DESCRIPTION

Technical Field

The present invention concerns a hydraulic tap. More precisely, the invention concerns a hydraulic tap for use in the sanitary field, e.g. in the domestic or industrial field, in bathrooms and kitchens.

Prior Art

A hydraulic tap generally comprises a hollow tap body, adapted to be secured to the surface of a washbasin or a washtub or a kitchen sink, or on the surface of a top of a piece of furniture for bathrooms or kitchens. The tap body is usually secured in correspondence of a hole formed in the supporting surface, in order to allow passage of the pipes. Prior art taps generally comprise a hollow tubular tap body, arranged coaxially to the hole on the supporting surface, and a delivery spout arranged substantially perpendicular, or with some inclination, relative to the longitudinal axis of the body, so as to project towards the centre of the washbasin or sink with which the tap is associated. The delivery spout is provided with an internal duct and a delivery mouth, having a corresponding delivery opening through which the fluid, typically water coming from the water mains and made to pass through the tap hollow, may be discharged into the washbasin or sink with which the tap is associated. A valve assembly is generally housed in a seat formed in the tap body, which assembly enables adjusting the water flow rate. In some embodiments, the valve assembly may comprise a mixer for mixing the flows of hot and cold water and adjusting the temperature of the water being delivered. A control hand-wheel or lever, accessible to the user from the outside of the tap body, controls the valve adjusting the flow rate and, if provided, the valve adjusting the mixing.

Taps are also known in which the valve assembly, provided with the mixer or not, is located outside the tap body and is connected thereto through suitable ducts. In such cases, the valve assembly is generally electrically controlled by suitable actuators.

In the sanitary field, taps are known that are provided with a delivery spout of different shape and length. Typically, the delivery spout is rigidly secured to the tap body and preferably is integrally made with the tap body. In some taps, the delivery spout is secured to a ring nut rotatable relative to the tap body and thus it can be angularly oriented in order to change the discharge direction of the water flow, in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tap body. Hydraulic taps are also known that are provided with a removable delivery spout hydraulically connected to the tap body or the valve assembly by means of a flexible duct. The latter kind of tap is particularly useful in all those situations of use of the tap in which it is necessary to direct the water jet discharged from the tap to a zone different from that normally reached by the jet flowing out from a non-removable spout.

A typical situation in which it can be necessary to modify the water discharge direction occurs for instance when dirt is to be removed from the surface of the bowl, e.g. of a washbasin or a washtub or a sink with which the tap is associated. Another situation in which the same need is encountered occurs for instance when it is desired to fill a container whose size in incompatible or scarcely compatible with the shape of the washbasin or washtub or sink with which the tap is associated.

Taps provided with a delivery spout secured to a rotatable ring nut only partially allow meeting the above requirement, due to the limited possibility of varying the discharge direction of the water flow.

The prior art taps provided with a removable delivery spout, even though on the one hand allow meeting the above requirement, on the other hand have a number of drawbacks that are mainly related with the provision of the flexible duct. Actually, such a flexible duct is prone to breaking and, moreover, dirt tends to become accumulated on the surface of the flexible duct, thereby making frequent cleaning necessary, especially in public places or in professional kitchens.

Telescopically extendable delivery spouts for hydraulic taps are known from US 6 138 716 A, US 6 142 184 A, US 2006/201562 Al, US 2010/116370 Al, WO 87/06861 Al, US 2080350 A and US 6 158 469. US 2016/279648 Al discloses a shower head having a telescopic duct. One of the drawbacks of the prior art devices is that often the telescopic movement is scarcely smooth and is subject to jamming. This drawback occurs already when the tap is new, and it becomes more and more apparent with use. Moreover, the telescopic movement generally offers the possibility of mutually rotating the duct portions, and also that movement is subject to the same drawbacks of scarce smoothness and of jamming.

Therefore, it is a main object of the present invention to meet the requirement described above, by providing a tap that does not have the drawbacks of the prior art and that allows modifying the discharge direction of the fluid flow delivered.

It is another object of the invention to provide a tap of the above kind, which is robust and therefore is suitable for an intensive use, even in working environments. It is yet another object of the invention to provide a hydraulic tap that achieves the above objects and that can be made both as a flow adjusting tap and as a mixing tap, having either a built-in or an external adjusting or mixing valve, possibly electrically controlled

It is a further, but not the last object of the invention to provide a hydraulic tap that is suitable for large-scale industrial production.

