EP-4737093-A1 - FAUCET SHELL, MANUFACTURING METHOD AND MOLDS THEREOF

EP4737093A1EP 4737093 A1EP4737093 A1EP 4737093A1EP-4737093-A1

Abstract

A faucet shell, a manufacturing method and molds thereof are provided. The faucet shell includes a metal outer casing and a plastic inner tubular body. The plastic inner tubular body is disposed in the metal outer casing, and is in contact tightly with an inner wall of the metal outer casing. The metal outer casing includes a first metal outer tube and a second metal outer tube, a side of the first metal outer tube is integrally connected to the second metal outer tube, and the first metal outer tube is in communication with the second metal outer tube. The plastic inner tubular body includes a first plastic inner tube and a second plastic inner tube, a side of the first plastic inner tube is integrally connected to the second plastic inner tube, and the first plastic inner tube is in communication with the second plastic inner tube.

Inventors

LUO, XIAOHUA

Assignees

Guangdong Meijie Faucet Company Limited

Dates

Publication Date: 20260506
Application Date: 20241210

Claims (15)

A faucet shell, comprising: a metal outer casing and a plastic inner tubular body, the plastic inner tubular body being disposed in the metal outer casing, and the plastic inner tubular body being in contact tightly with an inner wall of the metal outer casing; wherein the metal outer casing comprises a first metal outer tube and a second metal outer tube, a side of the first metal outer tube is integrally connected to the second metal outer tube, and the first metal outer tube is in communication with the second metal outer tube; wherein the plastic inner tubular body comprises a first plastic inner tube and a second plastic inner tube, a side of the first plastic inner tube is integrally connected to the second plastic inner tube, and the first plastic inner tube is in communication with the second plastic inner tube; wherein the first plastic inner tube is disposed in the first metal outer tube and in contact tightly with an inner wall of the first metal outer tube; and wherein the second plastic inner tube is disposed in the second metal outer tube and in contact tightly with an inner wall of the second metal outer tube.
The faucet shell as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first metal outer tube is a straight tube, the second metal outer tube is an arc-shaped bent tube, the first plastic inner tube is a straight tube, and the second metal outer tube is an arc-shaped bent tube.
The faucet shell as claimed in claim 2, wherein an annular convex ring is disposed on the inner wall of the first metal outer tube, and an end portion of the first plastic inner tube is connected to a side portion of the annular convex ring.
The faucet shell as claimed in claim 1, wherein a material of the metal outer casing comprises a zinc alloy or an aluminium alloy.
The faucet shell as claimed in claim 1, wherein a material of the plastic inner tubular body comprises any one of polyphthalamide, polyformaldehyde, and polypheylene ether.
A manufacturing method of the faucet shell as claimed in claim 1, comprising: step a, preparing the metal outer casing of the faucet shell; step b, preparing an injection mold, wherein the injection mold comprises a first injection-molding core, a second injection-molding core, and an injection-molding plate assembly having a mold closing state and a mold opening state; and a placement cavity is defined in the injection-molding plate assembly for placing the metal outer casing when the injection-molding plate assembly is in the mold closing state; step c, placing the metal outer casing into the placement cavity of the injection-molding plate assembly when the injection-molding plate assembly is in the mold opening state, and closing the injection-molding plate assembly; during closing the injection-molding plate assembly, inserting the first injection-molding core into the first metal outer tube of the metal outer casing, inserting the second injection-molding core into the second metal outer tube of the metal outer casing, and making an end of the second injection-molding core abut against a side of the first injection-molding core; and after closing the injection-molding plate assembly, the first injection-molding core, the second injection-molding core and the metal outer casing together defining an injection-molding cavity for molding the plastic inner tubular body; step d, injecting plastic in a molten state into the injection-molding cavity, wherein a melting point of the plastic is smaller than a melting point of the metal outer casing; step e, cooling and solidifying the plastic in the molten state in the injection-molding cavity to form the plastic inner tubular body including the first plastic inner tube and the second plastic inner tube; step f, opening the injection-molding plate assembly, during opening the injection-molding plate assembly, pulling out the first injection-molding core from the first plastic inner tube of the plastic inner tubular body, and pulling out the second injection-molding core from the second plastic inner tube of the plastic inner tubular body; and step g, taking out a molded faucet shell from the injection-molding plate assembly.
The manufacturing method of the faucet shell as claimed in claim 6, further comprising: die-casting molding the metal outer casing, including: step i, preparing a die-casting mold, wherein the die-casting mold comprises a first die-casting core, a second die-casting core, a third die-casting core, and a die-casting molding plate assembly having a mold closing state and a mold opening state, a die-casting cavity is defined in the die-casting molding plate assembly for die-casting molding the metal outer casing when the die-casting molding plate assembly is in the mold closing state, and the die-casting cavity comprises: a first cavity portion for die-casting molding the first metal outer tube, and a second cavity portion for die-casting molding the second metal outer tube; step ii, closing the die-casting molding plate assembly; during closing the die-casting molding plate assembly, inserting the first die-casting core into an end of the first cavity portion of the die-casting cavity, inserting the second die-casting core into another end of the first