Flow rate controller

Abstract

In a flow regulator (1) having a regulating body (3) and a regulating profile (8), which therebetween configure a regulating gap (11), the available width or opening cross section of said regulating gap (11) being variable by pressure, it is provided that regulating protrusions (9) are disposed such that neighboring regulating protrusions (9) therebetween enclose dissimilar spacings (10, 13).

Claims

1. A flow regulator (1), comprising: a housing having a groove; a deformable regulating body (3) which is placed in the groove (5); the groove being defined by at least one groove lateral wall (6, 7), and a regulating profile (8) is configured on the at least one groove lateral wall (6, 7); the regulating profile (8) is formed from a sequence (12) of regulating protrusions (9) and regulating clearances; the regulating body (3) and the regulating profile (8) therebetween delimit a regulating gap (11) in which a shape variation of the regulating body (3) causes a variation in a size of the regulating gap (11); neighboring ones of the regulating protrusions (9) are disposed at a mutual spacing (10, 13) such that a sequence (12) of spacings (10, 13) is formed in each case between neighboring regulating protrusions (9) along a circumference; and at least of the two spacings (10, 13) in the sequence (12) of spacings (10, 13) are chosen so as to be mutually dissimilar in size, and one said spacing (10, 13) of the at least two spacings (10, 13) in terms of size is at least double that of another said spacing (10, 13) of the at least two spacings (10, 13).

2. The flow regulator (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the regulating protrusions (9) are non-uniformly distributed in the circumferential direction.

3. The flow regulator (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein one said spacing (10, 13) of the at least two spacings (10, 13) in terms of size is more than three times that of another said spacing (10, 13) of the at least two spacings (10, 13).

4. The flow regulator (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the regulating protrusions (9) have a uniform height by which said regulating protrusions (9) protrude in each case from the at least one groove lateral wall (6, 7) into the regulating gap (11).

5. The flow regulator (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the regulating protrusions (9) are oriented at least one of in a radially outward manner or radially within the regulating body (3).

6. The flow regulator (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the regulating protrusions (9) are oriented at least one of in a radially inward manner or radially outside the regulating body (3).

7. The flow regulator (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least two of the regulating protrusions (9) have dissimilar widths in the circumferential direction.

8. The flow regulator (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a height that the regulating protrusions (9) protrude from the at least one groove lateral wall (6, 7) into the regulating gap (11) differs from at least some of the regulating protrusions (9).

9. The flow regulator (1) as claimed in claim 8, wherein at least one said regulating protrusion (9) forms an intermediate protrusion (16) which in terms of the height thereof in relation to a height of the neighboring regulating protrusions (9) is reduced by a recess (17).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention now will be described in more detail using exemplary embodiments but is not limited to these exemplary embodiments. Further exemplary embodiments are derived by combining the features of individual claims or a plurality of claims with one another and/or with individual features or a plurality of features of the exemplary embodiments.

(2) In the figures:

(3) FIG. 1 shows a flow regulator according to the prior art in an exploded illustration;

(4) FIG. 2 shows a view onto the inflow side of the flow regulator as per FIG. 1, wherein the regulating body is removed;

(5) FIG. 3 shows the view according to FIG. 2 with the inserted regulating body;

(6) FIG. 4 shows a further flow regulator according to the prior art in an exploded illustration;

(7) FIG. 5 shows a view onto the inflow side of the flow regulator as per FIG. 4, wherein the regulating body is removed;

(8) FIG. 6 shows the view according to FIG. 5 with the inserted regulating body;

(9) FIG. 7 shows a flow regulator according to the invention in an exploded illustration;

(10) FIG. 8 shows a view onto the inflow side of the flow regulator as per FIG. 7, wherein the regulating body is removed;

(11) FIG. 9 shows the view according to FIG. 8 with the inserted regulating body;

(12) FIG. 10 shows a further flow regulator according to the invention, wherein the regulating body is removed;

(13) FIG. 11 shows the flow regulator according to FIG. 10 with the inserted regulating body;

(14) FIG. 12 shows a further flow regulator according to the invention, wherein the regulating body is removed;

(15) FIG. 13 shows the flow regulator according to FIG. 12 with the inserted regulating body;

(16) FIG. 14 shows a further flow regulator according to the invention, wherein the regulating body is removed;

(17) FIG. 15 shows the flow regulator according to FIG. 14 with the inserted regulating body;

(18) FIG. 16 shows a further flow regulator according to the invention, wherein the regulating body is removed;

(19) FIG. 17 shows the flow regulator according to FIG. 16 with the inserted regulating body;

