The present application is a Section 371 National Phase of International Patent Application No. PCT/EP2013/003294, filed Nov. 2, 2013, which claimed priority of German Patent Application No. 20 2012 010 798.4, filed Nov. 13, 2012, the entire contents of all of which are incorporated by reference in their entirety herein as if fully set forth.
The invention relates to a jet regulator having a ring-shaped or sleeve-shaped jet regulator housing in which there is provided a jet splitter dividing the inflowing water into a multiplicity of individual jets, and having a manually deformable, dimensionally elastic plastic lining provided on the outlet end side of the jet regulator housing, which is of cup-shaped design, and in that the plastic lining, by means of a raised circumferential wall of the cup shape thereof, seals against the housing inner circumference of the jet regulator housing.
DE 20 2010 002 325 Ul has already disclosed a jet regulator having a sleeve-shaped jet regulator housing. In the jet regulator housing of the already known jet regulator there is provided a jet splitter which has the task of splitting up the inflowing water into a multiplicity of individual jets. Jet splitter has a central cam-shaped hollow which, on its circumferential wall, has throughflow openings which are spaced apart from one another in the circumferential direction. On the outflow end side of the jet regulator housing there is provided a manually deformable, dimensionally elastic plastic lining which is of cup-shaped design. Said cup-shaped plastic lining has a multiplicity of outlet openings which are bordered by teat-like projections, which protrude on the outlet side, of the plastic lining. In this case, the soft elastic plastic lining is stiffened by way of a perforated disk which forms the outflow end side of the jet regulator housing and the holes of which are extended through by the teat-like projections of the plastic lining.
Since the circumferential edge of the cup-shaped plastic lining must be sealed with respect to the housing inner circumference of the jet regulator housing, said circumferential edge is inclined with its inflow-side end edge toward the housing inner circumference. The mere inclination of the inflow-side end edge of the plastic lining however is not adequate, in particular in the presence of high water pressures, for preventing leakage flows between, on the one hand, the plastic lining and, on the other hand, the housing inner circumference of the jet regulator housing.
DE 198 52 411 A1 has already disclosed a jet regulator which can be mounted on a sanitary outlet fitting. The previously known jet regulator has a jet regulator housing which is in the form of a sleeve-shaped molded body on which a soft or dimensionally elastic plastic material is injection molded on the outlet side. That part of the jet regulator housing which is composed of soft or dimensionally elastic plastic material forms a soft and/or water-repellent surface, the aim of which is to avoid limescale formation. It is the intention for adherent limescale deposits to be easily detachable by slight manual deformation of the soft or dimensionally elastic plastic material which is injection molded on the surface. Since it should be ensured with regard to the selection of material that the soft or dimensionally elastic plastic material can be injection molded onto the relatively hard or dimensionally rigid plastic material of the jet regulator housing, the production of the previously known jet regulator can require a not inconsiderable amount of additional outlay.
A jet regulator having a sleeve-shaped jet regulator housing, the outlet end side of which is designed as an outlet disk which is insertable into the jet regulator housing and bears a flat grate structure with throughflow openings is already known from
A jet regulator, the jet regulator housing of which is deformable, at least in the region of the liquid outlet, from an undeformed functional position into a shape-changed cleaning position is already known from DE 103 13 501 A1. The deformability of the housing that is achievable here by manual pressurization is greater than the breaking elongation capacity of deposits adhering to the housing and is dimensioned in such a manner that such deposits can be detached from the housing. Since, in the case of the jet regulator previously known from DE 103 13 501 A1, the jet regulator housing is optionally intended to have deformability defined in such a manner only in a partially delimited partial region, the production of the previously known jet regulator and of the jet regulator housing thereof, which is of complex configuration, is associated with a considerable outlay.
