Improvements to elbow operable taps

Claim 1

17,708 no The claims defining the invention are as follows:- 1. A fluid control valve adapted to be elbow operated, the valve comprising a body having a valve seat defining a flow aperture, a movable valve element resiliently biassed into a sealing position with the valve seat, a lever arm, which is capable of being elbow operated, pivotally mounted with respect to the body, and force transmitting means between the lever arm and the movable valve element which is capable, upon pivotal movement of the lever in one direction, of transmitting .a force from the lever to the movable valve element to move the latter away from the valve seat, but is incapable of transmitting a force from the lever to move the valve element into a closed position against the seat, the lever having attached thereto a retaining member having a first arcuate surface the centre of curvature of which coincides with the pivotal axis of the lever, which retaining member slidably cooperates in all positions of the lever with a correspondingly shaped second arcuate surface attached to the body, the two arcuate surfaces being resiliently biassed together whereby the friction between the surfaces retains the lever in any set position. 2. A fluid control valve as claimed in claim 1, in which the force transmitting means includes a resiliently loaded push rod and a cam between the push rod and a portion of the lever arm by which the lever arm can open the valve upon pivotal movement of the lever 17708/70 in one direction. 3. A fluid control valve as claimed in claim 2, wherein the push rod is slidably retained with respect to the body one end engaging against the valve element so that pushing against the push rod will urge the valve element away from the valve seat, and wherein the lever arm or portion of the lever arm is shaped with relation to a head on the push rod so as to establish a cam relationship between the two whereby pivotal movement of the lever arm in one or more directions results in an opening force on the valve element with respect to its seat, but pivotal movement of the lever will not result in any sealing force between the valve member and its seat additional to the resilient load to close the valve. 4. A fluid control valve as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the first and second arcuate surfaces constitute ball joint means pivotally retaining the lever arm to the body. A fluid control valve as claimed in claim 4, in which the arcuate surfaces of the ball joint means include materials engaging each other which exhibit a high coefficient of friction so that the lever arm can be retained in any operating position. 6. A fluid control valve as claimed in claim in which the retaining member is mounted on the lever arm-for movement towards or away from the pivotal axis of the lever and is resiliently biassed towards the 9. 446902 17,7 08 no second arcuate surface. 7. A fluid control valve substantially as specifically described herein with reference to the accompanying drawing. Dated this 18th day of December, 1973. THOMAS ARTHUR KILGARIFF By his Patent Attorneys, COLLISON CO. 17, 7 08 imo