JPH0110529Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Field of industrial application] This invention moves the valve body in the faucet body via the operating shaft by rotating the faucet operating handle, and mixes the amount of water with the amount of hot water. The present invention relates to a faucet designed to obtain hot water at a desired temperature by adjusting the ratio, and particularly relates to a connection structure of a faucet operating handle to an operating shaft.

[Conventional technology and its solutions]

Conventionally, for faucets that mix hot and cold water to discharge hot water at a desired temperature, a temperature scale provided on the faucet operating handle is selected, and this is adjusted to the indicator on the faucet body to reach the desired temperature. It is designed to discharge hot water. To this end, correctly positioning the faucet operating handle with respect to the operating shaft has been considered an extremely important issue. Originally, mixed hot water discharged from a faucet is often used in such a way that it comes into direct contact with the skin, such as by being poured into a bathtub or by showering onto the human body. By the way, the temperature of hot water discharged from a faucet is affected by the installation conditions of the faucet, changes in the capacity of the faucet itself and other hot water supply devices due to aging, and changes in temperature. A phenomenon may occur where the temperature does not match the temperature selected with the operating handle. When hot water at a desired temperature cannot be obtained due to such a phenomenon, it not only makes the user feel uncomfortable, but may even cause burns and other accidents. Therefore, the positioning structure of the faucet operating handle requires extreme adjustment precision. However, there has not been a faucet with a structure that can meet the adjustment precision required above.

In addition, regarding the mounting structure of a handle for adjusting the rotary switch or volume of different electrical equipment in the technical field, please refer to Utility Model Application Publication No. 1984-43844, Publication No. 51-46947, and Publication No. 163459-1989. It has been disclosed by et al. Although there are differences in the names of the component parts in the mounting structure of the scoop in each of these publications, the essence is that the operating shaft and the scoop are connected via a cylindrical intermediate body with serrations in the axial direction carved on the inner and outer circumferential surfaces. It is designed to be removably concentrically fitted with the main body. The number of serrations on the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical intermediate body is more than twice the number of serrations on the inner circumferential surface, and this allows the positioning of the scoop main body with respect to the operating shaft to be approximately 10 degrees in some cases and 3 to 2 degrees in others. It is possible to make minute adjustments. This level of minute adjustment may be sufficient for adjusting the rotary switch or volume of electrical equipment, but it cannot meet the precision required for adjusting the position of a faucet operating handle. do not have.

The present invention aims to solve the problems associated with the prior art as described above.

[Means for solving problems and their effects]

The means adopted by the present invention to solve the above problem is to rotate the faucet operating handle to move the valve body inside the faucet body via the operating shaft, and adjust the mixing ratio between the amount of water and the amount of hot water. In the coupling structure of the faucet handle portion, which is designed to obtain hot water at a desired temperature by adjusting the temperature, the coupling structure includes the operating shaft and the faucet operating handle, and a cylindrical ring that mediates the coupling between the operating shaft and the faucet operating handle. The three members are fully fitted together at their joints, and the cylindrical ring has a large number of grooves formed on its entire inner and outer circumferential surfaces corresponding to the respective circumferential lengths, and the outer circumference of the end of the operating shaft is formed on the cylindrical ring. The surface has the same number of concave lines as the concave lines formed on the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical ring, and the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical hole of the faucet operating handle has concave lines formed on the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical ring. The same number of protruding stripes as the stripes are formed, and the concave stripes on the inner and outer peripheral surfaces of the cylindrical ring, the protruding stripes on the operating shaft, and the protruding stripes on the faucet operating handle are all formed in the axial direction and have the same shape. The grooves are formed continuously in the circumferential direction at the same pitch, and the number of grooves on the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical ring is set to be an irreducible number greater than the number of grooves on the inner circumferential surface.

According to the above means, when positioning and coupling the faucet operating handle to the operating shaft, it is possible to position the faucet operating handle with extreme precision close to stepless adjustment. Therefore, by selecting the desired temperature on the temperature display scale provided on the circumferential surface of the faucet operating handle and matching it with the indicator on the faucet body, mixed hot water at the desired temperature can be discharged. . In addition, since it is extremely easy to attach and detach the faucet operating handle, if a discrepancy occurs between the temperature of the discharged hot water and the selected scale temperature, the position of the faucet operating handle relative to the operating shaft can be easily corrected. I can do it. Therefore, the user of the faucet can always use hot water at a comfortable temperature depending on the purpose.

