Mixing cartridge with wedge-shaped vortex body

Abstract

A mixing cartridge (1) for a sanitary ware, comprising at least: a mixing chamber (2) with at least one hot water inlet (3) for hot water and at least one cold water inlet (4) for cold water; and a vortex member (5) for at least partially swirling the hot water and cold water in the mixing chamber (2), the vortex member (5) having a plurality of outer wedge-shaped vortex bodies (6) and a plurality of inner wedge-shaped vortex bodies (7).

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a mixing cartridge for a sanitary appliance, capable of mixing cold water and hot water into a mixed water having a desired mixed water temperature, the sanitary appliance being used in particular to supply the mixed water to a washbasin, a sink, a shower or a bathtub, as required.

[0002] A mixing cartridge is known in which the mixed water temperature of the mixed water can be adjusted by means of an elongated material element. Since the cold water and the hot water travel a very short distance to the elongated material element, the cold water and the hot water are often not well mixed when they reach the elongated material element. Due to the flow characteristics in the mixing cartridge, the temperature at the elongated material element is partially significantly different from the mixed water temperature of the (fully mixed) mixed water, so that the mixed water temperature cannot be optimally adjusted by the elongated material element.

[0003] The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a mixing cartridge for a sanitary appliance which at least partially overcomes the problems mentioned in relation to the prior art and in particular allows for better adjustment of the mixed water temperature of the mixed water.

[0004] This problem is solved by a mixing cartridge based on the features of the independent patent claims. Further advantageous configurations of the mixing cartridge are described in the dependent patent claims. It is noted that the features described individually in the dependent patent claims may each be combined with one another in any technically significant manner and define further configurations of the invention. Furthermore, the features described in the patent claims are defined and explained in more detail in the present specification, in which case further preferred configurations of the invention are also explained.

[0005] This requires at least the following components: a mixing chamber with at least one hot water inlet for hot water and at least one cold water inlet for cold water, a vortex member for at least partially swirling the hot and cold water in the mixing chamber, the vortex member having a plurality of outer wedge-shaped vortices and a plurality of inner wedge-shaped vortices; A mixing cartridge for sanitary appliances having the above structure contributes.

[0006] The mixing cartridge can be used in particular with sanitary fittings, which are used to supply mixed water to washbasins, sinks, showers or bathtubs, if required. For this purpose, the mixing cartridge can be supplied with cold water, in particular with a predefined cold water temperature, and hot water, in particular with a predefined hot water temperature. The cold water and the hot water can be mixed by the mixing cartridge into mixed water having the desired mixed water temperature. The mixed water temperature can be adjusted, in particular by an adjustment element of the mixing cartridge, for example in the form of an elongated material element. The cold water temperature is in particular up to 25°C (Celsius), preferably between 1°C and 25°C, particularly preferably between 5°C and 20°C, and / or the hot water temperature is in particular up to 90°C, preferably between 25°C and 90°C, particularly preferably between 55°C and 65°C. The mixing cartridge can be arranged, for example, in a fitting casing of the sanitary fitting. The fitting casing in particular consists at least partially of plastic and / or (cast) metal, for example brass. The appliance casing may be attachable to a support, such as a countertop, a sink, a washbasin, a bathtub or a shower.

