EP2930277B1 - Sanitary function unit - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a sanitary functional unit which has a housing which can be detachably fastened to the water outlet of a sanitary outlet fitting, the housing having an outflow-side housing end face with outflow openings which forms a flow straightener.

Various sanitary functional units are already known which can be detachably fastened to the outlet end of a sanitary outlet fitting in order to shape and/or regulate the water jet exiting there. For example, jet regulators have been created that are intended to shape the outflowing water into a homogeneous, non-splashing and possibly also sparkling-soft water jet. These functional units, embodied, for example, as jet regulators, have a housing which has a housing end face on the outflow side and designed, for example, as a flow straightener, with a large number of outflow openings. In order to be able to mount such previously known functional units on the outlet end of the outlet fitting, functional units have already been created which have an external thread on the outer circumference of their housing, with which the housing can be screwed into an internal thread provided on the inner circumference of the outlet fitting. In order to be able to apply the rotational force required for screwing the corresponding threads onto the housing, profiles are provided on the outflow-side end peripheral edge or on the peripheral edge area of the housing, which serve as rotary contact surfaces or tool contact surfaces for a rotary tool. Since the previously known functional units are usually maintenance-free for many months, the turning tool required is often mislaid over the months in such a way that it cannot be used without it more is available.

From the applicant's DE-GM 93 14 990, a jet aerator is already known, which in its installation housing has a perforated plate serving as a jet splitter, which has a number of flow holes for generating a large number of individual jets. In the outflow area of the through-flow holes, pins are provided, the free and conically pointed end of the pin pointing towards the perforated plate being designed as a deflector bevel, which deflects one of the individual jets coming from the through-flow holes at an angle to the direction of flow. In order to be able to mount the installation housing of this previously known jet aerator on the water outlet of a sanitary outlet fitting, a sleeve-shaped outlet mouthpiece is provided, into which the installation housing can be inserted up to an insertion stop. A thread is provided on the outlet mouthpiece, which can be screwed to a corresponding mating thread on the water outlet.

The external appearance of the outlet fitting is determined by the water outlet and the adjacent outlet mouthpiece and its screw connection on the water outlet. In order to create an aesthetically pleasing appearance, it is necessary to design the visible surfaces of the outlet mouthpiece on the one hand and the outlet fitting in the area of its water outlet on the other hand as uniformly as possible. However, there remains a narrow gap between the spout and the jet regulator insert, which tends to get dirty and can be annoying.

A sanitary built-in part that also serves as a jet aerator has therefore also been created with a multi-part installation housing that has an external thread on its outer circumference for screwing into an internal thread provided on the inner circumference of the water outlet of a sanitary outlet fitting (see. DE 10 2005 010 551 A1 ). A flow straightener is formed on the outflow side of the built-in housing and is in the form of a perforated plate having flow holes, which forms the outflow side of the housing end face. Several latticed inserts can be inserted into the housing interior of the built-in housing, which serve as a jet regulating device, which has to shape the individual jets ventilated inside the housing into a homogeneous, non-splashing overall jet. The outflow-side front edge of the housing has a profiling that can serve as a tool gripping surface for the corresponding profiling of a further installation housing that is used as a turning tool. Because that's out DE 10 2005 010 551 A1 previously known jet aerators can be screwed so deep into the water outlet of a sanitary outlet fitting that the outflow-side housing end face of the installation housing does not protrude beyond the water outlet of the outlet fitting, the aesthetic impression is determined solely by the outlet fitting. However, in order to be able to assemble or disassemble the installation housing on the water outlet of the outlet fitting, another installation housing or another special rotary tool is always required, which is not always available, especially in a household.

From the US-A-4,534,513 Therefore, an aerator with a sleeve-shaped installation housing is already known, which has an external thread on its outflow-side housing circumference, with which the installation housing can be screwed to an internal thread provided on the inner circumference of the water outlet of the outlet fitting. The installation housing has a housing end face on the outflow side, which is formed by layers of metal screens lying one on top of the other and which is slidably guided inside the housing interior of the installation housing. By applying a coin to this downstream housing end face, the housing end face is advanced into the interior of the housing in such a way that a coin receiving the coin on the narrow side Slot is exposed, which serves as a tool attack surface of the coin used as a turning tool. However, the mobility of the front face of the housing means that the flow conditions inside the housing of the known aerator can change, so that the known aerator may not have a consistent and in particular not consistently good jet quality and requires a lot of space.

Comparable jet regulators, which have tool engagement surfaces for a simple rotary tool on their outflow-side housing end face, are also from WO 2006/094680 A1 , the CH PS 380 042 , the US 2002/0084353 A1 , the US-A-3,014,667 and the US-A-4,534,514 previously known.

Jet regulators with a jet regulator housing have also already been created, the end face of which on the outflow side has a spherical cap-shaped peripheral edge area, which is pivotably mounted in a housing section of the jet regulator housing designed as a joint socket in such a way that the exiting water jet is aligned in relation to the point of impact in the subsequent washbasin can be. In this case, a pin-shaped handle is provided on the outflow side of the housing end face, which protrudes outwardly in a disruptive manner and may also cause undesired manipulations of the housing end face. If there is no visually visible feature at the end of the outlet, it is not clear to the inexperienced or uninformed user that the direction of the water jet can be adjusted by actuating the end of the outlet.

