GB2110331A

GB2110331A - Connecting devices for sanitary plumbing installations

Info

Publication number: GB2110331A
Application number: GB08204028A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Werner Hunziker
Original assignee: KWC AG
Current assignee: Franke Technology and Trademark Ltd
Priority date: 1981-11-26
Filing date: 1982-02-11
Publication date: 1983-06-15
Also published as: ES8401218A1; EP0080591B1; EP0080591A1; GB2110331B; CH653426A5; DE3274754D1; ES517718A0

Description

1 GB 2 110 331 A 1

SPECIFICATION Connecting devices for sanitary plumbing installations

The present invention relates to connecting devices for sanitary plumbing installations, of the 70 kind comprising a flexible connecting pipe having connecting means at each end thereof.

Known devices of this kind, as normally utilised in the form for example of a hose which may be extensibly mounted for connection of a hand-held 75 shower fitting to a water supply point, have a water-conveying inner hose of flexible or elastic material such as rubber, provided with connection fittings, such flexible hose being enclosed by a double-wound metal sheath. Connecting devices 80 of this kind, between a water supply point and a water consumption point, are appropriate everywhere rigid connecting pipes are not desirable or possible. This method of connection 20 becomes unwieldy however if several fluids have 85 to be conveyed to the point of consumption by means of correspondingly several hoses, e.g. hot and cold water, and this especially if the connecting hoses are to be extensible. The same 25 also applies if the dispensing appliance connected to the hose for fluid is to be fitted with electrical operating or control elements for dispensing the fluid, and the number and bulk of the connecting conduits become correspondingly large.

It is an object of the invention to minimise or eliminate these disadvantages and to provide a connecting device of the nature set forth above, which is appropriate for practically optional fluid infeed, compact, and may if desirable be organised without difficulties to be extensible.

Accordingly, the invention consists in a connecting device for sanitary plumbing installations comprising a flexible connecting pipe having connecting means at each end thereof, said device comprising at least two equidirectional 105 ducts enclosed by a common flexible protective sheath of circular cross-section, at least one of which is formed by a flexible hose serving the purpose of conveying fluid, and the ends parts of which are provided with connection fittings, whereas the end sections of the protective sheath are each secured in a connecting sleeve, on whose projecting cylindrical sections the connection fittings are held in axial alignment.

Optional fluids or cables may be led wholly separately through the ducts extending in the common protective sheath, which advantageously is of metal, the end connecting sleeves allowing the ends of the device to be connected to fittings provided with matching fluid or cable connectors. 120 The device thus forms a single flexible multiduct hose which may be installed and handled in uncomplicated manner, the ducts of one and the same device being utilisable at will for traversal by 60 optional fluids or cables. Depending on the - 125 purpose of application, it may be particularly advantageous to form the different ducts by separate hoses of circular cross-section which are positioned side by side or co-axially one within the other with a radial spacing, or by longitudinal division of a single hose of circular cross-section by means of an internal partition. It will be apparent that by appropriately dimensioning the hose for fluids, a second duct appropriate for traversal by a cable may also be formed in the intermediate space between the hose for fluids and the protective sheath.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which show several embodiments thereof by way of example, and in which-.- Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of the device in axial cross-section, Figure 2 shows a cross-section along the line A-A of Figure 1, Figure 3 shows a cross-section along the line B-B of Figure 1, Figure 4 shows a second embodiment of the device, in axial cross-section, Figure 5 shows a cross-section along the line C-C of Figure 4, Figure 6 shows a cross-section along the line D-D of Figure 4, Figure 7 shows a modification of a detail shown in Figure 4, Figure 8 sh6ws a third embodiment of the device in axial cross-section, Figure 9 shows a cross-section along the line E-E of Figure 8, Figure 10 shows a cross-section along the line F-F of Figure 8, Figure 11 shows a cross-section along the line G-G of Figure 8, Figure 12 shows a modification of a detail shown in Figure 8, Figure 13 shows a fourth embodiment of the device in axial cross-section, Figure 14 shows a cross-section along the line H-H of Figure 13, and Figure 15 shows a cross-section along the line J-J of Figure 13.