[0007] The mixing cartridge has a mixing chamber in which hot and cold water can be mixed. The mixing chamber is formed in particular inside a (substantially) tubular and / or longitudinally extending casing of the mixing cartridge. At least one hot water inlet for hot water and at least one cold water inlet for cold water open into the mixing chamber. A vortex element is arranged in the mixing chamber, which is used to at least partially swirl the hot and cold water in the mixing chamber. For this purpose, the vortex element has a number of outer wedge-shaped vortex bodies and a number of inner wedge-shaped vortex bodies. The terms "outer" and "inner" refer in particular to the radial direction of the mixing cartridge or vortex element, i.e. in particular perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The outer wedge-shaped vortex body is thus arranged further outward in the radial direction than the inner wedge-shaped vortex body. However, the outer wedge-shaped vortex body and the inner wedge-shaped vortex body are arranged in particular immediately adjacent to each other in the radial direction or are in contact with each other. "Wedge-shaped" here means in particular that the vortex body has a pointed head or a pointed edge or a region. The vortex body widens from the pointed head or pointed edge or a pointed region, in particular in the flow direction of the cold and hot water and / or in the longitudinal direction of the mixing cartridge. In this case, the width of the vortex body increases in particular in the circumferential direction of the mixing cartridge. The thickness of the vortex body in the radial direction is in particular (substantially) constant. The longitudinal direction runs in particular parallel to the longitudinal axis. The vortex body may each be formed from two legs or feet starting from the pointed head (or pointed edge or pointed region) and running in a V-shape. The legs or feet may terminate in a foot at their ends located opposite the head. The individual outer wedge-shaped vortex body and the individual inner wedge-shaped vortex body are in particular formed identically. Furthermore, the vortex element may have, for example, 2-20 outer wedge vortices and / or 2-20 inner wedge vortices. The outer wedge vortices and the inner wedge vortices at least partially (radially) swirl the hot and cold water in the mixing chamber. Thereby, the inner flow layer (e.g. consisting of hot water) may be separated by the adjustment element and at least partially swirled together with the outer flow layer (e.g. consisting of cold water).This results in the average value of the temperature at the regulating element more accurately corresponding to the mixed water temperature after complete mixing of the hot and cold water, which improves the regulating properties of the mixing cartridge.

[0008] The outer wedge-shaped volutes and the inner wedge-shaped volutes can be formed on a sleeve, which is in particular of at least partially tubular design, and the outer wedge-shaped volutes and the inner wedge-shaped volutes are in particular formed on the inner circumferential surface of the sleeve.

[0009] The outer wedge vortex and the inner wedge vortex may be arranged in an annular shape.

[0010] The outer wedge-shaped volutes may be spaced apart from one another in the circumferential direction, which may mean that between each of the outer wedge-shaped volutes, a passage is formed through which hot and cold water can flow.

[0011] The inner wedge volutes may be spaced apart from one another in the circumferential direction, which may mean that between each of the inner wedge volutes, a passage is formed through which hot and cold water can flow.

[0012] The outer wedge-shaped vortex body and the inner wedge-shaped vortex body may be arranged offset relative to one another in the circumferential direction, which may in particular mean that the outer wedge-shaped vortex body and the inner wedge-shaped vortex body are not (perfectly) aligned with one another in the radial direction.

[0013] The inner wedge-shaped volute may be attached to the outer wedge-shaped volute, in particular the inner wedge-shaped volute may be connected to the outer wedge-shaped volute in a material-bonding manner, and furthermore the inner wedge-shaped volute is in particular (only) attached to the foot of a leg provided on the outer wedge-shaped volute.

[0014] The vortex element may surround an adjustment element for adjusting the mixed water temperature of the mixed water, which may in particular mean that the adjustment element extends through the vortex element, the adjustment element being in particular formed in the form of an elongated material element.

[0015] The vortex members may be arranged in a ring gap between the adjustment member and the casing of the mixing cartridge, with the outer wedge-shaped vortex body being radially in particular in contact with the casing and / or the inner wedge-shaped vortex body being radially in particular in contact with the adjustment member.

[0016] The mixing cartridge may have an adjustment slider for adjusting the flow rate of hot water through the hot water inlet and the flow rate of cold water through the cold water inlet, in which the adjustment slider is movable in the axial direction of the mixing cartridge by an adjustment member, in which a first number of cold water passages for cold water and a second number of hot water passages for hot water are formed, the first and second numbers being different from the third number of the outer wedge-shaped vortex bodies and the fourth number of the inner wedge-shaped vortex bodies. By means of the adjustment slider, the hot water inlet or hot water adjustment gap and the cold water inlet or cold water adjustment gap can be at least partially opened and closed, so that the mixing ratio between the hot water and the cold water can be controlled to adjust the mixed water temperature. The number of cold water passages and hot water passages different from the number of the outer and inner wedge-shaped vortex bodies results in different pitches between the outer and inner wedge-shaped vortex bodies and the cold water passages and hot water passages. This significantly improves the vortex of the hot water and the cold water.

[0017] In the following, the invention as well as the technical environment are explained in more detail on the basis of the drawings, which show one particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, to which it is pointed out that the invention is not limited thereto, in which identical components are provided with the same reference numerals. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view that illustrates a mixing cartridge. [Diagram 2] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating a sleeve of a mixing cartridge with a swirl member. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a detailed view that diagrammatically illustrates a mixing cartridge. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view that illustrates a sleeve and an adjustment slider of a mixing cartridge.

