WO2002097312A1

WO2002097312A1 - An easy assembly water purifying and supplying system

Info

Publication number: WO2002097312A1
Application number: PCT/KR2002/000970
Authority: WO
Inventors: Byong-Ok Jo
Original assignee: Eco Engineering Inc.
Priority date: 2001-05-31
Filing date: 2002-05-22
Publication date: 2002-12-05
Also published as: KR20010078992A

Abstract

An easily assembled water purifying and supplying system with an excellent endurance is disclosed. The present system comprises an upper body portion 2 being installed at the upper surface of an upper board (30) of sink stand and having flow paths for opening/closing a raw water stream from a water pipe (50) and for discharging a purified water from an adjacent-installed water purifier (40) toward a water hose (20)and a lower body portion (3) being fixed to the lower end of the upper body portion and having a flow path for supplying the raw and purified waters toward the uppper body portion. The present system can be easily assembled by means of screws, is simple to operate and is inexpensive to install.

Description

AN EASY ASSEMBLY WATER PURIFYING AND SUPPLYING SYSTEM

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a easily assembled water purifying and supplying system having excellent endurance, and more particularly to a water purifying and supplying system, which is easily assembled by screw-coupling upper and lower bodies separated from each other by an upper board of a sink, simultaneously or alternatively uses purified water and raw water via a separate pipe connected to the upper body, and does not require a gate valve installed on a tap water pipe connected to the sink by a ball valve for turning on and off a water stream prior to supplying water from the tap water pipe to a water purifier, thereby being easily operated and having a low installation cost.

Background Art

Generally, water purifiers are variously divided according to their shapes and purification methods. According to the shapes, the water purifiers are divided into a water tap attachment type directly connected to a water tap and a non-pipe type. In the non-pipe type, water is received in a water tank and then purified by gravity filtration.

According to the purification methods, the water purifiers are divided into a direct connection type, a natural filtration type, an ion exchange resin type, a distillation type, a reverse osmosis type, an ionization type, etc. The natural filtration type, the reverse osmosis type, and the direct connection type are mainly used.

The direct connection type water purifier is directly connected to a water tap and purifies water by removing impurities from the water via a micro filter or an activated carbon/silver filter. The direct connection type water purifier must purify a large quantity of water at one time, thereby enlarging pores of the filter.

Therefore, using the direct connection type water purifier, it is difficult to remove viruses, heavy metals, carcinogenic substances, chemical pollutants, fine substances, etc. Further, the filter of the direct connection type water purifier must be frequently replaced with a new one.

In case of the aforementioned direct connection type water purifier, a high hydraulic pressure is continuously applied, thereby shortening the expected life spans of the water purifier and its peripheral parts. Further, in order to withstand the high hydraulic pressure, the direct connection type water purifier is made of stainless steel with a high strength or its equivalent materials, thereby raising its production cost. In order to sense and control the amount, speed, pressure, etc. of water supplied from the tap water pipe to the water purifier, a switching valve must be installed in the water purifier. When the switching valve is opened, water is supplied to the water purifier via a water pipe, and when the switching valve is closed, the water supply is stopped. In case a user wants to use the water purifier, the user must open the switching valve, and after the use of the water purifier, the user must close the switching valve so as to protect the water purifier from the continuous hydraulic pressure. Therefore, the direct connection type water purifier causes the user inconvenience and is troublesome to use.

In order to solve the aforementioned problems, a conventional water purifying system is disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Gazette No. 91/154684 (July 2, 1991).

Fig. 8 is a right cross-sectional view of the conventional water purifying system disclosed in the above document. With reference to Fig. 8, the conventional water purifying system is installed between the back surface 120 of a sink and a back wall 104. A water purifier 111 is installed below the sink, a tap water pipe 106 protruded from the back wall 104 passes through an upper board 101 of the sink and is then connected to a body 105 of the water purifying system. An inflow path 106 for carrying raw water and an outflow path 107 for supplying the raw water to the water purifier 111 are connected to the body 105. A switch 109 is installed between the inflow path 106 and the outflow path 107 within the body 105. Herein, the switch 109 is opened and closed by manipulating a lever. When the water purifier 111 is not in use, the lever of the switch 109 is turned in a designated direction and then closed, thereby intercepting the inflow of the raw water into the water purifier 111.

