Output device for outputting a liquid jet surrounded by an air flow

Abstract

The invention relates to an output device (10; 150) for outputting a liquid jet which is surrounded in a jacket-like manner by an air flow and which expands in a fan-like manner in a jet plane (100, 166), wherein the output device (10; 150) comprises a liquid discharge element (12; 152) with a flat jet nozzle (26; 164) for discharging the liquid jet (28, 168) and an air enclosing element (14; 154) for enclosing the liquid jet (28; 168) with an air flow, wherein the air enclosing element (14, 154) has a through channel (92; 192) and at least one air intake opening (102, 104; 202, 204), wherein the through channel (92; 192) has a receiving portion (96; 198) for receiving the liquid jet (28, 168) and an output portion (98; 200) for outputting the liquid jet (28; 168) and the air flow enclosing said liquid jet, wherein the output portion (98; 200) widens as it comes closer to an outlet opening (94; 196) in the jet plane (100; 166). In order to make the output device (10; 150) more user-friendly, it is proposed that the air enclosing element (14; 154) can be connected in a pluggable manner to the liquid discharge element (12; 152) in a predefined rotational position and can be locked by means of at least one locking element (122, 124; 218, 220), wherein a release element (126, 128; 248, 250) which can be actuated by the user is allocated to the locking element (122, 124; 218, 220) for releasing the lock.

Description

[0001] Dispensing device for discharging a liquid jet surrounded by an air flow

[0002] The invention relates to a dispensing device for dispensing a liquid jet which is surrounded by an air flow in the form of a jacket and widens in a fan-shaped manner in a jet plane, wherein the dispensing device comprises a liquid dispensing element with a flat jet nozzle for dispensing the liquid jet and an air enveloping element for enveloping the liquid jet with an air flow, wherein the air enveloping element has a through-channel and at least one air intake opening, wherein the through-channel has a receiving section for receiving the liquid jet and a dispensing section for dispensing the liquid jet and the air flow surrounding it, wherein the receiving section is in flow connection with the at least one air intake opening and the dispensing section extends to an outlet opening and widens in the jet plane as it approaches the outlet opening.

[0003] Liquid dispensing devices with a flat jet nozzle for dispensing a liquid jet that expands fan-shaped in a jet plane are used, for example, as accessories for pressure cleaning devices to cover an object to be cleaned with a fan-shaped liquid jet. The liquid dispensing devices can be designed, for example, as a jet pipe with an integrated flat jet nozzle. Pressurized water, for example, can be used as the liquid. Such flat jet nozzles are known from WO 2014 / 090333 A1.

[0004] The fan-shaped liquid jet emerging from the flat jet nozzle interacts with the ambient air on its way to the object to be cleaned. This slows down the liquid jet and causes it to lose compactness, thus impairing the achievable cleaning effect. To counteract this effect, JP 2004 223409 A proposes a dispensing device which, in addition to a liquid dispensing element in the form of a supply pipe carrying a flat jet nozzle at its free end, uses an air enveloping element to envelop the liquid jet with an air flow, whereby the air flow surrounds the liquid jet in a jacket-like manner. The supply pipe is welded to a retaining plate, which in turn is screwed to the air enveloping element. The air enveloping element has a housing with a through-channel that extends through the housing.The through-channel has a receiving section and an output section. The receiving section receives the liquid jet emanating from the flat jet nozzle and is in flow communication with two air intake openings. The output section extends to an outlet opening of the through-channel and widens in the jet plane as it approaches the outlet opening. Under the action of the liquid jet, air is sucked into the through-channel via the air intake openings, forming an air jacket that surrounds the liquid jet and can be discharged together with the liquid jet via the outlet opening. The air jacket reduces the interaction of the liquid jet with the ambient air, particularly reducing the deceleration of the liquid jet and lessening its compactness.Using the air enclosure, the liquid jet emanating from the flat jet nozzle of the liquid dispensing device can be enveloped in a sheath-like air flow, thereby reducing the interaction of the liquid jet with the ambient air. This can increase the achievable cleaning performance. However, attaching the air enclosure to the liquid dispensing device is not very user-friendly.

[0005] The object of the present invention is therefore to make a dispensing device of the generic type more user-friendly. This object is achieved according to the invention in a dispensing device of the type mentioned above in that the air-enveloping element can be plugged into the liquid dispensing element in a predetermined rotational position relative to the liquid dispensing element and can be locked to the liquid dispensing element by means of at least one locking element. A user-operable release element for releasing the locking element is associated with the locking element.

[0006] The pluggable connection of the air-enveloping element to the liquid dispensing element facilitates the attachment of the air-enveloping element to the liquid dispensing element. To ensure that the alignment of the dispensing section aligns with the jet plane of the fan-shaped, expanding liquid jet, so that the liquid jet does not come into contact with the wall of the dispensing section as it flows through it, but maintains a distance from the wall of the dispensing section despite its increasing expansion, the air-enveloping element can be plugged into the liquid dispensing element in a predetermined rotational position relative to the liquid dispensing element.

[0007] In order to prevent the plug connection between the air enclosure element and the liquid dispensing element from becoming accidentally loose, the air enclosure element can be locked to the liquid dispensing element using at least one locking element.

[0008] If the air enclosure needs to be separated from the liquid dispensing device, the user can release the locking mechanism by pressing the release button associated with the locking element. The user must therefore consciously release the locking mechanism, thus preventing unintentional detachment of the air enclosure from the liquid dispensing device.

