Patent Application
20060144442
Patent Application No. EP 04030999.9, filed Dec. 30, 2004 in the European Patent Office, is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
The present invention relates to a flow-through joint according to claim 1 and a sanitary fitting with a flow-through joint according to claim 18.
In general, flow-through joints serve for diverting a flowing medium, for example, a liquid or a gas, from an inflow direction to an outflow direction. In this connection, it is advantageously possible to adjust a joint angle formed between the inflow direction and the outflow direction.
Such a flow-through joint is described in DE-C-3616073; the flow-through joint has two joint parts provided with pipe pieces and a hose piece which guides the liquid at least in one joint region. The joint parts are circular cylindrical pipe sockets which are provided with toothings on their end sides. The toothings of the pipe sockets are in engagement with a further toothing of a cover plate, so that undesirable pivoting of the pipe pieces in relation to one another is prevented.
In this flow-through joint, the medium is guided in an elastic hose piece, the service life of which is limited inter alia by the material of the hose piece, by the properties of the medium flowing through and also by the number of bending cycles carried out for changing the joint angle.
By virtue of the toothing described, the flow-through joint is equipped with a locking device which is intended to prevent undesirable righting of the joint angle caused by, for example, the pressure, or the flow of a medium, or the gravitational force acting on fitting parts connected mechanically to the flow-through joint. In particular, a sudden increase in pressure or flow in the flow-through joint leads to a torque which tends to align the outflow direction along the inflow direction. This phenomenon can be observed when turning on a water flow through a garden hose, for example.
In existing flow-through joints, this is prevented by a manually releasable lock which, however, either has to be released before desired pivoting or has to be overcome during pivoting.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a flow-through joint with a long service life, irrespective of the medium flowing through and of the number of pivoting operations, ensures reliable locking at any pressure of the medium and in which manual release of a locking mechanism before desired pivoting is not necessary.
This object is achieved by a flow-through joint according to the invention Particularly advantageous embodiments of the flow-through joint are provided with the features specified in the dependent claims.
The flow-through joint according to the invention comprises an inflow joint part with an inflow opening, into which a medium flows from an inflow direction, and an outflow joint part with an outflow opening, through which the medium flows out in a predetermined outflow direction. The outflow joint part is arranged pivotably in relation to the inflow joint part about a common pivoting axis, so that a joint angle between the inflow direction and the outflow direction is adjustable. A locking device, which acts automatically in the flow-through joint and adapts a locking force depending on the pressure of the medium, prevents undesirable independent pivoting of the outflow joint part in relation to the inflow joint part. Additionally, rotation, which is as smooth as possible, is ensured during desired pivoting of the outflow direction in relation to the inflow direction. A hose piece inside the flow-through joint part is not necessary, which in turn increases the service life of the flow-through joint according to the invention.
Exemplary embodiments are described in detail below with reference to the drawings, in which numerals, represent like parts, and wherein:
a shows a diagrammatic side view of the sanitary fitting shown in
b shows a diagrammatic side view of the sanitary fitting shown in
A sanitary fitting according to the invention for the outlet of a medium M, in this case water, which is fastened on a support U by means of a foot element 10, is shown in
The outflow joint part 18 and the inflow joint part 16 of the first flow-through joint 14 are pivotable relative to a common pivoting axis S which is oriented essentially parallel to the support U and essentially at right angles to the inflow pipe 12. By pivoting the first connecting pipe 20 relative to the pivoting axis S all parts of the sanitary fitting arranged downstream and connected mechanically to the first connecting pipe 20 are also pivoted in relation to the support U.
In a similar way to the first flow-through joint 14, the outflow joint part 18 is pivotable in relation to the inflow joint part 16 relative to the pivoting axis S in the second flow-through joint 22 as well. A second connecting pipe 24 connects the outflow joint part 18 of the second flow-through joint 22 to the inflow joint part 16 of a third flow-through joint 26 mechanically and in terms of flow. The third flow-through joint 26 preferably has the same construction as the flow-through joints 14 and 22 already mentioned. An outflow pipe 28 leads from the outflow joint part 18 of the third flow-through joint 26 to a water outlet 30 arranged on the free end region of the outflow pipe 28.
