WO2021074731A1

WO2021074731A1 - Wall-hidden or wall-mounted self-cleaning faucet

Info

Publication number: WO2021074731A1
Application number: PCT/IB2020/059199
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ciro Mastromatteo
Original assignee: Tapel Di Mastromatteo Ciro & C S.A.S.
Priority date: 2019-10-16
Filing date: 2020-10-01
Publication date: 2021-04-22
Also published as: IT201900019082A1

Abstract

A faucet (1) comprising a valve body (1020) having a movable body (10) and a fixed body (20) which can be mutually coupled. The faucet (1) further comprises a filter (40) and a spindle stop-valve (30) displaced between a first operative position in which it shuts off the through- flow of water inside the valve (1020) and a second operative position in which water is allowed to flow through. In the first operative position, the spindle stop-valve (30) and the filter (40) are cleaned without necessarily shutting off the dispensing of water to the valve body (1020) upstream.

Description

WALL-HIDDEN OR WALL-MOUNTED SELF-CLEANING FAUCET

DESCRIPTION

Field of the invention

The present invention generally relates to the technical field of taps and fittings, and it particularly relates to a wall-hidden or wall-mounted self-cleaning faucet.

State of the Art

Various types of faucets are known. In particular, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 1A, faucets A comprising a valve with spindle stop V, are known.

Such types of faucets may or may not comprise an internally arranged filter.

In any case, when water flows through the spindle stop-valve reveals the tendency to form calcareous deposits that leads to cementing the components of the faucet to each other.

In order to allow the cleaning of the spindle stop-valve, one has to disassemble the valve body to remove the spindle stop-valve, with the ensuing possibility of water leaking from the valve body.

Thus, such known solution requires the shutting off of the through-flow of water in the pipings, i.e. the closure of the upstream valve, with the ensuing difficulty in the cleaning and maintenance of the spindle stop-valve.

Summary of the invention

An object of the present invention is to at least partly overcome the drawbacks outlined above, by providing a faucet that is highly functional and relatively cost-effective.

An object of the invention is to provide a faucet that is particularly easy to use for any operator of the industry, even if not particularly specialised.

Another object of the invention is to provide a faucet which allows an easy cleaning of the filter and the components thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide a faucet which prevents the accumulation of calcareous deposits when water flows through.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a faucet which allows an easy cleaning of the components thereof without shutting off the through-flow of water in the pipings.

These and other objects that will be more apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a faucet having one or more of the characteristics herein described and/or claimed and/or illustrated.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are defined according to the dependent claims.

Brief description of the drawings

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will be more apparent in light of the detailed description of some preferred but non-exclusive embodiments of the invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example with reference to the attached drawings, wherein:

FIGS. 1 and 1A are respectively a lateral and sectional view of a faucet A of the prior art;

FIG. IB illustrates an axial section of an exploded view of an external faucet 1;

FIGS. 2A and 2B are respectively an axonometric and front view of the spindle stop- valve 30;

FIG. 3A is an axial sectional view of the external faucet 1 in which the spindle stop- valve 30 is in the second operative position, regarding which FIG. 3B is a top view, in which the body 20 is de-coupled from the body 10;

FIG. 3C is an axial sectional view of the external faucet 1 in which the spindle stop- valve 30 is in the first operative position to allow the removal and the cleaning of the filter 40;

FIG. 4 illustrates an axial section of an exploded view of a wall-mounted faucet 1;

FIG. 5A is an axonometric view of an axial section of an exploded view of a wall- mounted faucet 1;

FIG. 5B is a front view of a spindle stop-valve 30 for a wall-mounted faucet 1;

FIG. 6A is an axial sectional view of the wall-mounted faucet 1 in which the spindle stop-valve 30 is in the second operative position, regarding which FIG. 6B is a top view, in which the body 20 is de-coupled from the body 10;

FIG. 6C is an axial sectional view of the wall-mounted faucet 1 in which the spindle stop-valve 30 is in the first operative position to allow the removal and the cleaning of the filter 40.