[0009] It is advantageous if the air-enveloping element can be automatically locked to the liquid dispensing element. For example, it can be provided that an end section of the air-enveloping element assigned to the liquid dispensing element can be inserted into a complementarily designed end section of the liquid dispensing element and can be automatically locked in the inserted position with the aid of the at least one locking element. With such a configuration, the user can insert the end section of the air-enveloping element facing the liquid dispensing element into the complementarily designed end section of the liquid dispensing element in a predetermined rotational position. When the plug-in connection is established, the air-enveloping element is automatically locked to the liquid dispensing element.

[0010] It is advantageous if the air-enveloping element can be plugged into the liquid dispensing element against a spring-elastic restoring force. In such an embodiment of the invention, the plug connection between the air-enveloping element and the liquid dispensing element is established against a spring-elastic restoring force. If the air-enveloping element is to be separated from the liquid dispensing element again, the user can actuate the at least one release element, thereby releasing the locking mechanism. Once the locking mechanism has been released, the spring-elastic restoring force assists in separating the plug connection between the air-enveloping element and the liquid dispensing element. This facilitates handling of the dispensing device.

[0011] It is particularly advantageous if the at least one locking element can be subjected to a locking force under the action of the spring-elastic restoring force while the locking is in place. The locking force secures the at least one locking element in a locking position. To release the locking, the user can exert a release force on the at least one locking element that is opposite to the locking force by actuating the at least one release element in order to release the locking and separate the air-enveloping element from the liquid dispensing element. It is advantageous if the dispensing device has several locking elements that preferably automatically assume a locking position when the plug-in connection between the air-enveloping element and the liquid dispensing element is established, wherein each locking element is assigned a release element that can be actuated by the user.

[0012] It is advantageous if the at least one locking element is integrally connected to the associated release element. In such a configuration, each locking element, in combination with a release element associated with the locking element, forms a one-piece component, in particular a molded plastic part.

[0013] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the at least one locking element forms a latching element that can be moved back and forth between a locking position configured as a latching position and a release position. This facilitates handling of the dispensing device when establishing and separating the plug connection between the air enclosure element and the liquid dispensing element.

[0014] The at least one locking element is advantageously designed as a locking hook, which, in a locking position, engages behind a locking projection associated with the locking element and releases the locking projection in a release position. A release element is associated with the locking hook. By actuating the release element, the locking hook can be moved from its locking position to its release position, so that the plug connection between the air-enveloping element and the liquid dispensing element can then be released.

[0015] Alternatively, it can be provided, for example, that the at least one locking element is designed as a locking tongue which has a recess for at least partially receiving a locking projection associated with the locking tongue, wherein the locking projection has a blocking element and the recess has an undercut surface, and wherein the blocking element bears against the undercut surface when the locking tongue is locked. Such a configuration enables the air-enveloping element to be locked to the liquid dispensing element in a manner that is particularly mechanically resilient. For locking, the recess of the at least one locking tongue at least partially receives the associated locking projection, wherein the blocking element of the locking projection comes into contact with the undercut surface of the recess, so that the locking tongue engages behind the blocking element in the locked position and thus cannot inadvertently detach from the locking projection.

[0016] It is advantageous if the locking projection has a guide surface, wherein the locking tongue can be moved along the guide surface when establishing the plug connection between the air enveloping element and the liquid dispensing element.

[0017] The guide surface is advantageously aligned at an acute angle to a longitudinal axis of the dispensing device, and the locking element adjoins the guide surface in the insertion direction of the air-enveloping element. When the plug-in connection is established, the locking tongue can slide along the guide surface, which guides the locking tongue to the locking element. The locking projection can then engage the recess of the locking tongue, and the locking element can come into contact with the undercut surface of the locking tongue.

[0018] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the air-enveloping element or the liquid-dispensing element comprises a housing with at least one elastically deformable side wall, wherein a locking element and a release element associated with the locking element are arranged on the side wall. By actuating the release element, the elastically deformable side wall can be subjected to an actuating force.

[0019] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the side wall can be deformed by actuating the release element to such an extent that the locking element arranged on the side wall moves from its locking position into its release position.

[0020] It is advantageous if the release element protrudes from the side wall and forms an actuating surface oriented obliquely to a longitudinal axis of the dispensing device. This allows the user to easily apply an actuating force to the side wall, which has both a force component oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis of the dispensing device and a force component oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the dispensing device. This, in turn, makes it possible to displace the housing, which has at least one side wall, along the longitudinal axis to establish a plug-in connection and to elastically deform the side wall.

[0021] It is particularly advantageous if the elastically deformable side wall is integrally connected to the release element and the locking element. In such a configuration, the elastically deformable side wall, in combination with a release element and a locking element, forms a one-piece component, in particular a molded plastic part.

[0022] It is advantageous if the plastic molded part is made of a glass-fiber-reinforced plastic material. It is advantageous if the glass fiber content is at least 30%.

[0023] It is particularly advantageous if the housing has two opposing, elastically deformable side walls, on each of which a locking element and an associated release element are arranged. The opposing, elastically deformable side walls can be pressed together by means of the release elements. Advantageously, the housing having the side walls can also be axially displaced by means of the release elements. This facilitates handling of the dispensing device when detaching the air enclosure element from the liquid dispensing element. It is advantageous if the housing has a bottom wall and a top wall, wherein the elastically deformable side walls are arranged at a distance from one another between the top wall and the bottom wall and are held on the top wall and / or the bottom wall.In such a configuration, the side walls can form elastically deformable tongues that close the housing laterally and are held on the ceiling wall and / or the bottom wall.

[0024] Preferably, the elastically deformable side walls each have a first retaining element and a second retaining element, wherein the first retaining element forms a positive connection with a complementarily configured retaining element of the ceiling wall, and the second retaining element forms a positive connection with a complementarily configured retaining element of the floor wall. By means of the retaining elements, the elastically deformable side walls can be secured to the ceiling wall and the floor wall in a structurally simple manner.

