GB2067724A - Switch faucet - Google Patents

Abstract

A faucet especially useful in locations wherever a fluid pressure head, as in a water mains supply, cannot be utilized directly comprises a casing 10 upon which there is mounted for each water supply a tap control knob 13 and a fluid outlet pipe 24. A resilient fluid-supply tubing 22 is closed by an obturator comprising a carriage 17 slidable within the casing 10 such that a ram 19 provided on the carriage 17 can be brought against the tubing 22 to compress same against a ram plate 23 to constrict the internal cross-sectional area of the tubing 22. The knob 13 has a cam (26) Fig. 2, (not shown) to operate on arcuate movement a micro-switch (25) for actuating a pump. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Switch faucet This invention relates to means for controlling a fluid supply, in particuiar of water, by a faucet, which is especially useful in water craft, aircraft, caravans or the like wherever a fluid pressure head, as in a water mains supply, cannot be utilized directly.

According to the present invention, there is provided a faucet comprising a casing upon which there is mounted for each water supply a tap control knob, a resilient fluid-supply tubing, an obturator for closing the tubing, means for engagement of the tap control knob with the obturator and a micro switch controlled by the tap control knob for actuating an electric pump.

Preferably, the or each obturator comprises a carriage which is slidable within the casing such that a ram provided on the carriage may be brought against the resilient tubing to compress same against a ram plate within the casing and constrict the internal cross-sectional area of the tubing, preferably to zero.

Preferably also, the pertaining means for engagement with the or each obturator is a spindle having one end thereof adapted to interlock with the tap control knob and having towards the other end a cam for co-operation with a cam track provided in the casing, said other end also being adapted to provide a bearing surface in contact with the carriage such that positive movement of the carriage in a lateral direction is effected whenever, by an arcuate movement of the tap control knob (and spindle), the cam is moved across the cam track.

Advantageously, a flexible member is attached to the or each carriage. This member becomes tensioned against the casing whenever the carriage is withdrawn from closed contact with the supply tubing. The purpose of this member is to counteract the pressure exerted by water in the supply tube, possibly causing the carriage to move to a more open position than called for by the initial actuation of the knob.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a sectional side view of a switch faucet according to one embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of line Il-Il of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a section view, similar two Fig. 1, but of a switch faucet according to a second embodiment; and Fig. 4 is an underneath plan view of Fig. 3.

In the first embodiment of the invention, the switch faucet comprises a casing 10 of generally rectangular cuboid shape which has two spaced apertures 11, 12 on one rectangular face thereof.

A tap control knob 13 is mounted above aperture 11 and has a spindle 14 interlocked therewith and protruding below that face into the interior of the casing 10 through the aperture 11.

A cam 1 5 is provided on the spindle 14 towards that end furthermost from the tap control knob 1 3 which contacts a cam track 1 6 within the interior of the casing 10, and traversing the aperture 11.

The remaining length of the spindle 14 from the cam 1 5 to the end furthermost from the tap control knob 13 provides a bearing surface 32 for reaction against an obturator.

The obturator is in the form of a carriage 17 which can slide between the top of the casing 10 and the surface to which the casing 10 is screwed for normal operation. A small lip 18 (Fig. 4) is, provided on each side of the casing 10 to prevent the carriage falling out of the casing 10 before it is screwed in its working position.

The carriage 1 7 has at one end thereof a ram 1 9 and at the opposite end a flexible member 20 whose outer end rests in a groove 21 (Fig. 4) internal of the casing 10.

A resilient fluid-supply tubing 22 is interposed between the ram 19 and a ram plate 23 provided internally of the casing 10, the tubing 22 being joined with a fluid outlet pipe 24 through the second aperture 12 in the face of the casing 10.

At the fullest extent of its travel, the carriage 1 7 either compresses the flexible member 20 against the casing 10 or squeezes the supply tubing 22 against the ram plate 23 within the casing.

A micro-switch 25 is mounted within the tap control knob 13 for completing an external electrical circuit and actuating an electric pump (not shown). A cam 26 provided on the inside face of the knob 13 is arranged so that when the carriage 1 7 is just sufficiently withdrawn to allow water to flow in the supply tubing 22, then the trigger 33 of the micro switch 25 is closed actuating the pump.

