Abstract
A backflow inhibitor has a jet nozzle connectable to a flow entrance and has a capture part which captures the liquid jet that passes over a free jet path from the jet nozzle. The capture part is connectable or connected to a flow exit and to an outlet arranged below the free jet path. The outlet discharges a partial amount of liquid not captured by the capture part. The backflow inhibitor includes an insert cartridge which carries the jet nozzle and the capture part. In use, the insert cartridge is held such that the jet nozzle is connected to the flow entrance and the capture part is connected to the flow exit. The insert cartridge, in the cartridge section which is arranged between jet nozzle and capture part and which forms or delimits the free jet path, has at least one cartridge opening that can be connected to the outlet.
Claims
1. A backflow inhibitor (1, 100) having a jet nozzle (4) connectable to a flow entrance (3) and a capture part (5) which captures a liquid jet that passes over a free jet path (6) from the jet nozzle (4), said capture part is connectable or connected to a flow exit (7; 57) and to an outlet (8) arranged below the free jet path (6), said outlet (8) discharges a partial amount of liquid that is not captured by the capture part (5), in which at least one spray wall or partition (23) is arranged in the free jet path (6), at a distance from the jet nozzle (4) and from the capture part (5), said spray wall or partition (23) having a jet passage opening (24), wherein the jet passage opening (24) provided in the spray wall or partition (23) has a clear opening cross section larger than the jet cross section of the liquid jet, and wherein the clear opening cross section of the jet passage opening (24) is dimensioned such that the liquid jet passes through said jet passage opening (24) and without contacting said spray wall or partition (23).
2. A backflow inhibitor (1, 100) having a jet nozzle (4) connectable to a flow entrance (3) and a capture part (5) which captures the liquid jet that passes over a free jet path (6) from the jet nozzle (4), said capture part is connectable or connected to a flow exit (7; 57) and to an outlet (8) arranged below the free jet path (6), said outlet (8) discharges a partial amount of liquid that is not captured by the capture part (5), as claimed in claim 1, wherein the jet nozzle (4) is displaceable in the backflow inhibitor (1, 100) from a standby position into a spray position, in said spray position, a forward portion having a nozzle opening (21) of the jet nozzle (4), extends through a push-through opening (36) which is provided in an elastic diaphragm (35) or the jet nozzle opening (21) is closed by a flap of the elastic diaphragm (35) in the standby position.
3. The backflow inhibitor as claimed in claim 2, wherein a sleeve-shaped jet nozzle receptacle (50) is provided in which the jet nozzle (4) is displaceable and wherein the jet nozzle receptacle (50) is connected to the capture part (5) via at least one connecting web (51).
4. The backflow inhibitor as claimed in claim 2, in the standby position, the forward portion of the jet nozzle (4), having the nozzle opening (21), is arranged in a water bath or is surrounded by water, and wherein the flap of the diaphragm closes the push-through opening in the standby position.
5. The backflow inhibitor as claimed in claim 2, wherein the jet nozzle (4) is displaced from the standby position into the spray position counter to a restoring force.
6. The backflow inhibitor as claimed in claim 2, wherein the jet nozzle (4) is displaceable under a pressure of the liquid flowing through.
7. The backflow inhibitor as claimed in claim 5 wherein, the restoring force is provided by at least one restoring spring (34).
8. The backflow inhibitor as claimed in claim 5, wherein the restoring force which acts on the jet nozzle (4), is provided by the diaphragm (35).
9. The backflow inhibitor as claimed in claim 5, wherein the jet nozzle (4) projects into a pot-shaped diaphragm (35) which bears a passage opening (36) on a base of its pot shape, and wherein a circumferential margin, remote from the pot base, of the diaphragm (35) is biased against the jet nozzle (4).
10. The backflow inhibitor as claimed in claim 9, wherein the diaphragm (35), in a region of the base of its pot shape, seals off the jet nozzle receptacle (50) in a region of an opening (64) provided in a guide wall (60), and wherein the diaphragm (35), at a circumference of its pot shape, has at least one throughflow opening (65) which connects the interior (66) of the jet nozzle receptacle (50) to the interior (67) of the pot-shaped diaphragm (35).
