GB2463936A

GB2463936A - A fluid connector for a mixing valve which compensates for misalignment of supply pipework

Info

Publication number: GB2463936A
Application number: GB0818001A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Karl Anthony Fearnley; Daniel Paul Griffiths; Nigel Paul Sansum
Original assignee: Kohler Mira Ltd
Current assignee: Kohler Mira Ltd
Priority date: 2008-10-02
Filing date: 2008-10-02
Publication date: 2010-04-07
Anticipated expiration: 2028-10-02
Also published as: GB0818001D0; GB2463936B

Abstract

The invention relates to a fluid connector 1 for connecting a supply pipe to an inlet of a mixing valve, the connector comprises a bracket 3 for attaching to the supply pipe (not shown) and an adaptor 17 mounted for rotation on the bracket 3 about an axis coaxial with the supply pipe. The adaptor 17 has an end portion parallel to and laterally offset from the axis of rotation for connection to the inlet of the mixing valve. Mismatch of the spacing between the supply pipes and the inlets of the mixing valve can be compensated by rotating the adaptor 17 to alter the spacing between the supply pipes.

Description

FLUID CONNECTOR

This invention concerns improvements in or relating to fluid connectors. More especially, the invention is concerned with fluid connectors for ablutionary installations. The invention has particular, but not exclusive, application to fluid connectors for connecting mixing valves to supplies of hot and cold water for delivery of water to an ablutionary appliance such as a shower, bath or washbasin.

Mixing valves for mixing hot and cold water are well known and require three plumbing connections to the body of the mixing valve, Two of these connections are to inlets for the hot and cold water supplies and are plumbed by conventional means such as compression, push-fit or threaded joints. The third connection, being the mixed water outlet from the mixing valve, may consist of a simple shower hose or may be plumbed by conventional means to any number of auxiliary outlet fittings such as rigid shower fittings, bath spouts, multiple fixed shower outlets, wash down hose stations etc. In some arrangements the configuration of connections embodied in the mixing valve allows for the inlet supply pipes to be routed through the wall for connection to the inlets from the back of the valve. The connections require the incoming supply pipes to align with the inlets to the mixing valve and problems can arise if the horizontal spacing of the supply pipes does not match the spacing of the inlets. This can be a particular problem when replacing a mixing valve with a mixing valve having a different inlet spacing where the supply pipes are already configured for connection to the inlets of the original mixing valve and have to be moved to match the different spacing of the inlets of the new valve. Problems can also arise if the supply pipes are not horizontally aligned with the result that the valve is not level when the inlets are connected to the supply pipes.

It has previously been proposed to accommodate misaligned pipe work using so-called "Z-connectors". This connection method has a separate portion which fixes firmly into the wall during the first stage of installation. It does not however allow for misalignment and levelling to be accommodated. Other known connection methods use a plate to secure the pipe work to the wall and an additional connector which screws to the plate and then connects to the valve. Again this only carries out one function, to secure the valve to the wall and does not allow for any adjustment to cater for misaligned pipe work.

The present invention has been made from a consideration of the foregoing and seeks to provide a fluid connector for connecting a supply pipe to an ablutionary fitting such as a mixing valve.

It is a preferred object of the present invention to provide a fluid connector that can accommodate misalignment between a supply pipe and an inlet of a fitting to which the pipe is to be connected.

It is another preferred object of the present invention to provide a fluid connector that can accommodate variations in horizontal andlor vertical spacing of supply pipes to be connected to the inlets of a mixing valve.

These and other objects of the invention are broadly achieved by a fluid connector employing a rotatable adaptor for accommodating misalignment between a supply pipe and an inlet of a fitting.

The adaptor may have an end portion for connection to the inlet that defines a connection axis parallel to and offset from the axis of rotation of the adaptor to align the end portion with the inlet.

When connecting a pair of supply pipes to separate inlets of a fitting, for example hot and cold water supply pipes to hot and cold inlets of a mixing valve, one or both supply pipes may be provided with a rotatable adaptor to allow matching to the horizontal spacing between the inlets and/or levelling of the mixing valve.

The fluid connector may include a bracket for securing to a wall or similar support surface to which the supply pipe is connected in a fluid tight manner with the adaptor being rotatable relative to the bracket.