[0019] In FIG. 1, a mixing cartridge 1 is shown in a longitudinal section, with which cold water and hot water can be mixed to a mixed water having a predefined mixed water temperature. The mixing cartridge 1 has a casing 12, which is (substantially) tubular in shape and extends along a longitudinal axis 17 of the mixing cartridge 1. At least one hot water inlet 3 and at least one cold water inlet 4 are formed in the casing 12. The embodiment of the mixing cartridge shown here has a plurality of hot water inlets 3 and cold water inlets 4, which are distributed and arranged in the circumferential direction 9 of the casing 12 shown in FIG. 2. Hot water can be guided via the hot water inlet 3 and cold water can be guided via the cold water inlet 4 into a mixing chamber 2 of the mixing cartridge 1. The mixing chamber 2 is thus arranged downstream of the hot water inlet 3 and the cold water inlet 4 in the direction of water flow. The mixing chamber 2 starts in the area where the hot water and the cold water meet each other. In the mixing chamber 2, the hot water and the cold water can be mixed at least partially to a mixed water having a predefined mixed water temperature. A mixed water outlet 18 is arranged downstream of the mixing chamber 2 in the water flow direction, through which mixed water having a mixed water temperature can flow out of the mixing cartridge 1. From the mixed water outlet 18, the mixed water can be supplied, for example, to a sanitary appliance.

[0020] The mixed water temperature of the mixed water is determined by the mixing ratio between hot water and cold water and the mixing ratio between the hot water temperature of the hot water and the cold water temperature of the cold water. For adjusting the mixed water temperature, the mixing cartridge 1 has an operating member 19 connected to a screw member 20 by a screw fastening. By rotating the operating member 19, the screw member 20 is moved in the axial direction 14, i.e. parallel to the longitudinal axis 17, by the screw fastening. The movement of the screw member 20 in the axial direction 14 is transmitted to the adjustment member 10, which also moves the adjustment slider 13 in the axial direction 14. Depending on the position of the adjustment slider 13 in the axial direction, the hot water adjustment gap 22 and the cold water adjustment gap 23 can be alternately opened and closed. Depending on the position of the adjustment slider 13, corresponding amounts of hot water and cold water are introduced into the mixing cartridge 1 through the hot water adjustment gap 22 and the cold water adjustment gap 23, from which mixed water having a corresponding mixed water temperature is mixed. In this embodiment of the mixing cartridge 1, the hot water regulating gap 22 and the cold water regulating gap 23 extend in the circumferential direction 9 of the mixing cartridge 1 (see FIG. 2). The regulating member 10 may at least partially consist of a thermally expandable material. This results in that when the regulating member 10 is heated, it expands in particular in the axial direction 14, and when the regulating member 10 is cooled, it contracts in particular in the axial direction 14. This allows the regulating member 10 to keep the mixed water at a (substantially) constant mixed water temperature. For example, if an excessively large amount of hot water or an excessively small amount of cold water flows into the mixing cartridge 1, the regulating member 10 heats up and expands, which causes the regulating member 10 to move the regulating slider 13 in the axial direction 14 towards the mixed water outlet 18, so that the hot water regulating gap 22 is reduced and the cold water regulating gap 23 is enlarged. This results in less hot water and more cold water flowing into the mixing chamber 2. For example, when an extremely large amount of cold water or an extremely small amount of hot water flows into the mixing cartridge 1, the adjusting member 10 contracts, which causes the adjusting slider 13 to move away from the mixed water outlet 18, thereby expanding the hot water adjusting gap 22 and reducing the cold water adjusting gap 23. This allows more hot water and less cold water to flow into the mixing chamber 2.The adjustment member 10 has a first end 24 oriented in the axial direction 14 towards the mixed water outlet 18 and a second end 25 located opposite the first end 24 in the axial direction 14 and cooperating with the screw member 20. In the ring gap 11 between the adjustment member 10 and the casing 12 a sleeve 8 with a vortex element 5 is arranged, which is used to at least partially swirl the hot and cold water in the mixing chamber 2.