The casing 10 of the switch faucet is for mounting on a surface by a screw fastener 28, the fastener 28 passing through tubular passage 29 of the casing 10, slot 30 being provided in carriage 1 7 through which the passage pass thereby not to impeded movement of the carriage 1 7. A resilient collar 31 surrounds the tubular passage 29 below the carriage 1 7.

In use, with a faucet above-described mounted on a surface and the tubing 22 connected to a fluid-supply to switch on the fluid supply from a switched-off position as shown in Fig. 1 an arcuate movement of the tap control knob 13 turns the spindle 14 moving the cam 1 5 across the cam track 1 6 and causing the bearing surface 32 to withdraw the carriage 17, releasing pressure on the resilient fluid-supply tubing 22.

In withdrawing the carriage 17, the flexible member 20 is compressed against the casing 10 and thus is maintained under the tension whilst the switch 25 is in the 'on' position.

To switch the supply off, the procedure is reversed by an arcuate movement of the tap control knob 13 in the opposite direction to the first. The cam 1 5 travels back across the cam track 1 6 and the bearing surface 32 drives the carriage 1 7 forwards, assisted by the release of tension in the flexible member 20. As the knot 13 is being turned, the cam 26 within it releases the trigger 33 of the micro-switch 25 and electrical contact is broken, and the pump stopped at a point before the carriage 1 7 reaches the end of its travel.

The carriage 17 then moves to the end of its travel to compress the resilient fluid supply tubing 22 against the ram plate 23 and constrict the internal cross-sectional area to zero.

In a second embodiment of the invention, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, an integral casing 35 is provided for two water supplies of a form similar to two coalesced end-to-end casings 10, the contiguous end walls being omitted and only one outlet pipe 24 being provided. Like parts are given like numerals with the duplicate parts being designated "A". Two micro-switch tap control knobs 13, 1 3A are provided symmetrically positioned on each side diametrically of the fluid outlet pipe 24.

A mixer neck 37 is provided to channel flow from either one or both of the fluid-supply tubings 22, 22A into the fluid outlet pipe 24. Fig. 3 shows tubing 22 fully closed and tubing 22A open corresponding respectively to knob 13 being in a position switching off fluid supply, and knob 1 3A being in a position switching on fluid supply.

Each tap control knob 13,13A operates an obturator 1 7, 1 7A acting on an independent fluidsupply tubing 22, 22A and either or both of the knobs of this embodiment is operable in the same manner as described above in the first embodiment.

Claims (9)

1. A switch faucet comprising a casing upon which there is mounted for each water supply a tap control knob, a resilient fluid-supply tubing, an obturator for closing the tubing, means for engagement of the tap control knob with the obturator and a micro-switch controlled by the tap control knob for actuating a pump.

2. A faucet as claimed in Claim 1 , wherein the or each obturator comprises a carriage which is slidable within the casing such that a ram provided on the carriage can be brought against the resilient tubing to compress same against a ram plate within the casing and construct the internal cross-sectional area of the tubing.

3. A faucet as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the pertaining means for engagement with the or each obturator is a spindle having one end thereof adapted to interlock with the tap control knob and.

having towards the other end a cam for cooperation with a cam track provided in the casing, said other end also being adapted to provide a bearing surface in contact with the carriage such that positive movement of the carriage in a lateral direction is effected whenever, by an arcuate movement of the tap control knob (and spindle), the cam is moved across the cam track.

4. A faucet as claimed in Claim 2 or 3, wherein a flexible member is attached to the or each carriage to be tensioned against the casing whenever the carriage is withdrawn from closed contact with the supply tubing.

5. A faucet as claimed in Claim 1, 2, 3 or 4 wherein a cam is provided on the inside face of the or each knob and is arranged to close the button of the pertaining micro-switch to actuate the pump after the pertaining carriage has been moved sufficiently to allow water to flow in the supply tubing.

6. A faucet as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a cam is provided on the inside face of the knob to operate the trigger of the micro-switch on arcuate movement of the knob.

7. A faucet as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the cam is so arranged on the inside face of the knob that operation of the trigger occurs when the carriage is sufficiently withdrawn to allow water to flow in the supply tubing.

8. A switch faucet substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

9. A switch faucet substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.