Jet regulator for generating an aerated liquid jet

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a jet regulator for generating an aerated liquid jet, comprising a housing, a jet accelerator device for generating at least one accelerated jet, and a jet aeration device arranged downstream of the jet accelerator device in a flow direction for mixing liquid components with air. The jet aeration device has a chamber with a ventilation opening through which air can be drawn into the chamber. Furthermore, the invention relates to the use of a pinhole in such a jet regulator.

[0002] Aerated aerators, which can be inserted into a sanitary fitting via a coupling point on their housing and connected to a corresponding mating coupling point, are already known. Such aerators are used, for example, to create an aerated water jet that feels soft to the user.

[0003] For example, such a jet regulator is known from US 4,322,292, in which a flow control disc forms a restricted flow path and ventilation openings are provided for supplying ambient air into the water jet.

[0004] From US 2013 / 0015268 A1 a shower head is known in which air is added to save water, whereby the air supply has two interconnected air inlet chambers.

[0005] From KR 20 2009 0007830 a water-saving device is known which is arranged in a shower head or a kitchen faucet, wherein the water-saving device has a ventilation valve which regulates an air supply, wherein the ventilation valve is actuated together with the water valve.

[0006] From CN 201 999 993 Y, a water saver is known which comprises a valve body in which a water inlet hole is formed. The water saver is characterized by further comprising a regulating part; and the size of an air inlet channel can be changed by rotating or moving the regulating part until the air inlet channel is closed. By introducing the water saver according to the invention, the disadvantages that the sizes of the air inlet channels of similar products cannot be regulated and the air inlet channels cannot be opened or closed as needed are overcome; and the water saver is widely applicable for showering, flushing, and the like.

[0007] From CN 20 133 4694Y a jet regulator is known in which an aerated jet is divided by means of a conical insert.

[0008] A common problem with existing vented aerators is that splash water can escape through the required ventilation openings, which usually penetrate the housing. The splash water forms within the jet aeration chamber during the mixing process of water and air. This can cause a leak during use of the aerator, leading to the escape of leaking water between the outer surface of the aerator housing and the inner wall of an aerator receptacle on the plumbing fixture.

[0009] The escape of leakage water leads to a negative impact on the outlet jet pattern, as the leakage water escapes from the outlet fitting in an uncontrolled manner and at an unwanted location.

[0010] The task is therefore to provide an aerated jet regulator which eliminates the aforementioned disadvantages.

[0011] This object is achieved according to the invention by a jet regulator of the type mentioned at the outset with the features of claim 1 or claim 2. To achieve the object, a jet regulator of the type mentioned at the outset is proposed, wherein the jet regulator has a perforated diaphragm arranged within the space, which divides the space into an air inlet part and a mixing part, wherein the mixing part and the air inlet part are connected to one another via a diaphragm opening of the perforated diaphragm.

[0012] The features according to the invention can achieve the advantage that wetting of the ventilation opening in the air inlet part by water is avoided or at least reduced, so that this ventilation opening does not close with water, which would prevent the admixture of air, and / or gurgling noises that can occur due to the accumulation of water at the ventilation opening are avoided.

[0013] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are described below.

[0014] According to an advantageous development of the jet regulator, the apertured diaphragm can be oriented within the chamber transversely to a longitudinal axis of the housing and / or transversely to the flow direction. This allows the spray water droplets created during the mixing process in the mixing section of the jet aeration device to impinge transversely or almost vertically on the apertured diaphragm, thus further preventing their entry into the air inlet section.

[0015] To prevent the risk of leakage through the ventilation opening when the jet regulator is in use, the at least one ventilation opening can be located in the air inlet part of the chamber. Furthermore, it can be particularly advantageous to provide a functional separation between the two parts of the chamber of the jet aeration device, so that the liquid components are mixed with air in the mixing part.

[0016] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the jet regulator, the mixing section can be closed at the side. This has the advantage that the liquid mixed with air in the mixing section cannot escape from the side of the mixing section. This significantly reduces the risk of leakage due to liquid escaping from the side.

