EP1084755B1 - Liquid dispensing device, in particular a handheld spray gun with jet nozzle and shower head for house and garden use - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has a housing with fluid intake, two spray jet units, and a flow regulator. This consists of a path valve with control part. The part is turned to alternately connect only the first or only the second spray jet unit (10,25) to the fluid intake (7), or to close the intake, and for pref. continuous adjustment of the flow volume. The first spray unit generates a spray jet, the second unit generates a shower-type spray.

Description

The invention relates to a liquid dispensing device, in particular a hand-held spray-pouring shower for the home and garden area according to the preamble of claim 1, such as in US-A-5,323,968 described.

Such usually hand-held liquid dispensing devices, which are usually attached to the end of a garden hose, have a flow-through, one or more parts, conveniently handle conveniently designed housing, which is assigned to the introduction of liquid into the housing, a liquid feed, which is usually arranged at the rear end of a handle region is. Furthermore, the housing is associated with a first nozzle device and a separate second nozzle device for dispensing liquid from the housing. The nozzle means serve to determine by their shape, in which form the discharged liquid emerges from the liquid discharge means and are expediently designed differently in order to allow different delivery modes. The term nozzle device in this application includes all suitable for liquid dispensing devices having a flow-forming Have an effect on the discharged liquid. In the simplest case, it may be an opening of given shape. Furthermore, a suitable manually operable liquid control means for controlling the liquid flow between the liquid inlet and the nozzle means is provided.

Such liquid dispensing devices are available in many designs. Devices have already been proposed in which a two or more different nozzle-carrying nozzle carrier is rotatable against a connected to the liquid inlet outlet to connect depending on the position of the nozzle carrier each one of the nozzle means with the liquid inlet. The movement of the nozzle devices required for this purpose can have a restrictive effect on the type and size of the nozzles. In addition, such devices are relatively complicated.

The DE 29 40 899 shows another type of designed as a spray head, generic liquid dispensing device. It has a pipe socket provided with a rear hose connection, a nozzle body which can be screwed onto an external thread of the pipe socket, an inner sleeve which can be screwed onto an external thread of the nozzle body and a casing sleeve which can be screwed onto an external thread of the inner sleeve. The pipe socket and the nozzle body are formed with a closed upper end and have, just like the inner sleeve, lateral outlet openings from which inflowing water can flow into the intermediate space formed between the sleeve and the next outer sleeve. In one embodiment, at the front end of the device, two different, concentric nozzle devices are provided, wherein a centric front nozzle opening of the inner sleeve into which protrudes a tip of the nozzle body, of a annular shower nozzle device is surrounded by annular perforated plate. The nested sleeves form control of a fluid control device, which makes it possible by mutual rotation of the sleeves and thus by mutual axial displacement of the sleeves, only to apply the centric spray nozzle or the outer shower ring with flowing liquid. Also intermediate positions in which both the spray nozzle, and the shower with adjustable by rotation of the sleeves, variable amounts of water can be acted upon are possible. Although the spray head allows for many different liquid dispensing modes, it is complicated to manufacture as well as handle. Another device of this type, which also has a plurality of coaxial, nested sleeves for fluid control, and in which also a centric spray nozzle is surrounded by a coaxial, annular shower device, is in the EP 0 842 705 shown. Also in this device, which is able to deliver water with a variety of different irrigation patterns, construction and handling are complicated.

The invention has for its object to provide a liquid dispensing device of the type mentioned, which is simple and inexpensive to produce and very easy and reliable to use.

This object is achieved by a liquid dispensing device having the features of claim 1. Preferred developments are specified in the subclaims. The wording of all claims is incorporated herein by reference.

