EP0988479A1

EP0988479A1 - Lead free mixing valve head

Info

Publication number: EP0988479A1
Application number: EP99911889A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Claude Spinazze
Original assignee: LELONG SPINAZZE MONIQUE; Lelong-Spinazze Monique; Spinazze Claude
Current assignee: Lelong-Spinazze Monique; SPINAZZE, CLAUDE
Priority date: 1998-04-15
Filing date: 1999-04-07
Publication date: 2000-03-29
Also published as: FR2777623A1; FR2777623B1; WO1999053228A1

Abstract

The invention concerns a food-type lead free mixing valve head. In contrast with current products, consisting of brass elements turned with lead, the invention concerns a mixing valve head whereof the main components, the body (1) and the shaft (2) are made of materials not containing lead. The body (1) is made of filled and reinforced plastic, the shaft (2) is made of stainless steel, thereby preventing any lead migration into the domestic supply water. In view of the harmful effects of lead on the human organism, this type of tap is useful in all cases where the running water dispensed must satisfy said specific health requirements concerning consumption. Improving features complete the basic invention and are designed to facilitate the assembly of elements constituting the tap head and also to contribute to the reduction of production costs.

Description

LEAD-FREE MIXING TAP HEAD

The present invention relates to a tap head of the food type which allows the flow or the stopping of the sanitary water, hot or cold, without pollution of the water by lead which could be released during its use. The heads of current ceramic taps have two main components, the body (1) and the axis (2) which are in contact with domestic water during use. These two metal components are mainly from bars of a alloy made of copper, zinc and lead. This alloy commonly known as "free-cutting brass" can contain up to 3% lead.

In common use, from the current faucet head, the lead contained in the two main components can migrate into the water and therefore harm the health of people. These dietary requirements, first Californian in the U.S.A., are now becoming global and generalizing given the harmful effects of lead on the human body.

The present valve head according to the invention overcomes this question. The alimentary character is due to the fact that the two main components - the body (1) and the axis (2) do not contain lead. A new bi-material assembly is formed according to the following particular embodiment.

The body (1) is made of food-grade plastic, associated and loaded with reinforcing fibers. It is produced by a plastic injection process, according to current processing techniques.

The axis (2) consists of food-type stainless steel, also produced according to current processing techniques. The drawings (1), (2), (3) illustrate the invention. All other components are food-grade and lead-free.

This bi-material component, is the result of the adequacy between on the one hand, the food requirements of the two main components and the mechanical requirements on the other hand necessary to be able to ensure a good product lifespan. Tests carried out on the mechanical strength of the components and water tightness have shown that the results are at least equal and superior to those achieved with current oroducts. These results compare to the standards in force compared to the 500,000 cycles corresponding to the current lifespan of the products. The results obtained are explained by the fact of the improvement of the axial contact and rotation zones, of the friction conditions resulting from the friction components between the metal and plastic oroducts associated with good mechanical strengths. Regardless of the feed character, the following technical improvements have made it possible, in addition to reducing the number of components. the following characteristics: „~ monoblock adπérisé join (3), a holding device (4), ur pinch-positive (5), a middle tongue (10), a raiser (11), a ringed joint, stage, double groove (6), an enlarged stop (12), increased contact surfaces; axial (15) (16) and radial (18) (19), a controlled clamping device (13).

These new valve heads also have a lower cost price than heads from machining carried out with free cutting brasses. This comes from the simplification of the forms, from the reduction in the number of components. From the adaptation of the forms to new manufacturing techniques. The consequence being the simplification of the assembly operations of the head and also the reduction of the weight of

1 set. These new heads are interchangeable with current oroducts, the shapes can be standardized, they adapt to the requirements of automatic assembly machines. Drawing n ° l shows the tap head in section. Drawing n ° 2, 1st double groove seal (6). Drawing n ° 3, the hexagon (13) for controlled tightening.

Claims

-3- CLAIMS

l) To avoid the migration of lead into water, certain current valve heads, made from free-cutting brass, may have surface protection on the two main components (2) and the body (l). This type of surface protection: varnish, tinning, nickel plating, can constitute a barrier between water on the one hand and the metallic element on the other. This protection after wear of the coating may become ineffective and the migration of lead into the water remains possible. An abundant rinsing with water carried out prior to the surface protection operation, on the two parts that are the body (1) and the axis (2) does not guarantee, even after stabilization, that the lead contained does not no longer igers in water. The invention is a bi-material device, characterized in that the body (l) is made of a food type material inside which pivots an axis (2) of different material but also of food type. A special double-grooved ringed seal (6) is mounted on the body (l). The other components such as the two seals (7) and the two ceramics (8) and (9) are in principle conventional and known. .

