The present invention relates to a single-lever tap with domestic water supply with water inlets to the tap with separation between them of the shower type.

Taps that adapt to water supply points are known and, therefore, are part of the state of the art, with a separate installation of about 15 cm between these water supply points, which are conventionally used in showers.

The taps used to couple to these installations are typically specific shower taps having a tap body structure with at least one coupling to each of the installed water lines, a part of its body that conducts each of the water lines to the mixing zone and its subsequent supply outlet(s).

These known taps may be of the single-lever type, whereby the geometry and internal configuration of the tap is complicated by the need to have internal divisions that make the hot water circuit independent from the cold water circuit in a watertight manner until the inlet of both, hot and cold, in the mixing and flow regulation cartridge.

The conventional manufacturing process of this type of taps with chambers and internal walls is carried out by moulding the molten metal that is placed into moulds typically of sand. This involves the generation of moulds and cores for each of the tap models, as well as casting the metal that will form the structure of the tap. The manufacturing process, in this way, has quite high costs of both mould preparation and energy consumption and requires a high manufacturing time.

In this way, a new configuration of a shower tap is necessary to avoid the drawbacks of the known state of the art.

The object of the present invention is to provide a single-lever shower tap with internal plastic insert for separated conduction of water lines, which resolves the indicated drawbacks and presents other advantages to be described below.

In this regard, it should be understood that the indication of the type of tap as the shower type, must include any type of tap located in a shower installation or not, wherein said tap is configured to collect the inlets of each of the cold and hot water hydraulic lines, which are separated from each other and that for this purpose a rigid connection to the tap is available, that is, the connections are formed by the body of the tap itself and where the tap contains for each of these connections, a rigid conduit arranged in the body of the tap.

In accordance with this objective, and with respect to a first aspect, the present invention is based on a single-lever shower tap with an internal plastic insert with separated conduction of water lines, wherein the tap comprises a metal body with rigid coupling to two hydraulic line inlets configured for hydraulic supply to the shower tap.

Advantageously for the present invention, the metal body of the tap is configured in at least two parts, a first part formed by one or more first water-conducting parts from each of the inlets to the tap of each of the hydraulic lines towards a second part acting as a main body. This second part of the metal body is configured for the housing of the mixing and/or flow regulation cartridge of the tap and the coupling of the control or handle for flow regulation and mixing ratio.

Also advantageously for the invention, the inside cavity of the metal body of the tap is configured such that from the two inlets of hydraulic lines the water is conducted in a diaphanous manner through the first parts to the area of the second part that forms the main body, without internal metal conduits or walls that separate the water in a watertight manner from each of the two hydraulic lines to the corresponding water inlets to the mixing and/or flow regulation cartridge of the tap.

Another advantageous feature is that the tap comprises an insert of plastic material which is installed in the second part of the metal body of the tap and is coupled in a watertight manner to the water flow of each of the first parts of the body of the tap by its internal end, the insert being configured so as to divide in a watertight manner the waters of each of the hydraulic lines in a watertight manner from the rest of the body of the tap and between them.

This insert of plastic material comprises, for each inlet to the insert from each of the first parts of each hydraulic line, a first connection outlet of the insert, independent and watertight, for each of the hydraulic inlets corresponding to the cartridge.

The insert of plastic material also comprises a mixed water inlet as a hydraulic conduit from the cartridge, once the water has been mixed and the flow rate regulated, to direct said mixed water to one or more supply outlets.

Particularly advantageously, the tap comprises at least one fixing system for fixing the position of the insert of plastic material in the body of the tap, wherein the fixing system is accessible from the outside of the body of the tap, this fixing system being configured to retain said insert in the desired working position.

With this configuration, it is possible to have a shower-type tap that can be manufactured more economically and quickly, as it is not necessary to make a complicated and specific mould for the manufacture of its metal body, nor use casting and moulding processes. The metal body of the tap is preferably manufactured by welded joining of parts constituted from stamping, pressing or cutting and machining of sheet metal material, creating sub-parts that form the body and that are welded between them, without making internal divisions of conduction of the connected water lines to the position of the mixing and flow regulation cartridge.

The configuration of the insert of plastic material allows on the one hand the watertight coupling to each water flow of each of the diaphanous internal pipes that come from each inlet of the hydraulic lines, as well as on the other hand the separate and watertight conduction between them of each hot and cold water flow to the mixing and flow regulation cartridge. The insert thus configured also allows a watertight conduction between the mixed water outlet of the cartridge to the one or more outlets of the tap. Another advantage of the indicated configuration is that of being able to fix the correct position of the plastic insert avoiding its rotation in its longitudinal coupling position and in this way, avoiding the watertight disengagement between the different inlets to the insert and/or outlets thereof towards the cartridge or the supply outlets of the tap.