[0025] In particular, it can be provided that the holding elements of the side walls are designed as holding ribs, which each pass through a holding slot of the ceiling wall or the floor wall, forming a positive connection.

[0026] Preferably, the housing having the elastically deformable side walls forms a housing for the air-enveloping element and surrounds the through-channel. The housing comprises a rear wall facing the liquid-dispensing element, which has two spaced-apart openings, each of which is penetrated by a locking element protruding from the rear wall. When establishing the plug-in connection between the air-enveloping element and the liquid-dispensing element, the locking elements protruding from the rear wall of the housing of the air-enveloping element can interact with complementarily designed locking elements of the liquid-dispensing element to form locking connections.

[0027] In particular, it can be provided that the locking elements of the air-enveloping element each interact with a locking projection of the liquid dispensing element to form a locking connection. By actuating the release element associated with the respective locking element, the locking elements can be moved by the user from their locking position to their release position, so that the plug connection between the air-enveloping element and the liquid dispensing element can be released if necessary.

[0028] It is advantageous if a sleeve is arranged on the rear wall of the housing of the air-enveloping device between the openings, and the liquid-dispensing device has a receptacle on a front side facing the air-enveloping device, into which the sleeve can be inserted. The sleeve and the receptacle thus form plug-in connecting elements, by means of which the air-enveloping device can be plugged into the liquid-dispensing device.

[0029] To facilitate the insertion of the sleeve of the air-enveloping element into the receptacle of the liquid dispensing element in the predetermined rotational position, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the sleeve of the air-enveloping element has at least one guide member which, when the sleeve is inserted into the receptacle of the liquid dispensing element, can be positively connected to a complementarily designed guide member of the liquid dispensing element. The formation of the positive connection imparts high mechanical strength to the plug-in connection between the air-enveloping element and the liquid dispensing element and simultaneously ensures that the air-enveloping element is connected to the liquid dispensing element at the correct angle of rotation, so that the output section of the through-channel of the air-enveloping element is aligned coplanar with the jet plane of the liquid jet emanating from the flat jet nozzle.The at least one guide member thus forms a coding member which ensures that the air enveloping member can be plugged into the liquid dispensing member in the predetermined rotational position relative to the liquid dispensing member.

[0030] Preferably, the sleeve has two opposing guide members, each of which can be positively connected to a complementarily designed guide member of the liquid dispensing device. The provision of two opposing guide members further simplifies the insertion of the sleeve into the receptacle of the liquid dispensing device.

[0031] The guide members are preferably arranged on the outside of the sleeve.

[0032] It is particularly advantageous if the guide members each have two parallel guide ribs that extend to the rear wall of the housing of the air-enveloping device, with an end region of a locking element that passes through an opening in the rear wall being arranged between the guide ribs. The guide ribs thus not only ensure the correct alignment of the air-enveloping device with respect to the rotation angle when inserting the sleeve into the receptacle of the liquid dispensing device, but they also reduce the risk of the end region of a locking element protruding from the rear wall being damaged when inserting the sleeve into the receptacle.

[0033] It is particularly advantageous if the sleeve has two opposing flats and the liquid dispensing member has two spaced-apart projections on the front side, which receive the sleeve between them in a mouth-like manner and can each be placed against a flat. Such a design of the dispensing device according to the invention enables intuitive operation when connecting the air-enveloping member to the liquid dispensing member, in that the user only has to ensure that they align the air-enveloping member relative to the liquid dispensing member in such a way that the sleeve of the air-enveloping member can be inserted between the two projections of the liquid dispensing member, so that the projections receive the sleeve between them in a mouth-like manner.

[0034] The outlet opening of the through-channel is arranged on an end wall of the air enclosure element. To prevent damage to the outlet opening, in an advantageous embodiment of the invention, at least one impact protection element is arranged on the end wall, for example, an impact protection rib protruding from the end wall.

[0035] It is particularly advantageous if two impact protection elements are arranged on the front wall, between which the outlet opening is positioned.

[0036] Advantageously, the impact protection elements extend from an end region of the ceiling wall facing away from the liquid dispensing device over the end wall to an end region of the bottom wall of the housing of the air-enveloping device facing away from the liquid dispensing device.

[0037] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the liquid dispensing device comprises a jet pipe with a first end region, at which a connecting member for connection to a liquid supply part is arranged, and with a second end region, at which the flat jet nozzle is arranged in a rotationally fixed manner. For example, a spray gun can be used as the liquid supply part, to which the liquid dispensing device can be connected and which is supplied with pressurized cleaning liquid from a pressure cleaning device via a pressure hose. Alternatively, a pressure hose can also be used as the liquid supply part, via which pressurized liquid from a pressure cleaning device can be provided to the liquid dispensing device.

[0038] It is advantageous if the jet pipe accommodates the flat jet nozzle in a form-fitting manner at the second end section. This ensures a rotationally fixed alignment of the flat jet nozzle relative to the jet pipe in a simple design.

[0039] As already mentioned, it is advantageous if the air-enveloping device has a housing with at least one elastically deformable side wall, on which a locking element and a release element associated with it are arranged. It is advantageous if the liquid dispensing device has a housing shell that surrounds the jet pipe in the circumferential direction and has, on its inner side adjacent to the second end region of the jet pipe, at least one locking projection that cooperates with a locking element to form a locking connection.