[0021] In FIG. 2, a sleeve 8 with a vortex member 5 is shown in a perspective view. The vortex member 5 is formed on a first end 26 of the long side of the sleeve 8 and has a number of outer wedge-shaped vortex bodies 6 and a number of inner wedge-shaped vortex bodies 7 in a radial direction 27, i.e. perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 17. Each vortex body 6, 7 has a head 28 and two legs 29 extending from the head 28, forming an angle 30 between the legs 29 (in the circumferential direction 9). The legs 29 each have a foot 31 at the end opposite to the head 28. Each outer wedge-shaped vortex body 6 and each inner wedge-shaped vortex body 7 are (substantially) identical. The outer wedge-shaped vortex body 6 is formed on the inner peripheral surface 32 of the sleeve 8, whereas the inner wedge-shaped vortex body 7 is attached with its foot 31 to the foot 31 of the outer wedge-shaped vortex body.

[0022] The sleeve 8, the outer wedge-shaped volute 6 and the inner wedge-shaped volute 7 are here one piece and are formed, for example, as plastic injection-molded components.

[0023] Furthermore, the outer wedge vortex body 6 and the inner wedge vortex body 7 are arranged in an annular manner around the longitudinal axis 17. Furthermore, the outer wedge vortex bodies 6 are arranged at intervals from one another in the circumferential direction 9, so that cold and hot water can flow between the individual outer wedge vortex bodies 6. The inner wedge vortex bodies 7 are also arranged at intervals from one another in the circumferential direction 9, so that cold and hot water can flow between the individual inner wedge vortex bodies 7. Furthermore, the outer wedge vortex body 6 and the inner wedge vortex body 7 are arranged offset from one another in the circumferential direction 9. This means, in particular, that the inner wedge vortex body 7 is not aligned with the outer wedge vortex body 6 in the radial direction 27. The inner wedge-shaped volute 7 is in contact with the outer peripheral surface 33 of the adjustment member 10 shown in FIG. 1 (in the radial direction 27), so that the inner wedge-shaped volute 7 closes the ring gap 11 in the radial direction 27.

[0024] Thus, the cold and hot water flowing into the mixing chamber 2 first encounters the heads 28 of the outer and inner wedge-shaped vortex bodies 6, 7 in the mixing chamber 2. The legs 29 of the outer and inner wedge-shaped vortex bodies 6, 7 then taper the flow cross section in the direction of the longitudinal axis 17, so that the cold and hot water flowing into the area of ​​the outer wedge-shaped vortex body 6 is at least partially (in the radial direction 27) swirled together with the cold and hot water flowing into the area of ​​the inner wedge-shaped vortex body 7. The swirled cold and hot water then leaves the vortex element 5 via passages 34 formed in the circumferential direction 9 between the respective outer and inner wedge-shaped vortex bodies 6, 7.

[0025] In Fig. 3, the mixing cartridge 1 is shown in an enlarged view in the area marked with a circle in Fig. 1. The hot water inlet 3 and the cold water inlet 4 of the casing 12 can be seen here. Starting from the hot water inlet 3, the hot water flows into the mixing chamber 2 through the hot water adjustment gap 22 and the hot water passage 16 of the adjustment slider 13. Correspondingly, starting from the cold water inlet 4, the cold water also flows into the mixing chamber 2 through the cold water adjustment gap 23 and the cold water passage 15 of the adjustment slider 13. The flow courses of the hot and cold water are indicated by arrows in Fig. 3. In the mixing chamber 2, the hot and cold water meet the vortex element 5 and are at least partially swirled in the radial direction 27 by the outer wedge-shaped vortex body 6 and the inner wedge-shaped vortex body 7.

[0026] In FIG. 4, the sleeve 8 and the adjusting slider 13 are shown in a cross-section along the section line IV-IV shown in FIG. 3. It can be seen that eight cold water channels 15 are formed in the adjusting slider 13, and that cold water flows from the cold water adjustment gap 23 shown in FIG. 3 through the cold water channels 15 into the vortex element 5. The individual cold water channels 15 are separated from one another by ribs 21. The hot water channels 16 of the adjusting slider 13 shown in FIG. 3 are formed substantially identically to the cold water channels 15 shown in FIG. 4. In particular, the adjusting slider 13 also has eight cold water channels 15. It can also be seen in FIG. 4 that the vortex element 5 has five outer wedge-shaped vortices 6 and five inner wedge-shaped vortices 7. The number of cold water channels and the number of hot water channels are therefore different from the number of outer wedge-shaped vortices 6 or the number of inner wedge-shaped vortices 7. This results in a different pitch between the vortex bodies 6, 7 and the adjusting slider 13, whereby a higher degree of vortexing of the hot and cold water is achieved.

