Jet regulator

Abstract

The invention relates to improvements in the technical field of jet regulators. As an improvement, the invention proposes, inter alia, a jet regulator (1) having two channels (2) and (3) which are separate from each other and are arranged one inside the other, in which a water guide (5) of an inner channel (3) locks in a splitter unit (4), which is assigned to an outer channel (2) of the two channels (2) and (3), and is thereby fixed in two axial directions.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to aerators according to the preamble of claim 1, which are used, for example, in sanitary fittings. Such aerators can form two separate, nested channels, wherein an outer channel of the two channels is assigned a separating unit through which a water guide of an inner channel of the two channels is inserted.

[0002] Such aerators are known from practical experience and from the prior art, for example from CN 107 724 469 A, EP 2 573 283 B1, CN 111 827 417 A, DE 10 2017 129 333 A1, DE 10 2007 009717 B4 or also from US 2008 / 0 251 604 A1. They can be used, for example, on sanitary fittings that themselves have two different water flows, for example one for cold water and a second for warm, hot or boiling water.

[0003] The object of the invention is to provide aerators of the type mentioned above, which are characterized by a simple design and the associated simple assembly and handling.

[0004] The problem is solved by an aerator with the combination of features according to claim 1. According to the invention, to solve the problem in an aerator of the type mentioned above, it is proposed that the water guide of the inner channel is locked into the disassembly unit of the outer channel and thereby fixed in two axial directions.

[0005] In this way, the separating unit of the outer channel has a dual function: On the one hand, the separating unit ensures that water flowing through the outer channel is separated and, if necessary, mixed with air; on the other hand, the separating unit acts as a fastening means that fixes the water flow of the inner channel of the two channels in two axial directions relative to the other elements of the aerator.

[0006] The water guide for the inner channel can be a water guide sleeve. Furthermore, the water guide may have a circumferential locking groove in which the disassembly unit is positioned when the water guide is in its locked operating position. The locking groove can define a relative position of the water guide to the disassembly unit and also provide a structurally simple yet reliable axial fixation of the water guide to the disassembly unit in two axial directions.

[0007] The locking groove can be axially bounded by two shoulders of the water guide. In the operating position, the disassembly unit can be arranged between the two shoulders of the water guide and within the locking groove. To simplify the assembly of the aerator, it may be advantageous if one of the two shoulders of the water guide, particularly a downstream shoulder, has a smaller radial extent than the other shoulder, which may define the locking groove. The shoulder of the water guide with the smaller radial extent can be provided with a chamfer, preferably on the downstream side, for example in the form of a chamfer, over which the disassembly unit can be inserted into the locking groove of the water guide.

[0008] In one embodiment of the aerator, it is provided that it has a front screen which is attached to the dispersing unit by an anchoring element that engages the dispersing unit on the downstream side. The anchoring element allows the front screen to be attached to the dispersing unit. This can simplify the design and assembly of the aerator and make it more robust.

[0009] In one embodiment of the aerator, the anchoring element serves as a water guide, for example, the previously mentioned water guide for the aerator. This water guide can be for the aforementioned inner channel. Thus, the anchoring element not only serves to attach the front screen to the disassembly unit but also acts as a water guide. The anchoring element can have a shoulder that engages the disassembly unit on the downstream side. The disassembly unit can rest against this shoulder, preferably on the downstream side, in its operating position, creating a connection between the anchoring element and the disassembly unit, which ultimately secures the front screen to the disassembly unit.

[0010] In one embodiment of the aerator, the anchoring element extends through the disassembly unit and / or the front screen. For this purpose, the disassembly unit and / or the front screen can each have an opening, preferably centrally located, through which the anchoring element, in particular the water guide, is inserted in the operating position to attach the front screen to the disassembly unit.

[0011] In one embodiment of the aerator, the separating unit has a step on the upstream side. The pre-filter screen can rest against this step. The step on the separating unit then allows the pre-filter screen to be axially fixed in its position relative to the separating unit and the anchoring element, particularly the water channel of an internal channel, such as the aforementioned internal channel, on the downstream side.

[0012] In one embodiment of the aerator, the anchoring element has a stop, particularly on the upstream side. The pre-screen can rest against this stop and be axially secured and fixed in position on the upstream side. In this embodiment of the aerator, the pre-screen can thus be arranged between the disassembly unit and the anchoring element and fixed in position in two axial directions by them. The pre-screen is then thus fixed between the disassembly unit and the anchoring element attached to the disassembly unit.

[0013] In one embodiment of the aforementioned aerator, the anchoring element is detachably connected to the front screen. This allows the anchoring element to be manufactured separately from the front screen.

[0014] According to the invention, the disassembly unit has a disassembly plate or a diffuser, or is designed as a disassembly plate or diffuser.

