Abstract: A valve housing assembly includes a valve body member that has an exterior threaded section which can engage an interior threaded section of a cap member. The cap member and valve body member have opposing shoulders. An abutment ring made from a semi-rigid material of talc filled propylene is interposed between the two opposing shoulders and provides for seal between the two opposing shoulders to the threaded section. Furthermore, the semi-rigid abutment ring will undergo slight compression when the cap member is fully tightened onto the body member and will creep back over a period of time to alleviate vertical forces which can cause seizing of the threaded sections of the cap member and body member which would otherwise prevent easy removal of the cap member from the body member. Furthermore, the sealing of the ring between the two shoulders reduces the chance of corrosion by eliminating water leaking into the threaded section from the interior of the valve body.

Abstract: A trim assembly for a water closet is disclosed. The water closet includes a tank, a bowl, a passage communicating the tank and bowl, a plurality of rim wash ports in the bowl and a trap between the bowl and an outlet. The trim assembly includes a manifold with an inlet and first and second outlets. The first outlet is coupled to a control valve with a main valve controlling flow to a control valve chamber. The control valve chamber includes first and second outlets and pressurized fluid introduced in the control valve chamber is simultaneously communicated to these outlets. The first outlet in the valve chamber is in fluid communication with the rim wash ports and the second outlet in the valve chamber is in fluid communication with a jet ring. Flow to the first and second outlets in the valve chamber is simultaneously commenced by lifting a valve member off a pilot port in the valve chamber.

Abstract: At least one of a pair of valve members which control the flow in a valve is composed substantially of silicon carbide (SiC). Preferably, the silicon carbide valve member is produced by the Lagan SiC process. It is possible to use a single silicon carbide valve member cooperating with a valve member of conventional ceramic material, or both cooperating valve members may be made of silicon carbide. Preferably, materials of different surface hardness are used for the cooperating valve members. In addition, one of the cooperating valve members preferably is softer and has a less smoothly polished surface than the other valve member. The silicon carbide material has a low friction coefficient even in the absence of lubrication and does not give rise to excessive adhesion between pieces of high surface finish and thus ensures the maintenance and the smoothness of operation for long periods of time with respect to the known ceramics.

Abstract: The mixing valve includes a fixed valve plate of hard material provided with passage openings communicating with two supply pipes, a plastic slide connected to a control mechanism and sliding against a control guide ring, and at least a movable disk of hard material fixed to the slide and having openings therethrough cooperating with the passage openings of the fixed plate so as to regulate the delivered water flow and the mixing ratio of the liquids fed in the faucet. The slide has a cavity where water is collected and at least an outlet opening facing the guide ring. The guide ring has a window facing the outlet opening of the slide and a section of slots and blades arranged like comb teeth. The slots extend themselves from the above-mentioned window toward a space surrounding the slide and communicating with a spout connection. The slots are positioned to be at least partially covered by the slide when the slide is next to the closed position by thus producing a total or partial closure device.

Abstract: A cartridge assembly for converting a single-handle faucet from a ball-type valve to a cooperating plate valve. The cartridge includes an outer body member (10) having one fixed valve plate (16) and one movable valve plate (19) and lever means (23) for controlling the relative motions of the plates. The body (10) has a substantially cylindrical upper portion and a lower portion (11) defined by inclined, semi-spherical surfaces. A pair of converging inlet passageways (12) communicate with throughbores (17) formed in the fixed plate (16) to control fluid flow through the assembly and to an outlet (7). The cartridge is designed to be introduced into the chamber (2, 3) of a faucet valve body (1) normally utilized with a ball-type valving member without requiring alteration of the faucet valve body (1) to thereby introduce flow regulation members composed of flat valve plates (16, 19) manufactured from hard, wear-resistant materials.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fan unit comprising a tubular external housing which has inlet and outlet connectors placed coaxially one behind in the other. A radial impeller have backwardly directed vanes. A distributor surrounds the radial impeller and positioned downstream thereof. The distributor is secured on an inner side of the housing and having a plurality of guide vanes extending axially and circumferentially spaced around the periphery. The vanes are adapted to deflect the flow of impelled fluid radially emerging from the impeller to an axial direction and which are so inclined at an angle of attack, which is selected in accordance with the direction of emergence of the impelled fluid in relation to the axis of rotation of the radial impeller that a smooth even flow transition takes place in the distributor. The ring of guide vanes coaxially surrounds the impeller with a clearance gap of substantially constant width.