[0017] In order to be able to prevent the liquid from splashing back from the mixing part into the ventilation opening even better, it can be provided according to an advantageous embodiment of the jet regulator that the perforated diaphragm is arranged downstream of the at least one ventilation opening in the flow direction.

[0018] Furthermore, it can be provided that the air and the liquid flow separately, i.e. in particular in two phases, through the aperture into the mixing part and mixing, in particular triggered by turbulence, only takes place in the mixing part.

[0019] According to the invention, the jet accelerator device has at least one nozzle through which the liquid is accelerated and / or the jet is divided into several separate liquid components. For example, this can be an atomizer nozzle (spray nozzle) through which an aerosol (mist) can be produced from fine droplets mixed with air. In particular, the nozzle can be designed to produce a monodisperse spray, in particular from droplets with almost identical diameters. The nozzle is designed to generate a conical jet of liquid components. For example, this can be a hollow cone jet. The jet accelerator device can preferably - in particular exclusively - have a single nozzle or be designed as a single nozzle.In this configuration, the jet accelerator device can, for example, have only one through-hole configured as a single nozzle. This allows a particularly symmetrical jet pattern to be generated.

[0020] The at least one nozzle accelerates the liquid as it flows through the jet accelerator device during use of the jet regulator, creating a negative pressure downstream of the jet accelerator device, through which air is sucked into the room from outside via the at least one ventilation opening.

[0021] Preferably, the jet accelerator device may have a plurality of nozzles.

[0022] A large portion of the spray water generated in the mixing section splashes back upwards in the edge area of the mixing section. To further prevent this spray water from entering the air inlet section, the perforated diaphragm can be arranged continuously along an interior wall of the chamber. According to an embodiment of the jet regulator according to the invention, the jet accelerator device can have at least one through-hole whose exit angle is oriented such that the liquid flows unhindered from the through-hole through the aperture into the mixing section.

[0023] According to the invention, the outlet angle is configured such that the liquid is directed from the through-hole directly into the mixing part without encountering the aperture. The liquid is directed against a side wall of the mixing part by adjusting the outlet angle. The through-hole is formed by at least one nozzle, in particular the at least one nozzle already mentioned hereinbefore.

[0024] According to the invention, the jet accelerator device is further designed to split a jet, in particular a single jet, into several separate liquid components and is thus designed as a jet accelerator-jet splitting device. This has the advantage of enabling better aeration of the jet.

[0025] To achieve even better mixing of liquid with air within the mixing section, a flow barrier can be formed or arranged on a wall forming the mixing section. In particular, the flow barrier can be formed or arranged on a side wall against which the liquid components impinge upon entering the mixing section. The flow barrier can be any type of structure that leads to a deflection of the flow direction. For example, it can be a projection that protrudes radially inward from the side wall.

[0026] According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the apertured diaphragm can be funnel-shaped. This has the advantage that a jet generated by the jet accelerator device, in particular a conical jet, can be as wide as possible, consisting of several separate liquid components, transverse to the flow direction. Furthermore, the funnel-shaped design can even better prevent liquid that, for example, undesirably strikes an upstream surface of the apertured diaphragm from being deflected upwards and / or toward the at least one ventilation opening at an angle, since the angle of incidence is thus reduced.

[0027] According to a further advantageous embodiment, a bottom region of the mixing part can be at least partially formed by an outlet structure. This makes it possible for a liquid-gas mixture to be rectified and / or homogenized as it flows through the outlet structure before the aerated jet exits an outlet side of the jet regulator. The bottom region of the mixing part can thus be at least partially closed, preferably such that liquid accumulates within the mixing part and / or backs up towards the top. The dimensions of the mixing part are selected depending on a maximum volume flow so that the accumulated liquid always remains below the perforated aperture. This makes it possible to create a particularly attractive outlet jet pattern.

[0028] According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the aperture plate can have a sleeve-shaped section. The sleeve-shaped section can be arranged, for example, in the air inlet part. This has the advantage that the sleeve-shaped section can even better prevent water from splashing back.