[0015] In one embodiment of the aerator, the water flow terminates above an outlet structure of the aerator. In another embodiment, the water flow is guided through an outlet structure of the aerator. The water flow may optionally protrude from the outlet structure, particularly from an outlet structure into which the outer channel of the two channels opens.

[0016] The aerator can have at least one front screen and / or at least one screen insert in the water channel. The front screen and / or screen insert can have openings through which the water flow of the inner channel is directed. These openings can be spaced apart from the water flow. This is advantageous to allow existing front screens and / or screen inserts to be used with the water flow without design modifications. The spacing ensures sufficient residual wall thickness in the components, which facilitates cost-effective manufacturing, e.g., using plastic injection molding.

[0017] A filter element can be arranged and / or formed within the water channel. The filter element can be integrally formed with the water channel.

[0018] The dismantling unit and the pre-screen may be designed to be either detachably or permanently connected. The connection can be achieved, for example, by a snap-fit ​​mechanism. A permanent snap-fit ​​connection prevents the pre-screen from being washed away.

[0019] The anchoring element can be detachably or permanently connected to the disassembly unit. The respective connection can be achieved, for example, via a suitable snap-fit ​​connection.

[0020] A releasable snap connection can be characterized, for example, by becoming softer under load, while a non-releasable snap connection becomes more firmly engaged under load. A non-releasable snap connection can, for example, be achieved by an enclosed angle at the base of an undercut that is equal to or less than 90°.

[0021] A releasable snap-fit ​​connection can be easier to manufacture if the demolding direction coincides with the insertion direction of the snap-fit ​​connection. This is because demolding is typically performed as a forced demolding across the undercut, which is difficult if the snap-fit ​​connection is intended to be permanent, i.e., self-locking. In this case, multi-part or movable cores would have to be used, which is very expensive.

[0022] In one embodiment of the aerator, the two channels have separate inlets on the upstream side. This allows each channel to have its own inlet, independent of the other channel's inlet, and to be supplied with liquid independently of the other channel and its inlet. In this way, each channel can be connected separately to its assigned liquid source. For example, one channel can be connected to a hot water source and the other to a cold water source. This prevents potentially undesirable mixing of the liquids within the aerator.

[0023] Furthermore, it is possible for the two channels of the aerator to have outlets on the downstream side that are separate from each other. This ensures that liquid flowing through each channel always flows out only from the outlet assigned to that channel. This also prevents any potentially unwanted mixing of liquids within the aerator.

[0024] The aerator can be designed so that both channels can be used simultaneously. This makes it possible to supply both channels with liquid at the same time. Furthermore, the aerator can be designed so that no switching mechanism on the aerator is necessary to operate the channels.

[0025] The two channels, especially if they have separate inlets and outlets, can provide separate and / or independently usable flow paths through the aerator. For example, it is possible to use the flow paths provided by the channels simultaneously. This can improve the aerator's performance characteristics and expand its range of applications.

[0026] A separation unit can, for example, be functionally characterized: it can force a flow onto a defined path in order to decouple subsequent flow conditions from upstream conditions.

[0027] A diffuser can be characterized functionally, for example: it can force a flow into a radial flow with subsequent turbulence.

[0028] A sieve element can, for example, be functionally characterized: it can have a straightening effect on a water flow.

[0029] The invention is described in more detail below using an exemplary embodiment, but is not limited to this exemplary embodiment.

[0030] They show: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a flow regulator according to the invention, Figure 2 is a side view of the in Figure 1 Figure 3 shows a bottom view of the aerator shown in the previous figures, Figure 4 shows a top view of the aerator shown in the previous figures, Figure 5 shows an exploded view of the aerator shown in the previous figures, Figure 6 shows a view along the Figure 4Figure 7, a perspective view of the aerator shown in the previous figures, cut off by line VI-VI; Figure 7, a cut-off side view of the aerator attached to a sanitary fitting; and Figure 8, which is shown in Figure 7 Detail marked with circle VIII in enlarged view.

[0031] The figures show a flow regulator, designated as a whole by 1, which forms two separate, nested channels 2 and 3. A separator unit 4 is assigned to an outer channel 2 of the two channels 2 and 3. A water guide 5 of an inner channel 3 of the two channels 2 and 3 is inserted through the separator unit 4.

[0032] In particular the sectional views of the Figures 6 and 7 illustrate that the water guide 5 of the inner channel 3 is locked into the disassembly unit 4 and is therefore fixed in two axial directions.

[0033] The water guide 5 of the aerator 1 is designed as a water guide sleeve. It has a circumferential locking groove 6 in which the disassembly unit 4 is arranged when the water guide 5 is in the locked operating position.

[0034] The locking groove 6 is axially bounded by two shoulders 7 and 8 of the water guide 5. One downstream shoulder 7 has a smaller radial extent than the other, upstream shoulder 8 of the water guide 5. This makes it easier to insert the disassembly unit 4 into the locking groove 6 via the downstream shoulder 7 of the water guide 5 and thus fix the water guide 5 to the disassembly unit 4 of the aerator 1.

