Tool for opening and closing taps or valves

Abstract

The invention relates to a tool for opening and closing taps or valves. The task is to create a simple tool for opening and closing taps or valves, which makes it possible to operate taps or valves that can no longer be opened by the finger strength of one hand with little effort. The tool according to the invention consists of a cylindrical base body 6 to which a handle 7 is attached, either fixedly or detachably, laterally or obliquely from above, or directly from above. A threaded pin 1 with a handle 3 attached to it is arranged centrally from above within the base body 6 such that the threaded pin 1 can be adjusted in height and depth by turning it. A conical cone 2 is attached to the end of the threaded pin 1, into which two, three, or more radially extending, distributed rod-shaped legs 4 engage. The rod-shaped legs 4 are positively guided in conical grooves 9 extending downwards in the cone 2. A downward-projecting engagement pin 5 is attached to each rod-shaped leg 4, the engagement pins 5 being radially displaceable and guided in longitudinal grooves 8 arranged in the cylindrical base body 6.This design allows the two, three or more engagement pins 5 to be adjusted radially inwards until their inner surface rests against the head of a tap or valve, firmly enclosing this head and allowing it to be operated with a simple twisting motion.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a tool for opening and closing taps or valves which, due to prolonged disuse or other influences, can no longer be operated solely by the finger strength of one hand.

[0002] It has long been known that opening or closing faucets or valves can sometimes cause significant problems. This is especially true for faucets that have remained closed or open for extended periods, making them very difficult to operate by hand. Examples include faucets connected to dishwashers or washing machines. In case of a malfunction, it is essential to be able to close these quickly. The same applies to faucets that are only opened and closed during the summer months but otherwise remain largely unused. Due to potential carbon deposits or rust, these can easily become impossible to operate by hand alone.

[0003] Document DE 703 579 U1 discloses a special valve pliers for loosening and tightening drain valves in washbasins. In these pliers, after being pressed into a drain valve, an internally arranged expander moves the jaws and pressure pieces outwards, engaging the inner wall of the drain valve and thus loosening or tightening it. However, these valve pliers are only suitable for loosening drain valves with a very narrow inner diameter.

[0004] Document DE 100 13 631 A1 describes a different assembly tool for disassembling valves on a four-stroke engine, which has a non-slip handle and a bore in the underside into which a rotating magnet is inserted. This disassembly tool is primarily suitable only for the loss-free and safe disassembly of valves for internal combustion engines.

[0005] The object of the invention is to create a novel, structurally simple tool for opening and closing taps or valves, which makes it possible to close or open taps or valves that can no longer be opened by the finger force of one hand, and which is easy to handle with little effort and universally suitable for a wide variety of applications.

[0006] The invention is solved by the features of the first claim. Further advantageous embodiments are described in the dependent claims. The tool according to the invention for opening and closing taps or valves consists of a cylindrical or nearly cylindrical base body 6, on which a handle 7 is fixedly or detachably mounted laterally or obliquely from above or directly from above. A threaded pin 1 with a handle 3 attached to it is arranged centrally from above in the cylindrical base body 6 such that the threaded pin 1 can be adjusted in height and depth by turning it. A conical cone 2 is attached to the end of the threaded pin 1, in which two, three, or more radially extending, distributed rod-shaped legs 4 engage. The rod-shaped legs 4 are preferably positively guided in conical grooves 9 extending downwards in the cone 2.This can be easily achieved by having the conical grooves 9, for example, dovetail-shaped in cross-section or semi-open in another form. A downward-projecting engagement pin 5 is attached to each of the rod-shaped legs 4, with the engagement pins 5 being radially displaceable and guided in longitudinal grooves 8 arranged in the cylindrical base body 6. This design allows the two, three, or more engagement pins 5 to be adjusted radially inwards until their inner surface rests against the head of a tap or valve, firmly enclosing it and enabling operation with a simple twisting motion. This prevents tap heads or other valve heads that could previously be operated solely by finger force from being opened and / or closed.The engagement pins 5 can also be adjusted outwards so that they can be inserted and positioned from the inside into a perforated handle of a tap or valve, so that the perforated head of a stuck tap or valve can be opened or closed again with a simple twist.

