GB2480667A

GB2480667A - Fluid flow control device

Info

Publication number: GB2480667A
Application number: GB1008905A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Pond
Original assignee: ROB POND AGENCIES Ltd
Current assignee: ROB POND AGENCIES Ltd
Priority date: 2010-05-27
Filing date: 2010-05-27
Publication date: 2011-11-30
Also published as: GB201008905D0

Abstract

A fluid flow control device e.g. a tap has an inlet for the supply of fluid thereto and an outlet from which fluid can exit the device, and a valve 14 for regulating the flow of the fluid through the device. The device includes a connector 11 for connecting the device to a body e.g. part of a basin, sink or bath. The connector 11 fluidly communicates with the inlet and includes a formation 17 for engagement with a push-fit fitting 30 for connecting the connector to a fluid supply conduit 31.

Description

Title: Fluid Flow Control Device

Description of Invention

The invention relates to a fluid flow control device and to a connector for connecting the device to a body and to a fluid supply.

The invention has been devised primarily, but not exclusively, for a fluid flow control device such as a tap, but it should be appreciated that the invention may be utilised in other types of fluid flow control device.

The invention has been devised to assist with the installation of, for example, pillar taps. Taps are conventionally connected to a basin, sink or bath etc. by connector having a screw-threaded section (along its entire length) which is passed through an aperture in the basin/sink. The connector may be an integral part of the tap or may alternatively be removably connected (e.g. by a screw-thread or by an adhesive) to a body of the tap. A fastener (e.g. a screw-threaded nut or the like) is then screwed onto the screw-threaded section from underneath the sink/basin so the material of the sink/basin surrounding the aperture is sandwiched between the nut and a part of the tap body. In this position, the tap is fixed relative to the basin/sink.

In order to connect the tap to a water supply (either hot or cold) a supply pipe must be connected to the tap. This is achieved in the art by connecting an end of the supply pipe to the free end of the connector using a screw-threaded nut (on the supply pipe) which engages an end part of the screw-thread on the external surface of the connector. Unfortunately, due to the positioning of taps in relation to a basin/sink/bath, and the shape (eg. depth) of the basin/sink/bath, it can often be very difficult to reach the connector in order to secure the supply pipe thereto. Even if the connector can be reached, it is often difficult and/or clumsy to adequately secure the supply pipe to the connector because there is often no or little access for a wrench or the like.

This can lead to water leaks, because the connection cannot be properly made, and at the very least an increased installation (labour) time which therefore increases the cost of installation of the tap(s). In addition, conventional threaded nut connectors can easily be over-tightened which can also lead to water leakage.

The known connector for connecting a tap to basins/sinks/baths has had a screw-threaded surface along its entire, exposed, length since it conception, and there has been no advancement in the method of connecting taps to a water supply pipe for a long time.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a fluid flow control device having an inlet for the supply of fluid thereto, an outlet from which fluid can exit the device and a valve for regulating the flow of the fluid through the device, the device including a connector for connecting the device to a body, wherein the connector fluidly communicates with the inlet and includes a formation for engagement with a push-fit fitting for connecting the connector to a fluid supply conduit.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a connector for connecting a fluid flow control device to a body, the connector including a part for enabling connection thereof to an inlet of the device and a formation for engagement with a push-fit fitting for connecting the connector to a fluid supply conduit.

Further features of the invention are set out in the dependent claims appended hereto.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying figures, of which: Figure 1 is a side view of a tap and connector in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the tap/connector of figure 1 and push-fit fitting, prior to its engagement with a connector of the tap; Figure 3 is a side view, part in cross-section, of the tap/connector of figure 1 when installed in relation to a sink; Figure 4 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of a connector in accordance with the present invention; and Figure 5 is a side view of an yet further alternative embodiment of a connector in accordance with the present invention.

Referring particularly to figures 1 to 3, these show a fluid flow control device, namely a pillar tap 12 which has an inlet to receive water, an outlet 13 from which water exits from tap 12 and a control valve 14 for regulating the flow of water through the tap 12. In the present invention the tap 12 includes a connector 11 for connecting the tap to a body, such as a part of a basin, sink or bath (see in particular figure 3). The connector 11 communicates with the inlet to the tap body and includes a formation 17 for engagement with a push-fit fitting 30 (see figures 2 and 3) for connecting the connector 11 to a fluid supply conduit 31.

In the present example, the connector 11 is connected to the body of the tap 12 by a threaded section 18 (not shown in figures 1 to 3, but see the embodiment in figure 4) which is received in a threaded recess in the body of the tap 12. The connector 11 also includes a further threaded section 15 for enabling connection of the connector 11 (and thus the tap 12) to a basin, sink or bath. The threaded section receives a threaded nut 20 and a pair of washers 21, 22.

In accordance with the present invention the connector 11 includes a projecting formation 17 in the form of a tube having a substantial uniform external diameter along its length. The tube 17 includes an aperture for passage of water therethrough to the tap 12. In the present example, the projecting formation 17 is formed as an integral part of the connector 11 by the virtue of the fact that the connector is "machined" from a single piece of (in this example) brass. It should be appreciated, however, that the connector 11 could be made from any other suitable material, or indeed be formed of more than one part.

The tube formation 17 is of such a diameter (15mm or 22mm, in this example) so that it can be engaged with and received in a push-fit fitting for connecting the connector 11 to a fluid supply conduit 31. The term "push-fit fitting" as used herein is intended to mean any connecting/coupling device which provides connection between a tube or pipe and a conduit by means of pushing the parts into engagement with each other so that the tube/pipe is received in a recess in the push-fit fitting and provides a substantially fluid-tight seal therebetween. Tube couplings of this type are well known in the art and, by way of example, are described in detail in UK patent application nos.

