JPH07174246A - Water plug - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce operating force and securely prevent a water hammer in a water plug of a slide valve type, provided with a resistance mechanism for preventing the water hammer. CONSTITUTION:In water plug constituted of a bore 11b having a resistance mechanism for delaying a valve closing speed in closing operation formed on a moving valve plate 8 side and a piston 12 where a slide valve comprising a fixed valve plate 7 and the moving valve plate 8 can be opened or closed by an operating means, a lubricant sump is formed at a seal surface of a packing 13 for sealing a clearance defined between the bore 11b and the piston 12, for sealing a lubricant, so as to reduce slide resistance between the bore 11b and the piston 12 when the moving valve plate 8 is moved. The inner circumferential wall of the bore 11b is formed of a self-lubricating material so as to reduce slide resistance in the same manner in the case where the packing 13 may be made of a self-lubricating material or the packing 13 is fixed around the piston 12.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sliding valve type water faucet which opens and closes a flow path by, for example, stacking two valve plates and moving one valve plate by operating a lever. The present invention relates to a faucet having a resistance mechanism that prevents a water hammer at the time of valve operation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a general example of a sliding valve type water faucet, 2
BACKGROUND ART A single-lever type hot and cold water mixing valve that opens and closes a flow path by arranging a single valve plate in a main body and operating one of the valve plates with a lever has been conventionally known. In the case of moving the valve body with this lever, when stopping the water after use,
A water hammer is likely to occur because the passage hole formed in the valve body is rapidly blocked by the movement of the valve body.

As a means for preventing such a water hammer, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 3-33272, the water hammer is prevented by slowing the movement of the valve plate when the valve is closed. Hot and cold water mixing taps have already been proposed. As an alternative to this, the one proposed by the applicant as Japanese Patent Application No. 4-330754 is also capable of preventing the occurrence of a water hammer at the time of valve closing.

These water hammer prevention structures are
For example, in the latter case, a cylinder bore is provided in a member to be incorporated between the lever and the valve element on the movable side, and the inside of the cylinder bore is communicated with the flow passage side through a small hole, and the piston incorporated in the cylinder bore is connected to the water faucet. It is installed in a fixed position on the body side. When the valve is opened, the piston is relatively inserted into the cylinder bore, which slows the valve closing speed due to the resistance when pushing the water in the cylinder bore out of the small hole. Suppress the occurrence of.

[0005]

The cylinder bore and the piston are sealed by providing a packing such as an O-ring on the circumferential surface of the piston. If the seal due to this packing is defective, when closing the valve, the water in the cylinder bore is discharged to the flow path side from this sealing portion, so the resistance for closing the valve becomes weaker,
Rapid valve closing is unavoidable, which also affects the prevention of water hammer.

On the other hand, if the sealing pressure due to the packing becomes abnormally high due to an assembly error or a dimensional error, or if the sliding resistance increases due to the combination of the materials of the cylinder bore and the packing, only the valve closing operation will occur. Not only that, but also when the valve is open, the load is added to the lever operation.

As described above, when assembling the packing for sealing between the cylinder bore and the piston, it is required that the sealing force is such that the valve closing speed can be maintained for the reliable prevention of the water hammer. It is common to increase the force slightly to prevent leakage from the cylinder bore.

Therefore, there is a lower limit to the sealing pressure of the packing and the sliding resistance to the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder bore determined by this, and there is also a limit to reducing the operating force of the lever.

On the other hand, it is conceivable to suppress the sliding resistance by, for example, applying a lubricant to the inner circumference of the cylinder bore where the packing slides. However, simply applying such a lubricant is not suitable for long-term use because the lubricant gradually peels off due to the mixed water flowing inside and outside the cylinder bore.

Further, there is a possibility that the lubricant may be clogged in the small hole which connects the cylinder bore and the flow path. In this case, the water in the cylinder bore cannot be drained, so that the valve cannot be closed and the water cannot be stopped.

As described above, in the faucet having the resistance mechanism for preventing the water hammer, it is necessary to secure both the seal between the cylinder bore and the piston and the slidability thereof, whereas in the conventional structure, Is not fully compatible with.

The problem to be solved in the present invention is to reduce the operating force and surely prevent a water hammer in a sliding valve type water faucet equipped with a resistance mechanism for preventing a water hammer.