Detailed description of some preferred embodiments

With reference to the aforementioned figures, herein described is a faucet 1, for example an under-sink faucet, which can be used in a fluidic connection line 2. The latter may comprise an inlet I and an outlet U.

Although hereinafter in the description reference will be made to water as a working fluid, it is clear that any type of fluid may flow in such fluidic connection line 2.

Suitably, such faucet 1 may be external or wall-mounted.

It may comprise a valve body 1020 which can be positioned on the fluidic connection line 2, with an inlet 1020' and an outlet 1020" which can be fluidically connected to the inlet I and the outlet U of the line 2, respectively.

The valve body 1020 may include a movable body 10 which can be removably coupled to a second fixed body 20.

Such bodies 10 and 20 may both be made of plastic or preferably made of metal, for example brass.

In particular, the body 10 may comprise an outer surface 13 and an inner seat 11 having a substantially smooth surface 1 .

In addition, in the case of an external faucet 1, the outer surface 13 may comprise a threaded portion 133.

Vice versa, the body 20 may internally comprise a lateral surface 23 comprising a counter-threaded portion 233 which can be coupled to the threaded portion 133.

In the case of a wall-mounted faucet 1, the bodies 10 and 20 may be mutually removably couplable by means of a pair of tie rods 4, as particularly illustrated in FIG. 6A.

In addition, the faucet 1 may comprise a spindle stop-valve 30 defining a substantially longitudinal axis X.

The spindle stop-valve 30 may comprise a first end 30' which can be inserted into the seat 11 and an opposite end 30" comprising a head 31.

In addition, the end 30' may include a rod 35 comprising a substantially smooth outer surface 35'.

In particular, the smooth surface 35' will allow an easy insertion of the spindle stop- valve 30 into the seat 11, with minimum friction with respect to the surface 1 .

In addition, in the case of a wall-mounted faucet 1, the spindle stop-valve 30 may include a portion 35" positioned on the top part of the rod 35, suitable to cooperate with an Allen key for the displacement of the spindle stop-valve 30, as will be described in greater detail hereinafter.

Preferably, the head 31 may comprise, at the end thereof, an abutment surface 32 and a threaded portion 3 interposed between the abutment surface 32 and the smooth surface 35' of the rod 35.

Suitably, the threaded portion 3 may be parallel to the axis X.

In addition, the threaded portion 31' may comprise one or more discontinuities 33 to allow water to flow through.

Suitably, the guide body 20 may comprise a seat 22 comprising a lateral surface 21.

The seat 22 may comprise a counteracting surface 22' facing the abutment surface

32.

The seat 22 may further comprise a counter-threaded nut portion 222 which can be removably coupled to the threaded portion 3 of the head 31.

In addition, the nut portion 222 may comprise at least one pair of discontinuities 24' obtained longitudinally parallel to the axis X so that an interspace area 25 for the through- flow of water is defined between them and the lateral surface 21.

However, it is clear that several pairs of discontinuities, for example as illustrated in FIG 3B. may be provided for, for example as illustrated in FIG. 3B a pair of discontinuities 24' and a pair of discontinuities 24", two-by-two diametrically opposite, i.e. angularly spaced by 90°, may be provided for, without departing from the scope of protection of the attached claims.

It is clear that the total surface defined between the discontinuities 24' and 24" where the water can flow may be substantially larger than the surface defined by the inlet I, or by the section S, having a diameter 0S, of the faucet 1 at the inlet I, so as to prevent possible punctual pressure loads generating possible noises when the water flows through.

Preferably, the spindle stop-valve 30 may be in a first operative position when the threaded portion 3 and the counter-threaded nut portion 222 are screwed so that the abutment surface 32 of the threaded head 31 comes into mutual contact with the counteracting surface 22' to shut off the through-flow of water in the fluidic connection line 2.