[0040] The following description of preferred embodiments of the invention serves to explain it in more detail in conjunction with the drawings. They show:

[0041] Figure 1: a perspective view of a first embodiment of a dispensing device for dispensing a liquid jet surrounded by an air flow and expanding fan-shaped in a jet plane, with a liquid dispensing element and an air enveloping element;

[0042] Figure 2: a side view of the dispensing device from Figure 1;

[0043] Figure 3: a perspective view of the air enclosure member of the dispensing device from Figure 1, viewed diagonally from the front;

[0044] Figure 4: a perspective view of the air enclosure member of the dispensing device from Figure 1, viewed diagonally from behind;

[0045] Figure 5: a perspective view of the air-enveloping element of the dispensing device from Figure 1, with a view of an elastically deformable side wall; Figure 6: a perspective view corresponding to Figure 5, with the elastically deformable side wall hidden;

[0046] Figure 7: a perspective view of the elastically deformable side wall from Figure 5;

[0047] Figure 8: a perspective view of the liquid dispensing element of the dispensing device from Figure 1, viewed diagonally from the front;

[0048] Figure 9: a perspective sectional view of the air enclosure member and an end region of the liquid dispensing member of the dispensing device from Figure 1;

[0049] Figure 10: a perspective view of a second embodiment of a dispensing device for dispensing a liquid jet surrounded by an air flow and expanding fan-shaped in a jet plane, with a liquid dispensing element and an air enveloping element;

[0050] Figure 11: a plan view of a portion of the dispensing device from Figure 10;

[0051] Figure 12: a perspective view of the air enclosure member of the dispensing device from Figure 10, viewed diagonally from behind;

[0052] Figure 13: a perspective view of an elastically deformable side wall of the air-enveloping element from Figure 12;

[0053] Figure 14: a perspective sectional view of the air-enveloping member and an end region of the liquid application member of the dispensing device from Figure 10, wherein the air-enveloping member assumes a locking position; Figure 15: an enlarged partial sectional view of the air-enveloping member and the liquid dispensing member during the establishment of a plug-in connection between the air-enveloping member and the liquid dispensing member, wherein the air-enveloping member assumes a first intermediate position;

[0054] Figure 16: an enlarged partial sectional view corresponding to Figure 15, wherein the air enveloping member assumes a second intermediate position;

[0055] Figure 17: an enlarged partial sectional view corresponding to Figure 15, wherein the air-enveloping member assumes a third intermediate position;

[0056] Figure 18: an enlarged partial sectional view corresponding to Figure 15, wherein the air enveloping member assumes the locking position.

[0057] Figures 1 to 9 schematically illustrate a first advantageous embodiment of a dispensing device according to the invention for dispensing a fan-shaped, expanding liquid jet surrounded by an air flow in a jacket-like manner and designated overall by the reference numeral 10. The dispensing device 10 comprises a liquid dispensing element 12 and an air enveloping element 14, which can be plugged together and locked together in a predetermined rotational position. With the aid of the liquid dispensing element 12, a liquid jet can be provided that expands fan-shaped in a jet plane and can be enveloped by a jacket-shaped air flow with the aid of the air enveloping element 14.

[0058] As is particularly clear from Figure 8, the liquid dispensing element 12 has a jet pipe 16 with a first end region 18 and a second end region 20. A connecting member 22 is arranged at the first end region 18, by means of which the liquid dispensing element 12 can be detachably connected to a liquid supply part, for example a spray gun, which is known per se and therefore not shown in the drawing for the sake of clarity. In the first embodiment shown, the connecting member 22 is designed as a bayonet connecting member 24.

[0059] A flat jet nozzle 26 is arranged in a rotationally fixed manner at the second end region 20 of the jet pipe 16, wherein the flat jet nozzle 26 is positively received by the jet pipe 16. Via the liquid supply part (not shown in the drawing), pressurized liquid, in particular a cleaning liquid, can be supplied to the liquid dispensing element 12, which can be discharged by means of the flat jet nozzle 26 in the form of a liquid jet 28 expanding fan-shaped in a jet plane 100. Such flat jet nozzles are known to the person skilled in the art, for example, from WO 2014 / 090333 A1. The liquid jet 28 expanding fan-shaped in the jet plane 100 is shown in dashed lines in Figure 9.

[0060] The jet pipe 16 is surrounded by a housing shell 30 which is formed by two half-shells 32, 34 which can be screwed together and which has, on its front side 36 facing the air-enveloping element 14, a receptacle 38 in the form of an annular space 40 which surrounds the second end region 20 of the jet pipe 16 in the circumferential direction and has two opposite, radially outwardly directed extensions 42, 44 which form guide members of the liquid dispensing element 12 which are explained in more detail below.

[0061] On the front side 36, the housing shell 30 has two projections 46, 48 arranged at a distance from one another, which delimit between them two opposite insertion openings 50, 52, each of which is arranged in front of an extension 42 or 44. This is particularly clear from Figure 8. The air enclosure member 14 has a housing 54 with a top wall 56 and a bottom wall 58 as well as an end wall 60 facing away from the liquid dispensing member 12 and a rear wall 62 facing the liquid dispensing member 12, as well as two opposing, elastically deformable side walls 64, 66, which are arranged between the top wall 56 and the bottom wall 58 and, in the illustrated embodiment, each extend from the end wall 60 to the rear wall 62.

[0062] A sleeve 68 is formed on the rear wall 62, which is arranged between two openings 70, 72 in the rear wall 62 and carries on its outer side two guide members 74, 76, each formed by two parallel guide ribs 78, 80 and 82, 84, respectively. The guide ribs 78, 80, 82, 84 extend from the free end 86 of the sleeve 68 to the rear wall 62 of the housing 54 of the air enclosure member 14, with the openings 70, 72 in the rear wall 62 each being positioned between two guide ribs 78, 80 and 82, 84, respectively.

[0063] In the circumferential area between the guide members 74, 76, the sleeve 68 has two opposing flattened portions 88, 90 on its outer side. This is clearly visible in Figures 3 to 6.

