US2327574A - Sanitary self-closing faucet - Google Patents

Description

v Aug. 24, 1943. R. H. mm mm.

CLOSING FAUCET Filled y 8. 1942' SANITARY 'SELF- z f. 6 w r j 50/ Geo L%7Z667( Patentecl Aug. 24, 1943 2,327,574 s mrAaYsELF-cLosmG FAUCET RQoy HhZinkiLOak Park, Carl U. Larson, Berwyn,

and George E.]Hansen, Chicago, ,]1l.,,assignors to Crane 00., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Apnlidationillday s, 1942, Serial No. 443,510

5 Claims.

This invention relates to a valve and more'particularly to a new and improved type .of'sanitary,

self-closing faucet. It 'has forone of its principal objects the provision of .a sleeve ;type.pushbutton actuator which, in addition to facilitating the actuation of the faucet: also serves to enclose the outlet of the valve atall times when the valve is not open. It thereby preventslthe accumulation of dust and other foreign matter'lwhich normally lodges in and about a faucet spout particularly when the latter is exposed to outdoor conditions.

Another and still further important objectof this invention is to provide a positive. closing faucet which eliminates objectionable dripping fromthe spout upon closing of the faucet. .It should be readily understood that'where sucha faucet is used to dispense liquids which .are relatively valuable or possibly highly inflammable the elimination of dripping afterthefaucet has been closed results in a real saving ..measured from the angle of dollars and centsuandlalso in reducing or preventing damage .to.1ifeland.prop

pact self-closing faucet :for Luse on; dispensing containers which quickly. effects. full ;;opening ,therebyallowing forgacsmooth streampf iflllid t0 flow from the! outlet spout; withaminimum tendencyito splash.

.An important object of this inventionisitp pro.-

vide a self-.closingfaucet :With a sanitarytactuating .cover preferably telescopically movable and servingalsogas afaucetoutl'et; i A further'important, object .ofithis inventionis toprovide in a. device of this charaster.athrot-v tlingmember: associated with the ;-closure;.imem ber whereby substantial flow throu h :the faucet during the initial or cracking, portion-of the opening movement of the 1 valve; is minimized. and; is also; coordinated and: alignedwithithe discharge outletpassagepf the actuating means. .j

. A further objec sito: p Qvidejiin a 1;devi,c'e ;of this-type means :whereby theactuating .imeans: is pa l of lon i udinal-m v ments but zisinraine n dr nonero tahle-relative tozthezvalteibody. Qtherximp rtan objec n dvantiasesofithe. invention w lxap s the.desc nt onproceeds;

Referringtothe drawing: y l g I l ws a ti a ssemblvsview :of'the l l auc -'7 of th inv ntion :as applied toawater containenor the e. 4;. 1 Fi 2 h w -a r t" atenorxv ewni the faucet apr e 'te ta n sh w-n in:-Eis-:-

Directing attention to Fig.1, the reference numeral I indicates generally a container from whichit. is desired to dispense liquid, as-for example, from a military water canteen or the like. The container shown is equipped with a handle 2 and a preferably inclined surface 3. having an aperture or passage therethrough at 54 within which is mounted the novel valve of this invention. As generally indicated, the push-button self-closing valve comprises a :body creasing -6 having a rearwardly extending threaded shank 1 adapted to projectwithin the containerl through the aperture l and is fixedly held in position by means of the locknutii. A gasket 9 is positioned between the. container wall and a shoulder of the valve body, as indicated, to prevent leakage therepast.

A cap or telescoping sleeve member ll isarranged to snugly engage the body portion 6 of the valve. In order to accommodate the inner valve actuating parts,,the body 6 is provided with a central bore or recess l2 which terminates in a passage of smaller diameter within the shank portion 7,.as shown at I3. A shoulder or offset portion M is thereby formed between the small passage [,3 and the recess l2. At the inner end 7 of the shank ,1 a raised annular ridge [5 is formed which functions as the valve seat. Actingin cooperative engagement with the said'seat or ridge [6 the closure member or disc]! 1 is providedwhich is made of any suitable material. fIhe closure member, H is fixedly mounted upon a threaded end portion E8 of a shaft or stem l9. The disc I! is preferably shouldered against an enlarged annular portion 2| of the stem i9, f0rmi g aclose fit within the bore IS. The disc'is shouldered againstthe enlarged annular portion 2| by means of a preferably; metal supporting washer 22 W ith the locknut ;23 engaging the threaded shank 18. The forward endpof the stem [9 is similarly p-rovided with a threadedportion 24 and has-the knob-like member 26 threadedly engaged therewith which serves to hold the capmember ll in slidable relationship with the body}. The outer or forward end of the cap II is-provided with a closed end 21 having a central aperture 28 therethrough beyond whi h the shank portion?!) of the knob zii projects. Asindicated-theenlarged knob 28 abutsthe closed end1,2'l of the sleeve element I. An inwardly-extending lugopprejection 3| of the cap II is slidably nov able therewith in the longitudinally-extending groove 32 formed over the outer portion of thebody fi. The latter arrangementpermits a: telescoping sliding movement of the sleevell over the-peripheral surface of the body 6 but, however, prevents any rotation of the sleeve II with respect to the body 6. This provision is important for reasons hereinafter explained.

