JP2016038020A - Valve unit, faucet and assembly method of valve unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a valve unit being easily assembled.SOLUTION: A valve unit includes: an inside valve member 41 having valve ports 42, 43; and an operation shaft member 53 connected to one end part of the inside valve member 41, and attaching an operation handle. A latching hole 52 is provided in the inside valve member 41. In the operation shaft member 53, provided is a latching claw 56 latched to the latching hole 52. In the operation shaft member 53, a slant face 57 is provided, as a guide face guiding the operation shaft member 53 and the inside valve member 41 to an engagement state by relatively rotating the operation shaft member 53 to the inside valve member 41 around an engagement part between the latching hole 52 and the latching claw 56.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

  The present invention relates to a valve unit used for a hot and cold water mixing faucet, a water faucet incorporating the valve unit, and an assembling method of the valve unit.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which an operation shaft member is coupled to one end of a cylindrical valve member. An operation handle is supported on the operation shaft member, and the valve member is rotated by operation of the operation handle to perform water discharge and water stoppage.

  In addition, a pair of positioning recesses are cut and formed at the edge of the valve member, and a pair of holding holes are provided, and the operation shaft member has a positioning projection that enters the positioning recess, A protrusion to be fitted into the holding hole is formed.

JP 2004-11814 A

  In the valve unit of Patent Document 1 configured as described above, it is difficult to fit a protrusion into the holding hole when the valve member and the operating shaft member are coupled. That is, when fitting the protrusion into the holding hole, it is necessary to force the valve member to expand so that the protrusion passes through the inner edge of the end portion of the valve member. For this reason, not only is it difficult to perform the coupling work, but there is a possibility that the projection may be missing. If the projection is missing, rattling may occur between the valve member and the operation shaft member, or sometimes only the operation shaft member may be idle. The valve member may not be rotated.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to such problems existing in the prior art. The purpose is to enable the valve member and the operating shaft member to be coupled easily and appropriately without problems such as rattling.

  In order to achieve the above object, a valve unit of the present invention includes a tubular valve member having a valve port, and an operation shaft member coupled to one end of the valve member and attached to an operation handle. In the valve unit, provided in at least one of a latching hole provided in the valve member, a latching claw provided in the operation shaft member and latched in the latching hole, the valve member and the operation handle, A guide surface for guiding the operation shaft member to a coupling position with respect to the valve member by rotating the operation shaft member relative to the valve member around an engaging portion between the engagement hole and the engagement claw; I have.

  In the valve unit assembly method, the latching hole and the latching claw are engaged with each other, and the operation shaft member is then relative to the valve member with the engaging part of the latching hole and the latching claw as the center. Rotate and bring the guide surface formed on one of the valve member or the operating shaft member into contact with the other, and in this state, rotate the operating shaft member in the same direction to connect the valve member and the operating shaft member. can do.

  In the present invention, the operating shaft member and the valve member can be coupled only by engaging the engaging claws and the engaging holes and rotating the operating shaft member about the engaging portions. For this reason, it can avoid that a latching claw is press-contacted to the edge part etc. of a valve member, and it can avoid that a latching claw is missing.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the valve member and the operation shaft member can be assembled easily and appropriately.

The perspective view which shows the mixing faucet installed in the bathroom. The principal part fracture | rupture top view which shows a mixing faucet. The disassembled perspective view which shows a mixing faucet. The disassembled perspective view which shows a flow volume adjustment unit. Sectional drawing which shows a flow volume adjustment unit. Sectional drawing which shows the coupling | bond part of an inner side valve member and an operating shaft member, and its periphery. Sectional drawing in the AA of FIG. Sectional drawing in the BB line of FIG. Sectional drawing which shows an assembly | attachment initial stage. Sectional drawing which shows the time of completion | finish of assembly | attachment. Sectional drawing which shows the example of a change. Sectional drawing which shows the assembly | attachment initial stage of the example of a change. Sectional drawing which shows the time of completion | finish of the assembly | attachment of the example of a change. Sectional drawing which shows the assembly | attachment initial stage of the example of a change which used the notch surface as the guide surface. Sectional drawing which shows the time of completion | finish of the assembly of the example of a change of FIG.