The water outlet 30 can be in the form of an open pipe end, a nozzle or a spray head, for example. The water, which is supplied from the pipe system via the inflow pipe 12, the first flow-through joint 14, the first connecting pipe 20, the second flow-through joint 22, the second connecting pipe 24, the third flow-through joint 26 and the outflow pipe 28, is delivered to the surrounding environment, for example into a washbowl, a sink or a container, through the water outlet 30.
Owing to mutually independent pivotability of the individual flow-through joints 14, 22, 26, the position of the outlet element 30 can be changed from a basic position of the sanitary fitting shown in
In order to prevent undesirable pivoting or righting of the sanitary fitting which is independent or brought about by the pressure in the medium M, the flow-through joints 14, 22, 26 are equipped with locking devices. The locking devices generate a locking force which counteracts pivoting. In this connection, a minimum locking force in the pressure-free state in relation to the surrounding environment can be preset individually and adapted to a respective mechanical supporting function of the individual flow-through joints 14, 22, 26.
By virtue of the independent pivoting and rotation of the sanitary fitting, the water outlet 30 can reach at least virtually any position within an imaginary circle centered around the foot element 10 with a radius which corresponds essentially to the extended sanitary fitting. By limiting the joint angle range of the flow-through joints 14, 22, 26 or the rotation angle range about the axis of rotation D, positioning can be limited.
The elements in contact with the medium M, such as the flow-through joints 14, 22, 26, the pipes 12, 20, 24, 28 and the water outlet 30, are preferably made from a corrosion-inert metal or an appropriate alloy or coated with these, so that the sanitary fitting according to the invention is suitable in particular for discharging drinking water.
A control element 32, assigned to the sanitary fitting, in the form of a mixing battery 32, which controls the flow-through of the water from the pipe system, in particular from a hot water supply line 34 and a cold water supply line 36, is shown in
The construction and the functioning of two particularly preferred embodiments of the flow-through joints 14, 22, 26 according to the invention, such as is used in a sanitary fitting shown in
A first embodiment of the flow-through joint 14, 22, 26 according to the invention is shown in
An inflow opening 39, through which the medium M flows into the inflow joint part 16 along an inflow direction Z, is formed in the inflow housing 37Z. The medium M flows into an inner space 48, delimited by the inflow housing 37A, of the outflow joint part 18 via flow-through ducts 40 in a pressing-on element 42 assigned to the inflow joint part 16 and cutouts 44 of a connecting screw 46 connecting the inflow joint part 16 and the outflow joint part 18. The medium M then leaves in an outflow direction A through an outflow opening 50 formed in the outflow housing 37A. This embodiment, like the second embodiment described below as well, requires no elastic hose pieces and therefore has a markedly longer service life in comparison with flow-through joints with hose pieces. Corresponding arrows are drawn in
The flow-through ducts 40 and cutouts 44 extend essentially parallel to the pivoting axis S and at right angles to the inflow direction Z and outflow direction A. Accordingly, the medium M is at least in sections guided parallel to the pivoting axis S and to the inflow direction Z and outflow direction A. In this way, a righting characteristic of a torque acting counter to the locking force, which characteristic is caused as in the example mentioned previously of a garden hose and appears when a pressure increase occurs in the flow-through joint, is avoided or suppressed by means of the flow.
The inflow joint part 16 and the outflow joint part 18 are fastened to one another non-displaceably axially along the pivoting axis S by means of the connecting screw 46. An essentially annular inflow duct 52 is formed in the inflow housing 37Z, and an outflow space 53 is formed in the inner space 48 of the outflow housing 37A. The inflow duct 52 is delimited on the outflow side by the pressing-on element 42.