[0064] The housing 54 of the air enveloping member 14 surrounds a through-channel 92 which extends from the free end 86 of the sleeve 68 to an outlet opening 94 of the air enveloping member 14 which is arranged on the end wall 60 of the housing 54.

[0065] As is particularly clear from Figure 9, the through-channel 92 has a receiving section 96 which receives the liquid jet 28 provided by the flat jet nozzle 26 and which is followed, in the flow direction of the liquid jet 28, by an output section 98 which extends to the outlet opening 94 and widens as it approaches the outlet opening 94 in the jet plane 100 defined by the liquid jet 28. The widening of the output section 98 ensures that the fan-shaped liquid jet 28 emitted by the flat jet nozzle 26 is not impaired by the through-channel 92; rather, the liquid jet 28 maintains a distance from the wall of the through-channel 92.

[0066] At the level of the receiving section 96, the side walls 64, 66 of the housing 54 each have an air intake opening 102 or 104, respectively, to which an air intake duct 106 or 108 pointing into the interior of the housing 54 is connected.

[0067] Within the receiving section 96, a negative pressure is formed under the effect of the liquid jet 28, so that air is sucked into the receiving section 96 via the air intake openings 102, 104 and the air intake channels 106, 108, which air surrounds the liquid jet 28 in the form of an air jacket in the circumferential direction and is discharged together with the liquid jet 28 via the outlet opening 94.

[0068] The liquid jet 28 emitted by the dispensing device 10 is thus surrounded by a jacket-like air flow which reduces the interaction of the liquid jet 28 with the ambient air, so that the deceleration of the liquid jet 28 can be reduced and the compactness of the liquid jet 28 is little affected by the ambient air.

[0069] The output section 98 and an end region of the receiving section 96 immediately upstream of the output section 98 are defined by a stirring piece 110, which is surrounded by the housing 54 and is held by means of holding members 112, 114 on the top wall 56 and the bottom wall 58 of the housing 54. This is particularly clear from Figure 6.

[0070] As already mentioned, the side walls 64, 66 of the housing 54 extend from the end wall 60 to the rear wall 62. At a short distance from the end wall 60, the side walls 64, 66 each have a first holding element in the form of a first holding rib 116 facing the top wall 56 and a second holding element in the form of a second holding rib 118 facing the bottom wall 58. The first holding rib 116 forms a positive connection with a complementarily designed holding element in the form of a holding slot 120 in the top wall 56, wherein the first holding rib 116 extends through the holding slot 120. In a corresponding manner, the second retaining rib 118 forms a positive connection with a complementarily designed retaining element in the form of a retaining slot, not shown in the drawing, of the bottom wall 58, wherein the second retaining rib 118 extends through the retaining slot of the bottom wall 58.

[0071] Adjoining the air intake openings 102, 104 of the side walls 64, 66 in the direction away from the end wall 60 is a locking element in the form of a latching element, which in the illustrated first embodiment is designed as latching hooks 122 and 124, respectively. The latching hooks 122, 124 each extend through an opening 70, 72 in the rear wall 62 and extend into the area between two guide ribs 78, 80 and 82, 84, respectively. This is clearly shown in Figures 4, 5, and 9.

[0072] In the direction of the end wall 60, a release element 126, 128 is connected to the air intake openings 102, 104 of the side walls 64, 66, which is configured in the form of a material thickening of the respective side wall 64, 66 and protrudes outwardly from the respective side wall 64, 66. This is particularly evident in Figures 3 and 4.

[0073] The air-enveloping element 14 can be plugged into the liquid-dispensing element 12 in a predetermined rotational position and releasably latched to the liquid-dispensing element 12. To establish the plug-in connection, the sleeve 68 of the air-enveloping element 14 can be inserted into the receptacle 38 of the liquid-dispensing element 12, wherein the sleeve 68 is received in a mouth-like manner by the projections 46, 48 of the housing shell 30 of the liquid-dispensing element 12, and the guide members 74, 76 arranged on the outer side of the sleeve 68 are each received by an extension 42 or 44 of the receptacle 38. The free end regions of the locking hooks 122, 124 are automatically locked in place by engaging behind a locking projection 130 or 132 arranged in the extensions 42, 44. The attachment of the air enclosure element 14 to the liquid dispensing element 12 is thus very easy for the user.If the user wishes to detach the air-enveloping element 14 from the liquid dispensing element 12, they simply need to press the release elements 126, 128 together. This causes the side walls 64, 66 and, with them, the locking hooks 122, 124 to pivot into the interior of the housing 54, so that the locking hooks 122, 124 are moved from their locking position into a release position, in which they release the respective locking projection 130, 132, allowing the air-enveloping element 14 to be separated from the liquid dispensing element 12.

[0074] With the aid of the air-enveloping element 14, the fan-shaped liquid jet 28 provided by the liquid dispensing element 12 can be surrounded by an air flow, thereby providing a compact liquid jet that can be guided along an object to be cleaned. To prevent the outlet opening 94 from being damaged when the dispensing device 10 is guided along the object to be cleaned, two impact protection elements in the form of impact protection ribs 134, 136 are arranged on the end wall 60. Each of these elements extends from a first retaining rib 116 of a side wall 64, 66, protruding from the top wall 56, to a retaining rib of the side wall 64, 66, protruding from the bottom wall 58.

[0075] The dispensing device 10 is thus characterized by its ease of use and low susceptibility to malfunction. The user has the option of directing the fan-shaped liquid jet provided by the liquid dispensing device 12 directly onto an object to be cleaned without using the air-enveloping device 14 or of surrounding it with a jacket-shaped air flow using the air-enveloping device 14. Figures 10 to 18 schematically illustrate a second advantageous embodiment of a dispensing device according to the invention for dispensing a fan-shaped, expanding liquid jet surrounded by an air flow in a jacket-like manner and designated overall by the reference numeral 150. The dispensing device 150 is configured largely identically to the dispensing device 10 described above with reference to Figures 1 to 9.For identical components, the same reference numerals are used in Figures 10 to 18 as in Figures 1 to 9, and with regard to these components, reference is made to the above explanations to avoid repetition.