Description
(1) In the figures:
(2) FIG. 1 shows, in a longitudinal section, a backflow inhibitor having a cartridge receptacle into which there is inserted an insert cartridge, the latter bearing a jet nozzle and a capture part which captures the jet passing from the jet nozzle over a free jet path,
(3) FIG. 2 shows the backflow inhibitor from FIG. 1 in a side view,
(4) FIG. 3 shows the backflow inhibitor from FIGS. 1 and 2 in a plan view,
(5) FIG. 4 shows the backflow inhibitor from FIGS. 1 to 3 in an exploded illustration of its main constituent parts,
(6) FIG. 5 shows a backflow inhibitor, of similar design to that in FIGS. 1 to 4 and likewise illustrated here in a longitudinal section, in which the jet nozzle provided on the insert cartridge and the capture part are formed as separate components,
(7) FIG. 6 shows the backflow inhibitor from FIG. 5 in a side view,
(8) FIG. 7 shows the backflow inhibitor from FIGS. 5 and 6 in a plan view,
(9) FIG. 8 shows the backflow inhibitor from FIGS. 5 and 7 in an exploded illustration of its main constituent parts,
(10) FIG. 9 shows, in a longitudinal section, a backflow inhibitor in which the insert cartridge has been exchanged for a tubular connecting piece, wherein the backflow inhibitor illustrated here can prevent a backflow at most by way of an integrated backflow preventer,
(11) FIG. 10 shows the backflow inhibitor from FIG. 9 in a side view,
(12) FIG. 11 shows the backflow inhibitor from FIGS. 9 and 10 in an exploded illustration of its main constituent parts,
(13) FIG. 12 shows a jet nozzle for a backflow inhibitor as per FIGS. 1 to 8 in a perspective illustration of its main constituent parts,
(14) FIG. 13 shows the jet nozzle from FIG. 12 in a longitudinal section, wherein the jet nozzle is guided displaceably in a sleeve-shaped jet nozzle receptacle such that said jet nozzle can, in a spray position, extend by way of its projecting nozzle opening through the push-through opening of a diaphragm, wherein here, the jet nozzle is shown in its standby position in which it is retracted into the sleeve-shaped jet nozzle receptacle,
(15) FIG. 14 shows the jet nozzle, situated in the standby position, in a plan view of the diaphragm to be extended through by the jet nozzle,
(16) FIG. 15 shows the jet nozzle from FIGS. 12 to 14 with the nozzle opening in the spray position, illustrated here in longitudinal section,
(17) FIG. 16 shows the jet nozzle from FIGS. 12 to 15 in an end view of the jet opening projecting beyond the push-through opening of the diaphragm,
(18) FIG. 17 shows the backflow inhibitor in a schematic longitudinal section in the region of its capture part,
(19) FIG. 18 shows a backflow inhibitor designed according to FIGS. 1 to 17, which is here connected upstream, at the inflow side, of the water inlet in the tub base of a bathtub,
(20) FIG. 19 shows a backflow inhibitor which is connected into the water flow entrance of an upwardly directed douche that can be mounted, also retroactively, on a toilet seat or ceramic toilet bowl,
(21) FIG. 20 shows, in a schematic illustration, the water guide of the upwardly directed douche shown in FIG. 19, which has a hand-held shower referred to as a shattaf shower, wherein the interposed backflow inhibitor can be seen in the water flow entrance,
(22) FIG. 21 shows a further embodiment of a backflow inhibitor in a longitudinal section, wherein the backflow inhibitor shown in FIG. 21 is of a similar design to the backflow inhibitor shown in FIGS. 1 to 18,
(23) FIG. 22 shows the backflow inhibitor from FIG. 21 in a perspective illustration of its individual parts,
(24) FIG. 23 shows the backflow inhibitor from FIGS. 21 and 22 in a plan view of the outlet of said backflow inhibitor,
(25) FIG. 24 shows the backflow inhibitor shown in FIGS. 21 and 23, in a side view,
(26) FIG. 25 shows the backflow inhibitor from FIGS. 21 to 24, in a plan view of the top side, which faces away from the outlet,
(27) FIG. 26 shows the backflow inhibitor, in this case likewise in longitudinal section, from FIGS. 21 to 25, wherein, in this backflow inhibitor, a jet nozzle is provided which is guided displaceably counter to a restoring force, said jet nozzle being shown here in two sliding positions,
(28) FIG. 27 shows the backflow inhibitor from FIGS. 21 to 26, with its displaceably guided jet nozzle in the sliding positions illustrated alongside one another,
(29) FIG. 28 shows the jet nozzle of the backflow inhibitor shown in FIGS. 21 to 27, in a longitudinal section,
(30) FIG. 29 shows the spray nozzle of the backflow inhibitor shown in FIGS. 21 to 27, in the region of its nozzle opening, and
(31) FIG. 30 shows the jet nozzle from FIGS. 28 and 29, in a plan view of the nozzle opening.
