A DAMPING MEANS FOR PRESSURE SHOCKS IN SANITARY FITTINGS

Abstract: The invention relates to a damping means for pressure to be used in sanitary fittings, which reduces pressure shocks exerted on the pipework by the closing of the the sanitary fitting. The damping means for pressure shocks consists. of a plate-shaped body part (1), in which has been formed; cold and hot water passages (4) passing through the plate having ope­ nings (3) in their walls; chambers (10) communicating through the openings (3) with the cold and hot water passages (4) and through the outlet pipes (8) and the slots (6) with the supply pipe of the faucet; pressure damping members (5, 7) in the chambers (10) consisting of a spring (7) which in its rest position covers the openings (3); in case of a pressure shock the spring (7) retracts, the ball (5) withdraws from the mouth of the openings (3) and water can flow through the openings (3) to the chambers (10) and through the outlet pipes (8) and the slots (6) from the chambers (10) into the supply pipe of the faucet.

Description: The present invention relates to a damping means for pressure shocks to be used in sanitary fittings, which reduces pressure shocks exerted on the pipework by the closing of the sanitary fitting. Generally used mixer valves are nowadays known as so-called lever faucets, in which both the amount and the temperature of water is adjusted by one single lever. When such a lever faucet is being closed at a normal rate a net pressure shock of approx. 1,6 10⁶ Pa (16 bars) is produced in the pipework, susceptible of damaging the sanitary fitting itself or the connection between this and the water pipework. Previously one tried to dampen these pressure shocks by mounting an elastic rubber ring at an appropriate point of the sanitary fitting. However, this solution has proved to be unsufficiently effective. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a more effective damping means for pressure shocks, which is easy to install. According to the invention, this has been achieved by mounting a kind of safety valve on the faucet body, the opening pressure of which is 10⁶ Pa (10 bars). The damping means for pressure shocks according to the invention is mounted on the faucet body as close as possible to the closing point, thus enabling it to react on quick pressure shocks. This damping means for pressure shocks also has the advantage of protecting, besides the pipework, the service pipes of the faucet, as well as the connection between the pipework and the faucet from pressure shocks. The pressure damping means according to the invention comprises a plate having openings for hot and cold water flow to the adjusting assembly. In the walls of these openings a connection with the chambers of the pressure damping means is provided, the actual pressure damping members being positioned in these chambers. These members consist of a spring, at the end of which a ball has been placed. The ball closes the flow connection to the cold and hot water pipes. In the case of a pressure shock, the spring retracts and the ball withdraws from the mouth of the passage letting in water into the pressure damping chamber. The water is discharged from the chamber into the outlet pipe leading to the supply pipe of the faucet as the damping means for pressure shocks is opened. Under these circumstances, no supplementary drain connection is needed. In order to minimize inertial force, the mobile parts of the damping means for pressure shocks are made of a material that is as light as possible, e.g. of stainless steel and/or plastic. The invention is described in greater detail in the enclosed figures, in which figure 1 shows a side perspective of the damping means for pressure shocks, figure 2 shows a top view of the damping means for pressure shocks, and figure 3 shows the position of the damping means for pressure shocks in a lever faucet. Figure 1 illustrates a pressure damper having a plate-shaped body 1. The cold and hot water passages 4 pass through the body 1, the passages being sealed by means of O-rings 2. Openings 3, through which water can flow to the chambers of the pressure damper, are provided in the wall of the hot and cold water passages 4. In figure 2, the pressure damper of the invention is shown from above, showing the passages 4 of both hot and cold water. In case of a pressure shock, water flows through the openings 3 into the chambers 10 of the pressure damper, which are for med of drillings perpendicular to the connections, and in which the actual pressure damping members 5 and 7 are placed. The pressure damping members consist of a spring 7 and of a ball 5 supported by one end of the spring. Under the effect of a pressure shock the spring 7 retracts, whereby the ball 5 withdraws from the opening 3 letting in water. At the upper part of the side of the chamber 10 an outlet pipe 8 is provided, which opens into a slot 6 in the body of the damping means. The water discharged through the opening 3 under the effect of a pressure shock is removed through the outlet pipe 8 and the slot 6 into the supply pipe of the faucet. When in rest position, the ball 5 of the pressure damping means 5, 7 is sealed with the O-ring 9. Figure 3 shows the position of the pressure damping means 1 in a lever faucet below the adjusting assembly 11.

Claims: A damping means for pressure shocks used in sanitary fittings having a faucet, characterized in that said damping means consists of a plate-shaped body (1), in which are provided: cold and hot water passages (4) passing through the body (1), in the wall of each passage an opening (3) is formed; chambers (10) communicating through the openings (3) with the cold and hot water passages (4) respectively and through outlet pipes (8) and slots (6), which are also formed in said body (1) with a supply pipe of the faucet; pressure damping members (5, 7) in each of said chambers (10) consisting of a spring (7) and a ball (5) actuated by the spring (7) such that in its rest position the ball (5) covers the opening (3) and in case of a pressure shock, the spring (7) retracts, the ball (5) withdraws from the opening (3) and water flows through the opening (3) into the chamber (10) and through the outlet pipe (8) and the slot (6) from the chamber (10) into the supply pipe of the faucet. A damping means for pressure shocks according to claim 1, characterized in that when in rest position, the balls (5) are sealed with a O-ring (9) from the side of the openings (3). A damping means for pressure shocks according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the springs (7) are made of stainless steel. A damping means for pressure shocks according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the balls (5) are made of stainless steel or plastic. A damping means for pressure shocks according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the chambers (10) are formed of drillings perpendicular to the passages (4) and the springs (7) are coil springs placed in the drillings.

Inventors: JAEPOELAE, JARI, NILSSON, PEKKA WALDEMAR, Jäpölä, Jari
Applicants: ORAS OY
Application year: 1990
Main classification: F16K11
IPC codes: F16K47, E03C1, F16K11