[0076] The dispensing device 150 comprises a liquid dispensing member 152 and an air enveloping member 154, which can be plugged together and locked together in a predetermined rotational position. With the aid of the liquid dispensing member 152, in the same manner as with the aid of the previously explained liquid dispensing member 12, a liquid jet can be provided that expands fan-shaped in a jet plane 166, which can be enveloped by a jacket-shaped air flow with the aid of the air enveloping member 154. The jet plane 166 is shown in dashed lines in Figure 14.

[0077] The liquid dispensing element 152 has a jet pipe 156, which is identically designed to the jet pipe 16 already described above. The jet pipe 156 also has a bayonet connecting element 160 at a first end region 158 and a flat jet nozzle 164 at a second end region 162. A liquid supply part, for example a spray gun, can be connected to the bayonet connecting element 160 in order to supply the liquid dispensing element 152 with pressurized liquid, in particular pressurized cleaning liquid, which can be discharged via the flat jet nozzle 164 in the form of a liquid jet 168 expanding fan-shaped in the jet plane 166.The jet pipe 156 is surrounded by a housing shell 170, which is formed by two half-shells 172, 174 which can be screwed together and whose front side facing the air-enveloping element 154 is designed identically to the front side 36 of the housing shell 30 of the jet pipe 16 already explained above. To avoid repetition, reference is made to the above explanations in this regard.

[0078] The air enclosure member 154 has a housing 176 with a top wall 178 and a bottom wall 180 as well as a rear wall 182 facing the liquid dispensing member 152 and an end wall 184 facing away from the liquid dispensing member 152. Two opposing, elastically deformable side walls 186, 188 are arranged between the top wall 178 and the bottom wall 180.

[0079] A sleeve 190 is formed on the rear wall 182 in the same way as on the rear wall 62 of the first advantageous embodiment already explained above, which sleeve is designed largely identically to the sleeve 68 already explained above. In this regard, reference is made to the above explanations to avoid repetition.

[0080] The housing 176 of the air-enveloping member 154 surrounds a through-channel 192 that extends from a free end 194 of the sleeve 190 to an outlet opening 196 of the air-enveloping member 194, which is arranged on the end wall 184 of the housing 176. In a manner corresponding to the above-explained through-channel 92 of the first advantageous embodiment, the through-channel 192 of the second advantageous embodiment has a receiving section 198 that receives the liquid jet provided by the flat jet nozzle 164 and, in the flow direction of the liquid jet 168, is adjoined by an output section 200 that extends to the outlet opening 196 and widens as it approaches the outlet opening 196 in the jet plane 166 defined by the liquid jet 168.At the level of the receiving section 198, the side walls 186, 188 each have an air intake opening 202, 204, to which an air intake duct 206, 208 pointing into the interior of the housing 176 is connected.

[0081] Within the receiving section 198, a negative pressure is formed under the effect of the liquid jet 168, so that air is sucked into the receiving section 198 via the air intake openings 202, 204 and the air intake channels 206, 208, which air surrounds the liquid jet 168 in the circumferential direction and is discharged together with the liquid jet 168 via the outlet opening 196.

[0082] The liquid jet 168 emitted by the dispensing device 150 is thus surrounded by a jacket-like air flow in the same way as the liquid jet 28 emitted by the dispensing device 10, which reduces the interaction of the liquid jet 168 with the ambient air, so that the deceleration of the liquid jet 168 can be reduced and the compactness of the liquid jet 168 is little affected by the ambient air.

[0083] The side walls 186, 188 extend from the end wall 184 to the rear wall 182 and, in the same way as the side walls 64, 66 explained above with reference to the first advantageous embodiment, each have a first holding rib 210 facing the top wall 178 and a second holding rib 212 facing the bottom wall 180, wherein the first holding rib 210 forms a positive connection with a complementarily designed holding slot 214 of the top wall 178 and wherein the second holding rib 212 forms a positive connection with a complementarily designed holding slot (not shown in the drawing) of the bottom wall 178, wherein the holding ribs 210, 212 reach through the respectively assigned holding slot.

[0084] Adjoining the air intake openings 202, 204 of the side walls 186, 188 in the direction away from the end wall 184 is a locking element in the form of a latching element, which in the second embodiment shown is designed as a latching tongue 218 or 220. The latching tongues 218, 220 each extend through an opening 222 or 223 arranged on the rear wall 182, between which the sleeve 190 is arranged.

[0085] The locking tongues 218, 220 each have a recess 224 and 225, respectively, which is designed in the form of a through-opening and forms an undercut surface 226, 228 at its front end facing away from the rear wall 182, wherein the two undercut surfaces 226, 228 are opposite one another. This is particularly evident in Figures 16 and 17.

[0086] The locking tongues 218, 220 are each assigned a locking projection 230 and 232 on the inside of the half-shells 172, 174 of the housing shell 170 of the liquid dispensing member 152. The locking projections 230, 232 each have a guide surface 234, 236, to which a wedge-shaped locking element 238, 240 is connected.

[0087] The air-enveloping element 154 can be plugged into the liquid-dispensing element 152 in a predetermined rotational position and releasably locked to the liquid-dispensing element 152. To establish the plug-in connection, the sleeve 190 of the air-enveloping element 154 can be inserted into the housing shell 170 of the liquid-dispensing element 152, wherein the sleeve 190 is received in a mouth-like manner by projections 46, 48 of the housing shell 170 in a manner similar to the sleeve 68 of the first advantageous embodiment. To avoid repetition, reference is made to the above explanations in this regard.

