METAL STRUCTURE OF THE VALVE BODY AND VALVE INCLUDING IT
The metallic tap body structure, comprising multiple metal parts assembled without casting or molding, addresses the high costs and time issues of traditional manufacturing by enabling efficient, cost-effective production of taps with watertight separation of wet and dry zones.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- FR2024015000
- Authority / Receiving Office
- FR · FR
- Patent Type
- Utility models
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2023-12-21
- Filing Date
- 2024-12-20
- Publication Date
- 2025-12-05
- Estimated Expiration
- 2034-12-20
AI Technical Summary
Existing metal-structured tap manufacturing processes are costly and time-consuming due to the need for molds and cores, leading to high energy consumption and lengthy production times.
A metallic tap body structure composed of multiple metal parts, including a stamped or deep-drawn first part, a second part forming the closure, and a third internal insert, configured for watertight separation of wet and dry zones, allowing assembly without casting or molding, using stainless steel sheets and welding.
Facilitates faster and lower-cost manufacturing of taps by eliminating the need for metal casting and molding, reducing production time and costs while ensuring watertight separation of zones.
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Abstract
Description
Title of the invention: METALLIC STRUCTURE OF A VALVE BODY AND VALVE INCLUDING IT
[0001] The present invention relates to a metal tap body structure, of the type of those forming an assembly part comprising a coupling and lifting body part on the installation surface, as well as a water outlet conduit part and a coupling part for the handle or adjustment control, so as to be able to integrate internal elements such as water mixing and / or adjustment means and the coupling of one or more hydraulic lines to form a complete tap.
[0002] The present invention also relates to the tap comprising said structure. Background of the invention
[0003] Metal-structured taps usually manufactured by introducing a molten metallic material, such as brass, into molds giving the external shape of the tap and containing sand cores to give the shape of the internal spaces of the tap, are known and are therefore part of the prior art.
[0004] This process involves generating molds and cores for each faucet model, as well as melting the metal used to form the faucet structure. The manufacturing process for this mold structure is consequently affected, as it involves relatively high costs for both mold preparation and energy consumption, in addition to a lengthy manufacturing time.
[0005] The configuration of a new structure enabling its manufacture in a reduced production time and with costs associated with molds and production equipment also lower than those of the prior art appears in this sense necessary. Description of the invention
[0006] The objective of the present invention is to provide, on the one hand, a metallic structure for a tap body, and on the other hand, a tap containing said structure, which make it possible to resolve the aforementioned disadvantages, while presenting other advantages described below.
[0007] In accordance with this objective and with respect to a first aspect, the present invention is based on a metallic tap body structure, where said structure forms an assembly comprising at least one water outlet conduit, means for receiving the control or handle for adjusting the flow and / or temperature, as well as a main body comprising at least the housing configured for installation of water mixing and / or control means, where said main body also includes means configured for connecting at least one hydraulic line to the mixing and / or control means.
[0008] In the present invention, and characteristically, the valve structure forming said assembly comprises at least two metal parts configured to give the shape of the valve structure. A first metal part is configured by stamping or deep drawing to form at least part of the main body and the conduit, and a second metal part is configured to form at least the closing surface of the first part, leaving free between them or incorporating into one of them at least two metal parts, at least a first opening configured as a means for receiving the coupling of the control or handle and a second opening configured for the entry of at least one hydraulic line into the metal structure of the valve body and means for mixing and / or regulating the flow. These first and second parts are configured so as to remain joined to each other by welding.
[0009] Advantageously, the metal structure also includes a third piece in the form of an internal insert, which is fixed to the first and / or second metal piece. This third piece is configured as an internal disc so as, on the one hand, to couple at least one hydraulic line, and on the other hand, to position the mixing and / or regulating means. The shape of this third piece is configured so as to couple internally in a watertight manner to the metal structure, maintaining the internal wet zone of the valve structure relative to the internal dry zone of said valve structure. This third piece includes at least one passage for the watertight coupling of the water supply hydraulic line connected to the mixing and / or regulating means.
