GB2242004A - Water flow rate controlling device - Google Patents

Abstract

A water flow rate controlling device actuated by a push rod 32 includes a housing 11 defining therein an upper water chamber 14 and a lower water outlet hole 13; a hollow insert adapter to move up and down in the housing to control the flow rate and comprised of a cylindrical casing having externally mounted thereon an elastic element 25 for closing the outlet hole 13 and a ring-shaped rubber cushion 241 which engages the housing wall to hold the insert in a set position, an upper valve seat 22 and a cooperating valve member 23 spring biased to closed position, the push rod 32 which is formed with a passage initially lifting the valve member 23 to allow water to flow and then lifting the insert to raise the valve element 25. the position of the insert as held by cushion 241 controlling the flow rate. The valve is closed by pulling down the rod 32 and water continues to flow for a period thereafter to flush the rod and the user's hands. <IMAGE>

Description

STRUCTURE OF WATER FLOW RATE CONTROLLING DEVICE The present invention ip related to water flow rate controllers and nore particularly to a water flow controlling device which keeps flowing water for a certain period of tine after the device is turned off to completely clean the push rod thereof so as to protect ones' hands fro contanination.

Conventional water flow rate controlling devices are numerous, sone of which are siiple in structure and sone others of which have coiplicated structure. Either single-outlet type or double-outlet type, or any other types for nixing cool and hot water, ost conventional water flow rate controlling devices are operated through swiveling or push button control One disadvantage of these conventional, mechanical nechanlsn controlled water flow rate controlling devices is the high frequency of mechanical failure. Another disadvantage of these conventional, nechanisn controlled water flow rate controlling devices is that contarination problem can not be elininated.After one's hands are washed, his hands nay be contasinated again when he turns off the water flow rate controlling device with the clean hands. There is also a kind of electronic controlled water flow rate controlling device in which valve is controlled by neans of the induction of a solenoid controller. This kind of water flow rate controlling devices are usually very expensive and difficult to install and the electronic component parts of which may be damaged easily. More particularly, when to install an electronic controlled water flow rate controlling device, the original water outlet controlling device shall be totally changed and it will complicate the installation process.

One object of the present invention is to provide a water flow rate controlling device which utilizes water pressure to stop water flow rate so as to protect one's hands from contamination.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a water flow rate controlling device which can be conveniently attached to any existing water outlet without changing the original water outlet controlling device.

Therefore, a water flow rate controlling device in accordance with the present invention is generally comprised of a housing which has a hollow cylindrical body inserted in an orifice of a water outlet pipe comprising a plurality of water inlet holes and a ringshaped inner projection and defining therein an upper water chamber and a lower water outlet hole; a hollow insert which is set to move up and down in the housing to control the flow rate through the water outlet hole oi the housing and comprised of a cylindrical casing, an upper valve seat and a valve, which cylindrical casing comprises a central hole through its central axis, an elastic element and a ring shaped rubber cushion amounted on its outer wall surface, a plurality of small holes in a circle around its conical bottom end for the passing therethrough of water, and a ring-shaped inner projection extending inward frond its inner wall surface at a lower end, which ring shaped rubber cushion is stopped at the ring-shaped inner projection of the housing to seal its water outlet hole, which elastic element is used for the positioning of the hollow insert in the housing, which upper valve seat is connected to the top end of the casing and comprises a central hole through its central axis, which valve comprises a vertical rod upstanding fro a circular bottom plate portion, which vertical rod comprises a plurality of small holes around its outer wall surface and an inner hole through its central axis, and is mounted with a spring and a rubber ring, which valve is used to stop and open the central hole of the upper valve seat permitting water to flow in or out of the water chamber of the housing ; and a push rod which has a head on the top in bigger outer diameter to define therewith a stepped edge, which stepped edge is set to stop at the ring shaped inner projection of the casing, a central hole axially made on the top and penetrating through the central axis of its top head in conunication with a plurality of small holes around the circular wall thereof to forn a passage way for water to flow in or out of the water chamber.

The present invention will now be described by way of example, with reference made to the annexed drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective exploded view of a water flow rate controlling device according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional assembly view of the embodiment of water flow rate controlling device of Fig.

1; and Figs. 3 through 9 illustrate the operation of the present invention Turning now to the annexed drawings in greater detail and referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, therein illustrated is a water flow rate controlling device in accordance with the present invention and generally comprised of a housing 10, a hollow insert 20 and a push rod 30.