The above and other objects of the invention are achieved by the tap as claimed in the appended claims.

Summary of the invention

The hydraulic tap according to the invention mainly comprises a tap body and a delivery spout associated with the tap body. The tap body is arranged to be secured, with known means, to a supporting surface, e.g. a washbasin or a washtub or a kitchen sink.

The tap body is preferably cylindrical and axially projects in vertical direction from the supporting surface. The delivery spout is provided with an internal duct and, frontally, with a delivery opening, possibly equipped with a jet dividing element, in order to discharge a liquid, typically hot or cold or mixed hot/cold water, which has passed through the tap body and the delivery spout, to the outside of the tap.

Advantageously, according to the invention, the delivery spout comprises at least one telescopically extendable portion, which preferably is at least partially rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the spout.

The delivery spout can be associated with the tap body in fixed manner, or in rotatable manner so that it can at least partially rotate about the longitudinal axis of the tap body. In the first case, the spout can be integrally made with the tap body, or it can have its proximal end steadily secured, for instance screwed or press-fitted, in a radial seat provided in the tap body. In the second case, the spout can be integrally made with a sleeve rotatably associated with the tap body, or it can have its proximal end steadily secured, for instance screwed or press-fitted, in a radial seat provided in the rotatable sleeve.

The tap body may be provided with an internal seat where an assembly for adjusting the hydraulic flow passing through the tap body is housed. The adjusting assembly can be provided with a control hand-wheel or knob, which can be manually operated from the outside of the tap body, and it may incorporate a mixer.

The adjusting and possibly mixing assembly could even be located outside the tap body and be electrically controlled by means of actuators. The delivery spout could even be removably associated with the tap body, in which case it will be connected, preferably by means of a flexible duct passing though the tap body, to the flow adjusting and possibly mixing assembly, located inside or outside the tap body.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the delivery spout comprises a proximal portion and a distal portion, preferably with circular cross section. The two portions are telescopically associated and are arranged to axially slide relative to each other along the longitudinal axis of the delivery spout, so as to vary the distance between the free end of the delivery spout, from which the fluid passing through the tap body and the delivery spout flows out, and the longitudinal axis of the tap body.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, the proximal portion of the delivery spout is fastened to the tap body and is in fluid communication with a seat internal to the tap body.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, the second spout portion, or distal portion, is partially received within the first spout portion and it slides inside the first spout portion. Yet, embodiments could be envisaged in which the proximal portion is located inside the distal portion, which therefore will be slidably externally fitted on the proximal portion.

Preferably, according to the invention, at least one annular hydraulic seal or O-ring is provided between the inner spout portion and the outer spout portion and is arranged to prevent the fluid passing through the spout from penetrating into the region comprised between the two telescopic portions and from flowing out laterally.

According to the invention, at least one system for stopping the relative rotary and/or sliding movement of the two spout portions is provided between the two portions.

According to the invention, the stopping system does not determine a blockage preventing rotation or sliding, but it is arranged to make application of a greater effort necessary in order to cause rotation or sliding when the two portions have attained a predetermined relative configuration. Advantageously, the stopping system allows making the rotary and/or sliding movement of one portion relative to the other discrete and maintaining the position attained until the resistance opposed by the stopping system is overcome by the force manually applied from the outside on the slidable and preferably rotatable portion.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the system for stopping the relative rotation and/or sliding of the two telescopic spout portions comprises at least one longitudinal groove formed along one of the generatrices of the outer surface of the inner spout portion, and a stopping member located between the two spout portions and arranged to engage the groove, thus making application of a greater effort by the operator necessary in order to cause the further relative rotation of the two portions, Preferably, the longitudinal grooves have a V-shaped cross section, but they could also have a U-shaped or a differently shaped cross section.

The stopping member is preferably supported by an elastic element, e.g. a spring or an element made of rubber or other suitable material, arranged to keep the stopping member permanently in contact with the surface of the spout portion distal from the elastic element.

In accordance with a particular embodiment of the invention, the stopping member preferably comprises a ball or a cylinder with a conical tip directed towards the inner spout portion. The elastic element comprises at least one elastic ring arranged on a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the spout portion with which the stopping member is associated.

