Abstract:
A water valve body includes a filter valve and a lower solenoid valve seat, both of which are integrally formed of plastic. The filter valve, as well as the lower solenoid valve seat, has an internal channel connecting an inlet end and an outlet end. The outlet end of the filter valve is connected to the inlet end of the lower solenoid valve seat, with a packing or a sealing element provided at the connecting position. In contrast to the conventional water valve body that is integrally formed of metal, this plastic-made water valve body is free of pollution associated with the leaching of heavy metals and incurs lower material cost. Besides, the plural components of the water valve body are selectively replaceable when damaged and thus also incur lower maintenance cost.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to water valve bodies and, more particularly, to a water valve body applicable to a sensor faucet or an automatic flusher, wherein the water valve body is assembled from multiple plastic components, produces no heavy metal pollution, and features low production cost as well as low replacement cost. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Water valves are widely used in a variety of fields to deliver water and control the quantity and direction thereof. Common examples of water valves are faucets in the kitchen or bathroom. 
         [0005]    Water valves are available in many different configurations. For instance, the sensor faucet that is frequently used nowadays includes a faucet body above the countertop and a water valve body below the countertop and hence hidden from view. Typically, the water valve body is integrally formed by a process such as metal casting and is then connected with a filter device and a solenoid valve so as to release water automatically. 
         [0006]    The aforesaid integrally formed and metal-made water valve body is advantageous in that it can be manufactured rapidly, has high strength, and is configured for convenient installation. However, if the metal of which the water valve body is made is of poor quality, there is a risk of heavy metal leaching, which not only causes water pollution but also endangers the water consumers&#39; health. Another disadvantage of the integrally formed, metal-made water valve body is its high maintenance cost. This is because the water valve body does not allow partial replacement and must be replaced in its entirety once leakage occurs due to metal corrosion after long-term use. Moreover, the metal-made water valve body has a higher material cost and therefore a higher replacement cost than its plastic counterpart. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    In view of the aforementioned shortcomings of the conventional water valve bodies that are integrally formed of metal, the present invention provides a water valve body that is assembled from of a plurality of components and hence allows partial replacement. Therefore, the cost of replacing the entire water valve body as required by an integrally formed water valve body when structurally damaged can be saved. 
         [0008]    The water valve body according to the present invention has multiple plastic components. As plastic is less expensive than metal, the production cost and replacement cost of the water valve body are lower than those of a metal-made prior art device. If the plastic material used is highly stable and not prone to leaching, heavy metal pollution which is likely to result from metal-made water valve bodies can also be eliminated. 
         [0009]    To achieve the above and other objects, the present invention provides a water valve body which includes a filter valve, a lower solenoid valve seat, and a packing. The filter valve is integrally formed of a plastic material and has an inlet end, a main valve body, and an outlet end. The inlet end of the filter valve is provided with a channel connected to the main valve body, and the main valve body is provided with a channel connected to the outlet end of the filter valve. The lower solenoid valve seat is integrally formed of a plastic material and has an inlet end, a valve seat body, and an outlet end. The inlet end of the solenoid valve seat is, on one hand, provided with a channel connected to the valve seat body and, on the other hand, connected to and in communication with the outlet end of the filter valve. Meanwhile, the valve seat body is provided with a channel connected to the outlet end of the lower solenoid valve seat. The packing has one side attached to the outlet end of the filter valve and the other side attached to the inlet end of the lower solenoid valve seat. In the water valve body, the inlet end of the filter valve and the outlet end of the lower solenoid valve seat are each connected with a threaded connecting pipe. 
         [0010]    To use the water valve body described above, a filter device is installed on a top portion of the main valve body of the filter valve, and a solenoid valve is installed on a top portion of the lower solenoid valve seat. A fluid entering the filter valve via the connecting pipe thereof can flow into the interior of the filter device through the channels inside the filter valve. Then, the fluid passes through a channel of the packing, enters the channels of the lower solenoid valve seat, and is connected via the connecting pipe at the outlet end of the lower solenoid valve seat, either directly or by way of an additional pipe, to a water outlet device such as a faucet. 