According to the invention as a control device, a directional control valve is provided with a rotatable control member in the manner of a chick and the control device is designed such that selectively by rotation of the Steuerorganges only the first nozzle means or only the second nozzle means connected to the liquid inlet or the liquid feed can be shut off. As a chick is here called a control member which defines flow paths between at least one inlet opening and at least one outlet opening of the control device, which are variable by rotation of the plug. Thus, a single control element is sufficient, by means of which preferably manual rotation can be switched over between different operating states of the liquid dispensing device. The operating conditions can be traversed successively upon rotation of the Steuerorganges and are assigned to specific, fixed rotational positions of the control member. These positions may e.g. with the help of the alignment of a handle bar of a control knob of Steuerorganges easily recognizable from the outside and be correspondingly secure adjustable. Since, in contrast to the described prior art, which works with nested sleeves, no relative axial displacement of control organs for adjustment is required, a control device according to the invention can be executed thread-free, whereby the production of the control device is particularly simple and inexpensive. The elements of the control device can be structurally and functionally completely independent of those of the nozzle devices, resulting in constructive freedom both for the nozzle devices and for the control device.

In simple embodiments, it may be sufficient if either the first or the second nozzle device fully loaded with liquid or the liquid feed to these is locked. In a preferred embodiment, however, the control device is designed such that by rotation of the control member, the flow rates to the first nozzle device and / or the second nozzle device is adjustable, the setting is preferably infinitely possible. It is therefore possible by operating a single control process not only the complete blocking or release of nozzle devices, but for all nozzle devices and a sensitive metering of the inflowing into the nozzle device amount of water. This results in a very simple operation of the liquid dispenser.

A preferred embodiment of the liquid control device uses a new, surprising and very effective principle of fluid control, which is not only useful in generic liquid dispensing devices with advantage, but may also be beneficial in liquid control devices for other applications. The underlying principle can be explained as follows, for example. It is envisaged that the control device has a control housing with a provided for receiving the control member, rotationally symmetrical receiving opening, which is preferably cylindrical, but could for example also be conically shaped. In this receiving opening opens transversely to a defined by the inside of the receiving opening surface, for example in the radial direction, at least one liquid-conducting channel, can flow through the liquid to be controlled. At the periphery of the control member at least one serving with the serving as a sealing surface inside the receiving opening cooperating, circumferential seal is provided, which may for example have a guided in a suitable groove O-ring or a round cord seal over the entire circumference in linear Density engagement with the receiving opening inside is. By the seal two spaces are separated from each other, which are in the axial direction, ie parallel to the axis of symmetry of the receiving opening or the axis of rotation of the control member, on the one, or on the other side of the seal. An essential aspect is that the seal is not, as in conventional sealing arrangements, in a radial plane of the control member, but that it has at least one oblique peripheral portion which extends transversely to a radial plane of the control member or the receiving opening, that in at least one Rotary position of the control member of the above-mentioned channel is separated from a space axially sealed by the seal and opens in at least one other rotational position of the channel in this space. By rotation of the control member so, without the control member is moved axially, circumferential portions of the seal relative to a position of a channel mouth axially displaced. Oblique peripheral sections can pass through the channel opening region in the axial direction.

When the sealing surface formed between the seal and the receiving opening inside is narrower than a diameter of a channel mouth, intermediate rotational positions are traversed at the transition between these extreme rotational positions in which the seal extends transversely across the channel mouth, so that the channel opens into both chambers adjacent to the seal.

If now in at least one of the adjacent rooms another channel opens, it is separated from the first channel depending on the rotational position of the control member or he is in liquid-conducting connection with this. Under the conditions described, there are intermediate positions with respect to the flow cross-section, resulting in stepless Control of the flow cross-section and thus the flow rates can be used. To achieve the effect described, the length and / or the inclination of the oblique peripheral portion of the size of the channel mouth is expedient adapted so that a total swept by the seal upon rotation axial region has a width which is at least as large as the axial width of the channel mouth.

It is expedient in this case that the region of the inflowing channel or channels and the seal are arranged in a control region which is sealed on both sides and encloses the channel region and the sealing region. This may be limited, for example, by conventionally extending in a radial plane around the control member around seals which sealingly cooperate with the inside of the receiving opening.

The described principle can be implemented in the control device for the liquid dispensing device with two nozzle devices such that at least one inlet channel assigned to the liquid feed and at least one outlet channel associated with each nozzle device open into the receiving opening. If at least two channels open into the receiving opening, so it is particularly useful if the opening into the receiving opening channels are offset from each other both in the axial direction, as well as in the circumferential direction. This makes it possible to avoid extreme skewing of the circumferential seals, which simplifies the design and manufacture of the liquid control device and affects the function advantageous.

