FAUCET WITH WELDED INSTALLATION BASE

Abstract

FAUCET WITH WELDED INSTALLATION BASE The invention relates to a faucet with welded installation base, wherein said installation base (11) comprises a part configured to join to the fixing end (12) of the faucet body (10), closest to the installation surface (100), and wherein the faucet (10) comprises a threaded joining element (13) which is fixed to the faucet (10) by a first end (13.1) and receives at its other end (13.2), a clamping element (14) for fixing the faucet (10) to said installation surface (100). The installation base (11) is formed by a metal part comprising a joining surface (15) configured to remain firmly joined to the perimeter (16) of the faucet body (10) by welding; and the installation base (11) comprises at least one threaded opening (17) formed by a cylindrical / annular surface, configured to receive the threaded joining element (13). Figure for abbreviation: none

Description

Title of the invention: FAUCET WITH WELDED INSTALLATION BASE

[0001] The present invention relates to a faucet comprising an installation base coupled to the body of said faucet, where the faucet remains fixed to an installation surface by joining it to a threaded element passing through the installation surface and to which it is fixed by clamping via a joining element from the other side of said installation surface. Background of the invention

[0002] Water supply taps having an internal excess thickness at their extreme zone of attachment to the installation surface, in order to be able to have a thread allowing said attachment of the tap to the threaded attachment tube, and so that the latter can in turn pass through the installation surface to be attached by a nut or the like to said installation surface, are known and therefore form part of the state of the art.

[0003] This solution of creating a tap body fixing thread necessarily involves a greater expenditure of material within the structure of the tap body, in that it requires the indicated increase in thickness in order to make possible the machining of the internal thread, which will allow the coupling of the tap body and the threaded fixing tube.

[0004] To complete their installation, many of these faucets use a base ring between the profile of the faucet body and the installation surface, in order to prevent water from escaping through the visible area between the interior of the faucet and the visible surface of the installation surface.

[0005] This base ring is coupled to the body of the tap by pressure packing, via the attachment between the threaded tube and the attachment nut to the installation surface by the opposite side of said installation surface with respect to the position of the tap.

[0006] This installation of the base ring has the disadvantage of requiring independent assembly, in addition to the fact that its coupling may not remain perfectly concentrically aligned with the body of the tap. Generally being a junction by simple packaging, this junction between the base ring and the tap body may also allow an outlet of internal water losses to appear, through this coupling zone between the base ring and the tap body.

[0007] The new configuration of the area for fixing the tap body to the installation surface thus appears necessary in order to avoid the disadvantages of the known state of the art. Description of the invention

[0008] The present invention aims to provide a tap with a welded installation base, which makes it possible to resolve the aforementioned drawbacks, while presenting other advantages described below.

[0009] In accordance with this objective, and with respect to a first aspect, the present invention is based on a faucet with welded installation base, where said installation base comprises a part configured to join to the fixing end of the faucet body, i.e., the part of the faucet body closest to the installation surface. The faucet comprises a threaded joining element, in the manner of a tube, bolt or the like, fixed to the faucet via a first end, and receiving at its other end, a clamping element for fixing the faucet to said installation surface.

[0010] Advantageously, the present invention is based on the fact that the installation base is formed by a metal part comprising a joining surface configured to remain securely joined to the perimeter of the tap body by welding.

[0011] Also advantageously for the present invention, the installation base comprises at least one threaded opening formed by a cylindrical / annular surface, configured to receive the threaded connecting element. This threaded connecting element, securely fixed to the body of the faucet via the installation base, extends through the installation surface and receives a nut or the like, effecting the tightening of the assembly on the installation surface from the other side of the installation surface from which the faucet is mounted.

[0012] For the sake of clarity, the perimeter of the tap body should be understood to mean both the profile of the end of said tap body and the lateral surfaces that constitute it. Likewise, the fixing end of the tap body should be understood to mean the final part of said tap body, adjacent to the installation surface, as well as the area of ​​the tap body previously adjacent to the installation area of ​​the cartridge / regulating valve. As can be understood, small variations in these positions or areas do not alter the operation or the advantageous configuration concept of this invention.

[0013] The described configuration advantageously makes it possible to have a tap which, in order to join the threaded joining element, does not need to have an increase in the thickness of the material at its fixing end in order to integrate an internal thread allowing said fixing of the threaded joining element. This saving of material makes it possible to reduce the cost of the tap thanks to the use of an independent part, such as the installation base, integrally joined by a welding process to the body of the tap. This results in a reduction in material costs in that it is no longer It is not necessary to have a material thickness as great as that of the tap body, nor exactly the same material.

[0014] In addition to reducing faucet material costs, this advantageous configuration allows the junction base to be joined to the faucet before the faucet is mounted on the installation surface, thus avoiding incorrect placement, movement between the two parts and even water leaks between the two, installation base and faucet body. Another advantage of this welded base configuration is the continuity of the visible parts. Having welded joints prevents the presence of mating grooves related to packaging under clamping pressure.