(32) FIGS. 1 to 30 illustrate a backflow inhibitor 1, 100 in various embodiments, which can be connected upstream, at the inflow side, of a sanitary point of use, for example an upwardly directed douche or the bathtub inlet of a bathtub. Said backflow inhibitor 1, 100 is intended to reliably prevent a backflow of contaminated water into the drinking water supply network.
(33) The backflow inhibitor 1 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 20 has a cartridge receptacle 2 which can be integrated, for example, into a cutout of suitable shape on the toilet seat. As is clear from a comparison of FIGS. 1 to 8, there is provided in the cartridge receptacle 2 a jet nozzle 4, which can be connected to a flow entrance 3 of the cartridge receptacle 2, and a capture part 5, which captures the liquid jet that passes over a free jet path 6 from the jet nozzle 4. Whereas the jet nozzle 4 is connected to the drinking water supply network via the flow entrance 3 of the cartridge receptacle 2, the capture part 5 is connected via a flow exit of the cartridge receptacle 2 to a spray nozzle (not shown in any more detail) or to the hand-held shower 45, shown in FIGS. 19 and 20 and referred to as a shattaf shower, of an upwardly directed douche. Below the free jet path 6, over which the water is guided as a water jet exposed to the atmosphere, there is provided an outlet 8 of the cartridge receptacle 2, said outlet having the task of discharging from the interior of the cartridge receptacle 2 a partial amount of liquid that is not captured by the capture part 5. Formed integrally on the cartridge receptacle 2 there is a spacer 68 which ensures that there is a minimum distance, conforming to standards, between the outlet 8 and a backwater level situated downstream of said outlet in the flow direction. Said spacer 68 is of approximately sleeve-shaped form in cross section and has, on both of its longitudinal sides, throughflow openings 69 which are oriented in the longitudinal extent of the spacer 68. Said throughflow openings 69 which are provided on both longitudinal sides of the spacer 68 give the spacer 68 a cage-like appearance.
(34) The backflow inhibitors 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 8 are allocated an insert cartridge 9 which carries the jet nozzle 4 and the capture part 5. Said insert cartridge 9 can be inserted through an insertion opening 10 for example into the cartridge receptacle 2 illustrated in FIG. 1 and can be detachably fixed therein such that the jet nozzle 4 is connected to the flow entrance 3 of the cartridge receptacle 2. It is clear from FIGS. 1 and 5 that the insert cartridges 9, in their cartridge section which is arranged between jet nozzle 4 and capture part 5 and which forms or delimits the free jet path 6, have at least one cartridge opening 11 which is connected to the outlet 8 of the cartridge receptacle 2. In the case of the insert cartridge 9 illustrated here, the cartridge opening 11 and the outlet 8 of the cartridge receptacle 2 directly adjoin one another.
(35) The insertion opening 10 through which the insert cartridge 9 can be inserted into the interior of the cartridge receptacle 2 can be closed by means of a cap 12 to which the insert cartridge 9 can be detachably fixed. Here, the cap 12 is detachably held on the cartridge receptacle 2 by way of a push-turn connection, wherein the push-turn connection may for example be in the form of a bayonet or similar bayonet-type connection.
(36) The cap 12 has a cap extension 13 onto which the insert cartridge 9 can be pushed or mounted by way of its adjacent cartridge end region 14 which is open at the face side.
(37) The insert cartridge 9 can thus be handled easily, even under restricted space conditions, by way of the cap 12 that is accessible from the outside at all times.
(38) The insert cartridge 9 has at least one inlet 15 which can be connected to the flow entrance 3 of the cartridge receptacle 2 via an annular chamber 16 which is bounded between the inner circumference of the cartridge receptacle 2 and the cartridge outer circumference and which is sealed off in an encircling manner on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the cartridge receptacle 2. Here, the insert cartridge 9 has two oval inlets 15 oriented in the cartridge circumferential direction. The flow entrance 3 of the cartridge receptacle 2 opens out in the annular chamber 16 in a manner uniformly spaced from the inlets 15 in the circumferential direction, said inlets in this case being arranged on opposite sides at the same level.
(39) From a comparison of FIGS. 1 and 5 on the one hand and FIGS. 4 and 8 on the other hand, it is evident that the cap extension 13 is formed by a number of parallel flow-guiding walls 17 which are spaced apart from one another to a small extent and which are arranged in lamellar fashion with respect to one another. When the insert cartridge 9 is mounted onto the cap 12, the intermediate spaces that remain between the flow-guiding walls 17 connect the inlets 15 to one another, such that the water streams flowing in via the inlets 15 impinge on one another there and are diverted in the cartridge longitudinal direction, where they flow through the free passages or passage openings 18, arranged between the adjacent flow-guiding walls 17 in the direction of the jet nozzle 4, into the cartridge interior.
