Patent Description:
A pressure reducer assembly may be used for reducing a supply (or inlet) pressure to a lower output pressure and further maintain this output pressure despite fluctuations in the supply pressure. The reduction of the inlet pressure to the lower output pressure is the key characteristic of the pressure reducer assembly.

The pressure reducer assembly generally includes a biasing means piston rod and a diaphragm operatively coupled with the piston rod in a pressure reducer chamber. The diaphragm is exposed to the output pressure in the pressure reducer chamber into which fluid is admitted by a valve cooperating with an inlet section of the pressure reducer chamber. The output pressure changes cause diaphragm movement which is transferred to movement of the valve via the biasing means piston rod for maintaining a selected output pressure.

The pressure reducer assembly may be mounted with shut-off irrigation systems or fluid application devices such as syringes, showers, brushing devices or drip irrigation components to reduce the inlet pressure which may approximately range up to <NUM> bar to avoid damage to components, leaks to the nozzle head, uneven spray patterns, among other drawbacks which may result from high fluid pressure. The pressure reducer assembly may limit the high inlet pressure of fluid to a maximum defined output pressure, which may for example be <NUM> bar. However, the mounting of pressure reducer assembly incurs additional cost and space.

In the known pressure reducer assemblies mounted with fluid application devices, the pressure reducer assembly is able to operate in different modes of operation. In a normal mode, the pressure reducer assembly reduces inlet pressure of fluid to maintain a selected lower output pressure. In an off mode, flow of fluid through the pressure reducer assembly is prevented to terminate operation of the fluid application device.

An example of a pressure reducer assembly is provided in European Patent <CIT> (hereinafter referred to as '<NUM> reference). The '<NUM> reference provides a pressure regulator for supplying water to a poultry watering system or the like. The pressure regulator includes a control assembly for operating the pressure regulator in a normal mode, or an off mode. A desired operating pressure is set by loading a diaphragm responsive to output pressure changes. Diaphragm movement is transferred by the control system to a valve member cooperating with an inlet orifice. The control system includes a spring captured in a preloaded state between first and second end members, one connected to the valve member and the other connected to the diaphragm. A knob is rotated from a normal position to an off position and a collar pushes the end members together and pushes the valve member against the inlet orifice.

In view of the above, it is an objective of the present invention to solve or at least reduce the drawbacks discussed above. The objective is at least partially achieved by a pressure reducer assembly for adjustably reducing a pressure of a fluid, preferably a liquid, more preferably water.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the pressure reducer assembly includes a pressure reducer body that defines at least a part of a pressure reducer chamber along a central axis. The pressure reducer chamber includes an inlet section and an outlet section fluidly coupled with the inlet section. The inlet section is configured to allow an inflow of the fluid into the pressure reducer chamber. The outlet section is configured to allow an outflow of the fluid from the pressure reducer chamber. A biasing means piston rod having a center along the central axis connects the inlet section with the outlet section. The piston rod is axially moveable with respect to the pressure reducer body. The pressure reducer assembly is characterized in that the piston rod includes an interaction protrusion. The pressure reducer assembly further includes an adjusting device that includes an actuating part and an adjusting part. The adjusting part is configured to functionally interact with the interaction protrusion such that a maximum axial movement of the piston rod is adjustable by actuating the actuating part, particularly by manually actuating the actuating part.

Thus, the present disclosure provides an improved pressure reducer assembly that may be cost-effective, reliable, and simple in design. The pressure reducer assembly may reliably reduce wide range of fluid pressures at the inlet section of the pressure reducer chamber to an optimum acceptable fluid pressure at the outlet section of the pressure reducer chamber. The pressure reducer assembly may prevent component damage due to unreasonably high inlet fluid pressures in the systems it may be mounted to. The pressure reducer assembly includes the adjusting device that may functionally interact with the piston rod to advantageously adjust the maximum axial movement of the piston rod. The pressure reducer assembly, in addition to reducing the pressure of the inlet fluid, may further advantageously function as a shut-off valve. The adjusting device based on its rotation or linear movement may allow respectively disallow the movement of the fluid through the pressure reducer assembly.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the adjusting device may partially allow the movement of the fluid through the pressure reducer assembly. This may happen when the adjusting device may substantially, but not completely, limit the maximum axial movement of the piston rod. Further, the adjusting device may be geometrically designed to, substantially but not completely, limit or inhibit the maximum axial movement of the piston rod.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the adjusting device may be actuated in an automatic or semi-automatic manner using electronically operated control systems, smart phone applications, or other well-known systems known and commonly used in related art.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the pressure reducer body may be made of brass, plastic, and aluminum. Various grades of stainless steel (such as <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>) may also be used for the manufacture of the pressure reducer body. However, any other material available to handle various fluids and operating environments may be employed for making or manufacturing the pressure reducer body. Further, any suitable manufacturing process may be employed for manufacturing of the pressure reducer body without restricting the scope of the present disclosure.