The outer spout portion comprises an annular seat, which is arranged on a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the outer spout portion and in which the elastic element is received, and a radial hole which radially passes through the wall of the outer spout portion and intercepts the annular seat, and in which the stopping member is slidably received.

Preferably, the elastic element comprises a pair of separate O-rings, and the annular seat receiving them preferably has a width not exceeding the sum of the diameters of the O-rings and a depth not exceeding the diameter of the O-ring with smaller diameter. Preferably, the radial hole has a cross sectional size not smaller than the cross sectional size of the stopping member, whereby the stopping member can freely radially slide in the radial hole and move against the outer wall of the inner spout portion under the action of the elastic thrust exerted by the elastic element.

According to the invention, the stopping member can be made of metal, for instance steel or bronze, or of plastics or of any other suitable material.

This solution is particularly advantageous thanks to the easiness of assembling the stopping system and to the easiness of replacing the components thereof. A further, but not the last advantage of this solution is the possibility of making the stopping system by using components that are usually commercially available, without the need to make custom components. In accordance with a first variant embodiment, the elastic element comprises a single-body annular seal, having a substantially rectangular cross section and provided with a curved side, i.e. having a cross-section substantially reproducing the shape of an arc bridge. Always in accordance with this variant embodiment, the annular seat further has a width not exceeding the width of the cross-section of the single -body seal and a depth not exceeding the thickness of the single-body seal. Moreover, the radial hole has a cross sectional size not smaller than the cross sectional size of the stopping member, whereby the stopping member can freely radially slide in the radial hole and move against the outer wall of the inner spout portion under the action of the elastic thrust exerted by the elastic element.

In a second variant embodiment of the invention, the stopping system comprises at least one longitudinal groove in the outer surface of the inner spout portion, a radial hole in the wall of the outer spout portion, a stopping member received in the radial hole, an elastic element comprising a rubber disc, and a plug closing the hole.

In a third variant embodiment of the invention, the stopping system comprises at least one longitudinal groove in the outer surface of the inner spout portion, a blind inner radial seat in the inner wall of the outer spout portion, a stopping member received in the radial seat and an elastic element comprising a rubber disc accommodated at the bottom of the blind radial seat.

In accordance with a particular embodiment of the invention, the system for stopping the axial sliding comprises recesses formed on the outer surface of the inner portion of the telescopic spout. Said recesses are arranged to cooperate with the stopping member for stopping the telescopic axial sliding movement of the spout, similarly to what occurs for stopping the rotation. For instance, said recesses might include annular grooves formed on the outer surface of the inner spout portion, or seats with suitable cross- sectional shapes, for instance a circular shape, provided for instance along the longitudinal grooves.

The stopping system has been disclosed with reference to a configuration in which the grooves or recesses are formed in the inner portion of the delivery spout and the stopping member is associated with the outer portion of the delivery spout. However, clearly, a person skilled in the art could also make said system with a configuration in which the grooves or recesses are formed in the inner surface of the outer spout portion and the stopping member is associated with the inner portion of the telescopic spout.

Brief description of the figures Some preferred embodiments of the invention will be given by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

- Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a mixing hydraulic tap made in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention;

- Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along a plane A-A in Fig. 1;

- Fig. 3 is a sectional view, similar to Fig. 2, of a non-mixing hydraulic tap;

- Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along a plane E-E in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3;

- Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of a detail of Fig. 2 and Fig. 3;

- Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of a detail of Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, in a first variant embodiment;

- Fig. 7 is a sectional view, taken along a plane E-E in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, of the first variant embodiment;

- Fig. 8 is an enlarged view of a detail of Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, in a second variant embodiment;

- Fig. 9 is a sectional view, taken along a plane E-E in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, of the second variant embodiment;

- Fig. 10 is an enlarged view of a detail of Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, in a third variant embodiment.

Description of some preferred embodiments of the invention

Referring to Figs. 1 to 5, there is shown a first embodiment of the invention, in which a tap 11 comprises a tap body 13 and a delivery spout 15 having an internal duct 15a. Delivery spout 15 is associated with tap body 11 and is provided with a delivery mouth 17 for discharging a liquid, typically hot or cold or mixed hot/cold water, which passes through tap body 13 and delivery spout 15, to the outside of tap 11.