From the WO 2006/005099 A2 a sanitary functional unit of the type mentioned at the beginning is already known, which is designed as a flow limiter acting as a jet aerator (cf. also figure 10 the WO 2006/005099 A2 ).

The previously known flow limiter can be inserted into an outlet mouthpiece designed as a receiving sleeve, which can be screwed with the external thread into a complementary internal thread on the water outlet of a sanitary outlet fitting.

The flow rate limiter can be inserted into this outlet mouthpiece until an annular flange running around the flow rate limiter and referred to as a step rests on an annular shoulder in the outlet mouthpiece. The flow limiter has a pot-shaped, rotationally symmetrical housing that carries the step and has a coaxially arranged central internal thread into which internal thread a substantially pin-shaped insert with an internal thread can be screwed from the outflow side. This insert has an inflow hole concentric to the axis of rotation, through which the water flows into the flow limiter. From this inflow bore, designed as a blind hole, four channels lead axially to a mixing chamber, in which mixing chamber the water flowing through is mixed with the ambient air flowing in via the channels. The overall cross-section of the four channels is smaller than the cross-section of the inflow bore for flow-related reasons. This reduces the flow of water and increases its flow rate. The channels slope upwards from the inflow hole in order to reduce the flow rate of the water in this area. In this way, the water in the mixing chamber is enriched with the sucked-in air, which should lead to an increase in the volume of the water exiting the fitting. This should ensure user comfort despite the reduced amount of water.

The housing of the WO 2006/005099 A2 previously known flow limiter has only one, as an annular gap, on its outflow-side housing end face formed outlet opening, from which only one formed as an annular wall water jet can flow out. the inside WO 2006/005099 A2 The flow limiter used therefore does not require a flow straightener, which has to bring together and rectify the water flowing in individual jets into a homogeneous outlet jet in a plurality of outflow openings. Because the flow limiter in the off WO 2006/005099 A2 If the insert provided in the previously known functional unit does not have a plurality of outflow openings, the slot provided on the outflow-side housing end face also does not have to have any cross-sectional thickening. The housing of the flow rate limiter used in the previously known functional unit also has no screw or bayonet connection that would be provided between the outer circumference of the housing and the inner circumference of the fitting; instead, the previously known flow limiter can only be inserted into an outlet mouthpiece designed as a receiving sleeve and is rotatably mounted there. It is not possible to screw on the outlet mouthpiece by placing a coin in the slot of the insert, because the insert and with it the housing of the previously known flow limiter could only be rotated freely inside the sleeve of the outlet mouthpiece. If you wanted to dismantle the outlet mouthpiece of the previously known flow limiter by placing a coin on the slot, you would first unscrew the insert and with it the slot serving as a tool gripping surface from the housing of the flow limiter without loosening the screw connection between the outlet mouthpiece designed as a receiving sleeve and the one on the water outlet of the sanitary outlet fitting provided mating thread could be solved.

There is therefore a particular task to create a sanitary functional unit of the type mentioned, which avoids the above-described disadvantages of the previously known prior art, and is characterized by significantly simplified handling.

The solution to this problem according to the invention is that the housing end face on the outflow side has a slot, the opposite longitudinal sides of which are designed as turning or tool engagement surfaces for a turning tool that can be detachably inserted into the at least one slot, that the outflow openings are surrounded by walls which are designed as flow guide walls, which have a greater height than the clear diameter, that the housing end face on the outflow side has a cross-sectional thickening at least in the area of the at least one slot, that the hole structure provided on the housing end face outside of the at least one slot is separated from the at least a slot is spaced such that the slot longitudinal sides have a greater wall thickness in comparison to the flow guide walls, that the housing by means of a screw or bayonet connection provided between the housing outer circumference and fittings inner circumference binding on the water outlet of the outlet fitting can be releasably fastened, and that the rotary tool that can be inserted into the slot can be used to rotate the screw or bayonet connection provided between the outer circumference of the housing and the inner circumference of the fitting.

The functional unit according to the invention has on its outflow-side housing end face, which has the outflow openings, at least one open slot on the outflow side, the opposite longitudinal sides of the slot of which are designed as rotary contact surfaces or as tool contact surfaces for a rotary tool, which can be releasably inserted into the at least one slot. The housing of the functional unit at the water outlet of the outlet fitting is of this type rotatably held that between the outer circumference of the housing and the inner circumference of the outlet fitting surrounding the outlet end, a screw or bayonet connection can be rotated between a release position and a holding position. The slot allows the use of the simplest turning tools that are usually at hand in a household. The slit is unobtrusively integrated into the front face of the housing, so that the slit is less likely to cause unauthorized or undesired manipulation of the functional unit.

The functional unit according to the invention therefore always has at least one slot on its outflow-side housing end face, the opposite long sides of the slot serving as turning or tool engagement surfaces for a turning tool that can be inserted into the slot.

A functional unit that has an external thread on its outer circumference, which interacts with an internal thread on the inner circumference of the water outlet, can thus be easily assembled or disassembled on the water outlet of the outlet fitting.

A screwdriver, for example, can be used as a turning tool in the slot. However, a preferred development according to the invention provides that the at least one slot is designed for inserting a coin-shaped turning tool portion or a coin serving as a turning tool. A coin-shaped part of the turning tool or a coin that can be used as a turning tool offers the advantage that the comparatively large flat sides of this turning tool can easily identify the relative position of the housing, the front face of the housing and the water outlet. A coin in particular is usually available as a turning tool.