[0013]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a body having a fluid inlet and an outlet, a sliding fixed valve plate and a movable valve disposed in a flow path between the inlet and the outlet. A valve plate, an operating unit that operates the movable valve plate to open and close the flow path, a bore provided on the movable valve plate side, and a piston that can be retracted from the bore, and the bore is provided in the flow path. In a faucet provided with a resistance mechanism capable of generating a resistance force by discharging the fluid in the bore to the flow passage side when the movable valve plate is moved in the valve closing direction. An annular packing for sealing the space is provided, and the packing has a lubricant reservoir formed by radially recessing a seal surface facing the inner peripheral surface of the bore or the outer peripheral surface of the piston. Between inner surface of bore or outer surface of piston Characterized by comprising encapsulating a lubricant into the gap.

The packing may be made of a self-lubricating material, or the sliding surface between the bore and / or the piston may be made of a self-lubricating material.

[0015]

For example, when the annular packing is fixed around the piston, the sealing surface of the packing faces the inner peripheral surface of the bore to bring the lubricant reservoir side into close contact. Since the lubricant is filled in the lubricant reservoir by utilizing the gap surrounded by the inner peripheral surface of the bore, the lubricant lubricates the seal surface during relative movement between the bore and the piston. As a result, the sliding resistance between the packing and the bore is reduced.

Further, when the packing is provided with a lubricant reservoir or is not provided with, for example, a packing having a circular cross section, if the packing is made of a self-lubricating material, lubrication between the inner peripheral surface of the bore and By the action, the sliding resistance can be similarly reduced.

Further, if the sliding surface of both or one of the bore and the piston is made of a self-lubricating material, the sliding resistance is reduced by the lubricating action as in the case where the packing is made of a self-lubricating material. To be done.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional side view of a faucet of the present invention for a single lever type hot and cold water mixing tap, and FIG. 2 is a view showing a water supply pipe and a connection structure of flow paths to the hot water supply pipe. It is a front longitudinal cross-sectional view of a part.

In the figure, the main body 1 of the hot and cold water mixing stopper is made of a pipe material, an outer shell material 2, a main body block 3 made of synthetic resin housed in the outer shell material 2 and a cover block 4 integrated with the upper end of the main body block 3. It is configured.

As shown in FIG. 2, a water supply pipe 5a and a hot water supply pipe 5b are connected to the lower end of the main body block 3, and by the operation of the valve element housed in the cartridge type housing 6 incorporated in the main body block 3, The mixed water of water and hot water flows down around the main body block 3 and between the outer shell 1 and is discharged from the water discharge pipe 1 a connected to the outer shell 1.

At the lower end of the housing 6, there is provided a connection seat 6a for connecting the flow paths from the water supply pipe 5a and the hot water supply pipe 5b. As shown in FIG. 2, the connection seat 6a has a water hole 6b.
The hot water hole 6c and the mixed water outflow hole 6d (see FIG. 1) are provided. Further, on the upper end side of the housing 6, a retainer block 6e for holding the built-in valve element within its movable range is inserted and fixed, and a top block 6f is provided.

A fixed valve plate 7 is assembled and fixed in a fixed position on the upper surface of the connection seat 6a inside the housing 6, and a movable valve plate 8 is placed on the fixed valve plate 7 in an overlapping manner.
The movable valve plate 8 is slidable with respect to the fixed valve plate 7.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a state in which the movable valve plate 8 is superposed on the fixed valve plate 7 and the opening degree of the flow passage is determined by the position of the movable valve plate 8.

These valve plates 7 and 8 are made of ceramics, and the fixed valve plate 7 has a water hole 7a and a hot water hole 7b communicating with the water supply pipe 5a and the hot water supply pipe 5b. An opening 7c for mixed water is formed which can communicate with the mixed water outflow hole 6d of the housing 6. On the other hand, the movable valve plate 8 has a planar shape such that all the water holes 7a and the hot water holes 7b can be closed or partially opened by vertical movement and swiveling operation in the figure, and the mixed water is provided in the center. A communication hole 8a that can be aligned with the working hole 7c is opened.

In the state of FIG. 3 (a), the movable valve plate 8 covers both the water hole 7a and the hot water hole 7b of the fixed valve plate 7,
Water is stopped by blocking the flow paths from the water supply side and the hot water supply side.
Then, when the movable valve plate 8 moves upward in the figure in this state, the water hole 7a and the hot water hole 7b open as shown in FIG. Open at the same valve opening. This makes it possible to set the flow rate of the mixed water by increasing the amount of the mixed water flowing from the communication hole 8a to the mixed water outflow hole 6d with the amount ratio of hot water to water being 1: 1 according to the valve opening degree. .