The pressure reducer chamber includes the inlet section and the outlet section according to the present invention. This may denote that the pressure reducer chamber is defined respectively formed between the inlet section of the pressure reducer assembly and the outlet section of the pressure reducer assembly such that the outlet section and the inlet section are fluidly coupled with each other. Further, the inlet section is configured to allow the inflow of the fluid into the pressure reducer assembly, and the outlet section is configured to allow the outflow of the fluid from the pressure reducer assembly.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the inlet section may be parallel to and respectively aligned with the outlet section. According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention, the inlet section may be non-parallel to and respectively non-aligned with the outlet section. According to a further exemplary embodiment of the invention, the inlet section and the outlet section may be at an offset relative to each other. Additionally, the relative position of the inlet section and the outlet section may depend on application requirements, feasibility constraints, application device design, connecting element design, efficiency, among other factors.

The piston rod includes the interaction protrusion according to the present invention. This may denote that the piston rod includes a surface which may enable transfer of force from the adjusting device to the piston rod and vice-versa along the direction parallel to the direction of the central axis along which the pressure reducer chamber is defined. The presence or absence of this force transfer between the adjusting device and the piston rod may contribute to a regulation of the maximum axial movement of the piston rod.

The maximum axial movement of the piston rod according to the present invention is the maximum permissible movement of the piston rod along a direction which is parallel to the direction of the central axis of the pressure reducer assembly. The maximum axial movement of the piston rod (or the biasing means piston rod) may depend upon a spring length, pressure reducer chamber length, interaction with the adjusting device, among other factors. However, the force transfer from and therefore the interaction with the adjusting device may play a predominant part in adjusting the maximum axial movement of the piston rod. For example, if the force is transferred from the adjusting device to the piston rod, then the piston rod may be inhibited from movement. However, if the force is not transferred from the adjusting device to the piston rod, then the piston rod may achieve maximum axial movement of the piston rod.

The adjusting device according to the present invention is a device that includes the manually actuable actuating part such that upon actuation of the actuating part, the adjusting part of the adjusting device may functionally interact with the interaction protrusion of the piston rod to transfer force to the interaction protrusion and adjust the maximum axial movement of the piston rod.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, an amount of an actuation of the actuating part is directly linked to an amount of a maximum axial movement of the piston rod. In other words, the maximum axial movement of the piston rod may be directly proportional to the amount of actuation of the actuating part. For example, complete actuation of the actuating part may lead to maximum axial movement of the piston rod and no actuation of the actuating part may lead to no axial movement of the piston rod. Thereby, the amount of maximum axial movement may be made easily visible for a user.

According to a further exemplary embodiment of the invention, partial actuation of the actuating part may lead to a limited maximum axial movement of the piston rod. In other words, if the maximum axial movement of the piston rod under complete actuation of the actuating part is say x units, then the maximum axial movement of the piston rod under partial actuation of the actuating part is less than x units and greater than zero or no movement.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the complete, partial or no actuation of the actuating part may lead to complete flow, partial flow or no flow respectively of the fluid from the inlet section of the pressure reducer chamber to the outlet chamber of the pressure reducer chamber. Partial flow of fluid may for example be particularly important when the pressure reducer assembly of the present invention is mounted in sprinkler or garden spray to vary the area, volume, or pattern of the fluid spray.

