JP2001263510A - Single lever type mixing valve for water combination faucet - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the operativity in a non-grease state. SOLUTION: This single lever type mixing valve for water combination faucet provided in the bottom part of a housing and opening/closing a hot water hole and a cold water hole of a fixed valve element by the operation of the fixed valve element having the hot water hole, the cold water hole, and a mixture water discharge hole, a movable valve element slidably provided on the fixed valve element and having a mixing chamber communicated with the hot water hole, the cold water hole and the mixture water discharge hole on a slide contact face with the fixed valve element, and a handle lever engaged with the movable valve element is provided with a groove in contact with, at least, one of the hot water hole and the cold water hole on the slide contact face of the movable valve element in stopping the water.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a single-lever hot-water mixing faucet, and more particularly to a dry sliding single-lever hot-water mixing faucet that can improve operability.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A single-lever hot-water mixing faucet, which is closed and opened by rotating a single lever up and down and left and right, has become widespread. The single-lever hot-water mixing faucet is an underwater sliding type in which a movable valve body and a fixed valve body are arranged in a mixed water flow path in a valve structure, and a dry sliding type in which a mixed water flow path is formed in the valve body. There is. The dry sliding type and the underwater sliding type single lever type hot-water mixing faucet will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12. FIG. 11A is a cross-sectional view of a dry sliding type, FIG. 11B is a diagram illustrating a sliding contact surface of a movable valve body 5, and FIG. is there. FIG. 12 is a sectional view of an underwater sliding type. The underwater sliding type single lever type hot / water mixing faucet 10 shown in FIG. 12 has a bottom plate 8 at the bottom of the housing 4, and a fixed valve body 6 is provided on the bottom plate 8 in the housing 4 with respect to the housing 4. It is provided in a fixed state and in close contact with the bottom plate 8. The movable valve element 5 is provided above the fixed valve element 6,
It is freely slid by the handle lever 9 to be engaged. A lever holder 3 is provided on the upper part of the movable valve body 5 so as not to leak from the housing 4 by the sealing members 7a and 7b. The lever shaft 2 is held by the lever holder 3 via the pin 2a. The rotational movement and the linear movement of the movable valve element 5 in the housing 4 are enabled. In such an underwater sliding type single-lever hot-water mixing faucet, the flow rate and mixing ratio of hot and cold water supplied from the hot-water hole 6a and the cold-water hole 6b are adjusted by rotation and linear motion of the movable valve body 5. Are mixed in a space 4a in the housing 4 and discharged from a discharge hole 4b through a faucet (not shown). As described above, the sliding between the movable valve body 5 and the fixed valve body 6 accompanying the rotation and the linear movement is performed in the mixed water or the like, so that the operating torque of the handle lever 9 can be suppressed low. However, for example, since the seal member 7a serves both as a seal in the space 4a and as an axial bearing, there is a problem that the seal member is likely to be damaged or leaked.

[0003] As a structure for preventing water leakage from the seal member, there is a dry sliding single lever type hot and cold water mixing faucet 1 shown in FIG. The single-lever hot-water mixing faucet 1 shown in FIG. 11 has a fixed valve body 6 and a movable valve body 5 provided in a housing 4, and the movable valve body 5 is engaged with a handle lever 9 to be engaged.
Is slid freely. The handle lever 9 is fixed by the lever shaft 2 and transmits its movement to the movable valve body 5. 3 is a lever holder. The bottom surface of the fixed valve body 6 is fixed to a bottom plate 8 via a packing 7. A hot water hole 6a, a cold water hole 6b, and a mixed water discharge hole 6c are drilled in the fixed valve body 6,
Hot water and water flowing from the hot and cold water holes 6a and 6b are mixed in the mixing chamber 5a of the movable valve body 5 and discharged from a faucet (not shown) through a mixed water discharge hole 6c. in this way,
Hot water and water are discharged from the mixed water discharge hole 6c without passing through the space 4a in the housing 4, so that there is no liquid leakage from the housing 4, and the seal and the bearing can be separated, so that the seal member is not damaged. Does not occur.

[0004]

However, in the single lever type hot / water mixing faucet 1 having a dry sliding type valve structure, the sliding contact surface between the movable valve element 5 and the fixed valve element 6 comes into contact in a dry state. Therefore, there is a problem that the operating torque of the handle lever 9 is increased as compared with the underwater sliding type single lever type hot / water mixing faucet 10. Even when lubricating grease is applied to the sliding contact surface between the movable valve element 5 and the fixed valve element 6, there is a problem that the operating torque increases with time. On the other hand, from the viewpoint of environmental hygiene, there is a demand for a single-lever type hot and cold water mixing faucet 1 having a non-greasy, dry sliding valve structure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to address such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a dry sliding single lever type hot / water mixing faucet capable of improving operability in a non-greasy state. Aim.

