JP2017067183A - Faucet water discharging amount adjustment device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a user to clearly acknowledge a degree of releasing of a faucet and know a level of discharging amount.SOLUTION: A water discharging amount adjustment valve for use in adjusting a flow rate of discharging water is arranged in a faucet main body and an adjustment handle manually operated to adjust the water discharging amount adjustment valve is arranged outside the faucet main body. The water discharging amount adjustment valve is provided with a click mechanism for giving a click feeling to an operator in response to a variation of water discharging amount caused by an operation of the discharging amount adjustment handle. This click mechanism is constituted by a protrusion 57 of the discharging amount adjustment valve at an outer case 41 and a recess 58 of its inner collar 55.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to a water discharge amount adjusting device for a faucet such as a hot and cold water mixing faucet.

  Patent Document 1 discloses an on-off valve. This on-off valve is built in the faucet and is for switching the flow path in the faucet. In the on-off valve of Patent Document 1, a V-type spring is provided in the housing, a V-type gap is provided in the spindle, and when the spindle is rotated in the closing direction or the like, The engagement gives a sense of moderation to the rotation of the spindle.

  Patent Document 2 discloses a valve unit. This valve unit is built in the faucet and is used for water discharge / water stop and flow rate adjustment. Then, a leaf spring part and a pressing part are provided inside the valve unit, and the faucet is switched to a water stop state, a water discharge state from the water discharge port, and a water discharge state from the shower elbow by rotation of the spindle. Sometimes, a click feeling is generated by the action of the leaf spring part and the pressing part.

JP 2004-360873 A Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2015-10636

  The techniques of Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 both generate a moderation feeling or a click feeling to the user when the flow path is switched, but no moderation feeling or a click feeling is generated. However, the user can check the current state by looking at the water discharge and water stoppage of the currant and shower. Therefore, the techniques of Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 are not useful. Moreover, even if the user receives a feeling of moderation or a click, it is difficult to clearly recognize the level of water discharge, in other words, the degree of opening of the faucet.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a faucet water discharge amount adjusting device that allows a user to clearly recognize the degree of opening of the faucet and easily know the level of the water discharge amount.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes a water discharge amount adjusting valve for adjusting the water discharge flow rate, and a water discharge amount adjusting handle that is manually rotated to adjust the water discharge amount adjusting valve. In the water faucet, the water discharge amount adjustment valve includes an outer case and a spindle rotatably accommodated in the outer case and having the water discharge amount adjustment handle at an end thereof, and the outer case and the spindle are mutually connected. Opposing openings are respectively provided so that the amount of water discharged is adjusted by the change of the water flow area between the openings as the spindle rotates, and the spindle rotates between the outer case and the spindle. A click mechanism that generates a click is provided, and the click mechanism includes a protrusion integrally formed on one of the outer case and the spindle. Characterized by being constituted by recesses and provided on the other. Here, the water discharge amount refers to the instantaneous water discharge amount, not the cumulative water discharge amount.

  In the above configuration, when the water discharge amount adjustment handle is rotated, a click is generated at every predetermined angle, and the number of clicks is a standard for recognizing the water discharge amount. Therefore, the user can adjust the water discharge amount appropriately and easily. Moreover, if the user memorize | stores the number of clicks, it can be easily made into the arbitrary amounts of water discharge states. In addition, since the protrusion is integrally formed on one of the outer case and the spindle and the recess is formed on the other, a click without play or play is directly transmitted to the user, giving the user a high-class feeling. Can be given. Further, the click mechanism is simple in configuration because it only has a protrusion and a depression.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to easily know the level of the water discharge amount and to realize an easy-to-use faucet.

The perspective view of a faucet. The partial cross section figure which shows the part of the water discharge amount adjustment handle of the faucet. The partial cross section figure which shows the part of the water discharge amount adjustment valve of the faucet. The perspective view which shows the water discharge amount adjustment valve of a faucet. The disassembled perspective view which shows the water discharge amount adjustment valve of a faucet. Sectional drawing which shows the water discharge amount adjustment valve of a faucet. Sectional drawing which shows a click mechanism.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Embodiments embodying the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
This embodiment is embodied in a hot and cold water mixing faucet (hereinafter simply referred to as a faucet) that can discharge water, hot water, and mixed water of water and hot water.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a water supply side joint 14 and a hot water supply side joint 15 are connected to a water supply port and a hot water supply port (both not shown) at the rear of the faucet body 12 covered with the cover 11. Both joints 14 and 15 are connected to a water supply pipe (both not shown) extending from the water supply source and a hot water supply pipe (both not shown) extending from the hot water supply source.