(20) FIG. 18 shows a further flow regulator according to the invention, wherein the regulating body is removed;

(21) FIG. 19 shows the flow regulator according to FIG. 18 with the inserted regulating body;

(22) FIG. 20 shows a further flow regulator according to the invention, wherein the regulating body is removed;

(23) FIG. 21 shows the flow regulator according to FIG. 20 with the inserted regulating body; and

(24) FIG. 22 shows a further flow regulator according to the invention having dissimilar heights of the regulating protrusions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(25) FIGS. 1 to 3 show different views of a flow regulator according to the prior art, which in its entirety is identified by the reference sign 1. The flow regulator 1 is configured for inserting into a fitting outlet or a pipe portion or the like.

(26) The flow regulator 1 has a housing 2 into which a regulating body 3 is insertable from an inflow side 4.

(27) To this end, the housing 2 forms an annular groove 5 which is open toward the inflow side 4 and which receives the annular regulating body 3.

(28) The groove 5 in a radially inward and radially outward manner is in each case delimited by a groove lateral wall 6, 7.

(29) A regulating profile 8 is configured on the radially inward groove lateral wall 6.

(30) The regulating profile 8 forms a sequence 12 of regulating protrusions 9 which from the groove lateral wall 6 protrude in a radially outward manner into the groove 5. The regulating protrusions 9 are all of identical configuration. The spacings 10 between neighboring regulating protrusions 9 are chosen so as to be identical such that the regulating protrusions 9 are uniformly distributed along a circumference.

(31) A regulating gap 11 is formed in the operation between the regulating body 3 and the regulating profile 8. The cross section of the regulating body 3 is deformed depending on the pressure prevailing on the inflow side 4, such that the regulating gap 11 is constricted in a pressure-dependent manner. The regulating protrusions 9 herein form bearing points for the regulating body 3, the shape variation of the regulating body 3 substantially taking place between said bearing points. The regions of the regulating body 3 between two neighboring regulating protrusions 9 are thus disposed so as to be mutually parallel. Each of said regions functions in an identical manner. The regulating body 3 is made from an elastic material, for example from rubber.

(32) FIGS. 4 to 6 show different views of a further flow regulator 1 according to the prior art and are collectively described. Components and functional units which in terms of function and/or construction are equivalent or identical to the preceding flow regulator according to FIGS. 1 to 3 are provided with the same reference signs and are not described separately. Rather, the explanations pertaining to FIGS. 1 to 3 apply in analogous manner to FIGS. 4 to 6.

(33) By contrast to the variant as per FIGS. 1 to 3, the regulating profile 8 in the flow regulator 1 as per FIGS. 4 to 6 is configured on the external groove lateral wall 7 such that the regulating protrusions 9 protrude in a radially inward manner.

(34) The regulating gap 11 is thus configured so as to be radially outside the regulating body 3 and surrounds the latter along the circumference.

(35) FIGS. 7 to 9 show different views of a flow regulator 1 according to the invention and are collectively described. Components and functional units which in terms of function and/or construction are equivalent or identical to the preceding flow regulator according to FIGS. 1 to 6 are identified by the same reference signs and are not separately described. Rather, the explanations pertaining to FIGS. 1 to 6 apply in analogous manner to FIGS. 7 to 9.

(36) The exemplary embodiment according to the invention as per FIGS. 7 to 9 differs from the prior art as per FIGS. 1 to 6 in that the sequence 12 of spacings 10, 13 has at least two spacings 10, 13 which are dimensioned in a mutually different manner.

(37) The spacing 13 between two neighboring regulating protrusions 9 is thus larger than the spacing 10. The regulating body 3 in the region of the spacing 13 therefore sets the regulating behavior at low pressures, whereas the regulating behavior at high pressures is set in the region of the spacing 10.

(38) Overall, the regulating profile 8 along the circumferential direction, thus along the profile of the groove 5 here, shows a non-uniform distribution of regulating protrusions.

(39) The spacing 13 herein is a multiple of the spacing 10.

(40) The regulating protrusions 9 herein have a uniform height across the (imaginary, cylinder-sleeve-shaped) groove lateral wall 6 and protrude in a radially outward manner such that the regulating gap 11 is configured radially within the regulating body 3.

(41) The regulating gap 11 herein forms an axially oriented passage opening for water.

(42) It can be clearly seen from FIG. 8 that the regulating protrusions 9 are configured by way of dissimilar contours and have dissimilar widths 14, 15.

