WO2019235997A1

WO2019235997A1 - Water outlet device

Info

Publication number: WO2019235997A1
Application number: PCT/SE2019/050521
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kaj Verner MICKOS; Ronny BRAKHYA; Kristoffer APELSTEDT; Robert Axelsson
Original assignee: Ikea Supply Ag
Priority date: 2018-06-06
Filing date: 2019-06-05
Publication date: 2019-12-12
Also published as: CN215429659U; DE202018103156U1

Abstract

A water outlet device (5) arranged at a water tap. The water outlet device (5) has an inner body (10), an outer body (40), a screen (68) and a rotary lever (60). The inner body(10)encircles a first inner chamber (31) with a first side wall (14), and which has at least one first through-flow opening (33). The outer body (40) encircles the inner body (10) and may be turned in relation to the inner body (10) from a first end position to a second end position. The outer body has a second side wall (40), a third side wall (50) and an end wall (54) connecting the second side wall (42) and the third side wall (50), so that an outer chamber (55) is formed between the second side wall (42), the third side wall (50) and the end wall (54). Water goes out through at least one first outlet opening (56) in the first end position of the outer body (40) and goes out at least partly through at least one second outlet opening (58) in the second end position of the outer body (40).

Description

WATER OUTLET DEVICE

The invention concerns a water outlet device according to the preamble of claim 1.

It is a known fact that from an ordinary water tap without add-on devices much more water is let out than is really needed for several activities, such as hand wash. This will of course give a resource waste, in particular in regions where there is a potential water shortage. This applies for more and more regions of the world.

In order to contribute to solving this problem, it is known to place water outlet devices on the outlet opening of the water tap, to minimize the through-flow of water.

A water outlet device of the generic type is known from WO 2017/136209, which has two end positions. In a first end position only very fine atomized water goes out of this water outlet device, sort of fog-like from the water outlet device. In another end position goes both this fog and also a spray beam out of the water outlet device.

That means that the water outlet is bigger in the second end position. Thus, the water outlet device can be adjusted to different activities. A substantial contribution to water saving may be achieved hereby.

This water outlet device has an inner body, enclosing a first inner chamber and extending around an axis with a first side wall, and which has at least one through-flow opening. Further, an outer body is provided circularly surrounding the inner body with a second side wall, which relative the inner body may be turned around the axis from a first end position to a second end position. A first outlet opening and a number of second outlet openings are provided in the end side of the first body. In the first end position for the outer body, water in the form of a fine atomized fog goes only through the first outlet opening and in the second end position of the outer body water goes both atomized through the first outlet opening and not atomized and with larger volume stream through the second outlet opening.

From this starting point, the object of the present invention is to improve the water outlet device of the generic type in such a way that it may be produced more easy and thereby more rational, to hereby increase dispensing and thereby give a further contribution to water saving. Preferably a construction should be provided which makes it possible to only have one type of water outlet in each end position.

This object is achieved by a water outlet device having the features of claim 1. According to the invention the outer body has two shells having a second side wall and a third side wall as well as an end wall connecting the second and third side walls, so that an outer chamber is formed between the second side wall, the third side wall and the end wall, whereby the at least one second outlet opening is provided in the end wall. A first connection having the first through-flow opening is provided between the first inner chamber and outer chamber, whereby this connection closes the outer body in the first end position and is open in the second end position. As seen especially in view of the later described examples of embodiments, a very simple construction is achieved.

In a preferred embodiment there is a second inner chamber between the first outlet opening and the first inner chamber, which partly is surrounded by the inner body and partly by the outer body, whereby the first outlet opening is provided in the end wall of the outer body. If fine atomized fog-like water is to go out from the first outlet opening, it is hereby further preferred that the first body has an extension with outer thread, so that a channel in the form of a spiral is formed, opening into the second inner chamber.

To establish that no water goes out from the first outlet opening in the second end position of the outer body, it is hereby further preferred to further provide at least one second flow-through opening in the first side wall. This second flow-through opening is part of a second connection, extending between the first inner chamber and the second inner chamber, whereby this connection is open in the first end position of the outer body and closed in the second end position. The two flow-through openings are preferably mutually offset to each other, at least in axial direction.

Further preferred features and further advantages are given in the dependent claims as well as in the examples of embodiments closer described in view of the figures.

