Faucet

Abstract

Even if the user makes a sudden operation of the lever handle or the like without checking the operation angle of the lever handle or the like, it will not cause excessive water discharge, and it is possible to prevent water from suddenly splashing around. Even when pouring water into a pot containing food, etc., the faucet will not cause the contents to scatter. 【Solution means】A faucet capable of adjusting the water discharge amount by operating a lever handle 101 which is an operating tool outside the faucet 100, a dilatancy fluid container 113 as a holding part for holding the dilatancy fluid 112, and receiving the operation of the external lever handle 101. Inside, there is a component that contacts the dilatancy fluid 112 at an angle of the lever handle 101 equal to or greater than a certain value and transmits resistance to the lever handle 101, and when the lever handle 101 is suddenly operated, sudden water discharge is blocked by the resistance from the dilatancy fluid 112.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a faucet that adjusts the water discharge amount by steplessly operating a lever handle or the like, and prevents the water discharge amount from increasing rapidly due to a rapid operation.

Background Art

[0002] Conventional faucets are of a type that adjusts the water discharge amount by moving a lever handle, which is an operating tool, up and down. Faucets of this type are mounted in such a way that the lever handle protrudes from the main body, and the water discharge amount is adjusted by operating the tip of this lever handle upward or downward. The lever handle of this faucet rotates about a connection portion with the main body side as an axis. At this time, a stop valve that is inside the cartridge on the main body side and is directly or indirectly connected to the lever handle moves a distance corresponding to the operating angle of the lever handle, thereby opening and closing the water pipe inside the faucet, and water comes out in a state where the water discharge amount from the faucet can be changed steplessly.

[0003] There are also types that adjust the water discharge amount by turning a so-called valve. Faucets of this type are mounted in such a way that the faucet protrudes from the main body, and this and the internal stop valve are connected by a spindle. The faucet body has a threaded hole, and the spindle has a threaded portion that matches this threaded hole. When the user rotates the faucet, the spindle moves slightly in the vertical direction while rotating with the valve. The stop valve moves up and down together with the spindle, and by this, the opening and closing state of the water pipe is adjusted, and the user can realize an arbitrary water discharge amount.

[0004] Also, as conventional faucets of this type, there are those described in JP-A-2023-004515 and Utility Model Registration No. 3231629.

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Disclosure of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] However, conventional faucets have the following problems. The user needs to always check the water discharge volume and adjust the operation angle of the lever handle or faucet while doing so. The relationship between the operation angle of the lever handle or faucet and the water discharge volume varies greatly depending on the internal structure of the faucet, the degree of aging deterioration inside, the water pressure of tap water, etc. That is, it is difficult to intuitively understand the relationship between the angle of the lever handle or faucet and the water discharge volume. Therefore, if the lever handle or the like is operated suddenly, it is easy to cause excessive water discharge. For this reason, there is a problem that water suddenly scatters around. Also, when pouring water into a pot containing food, there is also a problem that the contents scatter.

[0007] The present invention was devised in view of the above circumstances, and even if the user suddenly operates the lever handle or the like without checking the operation angle of the lever handle or the like, it will not cause excessive water discharge, and it is possible to prevent water from suddenly splashing around. Even when pouring water into a pot containing food, the object is to provide a faucet in which the contents do not scatter.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0008] The faucet according to the present invention is a faucet capable of adjusting the water discharge volume by operating an operating tool, and has a holding portion for a dilatancy fluid and a component that receives the operation of the operating tool and contacts this fluid at an angle of the operating tool of a certain degree or more to transmit resistance to the operating tool. When the operating tool is suddenly operated, sudden water discharge is blocked by the resistance from the dilatancy fluid.