Further, FIG. 3 (c) shows a state in which the movable valve plate 8 in the valve open position in FIG. 3 (b) is rotated counterclockwise around its core. At this time, only the water hole 7a is opened, while the hot water hole 7b is fully closed, and only water is supplied to the water discharge pipe side. Further, when the movable valve plate 8 is rotated in the clockwise direction in the opposite direction, the movable valve body 8 in FIG.
Only the hot water hole 7b is opened.

Further, when the movable valve plate 8 is pulled straight down obliquely to the lower right from the state shown in FIG. 7C, both the water hole 7a and the hot water hole 7b are closed by the movable valve plate 8 and the water stop state is maintained. Return to.

Such movement of the movable valve plate 8 is operated by the lever 9 protruding from the upper end of the main body 1. Then, as shown in FIG. 1, a shifter 9a, a guide ring 10 and an operating block 11 are incorporated between the lever 9 and the movable valve plate 8, respectively, and the movement of the lever 9 is controlled by the shifter 9a and the operating block 11. By means of and, transmission to the movable valve plate 8 is possible.

In FIG. 1, the shifter 9a is arranged so as to pass through a retainer block 6e and a top block 6f fixed to the upper end of the housing 6, and a halfway in the axial direction thereof is made into a spherical surface so that the retainer has a spherical joint shape. It is connected to the block 6e. The operation block 11 is housed in a guide ring 10 incorporated in the housing 6, and the movable valve plate 8 is integrally connected to the lower end thereof. The shifter 9a is joined to the retainer block 6e by a spherical joint to cause the operating block 11 to perform a forward and backward movement and a turning operation by a vertical swinging operation and a lateral swinging operation of the lever 9.

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the housing 6 taken out from the main body 1, which corresponds to when the valve of FIG. 1 is closed.

The operation block 11 has a substantially quadrangular cross-sectional shape, and when it is housed in the guide ring 10, it has a size such that it can freely move left and right in the drawing. Further, a connecting seat 11a into which the lower end of the shifter 9a is fitted is provided at the upper end of the operation block 11 so as to be recessed, and the operation block 11 can be moved left and right by the operation of the lever 9 to enable a turning motion. Further, as a resistance mechanism for giving resistance so that the movable valve plate 8 moves gently during the valve closing operation, a bore 11b opened in the operation block 11 and a piston 12 capable of relatively projecting and retracting from the bore 11b. Equipped with.

The bore 11b has the same opening axis as the moving direction when returning the movable valve plate 8 to its closed position, and the piston 1
A small hole 11c is formed on the side where the tip ends of the two face each other so that the flow path in the bore 11b and the flow path in the main body 1 are communicated with each other.

The piston 12 has a portion projecting from the bore 11b constrained and incorporated in a part of the guide ring 10 and is fixed in a fixed position with respect to the guide ring 10, and the bore 11b is provided on the peripheral surface thereof. And a packing 13 that forms a sealing surface between and.

Here, when the lever 9 is pushed down, as shown in FIG. 5, the operation block 11 moves to the left side with respect to the piston 12 in the fixed position, and the piston 11 moves from the bore 11b.
Move relatively so that 2 comes out. As a result, the bore 11b is filled with water corresponding to the internal volume of the bore 11b from the small hole 11c.

When the lever 9 is pulled up to close the valve, the operation block 11 moves to the right in FIG. 5, so that the water in the bore 11b is pushed out from the small hole 11c. Due to the resistance of the extrusion of, the movement of the operating block 11 can be slowed down. As a result, the moving speed of the movable valve plate 8 is also slowed down, and it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a water hammer by suppressing abrupt blockage of the flow path.

When the lever 9 is operated to open or close the valve, the sliding resistance of the movable valve plate 8 with respect to the fixed valve plate 7 and the sliding of the packing 13 of the piston 12 with respect to the inner circumference of the bore 1b. Resistance works. When the valve is closed, resistance is added when pushing the water in the bore 11b through the small hole 11c. If such sliding resistance is too large, a force is required for the operation by the lever 9, which impairs usability as described in the section of the prior art.

Therefore, in order to reduce the sliding resistance between the packing 13 and the bore 11b, the packing 13 is allowed to retain a lubricant such as grease on its peripheral surface. Examples thereof are shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, respectively.

In the example of FIG. 6, the outer peripheral surface of the packing 13 is almost V-shaped.
A lubricant reservoir 13a that is recessed in a letter shape is formed, and both ends of the lubricant reservoir 13a in the axial direction are sandwiched by the seal edge 1a.
3b.

In the example of FIG. 7, the small hole side 11 of the bore 11b is shown.
The tongue piece 13c is formed as a part of the packing 13 toward the seal. The tongue piece 13c has a shape that is recessed toward the center side with respect to the inner peripheral surface of the bore 11b, and this portion serves as a lubricant reservoir 13d.
e.

