EP4111007B1 - Jet controller for a sanitary fitting comprising at least three fluid channels - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a jet regulator for a sanitary fitting and to a sanitary fitting with a corresponding jet regulator. Such sanitary fittings are used in particular for the on-demand supply of liquid to a sink, washbasin, or bathtub.

Sanitary fittings are particularly capable of supplying cold water at a cold water temperature and hot water at a hot water temperature. The cold water and hot water are mixed, in particular, with a mixing device of the sanitary fitting, for example in the form of a mixing valve or a thermostatic mixing cartridge, to form mixed water at a desired mixed water temperature, known, for example, from GB 2 429 760 A . Furthermore, sanitary fittings are known by means of which carbon dioxide (CO2) can be added to a liquid. By adding CO2, for example, carbonated table water can be produced from tap water. Furthermore, flavorings can be added to cold water, hot water, mixed water and/or another liquid, so that a variety of different liquids can be provided with the sanitary fittings. The various liquids leave the sanitary fittings via a (common) jet regulator, which in particular standardizes the liquid jet emerging from the sanitary fittings, known for example from DE 20 2016 000 472 U1 In this case, the different liquids flow through the same areas of the aerator, which can influence each other (for example, in terms of taste). Furthermore, this can lead to hygiene problems.

The object of the invention is therefore to solve at least partially the problems described with reference to the prior art and in particular to provide a jet regulator for a sanitary fitting A flow regulator through which the liquids can be directed without affecting their taste should also be specified. Furthermore, a sanitary fitting with a flow regulator should be specified through which the liquids can be directed without affecting their taste.

These objects are achieved with a jet regulator and a sanitary fitting according to the features of the independent patent claims. Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent patent claims. It should be noted that the features listed individually in the dependent patent claims can be combined with one another in any technologically expedient manner and define further embodiments of the invention. Furthermore, the features listed in the patent claims are further specified and explained in the description, with further preferred embodiments of the invention being presented.

This is achieved by a jet regulator for a sanitary fitting which has at least three liquid channels, each of which can be supplied with a liquid separately and through which the individual liquids can be supplied separately to at least one outlet opening of the jet regulator.

The jet regulator is particularly suitable or applicable for a sanitary fitting that provides at least three different liquids, for example at a tap, a sink, a washbasin, and/or a bathtub. A first liquid can be mixed water, for example. The mixed water can be mixed by the sanitary fitting, in particular from cold water with a cold water temperature and hot water with a hot water temperature. The cold water temperature is in particular a maximum of 25 °C (Celsius), preferably 1 °C to 25 °C, particularly preferably 5 °C to 20 °C, and/or the hot water temperature is in particular a maximum of 90 °C, preferably 25 °C to 90 °C, particularly preferably 55 °C to 65 °C. For this purpose, the sanitary fitting can have a mixing valve, for example. A second liquid can be hot water, for example. The hot water can have a hot water temperature of 95 °C to 100 °C, for example. For this purpose, the sanitary fitting can have a hot water heater, for example, or be connected to a hot water heater. A third liquid can be, for example, Carbonated water. For this purpose, the sanitary fitting can, for example, have a carbonator or be connected to a carbonator. The carbonator can be used to add CO2, in particular, to a liquid.

The sanitary fitting may have a fitting housing, wherein the fitting housing may be made at least partially of plastic and/or metal, such as brass or a zinc alloy. Furthermore, the fitting housing may be attachable to a support, for example, a worktop, the sink, the washbasin, or the bathtub. In addition, the fitting housing may have a (protruding or branching) outlet that is rigidly or movably connected to the fitting housing. The outlet may be at least partially tubular. Furthermore, the fitting housing and/or the outlet may have a decorative outer surface. Furthermore, the outlet may have an opening that connects, in particular, an interior of the outlet with an area surrounding the sanitary fitting. The jet regulator may, in particular, be arranged at least partially in the opening of the outlet. For example, the jet regulator may have a thread via which the jet regulator can be screwed into the opening. The at least three liquids can be guided separately from one another within the sanitary fitting, the fitting housing, and/or the outlet, in particular (across their entire flow path).

