Cartridge for single lever combination faucet

Abstract

To provide a cartridge for a single lever combination faucet which allows a user to obtain click feeling stably even if rotational operation of an operation part is repeated.SOLUTION: A cartridge 10 for a single lever combination faucet includes: an outer cylinder part 11 having a large diameter cylinder part 11b and a small diameter cylinder part 11c which have a common center axis 14; a movable part 12 which may rotate around the center axis 14 relative to the outer cylinder part 11; a connection part 13 which is assembled to the movable part 12 and rotationally operated by a lever; and an outer cylinder part 15 which is integrally attached to the movable part 12 and covers the small diameter cylinder part 11c while forming a predetermined clearance therebetween. The large diameter cylinder part 11b is fixed to a combination faucet. Magnet sheets 16, where N poles and S poles are alternately arranged side by side in a direction in which the center axis 14 extends at equal intervals, are respectively bonded to an outer diameter surface of the small diameter cylinder part 11c and an inner diameter surface of the outer cylinder part 15. When the movable part 12 is rotated relative to the outer cylinder part 11, suction force in a radial direction and repulsive force are repeatedly applied at equal intervals.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a cartridge for a single-lever mixer tap, and more particularly to a cartridge for a single-lever mixer tap that allows for adjustment of flow rate and temperature with a single lever. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, single-lever mixer faucets have been known in which a cartridge is disposed inside the faucet body that is disposed approximately perpendicular to the installation surface, and a hot water supply pipe and a cold water supply pipe are connected from below to the cartridge, a discharge pipe is attached to the side, and a lever is attached to the top. In the single-lever mixer faucet disclosed in Patent Document 1, hot and cold water supplied to the cartridge from below is mixed inside the cartridge by rotating the rectangular pillar-shaped operating part of the cartridge via the lever, and the temperature-adjusted discharge water is discharged from the discharge pipe. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2023-101899 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The technology described in Patent Document 1 above has a problem in that when the operating part of the cartridge is rotated relative to the main body of the cartridge via a lever, no clicking sensation is generated with the rotation, making it difficult to feel that the operating part of the cartridge is being rotated. To address this problem, it is conceivable to provide a deforming convex portion that elastically deforms on the outer peripheral surface of the operating part of the cartridge and a fixed convex portion that does not elastically deform on the inner peripheral surface of the main body, so that when the operating part rotates relative to the outer tube, the deforming convex portion overcomes the fixed convex portion, generating a clicking sensation. However, with this method of generating a clicking sensation, repeated rotation of the operating part can cause sliding wear of the deforming convex portion and the fixed convex portion, which can result in a deterioration of the clicking sensation.

[0005] In view of these problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a cartridge for a single-lever mixer faucet that provides a stable clicking sensation even when the operating portion is repeatedly rotated. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The first invention of the present invention is a cartridge for a single-lever mixer tap that can adjust flow rate and temperature with a single lever, and is characterized by having an outer tube portion having a large-diameter cylindrical portion and a small-diameter cylindrical portion that share a common central axis and are aligned in the direction of the central axis, a movable portion assembled to the outer tube portion so as to be rotatable around the central axis of the outer tube portion, a connecting portion assembled to the movable portion and rotated by the lever, and an outer cylindrical portion centered on the central axis that is attached integrally to the movable portion and covers the small-diameter cylindrical portion at a predetermined distance, the large-diameter cylindrical portion of the outer tube portion being fixed to the mixer tap, and magnetic sheets formed with alternating north-pole and south-pole portions aligned at equal intervals in the direction of extension of the central axis are affixed to the outer diameter surface of the small-diameter cylindrical portion and the inner diameter surface of the outer cylindrical portion, and when the movable portion is rotated around the central axis relative to the outer tube portion, an attractive force and a repulsive force in the radial direction are repeatedly applied at equal intervals.

[0007] According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the movable part is rotated relative to the outer tubular part via the connecting part by rotating the lever, the magnetic sheet acts to repeatedly apply radial attractive and repulsive forces at equal intervals. This allows for a stable clicking sensation without the movable part coming into contact with the outer tubular part, and there are no parts that are subject to sliding wear, making it possible to provide a cartridge for a single-lever mixer faucet that provides a stable clicking sensation.

