FLOW-RATE CONTROLLER UNIT

Abstract

A flow-rate regulator unit (1) has an insert housing (2) which is insertable into a fluid line and in which a plurality of throughflow paths are provided, in at least one throughflow path of which in each case one flow-rate regulator (3, 4, 5) which regulates the amount of fluid flowing therethrough per time unit to a pressure-independent determined throughflow value is disposed, and in at least one further throughflow path of which in each case one closing valve (6) which under the pressure of the inflowing fluid is movable counter to a restoring force from an open position into a closing position is provided. The at least one flow-rate regulator (3, 4, 5) and the at least one closing valve (6) in each case have one annular throttle body or valve body (8, 9, 10; 7) of an elastic material, respectively, which under pressure of an impinging fluid is deformed in such a manner that the at least one flow-rate regulator (3, 4, 5) constricts a regulating gap and the at least one closing valve (6) closes at least one valve opening (11). The flow-rate regulator unit in the insert housing (2) has a first annular duct (12) which delimits a housing face of the insert housing (2), in which housing face at least two inboard annular ducts (13, 14, 15) are provided, the center of which in each case is disposed outside the housing face which is delimited by the other inboard annular ducts (13, 14, 15).

Claims

1. A flow-rate regulator unit (1) comprising an insert housing (2) which is insertable into a fluid line and in which a plurality of throughflow paths are provided, a flow-rate regulator (3, 4, 5) located in at least one of the throughflow paths, the flow-rate regulator regulates an amount of fluid flowing therethrough per time unit to a pressure-independent determined throughflow value, at least one further throughflow path, a closing valve (6) located in the at least one further throughflow path, the closing valve under the pressure of an inflowing fluid is movable counter to a restoring force from an open position into a closing position, flow-rate regulator (3, 4, 5) and the closing valve (6) in each case have an annular throttle body or valve body (8, 9, 10; 7) of an elastic material, respectively, which under pressure of an impinging fluid is deformed in such a manner that the flow-rate regulator (3, 4, 5) constricts a regulating gap and the one closing valve (6) closes at least one valve opening (11), a first annular duct (12) which delimits a housing face of the insert housing (2) is provided in the insert housing (2), in which housing face at least two inboard annular ducts (13, 14, 15) are provided, a center of which in each case is disposed outside the housing face which is delimited by the other inboard annular ducts (13, 14, 15).

2. The flow-rate regulator unit (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the insert housing (2) is configured so as to be sleeve-shaped.

3. The flow-rate regulator unit as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a carrier plate (16) in an interior of the sleeve of the insert housing (2), the carrier plate (16) is oriented so as to be transverse to the throughflow direction and has the annular ducts (12, 13, 14, 15).

4. The flow-rate regulator unit as claimed in claim 3, wherein the carrier plate (16) is integrally molded into the insert housing (2).

5. The flow-rate regulator unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the throttle bodies or valve bodies (8, 9, 10; 7) are inserted into the annular ducts (13, 14, 15; 12) from an inflow-side housing end face.

6. The flow-rate regulator unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the throttle bodies and valve bodies (8, 9, 10; 7) are secured in the annular ducts (13, 14, 15; 12) assigned thereto by a common securing element (17).

7. The flow-rate regulator unit as claimed in claim 3, wherein the common securing element (17) is held on an interior housing circumference on a housing part-region which is disposed on an inflow side in front of the carrier plate (16).

8. The flow-rate regulator unit as claimed in claim 7, wherein the common securing element (17) by way of an outboard circumferential periphery thereof is held in a retaining groove (18) which is provided on a interior housing circumference of the housing part-region which is disposed in front of the carrier plate (16).

9. The flow-rate regulator unit as claimed in claim 8, wherein the securing element (17) has a securing-element core (19) from which securing arms (20) radially protrude in an outward manner.

10. The flow-rate regulator unit as claimed in claim 9, wherein the securing element (17) has a central throughflow opening (21) in the securing element core.

11. The flow-rate regulator unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein centers of the inboard annular ducts (13, 14, 15) are disposed in a triangle in relation to one another.

12. The flow-rate regulator unit as claimed in claim 3, wherein the carrier plate (16) on at least one end side has a projecting handling pin (22).

