Patent Description:
This invention relates to a tap for a filling device of a flushing tank of a sanitary appliance.

As known, a flushing tank of a sanitary appliance is generally provided, in addition to a drain valve, with a filling device as well, which is connected to the mains water to fill the tank after the water has been drained from the sanitary appliance.

Various types of filling devices for flushing tanks are known. In general, filling devices for flushing tanks tend to accumulate deposits carried by the mains water (lime scale etc.) that may, in the long term, cause malfunctions and breakdowns, especially (but not only) if membrane backpressure valves are used. On the other hand, access to the filling devices, in particular if mounted in in-wall or embedded flushing tanks, is not easy. In addition, if you wish to clean it, in general, you need to disassemble the filling device, disconnecting it from the mains water. Finally, the cleaning of the filling devices necessitates complicated operations.

Documents <CIT> and <CIT>, for example, disclose taps incorporated with a filter.

One purpose of this invention is that of providing a tap for a filling device of a flushing tank of a sanitary appliance that overcomes the drawbacks mentioned above.

This invention, therefore, relates to a tap for a filling device of a flushing tank of a sanitary appliance as defined in essential terms in the appended claim <NUM> and, in its additional features, in the dependent claims.

The tap of the invention is equipped with an integrated filter, which makes it possible to reduce, or even eliminate, the need for cleaning the filling device connected to the tap.

The cleaning of the tap of the invention is carried out by directly using the flow of water from the mains; in addition, the tap can also be manually cleaned, without, however, requiring the disassembly of the tap and its detachment from the mains.

The tap of the invention enables, in addition, an extremely quick and simple assembly and mounting, and it can be mounted in different positions in relation to the flushing tank (in particular, on both sides, depending on the position of the connection to the mains water).

Additional features and advantages of this invention will appear clearer from the description that follows of a non-limiting embodiment thereof, with reference to the figures in the attached drawings, wherein:.

In <FIG> and <FIG>, the reference number <NUM> indicates, as a whole, a tap for a filling device of a flushing tank of a sanitary appliance.

The tap <NUM> comprises a hollow body <NUM>, provided with an internal seat <NUM>; and a removable cartridge <NUM>, housed in a removable fashion in the seat <NUM> and able to rotate in the seat <NUM> with respect to the body <NUM> to assume a plurality of operating positions.

With reference, too, to <FIG>, the body <NUM> is basically ring-shaped and has a lateral wall <NUM> that extends between two opposite, annular end edges <NUM> that delimit corresponding openings <NUM> of the body <NUM>.

The wall <NUM> has an internal lateral surface <NUM> that delimits the seat <NUM>; and an outer lateral surface <NUM>, opposite the surface <NUM>.

The body <NUM> has three openings <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> formed through the wall <NUM> and facing the seat <NUM> and communicating with the seat <NUM>.

The openings <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> communicate with respective ducts <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> that extend from the body <NUM>, in particular from the surface <NUM>, along respective straight axes.

In particular, one opening <NUM> is connected to an inlet duct <NUM>; another opening <NUM> is connected to an outlet duct <NUM>; and another opening <NUM> is connected to a drain duct <NUM>.

The openings <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> are positioned angularly staggered along the wall <NUM>.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the openings <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> are arranged in a T, i.e., they are positioned at <NUM>° to each other: the openings <NUM>, <NUM> connected to the inlet duct <NUM> and to the outlet duct <NUM> are arranged at <NUM>° from each other; the opening <NUM> connected to the drain duct is arranged at <NUM>° with respect to the opening <NUM> connected to the outlet duct <NUM> and diametrically opposite the opening <NUM> connected to the inlet duct <NUM>.

The inlet duct <NUM> and the outlet duct <NUM> extend along corresponding axes A, B that are orthogonal to each other; and the drain duct <NUM> is aligned and parallel to the inlet duct <NUM> along the axis A.

The inlet duct <NUM> and the outlet duct <NUM> can be connected, for example via respective threaded portions or couplings of another kind, to other respective tubes or joints. In particular, the inlet duct <NUM> is intended to connect to a supply tube for water coming from the mains; and the outlet duct <NUM> is intended to connect to the filling device of the flushing tank, which may be of any known type.