(Embodiment)
An embodiment embodying the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIG. 1, a hot and cold water mixing faucet (hereinafter simply referred to as a mixing faucet) 10 according to the present embodiment is installed on a wall surface of a bathroom or the like via a water side crank tube 11R and a hot water side crank tube 11L. Water is supplied to the mixing faucet 10 from a water supply pipe (not shown) via a water-side crank pipe 11R, and hot water is supplied from a water supply pipe (not shown) via a hot water-side crank pipe 11L. The mixing faucet 10 discharges the supplied water and hot water as they are or mixed them (hereinafter collectively referred to as hot water) from the spout 12 or the shower head 13 to the bathroom.

  The mixing faucet 10 includes a horizontally long faucet body 14 connected to both crank pipes 11R and 11L. A flow rate adjustment handle 15 is provided at the right end of the faucet body 14. The flow rate adjusting handle 15 switches so that hot water is discharged from either the spout 12 or the shower head 13, and water stop and flow rate setting are executed. Similarly, a temperature adjustment handle 16 that is rotated to set the temperature is provided at the left end of the faucet body 14.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the right side portion of the faucet body 14 has water discharge, water stoppage from the spout 12 or the shower head 13 based on the operation of the flow rate adjustment handle 15 as described above. A flow rate adjusting unit 18 for adjusting the flow rate is provided. A temperature adjustment unit (not shown) for adjusting the temperature of the hot water based on the operation of the temperature adjustment handle 16 is provided on the left portion inside the faucet body 14. That is, when the flow rate adjustment handle 15 is turned to the open position, hot water from the temperature adjustment unit enters the flow rate adjustment unit 18 from its left end. At this time, one of the flow paths 20 and 21 is opened by the flow rate adjusting handle 15, and the opening amount is adjusted, and the adjusted amount of hot water is distributed to the spout 12 side or the shower head 13 side.

Next, the flow rate adjusting unit 18 and its related configuration will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, in the flow rate adjustment unit 18, a cylindrical outer valve member 31 made of synthetic resin with both left and right ends opened is mounted in a mounting portion 32 in the faucet body 14. A pair of supply ports 33 and 34 respectively corresponding to the flow paths 20 and 21 are formed on the peripheral wall, and the flow paths 20 and 21 are defined on both sides of the supply ports 33 on the outer periphery. A total of three seal rings 35 are fitted.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a synthetic resin interposed pipe 36 is inserted into the outer valve member 31, and the interposed pipe 36 has its own slit 37 and the inner periphery of the outer valve member 31. Relative rotation with respect to the outer valve member 31 is prevented by engagement with the protrusions 38 on the surface. Communication ports 39 and 40 corresponding to the supply ports 33 and 34, respectively, are formed through the intervening pipe 36.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, an inner valve member 41 made of metal such as stainless steel is inserted into the interposed pipe 36 so as to be rotatable about its own axis, and is indicated by an arrow in FIG. As shown, hot water from the temperature adjusting unit enters the inside valve member 41 from the left end open portion of the inside valve member 41. A pair of valve ports 42 and 43 respectively corresponding to the supply ports 33 and 34 and the communication ports 39 and 40 are formed on the peripheral wall of the inner valve member 41. Then, the inner valve member 41 is rotated about its own axis, and as shown in FIG. 7, the one valve port 42 faces the supply port 33 and the communication port 39, whereby the valve port 42 and the communication port 39. And hot water flows in the direction of the arrow through the supply port 33 and is supplied to the flow path 20 on the spout 12 side.

  Further, the inner valve member 41 is rotated around its own axis, and the other valve port 43 faces the supply port 34 and the communication port 40 as shown in FIG. And hot water flows in the direction of the arrow through the supply port 34 and is supplied to the flow path 21 on the shower head 13 side. In these cases, the amount of hot water supplied is adjusted according to the degree of overlap between the valve ports 42 and 43 and the communication ports 39 and 40.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, an annular seal holder 44 made of a synthetic resin is provided in the communication ports 39 and 40 of the interposed pipe 36 between the inner valve member 41 and the outer valve member 31. A seal ring 45 is held on the outer periphery of the seal holder 44. The seal ring 45 prevents hot water passing through the communication ports 39 and 40 from leaking into the gaps between the intervening pipe 36 and the inner valve member 41 and the outer valve member 31. The seal holder 44 has a bridging portion 441 for preventing deformation.

