JET REGULATOR

Abstract

A jet regulator for a fitting for dispensing boiling water is provided. The jet regulator includes a substantially cylindrical housing with an inlet opening and an outlet opening, and a swirl creating portion, arranged in the region of the inlet opening, with a substantially helically extending flow guide for rotationally accelerating a stream of water flowing through, an expansion zone, following the swirl creating portion, in which the rotationally accelerated stream of water can flow under the action of centrifugal force in the region of the housing inner wall, and a guide portion, in which the rotational movement of the stream of water is decelerated and the latter is guided in a longitudinal direction.

Claims

1. A jet regulator for a fitting for dispensing at least one of boiling water or CO.sub.2-containing water, the jet regulator comprising: a substantially cylindrical housing (2) having an inlet opening (3), an outlet opening (4) and a housing inner wall, a swirl creating portion (7), arranged in a region of the inlet opening (3), having a substantially helically extending flow guide (7a-7d) configured for rotationally accelerating a stream of water flowing through, an expansion zone (8), following the swirl creating portion (7), configured such that the rotationally accelerated stream of water flows due to action of centrifugal force in a region of the housing inner wall, and a guide portion (9) configured to decelerate the rotational movement of the stream of water and to guide the stream of water in a longitudinal direction.

2. The jet regulator according to claim 1, wherein the guide portion has a plurality of longitudinal ribs that are arranged on the housing inner wall and widen in a radial extent in a direction of flow.

3. The jet regulator according to claim 1, further comprising a laminar jet regulator portion (10) arranged in a region of the outlet opening (4), downstream of the guide portion (8), said laminar jet regulator portion (10) being configured to dispense the stream of water as a laminar jet.

4. The jet regulator according to claim 1, further comprising a gas discharge pipe (11) that opens out in the expansion zone.

5. The jet regulator according to claim 4, wherein the gas discharge pipe (11) extends in an axial direction centrally through the jet regulator as far as the outlet opening (4).

6. The jet regulator according to claim 4, wherein the gas discharge pipe (11) extends transversely through the expansion zone as far as the housing inner wall and from there in an axial direction as far as the outlet opening (4).

7. The jet regulator according to claim 1, further comprising one or more gas discharge channels (12a-12d) that extend radially in a direction of the housing inner wall and lead from there along or within the housing inner wall as far as the outlet opening (4) in a region above the free expansion zone (8).

8. The jet regulator according to claim 1, wherein the swirl creating portion (7) has at least one substantially helically extending flow channel (7a-7d).

9. The jet regulator according to claim 1, wherein the swirl creating portion (7) has a plurality of helically extending guide vanes.

10. A method of dispensing water, comprising: providing the jet regulator according to claim 1 in a dispensing fitting, and dispensing at least one of boiling water or CO.sub.2-containing water through the jet regulator.

11. A fitting for dispensing at least one of boiling water or CO.sub.2-containing water, comprising: an outflow (24), a mouthpiece (25) arranged at the outflow (24), and the jet regulator (1) according to claim 1 inserted into the mouthpiece (25).

12. A fitting for selectively dispensing boiling water and mixed water, the fitting comprising: an outflow (24), a mouthpiece (25) arranged at the outflow (24), the jet regulator (1) according to claim 1 inserted into the mouthpiece (25), wherein the outflow (25) has a first flow path (26) for the boiling water and a second flow path (27) for the mixed water, and the mouthpiece (25) receives the jet regulator (1) such that said jet regulator is connected to the first flow path (26) in a fluid-conducting manner.

13. The fitting according to claim 12, wherein the first flow path (26) comprises an inner flow path and the second flow path (27) comprises an outer flow path extending concentrically around the inner flow path, and the jet regulator (1) is comprises an inner jet regulator, which is received by the mouthpiece (25) such that said jet regulator is connected to the inner flow path (26) in a fluid-conducting manner sealed with respect to the outer flow path (27).

14. The fitting according to claim 13, wherein the mouthpiece includes, concentrically around the inner jet regulator (1), an outer, second jet regulator (29), which is arranged annularly around the inner jet regulator (1) and is connected to the outer flow path (27) in a fluid-conducting manner sealed with respect to the inner (26) flow path.