At least one of the edges <NUM> or, as in the preferred embodiment illustrated, each of the edges <NUM> is provided with a radially outer flange portion <NUM> that extends between two angularly opposite ends <NUM>.

The edge <NUM> has a slot <NUM> connected to the flange portion <NUM>; for example, the slot <NUM> is defined by an interruption of the flange portion <NUM> (the flange portion <NUM> is interrupted along the edge <NUM> and does not form a complete ring along the whole edge <NUM>) and is delimited laterally by one end <NUM> of the flange portion <NUM> and by a stop projection <NUM> that extends radially from the surface <NUM>.

The edge <NUM> has a series of positioning slots <NUM>, defined, for example, by corresponding pairs of jutting parts that sit side by side and parallel and that project from one front face of the flange portion <NUM>. The positioning slots <NUM> are positioned at <NUM>° from each other along the edge <NUM>, to the two ends <NUM> of the flange portion <NUM> and in a central position between the ends <NUM>.

The edge <NUM> bears indications (graphic and/or written symbols) associated with respective operating positions of the cartridge, as will be clarified below.

The cartridge <NUM> is shaped so as to be inserted and to rotate in the seat <NUM>.

With reference to <FIG> as well, the cartridge <NUM> has a generically cylindrical shape and extends along and around a longitudinal axis X centrally located between two axial ends <NUM> that are opposite and closed. It has an outer lateral surface <NUM> that faces the internal lateral surface <NUM> of the seat <NUM>.

The cartridge <NUM> is provided with an internal, T-shaped channel <NUM>, which has three openings <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> shaped on the surface <NUM> and positioned at <NUM>° to each other.

The channel <NUM> has a diametrical branch <NUM>, which crosses the cartridge <NUM> diametrically between a pair of openings <NUM>, <NUM> along a first longitudinal axis Y1; and a lateral branch <NUM>, which starts from the centre of the diametrical branch <NUM> and extends along a second longitudinal axis Y2, orthogonal to the first longitudinal axis Y1, and ends with the opening <NUM>.

The cartridge <NUM> is provided with a filter <NUM>, positioned in the channel <NUM>.

In particular, the filter <NUM> is positioned along the diametrical branch <NUM> so as to intercept the liquid flow passing through the opening <NUM> and each of the other two openings <NUM>, <NUM>.

In the example shown, the filter <NUM> is defined by a drilled plate <NUM>, for example a flat one, provided with a plurality od through holes <NUM> parallel to each other.

The filter <NUM> is inclined with respect to each of the arms <NUM>, <NUM> and, thus, to respective longitudinal axes Y1, Y2 of the arms <NUM>, <NUM>, for example of approximately <NUM>° with respect to the longitudinal axes Y1, Y2.

The holes <NUM> are straight and parallel to each other.

The holes <NUM> are preferably parallel to the longitudinal axis Y1 of the arm <NUM>; the holes <NUM> are, thus, inclined with respect to corresponding faces (for example, flat, parallel faces) opposite the plate <NUM>.

The holes <NUM> are uniformly spaced on the filter <NUM> and are preferably, but not necessarily, flared towards the openings <NUM>, <NUM>, extending between two opposite ends, placed on the two faces opposite the plate <NUM>, with different dimensions to each other.

For example, the holes <NUM> are circular (have, i.e., a circular cross-section) and extend between respective opposite ends that have different diameters.

For example, but not necessarily, the filter <NUM> comprises from <NUM> to <NUM> holes <NUM> that are distributed on the filter <NUM>, are approximately <NUM> thick (the thickness of the plate <NUM>), have a diameter ranging between <NUM> and <NUM> on the face of the plate <NUM> turned towards the openings <NUM>, <NUM>, and a smaller diameter, ranging between <NUM> and <NUM>, on the face opposite the plate <NUM> turned towards the opening <NUM>.

It remains understood that there may be a different number of holes <NUM>, having different shapes and sizes, and they may be distributed in a different way from what is indicated here merely by way of example.

The cartridge <NUM> is also provided with a shutter <NUM>, positioned on the outer lateral surface <NUM> in a position diametrically opposite the opening <NUM> and, thus, at <NUM>° from the other openings <NUM>, <NUM>.

