EP4077821B1 - Aerator - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a jet regulator that can be mounted on the water outlet of a sanitary outlet fitting, with the features of the preamble of claim 1.

Jet regulators are already known in various designs. They are mounted on the water outlet of a sanitary outlet fitting in order to form the emerging water into a homogeneous, non-splashing and, if necessary, pearly-soft outlet jet, i.e. mixed with ambient air.

A jet regulator of the type mentioned at the beginning has already been created, which has a cartridge-shaped jet regulator housing, which can be inserted from the inflow side up to an insertion stop into a sleeve-shaped outlet mouthpiece, which outlet mouthpiece has a connecting thread on its sleeve circumference on the inside or outside circumference, which also can be screwed to a counter thread on the water outlet of the sanitary outlet fitting (cf. DE 202 15 273 U1 ). The previously known jet regulator has an attachment sieve on the inflow end face of its jet regulator housing, which has to filter out any dirt particles or limescale residues that may be carried in the inflowing water. Inside the jet regulator housing there is a jet splitter with splitter openings that pass through the housing divide flowing water into individual jets. According to Bernoulli's equation, a negative pressure is generated on the outflow side of the jet splitter, which can be used to suck in ambient air into the interior of the housing if necessary and with a corresponding design of the jet regulator housing. In the flow direction behind the jet splitter, insert parts are inserted into the jet regulator housing, each of which has a grid or network structure made up of webs crossing each other at intersection nodes, the webs of each of these insert parts being arranged in a common plane running transversely to the flow direction. The outflow-side end face of the previously known jet regulator is formed by a flow straightener with a large number of guide openings, each of which can have a larger longitudinal extent compared to the clear diameter of these guide openings.

In order to be able to slow down the individual jets emerging from the jet splitter more strongly if necessary, and to promote the mixing of these individual jets with the ambient air sucked in, it can be expedient if a sieve plate made of a fine material is installed in the previously known jet regulator between the jet splitter and the first insert part on the inflow side Metal mesh is inserted into the jet regulator housing (see Fig. 11 - 12 in DE 202 15 273 U1 ). While the insert parts and the other components of the known jet regulator are manufactured as plastic injection molded parts, the sieve disks are elaborately braided from a thin metal wire. However, the production of such sieve disks involves a comparatively high level of effort and the different materials of these sieve disks compared to the other plastic components of the previously known jet regulator can cause additional problems when recycling such jet regulators. Furthermore, the particularly automated assembly of such jet regulators is made more difficult because the sieve plates can easily get caught in each other due to the wire ends protruding from the circumferential edge. A jet regulator of this type is disclosed WO95/06787 .

There is therefore a particular task of creating a jet regulator of the type mentioned at the beginning, in which the structures in the jet regulator housing intended for braking the individual jets and possibly also for improved air mixing can be manufactured and assembled with little effort.

The task is solved with a jet regulator with the combination of features according to claim 1.

The jet regulator according to the invention can also be mounted on the water outlet of a sanitary outlet fitting in order to form the water emerging there into a homogeneous and non-splashing outlet jet. For this purpose, the jet regulator according to the invention has a jet regulator housing in which a jet splitter with splitter openings is provided, which has to divide the water flowing through the jet splitter into a plurality of individual jets. In order to be able to significantly slow down the individual jets generated in the jet splitter and, if necessary, to improve the turbulence and mixing of these individual jets with ambient air, at least one insert part with a grid structure made up of two sets of parallel webs which touch each other at intersection nodes is inserted into the jet regulator housing of the jet regulator according to the invention or cut. To the grid structure of this at least one insert part, if necessary In order to be able to design it in a delicate or fine-meshed manner, as was previously possible with the help of sieve disks, it is provided according to the invention that the web groups are arranged in two planes offset in the longitudinal direction of the jet regulator. Since the webs arranged in the different levels support each other, the webs provided in the individual levels can also be made comparatively thin. Since the mutually parallel webs of an inflow-side group have a round or rounded web cross-section, the outflowing water is initially well guided into the lattice structure of the at least one insert part formed by the various webs, without the homogeneity of the water emerging from the jet regulator according to the invention being affected too much . The water then reaches the area of the group of webs arranged on the downstream side of this at least one insert part. Since these webs arranged on the outflow side have a flattening on their inflow side, a strong braking of the water is promoted even if these webs have a comparatively small diameter. Since these webs are rounded on their outflow side, a homogeneous exit of the water flowing through is promoted. Since the at least one insert part can also be produced, for example, as a plastic injection molded part and does not have to be made from a metal sieve even with a delicate grid structure, the production of the jet regulator according to the invention and, if necessary, later recycling of its components is possible easily and cost-effectively. Due to the homogeneous structure of the at least one insert part, the assembly of the jet regulator according to the invention and the insertion of the insert part into its jet regulator housing are also made significantly easier.

