Protection device for wall faucets

A wall faucet is disclosed which has an elongated section of a PEX tube inserted into the water inlet pipe of the wall faucet. The PEX tube is capable of expanding should there be water in the water inlet pipe during freezing temperatures thereby preventing the water inlet pipe from bursting.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a protection device for wall faucets, sill cocks, hydrants, etc., hereinafter “wall faucets”. More particularly, the invention relates to an elongated tube comprised of cross-linked polyethylene (PEX) material which is imposed in the elongated hollow water inlet tube of a freezeless or frost-proof wall faucet. More particularly, this invention relates to a protection device for wall faucets wherein the protection device will expand as the water in the water inlet tube freezes to relieve the pressure on the inlet tube to prevent the inlet tube from bursting.

Description of the Related Art

Many freezeless and frost-free wall faucets have been previously provided to prevent the water inlet tube thereof from freezing and bursting. However, in some situations, such as when a hose is connected to the discharge end of the faucet during freezing temperatures, the inlet tube will freeze and burst. Further, in some instances, the intake valve of the faucet will leak so that water accumulates in the inlet tube and may freeze with the freezing thereof causing the inlet tube to burst causing severe water damage to the home or building in which the wall faucet is mounted.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A protection device is provided for wall faucets, sill cocks, hydrants, etc. The wall faucet includes a water outlet assembly having an inner end and an outer end. A metal outer pipe section, having an outer end and an inner end, has the outer end thereof secured to the water outlet assembly so as to be in fluid communication therewith. The metal outer pipe section extends inwardly from the inner end of the water outlet assembly. The wall faucet also includes a first hollow metal coupler having an outer end and an inner end. The outer end of the first hollow metal coupler embraces the inner end of the metal outer pipe section and is secured thereto. The wall faucet also includes an elongated tube, having inner and outer ends, with the elongated tube being comprised of a PEX material having memory properties. A first compression ring comprised of a PEX material having memory properties embraces the outer end of the elongated tube. The outer end of the elongated tube and the first compression ring thereon are clamped onto the outer end of the first hollow metal coupler. The wall faucet also includes a second compression ring comprised of a PEX material having memory properties with the second compression ring embracing the inner end of the elongated tube. A second hollow metal coupler, having an outer end and an inner end, is provided. A metal inner pipe section is provided having an outer end and an inner end with the outer end of the metal inner pipe section being received in the outer end of the second hollow metal coupler and being secured thereto. The outer end of the elongated tube and the second compression ring thereon receives the inner end of the second hollow metal coupler therein and is clamped thereon. An elongated valve stem extends through the water outlet nozzle assembly through the outer pipe section, through the first hollow metal coupler, through the elongated tube, through the second hollow metal coupler, and into the inner pipe section.

If the wall faucet is subjected to freezing temperatures and there happens to be water in the inlet tube, the elongated tube will expand thereby preventing the inlet tube from bursting under pressure of freezing.

It is therefore a principal object of the invention to provide an improved wall faucet of the freezeless type.

A further object of the invention is to provide a wall faucet which includes a section of expandable PEX material imposed therein which prevents the water inlet pipe of the wall faucet from bursting.

A further object of the invention is to provide a unique method of modifying a wall faucet to prevent the water inlet pipe thereof from bursting when exposed to freezing temperatures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The numeral10refers to a prior art freezeless wall faucet such as manufactured by Woodford Manufacturing Company located at 2121 Waynoka Road, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80915 and identified as a Model 17 wall faucet. Wall faucet10includes a handle12having a shaft portion14which rotatably extends through a packing nut16which is threadably secured to a water outlet assembly18. Water outlet assembly18includes a vacuum breaker20and a water discharge spout22. Water outlet assembly18includes an adjustable flange24which is normally secured to the exterior surface of a wall (not shown).

The numeral26refers to an elongated hollow water inlet tube which is usually copper. Tube26includes an inner end28which is connected to a water supply in conventional fashion. The outer end30of inlet tube26is connected to the water outlet assembly18in conventional fashion. A conventional valve stem assembly32is operatively connected to the handle12in conventional fashion.