In a preferred embodiment it is provided that one of the first nozzle means associated first outlet channel and a second outlet channel associated with the second nozzle means and a preferably arranged linearly between the outlet channels, the liquid inlet associated inlet channel are provided and that the control member in the control area two circumferential seals are provided with oblique peripheral portions having a circumferentially varying axial distance. Due to the oblique, non-parallel course arise between the seals or between a seal with inclined sections and an axial Endabdichtung the control region through-flowable or beströmbare control areas on the circumference of the control member. If at a rotational position of the inlet channel and an outlet channel open into the same sealed area, so these are flow-conductively connected to each other. If, on the other hand, the inlet channel opens into an intermediate region sealed in both axial directions with respect to the adjacent outlet channels, then the liquid-chemical supply is shut off and liquid can not flow out to the associated nozzle device through any of the outlet channels. This will be explained in more detail in connection with the drawings.

In a further development, the first nozzle device is a spray nozzle device, which is preferably associated with a device for beam adjustment, with the help of which, for example, a beam expansion and / or a twist of the pressurized water is preferably infinitely adjustable. The second nozzle device may preferably be a pouring shower device, with the aid of which a softer, planar irrigation, for example of planted beds or flower boxes, is possible in comparison with the spray nozzle device. If desired, the pouring shower device may be associated with a device for adjusting the jet image in order, for example, to adjust the size and / or shape of the jet image.

A particularly advantageous development, which may be advantageous not only in liquid dispensing devices according to the invention, but in all liquid dispensing devices with pouring fountains, is that the pouring shower device is designed to produce a substantially rectangular jet pattern. For this purpose, for example, a rectangular shower plate can be provided and / or a shower plate can have a rectangularly limited pattern of shower openings. A suitably dimensioned right-angled spray pattern makes it particularly advantageous for the pouring of usually limited rectangular flower boxes o. The like. With high uniformity to the corner areas without too much spilled liquid falls next to the area to be cast.

A preferred further development of the pouring shower device provides that it is designed to produce a fanned-out jet pattern, whereby it is possible to produce sprinkling regions which are significantly larger than the liquid outlet region of the shower provided with nozzle openings. The fanning can be conveniently achieved by a fan-like inclination of the individual shower opening channels. Because the production of a multiplicity of spray-opening channels oriented in different directions is problematic, in particular with regard to demoulding during injection molding, a preferred development provides that a flexible shower plate perforated with parallel spray-opening channels is used to produce the fan-shaped spray pattern ., Relieved state has substantially parallel to each other extending shower opening channels and that this shower plate before or when attaching the shower plate to a shower body preferably uniaxially curved and secured in the curved state.

In this method, therefore, the fanning of the shower opening channels is not generated during the production of the shower plate itself, but by bending them only during assembly. The preparation of the showerhead is characterized particularly simple and inexpensive. The method is particularly advantageous for uniaxially or cylindrically curved shower plates. With a type of shower plate can be easily generated by suitable curvatures, the most diverse Auffächerungswinkel. It would also be possible to make the assembly so that the shower plate curvature of the mounted shower plate is changeable, whereby an adjustment of the spray pattern by adjusting the fanning angle is possible in a simple manner. (??)

Another development, which has been found to be very advantageous for the handling in particular of spray-cast showers, provides that the first nozzle means and the second nozzle means each define Hauptabstrahlrichtungen extending at an angle to each other, preferably between about 45 ° and about 90 ° and in particular may be about 60 ° to 70 °. In contrast to known solutions in which two coaxially arranged nozzle arrangements have parallel or coaxial Hauptabstrahlrichtungen, can be achieved by this development that the liquid dispensing device regardless of the nozzle device being used more or less kept the same orientation, for example horizontally and thus comfortably guided can. Thus, for example, a spray nozzle device can be aligned substantially in extension of a connected hose, as is the case with single spray nozzles for garden hoses, while a pouring shower device may have a substantially obliquely downwardly directed main radiation, whereby a sprinkling of the to be supplied with liquid flower boxes o. The like. From above without manual dislocation is possible. These features can be used to advantage in all of the generic liquid dispensers regardless of the type of liquid control or distributions to be made upstream of the nozzle means.

