Sanitary insert unit

Abstract

A sanitary insert unit (6) is provided having an insert housing (2) which can be mounted on or in a water outlet (3) of a sanitary outlet fitting and in the housing interior of which there is provided a liquid path that channels water flowing through the housing interior. A jet splitter (9, 10) with a plurality of splitter openings (11, 13) is provided in the liquid path, and the splitter openings divide the through-flowing water into a plurality of individual jets. At least one grid or mesh structure (14, 15) follow the jet splitter (9, 10) in the liquid path, and at least one bypass duct (16) which bypasses the liquid path at least in certain portions is provided. The bypass duct (16) is formed as a nozzle for generating at least one accelerated liquid jet, and for this purpose, the at least one bypass duct (16) has a tapering clear duct cross section at least in a sub-portion.

Claims

1. A sanitary insert unit (1, 6, 12), comprising: an insert housing (2) which is mountable on or in a water outlet (3) of a sanitary outlet fitting, the insert housing including a housing interior through which a liquid path is provided that is adapted to direct a water flow through the housing interior, a jet splitter (9, 10) located in the liquid path and includes a plurality of splitter openings (11, 13) which are adapted to divide water flowing therethrough into a plurality of individual jets, at least one lattice or mesh structure (14, 15) following the jet splitter (9, 10) in the liquid path, a bypass duct (16) that at least partially bypasses the liquid path, the bypass duct (16) includes a nozzle with a narrowing clear duct cross section which includes a first tapered section that transitions from a widest open clear duct cross-section and a second tapered section downstream of the first tapered section that is adapted to create an accelerated liquid jet that is configured to be separately discharged from an outflow end of the insert housing (2) from the water flow through the at least one lattice or mesh structure such that the accelerated liquid jet has an increased cleaning force in comparison with a contemporaneous flow through the at least one lattice or mesh structure, wherein the bypass duct (16) narrows or tapers in a direction toward an outflow-side duct opening in order to form the nozzle at the second tapered section that has a smallest clear cross-section proximate to an outlet of the bypass duct, and the at least one lattice or mesh structure (14, 15) extends from the first tapered section to the outflow end.

2. The sanitary insert unit (1, 6, 12) as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a flow rate regulator (19) in the insert housing (2) on an inflow side upstream of the jet splitter (9, 10), said flow rate regulator being adapted to regulate the water flowing through to a pressure-independent maximum flow rate.

3. The sanitary insert unit (1, 6, 12) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the flow rate regulator (19) has at least one elastic annular throttle body (20) which engages around a regulator core (21) and delimits a control gap between the at least one elastic annular throttle body and the regulator core (21) or an inner circumferential wall surrounding the throttle body (20), said control gap being adapted to change under pressure of the water flowing through such that a flow rate of the flow rate regulator (19) does not exceed the pressure-independent maximum flow rate.

4. The sanitary insert unit (1, 6, 12) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the flow rate regulator (19) is arranged on the inflow side upstream of the jet splitter (9, 10) or upstream of the jet splitter and an inflow-side duct opening of the bypass duct (16).

5. The sanitary insert unit (1, 12) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bypass duct (16) narrows or tapers to form at least one conical section.

6. The sanitary insert unit (12) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bypass duct (16) has an inflow-side duct opening which is arranged in the liquid path beneath at least one of the splitter openings (11).

7. The sanitary insert unit (12) as claimed in claim 6, wherein a smallest clear duct cross section of the bypass duct (16) comprises a clear cross-sectional area which is smaller than a cross-sectional area of the splitter opening (11) that opens into the inflow-side duct opening or is smaller than a sum of clear cross-sectional areas of the splitter openings (11) that open into the inflow-side duct opening.

8. The sanitary insert unit (1, 6) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bypass duct (16) passes through the jet splitter (9, 10) or the jet splitter and a flow rate regulator (19).

9. The sanitary insert unit (1, 12) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the jet splitter (9) comprises a perforated plate.

10. The sanitary insert unit (1, 12) as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a filter screen (25) arranged in an inflow direction upstream of the jet splitter (9).

