Liquid Flow Induces Atmospheric Air (e.g., Faucet Aerator) Patents (Class 239/428.5)
  • Patent number: 9863127
    Abstract: A sanitary fitting having an outlet contains an outlet end which is formed in a substantially tubular manner. In this tubular end there is arranged a shut-off valve having a cartridge, water flowing through the center of said shut-off valve. A rotary shaft serves to rotate and thus actuate the valve cartridge. The rotary shaft is arranged and mounted inside a mounting sleeve which contains an outlet element at its outlet-side end. An external sleeve, which forms a flush continuation of the fitting housing, serves to rotate the rotary shaft. The sleeve is connected to the rotary shaft by a radial pin which engages through an arcuate slot that extends in the circumferential direction. When the sleeve is rotated, the position and setting of the outlet element remains the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Hansgrohe SE
    Inventors: Matthias Balkau, Joachim Blattner, Ulrich Kinle, Marcus Wöhrle
  • Patent number: 9844790
    Abstract: A wear part includes at least one wear component made from abrasion-resistant material and an upper seal groove around a central aperture on the upper face of the wear part. The upper seal groove is adapted to receive an axially compressible seal. A spray nozzle assembly includes at least one wear part made from a hard and abrasion-resistant material and a protective housing made from a strong and resilient material and having a downstream chamber adapted to receive one or more of the wear parts in releasably trapped relationship, the downstream chamber having a wall including a post defined by a slot in the downstream chamber wall either side of the post, the post including an inwardly extending protuberance at or near its end and adapted to prevent the wear part from escaping from the downstream chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: SPRAY NOZZLE ENGINEERING PTY. LIMITED
    Inventors: Sean Morgan, Stuart Morgan
  • Patent number: 9789500
    Abstract: A bearing air passage through which bearing air is supplied toward an air bearing of an air motor and a turbine air passage through which driving air is supplied toward a turbine are provided in a housing. An annular space surrounding the air motor is provided between the housing and a cover. A bearing air branch passage connecting the annular space and the bearing air passage to each other and a turbine air branch passage for connecting the annular space and the turbine air passage to each other are provided. The air branch passages lead a part of the compressed air to the annular space and keep the cover in a heated state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: ABB K.K.
    Inventor: Kuniharu Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 9783966
    Abstract: A jet breaker/aerator cartridge, manually screwable about a screwing axis (x) within the mouth of a faucet. The cartridge has an external casing made of preferably plastic material and an engagement portion provided with a thread on its external surface for screwing the cartridge within the mouth, and a gripping portion which extends downstream with respect to the engagement portion. The gripping portion has at least one radial protrusion protruding with respect to a central cylindrical body of the gripping portion. The radial protrusion allows application of a manual screwing force with an arm advantageously far from the screwing axis (x).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: AMFAG S.r.l.
    Inventor: Orlando Bosio
  • Patent number: 9752305
    Abstract: A sanitary fixture is provided having an upstream end and a downstream end, the sanitary fixture includes a mounting housing having a thread which is matingly engagable with a thread provided on a water outlet of a sanitary outlet fitting. The mounting housing has a downstream housing end side with flow-through holes. At least one insertion part can be inserted into the mounting housing as far as an insertion stop. The fixture includes an aerated jet regulator which is configured such that a circumferential wall of the mounting housing includes at least one aeration duct at least in a subregion of at least a double-walled configuration. The at least one aeration duct, which is arranged towards the downstream housing end side, opens out in at least one aeration opening leading into a housing interior of the mounting housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: NEOPERL GMBH
    Inventors: Gerhard Blum, Hermann Grether
  • Patent number: 9714502
    Abstract: A switch device with multiple water outputs includes a switch valve, a rotary rod, an engagement ring, a first rotary plate and a second rotary plate. The rotary rod is mounted through an opening of the switch valve. The engagement ring has an inner toothed ring and an outer toothed ring formed on a bottom end of the rotary rod. The first rotary plate and the second rotary plate respectively engage the inner toothed ring and the outer toothed ring, and the both rotary plates have multiple holes. As water entering the holes with different number and deviation angle of the first and second rotary plate selectively communicate with each other, different water outputs can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: XIAMEN RUNNER INDUSTRIAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Huan-Long Huang, Wen-Hua Ye, Zhao-Yi Zhuo
  • Patent number: 9580893
    Abstract: A sanitary fixture is provided having an upstream end and a downstream end, the sanitary fixture includes a mounting housing having a thread which is matingly engagable with a thread provided on a water outlet of a sanitary outlet fitting. The mounting housing has a downstream housing end side with flow-through holes. At least one insertion part can be inserted into the mounting housing as far as an insertion stop. The fixture includes an aerated jet regulator which is configured such that a circumferential wall of the mounting housing includes at least one aeration duct at least in a subregion of at least a double-walled configuration. The at least one aeration duct, which is arranged towards the downstream housing end side, opens out in at least one aeration opening leading into a housing interior of the mounting housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: NEOPERL GMBH
    Inventors: Gerhard Blum, Hermann Grether
  • Patent number: 9540281
    Abstract: A process for producing insulating foam, wherein certain especially small inorganic minerals such as silica fume are directly integrated into bubble fluid to better mechanically strengthen bubbles formed and thus allow the formation of smaller bubbles to be reformed. The manner of reforming the bubbles is progressive and actualized by a glass bead chamber, a second stage consisting of two screened discs, separated from each other and located at the end of the glass bead chamber, and a third stage chamber presenting itself with a considerably enlarged screen area and having considerably finer meshes than the second stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: AIR KRETE, INC.