In order to promote the braking of the water flowing onto the at least one insert part and to promote the turbulence of the water flowing through the insert part, it is expedient if the flattening of the webs provided in the outflow-side group and their rounded outflow side are each over, parallel in the flow direction mutually arranged web walls are connected. Since the flattening of the webs provided in the outflow-side group on the one hand and their rounded outflow side on the other hand are connected via web walls arranged parallel to one another, the transition between the flattening of these webs and the web wall oriented in the flow direction can be made sharp-edged, which promotes the braking effect of this grid structure.

It can be advantageous if the flattening of the webs provided in the outflow-side group forms a right angle with the web walls adjacent on both sides.

In order not to excessively impair the homogeneity of the emerging water without reducing the braking effect of the lattice structure provided in the at least one insert part, it is advantageous if the web walls have a longitudinal extent in the flow direction that is larger than the diameter of the curve on the downstream side.

In order to design the at least one insert part of the jet regulator according to the invention to be sufficiently stable, even with a comparatively delicate grid structure, without this insert part being bent too much even at high inflow pressures, it is advantageous if the webs that cross one another are connected to one another in one piece and if the webs are on their Crossing nodes touch each other in such a way that the flattening in the downstream group provided webs is arranged approximately in the longitudinal center plane of the webs forming the inflow-side group.

Such an embodiment of the jet regulator according to the invention can be produced particularly easily if the tool parting plane of the injection molding tool used to produce the at least one insert part is arranged approximately in the plane defined by the flattening. The lattice structure can be easily formed in the at least one insert part, in which one of the two tool halves of the injection molding tool used forms a flat surface, while the profiles of the webs are formed by recesses in the other tool half. This has the advantage that the two tool halves no longer have to be aligned with each other with the same precision, since the problem is avoided that the two half-shells, which form the overall profile of a web, could be offset from one another transversely to the tool separation direction.

In order to counteract the lattice structures of various stored insert parts from getting caught, it can be advantageous if the lattice structure of the at least one insert part is delimited by an outer ring, and if the web ends of the webs forming this lattice structure are formed on the inner circumference of the outer ring.

The simple and cost-effective production of the at least one insert part used in the jet regulator according to the invention is favored if the at least one insert part is manufactured as a plastic injection-molded part.

For the reasons already mentioned above, it is advantageous if the flattening of the webs provided in the outflow-side group forms a tool separating plane Production of the at least one insert part used injection molding tool defined.

It has been shown that the braking effect can be promoted and the turbulence of the water flowing through can be improved if at least two such insert parts are preferably connected downstream of the jet splitter of the jet regulator according to the invention in the flow direction.

An embodiment according to the invention, which can be used advantageously in the low-pressure range in particular, provides that the jet splitter is designed as a diffuser which has a pot-shaped diffuser insert, the pot bottom of which is designed as a baffle and deflection surface for the inflowing water and which is on the peripheral wall its pot shape has disassembly openings spaced apart from one another in the circumferential direction, which open into an annular gap. The water flowing to this jet splitter is thus deflected on the baffle and deflection surface of the diffuser insert in the radial direction to the sides of the cup-shaped diffuser insert in order to flow there through the openings provided on the peripheral wall of the diffuser insert into the annular gap following in the direction of flow.