The housing 10 has a cylindrical body inserted in a water outlet pipe and comprised of an upper part 11 and a lower part 12. The upper part 11 is a closed socket comprising at its open end a reduced neck portion having an outer thread 111 thereon and defining therein an expanding opening 112. The lower part 12 is a hollow cylinder comprising an inner thread 121 on the inner wall surface of its top end for connection with the outer thread 111 of the upper part 11, a plurality of water inlet holes 122 around its circular wall, an unitary, ring shaped inner projection 123 projecting inward from its inner wall surface at a position below the water inlet holes 122 thereof, an unitary, ring-shaped outer projection 124 projecting outward from its outer wall surface at a position below the water inlet holes 122 thereof, a ring-shaped vertical wall portion 125 downwardly extending from the ring-shaped outer projection 124 and defining therein a conical water outlet hole 13.

When the upper part 11 and the lower part 12 of the housing 10 are connected together, a water chamber 14 is defined therein right above the water outlet hole 13 of the lower part 12. There is provided a bottom cap 15 which comprises an outer threaded 152, an internally raised, unitary ring portion 153, and a circular bottom end having a central hole 151 therethrough. Before inserting in a water outlet pipe, a ring-shaped rubber washer 17 is sleeved on the housing 10 and stopped at the ring-shaped outer projection 124 thereof to protect against water leakage.After the housing 10 is inserted in a water outlet pipe during assembly, the bottom cap 15 is screwed up with the inner thread of the orifice of such a water outlet pipe by means of its outer thread 152, with a perforated ring plate 16 placed therebetween the unitary ring portion 153 of the bottom cap 15 and the bottom end of the ring-shaped vertical wall portion 125 of the lower part 12 of the housing 10. The perforated ring plate 16 has a plurality of small holes 161 radially made thereon and a bigger central hole 162 through its central axis.

The hollow insert 20 is generally comprised of a cylindrical casing 21, an upper valve seat 22 and a valve 23. The cylindrical casing 21 is set to move in the housing 10 through axial direction, which comprises a central hole 211 through its central axis, a wider top end having an inner thread 212 thereon, an upper circular groove 213 and a lower circular groove 214 on its outer wall surface for mounting thereon of an elastic element 24 and a ring shaped rubber cushion 25 respectively, a plurality of small holes 216 in a circle around its conical bottom end for the passing therethrough of water, and a ring-shaped inner projection 215 extending inward from its inner wall surface at a lower end. The elastic element 24 is made of rubber or other resilient, wear-proof saterial, having a smaller outer diameter at the top and a wider outer diameter at the bottom to form a conical shape and comprising therein a circular channel 241 to provide an inversely "U shaped" cross-section, such that is can be flexibly deformed when its is squeezed radially. The upper valve seat 22 comprises a lower end in smaller outer diameter and having an outer thread 221 thereon for connection with the inner thread 212 of the casing 21 after a rubber ring 26 is mounted thereon, a central hole 222 through its central axis, which central hole 222 has a wider inner diameter at its lower end and a conical top opening 223 at the top, and serves as a main passage way for the passing therethrough of the water in the water chamber 14 of the housing 10.The valve 23 comprises a vertical rod upstanding from a circular bottom plate portion 231, having a circular groove 232 on its outer wall surface at an upper position for the mounting thereon of a rubber ring 27, a plurality of small holes 233 around its outer wall surface in a circle below the circular groove 232 thereof for the passing therethrough of water, and an inner hole 234 through its central axis and in communication with the small holes 233 thereof. The circular bottom plate portion 231 confines the upward moving range of the valve 23 in the hollow insert 20. Before setting in the central hole 222 of the upper valve seat 22, a spring 28 is sleeved on the valve 23.After the inner thread 212 of the casing 21 is screwed up with the outer thread 221 of the upper valve seat 22, the rubber ring 27 which is mounted on the circular groove 232 of the valve 23 is set in the conical top opening 223 of the upper valve seat 22 to protect the valve 23 froi dropping.

