The invention relates to a spray device having a fluid outlet structure that forms a spray jet, said fluid outlet structure having a plurality of jet outlet units of which at least two are configured as multi-duct jet outlet units having in each case at least one first outlet duct and at least one second outlet duct fluidically separated from the first. Moreover, the spray device has a fluid guide which is designed to conduct a fluid supplied to the spray device selectively to the first outlet ducts or to the second outlet ducts. This includes embodiments in which the fluid is supplied only to the first outlet ducts in a first operating mode and only to the second outlet ducts in a second operating mode, or in which the fluid is supplied only to the first or only to the second outlet ducts in a first operating mode and to the first and the second outlet ducts in a second operating mode, or which comprise three operating modes in order to supply the fluid either only to the first or only to the second or to the first and second outlet ducts. Spray devices of this type are used in particular as sanitary shower spray devices, such as overhead spray devices, handheld spray devices and wall or side spray devices.
In a known sanitary handheld spray device of the type mentioned at the beginning, two-duct jet outlet elements are provided in a central region, said jet outlet elements being arranged at a regular circumferential spacing along a circular line around a longitudinal center axis of the spray device. The central region of the spray device is surrounded by an annular spray-device region in which one-duct jet outlet elements are provided. The two-duct jet outlet elements are formed from a plastics material, have a conical-oval shape and contain two outlet ducts, arranged alongside one another, with different circular diameters. The outlet ducts with a smaller diameter are located in the narrower oval end region of the jet outlet elements and are arranged along a radially inner circular line, and the outlet ducts with a larger diameter are located in the wider oval end region of the jet outlet elements and are arranged along a radially outer circular line of the central spray-device region. In this case, the spacing between the smaller outlet ducts of in each case two adjacent jet outlet elements is smaller than the spacing between these two jet outlet elements and is also smaller than the spacing between the two outlet ducts of each particular jet outlet element. In a first operating mode, shower water passes as an unaerated jet only out of the radially inner, smaller outlet ducts, and in a second operating mode, it passes as an aerated jet only out of the radially outer, larger outlet ducts.
Also known are shower spray devices which have several groups of one-duct jet outlet units and in which supplied shower water is conducted selectively to one or the other group in order to be able to achieve different spray jet characteristics in corresponding operating modes. Each group is fluidically connected to an associated outlet chamber, wherein the outlet chambers are arranged in a fluidically separated manner alongside one another or in succession with regard to a jet outlet direction.
The invention is based on the technical problem of providing a spray device of the type mentioned at the beginning, with which different spray jets can be set in a novel manner and which can be produced and cleaned in a comparatively simple manner.
The invention achieves this and other objects by providing a spray device comprising a fluid outlet structure that forms a spray jet, said fluid outlet structure comprising a plurality of iet outlet units of which at least two are configured as multi-duct jet outlet units having in each case at least one first outlet duct and at least one second outlet duct fluidically separated from the first. The spray device further comprises a fluid guide which is designed to conduct a fluid supplied to the spray device selectively to the first outlet ducts or to the second outlet ducts.
According to one aspect of the invention, a minimum spacing between the outlet ducts of each particular multi-duct jet outlet unit is smaller than a minimum spacing between the outlet ducts of in each case two multi-duct jet outlet units, and in a corresponding development of the invention also smaller than a minimum spacing between in each case two multi-duct jet outlet units themselves. In advantageous configurations, the minimum spacing between the outlet ducts in question can be smaller than the minimum spacing between in each case two jet outlet units by a factor of two or an even greater factor, for example by around a factor of five or ten or more.
According to a further aspect of the invention, in at least one multi-duct jet outlet unit, a second outlet duct or a group of a plurality of second outlet ducts is arranged such that it/they surround(s) a first outlet duct of this jet outlet unit at least around a part of its circumference, i.e. around a part of its circumference or around its entire circumference.
With the spray device according to the invention, it is possible to set different spray jets or spray jet patterns in that, by way of a corresponding fluid guide of the spray device, the supplied fluid, such as shower water, is conducted selectively to the first outlet ducts or to the second outlet ducts of each particular multi-duct jet outlet unit. Thus, in corresponding embodiments of the invention, spray jets can be set with active use of only the first or only the second outlet ducts or both the first and the second outlet ducts. Furthermore, the spray device according to the invention can be cleaned and freed of limescale comparatively easily, since the outlet ducts used for the different spray jet patterns are combined to form the multi-duct jet outlet units and can extend therein in a parallel manner in terms of flow, wherein the outlet ducts of each multi-duct jet outlet unit are relatively close together, in particular closer than the multi-duct jet outlet units themselves, and/or wherein the second outlet ducts are arranged around the first outlet ducts. In addition, this combination of the first and second outlet ducts in the particular jet outlet units can make it easier to manufacture the spray device and can increase its operational reliability.