The jet regulator can, for example, be designed in the manner of a mousseur, an aerator, a nozzle, or an aerator. Furthermore, the jet regulator can serve, in particular, to standardize, broaden, and/or slow down at least one liquid jet emerging from the sanitary fitting. For this purpose, air can, for example, be admixed with at least one of the liquids using the jet regulator. The jet regulator can be (essentially) cylindrical and/or extend along a longitudinal axis. In particular, the jet regulator can have a length of 5 mm to 50 mm parallel to the longitudinal axis and/or a diameter (in particular orthogonal to the longitudinal axis) of 5 mm to 50 mm.

The jet regulator has at least three separate liquid channels, which can be designed, for example, in the form of separate water paths. In particular, the jet regulator has at least one liquid channel or only one liquid channel for each of the liquids that can be discharged through the sanitary fitting. The individual liquid channels can, for example, be formed in a housing of the jet regulator and/or each lead, in particular, from an inlet opening of the jet regulator or the respective liquid channel to an outlet opening of the jet former or the respective liquid channel. Furthermore, at least one of the at least three liquid channels can be designed such that, at a liquid pressure of 3 bar, 5 l/min (liters per minute) to 40 l/min of liquid flow through the at least one liquid channel. The jet regulator can, in particular, be connected to the sanitary fitting in such a way that the at least three liquids can be supplied to the at least three liquid channels separately from one another. The at least three liquid channels also allow the at least three liquids to be fed separately from one another to the outlet opening of the jet regulator or the respective liquid channel. This ensures in particular that the different liquids do not come into contact with one another or cannot mix before reaching the outlet opening of the jet former or the respective liquid channel. This prevents the individual liquids from influencing one another's taste. The individual outlet openings of the at least three liquid channels can also jointly form the outlet opening of the jet former. For this purpose, the outlet openings of the at least three liquid channels can be offset from one another by less than 5 mm in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the jet regulator, for example, or can be designed in the same position.

At least one fluid channel may have a circular cross-section. For this purpose, the at least one fluid channel may be tubular and/or bore-shaped, for example.

At least one fluid channel may have an annular cross-section. For this purpose, the at least one fluid channel may be formed, for example, between two tubular partition walls. The two tubular partition walls may, in particular, be arranged concentrically to one another.

At least one liquid channel can have a ring-segment-shaped cross-section. For this purpose, the at least one liquid channel can be formed, for example, between two tubular and/or concentrically arranged partition walls, wherein the at least one liquid channel is additionally delimited in at least one circumferential direction of the jet regulator (in particular around the longitudinal axis) by at least one further partition wall.

The fluid channels can be separated from each other by at least one partition. The at least one partition can, for example, be part of the jet regulator's housing and/or separate components of the jet regulator.

The at least one partition wall can be at least partially tubular.

The at least one partition wall can extend at least partially in a radial direction of the jet regulator.

The at least three liquid channels can lead from at least one inlet opening to the at least one outlet opening.

A sieve structure is arranged in at least one of the liquid channels. The sieve structure has a plurality of channels through which the liquid can be guided, in particular parallel to the longitudinal axis of the jet regulator. The plurality of channels are honeycomb-shaped. By means of the sieve structure, for example, at least one partition can be attached to the housing of the jet regulator and/or to at least one other partition.

According to a further aspect of the invention, a sanitary fitting is also proposed, which comprises at least one fitting housing with an outlet, wherein at least one jet regulator according to the invention is arranged on the outlet. For further details regarding the sanitary fitting, reference is made to the description of the jet regulator.

Fig. 1:

eine Sanitärarmatur in einer perspektivischen Darstellung;

Fig. 2:

eine erste Ausführungsvariante eines Strahlreglers der Sanitärarmatur in einem Längsschnitt; und

Fig. 3:

eine zweite Ausführungsvariante des Strahlreglers der Sanitärarmatur in einem Längsschnitt.

The invention and the technical environment are explained in more detail below with reference to the figures. It should be noted that the figures show particularly preferred embodiments of the invention, but the invention is not limited thereto. Identical components in the figures are provided with the same reference numerals. They show, by way of example and schematically:

Fig. 1:

a sanitary fitting in a perspective view;

Fig. 2:

a first embodiment of a jet regulator of the sanitary fitting in a longitudinal section; and

Fig. 3:

a second design variant of the jet regulator of the sanitary fitting in a longitudinal section.