The push rod 30 comprises an elongated, circular, rod-like body 32 having a head 31 on the top in bigger outer diameter to define therewith a stepped edge 33. When the push rod 30 is inserted in the central hole 211 of the casing 21 of the hollow insert 20, the stepped edge 33 of the push rod 30 is stopped at the ring-shaped inner projection 215 of the casing 21. The push rod 30 is specially designed in a such a size that it is allowed to smoothly move upward and downward in the insert 20, and a gap is left between the push rod 30 and the casing 21 permitting water to pass therethrough when the push rod 30 is inserted in the insert 20.A central hole 311 is axially made on the push rod 32 penetrating through the central axis of the top head 31 to communicate with a plurality of small holes 312 which are made around the circular wall of the body 32 at an upper position.

When those parts are assembled to form a water flow rate controlling device, its inner structure is as illustrated in Fig. 2. The process to assemble the very parts into a water flow rate controlling device is outlined hereinafter. First, insert the rear end of the body 32 of the push rod 30 through the central hole 211 of the casing 21 permitting the stepped edge 33 to stop at the ring-shaped inner projection 215 of the casing 21. Then, mount the spring 28 on the valve 23 before the valve 23 is placed in the casing 21.

After the rubber ring 26 is mounted on the upper valve seat 22, the outer thread 221 of the upper valve seat 22 is screwed up with the inner thread 212 of the casing 21, permitting the rubber ring 27 which is mounted on the circular groove 232 to seal the conical top opening 223 of the upper valve seat 22. After the elastic element 24 and the ring-shaped rubber cushion 25 are respectively mounted on the circular grooves 213 and 214 of the casing 21 and the insert 20 is assembled, the insert 20 is inserted in the lower part 12 of the housing 10. Then, the outer thread 111 of the upper part 11 is screwed up with the inner thread 121 of the lower part 12 to form the water chamber 14 and the water outlet hole 13. The ring-shaped rubber washer 17 is then mounted on the lower part 12 and stopped at the ring-shaped outer projection 124.By means of the ring-shaped rubber cushion 25 on the circular groove 214 of the casing 21, the insert 21 is stopped at the ring-shaped inner proJection 123 of the lower part 12 of the housing 10. Then, the perforated ring plate 16 and the bottom cap 15 are firmly secured to the housing 10 with the outer thread 152 of the bottom cap 15 screwed up with the inner thread of the orifice of a water outlet pipe, permitting the rear end of the body 32 of the push rod 30 to penetrate through the central hole 162 of the perforated ring plate 16 and the central hole 151 of the bottom cap 15. By means of the design of variable outer diameter, the present invention can be conveniently fastening in a variety of water taps or water outlet pipes.

The operation of the present invention is outlined as hereinafter. As illustrated in Fig. 2, a water flow rate controlling device of the present invention is fastened in an orifice 42 of a water outlet pipe 40. Under normal condition, the water flow rate controlling device of the present invention is in a closed status, the water in the inner chamber 41 of the water outlet pipe 40 runs through the water inlet holes 122 into the water chamber 14 of the housing 10. The water pressure of the water which runs into the housing 10 forces the rubber ring 27 of the valve 23 to tightly seal the central hole 222 of the upper valve seat 22, and also forces the ring-shaped rubber cushion 25 of the casing 21 to tightly seal the conical water outlet hole 13 of the lower part 12 of the housing 10. Therefore, water is stopped from flowing out of the water flow rate controlling device.

Referring to Fig. 3, when the push rod 30 is initially pushed upward, the head 31 of the push rod 30 pushes the valve 23 to squeezed the spring 28 upward, and the rubber ring 27 is sliultaneously moved upward to release from the central hole 222 of the valve seat 22 permitting the water in the water chamber 14 to flow from the conical top opening 223 and the central hole 222 of the valve seat 22 or the small holes 233 and the inner hole 234 of the valve 23 through the central hole 311 and the small holes 312 of the push rod 30 and further out of the small holes 216 of the casing 21. During water discharging through the small holes 216 of the casing 21, the water pressure in the water chamber 14 is gradually released.