[0035] The downstream shoulder 7, which has a smaller radial extent, is further associated with a downstream ramp 9. In the illustrated embodiment, the ramp 9 is designed as a ramp cone. This ramp 9 allows the disassembly unit 4 to be inserted relatively easily into the locking groove 6 of the water guide 5 during the assembly of the aerator 1.

[0036] The aerator 1 also has a front screen 10 for the outer channel 2, which is attached to the disassembly unit 4 and to the water guide 5.

[0037] The outer channel screen 10 is attached to the disassembly unit 4 by an anchoring element 11. In the aerator 1 shown in the figures, the water guide 5 for the inner channel 3 also serves as an anchoring element 11 for attaching the outer channel screen 10 to the disassembly unit. 4.The anchoring element 11 engages behind the disassembly unit 4 on the downstream side. This is particularly evident in the sectional views of the aerator 1 according to the Figures 6 and 7 Clearly visible.

[0038] In the embodiment of the aerator 1 shown in the figures, the previously mentioned downstream shoulder 7 engages behind the water guide. 5, which limits the locking groove 6 of the water guide 5 on the downstream side, the disassembly unit 4.

[0039] The dismantling unit 4 has an inlet-side shoulder 12 by which the pre-screen 10 is axially fixed on the outlet side. The pre-screen 10 thus rests on the dismantling unit 4 at the inlet-side shoulder 12 of the dismantling unit 4. The inlet-side shoulder 12 of the dismantling unit 4 engages behind the pre-screen 10 on the outlet side.

[0040] On the inlet side, the pre-screen 10 is axially secured by an inlet-side stop 13 of the water guide 5. Thus, the pre-screen 10 is axially secured in its position relative to the disassembly unit 4 and the water guide 5 on the one hand by the inlet-side shoulder 12 of the disassembly unit 4 and on the other hand by the inlet-side stop 13 of the water guide 5.

[0041] The disassembly unit 4 and the pre-screen 10 are connected to each other by a detachable snap connection. The anchoring element 11 and the pre-screen 10 are also connected to each other by a permanent snap connection. These permanent snap connections prevent the pre-screen 10 from being washed away.

[0042] The anchoring element 11 is permanently connected to the disassembly unit 4. This also prevents the pre-screen 10 from being washed out along with the anchoring element 11.

[0043] The disassembly unit 4 of the aerator 1 comprises a disassembly plate 14. In an embodiment of the aerator not shown in the figures, the disassembly unit 4 may alternatively have a diffuser.

[0044] In the aerator shown in the figures, the water guide 5 is designed such that the water guide 5 is led through an outlet structure 22 of the aerator 1 for the outer channel 2.

[0045] Figure 7 Figure 1 shows the aerator 1 in its operating position on a fitting 15. The fitting 15 has a first supply line 16 which opens into the outer channel 2 of the aerator 1.

[0046] A second supply line 17 of the fitting 15 is connected to the inner channel 3 of the aerator 1.

[0047] The fitting 15 has an external thread 18, with which a threaded sleeve 19 of the aerator 1 is screwed to secure the aerator 1 to the fitting 15.

[0048] A sieve element 23 is formed within the water guide 5.

[0049] The sieve element 23 is spaced from the outlet end of the water guide 5, allowing the water jet to recombine and thus eliminating gaps, for example, at ribs. Furthermore, this design eliminates the need for the tool to move half a distance twice during demolding, compared to one full distance. The sieve element 23 is integrally formed with the water guide 5, creating a homogeneous, monolithic unit.

[0050] On the downstream side of the disassembly unit 4, the aerator 1 has further sieve inserts 20 in the area of ​​the water guide 5, which radially surround the water guide 5. The water guide 5 is guided through openings 21 in the sieve inserts 20, the edges of the openings 21 being spaced apart from the water guide 5.

[0051] The dismantling unit 4 and the pre-screen 10 also have openings 21 through which the water guide 5 is inserted.

[0052] The figures illustrate that the two channels 2 and 3 have separate inlets 24 and 25 on the upstream side, through which they can be connected to different liquid sources. Furthermore, the two channels 2 and 3 have separate outlets 26 and 27 on the downstream side.

[0053] Channels 2 and 3 can be operated simultaneously. This allows both channels to be supplied with liquid at the same time if required. The aerator 1 is designed so that no switching is necessary for the simultaneous operation of channels 2 and 3.

[0054] The two channels 2 and 3 provide separate flow paths 28 and 29 through the aerator 1, which can be used independently of each other if required.