The Fig. 1 shows a sanitary fitting 2 in a perspective view. The sanitary fitting 2 has a fitting housing 18 with an outlet 19. The fitting housing 18 can be attached to a support (not shown here), such as a sink. A jet regulator 1 is arranged in an opening 20 of the outlet 19, which in the embodiment of the sanitary fitting 2 shown here is screwed to the outlet 19. Three different liquids can be supplied to the jet regulator 1, which are distributed via three liquid channels 3, 4, 5 of the jet regulator 1. can be guided separately from one another to an outlet opening 6 of the jet regulator 1. The jet regulator 1 has a first actuating element 21 in the form of an actuating lever, by means of which the dispensing of a first liquid can be controlled. The first liquid is mixed water that can be mixed from cold water and hot water by means of a mixing cartridge (not shown here) of the sanitary fitting 2. The mixing cartridge can be actuated by the first actuating element 21. Thus, in particular, a mixed water temperature of the mixed water and a dispensing quantity of the mixed water can be adjusted by the first actuating element 21. Furthermore, the jet regulator 1 has a second actuating element 22, by means of which the dispensing of a second liquid and a third liquid can be controlled. The second liquid here is hot water and the third liquid is carbonated water.

The Fig. 2 shows a first embodiment of the jet regulator 1 of the Fig. 1 shown sanitary fitting 2 in a longitudinal section. The jet regulator 1 has a housing 25 which is (essentially) cylindrical and extends along a longitudinal axis 23. A first liquid channel 3 of the jet regulator 1 extends from a first inlet opening 12 parallel to the longitudinal axis 23 to the outlet opening 6 of the jet regulator 1. A second liquid channel 4 of the jet regulator 1 extends from a second inlet opening 13 parallel to the longitudinal axis 23 to the outlet opening 6 of the jet regulator 1. A third liquid channel 5 of the jet regulator 1 extends from a third inlet opening 14 parallel to the longitudinal axis 23 to the outlet opening 6 of the jet regulator 1. The first liquid channel 3 is delimited by a first partition wall 7 and a second partition wall 8. The second liquid channel 4 is delimited by the second partition wall 8 and a third partition wall 9. The third fluid channel 5 is delimited (only) by the third partition 9. The first partition 7, second partition 8, and third partition 9 are tubular and arranged coaxially to one another around the longitudinal axis 23. Furthermore, the second partition 8 extends through the tubular first partition 7, and the third partition 9 extends through the tubular second partition 8. As a result, the first fluid channel 3 and the second fluid channel 4 each have an annular cross-section. and the third liquid channel 5 has a circular cross-section. Furthermore, a first sieve structure 15 is arranged in the first liquid channel 3, a second sieve structure 16 in the second liquid channel 4, and a third sieve structure 17 in the third liquid channel 5. The second partition wall 8 is attached to the first partition wall 7 via the first sieve structure 15, and the third partition wall 9 is attached to the second partition wall 8 via the second sieve structure 16. The first sieve structure 15 extends over the entire cross section of the first liquid channel 3, the second sieve structure 16 over the entire cross section of the second liquid channel 4 and the third sieve structure 17 over the entire cross section of the third liquid channel 5. The sieve structures 15, 16, 17 have a length parallel to the longitudinal axis 23 which is shorter than a length of the respective liquid channel 3, 4, 5 parallel to the longitudinal axis 23. Furthermore, the sieve structures 15, 16, 17 here have a plurality of honeycomb-shaped channels 24 running parallel to the longitudinal axis 23. The jet regulator 1 is thus provided with the Fig. 1 shown outlet 19 of the sanitary fitting 2, such that the first liquid can be fed to the first liquid channel 3, the second liquid to the second liquid channel 4 and the third liquid to the third liquid channel 5 separately from one another and the liquids can be guided separately from one another via the liquid channels 3, 4, 5 to the outlet opening 6. As a result, the liquids can be dispensed via the outlet opening 6 of the jet regulator 1 without the liquids having to be previously contained in the jet regulator 1 and/or in the Fig. 1 shown sanitary fitting 2. To fix the jet regulator 1 in the position shown in Fig. 1 shown opening 20 of the outlet 19, the jet regulator 1 can have an external thread not shown here.

