GB2180037A

GB2180037A - Improvements in and relating to headworks assemblies for taps

Info

Publication number: GB2180037A
Application number: GB08613428A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gerald John Evans
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1985-06-05
Filing date: 1986-06-03
Publication date: 1987-03-18
Also published as: GB8613428D0

Abstract

A headworks assembly, e.g. for taps such as bibcocks, screw down stopcocks, comprises a handle 1 connected to a spindle 2 which in turn is connected to a plastics washer plate 3. The assembly is located in a headworks body 5. A rubber sealing member 7 is located on the end of the washer plate 3. The sealing member 7 has a diameter greater than the internal diameter of the headworks body 5. In use, the sealing member 7 performs a dual function. When the tap is closed the sealing member 7 is located over the inlet, and when the tap is opened the sealing member 7 abuts the end of the headworks body 5, preventing water ingressing into the headworks assembly. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in and relating to headworks assemblies The present invention relates to an improved arrangement of a headworks assembly particularly adapted for use in a screw down type of stopcock. In particular, the present invention provides a primary seal to the headworks by the double use of a washer plate seal.

Conventional screw down type stopcocks are used as the main isolating valve in houses, shutting off, when closed, the mains water system from the house. They usually comprise a head works assembly, the body of which is attached by a screwthread to a valve body. The headworks assembly comprises a handle, attached to a spindle which is in turn attached to a washer plate.

Located on the end of the washer plate is a rubber sealing memberwhosesolefunction isto prevent fluid flowing through an orifice in the valve body when the stopcock is closed. This is achieved by screwing down the spindle until the washer plate enters the valve body and thus causes the sealing member to form a water tight seal overthe orifice in the valve body.

When the stopcock is opened, water flows through the orifice and into the house's plumbing system. However, water may also flow into the headworks assembly, especially in the area between the washer plate and the inside of the headwork body. Considerable corrosion build-up can occur and this causes tightness of the spindle and in many cases breakages. In hard water areas these problems are made more acute by the deposition of limescale.

The present invention seeks to overcome these problems by preventing waterfrom coming into contact with any of the moving parts located in the headworks.

According to the present invention there is provided a headworks assembly comprising a handle connected to a spindle, and a washer plate formed integrallywith or attached to the spindle at the end remote from the handle, and a headworks body, part of the assembly being located in the body, wherein a sealing member is located on an end face ofthe washer plate remote from said spindle, said member having a diametergreater than the internal diameterofsaid body.

Preferably the sealing member is made from a rubber material.

The washer plate is preferably made from plastics material. The washer plate is preferably formed separately from the spindle and may be connected to said spindle through a male spigot located on said spindle, which co-operates with a female part located in said washer plate.

The washer plate may be provided with one or more 0 ring seals. These seals act as secondary seals, isolating the headworksfrom any fluid ingression.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 'shows an exploded, partially sectioned, headworks assembly: Figure 2 shows in cross-section, the headworks assembly of Figure 1 assembled; and Figure3shows in cross-section, the headworks assembly located in a conventional valve body.

Referring to the drawings, the components in the headworks assembly are as follows; crutch handle 1, upper spindle 2, plastics washer plate 3,0 rings 4, headworks body 5, fibre seal 6, rubber shut-off and primary headworks seal member 7. The crutch handle 1 is fitted to the upper spindle 2 at point 9, and is externally threaded at 10 to match a thread 14insidethe headworks body 5. By turningthecrutch handlethismovestheupperspin dle 2 and the washer plate 3 (which is fitted to the upperspindlethrough a male spigot 13 on the upper spindle, which is pushed into a female member 15 located on the wash plate 3) up and down inside the headworks. Thewasherplate can also rotateon the upperspindle if required.The washer plate has two 0 rings 4 (it could be more or less) to act as secondary back-up seals to the primary headworksseal member7.

This whole assembly is fitted into a valve body by means of a thread 12 on the headworks and a matching femalethread on the body ofthevalve (shown in diagram 3 as a conventional BS1010 or BS5433orsimilarvalvebodydesign.Thefibreseal6 is positioned between the body and the headworks and prevents any water which may work between the body thread and the headworks thread from escaping. The headworks can also fit into a bibcock our various types oftaps. As the spindle 2, washer plate 3 and primary seal member7 are turned down to cover the orifice in the valve body, this stems the fluid flow in the valve body in the same way as a conventional valve.

When the valve spindle is wound to the fully open position, the rubber seal member 7 now serves a second purpose. The seal member7 is pulled back to face onto edge of the headworks body 5 at point8,preventingthefluid,e.g.water,from getting into the headworks between the washer plate and the bore at point 11. Water causes considerable corrosion build-up when it comes into contact with the metal parts ofthe valve. The rubber seal member 7 now prevents this happening because as the pressure builds up against the rubber seal member 7, the water cannot get around the back oftheseal member7.

Itwill be understood thatthe above embodiment of the present invention has been described only byway of example and modifications in detail can be made within the scope ofthe invention.

For example, the assembly may be used for any fluids which flow th rough the valve system.