According to a further exemplary embodiment of the invention, the actuating part may be rotary or translatory such that that the rotary or translatory movement of the actuating part may transfer the force along the direction of the central axis of the pressure reducer chamber from the adjusting device to the interaction protrusion of the piston rod. The rotary or translatory movement of the actuating part may adjust the maximum axial movement of the piston rod along the central axis along which the pressure reducer chamber is defined. Any other possible movement type for the actuating part may be well within the scope of the present invention.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the adjusting device may produce a click sound, when the adjusting part may be positioned such that a force is transferable to the interaction protrusion included with the piston rod. Furthermore, the adjusting device may again produce the click sound, when the adjusting part may be positioned such that it may not transfer force to the interaction protrusion included with the piston rod. Hence, the force transfer between the adjusting device and the piston rod may be easily, reliably or accurately notified to an operator manually operating the actuating part of the adjusting device.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the adjusting part includes a scenery geometry portion. The scenery geometry portion is configured such that, when the scenery geometry portion is functionally interacting with the interaction protrusion, the scenery geometry portion is in contact with the interaction protrusion such that an axial force is introducible from the scenery geometry portion on the interaction protrusion, and the maximum axial movement of the piston rod is adjustable. The scenery geometry portion may be a portion of the adjusting part that may actually functionally interact with the interaction protrusion for axial force transfer between the adjusting device and the piston rod. The scenery geometry portion may functionally interact with the interaction protrusion upon actuation of the actuating part of the adjusting device. The scenery geometry portion may be located below the actuating part of the adjusting device such that the scenery geometry portion and the actuating part of the adjusting device may be functionally coupled with each other. In other words, any movement in the actuating part may be translated to the movement in the scenery geometry portion.

According to a further exemplary embodiment of the invention, the scenery geometry portion may be integrally formed with the actuating part or fixedly or removably coupled to the actuating part after the manufacturing by means of glue, welding, or other well-known bonding techniques.

According to a further exemplary embodiment of the invention, a portion of the scenery geometry portion may be functionally located within the pressure reducer chamber to facilitate better functional interaction with the interaction protrusion. Further, the scenery geometry portion may preferably be formed from a corrosion resistant, high strength, rigid material. The scenery geometry portion may be formed from stainless steel. The material of the scenery geometry portion may be similar or different to the actuating part. The scenery geometry portion may have strength enough to transfer axial force from the adjusting device to the piston rod. The scenery geometry portion may desirably not corrode due to the environment within the pressure reducer chamber.

According to a further exemplary embodiment of the invention, the scenery geometry portion may have a scenery geometrical shape and its size may be adapted dependent on the desired maximum axial movement of the piston rod and dependent on the desired maximum axial movement behavior of the piston rod. Further, the scenery geometry portion remains functional to transfer axial force when the actuating part of the adjusting device is actuated so as to adjust the maximum axial movement of the piston rod.

The axial force according to the present invention is defined as the force transferred between the adjusting part and the interaction protrusion along the direction of the maximum axial movement of the piston rod or along the direction of the central axis of the pressure reducer chamber. As already established, the axial force is introducible from the scenery geometry portion of the adjusting part on the interaction protrusion when the scenery geometry portion is in functional contact with the interaction protrusion.

The functional contact or interaction according to the present invention may substantially always establish a force transfer between the adjusting device and the piston rod.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the adjusting part further includes a stop portion. The stop portion is configured such that, when the stop portion is functionally interacting with the interaction protrusion, the stop portion is in contact with the interaction protrusion such that an axial force is introducible from the stop portion on the interaction protrusion, and the maximum axial movement of the piston rod is substantially inhibited. The scenery geometry portion and the stop portion may form adjacent portions of the adjusting part. A portion of the stop portion is functionally located within the pressure reducer chamber to facilitate optimum interaction with the interaction protrusion. When the maximum axial movement is substantially inhibited, in other words, the piston rod is held in a substantially closed position such that the valve is substantially closed.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the stop portion may have a shape and size corresponding to the interaction protrusion. However, any other geometrical design is within the scope of the present invention as long as the functionality of the stop portion remains intact. In other words, the stop portion irrespective of the geometrical design preference may functionally transfer axial force such that the maximum axial movement of the piston rod is substantially inhibited. Further, the stop portion may be a protrusion or bulged part included adjacent to the scenery geometry portion.

