Sanitary Insert Mixing Stage for Fine Jet Atomization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sanitary inserts face challenges in achieving efficient mixing and atomization of water jets, require complex assembly, and have high manufacturing and assembly costs due to multiple separate flow obstruction components.

Innovation Solution

A sanitary insert design featuring at least two superimposed arrangements of flow obstructions in the mixing stage, which can be parallel, orthogonal, or overlapping, with alignment aids to ensure proper positioning, and potentially non-circular cross-sections to enhance mixing and atomization, simplifying manufacturing and assembly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If multiple separate flow obstruction components are used in the mixing stage, then the mixing and atomization of water jets can be improved, but the assembly complexity and manufacturing costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemixing and atomization qualityVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple separate flow obstruction components into a single integrated insert containing multiple arrangements of flow obstructions. This merging approach maintains the mixing and atomization benefits of multiple components while eliminating the assembly complexity of installing multiple separate parts, as the entire multi-arrangement insert is installed as one piece

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Manufacturing precision

If multiple separate flow obstruction components are used in the mixing stage, then the mixing and atomization of water jets can be improved, but the manufacturing costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemixing and atomization qualityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple separate flow obstruction components into a single integrated insert containing multiple arrangements of flow obstructions. This merging approach maintains the mixing and atomization benefits of multiple components while eliminating the assembly complexity of installing multiple separate parts, as the entire multi-arrangement insert is installed as one piece

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Device complexity

If a single insert with multiple flow obstruction arrangements is used, then the assembly complexity is reduced, but the manufacturing precision of jet mixing may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly complexityVSAvoidjet mixing quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The insert is divided into multiple distinct arrangements of flow obstructions, each arrangement serving specific mixing functions. This segmentation within a unified structure allows complex mixing functionality to be achieved while maintaining simple assembly, as the entire segmented insert is installed as one piece

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses multiple arrangements of flow obstructions positioned at different locations and orientations within the insert. This multi-dimensional arrangement of flow obstructions ensures thorough mixing and atomization by interacting with water jets from different angles and positions, maintaining high manufacturing precision while simplifying assembly

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 design achieves improved jet mixing and atomization, reduces manufacturing and assembly complexity, and lowers costs by using a single insert with multiple flow obstruction arrangements, ensuring consistent jet quality and reduced part count.

Implementation Method 1

A mixing stage can follow the dispersing stage, typically incorporating flow obstructions to ensure thorough mixing and turbulence of the individual jets generated by the dispersing stage

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTurbulence: Turbulence

Implementation Method 2

One possible function that can be achieved with a separation stage is to fluidically decouple flow conditions upstream of the separation stage from those downstream. This is often accomplished by an arrangement of separation nozzles

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFlow separation: Flow Separation

Implementation Method 3

This mixing stage may also include an air intake, created by a negative pressure behind or at the dispersing stage, which can be used to generate an aerated jet

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectNegative pressure: Pressure Drop

Implementation Method 4

an air intake, created by a negative pressure behind or at the dispersing stage, which can be used to generate an aerated jet

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAeration: Aeration

Data Source

PatentEP4685300A1Sanitary insert part
Publication Date: 2026.01.28 NEOPERL GMBH
  • EP4685300A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4685300A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4685300A1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A jet regulator (1) with a dispersing stage (6) comprising an arrangement of dispersing nozzles (9), wherein a mixing stage (7) is arranged downstream of the dispersing stage (6) in a main flow direction (4), which is at least partially bounded by a housing wall (22) transverse to the main flow direction (4), wherein the mixing stage (7) comprises an insert (10) with flow obstructions (11). The insert (10) has two or more arrangements (12, 13) of flow obstructions (11) spaced apart from each other in the main flow direction (4), which serve to finely atomize and mix the jets exiting the dispersing nozzles (9).