    Inventors: Terry P. Warner, R. Keene Christopher
  • Patent number: 9537328
    Abstract: A battery rack includes: a plurality of battery packs; a plurality of slave battery management systems, each of the slave battery management systems being coupled to a corresponding one of the battery packs, being powered by an operating power, and being configured to use the corresponding one of the battery packs for the operating power in response to receiving a corresponding one of a plurality of operating power changing signals; and a master battery management system coupled to the slave battery management systems and configured to transmit the operating power changing signals to the slave battery management systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seong-Joong Kim
  • Patent number: 9499967
    Abstract: An air suction spray nozzle includes a spray pipe and a nozzle component. A spray pole at the end of the spray pipe is inserted to the nozzle component. The nozzle component includes a spray nozzle housing, a spray nozzle set and a rectifying core. One end of the spray nozzle housing is disposed with an open window. The spray nozzle housing is disposed with flushing holes at the area of the open window. The rectifying core is disposed between the spray pole and the flushing holes. The spray nozzle set is locked and assembled to the open window. Water sprays out of the outlet hole of the rectifying core from the spray pole, and then sprays out of the flushing holes. A vent cavity is disposed between the outlet hole and the flushing holes and is connected to the air through the clearance of the spray nozzle housing and the rectifying core and then through the open window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: WDI (XIAMEN) TECHNOLOGY INC.
    Inventor: Chen Defu
  • Patent number: 9475070
    Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a water faucet which allows a large space to be secured above the washing area and yet can deliver a high washing performance by landing streams or waterdrops having a large cross-sectional area evenly on a piece to wash. This water faucet includes a flow velocity changing part which changes the flow velocity of the stream discharged from each of multiple water spray holes such that the cross-sectional area of the stream changes with time. The multiple water spray holes are disposed at intervals such that, when the cross-sectional area of one stream discharged from one water spray hole exceeds a predetermined size, the one stream is merged with one of the other streams discharged from the multiple other water spray holes adjacent to the one water spray hole, and such that the one of the other streams with which the one stream merges changes with time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: TOTO LTD.
    Inventors: Hiromi Akahira, Koji Takeda, Minoru Shibata
  • Patent number: 9463477
    Abstract: A demountable showerhead with tearing mode has backstop mouths arranged on an outlet surface of a shower. Each backstop mouth is disposed with an outlet waterway to connect to the waterway of the shower. The outlet waterway has a big and small end, and is contracted along the outlet direction of the shower, and a flexible cover, which comprise bowl shape plugs and a flexible connector connected to the bowl shape plugs; each plug has a big and small end, the small end of the plug is connected to the connector, the big end of the bowl shape plug is deformed and plugged into the small end of the backstop mouth, the external wall of the plug is coupled to the outlet waterway in elastic way; the internal wall of the plug is contracted along the outlet direction, the bottom of the external wall is disposed with outlet holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignees: XIAMEN SOLEX HIGH-TECH INDUSTRIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Fengde Lin, Xiaowei Du, Yuanfang Huang, Huasong Zhou
  • Patent number: 9428892
    Abstract: A jet regulator, having a non-circular profile when viewed in a flow direction, is provided. The jet regulator includes a jet regulator housing configured to be inserted into a water outlet of a sanitary outlet fitting from an outlet end side. The housing includes a latching part, which has at least one spring arm integrally formed on an outer periphery of the jet regulator housing, the at least one spring arm extending tangentially away from the housing, in the flow direction, toward a free arm end. The at least one spring arm is resiliently biased away from the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: NEOPERL GMBH
    Inventor: Georg Stadtler
  • Patent number: 9388557
    Abstract: A sanitary fixture (6) is provided having a mounting housing (9) which has a thread (10) for fastening to a mating thread provided on the water outlet of a sanitary outlet fitting. The mounting housing (9) has a downstream housing end side (12) with flow-through holes (13), and wherein at least one insertion part can be inserted into the mounting housing (9) as far as an insertion stop. According to one of the solution proposals described here, it is provided that the fixture (6) has an aerated jet regulator (16) or is configured as such, that the circumferential wall of the mounting housing (9) borders at least one aeration duct (14) at least in a subregion of at least double-walled configuration, and that the at least one aeration duct (14), which is open towards the downstream housing end side (12), opens out in at least one aeration opening (15) leading into the housing interior of the mounting housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: NEOPERL GMBH