These and other features will become apparent from the claims and from the description and drawings, wherein the individual features may be realized alone or in each case in the form of sub-combinations in one embodiment of the invention and in other areas and may represent advantageous embodiments.

Fig. 1

einen vertikalen Längsschnitt durch eine bevorzugte Ausführungsform einer als Spritz-Gießbrause ausgebildeten, erfindungsgemäßen Flüssigkeitsabgabeeinrichtung,

Fig. 2

einen vertikalen Querschnitt durch die in Fig. 1 gezeigte Spritz-Gießbrause im Bereich der Steuereinrichtung zum Umschalten zwischen Betriebszuständen der Brause,

Fig. 3

eine schematische Seitenansicht des Steuerorgans der Steuereinrichtung ohne Dichtungen in einer ersten Durchlaßstellung, bei der der dem Betrachter zugewandte Einlaßkanal flüssigkeitsleitend mit dem zur Spritzdüseneinrichtung führenden Auslaßkanal verbunden ist,

Fig. 4

eine Darstellung gemäß Fig. 3, bei der das Steuerorgan um 90° gegen den Uhrzeigersinn in eine Sperrstellung gedreht ist, in der der Einlaßkanal gegen beide Auslaßkanäle abgedichtet ist und

Fig. 5

eine den Figuren 3 und 4 entsprechende Darstellung einer zweiten Durchlaßstellung, in der das Steuerorgan gegenüber Fig. 4 um weitere 90° entgegen dem Uhrzeigersinn gedreht ist und bei der der Einlaßkanal mit dem zur Gießbrauseneinrichtung führenden Auslaßkanal verbunden ist.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings and will be explained in more detail below. Show it:

Fig. 1

FIG. 2 shows a vertical longitudinal section through a preferred embodiment of a liquid dispensing device according to the invention designed as a spray-pouring shower; FIG.

Fig. 2

a vertical cross section through the in Fig. 1 shown spray-pouring shower in the region of the control device for switching between operating states of the shower,

Fig. 3

a schematic side view of the control member of the control device without seals in a first passage position, in which the viewer facing the inlet channel fluid-conducting is connected to the outlet channel leading to the spray nozzle device,

Fig. 4

a representation according to Fig. 3 in which the control member is rotated by 90 ° counterclockwise to a blocking position in which the inlet channel is sealed against both outlet channels and

Fig. 5

a the FIGS. 3 and 4 corresponding representation of a second passage position in which the control member opposite Fig. 4 is rotated counterclockwise by a further 90 ° and in which the inlet channel is connected to the outlet channel leading to Gießbrauseneinrichtung.

In Fig. 1 is shown in vertical longitudinal section a preferred embodiment of a hand-held liquid dispensing device 1 according to the invention, which is in the form of a spray-pouring shower, ie a shower, in which a spray function and a casting function are combined in a device, wherein between the functions and a blocking position with shut off Liquid supply manually switched or can be changed. Such injection-spray showers are eg reversed at the front end of a garden hose by means of a matching quick coupling and are particularly versatile in the home and garden area, for example without upgrading to a garden hose optional larger lawns with a spray shower or flower boxes, smaller beds o. The like sprinkle with a shower spray.

The showerhead 1 has a handy designed, about two fingers wide, made by injection molding of ABS plastic housing 2, which has four functionally separate housing sections 3, 4, 5, 6 with interconnected housing spaces.

A rear, inlet-side housing portion 3 is shaped substantially cylindrical and has a circular rear opening into which a plastic hose nipple 7 is inserted, which is liquid-tightly connected to the housing 2 by friction welding. The liquid feed formed in this way can be prepared in known manner, e.g. be attached by means of a quick coupling the end of a garden hose.