〔Example〕

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The faucet according to the present invention (hereinafter referred to as the faucet of the present invention) will be described below based on drawings showing embodiments thereof.

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the main parts of the proposed faucet. The main outer shell 1a of the faucet body 1 has a horizontally elongated cylindrical shape, and on the left end side of its surface (the left direction in Fig. 1; the same applies hereinafter) there is a temperature control gauge to be described later. , has an indicator Z such as an arrow, and has a plurality of chambers inside. The chamber is a water supply chamber a,
There is a chamber b for supplying hot water, a mixing chamber c for mixing hot water, etc. Water is supplied into the water chamber a from the water supply pipe 2 as shown by the arrow, and hot water is supplied into the hot water chamber b from the hot water supply pipe 3 as shown by the arrow. A faucet operating handle 4 is installed on the left end side of the faucet body 1. The faucet operating handle 4
consists of inner and outer bottomed cylindrical members 4a and 4b, a temperature display scale (not shown) is provided on the surface of the cylindrical part, and a cylindrical hole part 4c is formed in the center of the inside. , the inner circumferential surface X of the cylindrical hole 4c
A large number of axial protrusions 5 of the same shape are continuously carved at the same pitch. A cylindrical ring 7, as shown in FIG. 2, is fitted into the cylindrical hole 4c. These cylindrical rings 7 have a large number of axial protrusions 5 continuously carved on the outer peripheral surface thereof,
A large number of concave grooves 6 that can be fitted with 5, . . . are continuously carved at the same pitch. These ridges 5 and grooves 6
The shape is not limited to the serrations having a triangular cross section as shown in the figure, but may be a trapezoidal cross section or the like. Also on the inner circumferential surface Y of the cylinder ring 7, a large number of axial grooves 8 having the same shape and pitch as the grooves 6 are continuously carved. The cylindrical ring 7 has grooves 8, 8,
The left end 10a of the operating shaft is fitted with a large number of protrusions 9, 9, . The shapes of the concave strips 8 and the convex strips 9 are not limited to the serrations having a triangular cross section as shown in the figure, but may have a trapezoidal cross section or the like. In short, the faucet operating handle 4 and the operating shaft 10 are connected by serrations or splines by fitting a cylindrical ring between them, and in this case, the serration unevenness and spline unevenness are formed with the same shape and the same pitch. ing.

Generally, in such a structure in which the operating handle and the operating shaft are connected via a cylindrical ring with a concave-convex strip around it, there is a limit to the precision in adjusting the position of the faucet operating handle with respect to the operating shaft. remains at the angle obtained by dividing 360° by the number of grooves carved on the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical ring. That is, if the number of grooves is 18, the limit of adjustment precision is 20 degrees, and if the number of grooves is 36, the limit is 10 degrees.
The cylindrical ring used to connect general faucet operating handles has a circumferential dimension of 60 mm.
It can be said that it is almost impossible in practice to carve more than one groove. Therefore, when the faucet operating handle 4 and the operating shaft 10 are connected via the cylindrical ring 7 as in the prior art, it is usually difficult to achieve an adjustment with a precision higher than 6 degrees. However, this level of adjustment accuracy does not solve the problem aimed at by the present invention. Therefore, in the present invention, by creating an irreducible relationship between the number of grooves 8 carved on the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical ring 7 and the number of grooves 6 carved on the inner peripheral surface, the adjustment is improved. Measures were taken to dramatically improve accuracy. For example, the inner circumferential groove 8
If the number of grooves 6 is 16 and the number of grooves 6 on the outer peripheral surface is 35, precise adjustment can be made as if 16×35=560 grooves were provided on the same circumferential surface. In this case, the limit of adjustment precision is 360°÷560≒0.64°.
Therefore, it goes without saying that when the number of grooves 8 on the inner circumferential surface and the number of grooves 6 on the outer circumferential surface are set to a larger irreducible relation, adjustment with extremely high precision becomes possible.

