Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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SPECIFICATION
VALUE CAPABLE OF CONTROLLING WATER DISCHARGE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001 ] The present invention relates to a valve, and particularly to a
valve having two outlets and controlling water discharge selectively through
one or both outlets.
2. RELATED ART
[0002] In the prior art, valves which have the function of controlling
water discharge are commonly assembled on water discharge paths of a
bathroom for controlling water discharge. Such a design is disclosed in U.S.
Pat. No. 6279610. As shown in Fig. 7, a valve 8 includes a plunger 80
forming a top flange 81 and a bottom flange 82. Leakage-proof gaskets 83
are respectively disposed adjacent to the top flange 81 and the bottom flange
82. A peg 84 and a spacer 85 are provided to position the plunger 80. A tip
of the plunger 80 is secured to a knob 90. Upon turning, pulling or pressing
the knob 90, the peg 84 biases against a top or a bottom of the spacer 85 for
controlling water discharge. Further referring to Figs. 8 and 9, in normal
state, the bottom flange 82 blocks a second neck 804 of a second outlet 802,
and water flows out from a first outlet 801 (shown in Fig. 7). In a second
flow mode, water flows out from the second outlet 802, as shown in Fig. 8.
The knob 90 is pulled upward and rotates. The peg 84 extends through a slot
851 of the spacer 85, and then rotates and presses downward until straddling
over the spacer 85. The peg 84 displaces upward and is apart from the
second neck 804, and blocks a first neck 803 of the first outlet 801. Thus,
water flows out from the second outlet 802, as shown in Fig. 8. In a third
flow mode, water flows out from both the first outlet 801 and the second
outlet 802, as shown in Fig. 9. Provided that the valve 8 is in normal state
of
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Fig. 7, the knob 90 is pulled upward until the peg 84 biases against the
bottom of the spacer 85. Neither the first neck 803 nor the second neck 804
is blocked by the top flange 81 or the bottom flange 82. Thus, water flows
from both the first outlet 801 and the second outlet 802, as shown in Fig. 9.
Provided that the valve 8 is in the second flow mode of Fig. 8, the knob 90
rotates until the peg 84 is aligned with the slot 851 of the spacer 85. Then
the knob 90 is pressed downward until the peg 84 extends through the
spacer 85. The knob 90 rotates and moves upward slightly, and water
pressure urges the peg 81 to abut against the bottom of the spacer 85.
Neither the first neck 803 nor the second neck 804 is blocked by the top
flange 81 or the bottom flange 82. Thus, water flows from both the first
outlet 801 and the second outlet 802, as shown in Fig. 9.
[0003] However, the valve 8 of U.S. Pat. No. 6279610 has the following
deficiencies.
[0004] Firstly, the operation is bothersome. As described above, the knob
90 is manually operated to make the peg 84 extend through the slot 851 of
the spacer 85. Alignment of the peg 84 and the slot 851 is necessary, and at
the same time, is operated only by users' feeling, complicating the operation.
[0005] Secondly, positioning for water discharge is inexact. As shown in
Fig. 9, water flows through both the first outlet 801 and the second outlet
802. In the event that water pressure alters, the bottom flange 82 nearby the
second neck 804 may be pushed downward and obstructs water from
flowing from the second outlet 802 smoothly.
SUMM ARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a
valve for controlling water discharge, which is easily operated and which
reliably and exactly controls water discharge.
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[0007] The valve of the present invention comprises a hollow pipe
defining a first opening and a second opening aligning with each other. A
first outlet and a second outlet are respectively associated with the hollow
pipe and are arranged in different directions and at different heights. A
first
passage, a second passage and a third passage are respectively defined in an
inner surface of the hollow pipe, the first passage communicating with the
first outlet, the second passage communicating with the second outlet, and
the third passage communicating with the first opening and the second
opening. A sleeve is fixed inside the hollow pipe and corresponding to the
first outlet. A fourth passage is defined in an inner surface of the sleeve
and
corresponding to the third passage. A piston is received in the hollow pipe. A
first end of the piston extends through the first opening, and a second end of
the piston forms a first flange and a second flange thereon. A first stop is
formed above the first flange and has long sides and short sides. A second
stop is formed below the second flange and has long sides and short sides.