Intermediate the ends of the shaft I9, a piston element is positioned which piston member comprises a cup-shaped member 33 having an outer recessed portion within which the shank 29 of the knob 26 is received. As shown, the bottom or back of the cup-shaped member 33 serves as a support for the sealing member or packing 34 which engages the circumference of the shaft I9 and the annular wall of the bore I2 of the body 6 in fluid-sealing relationship; The opposite side of the packing 34 is annularly supported by the washer member 33, the latter being resiliently held in place by the compression spring 31. The coil spring 3'! extends between the shoulder I4 and. the member 38 and, as indicated, thereby normally maintains the closure member I? in sealing engagement with the seat I6. The body 6 of the valve is equipped witha side outlet port 38 acting as the outlet spout of the faucet. It

will be readily apparent that when the valve is aligned with the outlet port 33 of the casing when the faucet is opened by pressing the knob 26 together with the sleeve II inwardly.

'I'o'operate the knob or push-button 28 it is simply pushed inwardly or forwardly to an extent that when it has reached its inward limit of movement the closuremember I! is then wide open. (The inner portion of the cap I I will then abut against the end surface of the casing 6.) At this point the aperture 39 in the cap II .is in alignment with and coincides exactly with the outlet'port'33of the casing thereby permitting the passage of liquidfrom thecontainer 1 past the closure member I? and. thence through the bore l3 to the bore I2 and past the outlet port iii and the complementary aperture 39 of the sleeve As'shown in Fig. 1, the valve being seated, a solid portion of the-wall of the cap I I covers the outlet port38. Since there is a relatively snug fit between the periphery of the casing and the-inner diameter of the cap, this arrangement substantially prevents any dripping fro-m the faucet after pressure is released from the knob and, in addition, provides a sanitary cover for the outlet port which in the conventional faucet may become an extremely objectionable sourceof trouble from a sanitary viewpoint. Obviously the angularity or'pitch of the passage 68 may vary depending upon the angle of installation of the valve so as to discharge pi'eferably'a vertical stream.

' A further feature incombination with the latter described arrangement lies in the provision to throttle the flow'of fluid through the faucet until such time as the respective apertures 33 and 39 are properly aligned. Such throttling of the flow is accomplished by use of the enlarged annular'portion 2| onthe stem or shaft I9. This throttling member 2| engages the wall of the bore I 3 relatively snugly, that is, with a minimum clearance therebetween. It thus acts to center or guide the shaft or stem I9 in the faucet body and more importantly enables the disc to be maintained centrally of the seat I3 thereby effecting a tight seal when the disc or closure member engages the seat. Assuming now that the faucet is being opened very gradually. The closure member then is lifted only slightly from its seat It, and very little if any flow of fluid through the faucet will result for the reason that the throttling member 2| almost fills the passage through which the discharging fluid must necessarily pass. This condition of substantial nonfiow therethrough is maintained until the faucet its seat and thereby permitting greatly increased flow around the stem or shaft I9 through thev passages I3 and I2 respectively, thence out through the outlet port 38 and through the now aligned aperture 39 in the wall of the cap II.i

Thus the purpose of the throttling member TM -is to prevent any appreciable flow'of fluid. until the apertures 38 and 39 are in substantial align; ment. While the faucet may be operated without the use of the throttle member 2| a pinching of the flow 'ofliquid would result between the then only slightly overlapping apertures 38 and 39 causing a splashing and a fan-like spray of liquid emitting from the faucet rather than a full smooth stream obtained by the arrangement herein described The throttling member lZI It is apparent that the numerous details'of j construction may be varied throughout a wide range of equivalent structuresv without'departing'from the principles and purposes of ourinlvention. It is therefore not intended to limit the scope-of the appended claims otherwise than I as necessitated by the prior art,

