WO1989008799A1

WO1989008799A1 - Faucet with auxiliary closure for maintenance

Info

Publication number: WO1989008799A1
Application number: PCT/AU1989/000047
Authority: WO
Inventors: Clive Breen
Original assignee: Clive Breen
Priority date: 1988-03-10
Filing date: 1989-02-07
Publication date: 1989-09-21

Abstract

A fluid control valve which comprises a housing (1) having an inlet port (2), an outlet port (3) and at least one valve seat (4) therebetween. A first valve member (5) is located within said housing and is movable into and out of engagement with said valve seat (4). A second valve member (7) is operatively associated with said first valve member (5) whereby movement of said first valve member (5) to its fully disengaged position causes said second valve member (7) to close off fluid flow upstream of said first valve member (5) and allow servicing thereof.

Description

FAUCET WITH AUXILIARY CLOSURE FOR MAINTENANCE

This invention relates to plumbing fittings and more particularly although not exclusively to taps or other high pressure brassware such as for example bib cocks , stop cocks and pillar cocks as well as basin, shower and bath sets.

With existing fittings of this type it is necessary to completely shut off the mains supply in order to replace a faulty washer or valve assembly in the cock. Accordingly many people such as women or elderly persons living in apartments where the location of the mains supply is not readily accessible often reguire the services of a plumber for what is otherwise a relatively simple operation. Also in commercial or industrial situations any shutdown of a water or air supply etc. obviously costs time and money.

It is therefore an obj ect of this invention to ame l iorate the aforementioned disadvantage and accordingly a f luid control valve is disclosed which comprises a housing having an inlet port , an out let port and at least one valve seat therebetween; a first valve member within said housing and movable into and out of engagement with said valve seat and a second valve member operative ly associated with said f irst va lve member whereby movement of said first va lve member to it ' s ful ly disengaged pos ition causes said second va lve member to c lose of f f luid f low upstream of said f irst valve member and a l low the servicing thereof .

Several embodiments of the invention wi l l now be described with reference to the attached drawings in which:

Figures 1 and 1A show a schematic view of a high pressure bib cock in partial cross- section,

Figure 2 shows a high pressure stop cock in partial cross-section,

Figures 3 and 3A show a right angle hose stop cock in partial cross-section and inlet port insert,

Figures 4 and 4A show pillar cock in partial cross- section and inlet port insert,

Figure 5 shows a stop cock assembly for a bath, shower or basin set in partial cross-section,

Referring first to figures 1 and 1A the bib cock basically comprises a valve housing 1 with an inlet port 2, outlet port 3 and a valve seat 4 therebetween. A valve member 5 is disposed above this seat and is movable (by rotation of threaded spindle 6) between the position shown in figure 1 wherein it engages the upper face of seat 4 and-the disengaged position of figure 1A wherein it is clear of the seat. In accordance with this invention an additional valve member 7 is located directly below and is also movable within a sleeve 7A so as to engage or disengage the underside face of seat 4. Preferably the two valve members are axially aligned and abut at their centres as shown so that when valve 5 is either fully closed or partially open valve member 7 remains clear of seat 4 and is thus open to flow. As the primary valve member 5 is raised to it's fully open position however valve member 7 is allowed to move progressively upwardly (either by spring force or water pressure in the inlet port) and finally seal against the underside of seat 4.

The result of this action to a user is that the cock operates in the usual fashion to regulate fluid flow when the spindle 6 and valve 5 are turned down to their closed or partially open position. If servicing of valve member 5 is required however turning the spindle to the conventional "fully open" position causes valve member 7 to shut off the flow below seat 4 and allow disassembly and servicing of the upper section of the housing and/or valve member 5 without interruption of the mains supply to other outlets. After re-assembly the valve would resume normal operation by simply turning down spindle 6 again to it's closed or partially open position whereby the flow freely passes valve member 7 and is controlled solely by valve member 5.

Although it is not essential to the invention a removable plug 8 may also be fitted into the lower section of the valve housing 1 to facilitate the initial assembly or servicing of valve member 7.

Other types of valves constructed according to this invention are shown in figures 2 to 5 wherein the afore^¬ mentioned components are indicated by the same numbers . In the case of the hose stop cock and pillar cock (figures 3, 3A, 4 and 4A) where the inlet is located directly below valve 7 a diametrical insert 9 may be fitted within port 2 to slidably support the valve stem while at the same time allowing free flow through said port.

A further variation of the invention as applied to a bib cock is shown in figure 6. In this case there is no need for fitting a removable plug into the lower section of the housing 1. Instead the seat 4 includes a removable insert section 4A so as to allow access to the inlet port 2 for assembly or servicing of the valve member 7. Preferably this section 4A is threaded to screw into position and it's centra bore may be shaped to receive a tool to facilitate removal.

It will thus be appreciated that this invention at least in the form of the embodiments described comprises a novel and unique improvement to existing plumbing valves. Clearly however the examples disclosed are only the currently preferred forms of this invention and a wide variety of modifications may be made which would be apparent to a man skilled in the art. For example the shape and configuration of the valve assemblies and seat may be modified according to application or design preference. Also the invention is not limited to any specific material of construction.

Claims

The claims defining the invention are as follows:

1. A fluid control valve which comprises a housing having an inlet port, an outlet port and at least one valve seat therebetween; a first valve member within said housing and movable into and out of engagement with said valve seat and a second valve member operatively associated with said first valve member whereby movement of said first valve member to it's fully disengaged position- causes said second valve member to close off fluid flow upstream of said first valve member and allow servicing thereof.

2. The fluid control valve as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second valve member closes off fluid flow by engaging said valve seat.

3. The fluid control valve as claimed in claim 2 or 3 wherein said first and second valve members are axially aligned and abut at their centers with the first valve member engaging an upper face of said valve seat and the the second valve member engaging a lower face of said valve seat.

4. The fluid control valve as claimed in claim 2 wherein said second valve member is moved into engagement with said valve seat by water pressure in the inlet port.

5. The fluid control valve as claimed in claim 2 wherein said second valve member is moved into engagement with said valve seat by a spring.

6. The fluid control valve as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein said second valve member slides within a sleeved plug in said housing-

7. The fluid control valve as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein said second valve member slides within a sleeved diametrical insert across the inlet port of said housing.

8. The fluid control valve as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein said first member is moved into and out of engagement with said valve seat by means of a rotatable spindle.