11. The sanitary insert unit (1) as claimed in claim 10, wherein an inflow-side duct opening of the bypass duct (16) is arranged in an inflow direction immediately beneath the filter screen (25).

12. The sanitary insert unit (12) as claimed in claim 11, wherein the filter screen (25) widens at least in one section in a flow-through direction.

13. The sanitary insert unit (1) as claimed in claim 10, wherein the filter screen (25) is funnel-shaped, and the funnel shape of the filter screen (25) narrows in a direction of an inflow-side duct opening of the at least one bypass duct (16).

14. The sanitary insert unit (1, 6, 12) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bypass duct (16) is arranged approximately coaxially with a longitudinal center axis of the insert housing (2).

15. The sanitary insert unit (1, 12) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bypass duct (16) narrows in a direction of a nozzle opening of the nozzle in order to create a water jet, said nozzle opening having a smallest clear cross section of the bypass duct (16).

16. The sanitary insert unit (1, 6, 12) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lattice or mesh structure (14) has honeycomb-shaped lattice openings (17) provided on an outflow-side end face of the insert housing (2).

17. The sanitary insert unit (1, 6, 12) as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one insert part (28) inserted into the insert housing, said insert part (28) includes the lattice or mesh structure (15) interposed in the liquid path.

18. The sanitary insert unit (1, 6, 12) as claimed in claim 17, wherein the at least one insert part (28) is arranged in the liquid path beneath the jet splitter (9, 10).

19. The sanitary insert unit (1, 6, 12) as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one aeration duct which opens into the liquid path beneath the jet splitter (9, 10).

20. The sanitary insert unit (1, 6, 12) as claimed in claim 19, wherein the at least one aeration duct comprises a housing opening (18) provided in a housing circumferential wall of the insert housing (2).

21. A sanitary insert unit (1, 6, 12), comprising: an insert housing (2) which is mountable on or in a water outlet (3) of a sanitary outlet fitting, the insert housing including a housing interior through which a liquid path is provided that is adapted to direct a water flow through the housing interior, a jet splitter (9, 10) located in the liquid path and includes a plurality of splitter openings (11, 13) which are adapted to divide water flowing therethrough into a plurality of individual jets, at least one lattice or mesh structure (14, 15) following the jet splitter (9, 10) in the liquid path, a bypass duct (16) that partially bypasses the liquid path such that water is adapted to simultaneously flow in the liquid path and the bypass duct (16), the bypass duct (16) comprises a nozzle with a narrowing clear duct cross section which includes a first tapered section that transitions from a widest open clear duct cross-section and a second tapered section downstream of the first tapered section that is adapted to create at least one accelerated liquid jet that is configured to be separately discharged from an outflow end of the insert housing (2) from the water flow through the at least one lattice or mesh structure, wherein the bypass duct (16) narrows or tapers in a direction toward an outflow-side duct opening in order to form the nozzle that has a smallest clear cross-section proximate to an outlet of the bypass duct, and the at least one lattice or mesh structure (14, 15) extends from the first tapered section to the outflow end.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Developments of the invention can be gathered from the drawing in conjunction with the description of the figures and the claims. The invention is described in more detail in the following text with reference to preferred exemplary embodiments.

(2) In the drawings:

(3) FIG. 1 shows a sanitary insert unit which is mountable by means of a sleeve-like outlet mouthpiece on the water outlet of a sanitary outlet fitting, in an exploded perspective illustration of these constituent parts, wherein the insert unit shapes the water flowing through into a soft, non-spraying overall jet which surrounds a hard cleaning jet in its jet center,

(4) FIG. 2 shows the insert unit from FIG. 1 in an exploded perspective illustration looking toward the outlet end face of this insert unit,

(5) FIG. 3 shows the insert unit, mounted on the water outlet of the outlet fitting by the outlet mouthpiece, from FIGS. 1 and 2 in longitudinal section,

(6) FIG. 4 shows the insert unit, mounted on the water outlet of the outlet fitting by the outlet mouthpiece, from FIGS. 1 to 3 in a perspective side view,