The invention will be further described on the basis of a preferred example of embodiment and in view of the figures. Hereby:

Figure 1 shows a water tap with a water outlet device provided on the water tap,

Figure 2 shows all parts of the water outlet device of Figure 1 in a non- mounted state,

Figure 3 shows the water outlet device of Figure 2 in a completely mounted state, whereby the outer body is in a first end position, Figure 3a shows a part of Figure 3, whereby the outer body is shown cut along a horizontal cutting plane,

Figure 4 shows the water outlet device of Figure 3 in a representation corresponding with Figure 3a, whereby the outer body is in an intermediate position, Figure 4a shows the part of Figure 4 in a representation corresponding with

Figure 3 a,

Figure 4b shows the part of Figurers 4 and 4a in a horizontal cut,

Figure 5 shows the water outlet device of Figure 3 in a representation corresponding with Figure 3, whereby the outer body is in a second end position,

Figure 5a shows the part of Figure 5 in a representation corresponding with

Figures 3 a and 4a, and

Figure 5b shows the part of Figures 5 and 5 a in a representation

corresponding with Figure 4.

Figure 1 shows a water outlet device 5, in which a water tap 70 is arranged at the outlet, for example screwed on. In Figure 1 only a rotary lever 60 is shown having a connection section 62 and an actuating section 66,

Figure 2 shows all the separate parts of the water outlet device 5 of Figure 1.

As shown, there are only four separate parts, which can be produced and mounted relatively simple and cost effective. The separate parts are a screen 68, an inner body 10, an outer body 40 and the already mentioned rotary lever 60. Before turning to the mounted condition and the cooperation between the separate parts with reference to the following Figures, they are first described more closely, whereby though further Figures will be partly referred to. The screen 68 is normally made of metal and works to keep out possible particles, such as lime, from the water outlet device, all other parts may cost effectively be made of injection moulded parts of plastic. The inner body 10 will be described first.

The inner body 10 has a flange 12 at the upper end, a side wall extending from the flange 12, which is designated as first side wall 12, and an extension 18 with outer thread connected to the lower side of the first side wall 14. The flange 12 is used to arrange the water outlet device at the water tap and can have an outer thread (not shown) for this. The first side wall 14 is stepwise tapered downwards and has a first section 15, a second section 16, a third section 17 and a fourth section 18. Ribs l6a extend outwardly from the second section 16. As better shown below in particular with reference to Figure 3, the inner body 10 is formed as a two component injection moulded part having a main body 20 and a sealing element 22. The inner body 10 extends around an axis and encloses an upper first inner chamber 31 (see also Figure 3). In the first side wall 14 two through-flow openings, namely the first through-flow opening 33 and the second through-flow opening 34, are arranged, from which water from the first inner chamber 31 may escape. The first through-flow opening 33 is hereby placed in the third section 17 of the first side wall and the second through-flow opening 34 is placed in the fourth section 18 of the first side wall. These two through-flow openings 33 and 34 are displaced 180 degrees from each other in circumferential direction. Further, from Figure 2 it is obvious that the first through-flow opening 33 has a substantially larger free cross-section than the second through-flow opening 34.

The outer surface has a cross section in the form of a circular line in the first, third and fourth sections, 15, 17 and 18 of the first side wall 14 up to the through-flow openings.

The outer body 40 has two shells with two side walls 42 and 50, which are connected to each other by means of an end wall 54. The inner of the two side walls is designated as second side wall 42 and the outer of the two side walls is designated as third side wall 50. The third side wall 50 has a larger axial length than the second side wall 42. As mentioned, the second side wall 42 and the third side wall 50 are connected to each other by means of the end wall 54. A first outlet opening (nozzle) 56 is arranged centrally in this and a second outlet opening is arranged around the first outlet opening 56. The second outlet opening 58 opens into a ring-shaped outer chamber 55, which is formed between the second side wall 42 and the third side wall 50.

In mounted condition (Figure 3) the inner body up to the flange is received in the outer body in such a way, that the outer body can be rotated around the previously mentioned axis in relation to the inner body. To this end almost all of the inner surface of the third side wall 50 has a circular cross-section. Further, the lowermost section 44a, the uppermost section 44b and a middle section 44c of the inner surface of the second side wall 42 have circular cross-sections. The cross-sections of two further sections 44d, 44e have arched segments.

The fourth component is the already mentioned rotary lever 60, which is pushed onto the outer body 40 in axial direction. This rotary lever has a connecting section 62 with opening and a lever-like actuating section 66. A tongue-and-groove connection, having a first outer longitudinal groove 51 in the outer wall of the outer body and a tongue 64 on the inner wall of the opening of the connecting section 62, acts for a rotationally fixed connection. Ribs in a second longitudinal groove 52 of the outer body 40 and a corresponding counter surface on the inner wall of the opening of the connecting section 62 (not shown) acts for securing in axial direction.