In the axial extension of the inlet-side housing section 3 there is an injection molding device 10 whose main emission direction 11 is directed coaxially to the cylinder axis 8 of the inlet-side housing section 3. The injection molding device 10 comprises an inserted from the front in the housing section 3 and connected by friction welding in the housing wall region with the housing 2, permeable swirl body 12 having an external thread 13 in its central part and a tip 14 at its front end, not at a conical outer portion 15 Having shown closer, extending obliquely to the axial direction swirl grooves. Radial passageways 21 are provided in the sleeve wall between the thread 13 and the tip 14, through which fluid flowing in on the input side can flow outward into the region of the swirl grooves.

On the external thread 13 of the swirl body 12, an outer nozzle sleeve 16 is screwed, the axially adjustable by rotation relative to the swirler 12 and with respect to this a round cord seal 17 is sealed upstream of the thread 13. The nozzle sleeve 16 has a conical outer portion 15 adapted, outer portion from the outside enclosing conical portion 18, to which downstream of a nozzle channel portion 19 with a downstream slightly conically tapered and then gradually widening nozzle channel connects. By this construction of the spray nozzle device, a device for beam adjustment, in particular for adjusting the beam expansion of the focused beam and the swirl component of the exiting water is provided. Because in response to the axial position of the axially adjustable by rotation outer sleeve 16 relative to the housing-fixed swirl body 12, both the passage cross-section for penetrating water, and the proportion of water is changed in the region of the cooperating conical sections 15, 18 and the swirl grooves Swirling grooves is provided with a twist around the central axis and then exits through the nozzle channel 20.

Below and slightly set back to the injection molding device 10, a pouring shower device 25 is provided on the lower housing section 5. As by the synopsis of Figures 1 and 2 recognizable, the housing portion 5 is not round in cross section, but at right angles with a diameter corresponding to the diameter of the cylindrical inlet section 3 and a generally in the longitudinal direction of the shower spray extending, about two to three times as long. The dashed lines indicated central axis 26 of the housing portion 5, which determines the main emission of the shower 25, is at an angle of between about 60 ° and 70 ° obliquely to the main axis 8 of the housing upwards.

In the housing opening of the downwardly open housing section 5, a shower body 27 is inserted and fixed by means of a central screw 28 on the housing 2. The shower body 27 has a funnel-shaped bottom 29, which has two at an angle of approximately 130 ° to each other bottom portions, in the connecting region an inlet port 30 is formed, which sealed when inserting the shower body by means of a round cord seal in a cylindrical portion 31 within the housing portion 5 is inserted. In addition to the nozzle 30, an outwardly directed projection 32 is formed with an internal thread for the central screw 28. The projection projects outwardly beyond the plane in which the bottom 29 forming ends in an angle aligned portions.

The shower body 27 is closed to the outside by a cylindrical curved in the shown state, rectangular shower plate 33 in which a plurality of spray opening channels 34 are provided in a regular pattern, which are aligned generally perpendicular to the curved shower plate surface and thereby a Auffächerungswinkel of, for example, approx Create 20 °. The showerhead is connected liquid-tight in its edge region with the cylindrically curved, rectangular outer edge of the shower body by ultrasonic welding.

A particularly advantageous method of achieving such a fanning out of shower opening channels 34 is first of all to produce a flat shower plate made of elastically flexible material with shower opening channels running parallel to one another, which presents no special problems both during tool production and during demoulding. Upon completion of the sprinkler insert then the still flat shower plate is on the cylindrical curved rectangular edge of the shower body and bent the freely projecting ends in the direction of inlet port 30 to produce a cylindrical curvature of the shower plate 33 bent until they rest on the shower body edge. In this curved state, the ultrasonic welding for aid-free, solid and liquid-tight connection of shower plate and shower body. The pouring shower may, in deviation from the illustrated embodiment, also be adjustable.

An essential element of the spray-pouring shower shown is a manually operable liquid control device 40 for controlling the liquid flow between the liquid inlet 7 and the nozzle devices 10, 25. The control device 40 is preferably designed as a 3/3-way valve with a rotatable control member in the manner of a chick and works so that by rotation of the control member 41 selectively only the sprayer 10 or the shower spray 25 in operation or the liquid supply to both showers can be shut off. Furthermore, the control device allows between these extreme positions a continuous adjustment of the flow rates to the nozzle devices 10, 25, wherein for these settings also only the control member 41 must be rotated in a suitable rotational position.

