Fitting Unit for Front Mounting

Field of the Invention

The present invention concerns a fitting unit for front mounting in a support plate with a mounting hole and with a cylindric housing, which at a first end has a projecting support flange for bearing against the front side of the support plate, and abutment bodies which by means of threaded rods that are provided with a head bearing against the support flange may be brought into contact with the rear side of the support plate, at which in the cylindric surface there are at least two longitudinal first recesses extending in the length of the housing, respectively, and which communicate with a through-going drilling in the support flange and at which respective threaded rods are provided in one of the two longitudinal recesses and in threaded engagement with the abutment body which has such a cross-sectional shape that it may be pivoted to a position where a part of the body projects beyond the first recess and may be displaced through the first recess by rotating the threaded rod in order to bear against the rear side of the support plate.

Background of the Invention

When mounting taps, outlets and similar, it has previously be common to dispose the fitting unit at a threaded cylindric housing through a mounting hole that has a diameter which is slightly greater than the outer diameter of the cylindric housing. This fitting unit is mounted from the front side, and then a clamping nut is screwed on the threaded housing. This can be a difficult process, and in many cases it is difficult to get access to the nut at the rear side of the support plate.

In order to avoid the drawbacks by. mounting a nut at the rear side, it has been proposed to make fitting units for front mounting, which in this connection is to be understood as mounting of e.g. a valve housing or other fitting unit in a front plate or user plate, where there is no need for access to the rear side of the front plate/user plate, with the intention of fastening the fitting unit.

In these prior art systems, the fastening is provided by two or more wings projecting outside the diameter of the mounting hole after mounting. By means of threaded rods,

these wings or bodies may then be tightened against the rear side of front plate/user plate, whereby a support flange and these wings or bodies come to bear firmly against a front side and rear side of front plate/user plate.

An example of a front mounted fitting unit is described in WO 96/17137. This publication discloses separate elements that are used for mounting fittings. Moreover, there is described a system where separate means are applied in immediate connection with supply line, the means being able to be pivoted from a position where they may be passed through mounting apertures, to a position in which they extend outside the mounting opening, and may be brought to press against the rear side of a front plate/user plate. The disclosed systems are based on the use of springs, which may give rise to unreliable operation. Furthermore, no solution has been indicated which may be integrated in a fitting housing.

Another example of a front mounted fitting unit is described in JP 2000136553. This publication discloses a system of the type mentioned in the introduction. No means for securing the parts of the fitting unit as an integrated part of the fitting housing are mentioned, and parts may thus mutually become loosened during mounting/dismounting and storage. Neither there is any description of the possibility of using a cylindric housing, and the fitting unit may therefore not be used optionally for one or the other type of mounting.

Object of the Invention

It is the purpose of the present invention to indicate a fitting unit for front mounting in a rapid and secure way, where the means used for fastening are integrated in the fitting housing itself.

Description of the Invention

According to the present invention, this is achieved by a fitting housing of the type mentioned in the introduction, which is peculiar in that the at least two longitudinal recesses at the second end of the housing communicate with a second recess extending in the circumferential direction of the surface, that the abutment body has a cross- sectional shape so that in a first position it may be accommodated in the second recess, and which may be pivoted to a second position where a part of the body will bear

against a sidewall of the first recess, and where the part of the body projecting beyond the first recess is able to bear against the rear side of the support plate, and that there is a guide clip provided with openings for guiding the threaded rods at their ends farthest from the heads, and that the end of the threaded rod farthest from the head is provided with a deformity so that the body cannot be screwed off the threaded rod.

As the threaded rods are placed in recesses in the cylindric surface on the fitting housing, an integrated unit is achieved where threaded rods and the bodies connected therewith by screw threads interact with the recesses in the housing. Thus there is no need for separate elements, and the technical solution according to the present invention may be designed in an existing fitting housing which is only modified by providing the first and the second recesses and a boring through the annexed flange. The only further elements required will be the threaded rod and the body.

In practice, it will be possible that the housing is provided in its cylindric surface with a thread with the intention of optional application for front mounting or the traditional mounting by means of a nut which is screwed on the thread of the housing with the intention of clamping against the rear side of a front plate or a user plate.

Thus it would be technically very simple to produce fitting housings so that they may be used optionally for one or the other type of mounting.