The shutter <NUM> is, for example, made of an elastomer and is housed in a hollow <NUM> formed on the surface <NUM> so as to radially project outside of the hollow <NUM> and to cooperate, in a fluid-tight manner, with the surface <NUM> of the seat <NUM>.

The cartridge <NUM> is also provided with a pair of sealing rings <NUM> housed in respective annular grooves <NUM> formed on the surface <NUM> at respective ends <NUM> and projecting outside of the grooves <NUM> in order to cooperate in a fluid-tight manner with the surface <NUM> of the seat <NUM>.

The ends <NUM> are provided with respective operating bars <NUM> projecting axially from the end <NUM> and perpendicular to the axis X. Each bar <NUM> has an end indicator <NUM>, positioned at one end of the bar <NUM> and defined, for example, by a tapering or point of the bar <NUM>.

One of the bars <NUM> is of a certain length so as not to project beyond the outer lateral surface <NUM> of the cartridge; the opposite bar <NUM> has a projection <NUM> opposite the indicator <NUM> and projecting beyond the surface <NUM> and terminating with a U-shaped tooth <NUM> for hooking a flange portion <NUM>.

The cartridge <NUM> may be inserted in the seat <NUM> through one of the openings <NUM>, on the side of the bar <NUM> without the projection <NUM>. By aligning the projection <NUM> of the other bar <NUM> with the slot <NUM>, the cartridge <NUM> can be inserted until it stops in the seat <NUM>.

Thus, rotating the cartridge <NUM> via the bar <NUM>, the cartridge <NUM> is blocked in the seat <NUM>, making the tooth <NUM> hook the flange portion <NUM>.

Again, rotating the bar <NUM>, an operating position is then selected from the operating positions that the cartridge assumes rotating in the seat <NUM>; the position selected is indicated by the indicator <NUM> of the bar <NUM> in relation to a respective indication on the edge <NUM>:.

When the cartridge <NUM> is placed in an operating position, by rotating the bar <NUM>, the indicator <NUM> on the bar <NUM> reaches a corresponding indication on the edge <NUM> and the tooth <NUM>, continuing to engage the flange portion <NUM>, is made to engage a corresponding positioning slot <NUM> diametrically opposite the selected indication.

The cartridge passes from one operating position to the other by angular rotations of <NUM>°, a rotation of <NUM>° is only performed in order to reach the extraction operating position.

Claim 1:
A tap (<NUM>) for a filling device of a flushing tank of a sanitary appliance, comprising a hollow body (<NUM>), provided with an internal seat (<NUM>) delimited by an internal lateral surface (<NUM>), and a cartridge (<NUM>), housed in the seat (<NUM>) and rotating in the seat (<NUM>) with respect to the body (<NUM>) to assume a plurality of operating positions; the body (<NUM>) comprising an inlet duct (<NUM>), an outlet duct (<NUM>) and a drain duct (<NUM>) which ducts (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) extend from the body (<NUM>) and communicate with the seat (<NUM>); the cartridge (<NUM>) being provided with an internal channel (<NUM>) having a first, a second and a third opening (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) formed on an outer lateral surface (<NUM>) of the cartridge (<NUM>) and angularly staggered from one another, and a shutter (<NUM>), placed on the outer lateral surface (<NUM>) of the cartridge (<NUM>) and angularly staggered with respect to the openings (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>); the cartridge (<NUM>) being provided with a filter (<NUM>) arranged along the internal channel (<NUM>); the cartridge (<NUM>) being rotatable in the seat (<NUM>) with respect to the body (<NUM>) to selectively align respective pairs of openings (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) and the shutter (<NUM>) to respective ducts (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) of the body (<NUM>); wherein the internal channel (<NUM>) has a diametral branch (<NUM>), which crosses the cartridge (<NUM>) diametrically between the first opening (<NUM>) and the second opening (<NUM>) along a first longitudinal axis (Y1);
characterised by
a lateral branch (<NUM>), which departs from the center of the diametral branch (<NUM>) and extends along a second longitudinal axis (Y2), orthogonal to the first longitudinal axis (Y1), and ends with the third opening (<NUM>); wherein the filter (<NUM>) is inclined with respect to each of the diametral and lateral branch (<NUM>, <NUM>) and hence to the respective longitudinal axes (Y1, Y2) of the diametral and lateral branch (<NUM>, <NUM>).