Effects of the Invention

[0009] The faucet according to the present invention is a faucet capable of adjusting the water discharge amount by operating an operating tool, and has a holding portion for a dilatancy fluid and a component that receives the operation of the operating tool and contacts the fluid at an angle of the operating tool of a certain degree or more to transmit resistance to the operating tool. When the operating tool is operated suddenly, the resistance from the dilatancy fluid prevents sudden water discharge, so that it is possible to prevent water from being suddenly discharged and splashing around, or the contents of a pot or the like from splashing.

[0010] In addition, the faucet is configured to adjust the water discharge amount by rotating the operating tool in the vertical direction.

[0011] Furthermore, the faucet is configured to adjust the water discharge amount by rotating the operating tool around a specific axis.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0012]

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Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0013] The dilatancy fluid, which is a main part of the faucet according to the embodiment of the present invention, has the property of shear thickening, that is, it behaves like a liquid for slow shear stimuli and shows a resistance like that of a solid for faster shear stimuli. As this dilatancy fluid, for example, a water-soluble katakuri starch solution in which 1 part of katakuri starch is dissolved in approximately 1 part of water is known. Corn starch can also be used instead of katakuri starch. Note that the dilatancy fluid is not limited to those made of the above-mentioned katakuri starch or corn starch, and may be made of other materials as long as it exhibits shear thickening. However, the dilatancy fluid mixed with calcium carbonate, benzene, and starch is not suitable for the faucet according to the present invention. This is because benzene has a high risk of flammability and is also toxic, so it is not suitable for a faucet that adjusts the discharge amount of tap water.

[0014] The faucet 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is of a type that opens by operating the lever handle 101, which is an external operating tool, upward. The faucet 100 according to this first embodiment is a faucet whose water discharge amount can be adjusted by operating the lever handle 101, which is an external operating tool of the faucet 100. It has a dilatancy fluid container 113 as a holding part for holding the dilatancy fluid 112, and inside, it has a part that receives the operation of the external lever handle 101 and contacts the dilatancy fluid 112 at an angle of the lever handle 101 of a certain degree or more to transmit resistance to the lever handle 101. When the lever handle 101 is operated suddenly, it is configured to prevent sudden water discharge due to the resistance from the dilatancy fluid 112.

[0015] The "part that receives the operation of the external operating tool and contacts the fluid at an angle of the operating tool of a certain degree or more to transmit resistance to the operating tool" includes the connection tool 103 and the dilatancy fluid contact rod 108, etc., which will be described later.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 1 and the like, the faucet 100 is configured such that the lever handle 101, which is an operating tool, protrudes from the upper part of the faucet body 118, and when this lever handle 101 is operated upward, water is discharged. The faucet body 118 is provided with a water supply passage 119 communicating with the water supply and a water discharge port 120 for discharging water.

[0017] A connection tool 103 is fixed to the back surface of the upper lid 102 of the lever handle 101. As shown in FIGS. 2(A) to 2(C), this connecting device 103 has a substantially T-shaped cross-section in the horizontal direction, and one end corresponding to the horizontal bar is fixed to the back surface of the upper lid 102 of the lever handle 101. Further, the other end corresponding to the horizontal bar of the connecting device 103 is connected to a water stop plug 115 to be described later, and the end corresponding to the vertical bar is connected to a dilatancy fluid contact rod 108 to be described later.

[0018] As shown in FIGS. 2(D) to 2(G), the dilatancy fluid contact rod 108 includes a substantially rectangular parallelepiped head 104 and a rod tip portion 109 protruding from the lower surface of the head 104. The head 104 has a cavity 106 and a groove 122 for extracting the vertical parallel movement of the connection portion 105 accompanying the rotation of the connecting device 103, and the connection portion 105 of the connecting device 103 is arranged to penetrate the cavity 106 in the groove 122. The rod tip portion 109 is a portion that contacts the dilatancy fluid 112 held in a dilatancy fluid container 113 to be described later.

