U.S. patent number 3,554,451 [Application Number 04/702,358] was granted by the patent office on 1971-01-12 for aerator with variable proportioning.
Invention is credited to Elie P. Aghnides.
United States Patent |
3,554,451 |
Aghnides |
January 12, 1971 |
AERATOR WITH VARIABLE PROPORTIONING
Abstract
The disclosure relates to water aerators of the type which are
affixed to the discharge end of a water faucet in order to provide
a soft, bubble-laden aerated stream. Jet-forming means or
diaphragms are provided at the inlet end of the aerator to produce
a plurality of high velocity jet streamlets which pass through a
mixing space into which air enters through an air passageway. The
jet streamlets and entrained air are then directed upon one or more
of mixing screens with the result that the air becomes intimately
admixed with the water so as to produce a highly aerated stream. A
separate element is provided upstream of the jet forming diaphragm,
and this element may be selectively inserted with either side
facing upstream, or may be entirely removed. Dependent upon which
of these several methods of assembly is employed, there results a
substantially different proportioning between the velocity of the
jet streamlets and the screen resistance so as to affect
appreciably the degree of aeration of the stream, the amount of
water flow, the amount of back pressure, and the effect of use of
the aerator upon gas heater ignition which has been found to be
adversely affected by the use of some types of water aerators.
Inventors: |
Aghnides; Elie P. (New York,
NY) |
Family
ID: |
24820896 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/702,358 |
Filed: |
February 1, 1968 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
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616286 |
Feb 15, 1967 |
3417924 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
239/428.5 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E03C
1/084 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
E03C
1/02 (20060101); E03C 1/084 (20060101); E03c
001/08 () |
Field of
Search: |
;239/428.5 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: King; Lloyd L.
Parent Case Text
This application is a continuation-in-part of application No.
616,286 filed Feb. 15, 1967, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,417,924.
Claims
I claim:
1. A water aerator comprising in combination:
an outer casing adapted to be secured to the discharge end of a
water faucet;
an upstream jet-forming means supported by said casing and defining
a multiplicity of apertures therethrough, downstream mixing
screens;
means defining an air inlet passageway for conducting air to a
mixing space between said jet-forming means and said mixing
screens;
a flow control means positioned upstream of said jet-forming means
for obturating at least some of the apertures therein to increase
the velocity of the jet streamlets impinging upon said mixing
screens; and
said flow control means being reversible in position and in one of
its positions obturating the apertures in said jet-forming means to
a greater degree than in the other of said positions; said flow
control element in one position providing a high degree of aeration
together with high back pressure and low rate of water flow, in the
other position providing effective aeration and less back pressure,
and when removed providing lowest back pressure and greatest rate
of water flow.
2. A water aerator comprising in combination;
an outer casing adapted to be secured to the discharge end of a
water faucet;
an upstream jet-forming means supported by said casing and defining
a multiplicity of apertures therethrough, downstream mixing
screens;
means defining an air inlet passageway for conducting air to a
mixing space between said jet-forming means and said mixing
screens;
a flow control means positioned upstream of said jet-forming means
for obturating at least some of the apertures therein to increase
the velocity of the jet streamlets impinging upon said mixing
screens;
said flow control means comprising a circular disc supported by an
encircling annular member having top and bottom supporting
surfaces;
said disc having on one side only at least one depending annular
portion adapted to lie against the upper surface of said
jet-forming means when said flow control means rests with one of
its said supporting surfaces on said jet-forming means so as to
block at least some of the apertures in said jet-forming means;
and
said flow control means in the reversed position leaving the
apertures of said jet-forming means substantially unobstructed.
3. The aerator of claim 2 which further includes a filter screen on
the upstream side of said flow control means.
4. The aerator of claim 2 in which said flow control means includes
a plurality of said spaced annular depending rings which are joined
by radially extending webs, the annular spaces between said
successive rings being subdivided by a plurality of annular through
slots to form thereby a filter means.
5. A water aerator comprising in combination:
an outer casing adapted to be secured to the discharge end of a
water faucet;
an upstream jet-forming means supported by said casing and defining
a multiplicity of apertures therethrough, downstream mixing
screens;
means defining an air inlet passageway for conducting air to a
mixing space between said jet-forming means and said mixing
screens;
a flow control means positioned upstream of said jet-forming means
for obturating at least some of the apertures therein to increase
the velocity of the jet streamlets impinging upon said mixing
screens;
said jet-forming means comprising two superposed apertured
discs;
the lower of said apertured discs comprising at least in part a
concave portion to cause the jets issuing from the apertures in
said concave portion to be divergent; and
said flow control means being reversible in position and in one
position thereof obturating the peripheral row of apertures in the
upper of said jet-forming discs.
6. A water aerator comprising in combination:
an outer casing adapted to be secured to the discharge end of a
water faucet;
an upstream jet-forming means supported by said casing and defining
a multiplicity of apertures therethrough, downstream mixing
screens;
means defining an air inlet passageway for conducting air to a
mixing space between said jet-forming means and said mixing
screens;
flow control means positioned upstream of said jet-forming means
for obturating at least some of the apertures therein to increase
the velocity of the jet streamlets impinging upon said mixing
screens;
said jet-forming means comprising two superposed apertured
discs;
said jet-forming means comprising a unitary element defining a
plurality of tortuous parts therethrough;
the upstream side of said unitary element defining therein
apertures in the sides of said ridges communicating with said
partially blind apertures; and
said flow control element on one surface thereof defining at least
one depending annular ridge adapted to fit into the annular space
between successive of said ridges and thereby block at least some
of said apertures in the sides of said ridges.
7. A water aerator comprising in combination:
an outer casing adapted to be secured to the discharge end of a
water faucet;
an upstream jet-forming means supported by said casing and defining
a multiplicity of apertures therethrough, downstream mixing
screens;
means defining an air inlet passageway for conducting air to a
mixing space between said jet-forming means and said mixing
screens;
a flow control means positioned upstream of said jet-forming means
for obturating at least some of the apertures therein to increase
the velocity of the jet streamlets impinging upon said mixing
screens;
said jet-forming means comprising two superposed apertured
discs;
said jet-forming means comprising a unitary element defining a
plurality of tortuous parts therethrough;
the upstream side of said unitary element defining therein a
plurality of spaced annular upstanding ridges overlying annular
rows of partially blind apertures in said element and also defining
apertures in the sides of said ridges communicating with said
partially blind apertures; and
said flow control element comprising a substantially flat disc
adapted to overlie the upper surface of said unitary element and
block some of the passages therein.
8. The aerator of claim 7, in which said flow control means
comprises a central stem normal to the plane of said disc and
adapted for threaded engagement into said unitary element.
9. The aerator of claim 8 in which said flat disc is provided with
a plurality of apertures.
10. The aerator of claim 9 which further includes an auxiliary disc
adapted to overlie said flat disc to block at least some of the
apertures therein.
11. A water aerator comprising in combination:
an outer casing adapted to be secured to the discharge end of a
water faucet;
an upstream jet-forming means supported by said casing and defining
a multiplicity of apertures therethrough, downstream mixing
screens;
means defining an air inlet passageway for conducting air to a
mixing space between said jet-forming means and said mixing
screens;
a flow control means positioned upstream of said jet-forming means
for obturating at least some of the apertures therein to increase
the velocity of the jet streamlets impinging upon said mixing
screens;
said jet-forming means comprising an imperforate circular
member;
an annular shell connected to said circular member by a plurality
of webs as to provide a restricted annular space therebetween;
said flow control means including an upstream element having a
plurality of apertures therein;
and means for reversibly supporting said flow control means
immediately upstream of said circular member; and
said supporting means in one position of said flow control means
blocking some of the apertures therein by said circular member but
in the other position leaving said apertures unobstructed.
12. A water aerator of the type comprising an annular casing
adapted for securing to the discharge end of a water faucet, a
jet-forming means having a plurality of orifices for producing a
plurality of streamlets, downstream mixing means, and means
defining an air inlet passage from the atmosphere to a mixing space
between the jet-forming means of the mixing means, the improvement
which comprises, a means adapted for bistate assembly in said
aerator and comprising an element which in accordance with one
state of assembly of the component parts of said aerator is
positioned above and at least partially obturates some of the
through passages of said jet-forming means, and in accordance with
the second state of assembly permits unobstructed flow through the
orifices of said jet-forming means, said jet-forming means with
said element in accordance with said one assembly providing a
velocity of the jet streamlets issuing from said jet-forming means
which is so proportioned relative to the resistance presented by
said mixing means as to provide a high degree of water aeration and
high back water pressure, said jet-forming means with said element
in accordance with said second assembly providing a substantially
lower velocity of said jet streamlets which is so proportioned
relative to said mixing means resistance as to provide a
substantially lower water pressure and a lower degree of water
aeration.
13. The water aerator of claim 12 in which said element comprises
an imperforate disc adapted to be superimposed on said jet-forming
means and having an imperforate central portion and a plurality of
radially extending legs to center said element relative to said
jet-forming means.
14. The water aerator of claim 12 in which said jet-forming means
comprises an upper surface having a plurality of annular, spaced,
upstanding protuberances, and said element comprises a ring-shaped
member fitting with a sealing engagement in the groove between a
successive pair of said annular protuberances.
15. The water aerator of claim 12 in which said element comprises a
disc and an axially extending integral shaft adapted for frictional
engagement with an aperture in said jet-forming means.
16. The water aerator of claim 1 in which said element comprises a
central imperforate portion adapted to closely overlay and
partially obturate the through passages of said jet-forming means
when said element is placed with a first side thereof facing
upstream, said element being provided with spacer means for spacing
said central imperforate portion from the orifices in said
jet-forming means when said element is placed upon said jet-forming
means with the opposite side thereof facing upstream.
17. The water aerator of claim 16 in which said element further
includes an annular gasket portion and integral means connecting
said gasket portion with said central imperforate portion.
18. The aerator of claim 15 in which said jet-forming means
comprises at least two spaced perforate discs, one of said discs
having an axially extending protuberance adapted to block some of
the apertures in the other of said discs when said one disc has a
first side thereof facing upstream, said protuberance facing in the
opposite direction axially when said one disc has its first side
thereof facing downstream so as to leave said apertures in the
other disc unobstructed.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Millions of water aerators have been made in accordance with the
disclosures of my basic U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,210,846 and 2,316,832. In
these aerators, a jet-forming means projects jets of high velocity
water over wire mesh screens in the presence of air, the jet
velocity and screen resistance being proportioned so as to cause
the production of a soft, bubble-laden aerated stream. In aerators
built in accordance with the first of the aforesaid patents, No.
2,210,846, in which the jet-forming means comprised a single
diaphragm member, the issuing bubbly stream was harsh and uneven
unless greater screen resistance was used which decreased aeration.
This shortcoming was remedied by the devices disclosed in my U.S.
Pat. Nos. 2,316,832 and 2,104,824 which provide a second diaphragm
upstream the diaphragm which produces said jets. Practically all
aerators now in use have such two diaphragms, or the single
diaphragm of my later U.S. Pat. No. 2,998,929 which delivers highly
swollen jets requiring even less screen resistance than do the jets
from the two diaphragms of my U.S. Pat. No. 2,316,832 in order to
produce an even and soft, highly bubble-laden stream.
Aerators constructed in accordance with the aforesaid U.S. Pat.
Nos. 2,210,846 and 2,316,832 have been in widespread use to produce
such a highly aerated stream despite a significant decrease in
water flow and a resulting high pressure which may tend to increase
the leakage of water past the packings used in the faucet.
Moreover, in recent years, it has been found that the high back
pressure resulting from the use of aerators designed to produce a
highly aerated stream will often prevent the automatic ignition of
gas fired heaters. In order to overcome this, aerators are now
being made and sold having a greater number of orifices in the
diaphragms or with bigger orifices, so that whereas the back
pressure with the earlier types of aerators was often in the order
of 30 pounds per square inch, with the new type of aerators it is
usually only about 10 pounds per square inch.
The provision of more, and/or bigger orifices in the diaphragm
results in the delivery of more water with less jet velocity over a
screen area which is no bigger than before. It has been well
established that in order to provide optimum aeration, it is
necessary to have a predetermined relationship between the jet
velocity of the streamlet and the screen resistance. However, such
a modification of a water aerator as to provide more or bigger
holes for the jet-forming means produces a substantial departure
from optimum conditions so that such aerators neither provide the
benefits of a fully aerated drinking water nor the high degree of
effervescence of the original bubbly stream which was pleasanter to
the touch and washed faster. However, manufacturers of water
aerators have found it impractical to market one type of aerator
with a high degree of aeration and another which produces only a
very low back pressure; consequently, those who do not employ
gas-fired heaters on their premises and therefore do not have a
heater ignition problem, like those who are not concerned with
increased rate of flow or with decreased back pressure, are
deprived of the benefits of having properly aerated water.
In accordance with the present invention, many of the foregoing
problems are overcome by providing an element which is assembled
within the aerator, preferably above the jet-forming means. Such
element may be reversible in position and also removable and is
capable, when in position, of selectively blocking, wholly or
partially, some of the through passages of the jet-forming means,
or may be capable, in some embodiments, of accelerating the
velocity of some or all of the streams issuing from the jet-forming
means.
The aerator is so designed that it provides substantially the
desired proportioning between jet stream velocity and screen
resistance according to one assembly of the aforementioned element
in the water aerator to produce a high degree of aeration, and, on
the other hand, significantly lower jet velocity and back pressure,
with corresponding decrease in the degree of aeration so as to
decrease the back pressure or to increase rate of flow, or to
remove interference with gas heater ignition with another,
different assembly of the aforesaid element in the aerator.
Thus, to minimize or even eliminate heater ignition interference
and also leakage past the faucet packing, or restriction of water
flow, the aerator is so built as to permit, when necessary, a
reduction in resistance to water flow presented by the jet-forming
means. This is accomplished by increasing the effective number,
and/or effective cross-sectional area of the multiplicity of
through passages in the jet-forming means. In the specific
embodiments disclosed herein, a partially imperforate disc or the
like is used which selectively blocks or restricts some of said
through passages of the jet-forming means so as to produce a high
jet velocity, high back pressure, and a high degree of aeration
and, alternatively, low jet velocity, low back pressure, and a
lowered degree of aeration.
In the first instance, where there is a partial obturation or
restriction of some of the orifices, proper design of the aerator
ensures that there is still a normal rate of flow of water
delivered; whereas, in the second instance, an increased rate of
water flow is permitted through the jet-forming means. The aerator
and the element included therein may be so designed as to permit,
in one position of the latter, a well-aerated flow comparable in
volume and aeration to that of earlier aerators, and another
position to decrease said flow and permit good aeration at low
water pressures (or to save water at high water pressures), and
upon removal of the element, to cause the lowering of the back
pressure with a corresponding increase of the rate of water flow
and impairment of aeration.
Although it is known in the art to provide an insert in an aerator
which has the function of partially obturating or restricting the
water passages through a jet-forming means, and/or direct
obturation of some of the orifices of the diaphragm delivering the
jet streamlets, such elements have generally been constructed so as
to accomplish this particularly with respect to a peripheral row of
orifices in the jet-forming means. When this is done, it is found
that the aerated stream issuing from the aerator is very much
reduced in cross-sectional area and is an unsteady, harshly defined
stream, very much unlike the aerated streams of water that will
issue from the aerator when the outer peripheral row is not blocked
or restricted, or when blockage or restriction is applied to
through passages provided upstream the orifices delivering the jet
streamlets to the mixing chamber, in which event, the aerated
issuing stream is rounded and soft, as well as being uniform in
dimensions and appearance with passage of time. Accordingly, the
concept and means of the present invention for providing an aerator
with adjustable proportioning is quite different from what is
disclosed and claimed in my prior U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,774,584 and
2,811,340. The prior art adjustable aerators designed to effect
high degrees of aeration, with or without restriction of flow, were
not properly proportioned for neither rate of flow, and the issuing
bubbly stream was uneven and harsh in both cases. In contrast, the
objective of the present invention is to provide the proportioning
required for a fully bubble laden soft stream when the flow through
the jet-forming means is restricted, and to produce, at a less
desirable proportioning, a less aerated, but nevertheless even and
soft, stream to lower the back pressure when the restriction is
removed or lessened.
Further, while the adjustable prior art areas were solely intended
to increase back pressure when the water pressure was low, to
permit good aeration, the aerators of the present invention are
intended in some constructions to decrease the back pressure,
irrespective of the degree of water pressure, if the existence of
gas heaters on the line requires the housewife to do so. In other
constructions, it permits a low rate of flow for the saving of
water as is particularly desirable at times in industrial and
public buildings. Finally, it makes possible the attainment of good
aeration at low water pressure. Moreover, while the flow
restricting means of adjustable prior art aerators are either
applied to aerators embodying a single diaphragm so as to obturate
directly some of the orifices which project streamlets upon the
mixing screens resulting in the delivery of a harsh stream, or
closed the peripheral holes of the downstream diaphragm as
aforesaid with the result that the issuing stream was thin and
splashy, in the present invention, by contrast, the restriction or
obturation is effected upstream in such a way that in some cases
all of the orifices which project jets of water over the screens
may be left open so that the resulting stream of aerated water is
even and soft.
In addition, whereas the flow restricting means of adjustable
aerators of the prior art requires manual controls from the
outside, were costly and unattractive, the element of the present
invention is accessible only upon removal of the aerator from the
faucet, is simple in construction, and therefore costs very little
to make.
Consequently, the objectives sought by the prior art adjustable
aerators, namely the provision of a fully bubble-laden, even, and
soft stream at high as well as low water pressures, could not be
obtained. The housewife would always select the position giving a
poorly aerated but less splashy high rate of flow in lieu of a
highly aerated but harsh and splashy stream. With the aerator of
the present invention, on the other hand, the element, with its
preset proportions will always give an antisplash and even stream,
with a predetermined degree of aeration for each of its positions.
As a result, in cities without gas-fire heaters, the aerators of
this invention nevertheless prove attractive since they provide
full aeration; in locations where water heaters are used, but on
faucets not used in proximity to such water heaters, the element
can still be placed in such a position as to provide the best
degree of aeration. In all instances, however, the element may
either be turned upside down within the aerator or removed so as to
permit control of the back pressure and rate of water flow.
Another attribute of this invention is that the aforesaid element
has substantially utility as a filter element. Thus, such element
is ordinarily provided with a considerable number of apertures
whose maximum dimension is such to enable it to entrain sediment
and other particles which would otherwise clog in either the normal
jet-forming means or the downstream mixing screens.
Further, whereas in prior adjustable aerators, the holes of the
single perforate disc in the diaphragm are closed or restricted,
either by a closely contacting upstream disc or by the sealing
periphery of a second diaphragm placed upstream said perforate
disc, in the present invention, the element causing the restriction
of flow is located over the upstream side of the through passages
of the jet-forming means disclosed in one or the other of my
aforesaid three patents. The flow restricting element may, or may
not embody said filter element. Also, it may, or may not, embody
said sealing periphery, the embodiment of which in said element
makes it possible to dispense with the use of a washer.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In describing the invention in detail, reference will be made to
the accompanying drawing in which:
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an aerator according to one
embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 1A and 1B illustrate alternative forms of the invention of
FIG. 1;
FIG. @ IS A cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of
the invention;
FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate plan views of the aerator of FIG. 2
according to two alternative embodiments;
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a further embodiment of the
invention;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative form of
jet-forming means and insert adapted for use in an aerator of the
type shown in FIG. 3;
FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate alternative embodiments of an insert
adaptable for use with the embodiment of FIG. 4A; and
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of still another embodiment of the
present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The aerator of FIG. 1 comprises an outer cylindrical casing 10
having an interior upstream ledge 11 which supports an annular
inner casing member 12. The member 12 defines an annular air
passageway 13 extending from the downstream or discharge end of the
aerator to the mixing space 14, the air entering into the mixing
space through the circumferential openings 15 in member 12. Member
12 has an inturned ledge 16 at the bottom which supports a
plurality of mixing screens 17 in stacked relation. Near its
upstream end, member 12 is provided with an annular inturned ledge
18 which supports two spaced diaphragm members 19 and 20, each
having a plurality of holes 21 and 22, respectively.
Positioned at the top of the uppermost diaphragm member 20 is a
flow control member 23 which is provided with a plurality of
through apertures 24 and an annular supporting ring 25 which may
serve as a sealing washer and thereby eliminate the need for the
washer ordinarily used for this purpose. When this element 23 is in
the position shown, the plurality of annular rings 26 effectively
block many of the through passages in the upper diaphragm 20, and
this comes about because the bottom surface 27 of each of the
annular rings 26 is essentially coplanar with the bottom surface 28
of ring 25, thereby permitting each bottom surface of a ring 26 to
lie against the upper surface of diaphragm member 20. Incidentally,
it should be noted that the outermost peripheral ring of holes in
the upper diaphragm member 20 are left unblocked, and only the
inner rows of apertures are blocked. As mentioned previously, this
ensures that the aerated stream issuing from the aerator will be a
full, rounded stream.
If the element 23 of FIG. 1 is inverted, the annular rings 26, will
then obviously no longer block any of the through passages in the
upper diaphragm member 20; instead, water will then pass through
the orifices 24 and through all of the through passages 22 in the
upper diaphragm member 20. Thus there is then very much less
restriction in the flow of water through the upper diaphragm member
20 although, quite obviously, more restriction of water flow exists
than if the member 23 is not even present within the aerator.
With the element 23 in the position shown in FIG. 1, the
proportioning of the jet velocity of streamlets issuing from the
diaphragm members 20 and 21 is so related to the screen resistance
offered by the mixing screens 17 as to produce substantially
optimum water aeration. When the element 23 is reversed in
position, there is a significant reduction in jet velocity and in
back pressure, but still providing good aeration at low water
pressures, and/or a saving of water at high water pressures.
Finally, the element 23 may be entirely removed from the aerator
assembly, thereby completely removing the restriction of flow
through the jet-forming elements 19 and 20 with a resultant
lowering of back pressure, a corresponding increase of rate of
flow, together with some impairment of the degree of water
aeration.
The alternative embodiment of FIG. 1A illustrates jet-forming means
or diaphragm members 19a and 20a which may be used instead of the
corresponding elements 12 and 20 of FIG. 1. The additional flow
control element 23a in the position shown in FIG. 1A blocks the two
outer rows of through passages in element 20a; whereas, when in the
reverse position, element 23a permits a flow of water through the
outermost two rows of passages but restricts flow through the
innermost circles of apertures.
It has been mentioned previously that blocking the exterior or
peripheral rows of holes of the jet-forming means results in a
nonrounded, and splashy stream. These drawbacks are considerably
lessened, when, in accordance with the embodiment of FIG. 1A, the
lower jet-forming element 19a is provided with a rounded portion
19b as shown since the jets issuing therefrom tend to be divergent
and thus fill the entire available downstream space even through
the outer rows of apertures do not receive jets of water impinging
thereon because of the blockage effect provided by the element 23a
when in the position shown in FIG. 1A. When element 23a is removed,
the diaphragm members 19a and 20a will operate as disclosed in my
Pat. No. 3,316,832. The back pressure is thus very substantially
reduced and the rate of water flow increased.
In the embodiment of FIG. 1B, the flow control element 23b has an
annular sealing rim 30 which in the position shown in FIG. 1B,
spaces the bottom surface of the element 23b from the upper surface
of the perforated jet-forming element 31. (In FIG. 1B, only the
upper of the two jet-forming elements is shown, but it will be
understood that two such elements can be provided as shown for
example in FIG. 1.) It will also be apparent from FIG. 1B that if
the element 23b is reversed in position, the upwardly extending
portion 32 which is coplanar with the upper edge of the annular
sealing ring 30 will then rest directly upon the upper surface of
element 31 so as to close off the inner rows of holes 33, leaving,
however, the outer rows of holes open so that a fully rounded
stream of aerated stream of water will in any event be
produced.
With the element 23b in the position shown in FIG. 1B moderate
aeration and low back pressures result. When the element 23b is
reversed in position a fully aerated stream is produced, but with
higher back pressure and lower water flow. When the element 23b is
entirely removed, impaired aeration results, but the back pressure
is then at its lowest and a full flow of water results.
Referring now to FIG. 2 there is shown the single diaphragm element
of my prior U.S. Pat. No. 2,998,929. Assuming that the flow control
element 34 is not in place, water will enter each of the holes 35,
36, and 37 from either side of the respective bridges 39, 40 and
41, thereby providing a tortuous path for each stream of water
which tends to produce a swollen jet. The flow control element 34
is provided with a plurality of annular depending portions 42 and
43 (shown also in the plan view of FIG. 2) which enter into the
space between the successive bridges so as to obturate, at least in
part, the passages which provide water to the holes 35-37. The
cross-sectional view of FIG. 2 shows also one of the radial webs 44
which interconnects the successive depending annular portions 42
and 43 to each other as well as to the hub portion 45 and the
annular ring 46 which may act as a sealing washer, Member 34 fits
over the upstanding portion 50a of one-piece diaphragm 50.
Positioned atop member 34 is a filter screen 47 which blocks
particles that would otherwise obstruct the passages in the
diaphragm or mixing screens. As an alternative, the screen 47 may
be removed and then instead the portions which lie between the
ring-shaped portions 43 and 42 (see FIG. 2B) may be divided by a
plurality of closely spaced annular slots 42a whose radial spacing
is such that they will trap sediment and other particles and thus
act as a screen.
As with the previously described embodiments, the element 34 may be
either placed in the position shown or may be inverted. When
inverted, the annular portions 42 and 43 no longer protrude into
the space between the successive bridge portions 39, 40, and 41.
Moreover, it will be noted that the spacing 48 on the outer annular
ring 46 is less than that of corresponding portion 49 with the
result that when the element 34 is reversed in position, there will
be some clearance between the top of each of the annular bridges
39, 40 and 41 and the adjacent surface of the element 34 so that
there will be less of a restriction of water flow into the holes
35-37. Again, the element 34 may be entirely removed so as to
provide even less obturation of the passages through the
jet-forming means.
FIG. 3 is a partial view of an all-plastic, one-piece aerator as
disclosed in my U.S. Pat. No. 3,370,964. In FIG. 3, the flow
control element 52 has depending annular portions 53 and 54. The
portion 53 fits in the annular groove 55 so as to block one entry
to the passage 56, and the depending annular portion 54 together
with the remainder of the portion 53 completely block off the holes
57. Consequently, jets of water will emerge from holes 58 and from
holes 56, but with the latter partially obstructed. Obviously, when
the element 52 is reversed in position, none of the passages 56,
57, or 58 is wholly blocked so that there is substantially less
obstruction of the single piece diaphragm with a resultant decrease
in back pressure. However, even with the element 52 in reverse
position, there is some obturation of flow because of the fact that
water can only pass through the plurality of small passages 59
provided in element 52. Consequently, when the element 52 is
entirely removed, there is still less flow restriction with a
corresponding decrease in back pressure and increase of water
flow.
In the embodiment of FIG. 4 the flow control element 60 has a
central stem 61 which is adapted to be threaded at its lower end
into diaphragm 62. The element 60 has a plurality of apertures 62
therein which permits some flow of water into the two inner rows of
passages 63 and 64. The outer row of passages are also only
partially obturated by element 60. With element 60 in place a high
degree of aeration is provided with a corresponding fairly high
back pressure. When element 60 is removed, the back pressure is
considerably lowered.
FIG. 4A illustrates an element 70 which may be used in connection
with the diaphragm 62 of FIG. 4 in place of the flow control
element 60. When placed on top of the diaphragm 62, with the collar
portion 68 facing upwardly as in FIG. 4A, water can flow only
restrictedly from each of the holes 63-65. However, when the
element is placed in the inverted position, the collar 68 fits
quite snugly into the inner circular space defined by bridge 69 so
as to partially obturate the innermost row of holes 64. Element 70
is centered relative to diaphragm 62 by means of three or more
outwardly extending, circumferentially spaced legs 71.
Element 70 may not only be used in place of element 60 of FIG. 4
but may also be placed on top of element 60 in order to block
passages 60. This may be done when improved aeration is desired
under very low water pressure conditions or when it is desired to
reduce water consumption.
FIG. 4B illustrates still another flow control element 72 which may
be used in place of element 60 of FIG. 4. The inner hub fits within
the recess defined by annular bridge 69 and thereby partially
obturates the innermost row of passages 64. Inner wall 74 is
dimensioned to snugly fit over the annular bridge 74a of FIG. 4,
thereby completely blocking holes 63 in diaphragm 62 to provide the
highest velocity of the jet streamlets, the least rate of water
flow, and the greatest back pressure.
FIG. 5 illustrates an aerator unit which is intended to be inserted
into a casing such as a casing 10 of FIG. 1. The sleeve 75 which
supports the mixing screen 76 is connected to ring 77 by ribs 78
and 79, which are integral with ring 77 and ribs 88, the latter
being connected to the outer ring 80. Member 81 is connected to
ring 77 by webs 82. Indentations 83 are provided in the inturned
ledge 84 in order to permit the lower portion of a two-piece die
which forms the unit to enter from the bottom and, by means of
longitudinal ribs on such die portion, form such indentations 83
and thereby prevent the downward continuance of the ribs 78 and 79
which are formed by the upper die member. This makes possible the
molding of the entire unit from a single piece except for screen 76
and the upper reversible perforate diaphragm member 85.
In the position shown for the diaphragm member 85, the inner row of
apertures 86 are entirely blocked, but when the element 85 is
reversed in position, these apertures as well as the outer row of
apertures 87 are open to thereby permit a lowering of the back
pressure.
Having described several embodiments of my invention, I desire it
to be understood that various modifications and alterations may be
made to the specific forms shown without departing from the spirit
or scope of this invention.
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