In order to generate a negative pressure on the outflow side of the jet splitter, which can be used if necessary to suck in ambient air into the interior of the jet regulator housing, it is advantageous if the annular gap narrows in the direction of flow.

A particularly simple and advantageous embodiment according to the invention provides that the diffuser insert of the jet splitter can be inserted into a diffuser ring and that the annular gap is formed between the diffuser insert and the diffuser ring of the diffuser.

In order to keep the grid structure in the at least one insert part at a distance from the downstream structures of the jet regulator according to the invention in the flow direction, it is advantageous if the downstream end edge on the outer ring of the at least one insert part is arranged in the flow direction below the plane formed by the grid structure. Thus, this outflow-side end edge on the outer ring of the at least one insert part is also used as a spacer compared to the insert part following in the direction of flow or other components of the jet regulator according to the invention following in the direction of flow.

The jet regulator according to the invention can be designed as both a ventilated and unventilated jet regulator. If the jet regulator according to the invention is to be designed as a ventilated jet regulator, it is advantageous if the jet regulator housing has at least one ventilation opening on its housing circumference in a cross-sectional plane arranged directly below the jet splitter, through which ambient air can be sucked into the interior of the jet regulator housing. In the exemplary embodiment of the jet regulator according to the invention, which is designed as a jet aerator, this ambient air is mixed with the water flowing through the jet regulator housing to form a pearly-soft outlet jet.

In order to support the optionally delicate lattice structure of the at least one insert part against the pressure of the inflowing water, it can be advantageous if a central spacer is provided on the outflow side of the at least one insert part, the outflow side of which and preferably with the outflow end edge of the outer ring are approximately one Level arranged end face on the Grid structure of an insert part following in the direction of flow rests.

Further developments according to the invention result from the following description of an exemplary embodiment according to the invention in conjunction with the claims and the drawing. The invention is described in more detail below using a preferred exemplary embodiment.

Fig. 1

einen in einer Seitenansicht dargestellten Strahlregler, der am Wasserauslauf einer sanitären Auslaufarmatur montierbar ist, um das dort austretende Wasser zu einem homogenen und nicht-spritzenden Wasserstrahl zu formen,

Fig. 2

den Strahlregler aus Fig. 1 in einem Längsschnitt durch Schnittebene II-II aus Fig. 1, wobei im Gehäuseinneren des Strahlreglergehäuses zumindest zwei Einsetzteile eingesetzt sind, die jeweils eine Gitterstruktur aus zwei Scharen einander kreuzender Stege aufweisen,

Fig. 3

eines der Einsetzteile des in den Fig. 1 und 2 gezeigten Strahlreglers, und

Fig. 4

das bereits in Fig. 3 gezeigte und hier bereichsweise längsgeschnittene Einsetzteil des in den Fig. 1 und 2 abgebildeten Strahlreglers.

It shows:

Fig. 1

a jet regulator shown in a side view, which can be mounted on the water outlet of a sanitary outlet fitting in order to form the water emerging there into a homogeneous and non-splashing water jet,

Fig. 2

the jet regulator Fig. 1 in a longitudinal section through section plane II-II Fig. 1 , whereby at least two insert parts are inserted into the interior of the jet regulator housing, each of which has a lattice structure made up of two sets of webs crossing one another,

Fig. 3

one of the insert parts of the in the Fig. 1 and 2 shown jet regulator, and

Fig. 4

that already in Fig. 3 The insert part shown here and cut lengthwise in some areas Fig. 1 and 2 aerator shown.

In the Fig. 1 and 2 a jet regulator 1 is shown. The jet regulator 1 can be mounted on the water outlet of a sanitary outlet fitting (not shown here) in order to form the water emerging there into a homogeneous and non-splashing outlet jet. The jet regulator 1 has one for this purpose Jet regulator housing 2, in which a jet splitter 3 with splitter openings 17 is provided, which has to divide the water flowing through the jet splitter 3 into a plurality of individual jets. In order to be able to brake the individual jets generated in the jet splitter 3 very strongly and, if necessary, to improve the turbulence and mixing of these individual jets with ambient air, at least one insert part 5 with a grid structure 6 made up of two sets of parallel webs 7 is in the jet regulator housing 2 of the jet regulator 1. 8 inserted, which touch or intersect each other at intersection nodes 9. In the longitudinal section according to Fig. 2 It can be seen that the jet regulator 1 shown here has two such insert parts 5, which follow one another in the flow direction Pf1.