In order to be able to quickly and easily center the coin or the coin-shaped rotary tool portion in the position of use in the slot, it is advantageous if the at least one slot has a cross section in the shape of a segment of a circle in the direction of insertion.

Quickly apply the turning tool to the face of the housing to be able to, it is useful if at least two intersecting slots are provided on the housing face. A preferred embodiment according to the invention provides that the slits are arranged in the shape of a cross in relation to one another and that the intersection node of the slits crossing one another is provided approximately in the middle of the longitudinal extent of at least one slit.

The at least one slit can be designed as a slit-shaped opening in the front face of the housing. A preferred embodiment according to the invention, which is characterized by high stability of the front face of the housing, including in the area of the slot, provides that the at least one slot has a groove base which is closed or - for example by a hole forming the groove base - or Lattice structure - is designed to be open or liquid-permeable.

Slot and turning tool can serve different purposes.

An embodiment according to the invention provides that the rotary tool that can be inserted into the at least one slot is provided for aligning the relative position between the housing and its housing end face rotatably mounted thereon by means of at least one rotary movement.

In addition to or instead of this alignment function of the slot and turning tool, these can also be intended for assembly and/or disassembly of the functional unit in the water outlet of the sanitary outlet fitting. A further development according to the invention is that the turning tool that can be inserted into the at least one slot for mounting and/or dismounting the detachably mountable and/or demountable by a plugging/rotating or rotating movement at the outlet end of the outlet fitting Functional unit is determined.

In order to be able to change the relative position of the front face of the housing in relation to the housing, it is expedient if the front face of the housing can be guided in the front plane of the functional unit on the outflow side such that it can be rotated about the longitudinal axis of the housing and/or about any oriented transverse to the longitudinal axis of the housing Pivot axis is pivoted.

In order to be able to attach the functional unit that can be inserted into the outlet fitting easily and detachably there by means of a simple screw connection, it is advantageous if an external thread is provided on the outer circumference of the housing, which interacts with an internal thread on the inner circumference of the outlet fitting, and that via the at least one Slot the torque required for screwing and unscrewing the thread can be transferred to the housing.

In order to give the front face of the housing in the area of the slot sufficient stability and to be able to design the slot deep enough so that a turning tool can grip it firmly and securely, the invention provides that the front face of the housing be designed at least in the area of the at least one slot has a cross-sectional thickening.

It has no effect on the built-in elements located inside the housing if the front face of the housing has a convex or similar outwardly projecting shape, and if this shape is preferably centered on the middle point of the front face.

The simple handling of the functional unit according to the invention is facilitated if the at least one slot is aligned approximately radially to the center of the end face Slot elongation has.

A preferred embodiment according to the invention provides that the functional unit is designed as a jet regulator or has a jet regulator whose outflow side forms the outflow-side housing end face of the functional unit.

If the outflow-side housing end face of the functional unit according to the invention is mounted rotatably and/or pivotably in the housing, the exiting water jet can be changed in its exit direction. A preferred embodiment according to the invention provides that at least one spacer is provided on the inflow side of the front face of the housing, preferably arranged on a center line running through the center of the front face of the housing, which is attached to a perforated, grid or Mesh structure or the like flow shaping part rests and defines a pivot axis about which the housing face in the selected relative position or rotational position of the housing and housing face is tiltable or pivotable.

Not only can the relative position of the front face of the housing on the one hand and the housing on the other hand be pivoted and/or rotated - it is also easier to assemble or disassemble the housing, which is held in the water outlet by means of a screw connection or a plug-in/rotary connection, if on the outflow side of the At least one rotary stop protrudes from the flow shaping part, which abuts the at least one spacer in at least one relative position or rotary position of the housing and the housing end face in such a way that the housing and the housing end face are connected in a torque-proof manner.

In order to better recognize the pivot axis of the housing end face and to be able to facilitate alignment of the exiting water jet, it is advantageous if at least one slot is arranged axially parallel or offset by 90° to the at least one spacer provided on the inflow side of the housing end face.

Further developments according to the invention result from the claims and the description in connection with the figures. The invention is described in more detail below using preferred exemplary embodiments.

Fig. 1

eine aus einem zuströmseitigen Vorsatzsieb, einem abströmseitigen Strahlregler sowie einem dazwischengeschalteten Durchflussmengenregler bestehende sanitäre Funktionseinheit mit einem Gehäuse, wobei die Funktionseinheit an ihrer abströmseitigen Gehäuse-Stirnfläche einen Kreuzschlitz aufweist, der zum Einsetzen eines münzförmigen Drehwerkzeuges bestimmt ist, und wobei am Gehäuseaußenumfang ein Außengewinde vorgesehen ist, mit dem das Gehäuse in ein am Innenumfang der Auslaufarmatur vorgesehenes Innengewinde lösbar befestigbar ist, und wobei das Drehwerkzeug zur Montage und Demontage der Funktionseinheit am Wasserauslauf der Auslaufarmatur bestimmt ist,

Fig. 2

die Funktionseinheit aus Fig. 1 in einer auseinandergezogenen perspektivischen Einzelteildarstellung,

Fig. 3

die Funktionseinheit aus Fig. 1 und 2 in einer Draufsicht auf ihre abströmseitige Gehäuse-Stirnfläche,