In this way, the packing 1 has a lubricant reservoir 1
If the lubricant L is filled in the space formed between the inner peripheral surface of the bore 11b and the inner peripheral surfaces of the bores 11b, 3a and 13d, the sliding between the seal edges 13b and 13e and the inner peripheral surface of the bore 11b. The moving surface can be lubricated and slip resistance is reduced. Therefore, the lever 9 can be operated with a light force even when the valve is closed by the resistance caused by the water being pushed out from the bore 11b.

Further, in both of the examples shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the packing 13 has sealing edges 13b and 13e at the portions sandwiching the lubricant reservoirs 13a and 13d, which are in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the bore 11b. It never happens. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the sliding resistance when the on-off valve is operated and to maintain the seal properly.

On the other hand, the packing 13 has a lubricant reservoir 13
Even if an O-ring having a circular cross section as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is used instead of the special one in which a and 13d are formed, it is the same as long as the material has a small sliding resistance. It is possible to reduce the operating force.

The packing 13 having such a small sliding resistance
In order to obtain the above, the composition may be self-lubricating. As an example thereof, a rubber compounded with a fixed lubricant such as tetrafluoroethylene, graphite and molybdenum at the time of manufacturing the packing 13 or a surface-modified product obtained by binding these fixed lubricants to the rubber surface is used. it can.

Further, a so-called bleed type can be used in which a large amount of oil conventionally used as a plasticizer is added at the time of compounding rubber, and the oil content is exuded to the rubber surface by osmotic pressure after the packing 13 is molded. In this case,
An oil film is formed on the sealing surface between the surface of the molded packing 13 and the inner peripheral surface of the bore 11b, and this oil film serves as a lubricating film to suppress sliding resistance to a small value.

Further, the packing 13 may have a structure in which minute irregularities of micron order are provided on the surface of the packing 13 to roughen the surface, and the recesses are impregnated with lubricating oil. As a method for making such a surface slightly rough, for example, when the packing 13 is manufactured, a minute unevenness is formed by shot blasting on the inner surface of the mold, and the surface of the packing 13 to be molded is formed into a pear-like texture. Applicable to those finished. In addition, a so-called slippery treatment method in which unevenness is formed by eroding the surface of the rubber material of the packing 13 with, for example, an acidic chemical agent can also be used.

On the other hand, instead of lowering the sliding resistance of the packing 13, at least the inner peripheral surface of the bore 11b, on which the packing 13 slides, can be molded with a self-lubricating resin. In this case, the bore 11b
The operation block 11 forming the
The sliding resistance with respect to the packing 13 can be reduced by molding nylon, polyacetal, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene or the like as a material.

Further, instead of molding the operating block 11 with the synthetic resin as described above, a coating layer having a lubricating property such as fluororesin, molybdenum disulfide, graphite and silicon carbide is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the bore 11b. It may be formed.

Here, as the water supply pipe 5a and the hot water supply pipe 5b connected to the main body 1, a flexible hose mainly using a copper pipe or rubber has been conventionally used. One reason for using a copper tube is that it is relatively easy to perform bending in the field, but due to the fact that special tools are required and the bulk of packaging becomes large, flexible hose is gradually used. Became popular.

The flexible hose has a general structure in which a flexible stainless steel blade is used as an exterior material and a synthetic rubber tube is provided inside the flexible hose. However, due to the influence of chlorine contained in tap water and high-temperature hot water flowing in the hot water supply pipe 5b, the synthetic rubber pipe is easily deteriorated, and the deteriorated portion may be mixed in the hot water supply and the water supply. is there.

On the other hand, when the water supply pipe 5a and the hot water supply pipe 5b are used as flexible hoses and the inner pipe is made of a thermoplastic elastomer (hereinafter referred to as "TPE"), such a problem can be solved.

This TPE has elasticity similar to vulcanized rubber that is generally used at room temperature, has mechanical properties that plasticize at high temperature, and has elasticity in the molecule (soft phase) and heat. Since it has both the plastic component (hard phase) and the TPE, it is free from bending even if TPE is an inner pipe, and when this is applied to the water supply pipe 5a and the hot water supply pipe 5b, Connections at the site can be done easily.

TPE has the same weather resistance as ethylene-propylene rubber (EPDM), which has excellent weather resistance among vulcanized rubbers, and has the same or higher oil resistance and chemical resistance as chloroprene rubber (CR). In addition to having the above characteristics, it also has high heat resistance because it does not contain carbon. Therefore, deterioration is suppressed even in high-temperature hot water supply, and carbon precipitation from water supply and hot water supply is also prevented by suppressing heat-resistant chlorine deterioration.