  A shower hose (not shown) having a shower head (not shown) at the tip is connected to a shower discharge port (not shown) at the rear of the faucet body 12. A currant water discharge pipe 19 is connected to the currant discharge port on the lower surface of the faucet body 12.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a water discharge amount adjustment handle 20 is provided at the right end of the faucet body 12, and a temperature adjustment handle 21 is provided at the left end of the faucet body 12. Inside the faucet body 12, a shower side on / off valve 24 and a currant side on / off valve (not shown) having the same structure are housed. A shower side push button 22 and a currant side push button 23 are arranged on the front surface of the cover 11 so as to face the shower side on / off valve 24 and the currant side on / off valve. By operating the shower side push button 22, the shower side opening / closing valve 24 is switched to perform shower water discharge and water stop from the shower head. By the operation on the currant side push button 23, the curran side on-off valve is switched, and water discharge from the currant water discharge pipe 19 is performed. In the case of these water discharges, the water discharge amount is adjusted by manually rotating the water discharge amount adjustment handle 20. Further, the temperature of the water discharge is adjusted by manually rotating the temperature adjustment handle 21.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the faucet body 12 has a temperature control valve (not shown) operated by the temperature control handle 21, and between the shower side opening / closing valve 24 and the currant side opening / closing valve. A positioned flow path 31 is formed. A water discharge amount adjustment valve 32 that adjusts the water discharge flow rate by operating the water discharge amount adjustment handle 20 is provided in the flow path 31. Therefore, the configuration of the water discharge amount adjustment valve 32 will be described below.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, a cylindrical outer case 41 having both ends opened is fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the flow path 31, and packings 42 are provided at two locations on the outer periphery. Between both the packings 42, the outer case 41 is provided with a water passage 43 as an opening.

  A spindle 45 is inserted into the outer case 41 so as to be rotatable about its own axis, and the water discharge amount adjusting handle 20 is attached to a mounting portion 46 at one end thereof. Accordingly, the spindle 45 is rotated around its own axis by manual operation of the water discharge amount adjusting handle 20. A retaining ring 47 that contacts the end surface of the outer case 41 and restricts the axial movement of the spindle 45 is attached to the mounting portion 46 side of the spindle 45. A cylindrical portion 48 is formed at the end of the spindle 45, and a pair of packings 50 that are engaged with the inner peripheral surface of the outer case 41 are wound around two locations on the outer periphery thereof. The cylindrical portion 48 is provided with a triangular adjustment port 49 as an opening located between the packings 50, and the adjustment port 49 faces the water flow port 43, and is rotated by the rotation of the spindle 45. It moves inside the water inlet 43. By this movement, the water flow area constituted by the water flow port 43 and the control port 49 is changed in accordance with the triangular shape of the control port 49, that is, the water flow area between the two openings is changed, and the amount of discharged water is reduced. Adjusted.

Then, the water in the flow path 31 flows from the water flow port 43 and the adjustment port 49 of the spindle 45 through the end face opening of the cylindrical portion 48 to the on-off valve 24 side.
Step portions 52 and 53 are formed on the annular protrusion 51 on the inner peripheral surface of the outer case 41 and the outer peripheral surface of the spindle 45, respectively. These step portions 52 and 53 are mutually connected at two positions as the spindle 45 rotates. The rotation range of the spindle 45 is restricted to a predetermined angle (90 degrees in the present embodiment) by contacting.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, the outer peripheral surface of the spindle 45 is formed with a rotation preventing portion 54 having a substantially hexagonal cross section having flat surfaces 541 at a plurality of locations in the annular region. On the side of the water discharge amount adjusting handle 20 from the annular protrusion 51, a collar 55 having a substantially hexagonal inner peripheral surface is fitted on the rotation stopper 54 so as to be movable in the axial direction, and is rotated integrally with the spindle 45. It has become so. As shown in FIG. 6, the collar 55 is pressed toward the annular protrusion 51 by the spring 56.

  Protrusions 57 are formed at equiangular intervals at a plurality of locations (four locations in the present embodiment) on the water discharge amount adjustment handle 20 side of the annular projection 51. On both side surfaces of the collar 55, a plurality of depressions 58 are formed at equal angular intervals (10 degrees in this embodiment). When the water discharge amount adjusting handle 20 is rotated while the collar 55 is pushed toward the annular protrusion 51 by the spring 56, the recess 58 moves on the protrusion 57 to A click feeling is given by sound and vibration. In the present embodiment, the click mechanism is configured by the protrusion 57 and the recess 58.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.
In the faucet of the present embodiment, shower water discharge is executed by pressing the shower side push button 22, and currant water discharge is executed by operating the currant side push button 23.

At this time, the amount of shower water discharge and currant water discharge is adjusted by operating the water discharge amount adjustment handle 20.
When the water discharge amount adjusting handle 20 is rotated, the click 57 due to sound and vibration is given to the user every rotation angle of the water discharge amount adjusting handle 20 by the action of the protrusion 57 and the depression 58. The amount of water discharged can be easily adjusted according to the number of clicks. Therefore, the user can appropriately discharge an arbitrary amount of water if the number of clicks is remembered.

