Patent Abstract:
A pressurized water container for water fountains, ponds, swimming pools, and aquariums has at least two housing parts and at least one seal arranged between the at least two housing parts, wherein the at least two housing parts are connectable to one another in a lockable way. The at least two housing parts have projections and matching recesses, wherein the projections engage the recesses and, by a displacement of the at least two housing parts relative to one another in opposite directions, they are lockable on one another and releasable from one another when reversing the displacement.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention concerns a pressurized water container as it is used in connection with water fountain, pond, swimming pool or aquarium technology. Such pressurized water containers comprise at least two housing parts, between which at least one seal is arranged and which are connectable to one another in a lockable way. Water is forced through such containers under pressure and in this way, for example, filtered, supplied to a nozzle, or subjected to other similar mechanical actions. The container as well as the components arranged therein require a certain maintenance so that the container must be designed to be opened and closed again. Upon closing it is important to reinstate water seal-tightness that withstands the water pressures in operation. Conventional closure mechanisms are, for example, the connection of the housing parts by means of several clamps or toggle closures or by engaging a flange provided on both housing parts by means of a clamping ring. These closures are difficult to close properly by a single person. When using clamps or toggle closures the container parts must be pressed uniformly against one another, all damps must be closed while maintaining this pressure. A clamping ring must also be tightened and closed while both container parts are pressed against one another. When it is not possible to uniformly maintain the tension during the closing action on all container sides, canting occurs and this leads to a connection that is not seal-tight. 
     The invention has therefore the object to provide a pressurizable water container that can be closed in a simple way so as to be water-tight. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This object is solved according to the invention by a pressurized water container wherein the housing parts have projections and corresponding recesses that are designed such that the projections engage the recesses and, by displacement of the housing parts relative to one another in opposite directions, they are lockable on one another and releasable from one another when reversing the displacement. 
     By providing on the container parts projections and recesses matched to the projections which projections and recesses are arranged such that they secure the housing parts on one another when they are displaced relative to one another, the initiation of this displacement movement provides for a safe closure of the container even by a single person. Preferably, several projections and matching recesses should be provided on the housing parts and should preferably extend along the circumference of the container. A connection by means of at least three projections and recesses each that are uniformly distributed, i.e., arranged at a spacing of approximately 120 degrees relative to one another, can already provide a uniform sealing action. However by providing more than four projections and recesses, the canting tendency is further reduced and closing of the container becomes increasingly easier. 
     Even though it is possible to arrange the projections and recesses like a toothing alternately on a first housing part and a second housing part, it is advantageous with regard to manufacturing technology as well as with regard to simplifying operation to arrange the projections on the first housing part and the recesses on the second housing part. 
     The projections can effect by means of a slanted arrangement or a hook-shaped configuration a connection with the other housing part. Preferred is an embodiment in which the projections have terminal widened portions or thick portions and the recesses are over portions thereof of a tapering configuration so that the widened portions of the projections upon displacement of the housing parts relative to one another engage the recesses and in this way clamp the housing parts relative to one another. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Further advantages and details result from the dependent claims and an embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings which embodiment will be described in the following. It is shown in: 
         FIG. 1  a fountain jet generator with pressurized water container and removed lid; 
         FIG. 2  a partial section in the direction II-II through the article of  FIG. 1  with the lid in position; 
         FIG. 3  an exploded illustration of the container of  FIG. 1  without lid; 
         FIG. 4  the elements of  FIG. 3 , assembled; 
         FIG. 5  a detail of  FIG. 4  before closing; 
         FIG. 6  the detail of  FIG. 5  after carrying out the closing movement; 
         FIG. 7  a section view in the direction VII-VII of the article of  FIG. 6 ; and 
         FIG. 8  a section view in the direction VIII-VIII of the article of  FIG. 6 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The invention will be explained in more detail with the aid of an embodiment in the form of a fountain jet generator that is illustrated most complete in  FIG. 1 . It is comprised of a pressurized water container connected to a support  1  and has a housing comprised of several housing parts  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  5 . The lower housing part  2  forms substantially the water container and is filled predominantly with filter foams, not illustrated, for calming the water. Through the inlet  6  water is conveyed under pressure into the container by means of a pump, not illustrated, and exits from the container through a nozzle  7  and a water outlet  8 . The nozzle  7  is formed in a housing part  3  that closes off the area receiving the water in the upward direction which housing part will be explained in more detail later on. Above the housing part  3  further components are provided such as e.g. a turbulence generator  9  and an alignment actuator  10 . The entire housing is closed off at the top by a lid  5 . As can be seen in  FIG. 3 , the housing can moreover have a receptacle  12  into which a lighting device for illuminating the water jet can be inserted. 
     For closing off the container in accordance with the invention, the lower housing part  2  is provided with several projections  13 ,  14  that are formed by pins  13  with terminal spherical heads  14 . These projections  13 ,  14  engage recesses  15  of the upper housing part  4  closing off the container. These recesses  15  have an enlarged open area  16  and lateral guides  17  adjoining them; they narrow the recesses  15  in such a way that the widened portion  14  of the spherical heads of the matching projections  13 ,  14  is engaged. 
