GB2251674A

GB2251674A - Fluid supply fittings

Info

Publication number: GB2251674A
Application number: GB9027949A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael William Terence Rees; Alastair John Kerr
Original assignee: Rudge H E & Co Ltd
Current assignee: Rudge H E & Co Ltd
Priority date: 1990-12-22
Filing date: 1990-12-22
Publication date: 1992-07-15
Also published as: GB9027949D0

Abstract

A terminal fluid supply fitting (10) for example a tap which in use is connected to a water supply comprises a flow rate control (12, 16, 18) and, disposed at a location intermediate the inlet (28) and the outlet (20), non-return valve means (30) provided as an internal or integral part of the fitting and arranged to permit fluid flow through the fitting in a forward direction but to prevent, fluid flow in the reverse direction, whereby passage of contaminants from the fitting or the environment back into the fluid supply may be prevented. For added protection against reverse flow two non-return valves can be placed in series within the fitting. When applied to mixer taps non-return valves are incorporated in both hot and cold water inlet passages within the tap. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: "Fluid Supply Fittings" Description of the invention This invention is concerned with fluid supply fittings, and in particular with terminal fluid supply fittings through which, or through a portion of which, the fluid, in use, exits to the environment, and is concerned primarily but not exclusively with such fittings where provided for a water supply system.

Where a terminal fluid supply fitting such as a tap receives a supply of water from a water main or from a header tank there is a problem that potentially harmful contaminants can on occasions flow back into the water supply, via the fitting, thereby contaminating the water supply to the possible detriment of users.

It is an object of the invention to overcome or reduce this problem.

According to the invention, there is provided a terminal fluid supply fitting, comprising a fluid inlet, a flow rate control, and a fluid outlet to the environment, and having disposed at a location intermediate the inlet and the outlet non-return valve means provided as an internal or integral part of the fitting and arranged to permit fluid flow through the fitting in a forward direction from the inlet to the outlet but to at least substantially prevent, and preferably eliminate completely, fluid flow in the reverse direction.

In this manner, passage of contaminants from the fitting or the environment back into the fluid supply may be at least substantially prevented, and preferably eliminated completely, by said non-return valve means, which is of particular importance where for example the fitting is a tap which in use is connected to a water supply provided by a water main or header tank.

It is to be understood that the fitting, in the context of this specification, extends up to, and includes any portion provided for connection to a pipe or the like providing a basic fluid supply.

For general use, such non-return valve means may comprise a single non-return valve, preferably disposed at a location intermediate the fluid inlet and the flow rate control.

The non-return valve means may be incorporated in a part or portion of the fitting which in use is ordinarily on view to a user, preferably with little or no change to the external appearance of the fitting, but preferably the non-return valve means is accommodated in a part or portion of the fitting which in use is ordinarily concealed from a user but which has a role in connection of the fitting to pipework supplying the fluid to the fitting.

Thus, in the case of a fitting having a flange which in use lies against a wall, basin, bath or the like, the non-return valve means may be provided in a "tail" of the fitting located beyond the flange, which tail is generally tubular and adapted to receive said pipework and/or is externally threaded to receive a clamping member or members for achieving connection to said pipework.

Where conventionally the tail would be provided with an enlarged bore extending from its open end part-way along its length to receive an end portion of such pipework, such bore may be extended further into the tail, to accommodate the non-return valve means, while leaving sufficient of the initial bore free to accommodate such pipework end portion, subsequent to incorporation of the non-return valve means.

Where still further protection of the fluid supply is required, for example where the fitting is an outdoor water tap or the like, a further non-return valve may be provided in series with the first, either on the same side or on the opposite side of the flow rate control to the first non-return valve.

Where the fitting comprises more than one fluid inlet, for example where the fitting is a mixer tap or the like having respective distinct hot and cold inputs which merge prior to an outlet, a non-return valve may be provided, in a manner or manners in accordance with the invention, in relation to each such inlet individually, and both such valves may be incorporated into a single unit for inclusion in such a fitting.

One embodiment of the invention will now be described in detail, with reference to the accompanying drawing, Figure 1, which is a partly cross-sectional side elevational view of a tap in accordance with the invention.