(40) Between the inlets 15 and the jet nozzle 4 there is provided an insert cartridge 19 which can be inserted into the cartridge interior from that cartridge end region 14 which is open at the face side. The insert cartridge 19 has at least one backflow inhibitor which permits a water flow only in the direction of the jet nozzle 4. The insert cartridge 19 also has a flow rate regulator which has the task of limiting and regulating the amount of water flowing through per unit of time to a certain value, in a manner independent of pressure.
(41) In the case of the backflow inhibitors 1, 100 shown in a longitudinal section in FIGS. 5 and 21, the jet nozzle 4 is guided displaceably in a sleeve-shaped jet nozzle receptacle 50. Said jet nozzle receptacle 50 is connected integrally to the capture part 5 by way of at least one connecting web 51 and preferably two connecting webs 51 arranged parallel to the free jet path 6.
(42) In the case of the backflow inhibitor 100 shown in FIGS. 21 to 27, the jet nozzle receptacle 50 and the capture part 5 connected thereto form an insert element 52 which can be inserted into a shell-shaped housing 53. For this purpose, the housing 53 has an insertion opening 54 on a longitudinal side, through which insertion opening the insert element 52 can be inserted.
(43) The insert element 52 can be detachably fixed in the housing 53 such that the insertion opening 54 simultaneously forms the outlet 8. The jet nozzle receptacle 50 can be closed off, at its face side remote from the jet nozzle 4, by means of a cover 55 which includes an inlet that can be connected to the flow entrance. Said inlet is in this case in the form of a connection nipple 56 which can be connected to the flow entrance via a hose (not shown in any more detail). To ensure that, at all times, there is an adequate distance between the insertion opening 54, which serves as outlet 8, and the respective housing base, at least one spacer may be integrally formed on the housing 53. Here, an embodiment which is not shown is preferred, in which multiple spacers are provided which are arranged in particular in the corner regions of the housing.
(44) As can be seen in FIGS. 21 and 22, a connection nipple 57 or similar outlet is also integrally formed on the capture part 5 in order that the capture part 5 can be connected, for example via a hose line, to the flow exit that leads to a point of use. It can be seen in FIGS. 21 and 22 that, on the capture part 5 and on the connection nipple 57 that serves as outlet, there is provided on the outer circumference a groove 58 which is engaged into by a wall opening 59, which is open toward the insertion opening 54, on the housing face side of the housing 53. Since the insertion opening that borders the wall opening 59 engages into the groove 58, correct positioning of the insert element 52 that is formed from jet nozzle 4 and capture part 5 is ensured at all times.
(45) As can be seen in FIGS. 21 and 22, a guide wall 60 is integrally formed on the outer side of the jet nozzle receptacle 50. In a use position, said guide wall 60, which is engaged on on both sides by one of the connecting webs 51 in each case, bears against a fork-shaped holder 61 which projects into the housing interior of the housing 53. Here, the forks 62 of the holder 61 are arranged on both sides of, and at a distance from, the nozzle opening of the jet nozzle 4 so as not to impair the correct functioning of the jet nozzle 4. Since, in the usage position, the guide wall 60 bears against the holder 61, it is likewise ensured that the insert element 52 is inserted into the housing 53 in correctly positioned fashion. Since the holder 61 is arranged with its forks 62 between the connecting webs 51, the insert element 52 is also secured against rotation in the housing 53.
(46) As can be clearly seen in FIG. 21, in a usage position, the cover 55 that closes off the jet nozzle receptacle 50 at the face side bears against the inner side of the adjacent housing face side of the housing 53. Here, the connection nipple 56 integrally formed on the cover 55 extends through a holding opening 70, which is open toward the insertion opening 54, on the housing face side. The holding opening 70 and also the wall opening, which in the usage position accommodate within them the connection nipples 56, 57, have, at least on one side and preferably on both sides in their opening outline, an offset 71 by means of which the connection nipple 56 or 57 can be detachably locked. The offsets 71 provided on both sides in the opening outline provide the holding opening 70 and also the wall opening 59 with an opening outline which is similar to that of a keyhole intended for a mortise key. Secure hold of the insert element 52 in the housing 53 is ensured in this way.
(47) It is clear from FIGS. 1, 4, 5, 8, 21, 22 and 26 that a conically projecting screen 20 is positioned upstream of the jet nozzle 4. The screen 20, or grate, is of a fine-mesh form such that the different pressures in the water flow over the cross section are homogenized.