[0010] This configuration allows for a tap structure manufactured without the need for metal casting or molding using internal cores. The tap structure is configured through a manufacturing process that conventionally starts with sheets / plates of metal, preferably stainless steel, which are then stamped / drawn using stamping equipment to create the tap shapes in at least two parts. This process includes a third part that provides a watertight separation between the wet and dry zones of the structure itself, and also allows for the positioning of the water mixing and / or control means.This third piece, in the form of an insert with a preferably discoidal shape, configured to fit the internal shape of the tap structure and create a substantially transverse separation between the wet and dry zones, is also fixed to at least one of the two preceding pieces, thus constituting a structure optimized for faster and lower-cost manufacturing.
[0011] For the sake of clarity, the term "wet zone" refers to the area containing spaces with at least the means for mixing and / or regulating the water flow, from which the mixed and / or regulated water flows to the water outlet. The term "dry zone" refers to the area upstream of this wet zone and separated by the third component in the manner of an insert.
[0012] It should be understood that additional metal parts can be used besides the first and second parts to constitute the shape of this metal body structure. At least one of these parts will be formed by stamping / drawing, although other metal plastic processing methods, such as bending, flaring, cutting, punching, or the like, should be considered analogous in the sense of the same advantageous configuration of the invention and in that they simply require this joining by welding of parts mechanically processed from sheets of metal material. Alternatively, and also preferably, the second metal part is also formed by stamping or drawing, or as stated above, by another mechanical processing operation such as bending, flaring, cutting, punching, or the like.
[0013] The creation of openings on the structure of the tap will be carried out by openings made on one of the metal parts or by leaving open spaces between these parts, in order to then be able to carry out machining for the coupling of parts and elements of the tap, such as threads, for example.
[0014] According to an optional but preferred embodiment of the invention, the third metal piece in the manner of an insert includes, on its positioning face of the mixing and / or adjustment means, at least one housing or protuberance for centering / positioning said mixing and / or adjustment means on which it is housed.
[0015] This feature allows correct positioning and fixing of the mixing and / or adjustment means on the third piece in the manner of an insert, with respect to the connection to the hydraulic line and the connection to the area of the water outlet conduit.
[0016] Optionally, although preferred, the third metal piece, in the manner of an insert, is joined in a hermetic manner to the first and / or second metal pieces by welding at least around the perimeter.
[0017] This sealed welded joint ensures the sealed separation between wet and dry zones when the mixing and / or adjusting means are installed on said third part, with their corresponding sealing gaskets on the internal walls of the valve body structure.
[0018] According to an optional embodiment, the tap structure has a fourth metal piece configured to give the body a greater height of the tap, and configured by joining, at least, to one of the first and / or second metal pieces, so that this fourth piece remains joined to the tap structure by welding as well.
[0019] This configuration allows for the arrangement of different shapes of the tap structure in height, while retaining the principle of constructing said tap structure by mechanical operations and by welding.
[0020] In accordance with the objectives of the invention, and with respect to a second aspect, the present invention also relies on a tap of the type of those made up of a metal structure forming an assembly comprising at least one water outlet conduit, means for receiving the control or handle for adjusting the flow and / or temperature, as well as a coupling body on an installation surface, where the tap includes inside, means for mixing and / or adjusting one or more inlet hydraulic lines, governed by a control or handle.
[0021] Advantageously, the tap is characterized by the fact that it comprises a metallic structure such as that described in the first aspect of the invention.
[0022] This configuration makes it possible to obtain a tap with the previous advantages of tap structure indicated above and thus potentially reduce production costs and times. Brief description of the figures
[0023] To facilitate understanding of the presentation, drawings are attached representing, schematically and solely as a non-limiting example, a practical case of an embodiment.
[0024] [Fig-1] The [Fig. 1] is a perspective view of a tap structure.
[0025] [Fig.2] Fig.2 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the tap structure appearing in [Fig.1].
[0026] [Fig.3] Fig.3 is a cross-sectional perspective view of a tap, showing its handle and the hydraulic lines in dotted lines, with the tap structure of figures 1 and 2.
