JP2008531882A - Faucet assembly with integrated water shutoff valve - Google Patents

Abstract

  A faucet device for being attached to sinks, washbasins, and the like is a quick and easy way of faucet head assembly to a faucet base mounted in a sink or similar fixture without the need to manually open and close the water supply line. It is disclosed that an automatic water supply shut-off valve is provided that allows easy installation or removal. The faucet head is removable from the base and remains attached to the facility. The shut-off valve includes each of the normally closed valve assemblies, the faucet head includes a corresponding actuator that engages and opens each valve assembly, and allows water to flow through the faucet head when the faucet head is installed in the base. Make it possible. The faucet device further includes attachment means for attaching the base in the facility. An alternative embodiment has a base with additional passages to allow installation of low voltage conductors and electrical connections to allow features such as automatic faucet operation.

Description

[Cross-reference of related applications]
This application claims priority to US Provisional Application No. 60 / 656,180, filed Feb. 23, 2005, entitled “Fauce Assembly with Integrated Water Shutoff Valve”.

  The present invention relates generally to faucets for sanitary fixtures such as sinks, washstands, bidets, or the like, and more particularly the need to manually open and close the supply line Without a sanitary fixture-engaging base, it has a separable faucet head and a sanitary fixture engagement base with an automatic water shutoff valve that can install the faucet head quickly and easily A faucet assembly.

  As is well known, faucets are commonly used in each of those sanitary facilities by providing a through hole in a portion of the sanitary facility where the faucet is used, and the base portion of the faucet is inserted into the through hole. In one type of faucet, the faucet is secured to the sanitary facility using a plate, indicating that the plate is located below the sanitary facility and engages the edge of the through hole. The plate is then tightened against the underside of the sanitary facility using two or more screws, which engage the faucet base after being inserted into the through hole. In other types of faucets, the base portion of the faucet has a thread that projects below the through hole and is threaded so that it can be engaged by a ring nut. The ring nut engages the lower surface of the sanitary equipment around the edge of the through hole and thus secures the faucet to the sanitary equipment. Traditional faucet installation work on sanitary equipment is cumbersome in that the installer has to work under the sanitary equipment, constraining space and making it difficult to reach the parts needed for installation. It is. In particular, in the case of a sink with two compartments, the through hole for the faucet application is located in the partition between the two compartments, and the installation work of the faucet is While one has to work from the front of the sink, the faucet mounting hole is particularly different in that it is close to the back side between the two compartments, making it particularly difficult to reach. Furthermore, sanitary facilities are usually arranged to be supported by a wall, and the hole for fixing the faucet is adjacent to this wall that prevents the faucet installation work. The installation of the faucet is also complicated when the faucet is installed in the wash basin as well as by the presence of the wall on which the sanitary equipment is supported, especially by the presence of a draining trap or column.

  Furthermore, complicating the installation of these faucets is the need to shut off the water supply lines supplying the faucets before installation or removal is performed. The supply lines can be connected or disconnected and reconnected for faucet replacement or faucet repair with the same accessibility difficulties, as described above. In some installations, particularly for faucets attached to the wall, the supply line shutoff valve may be on another side of the wall. As soon as the faucet is installed, the supply line valve must be reopened to resume useable water flow. In any case, attaching a faucet to a sanitary facility is a difficult task in that the installer is forced to work under the sanitary facility itself. Therefore, the time required to properly install the faucet is a significant contributor to planning costs.

  In the prior art filed for this application, we have, for example, similar to Muller, Schmitt, Farrell et al., US Pat. In the referenced literature, several faucet devices are found as inventions related to the present application.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,089,096 to Testori and Brown discloses a faucet device for attachment to sanitary surfaces comprising a block portion, the block portion having a faucet head on the upper side and a water intake duct on the lower side. Inserted into a hole in the sanitary surface. However, before the faucet head can be removed or reconnected, the water supply line must first be manually shut off to prevent free flow of water.
German Patent Invention No. 8805671 German Patent Invention No. 881235 European Patent No. 0293655 US Patent No. 6,328,059

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to connect to a sanitary facility such as a sink, wash basin, ass washing machine, or the like, and manually shut off the water supply line that the installer or serviceman is supplying to the faucet assembly. It is to overcome the disadvantages described above by providing a faucet assembly that allows a faucet head to be removed or replaced without an installer having to.

  A specific object of the present invention allows a faucet head that is easily attached to or removed from the faucet base without the need for the installer to climb or work under sanitary equipment. It is to provide an automatic shut-off valve system that is attached to a sanitary facility. Another object of the present invention is to provide a device that can be fitted with both a conventional faucet and a lever-type mono-control mixing valve and that can be quickly replaced. .

  Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus that can be manufactured at very low cost and can be competitively priced in the market.