In order to be able to design the grid structure 6 of these insert parts 5 with fine links or fine meshes, as was previously possible with the help of screen plates made of metal mesh, it is provided that the web groups formed from the webs 7, 8 are divided into two, in the longitudinal direction of the jet regulator staggered levels are arranged. Since the webs 7, 8 arranged in the different levels support each other, the webs 7, 8 provided in the individual levels can also be made comparatively thin. Since the mutually parallel webs 7 of an inflow-side group have a round or rounded web cross-section, the incoming water is initially well guided into the grid structure 6 formed by the various webs 7, 8, without the homogeneity of the water emerging from the jet regulator 1 being affected too much becomes. In the jet regulator housing 2, the water then reaches the area of the group of webs 8 of the at least one insert part 5 arranged on the downstream side. Since these webs 8 arranged on the downstream side have a flattening 10 on their inflow side, the water itself then slows down significantly favored if these webs 8 have a comparatively small diameter. Since the webs 8 are rounded on their outflow side, a homogeneous exit of the water passing through is significantly promoted. Since the insert parts 5 can also be manufactured as plastic injection molded parts and do not have to be made from a metal sieve even with a delicate grid structure, the production of the jet regulator 1 and its insert parts 5 as well as later recycling of the components is easy and cost-effective.

As from a comparison of the Figures 2 and 4 becomes clear, the flattening 10 of the webs 8 provided in the outflow-side group and their rounded outflow side 11 are connected via web walls 12, 13, which are arranged parallel to one another in the flow direction Pf1.

In order to be able to make the longitudinal edge of these webs 8 between the inflow-side flattening 10 on the one hand and the adjacent web wall 12 or 13 on the other hand as sharp-edged as possible, it is advantageous if the flattening of the webs 8 provided in the outflow-side group is connected to the web walls 12, 13 adjacent on both sides each includes an approximately right angle.

In the longitudinal sections according to Figures 2 and 4 It is clearly visible that the web walls 12, 13 have a longitudinal extension in the flow direction Pf1, which is larger than the diameter of the curve provided on the outflow side 11 of the webs 8. The intersecting webs 7, 8 of each insert part 5 are connected to one another in one piece, with the webs 7, 8 touching each other at their crossing nodes 9 in such a way that the flattening 10 of the webs 8 provided in the outflow-side group is approximately in the longitudinal center plane of the inflow-side Flock forming webs 7 is arranged. Here, the webs 7, 8 are arranged offset from one another in the different planes, for example by half the diameter of the webs 7, and the flattening 10 is formed, for example, along a secant of an otherwise semicircular profile or cross section of the webs 8.

Like from the Figures 3 and 4 becomes clear, the lattice structure 6 of the insert parts 5 is delimited by an outer ring 14, the web ends of the webs 7, 8 forming this lattice structure 6 being formed on the inner circumference of the outer rings 14. The flattening 10 of the webs 8 provided in the outflow-side group can also define a tool parting plane of an injection molding tool used to produce the at least one insert part 5. The insert parts 5 and preferably also the other components of the jet regulator 1 are manufactured as plastic injection molded parts.

The jet splitter 3 of the jet regulator 1 can be designed as a perforated plate which has splitter openings and which is arranged in a plate plane oriented transversely to the flow opening Pf1. However, in the jet regulator 1 shown here, the jet splitter 3 is designed as a diffuser which has a cup-shaped diffuser insert 15, the bottom of the cup of which is designed as a baffle and deflection surface 16 for the inflowing water. This pot-shaped diffuser insert 15 has disassembly openings 17 spaced apart from one another in the circumferential direction on the peripheral wall of its pot shape, which open into an annular gap 18. This annular gap 18 narrows in the flow direction of the water flowing through, so that a negative pressure is generated on the outflow side of this jet splitter 3. The diffuser insert 15 of the jet splitter 3 is inserted into a diffuser ring 19, which delimits the annular gap 18 between itself and the diffuser insert 15.

