U.S. patent application number 11/662155 was filed with the patent office on 2008-10-16 for water outlet mouthpiece with switch jet control insert.
Invention is credited to Lars Schmid.
Application Number | 20080251604 11/662155 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35285430 |
Filed Date | 2008-10-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080251604 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Schmid; Lars |
October 16, 2008 |
Water Outlet Mouthpiece With Switch Jet Control Insert
Abstract
The invention relates to a water tap outlet mouthpiece (1)
comprising a switchable jet control insert (2) which consists of a
cleaning jet channel (34) and at least one flow chamber (22, 23)
provided with a plurality of water outlet nozzles (17), wherein one
orifice (21) of the flow chamber (22, 23) is controllable by means
of a valve (20) prestressed in a closed position by a spring in
such a way that flowing-in water (35) enables to open the valve
(20) by a predetermined water pressure. For this purpose, the valve
(20) is provided with a piston (19) which is axially movable in a
direction of flow and comprises a valve head (30), the cleaning jet
channel (34) extends in the hollow piston (19) and the valve head
(30) comprises at least one water inlet orifice (33) towards the
cleaning jet channel (34).
Inventors: |
Schmid; Lars; (Nuertingen,
DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FACTOR & LAKE, LTD
1327 W. WASHINGTON BLVD., SUITE 5G/H
CHICAGO
IL
60607
US
|
Family ID: |
35285430 |
Appl. No.: |
11/662155 |
Filed: |
August 18, 2005 |
PCT Filed: |
August 18, 2005 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP05/08930 |
371 Date: |
February 12, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
239/113 ;
239/428.5; 239/435 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E03C 1/084 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
239/113 ;
239/435; 239/428.5 |
International
Class: |
E03C 1/084 20060101
E03C001/084 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 13, 2004 |
DE |
10 2004 044 158.8 |
Claims
1. A water outlet mouthpiece for a water tap, said mouthpiece
having a switchable jet-regulator insert which has a cleaning jet
channel and at least one flow chamber having a large number of
water egress nozzles, wherein at least one inflow aperture of said
flow chamber is controllable in such a way, by means of at least
one valve which is pretensioned into its closing position, that
said valve can be opened by the water flowing in, by a
predeterminable banking-up pressure of the latter, wherein the
valve has a valve piston which is axially displaceable in the
direction of flow of the water and has a valve disc, and the
cleaning jet channel extends within the hollow valve piston and the
valve disc has at least one water inlet aperture to said cleaning
jet channel.
2. The water outlet mouthpiece of claim 1, wherein the
jet-regulator insert is arranged in a standardised screw-in
sleeve.
3. The water outlet mouthpiece of claim 2, wherein the valve piston
is arranged in the centre of the jet-regulator insert which is of
substantially symmetrical construction.
4. The water outlet mouthpiece of claim 3, wherein when the valve
is open, the valve piston partially protrudes out of the water
outlet mouthpiece at the water egress end.
5. The water outlet mouthpiece of claim 1, wherein the valve piston
is arranged in the centre of the jet-regulator insert which is of
substantially symmetrical construction.
6. The water outlet mouthpiece of claim 5, wherein when the valve
is open, the valve piston partially protrudes out of the water
outlet mouthpiece at the water egress end.
7. The water outlet mouthpiece of claim 1, wherein when the valve
is open, the valve piston partially protrudes out of the water
outlet mouthpiece at the water egress end.
8. The water outlet mouthpiece of claim 2, wherein when the valve
is open, the valve piston partially protrudes out of the water
outlet mouthpiece at the water egress end.
Description
[0001] The invention relates to a water outlet mouthpiece for a
water tap, said mouthpiece having a switchable jet-regulator insert
which has a cleaning jet channel and at least one flow chamber
having a large number of water egress nozzles, wherein at least one
inflow aperture of said flow chamber is controllable in such a way,
by means of at least one valve which is pretensioned into its
closing position, that said valve can be opened by the water
flowing in, by a predeterminable banking-up pressure of the
latter.
[0002] A water outlet mouthpiece of the kind initially mentioned is
known from DE 44 36 139 A1. Here, the inflow apertures of four flow
chambers are each occluded in the basic position by means of a
valve. When water is fed in, it initially flows exclusively through
a cleaning jet channel arranged fixedly in the centre of the
jet-regulator insert. As soon as the quantity of water is increased
and exceeds a certain value, the valves are automatically opened,
one after another, by the banking-up pressure of the water, and
water additionally flows to the flow chambers and passes, in the
form of a flared jet of water, out of the water outlet mouthpiece
through a large number of water egress apertures. If the quantity
of water is reduced again, the valves automatically close again,
one after another, and only the cleaning jet channel continues to
be supplied with water. The four valves each have a seal and a
valve spring, so that this jet-regulator is very structurally
complicated and large and, in addition, is also very susceptible to
wear on account of the large number of moving parts. Moreover, an
ordinary commercial jet-regulator cannot be exchanged for this
large jet-regulator without complications. Furthermore, the valve
cannot be closed from the outside if it happens to get stuck in its
opening position.