         [0011]    The water valve body of the present invention is constructed from multiple components and therefore allows partial replacement if some of the components are damaged. Compared with the conventional, integrally formed water valve bodies that must be replaced in their entirety, the water valve body of the present invention has advantageously lower initial cost and maintenance cost. 
         [0012]    As the water valve body of the present invention is made of plastic, the risk of heavy metal leaching, which is likely with the conventional metal-made water valve bodies, can be eliminated by using a highly stable plastic material that is not prone to leaching. 
         [0013]    Also, as the water valve body of the present invention is made of plastic, which has a lower material cost than metal, the initial cost and maintenance cost of the water valve body are effectively reduced. 
         [0014]    The best mode of carrying out the present invention and the features of the disclosed subject matter are described hereinafter with reference to at least one embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a water valve body according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is an assembled perspective view of the water valve body shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is an assembled sectional view of the water valve body shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the water valve body shown in  FIG. 1  and further connected with a filter device and a solenoid valve; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a sectional view of  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view of a water valve body according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is an assembled perspective view of the water valve body shown in  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the water valve body shown in  FIG. 6  and further connected with a filter device and a solenoid valve; and 
           [0023]      FIG. 9  is a sectional view of  FIG. 8 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0024]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 5 , a water valve body  1  according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention is applicable to the flusher of a urinal and includes a filter valve  10  and a lower solenoid valve seat  20 . The filter valve  10  is integrally formed of a plastic material and has an inlet end  11 , a main valve body  12 , and an outlet end  13 . The inlet end  11  is provided with a channel  14  connected to the main valve body  12 . The main valve body  12  is provided with a channel  15  connected to the outlet end  13 . The lower solenoid valve seat  20  is also integrally formed of a plastic material and has an inlet end  21 , a valve seat body  22 , and an outlet end  23 . The inlet end  21  is provided with a channel  24  connected to the valve seat body  22 . The valve seat body  22  is provided with a channel  25  connected to the outlet end  23 . 
         [0025]    In the water valve body  1 , the outlet end  13  of the filter valve  10  is connected to the inlet end  21  of the lower solenoid valve seat  20 . Thus, a fluid entering the water valve body  1  via the inlet end  11  of the filter valve  10  can flow through the channels  14 ,  15  in the filter valve  10 , then enter the inlet end  21  of the lower solenoid valve seat  20 , and after passing through the channels  24 ,  25  in the lower solenoid valve seat  20 , flow out of the water valve body  1  via the outlet end  23  of the lower solenoid valve seat  20 . 
         [0026]    The water valve body  1  of the first preferred embodiment further includes a packing  30  tightly connected between the filter valve  10  and the lower solenoid valve seat  20 . The packing  30  is formed with a transverse channel  31  through which a fluid can pass. When a fluid is delivered from the filter valve  10  to the lower solenoid valve seat  20 , the packing  30  prevents the fluid from leaking. In the first preferred embodiment of the present invention, the two sides of the packing  30  are formed with flanges  32 ,  33  respectively. The flange  32  is fitted in the channel  15  at the outlet end  13  of the filter valve  10 , and the flange  33  on the other side of the packing  30  is fitted in the channel  24  at the inlet end  21  of the lower solenoid valve seat  20 , so as to enhance the anti-leakage function of the packing  30 . 
         [0027]    In the water valve body  1  of the first preferred embodiment, the inlet end  11  of the filter valve  10  and the outlet end  23  of the lower solenoid valve seat  20  are each connected with a threaded connecting pipe. More specifically, the inlet end  11  of the filter valve  10  is connected with an externally threaded pipe  41 , and the outlet end  23  of the lower solenoid valve seat  20  is connected with an internally threaded pipe  42 . The threaded pipes  41 ,  42  can be connected respectively to the filter valve  10  and the lower solenoid valve seat  20  after the filter valve  10  and the lower solenoid valve seat  20  are formed. However, in order to increase operational convenience and structural strength, the threaded pipes  41 ,  42  of the present invention are respectively and integrally connected to the filter valve  10  and the lower solenoid valve seat  20  by insert molding while the filter valve  10  and the lower solenoid valve seat  20  are formed. 