[0015] According to a possible embodiment of the invention, the installation base is a metal part whose shape creates a part protruding at the lower level in the manner of a skirt or a perimeter step, visible relative to the body of the tap, the surface of which is welded to its bearing surface of the perimeter of the profile of the body of the tap.

[0016] This configuration makes it possible to obtain a tap with the aforementioned advantages, which allows a slight elevation relative to the installation surface and a larger resting diameter of the tap body, in order to be able to effectively carry out the packaging by clamping through the joining element joining the installation base.

[0017] According to another possible embodiment of the invention, the installation base is a metal part with a shape substantially coinciding with that of the fixing end of the tap body, not protruding beyond the perimeter of said fixing end of the tap body, the welding junction surface of which located at the perimeter end of the installation base is in contact either with the perimeter of the profile of the tap body or with the internal perimeter of the tap body.

[0018] This configuration makes it possible to obtain the same effects as the independent claim in an embodiment, without visible skirts or perimeter steps, remaining hidden by the body of the tap, but fixed internally or on the profile itself in order to be able to carry out the fixing of the threaded joining element.

[0019] According to an embodiment complementary to any of the preceding embodiments, the installation base comprises a cylindrical / annular surface forming the threaded opening configured to receive the joining element and configured with an axis perpendicular to the plane of the installation surface of the faucet.

[0020] This configuration of at least one threaded opening of the installation base, allows a realization on the installation base, by a bending in the direction of the indicated axis of the circular profile describing the thread opening of the joining element. The subsequent machining of the creation of this surface on this axis makes it possible to create the thread surface replacing the excess thicknesses of the tap body in the state of the art.

[0021] Preferably, the shape of the installation base is configured by stamping, drawing or similar process, of a metal sheet forming said shape, and the cylindrical / annular surface to be machined to provide the threaded opening.

[0022] This process of configuring the metal part corresponding to the installation base, allows to give the desired external shape, circular or other shape that corresponds to the body of the faucet, or different desired shape, with skirt or external step visible or adjusted to the body of the faucet, to have an elevation above the installation surface, as well as the configuration by bending, punching or the like of the threaded opening, to create said cylindrical / annular surface on an axis perpendicular to the installation surface.

[0023] Compared to any of the preceding embodiments, preferably for the invention, the installation base may have a single opening, the threaded opening having a diameter corresponding to that of a joining element in the manner of a threaded installation tube, where the joining element is configured to allow the passage of the hydraulic lines to the cartridge / valve from inside the tap, as well as for fixing by the clamping element from the other side of the installation surface.

[0024] Alternatively but applicable to the embodiments preceding this latter embodiment, the installation base has, in addition to the threaded opening configured with a reduced diameter to receive a connecting element of the bolt or threaded rod type, also at least one other opening for the passage of the hydraulic pipes.

[0025] These last two configurations thus make it possible to adapt the new basic installation concept to any of the connecting element solutions conventionally used for fixing the tap to the installation surface.

[0026] Common to all the preceding embodiments, it must be taken into account that the metal part forming the installation base is preferably made of the same metal material as the body of the tap or, alternatively, of a material capable of being welded with the metal material of the body of the tap. Brief description of the figures

[0027] In order to facilitate understanding of what has been explained, attached are drawings representing, schematically and solely by way of non-limiting example, a practical case of embodiment.

[0028] [Fig-1] [Fig.l] is a perspective sectional view of the valve structure according to the state of the art.

[0029] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a detail of the tap joint end with thread in the body of the tap for a connecting element by threaded tube, according to the state of the art.

[0030] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is a detail of the junction end of the tap with a base welded installation containing the thread for a threaded tube joining element, where the installation base has a visible outer skirt.

[0031] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] is a detail of the junction end of the tap with a base welded installation containing the thread for a threaded tube connecting element, where the installation base does not protrude beyond the diameter of the valve body.

[0032] Description of a preferred embodiment of the invention

[0033] The taps known in the state of the art, as appearing in the figures 1 and 2, have an internal excess thickness (A) at the fixing end of the tap body (O), which makes it possible to create in it (A) a thread (B) for the coupling of a connecting element, in the present example of the state of the art, a threaded tube (D), which serves to pass through the installation surface (S) and be threaded from the other side of the installation surface (S) using a nut (T) or the like, to be fixed by tightening against said installation surface (S). Sufficiently known, conventional elements such as the cartridge / valve or the tap handle are not shown in figures 1 and 2.

[0034] As can be seen in [Fig.2], the tap may have a tap base (G) (O) allowing the base diameter of the tap (O) to be increased and the described clamping packing to be improved.

[0035] In the present preferred embodiment of the invention, and as shown in Figures 3 and 4, the tap (10) has a fixing end (12) of the body of the tap (10) to the installation surface (100) without excess thickness, the latter having an installation base (11) formed by a metal part, in this case made of stainless steel, identical to the body, welded to said fixing end (12) of the tap (10).