[0008] The second invention of the present invention is a cartridge for a single-lever mixer tap that can adjust flow rate and temperature with one lever, and has an outer tube having a large-diameter cylindrical portion and a small-diameter cylindrical portion that share a central axis and are aligned in the direction of the central axis, a movable portion that is assembled to the outer tube so as to be rotatable around the central axis of the outer tube, and a connecting portion that is assembled to the movable portion and rotated by the lever, and the outer tube has a large-diameter cylindrical portion fixed to the mixer tap and a small-diameter cylindrical portion that is perpendicular to the central axis and faces radially inward. The movable part has an outer tube portion facing surface portion that extends opposite the outer tube portion facing surface portion with a predetermined gap between them when assembled to the outer tube part, and magnetic sheets are attached to the outer tube portion facing surface portion and the movable part facing surface portion, each of which has N pole portions and S pole portions that extend radially from the central axis at equal angular pitches, and when the movable part is rotated relative to the outer tube part, attractive and repulsive forces are repeatedly applied at equal pitches in the direction in which the central axis extends.

[0009] According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the lever is rotated to rotate the movable part relative to the outer tubular part via the connecting part, the magnetic sheet acts to apply an attractive force and a repulsive force in the direction of the central axis repeatedly at equal intervals. This allows for a stable clicking sensation without the movable part coming into contact with the outer tubular part, and there are no parts that are subject to sliding wear, making it possible to provide a cartridge for a single-lever mixer faucet that provides a stable clicking sensation. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1]1 is a perspective view of a faucet according to an embodiment of the first invention, viewed obliquely from the front. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the faucet in the embodiment, seen obliquely from the front. [Figure 3] 1 is a cross-sectional view of the faucet in the embodiment, omitting the lever and the draw-out discharge pipe. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cartridge according to the embodiment, seen obliquely from the front. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VV of FIG. 4. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a part of the cartridge in the embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a magnet sheet. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a magnet sheet. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a cartridge according to an embodiment of the second invention, as viewed obliquely from the front. [Figure 10] 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XX in FIG. 9. [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a part of the cartridge in the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] A cartridge 10 according to one embodiment of the first invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 8. First, the configuration of a mixer faucet 1 with the cartridge 10 disposed therein will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 3. In the following description, directions will be explained based on the up / down, front / back, left / right directions shown in each figure. These directions are based on the operator facing the mixer faucet 1 and operating it. Here, the cartridge 10 corresponds to the "cartridge for a single-lever mixer faucet" in the claims.

[0012] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the mixer faucet 1 is a hot and cold water mixer faucet that is installed on the countertop M of a sink or washbasin. The mixer faucet 1 has a faucet body 2 that mixes hot and cold water supplied from under the countertop M and discharges the water forward, and a drawer discharge pipe 3 attached to the front of the faucet body 2 so that it can be drawn out forward.

[0013] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the faucet body 2 has a substantially cylindrical casing 4, a partition wall 5 that axially divides the inner cylindrical portion of the casing 4, a cartridge 10 arranged above the partition wall 5, an operating lever 6 for operating the cartridge 10, and a substantially cylindrical auxiliary member 7 arranged below the inner cylindrical portion of the casing 4. The auxiliary member 7 is a member for fixing the faucet body 2 to the top plate M. Here, the operating lever 6 corresponds to the "lever" in the claims.

[0014] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a water supply pipe 8a, a hot water supply pipe 8b, and a hot water discharge pipe 8c are connected to the generally disk-shaped partition wall 5 from below in a watertight state. A cylindrical water discharge part 4b is inserted into a mounting hole 4a of the casing 4 from below and fixed to the partition wall 5 with bolts 4c. The partition wall 5 supplies water supplied from the water supply pipe 8a and hot water supplied from the hot water supply pipe 8b to the cartridge 10 in a watertight state, and delivers the temperature-controlled hot water produced in the cartridge 10 to the hot water discharge pipe 8c in a watertight state. One end of a flexible pipe 8d is connected to the lower end of the hot water discharge pipe 8c, and the other end of the flexible pipe 8d is connected to the draw-out discharge pipe 3, so that the temperature-controlled water is discharged from the front discharge port 3a.