According to a preferred embodiment, the insert of plastic material, at least after each coupling to each of the first parts of the body of the tap corresponding to the water inlets of each hydraulic line, comprises water chambers acting as expansion chambers that subsequently conduct independently and in a watertight manner to each of the water inlets of the cartridge. These water chambers are made up of expansion chambers and sufficient spaces so that the behaviour of the water is stable and does not generate aggressive vortices and noises.

This configuration allows replicating the configuration that is made in conventional sand moulds in the production processes of tap bodies with internal divided structure and that allow a lower noise in the water flow when passing through the different passages divided between cold and hot water. In this way, the configuration of the plastic insert also makes it possible to reduce the noise of the water flow through its different passages or conduits.

Also preferably, although optional, the first parts of each hydraulic line are fixed by welding to the walls of the second part that forms the main body of the tap, wherein this second part comprises at least one inlet opening from each first part, the insert being coupled in a watertight manner to at least one of these inlet openings and/or to the cavity where the water inlet flows into from the first part prior to the insert, separating in a watertight manner the flow of the two water inlets from the hydraulic lines.

This configuration allows having a very simple tap body mounting structure and a plastic insert that adapts to it to keep the two differentiated cold and hot water inlet flows independent and watertight. As indicated, the connection of the insert with respect to the water inlets from the first parts to the second part of the body, can be made directly on the watertight connection to each of the inlet openings, or by making only this watertight connection to one of the inlet openings and separating the water chamber that collects the other water inlet, from the other first part.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the fixing system is a pin, screw or the like fixed in a specific longitudinal and radial position capable of being inserted towards the inside of the second part, which is tightened or coupled from the outside of the body of the tap and which is inserted, at least partially, into a slot or hole of the plastic insert with which it is aligned in the working position of the insert in the body. The insert and tap body assembly is configured such that the position of said insert relative to the first and second body parts is locked maintaining the correct and watertight distribution of water between the hydraulic inlets, the cartridge and the tap outlets.

In accordance with this, preferably but optionally, the slot or hole of the plastic insert, configured to receive the fixing system, comprises a metal insert for fixing said fixing system. This configuration allows increasing the strength and structural stability of the receiving area of the fixing system.

In relation to any embodiment of the fixing system, preferably, said fixing system is located aligned with one of the supply outlets of said tap and in turn aligned with the slot or hole of the insert. This configuration makes it possible to effectively lock the position of the insert from outside the tap body, without the need to create an additional hole for the arrangement of the access to said fixing system or even for its own arrangement in said additional opening in the tap body, taking advantage of the already existing opening for, for example, the outlet of supply water to the user.

Alternatively to the previous embodiment, the fixing system is located in a further and specific opening of the metal body, in a position aligned with the slot or hole of the insert.

According to a possible optional embodiment of the invention, although also preferably, the second part comprises a perimeter thread in its part closest to the control or handle area of the tap, where a nut configured for tightening the cartridge and/or insert and locking it in its longitudinal position inside said second part is coupled.

This configuration allows attributing the responsibility of the packing and longitudinal fixing of the assembly to this fixing by threaded tightening, to leave to the fixing system from the outside, only the fixing of its radial position.

In relation to the previous packing carried out by the nut tightening system, said tightening of the nut on the insert displaces the insert against a mechanical stop located in the metal body of the tap.

According to a further embodiment to any of those described above, the body of the tap is made of stainless steel with its parts formed at least by the first and second parts made by independent parts formed by lengths of tube or pressed or stamped parts and with welded joints. This allows the constitution and manufacture of a tap with a shorter production time, saving the energy cost of manufacture.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, also in addition to any of the above embodiments, the insert and the tap body are configured with at least one shower-type supply outlet.

Similarly for any of the embodiments above, the insert is configured in a single monobloc part. This embodiment allows having an insert configuration without having couplings between parts, nor the problems of adjustments and movements between parts to form the insert.

For the better understanding of the description made herein, a set of drawings has been provided wherein, schematically and solely by way of a non-limiting example, a practical case of an embodiment is represented.

