Patent ID: 8672289
Filing Date: 2014-03-18
Classification: F16K,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A water tap for use in regulating the flow of water delivered under pressure, the tap including a frusto-conical valve seat having an outlet aperture and a base radius, the radius of the outlet aperture is smaller than the base radius, a spherical sealing member having a radius larger than the radius of the outlet aperture, and an activating rod, wherein the tap is operable between a closed position in which the water pressure urges the spherical sealing member into engagement with the frusto-conical valve seat, thus preventing the flow of water through the tap, and an open position in which the activating rod urges the spherical sealing member away from the valve seat, thus allowing flow of water through the tap, characterized in that the activating rod is arranged to act through a centroid of the spherical sealing member and to urge the spherical sealing member into a position substantially centrally of the resulting water flow, wherein the radius of the spherical sealing member is smaller than the base radius of the frusto-conical valve seat such that a flow rate through the tap is variable by adjusting the location of the spherical sealing member relative to the frusto-conical valve seat wherein the sealing member is located within a receiving compartment of the tap, the receiving compartment having a water inlet axially opposed to the valve seat, the water inlet sized so as to prevent the passage of the sealing member from the receiving compartment in the event of a loss of water pressure, and wherein the receiving compartment has a frusto-conical portion adjacent the water inlet such that the sealing member rests on the frusto conical portion adjacent the water inlet in the event of a loss of water pressure.