15. The fitting according to claim 14, wherein the inner jet regulator (1) projects downwardly beyond the outer, second jet regulator (29).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] Further advantages and properties of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the figures, in which:

[0026] FIG. 1 shows an isometric view of a jet regulator in a first exemplary embodiment,

[0027] FIG. 2 shows a section in the axial direction through the jet regulator from FIG. 1,

[0028] FIG. 3 shows a jet regulator in section in a second exemplary embodiment,

[0029] FIG. 4 shows a view of the jet regulator in section from FIG. 3 in a different view,

[0030] FIG. 5 shows an isometric view of a jet regulator in a third exemplary embodiment,

[0031] FIG. 6 shows a section through the jet regulator from FIG. 5,

[0032] FIG. 7 shows an isometric illustration of a jet regulator in a fourth exemplary embodiment,

[0033] FIG. 8 shows a sectional view of the jet regulator from FIG. 7,

[0034] FIG. 9 shows a side view of a multifunctional fitting with an integrated jet regulator for boiling water, and

[0035] FIG. 10 shows a sectional view through the mouthpiece of the multifunctional fitting from FIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] The jet regulator 1 shown in FIG. 1 comprises a cylindrical housing 2 with an inlet opening 3 and an outlet opening 4. Located in the region of the outlet opening 3 is a collar 5, which serves for mounting the jet regulator 1. In the region of the outlet opening 4, a laminar jet regulator portion 10 can be seen in the form of a lattice-like arrangement.

[0037] The internal structure of the jet regulator 1 is illustrated in more detail in the sectional view in FIG. 2. Located in the region of the collar 5 is a swirl creating portion 7 having a total of four helically extending flow channels 7a, 7b, 7c, 7d, arranged in the form of a multi-start helix, which each extend through 180, that is to say a half thread turn, along the inner wall of the cylindrical jet regulator housing 2. Otherwise, the inlet opening in the region of the swirl creating portion 7 is closed, and so the stream of water has to flow through the four flow channels 7a to 7d and in the process is rotationally accelerated. At the exit of the helically extending flow channels 7a, 7b, 7c, 7d, a free zone 8 is located within the cylindrical housing 2. In this free zone 8, expansion of the pressurized stream of liquid takes place. At the same time, the stream of water flows under the action of centrifugal force along the housing inner wall of the cylindrical housing 2. A cyclonic flow is formed, such that steam that emerges upon expansion is pushed inward into the center of the free zone 8.

[0038] The free zone 8 is adjoined in the axial direction by a guide portion 9, in which the rotational movement of the stream of water is decelerated and the latter is guided in the longitudinal direction. The guide zone 9 is characterized by a plurality of longitudinal ribs 9a arranged on the housing inner wall, which extend in a radial direction and the width of which, measured in the radial direction, increases in the axial direction toward the outlet opening 4. The longitudinal ribs 9a thus represent an obstacle, increasing in the axial direction, for the rotational movement of the stream of water, with the result that the latter is decelerated and guided in the longitudinal direction.

[0039] The longitudinal ribs 9a end at an annular connecting bar 9b, which leaves open and surrounds an inner region. This inner region serves for the water vapor formed in the free zone 8 and pushed inward to be able to escape downward in the direction of the outlet opening 4. The water flow directed in the longitudinal direction by the guide portion 9 flows through the annular space between the annular connecting piece 9b and the housing inner wall.

[0040] The guide portion is adjoined by the laminar jet regulator portion 10, which has a plurality of flow channels 10a extending in an axial direction, which are separated from one another by separating bars 10b that extend in a ray-like and circular manner. The water flow passes through the radially provided outer flow channels 10a, while the pressurized water vapor/steam emerges primarily through a centrally extending channel 10c.

[0041] As a result of the expansion in the free zone 8, the hot water cools rapidly to below 100 C. and reaches ambient pressure, since the following straightener and laminar jet regulator portions 8, 10 bring about only a minimal pressure drop. As a result, downstream of the free zone 8, only very few gas bubbles arise in the fluid (water). Therefore, the fluid is no longer additionally accelerated and/or turbulent and emerges as a gentle, laminar jet.

[0042] FIGS. 3 and 4 show a second exemplary embodiment of a jet regulator. In the exemplary embodiments, identical and identically acting elements are denoted by the same reference signs.

