Sanitary outlet unit

Abstract

In a sanitary outlet unit (1), it is provided that a contact surface (6) is formed on a valve element (4) which is adjustable between an open position and a closed position in a flow path (2), which contact surface (6), in the open position, covers a corresponding, stationary counterpart surface (7) and, in the closed position, frees said counterpart surface (7), such that the valve element (4) is automatically held in the open position by the pressure in the flow path and returns to the closed position in the event of a pressure drop (cf. FIG. 1).

Claims

1. A sanitary outlet unit, comprising: a housing (3) having an inlet and an outlet; a valve element (4) arranged in a flow path (2) in the housing (3) between the inlet and the outlet, the valve element is switchable between an open position and a closed position, the closed position being arranged below the open position in a use position of the sanitary outlet unit, and the valve element is configured to automatically fall to the closed position upon a pressure drop of water in the flow path; the valve element (4) has a contact surface (6) which, in the open position, bears on a counterpart surface (7) of the housing (3) and, in the closed position, is spaced apart from the counterpart surface (7), such that the counterpart surface (7) in the closed position is adapted to be wettable by water in the flow path (2); an impact surface (8) formed on the valve element (4) and, in the open position, the impact surface is adapted to be acted upon by a pressure prevailing in the flow path (2), such that the contact surface (6) is pressed against the counterpart surface (7); and an actuating element (13) that is accessible from outside the housing (3) and with which the valve element (4) is transferable from the closed position to the open position, and the flow path is limited to a greater extent in the closed position than in the open position to provide a positive flow rate to the outlet that is lower than a flow rate to the outlet in the open position for an automatic water saving function.

2. The sanitary outlet unit (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the impact surface (8) is formed on a side of the valve element (4) directed away from the contact surface (6), and a displacement body (9) is formed on the valve element (4), said displacement body (9), in the open position, is arranged in a receiving space (10) closeable by the contact surface (6) and the counterpart surface (7) and, in the closed position, is arranged at least partially outside the receiving space (10).

3. The sanitary outlet unit (1) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the displacement body (9) is guided in the receiving space (10).

4. The sanitary outlet unit (1) as claimed in claim 2, further comprising at least one relief channel (12) that opens into the flow path (2) formed between the displacement body (9) and an inner wall (11) of the receiving space (10), and water displaced from the receiving space (10) is adapted to be removed via said relief channel (12).

5. The sanitary outlet unit (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the actuating element (13) is rod-shaped.

6. The sanitary outlet unit (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the actuating element (13) is formed separately from the valve element (4) and is movable independently thereof.

7. The sanitary outlet unit (1) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the actuating element (13) is guided displaceably in the housing (3).

8. The sanitary outlet unit (1) as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a flow obstacle formed by or at a valve seat (15) of the valve element (4), and in the open position in the flow path (2), the impact surface (8) is arranged upstream from the flow obstacle.

9. The sanitary outlet unit (1) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the contact surface (6) is formed on an encircling rim (16) which, in the closed position, interacts with the valve seat (15) to provide an at least partial closure.

10. The sanitary outlet unit (1) as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a flow rate regulator or flow rate limiter (18) arranged upstream from the valve element (4) in the flow path (2).

11. The sanitary outlet unit (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the contact surface (6), in the closed position, is on the inflow side of the valve element (4).

12. The sanitary outlet unit (1) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the displacement body (9) is made of a metallic material, and the actuating element (13) is made of plastic.

13. The sanitary outlet unit (1) as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a flow baffle (19) arranged such that, in the closed position, the valve element (4) is at least partially screened off in a circumferential direction, and the flow baffle (19) is arranged behind the impact surface (29) and protrudes into a valve chamber (28) that receives the valve element (4).

14. The sanitary outlet unit (1) as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a flow straightener (20) arranged in the flow path (2) before the valve element (4).

15. The sanitary outlet unit (1) as claimed in claim 14, wherein the flow straightener (20) has a multi-stage configuration, and includes at least one insert (34) that forms a step (21, 22).

16. The sanitary outlet unit (1) as claimed in claim 14, further comprising at least one through-flow nozzle (23) arranged in the flow path (2) between the flow straightener (20) and the valve element (4).

17. The sanitary outlet unit (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the contact surface (6) bears on the counterpart surface (7) in a contact region (24), and a distance is formed outside of the contact region (24), and a surface area of the contact region (24) is smaller than a surface area of a surface (25) covered by the contact surface.