  A flange 411 is formed at the left end of the inner valve member 41, and a sliding ring 46 made of a material having a small friction coefficient is interposed between the flange 411 and each end of the interposed pipe 36 and the outer valve member 31. Thus, smoothness of rotation about the axis of the inner valve member 41 is obtained.

  As shown in FIG. 4, a pair of recesses 51 are formed at the right end edge of the inner valve member 41 with an interval of 180 degrees, and a retaining hole 52 is formed between these recesses 51. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, an operating shaft member 53 made of synthetic resin is coupled to the right end of the inner valve member 41. In other words, the insertion portion 54 protrudes from the left end portion of the operation shaft member 53, and the insertion portion 54 is inserted into the left end portion of the inner valve member 41. The operation shaft member 53, the outer valve member 31, the interposed pipe 36, the inner valve member 41, and the like constitute a valve unit. Convex portions 55 are formed on the outer surface of the insertion portion 54 at an interval of 180 degrees. The convex portions 55 are fitted into the concave portions 51, and the inner valve member 41 and the operation shaft are fitted by this fitting. Relative rotation with the member 53 is prevented. Further, the engagement between the inner end (left end) of the recess 51 and the left end of the projection 55 prevents the operation shaft member 53 from moving in the insertion direction of the inner valve member 41 in the state of FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 6, a latching claw 56 is formed on the outer surface of the insertion portion 54 so that the latching claw 56 is latched in the latching hole 52. The insertion portion 54 is prevented from coming off from the inner valve member 41. Accordingly, the inner valve member 41 and the operating shaft member 53 are coupled by the fitting of the concave portion 51 and the convex portion 55 and the hooking of the hooking hole 52 and the hooking claw 56, so The inner valve member 41 is integrally rotated by rotation about the axis.

  As shown in FIG. 6, an inclined surface 561 is formed on the left end surface of the latching claw 56 so as to recede toward the distal end side of the latching claw 56. A slope 57 that recedes toward the outer peripheral side of the insertion portion 54 is formed at the left end of the insertion portion 54 at a position 180 degrees away from the latching claw 56. The slope 57 constitutes a guide surface for guiding the operation shaft member 53 to the coupling position with respect to the valve member 31 as shown in FIG. A flange 59 is formed at the right end portion of the insertion portion 54 to engage with the inner peripheral surface 581 and the standing surface 582 of the step 58 inside the right end portion of the outer valve member 31 and the inner peripheral surface of the protrusion 38. .

  As shown in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, a regulating ring 61 is fixed to the outer periphery of the operating shaft member 53, and the regulated portion 62 protruding from the left end surface of the regulating ring 61 is the outer valve. The member 31 is fitted in the restriction groove 63 on the right end surface. Then, as the operation shaft member 53 rotates, the restricted portion 62 is prevented from rotating at both ends of the restriction groove 63, whereby the rotation range of the operation shaft member 53 is restricted. As shown in FIG. 4, click recesses 64 are formed at two locations on the right end surface of the outer valve member 31, and click protrusions (not shown) corresponding to the click recesses 64 are formed on the left end surface of the regulating ring 61. A click feeling is generated when the operation shaft member 53 is formed at both ends of the movement range.

A method for assembling the mixing faucet 10 configured as described above will be described.
The inner valve member 41 is processed from a stainless steel pipe material, and the valve ports 42 and 43, the flange 411, the recess 51, and the retaining hole 52 are formed. To assemble the inner valve member 41 and the operation shaft member 53, first, as shown in FIG. 9, the operation shaft member 53 is set so that the axis of the operation shaft member 53 is inclined with respect to the axis of the inner valve member 41. Is inclined with respect to the inner valve member 41, the portion of the latching claw 56 of the operation shaft member 53 is inserted into the inner valve member 41 from the right end thereof, and the latching claw 56 is engaged with the latching hole 52; The convex portion 55 of the operation shaft member 53 is made to correspond to the concave portion 51 of the inner valve member 41. When inserting the latching claw 56, since the slope 561 is formed on the left side of the latching claw 56, this insertion can be performed smoothly.