Fig. 4

die Funktionseinheit aus Fig. 1 bis 3 in einer perspektivischen Draufsicht auf die Gehäuse-Stirnfläche,

Fig. 5

eine mit Fig. 1 bis 4 vergleichbare Funktionseinheit in einem seitlichen Teil-Längsschnitt, wobei in dem an der abströmseitigen Gehäuse-Stirnfläche vorgesehenen Schlitz eine Münze als Drehwerkzeug eingesetzt ist,

Fig. 6

eine ebenfalls als belüfteter Strahlregler ausgebildete Funktionseinheit, ähnlich denen aus Fig. 1 bis 5, in einem Längsschnitt, wobei die Gehäuse-Stirnfläche hier zusätzlich verschwenkbar im Gehäuse gelagert ist, so dass das in den Schlitz der Gehäuse-Stirnfläche einsetzbare Drehwerkzeug sowohl zum Verdrehen der zwischen Gehäuse-Außenumfang und Armaturen-Innenumfang vorgesehenen Schraubverbindung und somit zur Montage beziehungsweise Demontage der Funktionseinheit als auch zum Ausrichten der verschwenkbar gelagerten Gehäuse-Stirnfläche verwendbar ist,

Fig. 7

den Strahlregler aus Fig. 6 in einer Draufsicht auf seine abströmseitige Gehäuse-Stirnfläche,

Fig. 8

den Strahlregler aus Fig. 6 und 7 in einem Längsschnitt,

Fig. 9

den Strahlregler aus Fig. 6 bis 8 in einem perspektivischen Teil-Längsschnitt,

Fig. 10

den in einem Längsschnitt gezeigten Strahlregler aus Fig. 6 bis 8 in einer abgewinkelten Schwenkposition seiner Gehäuse-Stirnfläche,

Fig. 11

den ebenfalls längsgeschnittenen Strahlregler aus Fig. 6 bis 10 in einer von Fig. 10 abweichenden Schwenkposition seiner Gehäuse-Stirnfläche,

Fig. 12

einen in den Wasserauslauf einer sanitären Auslaufarmatur lösbar montierten Strahlregler, ähnlich dem aus Fig. 6 bis 11, in einem Längsschnitt,

Fig. 13

den Wasserauslauf mit dem Strahlregler aus Fig. 11 in einer Draufsicht auf die abströmseitige Gehäuse-Stirnfläche,

Fig. 14

den Strahlregler aus Fig. 12 und 13 in einer perspektivischen Draufsicht auf die Zuströmseite seines Gehäuses,

Fig. 15

den Strahlregler aus Fig. 12 bis 14 in einer perspektivischen Draufsicht auf die abströmseitige Gehäuse-Stirnfläche, wobei die Gehäuse-Stirnfläche in einer gegenüber dem Gehäuse abgewinkelten Schwenkposition gezeigt ist,

Fig. 16

einen in einem Längsschnitt dargestellten Strahlregler, der mittels eines hülsenförmigen und hier nicht weiter dargestellten Auslaufmundstücks am Wasserauslauf einer sanitären Auslaufarmatur lösbar befestigt werden kann, wobei die abströmseitige Gehäuse-Stirnfläche des Strahlreglers auch hier schwenkbar im Gehäuse gelagert ist,

Fig. 17

den Strahlregler aus Fig. 16 in einer Draufsicht auf seine abströmseitige Gehäuse-Stirnfläche,

Fig. 18

den Strahlregler aus Fig. 16 und 17 in einem perspektivisch dargestellten Längsschnitt,

Fig. 19

den Strahlregler aus Fig. 16 bis 18 in einem gegenüber Fig. 18 gedrehten perspektivischen Längsschnitt,

Fig. 20

den Strahlregler aus Fig. 16 bis 19 in einem Längsschnitt, wobei die abströmseitige Gehäuse-Stirnfläche hier in einer gegenüber der Gehäuse-Längsachse abgewinkelten Schwenkposition gezeigt ist,

Fig. 21

den Strahlregler aus Fig. 16 bis 20 in einer perspektivischen Draufsicht auf die abströmseitige und hier in einer Schwenkposition gezeigten Gehäuse-Stirnfläche,

Fig. 22

einen mit Fig. 16 bis 21 vergleichbaren und hier in einer Seitenansicht dargestellten Strahlregler, der mittels eines hülsenförmigen und hier nicht weiter dargestellten Auslaufmundstücks am Wasserauslauf einer sanitären Auslaufarmatur lösbar befestigt werden kann, wobei die abströmseitige Gehäuse-Stirnfläche des Strahlreglers auch hier schwenkbar im Gehäuse gelagert ist,

Fig. 23

den Strahlregler aus Fig. 22 in einem perspektivischen Teil-Längsschnitt, wobei zwei an der Zuströmseite der abströmseitigen Gehäuse-Stirnfläche angeformte und stiftförmig vorstehende Abstandhalter eine Schwenkachse definieren, um welche die Gehäuse-Stirnfläche gekippt oder verschwenkt werden kann,