The outflow path 107 is partially connected to a safety plate 118 within the body 105. In case the hydraulic pressure applied to the water purifier 111 by the outflow path 107 is excessive, the safety plate 118 is opened and water in the outflow path 107 is partially discharged to the outside via an exhaustion hole 119.

Water purified via the water purifier 111 again flows into the body 105 of the water purifying system via a regression path 108 and is then discharged to the outside by a water supply pipe 116 via a water hose 115. Thereby, the purified water can be used. In the above-described conventional water purifying system, in using the water purifier 111 , the switch 109 is opened, and after using the water purifier 111, the switch 109 is closed so as to the protect the water purifier 111 from the continuous hydraulic pressure, thereby lengthening the expected life span of the water purifier 111. However, with the above-described conventional water purifying system, is it impossible to use simultaneously the purified water and the raw water or only the raw water. Therefore, even in case it is sufficient to use the non-purified raw water, the purified water is inevitably used. Further, in using the water purifier

111, since only the purified water is used, the water purifier 111 needs to continuously purify a large quantity of raw water supplied via the outflow path

107. Thus, the purification load of the water purifier 111 is not reduced, and since the pores of the filter of the water purifier 111 are enlarged, viruses, heavy metals, carcinogenic substances, chemical pollutants, fine substances, etc. are not completely filtrated by the enlarged pores of the filter but remain in the purified water.

Further, in manufacturing and assembling the aforementioned conventional water purifying system, most works for interconnecting a plurality of water pipes between the body 105 of the water purifying system and the water purifier 111 are carried out between the back surface 120 of the sink and the back wall 104 in a narrow space below the sink between the upper board 101 of the sink and the water purifier 111. Therefore, it is very difficult and inconvenient to assemble the water pipes, the body 105, and the water purifier 111.

The body 105 of the water purifying system is installed in the range of the narrow space (with a width of less than approximately 5 cm) of the upper surface of the upper board of the sink between the rear portion of the sink attached to the back wall and an back surface of a water bowl of the sink, where the bottom surface of the body 105, i.e., an upper body, is connected. Hereinafter, this range of the upper surface of the sink is referred to as a "working space range". Since it is difficult to allow more than two of the water pipes (i.e., the inflow path, the outflow path, and the regression flow path) with a diameter of more than approximately 2cm to pass through the working space range in parallel, one path must be processed in a curved line, thereby enlarging the volume of the body of the water purifying system and complicating its manufacturing process.

As the switch 109 of the aforementioned conventional water purifying system, a gate valve operated by levers, springs, and rubber packings is used. In order to operate the switch 109, a minimum space for operating the switch 109 is required. Therefore, it is difficult to provide a fine external appearance of the body 105 for accommodating three water pipes such as the inflow path, the outflow path, and the regression flow path compactly arranged in the working space range. Further, in order to accommodate the regression flow path 108 and rotatably install the water hose 115, the body 105 of the water purifying system must be protruded from the center of the upper surface of the sink. Therefore, the body 105 of the water purifying system cannot be accommodated in the working space range but is protruded from this range, thereby increasing the total volume of the body 105 including the protruded portion.

Further, as the switch 109 is opened and closed, since the rubber packing installed in the switch 109 is changed in its shape by pressure and then worn away, the rubber packing must be frequently replaced with a new one. However, since it is difficult to replace the rubber packing with a new one, the body 105 of the water purifying system including the switch 109 must be replaced with a new body, thereby shortening the expected life span of the body of the water purifying system.

Disclosure of the Invention

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a water purifying and supplying system, which is easily assembled by screw-coupling upper and lower bodies separated from each other by an upper board of a sink, and simultaneously or alternatively uses purified water and raw water via a separate pipe connected to the upper body. It is another object of the present invention to provide a water purifying and supplying system, which comprises a ball valve for turning on and off a water stream prior to supplying water from a tap water pipe into a water purifier so as to protect the water purifier from hydraulic pressure without a switching valve, three water pipes (a tap water pipe, an inflow pipe, and an outflow pipe) arranged in a triangular shape passing through a lower body in the narrow working space range under the upper board of the sink so as to mount an upper body on the upper board of the sink in the working space range, thereby being easily operated, inexpensively made of plastic by injection molding process, rarely generating defects of a switch due to the abrasion of the rubber packing, and thus having excellent endurance.