  In the state where the latching claw 56 is engaged with the latching hole 52, the operation shaft member 53 is inclined with respect to the inner valve member 41 as described above. The operation shaft member 53 is turned around the engaging portion between the latching claw 56 and the latching hole 52. In this way, the right end portion of the inner valve member 41 is expanded against elasticity by the action of the inclined surface 57 of the insertion portion 54 of the operation shaft member 53. Then, when the convex portion 55 of the operation shaft member 53 enters the inside of the concave portion 51 of the inner valve member 41 and the left end of the convex portion 55 comes into contact with the left end of the concave portion 51, the operation shaft member 53 beyond that. While entering is blocked, the inner valve member 41 and the operation shaft member 53 are arranged in a straight line. In this state, the latching of the latching claw 56 and the latching hole 52 prevents the inner valve member 41 and the operation shaft member 53 from being separated in the axial direction, and the engagement between the concave portion 51 and the convex portion 55 Relative rotation between the inner valve member 41 and the operation shaft member 53 is prevented. For this reason, both the inner side valve member 41 and the operation-shaft member 53 are couple | bonded without rotating with respect to the other party.

  The assembled body of the inner valve member 41 and the operation shaft member 53 thus configured is inserted into the intervening pipe 36 inside the outer valve member 31 as shown in FIG. A sliding ring 46 is interposed between the left end flange 411 and the left end face of the outer valve member 31 and the interposed pipe 36. In this state, the flange 59 of the operating shaft member 53 is engaged with the inner peripheral surface 581 and the standing surface 582 of the step 58 and the inner peripheral surface of the protrusion 38 on the inner side of the right end portion of the outer valve member 31, and the operating shaft The member 53 is supported on the inner peripheral surface 311 at the end of the outer valve member 31. Therefore, the operation shaft member 53 is prevented from tilting with respect to the inner valve member 41, the interposed pipe 36 and the outer valve member 31. Further, the inner valve member 41 is prevented from being inclined with respect to the interposed pipe 36 and the outer valve member 31. Therefore, in this blocking state, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 10, a straight line state between the inner valve member 41 and the operation shaft member 53 is maintained. For this reason, detachment of the latching claw 56 from the latching hole 52 is prevented, and the inner valve member 41 and the operation shaft member 53 are maintained in an integrated state without being separated. An assembly comprising the inner valve member 41, the outer valve member 31, the operation shaft member 53 and the like is assembled in the casing of the hot and cold water mixing tap 10 as shown in FIG. A handle 15 or the like is attached. When the flow rate adjusting handle 15 is rotated in this state, the operating shaft member 53 and the inner valve member 41 are rotated together, and the valve ports 42 and 43 of the inner valve member 41 are connected to the communication ports 39 and 39 of the intervening pipe 36. It moves with respect to 40, and the water discharge from the spout 12 or the shower head 13 and the water stop of the water discharge are performed.

The present embodiment has the following effects.
(1) By engaging the latching claw 56 with the latching hole 52 and rotating the operation shaft member 53 with respect to the inner valve member 41 around these engaging portions, the operation shaft member 53 and the inner valve Since the member 41 can be coupled, the assembling work is easy.

  (2) In the assembled state of the operation shaft member 53 and the inner valve member 41, the fixed state in which the operation shaft member 53 and the inner valve member 41 cannot be separated if they are mounted in the outer valve member 31 in an inserted state. become. Therefore, a stable operation of the flow rate adjusting handle 15 attached to the operation shaft member 53 can be obtained, and high reliability and good operation feeling can be achieved.