[0019] The dilatancy fluid container 113 that holds the dilatancy fluid 112 is built into the faucet body 118 and is positioned on the back side as seen from the user with respect to the water stop plug 115 to be described later (see FIGS. 1, 4, and 5). This dilatancy fluid container 113 is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape with an opening 110 into which the dilatancy fluid contact rod 108 can be inserted on the upper surface, and is configured such that the rod tip portion 109 of the dilatancy fluid contact rod 108 can contact the central portion of the dilatancy fluid 112.

[0020] Further, as shown in FIGS. 3(A) to 3(D), the water stop plug 115 is composed of a head 121 and a bottom 117. The head 121 is formed with an oval cavity 111 and a groove 123 for extracting the horizontal parallel movement of the connection portion 114 accompanying the rotation of the connecting device 103. The connection portion 114 of the connecting device 103 is arranged to penetrate the cavity 111 in the groove 123. Further, the bottom 117 has a water supply passage 116 that is not connected to the water supply passage 119 as shown in FIG. 1 when the faucet 100 is closed.

[0021] In the faucet 100 composed of the above-described components, when in the closed state (see FIG. 1), since the water stop plug 115 closes the water supply path 119 at the bottom surface 117, there is no water discharge.

[0022] When the lever handle 101 is pulled up, inside the faucet, the dilatancy fluid contact rod 108 moves downward and the water stop plug 115 moves horizontally to the right. At this time, the water supply path 119 and the water delivery path 116, and the water delivery path 116 and the water discharge port 120 are partially in communication, and the faucet 100 starts to discharge water. At the same time, the dilatancy fluid contact rod 108 descends toward the dilatancy fluid 112. When the lever handle 101 of the faucet 100 reaches a predetermined angle, as shown in FIG. 5, the tip end portion 109 of the dilatancy fluid contact rod 108 contacts the fluid 112.

[0023] At this time, if the change in the angle of the lever handle 101 is rapid, since it is rapidly pushed in by the tip end portion 109 of the dilatancy fluid contact rod 108, the dilatancy fluid 112 contacted by the tip end portion 109 temporarily hardens, and a resistance to further angle change of the lever handle 101 is generated through the connection portion 105. Thereafter, since the state where the tip end portion 109 of the dilatancy fluid contact rod 108 contacts the dilatancy fluid 112 is maintained, a resistance continues to be generated against the operation of the lever handle 101 to increase the water discharge.

[0024] On the other hand, when the tip end portion 109 of the fluid contact rod 108 contacts the dilatancy fluid 112 in a state where the change in the angle of the lever handle 101 is slow, the dilatancy fluid 112 does not harden, and no sense of resistance is generated in the operation of the lever handle 101. This is because even when the lever handle 101 is slowly operated after the operation of the lever handle 101 is rapid and receives resistance from the dilatancy fluid 112, no resistance from the dilatancy fluid 112 is generated against the operation.

[0025] As described above, in the faucet 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, as long as the upward operation of the lever handle 101 is such that the tip end portion 109 of the dilatancy fluid contact rod 108 comes into contact with the dilatancy fluid 112, even if the operation is normal and slow or rapid, the water discharge amount does not increase rapidly. However, when the operation of the lever handle 101 is rapid and the tip end portion 109 of the dilatancy fluid contact rod 108 comes into rapid contact with the dilatancy fluid 112, rapid water discharge is blocked. On the other hand, even if the first operation of the lever handle 101 is rapid, if it is operated slowly after the tip end portion 109 of the dilatancy fluid contact rod 108 comes into contact with the dilatancy fluid 112, the water discharge will be smooth rather than rapid.

[0026] The difference between the faucet 200 according to the second embodiment of the present invention and the faucet 100 according to the above-described first embodiment is that the operation of the lever handle 201 for opening the faucet is in the opposite direction to the lever handle 101 in the faucet 100 according to the first embodiment. That is, the faucet 200 according to the second embodiment is of a type that opens the faucet by operating the lever handle 201, which is an external operating tool, downward.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 6 and the like, the faucet 200 according to this second embodiment is configured such that the lever handle 201, which is an operating tool, protrudes from the upper part of the faucet body 218, and when this lever handle 201 is operated downward, water is discharged. The faucet body 218 is provided with a water supply passage 219 communicating with the water supply and a water discharge port 220 for discharging water.