Especially in the FIGS. 2 to 5 Well-recognizable controller 40 has a controller housing 42 which is formed by the integrally formed with the housing sections 3, 4 and 5 cylindrical housing portion 6. The controller housing 42 is disposed in the intersection of the three adjacent housing sections 3, 4, 5 and adjacent to each of these housing sections. In the interior of the control device housing is a rotationally symmetrical to an axis 43, cylindrical receiving opening 44th trained, as in Fig. 2 can be seen, the housing 2 perpendicular to the cutting plane of Fig. 1 or intersected to the axis 8.

In the cylindrical housing wall three axially and circumferentially staggered, substantially circular openings or channels 46, 47, 48 are provided. An inlet channel 46 connects the receiving opening with the interior of the inlet-side housing section 3 and thus with the liquid inlet 7. About a first outlet channel 47 is the receiving opening 44 in connection with the injection device 10 associated interior of the housing portion 4. A second outlet channel 48 connects the receiving opening with the interior of the lower housing portion 5 and the interior of the cylinder portion 31 and leads to the shower spray device 25. As particularly in FIGS. 2 to 5 can be clearly seen, the axially successive channels each offset in the circumferential direction by approximately 90 ° to each other, wherein the dislocation distance is greater than the channel diameter and corresponds to about three times the channel radius. The inlet opening 46 is located centrally on a two outlet openings 47, 48 connecting spiral line. A liquid-conducting connection between the housing chambers 3, 4, 5 is only over the interior of the controller housing by the respectively associated channels, so that by connecting the channels or mutual sealing of the channels 46, 47, 48, the described function of the control device can be achieved.

The easily controllable from one axial side of the receiving opening 44 into this and from the other side with a holding member 39 against withdrawal from the receiving opening controllable control member 41 has a one piece of suitable plastic manufacturable Steuerorgankörper 50, at one Axialende a toggle portion 51 is formed with an end plate 52 and a transversely over the outside of the end plate extending grip web 53. At the opposite end an opening for insertion of the rotating with the control member holding member 39 is provided. On the grip web 53 opposite side of the plate 52 coaxial with a rotation axis 43 of the control member, a substantially cylindrical seal carrier portion 55 is formed whose outer diameter is about 20% to 45% less than the inner diameter of the receiving opening 44. On the outside of the seal carrier portion radially projecting webs 56 are formed, which together with the outside of the seal carrier section or the end plate 52 form grooves for Rundschnurdichtungen which cooperate with inserted control member with the inner side 49 of the receiving opening 44 as a sealing surface.

Immediately adjacent to the end plate 52 and at the opposite end of the seal carrier portion in each case one in a radial plane of the control member circumferential axial end seal 57 and 58 is provided. The radial plane is here a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation 43 of the control member. These seals are located outside of the area provided with channels 46 to 48, seal it in the axial direction to the outside and define a partially through-flow control area 61 between them.

In the control area 56 sealing grooves are created by suitable guidance of the webs, which inserted therein, in FIGS. 3 to 5 partially indicated only by dashed lines, circumferentially closed Rundschnurdichtungen or O-rings impose a course in which the peripheral seals in the range of oblique peripheral portions extend transversely to a radial plane of the control member. In which shown 3/3-way valve (in which between the three connection channels 46, 47, 48 three extreme switch positions are possible) are two such oblique seals 59, 60 provided with oblique, non-parallel course. The gag portion 51 facing first seal 59 extends obliquely so that in the in Fig. 3 shown first passage position of the control member 41, which corresponds to an operation of the spray device 10, the inlet channel 46 and the first outlet channel 47 in a common, sealed by the seal 59 to the second outlet 48 and limited connecting portion 62 open, while the second outlet channel 48 outside of Connection area 62 is located. Here, the connection region 62 is a circumferentially closed channel whose axial width is determined by the circumferentially varying axial distance between the seal 57 and the seal 59 and whose radial extent is determined by the radial distance between the outside of the cylinder portion 55 and the inside 49 of the receiving opening. The flow cross-section is expediently chosen so that all desired even in maximum operation flow rates are easily transportable. The oblique course of the first seal 59 is characterized in particular by an axially extending, approximately sinusoidal bulge, which in the in Fig. 3 shown rotational position encloses the inlet opening 46 on the side facing away from the knob.