Referring now to the drawings, the connecting device shown in Figures 1 to 3 is intended to connect a hand-held shower appliance fitted with electrical control means for valve actuation, to the corresponding stationary connecting fitting for water and control leads of a sanitary plumbing installation. The connecting device illustrated has a flexible protective sheath 1 wound from metal strip material and having a circular cross-section. The extremities of the protective sheath 1 are each secured in a connecting sleeve 2a and 2b, respectively. Within the protective sheath 1 and at a radial spacing therefrom is located a flexible hose 3 of rubber or plastics material, the ends of which are mounted on the tapering terminal part of a connection fitting 4 and clamped fast by means of the correspondingly tapering boss 5a of a centring plate 5c. The boss 5a is joined via radial webs 5b to the centring plate 5c which bears flush on the free end side of the connecting sleeve 2a and 2b ' respectively.

A sealing ring 6 bears against the centring plate 2 GB 2 110 331 A 2 5c. On the connecting sleeve 2a at one end of the device, which is provided with an external screwthread, is screwed a cap nut 7a which, by means of a terminal flange, thrusts the corresponding end collar of an intermediate fitting 8 firmly but in easily releasable manner against the sealing ring 6. The intermediate fitting 8 is screwed into the outflow connector 9a of a stationary connecting housing 9 of a water supply fitting not illustrated in detail, whereas the connection fitting 4 co-axial with respect to the intermediate fitting 8 is seated firmly in a central bore 9b of the outflow connector 9a leading into the water inflow duct 1 0a, of the connecting housing 9. The water conveying duct 11 formed in the hose 3 is thereby 80 connected to the water inflow duct 1 Oa, whereas the duct 12 formed between the protective sheath 1 and the hose 3 is outwardly open via a wall perforation 1 Ob of the connector 9a.

At the other end of the device, the connecting sleeve 2b (not provided with a screw-thread) is overlapped by the inner flange of a cap nut 7b, which is screwed on to the housing section 13 formed as a handle, of a hand-held shower fitting not illustrated in detail, in releasable manner. The said housing section 13 into which the connection fitting 4 allocated thereto of the hose 3 projects and is in communication with a shower head which is not illustrated, bears at the end side against the sealing ring 6, a cable conduit 14 95 connected to the duct 12 of the connecting device being formed between the connection fitting 4 and the housing section 13. From the control device which is not depicted, for the connection- side fitting equipped with valves, the control cables 15 are led through the duct 12 of the connecting device into the cable passage 14 of the shower and terminate thereat in an appropriate switch.

Due to the structure described, the connecting 105 device may be connected in simple manner by means of the two cap nuts 7a, 7b to the inflow fitting at one end and at the other end to the outflow fitting (being a hand-held shower appliance in this case), the two ducts 11, 12 110 mandatorily being connected to the connection points allocated to them. This ensures that the water-conveying hose 3 as well as the cables 15 are led in wholly separate ducts 11, 12 which are however enclosed by a common flexible protective 115 sheath 1.

The embodiment according to Figures 4 to 6 essentially differs from the first embodimentjust described, in that the outer delimitation of the cable duct 12 is also formed by a flexible hose 16 120 drawn into the protective sheath 1. For terminal fastening of this hose 16, the centring plate 5c is provided in this case with a complementary tapering boss 5d on which the hose end is clamped fast by means of a correspondingly tapering section of the connecting sleeve 2a and 2b, respectively. Due to this structure of the connecting device, it is possible without difficulty to connect the same as shown in Figure 7, optionally even to the housing section 19 of a fitting fitted with valves, said section supplying two fluids (e.g. cold and hot water or water and liquid soap).

It will be apparent that the devices described may also be utilised as a so-called extensible hose or also for connecting optional stationary fluid supply fittings to the corresponding fixedly installed feed fittings. To this end, another duct may be formed if need be, e.g. within the inner hose 3 or else outside the outer hose 16, so that three passage ducts are available for fluids or cables.

Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figures 8 to 11. Instead of two coaxial hoses, this connecting device comprises two flexible hoses 23 which run side by side in the same direction and are enclosed by the common protective sheath 1. The ends of these hoses are pulled through a centring plate 25 comprising tapered holes and situated in the connecting sleeve 22a and 22b respectively, which is allocated thereto, and are clamped in each case on a connection fitting 24 of plastics material for example; the connection fittings 24 are each preceded at the end side by a sealing plate or washer 26. The two pairs of axially parallel connection fittings 24 with their sealing washers 26 are enflanked at the connection -side extremity of the device by the axial flange of an intermediate fitting 28, the bores 28a of which establish communication when the device is installed, via the connection fittings 24, between the ducts 31, 32 of the connecting device and the water inflow duct 30a and, respectively, the cable insertion opening 30b of the housing section 29 of the connecting appliance. The secure but releasable connection of the device to the housing section 29 of the connecting appliance is established in analogous manner to that of the embodiment first described, by means of a cap nut 27a which engages behind a collar of the intermediate fitting 28 secured on the housing section 29 and is screwed on to external screwthreads of the connecting sleeve 22a. At the appliance end of the device, the connection fittings 24 project with their sealing washers 26 into the housing section 33 of the shower (or of another water outflow appliance), the sealed connection between the shower and the device being established as in the embodiment described in the foregoing by means of a cap nut 27b engaging behind the connecting sleeve 22b and screwed on to outer screw-threads of the housing section 33.