[0015] As shown in FIGS. 2 to 6, the cartridge 10 is formed by disposing a movable part 12 inside an outer cylindrical part 11. The outer cylindrical part 11 has a disk-shaped bottom plate 11a, a large-diameter cylindrical part 11b, a small-diameter cylindrical part 11c, and a disk part 11d connecting the upper end of the large-diameter cylindrical part 11b and the lower end of the small-diameter cylindrical part 11c. The large-diameter cylindrical part 11b and the small-diameter cylindrical part 11c share a central axis 14 and are arranged side by side in the direction of extension of the central axis 14. The outer cylindrical part 11 is fixed to the partition part 5 by fixing the bottom plate 11a to the upper part of the partition part 5. The movable part 12 has, from below, a fixed disk 12a, a movable disk 12b, a driver 12c, and a rotor 12d. A substantially rectangular column-shaped connecting part 13 is connected to the substantially cylindrical rotor 12d by a support pin 13a extending perpendicular to the central axis 14. The movable part 12 is operated via the connecting part 13 and is rotatable relative to the outer cylinder part 11 around the central axis 14. Specifically, by rotating the connecting part 13 around the central axis 14, the movable disc 12b is rotated via the rotor 12d and the driver 12c, and the supplied hot and cold water is mixed, thereby adjusting the temperature of the discharged water. In addition, by tilting the connecting part 13 around the support pin 13a, the movable disc 12b is slid via the driver 12c, and the amount of temperature-adjusted discharged water can be adjusted. An operating lever 6 is attached to the connecting part 13, and by gripping and operating the operating lever 6, the connecting part 13 can be operated relative to the outer cylinder part 11.

[0016] As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, an outer cylindrical portion 15 is attached to the upper surface 12e of the rotor 12d of the movable portion 12. The outer cylindrical portion 15 has a cylindrical portion 15a centered on the central axis 14 and having an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the small-diameter cylindrical portion 11c of the outer cylindrical portion 11, and a disk-shaped portion 15b closing the upper end side of the cylindrical portion 15a. A through-hole 15c that is rectangular when viewed from above is formed in the disk-shaped portion 15b, through which the connecting portion 13 passes. A magnetic sheet 16 is attached to the outer diameter surface of the small-diameter cylindrical portion 11c of the outer cylindrical portion 11 and the inner diameter surface of the cylindrical portion 15a of the outer cylindrical portion 15. With the magnetic sheet 16 attached, a small gap is formed between the magnetic sheet 16 attached to the outer diameter surface of the small-diameter cylindrical portion 11c and the magnetic sheet 16 attached to the inner diameter surface of the cylindrical portion 15a. As shown in Fig. 7, the magnet sheet 16 is a resin sheet having a plurality of alternating band-shaped N-pole portions 16a and S-pole portions 16b arranged in the same direction on one side. The pitch between adjacent N-pole portions 16a and the pitch between adjacent S-pole portions 16b can be, for example, approximately 4.3 mm. When the magnet sheet 16 is attached to the outer diameter surface of the small-diameter cylindrical portion 11c of the outer cylindrical portion 11 and the inner diameter surface of the cylindrical portion 15a of the outer cylindrical portion 15 with the extension directions of the N-pole portions 16a and S-pole portions 16b aligned with the extension direction of the central axis 14, the number of N-pole portions 16a and the number of S-pole portions 16b are each 18. 8 is a developed cross-sectional view taken along a plane perpendicular to the central axis 14, showing a state in which the magnetic sheet 16 attached to the outer surface of the small-diameter cylindrical portion 11c faces the magnetic sheet 16 attached to the inner surface of the cylindrical portion 15a. As shown in FIG. 8, (A) and (C) show a state in which the N-pole 16a and the S-pole 16b of the small-diameter cylindrical portion 11c face the S-pole 16b and the N-pole 16a of the cylindrical portion 15a, respectively, and a radial attractive force acts between the small-diameter cylindrical portion 11c and the cylindrical portion 15a. (B) shows a state in which the N-pole 16a and the S-pole 16b of the small-diameter cylindrical portion 11c face the N-pole 16a and the S-pole 16b of the cylindrical portion 15a, respectively, and a radial repulsive force acts between the small-diameter cylindrical portion 11c and the cylindrical portion 15a.When the cylindrical portion 15a is moved rightward relative to the small-diameter cylindrical portion 11c from the state (A) to the state (C) via the state (B), a radial attractive force, a repulsive force, and an attractive force act in this order between the small-diameter cylindrical portion 11c and the cylindrical portion 15a. This produces a single-stage clicking sensation. In other words, when the movable portion 12 is rotated once around the central axis 14 relative to the outer tube portion 11, 18 clicking sensations are produced.