The Fig. 3 shows a second embodiment of the jet regulator 1 of the Fig. 1 shown sanitary fitting 2 in a longitudinal section. The second embodiment of the jet regulator 1 also has a housing 25 which is (essentially) cylindrical and extends along a longitudinal axis 23. A first liquid channel 3 of the jet regulator 1 extends from a first inlet opening 12 parallel to the longitudinal axis 23 to the outlet opening 6 of the jet regulator 1. A second liquid channel 4 of the jet regulator 1 extends from a second Inlet opening 13 parallel to the longitudinal axis 23 to the outlet opening 6 of the jet regulator 1. A third liquid channel 5 of the jet regulator 1 extends from a third inlet opening 14 parallel to the longitudinal axis 23 to the outlet opening 6 of the jet regulator 1. The first liquid channel 3 and the second liquid channel 4 are delimited in a radial direction 11, which runs orthogonal to the longitudinal axis 23, by a tubular first partition wall 7 and a tubular second partition wall 8. Furthermore, the first liquid channel 3 and the second liquid channel 4 are separated from one another by a fourth partition wall 10, which extends in the radial direction 11 and parallel to the longitudinal axis 23. The first liquid channel 3 and the second liquid channel 4 therefore each have a ring-segment-shaped cross-section. The third liquid channel 5 is limited only by the second partition wall 8, so that the third liquid channel 5 has a circular cross-section. A first sieve structure 15 is arranged in the first liquid channel 3, and a second sieve structure 16 is arranged in the second liquid channel 4, which, as in the Fig. 2 shown first embodiment of the jet regulator 1. The second embodiment of the jet regulator 1 is like the one shown in the Fig. 2 shown first embodiment of the jet regulator 1 in such a way with the Fig. 1 shown outlet 19 of the sanitary fitting 2, such that the first liquid can be supplied separately to the first liquid channel 3, the second liquid to the second liquid channel 4, and the third liquid to the third liquid channel 5, and the liquids can be conducted separately via the liquid channels 3, 4, 5 to the outlet opening 6. Otherwise, the first embodiment and second embodiment of the jet regulator are identical.

The present invention prevents different liquids in a jet regulator from influencing each other.

List of reference symbols

1

aerator

2

Sanitary fitting

3

first fluid channel

4

second fluid channel

5

third fluid channel

6

Outlet opening

7

first partition wall

8

second partition wall

9

third partition wall

10

fourth partition wall

11

radial direction

12

first inlet opening

13

second inlet opening

14

third inlet opening

15

first sieve structure

16

second sieve structure

17

third sieve structure

18

Valve body

19

Outlet

20

opening

21

first actuating element

22

second actuating element

23

Longitudinal axis

24

Channels

25

Housing

Claims (9)

1. A jet controller (1) for a sanitary fitting (2), wherein the jet controller (1) has at least three fluid channels (3, 4, 5), which can be supplied separately from one another with a respective fluid and through which the individual fluids can be supplied separately from one another to at least one outlet opening (6) of the jet controller (1), characterized in that a sieve structure (15, 16, 17) is arranged in at least one of the fluid channels (3, 4, 5), wherein the sieve structure (15, 16, 17) has a plurality of honeycomb-shaped channels (24) through which the liquid can be guided.
2. The jet controller (1) according to claim 1, wherein at least one fluid channel (3, 4, 5) has a circular cross-section.
3. The jet controller (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one fluid channel (3, 4, 5) has a ring-shaped cross-section.
4. The jet controller (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one fluid channel (3, 4, 5) has a ring segment-shaped cross-section.
5. The jet controller (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the liquid channels (3, 4, 5) are separated from each other by at least one partition wall (7, 8, 9, 10).
6. The jet controller (1) according to claim 5, wherein the at least one partition wall (7, 8, 9, 10) is at least partially tubular.
7. The jet controller (1) according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the at least one partition wall (7, 8, 9, 10) extends at least partially in a radial direction (11) of the jet controller (1).
8. The jet controller (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least three fluid channels (3, 4, 5) lead from at least one inlet opening (12, 13, 14) to the at least one outlet opening (6).
9. A sanitary fitting (2), at least comprising a fitting housing (18) with an outlet (19), wherein at least one jet controller (1) according to any one of the preceding claims is arranged on the outlet (19).

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