(48) The jet nozzle 4 of the backflow inhibitors 1, 100 converts the pressure energy of the water entering from the supply network into the kinetic energy of the water jet. For this purpose, the flow guide narrows in funnel-shaped form in the direction of the nozzle opening 21 of the jet nozzle 4. In the region of the nozzle opening 21, the jet nozzle 4 is in the form of a nipple-like or stud-like projection 22 in order to minimize the influence exerted on the water jet owing to the adhesion forces.
(49) In the free jet path 6, at a distance from the capture part 5 and from the jet nozzle 4, there is arranged at least one spray wall or partition 23 which has a jet passage opening 24 which has a clear cross section larger than the jet cross section of the liquid jet. Here, the clear opening cross section of the jet passage opening 24 is dimensioned such that the liquid jet passes through said jet passage opening 24 without being focused by the latter and just passes through said jet passage opening without making contact. So as not to impair the liquid jet, the spray wall or partition 23 provided at a distance between jet nozzle 4 and capture part 5 is arranged closer to the capture part 5. Here, an embodiment is preferred in which the spray wall or partition 23 is spaced apart from the capture part 5 by at least four millimeters.
(50) The capture part 5 converts the kinetic energy of the water jet passing from the jet nozzle 4 and captured by the capture part 5 into corresponding pressure energy, which is subsequently required for the cleaning or water jet emerging for example from the spray nozzle, from the hand-held shower 45 of an upwardly directed douche or from some other sanitary point of use. From FIGS. 1, 5, 21 and 26, it is clear that the capture part 5, for this purpose, widens in a funnel shape in terms of its clear cross section. The capture part 5 has a capture opening 28 which has a hollow cylindrical clear opening cross section at least in its inflow-side section 25. Adjacent to the hollow cylindrical section 25, the capture part 5 widens in the direction of the flow exit. On the outflow side of the hollow cylindrical section 25, the capture part 5 has subsections 26, 27 which are conical or which widen in arcuate fashion in terms of clear cross section, and of which the inflow-side section 26 widens to a lesser degree than the subsequent subsection 27.
(51) In the case of the backflow inhibitor 1, the capture part 5 leads into a cartridge flow exit 30 arranged on the face-side cartridge end 29, which cartridge flow exit is provided adjacent to the flow exit 7 of the cartridge receptacle 2. In the region of its cartridge end 29 that also includes the cartridge flow exit 30, the insert cartridge 9 is sealed off in encircling fashion against the circumference of the cartridge receptacle 2.
(52) The insert cartridge 9 of the backflow inhibitor 1 can be inserted and fixed in the cartridge receptacle 2 such that the jet nozzle 4 is connected to the flow entrance 3 of the cartridge receptacle 2, and at the same time, the capture part 5 is connected to the flow exit 7 of the cartridge receptacle 2. The insert cartridge 9 of the backflow inhibitor 1, in its cartridge section which is arranged between jet nozzle 4 and capture part 5 and which delimits the free jet path 6, has at least one cartridge opening 11 which is connected to the outlet 8 of the cartridge receptacle 2. By releasing the insert cartridge 9 from the cartridge receptacle 2 and exchanging said insert cartridge 9, the backflow inhibitor 1, whose cartridge receptacle 2 may for example be formed into a toilet seat, a ceramic toilet bowl or a bathtub or whichas is the case heremay be in the form of a housing that can be inserted into a corresponding receptacle on the toilet seat, on the ceramic toilet bowl or on the bathtub opening of a bathtub, can be adapted with little expenditure to a wide variety of predefined conditions, such that optimum functioning is always ensured. By releasing the insert cartridge 9 from the cartridge receptacle 2, the backflow inhibitor 1 is also easy to clean and to descale if required.
(53) The embodiments of the backflow inhibitor 1, 100 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4, 5 to 8 and 21 to 27 differ merely in that, in the case of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 to 8, the jet nozzle 4 on the one hand and the capture part 5 on the other hand are each in the form of a component that can be detachably inserted into the insert cartridge 9. By virtue of the jet nozzle 4 and capture part 5 being designed as separate components, the modular construction of the backflow inhibitor 1 shown in FIGS. 5 to 8 is promoted such that, if appropriate, it is also possible, by exchanging the jet nozzle 4 and/or the capture part 5, for the insert cartridge 9 to be adapted to the respective conditions of the locally available supply network.
(54) Since, in the case of the other backflow inhibitors 1, 100, the section that forms the free jet path 6 of the insert cartridge 9 or of the insert element 52 is formed only by the two connecting webs 51 oriented in the longitudinal direction, the insert cartridge 9 of the backflow inhibitor 1, or the insert element 52 of the backflow inhibitor 100, is of open form in the region of said free jet path 6. In order that the backflow inhibitors 1, 100 can dry out again quickly after every use, at least one aeration opening is provided in the region of the free jet path 6.