Because the water chamber 14 is a one-way water passage, water is allowed to flow from the water inlet holes 122 of the lower part 12 through the water chamber 14, and reverse water flow is prohibited. Under this status, the push rod 30 can be more easily pushed upward further. Because the push rod 30 is stopped against the valve 23, the hollow insert 20 will be carried to move upward (see Fig. 4) when the push rod 30 is pushed upward further During the upper stroke of the insert 20, the elastic element 24 of the casing 21 is squeezed to deform when it passes through the opening 112 of the upper part 11. Because of the effect of the opening 112 to deform the elastic element 24, the hollow insert 20 can be smoothly moved in the housing 10.When the push rod 30 is moved upward, the hollow insert 20 is carried to separate from the water outlet hole 13 of the lower part 12, the water in the inner chamber 41 of the water outlet pipe 40 runs from the water inlet holes 122 of the lower part 12 to directly flow out of the water outlet hole 13 for washing. During the upper stroke of the push rod 30, the rest water in the water chamber 14 continuously flows through the gap between the elastic element 24 and the housing 10, the conical top opening 223 of the upper valve seat 22, into the small holes 233 and the inner holes 234 of the valve 23 to further flow through the central hole 311 and the small holes 312 of the push rod 30 out of the small holes 216 of the casing 21.As soon as the push rod 30 is released from its upper stroke, the elastic resilient property of the elastic element 24 forces the elastic element 24 to firmly stop in the upper part 11, as shown in Fig.

5, and the valve 23 is pushed by the spring 28 to move downward permitting the rubber ring 27 to seal the passage of the central hole 222 of the upper valve seat 22. Under this situation, the water in the inner chamber 41 of the water outlet pipe 40 runs completely from the water inlet holes 122 of the lower part 12 to flow out of the water outlet hole 13 for washing.

According to the present invention, water flow rate can be conveniently controlled by moving the push rod 30 to position at a preferred position within its moving range so as to move the hollow insert 20 upward to further change the flow rate through the water outlet hole 13, and the positioning of the push rod 30 is achieved by the deformation and restoration of the elastic element 24. In the present invention, water flow rate can be flexibly controlled and water stopping operation is made by means of utilizing water pressure. Therefore, the service life of the component parts of the present invention can be reasonably extended.

Referring to Fig. 6, when water flow rate is to be reduced, it is to simply pull the push rod 30 downward. Because of the arrangeeent of the valve 23 in the hollow insert 20, when the push rod 30 is pulled downward the stepped edge 33 is stopped against the ring-shaped inner projection 215 of the casing 21 to carry the casing 21 to move downward simultaneously, and the conical top opening 223 of the upper valve seat 22 is opened to communicate with the water chamber 14.

At the same time, the spring 28 is compressed, permitting small amount of water to flow through the small holes 216 of the casing 21, the small holes 312 and the central hole 311 of the push rod 30, and the inner hole 234 and small holes 233 of the valve 23 into the water chamber 14. Because water pressure is existed in the water chamber 14, the push rod 30 can be easily pulled downward. As illustrated in Fig. 7, the hollow insert 20 can be conveniently positioned at a preferred position, by means of the expansion of the elastic element 24, to achieve water flow rate control, and the valve 23 is immediately pushed by the spring 28 to move downward and tightly seal the passage of the conical top opening of the upper valve seat 22.Thus, the water in the water chamber 14 is stopped from dropping, and the down stroke of the hollow insert 20 reduce the passage of the water outlet hole 13 of the housing 10 so as to change the water flow rate.

Referring to Fig. 8, when to turn off water flow, it is to pull down the push rod 30. When the push rod 30 is initially pulled downward, the casing 21 and the conical top opening 223 of the upper valve seat 22 are opened to form a passage way, permitting small amount of water to flow through the push rod 30 and the valve 23 into the water chamber 14. Thus, the pressure between the water chamber 14 and the hollow insert 20 is harmonized, and the push rod 30 can be conveniently pulled downward to the lower limit to turn off the water flow. During turning off the water flow rate controlling device (i.e. pulling down the push rod 30), water keeps flowing to wash the push rod 30 and the hands. During the downward stroke of the push rod 30, the casing 21 is gradually carried to move downward to change the flow rate through the water outlet hole 13.As soon as the ring-shaped rubber cushion 25 of the casing 21 is moved downward to tightly seal the water outlet hole 13, the valve 23 returns to tightly seal the conical top opening 223 of the upper valve seat 22 to completely stop the water flow, as illustrated in Fig. 9, and the water in the water outlet pipe 40 continuously iills in the water chamber 14.

Thus, when the push rod 30 is pushed upward again water immediately flows out for use.

As described above, when one uses one's dirty hands to turn on the water flow rate controlling device of the present invention for washing the hands, water keeps flowing out for a certain period to wash the push rod as well the the hands even after the device is turned off.