  (3) Unlike patent document 1 which does not have the inclined surface 57 like this embodiment, it can avoid that the latching claw 56 is press-contacted to the edge part of the left end of the inner side valve member 41, an internal peripheral surface, etc. FIG. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the latching claw 56 from being chipped, and to avoid backlash of the operation shaft member 53, removal from the inner valve member 41, idle rotation of the operation shaft member 53, and the like.

(Example of change)
The embodiment may be modified as follows.
In the embodiment, the operation shaft member 53 is disposed on the right side and the inner valve member 41 is disposed on the left side. However, the left-right relationship between the operation shaft member 53 and the inner valve member 41 is reversed.

  As shown in FIG. 11, instead of the inclined surface 57 for guiding the insertion portion 54 of the operation shaft member 53, the operation shaft member 53 is arranged on the inner valve centering on the engaging portion of the engagement hole 52 and the engagement claw 56. The inner valve member 41 is provided with an inclined surface 71 as a guide surface for guiding the two in a coupled state by rotating the member 41 relative to the member 41. Alternatively, the operation shaft member 53 is provided with a guide slope 57 and the inner valve member 41 is provided with a guide slope 71.

  As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, instead of the insertion portion 54 formed on the operation shaft member 53, an outer fitting portion 72 that can be fitted to the left end portion of the inner valve member 41 is provided, and the outer fitting portion 72 is provided with a latching claw 73 similar to the latching claw 56 and a slope 74 as a guide surface similar to the slope 57.

  In the above-described embodiment, the linear inclined surfaces 57, 71, 74 are provided as guide surfaces for guiding the operation shaft member 53 to the coupling position with respect to the valve member 31, but instead, the guide shaft is guided from a curved surface such as an arc. A surface may be provided.

  As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the operating shaft member 53 is used as a guide surface for guiding the operating shaft member 53 to the coupling position with respect to the valve member 31, and the engaging portion between the engaging hole 52 and the engaging claw 56 is provided. A notch surface 75 that does not contact the end edge of the valve member 31 when rotated relative to the center may be provided on the operation shaft member 53. That is, the notch surface 75 avoids contact with the valve member 31, whereby the operation shaft member 53 is guided to the coupling position with the valve member 31, and the insertion portion 54 is inserted into the valve member 31 to be operated. 53 and the valve member 31 are coupled together.

(Other technical ideas)
An example of the technical idea grasped from the embodiment and not described in the claims is shown below.

(A) The valve unit according to claim 1, wherein the hooking claw is formed with a slope for guiding the hooking claw into the valve member.
(B) The water valve according to claim 2, wherein the valve unit has a water amount adjustment function and a switching function of water discharge and water stoppage.

  (C) The faucet according to claim 2 or the technical idea (B), wherein the valve unit switches discharge of water, hot water and hot / cold water.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Hot water / water mixing faucet, 14 ... Faucet body, 15 ... Flow control handle as operation handle, 31 ... Outer valve member as holding member, 36 ... Intervening pipe as holding member, 41 ... Inside as valve member Valve member 42... Valve port 43. Valve port 52. Stop hole 53 53 Operation shaft member 54 Insert portion 56 Stop hook 57, 71, 74 ... slopes as guide surfaces, 75 ... notches as guide surfaces.

Claims (3)

In a valve unit comprising a tubular valve member having a valve port and an operation shaft member coupled to one end of the valve member for attaching an operation handle.
A latching hole provided in the valve member, a latching claw provided in the operation shaft member and latched in the latching hole, and provided in at least one of the valve member and the operation handle. And a guide surface for guiding the operation shaft member to a coupling position with respect to the valve member by rotating the operation shaft member relative to the valve member around an engaging portion between the engagement member and the latching claw. . A water faucet provided with the valve unit of claim 1 and provided with an operation handle on the operation shaft member. The valve unit according to claim 1, wherein
The engagement hole and the engagement claw are engaged, and then the operation shaft member is rotated relative to the valve member around the engagement portion between the engagement hole and the engagement claw. A method of assembling a valve unit in which a guide surface formed on one side is brought into contact with the other side, and in this state, the operation shaft member is further relatively rotated in the same direction to couple the valve member and the operation shaft member.