(55) For this purpose, in the case of the backflow inhibitor 1, slot-shaped aeration openings 37 are provided on that side of the cartridge receptacle 2 (shown in FIGS. 1 to 8) which is remote from the outlet 8 of the cartridge receptacle 2, the aeration openings in this case run in labyrinthine form through the wall of the cartridge receptacle 2. By contrast, the housing 53 of the backflow inhibitor 100 shown in FIG. 21 has two slot-shaped aeration openings 63 which are arranged on the longitudinal side remote from the insertion opening 54. Said two slot-shaped aeration openings 63 are oriented, parallel to one another and at a distance from one another, in the housing longitudinal direction. Since the connecting webs 51 of the insert element 52 situated in the housing 53 project into an imaginary plane through the slot-shaped aeration openings 63, it is also the case in the backflow inhibitor 100 that the air is guided through the aeration openings 63 in a labyrinthine manner.
(56) The backflow inhibitors 1, 100 shown here make it possible, with an extremely high level of certainty, to prevent a backflow of contaminated water into a region connected to the drinking water supply network. In order to make it possible for the backflow inhibitor 1, 100 to also be used where such high certainty is not demanded, it is possible for the insert cartridge 9 of the backflow inhibitor 1 in the cartridge receptacle 2 to be exchanged for a sleeve-shaped connecting piece 31 which bridges the free jet path and connects the flow entrance 3 of the cartridge receptacle 2 to the flow exit 7 of the cartridge receptacle 2, possibly with the interposition of an insert cartridge 19 which has at least one backflow preventer.
(57) It is clear from FIGS. 9 to 11 that the modular design of the backflow inhibitor 1 facilitates the exchange of the insert cartridge 9 for a corresponding connecting piece 31. From a comparison of FIGS. 9 and 11, it is clear that the sleeve-shaped connecting piece 31, too, is mounted by way of its open face end onto the cap extension 13 of the cap 12, such that lateral inflow openings 32 are connected via the annular chamber 16 to the flow entrance 3 of the cartridge receptacle 2. Here, the insert cartridge 19 that has been pushed into the connecting piece 31 is secured between the cap extension 13 and an annular shoulder 33 arranged on the inner circumference of the connecting piece 31.
(58) FIGS. 12 to 15 and 21 to 27 illustrate at least that subregion of a differently designed backflow inhibitor 1, 100 which has the jet nozzle 4. As can be seen from FIGS. 12 to 15 and 21 to 27, it is the case in this differently designed backflow inhibitor 1, 100 that the jet nozzle 4 is guided displaceably in the jet nozzle receptacle 50 and can be displaced, under the pressure of the liquid flowing through and counter to a restoring force, from a standby position shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 into a spray position, in which spray positionas shown in FIGS. 15 and 16 and 26 and 27the jet nozzle 4 extends by way of its nozzle section, which forms the nozzle opening 21 and which is in the form of a projection 22, through a push-through opening 36 provided in an elastic diaphragm 35. Whereas it is the case in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 15 and 16 that the restoring force is imparted to the jet nozzle 4 by a restoring spring 34, it is the case in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 26 and 27 that the elastic material and/or the elastically flexible form of the elastic diaphragm 35 forms the restoring element that acts on the spray nozzle 4.
(59) It can be seen in FIGS. 26 and 27 that, for this purpose, the jet nozzle 4 projects into the diaphragm 35, which in this case is of pot-shaped form and which bears the push-through opening 36 on the pot base of its pot shape. Here, the circumferential margin, remote from the pot base, of the diaphragm 35 is supported in resiliently elastic fashion against the jet nozzle 4. It can be seen in FIGS. 26 and 27 that the diaphragm 35, in the region of the pot base of its pot shape, seals off the jet nozzle receptacle 50 in the region of an opening 64 provided in the guide wall, and that the diaphragm 35, at the circumference of its pot shape, has at least one throughflow opening, and preferably multiple throughflow openings 65 which are spaced apart from one another and which are of slot-shaped form and oriented in the circumferential direction. Said throughflow openings 65 connect the interior 66 of the jet nozzle receptacle 50 to the interior 67 of the pot-shaped diaphragm 35, such that an exchange of liquid between said interiors 66, 67 is permitted during the sliding movement of the jet nozzle 4. To counteract evaporation-induced limescale deposition on the jet nozzles 4 in the region of their nozzle opening 21, it is provided that the jet nozzle 4 is surrounded by water, or washed over by water, when in its standby position shown on the left in FIG. 27.