[0028] A connecting device 203 is fixed to the back surface of the upper cover 202 of the lever handle 201. As shown in FIGS. 7(A) to 7(C), this connecting device 203 has a substantially T-shaped cross-section in the horizontal direction, and one end corresponding to the horizontal portion thereof is fixed to the back surface of the upper lid 202 of the lever handle 201. Further, the other end corresponding to the horizontal portion of the connecting device 203 is connected to a water stop plug 215 described later, and the end corresponding to the vertical portion is connected to a dilatancy fluid contact rod 208 described later.

[0029] As shown in FIGS. 7(D) to 7(G), the dilatancy fluid contact rod 208 includes a substantially rectangular parallelepiped head 204 and a rod tip portion 209 protruding from the lower surface of the head 204. The head 204 has a cavity 206 and a groove 222 for extracting the vertical parallel movement of the connection portion 205 accompanying the rotation of the connecting device 203, and the connection portion 205 of the connecting device 203 is arranged to penetrate the cavity 206 in the groove 222. The rod tip portion 209 is a portion that contacts the dilatancy fluid 212 held in a dilatancy fluid container 213 described later.

[0030] The dilatancy fluid container 213 that holds the dilatancy fluid 212 is built into the faucet body 218, and as shown in FIGS. 6, 9, and 10, it is positioned on the front side as viewed from the user of the faucet 200 with respect to the water stop plug 215 described later. The fact that this dilatancy fluid container 213 is positioned on the front side with respect to the water stop plug 215 is a major structural difference from the faucet 100 according to the first embodiment. This dilatancy fluid container 213 is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape with an opening 210 into which the dilatancy fluid contact rod 208 can be inserted formed on the upper surface, and is configured such that the rod tip portion 209 of the dilatancy fluid contact rod 208 can contact the central portion of the dilatancy fluid 212.

[0031] Further, the water stop plug 215 is composed of a head 221 and a bottom 217. An oval cavity 211 and a groove 223 are formed in the head 221 for extracting the lateral parallel movement of the connection portion 214 accompanying the rotation of the connecting device 203. The connecting part 214 of the connecting appliance 203 is arranged to penetrate the cavity 211 through the groove 223. Also, the bottom part 217 has a water supply path 216 that does not connect to the water receiving port 219 as shown in Fig. 6 etc. when the faucet 200 is in the closed state.

[0032] In the faucet 200 composed of the above components, when in the closed state (see Fig. 6), the water stop plug 215 closes the water supply path 219 at the bottom surface 217 and there is no water discharge.

[0033] When the lever handle 201 is pulled down, inside the faucet, the dilatancy fluid contact rod 208 moves downward and the water stop plug 215 moves horizontally to the left. At this time, the water supply path 219 and the water supply path 216, and the water supply path 216 and the water discharge port 220 are partially in communication, and the faucet 200 starts to discharge water. At the same time, the dilatancy fluid contact rod 208 descends toward the dilatancy fluid 212. When the lever handle 201 of the faucet 200 reaches a predetermined angle, the rod tip part 209 of the dilatancy fluid contact rod 208 contacts the dilatancy fluid 212 (see Fig. 10).

[0034] At this time, if the change in the angle of the lever handle 201 is rapid, since the rod tip part 209 of the dilatancy fluid contact rod 208 rapidly pushes it in, the dilatancy fluid 212 contacted by the rod tip part 209 temporarily hardens, generating a resistance force against further angle change of the lever handle 201 through the connecting part 205. Thereafter, since the state where the rod tip part 209 of the dilatancy fluid contact rod 208 contacts the dilatancy fluid 212 is maintained, a resistance force continues to be generated against the operation of the lever handle 201 to increase the water discharge.