In one development of the invention, not only the minimum spacing but also a maximum spacing between the outlet ducts of each particular multi-duct jet outlet unit is smaller than a minimum spacing between the outlet ducts of in each case two multi-duct jet outlet units and in a further configuration is also smaller than a minimum spacing between in each case two multi-duct jet outlet units themselves. This represents an advantageously close arrangement of the first and the second outlet ducts relative to one another, compared with the spacing between in each case two jet outlet units. In advantageous configurations, the maximum spacing between the outlet ducts in question can be smaller than the minimum spacing between in each case two jet outlet units by a factor of two or an even greater factor, for example by around a factor of five or ten or more.
In one development of the invention, an orifice of the at least one second outlet duct is at the same level as an orifice of the at least one first outlet duct with respect to a jet outlet direction or has a predetermined offset relative thereto. Both alternative measures can have advantages for example with regard to jet characteristics and cleanability when tailored to the particular application.
In one development of the invention, in at least one multi-duct jet outlet unit, a second outlet duct annularly surrounds a first outlet duct, or a group of a plurality of second outlet ducts surround a first outlet duct at a regular spacing from one another along a closed curve, for example along a circular or elliptical or oval curve. As a result, advantageous jet patterns can be achieved in which the different individual jets, which are provided by the first outlet duct or by the second outlet duct(s) of each particular jet outlet unit, scarcely differ in position at the spray device outlet on account of their close arrangement, although they can have different jet characteristics, for example an aerated jet on the one hand and an unaerated jet on the other.
In one development of the invention, the fluid outlet structure of the spray device contains a jet disk which has an associated jet disk opening for each jet outlet unit. This means that, for each multi-duct jet outlet unit, only in each case one opening in the jet disk is required. In one configuration of this measure, each particular jet outlet unit is formed by a jet outlet element extending through the associated jet disk opening. By realizing the jet outlet element in a corresponding manner, the jet outlet unit can be provided as a multi-duct jet outlet unit. As an alternative to this realization of the jet outlet unit by a separate jet outlet element that is present in addition to the jet disk, each particular jet outlet unit can also be formed as an integral constituent directly on the jet disk itself by appropriate design of the jet disk.
In a further configuration of the invention, the fluid outlet structure contains a jet-forming structure arranged on an inner side of the jet disk, the jet outlet elements being arranged on said jet-forming structure, wherein the jet outlet elements consist of an elastic material. This has an advantageous effect on the production cost, the operational reliability and the cleanability of the spray device.
In this case, it can be particularly advantageous if, in a further configuration of the invention, the jet outlet elements extend on the outlet side beyond an outer side of the jet disk with a projecting length of at least a quarter of an opening width of the jet disk openings. In particular, in corresponding embodiments of the invention, the projecting length can correspond to at least a third or at least half of the opening width of the jet disk openings. This contributes to easier cleanability.
In one development of the invention, the first outlet ducts, for the one part, and the second outlet ducts, for the other part, are assigned respective fluidically separated outlet chambers, out of which the outlet ducts in question lead, wherein the outlet chambers are arranged alongside one another or in succession with regard to a jet outlet direction, mostly an axial direction of the spray device or a spray-device longitudinal direction. This represents an advantageous possibility for conducting the supplied fluid selectively to the first or second outlet ducts.
In one development of the invention, at least one of the multi-duct jet outlet units has at least one third outlet duct fluidically separated from the at least one first and the at least one second outlet duct. With this variant embodiment, different spray jet patterns can consequently be realized, with selective use of one or more of the at least three outlet ducts of each multi-duct jet outlet unit. In one configuration of this measure, the jet outlet unit in question has in each case one first, second and third outlet duct, and the three outlet ducts are arranged alongside one another in a linear or triangular configuration. In this way, different spray jet patterns can be set in an advantageous manner.
Advantageous embodiments of the invention are described in the following text and illustrated in the drawings, in which:
Various embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail in the following text with reference to the corresponding figures, wherein the same reference signs are used for identical and functionally equivalent elements for the sake of easier understanding.