[0088] When the sleeve 190 is inserted, its free end 194 engages a return spring 242 of the liquid dispensing member 152, which is arranged between the half-shell 174 and the jet pipe 156 and applies an elastic return force to the sleeve 190 that is opposite to the insertion direction. At the same time, the free ends of the locking tongues 218, 220 each engage a guide surface 230 and 236, respectively. This is particularly evident in Figure 15.

[0089] As the sleeve 190 is further inserted, the locking tongues 218, 220, together with the elastically deformable side walls 186, 188, are elastically pivoted into the interior of the housing 176 of the liquid dispensing member 152 and then slide with their front end region along the locking elements 238, 240. After reaching the free end of the locking elements 238, 240, the locking tongues 218, 220 and the side walls 186, 188 pivot back to their original position under the effect of their elastic deformation, so that the locking projections 230, 232 each engage a recess 222 or 224 of the locking tongues 218, 220. This is particularly evident in Figures 16 and 17.

[0090] The sleeve 190 can be inserted into the housing shell 170 of the liquid dispensing member 152 until the rear wall 182 of the housing 176 of the air-enveloping member 154 rests against the front side 246 of the housing shell 170. This is clearly shown in Figure 16.

[0091] Under the action of the resilient restoring force of the return spring 252, the air-enveloping member 154 can now be moved counter to the insertion direction. This results in the undercut surfaces 226, 228 of the locking tongues 218, 220 coming into contact with the opposite outer sides of the locking elements 238, 240, so that the locking elements 238, 240 engage behind the locking tongues 218, 220 in the area of ​​the undercut surfaces 226, 228, and the locking tongues 218, 220 assume their locking position. The air-enveloping member 154 is thus locked to the liquid dispensing member 152. This is particularly evident in Figures 14 and 18.

[0092] If the air enclosure member 154 is to be separated from the liquid dispensing member 152, the user can actuate two release elements 248, 250, which adjoin the air intake openings 202, 204 of the side walls 186, 188 in the direction of the end wall 184. The release elements 248, 250 are designed in the form of material thickenings of the respective side walls 186, 188 and protrude obliquely outward from the side walls 186, 188, so that they each form an actuating surface 256 or 258 aligned obliquely to a longitudinal axis 252 of the dispensing device 150. This allows the user to easily apply an actuating force to the respective side wall 186, 188, which has both a force component aligned parallel to the longitudinal axis 252 and a force component aligned perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 252.The user can grasp the air-enveloping element 154 at the actuating surfaces 256, 258 and, to release the locking mechanism, move it axially in the insertion direction against the resilient return force of the return spring 242 until the rear wall 182 again rests against the front side 246 of the housing shell 170. The user can then press the side walls 186, 188 against each other so that the recesses 224, 225 of the locking tongues 218, 220 completely release the corresponding locking projection 230, 232, and the air-enveloping element 154 can then be separated from the liquid dispensing element 152.

[0093] With the aid of the air enveloping member 154, the fan-shaped liquid jet 168 provided by the liquid dispensing member 152 can be surrounded by an air flow in a jacket-like manner, whereby a compact liquid jet can be provided which can be guided along an object to be cleaned.

[0094] The dispensing device 150 is thus characterized by easy handling and low susceptibility to malfunction, wherein the user has the option of directing the fan-shaped liquid jet provided by the liquid dispensing member 152 directly onto an object to be cleaned without using the air enveloping member 154 or of surrounding it with a jacket-shaped air flow using the air enveloping member 154.

Claims

P A T E N T A N S P R Ü C H E 1. Dispensing device for dispensing a fan-shaped expanding liquid jet surrounded by an air flow, wherein the dispensing device (10; 150) comprises a liquid dispensing member (12; 152) with a flat jet nozzle (26; 164) for dispensing the fan-shaped expanding liquid jet (28; 168) in a jet plane (100; 166) and an air enveloping member (14; 154) for enveloping the liquid jet (28; 168) with an air flow, wherein the air enveloping member (14; 154) has a through-channel (92; 192) and at least one air intake opening (102, 104; 202, 204), wherein the through-channel (92; 192) has a receiving section (96, 198) for receiving the liquid jet (28; 168) and an output section (98; 200) for outputting the liquid jet and the air flow surrounding it, wherein the receiving section (96; 198) is connected to the at least one air intake opening (102, 104;202, 204) is in flow connection and the dispensing section (98; 200) extends to an outlet opening (94; 196) and widens with increasing approach to the outlet opening (94; 196) in the jet plane (100; 166), characterized in that the air-enveloping member (14; 154) can be plugged into the liquid dispensing member (12; 152) in a predetermined rotational position relative to the liquid dispensing member (12; 152) and can be locked by means of at least one locking element (122, 124; 218, 220), wherein the locking element (122, 124; 218, 220) is assigned a release element (126, 128; 248, 250) which can be actuated by the user for Release of the lock is assigned.; 2. Dispensing device according to claim 1, characterized in that the air-enveloping member (14; 254) is automatically lockable.

3. Dispensing device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the air-enveloping member (254) can be plugged into the liquid dispensing member (252) against a spring-elastic restoring force.

4. Dispensing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one locking element (122, 124; 218, 220) is integrally connected to the associated release element (126, 128; 248, 250).

5. Dispensing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one locking element forms a latching element (122, 124; 218, 220) which can be moved back and forth between a locking position designed as a latching position and a release position.

6. Dispensing device according to claim 5, characterized in that the at least one locking element is designed as a locking hook (122, 124) which, in the locking position, engages behind a locking projection (130, 132) associated with the locking hook (122, 124) and releases the locking projection (130, 132) in a release position.