  It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus that allows the faucet assembly to be connected to a wide range of sanitary facilities including a wash basin, a buttocks washer and a bathtub.

  It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus that allows the faucet water mixing assembly to be positioned at a defined angle relative to the sanitary facility to which the faucet assembly is attached.

  Furthermore, the object of the present invention has low-voltage wiring and electrical connections that allow the use of devices such as optical sensors for automatic faucet actuation. A faucet assembly is provided.

  A faucet device for attachment to a sanitary facility such as a sink, wash basin, or the like provides a simple and quick installation of the faucet head without the need to manually shut off the water supply line. The device comprises a faucet head and a faucet engagement base that is inserted into the through-hole of the sanitary facility and has a portion on the sanitary facility. The faucet head is removable from the base and remains attached to the sanitary facility. A pair of passages or conduits extends through the base and is connected to the water supply line on the upper side of the sanitary equipment for feeding to the faucet head and on the lower side of the sanitary equipment. The faucet device further comprises an automatic water shutoff valve located in the base passage and a corresponding valve actuator located in the faucet head, to the sanitary equipment engaging base without the need to manually open and close the supply line The head assembly can be installed or removed quickly and easily. The shut-off valves are each provided with a normally closed valve assembly that remains in the closed position by the presence of water pressure from the supply line or by spring tension when the faucet head is not present. The faucet head assembly engages the faucet head passage at a first end and a base passage at a second end, a pair of passages disposed in a water dispensing unit, base passage or conduit. It has a mating connection. A corresponding valve actuator is installed on the second end of the coupling connection. The multiple O-ring seals secured at the joint connection prevent unwanted water leakage. When the faucet head is mounted on the base, the coupling connection engages and seals against the base passage and the actuator opens and closes each valve assembly as the faucet assembly moves axially relative to the base conduit. However, as the faucet head is fully seated on the base, it allows water flow to the faucet head. In one embodiment of the faucet assembly, the base further comprises additional passages to allow for the installation of low voltage conductors and electrical connections to allow features such as automatic faucet operation. The faucet device further includes attachment means for fixing the base portion to the sanitary equipment. The attachment means includes a fixing member, and the fixing member is related to the base portion, and the fixing member is provided at an insertion position where the hole is arranged in the axial direction in the sanitary equipment, and on the lower surface of the sanitary equipment in which the hole is manufactured. It has been moved from a fixed position where it can be engaged.

  For a full understanding of the features and operation of the present invention, reference is made to the drawings of the invention according to the accompanying drawings, and corresponding numerals in different drawings refer to corresponding parts of the invention. .

  Referring to FIGS. 1-7 above, the device is mounted in a through hole 3 that includes a base 2 and defines a sanitary installation 4. Preferably, the sanitary equipment 4 is a sink, a wash basin, a buttocks washing machine, or the like. The upper part of the base part 2 protrudes above the sanitary equipment 4 and can be accommodated in the lower cavity 51 of the faucet device 5 and is detachably fixed thereto.

  The base portion 2 is preferably substantially cylindrical, and is coaxially connected to the through hole 3 so as to be arranged in a vertical axis and in a posture perpendicular to the upper surface 4 a of the sanitary equipment 4.

  A relatively narrow portion of the lower bottom of the base portion 2 defines a border 8 and engages the upper surface 4 a of the sanitary equipment 4 at the edge of the through hole 3.

  A plurality of conduits, preferably a pair of conduits 6 and 7, extend vertically through the base 2 and may be connected to a water supply duct (not shown) under the sanitation facility 4. The intake duct supplies hot water and cold water to the plurality of connecting portions 12 and connecting portions 13 in order to supply the faucet device 5 attached to the sanitary equipment 4.

  The water supply duct 10 and the water supply duct 11 are connected to the lower openings of the conduit 6 and the conduit 7, preferably by screw coupling means or by welding or other well-known connection techniques.

  A cylindrical sealing gasket 16 and a sealing gasket 17 are fitted tightly around the supply connection 12 and the supply connection 13. In other words, the cylindrical sealing gasket 16 and the sealing gasket 17 frictionally engage the inner surfaces of the cylindrical passage 6 and the passage 7.

  The supply connection part 12 and the supply connection part 13 project upward from the base part 2, and are guided to the distribution part cavity 51 provided in the distribution part of the faucet device 5 together with the sealing gasket 14 and the sealing gasket 15. The opening of the duct 50 is engaged.

  The faucet device further includes an automatic water supply cutoff valve 40 and an automatic water supply cutoff valve 41. The automatic water supply cutoff valve 40 and the automatic water supply cutoff valve 41 are disposed in the passage of the base, and a valve actuator 42 disposed in the faucet head; Corresponding to the valve actuator 43, the faucet head assembly can be installed or removed from the sanitary facility quickly and easily without the need to manually open and close the supply line. The shut-off valve comprises a normally closed valve assembly having a neoprene disk 44 and neoprene disk 45 or ball stop 46 and ball stop 47, respectively, when no faucet head is present. It remains in the closed position by the presence of water pressure from the supply line or by the spring 48 and spring 49 holding the closing element engaged by the valve seat.

