Plumbing fitting

Abstract

A plumbing fitting with an outer body having a flow path extending therethrough, an inner body disposed in, and axially movable along an axis relative to the outer body, and sealing configured to prevent leakage of fluid from the plumbing fitting is disclosed. The inner body has tracks and the outer body has projections that are movable. Each track has a primary, outer portion, a secondary central portion and a tertiary outer portion. The angle of inclination of the secondary central portion is greater than the angle of inclination of the primary outer portion and of the tertiary outer portion. The angle of inclination is relative to the axis of axial movement. The plumbing fitting is movable between a first sealing configuration in which the projections are arranged in the primary outer portions, and a second sealing configuration in which the projections are arranged in the tertiary outer portions.

1 . A plumbing fitting comprising: an outer body having a flow path extending therethrough; an inner body disposed in, and axially movable along an axis relative to, the outer body; sealing means configured to prevent leakage of fluid from the plumbing fitting; the outer body or the inner body further comprising a track, the other of the outer body or the inner body further comprising a projection, the projection being movable in the track; wherein the track has at least a primary, outer, portion, a secondary, central, portion and a tertiary, outer, portion, and the angle of inclination of the secondary, central, portion is greater than the angle of inclination of the primary, outer, portion and of the tertiary, outer, portion, respectively, the angle of inclination being relative to the axis of axial movement; and wherein the plumbing fitting is movable between a first sealing configuration in which the projection is arranged in the primary, outer, portion, and a second sealing configuration in which the projection is arranged in the tertiary, outer, portion; wherein the inner body comprises an inlet aperture and an outlet aperture. 
     
     
         2 . The plumbing fitting as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the outer body or the inner body comprises more than one track, and the other of the outer body or the inner body comprises more than one projection and each projection corresponds with a respective track. 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The plumbing fitting as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the inner body comprises the or each track, and the outer body comprises the or each projection. 
     
     
         5 . The plumbing fitting as claimed in  claim 1  wherein one or more of the primary portion, secondary portion and tertiary portion are substantially straight. 
     
     
         6 . The plumbing fitting as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the track comprises one or more notches into which a projection is releasably engageable to thereby secure in position the inner body relative to the outer body. 
     
     
         7 . The plumbing fitting as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the change in inclination of the or each track on moving between the primary, outer, portion, and/or the secondary, central, portion, and/or the tertiary, outer, portion is gradual. 
     
     
         8 . The plumbing fitting as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the change in inclination of the or each track on moving between the primary, outer, portion, and/or the secondary, central, portion, and/or the tertiary, outer, portion is abrupt. 
     
     
         9 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The plumbing fitting as claimed in  claim 1  wherein when the plumbing fitting is arranged between the first sealing configuration and the second sealing configuration, the or each projection is arranged in the or each respective secondary, central, portion. 
     
     
         12 . The plumbing fitting as claimed in  claim 1  wherein in the first and/or second sealing configuration, the sealing means engage with one or more sealing surfaces of the inner body and/or the outer body; and wherein when the plumbing fitting is arranged between the first sealing configuration and the second sealing configuration, the sealing means is disengaged from one or more sealing surfaces of the inner body and/or the outer body. 
     
     
         13 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The plumbing fitting as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the outer body comprises a cavity in which the inner body is disposed, a closed base, an inlet connector having an inlet bore, and an outlet connector having an outlet bore. 
     
     
         16 . The plumbing fitting as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the inner body comprises a closed base. 
     
     
         17 . The plumbing fitting as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the inner body is adapted to releasably receive a mechanism. 
     
     
         18 . The plumbing fitting as claimed in  claim 1  wherein a mechanism forms the inner body. 
     
     
         19 . The plumbing fitting as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the sealing means comprises one or more first sealing members, one or more second sealing members and/or one or more third sealing members. 
     
     
         20 . The plumbing fitting as claimed in  claim 19  wherein the sealing means comprises one or more first sealing members, one or more second sealing members and/or one or more third sealing members; and wherein in the first sealing configuration and/or the second sealing configuration, the or each first sealing member is adapted to prevent fluid from the inlet bore escaping around the inner body, out of the body cavity opening. 
     
     
         21 . The plumbing fitting as claimed in  claim 19  wherein the sealing means comprises one or more first sealing members, one or more second sealing members and/or one or more third sealing members; and wherein in the first sealing configuration, the or each second sealing member is adapted to prevent fluid from escaping from the inlet bore to the outlet bore around the inner body. 
     
     
         22 . The plumbing fitting as claimed in  claim 11  wherein the sealing means comprises one or more first sealing members, one or more second sealing members and/or one or more third sealing members; and wherein in the second sealing configuration, the or each second sealing member is adapted to prevent fluid from the inlet aperture escaping around the inner body, out of the body cavity opening. 
     
     
         23 . The plumbing fitting as claimed in  claim 11  wherein the sealing means comprises one or more first sealing members, one or more second sealing members and/or one or more third sealing members; and wherein in the first sealing configuration, the or each third sealing member is adapted to prevent fluid from entering between the inner body base and the outer body base. 
     
     
         24 . The plumbing fitting as claimed in  claim 11  wherein the sealing means comprises one or more first sealing members, one or more second sealing members and/or one or more third sealing members; and wherein in the second sealing configuration, the or each third sealing member is adapted to prevent fluid between the inner body base and the outer body base from escaping around the inner body, out of the body cavity opening. 
     
     
         25 . The plumbing fitting as claimed in claim  12  wherein the mechanism is a pressure independent control valve.