The adaptor may be rotatable relative to a spigot of the bracket with an 0-ring or the like providing a fluid tight connection while allowing rotation of the adaptor relative to the spigot.

From another aspect, the present invention provides a method of connecting a mixing valve to a pair of supply pipes by means of at least one fluid connector according to the invention to accommodate horizontal and/or vertical misalignment of the supply pipes.

The invention will now be described in more detail by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is an exploded isometric view of a fluid connector embodying the invention; Figure 2 is a sectional view of the fluid connector of Figure 1 assembled; and Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6 are views showing the range of adjustment provided by a pair of the fluid connectors shown in Figures 1 and 2 for connecting a mixer valve to supplies of hot and cold water.

Referring first to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings, there is shown a fluid connector 1 for connecting a water supply pipe (not shown) to an inlet of a mixing valve (not shown). Typically, the mixing valve has two inlets, one for hot water and one for cold water, and a pair of fluid connectors I are provided -one for connecting the hot water inlet to a hot water supply pipe and one for connecting cold water inlet to a cold water supply pipe. In this embodiment, the inlets are arranged for connection to supply pipes routed through a wall (not shown). The fluid connectors 1 are similar and it will be understood that the following description applies to both connectors.

The connector I includes a bracket 3 of rectangular shape, typically square, that is fixed to the wall by screws (not shown) inserted through holes 5,7 in opposite corners of the bracket 3. In a modification (not shown) the bracket may be of other shapes, for example circular. The bracket 3 has a tubular spigot 9 that receives the end of the supply pipe and a foam seal 11 is provided around the pipe between the bracket 3 and the wall to prevent any water passing into the wall cavity.

The spigot 9 is a clearance fit around the pipe and defines with the pipe an annular gap to receive an olive 13 passed over the end of the pipe. The olive 13 is compressed between opposed taper surfaces of the spigot 9 and a compression nut 15 screwed into the outer end of the spigot to create a water tight seal.

The inner end of a tubular adaptor 17 fits over the spigot 9 and an 0-ring 19 located in an annular groove in the outer surface of the spigot 9 provides a water-tight seal between the adaptor 17 and spigot 9 while allowing the connector to rotate about the spigot 9. The adaptor 17 has a flange 21 at the inner end that is located between the bracket 3 and a plate 23 that fits over the adaptor 17. The plate 23 is secured to the bracket 3 by a pair of screws 25 passed through holes in the plate 23 and engageable with tapped holes 27,29 in opposite corners of the bracket 3 to axially retain the adaptor 17 on the spigot 9 while allowing the adaptor 17 to rotate relative to the spigot 9. In this way, the adaptor 17 is rotatable about an axis coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the supply pipe. Any other arrangement for securing the adaptor 17 while allowing the adaptor 17 to rotate may be employed in place of the plate 23.

The connection between the inner end of the adaptor 17 and the bracket 3 is covered by a frusto-conical shroud 31 screwed onto the adaptor 17 to seat against the wall.

The outer end of the adaptor 17 projects from the shroud 31 and defines a connection axis that is parallel to and laterally offset relative to the rotational axis of the inner end of the adaptor 17. The inlet of the mixing valve is connectable to the outer end of the adaptor 17 in a fluid-tight manner and the adaptor 17 is rotatable about the spigot 9 to align the outer end with the inlet of the mixing valve.

In use, when using a pair of fluid connectors 1 to connect the inlets of a mixing valve to a pair of supply pipes, one or both adaptors 17 can be rotated to accommodate the lateral spacing between the inlets. Thus, Figure 3 shows the adaptors 17 rotated to provide a minimum horizontal spacing (HS mm) therebetween, Figure 4 shows the adaptors 17 rotated to provide a maximum horizontal spacing (HS max) therebetween and Figure 5 shows the connectors rotated to provide a horizontal spacing intermediate the minimum and maximum (HS int). Typically, rotation of the adaptors 17 can accommodate up to 1 0mm variation in the horizontal spacing between the inlets although this is not intended to be limiting and the adaptors 17 may accommodate larger or smaller differences in the horizontal spacing of the inlets.

In each of Figures 3, 4 and 5, the inlet pipes are aligned in the horizontal direction and when connected to the adaptors 17, the valve will be level (horizontal). It may be, however, that the inlet pipes are not aligned horizontally and in this case, one or both adaptors 17 can be rotated to accommodate any vertical spacing between the supply pipes so that the mixing valve can be mounted in a level (horizontal) position.