    Inventors: Gerhard Blum, Hermann Grether
  • Patent number: 9382700
    Abstract: A jet regulator (1) including a two-part jet-regulator housing (2), the outlet end face (3) of which has multiple passages (4), a pot-shaped inlay (6) that is inserted into the housing interior (2) until it reaches the outlet end face (3) and that has multiple tubular spray nozzles (7), each of which penetrates a passage (4) on the outlet end face of the jet regulator housing (2) and the free spray-nozzle region of which protrudes beyond the outlet end face (3) of the jet regulator (1, 5). The jet regulator also includes an insert (8) that is inserted in the housing interior and the position of the inlay part (6) is secured in an axial direction between the insert, the second housing part and the outlet end face (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: NEOPERL GMBH
    Inventor: Gerhard Blum
  • Patent number: 9376792
    Abstract: A plumbing fixture includes a body and a mixing valve provided within the body. The mixing valve includes a first inlet for receiving a first fluid, a second inlet for receiving a second fluid, and a mixing chamber having a fluid outlet for outputting the first fluid or the second fluid or a mixture thereof. The mixing valve includes a first flow control valve for controlling the flow of the first fluid into the mixing chamber and a second flow control valve, separate from the first flow control valve, for controlling the flow of the second fluid into the mixing chamber, wherein at least one of the first or second flow control valve includes at least two separate outlets into the mixing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: KOHLER MIRA LIMITED
    Inventor: Kevin T. Peel
  • Patent number: 9364389
    Abstract: A hygienic water jet assembly for a spa includes a body having a conical jet outlet that receives pressurized water and air from suitable sources. A control insert is disposed within the conical jet outlet and spaced therefrom by a gap, such that the control insert serves to combine the water and air together for delivery to a jet nozzle carried by the control insert. The control insert also includes a pair of conical surfaces that allows residual water within the control insert to drain by gravity out of the control insert through apertures disposed therethrough. The water draining out of the control insert is then permitted to drain out of the jet nozzle via the gap by gravity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: MANSFIELD PLUMBING PRODUCTS, LLC
    Inventor: Paul Conrad
  • Patent number: 9303393
    Abstract: A tamper-resistant aerator including an aerator cartridge, an insert defining at least one removal slot, and a locking ring defining at least one removal slot at least partially disposed within a housing is disclosed. The locking ring rotates with respect to the housing to allow alignment of the removal slot of the locking ring with the removal slot of the insert. Alignment of the slots form a continuous passageway through the locking ring and into the insert. Alternatively, a plurality of removal slots may be provided. A mating engagement between the locking ring and the housing secures the locking ring within the housing while still allowing it to rotate with respect to the housing. An aerator system is also provided comprising an aerator as described above and a tool adapted to be received in the continuous passageway formed by the alignment of the slots and engage the insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: SDB IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Shawn D. Bush
  • Patent number: 9297153
    Abstract: The present invention provides a water saving aerator that can generate high quality babble foam water including the fine bubble entirely. The water saving aerator is attached to the water facilities such as the water tap for generating bubble foam water and flowing the bubble foam water. The water saving aerator comprises a water flow forming portion 110 for forming the water flow through the water saving aerator; a ventilation pass 120 for supplying the outer air to the water flow from the side direction via an air intake hole 121 installed on the side surface of a water flow cylinder; and a water flow accelerator 111 for accelerating the water flow supplied from the water flow forming portion and jetting an accelerated water flow jet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Inventor: Masaaki Takano
  • Patent number: 9297468
    Abstract: A sanitary outlet unit having an outlet fitting having at least one water outlet and including an aeration device for aerating the water flow and arranged in the flow direction spaced from and upstream of the at least one water outlet, and having at least one valve part, which regulates the inflow from at least one water pipe to the water outlet (3). To provide a sanitary outlet unit that ensures reliable aeration of the water flow that can be integrated without undue structural modifications into existing fittings, the aeration device is received in the at least one valve part and the aeration device is provided with at least one actuator, the movement of which between at least one closed and at least one open position alters the admission of ambient air to the water flow inside the valve part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Neoperl GmbH