[0007] In a qualified design of the tool for opening and closing taps or valves, a ratchet is integrated into the main body 6, similar to other ratchet-equipped tools. This allows for repeated partial rotational movements, for example, when limited space restricts the possible travel.

[0008] In another advantageous embodiment, the handle 7 is coupled via an intermediate cardan joint, so that the opening and closing of taps or valves is not only possible at right angles to the installation position of the tap or valve. This also allows for the force to be applied to the novel tool at an angle or even from above.

[0009] Additionally, it is also advantageous if the radially adjustable arms 4 of the tool for opening and closing taps or valves are spring-loaded, so that the engagement pins 5 can be moved radially inwards more easily and can be placed as firmly as possible against the head of a tap or valve to be operated and engaged.

[0010] Additionally, the engagement pins 5 of tools for opening and closing taps or valves can be designed with a specially roughened surface or with additional serrations. This reduces the risk of the tool slipping when force is applied to the respective head.

[0011] The invention will be described below with reference to the Fig. 1 to 4 will be described in more detail in one possible version. Fig. Figure 1 shows a view of a tool according to the invention from below, a side view and a perforated side view. Fig. Figure 2 shows top views of the tool according to the invention, the upper figure showing the engagement pins 5 being applied from the outside to a six-pronged closed tap head 14 and the lower figure showing the engagement pins being applied from the inside to a three-pronged openwork tap head 13 or a six-pronged openwork tap head 14. Fig. Figure 3 shows a version with a handle that can be attached either from above or from the side. 7 Fig. Figure 4 shows a preferred cone design in side view and an associated sectional view of the cone 2 with cone grooves 9.

[0012] In the upper image of the Fig. Figure 1 shows a bottom view of a tool according to the invention with a handle 7 optionally fixedly or detachably attached. Three longitudinal grooves 8, offset by 120 degrees, are provided in the cylindrical base body 6. Each longitudinal groove 8 has an adjustable engagement pin 5 of a defined length projecting from the inside. The engagement pins 5 are attached inside the cylindrical base body 6 in three rod-shaped legs 4, also offset by 120 degrees. These engagement pins 5 can be fixedly or interchangeably arranged (for example, screwed in) in the rod-shaped legs 4. If they are interchangeable, engagement pins 5 of different lengths can be easily and quickly arranged as needed to achieve different engagement depths in or on the upper part of a faucet, i.e., on or into a faucet head.A conical opening 16 can be arranged in the underside of the cylindrical base body to allow deeper insertion or more effective application of the tool according to the invention, depending on the shape of the boat head.

[0013] The middle view shows a side view of a tool according to the invention. An upper mounting aid 10 can be arranged on the handle 3, which, when rotated, adjusts the height of a cone 3 located inside the cylindrical base body 6. The laterally detachable handle 7 can also be mounted onto this upper mounting aid from above. This upper mounting aid can also simultaneously serve to make it easier to rotate the handle 3 so that, by means of the height-adjustable cone 2 and the resulting radial displacement of the rod-shaped legs 4, the radial distance between the engagement pins 5 can be changed as required.

[0014] In the lower image of the Fig. Figure 1 shows a side view of the cylindrical base 6, which is shown with openwork detail. The conical cone 2 is adjustable in height and depth by means of a threaded pin 1. Three conical grooves 9, offset by 120 degrees, are provided in the cone 2, into which the three rod-shaped legs 4 are slidably guided. The conical grooves 9 are preferably dovetail-shaped, and the inner leg ends are advantageously spherical so that they can slide in the conical grooves 9. When the cone 2 is moved upwards by turning the threaded pin 1, the rod-shaped legs 4 are moved radially inwards. This also changes and reduces the radial distance between the three engagement pins 5, which are guided in the longitudinal grooves 8, relative to the center point of the cylindrical base 6. By turning the threaded pin 1 in the opposite direction, i.e.,h the cone 2 is moved downwards, the rod-shaped legs 4 are moved outwards and the engagement pins 5 are moved radially outwards in the longitudinal grooves 8, i.e. their radial distance is increased accordingly.

