The present disclosure generally relates to cartridge removal tools, and more particularly, to thermostatic cartridge removal tools.
Plumbing assemblies utilize cartridges to control the flow of water from a water source through to the water faucet, spout, or showerhead. Over time, these cartridges can start leaking and need to be replaced. However, they are often very tightly positioned within a plumbing assembly and can be difficult to remove due to mineral buildup. Further, cartridges are oftentimes located in small spaces, making is difficult for a person to access and manipulate with conventional tools.
Thermostatic cartridges are used in thermostatic valves to mix hot inlet water and cold inlet water to a predetermined mixed temperature. Thus, thermostatic cartridges can provide a consistent water outlet temperature, reducing the risk of scalding injuries.
Provided herein are extraction tools for removing thermostatic cartridges from the manifold of a valve. Servicing and/or replacing a thermostatic cartridge of a thermostatic valve can be a difficult task due in part to mineral buildup. As explained above, cartridges are generally tightly positioned within the manifold of the valve. Oftentimes, space is limited as well. For example, sometimes, the valve is deep behind the finished wall, making it very difficult for a user to grab the head of thermostatic cartridge to extract it. Further, space constraints can also make it difficult for a user to apply a conventional extraction tool to the cartridge without risk of damaging to the plastic cap of thermostatic cartridge Accordingly, the extraction tools described herein can allow a user to more easily remove a thermostatic cartridge from its manifold, reducing the amount of time, labor, and risk of injury or damage to the valve that is otherwise required to remove a thermostatic cartridge.
Extraction tools described herein include two components: a cap and a screw. When the thermostatic valve is mounted within a manifold of a thermostatic valve, a portion of the cartridge extends out of the valve manifold body. When the necessary parts are removed to expose the cartridge for servicing, the cap is designed to fit over this extending portion and rest against a rim or ledge of the opening of the manifold. The screw is designed to be inserted into an opening at the top of the cap. During an extraction process (i.e., when the extraction tool is used to extract a cartridge from its manifold), the screw is configured to screw into an opening comprising threads at the top of the cartridge.
To operate the extraction tool, a user must twist or screw the cap onto the cartridge such that the screw of the extraction tool screws into an opening located at the top of the cartridge. As the user continues to twist the cap, the screw will continue to screw into the cartridge, until the bottom rim of the cap is flush with a rim or ledge of the opening of the manifold, at which point any further twisting will cause the screw to pull up on the cartridge, pulling the cartridge out of the manifold. The material and architecture of the cap should be able to withstand the force of the screw pulling up on the cartridge as the user continues to twist the cap.
In some embodiments, provided is an extraction tool for removing a thermostatic cartridge from a valve assembly, the extraction tool comprising: a cap comprising an opening in a top surface of the cap; and a screw, wherein the cap is configured to receive the screw at the opening, and wherein, when the extraction tool is placed over a portion of a thermostatic cartridge installed in a valve assembly, an end of the screw is configured to screw into an opening of the thermostatic cartridge.
In some embodiments of the extraction tool, the cap comprises a domed top portion, and the opening is located at the topmost location of the domed top portion.
In some embodiments of the extraction tool, the cap comprises a cylindrical middle portion.
In some embodiments of the extraction tool, a radius of the cylindrical middle portion is equal to a radius of the domed top portion, wherein both the radius of the cylindrical middle portion and the radius of the domed top portion is measured from the outer surface of the cap.
In some embodiments of the extraction tool, the cap comprises a bottom portion having a circular opening, wherein the circular opening comprises a bottom rim configured to contact a manifold of the valve assembly when the extraction tool is in operation.
In some embodiments of the extraction tool, a radius of the bottom rim is greater than the radius of the domed top portion and the radius of the cylindrical middle portion.
In some embodiments of the extraction tool, a total height of the extraction tool is about 70-80 mm.
In some embodiments of the extraction tool, the radius of the domed top portion is about 15-25 mm.
In some embodiments of the extraction tool, the radius of the cylindrical middle portion is about 15-25 mm.
In some embodiments of the extraction tool, the radius of the bottom rim is about 20-30 mm.
In some embodiments of the extraction tool, a wall thickness of the extraction tool is about 1-3 mm.
In some embodiments of the extraction tool, when the extraction tool is configured to be twisted onto the thermostatic cartridge.
In some embodiments of the extraction tool, threads of the screw are configured to engage with threads of the opening of the thermostatic cartridge.
In some embodiments of the extraction tool, the cap comprises one of polyethylene, polycarbonate, polyamide, polypropylene, polyamide, polycarbonate, polylmethyl(meth)acrylate, or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene.
In some embodiments, any one or more of the features, characteristics, or elements discussed above with respect to any of the embodiments may be incorporated into any of the other embodiments mentioned above or described elsewhere herein.