cavity portion of the die-casting cavity, making an end of the first die-casting core abut against an end of the second die-casting core, inserting the third die-casting core into the second cavity portion of the die-casting cavity, and making an end of the third die-casting core abut against a side of the first die-casting core; step iii, injecting a metal material in a molten state into the die-casting cavity; step iv, cooling and solidifying the metal material in the molten state in the die-casting cavity to form the metal outer casing including the first metal outer tube and the second metal outer tube; step v, opening the die-casting molding plate assembly; during opening the die-casting molding plate assembly, pulling out the first die-casting core from the first metal outer tube of the metal outer casing, pulling out the second die-casting core from the first metal outer tube of the metal outer casing, and pulling out the third die-casting core from the second metal outer tube of the metal outer casing; and step vi, taking out the metal outer casing from the die-casting molding plate assembly.
An injection mold for injection-molding the plastic inner tubular body of the faucet shell as claimed in claim 1, comprising: an upper fixing plate; an upper molding plate, installed on a lower side of the upper fixing plate; an upper molding core, installed in a lower end of the upper molding plate; a lower fixing plate; a lower molding plate, installed on an upper side of the lower fixing plate; a lower molding core, installed in the lower molding plate; wherein a placement cavity is defined between the upper molding core and the lower molding core and for placing the metal outer casing; a first cylinder, installed on a side of the lower molding plate; a first injection-molding core, connected to a cylinder rod of the first cylinder; wherein the first cylinder is configured to drive the first injection-molding core to be inserted into the first metal outer tube of the metal outer casing placed in the placement cavity; a second cylinder, installed on a side of the lower fixing plate; a straight rack, connected to a cylinder rod of the second cylinder; a gear, meshed with the straight rack; a rotation shaft, installed on a middle of the gear; a rotation arm, wherein an end of the rotation arm is connected to the rotation shaft; and a second injection-molding core, connected to another end of the rotation arm; wherein the second cylinder is configured to drive the second injection-molding core to be inserted into the second metal outer tube of the metal outer casing placing in the placement cavity and to abut against a side of the first injection-molding core; wherein the first injection-molding core, the second injection-molding core and the metal outer casing together define an injection-molding cavity for molding the plastic inner tubular body when the injection mold is in a mold closing state.
The injection mold as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first injection-molding core is a straight injection-molding core, and the second injection-molding core is an arc-shaped injection-molding core.
The injection mold as claimed in claim 8, further comprising: a bottom plate; two side supporting plates, installed above two ends of the bottom plate respectively; wherein the lower fixing plate is installed on the two side supporting plates; and a first ejector pin assembly, movably installed between the two side supporting plates; wherein the first ejector pin assembly comprises: a first ejector pin fixing plate; a first ejector pin plate, installed on the first ejector pin fixing plate; and first ejector pins, installed on the first ejector pin plate; wherein an end of each of the first ejector pins movably extends into the placement cavity.
A die-casting mold for die-casting molding the metal outer casing of the faucet shell as claimed in claim 1, comprising: a moving die plate; a moving die core, installed in a lower end of the moving die plate; a fixed die plate; a fixed die core, installed in an upper end of the fixed die plate; wherein a die-casting cavity is defined between the moving die core and the fixed die core and for die-casting molding the metal outer casing, and the die-casting cavity comprises: a first cavity portion for die-casting molding the first metal outer tube, and a second cavity portion for die-casting molding the second metal outer tube; a push-pull rod assembly, installed on an end of each of the moving die plate and the fixed die plate; a first die-casting core, connected to the push-pull rod assembly; wherein the moving die plate is configured to drive the push-pull rod assembly to operate, to thereby drive the first die-casting core to be inserted into an end of the first cavity portion during closing the die-casting mold; a third cylinder, installed on another end of the fixed die plate; a transmission assembly, installed on the another end of the fixed die plate, and connected to a cylinder rod of the third cylinder; a second die-casting core, connected to the transmission assembly; and a third die-casting core, connected to the transmission assembly; wherein the third cylinder is configured to drive the transmission assembly, to thereby drive the second die-casting core to be inserted into another end of the first cavity portion and drive the third die-casting core to be inserted into the second cavity portion.
The die-casting mold as claimed in claim 11, wherein the push-pull rod assembly comprises: a first slide rail, installed in the end of the fixed die plate; a first slider, slidably installed on the first slide rail, and connected to the first die-casting core; and a push-pull rod, wherein an end of the moving die plate defines an oblique fixing hole, an upper end of the push-pull rod is installed in the fixing hole, the first slider defines an oblique slide hole, a lower end of the push-pull rod movably penetrates through the slide hole, and the push-pull rod is configured to drive the first slider to move back and forth along the first slide rail when the push-pull rod moves up and down.