(43) FIGS. 10 and 11 show different views of a flow regulator 1 according to the invention and are collectively described. Components and functional units which in terms of function and/or construction are equivalent or identical to the preceding flow regulator according to FIGS. 1 to 9 are identified by the same reference signs and are not separately described. Rather, the explanations pertaining to FIGS. 1 to 9 apply in analogous manner to FIGS. 10 and 11.

(44) The exemplary embodiment as per FIGS. 10 and 11 differs from the exemplary embodiment as per FIGS. 7 to 9 in that the regulating protrusions 9 are indeed disposed by way of dissimilar spacings 10 and 13 but by way of a quartic rotational symmetry. A non-uniform but regular arrangement of regulating protrusions 9 thus results.

(45) The spacing 13 is at least four times the spacing 10.

(46) FIGS. 12 to 15 show further variants of regulating profiles 8 on the internal groove lateral wall 6. The explanations pertaining to FIGS. 1 to 11 are also to be read in the context of said FIGS. 12 to 15. To this end, the reference signs have been used in an identical manner. The regulating profiles 8 differ in terms of the number, the arrangement, and the size, in particular the width 13, 14, of the regulating profiles 8.

(47) FIGS. 16 to 21 show further variants of regulating profiles 8 on the external groove lateral wall 7. The explanations pertaining to FIGS. 1 to 15 are also to be read in the context of said FIGS. 16 to 21. To this end, the reference signs have been used in identical manner. The regulating profiles 8 here are formed by the regulating protrusions 9 which protrude in a radially inward manner from the external groove lateral wall 7. The regulating gap 11 which is disposed radially outside the regulating body 3 and encloses the latter in an annular manner is configured between the regulating profiles 8 and the regulating body 3.

(48) The regulating profiles 8 of FIGS. 16 to 21 differ in terms of the number, the arrangement, and the size, in particular the width 13, 14, of the regulating profiles 8.

(49) FIG. 22 in an exemplary manner shows a further flow regulator 1 according to the invention, having a regulating profile 8. The explanations pertaining to FIGS. 1 to 21 are also to be read in the context of said FIG. 22. To this end, the reference signs have been used in an identical manner.

(50) The regulating profile 8 differs from the regulating profiles described above in that a regulating protrusion 9 is configured as an intermediate protrusion 16. To this end, a recess 17 which causes a smaller height of the regulating protrusion 9 is configured on the regulating protrusion 9.

(51) This recess 17 can be configured on each of the regulating protrusions 9 in the exemplary embodiments shown, depending on the desired regulating behavior. Intermediate protrusions 16 of this type can serve as a support port of the deformed regulating body 3, for example, so as to develop, after an initially slight deformation (thus at comparatively low pressures), a higher resistance counter to any further deformation. A different contribution toward the regulating behavior at low and high pressures thus results.

(52) In further exemplary embodiments recesses of dissimilar sizes are configured such that a plurality of steps of dissimilarly high regulating protrusions is configured.

(53) The enumeration of the variants shown is not to be understood to be complete; rather, further variants are derived by combining and/or varying the variants shown, in particular in terms of the number, the width, the height, the shape, and/or the height of the regulating protrusions. For example, regulating profiles 8 that are configured radially within the regulating body 3 are also capable of being combined with regulating profiles 8 that are configured radially outside the regulating body 3. Two regulating gaps 11 which can lie inside one another or beside one another are thus configurable.

(54) Other shapes of the regulating body 3 and/or of the groove 5, for example linear, triangular, rectangular, oval, zigzag-shaped, undulated, or other profiles are implemented in further exemplary embodiments. Cross-sectional shapes, for example flat, triangular, oval, polygonal cross-sectional shapes, deviating from the embodiment of the regulating body 3 as an O-ring here, are also implemented.

(55) In a flow regulator 1 having a regulating body 3 and a regulating profile 8, which therebetween configure a regulating gap 11, the available width or opening cross section of said regulating gap 11 being variable by pressure, it is provided that regulating protrusions 9 are disposed such that neighboring regulating protrusions 9 therebetween enclose dissimilar spacings 10, 13.

LIST OF REFERENCE SINGS

(56) 1 Flow regulator

(57) 2 Housing

(58) 3 Regulating body

(59) 4 Inflow side

(60) 5 Groove

(61) 6 Groove lateral wall

(62) 7 Groove lateral wall

(63) 8 Regulating profile

(64) 9 Regulating protrusion

(65) 10 Spacing

(66) 11 Regulating gap

(67) 12 Sequence

(68) 13 Spacing

(69) 14 Width

(70) 15 Width

(71) 16 Intermediate protrusion

(72) 17 Recess