When the gag, starting from the in Fig. 3 First, the passage cross-section at the inlet port 46 is continuously reduced by the first seal 59 transversely across the mouth opening, wherein a portion of the inflowing liquid continues to the outlet 47 and the rest in a Area 63 between the seal 59 and the seal 60 is passed. After rotation by 90 ° is the in Fig. 4 shown blocking position of the control member reaches, in which the inlet channel 46 opens into an approximately lenticular region 63 which is sealed to the first outlet 47 through the first seal 59 and the second outlet 48 through the second seal 60. The inlet channel under pressure pending, supplied water can therefore reach none of the outputs or none of the nozzle means and the liquid supply to the spray-pouring shower is interrupted altogether.

On further rotation of the control member counterclockwise from the in Fig. 4 shown blocking position in the direction of Fig. 5 shown second passage position, a small portion of the inlet opening 46 is first released in the direction of the outlet opening 48 by an oblique portion of the second seal 60 slides obliquely over the mouth cross-section. This can be used in the manner described for the continuous flow control of the inflow to the shower. Will finally the in Fig. 5 shown second passage position, starting from the first passage position ( Fig. 3 ) results by rotation of the locking member by 180 ° counterclockwise, the inlet channel 48 opens into a connecting portion 64 which is sealed from the first outlet 47 by both seals 59, 60 and the inlet channel 46 with the second outlet channel 48 and thus the Inlet 7 with the showerhead device 25 connects.

The full Durchlaßstellungen ( FIGS. 3 and 5 ) associated rotational positions can be adjustable stop, for which purpose on the toggle portion 51, a housing facing the projection 65 may be provided, which engages in a corresponding semi-circular groove on the outside of the housing.

The functional principle of the liquid control device 40 explained here with reference to a preferred embodiment of a 3/3-way valve for a spray-pouring shower 1 can also be applied to other directional valves with more or fewer than three connections and more or less than three switching positions by a suitable number of oblique seals is provided, which cooperate with a corresponding number of connection channels according to the principle described. The use of such novel way valves is not limited to spray-type showers. Fluid control devices according to the invention can advantageously also be used in other areas of fluid control, above all where simple handling and reliable operation is desired. Since in control devices according to the invention on the side of the control device housing only a rotationally symmetrical, in particular cylindrical opening must be provided, the production of suitable housings of such control devices can be very cost-effective both in injection molding and for example in material-removing processes. The possibly higher tool and / or production costs for possibly irregularly shaped control members with the appropriate seal guide may initially be higher than in conventional devices. Due to the universal applicability of such control body, however, these will be produced in large quantities, so that tool-side higher initial investment can pay for itself very quickly.

The flow-controlling elements of the control device can be structurally and functionally completely independent of the flow-shaping elements of the nozzle device, resulting in constructive freedom for the nozzle devices and the control device. A control device according to the invention can also be used in other devices be used advantageously in which the described control functions are desired or required, for example in distribution devices of all kinds. Implemented can the advantages arising from the specifics of the nozzle devices (eg, their angular position to each other or the rectangular radiation of the shower spray) independently of the control device according to the invention also used together with other control devices, eg with slide valves o. The like.

Claims (11)

1. Liquid dispensing device, in particular a handheld spray gun with jet nozzle and shower head for house and garden use, with a housing through which liquid can flow, with which are associated a liquid inlet for introducing liquid into the housing as well as a first nozzle device and a second nozzle device separate therefrom for dispensing liquid from the housing, and with a control device for controlling liquid flows between the liquid inlet and the nozzle devices, wherein a directional control valve (40) with a rotatable control element (41) is provided as control device, and wherein the control device is designed in such a way that by rotating the control element (41), only the first nozzle device (10) or only the second nozzle device (25) as desired can be connected to the liquid inlet (7) or the liquid inlet (7) can be closed, and wherein the control device (40) comprises a control device housing (42) provided with a rotationally symmetrical, in particular cylindrical, receiving opening (44) for receiving the control element (41),
   characterised in that
   at least one liquid-conveying entry channel (46), a first liquid-conveying exit channel (47) and a second liquid-conveying exit channel (48) terminate in the receiving opening (44), wherein two circumferential seals (59, 60) are provided on the circumference of the control element (41), which are designed in such a way that a region (63) is arranged between the seals (59, 60), a first connecting region (62) is arranged on the other side of the first seal (59) and a second connecting region (64) is arranged on the other side of the second seal (60), wherein the seals (59, 60) in at least an inclined circumferential section run transversely to a radial plane of the control element in such a way that