[0036] This installation base (11) is configured by stamping, drawing, punching or similar conventional process, giving in the present embodiment, a stepped profile, with outer skirt (18) and joining surface (15) by welding between the perimeter (16) of the profile of the body of the tap (10) to the bearing surface on the installation base (11). The installation base (11) further has a threaded opening (17), of a diameter complementary to that of the joining element (13), a threaded tube in the present embodiment. This threaded opening (17) is formed by a cylindrical / annular surface, which is also produced by the process of drawing, stamping or punching and then machined.

[0037] Alternatively to the previous embodiment with skirt (18), it is possible to join to the tap body (10) an installation base (11) not protruding from the tap body (10), remaining invisible from the outside and joined by welding, as can be seen in [Fig. 4], at the perimeter end of the installation base (11) in contact with the perimeter (16) of the profile of the tap body (10), as shown in [Fig. 4], with a joining surface (15) to the joining profiles of the two parts, installation base (11) and perimeter profile (16) of the tap body. Similarly, the joining could be made at the contact of the installation base (11) with the inner perimeter (16.1) of the tap body (10), if this base is located slightly inside the cavity of the tap body (10).

[0038] The joining element (13), fixed at a first end (13.1) by thread to the installation base (11), passes through the installation surface (100) to be able to receive at its other end (13.2), a clamping element (14) which exerts direct or indirect pressure on the other side of said installation surface (100) generating the fixing of the tap (10) and installation surface (100) assembly.

[0039] As seen in the previous embodiments, the connecting element (13) is based on a threaded tube of a diameter similar to the body of the tap (10), through which the hydraulic lines pass. There is therefore only one threaded opening (17) on the base for the threaded fixing of said connecting element (13).

[0040] Alternatively to the previous embodiments, a bolt or threaded rod, not shown in the figures, can be used instead of this tube. This leads to the installation base having two openings, one threaded for the threaded fixing of this type of joining element, with a similar configuration of the threaded opening adapted to the diameter of the threaded rod or bolt, considerably smaller than that of the threaded tube, and another opening to allow the passage of hydraulic lines. This embodiment, not shown in the figures due to its analogy and the wide knowledge of the form of joining by threaded rod or bolt, allows the adaptation of this welded installation base configuration to different joining systems.

[0041] As indicated, the junction between the installation base (11) and the fixing end (12) of the tap body (10) is made by welding, which makes it possible to seal said junction and to avoid any junction groove, as is the case in the prior art when there is a visible external step or skirt.

[0042] Although reference has been made to a concrete embodiment of the invention, it is obvious to an expert in the field that the faucet with threaded installation base described can be subject to numerous modifications and variations, and that all the details mentioned can be replaced by other technically equivalent ones, without departing from the scope of protection defined by the appended claims.

Claims

Claims

1. - Faucet with welded installation base, wherein said installation base (11) comprises a part configured to join to the fixing end (12) of the faucet body (10), closest to the installation surface (100), and wherein the faucet (10) comprises a threaded joining element (13) which is fixed to the faucet (10) by a first end (13.1) and receives at its other end (13.2), a clamping element (14) for fixing the faucet (10) to said installation surface (100), characterized in that the installation base (11) is formed by a metal part comprising a joining surface (15) configured to remain securely joined to the perimeter (16) of the faucet body (10) by welding; and wherein the installation base (11) comprises at least one threaded opening (17) formed by a cylindrical / annular surface, configured to receive the threaded joining element (13).

2. - Tap with welded installation base, according to claim 1, wherein the installation base (11) is a metal part whose shape creates a part protruding at the lower level in the manner of a skirt or a perimeter step (18), visible with respect to the body of the tap (10), whose joining surface (15) by welding is located at its bearing surface of the perimeter (16) of the profile of the body of the tap (10).

3. - Tap with welded installation base, according to claim 1, wherein the installation base (11) is a metal part with a shape substantially coinciding with that of the fixing end (12) of the tap body (10), not protruding beyond the perimeter (16) of said fixing end (12) of the tap body (10), the welding joining surface (15) of which located at the perimeter end of the installation base (11) is in contact either with the perimeter (16) of the profile of the tap body (10) or with the inner perimeter (16.1) of the tap body (10).

4. - A tap with welded installation base, according to any preceding claim, wherein the cylindrical / annular surface forming the threaded opening (17) of the installation base (11) is configured with an axis perpendicular to the plane of the installation surface (100) of the tap (10).

5. - A tap with welded installation base, according to any preceding claim, wherein the shape of the installation base (11) is configured by stamping, drawing or similar process, of a metal sheet forming said shape, and the cylindrical / annular surface to be machined to provide the threaded opening (17).

6. - A tap with a welded installation base, according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the installation base (11) may have a single opening, the threaded opening (17) having a diameter corresponding to that of a connecting element (13) in the manner of a threaded installation tube, wherein the connecting element (13) is configured to allow the passage of hydraulic lines to the cartridge / valve from inside the tap, as well as for fixing by the clamping element (14) from the other side of the installation surface (100).

7. - Tap with welded installation base, according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the installation base (11) has, in addition to the threaded opening (17) configured with a reduced diameter to receive a connecting element (13) of the bolt or threaded rod type, also at least one other opening for the passage of hydraulic pipes.

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