DEVICE TO REDUCE A LIQUID STREAM

Abstract: Due to the increasing scarcity of potable water, water producers and distributing companies are looking for a durable, universally applicable cheap device to reduce water consumption of households. This invention provides for such a device, because it consists of a single, one-piece element of synthetic material. By its shape a low noise, pressure depending regulator is created, that can easily be installed in existing installations.

Description: DEVICE TO REDUCE A LIQUID STREAM The invention concerns a device to be put in a fluid containing conduit, creating a restriction in order to reduce the flow. The invention aims to reduce the domestic consumption of potable water. A similar device is also described in the German patent DE 3437013. The active device in that invention shows a cone as main shape with tongue-shaped movable parts, that more or less block the in- between slits at increasing pressure. An additio¬ nal rubber element also damps the vibration of the tongues and creates an additional reaction force. The element appears to be too expensive for use in mass-quantities by public potable water suppliers and notably the rubber element loses its proper functioning after a short period of time. The present invention does not show these disadvantages. Vibrations are prevented by creating, in stead of the tongue shaped lips, a surprisingly simple bridge shaped resistance element, that does not enter into a vibration mode and that does not need an additional reaction force. The invention is explained using the enclosed sketches: Figure 1 is a top view of the element. Figure 2 is a section according arrows A-A. Figure 3 is a section according arrows B-B. Figure 4 shows schematically the way of assembly. As can be seen from figures 2 and 3, element 1 is hat -shaped, and its interior contains a large cavity 2. The top-part 3 of the element is arch shaped. In this top-part 3 are present, as can be seen from figures 1 and 2, two parallel bevelled slits, thus creating a bridge shaped part 5. Preferably the device is produced from a durable, stiff syn- thetic material, that has a slight absorption ability for water. The direction of flow is according arrow P in figures 3 and 4. The functioning of the device is as follows: In the flow P a pressure difference is created over the top-part 3 (see figure 4) by the reduction in free area. The pressure difference creates a force acting on the bridge- shaped part 5 (see figure 3), proportional to the pressure difference. Due to this force, bridge- part 5 will slightly bend, causing the slits to narrow and thus partly reducing the flow. The extend of throttling and as such the control characteristic of the device depends on the resistance against bending of bridge-shaped part 5. The extend of this resistance against bending can be influenced by the choice of construction material, material thickness and shape, for instance how far slit 4 continues in site wall 6 (see 7 in figure 3). Due to the large cavity and the shape and the damping behaviour of the synthetic material of element 1 , vibration of the bridge-part 5 and the production of noise are largely prevented.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Device to reduce the fluid flow in a conduit consisting of an element 1 containing slits 4, containing the characteristic feature, that due to the hat shape a large downstream throttling cavity 2 is created. 2. Element according to conclusion 1, containing the characteristic feature, that the top-part 3 has a slightly curved shape. 3. Element according to conclusion 1, containing the characteristic feature, that in the top part at least 2 parallel slits 4 are present. 4. Element according to conclusion 3, containing the characteristic feature, that slits 4 as seen from the flow direction, have a converging direction. 5. Element according to conclusion 3, containing the characteristic feature, that slits 4 as shown in 7 continue in site wall 6. 6. Element according to any of the previous conclusions, containing the characte ¬ ristic feature, that it consists of one piece. 7. Element according to conclusion 6, containing the characteristic feature, that it is consists of a fully shape recovering and vibration reducing synthetic material.

Inventors: LIEVEN THEODORUS JOHANNES GERH, LIEVEN, THEODORUS, JOHANNES, GERHARDUS
Applicants: LIEVEN THEODORUS JOHANNES GERH, LIEVEN, THEODORUS, JOHANNES, GERHARDUS
Application year: 1996
Main classification: E03C1
IPC codes: E03C1, F16L55