leaving a gap. Then, the insertion hole of the spacer that closes the gap was formed, and the lever and the valve element operating shaft were tightly fixed in a state where the spacer was inserted, so that the fixing structure of the lever of the single lever type mixing tap was simplified, There is no need to use an anti-loosening agent, and the lever has a secure lever fixing structure, and a single-lever mixer tap that can operate the lever lightly and reliably even when the mixer tap is used for a long time.

The invention according to the single-lever mixer tap having a shape in which the spacer insertion hole penetrates the gap and the outer surface of the lever can more reliably obtain the above-mentioned advantages.

The advantages described above can be surely obtained also in the invention according to the single lever mixer tap in which the spacer insertion hole is formed in a wedge shape inside the lever along the gap.

These single-lever mixer taps are as simple as possible to install the lever, are single-lever mixer taps capable of assembling work without any hassle, and ensure that the lever is installed securely. The accuracy of the finished product is high, and even after repeated use over 200,000 times, there is no looseness or any other trouble in the installation of the lever handle, and the valve body and valve seat are damaged. It becomes a difficult single lever mixer tap.

Further, in the invention according to the single-lever type mixer tap in which the concave and convex portions that fit each other are formed on the side surface of the fitting hole and the side surface of the valve element operating shaft, the lever is securely prevented from coming off.

Furthermore, in the invention according to the single-lever mixer tap having a linear projection formed on the surface of the spacer or the side surface of the spacer insertion hole along the direction of insertion of the spacer, the operation of inserting and replacing the spacer is smooth. There is also an advantage that can be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1A is an exploded front view of a part of a part of the first embodiment; FIG. 1B is an end view of a valve operating shaft of FIG. 1A; FIG. 1C is a part of the first embodiment; Cross section front view

2A is a front view of the spacer of the first embodiment. FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of the spacer of FIG. 1A. FIG. 2C is an enlarged view of a main part of the spacer of the first embodiment. Cross section shown

FIG. 3 is an exploded partial cross-sectional front view of the components of the second embodiment.

FIG. 4 (a) is a partial cross-sectional front view showing the parts of the third embodiment in an exploded manner. FIG. 4 (b) is a partial cross-sectional front view of the third embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a single-lever mixer tap used in an endurance test of Examples and Comparative Examples.

FIG. 6 (a) is a front view of a partial cross section showing parts of the first conventional example exploded, and (b) is a front view of a partial cross section of the first conventional example.

FIG. 7 is a front view of a partial cross section of a second conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 10, 17, 19, 20, 28 Lever 2, 16, 21, 29 Valve operating shaft 3, 22, Holder 4, 12, 14, 23 Fitting hole 5 Spacer 5a Disk portion 5b Insertion portion 6, 11, 15 insertion holes 7-step form protrusions 8 recess 9 striatum projection 13 the convex portion 18 cut-out 24 screw 25 cap 26 screw holes 27, 30 through-hole S _1, S _2, S ₃ gap

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A mixer tap having a single lever capable of operating a valve element by rotating a valve element operation axis around an axis by a single lever or tilting the axis thereof, wherein the lever has a side surface of the valve element operation axis. A clearance hole is formed so as to fit loosely leaving a gap, a spacer large enough to close the clearance is provided, and the insertion hole is provided by opening the outside of the lever.The spacer is inserted into the insertion hole and fitted. A single-lever mixer tap characterized by fixing a valve operating shaft fitted in a mating hole. 2. The single-lever mixer tap according to claim 1, wherein the insertion hole of the spacer is an insertion hole passing through the gap and the outer surface of the lever. 3. The single-lever mixer tap according to claim 1, wherein the insertion hole of the spacer is formed in a wedge shape with a deeper portion inside the lever along the gap. 4. The side surface of the fitting hole and the side surface of the valve element operating shaft are provided with a concave and convex portion which is fitted to each other and regulates sliding of the valve element operating shaft in the axial direction. A single-lever mixer tap according to the present invention. 5. The single-lever mixer tap according to claim 1, wherein a linear projection is formed on a surface of the spacer or on a side surface of the spacer insertion hole along a direction in which the spacer is inserted.