(60) FIG. 17 shows a backflow inhibitor according to the invention in a schematic partial longitudinal section in the region of its capture part 5. It is clear from FIG. 17 that the capture part 5, in its section bordering the capture opening 28, projects in nipple-like or stud-like form at the outer circumference. It is also shown in FIG. 17 that the capture part 5 has a hollow cylindrical or approximately hollow cylindrical section in the region of its capture opening 28. Here, it may be advantageous for the ratio of the length l.sub.1 of said section to the clear inner diameter of the capture opening to be preferably greater than or equal to 0.2 to less than or equal to 10, in particular greater than or equal to 1.5 to less than or equal to 2.6. In FIG. 17, it can also be seen that the capture part 5 widens in preferably funnel-like form adjacent to the hollow cylindrical part. It is provided here that the capture part, on the outflow side of its hollow cylindrical section 25, has at least one section 26, 27 which widens conically in the throughflow direction, and that the section directly adjoining the hollow cylindrical section has a length l.sub.2 of 0 up to and including 100 mm, preferably of 0 up to and including 30 mm. In the embodiment illustrated here, it is preferable for the capture part 5 to have at least two sections 26, 27 which widen conically in the throughflow direction, wherein, of at least two mutually adjacent sections 26, 27, at least the outflow-side section, which preferably widens to a relatively great degree, has the length l.sub.3 of 0 to 100 mm, preferably of 0 to 30 mm.
(61) It can also be seen in FIG. 17 that the capture part 5, in the region of its section 27 that widens conically to a relatively great degree, has an angle a.sub.2 relative to the longitudinal axis of the capture part of greater than/equal to 0 to less than/equal to 45, preferably of greater than/equal to 0 to less than/equal to 18. Here, that subsection of the capture part 5 which is provided between said section 27, which widens conically to a relatively great degree, and the hollow cylindrical section 25, which subsection exhibits a relatively small degree of conicity, has an angle a.sub.1 relative to the capture part longitudinal axis of greater than/equal to 0 to less than/equal to 45, preferably of greater than/equal to 0 to less than/equal to 13.
(62) Said preferred range in the design of the capture part 5 is reflected once again in the table below:
(63) TABLE-US-00001 Narrowest configuration Widest configuration l.sub.1/d 1.5 l.sub.1/d 2.6 0.2 l.sub.1/d 10 l.sub.2 0 l.sub.2 30 0 l.sub.2 100 [mm] l.sub.3 0 l3 30 0 l3 100 [mm] a.sub.1 (in degrees) 0 a1 13 0 a1 45 a.sub.2 (in degrees) 0 a2 18 0 a2 45
(64) The backflow inhibitor 1 illustrated here may be connected upstream, at the inflow side, of a douche, and in particular of the upwardly directed douche associated to a toilet seat. Furthermore, however, it is also possible for the backflow inhibitor 1 to be connected upstream, at the inflow side, of the water inflow of a bathtub 38. From the schematic illustration of FIG. 18, it is clear that, in the case of the bathtub 38 illustrated here, the bathtub inlet 39 and the bathtub outlet 40 are provided separately from one another on the tub base of the bathtub 38. It is however also possible for the bathtub inlet 39 and the bathtub outlet 40 to be combined in a common tub opening. Since, in this way, the bathtub inlet 39 is in any case also arranged below the water surface of the bath water situated in the bathtub 38, the bathwater can flow without spray water and quietly into the bathtub 38. However, since the water exerts pressure on the inflowing water and on the bathtub inlet 39 and therefore carries the risk of contaminated bathwater or used water flowing into the water supply network, an effective inflow safeguard must imperatively be ensured in the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 18.
(65) The water inlet into the bathtub 38 is operated by way of a manually actuable outlet fitting 41 which combines within it a hot water feed 42 and a cold water feed 43. Once the water passing from the outlet fitting 41 has reached the backflow inhibitor 1, the water flowing through can pass a backflow preventer 44, which is connected between the backflow inhibitor 1 and the bathtub inlet 39, before the water flows, in the bathtub inlet 39, into the bathtub 38 at the base.
(66) In the schematic illustrations of FIGS. 19 and 20, it can be seen that the backflow inhibitor 1 according to the invention can also be connected into the water feed 49, which leads for example to a hand-held shower 45, of an upwardly directed douche which is schematically indicated here. The upwardly directed douche may also possibly be installed retroactively into the ceramic toilet bowl or into the toilet seat.