The die-casting mold as claimed in claim 11, wherein the transmission assembly comprises: a second slide rail, installed on the another end of the fixed die plate; wherein the third cylinder is fixed to an end of the second slide rail, a second slider, slidably installed on the second slide rail, and connected to the cylinder rod of the third cylinder; wherein the second die-casting core is connected to an end of the second slider; an arc-shaped slide rail, installed in the another end of the fixed die plate; a third slider, slidably installed on the arc-shaped slide rail, and connected to the second die-casting core; and a connecting rod, wherein an end of the connecting rod is hinged to another end of the second slider, and another end of the connecting rod is hinged to the third slider.
The die-casting mold as claimed in claim 11, wherein the first die-casting core and the second die-casting core each are a straight die-casting core, and the third die-casting core is an arc-shaped die-casting core.
The die-casting mold as claimed in claim 11, further comprising: a supporting bottom plate; two fixed die supporting plates, installed on the supporting bottom plate; wherein the fixed die plate is installed on the two fixed die supporting plates; and a second ejector pin assembly, movably installed between the two fixed die supporting plates; wherein the second ejector pin assembly comprises: a second ejector pin fixing plate; a second ejector pin plate, installed on the second ejector pin fixing plate; and second ejector pins, installed on the second ejector pin plate; wherein an end of each of the second ejector pins movably extends into the die-casting cavity.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202422665866.6, filed on November 1, 2024, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD The invention relates to the technical field of faucets, and more particularly to a faucet shell, a manufacturing method and molds thereof. BACKGROUND A faucet shell is an outlet tube of a faucet. When the faucet shell is used as a tube of water for people to drink directly, it needs to be made of metal or plastic that does not add pollutants to the water for the sake of water safety and hygiene. However, there is a problem of high cost when the faucet shell is completely made of metal that meet the standards; while there is a problem of low aesthetic appearance, poor texture and low strength when the faucet shell is completely made of plastic. In view of this, the inventor files a patent application with a Chinese patent publication No. CN105345988B on October 19, 2018, which discloses a water outlet tube, a faucet and a manufacturing method of the water outlet tube. Specifically, the manufacturing method of the water outlet tube includes the following steps. An outer tube shell made of metal is prepared. An injection mold is prepared, and the injection mold includes a mold core assembly and a mold plate assembly having a mold closing state and a mold opening state. When the mold plate assembly is in the mold opening state, the outer tube shell is placed into the mold plate assembly, and the mold plate assembly is closed. During closing the mold plate assembly, the mold core assembly is placed into a tube of the outer tube shell until the mold plate assembly is in the mold closing state. At this time, the mold core assembly and the outer tube shell together define a tubular cavity. Plastic in molten state is injected into the cavity. The plastic in molten state in the cavity is cooled and solidified. The water outlet tube disclosed by the Chinese patent publication No. CN105345988B only has an integral bent or straight tube, it is necessary to assemble the water outlet tube onto a faucet shell during installation. The Chinses patent publication No. CN105345988B has the following disadvantages: (1) due to the fact that the water flow needs to pass through the faucet shell before flowing out of the water outlet tube, the faucet shell may still release trace amounts of harmful elements such as lead into the water flow during the process of flowing through the faucet shell; (2) the faucet shell and the water outlet tube are not integrated and need to be manufactured separately, which increases manufacturing costs and reduces the overall stability of the faucet; (3) due to the fact that both ends of the outer tube shell of the water outlet tube have openings, while both ends of the inner tube sleeve are not fixed, the inner tube sleeve is easily slid and loosened outward from the openings at the both ends of the outer tube shell during use; when those skilled in the art design an inner wall of the outer tube shell of the water outlet tube to have a concave convex surface to solve this problem, since the core of the die-casting mold cannot be pulled out from the outer tube shell with the concave convex surface, it will be difficult to use the core of the die-casting mold to match the inner hole of the formed outer tube shell when manufacturing the outer tube shell; (4) the manufacturing method disclosed by the Chinese patent publication No. CN105345988B can only mold the inner tube sleeve of the water outlet tube, and cannot mold the inner tube sleeve of the faucet shell. SUMMARY A technical problem to be solved of the invention is to provide a faucet shell according to the above disadvantages of the related art. The faucet shell has two integrally connected metal outer tubes and two integrally connected plastic inner tubes, so that the two metal outer tubes and the two plastic inner tubes can form a whole, and the faucet shell has strong overall stability and high overall texture and aesthetics. When water flows through the two plastic inner tubes of the faucet shell, the water flows inside the two plastic inner tubes and does not contact with the metal outer casing. When the metal outer casing is made of a zinc alloy or an aluminum alloy, the metal outer casing will not be oxidized by water and will not release trace elements into the water, which is green, environmentally friendly and has a long service life. The two plastic inner tubes of the faucet shell can support and cooperate with each other to prevent any plastic inner tube from sliding and loosening from the two metal outer tubes. The manufacturing method of the faucet shell can simultaneously form the two plastic inner tubes in the two metal outer tubes. An injection mold of the plastic inner tubular body of the faucet shell can achieve the simultaneous molding of the two plastic inner tubes in the two metal outer tubes. A die-cas