EP0117504A2 - Outlet for sanitary items such as wash basins, zincs, baths or the like - Google Patents

Abstract

The outlet possesses a substantially circular-cylindrical sleeve-shaped water-carrying outer part 14 and, inserted in the latter so as to be relatively movable, a substantially circular-cylindrical collar-shaped water-carrying inner part 13. Assigned to the outer part 14 or the inner part 13 are either a spatially fixed water inlet or a swivellable outlet pipe 11. In this arrangement, the inner part 13, composed of substantially rigid hard material, is received in the outer part 14 with large play S all round. A supporting ring 17 of flat-rectangular cross-section and of relatively hard-formulated entropy-elastic material, received in an annular groove 24 on the side of the inner part, forms a supporting surface 23 which bears on the circular-cylindrical inner circumferential surface 15 of the outer part 14 with a tight sliding fit. The supporting ring 17 additionally forms a one-piece materially-integral moulded-on sealing region 18 on its end face adjacent to the water flow cross-section Q. The sealing region 18 consists of two annular sealing strips 20, 21 which possess, between them, a groove 19 open on the end face and are spread apart in a radially self-resilient manner. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a spout for sanitary components, such as for hand basins and sinks, bath tubs or the like, with an essentially circular cylindrical sleeve-shaped water-carrying outer part and with an essentially circular cylindrical collar-shaped water-carrying inner part which is inserted into the latter, alternatively the outer or inner part of the Fixed water inlet or the pivoting outlet pipe are assigned, the outer and inner part each made of an essentially rigid hard material, in particular of metal, such as Brass, exist and are arranged rotatably relative to each other and wherein the inner part on its outer lateral surface has at least one entropy-elastic annular seal held in an annular groove as well as at least one supporting surface in the form of an axial part that extends tightly against the circular cylindrical inner lateral surface of the outer part has a circular cylindrical outer surface.

The above-mentioned outlet has become generally known through prior public use. In the known outlet, the collar-like inner part accommodated in the sleeve-shaped outer part forms a precision turned part with mostly two im axially spaced from each other screwed ring grooves. An O-ring made of entropy-elastic material is accommodated in each of these, the hardness of which is approximately 35 Shore A at most. So that the inner part, which is usually soldered in at the end end, for example on an outlet pipe, cannot tilt in relation to the outer part during a pivoting movement, a support surface is provided - mostly between the aforementioned annular grooves - about a third of the axial length of the inner part. The support surface itself, which is formed from the material of the inner part made of brass, for example, is a circular cylindrical outer surface which is supported on the inner surface of the sleeve-shaped outer part with a relatively narrow sliding fit tolerance of approximately 0.02-0.05 mm.

In the case of the outlet of this type described at the beginning, the very soft O-rings only perform a sealing function, while the supporting surface of the inner part made of hard material, in particular of metal (such as brass), fulfills the supporting function that prevents canting.

The previously known outlet is subject to considerable defects. In particular, the high-precision processing that has been required up to now is very expensive. In addition, the pairing of hard material / hard material, in particular metal / metal, affects the area of the previous one mentions support surface in a mixed and dry friction because of wear and tear that creates an annoying metal abrasion.

The use of the soft O-rings in so-called kitchen spouts, e.g. in connection with single-lever mixer taps in which a large, dimensionally stable inner part with large diameter O-rings is surrounded by the swiveling sleeve-shaped outer part that supports the outlet pipe. The following disadvantageous effect occurs during the pivoting movement of the outlet pipe: the very soft and slightly longitudinally stretchable O-rings adhere partially to the inner surface of the outer part and accumulate when pivoting, so that a non-uniform, resilient movement sequence results.

In another obviously previously used outlet, which is not part of the narrower type mentioned at the beginning, the nipple-like inner part is a wedge precision turned part, since the ring grooves provided for receiving the O-rings are crimped. However, the inner part accommodated with play in the outer part has no support surface. As a result, the inner part can be tilted very easily due to the very soft O-rings. This in turn can lead to disadvantageous damage to the surface-refined, pivotable outlet pipe in the area of the spatially fixed union nut penetrated by it.