1. A headworks assembly comprising a handle connected to a spindle, and a washer plate formed integrally with or attached to the spindle at

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements in and relating to headworks assemblies The present invention relates to an improved arrangement of a headworks assembly particularly adapted for use in a screw down type of stopcock. In particular, the present invention provides a primary seal to the headworks by the double use of a washer plate seal. Conventional screw down type stopcocks are used as the main isolating valve in houses, shutting off, when closed, the mains water system from the house. They usually comprise a head works assembly, the body of which is attached by a screwthread to a valve body. The headworks assembly comprises a handle, attached to a spindle which is in turn attached to a washer plate. Located on the end of the washer plate is a rubber sealing memberwhosesolefunction isto prevent fluid flowing through an orifice in the valve body when the stopcock is closed. This is achieved by screwing down the spindle until the washer plate enters the valve body and thus causes the sealing member to form a water tight seal overthe orifice in the valve body. When the stopcock is opened, water flows through the orifice and into the house's plumbing system. However, water may also flow into the headworks assembly, especially in the area between the washer plate and the inside of the headwork body. Considerable corrosion build-up can occur and this causes tightness of the spindle and in many cases breakages. In hard water areas these problems are made more acute by the deposition of limescale. The present invention seeks to overcome these problems by preventing waterfrom coming into contact with any of the moving parts located in the headworks. According to the present invention there is provided a headworks assembly comprising a handle connected to a spindle, and a washer plate formed integrallywith or attached to the spindle at the end remote from the handle, and a headworks body, part of the assembly being located in the body, wherein a sealing member is located on an end face ofthe washer plate remote from said spindle, said member having a diametergreater than the internal diameterofsaid body. Preferably the sealing member is made from a rubber material. The washer plate is preferably made from plastics material. The washer plate is preferably formed separately from the spindle and may be connected to said spindle through a male spigot located on said spindle, which co-operates with a female part located in said washer plate. The washer plate may be provided with one or more 0 ring seals. These seals act as secondary seals, isolating the headworksfrom any fluid ingression. A preferred embodiment of the invention is now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 'shows an exploded, partially sectioned, headworks assembly: Figure 2 shows in cross-section, the headworks assembly of Figure 1 assembled; and Figure3shows in cross-section, the headworks assembly located in a conventional valve body. Referring to the drawings, the components in the headworks assembly are as follows; crutch handle 1, upper spindle 2, plastics washer plate 3,0 rings 4, headworks body 5, fibre seal 6, rubber shut-off and primary headworks seal member 7. The crutch handle 1 is fitted to the upper spindle 2 at point 9, and is externally threaded at 10 to match a thread 14insidethe headworks body 5. By turningthecrutch handlethismovestheupperspin dle 2 and the washer plate 3 (which is fitted to the upperspindlethrough a male spigot 13 on the upper spindle, which is pushed into a female member 15 located on the wash plate 3) up and down inside the headworks. Thewasherplate can also rotateon the upperspindle if required.The washer plate has two 0 rings 4 (it could be more or less) to act as secondary back-up seals to the primary headworksseal member7. This whole assembly is fitted into a valve body by means of a thread 12 on the headworks and a matching femalethread on the body ofthevalve (shown in diagram 3 as a conventional BS1010 or BS5433orsimilarvalvebodydesign.Thefibreseal6 is positioned between the body and the headworks and prevents any water which may work between the body thread and the headworks thread from escaping. The headworks can also fit into a bibcock our various types oftaps. As the spindle 2, washer plate 3 and primary seal member7 are turned down to cover the orifice in the valve body, this stems the fluid flow in the valve body in the same way as a conventional valve. When the valve spindle is wound to the fully open position, the rubber seal member 7 now serves a second purpose. The seal member7 is pulled back to face onto edge of the headworks body 5 at point8,preventingthefluid,e.g.water,from getting into the headworks between the washer plate and the bore at point 11. Water causes considerable corrosion build-up when it comes into contact with the metal parts ofthe valve. The rubber seal member 7 now prevents this happening because as the pressure builds up against the rubber seal member 7, the water cannot get around the back oftheseal member7. Itwill be understood thatthe above embodiment of the present invention has been described only byway of example and modifications in detail can be made within the scope ofthe invention. For example, the assembly may be used for any fluids which flow th rough the valve system. CLAIMS

1. A headworks assembly comprising a handle connected to a spindle, and a washer plate formed integrally with or attached to the spindle at the end remote from the handle, and a headworks body part of the assembly being located in the headworks body wherein a sealing member is located on an end face ofthewasher plate remote from said spindle, said member having a diameter greater than the internal diameter ofsaid body.

2. A headworks assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said sealing member is made from a rubber material.

3. A headworks assembly as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein said washer plate is made from plastics material.

4. A headworks assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said is formed separatelyfrom the spindle and is connected to said spindle through a male spigot located on said spindle, which co-operates with a female part located in said washer plate.

5. A headworks assembly as claimed in any preceding ciaim wherein the washer plate is provided with one or more 0 ring seals.

6. A headworks assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.