[0003] From DE 23 20 624 C2, another jet-regulator is known in
which two valve seats are shut off alternately by rotational
actuation of the housing, which results in switching between a
non-aerated, annular spray jet and an aerated water jet which
passes out centrally within the spray jet. In this instance, the
switching operation is effected exclusively by hand.
[0004] The object of the invention is to develop a water outlet
mouthpiece having a jet-regulator insert of the type initially
mentioned, in such a way that said jet-regulator insert permits
automatic switching between a sharp, focused cleaning jet, such as
is necessary, for example, for cleaning a razor, and a normal,
flared, in particular aerated water jet, i.e. a soft jet, with the
aid of the fewest possible components, in a technically simple
manner and with a low degree of wear. Moreover, the water outlet
mouthpiece and the jet-regulator insert are to be universally
exchangeable, without any complications, for a standard water
outlet mouthpiece and for a standard jet-regulator insert
respectively.
[0005] This object is achieved, according to the invention, through
the fact that the valve has a valve piston which is axially
displaceable in the direction of flow of the water and has a valve
disc, and the cleaning jet channel extends within the hollow valve
piston and the valve disc has at least one water inlet aperture to
said cleaning jet channel.
[0006] According to the invention, by increasing the banking-up
pressure of the water on the valve disc, the entire cleaning jet
channel is displaced in the direction of egress of the water, and
the valve is opened, so that a soft jet, which is composed of a
number of individual jets, passes out of the water egress nozzles
in addition to the cleaning jet. In this case, the cleaning jet
channel thus forms one unit with the valve, so that the structural
complexity and also the susceptibility to wear are markedly
reduced.
[0007] In one advantageous form of embodiment, the jet-regulator
insert is arranged in a standardised screw-in sleeve. This has the
great advantage that the water outlet mouthpiece according to the
invention, or merely the jet-regulator, can be exchanged
universally, without any complications, for a water outlet
mouthpiece having a standard jet-regulator or for a standard
jet-regulator respectively.
[0008] The valve piston may expediently be arranged in the centre
of the jet-regulator insert which is of substantially symmetrical
construction, and this both increases the robustness and also
further markedly reduces the structural complexity.
[0009] It is particularly advantageous if, when the valve is open,
the valve piston partially protrudes out of the water outlet
mouthpiece at the water egress end. It is thus possible to press
said valve piston back manually, for example with a finger, into
the water outlet mouthpiece if it becomes stuck in its opening
position on account of contamination and/or lime deposits.
[0010] An exemplified embodiment of the invention will be explained
in greater detail below with the aid of the drawings, in which:
[0011] FIG. 1 shows, diagrammatically, a vertical section through a
water outlet mouthpiece having a switchable jet-regulator insert,
in a basic position in which a sharp cleaning jet passes out;
[0012] FIG. 2 shows, diagrammatically, a vertical section through
the water outlet mouthpiece represented in FIG. 1, with a switched
jet-regulator insert from which a soft water jet enriched with air
passes out;
[0013] FIG. 3 shows the top view of the water outlet mouthpiece
represented in FIG. 1;
[0014] FIG. 4 shows a side view of the water outlet mouthpiece
represented in FIG. 1; and
[0015] FIG. 5 shows, diagrammatically, the view from below of the
water outlet mouthpiece represented in FIG. 1.
[0016] The water outlet mouthpiece represented in FIG. 1, which is
provided, as a whole, with the reference symbol 1 and is intended
for a water tap which is not represented, has a jet-regulator
insert 2 which is arranged in a screw-in sleeve.
[0017] Said screw-in sleeve 3 is a hollow cylinder which is open at
its two end faces and has an external thread 6 on its outer
superficies 5 at the water inlet end 4, which is at the top in FIG.
1. The screw-in sleeve 3, which is represented from the side in
FIG. 4 and has the external thread 6, corresponds, in its external
dimensions, to an ordinary commercial, standardised water outlet
mouthpiece, so that the latter, or merely its jet-regulator insert,
can be readily exchanged for the water outlet mouthpiece 1 or the
jet-regulator insert 2 respectively.
[0018] For the purpose of fitting or demounting the water outlet
mouthpiece 1, two parallel, flat spanner faces 8 for the prongs of
an open-ended spanner are provided in a region 7 of the screw-in
sleeve 3 which is at the water egress end of the latter.
[0019] The jet-regulator insert 2 comprises a jet-regulator body 9
which corresponds, in its external dimensions, to the internal
dimensions of the screw-in sleeve 3, that is to say, to those of a
conventional jet-regulator insert, and is inserted in said screw-in
sleeve from above. So that it cannot slip through in the downward
direction, the jet-regulator body 9 has, along its upper rim, an
outwardly projecting, circumferential collar 10 which rests on a
complementary step 11 on the inner superficies of the screw-in
sleeve 3.
[0020] Arranged above the collar 10 is a flat gasket ring 12 which,
in the installed condition, is clamped in between said collar 10
and a corresponding face, which is not represented, on the outlet
of the water tap in a manner known per se, and seals the
connection.