As for a first discharge mode, the short sides of the second stop are aligned
with the third passage. The second flange blocks the third passage. Water
flows out of the third passage and only through the first outlet. As for a
second discharge mode, the long sides of the first stop are aligned with the
fourth passage. The first flange blocks the fourth passage. Water flows out of
the third passage and only through the second outlet. As for a third discharge
mode, the short sides of the second stop offset apart from the third passage.
The second flange is stopped by the long sides of the second stop and fails
to block the third passage. A space is provided between the second flange
and the third passage, and water flows out of the third passage and the fourth
passage, thereby discharging through both the first outlet and the second
outlet.
[0008] The third passage has a width different from the width of the
fourth passage. The widths of the short sides of the first stop and the second
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stop are roughly equal to the smaller width between the third passage and
the fourth passage. The widths of the long sides of the first stop and the
second stop are roughly equal to the larger width between the third passage
and the fourth passage. The first stop is located at a 45° angle with
respect to
the second stop. Long sides/short sides of one of the first stop and the
second stop are apart from one of the third passage and the fourth passage
when the short sides/long sides of the other one of the first stop and the
second stop are aligned with the other one of the third passage and the fourth
passage.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] Fig. 1 is an exploded view of a valve of the present invention.
[0010] Figs. 2-4 show the operations of the valve controlling water
discharge.
[0011] Figs. 5-6 show the valve being mounted on a faucet assembly.
[0012] Figs. 7-9 show the operations of a conventional valve controlling
water discharge.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0013] With reference to Figs. 1 and 2, a valve 1 in accordance with the
present invention comprises a hollow pipe 2, a leakage-proof sleeve 3, a
piston 4, a top cover 50, a bottom cover 51, a link lever 6 and a compressed
spring 7. The hollow pipe 2 stands up, and defines a first opening 20 and a
second opening 21 aligning with each other. The first opening 20 forms first
inner threads 201 for engaging with first outer threads 501 of the top cover
50. The second opening 21 forms second inner threads 210 for engaging
with second outer threads 511 of the bottom cover 51. A first outlet 22 and a
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second outlet 23 are respectively associated with the hollow pipe 2 and are
arranged in different direction and at different height. A first inlet 24 for
tap
water and a second inlet 25 for hot water are respectively distributed
between the first outlet 22 and the second outlet 23. The hollow pipe 2
defines a first passage 221, a second passage 231 and a third passage 26 in
an inner surface thereof. The first passage 221 communicates with the first
outlet 22, the second passage 231 communicates with the second outlet 23,
and the third passage 26 communicates with the first opening 20 and the
second opening 21.
[0014] The sleeve 3 is fixed inside the hollow pipe 2 and corresponding
to the first outlet 22. The sleeve 3 is longitudinally hollow and transversely
defines a through hole 301 communicating with the first passage 221. A
fourth passage 30 is defined in an inner surface of the sleeve 3 and near the
second outlet 23, and corresponds to the third passage 26. Projections 31, 32
are respectively formed on an outer surface of the sleeve 3, and
leakage-proof rings 33, 34 are disposed on the projections 31, 32.
[0015] The piston 4 is slidably received in the hollow pipe 2, and both
ends thereof are carved. A first end (not labeled) of the piston 4 extends
through the first opening 20 and defines piston threads 401 for fastening to a
screw cap 40. A second end (not labeled) of the piston 4 forms a first flange
41 and a second flange 42 thereon, and leakage-proof rings 410, 420 are
disposed on the first flange 41 and the second flange 42 for preventing
against leakage. A first stop 43 is formed above the first flange 41, and has
long sides 431 and short sides 432. A second stop 44 is formed below the
second flange 42, and has long sides 441 and short sides 442. The first stop
43 is located at a 45° angle with respect to the second stop 44. The
third
passage 26 has a width different from the width of the fourth passage 30.
The short sides 432, 442 have widths roughly equal to the smaller width
between the third passage 26 and the fourth passage 30. The long sides 431,
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441 have widths roughly equal to the larger width between the third passage
26 and the fourth passage 30. In this embodiment, the width of the third
passage 26 is smaller than the width of the fourth passage 30. The short
sides 432, 442 have widths roughly equal to the width of the third passage
26. The long sides 431, 441 have widths roughly equal to the width of the
fourth passage 30. Thus the water discharge path depends on the alignment
of the short sides 432, 442 with the third passage 26 and the fourth passage
30. One of the first stop 43 and the second stop 44 is apart from one of the
third passage 26 and the fourth passage 30 when the other one of first stop
43 and the second stop 44 is aligned with the other one of the third passage
26 and the fourth passage 30. This will be depicted hereinafter with Figs. 2
through 4 in combination. A shoulder 47 is formed on the piston 4 for
abutting against an end of the compressed spring 7.