Furthermore, the spindle stop-valve 30 may be in a second operative position when the threaded portion 3 and the counter-threaded portion 222 are unscrewed so as to be spaced apart by a predetermined distance d, so that the abutment surface 32 of the threaded head 31 is spaced from the counteracting surface 22' so as to allow the water to flow through in the fluidic connection line 2. In addition, when the spindle stop-valve 30 is in the first operative position, the counter-threaded nut portion 222 and the threaded portion 3 can be displaced to remove the calcareous deposits present on the threaded portion 3 and/or on the counter-threaded nut portion 222 and convey them towards the discontinuity 33 and the discontinuities 24', 24", as well as towards the interspace area 25.

In particular, the discontinuity 33 and the discontinuities 24', 24" are displaced repeatedly between a third operative position in which they are facing and a fourth operative position in which they are staggered to facilitate the action of removing the calcareous deposits present on the threaded portion 3 and/or on the counter-threaded nut portion 222 and convey them into the aforementioned interspace area 25.

Subsequently, the calcareous deposits can be removed from the interspace area 25 and conveyed towards the outlet U when the spindle stop-valve 30 is displaced to the second operative position by the user.

It is clear that the passing of the spindle stop-valve 30 between the first and second operative position can be carried out by keeping the valve upstream of the hydraulic circuit open, i.e. without having to shut off the dispensing of water in the fluidic connection line 2.

Suitably, the spindle stop-valve 30 is displaced between the first and second operative positions and, thus, the discontinuity 33 and the discontinuities 24', 24" are displaced between the third and fourth operative positions, by rotating the rod 35 around the axis X by means of a knob 3, for example of the snap type, which can be gripped by a user and which can be engaged with the rod 35, as known, or by using a wrench or Allen key, the latter acting on the special counter-shaped portion 35" made on the rod 35.

In particular, in the case of a wall-mounted faucet 1, the body 10 may comprise an opening 14 suitable to insert the Allen key along the axis X, as particularly illustrated in FIG. 6A.

Preferably, the end 30' of the spindle stop-valve 30 may comprise an abutment surface 34 substantially converging with respect to the axis X so as to define - therewith - an acute angle a measuring from 15°-25°, preferably equal to 20°.

Likewise, the seat 11 of the body 10 may comprise an edge area 12 including a counteracting surface 12' susceptible to impact the abutment surface 34 when the spindle stop-valve 30 is in the second operative position to provide a first hydraulic sealing, preventing the leaking of water from the valve body 1020. Furthermore, the outer surface 13 may include an abutment surface 13' and the lateral surface 23 may include at least one counteracting surface 23' suitable to impact the abutment surface 13' of the body 10 so as to define a second hydraulic sealing of the valve body 1020 when the spindle stop-valve 30 is in the second operative position.

Likewise, the faucet 1 may further comprise a copper gasket 50 coupled to the abutment surface 32 of the threaded head 31 of the spindle stop-valve 30 by means of a tie rod 51, so as to ensure a third hydraulic sealing when the spindle stop-valve 30 is in the first operative position.

In this case, when the spindle stop-valve 30 is in the first operative position, the gasket 50 will impact the counteracting surface 22', remaining interposed between the latter and the abutment surface 32.

This will allow to clean the threaded portion 3 and nut portion 222 without having to close - upstream - the water dispensing valve in the fluidic connection line 2, by means of the aforementioned displacement of the discontinuities 33 and the discontinuities 24', 24" between the third and fourth operative positions.

Preferably, the body 20 may comprise a seat 26 consecutive to the seat 22, in the case of an external faucet 1, or coinciding with the interspace area 25, in the case of a wall- mounted faucet 1.

Preferably, a filter 40 may be inserted in the seat 26.

In this manner, the inlet 1020', the seat 22, the filter 40 and the outlet 1020" will be substantially consecutive along the line 2, so that the water flows out from the outlet 1020" filtered.

Preferably, the filter 40 may be a cylinder with a diameter Q1 or a truncated cone having a smaller base diameter Q1 and a larger base diameter Q2.