A jet regulator of the type mentioned at the beginning having a jet regulator housing, on the outlet end side of which an outlet disk which is insertable into the jet regulator housing is held, which disk has a perforated, grate or mesh structure with throughflow openings, wherein the outlet disk bears a manually deformable, dimensionally elastic plastic lining is already known from DE 10 2010 012 326. In order to be able to produce such a jet regulator from the most varied materials with comparatively little outlay, the outlet disk is configured as a multicomponent injection molded part, the main or molded body of which is produced from hard or dimensionally rigid plastic material, wherein the main or molded body is encapsulated with a part composed of relatively soft or dimensionally elastic plastic material by injection molding, and wherein the throughflow openings of the perforated, grate and/or mesh structure are bounded by flow guiding walls. Despite the separate configuration, the production of the multi-part injection molded part serving as an outlet disk requires a considerable outlay. In order to be able to produce such a multi-component injection molded part, in particular from different materials, complex injection molding dies, in which the various materials can be processed according to the processing conditions required for this purpose, are required. The provision of complex injection molding dies and the different production steps adapted to the various materials necessitate a considerable outlay on costs.
It is therefore in particular the object to create a structurally simple and functionally reliable jet regulator of the type mentioned at the beginning, which can be produced with as little outlay as possible.
This object is achieved according to the invention, in the case of the jet regulator of the type mentioned at the beginning, in particular in that, on the outlet end side, there is held an outlet disk which is insertable into the jet regulator housing and which has a perforated, grate and/or mesh structure with throughflow openings, in that the outlet disk bears the manually deformable, dimensionally elastic plastic lining, in that the plastic lining, by way of its raised circumferential wall, provides a seal between the outer circumference of the outlet disk and the housing inner circumference of the jet regulator housing, and in that a central cam is integrally formed on the jet splitter on the outflow side, said cam, during the pivoting of the outlet disk, is supported on the latter or on a central cam integrally formed on the outlet disk on the inflow side.
Jet regulator according to the invention has a jet regulator housing which is of ring-shaped or sleeve-shaped configuration. An outlet disk which is insertable into the jet regulator housing is held on the outlet end side of the jet regulator housing. Said outlet disk which has a perforated, grate and/or mesh structure with throughflow openings likewise bears a manually deformable, dimensionally elastic plastic lining which can be freed from timescale deposits by manual pressurization and deformation. The plastic lining here is of cup-shaped design in such a manner that the plastic lining, by means of a raised circumferential wall of the cup shape thereof, provides a seal between the outer circumference of the outlet disk and the housing inner circumference of the jet regulator housing. This avoids undesirable leakage flows in the region between the outlet disk and the housing inner circumference of the jet regulator housing, which leakage flows could otherwise impair the jet pattern of the jet regulator according to the invention. Since the plastic lining, by means of a raised circumferential wall of the cup shape thereof, provides a seal between the outer circumference of the outlet disk and the housing inner circumference of the jet regulator housing, and since the outlet disk bearing the plastic lining is therefore inserted into the jet regulator housing, a modular system is also possible, in which the outlet disk bearing the plastic lining is exchangeable for another outlet disk with or else without a plastic lining in order to be able to change, for example, the material properties and/or the throughflow characteristics of the jet regulator according to the invention as required.
In order that the water flowing through can be shaped in an effective manner in the jet regulator according to the invention, it is provided that the jet regulator has a jet splitter dividing the inflowing water into a multiplicity of individual jets. A central cam is integrally formed on said jet splitter on the outflow side. Said cam provided on the jet splitter is, during the pivoting of the outlet disk, supported on said outlet disk or on a central cam integrally formed on the outlet disk on the inflow side, in such a way that a pivoting movement of the unit formed from outlet disk and plastic lining is facilitated.
It can be advantageous here if the plastic lining is held releasably or non-releasably on the outlet disk. If the plastic lining is held non-releasably on the outlet disk, the outlet disk bearing the plastic lining can be produced in a simple manner, for example as a multi-component injection molded part. If, by contrast, the plastic lining is held releasably on the outlet disk, the plastic lining and the outlet disk can be produced separately from each other. Since the outlet disk and the plastic lining held releasably thereon are produced separately from each other,
comparatively simple injection molding dies can be used for this purpose, and the production steps can be carried out regardless of different material properties. The plastic lining is fixed here on the outlet disk as a separately produced component.
In order to be able to fix a plastic lining, which is produced separately from the outlet disk, on the outlet disk securely and fixedly and nevertheless with little outlay, it is advantageous if the plastic lining is held in an interlocking manner on the outlet disk.