Described herein are extraction tools for removing thermostatic cartridges from the manifold of a valve assembly. A thermostatic valve is designed to mix inlet hot water and inlet cold water to a consistent and predetermined temperature. Over time, the cartridge of the valve may need to be removed from the valve assembly for service and/or replacement. However, oftentimes, the valve assembly is located in a tight space, which can make it difficult for a user to access the valve. Space constraints can also make it more difficult for a user to remove the cartridge using a conventional extraction tool without damaging the cartridge.
Accordingly, extraction tools provided herein can more easily and more efficiently remove a thermostatic cartridge from the valve assembly. The extraction tools include a cap component and a screw component, and utilizes existing female threads within the thermostatic cartridge to be removed. When actively removing a cartridge from a valve assembly, a user simply twists the cap until the screw is completely inserted into the opening at the top of the cartridge (i.e., when the bottom rim of the cap component is in contact and flush with a rim or ledge surface of the cartridge opening of the valve assembly). At this point, the user will continue to twist the cap such that the rotation of the screw in the opening of the cartridge exerts an upward force on the cartridge, and pulls the cartridge out of the valve assembly.
Referring now to the drawings, like parts are marked throughout the specification and drawings with the same reference numerals, respectively.
One of the components of extraction tool 104, screw 110, is shown in the figure completely screwed into the opening 112 of cartridge 108 such that a bottom rim of extraction tool 104 is flush with a rim of an opening of the valve assembly 102.
In some embodiments, the radius of the top portion 124 of extraction tool 104 (as measured from the outer surface of top portion 124) may be about 12-30, about 14-24, or about 16-20 mm. In some embodiments, the radius of the top portion 124 of extraction tool 104 may be less than or equal to about 30, about 28, about 26, about 24, about 22, about 20, about 18, about 16, or about 14 mm. In some embodiments, the radius of the top portion 124 of extraction tool 104 may be greater than or equal to about 12, about 14, about 16, about 18, about 20, about 22, about 24, about 26, or about 28 mm.
In some embodiments, the radius of middle portion 126 of extraction tool 104 (as measured from the outer surface of middle portion 126) may be about 12-34, about 14-28, or about 14-22 mm. In some embodiments, the radius of the middle portion 126 of extraction tool 104 may be less than or equal to about 34, about 32, about 30, about 28, about 26, about 24, about 22, about 20, about 18, about 16, or about 14 mm. In some embodiments, the radius of the middle portion 126 of extraction tool 104 may be greater than or equal to about 12, about 14, about 16, about 18, about 20, about 22, about 24, about 26, about 28, about 30, or about 32 mm.
In some embodiments, the radius of rim 120 of bottom portion 128 of extraction tool 104 (as measured from the outer surface of the rim 120 of bottom portion 128) may be about 14-40, about 16-30, or about 20-26 mm. In some embodiments, the radius of rim 120 of bottom portion 128 of extraction tool 104 may be less than or equal to about 40, about 38, about 36, about 34, about 32, about 30, about 28, about 26, about 24, about 22, about 20, about 18, or about 16 mm. In some embodiments, the radius of rim 120 of bottom portion 128 of extraction tool 104 may be greater than or equal to about 14, about 16, about 18, about 20, about 22, about 24, about 26, about 28, about 30, about 32, about 34, about 36, or about 38 mm.
In some embodiments, the thickness of an outer wall of middle portion 126 and/or bottom portion 128 may be about 0.5-8, about 1-6, or about 1-4 mm. In some embodiments, the thickness of an outer wall of middle portion 126 and/or bottom portion 128 may be less than or equal to about 8, about 7, about 6, about 5, about 4, about 3, about 2, or about 1 mm. In some embodiments, the thickness of an outer wall of middle portion 126 and/or bottom portion 128 may be greater than or equal to about 0.5, about 1, about 2, about 3, about 4, about 5, about 6, or about 7 mm.
In some embodiments, the total height of extraction tool 104 may be about 50-100, about 60-90, or about 70-80 mm. In some embodiments, the total height of extraction tool 104 may be less than or equal to about 100, about 95, about 90, about 85, about 80, about 75, about 70, about 65, about 60, or about 55 mm. In some embodiments, the total height of extraction tool 104 may be greater than or equal to about 50, about 55, about 60, about 65, about 70, about 75, about 80, about 85, about 90, or about 95 mm.
In some embodiments, extraction tool 104 includes a screw of size M4×0.7×25 mm long. In some embodiment, the screw is overmolded onto the cap of the extraction tool 104. In some embodiments, the cap can comprise thermoplastics such as Polyethylene, Polycarbonate, Polyamide (Nylon), Polypropylene, etc., as well as engineering plastics, including polyamides (PA), polycarbonates (PC), polylmethyl(meth)acrylate (PMMA), and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS).
The foregoing description sets forth exemplary systems, methods, techniques, parameters, and the like. It should be recognized, however, that such description is not intended as a limitation on the scope of the present disclosure but is instead provided as a description of exemplary embodiments.
Although the description herein uses terms first, second, etc. to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by the terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another.
This application claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/325,699, filed Mar. 31, 2022, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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63325699 | Mar 2022 | US |