The fitting unit according to the invention will be very reliable and simple to use. By mounting the fitting unit, the body is located in the second recess. Due to the friction between the thread of the threaded rod and the thread in the body, the bodies will, if required, be secured in the second recess by bringing a suitable tool, e.g. a screwdriver, Allen key or other into engagement with a slot on the head of the threaded rod. Subsequently to mounting the fitting unit, an initiated activation of the threaded rod will pivot the body out of the recess until a part of the wall bears against the sidewall on the first recess. In this position, the body will project outside the first recess. As the body is prevented from continued rotation together with the threaded rod, a continued rotation of the threaded rod will provide a translational displacement of bodies along the threaded rod, until the body bears against the rear side of the

support plate. The mode of operation does thus not rely on springs or other separate elements for bringing the body to its active position.

By dismounting, it will also be possible to perform dismounting safely from the front side of the support plate. By rotating the threaded rod, the body located in the first recess will not be able to pivot back and will therefore be displaced through the first recess until the body is disposed opposite the second recess. Only at this time the body will be pivoted into the second recess due to friction between the threads. The fitting unit may then be pulled out of the mounting hole in the support plate. By dismounting, there is no need of using springs or other elements that may give rise to functional failure.

The end of the threaded rod farthest from the head is deformed so that the body cannot be screwed off the threaded rod. Such a deformation may be a flat squeezing or flat pressing which is done after screwing the body on the threaded rod. Hereby, it is avoided that the threaded rod is screwed loose from the body, which may be advantageous during storage and in connection with use of the fitting unit. It is thus avoided that a body is released from the fitting unit during dismounting.

As it appears from the above, there will be a very reliable and dependable use of the fitting unit. Furthermore, it is advantageous, due to rational manufacture and stocking as the housing of the fitting unit may optionally be used for front mounting or traditional mounting.

According to a particular embodiment, the fitting unit is peculiar in that the second recess is provided at the end face of the housing farthest from the support flange. Hereby is enabled spanning across the greatest possible plate thickness compared to the length of the housing of the fitting unit. Furthermore, the making of a recess in the end face is easy to perform compared with a recess in the cylinder surface itself.

According to a further embodiment, the fitting unit according to the invention is peculiar in that the body is formed with a side which is shaped as an arc of a circle with a radius corresponding to the radius of the cylindric housing, and with a largely rectilinear side, and that these two sides are interconnected by a third side which is

largely semi-circular, and that each of the first recesses has a largely semi-circular cross-section with a radius which is slightly greater than the radius of the semi-circular third side. This provides a particularly simple design which ensures that the body in its first position has an outer surface which is approximately coincident with the outer surface of the cylindric housing. Moreover, the semi-circular side located around the threaded rod will enable a secure translational displacement of the body through the first recess. During this translational displacement, the semi-circular shape will ensure that the body will come to bear against both side edges in the channel-shaped recess which has been provided in the cylindric surface of the housing. The body may alternatively have other shapes than rectilinear. However, it is essential that one side is shaped as an arc of a circle, and it is also suitable that there is provided a semi-circular third side where a threaded hole is disposed centrally for receiving the threaded rod.

In order to allow for the most commonly occurring fittings and outlets, the fitting unit according to the invention is peculiar in that the housing has a diameter between 20 and 50 mm, and a support flange with a diameter which is 5 — 10 mm greater, and that the bodies in their second position protrude 7 — 12 mm from the cylindric surface. Alternatively, other dimensions can be used when this is required with regard to mounting and to applications that may put special demands on dimensioning.

Furthermore, the housing will preferably have a length between 30 and 50 mm in order to allow for the possibility of clamping to front plates as well as table plates with commonly used dimensions. Alternatively, other dimensions can be used when this is required with regard to mounting and applications that may put special demands on dimensioning.

The fitting unit according to the invention can have a central opening for receiving a tap body and alternatively, the housing may be provided with a through-going passage connected to an outlet. The fitting unit according to the present invention may thus be used in connection with valves, tap cocks and outlets.

The fitting unit will thus be advantageous in that one may dismount outlets, taps and similar and perform service or replacement of parts with these provided at a position outside the support plate, irrespectively whether speaking of a front plate or a table

plate. It will thus be an advantage by traditional installations in households and installations in laboratories and the like.

In order to provide an aesthetic finish and to cover the support flange with screw holes and heads on threaded rods, it is preferred that there is provided a cover plate over the support flange.