13. The flow-rate regulator unit as claimed in claim 12, wherein the handling pin (22) on the carrier plate (16) projects in an approximately coaxial manner in relation to a housing longitudinal axis of the insert housing (2).

14. The flow-rate regulator unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first annular duct (12) is assigned to the at least one closing valve (6), and of the inboard annular ducts (13, 14, 15) which lie opposite thereto at least two are in each case assigned to one of the flow-rate regulators (3, 4, 5).

15. The flow-rate regulator unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the throttle bodies (8, 9, 10) of the flow-rate regulators (3, 4, 5) between themselves and a control profile feature in each case define a control gap, a passage cross section of which is modifiable by the throttle body (8, 9, 10) which is deformed by a pressure differential which is formed during throughflow.

16. The flow-rate regulator unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein control profile features are provided on at least one of inboard or outboard duct walls of the assigned annular duct (13, 14, 15).

17. The flow-rate regulator unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the annular duct (12) of the closing valve (6) has the at least one valve opening (11) in a region of a duct base of said annular duct (12).

18. The flow-rate regulator unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the valve body (7), counter to a restoring force of the inherent elasticity of the elastic material used for the valve body (7), moves from an open position into a closing position.

19. The flow-rate regulator unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the annular duct (12) of the closing valve (6) has a profile feature (24) on at least one of an inboard or outboard duct wall.

20. The flow-rate regulator unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein a profile feature of the flow-rate regulator (3, 4, 5) or of the closing valve (6) is configured in an encircling manner on an duct wall of the assigned annular duct (12, 13, 14, 15).

21. The flow-rate regulator unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein a control profile feature (27) of the flow-rate regulator (3, 4, 5) or the profile feature (24) of the closing valve (6), or both, are formed from alternating concave moldings (25) and convex moldings (26) which are oriented in the throughflow direction.

22. The flow-rate regulator unit as claimed in claim 21, wherein at least one of the concave moldings (25) or the convex moldings (26) have a polygonal or a rounded cross-sectional contour.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] Refinements of the invention are derived from the claims and from the drawing in conjunction with the description. The invention will be described in yet more detail hereunder by means of a preferred exemplary embodiment.

[0026] In the Figures:

[0027] FIG. 1 in a perspective illustration shows a flow-rate regulator unit which by way of the insert housing thereof is insertable into a fluid line, wherein the flow-rate regulator unit in the insert housing thereof has an outboard annular groove which defines a housing face in which presently three further inboard annular grooves are provided, the center of said inboard annular grooves in each case being disposed outside that housing face that is defined by the other inboard annular grooves;

[0028] FIG. 2 shows the flow-rate regulator unit of FIG. 1 in a plan view onto the inflow side of the former;

[0029] FIG. 3 shows the flow-rate regulator unit of FIGS. 1 and 2 in a longitudinal section through the section plane III-III of FIG. 2;

[0030] FIG. 4 shows the flow-rate regulator unit of FIGS. 1 to 3 in a view from below onto the outflow side of the former; and

[0031] FIG. 5 shows the flow-rate regulator unit of FIGS. 1 to 4 in an exploded perspective illustration of the individual component parts of the former.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0032] A flow-rate regulator unit 1 is illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5. The flow-rate regulator unit 1 has an insert housing 2 which is insertable into a fluid line (not illustrated in more detail here). A plurality of throughflow paths are provided in the insert housing 2 of this flow-rate regulator unit 1, in at least one throughflow path of which in each case one flow-rate regulator 3, 4, 5 is disposed. The flow-rate regulators 3, 4, 5 of the flow-rate regulator unit 1 are intended to regulate the amount of fluid flowing therethrough per time unit in each case to a pressure-independent determined maximum value. In at least one further throughflow path in each case one closing valve 6 which under the pressure of the inflowing fluid is movable counter to a restoring force from an open position into a closing position is provided. In the case of low pressures at which the at least one closing valve 6 remains in the open position thereof, an additional amount of fluid can flow through the flow-rate regulator unit 1 by way of the closing valve 6. As the pressure of the fluid rises in relation to said low pressures, the valve body 7 of the closing valve 6 moves into the closing position such that the flow-rate regulators 3, 4, 5 can now adjust the throughflow of the flow-rate regulator unit 1. These flow-rate regulators 3, 4, 5 herein not only can be set to the same maximum value of throughflow, but also complement one another such that said flow-rate regulators 3, 4, 5 adjust to dissimilar maximum values of throughflow. To this end, the flow-rate regulators 3, 4, 5 can have control profile features and/or throttle bodies 8, 9, 10 of dissimilar design which differ in terms of the elasticity of the material used and/or correspondingly differ in terms of the elasticity of the cross-sectional shape. The flow-rate regulators 3, 4, 5 and the at least one closing valve 6 herein in each case have one annular throttle body or valve body 8, 9, 10; 7 of an elastic material, respectively, which under the pressure of the inflowing fluid is deformed in such a manner that the flow-rate regulators 3, 4, 5 constrict in each case one regulating gap and the at least one closing valve 6 closes at least one valve opening 11.