By the way, the faucet operating handle 4 is fitted into the left end portion 10a of the operating shaft 10, and the bottom wall 4 thereof is fitted into the left end portion 10a of the operating shaft 10.
It is fixed by a screw 11 inserted in d.
The axial center portion 10b of the operating shaft 10 is rotatably supported by the hollow operating shaft case 12, and the axial position relative to the operating shaft case 12 is controlled by the collar 10c of the operating shaft 10 and the split ring 13. is regulated. Further, the operating shaft case 12 is fitted into the left end side inner circumferential surface of the horizontally long cylindrical portion 1a of the faucet main body 1 via the annular body 14 which fits on the outer circumferential surface of the case 12, and is inserted into the left end side inner circumferential surface of the horizontally long cylindrical portion 1a of the faucet main body 1. Therefore, it is fixed to the faucet main body 1. Therefore, the operation shaft case 1
2. The operating shaft 10 and the faucet operating handle 4 are attached to the faucet body 1 with their axial positions restricted. A slide shaft 16 is installed in the hollow portion of the operation shaft case 12 by serration fitting. A recess 17 having a threaded groove on the inner peripheral surface is provided on the left end side of the slide shaft 16, and the threaded groove of the recess 17 is screwed onto the outer peripheral surface of the operating shaft 10. Further, on the right end side of the slide shaft 16, a recess 20 is provided that houses a spring 18 and a disk 19 biased by the spring 18. 21 is a stopper ring that prevents the disc 19 from jumping out. As is clear from the above, by rotating the faucet operating handle 4, the operating shaft 10 rotates together with the operating shaft 10, and the slide shaft 16 can be moved in the axial direction. 22
is a valve body equipped with a temperature-sensitive elastic body 23 (in which wax is sealed as a temperature-sensing means) inside, and is slidably inserted into a spill-type valve body case 24, and is always held in place by a spring 25. It is biased toward the left side in the figure. The valve body case 24 is located across the supply hot water chambers a and b and the hot water mixing chamber c of the faucet body 1, and is screwed and fastened to the operating shaft case 12 at the left end side and fixed to the faucet body 1. has been done.
Further, a circumferential water inflow groove (slit) 26 is bored in a part of the outer peripheral surface of the valve body case 24 located in the supply water chamber a, and
A hot water inflow groove (slit) 27 in the circumferential direction is bored in a part of the outer circumferential surface located at . 28 is a discharge port of the valve body case 24. On the other hand, the valve body 22 is provided with a port 29 that corresponds to the hot water inflow groove 27 of the valve body case 24 . The temperature-sensitive expandable body 23 is supported by a radial support plate 30 at the center line of the valve body 22, and the protrusion 31 at the left end of the temperature-sensitive expandable body 23 is attached to the disk inside the slide shaft 16. 19 is screwed and fastened. The protrusion 31 protrudes and retracts in accordance with the expansion and contraction of the wax due to the sensitive temperature, and the amount of protrusion and retraction is uniquely and linearly proportional to the amount of change in the sensitive temperature. Reference numeral 32 denotes an annular variable port formed between the left end surface of the valve body 22 and the operating shaft case 12 at a position corresponding to the water inflow groove 26 . Note that the biasing force of the spring 25 that biases the valve body 22 is set smaller than the biasing force of the spring 18 that biases the disc 19 within the slide shaft 16. Therefore, the disc 19 is always placed in pressure contact with the stopper ring 21,
The stroke of the protrusion 31 at that time causes the valve body 22 to
, and the opening areas of the hot water inflow grooves 26 and 27 are determined.