[0021] At the top, the jet-regulator body 9 is occluded by means of
a flat, annular cover 13 which has a water inlet aperture 14 in its
centre. Said cover 13 terminates flush with the collar 10 in the
upward direction, so that the flat gasket ring 12 additionally
seals the region between said collar 10 and said cover 13.
[0022] A sieve 15, which is in the shape of the envelope of a cone
and the point of which is directed upwards, is removably arranged
on the cover 13, above the water inlet aperture 14. Said sieve 15
on the cover 13 of the water outlet mouthpiece 1 is represented in
a top view in FIG. 3.
[0023] The water egress end 7 of the jet-regulator body 9 is
terminated by a bottom 16 in which, in the view from below in FIG.
5, a large number of inner and outer water egress nozzles 17, which
pass through said bottom, are arranged, respectively, along two
concentric circles. In the centre, the bottom 16 has a circular
through-bore 18 through which there is guided a hollow valve piston
19 of a valve 20, by means of which inflow apertures 21 to inner
and outer flow chambers 22, 23 in the jet-regulator body 9, which
apertures lie underneath the water inlet aperture 14 in the cover
13, are controlled in a manner which will be explained later
on.
[0024] The outer water egress nozzles 17 lead out of the outer flow
chambers 23 which are arranged, above the bottom 16, along the
inner superficies of the jet-regulator body 9.
[0025] The inner water egress nozzles 17 lead out of the inner flow
chambers 22 which are bounded by the valve piston 19 in the centre
and a valve housing 24 belonging to the valve 20, which valve
housing is formed onto the bottom 16 of the jet-regulator body 9 in
one piece.
[0026] Said valve housing 24 is a hollow cylinder which is bounded,
in the upward direction, by a conical roof 25. The point of the
roof 25 has a circular aperture 26 through which the valve piston
19 is guided in a stable manner.
[0027] An annular spring seat 27 is additionally arranged in the
bottom 16 from below, in a manner running round the through-bore 18
and the valve piston 19. Mounted in said spring seat 27 is the
lower end of a compression spring 28 which surrounds the valve
piston 19 and acts, by means of its upper end, against a
circumferential piston collar 29 on the outer superficies of the
valve piston 19, which piston collar is located inside the valve
housing 24.
[0028] A valve disc 30 is formed in one piece onto the valve piston
19 at the top.
[0029] When the water outlet mouthpiece 1 is in the basic position,
the valve disc 30 is pressed, by the pretensioning of the
compression spring 28, against an annular seal 32 which is fastened
in the superficies of the water inlet aperture 14 in the cover 13,
so that said cover 13 forms a valve seat 31 which interacts with
the valve disc 30.
[0030] The inflow apertures 21 to the flow chambers 22, 23 are thus
normally occluded.
[0031] The valve disc 30 has, in the centre, a circular inlet
aperture 33 to a cleaning jet channel 34. Said cleaning jet channel
34 leads through the valve disc 30 and the valve piston 19 to the
cleaning jet egress 18 in the bottom 16 of the jet-regulator body
9.
[0032] If the water infeed is opened, in a manner known per se, at
the valve which is not represented but which is connected to the
water outlet mouthpiece 1, water 35 flows, at the water inlet end 4
in FIG. 1, through the sieve 15 from above, at first merely through
the cleaning jet channel 34 in the valve piston 19, and passes out
of said water outlet mouthpiece 1, at the water egress end, in the
form of a single, sharp cleaning jet 36.
[0033] If the water infeed is increased further, the increase in
the banking-up pressure, at the valve disc 30, of the water flowing
in leads to the fact that, from a certain quantity of water
onwards, the opening force for the valve 20 from above is greater
than the closing force of the compression spring 28, so that
finally the valve piston 19, together with the cleaning jet channel
34 arranged therein and the valve disc 30, is pushed downwards in
FIG. 2, and the valve 20 is opened. Said valve piston 19 then
partially protrudes, at the bottom, out of the bottom 16 of the
jet-regulator body 9.
[0034] As a result of the opening of the valve 20, the inflow
apertures 21 are unblocked and water is able to flow to the flow
chambers 22, 23, where it is enriched with air, and from these is
able to pass out of the bottom 16 through the water egress nozzles
17. In addition, water also flows through the central cleaning jet
channel 36 so that, overall, a flared jet pattern, that is to say a
"soft jet" 37 with the central cleaning jet 36, is produced.
[0035] If the water infeed is reduced, the valve 20 closes
automatically through the fact that the valve disc 30 is pressed
onto the valve seat 31 again as a result of the pretensioning of
the compression spring 28.
[0036] If the valve piston 19 should happen to become stuck in its
opening position, for example on account of contamination or lime
deposits, it can also be pushed upwards by hand from the outside.
Obviously, the water outlet mouthpiece 1 can be completely
dismantled for maintenance and/or repair purposes, and all the
moving parts and seals are replaceable.
* * * * *