JP3033932B2 - Connection structure of temperature control handle in mixing faucet - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a connection structure between a spindle operating shaft and a temperature adjusting handle for transmitting an operating force applied to a temperature adjusting handle in a mixing faucet to a spindle and moving the same in an axial direction.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a mixing faucet with a thermostat that automatically adjusts the temperature of water discharged to a desired temperature, generally,
A temperature-sensitive element that expands and contracts by sensing the temperature of the mixed water in the mixing chamber, and moves axially with the expansion and contraction operation of the temperature-sensitive element,
A valve body for changing the opening ratio between the hot water inflow port and the water inflow port, a spindle engaged with one end of the temperature sensing element to transmit its own axial reciprocating motion to the temperature sensing element and the valve body, and a screw on the spindle A spindle operating shaft that is coupled and drives the spindle forward and backward based on its own rotational movement, and a temperature adjustment handle that is coupled to the spindle operating shaft so as to rotate integrally with the spindle operating shaft and applies an applied rotational operating force to the spindle operating shaft. The opening ratio between the hot water inflow port and the water inflow port, that is, the ratio between the inflowing hot water amount and the inflowing water amount, is controlled by moving the valve body to a predetermined position based on the rotation operation of the temperature control handle. The temperature of the spout is adjusted to the desired temperature.

In this type of mixing faucet, a temperature control handle (hereinafter simply referred to as a temperature control handle) has conventionally been fastened to a spindle operating shaft by a screw to prevent its removal.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show an example.
In this example, hot water and water from a hot water pipe 200 and a water pipe 202 are mixed in a faucet main body 204, and then supplied to a water discharge pipe 208 through a supply pipe 206, and are discharged from a water discharge port 210 at the tip thereof as shower water discharge or normal rectified water discharge. In the figure, reference numeral 212 denotes a flow control handle (hereinafter simply referred to as a flow control handle) disposed at one end of the faucet main body 204, and 214 denotes a hair wash faucet. A temperature control handle 216 is a spindle operation shaft that transmits a rotational operation force applied to the temperature control handle 214 to the spindle.

[0005] As shown in FIG.
4, a cylindrical fitting portion 218 is formed, and this fitting portion 218 is serrated and connected to a serration portion 220 of the spindle operation shaft 216 via a double serration ring 222.

The double serration ring 222 has serrations formed on the inner peripheral surface and the outer peripheral surface, respectively, and mesh with the serrations 220 of the spindle operating shaft 216 and the serrations on the inner peripheral surface of the fitting portion 218, respectively. Thus, the temperature control handle 214 and the spindle operation shaft 216 are integrally rotated via the double serration ring 222.

A recess 224 is formed on the upper surface of the temperature control handle 214, and a bottom 226 of the recess 224 is fastened to the spindle operating shaft 216 by screws 228 to prevent the temperature control handle 214 from coming off. Further, a fastening portion of the screw 228 is concealed by a decorative cap 232 fitted into the fitting portion 230 of the temperature control handle 214 from the front side.

The reason why the temperature control handle 214 and the spindle operating shaft 216 are serrated and connected is that the temperature control handle 214 is operated by the spindle according to the water temperature, hot water temperature, water pressure, hot water pressure, etc. at the installation site of the faucet. The reason why the temperature adjustment handle 214 is fastened to the spindle operation shaft 216 from the upper surface side with screws 228 is to allow the temperature adjustment handle 214 to be fitted to the shaft 216 at an appropriate rotation direction position. This is because the handle 214 can be fixed to the spindle operation shaft 216 as it is after the position of the handle 214 is adjusted.

[0009]

However, in the case of this type of conventional faucet, due to the fitting structure of the decorative cap 232 to the temperature control handle 214, the fitting portions thereof are exposed to the outside. There is a problem that the aesthetic appearance is impaired (in a state of being exposed in a line), and there is a problem that water scale, dust and the like enter or accumulate in the fitting portion, and also impair the aesthetic appearance.