[0006]

According to the present invention, there is provided a fixed valve having a hot water hole, a cold water hole and a mixed water discharge hole provided at a bottom portion in a housing, and slidably provided on the fixed valve body. A movable valve body having a mixing chamber communicating with the hot water hole, the cold water hole, and the mixed water discharge hole on the sliding contact surface with the fixed valve body, and the operation of a handle lever engaged with the movable valve body allows the hot and cold water of the fixed valve body to be operated. A single-lever hot-water mixing faucet that opens and closes a hole and a chilled water hole, wherein a groove that contacts at least one of the hot-water hole and the chilled water hole when water is stopped is provided on a sliding contact surface of the movable valve body. It is characterized by. By providing a groove on the sliding contact surface of the movable valve element, water, hot water, or water and hot water exists on the contact surface where the fixed valve element and the movable valve element slide. As a result, the water or hot water present on the contact surface exhibits a lubricating effect, and the operating torque of the handle lever 9 decreases.

Further, the groove provided on the sliding contact surface of the movable valve body has a small concave portion at the end opposite to the hot or cold water hole provided on the fixed valve body. By having the small concave portion, the small concave portion becomes an air reservoir, and water or hot water supplied to the groove easily spreads over the entire groove.

A plurality of independent recesses are provided on the sliding contact surface of the fixed valve element around the hot water hole, the cold water hole, and the mixed water discharge hole, and at least one of the recesses communicates with the groove when water is stopped. It is characterized by doing. A plurality of independent recesses are provided on the sliding contact surface of the fixed valve body, and the recesses and the grooves communicate with each other when water is stopped, so that water or hot water can be stored, and the fixed valve body and the movable valve body are provided. And the lubricity of the handle lever 9 can be constantly maintained, and the operability of the handle lever 9 is further improved.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A movable valve body and a fixed valve body according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1A is a plan view of a movable valve body, and FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA. FIG. 2A is a plan view of a fixed valve body.
FIG. 2B is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. The movable valve element 5 has a mixing chamber 5a and two independent grooves 5b and 5c on a sliding contact surface 5d. Small recesses 5e are formed at the ends of the grooves 5b and 5c. The fixed valve body 6 has a hot water hole 6a, a cold water hole 6b, and a mixed water discharge hole 6c penetrating the valve body. 6d is a sliding contact surface of the fixed valve body 6 which is in contact with the sliding contact surface 5d of the movable valve body 5. The mixing chamber 5a provided in the movable valve body 5 is formed in a concave shape on the sliding contact surface 5d, and the hot and cold water holes 6a, the cold water holes 6b and The mixed water discharge holes 6c are connected to each other.

The two independent grooves 5b and 5c allow one end of the groove to contact at least one of the hot water hole 6a and the cold water hole 6b provided in the fixed valve body 6 when water is stopped, and Any shape that can be arranged around the mixing chamber 5a may be used. As an example, as shown in FIG. 1, the mixing chamber 5a is arranged at a position not directly in contact with the mixing chamber 5a and in a symmetrical shape surrounding the mixing chamber 5a in an arc shape. Further, it is arranged so as to be in contact with hot water hole 6a and cold water hole 6b or to be able to contact both holes when water is stopped. By forming two independent arc-shaped grooves 5b and 5c, the groove 5b
Alternatively, a part of 5c can always contact the holes 6a and 6b when water is stopped. The grooves 5b and 5c are
A small concave portion 5e having a function of an air reservoir is provided at the opposite end portion in contact with a and 6b.

The function of the grooves 5b and 5c will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, which show a perspective view of the movable valve element 5 and the fixed valve element 6 from the movable valve element 5 side. FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C show the overlapping state at the time of water stoppage, and FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C show the overlapping state at the time of water discharge, respectively. The movable valve element 5 is indicated by a thick line. A hot water hole 6a and a cold water hole 6 formed in the fixed valve body 6.
b and the mixed water discharge hole 6c are indicated by horizontal hatching, and the grooves 5b and 5c provided in the movable valve body 5 are indicated by vertical hatching. When the hot and cold water mixing faucet 1 is in the water stopped state, the mixing chamber 5a of the movable valve body 5 overlaps only with the mixed water discharge hole 6c (FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C). In addition, mixing room 5
a and the mixed water discharge hole 6 when the water is stopped from the time of discharging water (FIG. 3A), when the water and hot water are mixed and discharged when the water is stopped (FIG. 3B), In any case where the water is stopped from the time of hot water discharge (FIG. 3 (c)), the grooves 5b and / or 5c provided in the movable valve body 5 are provided with hot water holes 6a provided in the fixed valve body 6 and cold water. It is in contact with the hole 6b. As a result, the water and / or hot water is supplied to the sliding contact surface between the movable valve element 5 and the fixed valve element 6 by the pressure of the hot or cold water via the grooves 5b and / or 5c, and the lubrication is maintained. The operating torque of the lever can be kept low.

