Soup and water mixed with water plug

Abstract

The present invention provides a hot and cold water mixing faucet that features a safety button that prevents the rotary temperature control handle from being unintentionally rotated to a temperature higher than the predetermined temperature, and that functions without generating any unpleasant noise. [Solution] The hot and cold water mixing faucet 1 comprises a faucet body 2 and a temperature control handle 3. The temperature control handle 3 is provided with a safety button portion 20 having a cylindrical portion 21 that is biased radially outward and slidable within a button hole 17. Normally, the safety button portion 20 has an outer surface portion 22a that abuts against the outer peripheral edge portion 17c and a side contact surface portion 23b that abuts against the first end portion 33c of the arc-shaped wall portion 33, restricting rotation of the temperature control handle 3 toward the hot side. When pressed, the side contact surface portion 23b does not abut against the first end portion 33c, allowing rotation of the temperature control handle 3, and the outer contact surface portion 23a abuts against the inner diameter surface portion 33b of the arc-shaped wall portion 33, restricting movement radially outward. An O-ring 18 is positioned between the outer peripheral wall portion 17a of the button hole 17 and the side portion 21b of the cylindrical portion 21.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a hot and cold water mixing faucet.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, in a hot and cold water mixing faucet, a temperature control handle is provided to adjust the mixing ratio of the supplied hot water and cold water and determine the temperature of the discharged hot and cold water. When rotating this temperature control handle, a safety button is attached so that accidentally high-temperature hot water does not discharge from the water outlet. In the conventional temperature control handle disclosed in Patent Document 1, the rotation of the temperature control handle in a direction above a predetermined temperature can be restricted by the radial movement of a safety button arranged to be movable in the radial direction with respect to the temperature control handle. Specifically, when the safety button is not pushed inward in the radial direction, a part of the safety button abuts against a rotation restricting stopper provided on the faucet body, and the rotation of the temperature control handle in the high-temperature side in the circumferential direction above a predetermined temperature is stopped. Also, when the safety button is pushed inward in the radial direction, a part of the safety button does not abut against the rotation restricting stopper, and the rotation of the temperature control handle in the high-temperature side in the circumferential direction above a predetermined temperature becomes possible. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the accidental rotation of the temperature control handle and the discharge of accidentally high-temperature hot water from the water outlet.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the conventional technology described above, it is possible to prevent accidental operation of the temperature control handle in a hot and cold water mixing faucet, which could result in hot water above a predetermined temperature being dispensed from the spout. However, the safety button is simply positioned within a safety button hole provided in the temperature control handle, allowing it to move radially, and is spring-biased radially outward. As a result, when the temperature control handle is turned from a high-temperature side (above a predetermined temperature) towards the low-temperature side, and a portion of the safety button disengages from the rotation-restricting stopper, the safety button rapidly moves radially outward, generating an unpleasant knocking sound between it and the temperature control handle.

[0005] In view of these problems, the object of the present invention is to provide a hot and cold water mixing faucet equipped with a safety button on a rotary temperature control handle that prevents hot water hotter than a predetermined temperature from being inadvertently discharged from the spout, and which is designed to function without generating unpleasant noises. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The first invention of the present invention is a hot and cold water mixing faucet comprising a faucet body and a temperature control handle rotatably mounted to the faucet body for adjusting the temperature of the discharged hot and cold water, wherein the temperature control handle is provided with a safety button having a circular cross-section sliding portion that is biased to slide radially outward within a button hole with a circular cross-section extending radially from the axis of rotation, wherein under normal conditions, a first contact portion, which is part of the safety button, contacts a movement restricting portion, which is the outer edge of the button hole, thereby restricting radially outward movement, and a second contact portion, which is part of the safety button, The second contact portion abuts against the circumferential end of the arc-shaped wall portion disposed on the faucet body, thereby restricting the rotation of the temperature control handle toward the high-temperature side. When the safety button is pressed and moves radially inward, the second contact portion does not abut against the end, allowing the temperature control handle to rotate toward the high-temperature side, while the third contact portion, which is part of the safety button, abuts against the inner wall surface of the arc-shaped wall portion, restricting its movement radially outward. An O-ring is positioned between the outer circumferential wall surface of the button hole and the outer diameter surface of the sliding portion to provide sliding resistance.