According to this embodiment, there are the following effects.
(1) When the water discharge amount adjustment handle 20 is rotated to adjust the water discharge amount, a click is generated at every predetermined angle along with the rotation operation, and the number of clicks for recognizing the water discharge amount. It becomes a standard. Therefore, the user can adjust the water discharge amount appropriately and easily.

  (2) If the user memorizes the number of clicks, the user can easily obtain an arbitrary amount of water discharge, and accordingly, according to the number of clicks, the user can easily obtain the desired amount of currant water or shower water.

  (3) Since the protrusions 57 are formed integrally with the outer case 41 and the recesses 58 are formed on the collar 55 that rotates together with the spindle 45 on the outer periphery of the spindle 45, play and play are not provided to the user. No clicks can be conveyed directly, giving a sense of quality.

(4) Since only the collar 55 and the spring 56 are provided in order to generate a click feeling, the configuration is simple.
(5) When the projection 57 gets over the high portion between the depressions 58, the collar 55 moves in the axial direction and moves backward, so that wear on the top of the projection 57 and the periphery of the depression 58 can be suppressed. In this case, since the plurality of protrusions 57 are arranged at equal intervals, the collar 55 is smoothly inclined without being inclined with respect to the axis of the spindle 45 when the collar 55 is retracted and returned by the spring force of the spring 56. Moved.

  (6) Since the number of the protrusions 57 is smaller than the number of the recesses 58, the resistance between the protrusions 57 and the recesses 58 can be reduced in the rotation operation of the water discharge amount adjustment handle 20, and the water discharge amount adjustment handle 20 is Can rotate with light force. On the other hand, when the number of the protrusions 57 is large, for example, when the number of the protrusions 57 and the recesses 58 is the same, the resistance between the protrusions 57 and the recesses 58 increases when the water discharge amount adjusting handle 20 rotates. A strong force is required for the rotation operation of the water discharge amount adjustment handle 20.

  (7) Since the recess 58 is formed on both side surfaces of the collar 55, the collar 55 can be incorporated into the outer case 41 regardless of the front and back of the collar 55. In other words, it is not necessary to consider the directionality in the assembly of the collar 55, and the assembly of the collar 55 is facilitated.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, and can be embodied in the following manner.
In the above embodiment, the click mechanism is provided between the outer case 41 and the spindle 45, but is provided between other parts, for example, the water discharge amount adjusting handle 20 and the cover 11.

-Reverse the unevenness of the click mechanism. That is, a recess 58 is provided on the outer case 41 side, and a protrusion 57 is provided on the collar 55.
-Generation of a click feeling associated with the rotation operation of the water discharge amount adjusting handle 20 should be made at unequal intervals. For example, if the interval in a region with a small amount of water discharge or a region with a large amount of water is narrowed, fine adjustment in the same region becomes possible.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Water faucet body, 20 ... Water discharge amount adjustment handle, 31 ... Flow path, 32 ... Water discharge amount adjustment valve, 41 ... Outer case, 45 ... Spindle, 51 ... Annular protrusion, 55 ... Collar, 56 ... Spring, 57 ... Protrusion, 58 ... depression.

Claims (5)

In a faucet comprising a water discharge amount adjusting valve for adjusting the water discharge flow rate, and a water discharge amount adjusting handle that is manually rotated to adjust the water discharge amount adjusting valve.
The water discharge amount adjusting valve includes an outer case and a spindle that is rotatably accommodated in the outer case and has the water discharge amount adjusting handle at an end, and the outer case and the spindle have openings facing each other. The water discharge amount is adjusted by changing the water flow area between the two openings as the spindle rotates. Click between the outer case and the spindle as the spindle rotates. A faucet water discharge amount adjusting device comprising a click mechanism that generates, and the click mechanism is constituted by a protrusion integrally formed on one of the outer case and the spindle and a recess provided on the other.   2. The faucet discharge amount adjusting device according to claim 1, wherein the click mechanism is provided on an annular protrusion formed on an inner peripheral surface of the outer case and a collar that is rotatably supported on the outer periphery of the spindle.   The faucet water discharge amount adjusting device according to claim 2, wherein the collar is movable in the axial direction of the spindle and provided with a spring for urging the collar toward the annular protrusion.   The water discharge amount adjusting device for a faucet according to claim 2 or 3, wherein a plurality of the protrusions and depressions are provided, and the protrusions and the depressions are arranged at equiangular intervals.   The water discharge amount adjusting device for a faucet according to claim 4, wherein the number of protrusions is smaller than the number of depressions.

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