As shown in Figure 8, the flexible connecting device is intended to serve the purpose of ducting water through and within the duct 31 and of leading control cables 15 through and within the duct 32. In this case too, it is possible however to make use of both ducts 31, 32 for conveying fluids, which is rendered possible by the connection housing 39 shown in Figure 12.

Another possibility for devising a flexible multiduct connecting device is illustrated in Figures 13 to 15. A single flexible hose 43 4, 3 GB 2 110 331 A 3 comprising an internal partition 43a and located in the protective sheath 1 is incorporated in this case 45 to form two (or more) parallel ducts 51, 52. In the embodiment illustrated, the two ducts 51, 52 have an unequal cross-section, the smaller duct 52 serving the purpose of leading through cables and the larger duct 51 of ducting water. The ducts 51, 52 may alternatively be given an identical cross-section by centrally positioning the partition 43a. To this end, the system may for example also be arranged in analogous manner to the embodiment shown in Figures 1 or 4, i.e. so that another duct would be established between the protective sheath 1 and the hose 43. The end sections of the hose 43 are mounted on connection fittings 44a, 44b which are adapted to the ducts 51, 52 in crosssection, and are clamped 60 fast thereon by means of the connecting sleeve 42a, and 42b, respectively. The pair of fittings 44a, 44b integrally joined to an end plate 44 which is preceded by a sealing washer 46. The connection between this connecting device and the connection appliance or the water discharge appliance as the case may be, is also established in this case by means of cap nuts 47a and 47b respectively, as described in the foregoing. Locating pins, as indicated at 50 in Figure 15 and at the left in Figure 13, are appropriately incorporated for accurate positioning of the connection fittings with respect to the corresponding ducts in the intermediate fittin g 48 of the connection appliance 49 or in the housing section 53 of the dispensing appliance.

The flexible multiduct connecting devices described by way of example in the foregoing may be utilised to connect the most diverse sanitary appliances which serve the purpose of supplying and dispensing or controlling one or more fluids. The individual incorporation of several individual hoses or cables is superfluous.

Claims

1. A connecting device for sanitary plumbing installations comprising a flexible connecting pipe having connecting means at each end thereof, said device comprising at least two equidirectional conduits enclosed by a common flexible protective sheath of circular cross-section, at least one of which is formed by a flexible hose serving the purpose of conveying fluid, and the end parts of which are provided with connecting fittings, whereas the end sections of the protective sheath are each secured in a connecting sleeve, on whose projecting cylindrical sections the connection fittings are held in axial alignment. 55

2. A connecting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a first conduit or duct is formed in a hose situated within the protective sheath with radial wall spacing, whereas a second duct is established in the annular space formed between the hose and the protective sheath.

3. A connecting device as claimed in claim 2, wherein a second hose enclosing the firstmentioned hose with a radial spacing is situated in the protective sheath, the second duct being formed between the two hoses.

4. A connecting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least two equidirectional hoses which each delimit a duct are situated in the protective sheath of the end parts of which, provided with connection fittings, are each held by a centring plate located in the connecting sleeve allocated thereto.

5. A connecting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a flexible hose divided into two ducts by a partition is situated in the protective sheath, its end parts each being provided with connection fittings adapted to the ducts.

6. A connecting device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the end parts of the hose or hoses forming the duct or ducts are clamped fast on the connection fittings.

7. A connecting device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the connecting sleeves at the ends of the protective sheath are constructed for co-operation with cap nuts, which enable the device to be releasably connected to the fittings allocated thereto.

Printed for Her Majesty's Stationery Office by the Courier Press, Leamington Spa, 1983. Published by the Patent Office 25 Southampton Buildings, London, Y4C2A lAY, from which copies may be obtained.