With reference to the drawing, Figure 1, a terminal fluid supply fitting in accordance with the invention is in this example a water supply fitting in the form of a tap 10, suitable for use in relation to sinks, basins, baths or the like, or other locations requiring a water supply, in a domestic or industrial environment.

As regards its conventional components, the tap 10 illustrated, in this example, is at least substantially (except for an elastomeric washer member 12 thereof) of metal, in this example of brass or alternatively of any other suitable copper alloy or the like, and comprises a main body 14 which houses a flow rate control valve 16 acting upon a valve seat 18 provided in the main body, an outlet spout 20 through which in use water exits to the environment, a flange 22 which in use lies against a surface on which the tap is mounted, and a tail 24 having an external helical thread and an internal bore affording an inlet opening 28 and a passage to said valve seat.

The body of the tap, the spout, the flange and the tail are all integrally formed from said metal and constitute the "body" of the tap.

Flow rate control is achieved in conventional manner, with the flow rate valve 16, and the elastomeric washer element 12 carried thereby, being movable up and down, away from and towards, the valve seat 18, due to rotation of a knob 26 of the tap, and in conventional manner with the washer element raised, fluid may flow through the tap, in a forward direction from the inlet 28 to the outlet 20, whilst with the washer element 12 pressed firmly against the valve seat 18, such flow is at least generally prevented.

In conventional taps, there is a problem that contaminants from the environment or from the conventional tap itself can find their way back through the tap, and through the inlet means into the water supply, such as may be provided by a water main or header tank, so contaminating the water supply.

Conventionally an internal bore of the tail would be enlarged in the course of manufacture to a height indicated by the arrow X, to enable an end portion of a pipe of a water supply to be inserted on-site into said enlarged portion of the bore, with a compressiblelexpandable "olive" disposed around the end portion of the pipe, such that on application of an internally threaded annular clamping member, coaxial with the pipe, over said olive and said external threads of the tail, a secure water-tight connection may be achieved between the pipe and said tail.

In the illustrated tap 10, in accordance with the present invention, the tail is modified by machining said bore to a greater height, such that said enlarged portion occupies a greater proportion of the axial length of the tail, such that non-return valve means 30 may be pushfitted into said bore, to a location intermediate the basic fluid inlet opening 28 and the flow rate control 12, 16, 18, so as to constitute an internal part of the fitting per se. Subsequently, in use, such pipe end portion with adjacent olive may be inserted into the remaining unoccupied outer portion of the bore and the aforesaid annular clamping member may be applied thereto in conventional manner. Thus the non-return valve 30 is provided as an internal part of the tap.Although in this example the valve comprises an insert including a springloaded poppet-type valve at least substantially of synthetic material such as nylon, this does not preclude provision of such a non-return valve at least partly as an integral part of such tap whilst remaining within the scope of the invention.

The non-return valve illustrated is a tight pushfit in said bore and comprises a spring-loaded poppet member 32 which is urged by a helical compression spring 33 in a direction towards an orifice located in a valve seat 34 of the non-return valve, which orifice the poppet is capable of at least substantially closing under urging by said spring unless a relatively nominal water pressure difference exists between front and rear of said orifice in a sense to urge the poppet-away from the orifice against the action of the spring. As will be appreciated from the drawing, the non-return valve is arranged such as to permit water flow through the tap in a forward direction from the inlet aperture to the outlet but to at least substantially to prevent flow through the tap in the reverse direction, such as from the outlet or from the flow control means to the inlet.

Thus, by incorporating such non-return valve, risk of backs low of contaminants from the tap and/or environment into the water supply may be eliminated or at least substantially reduced.

In this example, in the closed position of the poppet, the poppet seats against an annular elastomeric member provided around said valve seat orifice, and may be regarded as eiiminating completely any reverse flow.

Although in this example the non-return valve is accommodated in the externally threaded tail portion of the tap, which in use is ordinarily concealed from the view of a user, in alternative taps (not illustrated) in accordance with the invention such non-return valves could be accommodated in a leg portion 40 of the tap, being that portion of the tap disposed between the portion housing the flow rate control and the flange, which leg portion in some taps is significantly longer than in the tap 10 illustrated.