In accordance with the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by the provision of a water purifying and supplying system comprising: an upper body 2 installed at the upper surface of an upper board 30 of a sink and provided with flow paths for opening/closing a raw water stream supplied from a tap water pipe 50 and for discharging purified water from an adjacent- installed water purifier 40 toward a water hose 20; and a lower body 3 fixed to the lower surface of the upper body and provided with flow paths for supplying the raw and purified waters toward the upper body.

Preferably, means for opening/closing the raw water stream of the upper body 2 may be a ball valve 5 installed on the center of a through hole 4 of the upper body.

Further, preferably, the flow path for opening/closing the raw water stream of the upper body 2 may include the through hole 4 horizontally formed on the back portion of the upper body 2, and a raw water inflow hole 7a and a raw water outflow hole 8a vertically formed on the upper body 2 so as to be connected to the through hole 4, and the flow path for discharging the purified water toward the water hose 20 may be a purified water inflow hole 9a vertically formed on the upper body 2. Preferably, the flow path for supplying the raw water of the lower body 3 may include a raw water inflow hole 7b and a raw water outflow hole 8b vertically formed on the back portion of the lower body 3, and the flow path for supplying the purified water may be a purified water inflow hole 9b vertically formed on the front portion of the lower body 3.

Moreover, preferably, the upper and lower bodies 2 and 3 may be separated from each other by the upper board of the sink, and then joined together by a clamping bolt 19 and clamping pins 22.

Preferably, the internal surface of the through hole 4 may be threaded, and both ends of the through hole 4 may be respectively closed by fastening nuts 10.

Instead of the fastening nuts 10, the both ends of the through hole 4 may be respectively connected to separate water hoses.

Further, preferably, the ball valve 5 may include a ball housing 11 defined by fastening nuts 14 provided with a flow path formed therethrough, a ball 12 installed within the ball housing 11 and fixed to a fastening screw 15, thereby opening and closing the flow path of the fastening units 14, and a handle 6 for rotating the ball 12.

Moreover, preferably, a packing 13 may be installed on the inner surface of the fastening nut 14.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a setting view of an easily assembled water purifying and supplying system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a front view of the easily assembled water purifying and supplying system of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a right side view of the easily assembled water purifying and supplying system of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the line A-A of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the line B-B of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6a is a bottom view taken along the line X-X of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6b is a top view taken along the line Y-Y of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the line Z-Z of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 8 is a right cross-sectional view of a conventional water purifying system.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

Now, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the annexed drawings.

Figs. 1 to 3 show an easily assembled water purifying and supplying system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. With reference to Figs. 1 to 3, the water purifying and supplying system 1 of the present invention is connected to a water purifier 40 via a water inflow pipe 41 and a water outflow pipe 42. The water^' purifying and supplying system 1 is fixedly installed on an upper board 30 of a sink in the kitchen and directly connected to a tap water pipe 50, thereby turning on and off a raw water stream supplied from the tap water pipe 50. Therefore, if necessary, the water purifying and supplying system 1 supplies the raw water from the tap water pipe 50 to the water purifier 40. In the same manner of the conventional water purifying system, a water hose 20 is connected to the top surface of the water purifying and supplying system 1 of the present invention, thereby, if desired, using purified water from the water purifier 40.

The raw water stream supplied from the tap water pipe 50 is opened and closed by a handle 6 installed on the upper surface of the water purifying and supplying system 1, prior to flowing into the water purifier 40. The raw water passing through the body of the water purifying and supplying system flows into the water purifier 40 through the inflow pipe 41 and is then purified. The purified water passes through again the body of the water purifying and supplying system through the outflow pipe 42 and is then discharged to the outside via the water hose 20. Hereinafter, the water purifying and supplying system of the present invention will be described in more detail. The easily assembled water purifying and supplying system 1 of the present invention comprises an upper body 2 and a lower body 3. The upper body 2 is fixedly installed on the upper surface of the upper board 30 of the sink, and the lower body 3 is fixed to the lower surface of the upper board 30 of the sink. Packings 31a and 31b are respectively inserted between the upper and lower bodies 2 and 3 and the upper board 30 of the sink, thereby preventing water leakage.