Tap body 13 is arranged to be secured, with known means, to a supporting surface, e.g. the surface of a washbasin or a washtub or a kitchen sink. In the embodiment illustrated, tap body 13 is substantially cylindrical and has a flat supporting base 13a for placing body 13 on a supporting plane, in correspondence of a hole provided therein for the passage of the ducts of the hydraulic circuit to which tap 11 is to be connected. Body 13 axially projects in vertical direction from supporting base 13a.

Spout 15 comprises at least one proximal portion 19 and one distal portion 21, telescopically associated with each other, so that distal portion 21 can axially slide relative to proximal portion 19 (arrows Fl) and can also rotate relative thereto (arrows F2).

As it can be better appreciated from Figs. 2 and 3, proximal end 19a of proximal portion 19 is steadily fastened by press-fitting into body 13, into a seat 13b provided therein.

Figs. 1 and 2 show a mixing tap 11 provided with a mixing valve 71 received within body 13. In this exemplary embodiment, tap 11 has a control lever 73 positioned on body 13, on the opposite side of base 13a, and connected to mixing valve 71 through connecting members. By means of lever 73 it is possible to adjust both the flow rate of water flowing through valve 71 and the temperature of water flowing out from tap 11.

Fig. 3 shows a tap 1 Γ incorporating an adjusting valve controllable through a hand- wheel 73' positioned on body 13, on the opposite side of base 13a, and connected through a stem, passing through a gland, to a small piston provided with a gasket and arranged to axially slide to adjust the flow rate of water flowing through tap 1 .

In both examples illustrated, delivery spout 15 is radially fastened to tap body 13 and is oriented along a direction inclined by about 15° relative to the longitudinal axis of tap body 13.

According to the invention, the two portions 19, 21 of delivery spout 15 are telescopically associated and are arranged to axially slide relative to each other along the longitudinal axis of delivery spout 15 (arrows Fl). The relative sliding between the two portions 19, 21 of spout 15 causes the variation of the distance between the free end of delivery spout 15, provided with delivery mouth 17, and the longitudinal axis of tap body 13. In the embodiment illustrated, delivery mouth 17 is provided with a jet dividing element 17a.

Proximal spout portion 19 is fastened to tap body 13 and it is in fluid communication with a seat internal to tap body 13, in which mixing valve 71 (Figs. 1 and 2) or the adjusting valve (Fig. 3), depending on the applications, is received.

In this embodiment, distal spout portion 21 is partially received within proximal portion 19. Such an arrangement is advantageous from the constructive and aesthetic standpoints, since in this manner the cross-section of distal portion 21, having a circular shape in the example illustrated, can be kept smaller than that of proximal portion 19.

Always with reference to the embodiment illustrated, a pair of annular hydraulic seals 23 or O-rings are provided between inner spout portion 19 and outer spout portion, in order to prevent the fluid passing through spout 15 from penetrating into the region comprised between the two portions 19, 21 and from consequently flowing out laterally without reaching delivery mouth 17. Seals 23 are received in corresponding annular grooves 25 provided around inner portion 21 (the distal portion in the example illustrated) of spout 15, on as many planes substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of spout 15 and parallel to one another. Annular grooves 25 are advantageously provided near proximal end 21a of inner portion 21, so as to be in contact with the inner surface of outer portion 19 (the proximal portion in the example illustrated) of spout 15, whatever the relative position taken by the two portions 19, 21 because of the mutual telescopic sliding may be.

At least one system 27 for stopping the relative rotation of the two telescopic spout portions 19, 21 is provided between the two portions 19, 21.

In this embodiment, said stopping system 27 comprises three longitudinal grooves 31 formed along as many generatrices of the outer surface of inner (or distal) spout portion 21, and a stopping member 33 located between the two spout portions 19, 21. In the embodiment illustrated, longitudinal grooves 31 have a V-shaped cross section.

In the exemplary embodiment illustrated, stopping member 33 comprises a ball 35 arranged to engage one of grooves 31, thereby making necessary a greater effort in order to cause the further relative rotation of the two portions 19, 21 when ball 35 is partially received in groove 31. Ball 35 is supported at its back, i.e. on the side opposite to inner spout portion 21 provided with grooves 31, by an elastic element 37.