[0035] On the other hand, when the rod tip part 209 of the dilatancy fluid contact rod 208 contacts the dilatancy fluid 212 in a state where the change in the angle of the lever handle 201 is slow, the dilatancy fluid 212 does not harden and no sense of resistance is generated against the operation of the lever handle 201. After the operation of the lever handle 201 is rapid and encounters resistance from the dilatancy fluid 212, there is no resistance to the operation even when the lever handle 201 is operated slowly.

[0036] As described above, for the faucet 200 according to the second embodiment of the present invention, as long as the downward operation of the lever handle 201 is before the tip end portion 209 of the dilatancy fluid contact rod 208 contacts the dilatancy fluid 212, the water discharge amount does not increase rapidly whether the operation is normal and slow or rapid. However, when the operation of the lever handle 201 is rapid and the tip end portion 209 of the dilatancy fluid contact rod 208 contacts the dilatancy fluid 212 rapidly, rapid water discharge is blocked. On the other hand, even if the first operation of the lever handle 201 is rapid, if it is operated slowly after the tip end portion 209 of the dilatancy fluid contact rod 208 contacts the dilatancy fluid 212, the water discharge will be smooth and not rapid.

[0037] The difference between the faucet 300 according to the third embodiment of the present invention and the faucet 100 according to the first embodiment and the faucet 200 according to the second embodiment described above is that the operating tool for opening the faucet is not the lever handles 101 and 201, but is of a type that adjusts the water discharge amount by rotating a valve 305, which is the operating tool, around a specific axis.

[0038] As shown in Fig. 11 and the like, the faucet 300 according to this third embodiment is connected to a valve 305 for the user to operate for adjusting the water discharge amount outside the faucet body 303 and a stop valve 304 inside the faucet body 303, respectively. The spindle 306, which has a spindle protrusion 310 near the center, is connected to the faucet body 303 in a threaded structure. An upper packing 307 and a metal ring 308 are fixed to the faucet body 303 by an upper lid 309 at a portion where the spindle 306 protrudes from the upper part of the faucet body 303 to the outside. Immediately above the protrusion 310 in the middle of the spindle 306, there is a spindle contact portion 311. The contact portion 311 is connected to a dilatancy fluid contact portion 312 via a shaft 318. These 311, 318, and 312 constitute a dilatancy fluid contact device 317.

[0039] As shown in Figs. 12(A) to 12(D), in the dilatancy fluid contact device 317, the shaft 318 is fixed to the faucet body 303 by a bearing lateral hole 314 and a metal ring 316 of the faucet body 303, so that only a rotational movement centered on the shaft 318 with respect to the faucet body 303 is possible. In this faucet body 303, a lower portion spaced apart from the dilatancy fluid contact portion 312 serves as a dilatancy fluid container 320 for holding the dilatancy fluid 312. There is a metal ring 316 around the shaft 318 and a fluid isolation packing 315 beside it, so that the dilatancy fluid 313 and tap water do not mix.

[0040] In the faucet 300 according to the third embodiment configured as described above, when the user rotates the valve 305, the spindle 306 gradually rises with respect to the faucet body 303 while rotating together with the valve 305. Accordingly, the stop valve 304 rises, the water supply path 301 and the water discharge port 302 are connected, and water is discharged in an amount corresponding to the rotation angle of the valve 305 (see Fig. 13). At the same time, the protrusion 310 rises while rotating around the spindle 306.

[0041] When the rotation angle of the valve 305 reaches a predetermined value, the protrusion 310 contacts the spindle contact portion 311 of the dilatancy fluid contact device 317 and applies a force to rotate the dilatancy contact device 317 about the axis 318. The fluid contact portion 312 contacts the dilatancy fluid 313 due to this rotation (see FIG. 14).