[0033] A first outboard annular duct 12 which can be assigned to either one of the flow-rate regulator or as in the present case to the closing valve 6 is provided in the insert housing 2 of the flow-rate regulator unit 1. This outboard annular duct 12 defines a housing face of the insert housing 2, in which housing face at least two and in the present case three inboard annular ducts 13, 14, 15 are provided, the center of which in each case is disposed outside of the housing face which is defined by the other inboard annular ducts 13, 14, or 15, respectively. The inboard annular ducts 13, 14, 15 and in the present case also additionally the outer first annular duct 12 are thus disposed so as not to be mutually concentric.

[0034] By way of these annular ducts 12, 13, 14, 15 that in terms of their arrangement are largely independent, the flow-rate regulator unit 1 can be conceived in such a manner that said flow-rate regulator unit 1 is capable of being advantageously employed in an operationally correct manner both at very low pressures as well as at high pressures. As is highlighted by FIGS. 1, 2, and 5, the insert housing 2 of the flow-rate regulator unit 1 is configured so as to be sleeve-shaped. In the interior of the sleeve of the insert housing 2 a carrier plate 16 which is oriented so as to be transverse to the throughflow direction is provided and which has the annular ducts 12, 13, 14, 15. The carrier plate 16 can be placed into the insert housing 2. In the exemplary embodiment shown here, the carrier plate 16 is integrally molded into the insert housing 2 and on the outflow side thereof is carried by retaining ribs 23 which engage on the carrier plate 16, on the one hand, and on the housing circumferential wall, on the other hand.

[0035] The valve bodies or throttle bodies 7; 8, 9, 10 are inserted into the annular ducts 12; 13, 14, 15 from the inflow-side housing end face. The valve bodies and throttle bodies 7; 8, 9, 10 herein are secured in the annular ducts 12, 13, 14, 15 assigned thereto by means of a common securing element 17. The securing element 17 that can be particularly readily seen in FIGS. 1, 2, and 5 is held on the interior housing circumference of the housing part-region which is disposed on the inflow side in front of the carrier plate 16. The common securing element 17 has a securing-element core 19 from which in the present case three securing arms 20 protrude in an outward manner. The free arm ends of the securing arms 20 that form the outboard circumferential periphery of the securing element 17 engage in a retaining groove 18 which is disposed on the internal circumference on the housing part-region that is disposed in front of the carrier plate 16.

[0036] In order for the securing element 17 that is disposed on the inflow side of the flow-rate regulator unit 1 not to compromise and disturb the throughflow of the fluid through the flow-rate regulator unit 1, the securing element 17 on the securing-element core 19 thereof has a central throughflow opening 21. It can be seen in FIGS. 2, 4, and 5 that the centers of the inboard annular ducts 13, 14, 15 are disposed in a triangle in relation to one another. The securing element 17 covers the annular ducts 12; 13, 14, 15 of the flow-rate regulators 3, 4, 5, on the one hand, and of the closing valve 6, on the other hand, such that the valve bodies and throttle bodies 7; 8, 9, 10 that are located in the annular ducts 12; 13, 14, 15 are secured therein.

[0037] In order for the flow-rate regulator unit 1 to be able to be readily handled and to be inserted in the insert opening that is located in a fluid line, for example, the carrier plate 16 on at least one end side and preferably, as in the present case, on the inflow-side end side thereof has a projecting handling pin 22. This handling pin 22 in an approximately coaxial manner in relation to the housing longitudinal axis of the insert housing 2, and counter to the throughflow direction, on the carrier plate 16 projects through the central throughflow opening 21 of the securing element 17.