When the hot and cold water mixing faucet 1 is in a spouting state, the mixing chamber 5a of the movable valve body 5 overlaps the hot and cold water holes 6a and / or the cold water holes 6b and the mixed water discharge holes 6c (FIG. 4).
(A), (b), (c)). Also in this case, the groove 5b
And / or a part of 5c overlaps with hot water hole 6a, cold water hole 6b or mixed water discharge hole 6c, and water and / or hot water is supplied to the sliding contact surface between movable valve element 5 and fixed valve element 6.

In both the water stopping state and the water discharging state, the grooves 5b and 5c partially overlap the hot and cold water holes 6a, the cold water holes 6b or the mixed water discharge holes 6c, and the other portions only overlap with the sliding contact surfaces. Is provided on the movable valve element 5 so that the lubricating property is maintained and no liquid leakage occurs.

Next, an example in which a concave portion is provided on the sliding surface of the fixed valve body 6 will be described. FIG. 5 is a view showing a sliding contact surface of the fixed valve body 6 provided with a concave portion. The plurality of recesses 6e are provided independently around the circumference of the sliding contact surface of the fixed valve body 6, around the hot water hole 6a, the cold water hole 6b, and the mixed water discharge hole 6c.
The shape of the concave portion 6e may be a concave shape that can hold water and / or hot water. For example, a circle and a square are mentioned. In addition, by providing them independently, it is possible to prevent water leakage or the like due to communication between the hot water hole 6a and the mixed water discharge hole 6c via the grooves 5b and 5c. It is preferable that the plurality of recesses 6e are arranged in a circular shape on the sliding surface of the fixed valve body 6 so as to surround the mixed water discharge hole 6c. With the circular arrangement, even when the grooves 5b and 5c move due to the rotation and linear movement of the movable valve body 5, the plurality of independent recesses 6e can easily contact the grooves 5b and 5c.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the movable valve element 5 and the fixed valve element 6 seen from the movable valve element 5 side in a state where water is stopped.
FIG. 7 shows the case of water discharge. 6 and 7 are shown in the same display method as in FIGS. 3 and 4. In the water stop state, the mixing chamber 5a of the movable valve body 5
Overlaps only with the mixed water discharge hole 6c (FIG. 6 (a),
(B), (c)). The mixing chamber 5a and the mixed water discharge hole 6
6 when the water is stopped from the time of water discharge (Fig. 6
(A)), the movable valve body in both the case where the water and the hot water are discharged after mixing (FIG. 6 (b)) and the case where the water is stopped after the hot water is discharged (FIG. 6 (c)). The groove 5b and / or 5c provided on the fixed valve body 6 comes in contact with the hot water hole 6a and the cold water hole 6b,
e. As a result, the grooves 5b and / or 5
Water and / or hot water are supplied and held in the concave portion 6e communicating with c. As a result, it is easy to maintain the lubrication performance, and the operating torque of the handle lever can be maintained lower than in the case where the concave portion 6e is not provided.

When the hot and cold water mixing faucet 1 is in the water discharging state, the hot water hole 6a and / or the cold water hole 6b of the mixing chamber 5a of the movable valve body 5 overlap with the mixed water discharge hole 6c (FIG. 7).
(A), (b), (c)). Also in this case, the groove 5b
Part of 5c is in contact with hot water hole 6a, cold water hole 6b or mixed water discharge hole 6c, and at the same time is in contact with concave portion 6e. As a result, water and / or hot water are supplied to the sliding contact surface between the movable valve element 5 and the fixed valve element 6 and are held in the recess 6e, so that lubrication can be maintained.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows a movable valve body 5 and a fixed valve body 6 provided with grooves 5b and 5c and a concave portion 6e shown in FIG.
Example 1 A household single-lever water / water mixing faucet 1 shown in FIG. A single-lever hot water mixing faucet 1 for domestic use shown in FIG. 11 was assembled using a movable valve body 5 and a fixed valve body 6 having no grooves and recesses as a comparative example. An endurance test was performed on the example and the comparative example, and the operating torque of the handle lever was measured. Endurance test equipment (N
TN Precision Resin Co., Ltd.) is shown in FIG.