[0029] The above-mentioned object is further achieved by using a perforated orifice in a vented aerator to prevent splash water generated by air-water mixing in a mixing section from escaping from a vent opening connected to the environment. For example, this may be an aerator as described and claimed herein. In particular, the aerator may be a sanitary aerator for insertion into and use in a sanitary fitting.

[0030] The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to several exemplary embodiments, but is not limited to these exemplary embodiments. Further exemplary embodiments result from the combination of the features of one or more claims with one another and / or with one or more features of the exemplary embodiments.

[0031] It shows: Fig. 1 a perspective view of a possible embodiment of an aerated jet regulator, Fig. 2 a longitudinal section view of the embodiment of the aerated jet regulator from Fig. 1 , Fig. 3 a detailed view of the Fig. 2 framed part of the jet regulator, showing an edge section of the aperture, Fig. 4 an exploded view of the variant of the ventilated jet regulator from the Fig. 1 - 3, Fig. 5 a perspective view of another possible embodiment of an aerated jet regulator, Fig. 6 a sectional view of the partially sectioned embodiment of Fig. 5 , Fig. 7 a partially sectioned view of a jet aeration device of the jet regulator from the Figures 5 and 6 , Fig. 8 a longitudinal section view of a further embodiment of a ventilated jet regulator, which has a funnel-shaped aperture, Fig. 9 an exploded view of the embodiment of the ventilated jet regulator from the Fig. 8 .

[0032] In the Figures 1, 2 , 4 , 5, 6 , 8 and 9 Three variants of a jet regulator, each designated as a whole by 1, are shown. The jet regulator 1 is designed to generate an aerated liquid jet.

[0033] The aerator 1 has a housing 2, via which the aerator 1 can be connected to a aerator receptacle of a sanitary outlet fitting. For this purpose, a coupling point can be formed on an outer side of the housing 2, which can be connected to a corresponding mating coupling point of the sanitary outlet fitting.

[0034] A jet accelerator device 3 is arranged or formed within the housing 2. The jet accelerator device 3 is configured to divide a jet flowing into the jet accelerator device 3 into several separate liquid components.

[0035] A sieve 23 can be arranged upstream of the jet accelerator device 3 on the inflow side.

[0036] A jet aeration device 5 is arranged downstream of the jet accelerator device 3 in the flow direction 4 (of the liquid through the jet regulator 1). The jet aeration device 5 is designed to mix the separated liquid components with air. For this purpose, the jet aeration device 5 has a chamber 6 in which a liquid-air mixture is generated in an outlet fitting during use of the jet regulator 1. The jet aeration device 5 has at least one ventilation opening 7 through which air can be drawn into the chamber 6 from outside or is drawn in during use.

[0037] In the Figures 1 to 9 In the embodiments shown, the space 6 of the jet ventilation device 5 has a plurality of ventilation openings 7 which are formed at equal distances from one another in a side wall 17 of the space 6.

[0038] A perforated diaphragm 8 is arranged or formed within the chamber 6, dividing the chamber 6 into an air inlet section 9 and a mixing section 10. The air inlet section 9 and the mixing section 10 are connected to one another via the aperture 11 of the perforated diaphragm 8. This allows liquid and air to enter the mixing section 10 via the aperture 11. The perforated diaphragm 8 can retain splash water from the mixing section 10, preventing it from escaping through the ventilation openings 7. The perforated diaphragm 8 can be made, for example, of plastic, metal, ceramic, and / or other materials.

[0039] The apertured diaphragm 8 is aligned within the space 6 transversely or perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis 12 of the housing 2 and / or transversely or perpendicularly to the flow direction 4 of the liquid.

[0040] The perforated diaphragm 8 can have a flat or nearly flat diaphragm body 29. Alternatively or additionally, the perforated diaphragm 8 can have a sleeve-shaped portion 28. Preferably, the sleeve-shaped portion 28 can protrude into the air inlet part 9 and / or protrude from an upper side of the diaphragm body 29. This can further better prevent splash water from the mixing part 10 from passing past the perforated diaphragm 8 and back into the air inlet part 9.