Suitably, the diameter Q3 of the threaded head 31 of the spindle stop-valve 30 may be substantially larger than the diameter Q4 of the rod 35.

In addition, such diameter Q3 may be substantially smaller than the diameter Q1 so that the spindle stop-valve 30 and/or the filter 40 can be removed from the seat 22 without having to remove the filter 40 or the spindle stop-valve 30, respectively, once the guide body 10 has been removed, so as to be able to clean them, as particularly illustrated in FIGS. 3B and 6B.

In particular, when the spindle stop-valve 30 is in the first working position, the filter 40 can be removed without having to close - upstream - the water dispensing valve in the fluidic connection line 2, given that the threaded portion 3 and the nut portion 222 are integrally coupled, and the abutment surface 32 is at contact with the counteracting surface 22' so as to prevent the through-flow of the water in the seat 22, with the possible help of the gasket 50 interposed between the abutment surface 32 and the counteracting surface 22.

It is clear that the body 10 will act as a guide during the screwing and/or the insertion of the spindle stop-valve 30 and of the filter 40 into the body 20, in which the spindle stop- valve 30 and filter 40 will be substantially stable after insertion. In light of the above, it is clear that the invention attains the pre-set objectives.

The invention is susceptible to numerous modifications and variants all falling within the inventive concept outlined in the attached claims. Furthermore, all details can be replaced by other technically equivalent elements, and the materials can be different depending on the needs, without departing from the scope of protection defined by the attached claims.

Claims

1. A faucet which can be installed in a fluidic connection line (2) defined between at least one inlet (I) and at least one outlet (U), comprising:

- a valve body (1020) which can be positioned on the fluidic connection line (2) with an inlet (1020') and an outlet (1020") which can be fluidically connected respectively to the inlet (I) and the outlet (U) of the line (2), the valve body (1020) comprising a first removable body (10) and a second fixed body (20) which can be mutually coupled, said first body (10) comprising a first internally smooth seat (11), said second body (20) comprising a second valve seat (22) comprising a first lateral surface (21) and at least one first counteracting surface (22');

- a spindle stop-valve (30) defining a substantially longitudinal axis (X) comprising a first and a second opposite ends (30', 30"), said first end (30') comprising a rod (35) having a substantially smooth outer surface (35') and which can be inserted into said first seat (11), the latter being suitably shaped to be coupled or couplable with said rod (35), said second end (30") comprising a head (31) including a first abutment surface (32) and a first threaded portion (31') having a longitudinal extension parallel to said axis (X), the latter including at least one first discontinuity (33) defining a fluidic passage;

- a filter (40) inserted into said second body (20) so as to remain interposed between said first lateral surface (21) of said second seat (22) and said spindle stop-valve (30); wherein said second seat (22) of said second body (20) comprises a first counter- threaded nut portion (222) spaced from said first lateral surface (21) so as to define an interspace area (25) therebetween, said first counter-threaded nut portion (222) comprising at least one pair of second discontinuities (24') having a longitudinal extension parallel to said axis (X) and defining a fluidic passage, the first counter-threaded nut portion (222) and said first threaded portion (31') of said head (31) being mutually screwable in a removable fashion; wherein said spindle stop-valve (30) is in a first operative position when said first threaded portion (31') and said first counter-threaded portion (222) are mutually screwed so that said first abutment surface (32) of said threaded head (31) comes into mutual contact with said first counteracting surface (22') to shut off the passage of the fluid in said fluidic connection line (2), the spindle stop-valve (30) being in a second operative position when said first threaded portion (31') and said first counter-threaded portion (222) are mutually unscrewed to be spaced apart by a predetermined distance (d) so that said first abutment surface (32) of said threaded head (31) is mutually spaced from said first counteracting surface (22') to allow the through-flow of the fluid in said fluidic connection line (2); wherein when said spindle stop-valve (30) is in said first operative position, said first counter-threaded nut portion (222) and said first threaded portion (31') can be mutually displaced to remove the calcareous deposits present on said first threaded portion (31') and/or on said first counter-threaded nut portion (222) and convey them towards said first (33) and second (24') discontinuities, as well as towards said interspace area (25), the calcareous deposits being removed from the latter and conveyed towards the outlet (U) when said spindle stop-valve (30) is displaced to said second operative position.