Fig. 24

einen mit Fig. 6 bis 11 vergleichbaren und in einem Längsschnitt dargestellten Strahlregler, dessen Gehäuse-Stirnfläche verschwenkbar im Strahlregler-Gehäuse gelagert ist, wobei an der Zuströmseite der Gehäuse-Stirnfläche stiftförmige Abstandhalter vorstehen, die mit Drehanschlägen an der Abströmseite einer in Strömungsrichtung vorgeschalteten Lochplatte derart zusammenwirken, dass die Gehäuse-Stirnfläche zwischen den Drehanschlägen verdreht werden kann, um in einer Drehposition eine kraftschlüssige Verbindung zwischen der Gehäuse-Stirnfläche und dem Gehäuse zu bewerkstelligen, wenn die Abstandhalter an den Drehanschlägen anliegen,

Fig. 25

den Strahlregler aus Fig. 24 in einem perspektivischen Teil-Längsschnitt, und

Fig. 26

eine mit den Funktionseinheiten in den Fig. 1 bis 5 vergleichbare Funktionseinheit, die als Strahlregler ausgebildet ist, welche an seinem Strahlregler-Gehäuse ein Außengewinde trägt, wobei in dem Gehäuseinnenraum des Strahlreglergehäuses mehrere, eine Loch-, Gitter- oder Netzstruktur aufweisende und als Einsetzteile ausgestaltete Strömungsformungsteile eingesetzt sind.

It shows:

1

a functional sanitary unit consisting of an inflow-side attachment screen, an outflow-side jet regulator and an interposed flow rate regulator with a housing, the functional unit having a cross slot on its outflow-side housing end face, which is intended for inserting a coin-shaped rotary tool, and an external thread being provided on the outer circumference of the housing , with which the housing can be detachably fastened in an internal thread provided on the inner circumference of the outlet fitting, and wherein the turning tool is intended for assembly and disassembly of the functional unit on the water outlet of the outlet fitting,

2

the functional unit 1 in an exploded perspective detail view,

3

the functional unit 1 and 2 in a plan view of its downstream housing end face,

4

the functional unit Figures 1 to 3 in a perspective plan view of the front face of the housing,

figure 5

one with Figures 1 to 4 Comparable functional unit in a lateral partial longitudinal section, with a coin being used as a turning tool in the slot provided on the downstream housing end face,

6

a functional unit also designed as a ventilated aerator, similar to those in Figures 1 to 5 , in a longitudinal section, with the housing end face being additionally pivotably mounted in the housing here, so that the turning tool that can be inserted into the slot in the housing end face can be used both to turn the screw connection provided between the outer circumference of the housing and the inner circumference of the fitting and thus for assembly or disassembly of the functional unit as well as for aligning the pivotably mounted front face of the housing,

7

the aerator off 6 in a plan view of its downstream housing end face,

8

the aerator off Figures 6 and 7 in a longitudinal section,

9

the aerator off Figures 6 to 8 in one perspective partial longitudinal section,

10

the aerator shown in a longitudinal section Figures 6 to 8 in an angled pivoting position of its housing face,

11

the jet regulator, which is also cut lengthwise Figures 6 to 10 in one of 10 deviating swivel position of its housing face,

12

an aerator detachably mounted in the water outlet of a sanitary outlet fitting, similar to that from Figures 6 to 11 , in a longitudinal section,

13

the water outlet with the aerator 11 in a plan view of the downstream housing end face,

14

the aerator off 12 and 13 in a perspective top view of the inflow side of its housing,

15

the aerator off Figures 12 to 14 in a perspective plan view of the downstream housing end face, the housing end face being shown in a pivoted position angled relative to the housing,

16

an aerator shown in a longitudinal section, which can be detachably attached to the water outlet of a sanitary outlet fitting by means of a sleeve-shaped outlet mouthpiece not shown here, the outflow-side housing end face of the aerator also being pivotable in the housing is stored

17

the aerator off 16 in a plan view of its downstream housing end face,

18

the aerator off 16 and 17 in a longitudinal section shown in perspective,

19

the aerator off Figures 16 to 18 in a opposite 18 rotated perspective longitudinal section,

20

the aerator off Figures 16 to 19 in a longitudinal section, the outflow-side housing end face being shown here in a pivoted position angled relative to the housing longitudinal axis,

21

the aerator off Figures 16 to 20 in a perspective top view of the downstream housing end face shown here in a pivoted position,

22

one with Figures 16 to 21 comparable jet regulator shown here in a side view, which can be detachably attached to the water outlet of a sanitary outlet fitting by means of a sleeve-shaped outlet mouthpiece (not shown here), the outflow-side housing end face of the jet regulator also being pivotably mounted in the housing here,

23

the aerator off 22 in a perspective partial longitudinal section, with two molded on the inflow side of the outflow-side housing end face and spacers projecting in the form of pins define a pivot axis about which the housing face can be tilted or pivoted,

24

one with Figures 6 to 11 comparable jet regulator shown in a longitudinal section, the housing end face of which is pivotably mounted in the jet regulator housing, with pin-shaped spacers projecting on the inflow side of the housing end face, which interact with rotary stops on the outflow side of a perforated plate upstream in the direction of flow in such a way that the housing end face can be rotated between the rotary stops in order to bring about a non-positive connection between the housing end face and the housing in a rotary position when the spacers are in contact with the rotary stops,

25

the aerator off 24 in a perspective partial longitudinal section, and

26

one with the functional units in the Figures 1 to 5 Comparable functional unit designed as an aerator that has an external thread on its aerator housing, several flow shaping parts having a perforated, lattice or mesh structure and designed as insert parts being used in the housing interior of the aerator housing.