The adoption of TPE in the water supply pipes 5a and the hot water supply pipes 5b in this manner can provide preferable water supply and hot water supply for faucets. FIG. 8 shows an example thereof, in which the water supply pipe 5a and the hot water supply pipe 5b each have a stainless steel blade 5c as an exterior material, and an inner pipe 5 made of TPE as an inner wall.
It is possible to have a structure in which d is integrally provided.

Further, good water supply and hot water supply can be obtained by adopting TPE as the inner pipe regardless of whether a flexible hose which can be bent is used or a dedicated pipe having a predetermined shape is used.

Among the TPEs, an olefin-based thermoplastic elastomer excellent in oil resistance (chemical resistance) and rubber elasticity (compression set) is preferable for use as water supply pipes and water supply pipes for water faucet fittings. Olefinic crosslinking type is preferred.

[0056]

According to the present invention, even if the resistance mechanism for preventing water hammer is provided with the bore and the piston which relatively moves therein, the sliding resistance between the bore and the piston is suppressed to be small, so that it is light. It can be used with operability, improving operability.

Further, since the slidability by the lubrication is maintained even if the sealing pressure by the packing is not loosened, the sealing failure does not occur and the function of preventing the water hammer by slowing the valve closing speed is not impaired. .

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a view showing a vertical cross-sectional view of a water faucet of the present invention as a single-lever type hot and cold water mixing tap when the valve is closed.

FIG. 2 is a front vertical cross-sectional view of a main part showing the connection of the water supply pipe and the passage between the hot water supply pipe and the valve element.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a movable valve plate superposed on a fixed valve plate,
(A) of the figure is the same when the valve is closed, (b) of the same figure is when the opening on the water side and the hot water side are the same, and (c) of the figure is when the water side is fully opened (D) of the figure shows the case where the flow path is fully closed from the figure (c).

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the housing structure excluding the main body.

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a main part showing a situation when the valve is opened.

FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view when a packing having a lubricant reservoir formed on the peripheral surface is mounted around the piston.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of essential parts showing an example of packing in which a lubricant reservoir is formed by a tongue piece.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of a main part showing an example in which TPE is provided as an inner pipe of a water supply pipe and a hot water supply pipe.

[Explanation of reference numerals] 1 main body 2 outer shell material 3 main body block 4 cover block 5a water supply pipe 5b hot water supply pipe 6 housing 7 fixed valve plate 8 movable valve plate 9 lever 10 guide ring 11 operating block 11a connecting seat 11b bore 11c small hole 12 Piston 13 Packing 13a Lubricant reservoir 13b Sealing edge 13c Tongue 13d Lubricant reservoir 13e Sealing edge

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A body having a fluid inlet and an outlet, a sliding fixed valve plate and a movable valve plate disposed in a flow path between the inlet and the outlet, and the movable valve plate. And a piston that can be retracted from the bore provided on the movable valve plate side, and the movable valve plate that communicates the bore with the flow channel. In a faucet provided with a resistance mechanism capable of generating a resistance force by discharging the fluid in the bore to the flow path side when moving in the valve closing direction, an annular packing that seals between the bore and the piston is provided. The packing includes a lubricant reservoir formed by radially recessing a sealing surface facing the inner peripheral surface of the bore or the outer peripheral surface of the piston, and the lubricant reservoir and the inner peripheral surface of the bore or the piston. Do not fill the gap between the outer peripheral surface with the lubricant. Water faucet. 2. A main body having a fluid inlet and an outlet, a sliding fixed valve plate and a movable valve plate arranged in a flow path between the inlet and the outlet, and the movable valve plate. And a piston that can be retracted from the bore provided on the movable valve plate side, and the movable valve plate that communicates the bore with the flow channel. In a faucet provided with a resistance mechanism capable of generating a resistance force by discharging the fluid in the bore to the flow path side when moving in the valve closing direction, an annular packing that seals between the bore and the piston is provided. A faucet made of a self-lubricating material. 3. A body having a fluid inlet and an outlet, a sliding fixed valve plate and a movable valve plate arranged in a flow path between the inlet and the outlet, and the movable valve plate. And a piston that can be retracted from the bore provided on the movable valve plate side, and the movable valve plate that communicates the bore with the flow channel. In a faucet provided with a resistance mechanism capable of generating a resistance force by discharging the fluid in the bore toward the flow path when the valve moves in the valve closing direction, the sliding surface between the bore and / or the piston is A faucet made of a lubricious material.