[0010]

The invention of the present application has been made to solve such a problem. Thus, the present invention provides (a) a temperature-sensitive element that expands and contracts by sensing the temperature of mixed water in a mixing chamber, and (b) moves axially with the expansion and contraction of the temperature-sensitive element, A valve body for changing an opening ratio between the inflow port and the water inflow port, (c) a spindle engaged with one end of the temperature sensing element and transmitting its own reciprocating motion to the temperature sensing element and the valve body; ) Screwed to the spindle,
A spindle operating shaft that drives the spindle forward and backward based on its own rotational movement; and (e) a temperature that is coupled to the spindle operating shaft so as to rotate integrally with the spindle operating shaft and that applies an applied rotational operating force to the spindle operating shaft. A temperature control handle connected to the spindle operating shaft in a mixing faucet having an adjusting handle, the temperature adjusting handle being serrated and connected to the spindle operating shaft at a desired rotational direction position. While turning the
The fitting portion formed on the inner surface side of the temperature control handle is fitted to the spindle operating shaft or a fitting portion of a member whose axial position is fixed with respect to the spindle operating shaft. An O-ring is mounted and held on one of the O-rings, and an annular fitting groove elastically fitted on the O-ring is formed in the other corresponding portion, based on the elastic fitting between the O-ring and the fitting groove. The temperature control handle is prevented from coming off from the spindle operation shaft by a lever (claim 1).

According to another aspect of the present invention, in the connecting structure of the temperature adjusting handle of the first aspect, a transmitting member having a smaller diameter than the temperature adjusting handle for transmitting an operating force from the temperature adjusting handle to the spindle operating shaft. An upper screw is provided between the temperature adjusting handle and the spindle operating shaft, and the transmission member is serrated and connected to the spindle operating shaft directly or via a serration member in a desired rotational direction so as to integrally rotate so as to prevent removal of upper screws and the like. The temperature control handle is fitted to the transmission member at a fitting portion formed on the inner surface side of the transmission member and at a specific rotation direction position determined by a positioning mechanism. Alternatively, an O-ring is mounted and held on one of the fitting portions of the transmission member, and the O-ring is mounted on the other corresponding portion.
An annular fitting groove elastically fitted to the ring is formed, and the temperature adjustment handle is prevented from being removed from the transmission member based on the elastic fitting between the O-ring and the fitting groove. (Claim 2).

According to still another aspect of the present invention, in the connecting structure of the temperature adjusting handle according to the second aspect, one of the fitting portions of the temperature adjusting handle or the transmission member is provided with an engagement key so as to protrude from the other, and the other is adapted to the other. A key groove is formed at a position where the key does not rotate relative to the engagement key, and the engagement mechanism and the key groove constitute the positioning mechanism (claim 3).

[0013]

As described above, according to the present invention, the temperature control handle is fitted to the spindle operating shaft or a member fixed thereto at the fitting portion formed on the inner surface side thereof.
An O-ring is mounted and held on one of the fitting portions, while an annular groove is formed on the other, and the temperature control handle is prevented from coming off based on the elastic fitting between the O-ring and the fitting groove. Things.

In the present invention, the temperature control handle can be easily detached by pushing or pulling in the axial direction by overcoming the elastic fitting force between the O-ring and the annular fitting groove. Is possible.

According to the present invention, unlike the conventional structure for connecting a temperature control handle with screws, there is no need to fit a decorative cap for concealing a fastening portion with such screws into the temperature control handle. Therefore, it is possible to solve the problem that the fitting portion between the temperature control handle and the decorative cap is exposed to the outside to impair the aesthetic appearance, or that water stain, dust and the like accumulate in the fitting portion and impair the aesthetic appearance.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the temperature control handle and the spindle operation shaft are connected via a transmission member provided therebetween. That is, while the transmission member is stopped by a retaining member such as an upper screw serrated to the spindle operating shaft, the temperature control handle is fitted to the transmission member by the fitting portion on the inner surface side, and Each fitting portion is connected based on elastic fitting between the O-ring and the fitting groove.