[0015] In the Fig. Figure 2 shows two top views of the tool according to the invention illustrating possible engagement positions of the engagement pins 5 in three different tap heads. The upper figure shows the three engagement pins 5 being applied from the outside to a six-pronged, fully enclosed tap head 14. The three engagement pins 5 are moved inwards from the outside into the recesses by simply turning the threaded screw 1 until they rest firmly against the edge of the tap head and enclose its contour. Then, by applying force via the handle 7, the tap head 14, shaped like a six-petaled flower, is released. This allows a greater force to be applied than is possible using only the finger strength of one or both hands.

[0016] The lower illustration shows how the three engagement pins 5 are positioned from the inside against a three-pronged, internally perforated tap head 13 or a six-pronged, internally perforated tap head 14. This is achieved by moving the cone 2 upwards by turning the threaded screw 1, so that the three engagement pins can be firmly positioned against the inner contour. This reliably prevents slippage when force is applied.

[0017] In the Fig. Figure 3 shows two side views of a version with a handle 7 that can be attached either from above or from the side. In a simple version, the handle 7 has a corresponding groove-like recess arranged so that it can engage either an upper insertion aid 10 or a lateral insertion aid 11 by being inserted or removed. By rotating the handle 7, the locking bolt engages and the handle is securely locked. Depending on the available space at the tap head to be operated, the tool can then be inserted either from the side or from above. To allow greater force to be applied, for example from above, the handle 7 is provided with a bore at its end so that a sturdy bolt or rod can be inserted, enabling a rotational movement to be performed with both hands.This can also be done by means of a bracket (not shown) arranged in the handle 7 and which can be folded out laterally from the handle 7 if necessary.

[0018] In the Fig.Figure 4 shows a further enlarged detail of a preferred embodiment of the cone 2 in a side view and a corresponding sectional view with the cone grooves 9. An internal thread is formed in the cone 2, into which the threaded pin 1 engages. The threaded pin 1 is fixed by means of a threaded pin guide 15 so that it can only be rotated and cannot move up or down. Rotating the threaded pin 1 moves the cone 2 up or down. A handle 3 is formed at the top of the threaded pin 1, which is preferably knurled to facilitate rotation of the threaded pin 1 and thus, via height adjustment of the cone 2, radial displacement of the engagement pins 5.It is also possible, in principle, to design the tool according to the invention in such a way that the cone 2 can be replaced with just a few steps, and then the tool can also be used for different sized tap heads with significantly different dimensions. The cone 2 is then designed as a gel stub.

[0019] The tool according to the invention for opening and closing taps or valves has a simple design and makes it possible to open or close taps or valves that can no longer be operated by finger force. The force required is considerably less, and the tool is suitable for various applications if the engagement pins 5 can be appropriately positioned against or within a contour. Reference symbol list 1 threaded pin 2 cones 3 Handle 4 rod-shaped legs 5 insertion pins 6 Cylindrical base body 7 handle 8 longitudinal grooves 9 conical grooves 10 Upper mounting aid 11 Side mounting aid 12 locking bolts 13 Three-pronged faucet head 14 Six-pronged faucet head 15 Threaded pin guide 16 Cone opening QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 703 579 U1

[0003] DE 100 13 631 A1

[0004]

Claims

[1] Tool for opening and closing taps or valves with a cylindrical body (6) characterized by , that a handle (7) is arranged on the cylindrical base body (6) in a fixed or removable manner, either laterally, obliquely from above, or attachable from above, that a threaded pin (1) with a handle (3) attached to it is arranged centrally in the cylindrical base body (6) in a height- and depth-adjustable manner, at the end of which a cone-shaped cone (2) is arranged, in which two, three or more radially extending, distributed rod-shaped legs (4) engage, Each leg (4) has an engagement pin (5) attached and the engagement pins (5) are guided radially displaceably in longitudinal grooves (8) arranged in the cylindrical base body (6). [2] Tool for opening and closing taps or valves according to claim 1, characterized by, that a ratchet is built into the base body (6). [3] for opening and closing taps or valves according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by , that the handle (7) is designed with a cardan joint. [4] Tool for opening and closing taps or valves according to claim 1, characterized by that the rod-shaped legs 5 are additionally spring-loaded. [5] Tool for opening and closing taps or valves according to claim 1, characterized by that the rod-shaped legs 5 are formed with a roughened surface or with additionally introduced ribbing.

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