Abstract: A single-control valve has a normally stationary valve plate formed with hot- and cold-water inlet ports and an outlet port opening at a flat face of the valve plate and a movable control plate having a flat face lying on the valve-plate face and formed with a cavity opening at the control-plate face and juxtaposable over the ports. at least one of the plates and its surface are formed of a hard ceramic, and at least the surface of the other of the plates is formed of a low-friction synthetic resin. The low-friction synthetic resin is polyethylene or polypropylene.

Abstract: A fitting is formed with an outwardly open generally cylindrical bore centered on an axis and having an inner surface of a predetermined inner diameter. A tube end fits axially into the bore and is formed with a radially outwardly open groove, and a partial stiff sleeve of elastically deformable and strong material is engaged in the groove and has a frustoconically outwardly flared sharp outer edge of a predetermined outer diameter. Interengaging formations on the sleeve and on the tube end spread the sleeve and force the edge to bite into the inner surface of the bore on axial outward displacement of the sleeve and tube end. An elastomeric seal ring on the tube end offset from the groove radially outwardly engages the bore.

Abstract: A switchover valve has a housing having an axis, a generally circular valve plate, and a generally circular control plate. The valve plate is fixed in the housing centered on the axis, has an inner face, and is formed with an outlet port and an inlet port both opening at the face. The ports are radially offset from the axis and angularly equispaced from each other. The control plate is rotatable about the axis in the housing, has an inner face flatly sealingly engaging the valve-plate face, and is formed offset from the axis with a crossflow pocket opening at the face. Thus the control plate is movable angularly about the axis between a crossflow position with the pocket overlying and forming a fluid-flow connection between the inlet port and the outlet port and a blocking position with the pocket wholly angularly offset from at least one of the ports and thereby preventing flow between the ports.

Abstract: An apparatus usable in combination with a mixing valve having hot- and cold-water inlets and a mixed-water outlet and a actuating drive for operating the valve to change the blend of hot and cold water at the outlet. The apparatus controls and sets the valve via the actuating drive and has a sensor at the outlet for producing an actual-value output corresponding to the temperature of the water at the output, a digital computer, a line connecting the computer to the sensor and to the actuating drive, a display for indicating settings of the computer, a removable program module engageable in the computer for supplying a valve- and user-specific program thereto, and an input panel connected to the computer for programming same.

Abstract: A plumbing fixture that is recessed in a wall and that has a part projecting through a hole in the wall is provided with an escutcheon having a main plate shaped to fit around the part flatly against the wall and to cover the hole, at least one fastener engageable through the main plate with the fixture to press the plate against the wall, a cover plate fittable on the main plate over the fastener, and formations integrally formed with the plates and securing the plates together. The main plate has an outer periphery provided with a soft seal ring engaging the wall. In addition the main plate has inward of its outer periphery a central recess in which the cover plate is received. The formations include pins unitarily formed on the cover plate and complementary seats unitarily formed in the main plate.

Abstract: A hand shower having an upstream end is connected to a downstream end of a hose to receive water therefrom by a fitting having a snap coupling and a display. The snap coupling has a male part fixed on one of the ends, a female part fixed on the other of the ends and fittable over the male part, and a latch in the female part for releasably retaining the male part therein. The display is mounted on one of the parts and gives a readout of a parameter of the water flowing through the coupling.

Abstract: A valve assembly adapted for connection to separate hot- and cold-water supply pipes has a core centered on an axis and formed with a pair of input passages having output ends and diametrally oppositely opening input ends and with an output passage having an output end and an input end and respective substantially identical input fittings formed with respective fitting passages and fitted diametrally oppositely to the core with the fitting passages opening into the input ends of the input passages. Respective connections carried on the input fittings communicate with the respective fitting passages. These connections are connected to the respective hot- and cold-water supply pipes. At least one valve is fixed in the core covering the output ends of the input passages and the input end of the output passage for feeding hot and cold water from the respective input passages to the output passage. An output fitting is fixed to the core over the output end of the output passage.

Abstract: A flow-control valve has a housing, a valve plate fixed in the housing and formed relative to a direction of flow through the valve with a flat upstream face and with an outlet port opening at the face, and a control plate fixed in the housing and formed relative to the flow direction with a flat downstream face riding on the valve-plate face and with a throughgoing inlet port opening at the face. This control plate is slidable on the valve plate for alignment of the ports and flow through the valve from the inlet port to the outlet port and for misalignment of the ports for restricted flow from the inlet port to the outlet port. A shield plate is fixed in the housing immediately upstream of the control plate and formed with an aperture aligned in the direction with and of generally the same shape as the port of the valve plate. Thus incoming flow will always be confined to a stream aligned with the outlet port of the valve plate.

Abstract: A backflow preventer used in combination with a plumbing fixture has a pressurizable supply line, an output hose that can be equipped with a sprayer or shower, and a drain. It further has a valve casing having an inlet valve seat forming an inlet port connected to the supply line, a vent valve seat forming a vent port opening to the atmosphere, and an outlet port opening laterally between the seats and connected to the supply hose. A valve body is movable in the casing between a normal-flow position on the vent seat blocking the vent and permitting flow between the inlet and outlet ports and a backflow-preventing position on the inlet seat blocking the inlet port and permitting flow between the outlet and vent ports.

Abstract: A seal ring is used in combination with a pair of substantially planar, confronting, and substantially parallel faces one of which is formed with an annular groove surrounding a pressurizable chamber and having inner and outer flanks extending transverse to the respective plate face. These faces are relatively slidable and can be formed on a valve plate and a control plate of a single-control valve. The ring is formed with an outer edge normally engaging outward against the outer flank of the groove, an inwardly projecting ridge defining an inner edge normally engaging inward against the inner flank of the groove, and a pair of lips flanking the ridge and each defining therewith an inwardly open groove. Each lip has an outer end lying outward of the inner edge and inward of the outer edge.

Abstract: A plumbing fitting has a flexible hose suppliable with water under pressure and having an outer end, an upstream end piece having an upstream side connected to the outer end and a downstream side, and a downstream end piece having a downstream side and an upstream side. An outer sleeve has an upstream end and a downstream end and respective couplings releasably connect the upstream end of the sleeve to the downstream side of the upstream end piece and the downstream end of the sleeve to the upstream side of the downstream end piece. An inner tube having a downstream end connected to the upstream side of the downstream end piece and an upstream end connected to the downstream side of the upstream end piece forms a flow conduit therebetween. Seals are provided at the ends of the tube between same and the respective sides of the end pieces.

Abstract: An assembly for mounting a fitting, for instance a mixing faucet, to a wall has an anchor plate fixable in the wall, a threaded stud fixed to and projecting longitudinally forward from the anchor plate, and a formation on the fitting formed with a throughgoing aperture through which the stud projects. A back nut threaded on the stud has a front face bearing forward on the formation at the aperture and a front or counternut threaded on the stud has a back face bearing backward on the formation of the aperture. Thus the formation is longitudinally captured between the nuts and same can be screwed along the stud to longitudinally displace and position the fitting therealong.

Abstract: A valve comprises a housing forming a compartment traversed by an axis and having a radially opening outlet port and an axially open inlet port, a valve plate fixed in the housing and formed relative to a flow direction therethrough with a flat upstream face and with an axially throughgoing valve orifice opening at the face, and a control plate in the housing formed relative to the flow direction with a flat downstream face riding on the valve-plate face, with an axially throughgoing control orifice opening at the face, and with an axially open socket. This control plate is pivotal on the valve plate about the axis for alignment of the orifices and flow through the valve and for misalignment of the orifices for restricted flow through the valve.