Also in the present invention, the fitting of the makeup cap to the temperature control handle can be made unnecessary, so that the appearance of the fitting portion between the temperature control handle and the makeup cap can be prevented from deteriorating. In addition, the present invention has an advantage that when connecting the temperature control handle to the spindle operation shaft, there is no need to adjust the fitting position (rotational direction position) of the temperature control handle.

If the transmitting member is previously fitted to the spindle operating shaft at an appropriate position (rotational direction position), the temperature control handle is fitted to the transmitting member at a specific position permitted by the positioning mechanism. By itself, the temperature control handle itself can be automatically attached at an appropriate position.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the positioning mechanism comprises an engagement key provided on one of the fitting portions of the temperature adjustment handle or the transmission member and a key groove provided on the other. Thus, according to the present invention, there is obtained an advantage that the positioning mechanism can be simply configured.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a hair washing faucet will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In FIG.
Reference numeral 10 denotes a hair wash faucet having a faucet main body 12 and a water discharge pipe 14, which are attached to the wash basin 18 in a state where they protrude from the upper surface of the wash basin 18 in the vanity stand 16. The hair wash faucet 10 performs shower water discharge or normal rectified water discharge from a water discharge port at the tip of the water discharge pipe 14.

FIG. 1 shows the internal structure of the faucet body 12 in detail. In the figure, reference numeral 20 denotes a casing of the faucet body 12. The casing 20 consists of a valve casing 20A and a spindle casing 20B, which are screwed at the ends.

The casing 20 is attached to the basin 18 via the packing 25 and the spacer member 27 by tightening the tightening nut 23 with the seating portion 21 being seated on the upper surface of the basin 18 at the upper end in the figure. Have been.

The casing 20 has a cylindrical flow control valve element (hereinafter simply referred to as a flow control valve element) 22 which is divided into two parts in the axial direction (vertical direction in the figure) and which are screwed together, and a thermo cartridge. 24 are built in. The thermo-cartridge 24 has a temperature-sensitive element 26 and a temperature-sensitive casing 28 as a casing thereof. The upper end of the temperature-sensitive casing 28 in the drawing is watertight and relatively slidable on the inner surface of the flow regulating valve body 22. It is fitted inside.

A hot water inlet 30 and a water inlet 32 are formed in the casing 20 of the faucet body 12, and a hot water pipe 34 and a water pipe 36 are connected to them.

On the other hand, a hot water inflow port 38 and a water inflow port 40 are formed in the temperature-sensitive casing 28, and the hot water inflow port 30,
The hot water flowing from the water inlet 32 and the water flow into the hot water inflow port 3
8. The water flows into the mixing chamber 42 inside the temperature-sensitive case 28 through the water inflow port 40, is mixed there, and is formed in the temperature-sensitive casing 28.
Through the outlet 46 and further through the supply pipe 48 to the water discharge pipe 14. Thus, the cylindrical flow regulating valve body 22 functions to open and close the outflow passage 44 or to adjust the opening thereof.

The temperature sensing element 26 is provided with a cylindrical temperature control valve (hereinafter referred to as a temperature adjustment valve) 50 so as to move integrally with the temperature sensing element 26 in the axial direction. The valve body 50 and the temperature sensing element 26 as a whole are
2 is urged upward in the figure. Here, the temperature control valve body 50 has an operation of controlling the opening ratio of the hot water inflow port 38 and the water inflow port 40 by moving the position in the axial direction.

A sealing member 54 is fixedly provided at the upper end of the temperature-sensitive casing 28, and the upper end of the temperature-sensitive casing 28 is water-tightly sealed by the sealing member 54.

The flow regulating valve body 22 is serrated at an intermediate portion in the axial direction to a serration portion formed on the inner peripheral surface of the casing 20, and a male screw portion 56 is formed at an upper end portion in the figure. The male screw portion 56 is screwed to the valve operating member 58. The valve operating member 58 has a cylindrical shape as a whole, and is provided so as to be rotatable relative to the casing 20 and immovable in the axial direction.