2. Faucet according to claim 1, wherein when said spindle stop-valve (30) is in said second operative position, said at least one first discontinuity (33) and said at least one pair of second discontinuities (24') are susceptible to be displaced between a third operative position in which they are substantially facing and a fourth operative position in which they are substantially staggered to facilitate the action of removing the calcareous deposits present on said first threaded portion (3 ) and/or on said first counter-threaded nut portion (222) and convey them to said interspace area (25).

3. Faucet according to the preceding claim, wherein said spindle stop-valve (30) is susceptible to be displaced between said first and second operative positions and/or said at least one first discontinuity (33) and said at least one pair of second discontinuities (24') are susceptible to be displaced between said third and fourth operative positions by rotating said rod (35) around said axis (X) by a user.

4. Faucet according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said filter (40) is substantially cylindrical or frustoconical, the same having a first diameter (Q1), i.e. the diameter of the cylinder or of the smaller base of the truncated cone, substantially larger than the diameter (Q3) of said threaded head (31) of said spindle stop-valve (30) so that the filter (40) and/or said spindle stop-valve (30) are removable from said second body (20) so as to allow the cleaning thereof when said first and second body (10, 20) are mutually decoupled, said filter (40) being further extractable from said second body (20) when said spindle stop-valve (30) is in said first operative position maintaining the dispensing of fluid in the line (2).

5. Faucet according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said second body (20) comprises at least one third seat (26) mutually consecutive to said at least one second seat (22) or coincident with said interspace area (25), said filter (40) remaining interposed between said first counter-threaded nut portion (222) and said lateral surface (21) of said at least one second seat (22).

6. Faucet according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said first and second body (10, 20) respectively comprise a third threaded portion (133) and a fourth counter- threaded portion (233) which can be mutually screwed in a removable fashion, alternatively said first and second body (10, 20) being mutually removably couplable by at least one pair of tie rods (4), the decoupling thereof being allowed so as to allow the removal of said filter (40) and/or said spindle stop-valve (30) from said second body (20), so as to allow the cleaning thereof.

7. Faucet according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said first end (30') of said spindle stop-valve (30) comprises at least one second abutment surface (34) substantially convergent with respect to said axis (X), said at least one first seat (11) of said first body (10) comprising an edge area (12) including at least one second counteracting surface (12') susceptible to come into mutual contact with said at least one second abutment surface (34) when said spindle stop-valve (30) is in said second operative position to provide a first hydraulic sealing.

8. Faucet according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said first body (10) comprises an outer surface (13) opposite to said at least one first seat (11), including at least one third abutment surface (13'), said second body (20) comprising a second lateral surface (23) including at least one third counteracting surface (23') susceptible to come into mutual contact with said at least one third abutment surface (13') of said first body (10) as to define a second hydraulic sealing of said valve body (1020) when said spindle stop-valve (30) is in said second operative position.

9. Faucet according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a copper gasket (50) mutually coupled with said threaded head (31) of said spindle stop-valve (30) by means of at least one tie-rod (51), so as to ensure a third hydraulic sealing when said spindle stop valve (30) is in said first operative position, the copper gasket (50) remaining interposed between said first abutment surface (32) of said threaded head (31) and said first counteracting surface (22').

10. Faucet according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one second seat (22) of said second body (20) further comprises at least one pair of third discontinuities (24"), said at least one pair of second and third discontinuities (24', 24") being two-by-two diametrically opposed so as to assist the cleaning action of said first threaded portion (3 ) and/or of said first counter-threaded nut portion (222).