Advantageously, elastic element 37 is arranged to keep ball 35 in contact with the outer surface of inner spout portion 21, i.e. the surface radially distal from elastic element 37.

Always with reference to the exemplary embodiment illustrated, elastic element 37 comprises a pair of separate elastic rings 37a, 37b, consisting of O-rings with circular cross section, arranged on a respective plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of spout portion 19 with which they are associated.

Outer spout portion 19 has an annular seat 39 arranged in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of outer spout portion 19 and receiving the two elastic rings 37a, 37b. Outer spout portion 19 further has a radial hole 41 radially passing through the wall of outer spout portion 19 and receiving ball 35.

Annular seat 39 has a width, in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the spout, not exceeding the sum of the diameters of O-rings 37a, 37b, and a depth, in radial direction, not exceeding the diameter of O-ring 37a, 37b with smaller diameter. Radial hole 41 has a diameter not smaller than the diameter of ball 35. Thanks to such a configuration, ball 35 can freely radially slide in radial hole 41 and move against the outer wall of inner spout portion 21 under the action of the thrust exerted by the pair of O-rings 37a, 37b elastically compressed in annular seat 39. A threaded ferrule 43 is provided around distal end 19b of outer portion 19. Ferrule 43 extends around outer portion 19 over a length 43 a sufficient to intercept annular seat 39, thereby preventing the pair of O-rings 37a, 37b from coming out from the seat. Threaded ferrule 43 is screwed around end 19b, which consequently has an external thread. Moreover, ferrule 43 has a portion 43b which is located before end 19b of outer portion 19 and in which an inner annular seat is formed. Such a seat receives a sealing O- ring 45 engaging the outer surface of inner portion 21. Sealing ring 45 has a function similar to the function of annular seals 23.

Referring to Figs. 6 and 7, there is shown a first variant embodiment of stopping system 27, in which elastic element 37 comprises a single-body annular seal 47, having a substantially rectangular cross section provided with a curved side 47a, i.e. a cross-section substantially shaped as an arc bridge. Always with reference to this variant embodiment, annular seat 39 receiving elastic element 37 has a width, in the direction of the longitudinal axis of spout 15, not exceeding the width of the cross-section of single-body seal 47 and a radial depth not exceeding the thickness of single -body seal 47, so as to keep elastic element 37 elastically compressed inside it. Moreover, radial hole 41 has a diameter not smaller than the diameter of ball 35, whereby ball 35 can freely radially slide in radial hole 41 and move against the outer wall of inner spout portion 21 under the action of the elastic thrust exerted by single -body elastic element 47.

Referring to Figs. 8 and 9, there is shown a second variant embodiment of the invention, in which stopping system 27 comprises three V-shaped longitudinal grooves 31 formed in the outer surface of inner spout portion 21, a radial hole 51 in the wall of outer spout portion 19, a stopping member 33 received in radial hole 51 and comprising a ball 35, an elastic element comprising a rubber disc or pad 53 and a plug 55 closing hole 51. The plug is for instance press-fitted or screwed in hole 51, in order to make the elastic element inaccessible from the outside. Advantageously, hole 51 will have a first, outer portion 51a intended to receive rubber disc 53, and an inner second portion 51b intended to receive ball 35 or a similar stopping member 33. The cross sectional size of portion 51a will not exceed the cross sectional size of disc 53, and the cross sectional size of portion 51b will not exceed the cross sectional size of stopping member 33, i.e., in the example illustrated, the area of the maximum circumference of ball 35. Moreover, portion 51a will have a smaller cross sectional size than portion 51b.

Referring to Fig. 10, there is shown a third variant embodiment of the invention, in which stopping system 27 comprises three V-shaped longitudinal grooves 31 in the outer surface of inner spout portion 21, an inner radial seat 57 in the wall of outer spout portion 19, a stopping member 33 received in said radial seat 57 and comprising a ball 35, and an elastic element 37 comprising for instance a rubber disc 59 received in radial seat 57.

With reference to this variant embodiment, the cross sectional size of inner radial seat 57 will preferably be chosen not smaller than the cross sectional size of elastic member 37 and not smaller than the area of the maximum circumference of ball 35.

The tap as described and illustrated can undergo several changes and modifications, lying within the same inventive principle.