In the Figures 1 to 26 different versions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 40, 41 and 42 of a sanitary functional unit are shown. The functional units 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 40, 41 and 42 have a housing 6, which at the water outlet 7 a sanitary outlet fitting 8 can be detachably attached (cf. 12 and 13 ). The housing 6 has a housing end face 9 on the outflow side, which has a multiplicity of outflow openings 10 . The outflow openings 10 are delimited by a honeycomb-like outlet structure, which forms at least a partial area of the housing end faces 9 .

The functional units 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 40, 41 and 42 are designed here as jet regulators or have one. While the functional units 1 and 2 according to the Figures 1 to 5 a flow rate regulator 13 is interposed between the downstream jet regulator 11 and an upstream attachment screen 12, which is intended to limit the water flowing through to a maximum flow volume per unit of time, regardless of the water pressure, the functional units 3, 4, 5 and 42 according to Figures 6 to 21 and 26 designed as an aerator, which is preceded only by an attachment screen 12 for filtering out any dirt particles that may be carried along in the water. The in the Figures 22 to 25 The jet regulators 40, 41 shown do not require such a screen attachment.

With the jet regulators shown here, which are designed as aerated jet regulators, the water emerging from the water outlet should be formed into a homogeneous, non-splashing and sparkling-soft water jet:. For this purpose, the jet regulators have an inflow-side jet splitter, which divides the inflowing water into a large number of individual jets; This creates a negative pressure on the outflow side of the jet splitter, which causes ambient air to be sucked in, which can penetrate through the housing or ventilation openings 14 into the housing interior of the housing 6 and can be mixed there with the water flowing through.

The jet splitter can be designed, for example, as a perforated plate 15 or as a pot-shaped diffuser 16 with through-flow openings 17 provided on the peripheral wall of the pot and whose bottom of the pot is designed as an impact and deflection surface 18 leading to the through-flow openings 17 . The individual jets coming from the jet splitter and here enriched with ambient air are formed again into a homogeneous exiting overall jet in a flow straightener on the outflow side, with the housing end face 9 forming the flow straightener.

In the Figures 1 to 26 it can be seen that at least one slot 19 is provided on the downstream housing end face 9 of each functional unit 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 40, 41 and 42, the opposite longitudinal sides of the slot 20 serving as turning or tool engagement surfaces for a at least one slot 19 detachably insertable rotary tool are configured. In figure 5 is indicated by a dot-dash line that a coin-shaped rotary tool portion or preferably a coin 21 serving as a rotary tool can be inserted into the at least one slot 19 .

The at least one slot 19 is designed here as a groove whose groove base on the side facing away from the slot opening is closed or—as here, for example, by a hole structure in the groove base—can be liquid-permeable or open. In order to be able to align a coin 21 inserted into the slot 19, it is expedient for the at least one slot 19 to form a depression in the shape of a segment of a circle in the direction of insertion.

Slot 19 and turning tool can serve different purposes.

That's how it is with the in Figures 7 to 25 functional units 3, 4, 5, 40 and 41 shown, the turning tool is provided for aligning the relative position between the housing end face 9 and the housing 6 by means of a turning and/or pivoting movement.

How from the Figures 7 to 25 As can be seen, the housing end face 9 is rotatably guided approximately in the outflow-side end plane of the functional units 3, 4, 5, 40 and 41 and pivoted or tilted about any pivot axis oriented transversely to the longitudinal axis of the housing. For this purpose, the outer circumference 22 of the disc-shaped housing end face 9 is designed in the shape of a spherical cap and is held pivotably in a complementarily shaped joint socket 23 which is formed by a partial area of the housing inner circumferential wall of the housing 6 . The pivot axis can be formed by spacers 43, which protrude on the inflow side of the housing end face 9 and which bear against a flow-shaping part 44 upstream in the flow direction in such a way that these spacers 43 form a pivot axis about which the housing end face 9 tilts or pivots can be.

By twisting, pivoting or twisting and pivoting of the housing end face 9 relative to the housing 6, the emerging water jet can be aligned in relation to the impact point in the washbasin. The walls surrounding the outflow openings 10 are designed as flow guide walls 24 for this purpose, which preferably have a greater height than the inside diameter.

The rotary tool that can be used in the at least one slot 19 is used for assembly and/or disassembly by a plugging/rotating movement or a rotational movement at the water outlet of the outlet fitting. The functional units 1, 2, 3, 4, 41 and 42 have an external thread 25 on the outer circumference of their housing 6, which is connected to an internal thread 26 (cf. 12 ) interacts on the inner circumference of the outlet fitting. The torque required for screwing the threads 25, 26 in and out can be transmitted to the housing 6 via the at least one slot 19.

While in the functional units 1, 2, 40 and 42, the rotary tool and the slot 19 serve only one purpose, the slot 19 in the Figures 6 to 15 and 24 to 25 Functional units 3, 4 and 41 shown are required both for aligning the outflow-side housing end face 9 and for mounting or dismounting the housing 6 on the water outlet of the outlet fitting. Since the front face 9 of the functional units 3, 4, 40 and 41 is rotatably or pivotably mounted in the housing 6, the upstream in the direction of flow, non-rotatably connected to the housing 6 and designed as a grid, net or - as here - designed as a hole structure flow-shaping part 44 rotary: stops 45 are provided, which interact with the spacers 43 in a rotary position of the housing end face 9 . If the spacers 43 rest against these rotary stops 45, the rotational force applied is converted into a screwing or unscrewing movement of the screw connection provided between the outer circumference of the housing and the inner circumference of the fitting.