Abstract: A four point locking system for a storage cabinet having a pair of outwardly pivotable doors which provide access to the cabinet interior. The locking system includes a lock bar vertically disposed in each door and adapted to be moved downwardly into the bottom lintel of the cabinet. A plunger bracket is pivotably mounted within the top of the cabinet and includes plunger flanges which move down through the top lintel of the cabinet into each door to lock the top portion of the cabinet doors while simultaneously moving the lock bars downwardly to lock the bottom portion of the cabinet doors. The pivotable movement of the plunger bracket is controlled by a lock push bar which is directly connected to a lock push button extending through the front of the cabinet. An extension spring is utilized to bias the push bar and plunger bracket towards the unlocked position while compression springs attached to the lock bars bias the bars upwardly to their unlocked position.

Abstract: A self-adjusting door strike for a bolt assembly which adjusts to existing door conditions by deflecting a resilient member against the bolt of the door thereby eliminating rattle. The strike includes a conventional strike plate having a compensating member spanning the strike opening. The resilient compensating member can be in the form of a resilient plastic member or rollers axially mounted to a spring-wire. This compensating member engages the bolt to prevent the door and bolt mechanism from rattling within the strike while also compensating for shrinkage or warping of the door.

Abstract: A brush and scraper attachment for a hand-held auxiliary sprayer associated with a kitchen faucet. The brush attachment fits over the nozzle end of the sprayer while the scraper is received within the brush attachment. A seal ring seated within the fluid passageway of the brush provides a sealing engagement between the brush and sprayer to prevent back flow particularly upon attachment of the scraper. The scraper attachment includes a restricted flow passage which supplies water to the scraper blade.

Abstract: A motor and pump assembly having an intermediate mounting bracket adapted to conveniently join and support the separate motor housing and pump housing. The bracket is configured to accommodate the mounting of either a partial motor or a full motor design to the pump assembly. In the partial motor assembly, the mounting bracket is combined with a bearing housing to form the end wall of the motor housing and the support bearings for the motor shaft which extends therethrough into the pump assembly. Conversely, the bracket may be used to connect the pump to a full motor having an end wall structure. Thus, the mounting bracket may be combined with a partial motor during initial assembly and subsequently connect to a full motor upon failure of the partial motor.

Abstract: A faucet valve 10 includes a ball valve 28 seated in a valve chamber 18. The ball valve 28 has a plurality of apertures 46 circumferentially spaced about the control stem 32 which extends through an opening 60 in the cap assembly 48 of the valve housing 16. A check valve 66 is formed within the hollow interior 62 of the ball valve and includes a disc section 70 that mounts a flap valve 78. A shield formed by a cylindrical wall 80 downwardly depending from the disc section 70 and a snap ring 84 fitted on the lower end of the cylindrical wall protects the flap valve from undue water turbulence. Negative pressure in the supply inlet opens the flap valve 78 to draw air through passageway 64 formed by the apertures 46 and auxiliary opening 60 and hollow interior 62 of the ball valve seated in the valve chamber 18.

Abstract: A cartridge is receivable in a mixing valve body for regulating the flow rate and the mixing proportions of the liquid from two supply inlets. The cartridge includes a shell housing, an operating mechanism, and a movable valve element of hard material. The cartridge can be standardized to fit different kinds of mixing valve bodies. A separate bottom, built separately from the shell, mounts a fixed valve plate of hard material and includes at least the main parts distinguishing the cartridges assigned to different kinds of mixing valve bodies. A joint mechanism allows the mounting of the bottom onto the shell in selected positions so that the shell and bottom are resistant against separation from a pulling force. Preferably the joint, foreseen between the shell and the bottom of the cartridge, is a bayonet-type joint that fixes the shell and bottom against rotation but allows limited axial movement between the shell and the bottom.

Abstract: A diverter valve assembly (10) has a one piece valve seat member (26) that is fitted within a cavity (12) of the faucet body (14). The one piece valve seat member has a flexible peripheral lip (62) with an annular recess (64) that allows fluid to pressurize and exert an outward force on the lip to move the lip and seal it against the valve cavity. Furthermore, the one piece valve seat member has prongs (44) which resiliently bias the spool assembly (28) to a first position to reduce chattering of the valve assembly and to provide an anti-siphon system. A cup valve (36) has a thin peripheral lip (76) at an end of a peripheral section (75) that is about a tubular inner section (78) that has a narrow annular groove (79) therebetween which limits collapse of the cup valve (36) during operation thereof as a pressure responsive piston to move the valve element (34) to a closed position.

Abstract: A diverter valve 10 has a two piece housing 22 including a lower member 24 and an upper member 26 securely snap fitted together within a cavity 12 of a faucet body 14. The housing 22 has a piston valve assembly 28 slidably mounted therein for movement between a first position which allows water to flow through a spout and a second position which allows water to flow to a spray head. The diverter valve has prongs 72 which resiliently bias the spool assembly 28 to the first position to reduce chattering of the valve assembly and to provide a back-up anti-siphon system.