     When closing the container, which is realized by a sliding movement of the upper housing part  4  in the direction of arrow V in  FIG. 5  into the position illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the lateral flanges  17  of the recesses  15  engaging the spherical heads  14  provide a forced guiding action for the displacement movement of the housing parts  2  and  4  relative to one another. This lateral guides  17  are designed, as can be clearly seen in  FIG. 8 , like an ascending ramp so that when the closing movement is carried out the upper housing part  4  will be automatically pulled closer against the lower housing part  2 . In order to be able to carry out the closing movement with as little force as possible, the lateral guides  17 , as shown in  FIG. 7 , are matched in their upper area to the shape of the spherical head  14  of the projections  13 ,  14 . A spherical head in the context of the invention is not to be understood exclusively as a completely spherical shape but also a shape that simply widens in the upper area  14  of the projections  13 ,  14  in such a way so as to be beneficial with regard to gliding. In particular, it can also be cut off at the top as illustrated. In order to provide a certain locking action of the housing connection, the guides  17 , as shown in  FIG. 8 , are designed such that in the closed position they drop off or are recessed in the end area  18  of the recesses  15  relative to the projections  13 , 14 . In this way it is prevented that the projections  13 ,  14  can slide automatically back into the recesses  15  and a tactile signal is provided that the locked position has been reached. 
     As can be seen in particular in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the recesses  15  are shaped like a slotted hole and are arranged equidistantly, annularly and rotationally symmetrically about the central longitudinal housing axis A. The displacement movement V required for dosing the container can thus be effected simply by oppositely turning the two housing parts  2 ,  4  relative to one another. At the same time, by means of the plurality of the projections  13 ,  14  and recesses  15  a uniform sealing action is provided without there being the risk of canting. 
     When the upper housing part  4  is designed, for example, in such a way that it is closed in the upward direction with the exception of the nozzle  7 , the pressurized water container could be formed by the housing parts  2  and  4  alone in combination with a corresponding seal. However, in the illustrated embodiment between the housing parts  2  and  4  a separation element  3  is arranged as a sealing plate. The sealing plate  3  has holes  19  that match the projections  13 ,  14  and through which the pins  13  of the projections  13 ,  14  extend when the container is closed. The holes  19  have such a size that the spherical heads  14  of the projections  13 ,  14  pass through them. Accordingly, the sealing plate  3  can be displaced only minimally relative to the lower housing part  2 , i.e., only inasmuch as the diameter of the holes  19  is greater than that of the pins  13 . By means of a projections  23  of the sealing plate  3 , as shown in  FIG. 7 , a sealing ring  22  is squeezed upon closing of the container against the inner wall of the lower housing part  2  and in this way a safe sealing action is achieved. The sealing plate  3  thus contributes to a long service life of the sealing ring  22  because the sealing ring, upon closing or opening of the container, is essentially only compressed and must not absorb any shearing stress. Shearing stress is prevented in this embodiment by gliding of the housing part  4 , embodied as a closure ring, on the sealing plate  3 . 
     In the fountain jet generator illustrated in the Figures, the upper housing part  4 ,  5  is of a two-part configuration, i.e., comprised of the closure ring  4  provided with the recesses  15  and forming a base and comprised of the lid  5 . The lid  5  has the shape of a hood and is connected to the base  4  by means of separate fastening elements. In the illustrated embodiment the fastening elements are screws, not illustrated, that can be screwed through penetrations  25  of the hood  5  into threaded sleeves  24  of the base  4 . Since this screwing action does not provide any further connection with the sealing plate  3  or the lower housing part  2 , the hood  5  and the closure ring  4  can be removed together from the housing part  2  without the fastening elements having to be released. This is, for example, beneficial when it is only necessary to exchange filter sponges arranged in a receiving space F in the lower housing part  2 . 
     In order to prevent accidental opening of the container by oppositely turning the housing parts  2  and  4  relative to one another, preferably a safety element  26  is provided that connects the housing part  4 ,  5  with the other housing part  2  or the sealing plate  3 . In the illustrated embodiment, this securing action against opening is realized indirectly by a safety element  26  in the form of a screw that, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , connects the lid  5  to the sealing plate  3 . In this way, indirectly also the housing parts  2  and  4  are connected to one another so as to prevent relative rotation because the safety element or screw  26  is screwed through an eccentrically arranged opening  27  into a corresponding receptacle  28 . The safety element  26  as well as the receptacle  28  can be of a small size because they are provided only as an additional securing means against accidental opening while the entire pressure forces in the water container are absorbed by the force-locking and positive-locking connection by means of the projections  13 ,  14 , the recesses  15 , and the sealing ring  22 . 
     Advantageously, the pressurized water container according to the invention can be opened and closed by a single person without operating error and enables in this connection in a simple way access to the desired container areas for inspection purposes. 
     The specification incorporates by reference the entire disclosure of German priority document 10 2007 014 570.7 having a filing date of Mar. 23, 2007. 
     While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the inventive principles, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1