The pressing-on element 42 is designed like a differential piston in form and function and is mounted displaceably relative to the inflow joint part 16 and the outflow joint part 18 to a small extent of for instance 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm in the direction of the pivoting axis S. An annular, hydraulically active surface 55 of the pressing-on element 42 delimiting the inflow duct 52 on the inflow side is in this connection dimensioned to be larger than its hydraulically active surface in contact with the medium M on the outflow joint part side. A surface which is in contact with the medium M or located in the medium M and influences a mechanical positioning force, here the locking force, is designated a hydraulically active surface 55.
In the embodiment shown in
Additionally, the pressing-on element 42 is acted on by means of a spring force generated by a helical spring 60 supported in the inflow housing 37Z and is thus prestressed in the direction of the outflow joint part 18. On the outflow side, the pressing-on element 42 comprises a pressing-on surface 54 which lies opposite the inflow-side hydraulically active surface and interacts with a pressing surface 56 of a pressing element 58 formed on the cup ring 38R of the outflow joint part 18. Depending on the pressure of the medium M in the flow-through joint 14, 22, 26, the pressing-on surface 54 is pressed to a varying degree against the pressing surface 56, and a friction of the two surfaces 54, 56 lying on one another which appears when the outflow joint part 18 is pivoted in relation to the inflow joint part 16 is accordingly adapted.
The locking force brought about by the friction between the pressing-on surface 54 of the pressing-on element 42 and the pressing surface 56 of the pressing element 58 is consequently increased when the pressure in the medium is raised in relation to the ambient pressure and in this way makes relative pivoting of the outflow joint part 18 in relation to the inflow joint part 16 more difficult. The locking force is in this connection adapted to the pressure in the medium M automatically and without external control or energy supply.
A minimum pressing-on pressure between the pressing-on surface 54 and the pressing surface 56, or a minimum locking force, can be preset by way of a tightening torque of the connecting screw 46. The minimum pressing-on pressure determines the smoothness of pivoting for the case when the pressure in the flow-through joint 14, 22, 26 is the same as the ambient pressure, for example if no medium M flows through the flow-through joint 14, 22, 26. As already mentioned in the description of the sanitary fitting, the mechanical supporting function of the flow-through joint 14, 22, 26 relative to connected fitting parts, such as the pipes 20, 24, 28 shown in
The pressing-on element 42, the pressing element 58 and the joint cover 38D attached on the outflow joint part side are sealed against leakage of the medium M to the surrounding environment by means of O-rings 64.
A second particularly preferred embodiment of a flow-through joint 14, 22, 26 according to the invention is described below. As shown by the longitudinal section in
As in the first embodiment, the inflow joint part 16 and the outflow joint part 18 are again arranged coaxially relative to the pivoting axis S and interconnected via the connecting screw 46. In contrast to the first embodiment, however, the inflow joint part 16 and the outflow joint part 18 are here designed axially displaceable in relation to one another in a very small range of, for instance, 0.1 mm to 0.3 mm.
The medium M flows via the inflow opening 39 formed in the inflow housing 37Z and blind holes 66 flow-connected to said opening, which are similar to the blind holes 66 of the outflow joint part 18 described in detail in connection with
The medium M leaves the flow-through joint 14, 22, 26 via the blind holes 66 of the outflow joint part 18, which are open on the one hand to the annular duct 70 and on the other hand to the outflow opening 50. The annular duct 70 is sealed radially on the inside and radially on the outside by further O-rings 72. In this embodiment, the hydraulically active surface 55 is formed by an annular surface located in the annular duct 70 between the radially outer and the radially inner O-ring 72 and likewise extends essentially at right angles to the pivoting axis S.
A cylindrical, annular extension 74 designed on the inflow housing 37Z of the inflow joint part 16 extends through a central cylindrical opening 76 in the inner bearing ring 90 of the outflow joint part 18 into the outflow joint part 18. In this connection, the annular extension 74 forms the pressing-on element 42 with the cylindrical pressing-on surface 54 running around radially on the outside.