    Inventors: Holger Schurle, Werner Bammerlin, Michael Steinbrunner
  • Patent number: 9278364
    Abstract: A button water-saving shower including a shower body and a water-saving mechanism, an inlet passage communicating with a water source and an outlet cavity arranged in the body; the water-saving mechanism is arranged in the body in a vertically sliding manner, and includes a pressing mechanism similar to an automatic ball pen and a floating cover connected to the pressing mechanism; the outlet cavity communicates with the inlet passage and includes at least one inlet hole of which the outlet sectional area is changed along with the vertical movement of the floating cover. The shower can achieve water-saving through a button and achieve switching of outlet functions through a water division unit with ease of use and practicality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignees: XIAMEN SOLEX HIGH-TECH INDUSTRIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Huasong Zhou, Wenxing Chen, Renzhong Li, Bin Chen
  • Patent number: 9249590
    Abstract: Detailed are fluid flow deflectors principally for use with sweep tail hoses of automatic swimming pool cleaners. The deflectors do not function principally on gravitational forces and need not necessarily employ flexible components or attachments for purposes of effecting deflection. Instead, the deflectors may be rigid and continually position a fixed obstacle in a central portion of a fluid stream. Perforations in a rigid wall, moreover, draw fluid into the deflectors, creating a greater volume of exiting stream when an associated pool cleaner is underwater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: ZODIAC POOL SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Tommy Bloink, Gerhardus J. Stoltz
  • Patent number: 9220376
    Abstract: A shower apparatus F1 includes a water supply unit 21; a throttle unit 22 installed downstream of the water supply unit 21 and adapted to eject passing water downstream; an aeration unit 23 provided with an opening 231 adapted to produce bubbly water by aerating the water ejected through the throttle unit 22; and a nozzle unit 24 provided with a plurality of nozzle holes 243 adapted to discharge the bubbly water, wherein a virtual water ejection straight line obtained by extending an ejection direction of the water ejected through the throttle unit 22 reaches a location where the nozzle holes 243 are formed, without interfering with inner walls of the aeration unit 23 and the nozzle unit 24.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: TOTO LTD.
    Inventors: Takahiro Ohashi, Minoru Sato, Yutaka Aihara, Minami Okamoto, Kiyotake Ukigai, Katsuya Nagata
  • Patent number: 9205436
    Abstract: Disclosed is an aerator with dual spraying functions, including a flow control assembly, a water separator, and a water dispenser that are combined with a housing. The flow control assembly and the water separator are combined together and the water separator and the water dispenser are rotatably connected to each other. The water separator has a surface in which discharge holes are formed. The water dispenser has an internal chamber having a circumferential portion in which needle-like water channels are formed to correspond to the water separator. Bubbling water passages are formed between the needle-like water channels and a central portion surrounded by the needle-like water channels defines a bubbling water channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Xiamen Water Nymph Sanitary Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Huaqiang Zhou
  • Patent number: 9205022
    Abstract: The invention relates to a multifunctional spa device. It is mainly that an inlet of a pump controlled by a circuit is additionally connected to a vent pipe, an outlet of the pump is connected to a jet, and the pump sucks a water flow through an intake pipe while air is simultaneously sucked through the vent pipe to be mixed with the water flow in the pump. An outlet disk is configured in the jet, and pores are distributed on an outer circumference of the outlet disk. With the jet inside-out to transmit the air-mixing water flow, the air-mixing water flow is further compressed and released through the pores, thus to output water flows or the water columns carried with ultramicro bubbles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Inventors: Cheng-Hsiang Huang, Kuang-Chao Huang
  • Patent number: 9175460
    Abstract: Provided is a shower apparatus which can stably produce and supply bubbly water to nozzle holes, causing finely divided water droplets of relatively large, uniform size to land continuously on a user so as to allow the user to enjoy a shower with a voluminous feel as if the user were being showered by large drops of rain. The shower apparatus includes a water supply unit, a throttle unit adapted to eject passing water downstream, an aeration unit adapted to produce bubbly water by aerating the water ejected through the throttle unit, and a nozzle unit provided with a plurality of nozzle holes used to discharge the bubbly water, wherein an ejection speed changing means is installed in the water supply unit to at least partially vary ejection speeds of the water ejected from respective throttle channels of the plurality of throttle channels of the throttle unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: TOTO LTD.