18. A method for actuating the sanitary outlet unit (1) as claimed in claim 1, the method comprising: arranging the valve element (4) in the flow path (2) in the housing (3) of the sanitary outlet unit,; transferring the valve element (4) from the closed position to the open position lying above the closed position; acting on the valve element (4), in the open position, by the pressure prevailing in the flow path (2), and pressing and holding the contact surface (6) of the valve element (4) against the counterpart surface (7) on the housing (3); and after a pressure drop in the flow path (2), the valve element (4) automatically falling to the closed position to provide the positive flow rate to the outlet that is lower than the flow rate to the outlet prior to the pressure drop providing the automatic water saving function.

19. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein after the pressure drop in the flow path (2), the valve element (4) falls automatically to the closed position due to inherent weight thereof.

20. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the pressure is generated by a flow obstacle arranged downstream from the valve element (4) in the open position.

21. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein when the valve element (4) is transferred to the open position, the method further comprises displacing water from a receiving space (10) for a displacement body (9) of the valve element (4) via at least one relief channel (12).

22. The method as claimed in claim 18, further comprising holding the valve element (4), in the closed position, against a valve seat (15) by a pressure arising at the contact surface (6) in the flow path (2).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention is now described in more detail on the basis of an illustrative embodiment, but it is not restricted to this illustrative embodiment. Further illustrative embodiments will emerge from the combination of individual or multiple features of the patent claims with one another and/or with individual or multiple features of the illustrative embodiment.

(2) FIG. 1 shows a sanitary outlet unit according to the invention in a sectional view, wherein the valve element is located in the closed position,

(3) FIG. 2 shows the sanitary outlet unit according to FIG. 1, wherein the valve element is transferred with the actuating element to the open position,

(4) FIG. 3 Shows the sanitary outlet unit according to FIG. 1, wherein the valve element is arranged in the open position and the actuating element is released from the valve element,

(5) FIG. 4 shows the situation according to FIG. 1 in a side view,

(6) FIG. 5 shows the situation according to FIG. 1 in a view looking obliquely from below at the outlet structure,

(7) FIG. 6 shows a further outlet unit according to the invention in a sectional view, wherein the valve element is located in the closed position,

(8) FIG. 7 shows the sanitary outlet unit according to FIG. 6, wherein the valve element is transferred with the actuating element to the open position,

(9) FIG. 8 shows the sanitary outlet unit according to FIG. 6, wherein the valve element is arranged in the open position and the actuating element is released from the valve element,

(10) FIG. 9 shows the sanitary outlet unit according to FIG. 6 in a longitudinal section,

(11) FIG. 10 shows an enlarged detail from FIG. 9,

(12) FIG. 11 shows the sanitary outlet unit according to FIG. 6 in an exploded view,

(13) FIG. 12 shows the sanitary outlet unit according to FIG. 9 in order to illustrate the position of the enlarged detail in FIG. 13, and

(14) FIG. 13 shows an enlarged detail from FIG. 12 with flow velocity vectors.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(15) FIGS. 1 to 5 are first of all described jointly below, after which the different switching states are discussed in detail.

(16) An outlet unit designated overall by reference sign 1 forms, within its interior, a flow path 2 for water to flow through. The flow path 2 is formed in a manner known per se in a multi-part housing 3.

(17) A valve element 4 is arranged in the flow path 2, which valve element 4 is switchable between an open position (FIGS. 2 and 3) and a closed position (FIGS. 1, 4 and 5).

(18) The closed position is in this case arranged below the open position when the sanitary outlet unit 1 is used in the orientation according to FIG. 1. For this purpose, as has been stated, the closed position can be arranged exactly below the open position, or it can be arranged below the open position but laterally offset in relation to a position exactly below.

(19) During use, the sanitary outlet unit 1 is held on a fitting (not shown in detail) by a mouthpiece 5 in a manner known per se.

(20) A contact surface 6 is formed on the valve element 4. A corresponding counterpart surface 7 is formed on the housing 3 and interacts with the contact surface 6 in such a way that the counterpart surface 7 bears flat on the contact surface 6 in the open position of the valve element 4.

(21) In the closed position, by contrast, the contact surface 6 is arranged at a distance from the counterpart surface 7.

(22) In the closed position, the counterpart surface 7 is accessible from the direction of the flow path 2 and is therefore wetted if water is present in the flow path 2.

(23) An impingement surface 8 is moreover formed on the valve element 4. The impingement surface 8 is oriented downward, whereas the contact surface 6 is oriented upward. In other words, the impingement surface 8 is in an orientation directed away from the contact surface 6.

(24) In the open position of the valve element 4, the impingement surface 8 is thus acted upon by pressure and presses the valve element 4 against the counterpart surface 7.

(25) A displacement body 9 is formed on the valve element 4 and fits into a receiving space 10.

(26) Here, the displacement body 9 is shown by way of example with a cylindrical shape.