[0007] According to the first invention, an O-ring is placed between the outer peripheral wall surface of the button hole and the outer diameter surface of the sliding part of the safety button to provide sliding resistance. This slows down the radial movement of the safety button and suppresses the impact noise when the first contact part contacts the movement restricting part. Specifically, when the safety button is pressed and moves radially inward, the temperature control handle is rotated to the high-temperature side so that the third contact part contacts the inner wall surface of the arc-shaped wall and restricts radially outward movement. The temperature control handle is then rotated in the opposite direction (low-temperature side) to return to the original state. At this time, when the contact between the third contact part and the inner wall surface is released, the sliding resistance of the O-ring reduces the speed at which the safety button moves radially outward due to the biasing force, thus suppressing the impact noise when the first contact part contacts the movement restricting part.

[0008] The second invention of the present invention is characterized in that, in the first invention described above, an O-ring groove for arranging the O-ring is formed in the outer peripheral wall surface of the button hole, and oil for adjusting the sliding resistance is stored in the gap on the side of the O-ring on the movement restricting portion of the O-ring in the O-ring groove.

[0009] According to the second invention, the sliding resistance between the outer peripheral wall surface of the button hole and the outer diameter surface of the sliding part of the safety button can be adjusted in a direction that reduces the resistance by the oil introduced to the surface of the O-ring, thereby enabling a balance between the return speed of the safety button and the suppression of the impact sound due to sliding resistance.

[0010] The third invention of the present invention is characterized in that, in the first invention described above, an oil for adjusting the sliding resistance is applied to the surface of the O-ring.

[0011] According to the third invention, the sliding resistance between the outer peripheral wall surface of the button hole and the outer diameter surface of the sliding part of the safety button can be adjusted in a direction that reduces the resistance by applying oil to the surface of the O-ring, thereby enabling a balance between the return speed of the safety button and the suppression of impact noise due to sliding resistance. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0012] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of a hot and cold water mixing faucet, which is one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a perspective view of the temperature control handle portion in the above embodiment. [Figure 3] This is an exploded perspective view of the temperature control handle portion in the above embodiment. [Figure 4] This is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in Figure 2. It shows the normal state. [Figure 5] Figure 4 shows the state in which the outer contact surface portion 23a is in contact with the inner diameter surface portion 33b of the arc-shaped wall portion 33, after the safety button has been pressed and the temperature control handle has been rotated. [Figure 6] This is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VI-VI in Figure 4. [Figure 7] This is a cross-sectional view taken along the line of arrow VII-VII in Figure 5. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0013] The configuration of a hot and cold water mixing faucet 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to Figures 1 to 7. The hot and cold water mixing faucet 1 is a wall-mounted type that is fixed to the wall of the bathroom.

[0014] As shown in Figure 1, the hot and cold water mixing faucet 1 includes a faucet body 2, a temperature control handle 3 mounted on the left side of the faucet body 2, a diverter handle 4 mounted on the right side of the faucet body 2, a tap discharge pipe 5, and a shower discharge pipe 6.

[0015] The faucet body 2 is formed in a horizontally elongated, roughly cylindrical shape. A hot water supply pipe 7, which receives hot water from a hot water source (not shown), and a cold water supply pipe 8, which receives cold water from a cold water source (not shown), are connected to the rear side of the faucet body 2. The selector handle 4 is a component that has a function to switch between stopping and starting water flow and a function to adjust the amount of water flowed. By turning it upward or downward from a predetermined stop position, an amount of hot or cold water corresponding to the amount of rotation can be selectively discharged from the faucet discharge pipe 5 or the shower discharge pipe 6.

[0016] As shown in Figures 1 to 4, the temperature control handle 3 is a component that has the function of adjusting the temperature of the hot and cold water discharged from the faucet discharge pipe 5 or shower discharge pipe 6 by rotating it relative to the faucet body 2. The temperature control handle 3 has a substantially bottomed cylindrical handle part 10 and a safety button part 20. The handle part 10 is the part that the operator grips with their hand and rotates. The safety button part 20 is attached to the handle part 10 and has the function of preventing the handle part 10 from rotating unless the safety button part 20 is pressed when it is desired to discharge hot water above a predetermined temperature.

[0017] As shown in Figures 2 to 4, the handle portion 10 is a substantially bottomed cylindrical shape with an opening 12a centered on the shaft A1, and has a bottom surface portion 11 and a side surface portion 12. On the side of the bottom surface portion 11 facing the opening 12a, a substantially bottomed cylindrical mounting portion 13 is formed, with the shaft A1 as the central axis and an opening 15a on the same side as the opening 12a. The mounting portion 13 has a bottom surface portion 14 and a side surface portion 15. The side of the bottom surface portion 14 opposite to the opening 15a is exposed to the outside by a substantially cylindrical recess 16 formed in the bottom surface portion 11. A screw hole 14a is formed in the bottom surface portion 14 with the shaft A1 as the central axis. On the inner diameter side surface of the side surface portion 15, the female teeth portion 15b of a gear-type shaft coupling is formed. The outer diameter of the side surface portion 15 is about 1 / 3 of the outer diameter of the side surface portion 12, and the height of the side surface portion 15 is about 1 / 2 of the height of the side surface portion 12. The thickness of the base portion 14 is approximately one-third of the thickness of the base portion 11. The axis A1 corresponds to the "rotation axis" in the claims.