2) Current tap heads have an attached seal under the head which ensures water tightness after tightening the head on the tap. The device according to claim (l) is characterized in that the body (1) comprises a seal (3) adhered to the body to form a one-piece assembly. This bonded seal constitutes the seal after tightening the head on the valve seat.

3) Current tap heads have an attached mechanical device called clips or bar. This device is intended for maintaining the axis (2) on the body (1). The device according to claim (1) is characterized in that the body (1) directly comprises an integrated elastic holding device (4) segmented or annular. This device is intended to retain the axis (2) after a simple positioning of the latter in the body (l). The device (4) coming by elastic reaction to be housed in a clearance of - 4 -

the axis (2) and thus hold it on the body (1). This improvement is accompanied by the elimination of the mechanical device indicated .clips or bar.

4) Current tap heads do not have a mechanical seal retaining system (6). This seal (6) escapes from the assembly once the assembly has been carried out. Device according to claim (1) characterized in that the body (1) comprises a segmented clamping system (5) intended to hold the seal (6) in place on the body (l). When the seal is put in place (6), the elastic segmented clamping system (5) moves apart thanks to the end chamfer which allows the fitting of the seal (6) and by closing no longer allows the seal (6) to escape.

5) The current valve heads include, for some, a retaining tab which keeps the low ceramic in rotation (8) The rotary is kept by the lower part of the ceramic.

Device according to claim (1) characterized in that the central tongue (10) is located as close as possible to the friction plane of the two ceramics. Therefore, the middle tab (10) reduces the stress concentrations on the two ceramics (8) (9) and the tilting torque.

6) Current tap heads have two lateral water passages. The device according to claim (1) characterized in that the body (1) comprises a central stiffener (11). This reinforcement contributes to improving the mechanical strength of the end of the body (1) but also to reducing the noise from the valve head. In operation, the water jet is split in two and on each side of the stiffener. This provision mitigates the "water hammer" effect.

7) Current tap heads have a retaining seal which ensures water tightness when the head is mounted on the seat and keeps the two ceramics (8) and (9) in contact. Possible discrepancies between the valve head and the seat can cause water leaks.

Device according to claims (1) (4) (5) characterized in that the corrugated food seal (6) according to the drawing (2) comprises a flexible silicone part (20) with double groove (22) and (23), glued and adhered to a metal ring (21) stage and pierced with eight holding holes. The groove (22) maintains in contact at constant pressure the ceramics (8) and (9). The groove (23) will allow during mounting of the head to allow sufficient deformation to ensure a good seal with the valve seat. These two grooves (22) and (23) qualified as reactants are inclined at an angle alpha of 15 °. This system makes it possible to compensate for deviations in dimensions during assembly. The joint (6) is maintained and centered by the reaction to the deformation of the groove (22) on the shoulder of the metal ring (21), when it is in contact with the straight part of the clamping device (5).

8) Current tap heads coiïiDortent on the body and on the axis, metal stops technically difficult to achieve and mainly on the body (l). These stops of small sections are stressed to shocks each time the tap is opened and closed.

The device according to claim (1) is characterized in that the design of the body (1) makes it possible to produce an enlarged stop (12) 5.3 mm in width. This stop is also widened on the axis (2) to 5.3 mm. Wear and the phenomenon of "dulling" are thus considerably reduced.

9) Current fitting heads have on the axis and for some, a wear part on the diameter (16). The device and according to claims (l) and (8) is characterized in that five positive and "adjusted" contact points, three points (15), the contact point (16) and the point (24), contribute to reduce the tilting torque and therefore reduce the force (14). The consequences are improved guidance, reduced wear at the contact points (15), (16), (24) but also better wear resistance of the seals (7). This improvement is accompanied by the elimination of the wear part indicated. The friction being directly ensured by the contact of the metalliαue axis (2) on the plastiαuε material of the coros (l 10) The current rcoinetteπe heads include a washer of "frictior / wear" on the diameter (18) to co ^ oen - Ser the significant axial force (17) caused by the reaction of the seal (6) on the mechanism. - 6 -

According to claims (1), (7), (9) the device is characterized in that the axial force (17) is transferred to two supports (18) and (19). This improvement is accompanied by the removal of the indicated friction washer. The friction is thus distributed over a larger surface; it is also directly ensured by the contact of the metal pin (2) on the plastic of the body (1). ll) The current tap heads have a nexagon on the body intended for the passage of a key to tighten the head on the tap.

According to all of the claims and the drawing (3), the 1st device is characterized in that the πexagoπe (13) intended for the passage of the key for tightening, has a residual width of the dishes at 6mm. This arrangement allows controlled tightening of the head on the valve body to escape from the hexagon (13) after torque tightening. The width of the plate (25) at six millimeters corresponds to a reduction of 30% on the total width of this dish. The six notches (26) allow the key to escape after being tightened on a seventeen millimeter hexagon.