Device for dynamic control of a water flow
The disclosure relates to a device for dynamic adjustment of a water flow, used to stabilize the operational mode of a thermostatic mixing tap. The inventive device includes a valve consisting of a piston and a return spring forcing the piston into a first position, said piston being displaced into two positions according to the flow. When the flow is lower than a threshold value, the piston is located in the first position and a flow limited means limits the flow. When the flow exceeds the threshold value, the piston is displaced into the second position and the flow limiting means is obviated.
1. A device for the dynamic control of a flow comprising, in a body, an inlet fitting, an inlet chamber, an outlet chamber, a piston, which is arranged between the inlet chamber and the outlet chamber and can be moved between a first position, which is displaced to the inlet chamber, wherein the piston constricts the flow between the inlet chamber and the outlet chamber when in the first position, and a second position, which is displaced to the outlet chamber, wherein the piston does not constrict the flow between the inlet chamber and the outlet chamber when in the second position, and a return spring, which acts upon the piston to move it to the first position, wherein the inlet chamber is at least partly ring-shaped and encloses the piston, the piston comprises a cylindrical shell section arranged in the area of the inlet chamber and a transverse segment, which defines a intermediate chamber and is crossed by an axially limited passage; a flow-limiting means is arranged between the inlet fitting and the intermediate chamber, wherein the axially limited passage and the return spring are proportional to one another so that the effect of the spring is essentially equal to the force that acts to shift the piston out of the first position and into the second position, when the maximum flow allowed by the flow-limiting means is discharged, and the intermediate chamber in the body of the device is bordered by an inlet fitting in which an inlet chamber is defined and which features a transverse wall in which axial circumferential passages are formed, which open in the ring-shaped inlet chamber, which encloses the piston, while the flow-limiting means is installed in the center of the transverse wall.
2. The device for the dynamic control of a flow as claimed in claim 1 the inlet chamber and the axial circumferential passages are formed by passages that are contained in a supplementary element that is disposed between the body of the device and the inlet fitting, of which it is a part.
3. The device for the dynamic control of a flow as claimed in claim 2 wherein the supplementary element is elongated so that it forms a projection that extends into the piston and features a ring-shaped seal, which is arranged in its seat when subjected to axial compression.
4. The device for the dynamic control of a flow as claimed in claim 2 wherein the supplementary element is elongated so that it forms a cylinder running in the piston and defines the inlet chamber in the form of openings arranged in the cylinder.
5. The device for the dynamic control of a flow as claimed in claim 2 wherein the supplementary element is manufactured from a pierced synthetic material.
6. The device for the dynamic control of a flow as claimed in claim 1 wherein in its first closed position, the piston abuts the level surface of the supplementary element.
7. The device for the dynamic control of a flow as claimed in claim 1 wherein in its first closed position, the piston is partly engaged in a seat that is formed by a level surface of the inlet fitting.
8. The device for the dynamic control of a flow as claimed in claim 1 wherein in its first closed position, the piston is partly attached to a projection that is formed by a level surface of the inlet fitting.