U.S. patent application number 10/547204 was filed with the patent office on 2006-07-06 for sanitary insert unit.
Invention is credited to Uwe Zoller.
Application Number | 20060144962 10/547204 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32946070 |
Filed Date | 2006-07-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060144962 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Zoller; Uwe |
July 6, 2006 |
Sanitary insert unit
Abstract
A sanitary insert unit (1), which can be inserted into a
discharge fitting is provided, comprising a substantially
conically-shaped upstream sieve (2) with a downstream-located
throughflow regulator (3) and a jet regulator (4) in a direction of
flow. The throughflow regulator (3) is arranged substantially
inside the inner area (6) of the insert unit, which is defined on
theupper side by the upstream sieve (2). The throughflow regulator
(3) has a cross-sectional shape that is substantially adapted to
the cross-sectional profile of the upstream sieve (2). The
throughflow regulator (3) has a rising sloping surface (9) which
rises gradually in a radially inward manner from an outer,
particularly annular, edge area and which leads to a control gap
(10) or a similar throughflow opening that leads to the jet
regulator (4). The rising sloping surface (9) and the upstream
sieve are spaced apart from one another.
Inventors: |
Zoller; Uwe; (Mullheim,
DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
VOLPE AND KOENIG, P.C.
UNITED PLAZA, SUITE 1600
30 SOUTH 17TH STREET
PHILADELPHIA
PA
19103
US
|
Family ID: |
32946070 |
Appl. No.: |
10/547204 |
Filed: |
March 11, 2004 |
PCT Filed: |
March 11, 2004 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP04/02504 |
371 Date: |
August 26, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
239/428.5 ;
239/590; 239/590.3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E03C 1/08 20130101; E03C
2001/026 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
239/428.5 ;
239/590; 239/590.3 |
International
Class: |
E03C 1/08 20060101
E03C001/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 21, 2003 |
DE |
103 12 854.9 |
Claims
1. A sanitary unit (1) for insertion into a discharge fitting,
comprising a substantially cone-shaped upstream sieve (2), with a
throughflow regulator (3) and a jet regulator (4) positioned
downstream in a flow direction, wherein the throughflow regulator
(3) is arranged generally inside an interior space (6) of the
insert unit (1) limited at a top thereof by the upstream sieve
(2).
2. An insert unit according to claim 1, wherein the throughflow
regulator (3) is provided with a cross-sectional profile
substantially form-fitting a cross-sectional profile of the
upstream sieve (2).
3. An insert unit according to claim 1, wherein the throughflow
regulator (3) is provided on an exterior, edge region with a
radially inward rising sloping surface (9), which leads to a
throughflow opening connected to a control gap (10) provided with
the jet regulator (4) and the rising sloping surface (9) and the
upstream sieve (2) are spaced apart from one another.
4. An insert unit according to claim 3, wherein the rising sloped
surface (9) is provided at an upper side thereof with approximately
radially aligned grooves (11) in order to form individual influx
channels.
5. An insert unit according to claim 4, wherein bars (12) are
located between the grooves (11) and end in close proximity or at
an interior side of the upstream sieve (2) and serve as support
elements for the upstream sieve (2).
6. An insert unit according to claim 5, wherein the bars (12) of
the rising sloped surface (9) are evenly spaced apart from one
another in a circumferential direction.
7. An insert unit according to claim 3, wherein the throughflow
regulator (3) is provided with a central core area (7), which is
surrounded by a circular throttle body (8), and between the
throttle body (8) and the rising sloped surface (9) a control gap
(10) is formed, having a throughflow cross-section being adjustable
by the throttle body (8) deformed under varying pressure arising
during the throughflow.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] The invention relates to a sanitary insert unit, which can
be inserted into a discharge fitting, comprising an essentially
conical-shaped upstream sieve with a downstream throughflow
regulator and a jet regulator located further downstream in the
direction of the flow.
[0002] Sanitary insert units of the type mentioned at the outset
have been known in various embodiments. Such insert units are
regularly inserted into a discharge mouthpiece, which is mounted in
a detachable manner in a sanitary discharge fitting. With the aid
of such insert units, a homogenous, soft, and non-splashing water
jet is formed.
[0003] Such insert units, comprising an upstream throughflow
regulator and a downstream jet regulator, can result in mounting
problems due to their construction size. In particular, the
retrofitting into such discharge fittings is problematic, which had
previously been operated with an insert unit comprising no
throughflow regulators but a jet regulator only, because the latter
insert unit has a lower construction height than the insert unit
with a throughflow regulator.
SUMMARY
[0004] Thus, the object is to provide a sanitary insert unit of the
type mentioned at the outset, in which the mounting problems based
on the construction height are avoided even in environments with
limited space.
[0005] The object is attained according to the invention in
particular in that the throughflow regulator is essentially
arranged within the interior space of the insert unit limited at
its top by the upstream sieve.
[0006] Thus, the previously unused interior space below the
upstream sieve of insert units known is practically used for the
throughflow regulator, so that the construction height of the
insert unit according to the invention with the throughflow
regulator requires little or no increase in reference to the
construction height of a conventional insert unit.
