Mixer tap
Mixer tap with a vertically adjustable spout 2 and a separate adjusting means 4, the spout being upwardly and downwardly movable by means of a piston rod of a hydraulic cylinder 6 arranged under the respective table top and further being controlled by means the adjusting means 4.
The invention relates to a mixer tap with a vertically movable spout and a separate adjusting means.
BACKGROUND ARTU.S. Pat. No. 4,457,342 discloses a vertically adjustable single-lever valve with a swivel tap. However, this single-lever valve is rather bulky.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTIONThe object of the invention is to provide a mixer tap with a vertically movable discharge spout of a smaller size and being more discrete than hitherto known.
According to the invention a mixer tap of the above type is characterised in that the spout can be moved upwards and downwards by means of a piston rod of a hydraulic cylinder. The mixer tap is particularly discrete, if the spout can be led downwards to be flush with the table top.
The mixer tap may further be adapted such that the water supply to the spout is not opened until the piston rod is in its uppermost position.
The upward and downward movement of the piston rod may optionally be controlled by the pressure from the water supply.
Optionally the downward movement of the piston rod may be activated by depressing the end of the spout to release a snap lock.
According to an optional embodiment the downward movement of the piston rod may be activated by depressing and keeping the adjusting means down until the piston rod and the spout have adopted their lowered positions.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING(S)The invention is explained in greater detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which
The mixer tap shown in
The mixer tap operates as follows: The spout 2 is initially in its lowered position by being retained in this position by the pressure from the cold-water supply being fed to the oil container 8 via the change-over valve, said oil container 8 converting the water pressure into an oil pressure depressing the spout 2. At the adjusting means 4 the supply of the mixed water is turned on. The resulting pressure acts on the control inlet of the change-over valve 11. As a result the change-over valve 11 changes its position such that the cold-water pressure instead is applied to the other oil container 9 which then applies an oil pressure raising the spout 2. When the spout 2 is in its uppermost position, an additional change-over valve 13 is activated and turns on the supply of mixed water to the spout 2.
When the water is turned off, the reverse action takes place. The pressure applied by the mixed water to the first change-over valve 11 decreases and the change-over valve 11 changes. As a result the oil pressure applied to the lowermost portion of the cylinder 6 with the piston rod decreases, an oil pressure instead being applied to the uppermost portion of the cylinder 6. As a result, the water supply to the spout 2 is cut off, while the spout is lowered.
In the mixer tap shown in
As the mixer tap shown in
This mixer tap operates as follows: It is assumed that the spout 2 initially is in its lowered position. When the water supply is turned on at the adjusting means 4, the first change-over valve 11 is activated and thus changes such that an oil pressure is applied to the hydraulic cylinder which in turn moves the spout 2 upwards. When the spout 2 is completely raised, the spout 2 is supplied with mixed water via an additional change-over valve 13. When the supply of mixed water has been turned off at the adjusting means 4, the reverse movement of the spout 2 is effected by pressing the end of the spout 2. Additionally, the supply of mixed water to the spout 2 is cut off due to the disappearing pressure to the lowermost change-over valve 13. When the spout 2 has returned to its hidden position, the spout 2 is locked by means of a non-shown snap lock.
As the embodiment shown in
As the embodiment shown in
As in the above embodiments the water supply to the spout 2 is not turned on until the spout has adopted its uppermost position. The reverse movement of the spout 2 is activated by momentarily depressing the adjusting means 4′, whereby the associated slide valve 15 ensures that the pressure from the cold-water supply decreases momentarily and acts on the subjacent change-over valve 16 which thus is displaced to the left and causes the pressure from the cold-water supply to momentarily move the third slide valve 17 in upward direction such that oil pressure is applied to the uppermost portion of the cylinder, whereby the piston and thus the associated spout 2 are forced downwards.
As the embodiment shown in
In all of the shown embodiments the spout is pivotal in its uppermost position.
An alternative embodiment of the mixer tap according to the invention is shown in
The structure includes a bracket 32. On one side of the bracket 32 shown in
A special release valve 38 is further provided which is to be activated when the spout 22 is to be moved downwards.
Optionally, a cover may be provided over the opening of the discharge spout 22 such that the entire arrangement becomes more discrete, and optionally such that the control unit per se is not visible.
The mixer tap according to the invention is not intended for kitchen sinks only. It may also be used in connection with a washbasin (basin) or a bathtub or a bidet, optionally also in a shower cabin.
The principle that the actual water pressure is used in connection with a hydraulic control circuit applies in all of the described embodiments.
Claims
1. Mixer tap with a vertically movable spout (2) and an adjusting means (4), characterised in that the spout (2) can be moved from a lowered or a hidden position and retracted by means of a piston rod of a hydraulic cylinder (6), the movements of the piston rod being controlled by the pressure from the water supply, and the water supply to the spout (2) is not opened until the piston rod is in its most extended, preferably upper most position.
2. Mixer tap according to claim 1, characterised in that a downward movement of the piston rod is activated by depressing the end of the spout (2) and releasing a snap lock (18).
3. Mixer tap according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the downward movement of the piston rod is activated by depressing and keeping the adjusting means (4′) down until the spout (2) has adopted its lowered position.
4. Mixer tap according to claim 1 or 3, characterised in that the upward and downward movement of the spout (2) is activated alternately by momentarily depressing adjusting means (4′).
5. Mixer tap according to claim 1, characterised in that a toothed rack (28) is inserted between the piston rod of the hydraulic cylinder (27) and the spout (22), said toothed rack meshing with a gear wheel (29) connected with a second wheel, preferably a gear wheel, driving a belt (30), preferably a toothed belt, connected to the spout (22).
6. Mixer tap according to claim 5, characterised in that the toothed belt (30) communicates with the spout (22) via a slide (31) which may slide along a track (33).
7. Mixer tap according to claim 5 or 6, characterised in that the associated hydraulic control circuit is adapted such that water is not turned on until the spout (22) is in its uppermost position.
8. Mixer tap according to claim 7, characterised in that a slide valve (36) activated by the piston rod is provided to detect when the spout (22) is in its uppermost position.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 21, 2005
Publication Date: Aug 2, 2007
Inventor: Ejvind Vilhelmsen (Langeskov)
Application Number: 10/589,402
International Classification: E03C 1/04 (20060101);