         [0028]    To put the water valve body  1  of the first preferred embodiment into practical use, a filter device  50  is mounted on a top portion of the main valve body  12  of the filter valve  10 , and a solenoid valve  60  (including an upper solenoid valve seat  61  at a bottom portion thereof) is mounted on a top portion of the lower solenoid valve seat  20 . As indicated by the dashed line arrows in  FIG. 5 , a fluid enters the filter valve  10  via the connecting pipe  41  and subsequently enters the interior of the filter device  50  via the channel  14  in the filter valve  10 . Then, the fluid flows sequentially through the channel  15 , the channel  31  of the packing  30 , and the channels  24 ,  25  of the lower solenoid valve seat  20 . Finally, the fluid is connected to the flusher of a urinal (not shown) via the internally threaded pipe  42  at the outlet end  23  of the lower solenoid valve seat  20  either directly or by way of an additional pipe. 
         [0029]      FIGS. 6 through 9  illustrate a water valve body  2  according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein the water valve body  2  is for use with a faucet. In addition to the filter valve  10  and the lower solenoid valve seat  20  in the first preferred embodiment, the water valve body  2  includes a Z-shaped fixing plate  70  connected between the outlet end  13  of the filter valve  10  and the inlet end  21  of the lower solenoid valve seat  20 . The Z-shaped fixing plate  70  has an upper portion formed with a battery installation plate  71 , a lower portion formed with a pair of fixing feet  72 , and a transverse channel  73  between the upper and lower portions. Once the Z-shaped fixing plate  70  is connected with the filter valve  10  and the lower solenoid valve seat  20 , the transverse channel  73  of the Z-shaped fixing plate  70  is in communication with the outlet end  13  of the filter valve  10  and the inlet end  21  of the lower solenoid valve seat  20 , thereby allowing a fluid to flow from the filter valve  10  to the lower solenoid valve seat  20 , as shown in  FIG. 9 . 
         [0030]    The packing used in the second preferred embodiment includes an annular pad  81  disposed between the Z-shaped fixing plate  70  and the outlet end  13  of the filter valve  10  and a pair of O-rings  82  located between the Z-shaped fixing plate  70  and the inlet end  21  of the lower solenoid valve seat  20 . The annular pad  81  functions as a packing between the Z-shaped fixing plate  70  and the outlet end  13  of the filter valve  10 . The O-rings  82  are mounted respectively around grooves  74  externally provided on the transverse channel  73  of the Z-shaped fixing plate  70  and are located between the grooves  74  and the inlet end  21  of the lower solenoid valve seat  20  (see  FIG. 9 ), serving as sealing elements for leakage prevention. 
         [0031]    The water valve body  2  of the second preferred embodiment is used in the same way as the first preferred embodiment. More specifically, a filter device  50  is mounted on the top portion of the main valve body  12  of the filter valve  10 , and a solenoid valve  60  is mounted on the top portion of the lower solenoid valve seat  20  after passing through an opening  75  centrally provided on the battery installation plate  71  of the upper portion of the Z-shaped fixing plate  70 . The battery installation plate  71  is configured for mounting a battery case (not shown). 
         [0032]    As indicated by the dashed line arrows in  FIG. 9 , a fluid enters the filter valve  10  via the connecting pipe  41  and enters the interior of the filter device  50  via the channel  14  in the filter valve  10 . After passing through the channel  15  and the transverse channel  73  of the Z-shaped fixing plate  70 , the fluid enters the channels  24 ,  25  of the lower solenoid valve seat  20  sequentially and is connected to a faucet (not shown) via the internally threaded pipe  42  at the outlet end  23  of the lower solenoid valve seat  20  either directly or by way of an additional pipe. 
         [0033]    In the water valve bodies  1 ,  2  according to the first and second preferred embodiments of the present invention, the filter valve  10  and the lower solenoid valve seat  20  are each provided with at least one installing and fixing means, such as the protrudingly provided fixing feet  16 ,  26  shown in the drawings. In addition, as the water valve body  2  of the second preferred embodiment is intended for use with a faucet, the pair of fixing feet  72  of the Z-shaped fixing plate  70  is configured for securing the water valve body  2  in position to a wall  3 , as shown in  FIG. 9 . 
         [0034]    The embodiments described above are only the preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. A person of ordinary skill in the art who has reviewed the technical contents disclosed herein may alter or modify the foregoing embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims.