Jet Regulator

Abstract

The present invention relates to a jet regulator (1) having a jet regulator housing (2) that can be inserted into the water outlet (3) of a sanitary faucet (4) and having a mesh structure (5) on the outlet side composed of intersecting guide walls (6, 7) that define an outflow opening (8) between themselves. The jet regulator (1) according to the invention is characterized in that: the jet regulator housing has a non-circular housing cross-section and has housing longitudinal walls (10, 11) that have a greater longitudinal extension dimension than the depth of the housing cross-section; and the jet regulator housing (2) has a water guide skirt (9) that protrudes from the mesh structure (5) in the outflow direction and extends only in a portion of the housing periphery in the circumferential direction.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a jet regulator. Background Art

[0002] Jet regulators are already known in various embodiments. Such jet regulators usually have a cylindrical jet regulator housing which can be removably mounted on a water outlet of a sanitary faucet which is formed complementarily in terms of the clear cross section in order to shape the water flowing out there into a uniform, non-splashing and possibly also foaming soft water jet. In this case, at least on the outlet end side of the jet regulator housing, a grid structure or a mesh structure formed by mutually intersecting guide walls is provided, which is intended to act as a rectifier on the water flowing out there.

[0003] For example, DE 10 2005 010 551 B4 already discloses a jet regulator, the housing of which is designed as an insert cartridge that can be inserted into the outlet end of a sanitary faucet. For this purpose, an outer thread is provided on the outer circumference of the jet regulator housing, which can be detachably connected to a complementary inner thread on the inner circumference of the outlet end of the sanitary faucet. In this case, the previously known jet regulator can be screwed so deep into the outlet end of the faucet that its outlet end side is substantially flush with the outlet end side of the faucet.

[0004] However, in these previously known jet regulators, which are essentially flush with the outlet end of the faucet, there is the risk that a small amount of water flowing out of the faucet may overflow (flood) onto the faucet due to gravity or due to adhesion forces and flow down as a thin stream on the outer periphery of the faucet. After evaporation, this thin stream leaves visible drip marks due to disruptive calcium deposits and can even cause functional failures in sensor-controlled faucets. This problem is particularly aggravated in faucets whose outlet end is not bent vertically relative to the faucet body. If the faucet is not mounted directly on the ceramic wash basin, but next to it, for example on a surface without a water outlet, disruptive puddles of water may often form there. These puddles of water can cause even greater damage if the surface that carries the faucet is made of wood, wood veneer or other water-sensitive materials for design reasons.

[0005] Therefore, a jet regulator has also been created, which can be inserted with its cylindrical insert housing directly or by means of an intermediate holder into the water outlet of a sanitary faucet and held there detachably (see DE 10 2008 038 730 A1). In order to reliably prevent water drops from passing over the outer circumference of the sanitary faucet and effectively counteract undesirable drip marks on the faucet and possibly also functional malfunctions of the faucet, in this previously known jet regulator, the end plane on the outflow side is defined by a surrounding sleeve-shaped annular wall on the insert housing or on the intermediate holder, which is designed as a drip edge protruding from the outlet end of the sanitary faucet. By means of the annular wall serving as a drip edge, water drops are prevented from passing over the outer circumference of the faucet, visible, disruptive drip marks are avoided and, in particular in sensor-operated faucets, functional malfunctions caused by this are reliably counteracted.

[0006] In order to increase the design diversity and to make the outflowing water not flow out as an outflow jet with a circular cross section but initially as a flat jet strip, faucets have also been created whose water outlets have a non-circular outlet cross section and in particular a wide rectangular outlet cross section with a long longitudinal wall and a relatively short side wall. In these faucets, there is also the problem that even after the outlet valve is closed, a certain amount of water may flow out and may then drip at the outlet end of the faucet or there flow down on the outer circumference of the faucet and may then leave there over time traces of calcium and rust which impair the faucet. Summary of the invention

[0007] The object of the present invention is therefore to create a jet regulator which reliably prevents water drops from passing over the outer circumference of the faucet even in such sanitary faucets with a non-circular outlet cross section.

[0008] For a jet regulator of the type mentioned at the outset, the solution according to the present invention is particularly that: the jet regulator has a jet regulator housing, which can be inserted into the water outlet of a sanitary faucet and the jet regulator housing has a grid structure or a mesh structure on the outlet side, which is composed of guide walls that intersect each other, and these guide walls define the outflow opening between themselves, wherein the jet regulator housing has a non-circular housing cross-section and has housing longitudinal walls, which have a larger housing longitudinal extension dimension than the depth of the housing cross-section; and the jet regulator housing has a water guiding skirt, which protrudes beyond the grid structure or the mesh structure in the outflow direction and extends in the circumferential direction of the housing only over a part of the housing circumference.

[0009] The present invention relates to a jet regulator, which has a jet regulator housing, which can be installed in the water outlet of a sanitary faucet and has a grid structure or a mesh structure composed of mutually intersecting guide walls on the outlet side, and these guide walls define an outflow opening between themselves. In order to resist water drops from crossing over the outer periphery of the sanitary faucet and to prevent the undesirable drip marks and rust marks on the outer periphery of the faucet caused by this, a water guide skirt is provided on the jet regulator housing of the jet regulator according to the present invention, which protrudes from the grid structure or the mesh structure in the outflow direction and extends only over a part of the housing periphery in the housing circumferential direction. Because the water guide skirt is constructed in a skirt-like manner and extends only over a part of the housing periphery in the housing circumferential direction, the relative position of the jet regulator housing in the circumferential direction relative to the water outlet of the faucet is determined. For this purpose, the jet regulator housing has a non-circular housing cross section, and these housing longitudinal walls have a larger housing longitudinal extension dimension than the depth of the housing cross section. Any residual water that may be left behind after the outlet valve has been closed can drip onto the water guide skirt. Since this residual water cannot flow back along the water guide skirt in the direction of outflow, it prevents water drops from flowing over the outer circumference of the sanitary faucet and prevents the formation of undesirable drip marks or rust on the faucet. In addition, the water guide skirt can also advantageously influence the strip-shaped shape of the outflow jet.

[0010] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the water guiding skirt is arranged at least on the longitudinal wall of the housing of the jet regulator, which is remote from or close to the user in the use position. If the outlet end of the sanitary faucet is bent obliquely forward toward the user, it can be advantageous for the water guiding skirt to be arranged on the longitudinal wall of the housing of the jet regulator, which is remote from the user in the use position. This prevents residual water still flowing inside the faucet from being able to flow over to the outer circumference of the faucet due to gravity and causing drip marks or lime marks there.

[0011] If the water guide skirt is arranged opposite this on the longitudinal wall of the jet regulator housing which is closer to the user in the use position, it counteracts undesired splashing of the outflowing water jet, which would otherwise lead to the faucet being wetted in the form of drops on the outer circumference in the area of ​​its water outlet.

[0012] The water guiding skirt can be limited to the housing longitudinal wall of the jet regulator housing which is remote from the user in the use position or to the housing longitudinal wall of the jet regulator housing which is close to the user in the use position. In contrast, however, it is provided according to a preferred embodiment of the invention that the water guiding skirt extends on both sides over the housing corner regions which connect the housing longitudinal wall to the housing transverse wall or side wall. This also prevents water from dripping over into the corner regions of the housing longitudinal wall and the housing transverse wall of the jet regulator housing.

[0013] According to a preferred further improvement scheme of the present invention, it is stipulated that the water guiding skirt extends beyond the shell corner area connecting the shell longitudinal wall with the shell transverse wall at least approximately to the shell longitudinal middle plane. The outstanding advantage of this further improvement scheme lies in the favorable water guidance of the water jet flowing out in a strip shape and the further improvement scheme effectively prevents residual water from crossing over to the outside of the faucet.

[0014] According to a structurally simple, relatively easy to manufacture and functionally effective embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the water guiding skirt is designed as a partial region of the housing longitudinal wall facing away from or near the user, which protrudes beyond the grid structure or the lattice structure. Since the water guiding skirt is therefore not formed and / or manufactured as a separate component relative to the housing wall and since the water guiding skirt is designed as a partial region of the housing longitudinal wall of the jet regulator housing, which protrudes beyond the grid structure or the lattice structure, the jet regulator housing can also be formed integrally with the water guiding skirt provided according to the invention.

[0015] In order to fix the position of the jet regulator in the circumferential direction in the water outlet of the sanitary faucet, it is advantageous if the jet regulator is designed as a rectangular or flat jet regulator.

[0016] In this context, a simple and preferred embodiment according to the invention provides that the jet regulator has a circumferential housing wall, the longitudinal housing walls of which are connected to one another via a transverse housing wall.

[0017] In order to counteract undesired dripping of water which may also still flow along in drops and to promote good water guidance of the water flowing through the jet regulator housing, it is advantageous if the housing transverse wall has a rounded or arc-shaped cross section.

[0018] For this purpose, it may also be advantageous if the jet regulator housing has a substantially rectangular or oval housing cross section.

[0019] In order to also mix the ambient air with the water flowing through the jet regulator housing and to supply this ambient air to the housing interior of the jet regulator housing and / or to also arrange a corresponding pull-out tool on the outer circumference of the jet regulator housing, it can be advantageous that the housing longitudinal wall facing away from the user has, at least in a part of the region, a recess which is set back relative to the housing transverse walls adjoining on both sides and is designed to be open toward the outflow end side. The setback recess can define an air filling channel and / or an inlet channel which is arranged in this region between the housing outer circumference of the jet regulator housing and the inner circumference at the water outlet of the faucet.

[0020] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that at least one latching projection or a similar tool engagement surface is provided in the region of the recessed recess of the housing longitudinal wall for detachable connection to a pulling tool.

[0021] In order that the jet regulator housing is not pressed out of the water outlet of the faucet by the water pressure of the incoming water, it can be advantageous to be able to insert a fixing screw in the region of the recessed recess of the housing longitudinal wall, by means of which the jet regulator housing can be fixed in the water outlet. Since the recessed recess is arranged in the region of a part of the housing longitudinal wall facing away from the user, and since the fixing screw is screwed into the region of the recessed recess, the threaded connection between the faucet and the jet regulator housing caused by means of the fixing screw is obviously not visible to the user.

[0022] Advantageously, for the placement of the at least one fixing screw, a pull-out stop, preferably a circular arc-shaped pull-out stop, protrudes from the retracted recess of the housing longitudinal wall. The pull-out stop facilitates the placement of the pull-out tool in the insertion channel provided between the jet regulator housing and the inner periphery of the faucet. Furthermore, the pull-out stop also facilitates the placement of the fixing screw on the housing longitudinal wall of the jet regulator housing.

[0023] In order to counteract an undesired outflow of water in the region of an annular gap which may remain between the outer circumference of the jet regulator housing and the inner circumference of the faucet, it is advantageous if the jet regulator housing has at least one circumferential annular groove on the outer circumference, in which a circumferential annular seal is arranged. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] Further improvements according to the present invention are derived from the following description in conjunction with the claims and the accompanying drawings. A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0025] In the figure:

[0026] Figure 1 A perspective side view of a sanitary faucet in the region of its water outlet is shown, wherein a jet regulator is inserted into the water outlet, the jet regulator having a jet regulator housing, the longitudinal housing wall of which has a greater longitudinal housing extension than the depth of the housing cross section, and the jet regulator having a water guide skirt on the side of the jet regulator housing facing away from the user, which protrudes beyond the grid structure or lattice structure of the jet regulator housing on the outflow side and beyond the water outlet of the faucet,

[0027] Figure 2 Shown in Figure 1A partial longitudinal section through a water outlet of a faucet shown in FIG. 1 , wherein the viewing direction is toward a jet regulator housing of a flat or rectangular jet regulator inserted into the water outlet,

[0028] Figure 3 Shows loading according to Figure 1 and 2 A front view of the jet regulator housing of the jet regulator in the water outlet,

[0029] Figure 4 Show Figure 3 A side view of the jet regulator housing in the embodiment of the present invention, viewed towards one of the side walls or transverse walls of the jet regulator housing,

[0030] Figure 5 Show Figure 3 and 4 A rear view of the jet regulator housing in the embodiment of the present invention, viewed towards the longitudinal wall of the housing facing away from the user in the use position,

[0031] Figure 6 Show Figures 3 to 5 A perspective view of the jet regulator housing in FIG. 1 , viewed toward the inflow side of the jet regulator housing,

[0032] Figure 7 Show Figures 3 to 6 A perspective bottom view of the jet regulator housing in FIG. 1 on the outflow-side end face of the jet regulator,

[0033] Figure 8 Show Figures 3 to 7 A top view of the jet regulator on its inflow-side end face, and

[0034] Fig. 9 Show Figures 3 to 8 The jet regulator of the jet regulator passes through the housing of the jet regulator Figure 8 Longitudinal section view of section IX-IX in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] exist Figures 1 to 9 1 shows a jet regulator 1, which has a jet regulator housing 2, which can be installed in the water outlet 3 of the sanitary faucet 4. Figure 1 , 79, it becomes clear that the jet regulator housing 2 has a grid structure 5 on the outlet side, which is composed of guide walls 6 and 7 that cross each other and define an outflow opening 8 between them. In order to resist water drops from crossing over the outer periphery of the sanitary faucet 4 and to prevent the resulting undesirable drip marks and rust marks on the outer periphery of the faucet 4, a water guide skirt 9 is provided on the jet regulator housing 2 of the jet regulator 1 shown here, which protrudes from the grid structure or mesh structure 5 in the outflow direction and extends only over a part of the housing periphery of the jet regulator housing 2 in the housing circumferential direction.

[0036] Since the water guide skirt 9 is designed as a skirt and extends only over a part of the housing circumference of the jet regulator housing 2 in the housing circumferential direction, the relative position of the jet regulator housing 2 in the circumferential direction relative to the water outlet 3 of the faucet 4 is determined. For this purpose, the jet regulator housing 2 has a non-circular housing cross section and has housing longitudinal walls 10, 11, which have a larger housing longitudinal extension dimension than the depth of the housing cross section. The residual water that may also follow after the outlet valve of the faucet 4 is closed can drip on the water guide skirt 9. Since these residual water cannot flow back against the outflow direction along the water guide skirt 9, water drops are prevented from crossing over the outer periphery of the faucet 4 and drip marks or rust marks are prevented from forming on the outer periphery of the faucet 4. In addition, the water guide skirt 9 can also additionally advantageously affect the strip-shaped shape of the outflowing water jet.

[0037] Since the water guide skirt 9 is mainly arranged on the housing longitudinal wall 11 of the jet regulator housing 2 which is remote from the user in the use position, the water guide skirt 9 which protrudes slightly beyond the outlet end of the faucet 4 is obviously not visible to the user. Figure 1 , 2 A comparison with FIG. 7 shows that the water guide skirt 9 extends on both sides over the housing corner regions 14, 15 connecting the housing longitudinal wall 11 to the housing transverse walls 12, 13. Here, the housing transverse walls 12, 13 have a rounded or arc-shaped cross section. The jet regulator housing 2 of the jet regulator 1 shown here has a substantially rectangular housing cross section.

[0038] Depend on Figure 6 and 7As can be seen from the comparison, the housing longitudinal wall 11 facing away from the user has a recess 16 in a part of the region which is set back relative to the housing transverse walls 12, 13 adjacent on both sides and which is designed to be open toward the outlet end of the jet regulator housing 2. In the region of the setback recess 16 of the housing longitudinal wall 11, at least one latching projection 17 or a similar tool engagement surface can be provided for releasably connecting with a pull-out tool. With the aid of such a pull-out tool, the jet regulator housing 2 which is inserted into the water outlet 3 of the faucet 4 in the use position can also be removed again and, for example, replaced when necessary. In the region of the setback recess 16 of the housing longitudinal wall 11, a fixing screw 18 can also be arranged, with the aid of which the jet regulator housing 2 can be fixed in the water outlet 3. For this purpose, a threaded hole 19 with an internal thread is provided in the water outlet 3 of the faucet 4, into which the fixing screw 18 can be screwed with its external thread until the screw shaft of the fixing screw 18 engages with the jet regulator housing 2. For accommodating the at least one fastening screw 18, a circular arc-shaped pull-out stop 20 projects from the setback recess 16 of the housing longitudinal wall 11. When the pull-out stop 20 engages from behind the fastening screw 18 resting on the jet regulator housing 2, the pull-out stop 20 prevents the jet regulator housing 2 from accidentally coming loose from the water outlet 3 of the faucet 4.

[0039] The jet regulator 1 is used to make the water flowing out of the water outlet 3 of the faucet 4 come out with a flat or ribbon-shaped jet cross section, wherein the outflow jet should be formed as uniformly as possible and without splashing. In order to retain dirt particles and residual calcium that may be carried by the incoming water and hinder the function of the jet regulator 1, a pre-screen 21 is releasably and lockably held on the end face of the inlet side of the jet regulator 1. A jet splitter 22, which is configured as a perforated plate here, is provided in the housing interior of the jet regulator housing 2, which divides the water flowing through into a plurality of single jets. An aeration opening 23 is provided directly downstream of the jet splitter 22 in the flow direction, and the aeration opening preferably passes through the housing longitudinal wall 11 in the region of the recess 16. Since the water flowing through the splitting opening of the jet splitter 20 generates a negative pressure on the outflow side of the jet splitter 22, ambient air is sucked in via the aeration channel left between the recess 16 of the jet regulator housing 2 and the adjacent inner peripheral wall of the water outlet 3 and the aeration opening 23 leading therein, and the ambient air is mixed with the water flowing through in the housing interior of the jet regulator housing 2 to form a foaming and soft outflow jet. The water flowing through is guided behind the jet splitter 22 in the housing interior of the jet regulator housing 2 along strips 24, 25, which protrude on both sides from a housing wall 28 arranged in the longitudinal center plane of the housing and extend transversely to the flow direction in the jet regulator housing 2. These strips 24, 25 are arranged in strip rows arranged offset from each other, the strips 25 arranged in the strip row on the outflow side having a strip cross section that is elongated in the flow direction, while the strip cross section of the strips 24 arranged in the strip row on the inflow side is designed to be circular in contrast thereto. The strips 24, 25 arranged in the strip row form a jet regulator, which brakes, additionally divides and mixes the individual jets from the jet splitter 22 and the ambient air entrained therewith. The water thus mixed with the ambient air is formed into a flat, strip-shaped outflow jet by the grid structure 5 arranged on the end side of the outflow side of the jet regulator housing 2. In order that the jet pattern is not impaired by undesirable leakage flows, a circumferential annular groove 26 is provided on the outer circumference of the jet regulator housing 2, in which a circumferential annular seal 27 is arranged.

[0040] Reference numerals list

[0041] 1Jet regulator

[0042] 2Jet regulator housing

[0043] 3 Water outlet

[0044] 4 Faucets

[0045] 5. Grid structure

[0046] 6 Guide wall of grid structure 5

[0047] 7 Guide wall of grid structure 5

[0048] 8 Outflow opening of the grid structure 5

[0049] 9 Water guide skirt

[0050] 10 Longitudinal wall of the housing close to the user

[0051] 11 Longitudinal wall of the housing facing away from the user

[0052] 12 Shell wall

[0053] 13 Shell wall

[0054] 14 Shell corner area

[0055] 15 Shell corner area

[0056] 16 Recess in the housing longitudinal wall 11

[0057] 17 Locking protrusion

[0058] 18 Fixing screw

[0059] 19 threaded hole on the water outlet 3 of the faucet 4

[0060] 20 Pull out the stopper

[0061] 21 Pre-screen

[0062] 22 Jet decomposer constructed as an orifice plate

[0063] 23 Inflatable opening

[0064] 24 Slats arranged in the slat row on the inflow side

[0065] 25 Slats arranged in the slat row on the outflow side

[0066] 26 Annular groove

[0067] 27 Ring seal

[0068] 28 Shell wall

Claims

1. A jet regulator (1) comprising a jet regulator housing (2) which can be inserted into a water outlet (3) of a sanitary faucet (4) and which has, on the outlet side, a network structure (5) consisting of mutually intersecting guide walls (6, 7) which define an outflow opening (8) between themselves, Features: The jet regulator housing (2) has a non-circular housing cross section and has housing longitudinal walls (10, 11) which have a larger housing longitudinal extension than the depth of the housing cross section; and the jet regulator housing (2) has a water guiding skirt (9) which protrudes beyond the mesh structure (5) in the outflow direction and which extends in the housing circumferential direction only over a part of the housing circumference.

2. The jet regulator according to claim 1, Features: The water guiding skirt (9) is arranged at least on a housing longitudinal wall (11, 10) of the jet regulator housing (2) which is remote from or close to a user in the use position.

3. The jet regulator according to claim 2, Features: The water guiding skirt (9) extends on both sides over housing corner regions (14, 15) which connect the housing longitudinal walls (10, 11) to the housing transverse walls (12, 13).

4. The jet regulator according to claim 3, Features: The water guiding skirt (9) extends beyond the housing corner regions (14, 15) connecting the housing longitudinal walls (10, 11) to the housing transverse walls (12, 13) at least approximately to the housing longitudinal center plane.

5. The jet regulator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, Features: The water guiding skirt (9) is configured as a partial area of ​​the housing longitudinal wall (11, 10) which is away from or close to the user and which protrudes beyond the mesh structure (5).

6. The jet regulator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, Features: The jet regulator (1) is designed as a rectangular or flat jet regulator.

7. The jet regulator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, Features: The jet regulator (1) comprises a housing peripheral wall, the housing longitudinal walls (10, 11) of which are connected to each other via housing transverse walls (12, 13).

8. The jet regulator according to claim 7, Features: The housing transverse walls (12, 13) have a rounded cross section.

9. The jet regulator according to claim 7, Features: The shell transverse walls (12, 13) have a circular arc-shaped cross section.

10. The jet regulator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, Features: The jet regulator housing (2) generally has a rectangular or elliptical housing cross section.

11. The jet regulator according to claim 3, Features: The housing longitudinal wall (11) facing away from the user has, at least in a partial region, a recess (16) which is set back relative to the housing transverse walls (12, 13) adjacent on both sides and is designed to be open toward the outflow end side.

12. The jet regulator according to claim 11, Features: At least one tool engagement surface is provided in the region of the recessed recess (16) of the housing longitudinal wall (11) for detachably connecting to a pulling tool.

13. The jet regulator according to claim 12, Features: The tool engagement surface is a locking projection (17).

14. A jet regulator according to claim 11, 12 or 13, Features: At least one fixing screw (18) can be inserted in the region of the recessed recess (16) of the housing longitudinal wall (11), by means of which the jet regulator housing (2) can be fixed in the water outlet (3).

15. The jet regulator according to claim 14, Features: In order to seat the at least one fastening screw (18), the extension stop (20) projects beyond the recessed recess (16) of the housing longitudinal wall (11).

16. The jet regulator according to claim 15, Features: The pull-out stopper is arc-shaped.

17. The jet regulator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, Features: The jet regulator housing (2) has at least one circumferential annular groove (26) on the outer circumference, in which a circumferential annular seal (27) is arranged.

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