At the in Figures 16 to 21 In the functional unit shown, only the outflow-side housing end face 9 is pivotably mounted in the housing 6 in such a way that the emerging water jet can be aligned in relation to the subsequent washbasin. To the functional unit 5 according to the figures 16 to 21 to be able to detachably attach to the water outlet of a sanitary outlet fitting, an outlet mouthpiece that is conventional per se but not shown here is required. The housing 6 of the functional unit 5 can be inserted into the sleeve-shaped outlet mouthpiece in order to then releasably attach the outlet mouthpiece to the outlet end of the sanitary outlet fitting.

In order to make the housing end face 9 stable in the area of the slot 19 as well, it is advantageous if the housing end face has a thickened cross section at least in the area of the at least one slot 19 . In the Figures 1 to 26 it can be seen that the housing end face 9 here has a convex, outwardly projecting shape, this shape being centered on the end face center point of the housing end face 9 . Due to the convex shape, the slot 19 can reach comparatively deep into the housing end face 9 without the housing interior of the housing 6 remaining between the housing end face 9 and the jet splitter 15 being significantly restricted; this housing interior is therefore - as in 26 is illustrated - for further, for example, as a lattice or net-shaped or designed as a perforated insert parts available, which can be used if necessary for beam regulation or beam shaping in the interior of the housing.

The slit 19 has a longitudinal elongation of the slit which is aligned approximately radially with respect to the center point of the end face.

From a comparison of Figures 3 and 4 on the one hand and the figures 15 , 17 , 21 , 22 and 26 on the other hand, it is clear that at least two slots 19 crossing one another can also be provided on the housing end face 9 . In the Functional unit 1, the slits 19 are arranged in a cross shape relative to one another, with the intersection node of the slits 19 crossing one another being provided approximately in the middle of the longitudinal extension of the slits 19.

In the Figures 1 to 26 the functional units 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 40, 41 and 42 are designed as jet regulators or have such a jet regulator. However, it is also possible to design the outflow-side housing end face of other functional units, which are designed exclusively as flow rate regulators or flow limiters, for example, with a slot 19 that facilitates handling and/or assembly/disassembly of these functional units.

In 1 It can be seen that the hole structure provided on the housing end face 9 outside of the slot 19 is spaced apart from the slots in such a way that the longitudinal sides of the slot 20 have a greater wall thickness than the flow guide walls 24 .

In the Figures 23 to 25 It is easy to see that on the inflow side of the housing end face two spacers 43 are provided which are spaced apart from one another and are arranged on a center line running through the center of the housing end face 9 . These spacers 43 rest against the flow-shaping part 44, which is upstream in the flow direction and is designed here as an insert part, in such a way that the spacers 43 define a pivot axis about which the housing end face 9 can be tilted or tilted in the selected relative position or rotational position of housing 6 and housing end face 9 is pivotable. The spacers 43 can be realigned by rotating the housing end face 9 in the joint socket 23 of the housing 6, so that the pivot axis formed by the spacers 43 can also be adjusted in its relative position changed to housing 6. In the Figures 23 to 25 It can be seen that on the outflow side of the upstream flow-shaping part 44 in the flow direction, two rotary stops 45 protrude, which in at least one relative position or rotary position of the housing 6 and the housing end face 9 bear against the spacers 43 in such a way that the housing 6 and the housing end face 9 are non-rotatably connected in order to either change the pivot axis of the housing end face 9 (cf. 22 and 23 ) or in order to also be able to assemble or disassemble the corresponding functional unit 41 in the water outlet of the sanitary outlet fitting (cf. Figures 24 and 25 ) .

The functional units 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 40, 41 and 42 shown here therefore always have at least one slot 19 on their outflow-side housing end face 9, the opposite longitudinal sides of the slot 20 serving as turning or tool engagement surfaces for a Serve slot insertable turning tool. At the in the Figures 1 to 5 and 26 In the embodiments shown, the housing 6 of the functional unit 1, 2, 42 is rotatably held at the water outlet of the outlet fitting, so that the turning force required to turn the housing can be applied via the turning tool inserted into the slot 19. These functional units 1, 2 and 42, which carry an external thread 25 on the outer circumference of their housing 6, which interacts with an internal thread on the inner circumference of the water outlet, can thus be easily installed or removed from the water outlet of the outlet fitting.

In an embodiment that is not claimed and not shown here, the housing end face 9 is only rotatably mounted relative to the housing 6 . With such a functional unit, the turning tool can be inserted into the slot 19 in order to move the housing end face 9 into the desired position relative to the housing 6 bring to.

At the in the Figures 6 to 25 In the embodiments shown, which combine the two features described above, the rotary tool can be inserted into the at least one slot 19 in order to change the relative position between the housing end face 9 and the housing 6. If the spacers 43 are in at least one rotational position on the rotational stops 45 in such a way that this relative position of the housing end face 9 and the housing 6 is fixed, the housing 6 itself can also be rotated in its position relative to the water outlet. While the aerator 40 can be rotated in its outlet mouthpiece, not shown here, the functional units 3, 4, 5 and 41 can be installed or removed by rotating the housing 6 in the water outlet.