As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the upper body 2 comprises a through hole 4, a ball valve 5, the handle 6, and fastening nuts 10. The through hole 4 serves as a flow path for supplying the raw water from the tap water pipe 50. The ball valve 5 serves to control the raw water stream passing through the through hole 4 to be opened and closed. The handle 6 manipulates the ball valve 5, and the fastening nuts 10 respectively close both ends of the through hole 4. The through hole 4 is formed in a crosswise direction at the back portion of the upper body 2 and serves as a flow path for supplying the raw water from the tap water pipe 50. Both ends of the through hole 4 are threaded so as to be firmly fastened to the fastening nuts 10, respectively. Herein, the fastening nut 10 adjacent to the tap water pipe may be substituted by a separate pipe (not shown). In this case, the non-purified raw water from the tap water pipe 50 is not transmitted to the water purifier 49 but directly used as it is. That is, the purified water and the raw water can be used simultaneously or alternatively. At this time, a valve may be attached to a terminal of the separate pipe, thereby controlling the flow rate of the supplied raw water. The ball valve 5 inserted into the center of the through hole 4 serves to turn on and off the raw water stream supplied from the tap water pipe 50. In the ball valve 5, a ball 12 is inserted into a ball housing 11 and both ends of the ball 12 are fixed by corresponding packings 13 and fastening units 14.

The handle 6 is fixed to the ball 12 of the ball valve by a fastening screw 15. When the handle 6 is turned approximately 90°, the handle 6 rotates the ball of the ball valve, thereby opening and closing the through hole 4. Therefore, the handle 6 opens and closes the raw water stream supplied from the tap water pipe 50. The lower body 3 is spaced from' the upper body 2 by the upper board 3 of the sink, and then inserted into the lower surface of the upper body 2.

As shown in Figs. 4 to 6, an upper raw water inflow hole 7a serving as a flow path for an inflow of the raw water from the tap water pipe 50, an upper raw water outflow hole 8a serving as a flow path for an outflow of the raw water passing through the upper body 2 into the water purifier 40, and an upper purified water inflow hole 9a serving as a flow path for an inflow of the water purified via the water purifier 40 into the upper body 2 are formed on the upper body 2. A lower raw water inflow hole 7b serving as a flow path for an inflow of the raw water from the tap water pipe 50, a lower raw water outflow hole 8b serving as a flow path for an outflow of the raw water passing through the lower body 3 into the water purifier

40, and a lower purified water inflow hole 9a serving as a flow path for an inflow of water purified via the water purifier 40 into the lower body 3 are formed on the lower body 3.

The upper raw water inflow hole 7a and the upper raw water outflow hole 8 a are arranged from the through hole 4 of the upper body 2 to the lower end of the upper body 2, and the upper purified water inflow hole 9a is vertically arranged from the upper end of the front portion of the upper body 2 to the lower end of the front portion of the upper body 2.

Further, the lower raw water inflow hole 7b and the lower raw water outflow hole 8b are arranged from the upper end of the back portion of the lower body 3 to the lower end of the back portion of the lower body 3, and the lower purified water inflow hole 9b is vertically arranged from the upper end of the front portion. of the lower body 3 to the lower end of the front portion of the lower body 3.

That is, the raw water supplied from the tap water pipe 50 by the hydraulic pressure passes through the upper and lower raw water inflow holes 7a and 7b of the upper and lower bodies 2 and 3. When the ball 12 of the ball valve 5 is opened by the manipulation of the handle 6, the raw water is transmitted to the water purifier 40 via the upper and lower raw water outflow holes 8a and 8b of the upper and lower bodies 2 along the through hole 4. The purified water by the water purifier 40 passes through the upper and lower purified water inflow holes 9a and 9b of the upper and lower bodies 2 and 3, and then is discharged to the outside via a nozzle of the water hose 20.