[0027] Description of a preferred embodiment of the invention
[0028] In the present preferred embodiment of the invention, and as shown in Figures 1 to 3, the metal structure (10) of the tap body (100) forms an assembly comprising a water outlet conduit (11), a first threaded opening as receiving means (12) for the control or handle (101) for adjusting the flow and / or temperature, as well as a main body (13) comprising at least the housing (14) configured for the installation of water mixing and / or adjustment means (102), and a connection opening (25) for the hydraulic lines. (103), which will be internally connected in a sealed manner with the water mixing and / or regulation means (102).
[0029] To form these parts of the metal structure (10) of the tap body (100), a first (15) and a second (16) metal parts are provided, which have been configured by stamping stainless steel plates giving the first metal part (15) the shape of the main body (13), raising and lower shape of the conduit (11), while the second metal part (16) includes the closure of this first metal part (15), closing the conduit (11) above, and including the first threaded opening as receiving means (12) for the control or handle (101) for adjusting the flow and / or temperature and through which the water mixing and / or adjusting means (102) will be introduced and positioned up to their internal housing (14).
[0030] Alternatively, another configuration of the first and second metal parts is possible, resulting in the same areas of the metal structure, but, for example, with the two parts forming both part of the body and the conduit, on opposite sides of the entire structure, or other alternative combinations. It is also possible to have more parts mechanically configured and joined by welding to give the desired geometric shape to the described areas of the valve structure.
[0031] A third part (17) is installed in the interior space of the main body (13) in the manner of a metallic insert, as an internal metallic disc configured to divide the wet zone (H) and the dry zone (S) of the interior space of the metallic structure (10) in a watertight manner. To achieve this, the shape of the third part (17) is configured to couple internally to the metallic structure in a watertight manner, which is achieved in the present embodiment by means of a disc having a shape substantially identical to the free cross-section of the main body (13) of the metallic structure (10), perimeter-welded so that this junction between the third part (17) and the rest of the metallic structure (10) remains watertight.
[0032] This third part can be configured with other materials, shapes and types of watertight connection with the metal structure (10) of tap body (100), provided that a watertight division is obtained between the dry area and the wet area of the inner area of the metal structure and that the connection between the hydraulic lines and the water mixing and / or regulation means (102) can be made.
[0033] In this embodiment, the third part (17) comprises, on the side of the dry zone (S), two passages (18), only one of which is shown in [Fig. 3], for connecting the hydraulic pipes (103), where these passages (18) are made through the third part (17) and can form a watertight connection with said water supply pipes and connect to the means of water mixing and / or adjustment means (102). On the face of the third part (17) located in the wet zone (H), there is a housing (19) acting as a centering device for positioning the nipple (102.1) of the water mixing and / or adjustment means (102). This configuration can be reversed without further alteration to the assembly or its operation, by alternately placing the nipple on the third part and the housing for positioning it on the water mixing and / or adjustment means.
[0034] Alternatively and without changing the main configuration of the invention, as well as without changing the functionality of the assembly described above, a single hydraulic line can be used coupling to the third part, if mixed water is already supplied and only the flow adjustment is carried out inside the tap.
[0035] In this embodiment of the metal structure (10), a fourth piece (20) is included as an extension guide for the main body (13) to increase its height where required by the design. This fourth piece remains attached to the rest of the metal structure (10) by welding. This fourth piece (20) maintains the opening for coupling the hydraulic lines (103) and includes means for attaching the metal structure (10) to the installation surface, which in this case would be a perimeter thread. Alternatively, depending on the valve design, this fourth piece may be omitted, or even consist of two or more pieces to achieve the final shape of the metal structure of the valve body.In the event that this fourth part (20) is omitted, these means of fixing to the installation surface shall be arranged on the final section of the metal structure of the valve body where the coupling opening of the hydraulic lines is located.