[0043] As in the first exemplary embodiment, the jet regulator 1 also has a swirl creating portion 7 having a plurality of helically extending flow channels 7a to 7d and a free zone 8, adjoining the swirl creating portion 7, in which the pressurized liquid expands. The free zone 8 is adjoined by the guide portion 9 having the longitudinal ribs 9a, and by the laminar jet regulator portion 10 having its flow channels 10a extending in the axial direction. In contrast to the first exemplary embodiment, a gas discharge pipe 11 is additionally provided, which opens out in the free zone 8. By way of this gas discharge pipe 11, which extends centrally in the axial direction as far as the outlet opening 4, gas/steam escaping in the free zone can be discharged in a controlled manner.

[0044] The separated gas can be discharged more quickly via the gas discharge pipe and as a result the large volume increase upon evaporation of the water can be discharged very efficiently, without the fluid being accelerated. This reduces spraying of water, which could possibly be ejected together with the pressurized gas.

[0045] FIGS. 5 and 6 show a third exemplary embodiment, in which, in contrast to the second exemplary embodiment, the gas discharge pipe opening out in the free zone 8 branches into three subpipes 11a, 11b, 11c, which extend transversely through the free zone 8 as far as the housing inner wall and from there along the housing inner wall in the axial direction as far as the outlet opening 4. In this way, the pressurized gas is not ejected centrally from the outlet opening 4 of the jet regulator, but rather via three separate gas outlet openings arranged in the peripheral region of the jet regulator.

[0046] Finally, FIGS. 7 and 8 show a fourth exemplary embodiment. This differs from the exemplary embodiments shown above in that, rather than a gas discharge pipe centrally in the region of the swirl creating portion, an upwardly leading gas discharge opening 12 is present, which is connected to four lateral wall channels 13a to 13d via four channels 12a to 12d extending in a star shape above the swirl creating portion. The gas discharge takes place here upwardly, laterally and subsequently via the wall channels 13a to 13d in the direction of the outlet opening 4. Furthermore, the otherwise cylindrical housing 2 has, instead of a collar 5, a stepped shape, having an upper region 2a, with an enlarged diameter, which narrows at a step 2b. The stepped shape is used in this case instead of a collar 5, as in the preceding exemplary embodiments, for mounting the jet regulator 1.

[0047] An exemplary embodiment of a multifunctional fitting is reproduced in FIG. 9. The fitting 20 shown therein has a fitting body 21 with an integrated mixing valve, which is actuated in the manner of a single lever mixer via an operating lever 22 attached laterally to the fitting body 21, in order to dispense cold, hot or mixed water. Located on the opposite side of the fitting housing 21 is a further operating element 23, which is in the form of an electric rotary toggle switch. Via the latter, further functions of the fitting 20 can be controlled, for instance the dispensing of boiling water from a separate water heater connected to the fitting, the dispensing of cooled and/or CO.sub.2-enriched water, or the dispensing of filtered drinking water.

[0048] The fitting body 21 is adjoined upwardly by an outflow 24, which extends in an arcuate manner as far as a mouthpiece 25. Via the outflow 24, both mixed water and functional water, such as boiling water or CO.sub.2-enriched water, are dispensed. For this purpose, the outflow has two coaxially arranged flow paths 26, 27, specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 10, an inner flow path 26 for functional water and an outer flow path 27 for normal service or mixed water. The inner flow path 26 is formed in this case by an inner pipe or hose 28 extending in the interior of the outflow 24.

[0049] Inserted concentrically into the mouthpiece 25 are two jet regulators 1, 29. The inner jet regulator 1 is connected in a fluid-conducting manner to the first flow path 26, or the inner pipe 28. The connection 30 between the inner pipe 28 and jet regulator 1 can in this case be realized for instance by a screw connection or a crimp connection. In FIG. 10, the inner jet regulator 1 is illustrated only schematically, but is provided, in the above-described design, with a swirl creating portion 7, an expansion zone 8, and a guide portion 9.

[0050] The outer jet regulator 29 arranged in an annular manner around the inner jet regulator 1 is connected in a fluid-conducting manner to the outer flow path 27 and thus has flow passing through it when service or mixed water is dispensed via the single lever mixer 22. There is no fluidic connection between the inner and outer flow paths 26, 27. Furthermore, the inner jet regulator 1 protrudes several millimeters downward beyond the mouthpiece 25. This prevents boiling water passing from the inner flow path 26 into the outer flow path 27 and being able to remain there. There is therefore no risk of scalding when a user, for example after drawing boiling water, wishes to wash their hands with mixed water.