The mounted condition, that is the finished water outlet device 5, is now described with reference to Figure 3, whereby however the rotary lever 60 is not shown.

At the mounting the inner body 10 will be inserted in the outer body 40 in axial direction, until an axial end position is reached. The second side wall 42 receives the extension 19 with outer thread in its inner, the fourth section 18 receives the first side wall and the third section 17 receives the first side wall. Due to the geometry described above, the inner surface of the second side wall 42 will hereby abut a part of the outer surface 11 of the inner body 10 on the inner surface of the second side wall 42. This will be described more closely below. There will be a distance between the lower end of the inner body 10, that is the lower end of the extension 19 with outer thread, and the end wall 54, whereby a second chamber 32 is formed. The ribs l6a of the second section 16 of the first side wall are placed on an upper end area of the second side wall 42.

As already described, the inner body 10 is formed as a two component injection moulded part, namely with a main body 20 and a sealing element 22. This sealing element forms an upper seal 23, sealing the outer chamber 55 upwards, and a lower seal 26, sealing a connection between the first inner chamber 31 and the second inner chamber 32, which will be described in detail below. The upper seal 23 and the lower seal 26 are connected to each other by means of a connection 25, which is provided to make it possible to injection mould the sealing element 22 in one part with the main body 20. The upper seal 23 and the lower seal 26 also act to hold the outer body 40 on the inner body 10 in a clamping manner.

A connection is provided between the inner chamber 31 and the outer chamber 55, which is designated as first connection, and there is a connection between the first inner chamber 31 and the second inner chamber 32, which is designated as second connection. Opening, closing or (this concerns especially the first connection) throttling this connections, depends on the turning position of the outer body 40 on the inner body 10. Hereby is the first through-flow opening 33 a part of the first connection and the second through-flow opening 34 a part of the second connection.

As is especially obvious from Figure 2, and as already partly described, the section 44d of the inner surface of the second side wall 42, in which the fourth section of the first side wall and a part of the extension 19 is received, has prominently a hollow cylindrical inner surface, but has a first channel (or groove) 46 extending in axial direction, and which extends at least from the height of the second through-flow opening 34 to the upper end of the extension 19 having an outer thread.

The inner wall of the section 44e of the second side wall 42, which receives the third section 17 of the first side wall, is arched only in a relatively small segment of the cross-section, and the remaining part of the cross-section has essentially the form of an oval, the maximal radius of which is in the circumferential position, in which also the first channel 46 is formed. This means, that the outer surface 11 of the third section 17 of the inner body 10 only abuts the segment of the section 44e of the inner surface of the second side wall 42, which has a cross-section in the form of a circle segment. In the rest of the area a free space is formed.

Thus, two end positions turned 180 degrees in relation to each other of the outer body 40 in relation to the inner body 10 are given, namely the first end position shown in Figures 3 and 3a and the second end position shown in Figures 5, 5a and 5b. An intermediate position there between is shown in Figures 4, 4a and 4b. In this connection it is stated, that relating to the definition of the term“end position” in this application it is not to be understood so, that a rotational stop is formed, over which the outer body cannot be turned in relation to the inner body. Instead the term is to be understood so, that a functional end position is reached. In the states of Figures 4, 4a, 5, 5a and 5b a connection between the first inner chamber 31 and outer chamber 55 designated as first connection is open and a connection between the first inner chamber 31 and the second inner chamber 32 designated as second connection is closed. In the state (first end position) shown in Figures 3 and 3a it is reversed, as will be described now.

As is shown in Figure 3, the second through-flow opening 34 opens into the first channel (or groove) 46 in the first end position of the outer body 40, whereby in this end position water can flow first from the first inner chamber 31 through the second through-flow opening 34, then through the first channel 46 and then through the channel in the form of a spiral, formed of the outer thread of the extension 19 and the inner surface of the second side wall 42, in the second inner chamber 32, from which it goes out from the water outlet device through the as nozzle formed first outlet opening 56. The outer thread of the extension 19 hereby puts the water stream into rotation. This will in cooperation with the nozzle-like form of the first outlet opening 56 lead to the desired fogging of the outgoing water in the first end position of the outer body 40. In said end position the outer surface 11 of the part of the third section 17 of the first side wall, in which the first through-flow opening 33 is positioned, sealingly abuts the segment of the section 44e of the inner surface of the second side wall 42, which has an arched cross-section, so that the through-flow through said first through-flow opening 33 is blocked by the inner wall of the second side wall.