The endurance test was performed by connecting the handle lever 9 to the endurance test device and in the cycle shown in FIG. That is, the handle lever 9 was operated as follows. The lower right end is a cold water spouting state from the upper right end where water is stopped (arrow Rd) → the lower left end is a 80 ° C hot water spouting state from the lower right end (arrow Pm) → the left end is water stopped from the lower left end Upper part (arrow Lu) → lower left part from upper left part (arrow Ld) → lower center part from left lower part with warm water at 45 ° C. (arrow Pl) → upper part lower part from center lower part with water stoppage (Arrow Cu) → lower center from upper center (arrow Cd) → lower right end from lower center (arrow Pr) → upper right end from lower right end (arrow Ru). One cycle above (required time: about 25 seconds)
A 200,000 cycle endurance test was performed. After a predetermined cycle, the operating force (N) of the handle lever 9 was measured. The results are shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. FIG. 9 is a plot of the average value of the operating force (N) of the arrow Rd, the arrow Ru, the arrow Lu, and the arrow Ld in one cycle during the linear motion. FIG. 10 is a plot of the average value of the operating force (N) at the time of the rotational movement of the arrows Pm, Pl, and Pr. In addition, the maximum value and the minimum value are described together.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, in the single-lever type hot and cold water mixing faucet 1 of the embodiment, water, hot water, or water and hot water is applied to the contact surface where the fixed valve body and the movable valve body are in sliding contact. Since it exists through the groove, the operating force (N) is lower than that of the comparative example, and excellent handle lever operability was exhibited for a long time.

A single-lever hot-water mixing faucet 1 identical to the above-mentioned embodiment except that a movable valve body 5 provided with grooves 5b and 5c and a fixed valve body 6 not provided with a recess 6e shown in FIG. 1 is used. Was assembled and the durability test was performed. As a result, the operating force (N) slightly increased in the average value of both the linear motion and the rotational motion, but the operating force (N) was lower than that of the comparative example.

[0021]

The single-lever hot-water mixing faucet of the present invention has a groove in contact with at least one of a hot-water hole and a cold-water hole when water is stopped, even when it has a dry sliding valve structure. Is provided on the sliding contact surface of the movable valve body, so that the lubrication effect can be maintained by water or the like existing through the groove. As a result, the operability of the handle lever is excellent without applying lubricating grease.

Further, since the small concave portion is provided at one end of the groove, the small concave portion serves as an air reservoir, and water or the like easily spreads over the entire groove portion, and the lubricating effect is improved.

Also, since a plurality of recesses are provided on the sliding contact surface of the fixed valve body, and at least one of the recesses communicates with the groove when water is stopped, the recesses serve as reservoirs for water or hot water, A single-lever type hot and cold water mixing faucet with excellent handle lever operability can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a movable valve body.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a fixed valve body.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which the movable valve body and the fixed valve body overlap when water is stopped.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state in which the movable valve body and the fixed valve body overlap each other at the time of water discharge.

FIG. 5 is a view showing a sliding contact surface of a fixed valve body provided with a concave portion.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an overlapping state of a fixed valve body provided with a movable valve body and a concave portion when water is stopped.

FIG. 7 is an overlapping state diagram of a movable valve body and a fixed valve body provided with a concave portion when water is discharged.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a durability test apparatus.

FIG. 9 is a diagram in which operating force (N) during linear motion is plotted.

FIG. 10 is a diagram in which the operating force (N) during the rotational movement is plotted.

FIG. 11 is a view showing a dry sliding type single lever type hot / water mixing faucet;

FIG. 12 is a view showing an underwater sliding type single lever type hot / water mixing faucet.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Dry sliding type single lever type hot and cold water mixing faucet 2 Lever shaft 3 Lever holder 4 Housing 5 Movable valve body 5a, mixing chamber 5b, 5c groove 5d Sliding contact surface 5e Small recess 6 Fixed valve body 6a Hot water hole 6b Cold water hole 6c Mixed water discharge hole 6d Sliding contact surface 6e Recessed part 7 Seal member 8 Bottom plate 9 Handle lever 10 Single-lever water / water mixing faucet sliding underwater

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A hot water hole, provided at a bottom portion inside a housing.
A fixed valve body having a cold water hole and a mixed water discharge hole, and a mixing chamber slidably provided on the fixed valve body and capable of communicating with the hot water hole, the cold water hole, and the mixed water discharge hole. A movable valve body having a sliding contact surface, and a single-lever hot-water mixing faucet that opens and closes the hot and cold water holes of the fixed valve body by operating a handle lever that engages with the movable valve body; A single-lever hot-water mixing faucet, characterized in that a groove capable of contacting at least one of the hot-water hole and the cold-water hole when water is provided is provided on a sliding contact surface of the movable valve body. 2. A groove provided on a sliding contact surface of the movable valve body has a small concave portion at an end opposite to a side in contact with a hot or cold water hole provided on the fixed valve body. The single-lever hot and cold water mixing faucet according to claim 1. 3. A plurality of independent recesses are provided on the sliding contact surface of the fixed valve body around the hot water hole, the cold water hole, and the mixed water discharge hole, and at least one of the recesses and the groove are closed when water is stopped. The single-lever type hot and cold water mixing faucet according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the single-lever type hot and cold water mixing faucet is communicated with each other.