Therefore, contamination problem of the hands can be eliminated. The component parts of the present invention can be flexibly made according to regular water outlet pipes so as to facilitate rounting operation. In comparison with the conventional mechanical type water stopping operation, the water stopping operation of the present invention which is made by means of water pressure can extend the service life of the component parts of the device.

Claims (12)

WHAT IS CLAIHED IS:

1. A water flow rate controlling device, including: a housing having a hollow cylindrical body inserted in an orifice of a water outlet pipe and comprising a plurality of water inlet holes and a ringshaped inner projection, and defining therein an upper water chamber and a lower water outlet hole;; a hollow insert set to move up and down in said housing to control the flow rate through said water outlet hole and comprised of a cylindrical casing, an upper valve seat and a valve, said cylindrical casing comprising a central hole through its central axis, an elastic element and a ring shaped rubber cushion mounted on its outer wall surface, a plurality of small holes in a circle around its conical bottom end for the passing therethrough of water, and a ring-shaped inner projection extending inward from its inner wall surface at a lower end, said ring shaped rubber cushion being stopped at the ring-shaped inner projection of said housing to seal said water outlet hole, and said elastic element being used for the positioning of said hollow insert in said housing, said upper valve seat being connected to the top end of said casing and comprising a central hole through its central axis, said valve comprising a vertical rod upstanding from a circular bottom plate portion, said vertical rod of said valve coHiprising a plurality of small holes around its outer wall surface and an inner hole through its central axis, and having mounted thereon a spring and 8 rubber ring, said valve being used to stop and open the central hole of said upper valve seat permitting water to flow in or out of said water chamber of said housing ; and a push rod having a head on the top in bigger outer diameter and defining therewith a stepped edge, said stepped edge being set to stop at the ring shaped inner projection of said casing, a central hole axially made on the top and penetrating through the central axis of said top head in coimunication ith a plurality of small holes around the circular wall thereof to fora a passage way for water to flow in or out of said water chamber.

2. A water flow rate controlling device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said housing has a hollow cylindrical body comprised of an upper part defining therein a water chamber, and a lower part having therein a ring-shaped inner projection convenient for the positioning of said hollow insert and being secured to said upper part by means of screw joint.

3. A water flow rate controlling device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said upper part of said housing comprises an expanding opening in its lower end in which said elastic element can be squeezed to deform.

4. A water flow rate controlling device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said lower part of said housing comprises a conical water outlet hole in its lower end and covered with a conical bottom cap, said bottom cap having set therein a perforated ring plate to support said lower part therebetween, said bottom cap and said perforated ring plate having each a concentric central hole through which said push rod can be inserted.

5. A water flow rate controlling device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said casing of said hollow insert comprises externally two circular grooves respectively for the mounting therein of said elastic element and said ring-shaped rubber cushion.

6. A water flow rate controlling device as claimed in claim 1 or 5, wherein said elastic element is made of resilient, wear proof material, having made therein a circular channel to provide an inversely Ushaped cross section so that it can be radially squeezed to flexibly deform.

7. A water flow rate controlling device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said casing of said hollow insert comprises a ring-shaped inner projection extending inward from its inner wall surface and a plurality of small holes around its circular wall surface and respectively arranged at levels below the two circular grooves thereof, such that water is stopped from flowing out when said casing and said valve close up said water chamber, and small amount of water is permitted to flow therethrough for discharging pressure when said valve is moved upward.

8. A water flow rate controlling device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said casing is connected to said upper valve seat by means of screw joint with a rubber ring squeezed in therebetween to protect against leakage of water.

9. A water flow rate controlling device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said upper valve seat comprises a conical top opening in diameter gradually expanding upward to coxaunicate with a central hole which penetrates through the central axis thereof such that the rubber ring on said valve can be set to tightly seal the central hole of said upper valve seat.

10. A water flow rate controlling device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said valve comprises a circular groove thereon for the mounting thereon of a rubber ring.

11. A water flow rate controlling device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said push rod comprises an elongated, circular, rod-like body having a head on the top in bigger outer diameter to define therewith a stepped edge at the bottom of the head thereof, and is designed in such a size that it is permitted to smoothly move up and down in the central hole of said casing.

12. A water flow rate controlling device substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.