[0017] The present embodiment configured as described above provides the following advantageous effects. When the operating lever 6 of the cartridge 10 is rotated to rotate the movable part 12 relative to the outer tube part 11 around the central axis 14 via the connecting part 13, the magnetic sheet 15 acts to repeatedly apply an attractive force and a repulsive force in the radial direction at equal intervals. At this time, the magnetic sheet 15 of the movable part 12 is not in contact with the magnetic sheet 15 of the outer tube part 11. As a result, the movable part 12 does not come into contact with the outer tube part 11, providing a stable clicking sensation, and there are no parts that are subject to sliding wear, so a stable clicking sensation can be obtained even when the operating lever 6 is rotated repeatedly.

[0018] 9 to 11 show a cartridge 20 according to one embodiment of the second invention. The difference from cartridge 10 is the location of the magnetic sheet 16. Components common to cartridge 10 are given the same reference numerals and will not be described.

[0019] The outer tube portion 110 of the cartridge 20 differs from the outer tube portion 11 in that the outer diameter of the small-diameter cylindrical portion 11e is larger than the outer diameter of the small-diameter cylindrical portion 11c. The inner diameter of the small-diameter cylindrical portion 11e is the same as the inner diameter of the small-diameter cylindrical portion 11c, so it can be said that the radial thickness is larger. The movable portion 12 of the cartridge 20 is the same as the movable portion 12 of the cartridge 10. A magnetic sheet 26 is attached to the outer tube portion-facing surface portion 11f, which is the upper surface of the small-diameter cylindrical portion 11e of the outer tube portion 110. The magnetic sheet 26 is formed on one side of a resin sheet with band-shaped N-pole portions 26a and S-pole portions 26b formed alternately at equal angular pitches and extending radially from the central axis 14. The pitch between adjacent N-pole portions 26a and the angular pitch between adjacent S-pole portions 26b can be, for example, approximately 20 degrees. With the movable part 12 assembled to the outer cylinder part 110, a disk 21 having an outer diameter substantially equal to that of the small-diameter cylindrical part 11e is attached to the upper surface part 12e of the rotor 12d of the movable part 12. A through-hole 21a having a rectangular shape when viewed from above is formed in the disk 21, allowing the connecting part 13 to pass through. A magnetic sheet 26 is also attached to the lower surface of the disk 21, a movable-part-facing surface part 21b that faces the outer-cylindrical part-facing surface part 11f of the outer cylinder part 110. With the magnetic sheet 26 attached, a small gap is formed between the magnetic sheet 26 attached to the outer-cylindrical part-facing surface part 11f of the small-diameter cylindrical part 11e and the magnetic sheet 26 attached to the movable-part-facing surface part 21b of the disk 21. The magnet sheet 26 attached to the outer tube portion facing surface 11f and the magnet sheet 26 attached to the movable portion facing surface 21b are arranged such that the band-shaped N-pole portions 26a and S-pole portions 26b, which are alternately arranged at equal angular pitches and extend radially from the central axis 14, face each other. As a result, when the N-pole portions 26a and S-pole portions 26b of the movable portion facing surface 21b face the S-pole portions 26b and N-pole portions 26a of the outer tube portion facing surface 11f, respectively, an attractive force acts between the outer tube portion 110 and the movable portion 12 in the vertical direction (the direction in which the central axis 14 extends). Furthermore, when each N-pole portion 26a and each S-pole portion 26b of the movable part opposing surface portion 21b faces each N-pole portion 26a and each S-pole portion 26b of the outer tube part opposing surface portion 11f, a repulsive force acts in the vertical direction (the direction in which the central axis 14 extends) between the outer tube part 110 and the movable part 12.As a result, when the movable part 12 is rotated once around the central axis 14 relative to the outer cylinder part 110, 18 clicks are felt.