The flow control handle 60 is connected to the end of the valve operating member 58 which protrudes outward from the casing 20.
Are serrated through a double serration ring 61. The double serration ring 61 has serrations on the inner peripheral surface and the outer peripheral surface, respectively, and is serrated and coupled to the serrations formed at the shaft end of the valve operating member 58 at the serrations on the inner peripheral surface.
In addition, the flow adjustment handle 60 is provided at the serration portion on the outer peripheral surface.
Is serrated and connected to a serration portion formed on the inner peripheral surface of the main body. That is, the flow control handle 60 and the valve operating member 58 are in a state of being integrally rotated.

On the other hand, a spindle 62 is housed inside the flow regulating valve body 22. The spindle 62 has a cylindrical shape as a whole, and a plug 64 is attached to the lower end in the figure in a state where the plug 64 is repelled downward by a relief spring 66. The piston 68 is abutted.

The spindle 62 is serrated and connected to the flow regulating valve body 22 so as to be non-rotatable with respect to the flow regulating valve body 22 and relatively movable in the axial direction. A male screw part 70 is formed on the upper part of the spindle 62, and a cylindrical female screw part 74 of a spindle operating shaft 72 is screwed to the male screw part 70.

The spindle operating shaft 72 is formed by a stepped portion 75 and a retaining ring 76 so as to prevent a slip ring 78 for co-rotation.
, And is indirectly fixed to the casing 20 so as to be rotatable relative to the casing 20 and immovable relative to the casing 20 in the axial direction. The slip ring 78 is a member for preventing the spindle operation shaft 72 and the valve operation member 58 from rotating together.

A serration portion 80 is formed at the protruding end of the spindle operating shaft 72, and the temperature control handle 82 is connected to the serration portion 80 via a transmission member 84 having a smaller diameter than this and a double serration ring 86. Are linked.

As shown in FIG. 3, the double serration ring 86 has serration portions 8 on the inner peripheral surface and the outer peripheral surface.
And serrations 88 on the inner peripheral surface side.
Are formed on the serrated portion 80 of the spindle operating shaft 72, and the serrated portion 90 on the outer peripheral surface side is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 92 of the transmission member 84 having the downward opening shape (see FIG. 4C). Are serrated. That is, the transmission member 84 and the spindle operation shaft 72 are integrally rotated.

As shown in FIG. 4, the transmission member 84 is a member having a flat circular shape and has a concave portion 96, and a bottom portion 98 of the concave portion 96 is formed with a screw 102 in a screw hole 100.
Thus, the spindle operating shaft 72 is fastened to prevent the spindle operating shaft 72 from being pulled out.

A serration portion 104 and an engagement key 106 are provided on the upper outer peripheral surface of the transmission member 84, and an O-ring 108 made of an elastic material is mounted and held on the outer peripheral surface in the axial middle portion. Have been.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, the temperature control handle 82 has a flat circular shape and a downward cup shape.
It is attached via a pedestal 110 (see FIG. 1) having an upward shallow cup shape. A cylindrical portion 112 is formed at the center on the inner surface side of the temperature control handle 82, and the cylindrical portion 112 is externally fitted to the transmission member 84.

A serration portion 114 and a key groove 116 are formed in the upper inner surface of the cylindrical portion 112, and the serration portion 104 of the transmission member 84 is serrated to the serration portion 114. The engagement key 106 is keyed to the key groove 116.

Here, the engagement key 106 and the key groove 116 serve as a positioning mechanism for positioning the fitting angle position (rotation direction position) between the temperature control handle 82 and the transmission member 84 at a predetermined specific position. The serrations 104 and 114 are for distributing the operation force applied to the temperature control handle 82 over the entire circumference and transmitting the operation force to the transmission member 84.