The first step in the assembly of the instant invention, which will be described in detail hereinafter, is to remove the valve stem assembly32from the water inlet tube26in conventional fashion. The next step is to cut the water inlet tube26in two places which are designated with the reference numerals34and36so that a length of the water inlet tube26may be removed from the water inlet tube26with the removed length or segment of water inlet tube26being designated by the reference numeral38. The removal of segment38from water inlet tube26creates an outer tube section40and an inner tube section42. As seen inFIG. 6, outer tube section40has an inner end44and inner tube section42has an outer end46.

The numeral48refers to a hollow metal coupler having a cylindrical outer end portion50and a cylindrical inner end portion52. Coupler48has a protruding annular ring54positioned between outer end portion50and inner end portion52. The inner end portion52has a protruding annular rib56extending outwardly therefrom. The outer end portion50of coupler48is configured to be received in inner end44of outer tube section40. The outer end portion50of coupler48is soldered to outer tube section40in conventional fashion.

The numeral58refers to a second hollow metal coupler having a cylindrical inner end portion60and a cylindrical outer end portion62. Coupler58has a protruding annular ring64positioned between inner end portion60and outer end portion62. The outer end portion62has a protruding annular rib66extending outwardly therefrom. The outer end portion62of coupler58is configured to receive the outer end46of inner tube section42. The outer end portion62of coupler58is soldered to inner tube section42in conventional fashion.

The protection device of this invention is referred to by the reference numeral68as will be described hereinafter. The couplers48and58form a part of the invention. Protective device68includes an elongated hollow tube70having ends72and74. Tube70is comprised of a cross-linked polyethylene material (PEX). The PEX material of the tube70has memory properties. In other words, if one end of the tube70is expanded by a tube expander, the tube will gradually return or move to its original position as will be further discussed hereinafter.

The device68also includes clamps or compression rings76and78which are also comprised of PEX and which have memory properties. The rings76and78have inside diameters sufficient to slip the rings76and78onto the ends72and74of tube70. Preferably, the interior of the rings76and78have annular stops formed at the outer ends thereof to limit the inward movement of the rings76and78with respect to the tube70.

If a prior art wall faucet is to be modified so as to incorporate the instant protection device68, the valve stem assembly32will be removed from the tube26. After the water inlet tube has been cut in two places to be able to remove the segment38from water inlet tube26, the following steps are accomplished. The coupler48is soldered to the outer end of outer tube section40. The compression ring76is mounted on the inner end of tube70. A conventional tube expander80is then inserted into the inner end72of tube70and actuated so as to cause the inner end72of tube70and compression ring76thereon to be expanded. When the inner end72of tube70and the compression ring76have been expanded, the tube expander80is withdrawn from the inner end72of tube70. The outer end portion52of coupler48is then quickly inserted into the open inner end72of tube70until ring54of coupler48engages the inner end72of tube70. The memory properties of tube70and compression ring76will then cause the inner end of tube70to close and clamp onto the inner end portion52of coupler48to securely connect coupler48and tube portion40to tube70.

If not already done so, the inner end portion62of coupler58will receive the outer end46of tube section42. Coupler58will then be soldered to tube section42in conventional fashion. The compression ring78will then be slipped onto the inner end74of tube70. The tube expander80will then be inserted into the open inner end74of tube70and activated to expand the inner end74of tube70and the compression ring78. When the inner end74of tube70and the compression ring78have been sufficiently expanded, the tube expander80is withdrawn from tube70. The inner end60of coupler58is then quickly inserted into the expanded inner end of tube70until ring64engages the inner end72of tube70. The memory properties of tube70and compression ring78will then cause the inner end74and the compression ring78to close and clamp upon the inner end portion62of coupler58to securely connect coupler58and tube portion42to tube70.

In summary, the prior art freezeless wall faucet10may be modified as discussed above. In the alternative, the wall faucet could come from the factory with the components of the protection device68already in place. In any event, the PEX hollow tube70will expand if water is present in the inlet tube26and the wall faucet10is subjected to freezing temperatures with the expansion of the PEX tube70relieving pressure on the water inlet tube26thereby preventing the tube26from bursting.