If now the outer body is turned 180 degrees, the second end position is reached, as shown in the Figures 5, 5a and 5b. In this case the first through-flow opening 33 ends in the oval enlarged area of the section 44e of the inner surface of the second side wall 42, so that in this case water from the first inner chamber 31 goes through the first through-flow opening 33 into the area between the first side wall 14 and the second side wall 42 and from there may flow into the outer chamber 55. The water then leaves the outer chamber 55 through the second outlet opening 58. The first connection is blocked in this condition. In an intermediate position (Figures 4 and 4b) the first connection is also blocked and the cross-section of through-flow of the second connection is reduced compared to the second end position (compare especially Figures 4b and 5b for this), whereby water only goes out from the second outlet opening 58 also here, but with a smaller through-flow quantity than in the second end position.

Claims

1. A water outlet device (5) to be arranged at a water tap, having an inner body (10) extending around an axis and encircling a first inner chamber (31) with a first side wall (14), and which has at least one first through-flow opening (33),

an outer body (40) encircling the inner body (10) in the form of a ring and having a second side wall, which may be turned around the axis in relation to the inner body (10) from a first end position to a second end position,

at least one first outlet opening (56) and

at least one second outlet opening (58),

whereby water only goes out through the at least one first outlet opening (56) in the first end position of the outer body (40) and water goes out at least partly through the at least one second outlet opening (58) in the second end position of the outer body (40),

characterized in that

the outer body (40) has further a third side wall (50) and an end wall (54) connecting a second side wall (42) and the third side wall (50), so that an outer chamber (55) is formed between the second side wall (42), the third side wall (50) and the end wall (54), in which at least a second outlet opening (58) is arranged in the end wall (54), and

that a first connection having the first through-flow opening (33) is arranged between the first inner chamber (31) and the outer chamber (55), whereby said connection is closed in the first end position of the outer body (40) and open in the second end position.

2. The water outlet device of claim 1, characterized in that a second inner chamber (32) is arranged between the first outlet opening (56) and the first inner chamber (32), which is enclosed partly by the inner body (10) and partly by the outer body (40), whereby the first outlet opening (56) is arranged in the end wall (54) of the outer body (50).

3. The water outlet device of claim 2, characterized in that the inner body has an extension (18) having an outer thread, which encloses the second inner chamber (32).

4. The water outlet device of claim 2 or 3, characterized in that further at least a second through-flow opening (34) is arranged in the first side wall (14) and that a second connection having said second through-flow opening (34) is arranged between the first inner chamber (31) and the second inner chamber (32), whereby said connection is open in the first end position of the outer body (40) and closed in the second end position.

5. The water outlet device of claim 3 and 4, characterized in that a channel in the form of a spiral formed between the outer thread of the extension (18) and the second side wall (42) is part of the second connection.

6. The water outlet device of any of the claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the bottom of the second inner chamber (32) is funnel-shaped.

7. The water outlet device of claim 6, characterized in that exactly one first outlet opening (56) is arranged in the deepest point of the funnel.

8. The water outlet device of any of the claims 2 to 7, characterized in that the first through-flow opening (31) and the second through-flow opening (32) are displaced in axial direction to each other so that the second through-flow opening (32) is closer to the first outlet opening (56) than the first through-flow opening (31).

9. The water outlet device of claim 8, characterized in that the first through-flow opening (31) and the second through-flow opening (32) are displaced in relation to each other in the circumferential direction, preferably by 180°.

10. The water outlet device of any of the preceding claims, characterized in that exactly one first outlet opening is provide, which preferably has a diameter between 0.4 and 1.5 mm, further preferred between 0.5 and 1.0 mm, in particular 0.7 mm.

11. The water outlet device of any of the preceding claims, characterized in that a number of second outlet openings (58) are provided, which are arranged in a circular form around the first outlet opening (56).

12. The water outlet device of any of the preceding claims, characterized in that no water goes out through the first outlet opening (56) in the second end position of the outer body.

13. The water outlet device of claim 12, characterized in that in an intermediate position between the two end positions of the outer body (40) no water goes out through the first outlet opening (56) and from the at least one second outlet opening (58) a reduced volume flow of water goes out compared to the second end position.

14. The water outlet device of any of the preceding claims, characterized in that a rotary lever (60) is pushed onto the outer body (40).

15. The water outlet device of any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inner body (10) has a main body (20) formed as a plastic injection moulded part and at least one sealing element (22) injection moulded onto it.

16. The water outlet device of any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the outer body and the rotary lever (60), if present, are plastic injection moulded parts.