The water hose 20 is inserted into the upper purified water inflow hole 9a, and its external surface is fastened to the inner surface of the upper purified water inflow hole 9a by a plurality of R-rings 16. The internal surface of the upper purified water inflow hole 9a is connected to a sensor-fixing hole 17 horizontally formed on the upper body 2. A sensor (not shown) for notifying a user of the best time for changing a filter of the water purified 40 by measuring a turbidity degree of the water purified by the water purifier 40 and supplied to the upper and lower bodies 2 and 3 is fixed to the sensor-fixing hole 17.

An upper fixing hole 18a is vertically formed on the center of the upper body 2, and a lower fixing hole 18b corresponding to the upper fixing hole 18a is vertically formed on the center of the lower body 3. A clamping bolt 19 is inserted into the upper and lower fixing holes 18a and 18b of the upper and lower bodies 2 and 3, thereby joining together the upper and lower bodies 2 and 3.

A pair of upper pin holes 21a are vertically formed on the upper body 2 from its interior to its lower surface. A pair of lower pin holes 21b are vertically formed on the lower body 3 from its top surface to its interior. The upper and lower bodies 2 and 3 are joined together by clamping pins 22 respectively inserted into the upper and lower pin holes 21a and 21b of the upper and lower bodies 2 and 3.

That is, in order to join the upper and lower bodies 2 and 3, the claming pins 22 are inserted into the corresponding upper and lower pin holes 21a and 21b of the upper and lower bodies 2 and 3, and then the upper and lower fixing holes 18a and 18b of the upper and lower bodies 2 and 3 are screw-engaged to each other by the clamping bolt 19, thereby firmly coupling the lower body 3 and the upper body 2. A depression is formed on the center of the lower surface of the upper body

2. Therefore, the lower body 3 is inserted into the depression of the lower surface of the upper body 2.

Hereinafter, operation of the aforementioned water purifying and supplying system of the present invention will be described in detail. The upper body 2 of the water purifying and supplying system 1 of the present invention is installed on the upper surface of the upper board 30 of the sink. The lower body 3 of the water purifying and supplying system 1 is spaced from the upper body 2 by the upper board 30 of the sink, and then inserted into the lower surface of the upper body 2. The packings 31a and 31b are respectively inserted between the upper body 2 and the upper board 30 and between the upper board 30 of the sink and the lower body 3, thereby adhering the upper and lower bodies 2 and 3 closely to the upper board 30 of the sink so as to prevent water leakage. The tap water pipe 50, the water inflow pipe 41, and the water outflow pipe 42 are connected to the lower body 3. The water purifier 40 is installed adjacent to the lower body 3 of the water purifying and supplying system 1.

Herein, one terminal of each of the clamping pins 22 is inserted into the corresponding lower pin hole 21b of the lower body 3, and then the other terminal of each of the clamping pins 22 is inserted into the corresponding upper pin hole 21b of the upper body 2, thereby firstly coupling the upper and lower bodies 2 and 3.

Then, the upper and lower bodies 2 and 3 are more firmly coupled with each other by inserting the clamping bolt 19 into the upper and lower fixing holes 18a and 18b of the upper and lower bodies 2 and 3. Thereby, the installation of the water purifying and supplying system 1 of the present invention is completed.

After completing the installation of the water purifying and supplying system 1 of the present invention, when the water purifier 40 is normally driven, the handle 6 is turned approximately 90° in a designated direction and then opens the ball valve 5 by rotating the ball 12. Then, the raw water from the tap water pipe 50 passes through the upper and lower raw water inflow holes 7a and 7b of the upper and lower bodies 2 and 3, passes through the ball of the ball valve via the through hole 4 of the upper body 2, and then passes through the upper and lower raw water outflow holes 8 a and 8b of the upper and lower bodies 2 and 3, and finally is transmitted to the water purifier 40 through the water inflow pipe 41. The purified water by the water purifier 40 again passes through the purified water inflow holes 9a and 9b of the upper and lower bodies 2 and 3 via the outflow pipe 42, and then is discharged to the outside via the water hose 2 installed on the front portion of the upper surface of the upper body 2.