Based on the known spout of this type described at the outset, the object of the invention is to create a spout while avoiding the disadvantages of the known, which, if possible, bypassing costly precision turned parts with a very simple design, at the same time ensures low-friction and wear-free guiding of the Inner part and at the same time the required sealing effect allowed. According to the invention, this object has been achieved in that the inner part consisting of essentially rigid, hard material is accommodated in the outer part with great play on all sides, in that each supporting surface of the inner part is made of a relatively hard set support ring which is accommodated in an annular groove and has a flat rectangular cross section entropy-elastic material is formed which, on its end face adjacent to the flow cross-section of the water, also forms as a seal a one-piece, integrally molded sealing area, which consists of two annular sealing strips which are radially self-spreading apart and have an open groove on the end face between them.

According to the invention, the inner part is accommodated in the outer part with great play on all sides. This eliminates the need for precision manufacturing of the inner part. The large play on all sides is compensated for by flat rectangular seals, which can be deformed entropically, otherwise, however, are set much harder compared to the previously known O-rings. The fit tolerance of the support rings produced by plastic injection molding is relatively large and is in the range of approximately 0.1-0.2 mm. The support ring can even have a slight oversize compared to the inside width of the outer part, so it is pressed slightly inwards over an inlet radius of the outer part when it is inserted.

The fact that the support surface in any case has a relatively large axial length in relation to the total axial length of the inner part, e.g. in the order of about one third of the total axial length of the inner part, the transverse forces acting radially on the pivotable part would have to be very large in order to be able to bring about a certain tilt.

However, the support ring according to the invention not only has a support function but also fulfills a sealing function if one or both of its end faces faces the flow cross-section of the water. In fact, the support ring according to the invention has a sealing area integrally formed with a material fit. This sealing area consists of two annular sealing strips diverging away from the support area and forming an open groove on the end face between them. When installed, these sealing strips are against their spring return force approximated to each other and in this case lie non-positively sealing on the one hand on the inner lateral surface of the outer part and on the other hand on the inner surface of the annular receiving groove on the inner part side. The ring-shaped, approximately lip-like sealing strips of the support ring according to the invention permit a flexible, adaptable, permanent sealing area due to their non-positive resilient contact with low wear-resistant friction. According to the invention, the annular sealing strips are brought together in a compact part, the support area of the support ring, which likewise has a relatively small wall thickness, but at the same time has a relatively large axial width to ensure optimal sliding and support function.

Preferably, the features of the main claim function together in a special combination to achieve the object according to the invention. Features of the subclaims can also preferably and optionally be added to this combination.

The invention is particularly advantageous in the case of an outlet whose outlet tube consists of a hydraulically deformable material, such as brass. For the hydraulic shaping of such a known outlet pipe, it has two sealing end regions which are not subjected to the shaping and which are sawn off after the blank has been shaped. That the O-rings on internal part consists of a precision turned brass part already mentioned above. The invention treads a new path here in that an undeformed sealing end region is used as the inner part, the flat annular grooves of which are worked into the thin wall of the inner part by cold working, in particular by rolling or forging.

Further features of the invention can be found in the subclaims, the drawing description and the drawings.

• Fig. 1 eine mehr schematische Ansicht eines einen sogenannten Schwenkauslauf bildenden Auslaufs in etwa natürlicher Größe,
• Fig. 2 einen im vergrößerten Maßstab von etwa 4:1 dargestellten teilweisen Längsschnitt gemäß der Schnittlinie II-II in Fig. 1,
• Fig. 3 eine Schnittansicht im vergrößerten Maßstab von etwa 4:1 eines entropieelastischen Stützringes, welcher zugleich eine Dichtfunktion ausführt,
• Fig. 4 einen kombinierten Stütz- und Druckring und
• Fig. 5 einen teilweisen Längsschnitt durch einen sogenannten Küchenauslauf, bei welchem das mit Dichtungen versehene Innenteil raumfest angeordnet ist, während das das Innenteil umgebende und zugleich das Auslaufrohr tragende muffenförmige Außenteil koaxial zum Innenteil schwenkbeweglich ist.