[0055] The invention relates to improvements in the technical field of aerators. Among other improvements, an aerator 1 with two separate, nested channels 2 and 3 is proposed, in which a water guide 5 of an inner channel 3 is locked into a separating unit 4 associated with an outer channel 2 of the two channels 2 and 3 and is thereby fixed in two axial directions. Reference symbol list

[0056] 1 Aerator 2 Outer channel 3 Inner channel 4 Disassembly unit 5 Water guide 6 Detent groove 7 Downstream shoulder of 5 8 Inflow shoulder of 5 9 Downstream approach ramp of 5 10 Front screen 11 Anchoring element 12 Inflow step of 4 13 Inflow stop of 11 14 Disassembly plate 15 Fitting 16 Supply line 17 Supply line 18 External thread of 15 19 Threaded sleeve of 1 20 Screen insert in 2 21 Opening 22 Outlet structure 23 Screen element in 3 24 Inlet of 2 25 Inlet of 3 26 Outlet of 2 27 Outlet of 3 28 Flow path through 2 29 Flow path through 3

Claims

1. A jet regulator (1) comprising two mutually separate ducts (2, 3) which are disposed inside one another, wherein an outer duct (2) of the two ducts (2, 3) is assigned a splitter unit (4) through which a water guide (5) of an inner duct (3) of the two ducts (2, 3) is inserted, wherein the water guide (5) of the inner duct (3) is latched in the splitter unit (4) and, as a result, is fixed in two axial directions with respect to a longitudinal axis of the jet regulator (1), characterized in that the splitter unit (4) has a splitter plate (14) or a diffusor, or is configured as a splitter plate (14) or diffusor.

2. The jet regulator (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the water guide (5) is a water guide sleeve and / or has a circumferential latching groove (6) in which the splitter unit (4), in a latched use position of the water guide (5), is disposed.

3. The jet regulator (1) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the latching groove (6) is axially delimited by two shoulders (7, 8) of the water guide (5) with respect to a longitudinal axis of the jet regulator (1), in particular wherein one of the two shoulders (7) has a lesser radial extent than the other shoulder (8), preferably wherein the shoulder (7) with a lesser radial extent is assigned a preferably downstream sloped ramp (9), in particular a conical ramp, by way of which the splitter unit (4) is able to be introduced into the latching groove (6).

4. The jet regulator (1) as claimed in one of claims 1 to 3, having an attachment screen (10) which by way of an anchoring element (11) is fastened to the splitter unit (4), wherein the anchoring element (11), on the outflow side, engages the splitter unit (4) from the rear.

5. The jet regulator (1) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the anchoring element (11) is the water guide (5) for the inner duct (3) of the jet regulator (1).

6. The jet regulator (1) as claimed in one of claims 4 or 5, wherein the anchoring element (11) has an in particular downstream shoulder (7) by way of which the anchoring element (11) on the outflow side engages the splitter unit (4) from the rear.

7. The jet regulator (1) as claimed in one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the anchoring element (11) penetrates the splitter unit (4) and / or the attachment screen (10).

8. The jet regulator (1) as claimed in one of claims 4 to 7, wherein the splitter unit (4) has an upstream step (12) by way of which the attachment screen (10) is axially fixed on the outflow side with respect to the longitudinal axis of the jet regulator (1).

9. The jet regulator (1) as claimed in one of claims 4 to 8, wherein the anchoring element (11) has a detent (13) by way of which the attachment screen (10) is axially secured on the inflow side, and / or in that the anchoring element (11) is releasably connected to the attachment screen (10).

10. The jet regulator (1) as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein the water guide (5), in the use position, terminates above a discharge structure (22) of the jet regulator (1), or is routed through a discharge structure (22) of the jet regulator (1).

11. The jet regulator (1) as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein a, preferably integrally molded, screen element (23) is disposed and / or configured in the water guide (5).

12. The jet regulator (1) as claimed in one of claims 4 to 9, or as claimed in claim 10 or 11 in each case with reference back to claim 4, wherein the jet regulator (1) in the region of the water guide (5) has at least one attachment screen (10) and / or at least one screen insert (20).

13. The jet regulator (1) as claimed in one of claims 4 to 12, wherein the splitter unit (4) and the attachment screen (10) are releasably or non-releasably connected to one another, in particular by way of a snap-fit connection, and / or wherein the anchoring element (11) is releasably or non-releasably connected to the splitter unit (4), in particular by way of a snap-fit connection.

14. The jet regulator (1) as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein the two ducts (2, 3) in each case have an inlet (24, 25) on the inflow side, wherein the inlets (24, 25) are mutually separate, and / or wherein the two ducts (2, 3) in each case have an outlet (26, 27) on the outflow side, wherein the outlets (26, 27) are mutually separate.

15. The jet regulator (1) as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein the two ducts (2, 3) are able to be simultaneously operated and / or provide separate flow paths (28, 29) and / or flow paths (28, 29) which are able to be utilized in a mutually independent manner.

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