Flow regulator

• US 6,126,093 A
• Filed: 04/12/1999
• Issued: 10/03/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Neoperl GmbH (Neoperl AG)
• Original Assignee: Dieter Wildfang GmbH (Neoperl AG)
• Inventors: Weis, Christopher, Grether, Hermann
• Primary Examiner(s): WELDON, KEVIN P
• Application Number:
  US09/291,156
• Time in Patent Office: 540 Days
• Field of Search: 239/428.5, 239/DIG. 23, 239/552, 239/553.5, 239/553.3
• US Class Current: 239/428.5
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/08 Jet regulators or jet guides, e.g. anti-splash devices
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/084 Jet regulators with aerating means

Abstract

The invention involves a flow regulator (80) with a flow dispersion device (9) as well as with a flow regulation device (1) that forms the face of the flow regulator (80) which is connected downstream in the flow direction and has several flow-through holes (3). For the flow regulator according to the invention it is characteristic that the flow regulation device (1) has a perforated plate (2) on the outlet side, that has, in at least a partial area constructed as the perforated field of its planar surface that is oriented transversely to the flow direction, several flow-through holes (3) whose guide walls (4) that separate adjacent flow-through holes from each other and extend in approximately the flow direction. Each guide all has a wall thickness that amounts to a fraction of the internal hole diameter of a flow-through hole (3) limited by the guide walls (4), and that the ratio h to D between the height (h) of the guide walls and the overall diameter (D) of the flow regulation device is smaller than 1. The flow regulator according to the invention is characterized by an especially good flow formation and a high functional reliability, is where this flow regulator can be manufactured at a comparatively small expense (see FIG. 6).

Claims

1. A flow regulator comprising a flow dispersion device (9) which divides water flowing through the flow dispersion device (9) into several separate water streams and a flow regulation device (1) that forms a face of the flow regulator on an outlet side and is connected downstream in a flow direction and has a perforated plate (2) on the outlet side constructed as a perforated field of a planar surface that is oriented transversely to the flow direction, the perforated plate (2) has several flow-through holes (3) having a generally hexagonal flow-through cross-section extending over the entire planar surface, the flow-through holes (3) are defined by guide walls (4) that separate adjacent flow-through holes from each other and that extend in approximately the flow direction, each guide wail has a wall thickness (s) which amounts to a fraction of an internal cross-sectional width (w) of one of the flow-through holes (3) defined by the guide walls (4), the flow dispersion device (9) and the flow regulation device (1) being arranged in a flow regulator housing of the flow regulator, a ratio h to D between a height (h) of the guide walls (4) and a total diameter (D) of the flow regulation device (1) is smaller than 3 to 21, and on the flow outlet side of the flow regulator housing downstream of the flow regulation device (1), a housing constriction (23) for stream narrowing is provided.

2. Flow regulator according to claim 1, wherein the guide walls (4) defining the flow-through holes (3) have the outlet side edges which are rounded.

3. Flow regulator according to claim 1, wherein the wall thickness (s) of the guide walls (4) is from 0.2 mm to 1 mm.

4. Flow regulator according to claim 1, wherein an internal width across comers (w) of the flow-through holes (3) is from 0.5 mm to 2.5 mm.

5. Flow regulator according to claim 1, wherein the flow dispersion device (9) has at least one flow dispersion plate (17) with flow-through openings (18).

6. Flow regulator according to claim 1, wherein the flow regulation device (1) has at least one flow regulator sieve (19), which is located on an inflow side of the perforated plate (2).

7. Flow regulator according to claim 1, wherein the perforated plate (2) is an integral component of a flow regulator housing and the perforated plate (2) is connected in a single piece to the flow regulator housing.

8. Flow regulator according to claim 1, wherein the perforated plate (2) is detachably connected to the flow regulator housing and a support is constructed on an inside of the flow regulator housing as a ring flange (6) on which the perforated plate (2) can be set from an inflow side of the flow regulator housing.

9. Flow regulator according to claim 1, wherein the perforated plate (2) has a non-perforated outer ring zone that functions as a mounting area.

10. Flow regulator according to claim 1, wherein between the perforated plate (2) and a pre-connected element of the flow regulator at least one spacer (7) is provided, which ensures a separation distance of the perforated plate (2) and the pre-connected element of the flow regulator.

11. Flow regulator according to claim 1, wherein between the perforated plate and a pre-connected element of the flow regulator, a positioning aid is provided which has a positioning opening on the one element of an outlet device into which a positioning projection provided on the other element dan be inserted.

12. Flow regulator according to claim 1, wherein the flow regulation device (1) has stays or pins (21) running crosswise to the flow-through direction, which are located upstream of the perforated plate (2) of the flow regulation device (1).

13. Flow regulator according to claim 12, wherein the pins (21) are arranged in an approximately radial manner, offset at a distance from each other in the flow direction.

14. Flow regulator according to claim 12, wherein the pins (21) are arranged parallel to each other and are arranged next to each other in a grid shape in at least one plane oriented crosswise to the flow-through direction, and that several pin layers are arranged above each other in planes set apart at a distance in the flow-through direction.

15. Flow regulator according to claim 12, wherein at least two adjacent pin layers having laterally offset pins (21) are arranged crosswise to the flow-through direction and the pins (21) of a downstream pin layer are arranged in the flow path formed by the pins (21) of an adjacent upstream pin layer.

16. Flow regulator according to claim 12, wherein a separation distance of adjacent pins (21) of a pin layer is approximately equal.

17. Flow regulator according to claim 16, wherein a separation distance of adjacent pin layers arranged on an incoming flow side is smaller than a separation distance of adjacent pin layers arranged downstream and the pin layer located on the outlet side has pins (21) with a center distance from each other, and from pins (21) of the adjacent pin layer, of more than 0.8 mm.

18. Flow regulator according to claim 12, wherein the pins (21) have a flow-encouraging cross-sectional profile selected from and selected from one of a circular, a rounded cross-sectional profile, an oval, drop-shaped, or similar oblong cross-sectional profile with a longer cross-sectional extension in the flow-through direction.

19. Flow regulator according to claim 12, wherein three pin layers are connected upstream from the perforated plate (2) of the flow regulation device.

20. Flow regulator according to claim 5, wherein the throughput openings (18) in the flow dispersion plate (17) are constructed to narrow in- a cylindrical or conical manner in the flow-through direction and have an incoming flow side, an intake radius or intake cone.

21. Flow regulator according to claim 20, wherein the pins (21) of a first pin layer on the inflow side are arranged approximately in the flow direction in alignment to the hole axes of the throughput openings (18) in the flow dispersion plate (17).

22. Flow regulator according to claim 1, wherein the flow regulator is equipped with air suction openings.

23. Flow regulator according to claim 1, wherein the perforated plate has in the area of the hexagonal flow-through holes, several molded-on ejector parts which define a spacer element (7), wherein the molded-on ejector parts are generally circular in shape and arranged at equal distances from each other.

24. Flow regulator according to claim 23, wherein the spacer element 7 is located between the perforated plate (2) and an upstream element of the flow regulator.