(7) FIG. 5 shows the insert unit, mounted on the water outlet of the outlet fitting by the outlet mouthpiece, from FIGS. 1 to 4 in a plan view of the outlet end face,

(8) FIG. 6 shows a sanitary insert unit, shown in an exploded illustration of its individual parts, which likewise forms a soft, non-spraying overall jet and a central cleaning jet surrounded thereby, wherein the cleaning jet is embodied here as an annular jet,

(9) FIG. 7 shows the insert unit from FIG. 6 in a perspective side view looking toward the outlet end face of this insert unit,

(10) FIG. 8 shows the insert unit from FIGS. 6 and 7 in longitudinal section,

(11) FIG. 9 shows a detail of the insert unit from FIGS. 6 to 8 in longitudinal section in the region circled in FIG. 8,

(12) FIG. 10 shows the insert unit from FIGS. 6 to 9 in a plan view of its outlet end face,

(13) FIG. 11 shows the insert unit from FIGS. 6 to 10 in a perspective side view,

(14) FIG. 12 shows a further exemplary embodiment of a sanitary insert unit which is intended to create a soft, non-spraying overall jet and a central cleaning jet surrounded thereby, in longitudinal section,

(15) FIG. 13 shows the insert unit from FIG. 12 in a plan view of its outlet end face, and

(16) FIG. 14 shows the insert unit from FIGS. 12 and 13 in a perspective side view looking toward the outlet end face of this insert unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(17) FIGS. 1 to 14 illustrate different embodiments 1, 6 and 12 of a sanitary insert unit. The insert units 1, 6, 12 have an insert housing 2 which is mountable on a water outlet 3 of a sanitary outlet fitting that is not otherwise illustrated further here. The insert housing 2 of the insert units 1, 6, 12 is to this end insertable from the inflow side into a sleeve-like outlet mouthpiece 4, until an annular flange 5 provided on the outer circumference of the insert housing 2 bears on an annular shoulder, serving as a support 7, on the inner circumference of the outlet mouthpiece 4. The outlet mouthpiece 4 is able to be screwed, by way of a thread 8, together with a counterpart thread 27 on the water outlet 3, wherein the separation zone can be sealed off by a sealing ring 29.

(18) Provided in the housing interior of the insert housing 2 of the insert units 1, 6, 12 is a liquid path, which can carry water flowing through. Provided in this liquid path is a jet splitter 9 or 10, which has a plurality of splitter openings 11 or 13, respectively, which divide the water flowing through into a plurality of individual jets. Connected downstream of the jet splitter 9, 10 of the insert units 1, 6, 12 in the liquid path is at least one lattice or mesh structure 14, 15, which acts as a flow straightener or as a homogenizing device and is intended to shape the individual jets coming from the jet splitter, optionally after they have been enriched and mixed with ambient air, into a soft, non-spraying overall jet emerging from the insert housing 2. The insert units 1, 6, 12 have at least one bypass duct 16 that at least partially bypasses the liquid path and is intended to create at least one accelerated liquid or cleaning jet. To this end, this bypass duct 16 has a narrowing clear duct cross section at least in one section. Thus, in the overall jet flowing out of the insert units 1, 6, 12, a cleaning jet that is accelerated compared with the overall jet is generated with the aid of the at least one bypass duct 16 in the form of a nozzle, said cleaning jet being distinguished by a high cleaning force.

(19) In order to be able to create a hard central cleaning jet in the overall jet flowing out of the liquid path of the insert units 1, 6, 12, said central cleaning jet being easy to locate clue to its defined position in the jet cross section, the bypass duct 16 is arranged approximately coaxially with the longitudinal center axis of the insert housing 2 of the insert units 1, 6, 12. The lattice structure 14 which is provided on the outflow-side end face of the insert housing 2 and in this case is integrally formed on the insert housing 2 has honeycomb-shaped lattice openings 17 which can readily guide and shape the water flowing through, on account of the longitudinal extent of the webs forming this lattice structure 14, but oppose this water flow only little. Inserted into the insert housing 2 of the insert units 1, 6, 12 are annular insert parts 28 which have a lattice or mesh structure 15 interposed in the liquid path. The insert parts 28 of the insert units 1, 6, 12 illustrated here have, to this end, a spider-web-like structure of concentric webs which intersect with radial webs at intersection points. The lattice or mesh structures 15 formed in the insert parts 18 favor good mixing of the water flowing through with the ambient air drawn into the housing interior of the insert housing 2.