From a comparison of the Figures 3 and 4 It becomes clear that the downstream end edge 20 is arranged on the insert parts 5 in the flow direction Pf1 below the plane formed by the grid structure 6. This downstream end edge 20 thus forms a spacer which keeps the insert part 5 in question at a distance from the insert part 5 following in the direction of flow or another subsequent component of the jet regulator 1.

The jet regulator 1 can be designed as a ventilated jet regulator or so-called jet aerator, which has ventilation openings on the circumference of its jet regulator housing, through which ventilation openings the ambient air can be sucked into the interior of the jet regulator housing. This ambient air is then mixed with the water coming from the jet splitter in a mixing zone arranged on the downstream side of the jet splitter.

In the exemplary embodiment shown here, however, the jet regulator 1 is designed as an unvented jet regulator.

From a comparison of the Figures 2 and 4 It becomes clear that a central spacer 21 is provided on the outflow side of the insert parts 5, the end face of which is arranged on the outflow side and preferably in approximately one plane with the outflow end edge 20 of the outer ring 14 on the grid structure of the insert part following in the direction of flow or of a flow straightener following in the direction of flow 22 rests. In this way, the lattice structures 6 of the insert parts 5 are additionally supported, especially if the lattice structure 6 of these insert parts 5 is comparatively thin and delicate.

In the longitudinal section according to Figure 2 It can be seen that the jet regulator 1 has the flow straightener 22 on its outflow side. This flow straightener has a large number of guide openings 23, which have a larger longitudinal extent compared to the clear opening cross section. In these guide openings, the water swirled inside the jet regulator housing 2 is aligned and homogenized again, so that the water emerging from the jet regulator 1 can emerge as a homogeneous and non-splashing water jet.

In the longitudinal section according to Figure 2 It can also be seen that a flow rate regulator 24 is inserted into the interior of the pot-shaped diffuser insert 15. This flow rate regulator regulates the flow rate to a specified value regardless of pressure. For this purpose, the flow rate regulator 24 has an annular throttle body 25 which delimits a control gap 26 between itself and at least one control profile provided on an opposite, inner or outer circumferential wall. Under the pressure of the water flowing through, the throttle body 25 made of elastic material can mold into the control profile in such a way that the control gap 26 of the flow rate regulator 24 narrows depending on the water pressure.

It is advantageous if the flattening 10 provided on the outflow-side webs 8 represents a third of the radius of the overall approximately circular profile shape of these webs 8. It has been shown that with flats 10 that are arranged at a larger radius, undesirable excessive splashing of the outflowing water can be possible. In contrast, the flats 10, which are in are arranged at a smaller radius distance from the center of the webs 8, there is no significant improvement, but rather an additional mechanical weakening of the lattice structure 6 is to be feared.

As the exemplary embodiment shown here suggests, two insert parts 5 are preferably arranged directly one behind the other in the direction of flow. It is not necessary to align the grid structures 6 of these insert parts 5 with one another or with the jet regulator housing 3. Since the lattice structures 6 of the insert parts 5 are kept at a distance by the outer ring 14 of these insert parts, a free space is formed between the lattice structures 6 of these insert parts 5, which allows the water flowing through the inflow-side lattice structure to expand and thus creates a good jet pattern can calm down.