    Inventors: Kiyotake Ukigai, Minoru Sato, Takahiro Ohashi, Yutaka Aihara, Minami Okamoto, Katsuya Nagata
  • Patent number: 9108207
    Abstract: Provided is a shower apparatus which can stably supply bubbly water through all nozzle holes and can cause water droplets of large, uniform size to land continuously on the user so as to allow the user to enjoy a shower with a voluminous feel as if the user were being showered by large drops of rain. The shower apparatus includes a water supply unit, a throttle unit adapted to eject passing water downstream, an aeration unit adapted to produce bubbly water by aerating the water ejected through the throttle unit, and a nozzle unit provided with a plurality of nozzle holes used to discharge the bubbly water, wherein the throttle unit has a flat-shaped throttle channel and water ejected through the throttle channel plunges into an air-liquid interface as a sheet-like stream, thereby producing bubbly water, which is then discharged through the nozzle hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: TOTO LTD.
    Inventors: Kiyotake Ukigai, Minoru Sato, Takahiro Ohashi, Yutaka Aihara, Minami Okamoto, Katsuya Nagata
  • Patent number: 9068329
    Abstract: A jet regulator for the outlet of a sanitary fitting or for a shower is provided that has at least two flow chambers or flow ducts, each of which has an inlet opening and one or more water outlet openings, the control of the flow to each flow chamber or flow duct is carried out via a valve having a resilient valve body which is arranged upstream of the flow chambers or flow ducts and optionally closes or opens the inlet openings thereof using the resilient valve body, wherein a deformation of the resilient valve body and thus a change in the valve position is carried out by a change in the applied water pressure or by mechanical actuation via an actuating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Grohe AG
    Inventors: Eckhard Gransow, Werner Buschey
  • Patent number: 9068327
    Abstract: A low-cost fluid flow meter to conveniently measure the volume of a fluid, for example water, when expelled from a faucet includes a scale with markings for predetermined volumes of a fluid. A flow divider positioned in the main path of flow is used to redirect a small portion of the fluid flow into a separate measurement compartment. The fluid level is then registered optically as a representation of the accumulated fluid flow and presented through light-guiding optics to the user. The measurement compartment is automatically emptied through a pressure activated reset mechanism, so that when fluid flow is turned off the meter is nulled. The device is installed to the outlet of a faucet and operates as a substitute to many of the common measurement sets and containers used in a household for water dosage, as well as serves as an indicator of the water consumed each time the faucet is opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Inventor: Oskar L. Granstrand
  • Patent number: 9056323
    Abstract: The present invention is provided with a rich air sprayer component, which is disposed with a fixation part. The fixation part is disposed with an inlet part and an air enriching part. The inlet part is disposed with at least an inlet hole; the air enriching part is disposed with an air hole; the sectional area of the cavity of the air enriching part is larger than the sectional area of the inlet hole, making that negative pressure generates when water flows into the air enriching part from the inlet hole and air gets in from outside, air and water flow mix to form gas-water mixture, the sectional area of the cavity of the air enriching part is gradually narrowed, so that the gas-water mixture is dashed on the inner wall of the air enriching part to make water flow drawn air enough. It has advantages as below: the gas-water mixture is rich in air, making the sprayer with water saving, of granular sensation and strong spraying force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignees: XIAMEN SOLEX HIGH-TECH INDUSTRIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yangfeng Ji, Yurong Yang, Tao Cai, Huasong Zhou
  • Patent number: 9038927
    Abstract: A plumbing spout device which has a jet regulating device is provided, which is situated on an outflow side from an upstream attachment screen in a direction of flow. The jet regulating device is provided in the form of a perforated plate having at least a perforated field in at least a partial area thereof. The spout device has a mounting sleeve that supports the jet regulating device on an outflow side sleeve end area thereof, and the mounting sleeve is joined to the water spout of the plumbing spout fitment via a screwed, clip, detent, adhesive or welded connection. The spout device has a comparatively low installation height that does not significantly limit design possibilities when designing associated spout fitments. The spout device also makes it possible to achieve a high jet quality and a good jet pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: NEOPERL GMBH
    Inventor: Oliver Denzler
  • Patent number: 9033259
    Abstract: A method and system of feeding fuel into a gasifier are provided. The feed injector system includes a first injector port assembly including a plurality of annular channels substantially concentric about a longitudinal axis that define corresponding fluid flow paths that direct a flow of fluid substantially axially therethrough from a respective source to a reaction zone and a second injector port assembly including a flow port surrounded by a plurality of auxiliary ports spaced about a circumference of the flow port, the plurality of auxiliary ports communicatively coupled to a toroidal passage configured to receive a flow of fluid and channel the flow of fluid to the auxiliary ports such that the flow of fluid is discharged from the auxiliary ports having an axial flow component, a radially inward flow component, and a circumferential flow component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Krishnakumar Venkatesan, Ertan Yilmaz, Ali Ergut