In a particularly advantageous embodiment according to the invention, in which the plastic lining provides a complete seal between the outlet disk and the housing inner circumference of the jet regulator housing, the plastic lining is held by the free edge region of the circumferential wall thereof, which edge region faces away from the cup base, in an interlocking manner on the outlet disk.
The separately produced plastic lining of the jet regulator according to the invention can be clamped and fixed in a simple manner between the outlet disk and the housing inner circumference of the jet regulator housing. However, in order not to impair the movability of these parts of the jet regulator according to the invention and in order always to ensure the correct functioning of the jet regulator, it can be expedient if the free edge region of the circumferential wall, which edge region faces away from the cup base, is angled inward in such a manner that said edge region engages behind the inflow-side circumferential end edge of the outlet disk. In this embodiment, the plastic lining together with the outlet disk forms a very substantially immovable unit, although the plastic lining is merely held releasably in the outlet disk.
In addition or instead, however, the plastic lining can have, on the free edge region of the circumferential wall thereof, which edge region faces away from the cup base, on the inner circumferential side at least one preferably encircling recessed or projecting retaining molding which interacts with a projecting or recessed retaining molding on the outer circumference of the outlet disk.
In order to be able to fix the plastic lining on the outlet disk with little outlay and in order to be able to bring the throughflow openings provided in the outlet disk into overlap with the throughflow openings arranged in the plastic lining, it is advantageous if positioning aids corresponding with each other are provided on the plastic lining, on the one hand, and on the outlet disk, on the other hand, said positioning aids ensuring a positionally correct relative position between the plastic lining, on the one hand, and the outlet disk, on the other hand. In an advantageous embodiment according to the invention, positioning aids corresponding with each other in each case in pairs are provided on the inner side of the plastic lining and on the outer side of the outlet disk.
In order to be able to connect the outlet disk to the plastic lining and/or in order to be able easily to produce the relative position between the plastic lining and the outlet disk during the assembly, it is advantageous if the outlet disk, on the outflow-side end side thereof, has at least one connecting pin or a connecting opening, which connecting pin/connecting opening interacts with a connecting opening or a connecting pin on that end side of the plastic lining which faces the outlet disk.
In a preferred development according to the invention, the plastic lining, on the inflow side outer circumference thereof, has at least one encircling sealing lip or sealing lug which seals with/against the inner circumference of the jet regulator housing. Such a plastic lining, the outer circumference of which has at least one encircling sealing lip or sealing lug, is capable of particularly readily sealing the region between the outlet disk, on the one hand, and the housing inner circumference of the jet regulator housing, on the other hand.
In a preferred embodiment according to the invention, which, with the aid of the jet regulator according to the invention, also permits the water jet emerging from the jet regulator to be oriented, the outlet disk together with the plastic lining carried by the latter is held pivotably in the jet regulator housing. The outflow direction of the outflowing water jet can be changed as required by pivoting the unit, which consists of outlet disk and plastic lining, in the jet regulator housing.
In a structurally simple and particularly advantageous embodiment according to the invention, the outlet disk and/or the plastic lining encasing the latter is designed in the shape of a spherical segment on the outer circumference thereof, and the pivoting disk formed in this manner is mounted pivotably in a partial region, which is configured as a joint socket, on the housing inner circumference of the jet regulator housing. In this embodiment, for example, the unit formed from outlet disk and plastic lining can form a pivoting disk which is in the manner of a ball joint and is mounted pivotably in the joint socket provided in the housing interior of the jet regulator housing.
In order that the unit formed from the outlet disk and the plastic lining is held fixedly in the housing interior of the jet regulator housing even in the event of high water pressures, in a preferred development according to the invention the outlet disk is insertable into the housing interior of the jet regulator housing through an inflow-side insertion opening as far as the partial region configured as a joint socket.
It is advantageous if the outlet disk and the plastic lining have throughflow openings merging into each other. The throughflow openings which are provided in the outlet disk and the plastic lining and merge into each other are therefore bounded by guide walls which orient the individual jets formed in the throughflow openings in direction to form the jet angle defined by the relative position of the outlet disk.