[0036] The threads of the first opening, serving as receiving means (12) for the control or handle (101), and of the second opening (25) for the inlet and connection of the hydraulic lines (103) to the water mixing and / or regulation means (102), serving as fixing means to the installation surface, are not shown in schematic figures 1 and 2, and can be seen schematically in [Fig. 3]. Alternatively, these threads serving as receiving and fixing means can be configured differently from the threads by conventional coupling means allowing fixing of the necessary elements.
[0037] The tap (100) of the present invention, as shown in [Fig. 3], is formed by the preceding metal structure (10), which forms an assembly comprising at least one water outlet conduit (11), receiving means (12) for the control or handle (101) for adjusting the flow and / or temperature, and a main body (13) fixed to an installation surface and comprising the spaces for positioning of the means for mixing and / or regulating water (102) and access for coupling of hydraulic lines (103).
[0038] Although reference is made to a specific embodiment of the invention, it is obvious to an expert in the field that the metal structure of the tap body and the tap comprising it described can be subject to numerous modifications and variations, and that all the details indicated can be replaced by other technically equivalent elements, without departing from the scope of protection defined by the attached claims.
Claims
1. Demands metallic structure of tap body, wherein said structure forms an assembly comprising at least one water outlet conduit, means for receiving the control or handle for adjusting the flow and / or temperature, and a main body comprising at least the housing configured for the installation of means for mixing and / or adjusting the water, wherein said main body also includes means configured for connecting at least one hydraulic line connecting it to the mixing and / or adjusting means and to the water outlet conduit, characterized in that the metallic structure (10) of tap body (100) forming an assembly comprises at least two metallic parts (15, 16) configured to give the shape of the metallic structure (10) of tap body (100); where at least one first metal part (15) is configured by stamping or pressing forming at least a part of the main body (13) and the conduit (11) and, where, a second metal part (16) is configured to form at least the closing surface of the first part (15), leaving free between them or incorporating into one of them at least two metal parts (15, 16), at least, a first opening configured as receiving means (12) for the coupling of the control or handle (101) and a second opening (25) configured for the entry of at least one hydraulic line (103) into the metal structure (10) of the valve body (100) and the mixing and / or flow control means (102); where the first and second parts (15, 16) are configured so as to remain joined by welding; and where the metal structure (10) includes a third piece (17) in the form of an internal insert, which is fixed to the first and / or second metal piece (15, 16), this third piece (17) being configured as an internal disc in order, on the one hand, to couple at least one hydraulic line (103), and on the other hand, to position the mixing and / or adjusting means (102). This third piece (17) also having a shape configured to couple internally to the metal structure (10) in a watertight manner, maintaining the internal wet zone (H) of the valve structure (10) watertight with respect to the dry area (S) inside of said tap structure (10), this third part (17) comprising at least one passage (18) for the watertight coupling of the hydraulic water supply line (103), connected to the mixing and / or regulating means (102).
2. Metallic structure of tap body, according to claim 1, wherein the third part (17) in the manner of an insert comprises, on its positioning face of the mixing and / or regulating means (102), at least one housing or protrusion (19) configured for the centering / positioning of said mixing and / or regulating means (102) on which it is housed.
3. Metallic structure of tap body, according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the third piece (17) in the manner of an insert is metallic and joined hermetically to the first and / or second metallic pieces by at least perimeter welding.
4. Metal structure of tap body, according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the metal structure (10) of tap body (100) has a fourth metal piece (20) configured to give a greater height to the main body (13) of the tap (100) and configured by joining, at least, to one of the first and / or second metal pieces (15, 16), so that this fourth piece (20) remains joined to the metal structure (10) of tap body (100) by welding also.
5. Metal structure of tap body, according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second metal part (16) is also formed by stamping or pressing.
6. A tap, of the type consisting of a metal structure forming an assembly comprising at least one water outlet conduit, means for receiving the control or handle for regulating the flow and / or temperature, and a coupling body on an installation surface, wherein the tap includes internally means for mixing and / or regulating one or more inlet hydraulic lines, governed by a control or handle, characterized in that the tap (100) comprises a metal structure (10) such as that described in claims 1 to 5.