[0018] As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the outer peripheral surface of the side surface portion 12 of the handle portion 10 is subjected to a flat knurling process so as to be easily rotatable. A button hole 17 having a circular cross-section penetrating in the radial direction is formed in the side surface portion 12 of the handle portion 10. An O-ring groove 17b for arranging an O-ring 18 is formed in the outer peripheral wall surface portion 17a of the button hole 17. In the button hole 17, a columnar portion 21 of the safety button portion 20 is inserted and arranged so as to be slidable in the radial direction from the inner side in the radial direction. Here, the columnar portion 21 corresponds to the "sliding portion" in the claims.

[0019] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the safety button portion 20 has a columnar columnar portion 21 and a prismatic prismatic portion 22. The columnar portion 21 and the prismatic portion 22 are connected in a state where they share the axis A2, and the length in the direction in which the axis A2 extends is such that the columnar portion 21 is about three times that of the prismatic portion 22. The columnar portion 21 has a bottom surface portion 21a on the tip side (opposite side to the prismatic portion 22) and a side surface portion 21b. The prismatic portion 22 has an outer side surface portion 22a which is a surface on the side of the columnar portion 21, an inner side surface portion 22b which is a surface opposite to the outer side surface portion 22a, and a side surface portion 22c. A concave portion 22d having a circular cross-section with an opening in a direction opposite to the outer side surface portion 22a is formed in the inner side surface portion 22b. The concave portion 22d is a portion that serves as a spring receiver for the compression coil spring 24. A convex portion 23 extending in the radial direction from the axis A2 is provided on one surface portion of the side surface portion 22c in the prismatic portion 22. The convex portion 23 has a cubic shape with the length of one side being the height of the prismatic portion 22 (the length in the direction in which the axis A2 extends). The surface of the convex portion 23 on the side of the columnar portion 21 (the surface connected to the same plane as the outer side surface portion 22a) is the outer contact surface portion 23a. A pair of surfaces perpendicular to the outer contact surface portion 23a of the convex portion 23 and extending in the direction of the axis A2 are the side contact surface portions 23b. Here, the outer side surface portion 22a, the outer contact surface portion 23a, and the side contact surface portions 23b respectively correspond to the "first contact portion", "third contact portion", and "second contact portion" in the claims. Also, the side surface portion 21b and the safety button portion 20 respectively correspond to the "outer diameter surface portion" and the "safety button" in the claims.

[0020] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the safety button portion 20 is attached to the side of the opening 12a of the bottom portion 11 of the handle portion 10 via a mounting base 25. The mounting base 25 has a rectangular prism-shaped mounting portion 25a and a cylindrical spring retaining portion 25b. The mounting portion 25a and the spring retaining portion 25b are connected with a common axis A2. The height of the mounting portion 25a (length in the direction in which axis A2 extends) is approximately twice the height of the spring retaining portion 25b (length in the direction in which axis A2 extends). The mounting portion 25a is fastened and fixed to the bottom portion 11 by passing screws 26 through two through holes 25c extending in the direction of axis A1. The safety button portion 20 is attached to the handle portion 10 as follows. First, with the O-ring 18 positioned in the O-ring groove 17b of the button hole 17 in the handle portion 10, the cylindrical portion 21 of the safety button portion 20 is inserted into the button hole 17 from the inside. In this state, the spring holding portion 25b of the mounting base 25 is passed through the inner diameter portion of the compression coil spring 24, compressing the compression coil spring 24, and the end opposite to the mounting base 25 is brought into contact with the recess 22d of the safety button portion 20. In this state, the mounting portion 25a is fastened and fixed to the bottom portion 11 with two screws 26. Then, the safety button portion 20, the compression coil spring 24, and the mounting base 25 are assembled with shaft A2 as a common shaft. The safety button portion 20 is then biased radially outward by the biasing force of the compression coil spring 24, and the outer surface portion 22a of the safety button portion 20 abuts against the outer peripheral edge portion 17c on the axis A1 side of the button hole 17 in the handle portion 10, thereby preventing it from moving radially outward from axis A1. Here, the outer peripheral edge portion 17c corresponds to the "movement restricting portion" in the claims.