In order to be able to form a homogeneous overall jet with the aid of the jet regulator according to the invention, it is advantageous if the throughflow openings of the outlet disk and those of the plastic lining are arranged on preferably coaxial hole circles.
In a preferred embodiment according to the invention, the throughflow openings arranged on an outer hole circle are provided in an encircling ring wall of the plastic lining.
In order, when required, also to be able to produce a spray jet with the aid of the jet regulator according to the invention, said spray jet being formed from a multiplicity of individual jets approximately oriented in the same direction, it is advantageous if the throughflow openings provided in the plastic lining taper preferably conically at least over a partial region of the longitudinal extent thereof in the direction of flow.
Possible limescale deposits can be detached particularly easily if an outflow-side partial region of at least one throughflow opening and preferably of the throughflow openings arranged at least on the inner hole circles is provided in a teat projecting over the plastic lining or in a projection.
In addition or instead, it can be advantageous if the cam provided on the jet splitter is supported on the cam of the outlet disk during the pivoting of said outlet disk.
In order to prevent excessive pivoting of the outlet disk and in order always to ensure correct functioning of the jet regulator designed as a pivoting jet regulator, it is advantageous if a component inserted into the jet regulator housing upstream of the outlet disk on the inflow side is designed a pivoting stop for the outlet disk which is configured as a pivoting disk.
In a preferred embodiment according to the invention, which ensures a fixed support of the parts forming the jet regulator according to the invention, a cup-shaped insertion part, the inflowside cup base of which is configured as a jet splitter, is insertable into the jet regulator housing.
In a particularly advantageous development according to the invention, the jet splitter has a central and preferably cam-shaped hollow, the circumferential wall of which has throughflow openings which are spaced apart from one another in the circumferential direction. This central and preferably cam-shaped hollow is formed virtually as an overflow in which the water flowing into the jet regulator according to the invention is deflected and is conducted further through the throughflow openings provided on the circumferential wall. By means of this deflection of the throughflowing water in the region of the jet splitter, the water is retarded and is first of all divided into individual jets in order subsequently to be conducted further in the housing interior of the jet regulator according to the invention. This deflection and further conduction of the throughflowing water in the jet regulator according to the invention promotes the formation of a homogeneous and soft water jet.
The assembly of the jet regulator according to the invention is facilitated if the insertion part is held in the jet regulator housing in a releasable manner and in particular in a frictional and/or interlocking manner.
In particular in the case of greatly fluctuating water pressures, it can be advantageous if a throughflow quantity regulator is connected upstream of the jet regulator on the inflow side, and if the throughflow quantity regulator is held on the jet splitter preferably in a releasably connected manner and in particular in a latchable manner.
Developments according to the invention emerge from the claims in conjunction with the description and the figures. The invention is described in further detail below with reference to advantageous exemplary embodiments.
In the figures:
The jet regulator 1, 100, 101 has a ring-shaped or sleeve-shaped jet regulator housing 2, on the outlet end side of which an outlet disk 3 insertable into the jet regulator housing 2 is held. Said outlet disk 3 bears a manually deformable, dimensionally elastic plastic lining 4 which can be freed from limescale deposits by manual pressurization and deformation. In the case of the jet regulator 1, 100, 101, said plastic lining 4 produced from dimensionally elastic plastic is manufactured separately from the outlet disk 3, which is composed, in contrast, of harder material and in particular harder plastic material, and is subsequently held releasably on the outlet disk 3. Since the outlet disk 3 and the plastic lining 4 held releasably thereon are produced separately from each other, comparatively simple injection molding dies can be used for this purpose, and the production steps can be carried out regardless of different material properties. Since the plastic lining 4 is held releasably on the outlet disk 3, a modular system is also possible, in which the one plastic lining 4 is replaceable by another plastic lining in order to be able to change, for example, the material properties and/or the throughflow characteristics of the jet regulator when required. The plastic lining 4 here is of cup-shaped design, specifically in such a manner that the plastic lining 4, by means of a raised circumferential wall 16 of the cup shape thereof, provides a seal between the outer circumference of the outlet disk 3 and the housing inner circumference of the jet regulator housing 2.