In the drawings, the invention is shown in more detail with reference to preferred exemplary embodiments, show it

• 1 is a more schematic view of a so-called swivel spout approximately natural size,
• 2 shows a partial longitudinal section according to section line II-II in FIG. 1, shown on an enlarged scale of approximately 4: 1,
• 3 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale of about 4: 1 of an entropy-elastic support ring which also performs a sealing function,
• Fig. 4 shows a combined support and pressure ring and
• Fig. 5 is a partial longitudinal section through a so-called kitchen spout, in which the inner part provided with seals is fixed in space, while the sleeve-shaped outer part surrounding the inner part and at the same time carrying the outlet pipe is pivotable coaxially to the inner part.

In Fig. 1, a swivel spout is generally designated by reference number 10. The outlet 10 has an outlet pipe 11, the free end of which forms a water outlet opening 12 and the inner other end of which forms a retracted, approximately bundle-shaped inner part, which can be seen in FIG.

The inner part 13 is received in an approximately sleeve-shaped outer part 14. The circular cylindrical inner surface 15 of the outer part 14 is spaced with play s on all sides relative to the essentially circular cylindrical outer surface 16 of the inner part 13.

The play s is compensated for by a support ring 17 having a flat rectangular cross section. The support ring 17 consists of a relatively hard set entropy-elastic material, in particular of a suitable plastic. Such a plastic can, for example, be a thermoplastic rubber elastic polyurethane (short name: TPU) be, which has a Shore hardness A of about 75-98.

On its end face adjacent to the flow cross section Q of the water, the support ring 17 also forms a seal. This seal is integrally and integrally formed on the support ring 17 which forms a plastic injection molded part. This seal or sealing area 18 consists of two annular, approximately lip-like sealing strips 20, 21, which have an open V-groove 19 on the front side and are spread apart in a radially self-resilient manner.

From Fig. 3 it can be clearly seen that the sealing strips 20, 21 are in the relaxed state of the support ring 17 at a wide distance from each other.

In the installed state according to FIG. 2, the sealing strips 20, 21 are already pressed relatively closely against one another and in this way bring about a permanent, low-friction and non-positive seal both with respect to the inner lateral surface 15 and with respect to the inner surface of the groove 24 receiving the support ring 17.

The support ring 17 therefore has a double function: its support area 22 with its outwardly facing circular-cylindrical outer jacket support surface 23 ensures tilting secure sliding support of the inner part 13 within the outer part 14. The sealing area 18 described above, on the other hand, seals the free annular space between the inner part 13 and the outer part 14 from the outside.

From Fig. 2 it can be clearly seen that the axial width b of the support ring 17 makes up a significant proportion (more than a third) of the total axial length 1 of the inner part 13 received by the outer part 14.

It should also be mentioned that the support ring 17 forms a thin-walled component as a whole, while the receiving groove 24 is relatively flat and can therefore be produced with a low degree of deformation.

It would be readily possible to provide a further receiving groove 24 with an additional support ring 17 at an axial distance from the receiving groove 24. In the present case according to FIG. 2, however, the arrangement is such that a combined support and pressure ring 28 provided with a slot 25 running axially or obliquely to the surface line with an axial collar-shaped support projection 26 ensures additional radial support between the inner parts 13 and 14. A flange projection 27 of the combined support and pressure ring 28 which is integral with the support projection 26 is one between the end face 29 on the outer part side and an abutment shoulder 30 at 31 screwed on the outer part 14 union nut 32.

The support and pressure ring 28 has approximately the cross-sectional shape of a T lying on the side and accordingly has an approximately mirror-symmetrical arrangement with respect to the support attachment 26, a collar-shaped attachment 33 pointing away from the latter.

The combined support and pressure ring 28 is snap-locked in a receiving groove 34.