[0021] As shown in FIGS. 3 to 7, at the left end of the faucet body 2, a rotary shaft portion 31 centered on a shaft A1 of a mixing valve unit (not shown) installed inside the faucet body 2 for adjusting the temperature of the discharged hot and cold water protrudes and is arranged. On the outer diameter side surface of the rotary shaft portion 31, a male tooth portion 31a of a gear-type shaft coupling is formed. The male tooth portion 31a is engageable with a female tooth portion 15b of the mounting portion 13 in the handle portion 10. At the tip of the rotary shaft portion 31, a screw hole 31b having a female screw into which a screw 19 is threaded is formed. At the left end of the faucet body 2, an end face portion 32 which is a ring-shaped surface perpendicular to the shaft A1 and centered on the shaft A1, and an arc-shaped wall portion 33 which is an arc-shaped wall centered on the shaft A1 extending in the direction of the shaft A1 from the end face portion 32 are provided. The radius of the outer diameter face portion 33a of the arc-shaped wall portion 33 is set to be approximately equal to the length from the shaft A1 of the outer contact face portion 23a in a state where it does not press the columnar portion 21 protruding radially outward from the button hole 17 of the safety button portion 20 when the handle portion 10 is attached to the faucet body 2 (see FIGS. 4 and 6). Further, the radius of the inner diameter face portion 33b of the arc-shaped wall portion 33 is set to be slightly longer than the length from the shaft A1 of the outer contact face portion 23a in a state where it presses the columnar portion 21 protruding radially outward from the button hole 17 of the safety button portion 20 until it abuts against the spring holding portion 25b of the attachment portion 25a when the handle portion 10 is attached to the faucet body 2. The arc-shaped wall portion 33 is formed in an arc shape extending about 120 degrees when viewed from the direction of the shaft A1. One end of the arc is formed as a first end portion 33c, and the other end of the arc is formed as a second end portion 33d. The height (length in the direction of the extension of the shaft A1) of the arc-shaped wall portion 33 is set to be approximately equal to the height (length in the direction of the extension of the shaft A1) of the convex portion 23 of the safety button portion 20. The first end portion 33c and the inner diameter face portion 33b respectively correspond to the "end portion" and the "inner side wall face portion" in the claims.

[0022] As shown in Figures 3 to 7, the handle portion 10 is attached to the faucet body 2 as follows. In Figure 6, when the handle portion 10 is rotated counterclockwise around axis A1, the temperature of the discharged hot water becomes high. At this time, with the rotating shaft portion 31 in a position corresponding to a predetermined temperature (e.g., 40°C), one of the side contact surfaces 23b of the safety button portion 20 comes into contact with the first end 33c of the arc-shaped wall portion 33, the female teeth 15b of the mounting portion 13 of the handle portion 10 are engaged with the male teeth 31a of the rotating shaft portion 31, and the fitting screw 19 is passed through the screw hole 14a and tightened into the screw hole 31b. As a result, even when the handle portion 10 is rotated towards the high-temperature side in the normal state without pressing the bottom surface 21a of the cylindrical portion 21 of the safety button portion 20, the side contact surface 23b comes into contact with the first end 33c at the predetermined temperature (e.g., 40°C) and the rotation is stopped. If you want to further increase the temperature of the hot water being discharged, rotate the handle 10 towards the high-temperature side while pressing the bottom surface 21a of the cylindrical part 21 of the safety button part 20. When the bottom surface 21a of the cylindrical part 21 is pressed, the protrusion 23 of the safety button part 20 moves in the direction of axis A1, and the outer contact surface 23a is positioned radially inward from the inner diameter surface 33b of the arc-shaped wall part 33. Therefore, even if you rotate the handle 10 towards the high-temperature side, the side contact surface 23b will no longer come into contact with the first end 33c of the arc-shaped wall part 33. In this state, even if you stop pressing the cylindrical part 21 of the safety button part 20, the biasing force of the compression coil spring 24 is received by the outer contact surface 23a of the protrusion 23 coming into contact with the inner diameter surface 33b of the arc-shaped wall part 33, and the handle 10 can be rotated without pressing. In this state, if the handle portion 10 is rotated further toward the high-temperature side, it will come into contact with a stopper (not shown) and the rotation will be stopped. Similarly, rotation toward the low-temperature side will also come into contact with a stopper (not shown) and will not rotate beyond a predetermined position.