The connecting screw 46 is mounted in a central leadthrough 78 of the annular extension 74. On the inflow side, the connecting screw 46 is supported in the inflow housing 37Z by means of a nut 81 and a washer. On the outflow side, a pressure disk 86 is clamped between the head 80 of the screw and an end surface 82 of a pressure sleeve 84 which is arranged concentrically relative to the annular extension 74 and surrounds the pressing-on surface 54 of the annular extension 74 cylindrically.
An opposite inflow-side end surface 88 of the pressure sleeve 84 bears against the inner bearing ring 90. The pressure sleeve 84 is consequently supported at one end on the inflow joint part 16 and at the other end on the inner bearing ring 90 assigned to the outflow joint part 18. The axial extent of the pressure sleeve 84 is fixed by the distance between the inner bearing ring 90 and the pressure disk 86.
The pressure sleeve 84 is made from an elastic material of at least virtually constant volume, preferably a plastic, such as POM for instance, in particular, polyacetals such as Hostaform® C 9021. It has the form of a hollow cylinder and consists of two half-shells. Friction rings 91 are inserted radially on the inside and radially on the outside in circumferential U-shaped grooves of the pressure sleeve 84 in such a way that they protrude radially at least partly from the pressure sleeve 84. By virtue of this, the friction rings 91 arranged radially on the inside bear against the pressing-on surface 54 and the friction rings arranged radially on the outside bear against the cylindrical pressing surface 56 of an inner wall 92 of the outflow joint part 18, which is formed as a pressing element 58 and concentrically with the pressing-on surface 54 relative to the pivoting axis S.
If the axial extent of the pressure sleeve 84 is then reduced, this inevitably leads to radial expansion or arching of the pressure sleeve 84. The pressing-on pressure brought about radially between the pressing-on surface 54 and the pressing surface 56 by the friction rings 91 or alternatively also by the pressure sleeve 84 itself is thus increased. The increased pressing-on pressure leads in turn to greater friction between the pressing-on surface 54 and the pressing surface 56 and thus to increased locking force counter to the relative pivoting of the outflow joint part 18 in relation to the inflow joint part 16.
The axial extent of the pressure sleeve 84 and consequently the pressing-on pressure is determined on the one hand by the tightening torque of the connecting screw 46 and on the other hand by the pressure of the medium M in the annular duct 70 in relation to the ambient pressure, that is by the resultant force acting on the hydraulically active surface 55. If either the tightening torque of the connecting screw 46 or the pressure of the medium M in the annular duct 70 is increased, that is in the former case the inflow joint part 16 is pressed slightly toward the outflow joint part 18 and in the latter case the inflow joint part 16 is pressed slightly away from the outflow joint part 18, the axial extent of the pressure sleeve is reduced and as a result the pressing-on pressure between the pressing-on surface 54 and the pressing surface 56 increases. In the latter case, this leads pressure-dependently to an automatically and continuously increased locking force between the outflow joint part 18 and the inflow joint part 16.
As described in connection with the first embodiment, the former case of the adjustment of the tightening torque brings about an adjustment of the minimum locking force in order in particular to counteract mechanical bearing loading by connected fitting parts.
For especially smooth pivoting in the pressure-free state of the flow-through joint 14, 22, 26 in relation to the ambient pressure, a sliding disk 94 is arranged on the annular extension 74 between facing lateral surfaces of the inflow joint part 16 and of the inner bearing ring 90.
Like the sanitary fitting, the elements of the flow-through joint according to the invention which are in contact with the medium M, such as the inflow housing 37Z and the outflow housing 37A, are preferably made from a corrosion-inert metal or an appropriate alloy or coated with these. This makes it possible in particular to use them for conducting drinking water.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 04030999.9 | Dec 2004 | EP | regional |