(20) The water flow carried in the liquid path of the insert units 1, 6, 12 is divided into individual jets in the splitter openings 11, 13 of the jet splitters 9, 10, wherein these individual jets are subjected to an increase in speed which creates a negative pressure on the outflow side of the jet splitters 9, 10. With the aid of this negative pressure, ambient air is drawn into the liquid path. The sanitary insert units 1, 6, 12 have to this end at least one aeration duct which opens into the liquid path beneath the jet splitter 9, 10. This at least one aeration duct is embodied here as a housing opening 18 provided in the housing circumferential wall of the insert housing 2.

(21) In order to limit the amount of water flowing through per unit time to a fixed maximum value, a flow rate regulator 19 is provided in the insert housing 2 on the inflow side upstream of the jet splitter 9, 10, said flow rate regulator 19 regulating the water flowing through to a pressure-independent maximum flow rate. The flow rate regulators 19 used in the insert units 1, 6, 12 have an elastic annular throttle body 20 made of elastic material, which engages around a regulator core 21 and delimits a control gap between itself and regulating profiling 22 provided on the outer circumferential wall of the regulator core or an inner circumferential wall surrounding the throttle body 20, said control gap changing under the pressure of the water flowing through such that the flow rate of the flow rate regulator 20 does not exceed a pressure-independent maximum value.

(22) In the insert unit 12 shown in FIGS. 12 to 14, the bypass duct 16 has an inflow-side duct opening which is arranged in the liquid path beneath some of the splitter openings 11 and in particular beneath at least two of the splitter openings 11. In order that a hard cleaning jet that cleans effectively can be generated in the bypass duct 16 of the insert unit 12, this bypass duct 16 is dimensioned such that its smallest clear duct cross section comprises a clear cross-sectional area which is smaller than the sum of the clear cross-sectional areas of the splitter openings 11 opening into the inflow-side duct opening.

(23) In the case of the insert units 6, 12 depicted in FIGS. 6 to 11 and 12 to 14, the inflow-side duct opening of the bypass duct 16 is arranged in each case beneath the flow rate regulator 19, such that the maximum value of the flow rate regulated by the flow rate regulator 19 is not exceeded even when the cleaning jet and the amount of water carried by the bypass duct 16 for this purpose are taken into consideration.

(24) In the case of the insert units 1, 6 shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 and 6 to 11, the bypass duct 16 passes through the jet splitter 9 or 10,in the case of the insert unit 1 according to FIGS. 1 to 5, the bypass duct 16 additionally also passes through the flow rate regulator 19.

(25) While the jet splitter 9 of the insert units 1, 12 shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 and 12 to 14 is in the form of a simple perforated plate, the jet splitter 10 of the insert unit 6 according to FIGS. 6 to 11 is configured as a diffuser which has an impact surface 23 that deflects the inflowing water in the direction of the splitter openings 13, which are provided in an outer circumferential wall of the jet splitter 10 in the form of a diffuser. It is apparent from FIG. 8 that the outer circumferential wall of the jet splitter 10 in the form of a diffuser is surrounded by an annular face 24, and that an annular gap is provided between the outer circumferential wall and this annular face 24, said annular gap narrowing at least partially in the flow-through direction of the water. In accordance with the Bernoulli equation, a negative pressure, with the aid of which ambient air can be drawn in, forms in the housing interior on the outflow side of the annular gap.

(26) In order that dirt particles entrained in the supply network cannot impair the function of the insert units and the constituent parts thereof, the insert units 1, 12 have a filter screen 25 which is arranged in the inflow direction upstream of the jet splitter 9 and optionally also upstream of the flow rate regulator 19 connected in between. While the filter screen 25 of the insert unit 12 shown in FIGS. 12 to 14 widens in an approximately conical manner in the flow-through direction, the filter screen 25 of the insert unit 1 is formed in a funnel-shaped manner, wherein the funnel shape of this filter screen 25 narrows in the direction of an inflow-side duct opening of the at least one bypass duct 16 provided in the insert unit 1.