[0023] As described above, this embodiment provides the following effects. In the operation of the safety button portion 20 as described above, an O-ring 18 is placed between the outer peripheral wall surface 17a of the button hole 17 and the cylindrical portion 21 of the safety button portion 20. As a result, sliding resistance is applied by the O-ring 18 when the cylindrical portion 21 moves in the direction of axis A2 within the button hole 17. Therefore, when the handle portion 10 is rotated to the low-temperature side and the protrusion 23 comes off the arc-shaped wall portion 33, the O-ring 18 causes the safety button portion 20 to move slowly radially outward and return to its normal state. This suppresses the outer surface portion 22a of the safety button portion 20 from violently contacting the outer peripheral edge 17c of the button hole 17 and generating a striking sound.

[0024] Although specific embodiments have been described above, the present invention is not limited to their appearance and configuration, and various modifications, additions, and deletions are possible without altering the essence of the invention. For example, the following can be made.

[0025] 1. In the above embodiment, the O-ring 18 is placed in an O-ring groove 17b with a width (length in the direction in which the axis A2 extends) approximately equal to the diameter of the O-ring 18. However, the invention is not limited to this, and the width of the O-ring groove 17b can be set to be larger than the diameter of the O-ring 18, so that the space created between the O-ring 18 and the wall surface of the O-ring groove 17b on the outer peripheral edge 17c side is used as an oil reservoir for storing oil to adjust the sliding resistance. This allows the sliding resistance between the outer peripheral wall surface 17a of the button hole 17 and the side surface 21b of the cylindrical portion 21 in the safety button portion 20 to be reduced by the oil guided to the surface of the O-ring 18, thereby balancing the return speed of the cylindrical portion 21 with the suppression of impact noise due to sliding resistance.

[0026] 2. In the above embodiment, the O-ring 18 was placed in the O-ring groove 17b without applying anything to its surface. However, the invention is not limited to this, and the O-ring 18 may be placed in the O-ring groove 17b with an oil applied to its surface to adjust the sliding resistance. This allows the sliding resistance between the outer peripheral wall surface 17a of the button hole 17 and the side surface 21b of the cylindrical portion 21 in the safety button portion 20 to be reduced by the oil applied to the surface of the O-ring 18, thereby balancing the return speed of the cylindrical portion 21 with the suppression of impact noise due to sliding resistance.

[0027] The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is indicated by the claims rather than by the description of the embodiments above, and all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims are intended to be included. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0028] 1 Hot water mixing faucet, 2 Faucet body, 3 Temperature control handle, 10 Handle part, 17 Button hole, 17a Outer wall part, 17b O-ring groove, 17c Outer rim part (movement restriction part), 18 O-ring, 20 Safety button part (safety button), 21 Cylindrical part (sliding part), 21b Side part (outer diameter part), 22 Prismatic part, 22a Outer surface portion (first contact portion), 23 Convex portion, 23a Outer contact surface portion (third contact portion), 23b Side contact surface portion (second contact portion), 32 End surface portion, 33 Arc-shaped wall portion, 33a Outer diameter surface portion, 33c First end portion (end), 33b Inner diameter surface portion (inner wall surface portion), A1 axis (rotation axis), A2 axis

Claims

1. It is a hot and cold water mixing faucet, It comprises a faucet body and a temperature control handle rotatably attached to the faucet body for adjusting the temperature of the discharged hot and cold water. The temperature control handle is equipped with a safety button having a circular cross-section sliding part that is biased radially outward and slidable within a buttonhole with a circular cross-section that extends radially from the axis of rotation. The safety button is, Under normal circumstances, the first contact portion, which is part of the safety button, contacts the movement restricting portion, which is the outer peripheral edge of the button hole, thereby restricting its movement radially outward, and the second contact portion, which is also part of the safety button, contacts the circumferential end of the arc-shaped wall portion disposed on the faucet body, thereby restricting the rotation of the temperature control handle toward the high-temperature side. When pressed, the safety button moves radially inward, the second contact portion does not contact the end, allowing the temperature control handle to rotate toward the high-temperature side, while the third contact portion, which is part of the safety button, contacts the inner wall surface of the arc-shaped wall portion, restricting its movement radially outward. A hot and cold water mixing faucet is provided with an O-ring positioned between the outer peripheral wall surface of the buttonhole and the outer diameter surface of the sliding part to provide sliding resistance.

2. In claim 1, The outer circumferential wall surface of the buttonhole has an O-ring groove formed therein for positioning the O-ring. A hot and cold water mixing faucet in which oil for adjusting sliding resistance is stored in the gap on the side of the O-ring's movement restricting portion in the O-ring groove.

3. In claim 1, A hot and cold water mixing faucet in which oil is applied to the surface of the O-ring to adjust the sliding resistance.

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