[0038] The regulator bodies or throttle bodies 8, 9, 10 of the flow-rate regulators 3, 4, 5 between themselves and a control profile feature 27 delimit a control gap, the passage cross section of which is modifiable by the throttle body 8, 9, 10 which is deformed by the pressure differential which is formed during throughflow. The control profile feature 27 herein is provided on an inboard and additionally or alternatively, as is the case here, on an outboard duct wall or circumferential wall of the assigned annular duct 13, 14, 15.

[0039] The outer first annular duct 12 of the at least one closing valve 6 in the region of the groove base thereof has the at least one valve opening 11. The valve body 7 of the closing valve 6 that is provided in this annular duct 12 and is likewise made from an elastic material, counter to the restoring force of the inherent elasticity of the elastic material used for the valve body 7, moves from the open position into the closing position as soon as the fluid pressure of the inflowing fluid exceeds a limit value. The annular duct 12 of the at least one closing valve, on an inboard and/or outboard duct wall, has a profile feature 24. By way of this profile feature 24 of the closing valve 6, improved controllability of the closing valve 6 during the closing procedure can be achieved, and disturbing noises and vibrations can also be prevented. The profile feature 24 in the closing valve 6 herein has the effect of a consistent velocity profile of the perfusing water across the circumference being effectively prevented, because the configuration of a uniform velocity profile or pressure profile, respectively, of the perfusing water is disturbed by the spacings that are caused as a consequence of the profile feature 24.

[0040] It is particularly advantageous that the annular duct 12 of the at least one closing valve 6 has the profile feature 24 on an inboard and/or outboard duct wall. By way of this profile feature 24 which here is provided on the inboard duct wall of the annular duct 12, better controllability of the closing valve 6 during the closing procedure can be achieved, and disturbing noises and vibrations during the closing procedure can be avoided. The profile feature 24 in the closing valve 6 herein has the effect of no consistent velocity profile of the perfusing water across the circumference of the annular duct 12 arising, but that instead the configuration of a uniform velocity profile or pressure profile, respectively, is compromised by the profile feature 24 and by the spacings that are caused on account thereof, on account of which an undesirable resonance which is associated with disturbing noises and vibrations is avoided.

[0041] The profile features that are provided on the duct walls of the annular ducts 12, 13, 14, 15 that are specified for the flow-rate regulators 3, 4, 5 and for the closing valve 6 can be designed so as to be encircling on the duct wall.

[0042] One preferred embodiment according to the invention herein provides that the control profile feature(s) 27 of the at least one flow-rate regulator 3, 4, 5 and the profile feature 24 of the at least one closing valve 6 are formed from alternating concave moldings 25 and convex moldings 26 which are oriented in the throughflow direction. The concave moldings 25 and convex moldings 26 herein can have a rounded and preferably a semicircular cross-sectional contour. By contrast, one further embodiment of the invention (not shown here) provides that each concave molding 25 is configured as that region that is disposed between two preferably directly mutually adjacent convex moldings 26.

[0043] A particular advantage of the flow-rate regulator unit 1 that is illustrated here and is insertable into a sanitary water supply line, for example, is that said flow-rate regulator unit 1 is advantageously employable both at very low pressures as well as at very high pressures, for example in a range between 0.5 and approximately 12 bar.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0044] 1 Flow-rate regulator unit [0045] 2 Insert housing [0046] 3 Flow-rate regulator [0047] 4 Flow-rate regulator [0048] 5 Flow-rate regulator [0049] 6 Closing valve [0050] 7 Valve body [0051] 8 Throttle body [0052] 9 Throttle body [0053] 10 Throttle body [0054] 11 Valve opening [0055] 12 First annular duct [0056] 13 Inboard annular duct [0057] 14 Inboard annular duct [0058] 15 Inboard annular duct [0059] 16 Carrier plate [0060] 17 Securing element [0061] 18 Retaining groove [0062] 19 Securing-element core [0063] 20 Securing arms [0064] 21 Central throughflow opening [0065] 22 Handling pin [0066] 23 Retaining ribs [0067] 24 Profile feature (in the closing valve 6) [0068] 25 Concave molding [0069] 26 Convex molding [0070] 27 Profile feature in the flow-rate regulators 3, 4, 5