Flow restriction device

Abstract: A flow control device (40) which is to be inserted in the valve seat of a tap. The flow control device (40) includes a threaded section (48) to threadably engage an associated tap within which the device (40) is located. The device (40) includes a passage (42) which terminates internally of the body (43). Passages (44) radiate from the passage (45) through the body to a peripheral surface (45). The end face (47) of the device (40) is intended to be engaged by the washer of the tap.

Description: Technical Field The present invention relates to flow control devices and more particularly but not exclusively to flow control devices for taps. Background of the Invention It is desirable to control the maximum flow from a tap. To this end, previous devices have been proposed, such as the flow control device described in Australian Patent 599955. Previous flow control devices have been relatively expensive to manufacture and do not provide desirable flow characteristics. Patent specification DE 2500814 discloses a flow restriction device to be included within a connection to a hose. No consideration is given nor is the device configured to be included within a tap to provide a restriction to the flow of water through a tap. USA Patent 4397331 shows a flow restriction device received within the valve passageway tap. The device has a body to be located within the passage, and end face on the body configured to be engaged by the tap, a first passage extending inwardly of the body from the end face, the first passage having a longitudinal axis, a peripheral surface on the body extending about said axis and spaced radially therefrom, a plurality of branch passages extending generally radially relative to said axis and connected to said first passage so as to provide a restriction to flow through the body, the branch passages extending to said peripheral surface. The device is reasonably complex and has the valve of the tap seated internally of the flow restriction device. USA Patent 2918084 discloses a perforated sleeve to be included within the valve of a tap. Restriction to the flow of liquid through the tap is adjusted by means of adjusting the position of the flow restriction device. Patent specification DE 1099815 also discloses an insert to be located within the valve body of a tap. The restriction device is merely a number of coaxial passages which decrease in transverse cross-section. Object of the Invention It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate the above disadvantages. Summary of the Invention There is disclosed herein a fluid flow restriction device configured to be received within a passage of a tap, said device comprising: a body to be located within the passage; an end face on the body configured to be engaged by the tap; a first passage extending inwardly of the body from the and face, the first passage having a longitudinal axis; a peripheral surface on the body extending about said axis and spaced radially therefrom; a plurality of branch passages extending generally radially relative to said axis and connected to said first passage so as to provide a restriction to flow through the body, the branch passages extending to said peripheral surface; characterised in that the first passage terminates within the body, and said fluid flow restriction device further comprising a further passage communicating with the branch passages the branch passages converging to said further passage, the further passage being narrower than said first passage, with said first passage and further passage being in series with said branch passages. Brief Description of the Drawings Preferred forms of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a schematic section side elevation of an assembly to aid in controlling the flow of water through a tap; Figure 2 is a schematic side elevation of a device constituting an insert forming part of the assembly of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a schematic end elevation of the insert of Figure 3; and Figure 4 is a schematic section side elevation of an alternative insert. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments In Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings there is schematically depicted an assembly 10 to aid in controlling the flow of water through a tap. The assembly 10 includes an outer housing 11 having an upstream end 12 and a downstream end 13. The upstream end 12 is subjected to water under pressure so as to regulate the flow of water delivered to the downstream end 13. The housing 11 is formed with a longitudinal central passage 14. The passage 14 is provided with an annular step 16 which supports a flow control or restriction device 17 which is in the form of an insert locatable in the passage 14. The insert 17 includes a body 21 having an end disc shaped portion 18 provided with a generally planar end face 19. Extending inwardly of the body 21 from the end face 19 is a passage 20. The passage terminates internally of the body 21. Extending radially from the passage 20 are further branch passages 22 terminating at the peripheral surface 23. More particularly, the passages 22 terminate at apertures 24 formed in the peripheral surface 23. The passage 14 has an internal surface IS adjacent to but spaced from the peripheral surface 23. In operation of the above described assembly 10, water under pressure is delivered to the end face 19. The water flows along the passage 20 and turn to flow radially out through the passages 22. Jets of water then exit from the insert 17 via the apertures 24. The size of the passage 20 essentially determining the resistance of the assembly 10 to fluid flow therethrough. In Figure 4 there is schematically depicted a fluid flow control device 40. In this embodiment, the device 40 includes a passage 41 having a narrower passage portion 42 which terminates internally of the body 43. Extending radially from the passage portion 42 are further passages 44 which extend to the radially outer peripheral surface 45 of the body 43. In this embodiment, the end face 46 is the upstream end and the end face 47 is the downstream end. The size of the passage portion 42 is dimensioned to provide the desired restriction. For example, if the diameter is larger than what is depicted in Figure 4, then the device 40 will offer less resistance. However, if the diameter is smaller, then the device 40 will provide greater resistance. In the assembly of Figure 1, the housing 11 is provided with a threaded section 25 while in the embodiment of Figure 4, the device 40 has a threaded section 48. The threaded sections 25 and 48 are provided so that when the assembly 10 or device 40 is incorporated in a tap, the passage extending from the tap seat is threaded so that the threaded section 25 or 48 can be received therein. The tap washer would then engage the upper surface 26 of the housing 11 or the end face 47 of the device 40. In a still further arrangement, the assembly 10 or the device 40 could be arranged to be located below the level of the seat within the tap so that the tap washer still engages the seat.