The outlet pipe 11 forms a hydraulically formed workpiece, the inner part 14 forming a sealing end area during the forming and thus not subject to the hydraulic forming.

The axis of rotation about which the inner part 13 rotates coaxially around the fixed outer part 14 is designated by y (FIG. 2). This axis of rotation y is also entered in FIG. 5.

5, the inner part 13 a is shown very schematically. Such a fixed inner part 13 a is regularly provided with such a kitchen spout with a one-hand shut-off device, which was not shown in Fig. 5 to simplify the drawing. According to FIG. 5, in the inner part 13 a there is only an angular one opening into a radially outwardly open water-conducting annular groove 35 Water inlet 36 provided. From the annular groove 35, the water can pass through an opening 37 into the outlet pipe 11 a, which is only partially shown.

In connection with FIG. 5, which otherwise takes over analogous designations from FIG. 2, it should be mentioned in particular that the two support rings 17 are provided with sealing areas 18 facing one another and the water-carrying cross section 35.

In addition, it should also be mentioned that the combined support and pressure ring 28 can also be produced as a plastic injection molded part, specifically from the material of the support ring 17.

It should also be added that the outer diameter D of the relaxed support ring 17 (FIG. 3) can have a slight excess compared to the inside width W of the outer part 14, 14 a. In this case, the outer inlet radius R (see FIG. 2) of the inner circumferential surface 15 allows a relatively smooth axial insertion of the inner part 13, 13a provided with the support ring 17 during assembly. As can be seen from FIG. 2, the thin-walled support ring 17 can be easily pushed on with temporary stretching because of the end face provided with an outer radius r and thus introduced into the very flat groove 24.

Claims (6)

1. Spout for sanitary components, such as for hand basins and sinks, bath tubs or the like, with an essentially circular cylindrical sleeve-shaped water-carrying outer part and with an essentially circular cylindrical collar-shaped water-carrying inner part which is inserted into the latter, alternatively the spatially fixed water inlet for the outer or inner part or are assigned to the pivotable outlet pipe, the outer and inner parts each consisting of an essentially rigid, hard material, in particular metal, such as brass, and are arranged so as to be rotatable relative to one another, and the inner part on its outer lateral surface being held at least one in an annular groove entropy-elastic ring-shaped seal and at least one supporting surface in the form of a circular cylindrical outer circumferential surface, which extends over an axial partial region and which fits tightly against the circular cylindrical inner circumferential surface of the outer part, characterized in that that the inner part (13, 13a) consisting of essentially rigid, hard material is accommodated in the outer part (14, 14a) with great play (S) on all sides, that each support surface (23) of the inner part (13, 13a) is supported by one in an annular groove (24) recorded, a flat rectangular cross-section support ring (17) made of relatively hard set entro-elastic material, which is at its flow cross Section (Q; 35) of the water adjacent end face also forms a one-piece, integrally molded sealing area (18) as a seal, which consists of two annular sealing strips (20, 21) which are radially self-expanding and have a radially self-resiliently spread apart spring groove (19). 2. Spout according to claim 1, characterized in that the cross section of the annular groove (24) is elongated to match the cross-sectional shape of the support ring (17). 3. outlet according to claim 1 or according to claim 2, characterized in that the support ring (17) is a plastic injection molded part and consists of a plastic with a Shore hardness A greater than 50. 4. outlet according to claim 3, characterized in that the Shore hardness A is approximately 60-90, preferably approximately 70-80. 5. outlet according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the diameter (D) of the support surface (23) forming area of the support ring (17) compared to the inside width (W) of the outer part (14, 14a) has a small excess . 6. outlet according to one of claims 1 to 5, with a made of hydraulically deformable material, such as brass, existing outlet pipe, the blank of which has two sealing end areas not subjected to the hydraulic deformation, characterized in that a sealing end area forms the inner part (13), the flat-shaped ring grooves (24, 34) of which are cold-formed, in particular by rolling or forging, are incorporated.

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