Patent ID: 6802341
Filing Date: 2004-10-12
Classification: F16K,Y10T

Abstract:
A tap (4) including:a tap body (16) a valve assembly (14) located within the body; an operating handle (12) mounted on the body and coupled to the valve assembly; the body having a first part spherical bearing surface (76) and the handle being provided with a complementary bearing surface (104) whereby the handle is capable of biaxial rotation about first and second axes (40,44) relative to the tap body (16) wherein the valve assembly (14) includes: first valve means (50,52) for controlling flow of a first liquid from a first inlet (140) to a first outlet (146), the first valve means including a first valve element (168) which opens when the handle (12) is rotated from a closed position about said first axis (40) in a first sense to first open position to permit flow of the first liquid through the valve assembly (14); second valve means (134,176) for controlling flow of a second liquid from a second inlet (142) to a second outlet (144), the second valve means including a second valve element (190) which opens when the handle has been rotated from said closed position about said first axis (40) in a second sense opposite to said first sense to an active position and then rotated about said second axis (44); and a security element (42) having a locked position in which it prevents rotation of the handle (12) about said second axis (44), the security element being such that it can be moved to an unlocked position when the handle (12) is in said active position so that the handle (12) can rotate about the second axis (44) to a second open position to thereby permit flow of the second liquid through the valve assembly (14).