  • Patent number: 9033260
    Abstract: The present invention provides a water saving aerator that can reduce the amount of water flow and generate bubble foam water from water provided by the water delivery apparatus such as a water tap. The water saving aerator comprises a water saving disc 10 for controlling the amount of water from the water tap 200, having the through-hole 11 whose diameter is smaller than that of the water tap 200, so the water flow is injected by covering the opening of the water tap 200. A first cylinder 30 covering a diffuser object 20 is provided and a second cylinder 40 covering the first cylinder 30 is provided. The water injected from the through-hole 11 of the water saving disc 10 is diffused by the diffuser object 20, and the diffused water is received by the inner wall of the first cylinder 30.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Inventor: Masaaki Takano
  • Publication number: 20150129684
    Abstract: A sanitary insertion unit (1) having an insertion housing (2), which can be inserted into a sanitary supply line and has a continuous flow controller (3), which has at least one through flow opening (4) through which a fluid flows, in which through flow opening (4) a flow restrictor (5) is provided, which is arranged in an installation plane oriented transversely to the flow direction, and delimits a control gap (12, 13) between itself and an adjacent wall (10, 11) that delimits the through flow opening (4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: Neoperl GmbH
    Inventor: Keith Hart
  • Patent number: 9027661
    Abstract: A foam chamber of a fire suppressant system having a closable testing outlet is disclosed. The foam chamber can operate in a testing mode and an operation mode. The invention has an inlet conduit for accepting a fire suppressant fluid attached to an expansion conduit. An expansion enclosure having two closable outlets is also attached to the inlet conduit and surrounds the expansion conduit. One outlet empties into the expansion enclosure. The other outlet extends through the wall of the expansion enclosure and empties outside of the expansion enclosure. Both of the closable outlets can be fitted with either an unbreakable seal or a frangible seal. If the foam chamber is configured for normal operation, the unbreakable seal is placed on the outlet that extends through the wall of the expansion enclosure and a frangible seal is placed on the outlet that empties into the expansion enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Inventor: Kenneth C. Baker
  • Publication number: 20150115063
    Abstract: A sanitary outlet fitting (1) having a fitting body (3), the body interior of which opens into a water outlet (5), with an intermediate holder (2) which (2) is fastenable in the water outlet (5), and with a sanitary insert (6) which is insertable into the end side of the intermediate holder (2), the end side being of open design and being on the outflow side, and is fixable therein. The outlet fitting has, on the inflow side, the intermediate holder (2) connected or connectable to a water hose guided in the tube interior (4) of the fitting body (3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: NEOPERL GMBH
    Inventors: Werner Bammerlin, Holger Schurle
  • Patent number: 9016602
    Abstract: A jet regulator (1), including an annular or sheath-shaped jet regulator housing (2), the outlet end face (3) of which is designed as a hole structure, grate structure, and/or mesh structure having passage openings (6) surrounded by flow-guiding walls, wherein the hole structure, grate structure, and/or mesh structure on the outlet end face is made of a manually deformable, dimensionally elastic plastic material (7) at least in some sections and at least at the surface. The jet regulator (1) according to the invention is characterized in that the outlet end face (3) of the jet regulator housing (2) is designed as an outlet disk (8) that can be inserted into the jet regulator housing (2) and that supports the hole structure, grate structure, and/or mesh structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Neoperl GmbH
    Inventor: Hermann Grether
  • Publication number: 20150108255
    Abstract: Provided is a shower apparatus which can stably supply bubbly water through all nozzle holes and can cause water droplets of large, uniform size to land continuously on the user so as to allow the user to enjoy a shower with a voluminous feel as if the user were being showered by large drops of rain. The shower apparatus includes a water supply unit, a throttle unit adapted to eject passing water downstream, an aeration unit adapted to produce bubbly water by aerating the water ejected through the throttle unit, and a nozzle unit provided with a plurality of nozzle holes used to discharge the bubbly water, wherein the throttle unit has a flat-shaped throttle channel and water ejected through the throttle channel plunges into an air-liquid interface as a sheet-like stream, thereby producing bubbly water, which is then discharged through the nozzle hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Applicant: TOTO LTD.