[0041] The aperture 8 can be integrally formed on the housing 2 or designed as a separate component. The integral design has the advantage that the jet regulator 1 has fewer components overall. The aperture 8 designed as a separate component has the advantage that the production of the jet regulator 1 is simplified.

[0042] The at least one ventilation opening 7 of the jet ventilation device 5 is formed in a side wall 17 of the section of the chamber 6 forming the air inlet part 9. The ventilation opening 7 therefore penetrates the housing 2 to the outside, so that the air inlet part 9 is at least partially open laterally.

[0043] Mixing of air with liquid, however, occurs in the mixing section 10. In particular, mixing of air with liquid occurs exclusively in the mixing section 10, so that air and liquid flow separately and / or in two phases through the aperture 11 into the mixing section 10. The aperture 8 is arranged downstream of the at least one ventilation opening 7 in the flow direction 4. This has the advantage that no collision water (splash water) forms above the aperture 8. This significantly reduces the risk of leakage due to liquid escaping through the ventilation opening 7.

[0044] The jet accelerator device 3 has at least one nozzle 13. The at least one nozzle 13 can accelerate the jet during use of the jet regulator 1. This creates a negative pressure within the chamber 6 of the jet aeration device 5, through which air is drawn from outside into the chamber 6 via the ventilation opening 7, which can then be used to generate the aerated jet. Furthermore, the jet accelerator device 3 additionally splits a jet into several separate liquid components, which improves the subsequent jet aeration.

[0045] The jet is divided into several separate liquid components by at least one nozzle 13.

[0046] This has the advantage that by splitting the jet into several separate liquid components, a better mixing of the liquid with air can be achieved within the jet aeration device 5. For example, the nozzle 13 can be designed as an atomizer nozzle for forming a mist and / or aerosol.

[0047] The nozzle 13 can, for example, be configured to generate a conical jet 24 from multiple liquid components. Preferably, the conical jet 24 can be configured such that a diameter of the conical jet 24 at the level of the aperture 11 is smaller than the diameter of the aperture 11.

[0048] A height of the conical jet 24 can be greater than a height of the air inlet part 9 of the chamber 6. Thus, the conical jet 24 can extend from the air inlet part 9 through the perforated plate 8 into the mixing part 10. This has the advantage that, on the one hand, splash water can be prevented from accumulating in front of the perforated plate 8 in the flow direction 4 and, furthermore, that particularly good liquid-air mixing occurs within the mixing part 10.

[0049] The nozzle 13 can be formed, for example, by inserting an insert part 22 into a through hole 15 of the jet accelerator device 3. The nozzle properties can be influenced by changing the diameter of the insert part 22 and / or the through hole 15.

[0050] The aperture 8 can be arranged within the chamber 6 such that it extends continuously along an inner wall 14 of the chamber 6. This allows splash water to be retained, especially in the edge area. Splash water that splashes back through the aperture 11 is conveyed back into the mixing section 10 by the air flow and / or the inflowing liquid components.

[0051] The perforated plate 8 can have a plate body 29 with recesses 25 formed thereon. In the assembled position, the side walls 17 laterally bordering the air inlet part 9 can engage in the recesses 25 and hold the perforated plate 8 in position. This allows for particularly simple installation of the jet regulator 1.

[0052] The housing 2 can preferably be formed as a single piece. All components of the jet regulator 1 can then be inserted into the housing 2 one after the other and thus held in their intended position. This also allows for particularly simple assembly of the jet regulator 1.

[0053] The housing 2 can, for example, be sleeve-shaped and / or at least partially cylindrical.

[0054] The jet accelerator device 3 has at least one through-hole 15, which can be formed, for example, by the aforementioned nozzle 13. As shown in the figures, the jet accelerator device 3 can have only a single nozzle as the through-hole 15.