[0016] The top cover 50 is assembled on the first opening 20, and the
bottom cover 51 is assembled on the second opening 21. Leakage-proof
rings 502, 512 are respectively mounted on the top cover 50 and the bottom
cover 51. The top cover 50 further defines an assembling hole 503 for
mounting the link lever 6.
[0017] The link lever 6 is hollow, and both ends thereof are carved. The
link lever 6 forms lever threads 60 on an end thereof for screwing to the
assembling hole 503 of the top cover 50. A protrusion 61 is formed on an
inner surface of the link lever 6 for biasing against an end of the compressed
spring 7. The compressed spring 7 is assembled between the piston 4 and the
link lever 6. One end of the compressed spring 7 biases against the piston 4
while the other end thereof biases against the protrusion 61 of the link lever
6 for providing the piston 4 with return force. Leakage-proof rings 45, 46
are disposed on the piston 4 and nearby the compressed spring 7.
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[0018] Further referring to Figs. 2 through 4, the valve 1 controls water
discharge selectively through the first outlet 22, or the second outlet 23, or
both the first outlet 22 and the second outlet 23.
[0019] As shown in Fig. 2, in normal state, the piston 4 is located in such
a way that the short sides 442 of the second stop 44 are aligned with the
third passage 26. The second flange 42 blocks the third passage 26, thus
water flows through the first outlet 22.
[0020] As shown in Fig. 3, the piston 4 is pulled upward and turns a
45°
angle. The short sides 442 of the second stop 44 offset apart from the third
passage 26. The second flange 42 is stopped by the long sides 441 of the
second stop 44 and fails to block the third passage 26. A space is provided
between the second flange 42 and the third passage 26. Water flows out of
the third passage 26 and the fourth passage 30, thereby discharging through
both the first outlet 22 and the second outlet 23.
[0021 ] As shown in Fig. 4, the piston 4 is further pulled upward and turns
a 45° angle. Further owing to water pressure, the long sides 431 of the
first
stop 43 are aligned with the fourth passage 30. The first flange 42 blocks the
fourth passage 30. Water flows simply through the second outlet 23.
[0022] Figs. 5 and 6 show the valve 1 applied on a faucet assembly
which includes two faucets. One end of the piston 4 is screwed to an
actuator 90 of the faucet assembly by means of the screw cap 40. The first
outlet 22 of the valve 1 connects with a first faucet 91 of the faucet
assembly
through a pipe 93, and the second outlet 23 of the valve 1 connects with a
second faucet 92 of the faucet assembly through a pipe 94. The first inlet 24
of the valve 1 connects with a first handle 97 of the faucet assembly through
a pipe 95 for providing tap water. The second inlet 25 of the valve 1
connects with a second handle 98 of the faucet assembly through a pipe 96
for providing hot water. In a normal state, further referring to Fig. 2, water
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flows from the first faucet 91 when turning on the first handle 97 and the
second handle 98. Further referring to Fig. 3, water flows from both the first
faucet 91 and the second faucet 92 when the actuator 90 is pulled upward
and turns 45°. Further referring to Fig. 4, water flows only from the
second
faucet 92 when the actuator 90 is further pulled upward and turns 45°.
So the
valve 1 of the present invention facilitates operation of a faucet assembly.
Moreover, hot water discharging from the second faucet 92 is controlled by
the actuator 90 which is mounted on the first faucet 91 far from children,
thereby preventing children from being scalded by hot water and allowing
children to use the second faucet simultaneously. In another embodiment of
the present invention, which is not shown in the drawings, a fourth passage
of the valve is defined in the inner surface of hollow pipe instead of the
sleeve, and communicates with the first opening and the second opening.
The leakage-proof sleeve 3 of the instant embodiment in the drawings may
be omitted.
[0023] It is understood that the invention may be embodied in other
forms without departing from the spirit thereof. Thus, the present examples
and embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not
restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details given
herein.
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