As can be seen from
In the example shown, the two-duct jet outlet units 2 are arranged such that their two outlet ducts 21, 22 are located on different radii of the jet disk 4, specifically substantially on radial lines which proceed from a center point M of the jet disk 4. An axis that passes through this disk center point M perpendicularly to the plane of the drawing in
The two outlet ducts 21, 22 of each particular jet outlet unit 2 are arranged at a spacing A12 from one another. The jet outlet units 2 are arranged at spacings AS1, AS2, AS3, etc. from one another on the jet disk 4, wherein these spacings AS1, AS2, AS3 can be different from one another. As can be seen from
In the example shown, the mutual spacing A12 between the two outlet ducts 21, 22 of each jet outlet unit 2 is smaller than the minimum spacing of in each case two jet outlet units 2 from one another by more than a factor of five. It goes without saying that the invention also includes embodiments in which there is not just a single, constant spacing between the first and second outlet ducts of each jet outlet unit, but in which this spacing varies, for example from jet outlet unit to jet outlet unit. However, in such cases, too, provision is made for the minimum spacing between the outlet ducts of each particular multi-duct jet outlet unit to remain smaller than a minimum spacing between the outlet ducts of in each case two multi-duct jet outlet units. Preferably, provision is furthermore made for a maximum spacing between the outlet ducts of each particular multi-duct jet outlet unit also to still remain smaller than the minimum spacing between the outlet ducts of in each case two multi-duct jet outlet units.
As can be seen in more detail from
In the example shown, the two outlet ducts 21, 22 of the two-duct jet outlet unit 2 have different, circular opening diameters; in alternative embodiments of the invention they can also have identical diameters. Typical diameters of the jet outlet ducts 21, are between about 0.3 mm and about 2 mm. In the example shown, the jet outlet elements or jet outlet nipples 5 have an elliptical cross-sectional shape, as can be seen in
In addition to the jet disk 4 and to the outlet plate 6, the fluid outlet structure 1 has a chamber-forming plate 7 and a chamber end plate 8 which adjoin the outlet plate 6 on the inner side thereof facing the jet disk 4. Formed between the chamber end plate 8 and the outlet plate 6 is a free space which is subdivided by the chamber-forming plate 7 into a first outlet chamber 91 and a second outlet chamber 92, fluidically separated therefrom, wherein the two outlet chambers 91, are arranged in succession with regard to the abovementioned jet outlet direction or spray-device longitudinal-axis direction. The second outlet ducts 22 of the jet outlet elements 5 are fluidically connected to the second outlet chamber 92 formed between the outlet plate 6 and the chamber-forming plate 7, and the first outlet ducts 21 are fluidically connected to the first outlet chamber 91 formed between the chamber-forming plate 7 and the chamber end plate 8.
In addition, the chamber-forming plate 7 has, in the region of the first outlet ducts 21, associated, aligned through-ducts 71 and sealing connectors 72, wherein each particular through-duct 71 extends, with the sealing connector 72 surrounding it on the outlet side, into a conical inlet region of the associated first outlet duct 21, and the sealing connector 72 presses in a sealing manner, with a correspondingly conical outer surface, against this mouth region of the outlet plate 6 and as a result seals off the first outlet duct 21, together with its through-duct 71, from the second outlet chamber 92.
In a conventional manner, the spray device according to
As an alternative to the shown provision of the jet outlet units 2 by the jet outlet elements 5 made of elastic material, the jet outlet units 2 can also be provided directly on the jet disk 4 by the jet disk 4 being designed in a corresponding manner in these regions. This also applies with regard to the other exemplary embodiments shown and can be realized in corresponding variant embodiments for example in that the jet disk is manufactured as a one-piece elastic element structured in this way or as a two-component plastics element with elastically configured jet outlet nipples or as a jet disk made of a hard material which is provided with a coating made of elastic material from which the jet outlet nipples project.