(27) In order to create a lance-shaped central cleaning jet, the bypass duct 16 of the insert units 1, 12 shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 and 12 to 14 narrows in the direction of a central nozzle opening, said nozzle opening having the smallest clear cross section of the bypass duct in question.

(28) In order, if necessary, to also be able to provide a cleaning jet having a larger jet cross section, the bypass duct 16 narrows in the direction of an annular gap in order to create an annular jet in the insert unit 6 according to FIGS. 6 to 11. The bypass duct 16 of the insert unit 6 has to this end a cylindrical clear cross section, wherein a duct insert element 26 that widens at least partially in a conical manner in the flow-through direction has been inserted into this bypass duct 16, said duct insert element 26 delimiting, between its outer circumference and the inner circumferential wall of the bypass duct 16, the annular gap.

(29) The annular gap or the nozzle opening of the bypass duct 16 provided in the insert units 1, 6, 12 forms an outflow-side duct opening. This outflow-side duct opening is arranged approximately in an outflow-side end plane of the insert housing 2 in the case of the insert units 6, 12. Although the flow rate regulators 19 connected upstream in the insert units 1, 6, 12 can greatly weaken the water jet emerging from the liquid path, a cleaning jet that is comparatively hard is additionally provided in the insert units 1, 6, 12, said cleaning jet nevertheless allowing effective cleaning of soiled hands, toothbrushes, razors or other articles. In this case, a part of the water flowing into the insert units 1, 6, 12 is collected in the at least one bypass duct 16, concentrated there and subsequently passed through a nozzle opening configured as an annular gap or as a hole. In the bypass duct 16 in the form of a nozzle, the concentrated cleaning jet emerging in a comparatively hard manner arises, which is strong enough to be able to clean even a soiled article better. If necessary, the amount of water carried through the bypass duct 16 can also be regulated by the flow rate regulator 19 connected upstream in the insert housing 2. The water flow which is carried by the liquid path and is not collected in the bypass duct 16 formed in a nozzle-like manner first of all passes, as in the case of a conventional jet regulator or jet aerator, through the jet splitter 9, 10 and subsequently through the lattice or mesh structures 14, 15 that are arranged downstream of the jet splitter 9, 10 and serve as a flow straightener or as a homogenizing device. The concentrated, keen cleaning jet arranged centrally in the insert units 1, 6, 12 is circumferentially surrounded by the soft overall jet flowing out of the liquid path, such that the cleaning jet is virtually invisible. The user is given the impression of having a conventional water jet, with which, if required, it is also possible to achieve a sufficient cleaning action, however.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(30) 1 Sanitary insert unit (according to FIGS. 1 to 5)

(31) 2 Insert housing

(32) 3 Water outlet

(33) 4 Outlet mouthpiece

(34) 5 Annular flange

(35) 6 Sanitary insert unit (according to FIGS. 6 to 11)

(36) 7 Support

(37) 8 Thread

(38) 9 Jet splitter (in the insert units 1, 12)

(39) 10 Jet splitter (in the insert unit 6)

(40) 11 Splitter openings (in the jet splitter 9)

(41) 12 Sanitary insert unit (according to FIGS. 12 to 14)

(42) 13 Splitter openings (in the jet splitter 10)

(43) 14 Lattice structure

(44) 15 Mesh structure

(45) 16 Bypass duct

(46) 17 Honeycomb-shaped lattice openings (of the lattice structure 14)

(47) 18 Housing opening

(48) 19 Flow rate regulator

(49) 20 Throttle body made of elastic material

(50) 21 Regulator core

(51) 22 Regulating profiling

(52) 23 Impact surface

(53) 24 Annular face

(54) 25 Filter screen

(55) 26 Duct insert element (of the insert unit 6)

(56) 27 Counterpart thread

(57) 28 Insert part

(58) 29 Sealing ring