    Inventors: Kiyotake UKIGAI, Minoru SATO, Takahiro OHASHI, Yutaka AIHARA, Minami OKAMOTO, Katsuya NAGATA
  • Patent number: 9010663
    Abstract: Apparatus for generating a mist comprising a conduit having a mixing chamber and an exit; a transport nozzle in fluid communication with the said conduit, the transport nozzle being adapted to introduce a transport fluid into the mixing chamber; a working nozzle positioned adjacent the transport nozzle intermediate the transport nozzle and the exit, the working nozzle being adapted to introduce a working fluid into the mixing chamber; the transport and working nozzles having an angular orientation and internal geometry such that in use interaction of the transport fluid and working fluid in the mixing chamber causes the working fluid to atomize and form a dispersed vapor/droplet flow regime, which is discharged as a mist from the exit, the mist comprising working fluid droplets having a substantially uniform size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Tyco Fire & Security GmbH
    Inventors: Marcus Brian Mayhall Fenton, John Gervase Mark Heathcote, Alexander Guy Wallis
  • Publication number: 20150102133
    Abstract: A jet regulator (100) including a jet regulator housing (2) is disclosed, in the housing interior of which a perforated plate (5) is provided with a plurality of flow-through holes (6) for dividing the through-flowing water. The jet regulator described is characterised in that at least one flow-through hole (6) extends conically towards its outflow side in at least one outflow-side hole section. It is also possible for flow obstacles to be provided on the outflow side of the perforated plate (5) in the jet regulator housing (2) and/or on the outflow front face of the jet regulator housing, which are arranged or concentrated there in a central or middle region and which deflect the through-flowing water into an outer annular zone. This jet regulator (100) enables an aerated and thereby sparkling-soft water jet to be generated even with low flow-through performance and low water pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2013
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Applicant: NEOPERL GMBH
    Inventor: Marc Tempel
  • Patent number: 9004375
    Abstract: The present invention relates to apparatus and method for generating a mist comprising a conduit having a mixing chamber and an exit; a working fluid inlet in fluid communication with said conduit; a transport nozzle in fluid communication with the said conduit, the transport nozzle adapted to introduce a transport fluid into the mixing chamber; the transport nozzle having an angular orientation and internal geometry such that in use the transport fluid interacts with the working fluid introduced into the mixing chamber through the working fluid inlet to atomize and form a dispersed vapor/droplet flow regime, which is discharged as a mist comprising working fluid droplets, a substantial portion of the droplets having a size less than 20 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Tyco Fire & Security GmbH
    Inventors: Marcus Brian Mayhall Fenton, John Gervase Mark Heathcote, Alexander Guy Wallis
  • Patent number: 8991728
    Abstract: A plumbing outlet armature (2) with a liquid guide (3), which opens into a fitting outlet (4) in an area in which a plumbing functional unit (5) in the form of an insertion cartridge is provided. The outlet fitting is provided such that the clear open cross-section of the liquid guide (3) is adapted to the insertion cartridge (5) at least in the opening area of the fitting outlet (4), and the insertion cartridge (5) can be inserted into the fitting outlet (4) from the opening side and is removably held therein. The inventive outlet armature is characterized by the insertion cartridge being removably held in the fitting outlet (4) by a sleeve-shaped intermediate holder (6), which intermediate holder itself is removably held in the fitting outlet (4) by a screw or bayonet connection. The inventive outlet fitting (2) can be used with a jet regulator or with another plumbing functional unit (5) without any significant limitations of the structural clearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Neoperl GmbH
    Inventors: Christoph Weis, Hermann Grether
  • Publication number: 20150076252
    Abstract: Tap provided with a tap outflow having a first channel and a second channel and a jet aerator having a jet aerator housing which forms a downstream end of the tap outflow. The jet aerator is further provided with a jet breaker having a jet breaker wall with liquid passage openings, at least one wire mesh layer which is included downstream of the jet breaker wall in the jet aerator housing, an aeration chamber which is situated between the jet breaker and the at least one wire mesh layer, and an air supply of which an entrance opens into the environment and of which an exit opens into the aeration chamber. The tap outflow is further provided with a coupling assembly which is situated upstream of the jet breaker wall in the jet aerator housing and which forms a liquid-tight connection between the first conduit and the jet breaker wall, such that liquid from the first channel is kept separate from liquid from the second channel upstream of the jet breaker wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventor: Niels Theodoor Peteri
  • Patent number: 8955769
