Jet Controller Housing Undercut for Sealing Ring Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aerators face issues with sealing ring loss during storage and transport, especially when not used with an outlet mouthpiece, leading to assembly difficulties and potential disintegration, and complex sealing ring contours result in manufacturing challenges and incomplete sealing.
Innovation Solution
A housing undercut is molded into the elastic material of the sealing ring on the inner circumference of the jet regulator housing, securing the sealing ring immovably in place without the need for additional retaining features, allowing for secure attachment even without an outlet mouthpiece and facilitating cost-effective assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the sealing ring is inserted into the jet regulator housing without an undercut retention mechanism, then the assembly process is simple and cost-effective, but the sealing ring may be unintentionally deformed and lost during storage and transport
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is segmented with an integrated undercut feature that creates a retention mechanism for the sealing ring. This undercut is formed as part of the housing structure during molding, dividing the housing wall into sections that interlock with the sealing ring without requiring separate retention components.
Solution Approach 2:
The retention function is merged with the housing structure itself. The undercut is integrated into the housing wall, combining the housing's structural role with the sealing ring retention function, eliminating the need for separate retention mechanisms while maintaining assembly simplicity.
2Reliability
If a complex contour sealing ring is used to prevent loss, then the sealing effect is improved, but the manufacture requires greater effort and cost
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing ring maintains a simple rectangular cross-section with parallel longitudinal walls for ease of manufacture, while the undercut in the housing provides localized retention functionality. The complex retention feature is created in the housing structure rather than the sealing ring itself.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of making the sealing ring complex to achieve retention, the housing structure is made complex with an integrated undercut feature. The retention function is inverted from being a property of the sealing ring to being a property of the housing.
3Ease of operation
If the sealing ring protrudes over the jet regulator housing without retention features, then assembly is easy, but the sealing ring falls out during storage and transport
Solution Approach 1:
The undercut retention feature is pre-formed as an integral part of the housing structure during the molding process. This preliminary structural feature ensures that when the sealing ring is installed, it is automatically retained without requiring additional assembly steps or complex installation procedures.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution ensures the sealing ring remains securely attached, preventing accidental loss and simplifying assembly, while maintaining effective axial sealing and supporting the securement of jet-shaping functional elements within the aerator housing.
Implementation Method 1
a sealing ring made of elastic material, which seals against an adjacent annular surface on the water outlet of the outlet fitting in the axial direction
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a jet controller (1) with a sleeve-shaped jet controller housing (2), which (2) can be mounted on the water outlet of a plumbing outlet fixture, and with a seal ring (5) made of elastic material, which (5) seals in the axial direction against an adjoining annular flange at the water outlet of the outlet fixture. On the front inner peripheral area (6) of the jet controller housing (2) on the inflow side. Provided is at least one housing undercut (7), which (7) secures, on the jet controller housing (2), the seal ring (5), inserted into the housing interior (8) of the jet controller housing (2). In the jet controller (1) according to the invention, the seal ring (5) is effectively secured against unintended loss during transport or storage, for example.