[0055] The mixing part 10 may have a larger volume than the air inlet part 9, as shown in the Figures 1 to 4and 8. Since the air inlet part 9 is not designed for mixing liquid and air, the installation space required for this can be reduced.

[0056] Alternatively or additionally, the ventilation openings 7 can be designed to be as large as possible, so that, for example, the sum of the areas of the closed side walls 17 of the air inlet part 9 represents a smaller area proportion on the air inlet part 9, in particular on a lateral surface of the air inlet part 9, than the sum of the areas of the ventilation openings 7. This enables particularly good air intake with the smallest possible space requirement.

[0057] In order to achieve particularly good mixing of liquid and air despite the relatively small volume of the mixing part 10, the mixing part 10 has a baffle 26, which is arranged as a flow obstacle 18 within the flow path. The baffle 26 can protrude at least partially into the air inlet part 9. Preferably, a highest point of the baffle 26 in the assembled position is at the level of an upper edge of the sleeve-shaped section 28 of the perforated plate 8.

[0058] An exit angle 16 of the through hole 15 is adjusted so that the liquid flows unhindered from the through hole 15 through the aperture 11 into the mixing part 10 during use of the jet regulator 1. This means that the liquid flows unhindered in the inflow direction 4, not onto the aperture surface, but flows directly through the aperture 11 of the aperture 8. By adjusting the exit angle 16 of at least one through hole 15, the liquid in the embodiment of the Figures 1 to 4 , 8 and 9 During use of the jet regulator 1, the liquid is directed against a side wall 17 of the mixing part 10. The collision of the liquid with the side wall 17 creates turbulence within the mixing part 10, which enables better mixing of the liquid components with air.

[0059] In the version from the Figures 5 to 7the exit angle 16 of the passage hole 15 is set such that the jet accelerated and / or split by the jet accelerator device 3 impacts the impact body 26, in particular directly and / or unhindered.

[0060] In order to further improve the mixing, a flow obstacle 18 can be formed within the mixing part 10, for example on the side wall 17 of the mixing part 10.

[0061] The side wall 17 forms a baffle, with the flow obstacle 18 being aligned transversely to the baffle. The flow obstacle 18 can, for example, have the form of a projection 19. The projection 19 of the embodiment according to the Figures 1 to 4 , 8 and 9protrudes radially inward and thus deflects the liquid components flowing into the mixing part 10, which flow along the inner wall 14, inward. This enables particularly good mixing of the liquid components with air.

[0062] Alternatively, the impact body 26, against which the accelerated and / or dispersed liquid components impinge, is arranged in the mixing section 10. The impact body 26 is conical. The impact body 26 has an impact surface on which several impact elements 27 are formed or arranged. The impact elements 27 can, for example, be cone-shaped. They protrude from the impact surface. They are aligned transversely to the impact surface of the impact body 26 and parallel to the flow direction 4.

[0063] According to a study published in Figures 8 and 9In the embodiment of a jet regulator 1 shown, the apertured diaphragm 8 can be at least partially funnel-shaped. This has the advantage that splash water from the mixing part 10 is retained even better by the apertured diaphragm 8 if the exit angle 16 of the through hole 5 is configured such that the liquid collides with a side wall 17 of the mixing part 10.

[0064] In order to create a particularly appealing jet outlet pattern, a bottom region 20 of the mixing part 10 can be at least partially formed by an outlet structure 21. The outlet structure 21 can have a plurality of outlet openings through which a plurality of individual jets are formed on an outlet side of the jet regulator 1.