Claims (19)

1. Sanitary functional unit (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 40, 41, 42) which has a housing (6) which can be fastened releasably to the water outlet of a sanitary outlet fitting, wherein the housing (6) has an outflow-side housing end surface (9) with outflow openings (10), which outflow-side housing end surface forms a flow straightener and has a slot (19) whose oppositely situated slot longitudinal sides (20) are configured as turning engagement surfaces or tool engagement surfaces for a turning tool which can be inserted releasably into the at least one slot, wherein the outflow openings (10) are surrounded by walls configured as flow-guiding walls, which have a greater height in comparison with the clear diameter of the outflow openings (10), wherein the outflow-side housing end surface (9) has a cross-sectional thickening at least in the region of the at least one slot (19), wherein the hole structure provided on the housing end surface (9) outside the at least one slot (19) is spaced apart from the at least one slot in such a way that the slot longitudinal sides (20) have a greater wall thickness in comparison with the flow-guiding walls (24), wherein the housing (6) can be fastened releasably to the water outlet of the outlet fitting by means of a screw connection or bayonet connection provided between housing outer periphery and fitting inner periphery, and wherein the turning tool which can be inserted into the slot (19) can be used for turning the screw connection or bayonet connection provided between housing outer periphery and fitting inner periphery.
2. Functional unit according to Claim 1, characterized in that the at least one slot (19) is configured for insertion of a turning-tool sub-region in the form of a coin or for insertion of a coin (21) serving as a turning tool.
3. Functional unit according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the at least one slot (19) has a circular-segment-shaped cross section in the insertion direction.
4. Functional unit according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that at least two slots (19) which cross one another are provided on the housing end surface (9).
5. Functional unit according to Claim 4, characterized in that the slots (19) are arranged crosswise with respect to one another, and in that the crossing point of the crossing slots (19) is provided approximately centrally with respect to the longitudinal extent of at least one slot (19).
6. Functional unit according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the at least one slot (19) is in the form of a groove having a groove base which is of closed form or, as a result of a hole structure or grid structure forming the groove base, is of open or liquid-permeable form.
7. Functional unit according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the turning tool which can be inserted into the at least one slot (19) is provided for aligning, by means of at least one turning movement, the relative position between the housing (6) and its housing end surface (9) mounted rotatably thereon.
8. Functional unit according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the housing end surface (9) is guided rotatably in the outflow-side end plane of the functional unit.
9. Functional unit according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the housing end surface (9) is mounted in the outflow-side end plane of the functional unit so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis which is oriented transversely to the housing longitudinal axis.
10. Functional unit according to either of Claims 8 and 9, characterized in that the housing end surface which can be turned and/or pivoted in the outflow-side end plane of the functional unit can, in at least one relative position of housing (6) and housing end surface (9), be fixed in at least one turning position and/or in at least one turning direction.
11. Functional unit according to one of Claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the housing end surface which can be turned and/or pivoted in the outflow-side end plane of the functional unit, in at least one relative position of housing (6) and housing end surface (9), runs with at least one stop (43) against a counterpart stop (45) which is connected to the housing.
12. Functional unit according to one of Claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the turning tool which can be inserted into the at least one slot (19) is intended for mounting and/or dismounting the functional unit which, by way of a plugging/turning movement or a turning movement, can be releasably mounted on and/or dismounted from the water outlet of the outlet fitting.
13. Functional unit according to one of Claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the screw connection provided between housing outer periphery and fitting inner periphery has on the housing outer periphery of the housing (9) an external thread (25) which is configured to interact with an internal thread (26) on the inner periphery of the outlet fitting, and in that the torque required for screwing-in and unscrewing of the threads (25, 26), via the at least one slot (19), can be transmitted to the housing (6) .
14. Functional unit according to one of Claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the housing end surface (9) has an outwardly protruding convex shaping, and in that said shaping is preferably centred with respect to the centre point of the end surface.
15. Functional unit according to one of Claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the at least one slot (19) has a slot longitudinal extent which is aligned approximately radially with respect to the centre point of the end surface.
16. Functional unit according to one of Claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the functional unit (1, 2, 3, 4) is in the form of a jet regulator, or has a jet regulator, whose outflow side forms the outflow-side housing end surface (9) of the functional unit (1, 2, 3, 4, 5).
17. Functional unit according to one of Claims 1 to 16, characterized in that at least one spacer (43), which is preferably arranged on a centre line extending through the centre of the housing end surface (9), is provided on the inflow side of the housing end surface (9) and bears against a hole structure, grid structure or mesh structure, or similar flow-forming part (44) of the functional unit, arranged upstream in the flow direction and defines a pivot axis about which, in the selected relative position or turning position of housing (6) and housing end surface (9), the housing end surface (9) can be tilted or pivoted.
18. Functional unit according to Claim 17, characterized in that at least one turning stop (45) protrudes on the outflow side of the flow-forming part (44) and, in at least one relative position or turning position of housing (6) and housing end surface (9), bears against the at least one spacer (43) in such a way that the housing (6) and the housing end surface (9) are connected so as to turn together.
19. Functional unit according to either of Claims 17 and 18, characterized in that at least one slot (19) is arranged axially parallel or offset by 90° with respect to the at least one spacer (43) provided on the inflow side of the housing end surface (9).

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