An annular fitting groove 118 is formed on the inner surface of the cylindrical portion 112 at the intermediate portion in the axial direction.
O-ring 10 mounted and held on transmission member 84 with respect to
8 is elastically fitted (see FIG. 6), and the temperature adjusting handle 82 is prevented from being removed from the transmission member 84 by the elastic fitting force between the O-ring 108 and the fitting groove 118. still,
A safety button 120 is mounted on the temperature control handle 82. The safety button 120 has a predetermined temperature, for example, 40 ° C., when the temperature control handle 82 is rotated to the high temperature side.
In this case, the rotation of the temperature control handle 82 is temporarily stopped to prevent the hot water from suddenly coming out of the spout.

The safety button 120 includes the stopper piece 12
The stopper piece 122 abuts a stopper portion provided on the pedestal 110 to prevent the temperature control handle 82 from rotating. Here, the contact of the stopper piece 122 with the stopper portion is performed by pressing the push button 1.
It is released by pressing the button 20. In FIG. 1, a drain hole 126 is formed at an axially intermediate portion of the casing 20.

In the faucet of this embodiment, the flow control handle 60
Is rotated, the valve operating member 58 serrated and coupled thereto rotates integrally therewith. Then, the cylindrical flow regulating valve body 22 advances and retreats in the axial direction, opens and closes the outflow passage 44 of the mixed water in the mixing chamber 42, or adjusts the opening thereof. Thereby, the flow rate of the mixed water flowing out from the outlet 46 is adjusted.

On the other hand, when the temperature control handle 82 is rotated,
The operating force is transmitted to the spindle operation shaft 72 via the transmission member 84 and the double serration ring 86, and the spindle operation shaft 72 rotates. The rotation of the spindle operation shaft 72 causes the spindle 62 to rotate.
Moves in the axial direction by the screw feed action, and the temperature sensing element 26 and the temperature control valve body 50 that moves integrally therewith move in the axial direction.

As a result, the opening degree ratio between the hot water inflow port 38 and the water inflow port 40 is changed.
The amount of hot water and water flowing into the mixing chamber 42 through 8, 40 changes. That is, the temperature of the mixed water in the mixing chamber 42 is adjusted to the set temperature.

In this embodiment, the transmission member 84 is fixed to the spindle operation shaft 72, and the transmission member 8 whose rotation position and axial position are fixed to the spindle operation shaft 72 is fixed.
4 is fitted with the temperature control handle 82, and at this time, the fitting groove 11 formed in the temperature control handle 82 is fitted.
8 and the O-ring 108 mounted and held on the transmission member 84, so that the temperature control handle 82 is prevented from coming off based on their elastic fitting force, so that the temperature control handle 82 can be easily attached and detached. can do.

Therefore, unlike the conventional structure for connecting the temperature control handle with screws, there is no need to fit a makeup cap for concealing the fastening portion with the screw into the temperature control handle 82, and the temperature control handle and the makeup cap are not connected to each other. It is possible to prevent a decrease in aesthetic appearance due to the exposed fitting portion or a decrease in aesthetic appearance due to accumulation of scale or dust in the fitting portion.

In this embodiment, the transmission member 84 has the engagement key 106 protruding therefrom, while the temperature control handle 82 has the key groove 116 formed therein. Adjusting handle 82 and transmission member 84
Since the fitting angle position (rotation direction position) of the temperature control handle 82 is determined, the temperature adjustment handle 82 can be easily positioned.

Further, according to this embodiment, the transmitting member 84
The temperature control handle 82 is connected to the engagement key 106 and the key groove 116.
The temperature adjustment handle 82 can be automatically attached to an appropriate position only by fitting at the predetermined rotation direction position determined by. This is because the transmission member 84 can be fitted to the spindle operation shaft 72 at an appropriate rotation angle position in advance.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above, this is merely an example. In the present invention, the temperature control handle can be directly connected to the spindle operating shaft without passing through the transmission member. In this case, the temperature control handle is fitted to the spindle operating shaft at a fitting portion formed on the inner surface side, and an O-ring is mounted and held on one of the fitting portions, and a fitting groove is formed on the other. Thus, the temperature control handle can be prevented from coming off based on the elastic fitting between the O-ring and the fitting groove.