By locating the non-return valve means intermediate the flow control and the inlet orifice, fluid pressure at the inlet, being the pressure of the water supply in the present example,will not be capable of forcing the nonreturn valve means out of the fitting.

It will be apperceived that the invention permits protection of a household or industrial water supply to be achieved simply by changing the taps, without disturbing the basic water supply itself.

It will be appreciated that further increased protection against undesired back-flow of contaminants may be achieved by incorporating two such non-return valves into the fitting, in series, orientated to operate in the same sense with regard to the permitted and prevented directions of fluid flow, for example either both intermediate the flow rate control and the inlet, or one before and one after (e.g. within a spout) the flow rate control, such further protection being particularly important where the fitting is an outdoor water tap.

In alternative fittings in accordance with the invention, for example taps of mixer type, including taps which ultimately provide water for a shower unit, or, for example, for a bidet, or a bath filler, such non-return valves are preferably incorporated in the fitting concerned individually in the hot water inlet and the cold water inlet respectively, and where such inlets are closely adjacent, a unit for example comprising two side-by-side such non-return valves constructed as a single unit may be incorporated if desired.

Moreover it is to be understood that the invention in its broadest terms is applicable to terminal fluid supply fittings in general and is not restricted to the examples which have herein been described in detail.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the accompanying drawing, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A terminal fluid supply fitting, comprising a fluid inlet, a flow rate control, and a fluid outlet to the environment, and having disposed at a location intermediate the inlet and the outlet non-return valve means provided as an internal or integral part of the fitting and arranged to permit fluid flow through the fitting in a forward direction from the inlet to the outlet but to at least substantially prevent, and preferably eliminate completely, fluid flow in the reverse direction.

2. A fitting according to Claim 1, the fitting being a tap which in use is connected to a water supply provided by a water main or header tank.

3. A fitting according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein such non-return valve means comprises a single non-return valve.

4. A fitting according to Claim 3 wherein said valve is disposed at a location intermediate the fluid inlet and the flow rate control.

5. A fitting according to any one of Claims 1 to 4 wherein the non-return valve means is incorporated in a part or portion of the fitting which in use is ordinarily on view to a user.

6. A fitting according to Claim 5 wherein the nonreturn valve means is so accommodated with little or no change to the external appearance of the fitting.

7. A fitting according to any one of Claims 1 to 4 wherein the non-return valve means is accommodated in a part or portion of the fitting which in use is ordinarily concealed from a user but which has a role in connection of the fitting to pipework supplying the fluid to the fitting.

8. A fitting according to Claim 7 wherein the fitting has a flange which in use lies against a wall, basin, bath or the like, and the non-return valve means is provided in a "tail" of the fitting located beyond the flange, which tail is generally tubular and adapted to receive said pipework and/or is externally threaded to receive a clamping member or members for achieving connection to said pipework.

9. A fitting according to Claim 8 wherein the tail is provided with an enlarged bore extending, conventionally, from its open end to part-way along its length to receive an end portion of such pipework, and such bore is extended further into the tail, to accommodate the non-return valve means, while leaving sufficient of the initial bore free to accommodate such pipework end portion, subsequent to incorporation of the non-return valve means.

10. A fitting according to any one of the preceding claims wherein a further non-return valve is provided in series with the first, either on the same side or on the opposite side of the flow rate control to the first nonreturn valve.

11. A fitting according to Claim 10, the fitting being an outdoor water tap or the like.

12. A fitting according to any one of Claims 1 to 11 comprising more than one fluid inlet, a non-return valve being provided, in a manner or manners in accordance with any one of Claims 1 to 11, in relation to each such inlet individually, and both such valves being incorporated into a single unit for inclusion in such a fitting.

13. A fitting according to Claim 12 wherein the fitting is a mixer tap or the like having respective distinct hot and cold inputs which merge prior to an outlet.

14. A terminal fluid supply fitting, substantially as hereinbefore described and/or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

15. Any novel feature or novel combination of features described herein and/or illustrated in the accompanying drawing.