Reference symbol list

1

Aerator

2

Aerator housing

3

Beam splitter

5

Insert part

6

Grid structure

7

Webs in the upstream web group

8th

Webs in the downstream web group

9

Crossing nodes

10

flattening

11

Outflow side

12

jetty wall

13

jetty wall

14

Outer ring

15

Diffuser insert

16

Baffle surface

17

Dismantling opening

18

Annular gap

19

Diffuser ring

20

downstream front edge

21

Spacer

22

Flow straightener

23

Guide openings

24

Flow rate regulator

25

Throttle body made of elastic material

26

Tax gap

Pf1

Flow direction

Claims (15)

1. Jet regulator (1) which can be mounted on the water outlet of a sanitary outlet fitting, having a jet regulator housing (2) in which there is provided a jet splitter (3), which has splitter openings (17) for dividing the water flowing through into individual jets, and having at least one insert part (5) which has a grid structure (6) composed of two sets of parallel webs (7; 8) that touch or intersect one another at crossing nodes (9), wherein one of the two sets is an inflow-side set and the mutually parallel webs (7) of the inflow-side set have a round or rounded web cross section, characterized

   - in that the sets are arranged in two planes offset in the longitudinal direction of the jet regulator,

   - in that the other one of the two sets is an outflow-side set, the webs (8) of which bear a flattened portion (10) on their inflow side and are rounded on their outflow side (11).
2. Jet regulator (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the flattened portion (10) of the webs (8) provided in the outflow-side set and their rounded outflow sides (11) are connected by way of web walls (12, 13) arranged parallel to one another in the throughflow direction (Pf1).
3. Jet regulator (1) according to Claim 2, characterized in that the flattened portion (10) of the webs (8) provided in the outflow-side set forms a respective right angle with the web walls (12, 13) adjoining it on either side.
4. Jet regulator (1) according to Claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the web walls (12, 13) have a longitudinal extent in the throughflow direction that is greater than the diameter of the rounding provided on the outflow side (11).
5. Jet regulator (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the webs (7, 8) that cross one another are connected to one another in one piece, and in that the webs (7, 8) touch one another at their crossing nodes (9) in such a way that the flattened portion (10) of the webs (8) provided in the outflow-side set is arranged approximately in the longitudinal centre plane of the webs (7) forming the inflow-side set.
6. Jet regulator (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the grid structure (6) of the at least one insert part (5) is bounded by an outer ring (14), and in that the web ends of the webs (7, 8) forming this grid structure (6) are moulded on the inner circumference of the outer ring (14).
7. Jet regulator (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the at least one insert part (5) is produced in the form of a plastics injection-moulded part.
8. Jet regulator (1) according to Claim 7, characterized in that the flattened portions (10) of the webs (8) provided in the outflow-side set define a tool parting plane of an injection moulding tool used to produce the at least one insert part (5).
9. Jet regulator (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that preferably at least two such insert parts (5) are connected downstream of the jet splitter (3) in the throughflow direction.
10. Jet regulator (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the jet splitter (3) is in the form of a diffuser which has a cup-shaped diffuser insert (15), the cup base of which is in the form of an impinging and deflecting surface (16) for the inflowing water and which, on the circumferential wall of its cup shape, has splitter openings (17) which (17) are spaced apart from one another in the circumferential direction and lead into an annular gap (18).
11. Jet regulator (1) according to Claim 10, characterized in that the annular gap (18) narrows in the throughflow direction.
12. Jet regulator (1) according to Claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the diffuser insert (15) of the jet splitter (13) can be inserted into a diffuser ring (19) of the diffuser, and in that the annular gap (18) is formed between the diffuser insert (15) and the diffuser ring (19).
13. Jet regulator (1) according to Claim 6 or according to Claim 6 and one of Claims 7 to 12, characterized in that an outflow-side end edge on the outer ring (14) of the at least one insert part (5) is arranged below the plane formed by the grid structure (6) in the throughflow direction (Pf1).
14. Jet regulator (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the jet regulator (1) is in the form of an aerated or non-aerated jet regulator (1).
15. Jet regulator (1) according to Claim 6 or according to Claim 6 and one of Claims 1-5, 7-14, characterized in that on the outflow side of the at least one insert part (5) there is provided a central spacer (21), the outflow-side end face of which, which is preferably arranged approximately in a plane with the outflow-side end face (20) of the outer ring (14), rests on the grid structure (6) of an insert part (5) that follows in the flow direction or of an outflow-side flow straightener (22) .

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