• Figure 1 is a schematic sectional perspective view of the shower-type tap of the invention.
• Figure 2 is a schematic sectional plan view of the embodiment of the shower-type tap of Figure 1.
• Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of the plastic insert included in the shower-type tap of the invention.
• Figure 4 is a schematic sectional side elevational view of the shower-type tap of figure 1, with the section made by the water outlet opening of the tap.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, as can be seen in Figures 1 and 2, the tap (10) is configured by way of a single-lever shower tap, wherein this tap (10) has a metal body (11), in this embodiment made of stainless steel, with a rigid connection to each of the inlets of hydraulic lines (20), cold water and hot water, of the supply installation. In this way, the metal body (11) of the tap (10) comprises a first part (11.1) of water conduction for each of the inlets of the hydraulic lines (20) to the tap (10), which are connected with a single second part (11.2) as the main body of the tap (10) where the mixing and flow regulation cartridge (13) is housed, as well as its control or handle (22), these first parts (11.1) directing the flow of water from each of said inlets of the hydraulic lines (20) towards said second part (11.2) of the metal body (11) of the tap (10).

In the present embodiment there is a configuration of these first and second parts (11.1, 11.2) in the form of tubular cylindrical bodies of stainless steel, wherein the two first parts (11.1) are welded to both sides of the second part (11.2). The second part (11.2) comprises a connection opening (15) for each of the first part (11.1).

The tap (10) of the present invention comprises an insert (14) of plastic material, such as PPS - polyphenylene sulphide, or PPO - polyphenylene oxide, for example, which is installed in the second part (11.1) of the metal body (11) of the tap (10), acting as a watertight receiver and separator of each of the water flows from each of the connection openings (15) for each of the first part (11.1) and conducting independently and in watertight manner each of these water flows to their corresponding connection outlets (16) from the insert (14) to the cartridge (13). This insert also collects the water mixed in the cartridge (13) to direct it to the outlet (18) of the tap (10) corresponding to the shower.

In this embodiment, the insert (14) performs its conduits by way of water chambers by way of expansion chambers, ensuring that the behaviour of the water is stable and does not generate aggressive vortices, reducing the noise of the passage of water flows through said insert (14), in particular after the direct watertight coupling to the opening (15) of one of the first parts (11.1) of the body (11) of the tap (10) corresponding to one of the water inlets of each hydraulic line (20), since the other opening (15) that connects with the other first part (11.1) already flows directly into a cavity (15.1) prior to the insert (14) where the latter first part (11.1) flows into.

With this configuration, it is essential to correctly position the insert in the metal body (11) of the tap (10), both in its axial and radial position, to be correctly positioned with respect to the inlet openings (15) for the flow of water from the first parts (11.1) and the connections with the cartridge (13), as well as with the outlet (18) of the tap.

To this end, the tap has, on the one hand, a packing system for the cartridge (13) and the insert (14) against a mechanical stop (25) located in the metal body (11) of the tap (10). The packing system of the assembly is carried out by means of the threading of a nut (24) on a perimeter thread (23) of the second part (11.2) in its part closest to the control or handle area (22), wherein when the nut (24) is threaded it moves rotating towards the mechanical stop position (25) located in the internal part of the second part (11.2) in the location area of its openings (15). In this movement of the nut (24), it tightens the assembly formed by the cartridge (13) and insert (14) towards said mechanical stop until it is correctly tightened and locked in position.

For the fixing of the insert (14) in its correct radial position in the second part (11.2) of the metal body (11) of the tap (10) there is a fixing system (19), as can be seen in Figure 4, formed by a pin or the like fixed in a specific longitudinal and radial position capable of being inserted into the second part (11.2) and configured to engage in a hole (21) of the insert (14), as shown in Figure 3, thanks to the fact that in the working position the hole (21) of the insert is in a position aligned with the pin of the fixing system (19), allowing said coupling and locking of the position.

In the present embodiment the hole (21) of the insert (14) for the insertion of the fixing system (19) comprises a metal insert for receiving and fixing said fixing system (19).

This embodiment also shows, as can be seen in Figure 4, an alignment of the area where the fixing system (19) is located with the water outlet (18), to make the access to the pin actuation from the outside and not make it necessary to create a new additional hole in the metal body (11) of the tap (10) for this radial fixing of the insert (14).

In an alternative embodiment, with respect to this access solution to the fixing system, there may be an additional and specific opening of the metal body (11), in a position aligned with the slot or hole (21) of the insert (14), when this insert (14) is in the correct working position.

The insert (14) of plastic material, in the present embodiment, can be made in a single monobloc part minimising problems of couplings and tolerances between several possible parts wherein it could be seen constituted in possible alternative embodiments of said insert (14). The watertight couplings are made by using conventional O-rings or gaskets for the contact between surfaces of the insert to be contacted with the metal body (11) of the tap or cartridge (13).

Although reference has been made to a specific embodiment of the invention, it is evident to a person skilled in the art that the single-lever shower tap with internal plastic insert for differentiated conduction of water lines is susceptible to numerous variations and modifications and that all the previous details can be replaced by other technically equivalent details, without departing from the scope of protection defined by the attached claims.