  The faucet assembly is engaged with a water distribution unit, a pair of passages aligned with the passages of the base portion, a passage of the faucet head at a first end, and a passage of the base portion at a second end. It is comprised from the said connection part of the said connection part engaged with the channel | path. A corresponding valve actuator is located at the second end of the coupling connection. Multiple O-ring seals secured to the joint connection prevent unwanted water leakage. When the faucet head is mounted on the base, the coupling connection engages for the first time and seals against the base passage. After the seal is engaged, the actuator engages the stop element of each valve assembly and pushes it open. Water flow to the faucet head is enabled by the faucet head being completely sealed to the base.

  Actuator 42 and actuator 43 may be cone-shaped, ball-shaped, or simply a protrusion extending from the end of the coupling connection so that the water flow is A device is provided that enables the periphery of a valve-engaging tip. The valve pedestal may be any kind of valve pedestal of an in-line check valve and is generally well known in the art and is flat or tapered for conventional engagement and valve stop Seal the tool element. Neoprene stop elements are widely used and have a long life and wear to suit conditions. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that a wide range of valve stop elements and valve seat materials and engagement methods accomplish the same function. Unless there is an actuator from a fully sealed faucet assembly, the water pressure from the supply side of the valve will push the stop against the valve seat, causing water leakage before or during installation of the faucet head assembly. prevent. In the presence of water pressure that is not sufficient to keep the valve closed by water pressure, the biasing spring located within the valve assembly exerts a force to keep the stop element engaged to the valve seat. ing.

  The attachment means includes a fixing means 22 and a screw 21 with a thread cut in order to fix the base portion 2 to the sanitary equipment 4. The threaded screw 21 is inserted into the mounting hole 27 extending in the axial direction via the base portion 2.

  A threaded securing member (not shown) can be used to secure the faucet 5 in place on the base unit 4. Inserting and tightening the threaded member into the threaded hole 55 engages the base 4 and then prevents removal of the faucet 5.

  In the next stage, the faucet head 5 is arranged in the base part 2 and thus engages the joint of the faucet head with the passage at the top of the base, thereby with a normally closed valve assembly arranged in the base passage. A valve actuator fixed to the coupling end is engaged. The faucet device 5 is tightened using a set of threaded screws inserted into a threaded hole 55 for securing the faucet 5 to the base portion 4.

  In other embodiments of the faucet assembly, the base portion further comprises additional passages 60 and passages 61 through the base portion, and installation of the low voltage conductors and electrical connections allows features such as automatic faucet operation. . An infrared or ultrasonic sensor, as is generally known, may be installed in the faucet assembly to detect a user's hand directly below or in proximity to the faucet head. A faucet activation unit that allows water to flow from the faucet head when electrical signals are transmitted from the sensor to the power supply and electrical processing unit via an additional passage in the base when the presence of a hand is detected Is transmitted to. Other embodiments may have a temperature sensor to provide a safe or desired mixing of hot and cold water carried to the faucet head. While the invention has been illustrated with reference to at least one preferred embodiment, it should be clearly understood that the invention is not limited to itself by those skilled in the art. More precisely, the technical scope of the present invention can only be construed in connection with the appended claims.

  The present invention has utility in the field of plumbing and plumbing fixtures, and in particular has the application of faucets for sanitary facilities such as sinks, washbasins, buttocks washers, or the like. In accordance with the rules, the present invention is more or less specifically described in language with respect to faucets and associated piping structures. However, since the means and features shown or described comprise preferred ways of considering the invention to be effective, the invention is limited to the specific means or features shown or described. Please understand that it is not a thing.

  Furthermore, while the present invention is described in terms of being used for faucets and other sanitary facilities, the present invention is not limited thereto, but includes other fields including other areas where fluids and gases are controlled. It will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that it is used in usage and therefore should not be configured to be limited to faucets. Accordingly, the present invention is claimed to have any form or improvement within the just and valid technical scope of the appended claims, properly interpreted according to the doctrine of equivalents. .

1 is a partial cross-sectional side view of a faucet assembly according to the present invention. FIG. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1 and the faucet assembly of the present invention is just about to be assembled. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the faucet assembly taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1 showing the parts assembled therewith. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the internal components of a faucet assembly according to the present invention, showing how the faucet assembly is engaged with a base portion. FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of a second embodiment showing a base portion of a faucet assembly having a ball type valve structure with a faucet conduit positioned on the base portion. FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 5 with a faucet conduit inserted into the base.