[0027] The present invention provides improved control characteristics for the mixing cartridge. [Explanation of symbols]

[0028] 1 Mixed Cartridge 2 Mixing chamber 3 Hot water inlet 4 Cold water inlet 5 Vortex member 6 Outer wedge vortex 7. Inner wedge vortex 8 Sleeve 9 Circumferential direction 10 Adjustment member 11 Ring Gap 12 Casing 13 Adjustment slider 14 Axial direction 15 Cold water passage 16 Hot water passage 17 Longitudinal axis 18 Mixed water outlet 19 Operating member 20 Screw member 21 Ribs 22 Hot water adjustment gap 23 Cold water adjustment gap 24 First end 25 Second end 26 First end of long side 27 Radial 28 Head 29 Legs 30 angles 31 Foot 32 Inner surface 33 Outer surface 34 Passage

Claims

1. A mixing cartridge (1) for a sanitary appliance, comprising at least a mixing chamber (2) equipped with at least one hot water inlet (3) for hot water and at least one cold water inlet (4) for cold water, a vortex member (5) for at least partially swirling the hot and cold water in the mixing chamber (2), the vortex member (5) having a plurality of radially outer wedge-shaped vortices (6) and a plurality of radially inner wedge-shaped vortices (7) arranged radially inward of the plurality of radially outer wedge-shaped vortices (6); It has the plurality of radially outer wedge-shaped vortex bodies (6) and the plurality of radially inner wedge-shaped vortex bodies (7) each have a pointed head (28), the plurality of radially outer wedge-shaped vortex bodies (6) and the plurality of radially inner wedge-shaped vortex bodies (7) each are formed from two legs (29) extending in a V-shape starting from the pointed head (28), and a predetermined angle is formed between the two legs (29) in the circumferential direction (9) of the mixing cartridge (1); Mixing cartridge (1).

2. 2. The mixing cartridge (1) of claim 1, wherein the radially outer wedge-shaped volute (6) and the radially inner wedge-shaped volute (7) are formed in a sleeve (8).

3. 3. The mixing cartridge (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the radially outer wedge-shaped vortex body (6) and the radially inner wedge-shaped vortex body (7) are arranged in an annular manner.

4. 4. The mixing cartridge (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the radially outer wedge-shaped volutes (6) are spaced apart from one another in the circumferential direction (9).

5. 5. The mixing cartridge (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the radially inner wedge-shaped volutes (7) are spaced apart from one another in the circumferential direction (9).

6. 6. The mixing cartridge (1) according to claim 1, wherein the radially outer wedge-shaped vortex body (6) and the radially inner wedge-shaped vortex body (7) are arranged offset from one another in the circumferential direction (9).

7. 7. The mixing cartridge (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the radially inner wedge-shaped vortex body (7) is attached to the radially outer wedge-shaped vortex body (6).

8. The mixing cartridge (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the vortex member (5) surrounds a regulating member (10) for regulating the mixed water temperature.

9. 9. The mixing cartridge (1) according to claim 8, wherein the swirl member (5) is arranged in a ring gap (11) between the adjustment member (10) and a casing (12) of the mixing cartridge (1).

10. 10. The mixing cartridge (1) according to claim 8 or 9, further comprising an adjusting slider (13) for adjusting the flow rate of hot water through the hot water inlet (3) and the flow rate of cold water through the cold water inlet (4), the adjusting slider (13) being movable in the axial direction (14) of the mixing cartridge (1) by means of the adjusting member (10), and a first number of cold water passages (15) for cold water and a second number of hot water passages (16) for hot water are formed in the adjusting slider (13), the first number and the second number being different from a third number of the radially outer wedge-shaped vortex bodies (6) and a fourth number of the radially inner wedge-shaped vortex bodies (7).

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