We claim: a I Y 1. A self-closing faucet comprising a body having an inlet with a central passage and an outlet passage through the side thereof, a seat on an end portion of the said body, a closure member positioned externally of the said body, a stem mount.- ed within the said central passage of the body suitablefor actuating the said closure member, r'esilientmeans adapted to hold said closurelmem5 ber in seated position, a cap member telescoplcally positioned over the said body and movable longitudinally with said stem, throttling means substantially filling'the inlet of the'body when the closure member is seated and fora predeter mined period when the closure member is un seated-the said cap member having an aperture therein, whereby when the said stem and the said cap member are pressed forward. simultaneously the closure member is lifted from its seat and the aperture in the said cap member is subsequently placedinsubstantial alignment with'the outlet passage in the body, the 'said capjmember serving as a guide in effecting the accurate 'aligm ment of the side outlet passage of thebody'fwith closure -membena stem for actuating" the said closure member and extending through the communicating chamber of the said body, throttling means normally positioned within the inlet of the said body, resilient'means positioned within" the said communicating chamber and arranged to maintain the closure member in a seated position, a telescoping cap member positioned over said body, the said cap member having an aperture therein, whereby predetermined forward motion of the stern and cap members simultaneously provides for substantial alignment of the aperture of the said cap member with the outlet from the said communicating chamber, the said throttling means consisting of a cylindrical member normally closely fitting within the said inlet and having an inner tapered reduced portion, the said latter portion being positioned immediately adjacent the said seat upon alignment of the cap member aperture with the outlet of the said body to complete a substantially unbroken passage therefrom.

3. A self-closing dispensing faucet comprising a body having a central passage, the said body having an inlet passage and a side outlet connected by said central passage with said inlet passage, a closure member normally seated at an end portion of the said body, a stem for the said closure member mounted within the said central passage, means on-the opposite end of said stem for effecting reciprocal movement of the said stem, resilient means cooperating with said stem and positioned within the central passage of the said body, the said resilient means being adapted to maintain the said closure mem- .cover the side outlet of the body and telescopically movable in relation thereto, the said stem being longitudinally movable simultaneous with a similar movement of the said cap member, the said cap member having a side aperture therein, throttling means on the said stem and normally positioned snugly within the inlet passage of the said body whereby initially flow therethrough will be substantially retarded and whereby when said stem is pressed inwardly a predetermined distance the said cap member is simultaneously caused to move inwardly to provide for the aperture in the said cap member being complementary to the side outlet of the said body.

4. A self-closing faucet or the like comprising a body having an inlet and an outlet, the said body having a passage running centrally thereof one end of which constitutes said inlet and a valve seat, a closure member adapted to engage said seat, a stem for said closure member extending within the said central passage, actuating means at one end of the said stem, resilient means cooperating with said stem and positioned intermediate said actuating means and a shoulder portion Within said central passage, the said CPI resilient means serving to normally maintain the said closure member in seated relation to the said valve seat, a throttling member on said stem adjacent said closure member snugly fitted within a portion of the central passage, a cap telescopically fitted over the said body and adapted to move longitudinally and non-rotatably relative to the said body upon similar movement of the said actuating means, the said cap having an aperture therein adapted to be brought into registration with said outlet whereby when the actuating means is moved inwardly initially the 010- sure member is unseated but appreciable flow of fluid therepast is prevented until-the actuating means has been moved substantially its maximum distance and whereby the aperture in the said cap and the outlet of the said body form a substantially unbroken passage for the discharge of fluid from the central passage, the length of that portion of the said throttling member snugly fitting within the central passage being substantially equal to the distance between centers of the cap member, aperture and the outlet' of the body when the closure member is seated.

5. A valve of the character described comprising a body having an inlet and an outlet, the said body having a passage extending centrally thereof one end of which constitutes the said inlet, a disc adapted to reciprocably engage and disengage a portion of the said inlet, a stem for the said disc extending through said central passage, actuating means at the end of said stem opposite said disc, resilient means cooperating with said stem to normally maintain the said disc against said portion of said inlet in seated relationship, substantially cylindrical throttling means on the said stem adjacent said inlet, a cap telescoping the said body and adapted to slide relative to said body upon movement of said actuating means, the said cap having an aperture therein adapted to be brought into registration with said outlet whereby when the actuating means is moved inwardly the disc is lifted from the portion of the said inlet, the said throttling means preventing appreciable flow of fluid within said inlet until the stem actuating means has traveled substantially a maximum distance inwardly at which point the aperture in the said cap coincides with the outlet of the body, means cooperating with the said body and cap whereby rotational movement of the said cap with relation to the said body is prevented.

ROY I-I. ZINKIL.

CARL U. LARSON.

GEORGE E. HANSEN.

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