It goes without saying that the invention also includes spray devices with jet outlet units which have more than two fluidically separated outlet ducts. In this regard,
As part of a fluid guide that is suitable for this purpose, a thus modified fluid outlet structure 1′ has, adjoining the outlet plate 6′ on its side remote from the jet disk 4, a first chamber-forming plate 7′1, a second chamber-forming plate 7′2 and a chamber end plate 8′, such that three fluidically separated outlet chambers 9′1, 9′2, 9′3 that are located in succession in the jet outlet direction are formed, wherein a first outlet chamber 9′1 between the two chamber-forming plates 7′1, 7′2 is fluidically connected to the first outlet ducts 2′1, a second outlet chamber 9′2 between the second chamber-forming plate 7′2 and the chamber end plate 8′ is fluidically connected to the second outlet ducts 2′2, and a third outlet chamber 9′3 between the outlet plate 6′ and the first chamber-forming plate 7′1 is fluidically connected to the third outlet ducts 2′3. In this case, the first chamber-forming plate 7′1 has, aligned with the first and second outlet ducts 2′1, 2′2, associated conical through-openings 101, 102 and, on the side thereof facing the outlet plate 6′, protruding sealing connectors 111, 112, by way of which the through-openings 101, 102 lead into the first and second outlet ducts 2′1, 2′2, respectively, of the jet outlet elements 5a through the third outlet chamber 93 in a sealed-off manner and thus in a manner fluidically separated therefrom. The second chamber-forming plate 7′2 has, aligned with the second outlet ducts 2′2, associated through-openings 12 and corresponding sealing connectors 13, by way of which the through-openings 12 lead into the through-openings 102, located beneath the first outlet chamber 9′1, of the first chamber-forming plate 7′1 through the first outlet chamber 9′1 in a sealed-off manner. In addition, the through-openings 102 and the sealing connectors 13 that lead into them have a correspondingly conical shape here, too.
It goes without saying that, as an alternative to the arrangement of the outlet chambers 9′1, 9′2, 9′3 in succession, the latter can also be arranged in only one or in two planes rather than three planes, for which purpose in each case a correspondingly modified fluid outlet structure is used. In this case, all three outlet chambers can then be arranged alongside one another, or two outlet chambers are arranged alongside one another and a third outlet chamber is arranged in front of or behind the latter.
It also goes without saying that the invention is not limited to the specific designs and embodiments of multi-channel jet outlet units mentioned thus far, but includes further variants. By way of example,
Subfigures 10.1 to 10.6 show various three-duct jet outlet elements having a triangular cross section (subfigure 10.1), a crescent-shaped cross section (subfigure 10.2), a curved cross-sectional shape with less of a crescent shape (subfigure 10.3), a pointed oval cross section (subfigure 10.4), a heart-shaped cross section (subfigure 10.5) and an eight-shaped cross section (subfigure 10.6), respectively. Subfigure 10.7 shows a four-duct jet outlet element having a cloverleaf-shaped cross section, and subfigure 10.8 shows a four-duct jet outlet element having a square cross section.
It is apparent again for example from
Otherwise, the spray device in
In addition, a modified outlet plate 6b is provided, on which the jet outlet elements 5″ are again formed integrally as corresponding extensions or outlet nipples, wherein both the first outlet duct 21, as a central hollow duct, and the plurality of second outlet ducts 22, as corresponding, narrower hollow ducts, are formed in this nipple structure axially in the annular nipple wall surrounding the first outlet duct 21. In this case, the second outlet ducts 22 extend rearward into the associated second outlet chamber 92 between the outlet plate 6b and a modified duct-forming plate 7b, which, in a similar manner to the duct-forming plate 7 of the spray device in
Here, too, it is clear for example from figure that the minimum distance between the first and second outlet ducts 21, 22 of each particular jet outlet unit 2″ is much smaller than the minimum distance of in each case two jet outlet units 2″ from one another.
With this spray device, a spray jet in which the fluid emerges only from the first outlet ducts 21 can be provided for example in a first operating mode, or a spray jet in which the fluid emerges only from the second outlet ducts 22 can be provided in a second operating mode, wherein the spray jet is composed in this case of a corresponding multiplicity of individual jets per jet outlet element 5″.
Although spray devices have hitherto been described which each have only one type of jet outlet elements, the invention also includes embodiments with a plurality of different types of jet outlet elements. It goes without saying here that, depending on the requirements, as many different types and shapes of jet outlet units as desired can be used for each particular spray device. To this end,
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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10 2014 200 741 | Jan 2014 | DE | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/EP2015/050435 | 1/12/2015 | WO | 00 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
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WO2015/107028 | 7/23/2015 | WO | A |
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20130193238 | Yu | Aug 2013 | A1 |
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202860725 | Apr 2013 | CN |
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20160332173 A1 | Nov 2016 | US |