Description of the Drawing

The invention will in the following be explained more closely with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 shows an assembly view for illustrating a situation of use of a first embodiment of a fitting according to the invention; Fig. 2 shows a view corresponding to Fig. 1, but with the parts assembled and seen from the rear side of a support plate; Fig. 3 shows a view corresponding to Fig. 1 for illustration of an alternative application of the housing shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 shows a view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, as seen from the rear side of the support plate and in mounted condition;

Fig. 5 shows a view of a fitting unit according to the invention in a second application;

Fig. 6 shows a view for illustrating the body forming part of the fitting unit according to the invention; Fig. 7 shows a view for illustrating the threaded rod forming part of the fitting unit according to the invention; and Fig. 8 shows a view for illustrating a clip for use in a fitting unit according to the invention.

Detailed description of the invention

Identical and corresponding elements will be designated with the same reference numbers in the following, and no specific explanation will be given to all details in connection with each single Figure.

Fig. 1 and 2 show a fitting unit 1 intended for being mounted in a support plate 2 which is provided with a mounting hole 3. The housing 9 is intended for being connected with supply lines 4, 5 provided with nuts 6, 7 for mounting in apertures 8 at the bottom 9 of the fitting unit 1. The housing 9 has a projecting support flange 10 which is intended for bearing against the front side 11 of the support plate 2 (see also Fig. 3).

The housing 9 has a cylindric surface 12 provided with thread (not specifically shown). Two elongated recesses 13 are provided in the cylindric surface of the housing, of which only one is visible in Fig. 1. A corresponding recess 13 is provided diametrally opposed. In the recess 13, a threaded rod 14 is provided with a head 15 (see Fig. 7). The threaded rod is provided with a deformity 16 at its end farthest from the head 15. The deformity 16 is only provided after mounting a body 17 and a guide clip 18 which is provided with openings 19 for guiding the threaded rods 14 at their ends farthest from the head 15.

The clip 18 is disposed at the end of the head farthest from the support flange 10 and is preferably mounted in a groove 20. Thereby, a secure guiding of the threaded rod 14 is achieved as this will be guided at its other end in a through-going boring at the support flange 10.

In one position illustrated in Fig. 1, the body 17 will be disposed in a second recess 22 extending in the circumferential direction in the surface of the cylindric face of the housing. The second recess 22 is located at the end face of the housing. The body 17 may be pivoted from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the position shown in Fig. 2, where a lateral face 23 on the body 17 will bear against a sidewall 24 in the first recess 13.

The body 17 has a cross-section so that after contacting the sidewall 24, it is displaced through the first recess 13 by rotation of the threaded rod 14, so that the body is brought to bear against the rear side 25 of the support plate 2.

In Fig. 1 is furthermore illustrated a cover plate 26 which may cover the support flange 10. Moreover, a tap cock 27 is shown for disposition in a central opening (not shown) in the housing of the fitting.

Fig. 3 corresponds substantially to Fig. 1. In this embodiment, the threaded rod 14 and the body 17 are omitted, and instead there is provided a nut 28 that may interact with the threading on the housing. Furthermore, there is provided a washer 29. In Fig. 4, the fitting unit 1 is seen from below in mounted condition with the nut 28 and the washer 29 in firm abutment on the rear side 25 of the support plate.

In Fig. 5 appears a fitting unit 1 with the body 17 disposed in the first recess 13. In this embodiment, the housing is connected with an outlet 30, and for this use provided with a through-going passage indicated by a connection 31. To this may be connected a hose connection. A connection 31 may alternatively be provided at the end face of the housing, corresponding to the openings 8 as illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 6a illustrates a side view of the body 17, and b illustrates a view of the body 17 from above, while c illustrates a perspective view of the body 17.

Here it appears that the body 17 is provided with a threaded hole 32 for receiving the threaded rod 14. The body has a first side 33 with a circular arc shape, having a radius corresponding to a radius of the cylindric housing. The opposite side 34 has a corresponding shape, but may alternatively be rectilinear. These two sides 33, 35 are connected by a third side 35 which is largely semi-circular in shape. The threaded hole 32 is situated concentrically within the semi-circular third side 35. In use, the third side 35 will be displaced in the bottom of the recess 13 which also will have a corresponding semi-circular cross-section.

As mentioned previously, Fig. 7 shows a threaded rod 14 which is provided with a head 15 and a deformation 16 at the opposing end part. As shown, the deformation 16 will have a rectangular cross-section extending outside the cylindric threaded rod.

Fig. 8 shows, as stated, a clip 18 with guide holes 19 for receiving the threaded rod. The clip 18 is largely circular with a circular outer side 36 having a diameter

corresponding to the diameter of the housing, and has an internal U-shaped cutout 37 in order to be inserted into the grooves 20 at the bottom of the housing.