[0020] The present embodiment configured as described above provides the following advantageous effects. When the operating lever 6 of the cartridge 20 is rotated to rotate the movable part 12 relative to the outer tube part 110 about the central axis 14 via the connecting part 13, the magnetic sheet 26 acts to repeatedly apply an attractive force and a repulsive force in the direction of extension of the central axis 14 at equal intervals. At this time, the magnetic sheet 26 of the movable part 12 is not in contact with the magnetic sheet 26 of the outer tube part 110. As a result, a stable clicking sensation is obtained without the movable part 12 coming into contact with the outer tube part 110, and there are no parts that are subject to sliding wear, so a stable clicking sensation can be obtained even when the operating lever 6 is rotated repeatedly.

[0021] Although specific embodiments have been described above, the present invention is not limited to those external appearances and configurations, and various modifications, additions, and deletions are possible within the scope of the present invention. For example, the following can be mentioned.

[0022] The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered to be illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims, not by the description of the above embodiments, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0023] 1 Mixing faucet, 6 Operating lever (lever), 10 Cartridge (cartridge for single-lever mixing faucet), 11 Outer cylinder portion, 11b Large diameter cylinder portion, 11c Small diameter cylinder portion, 11f Outer cylinder portion opposing surface portion, 12 Movable portion, 13 Connecting portion, 14 Center axis, 15 Outer cylinder portion, 16 Magnetic sheet, 16a N pole portion, 16b S pole portion, 20 Cartridge, 21b Movable portion opposing surface portion, 26 Magnetic sheet, 26a N pole portion, 26b S pole portion, 110 Outer cylinder portion

Claims

1. A cartridge for a single-lever mixer faucet that allows you to adjust the flow rate and temperature with one lever, the lever is attached to the movable part and rotates with the lever; and the outer cylindrical part is attached to the movable part and is centered on the central axis, and covers the small diameter cylindrical part with a predetermined distance therebetween. The outer cylinder portion has the large diameter cylindrical portion fixed to the mixer faucet, A magnetic sheet is attached to the outer diameter surface of the small diameter cylindrical portion and the inner diameter surface of the outer cylindrical portion, and the magnetic sheet has N poles and S poles alternately arranged at equal intervals in the direction of extension of the central axis, A cartridge for a single-lever mixer faucet in which, when the movable part is rotated around the central axis relative to the outer tube part, radial attractive and repulsive forces are repeatedly applied at equal intervals.

2. A cartridge for a single-lever mixer faucet that allows you to adjust the flow rate and temperature with one lever, an outer cylindrical portion having a large diameter cylindrical portion and a small diameter cylindrical portion aligned along a common central axis, a movable portion assembled to the outer cylindrical portion so as to be rotatable about the central axis of the outer cylindrical portion, and a connecting portion assembled to the movable portion and rotated by the lever; The outer cylinder portion has the large diameter cylindrical portion fixed to the mixer faucet, an outer cylinder portion opposing surface portion is formed on the small diameter cylindrical portion, the outer cylinder portion opposing surface portion extending radially inwardly and perpendicular to the central axis; and a movable portion is formed on the movable portion, the movable portion extending opposite the outer cylinder portion opposing surface portion across a predetermined gap when assembled to the outer cylinder portion; a magnet sheet is attached to each of the outer cylinder portion facing surface and the movable portion facing surface, the magnet sheet having N-pole portions and S-pole portions alternately arranged at equal angular pitches and extending radially from the central axis; A cartridge for a single-lever mixer faucet in which, when the movable part is rotated relative to the outer tube part, an attraction force and a repulsion force in the direction in which the central axis extends are repeatedly applied at equal intervals.

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