The outlet disk 3 and the plastic lining 4 have throughflow openings 5, 7 which merge into each other and in each case form a perforated, grate and/or mesh structure and here a perforated structure.
It can be seen in
It can be seen in
It can be seen in the longitudinal sections according to
A cup-shaped insertion part 11, the inflow-side cup base of which is configured as a jet splitter 10, is insertable into the jet regulator housing 2 of the jet regulator 1, 100, 101. Said jet splitter 10 has a central and here cam-shaped hollow 12, the circumferential wall 13 of which has throughflow openings 14 which are preferably spaced apart from one another uniformly in the circumferential direction. The outflow-side circumferential end edge of the insertion part 11 arranged upstream of the outlet disk 4 on the inflow side is designed as a pivoting stop for the unit which serves as a pivoting disk and is formed from outlet disk 3 and plastic lining 4.
Openings 15 are provided around the central hollow 12 of the jet splitter 10, at a radial distance from the hollow 12, said openings being arranged in a coaxial hole circle around the hollow 12. The water flowing into the jet regulator housing 2 is deflected in the hollow 12 and is conducted further through the throughflow openings 14 into the housing interior of the jet regulator housing 2. In the process, the individual jets formed in the throughflow openings 14 are deflected and, in the housing interior of the jet regulator housing 2, the resulting swirling of said individual jets forms a mixing zone which promotes the production of a soft and homogeneous water jet.
The insertion part 11 is held releasably and in particular in a form-fitting manner in the jet regulator housing 2. For this purpose, a latching flange 18 is provided on the circumferential side of the cup-shaped insertion part 12, said latching flange engaging in a latching groove 19 on the housing interior circumference of the jet regulator housing 2.
It can be seen in the longitudinal sections according to
In the illustration of individual parts according to the figures, it can be seen that the outlet disk 3 and the plastic lining 4 of the jet regulator embodiments 1, 100, 101 are held on one another in a manner secure against rotation. For this purpose, at least one longitudinal flute or similar securing groove 23 is provided the one component 3 or 4, in which a securing projection 24 on the other component 4 or 3 in each case engages.
From a comparison of
While, in the case of the jet regulator 100 according to
In order that the outlet disk 3 and the plastic lining 4 have throughflow openings 5, 7 merging into each other, a defined relative position between said parts 3, 4 should be ensured. In order to be able to ensure the desired relative position between plastic lining 4 and outlet disk 3, it is expedient if positioning aids corresponding with each other in each case in pairs are provided on the inner side of the plastic lining 4 and on the outer side of the outlet disk 3. It can thus be seen in the illustration of the individual parts according to
It is indicated in
From an overall view of
The position of plastic lining 4 and outlet disk 3 by means of the connecting openings 25 and connecting pins 26 interacting in pairs is advantageous in particular in the production of the jet regulator since rapid assembly is possible because it can immediately be seen that the connecting pin 26 of the plastic lining 4 is possibly not introduced into the connecting opening 25 of the outlet disk 3 in a suitable position. Leakage cannot occur in the region of said positioning aids 25, 26 since the connecting pin 26 projecting on the plastic lining 4 is composed of elastic material, and therefore an additional anchoring is achieved by mushroom-head-like deformation of the connecting pin 26 at the free pin end thereof after the connecting pin 26 is introduced into the connecting opening 25. In any case, leakage in this region would only lead to the leakage water emerging on the outflow side from one of the throughflow openings 7.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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20 2012 010 798 U | Nov 2012 | DE | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/EP2013/003294 | 11/2/2013 | WO | 00 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
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WO2014/075767 | 5/22/2014 | WO | A |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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2797906 | Aghnides | Jul 1957 | A |
20080210777 | Lacher | Sep 2008 | A1 |
20120228409 | Lacher et al. | Sep 2012 | A1 |
20130008980 | Grether | Jan 2013 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
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19852411 | May 2000 | DE |
10313501 | Oct 2004 | DE |
202010002325 | Aug 2011 | DE |
102010012326 | Sep 2011 | DE |
1619315 | Jan 2006 | EP |
2006092316 | Sep 2006 | WO |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20160273199 A1 | Sep 2016 | US |