[0042] At this time, when the rotation of the valve 305 is fast, the dilatancy fluid contact portion 312 rapidly pushes the dilatancy fluid 313, so that the dilatancy fluid 313 temporarily hardens and generates a resistance to further rotation of the dilatancy fluid contact device 317. As a result, the valve 305 becomes difficult to rotate further because the protrusion 310 of the spindle 306 receives resistance from 311. On the other hand, even when the rotation of the valve 305 is slow, the dilatancy fluid contact device 317 touches the dilatancy fluid 313 as in the case of fast rotation. However, since the dilatancy fluid 313 is pushed at a low speed, the dilatancy fluid 313 does not harden and does not generate a resistance to rotation that further increases the water discharge amount in the valve 305.

Explanation of Signs

[0043] Part number of the faucet 100 101 ··· Lever handle 102 ··· Upper lid 103 ··· Connecting device (between the faucet body and the upper lid) 104 ··· Head of (the dilatancy fluid contact rod) 105 ··· Connection portion with the dilatancy fluid contact rod of (the connecting device) 106 ··· Oval cavity of (the dilatancy fluid contact rod) 107 ··· Rotatable connection portion fixed to (the faucet body) 108 ··· Dilatancy fluid contact rod 109 ··· Rod tip of (the dilatancy fluid contact rod) 110 ··· Opening of (the dilatancy fluid container) 111 ··· Oval cavity of (the stop valve) 112 ··· Dilatancy fluid 113···Dilatancy fluid container 114···Connection part with the stop valve of the connecting appliance 115···Stop valve 116···Water supply passage of the stop valve 117···Bottom of the stop valve 118···Faucet body 119···Water supply passage 120···Outlet 121···Head of the stop valve 122···Groove of the head of the dilatancy fluid contact rod 123···Groove of the head of the stop valve Part number of the faucet 200 201···Lever handle 202···Upper cover 203···Connecting appliance (between the faucet body and the upper cover) 204···Head of the dilatancy fluid contact rod 205···Connection part with the dilatancy fluid contact rod of the connecting appliance 206···Oval cavity of the dilatancy fluid contact rod 207···Rotatable connection part (fixed to the faucet body) 208···Dilatancy fluid connection rod 209···Tip of the rod of the dilatancy fluid contact rod 210···Opening of the dilatancy fluid container 211···Oval cavity of the stop valve 212···Dilatancy fluid 213···Dilatancy fluid container 214···Connection part with the stop valve of the connecting appliance 215···Stop valve 216···Water supply passage of the stop valve 217···Bottom of the stop valve 218···Faucet body 219···Water supply passage 220···Water outlet 221···Head of the stop valve 222···Groove of the head of the dilatancy fluid contact rod 223 ··· groove (of the head of the stop valve) Part number of the faucet 300 301 ··· water supply path 302 ··· water outlet 303 ··· faucet body 304 ··· stop valve 305 ··· valve 306 ··· spindle 307 ··· upper packing 308 ··· metal ring 309 ··· upper cover (of the faucet body) 310 ··· spindle protrusion 311 ··· spindle contact part (of the dilatancy fluid contact device) 312 ··· dilatancy fluid contact part (of the dilatancy fluid contact device) 313 ··· dilatancy fluid 314 ··· bearing lateral hole (inside the faucet body) 315 ··· fluid isolation packing 316 ··· metal ring 317 ··· dilatancy fluid contact device 318 ··· shaft (of the dilatancy fluid contact device)

Claims

1. This faucet allows the amount of water discharged to be adjusted by operating an operating device, and has a part that holds a dilatancy fluid and a part that, upon receipt of the operation of the operating device, comes into contact with the fluid when the operating device is at an angle equal to or greater than a certain level, thereby transmitting resistance to the operating device, and is characterized in that when the operating device is suddenly operated, the resistance from the dilatancy fluid prevents a sudden outflow of water.

2. 2. The faucet according to claim 1, wherein the amount of water discharged is adjusted by rotating the operating device vertically.

3. 2. The faucet according to claim 1, wherein the amount of water discharged is adjusted by rotating the operating tool about a specific axis.

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