   - in a first rotational position of the control element the entry channel (46) terminates in the region (63) between the seals and is separated from the first and second connecting regions (62, 64),

   - in a second rotational position of the control element the entry channel (46) terminates in the first connecting region (62), in which the first exit channel (47) likewise terminates, and

   - in a third rotational position of the control element the entry channel (46) terminates in the second connecting region (64), in which the second exit channel (48) likewise terminates.
2. Liquid dispensing device according to claim 1, characterised in that the control device is designed in such a way that, by rotating the control element (41), a throughflow amount to the first nozzle device (10) and/or to the second nozzle device (25) can be adjusted, preferably in a continuous manner.
3. Liquid dispensing device according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that
   the seals (59, 60) are adapted, as regards the length and/or inclination of the inclined circumferential section, to a mouth size of the channel (46, 47, 48) in such a way that an axial region of the control element occupied by the seals has an axial width that corresponds at least to the axial width of the channel mouth.
4. Liquid dispensing device according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterised in that
   the control device (40) has at least one entry channel (46) associated with the liquid inlet (7) and has at least one associated exit channel (47, 48) for each nozzle device (10, 25), wherein preferably a first exit channel (47) associated with the first nozzle device (10) and a second exit channel (48) associated with the second nozzle device (25) and also an inlet channel (46) associated with the liquid inlet (7) and preferably arranged on a line between the exit channels (47, 48) are provided, and that on the control element two circumferential seals (59, 60) with inclined circumferential sections are provided, which have a variable axial interspacing in the circumferential direction.
5. Liquid dispensing device according to claim 3 or 4, characterised in that
   the channels (46, 47, 48) terminating in the receiving opening (44) are offset with respect to one another in the axial direction and in the circumferential direction.
6. Liquid dispensing device according to one of claims 3 to 5,
   characterised in that
   the control device has a first seal (59) that runs inclined in such a way that in a first open position of the control element (41) the entry channel (46) and the first exit channel (47) terminate in a common connecting region (62) sealed by the first seal (59) with respect to the second exit channel (48), while the second exit channel (48) lies outside the connecting region, and/or that the control device (40) has a second seal (60) that runs inclined in such a way that in a second open position of the control element (41) the entry channel (46) and the second exit channel (48) terminate in a common connecting region (64) sealed by the second seal (60) with respect to the first exit channel (47), while the first exit channel (47) lies outside the connecting region.
7. Liquid dispensing device according to one of claims 3 to 6,
   characterised in that
   the control device is designed in such a way that in a closed position of the control element (41) the entry channel (46) terminates in a region (63) which is sealed with respect to the first exit channel (47) by the first seal (59) and is sealed with respect to the second exit channel (48) by the second seal (60).
8. Liquid dispensing device according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterised in that
   the first nozzle device is a spray nozzle device (10) for producing a spray jet, with which is preferably associated a device for adjusting the spray jet, in particular for adjusting the jet width and/or a liquid turbulence.
9. Liquid dispensing device according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterised in that
   the second nozzle device is a shower head device (25).
10. Liquid dispensing device according to claim 9, characterised in that the shower head device is designed to generate a substantially rectangular configuration of the jet.
11. Liquid dispensing device according to claim 9 or 10, characterised in that
    the shower head device (25) is designed to generate a spread-out configuration of the jet, preferably in that a flexible shower head plate (33) perforated with parallel shower head opening channels (34) is used to generate the jet configuration, which shower head plate is preferably flat in the unloaded state and when fixed to a shower head body (27) is bent so that in the fixed state it has a curvature, in particular a cylindrical curvature.

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