Explanation of symbols

2 Base part 3 Through-hole 4 Sanitary equipment 4a Upper surface 5 Faucet device 6 Conduit 7 Conduit 8 Border 10 Water supply duct 11 Water supply duct 12 Connection part 13 Connection part 14 Seal gasket 15 Seal gasket 16 Seal gasket 17 Seal gasket 21 Screw 40 Automatic water shut-off Valve 41 Automatic water shutoff valve 42 Valve actuator 43 Valve actuator 44 Neoprene disc 45 Neoprene disc 46 Ball stopper 47 Ball stopper 48 Spring 49 Spring 50 Supply duct 51 Lower cavity 55 Opening 60 Additional passage 61 Additional passage

Claims (13)

A base portion for insertion into a through-hole of a sanitary facility, comprising: an upper surface; a bottom surface; at least one base passage extending through the base portion from the upper surface to the bottom surface; At least one water intake duct in communication with the base passage at the bottom surface and having a removable connector secured at a distal end to engage a water supply line; The base portion comprising at least one automatic shut-off valve comprising a normally closed valve assembly disposed in each base passage at an upper surface;
At least one distribution passage, at least one coupling portion in communication with each distribution passage, sealing means disposed on an outer periphery of each coupling portion, and corresponding to each valve assembly and aligned with each valve assembly Each of the faucet head assembly itself is disposed near one end of the coupling portion that engages each valve assembly and opens each valve assembly. The faucet head assembly capable of flowing water when installed on a base part; and
Mounting means for securing the faucet head assembly to the base portion;
A faucet device for mounting on a sink, a wash basin, and similar equipment, characterized by comprising:   The mounting means includes a threaded part that can be inserted into a threaded hole in the faucet assembly to engage and secure the faucet head assembly to the base. The faucet device according to claim 1.   The faucet device according to claim 1, wherein the sealing means disposed on the outer periphery of each coupling portion is a plurality of deformable rings such as O-rings. The base portion has a substantially cylindrical shape for being coaxially connected to the through hole,
The faucet device according to claim 1, wherein the passage is disposed substantially parallel to the axis of the base portion.   The faucet device according to claim 1, wherein the faucet device has two passages for fluid through which hot water and cold water pass.   2. The faucet device of claim 1, wherein the base portion comprises means for securing the dispensing portion at a plurality of selected angles with respect to the base portion.   The base part further comprises at least one additional passage to allow introduction of a low voltage conductor and electrical connection, thereby enabling an auxiliary function such as automatic faucet operation The faucet device according to claim 1. A method of assembling a faucet in the base part so that it can be opened
Providing pressurized water supply to the base portion, the base portion having a normally closed valve in an accessible end conduit;
Engaging the accessible end conduit to a faucet assembly, the faucet assembly having an accessible faucet conduit sized to axially engage and seal the accessible end conduit in the base; The accessible faucet conduit having a valve actuator for opening the normally closed valve when the accessible faucet conduit engages and seals the accessible end conduit;
Securing the faucet assembly to the base to prevent axial displacement of the faucet assembly.   The faucet conduit fits axially within the accessible end conduit where a waterproof seal is provided between the end conduit and the faucet conduit when the faucet conduit is inserted into the end conduit. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the method is sealed by a forming O-ring.   A pair of accessible end conduits are provided in the base portion, and a pair of faucet conduits are provided in the faucet assembly, each positioned to engage and seal a corresponding base unit end conduit. The method according to claim 8, wherein: A faucet device for distributing hot and cold water,
A base portion for insertion into a through hole of a sanitary facility, wherein the upper surface and the bottom surface are arranged side by side, extend through the base portion, and extend from the upper surface to the bottom surface of the base portion. Existing hot water and cold water base passages, pressurized water supply communicating with the passages at the bottom surface of the base portion, and normally closed valve assemblies disposed in the passages at the top surface of the base portion A shutoff valve comprising:
At least one distribution passage, hot and cold water coupling portions communicating with each of the distribution passages, sealing means disposed around each of the coupling portions, and corresponding to and positioned with each valve assembly The faucet head assembly itself has a dispensing portion with a matched valve actuator and is positioned near one end of the coupling portion that engages and opens each valve assembly A faucet head assembly that is capable of flowing water when placed on the base portion;
Mounting means for fixing the base part to the sanitary equipment;
A faucet device employed for mounting on sinks, sinks and similar equipment, characterized in that it comprises:   12. The faucet device according to claim 11, wherein the sealing means disposed on the outer periphery of each coupling portion is a plurality of deformable rings such as an O-ring.   The base portion has a substantially cylindrical shape for being coaxially connected to the through hole, and the passage is generally disposed substantially parallel to the axis of the base portion. The faucet device according to claim 11.

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