Further, according to the present invention, when a transmission member is interposed between the temperature control handle and the spindle operation shaft, the transmission member is prevented from being removed from the spindle operation shaft by means other than screws, for example, an O-ring. The present invention can be configured in variously modified forms based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art without departing from the gist of the present invention, for example, it is possible to prevent the slippage by fitting the fitting groove with the fitting groove.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a connection structure of a temperature control handle according to an embodiment of the present invention, together with an internal structure of a faucet main body.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which the faucet of FIG. 1 is attached to a vanity stand.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a main part of the connection structure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view of a transmission member in the connection structure.

FIG. 5 is a view of a temperature control handle in the connection structure.

6 is an operation explanatory view of a connection structure between the transmission member of FIG. 4 and the temperature control handle of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a connection structure of a temperature control handle in a hair washing faucet as an example of a conventional mixing faucet.

FIG. 8 is a diagram of a main part of the connection structure of FIG. 7;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Hair wash faucet 12 Faucet main body 26 Temperature sensing element 50 Temperature control valve body 62 Spindle 72 Spindle operating shaft 82 Temperature control handle 84 Transmission member 86 Double serration ring 102 Screw 106 Engagement key 108 O ring 116 Key groove 118 Fitting groove

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A temperature sensing element that expands and contracts by sensing the temperature of mixed water in a mixing chamber, and (b) moves axially with the expansion and contraction operation of the temperature sensing element to form a hot water inflow port. A valve body for changing the opening ratio of the water inflow port, (c) a spindle engaged with one end of the temperature sensing element and transmitting its own reciprocating movement to the temperature sensing element and the valve body, and (d) the spindle. A spindle operating shaft that is screw-coupled to the spindle operating shaft and drives the spindle forward and backward based on its own rotational movement; and (e) the spindle operating shaft is integrally rotated with respect to the spindle operating shaft, and applies the applied rotational operating force to the spindle operating shaft. A connecting mechanism for connecting the temperature control handle to the spindle operating shaft in a mixing faucet having a temperature control handle acting on a shaft, wherein the temperature control handle is serrated at a desired rotational position with respect to the spindle operation shaft. Combine While both are integrally rotated, the fitting portion formed on the inner surface side of the temperature control handle is
The spindle operation shaft or an axial position with respect to the spindle operation shaft is fitted to a fitting portion of a fixed member, and an O-ring is mounted / held on one of the fitting portions and the other. An annular fitting groove elastically fitted to the O-ring is formed at a corresponding portion, and the temperature control handle is prevented from coming off from the spindle operation shaft based on the elastic fitting between the O-ring and the fitting groove. A connecting structure of a temperature control handle in the mixing faucet, characterized in that it is formed. 2. The connecting structure of a temperature adjusting handle according to claim 1, wherein a transmission member having a smaller diameter than the temperature adjusting handle for transmitting an operating force from the temperature adjusting handle to the spindle operating shaft. And a transmission member interposed between the spindle operation shaft and the transmission member is serrated and connected to the spindle operation shaft directly or via a serration member so as to rotate integrally with the spindle operation shaft at a desired rotational position. On the other hand, the temperature adjustment handle is fitted to the transmission member at a fitting portion formed on the inner surface side thereof at a specific rotation direction position determined by a positioning mechanism, and each of the temperature adjustment handle or the transmission member is An O-ring is mounted and held on one of the fitting portions, and an annular fitting groove elastically fitted on the O-ring is formed on the other corresponding portion. The structure for connecting a temperature control handle in a mixing faucet, wherein the temperature control handle is prevented from being removed from the transmission member based on elastic fitting between the O-ring and the fitting groove. 3. The connecting structure of a temperature control handle according to claim 2, wherein an engagement key is projected from one of the fitting portions of the temperature adjustment handle or the transmission member, and the engagement key is engaged with the other corresponding portion. A coupling structure for a temperature control handle in a mixing faucet, wherein a key groove is formed so as to be relatively non-rotatably engaged with the key, and the engaging key and the key groove constitute the positioning mechanism.