(27) The displacement body 9 is guided displaceably in the receiving space 10 by the inner contour of the latter. In the open position, the displacement body 9 completely fills the receiving space 10. In the closed position, by contrast, the displacement body 9 is arranged partially outside the receiving space 10 and protrudes into the latter only as far as is necessary for said displaceable guiding.

(28) A plurality of relief channels 12, through which water displaced from the receiving space 10 can flow back into the flow path 2, are formed between the displacement body 9 and an inner wall 11 of the receiving space 10.

(29) A rod-shaped actuating element 13, which is accessible from the outside, is formed below the valve element 4.

(30) The actuating element 13 is guided displaceably in an outlet structure 14 and acts on the valve element 4 from below, at the impingement surface 8.

(31) The actuating element 13 is formed separately from the valve element 4, such that a part of the impingement surface 8 can be covered by and freed by the actuating element 13.

(32) This part of the impingement surface is covered in FIG. 2 and freed in FIG. 3.

(33) The impingement surface 8 is arranged in the flow path 2 upstream from the valve seat 15. The valve seat 15 thus forms a flow obstacle in the flow path 2, such that a pressure builds up before the valve seat 15 and holds the valve element 4 in the open position.

(34) The contact surface 6 and the impingement surface 8 are formed on an encircling rim 16 of the valve element 4. In the closed position, the rim 16 partially closes the valve seat 15 in order to achieve an additional narrowing. For this purpose, flattened regions 17, which each form gaps at the valve seat 15, are formed on the rim 16, which itself describes a round basic shape.

(35) A flow rate regulator or flow rate limiter 18 is arranged upstream from the valve element 4 in the flow path 2, by which defined conditions can be set in the environment of the valve element 4.

(36) In the closed position, the contact surface 6 is formed on the inflow side of the valve element 4, such that the valve element 4 is guided to the closed position by the flow pressure and is held in the closed position as soon as the contact surface 6 is released from the counterpart surface 7.

(37) The displacement body 9 and the entire valve element 4 as a whole are made of brass. The actuating element 13, by contrast, is made of plastic, as also is the housing 3 with the outlet structure 14.

(38) FIG. 1 shows the rest state of the sanitary outlet unit 1. The valve element 4 is arranged in the closed position.

(39) During operation, the through-flow along the flow path 2 is thus defined by the valve element 4 and in particular by the flattened regions 17 in the valve seat 15.

(40) When upward manual pressure is applied to the actuating element 13 from below, the valve element 4 is transferred to the open position according to FIG. 2. Here, water is displaced from the receiving space 10 through the relief channels 12 by the displacement body 9.

(41) The valve element 4 is pressed with its contact surface 6 against the counterpart surface 7 on the housing 3.

(42) In this open position, the impingement surface 8 is acted upon by the pressure built up or prevailing in the flow path 2, such that the valve element 4 is held in the open position.

(43) Therefore, the valve element 4 remains in the open position even when the actuating element 13, left to itself, detaches from the valve element 4 and falls down. This holding in the open position continues as long as water flows in the flow path 2 and the necessary pressure is built up.

(44) When the pressure drops in the flow path 2, the valve element 4 with the displacement body 9 falls back, by reason of its inherent weight, to the closed position according to FIG. 1.

(45) In the open position, the valve seat 15 has a maximum free inner cross section, such that the through-flow rate is increased in relation to the closed position.

(46) It is also evident from the figures that the pressure holding the valve element 4 in the open position is generated by the valve seat 15 and downstream flow obstacles.

(47) FIGS. 6 to 13 are described jointly below, wherein components and functional units that are similar or identical in terms of function and/or design to components and functional units of the preceding illustrative embodiment are designated by the same reference signs and are not described separately again. The statements concerning FIGS. 1 to 5 therefore apply correspondingly to FIGS. 6 to 13.

(48) The illustrative embodiment according to FIGS. 6 to 13 differs from the preceding illustrative embodiment at least in that a flow straightener 20 is formed upstream from a through-flow nozzle 23. This flow straightener 20 is in two layers, being composed of two stages, namely the first stage 21 and the second stage 22. Each stage 21, 22 is configured here as an annular insert 34.

(49) In further illustrative embodiments, there are other numbers or shapes of stages 21, 22, for example three or more than three stages and/or circular disk-shaped inserts 34.

(50) In FIGS. 6 to 13, a flow baffle 19 is formed in the valve chamber 28, which is formed along the flow path 2 behind the through-flow nozzle 23. The flow baffle 19 protrudes into the valve chamber 28 and encloses the valve element 4 along the full circumference of the rim 16. Here, the flow baffle 19 is pressed tightly onto the counterpart surface 7.

