Fluid handling – Convertible – Unit orientable in a single location between plural positions
Patent
1989-02-24
1990-02-20
Rivell, John
Fluid handling
Convertible
Unit orientable in a single location between plural positions
1374542, 1376254, F16K 1106, F16K 2500
Patent
active
049017497
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a faucet valve and more particularly to a faucet valve that has a reversible bottom section for installation in a single handle faucet.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Plumbers conventionally install hot and cold water lines when they can such that the hot water line is on the left and the cold water line is on the right. Faucet manufacturers have also made single handle mixing faucets with their own conventional operation. Faucet levers moved to the right deliver cold water and moved to the left deliver hot water. Faucet manufacturers recognize the importance of these conventions so that when a faucet is installed, the faucet operates correctly when the left hot water line is connected to the left inlet and the right cold water line is connected to the right inlet.
However, certain difficulties arise in specific situations. In certain faucets, if the lever handle is replaced by a knob, for example, the conventional operation of the faucet is reversed, i.e., movement of a lever to the right conventionally provides cold water. However, this movement corresponds to counterclockwise rotation of a knob which conventionally should provide hot water. Therefore, a reversing mechanism is needed within the faucet, such as crossover of the inlets or a reversing bottom such as that shown in copending and commonly owned patent applications U.S. Ser. No. 804,261 and PCT/US86/01180. Incorporation of these two applications are herein made by reference.
Another common difficulty arises when the same type faucet is to be installed in two different rooms placed on opposite sides of a common wall and connected to common supply pipes. The cold water pipe that is conventionally located on the right for a first faucet turns out to be on the left for the other faucet. Before the development of the reversing bottom, either one accepts the fact that one faucet operates in a reverse fashion from convention, or it was necessary that the plumber cross the supply inlets. The only other alternative was to install a different faucet that was designed to compensate for the reversal of the supply pipes.
With the reversing bottom, one merely changes the position of the reversing bottom (by rotation or flipping) to compensate for the non conventional position of the supply pipes. However, with the reversing bottom, the plumber may get confused as to which position of the bottom corresponds to the conventional location of the supply pipes and which position corresponds to the reversed location of the supply pipes.
What is needed is an orienting and indicating mechanism that normally assures the proper orientation of the reversible bottom for conventional installation and prevent accidental reversal of the reversible bottom so that upon initial assembly of the valve, the faucet is assured to be assembled for the conventional installation. Furthermore, it is desirable to have a simple operation to override or defeat the orientation mechanism to provide for intended reversal of the reversible bottom.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention, a faucet valve has a cartridge housing which houses the control stem and movable valve element. A reversible bottom includes a plastic housing member with a first and second inlet and a fixed valve element with first and second apertures normally in communication with the first and second inlets, respectively. The fixed valve element can be a ceramic valve plate clipped onto the top portion of the plastic housing member.
The plastic housing member and cartridge housing have respective joint connectors to fasten the two members together. In addition, the cartridge housing and reversible bottom include an orienting mechanism that assures installation of the bottom in a first orientation. The orienting mechanism preferably includes a prong extending in a notch of one of the cartridge housing or bottom housing member and two opposing tabs on the other of the cartridge housing a bottom housing member. One tab has a groove to receive the prong and the
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Masco Corporation of Indiana
Permut Steven L.
Rivell John
Sutherland Malcolm L.
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