Thus, Figure 6 shows the adaptors 17 rotated to provide a maximum vertical spacing (VS max) therebetween. Typically, rotation of the adaptors 17 can also accommodate up to 10 mm variation in the vertical spacing between the supply pipes although this is not intended to be limiting and the adaptors 17 may accommodate larger or smaller differences in the vertical spacing of the supply pipes.

As will be understood the invented connector has a number of advantages when connecting a mixing valve to water supply pipes * The supply pipes can be routed through the wall and the surface tiled prior to connecting the pipes to the inlets.

* Horizontal misalignment of the supply pipes can be accommodated so as to match the spacing between the inlets.

* Vertical misalignment of the supply pipes can be accommodated so as to level the valve after the pipes have been fixed to the wall.

* The connectors act as a rigid support for the valve -negating the need for additional brackets The connector also incorporates a stop to allow the compression nuts on the valve to be loosened when the valve needs to be serviced.

The connector according to this design incorporates all the above points in one unit.

In particular the connector provides a universal connection system with integral levelling for all types of mixing valves. The connector is separate to the valve and can be fitted in two stages allowing the installer to fit supply pipes through the wall, complete any tiling around the pipes and then fit the connectors to the wall. The connectors then support the weight of the valve and allow the installer to adjust the connectors to level the valve and also accommodate for any misaligned pipe connections.

Although the invention has been described for connecting a pair of supply pipes to inlets of a mixing valve, it will be understood the fluid connectors can be employed separately or in combination. For example, when connecting the supply pipes to a mixing valve, one or both supply pipes may be provided with a fluid connector according to the invention. Furthermore, it will be understood that the fluid connector may be attached to the supply pipe by a compression joint as described or any other suitable connection. For example, a push-fit connection may be employed between the supply pipe and spigot.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A fluid connector for connecting an ablutionary fitting to a supply pipe, the connector including a rotatable adaptor for accommodating misalignment between the supply pipe and an inlet of the fitting.
2. A fluid connector according to claim I wherein the adaptor has an end portion for connection to the inlet that defines a connection axis parallel to and offset from the axis of rotation of the adaptor to align the end portion with the inlet.
3. A fluid connector according to claim I or claim 2 wherein the fluid connector further includes a bracket for connection to the supply pipe in a fluid tight manner, and the adaptor is rotatable relative to the bracket.
4. A fluid connector according to claim 3 wherein an 0-ring provides a fluid tight seal between the bracket and the adaptor.
5. A fluid connector according to claim 3 or claim 4 wherein the bracket has a spigot and the adaptor is mounted on the spigot. * s* * * * ** *
6. A fluid connector according to claim 5 wherein the spigot is adapted to receive and secure the end of the supply pipe. ****

*
7. A fluid connector according to any of claims 3 to 7 wherein the fluid * connector further includes a cover to fit over the adaptor and conceal the bracket. * 25 * S.
8. A fluid connector for connecting an ablutionary fitting to a supply pipe substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
9. An ablutionary fitting having separate inlets for connection to a pair of supply pipes, wherein at least one inlet is connectable to a supply pipe by a fluid connector according to any preceding claim.
10. An ablutionary fitting according to claim 9 comprising a mixing valve.
11. An ablutionary fitting according to claim 10 wherein each inlet is connectable to the associated supply pipe by a fluid connector according to any of claims ito 8.
12. A method of connecting a mixing valve to a pair of supply pipes by means of at least one fluid connector to accommodate horizontal and/or vertical misalignment of the supply pipes, the method including the steps of providing a bracket and an adaptor rotatably mounted on a spigot of the bracket, connecting the supply pipe to a bracket and rotating the adaptor to align an end portion of the adaptor offset from the axis of rotation with an inlet of the mixing valve, and connecting the end portion to the inlet..
13. A method according to claim 12 comprising the step of providing a further bracket and adaptor, connecting the other supply pipe to the bracket and connecting the end portion of the adaptor to another inlet of the mixing valve. a.a'
14. A method according to claim 13 including rotating one or both adaptors to S...... . . * * correct angular misalignment of the supply pipes. * S* .:. 25
15. A method of connecting a mixing valve to a pair of supply pipes substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.