1520742 and 1573757.

The tap 1 2 in accordance with the present invention is installed in relation to a bath, sink or basin in the same way as the prior art, namely by removing the threaded nut 20 and the lowermost of the washers 22. The connector 11 is then passed through an aperture 41 in a basin 40. The washer 22 is then slid onto the threaded section 15 of the connector 11 followed by the threaded nut 20, which is then tightened so as to sandwich the material of the basin 40 between the body of the tap 12 and the nuts 20. In this condition the tap 12 is fixed relative to the basin 40.

Due to the present invention, connection of the tap 12 to a water supply conduit is advantageously quick and simple to achieve. All that a user needs to do is to engage a push-fit fitting 30 with the tubular formation 17 of the connector 11 and slide the push-fit fitting 30 thereover until they have been fully engaged with each other so that a fluid-tight connection has been made.

It will be appreciated that although in the figures the push-fit fitting is connected to a flexible conduit 31, it could be connected to any other type of conduit, e.g. a rigid conduit. The push-fit fitting may, for example, be an elbow-joint fitting which will require further connection to additional pipe work.

In an alternative embodiment, shown in figure 4, the tubular formation 17 of the connector 11 includes a circumferentially extending recess 19 which extends substantially perpendicularly around the tubular section 17. The recess 19 is spaced from a remote end of the connector 11 and is configured for engagement with an internal component part of a push-fit fitting. The circumferentially extended recess 19 as shown in figure 4 is provided as a safety feature in order to prevent the push-fit fitting from becoming accidentally detached from the tubular formation 17 of the connector 11 in the event of a sudden rise in water pressure within the system. This occurs because, in such an event, the recess will engage with that part of the push-fit fitting and prevent the two parts from becoming separated.

Although the present invention has been described in relation to a tap for use in connection with basins, sinks and baths, it should be appreciated that the connector of the present invention can be utilised in connection with many other types of fluid flow control device. In particular, the invention could be utilised for each (i.e. one for the cold water inlet and one for the hot water inlet) inlet supply for a shower mixer value in order to increase the efficiency of the installation of the mixer shower.

In addition, and referring to figure 5, the invention could be utilised in relation to valves for toilet cisterns and water storage tanks, which have a very similar function to that of a tap, but do not have a manually operable flow control valve. An example of such a device 60 is shown in figure 5, where a tube 1 7a is provided in a similar fashion to that as shown in figures 1 to 3. The tube 17a is connected to the threaded section 62 (which permits the device 60, by way of the nuts 63, 64 to be connected to the water storage tank/vessel. The tube 17a of the present invention means that a push-fit fitting can be used to connect to a water supply conduit thus making installation simpler and much faster.

The present invention is highly advantageous over the prior art and is a significant step forward for installation of taps and the like, particularly for persons who have no or limited plumbing skills. In addition, it can save significant time on site for professional plumbers particularly in large scale installations. The inventions avoids problems associated with the current methods of using conventional tap tails because a fluid-tight connection can be easy achieved without requiring a wrench of the like and can be performed even if the user cannot see the formation 17 or the connector 11.

The invention described above has been devised primarily for the UK standard external diameters of 15mm and 22mm. However, it should be appreciated that the invention can be utilised with any diameter of push-fit fitting. All that is required is to ensure that the external diameter of the formation 17 corresponds to the diameter of the recess in the push-fit fitting.

When used in this specification and claims, the terms "comprises" and "comprising" and variations thereof mean that the specified features, steps or integers are included. The terms are not to be interpreted to exclude the presence of other features, steps or components.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, 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

CLAIMS1. A fluid flow control device having an inlet for the supply of fluid thereto, an outlet from which fluid can exit the device and a valve for regulating the flow of the fluid through the device, the device including a connector for connecting the device to a body, wherein the connector fluidly communicates with the inlet and includes a formation for engagement with a push-fit fitting for connecting the connector to a fluid supply conduit.
2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the connector is removably connected to the fluid flow control device.
3. A device according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the connector is received in a recess in the device.
4. A device according to claim 1 wherein the connector is integral with the fluid flow control device.
5. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the device is a tap.
6. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the device is a mixer valve for a shower.
7. A connector for connecting a fluid flow control device to a body, the connector including a part for enabling connection thereof to an inlet of the device and a formation for engagement with a push-fit fitting for connecting the connector to a fluid supply conduit.
8. A connector according to claim 7 wherein the part for enabling connection thereof to the device includes a screw-threaded portion.
9. A connector according to claim 7 or claim 8 wherein the art for enabling connection thereof to the device and the formation for engagement with a push-fit fitting are connected to each other and wherein axes thereof are substantially coaxial with each other.
10. A device or connector according to any preceding claim wherein the formation of the connector is a projecting formation.
11. A device or connector according to any preceding claim wherein the formation is cylindrical.
12. A device or connector according to any preceding claim wherein the formation includes a passage for fluid.
13. A device or connector according to any preceding claim wherein the formation is tubular and of substantially uniform diameter along its length.
14. A device or connector according to any preceding claim wherein an external surface of the formation includes a circumferentially extending recess.
15. A device or connector according to claim 14 wherein the circumferentially extending recess extends substantially perpendicularly around an axis of the formation.
16. A device according to claim 14 or claim 15 wherein the recess is spaced from a remote end of the connector and is [*] for engagement with a part of a push-fit fitting.
17. A device or connector substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.
18. Any novel feature or novel combination of features described herein and/or in the accompanying drawings.