In case the water purifier 40 is not driven, the handle 6 installed on the water purifying and supplying system 1 is turned in the opposite direction and then closes the ball valve 5 by rotating the ball 12, thereby cutting off the raw water stream supply from the tap water pipe 50. Herein, an arrow indicates a water flow direction. Industrial Applicability

As apparent from the above description, the present invention provides a water purifying and supplying system, which is easily installed and assembled by screw-coupling upper and lower bodies separated from each other by an upper board of a sink, comprises water pipes connected to the lower body, such as a tap water pipe 50, an inflow pipe 41, and an outflow pipe 42, and simultaneously or alternatively uses purified water and raw water by connecting a separate pipe to the upper body in substitution for fastening nuts 10.

Further, a ball valve for turning on and off a water stream prior to supplying water from the tap water pipe to a water purifier is installed in the upper body, thereby not requiring a switching valve installed on the tap water pipe connected to the sink so as to protect the water purifier from hydraulic pressure. Since the ball valve does not require a rubber packing, the present invention rarely generates defects of a switch due to the abrasion or the deformation of the rubber packing. Since the tap water pipe 50, the inflow pipe 41 , and the outflow pipe 42 are arranged in a triangular shape in the range of a narrow space, the water purifying and supplying system of the present invention is assembled in the narrow working space range. Further, differing from the conventional water purifying system with parts manufactured by machining or casting, all parts of the water purifying and supplying system of the present invention can be mass produced by injection molding, thereby reducing the production cost.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

Claims

Claims:

1. A water purifying and supplying system comprising: an upper body 2 installed at the upper surface of an upper board 30 of a sink and provided with flow paths for turning on and off a raw water stream supplied from a tap water pipe 50 and for discharging purified water from an adjacent-installed water purifier 40 toward a water hose 20; and a lower body 3 fixed to the lower surface of the upper body and provided with flow paths for supplying the raw and purified waters toward the upper body.

2. The water purifying and supplying system as set forth in claim 1, wherein means for turning on and off the raw water stream of the upper body 2 is a ball valve 5 installed on the center of a through hole 4 of the upper body.

3. The water purifying and supplying system as set forth in claim 1 or 2, wherein the flow path for turning on and off the raw water stream of the upper body 2 includes the through hole 4 horizontally formed on the back portion of the upper body 2, and a raw water inflow hole 7a and a raw water outflow hole 8a vertically formed on the upper body 2 so as to be connected to the through hole 4, and the flow path for discharging the purified water toward the water hose 20 is a purified water inflow hole 9a vertically formed on the upper body 2.

4. The water purifying and supplying system as set forth in claim 1 or 2, wherein the flow path for supplying the raw water of the lower body 3 includes a raw water inflow hole 7b and a raw water outflow hole 8b vertically formed on the back portion of the lower body 3, and the flow path for supplying the purified water is a purified water inflow hole 9b vertically formed on the front portion of the lower body 3.

5. The water purifying and supplying system as set forth in claim 1 or 2, wherein the upper and lower bodies 2 and 3 are separated from each other by the upper board of the sink, and then joined together by a clamping bolt 19 and clamping pins 22.

6. The water purifying and supplying system as set forth in claim 3, wherein the internal surface of the through hole 4 is threaded, and both ends of the through hole 4 are respectively closed by fastening nuts 10.

7. The water purifying and supplying system as set forth in claim 6, wherein instead of the fastening nuts 10, the both ends of the through hole 4 are respectively connected to separate water hoses.

8. The water purifying and supplying system as set forth in claim 2, wherein the ball valve 5 includes: a ball housing 11 defined by fastening nuts 14 provided with a flow path formed therethrough; a ball 12 installed within the ball housing 11 and fixed to a fastening screw 15, thereby opening and closing the flow path of the fastening units 14; and a handle 6 for rotating the ball 12.

9. The water purifying and supplying system as set forth in claim 8, wherein a packing 13 is installed on the inner surface of the fastening nut 14.