Claims: A fluid flow restriction device (10), (40) configured to be received within a passage of a tap, the tap having a movable valve member, said device (10), (40) comprising: a body (11, 17) (43) to be located within the passage and having an end extremity; an end face (26), (47) on the body (11, 17), (43) at said extremity and being configured to be engaged by the tap movable valve member to prevent flow through the device (10), (40); a first passage (14), (41) extending inwardly of the body (11, 17), (43) from the end face (26), (47), the first passage (14), (41) having a longitudinal axis; a peripheral surface (23), (45) on the body (11, 17), (43) extending about said axis and spaced radially therefrom; a plurality of branch passages (22), (44) extending generally radially relative to said axis and connected to said first passage (14), (41) so as to provide a restriction to flow through the body (11, 17), (43), the branch passages (22), (44) extending to said peripheral surface; characterised in that the first passage terminates within the body (11, 17), (43), and the fluid flow restriction device further comprises a further passage (20), (42) communicating with the branch passages (22), (44), the branch passages (22), (44) converging to said further passage (20), (42), the further passage (20), (42) being narrower than said first passage (14), (41), with said first passage (14), (41) and further passage (20), (42) being in series with said branch passages (22), (44). The device (40) of claim 1 wherein said branch passages (44) extend to said peripheral surface (45) and terminate with apertures in said peripheral surface (45). The device (10), (40) of claim 1 or 2, wherein said end face (26), (47) is adapted to be engaged by a tap washer. The device (10) of claim 1, further including a housing (11), said first passage (14) extending through said housing (11), a body portion (17) having said branch passages (22) and further passage (20) being located in said first passage (14), said first passage (14) having a surface (15) facing said peripheral surface (23) but spaced therefrom. The device (10), (40) of claim 1, wherein said device (10), (40) has a threaded portion (25), (48) to threadably engage the tap passage. The device (10) of claim 4 wherein said housing (11) has said end face, the housing end face being provided to be engaged by a tap washer, and wherein said body (17) projects into the housing passage (14) so that the further passage (20) provides an inlet and the first passage (14) an outlet. In combination, the device (40) of claim 2 and a tap having said tap passage extending from the tap seat, and wherein said device (40) is secured within said tap passage. The combination of claim 7, wherein said end face (47) is positioned to be engaged by a tap washer. The combination of claim 7, wherein said end face (47) is displaced inwardly along the tap passage so that the washer engages said seat In combination, the device (10) of claim 6 and a tap having said tap passage extending from the tap seat, and wherein said device (10) is located in the tap passage and said housing (11) is positioned so that the housing (11) end face (26) is engaged by the washer.

Inventors: MCDONALD CHRISTOPHER WILLIAM, MCDONALD, CHRISTOPHER WILLIAM
Applicants: MCDONALD CHRISTOPHER WILLIAM, MCDONALD, CHRISTOPHER WILLIAM
Application year: 1997
Main classification: F16K47
IPC codes: F16K47