(67) As has already been stated further above, the jet nozzle 4 of the backflow inhibitor 100 shown in FIGS. 21 to 27 is guided displaceably in the jet nozzle receptacle 50. For this purpose, the jet nozzle receptacle 50 is designed such that, on its side remote from the nozzle opening 21, it can be opened by way of the cover 55. The jet nozzle 4 can be inserted into the interior of the jet nozzle receptacle 50 through the insertion opening of the jet nozzle receptacle 50, which insertion opening is closed by way of the cover 55 in a use position. It can be seen in FIGS. 26 and 27 that the jet nozzle 4 in the backflow inhibitor 100 can, under the pressure of the liquid flowing through and counter to a restoring force, be displaced from the standby position, shown on the left with respect to the longitudinal axis, into the spray position shown to the right thereof, in which spray position the jet nozzle 4 extends, by way of its nozzle section that forms the nozzle opening 21, through the push-through opening 36 provided in the elastic diaphragm 35. The jet nozzle 4, which in this case is of substantially conical form, has an approximately centrally arranged annular shoulder on which the cap-shaped diaphragm 35 is supported. The diaphragm 35, which in this case is of pot-shaped form and is produced from elastic material, is shaped so as to exert the restoring force on the displaceably guided jet nozzle 4. The sliding travel of the jet nozzle 4 in the jet nozzle receptacle 50 is delimited at one side by a screen 20 positioned upstream of the jet nozzle 4 and at the other side by an annular shoulder 47 on the inner circumference of the jet nozzle receptacle 50.
(68) FIGS. 28 to 30 show the jet nozzle 4 of the backflow inhibitor 1 shown in FIGS. 21 to 27. As is clear from a juxtaposition of FIGS. 28 to 30, the jet nozzle 4 has an annular shoulder in the region of its nozzle opening 21. For this purpose, there is integrally formed on the jet nozzle 4 an annular projection 22 which surrounds the nozzle opening 21. The opening margin that borders the nozzle opening of the jet nozzle 4 is of sharp-edged form, and is for this purpose formed without a bevel or rounding. The opening margin of the nozzle opening 21 has, for this purpose, an edge degree of less than 0.1 mm or greater than 0.1 mm. Since the nozzle opening and the opening margin that borders the nozzle opening are arranged upstream of the annular projection 22 as viewed in the flow direction, and since the annular projection 22 thus protects the sharp edge of the border margin bordering the nozzle opening 21, any possible damage to the nozzle opening 21 and of its sharp-edged opening margin is prevented during the production of the spray nozzle 4. The sharp-edged opening margin forms a separation edge provided on the inner circumference, which separation edge promotes the formation of a sharply formed and non-sputtering liquid jet in the jet nozzle 4.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
(69) 1 Backflow inhibitor (according to FIGS. 1 to 20) 2 Cartridge receptacle 3 Flow entrance (of the cartridge receptacle 2) 4 Jet nozzle 5 Capture part 6 Jet path 7 Flow exit (of the cartridge receptacle 2) 8 Outlet 9 Insert cartridge 10 Insertion opening (of the cartridge receptacle 2) 11 Cartridge opening 12 Cap 13 Cap extension 14 Cartridge end region 15 Cartridge inlet 16 Annular chamber 17 Flow-guiding walls 18 Passage opening 19 Insert cartridge 20 Screen 21 Nozzle opening 22 Projection (of the jet nozzle 4) 23 Spray wall or partition 24 Jet passage opening (in the spray wall or partition) 25 (Hollow cylindrical) subsection 26 (Conical) subsection 27 Subsection or transition section (with slight conicity) 28 Capture opening 29 Cartridge end 30 Cartridge flow exit 31 (Sleeve-shaped) connecting piece 32 Inlet openings 33 Annular shoulder 34 Restoring spring 35 Diaphragm 36 Push-through opening 37 Aeration opening 38 Bathtub 39 Bathtub inlet 40 Bathtub outlet 41 Outlet fitting 42 Hot water feed 43 Cold water feed 44 Backflow preventer 45 Hand-held shower 47 Annular shoulder 48 Shut-off element 49 Water feed 50 Jet nozzle receptacle 51 Connecting web 52 Insert element 53 Housing 54 Insertion opening 55 Cover 56 Connection nipple (as inlet) 57 Connection nipple (as outlet) 58 Groove 59 Wall opening 60 Guide wall 61 Holder 62 Fork (of the holder 61) 63 Aeration opening (of the backflow inhibitor 100) 64 Opening (in the guide wall 60) 65 Throughflow opening 66 Interior (of the jet nozzle receptacle 50) 67 Interior (of the pot-shaped diaphragm 35) 68 Spacer 69 Throughflow opening 70 Holding opening 71 Offset 100 Backflow inhibitor (according to FIGS. 21 to 27)