7. Dispensing device according to claim 5, characterized in that the at least one locking element is designed as a locking tongue (218, 220) which has a recess (224, 225) for at least partially receiving a locking projection (230, 232) assigned to the locking tongue (218, 220), which has a blocking element (238, 240), wherein the recess (224, 225) has an undercut surface (226, 228) against which the blocking element (238, 240) rests in the locking position of the locking tongue (218, 220).

8. Dispensing device according to claim 7, characterized in that the locking projection (230, 232) has a guide surface (234, 236), wherein the locking tongue (218, 220) is movable along the guide surface (234, 236) when connecting the air-enveloping member (154) to the liquid-dispensing member (152).

9. Dispensing device according to one of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that the air-enveloping member (14; 154) or the liquid-dispensing member (12; 152) has a housing (54; 176) with at least one elastically deformable side wall (64, 66; 186, 188), wherein a locking element (122, 124; 218, 220) and a release element (126, 128; 248, 250) associated with the locking element are arranged on the side wall (64, 66; 186, 188).

10. Dispensing device according to claim 9, characterized in that the release element (122, 124; 248, 250) protrudes from the side wall (64, 66; 186, 188).

11. Dispensing device according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the side wall (64, 66) is integrally connected to the locking element (122, 124) and the release element (126, 128).

12. Dispensing device according to claim 9, 10 or 11, characterized in that the housing (54; 176) has two opposing, elastically deformable side walls (64, 66; 186, 188), on each of which a locking element (122, 124; 218, 220) and a release element (126, 128; 248, 250) associated with it are arranged.

13. Dispensing device according to claim 12, characterized in that the housing (54; 176) has a bottom wall (58; 180) and a top wall (56; 178), wherein the elastically deformable side walls (64, 66; 186, 188) are arranged at a distance from one another between the top wall (56; 178) and the bottom wall (58; 180) and are fixed to the Ceiling wall (56; 178) and / or the floor wall (58; 180).

14. Dispensing device according to claim 13, characterized in that the elastically deformable side walls (64, 66; 186, 188) each have a first holding element (116; 210) and a second holding element (118; 212), wherein the first holding element (116; 210) forms a positive connection with a complementarily designed holding element (120; 214) of the top wall (56; 178) and the second holding element (118; 212) forms a positive connection with a complementarily designed holding element of the bottom wall (58, 180).

15. Dispensing device according to claim 12, 13 or 14, characterized in that the housing (54; 176) having the elastically deformable side walls (64, 66; 186, 188) forms a housing (54; 176) of the air-enveloping member (14; 154) which surrounds the through-channel (92; 192), wherein the housing (54; 176) comprises a rear wall (62; 182) facing the liquid dispensing member (12; 152) which has two openings (70, 72; 222, 223), each of which is penetrated by a locking element (122, 124; 218, 220) which projects from the rear wall (62; 182).

16. Dispensing device according to claim 15, characterized in that a sleeve (68; 190) is arranged on the rear wall (62; 182) between the openings (70, 72; 222, 223) and the liquid dispensing member (12; 152) has a receptacle (38) on a front side (36; 246) facing the air-enveloping member (14; 154), into which receptacle the sleeve (68; 190) can be inserted.

17. Dispensing device according to claim 16, characterized in that the sleeve (68; 190) has at least one guide member (74, 76) which, when the sleeve (68; 190) is inserted into the receptacle (38), a complementarily designed guide member (42, 44) of the liquid dispensing member (12; 152) can be positively connected.

18. Dispensing device according to claim 17, characterized in that the sleeve (68; 190) has two opposing guide members (74, 76), each of which can be positively connected to a complementarily designed guide member (42, 44) of the liquid dispensing member (12; 152).

19. Dispensing device according to claim 18, characterized in that the guide members (74, 76) of the air-enveloping member (14; 154) are arranged on the outside of the sleeve (68; 190).

20. Dispensing device according to claim 19, characterized in that the guide members (74, 76) each have two guide ribs (78, 80; 82, 84) aligned parallel to one another, which extend as far as the rear wall (62; 182), wherein an end region of a locking element (122, 124; 218, 220) passing through an opening (70, 72; 222, 223) in the rear wall (62; 182) is arranged between the guide ribs (78, 80; 82, 84).

21. Dispensing device according to one of claims 16 to 20, characterized in that the sleeve (68; 190) has two mutually opposite flattened portions (88, 90) and the liquid dispensing member (12; 152) has on the front side (36; 246) two projections (46, 48) arranged at a distance from one another, which receive the sleeve (68; 190) between them in the manner of a mouth and can each be placed against a flattened portion (88, 90).

22. Dispensing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the outlet opening (94; 196) is arranged on an end wall (60; 184) of the air enveloping member (14; 154) and that at least one impact protection element (134, 136) is arranged on the end wall (60; 184).

23. Dispensing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the liquid dispensing member (12; 152) has a jet pipe (16; 156) with a first end region (18; 158) on which a connecting member (22) for connection to a liquid supply part is arranged, and with a second end region (20; 162) on which the flat jet nozzle (26; 164) is arranged in a rotationally fixed manner.

24. Dispensing device according to claim 23, characterized in that the jet pipe (16; 156) receives the flat jet nozzle (26; 164) in a form-fitting manner in the second end region (20; 162).

25. Dispensing device according to claim 23 or 24, characterized in that the liquid dispensing member (12; 152) has a housing casing (30; 170) which surrounds the jet pipe (16; 156) in the circumferential direction and has on its inner side, adjacent to the second end region (20; 162) of the jet pipe (16; 156), at least one locking projection (130, 132; 230, 232) which cooperates with a locking element (122, 124; 218, 220) to form a locking connection.

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