    Abstract: Foam dispensers, refill units for foam dispensers, and liquid pumps for use in foam dispensers are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, an inverted foam pump includes a compression chamber having an inlet valve and an outlet valve. The compression chamber is in fluid communication with a flow restrictor, an atomizer, a mixing chamber, a foaming chip and an outlet. The inlet valve, outlet valve, flow restrictor, atomizer, mixing chamber, foaming chip and outlet extend along a common axis. An air inlet is included that extends into the mixing chamber; the air inlet is an opening to atmospheric pressure. During operation, the liquid pump is located below the liquid container and liquid flowing from the compression chamber is accelerated and atomized. The atomized liquid enters the mixing chamber at a velocity sufficient to draw in air from the air inlet to mix with the liquid to form a foam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: GOJO Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith Allen Pelfrey, Richard C. Sayers, Nick E. Ciavarella, John J. McNulty, Jackson W. Wegelin
  • Patent number: 8955772
    Abstract: The present invention provides a shower apparatus which allows a user to enjoy spray of water with a voluminous feel even when a small volume of water is discharged as well as with a comfortable stimulus sensation of an instantaneous flow rate of the spray varying greatly. The shower apparatus periodically varies a volume of air taken into an aeration unit by periodically changing a traveling direction of a water stream ejected to the aeration unit from a throttle unit and produces pulsating spray by varying the instantaneous flow rate of bubbly water discharged from a nozzle unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Toto Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyotake Ukigai, Minoru Sato, Katsuya Nagata
  • Patent number: 8950435
    Abstract: Pressure compensators (1) for stabilizing a flow of water are disclosed. The pressure compensator (1) includes water compensating channels (3) formed on the outer periphery of their body (2), and flow orifices (4) passing through the pressure compensator (1), so that the water compensating channels and the flow orifices control the flow rate of the water at varying pressures. The body of the pressure compensator (1) preferably comprises a flexible material, such as rubber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Niagara Conservation Corp.
    Inventor: Wenjuan Lin
  • Patent number: 8950692
    Abstract: Disclosed is a water faucet, in which a main body (1) is composed of a water outlet channel (2) and a water inlet channel (3), with a micro flow ejector (5) having a vent hole (4) fitted between the water outlet channel (2) and the water inlet channel (3), a flow-adjusting positioning screw (6) fitted on a hollow inner circular tube wall (14) behind the micro flow ejector (5), between the micro flow ejector (5) and the flow-adjusting positioning screw (6) there being fitted a hollow flow regulating valve (8) which is T shaped at the rear portion and cone shaped at the head portion; wherein the cone-shaped head portion of the hollow flow regulating valve (8) is provided with an ejecting orifice (9), the small cylindrical tube wall of the hollow flow regulating valve (8) is provided with more than one water inlet/outlet hole (10), and an air inlet check valve (13) is placed in the vent hole (4) of the micro flow ejector (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Inventor: Xionghui Liu
  • Patent number: 8944349
    Abstract: The present invention provides a shower apparatus that allows the user to have a shower stream with a voluminous feel, even when a small volume of water is discharged, and also with a stimulus sensation arising from water being discharged in a pulsating manner. A shower apparatus F1 periodically changes the volume of air taken into an aeration unit 43 by oscillating a main water stream ejected toward the aeration unit 43 from a throttle unit 42 in a direction crossing the direction of the ejection, so that the bubbly water discharged from a water discharge unit 44 creates a pulsating shower stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Toto Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyotake Ukigai, Minoru Sato, Katsuya Nagata
  • Patent number: 8944350
    Abstract: An aerated shower head structure has a body, a stationary disc, a water distributor and a pressing disc sequentially assembled. The stationary disc has an air inlet hole and a water inlet hole both formed through the stationary disc and communicating with a water inlet of the body. The water distributor and the pressing disc are combined and rotatably mounted under the stationary disc. The water distributor has an air compartment and a water compartment separately formed in a bottom of the water distributor, and has an air channel selectively communicating with the air compartment and multiple water orifices selectively communicating with the water compartment. The pressing disc has an air outlet hole communicating with the air compartment, a water outlet hole communicating with the water compartment, and an elongated water passage communicating with the air outlet hole and the water outlet hole and constitute a water outflow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Xiamen Runner Industrial Corporation
    Inventor: Chun-Hui Lin
  • Patent number: 8925831
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sanitary component, namely a stream regulator or stream former for flowing fluid media, consisting of property-defining components in a sandwich-like arrangement in the direction of flow which comprise at least one screen attachment, one diffuser plate assembly as well as a shell body having segments of stream-forming openings extending across its cross-sectional surface. The property-defining components are exchangeable and combinable so as to realize adaptability to different user and user requirements. A locking means is provided e.g. on the inner circumference of the shell body for this purpose as is a corresponding counter-locking means on the outer circumference of the diffuser plate assembly. The diffuser plate assembly exhibits, at least on its exterior, a flow rate class-specifying optical code and the shell body exhibits a stream type-specifying, namely laminar or aerated, optical code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: NEOPERL GmbH
    Inventor: Oliver Denzler