[0065] The invention therefore relates to an aerated jet regulator 1 for use in a sanitary outlet fitting, wherein the jet regulator 1 has a housing 2, a jet accelerator device 3 and a jet aeration device 5 arranged downstream of the jet accelerator device 3 in a flow direction 4, wherein the jet aeration device 5 has a space 6 which has at least one ventilation opening 7 through which air can be sucked into the space 6 from the outside, wherein a perforated diaphragm 8 is arranged within the space 6 and divides the space 6 into an air inlet part 9 and a mixing part 10, wherein air is sucked in from the outside in the air inlet part 9 and liquid and air are mixed in the mixing part 10. List of reference symbols

[0066] 1 Jet regulator 2 Housing 3 Jet accelerator device 4 Flow direction 5 Jet aeration device 6 Chamber 7 Ventilation opening 8 Perforated plate 9 Air inlet part 10 Mixing part 11 Aperture 12 Longitudinal axis of the housing 13 Nozzle, single nozzle 14 Inner wall of the chamber 15 Through hole 16 Exit angle 17 Side wall 18 Flow obstruction 19 Projection 20 Bottom area 21 Outlet structure 22 Insert part 23 Sieve 24 Conical jet 25 Recess 26 Impact body 27 Impact element 28 Sleeve-shaped section 29 Aperture body

Claims

1. Aerator (1) for generating an aerated liquid jet, having a housing (2), a jet accelerator device (3) for generating at least one accelerated jet, and a jet aeration device (5) arranged downstream of the jet accelerator device (3) in a flow direction (4) for mixing liquid portions with air, wherein the jet aeration device (5) has a chamber (6) with at least one aeration opening (7) through which air can be sucked into the chamber (6), wherein the aerator (1) has a perforated plate (8) arranged within the chamber (6), which divides the chamber (6) into an air inlet part (9) and a mixing part (10), wherein the mixing part (10) and the air inlet part (9) are connected to each other via an aperture (11) in the perforated plate (8), characterized in that the jet accelerator device (3) has at least one nozzle (13) for accelerating liquid so that the jet can be divided into several separate liquid portions, and in that the at least one nozzle (13) is designed to generate a conical jet of liquid portions, and in that the outlet angle (16) of the nozzle (13) is aligned such that the liquid can flow unimpeded from the nozzle (13) through the aperture (11) into the mixing part (10) without impinging on the perforated plate (8), wherein the liquid is directed against a side wall (17) of the mixing part (10) by the setting of the outlet angle (16).

2. Aerator (1) according to the preamble of claim 1, characterized in that the jet accelerator device (3) has at least one nozzle (13) for accelerating liquid so that the jet can be divided into several separate liquid portions, and in that the at least one nozzle (13) is designed to produce a conical jet of liquid portions, in that an impact body (26) is arranged in the mixing part (10), in that the outlet angle (16) of the nozzle (13) is set so that the accelerated and / or divided liquid portions impinge on the impact body (26), wherein the impact body (26) is of conical design and has an impact surface on which a plurality of impact elements (27) are formed or arranged, wherein the impact elements (27) are aligned transversely to the impact surface and parallel to the direction of flow (4).

3. Aerator (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the perforated plate (8) is aligned within the chamber (6) transversely to a longitudinal axis (12) of the housing (2) and / or transversely to the direction of flow (4).

4. Aerator (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one aeration opening (7) is arranged in the air inlet part (9) of the chamber (6) and / or in that mixing of the liquid portions with air in the mixing part (10) is possible.

5. Aerator (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mixing part (10) is closed at the sides.

6. Aerator (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the perforated plate (8) is arranged in the direction of flow (4) after the at least one aeration opening (7).

7. Aerator (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the perforated plate (8) is arranged continuously around the perimeter along an inner wall (14) of the chamber (6).

8. Aerator (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that on a wall forming the mixing part (10), in particular a side wall (17), at least one flow obstacle (18), in particular a projection (19), which projects radially inwardly from the side wall (17), is formed or arranged.

9. Aerator (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the perforated plate (8) is funnel-shaped.

10. Aerator (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a bottom region (20) of the mixing part (10) is at least partially formed by an outlet structure (21).

11. Aerator (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the perforated plate (8) has a sleeve-shaped section (28).

12. Aerator (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the jet accelerator device (3) has a single nozzle and / or is designed as a single nozzle.

13. Use of a perforated plate (8) in a ventilated aerator (1) according to one of the preceding claims to prevent spray water generated by air-water mixing in a mixing part (10) from escaping through an aeration opening (7) connected to the environment.