(51) The flow baffle 19 has a height which is adapted to a thickness of the rim 16. Thus, the rim 16 is completely concealed behind the flow baffle 19.

(52) As will be seen from FIG. 11, the rim 16 has a non-round configuration, with the above-described flattened regions 17.

(53) By contrast, the flow baffle 19 has a shape of a circular ring which encloses the rim 16 all the way round. This avoids the rim 16 being able to collide with the flow baffle 19 during a rotation about its longitudinal axis, wherein at the same time the flow baffle 19 is brought as close as possible to the rim 16.

(54) FIGS. 10 and 12 show more exactly that the counterpart surface 7 is divided by a step 26. In this way, a contact region 24 is formed in which the contact surface 6 and the counterpart surface 7 bear flat on each other.

(55) This contact region 24 is only a fraction of the surface area 25 covered by the valve element 4, more precisely by the rim 16 of the latter. In terms of manufacturing technology, this small area can easily be made sufficiently flat such that the contact surface 6 bears sufficiently tightly on the counterpart surface 7, in order to hold the valve element 4 in the upper position by the water pressure.

(56) By the step 26, a gap 30 is thus formed by which the contact surface 6 is at a distance from the counterpart surface 7 on the other side of the contact region 24. Here, therefore, irregularities have no effect on the hold of the valve element 4.

(57) In FIG. 13, the course of the flow in the flow path 2 is indicated by flow velocity vectors 27. Here, the plotted line of the flow path 2 is to be interpreted as an approximation of the basic course of the flow.

(58) The straightening effect of the flow straightener 20 can be seen from the fact that the flow velocity vectors 27, after emerging from the through-flow nozzle 23, define a general direction of flow with a low degree of swirling. Although downstream structures cause a renewed increase in swirling, they do so to an acceptable extent.

(59) It will be seen that the flow is reflected in the direction of the valve element 4 from an impact surface 29 at the impact part 32. To prevent the flow from penetrating here between the contact surface 6 and the counterpart surface 7 and thus causing the valve element 4 to detach from the upper position, the already described flow baffle 19 is provided.

(60) FIG. 11 shows the outlet unit 1 in an exploded view. The outlet unit 1 accordingly has a flow rate regulator 18 onto which a dome screen (not shown in FIG. 11) is mounted. The flow rate regulator 18 has, in a manner known per se, a regulating body 35 which, with a regulating profile 36, defines a regulating gap 37 in such a way that a constant flow rate can be achieved in a manner independent of pressure.

(61) Arranged underneath the flow rate regulator 18 in the direction of flow is the housing 3, into which the inserts 34 in the form of perforated plates are fitted, which form the stages 21, 22 of the flow straightener 20.

(62) Downstream on the housing 3, the receiving space 10 is formed which receives the displacement body 9 of the valve element 4.

(63) The housing 3 is followed by the impact part 32, which provides the impact surface 29 (cf. FIG. 10) and the valve seat 15.

(64) This is followed by the splitter part 31 which, in a manner known per se, aerates the water stream.

(65) It will also be seen from FIG. 9 that the actuating element 13 is connected on the outside to a sleeve-shaped handle 33. The actuating element 13 can thus be activated from outside, without having to intervene in the water jet. In the present illustrative embodiment, this connection is realized via the outlet structure 14. However, it can also be configured separately from the outlet structure 14.

(66) A sleeve part 38 receives the splitter part 31, the impact part 32 and the housing 3 with the clipped-on flow rate regulator 28. The sleeve part 38 is held in the outlet mouthpiece 5, which can be screwed into a faucet outlet (not shown in detail).

(67) In summary, it is thus provided according to the invention that, in a sanitary outlet unit 1, a contact surface 6 is formed on a valve element 4 which is adjustable between an open position and a closed position in a flow path 2, which contact surface 6, in the open position, covers a corresponding, stationary counterpart surface 7 and, in the closed position, frees said counterpart surface 7, such that the valve element 4 is automatically held in the open position by the pressure in the flow path and returns to the closed position in the event of a pressure drop.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(68) 1 sanitary outlet unit 2 flow path 3 housing 4 valve element 5 mouthpiece 6 contact surface 7 counterpart surface 8 impingement surface 9 displacement body 10 receiving space 11 inner wall 12 relief channel 13 actuating element 14 outlet structure 15 valve seat 16 rim 17 flattened region 18 flow rate limiter 19 flow baffle 20 flow straightener 21 first stage of 20 22 second stage of 20 23 through-flow nozzle 24 contact region 25 surface area 26 step 27 flow velocity vector 28 valve chamber 29 impact surface 30 gap 31 splitter part 32 impact part 33 handle 34 insert 35 regulating body 36 regulating profile 37 regulating gap 38 sleeve part