In the present faucet constructed as described above, water flows into the chamber a from the supply pipe 2 and flows into the valve body 22 through the water inlet groove 26 of the valve body case 24 and the variable port 32. Hot water flows into the chamber b from the supply pipe 3, and flows into the valve body 22 through the hot water inflow groove 27 of the valve body case 24 and the port 29 of the valve body 22. Therefore, hot water and water are mixed in the valve body 22, and the mixed hot water moves from the discharge port 28 of the valve body 22 to the discharge pipe (not shown) of the bath or shower. Here, the temperature of the mixed hot water is the temperature of the water inflow groove 26.
This is determined by the opening area of the hot water inflow groove 27, that is, the mixing ratio of the amount of water flowing into the valve body 22 and the amount of hot water. The opening areas of the water inflow groove 26 and the hot water inflow groove 27 are determined by the axial position of the valve body 22.
The position of the valve body 22 is determined by the axial position of the slide shaft 16. Further, the position of the slide shaft 16 is determined by the rotational position of the operating shaft 10. Therefore, in setting the temperature of the water faucet of the present invention, the position of the valve body 22 is determined so that the mixed hot water reaches a desired temperature, and the operating shaft 10 is positioned accordingly. After aligning the desired temperature scale in the temperature display scale on the outer periphery of the faucet operating handle 4 with the index Z on the faucet body 1, the faucet operating handle 4 is coupled and fixed to the operating shaft 10. After that, of course, it is desirable that the desired temperature scale and the index Z completely match. If there is even a slight discrepancy, the opening areas of the water inflow groove 26 and the hot water inflow groove 27 will not be as set, and the valve body 22,
Even if the hot water inflow grooves 26, 27, the slide shaft 16, etc. are adjusted very precisely, nothing will be achieved. In this respect, for the proposed faucet, the operating shaft 1
0 and the faucet operating handle 4 by a cylindrical ring 7 that fully fits and connects, and in this case, a large number of grooves in an irreducible relationship are carved on the inner and outer circumferential surfaces of the cylindrical ring 7. If there is an error between the temperature scale indicated by the index Z and the hot water temperature to be discharged, the position of the connection between the operating shaft 10 and the faucet operating handle 4 can be easily adjusted with extreme precision. Therefore, temperature errors can be almost completely eliminated. After accurately fixing the faucet operating handle 4 to the operating shaft 10 in this way, simply align the desired temperature scale on the faucet operating handle 4 with the index Z, and the desired temperature of hot water and water will be mixed from the faucet. It is possible to discharge hot water at a certain temperature.

[Effect of idea]

As can be seen from the above explanation, the proposed faucet allows the faucet operating handle to be easily positioned and adjusted at any position around the entire circumference with respect to the operating axis with ultimate precision. Therefore, it is possible to discharge hot water with almost no temperature error between the temperature and the desired scale temperature indicated by the index. Therefore, according to the faucet of the present invention, when hot water is used for bathing, face washing, or other purposes, it is possible to select and use hot water at the optimum temperature for each occasion. Moreover, it is possible to use hot water comfortably while preventing discomfort caused by temperature errors as well as unexpected accidents such as burns and other troubles.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings are all for explaining embodiments of the faucet of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a main part showing the whole of the faucet of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a cylindrical ring. 1... Faucet body, 4... Faucet operation handle, 4
c... Cylindrical hole portion, 5... Convex strip, 6... Concave strip, 7
...Cylindrical ring, 8...Concave strip, 9...Convex strip, 10
...Operation shaft, 22...Valve body, X, Y...Inner peripheral surface.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A faucet handle designed to obtain hot water at a desired temperature by rotating the faucet operating handle to move the valve body within the faucet body via the operating shaft and adjusting the mixing ratio between the amount of water and the amount of hot water. In the coupling structure, the three members, the operating shaft, the faucet operating handle, and the cylindrical ring that mediates the coupling between the operating shaft and the faucet operating handle, are fully fitted at the coupling part. , the cylindrical ring has a large number of grooves formed on its entire inner and outer circumferential surfaces corresponding to the circumferential lengths thereof, and the outer circumferential surface of the end of the operating shaft has grooves formed on the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical ring. The same number of protruding stripes are formed on the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical hole of the faucet operating handle as the concave stripes are formed on the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical ring, and The surface grooves, the protrusions on the operating shaft, and the protrusions on the faucet operating handle are all formed in the axial direction, and have the same shape and are continuous in the circumferential direction at the same pitch, and A faucet characterized in that the number of grooves on the outer peripheral surface is irreducible to the number of grooves on the inner peripheral surface.