[0007] In this way, a hundred per cent geometrical compatibility of
two such insert units is realized so that any mutual exchange of
the insert units or the optional retrofitting of the throughflow
regulator is possible without any problems.
[0008] The insertion of the throughflow regulator into the interior
space limited by the upstream sieve can occur in a particularly
efficient manner, when the throughflow regulator is provided with a
cross-sectional profile essentially shaped corresponding to the
profile of the upstream sieve.
[0009] Over time, the upstream sieve can become clogged by
contaminants or calcium deposits. In order to ensure sufficient
water flow even in upstream sieves partially clogged in their
central area it is advantageous for the throughflow regulator to be
provided with a sloping surface rising radially upward at an
exterior, in particular circular edge region, which leads to a
throughflow opening connected to a control gap or the like,
provided with the jet regulator, and for the rising sloping surface
and the upstream sieve to be distanced from one another.
[0010] This way, inflowing water can be fed from the exterior
region of the upstream sieve via the rising sloping surface to the
throughflow regulator and, subsequently, to the jet regulator. This
ensures the functionality of the insert unit according to the
invention even with a partially clogged upstream sieve.
[0011] In order to achieve a defined flow of water to the
throughflow regulator via the rising sloping surface and to avoid
turbulence in the circumferential direction, it is useful for the
rising sloping surface to be provided on its upper side with
approximately radially aligned grooves to form individual inflow
channels. Through the bundled water flow in the feeding channels,
the inflow speed can be increased at the throughflow regulator, and
subsequently at the jet regulator as well, so that the
functionality of the insert unit is improved.
[0012] It is advantageous for the bars located between the grooves
to end close to or at the interior side of the upstream sieve and
to serve as support elements for said upstream sieve. This way, the
bars form supports for the upstream sieve so that the stability of
the arrangement is improved and an undesired deformation of the
upstream sieve, for example by excessive pressure of the inflowing
water, can be avoided.
[0013] In order to enable steady water influx it is useful for the
bars of the rising sloping surface to be distanced from one another
in regular intervals in the circumferential direction.
[0014] One preferred embodiment of the insert unit according to the
invention includes the throughflow regulator being provided with a
central core region, which is surrounded by a circular throttle
body, and that between the throttle body and the rising sloping
surface a control gap is formed, with the cross-section of its
opening being adjustable by the throttle body deforming under the
pressure difference developing by the throughflow.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] An exemplary embodiment of the insert unit according to the
invention is explained in greater detail in the following using the
drawings:
[0016] Shown are:
[0017] FIG. 1: a side view of an insert unit according to the
invention, partially in cross-section
[0018] FIG. 2: a top view of the throughflow regulator of an insert
unit according to the invention.
[0019] A sanitary insert unit, marked 1 in its entirety, is
provided with an upstream sieve 2, a throughflow regulator 3, and a
jet regulator 4, detachably connected to one another via its
housing.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0020] FIG. 1 shows a side view of the insert unit 1 partially in a
cross-section. Below the upstream sieve 2, formed essentially
cone-shaped, an interior space 6 is formed, in which the
throughflow regulator 3 is arranged. The throughflow regulator 3 is
provided with a central core region 7, which is surrounded by a
circular throttle body 8. Between the throttle body 8 and a
radially, inwardly rising sloped surface 9 a control gap 10 is
formed in the exterior edge region of the throughflow regulator 3,
which is in throughflowing connection to the jet regulator 4
located therebelow.
[0021] The central core region 7, the throttle body 8, and the
rising sloping surface 9 are sized such that the cross-sectional
profile of the throughflow regulator 3 is substantially
form-fitting to the cross-sectional profile of the upstream sieve
2, with the rising sloping surface 9 and the upstream sieve 2 being
distanced from one another. Due to the arrangement of the
throughflow regulator 3 inside the interior space 6 formed below
the upstream sieve 2 an insert unit 1 results with, in reference to
conventional insert units, a reduced construction height and/or
with the ability to realize a construction height for an insert
unit housing a throughflow unit, which previously was only possible
for insert units without any throughflow regulators. Thus, the
insert unit 1 according to the invention can be easily integrated
in environments, in which previously known jet regulators without
any throughflow regulators had been used or which are provided with
limited space available.
[0022] As particularly discernible in FIG. 2, the rising sloped
surface 9 is provided at its upper side with rinsing grooves or the
like 11, extending radially and equally spaced apart from one
another, in order to form individual influx channels. These influx
channels allow a controlled incoming flow of water, which enters
the throughflow regulator 3 through the area of the upstream sieve
2 above rising sloping surface 9, towards the control gap 10. This
way, even in the case of a sectional clogging of the upstream sieve
2 in the central region, for example by contaminants in the
inflowing water or by calcium deposit, sufficient water flow from
the exterior region is ensured into the control gap 10 and
subsequently into jet regulator 4.
[0023] The bars or protrusions 12 positioned between the grooves 11
and limiting them end in proximity to the interior side of the
upstream sieve 2. This way, they can serve as support elements for
the upstream sieve 2, in order to improve the stability of the
insert unit 1 and to prevent an undesired deformation of the
upstream sieve 2 into the interior space 6, for example by
excessive pressure of the inflowing water or by the handling during
the mounting process of the insert unit 1.
* * * * *