According to a further exemplary embodiment of the invention, the stop portion may be formed from a corrosion resistant, high strength, rigid material. The stop portion may be formed from stainless steel. The material of the stop portion may be similar or different to the remaining portion of the adjusting device respectively the scenery geometry portion. Further, the stop portion may be integrally formed with the scenery geometry portion or fixedly or removably coupled to the scenery geometry portion after the manufacturing by means of glue, welding, or other well-known bonding techniques.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the adjusting part further includes a guide portion. The guide portion is configured such that, when the guide portion is functionally interacting with the interaction protrusion, a contact between the adjusting part and the interaction protrusion is substantially completely disengaged, and the piston rod is substantially contact-free axially movable relative to the guide portion. When the functional interaction between the guide portion and the interaction protrusion may be established, the functional interaction between the stop portion and the interaction protrusion is disengaged to offer minimum or no resistance to a movement of the piston rod. In other words, the piston rod or the interaction protrusion may not experience any inhibiting force in the axial direction from the adjusting device that may otherwise inhibit the maximum axial movement of the piston rod.

According to a further exemplary embodiment of the invention, the guide portion may be formed from a material that may prevent wearing in the interaction protrusion as well as the guide portion.

According to a further exemplary embodiment of the invention, the guide portion may be integrally formed with the scenery geometry portion and/or the stop portion or fixedly or removably coupled to the scenery geometry portion and/or the stop portion after the manufacturing by means of glue, welding, or other well-known bonding techniques.

According to a further exemplary embodiment of the invention, the guide portion may have a geometric shape and size that may enable the functionality of the guide portion to inhibit a contact with the interaction protrusion and to inhibit an introduction of an axial force into the piston rod. Thereby, the overall compactness of the adjusting device may be improved. According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the adjusting device is positioned eccentrically to the central axis. The eccentric positioning of the adjusting device relative to the central axis may allow proper functioning of the components such as the piston rod and others in the pressure reducer chamber to accurately reduce the pressure of the fluid flowing through the pressure reducer chamber while still providing an add-on functionality of the shut-off valve in addition to the conventional pressure reduction function. Additionally, the eccentric positioning may allow a compact design of the pressure reducer assembly with additional functionality.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the actuating part is a rotary knob. Further, the interaction protrusion is formed as a radially extending protrusion extending from an outer surface of the piston rod, in particular about at least half of a circumference of the piston rod, further in particular about substantially an entire circumference of the piston rod. The rotary knob may be ergonomically and intuitively suitable for actuation of the adjusting device. Further, the rotary knob may be easily grabbed by the operator. Further, the rotary knob is simple in construction and simple to actuate even by the operator not skilled in the art.

The interaction protrusion may advantageously be formed around about at least half of the circumference of the piston rod, or about substantially the entire circumference of the piston rod such that if a portion of the interaction protrusion wears out or damages during operation of the pressure reducer assembly or regular interaction with the stop portion or the guide portion, the piston rod may simply be rotated to functionally recruit other portions of the interaction protrusion for interaction with the stop portion or the guide portion which were earlier not in any sort of interaction with the stop portion or the guide portion of the adjusting part. This may potentially avert recurrent maintenance and overhauling of the pressure reducer assembly. Additionally, forming the interaction protrusion around about half of the circumference and not about the entire circumference, weight may be saved and a more lightweight pressure reducer assembly may be provided.

According to a further exemplary embodiment of the invention, the shape and size of the interaction protrusion may be such that the overall design of the pressure reducer assembly remains compact. Further, the interaction protrusion may be able to properly and efficiently interact with the guide portion and/or the stop portion and/or the scenery geometry portion. The interaction protrusion may be formed segmented or a one complete unit as per the application requirement and feasibility.

According to a further exemplary embodiment of the invention, the interaction protrusion may be integrally formed with the piston rod or fixedly or removably coupled to the piston rod after the manufacturing by means of glue, welding, or other well-known bonding techniques. Further, the interaction protrusion may be formed from the corrosion resistant, high strength, rigid material to survive the environment presented to it within the pressure reducer chamber.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the adjusting part is formed such that the scenery geometry portion extends between the guide portion and the stop portion. The guide portion, the scenery geometry portion and the stop portion may be arranged at a free lower end of the adjusting device, wherein the free lower end is the end of the adjusting part opposite to the actuating part, in a manner such that they alternately functionally interact with the interaction protrusion of the piston rod. When the guide portion functionally interacts with the interaction protrusion of the piston rod, the piston rod does not experience any axial force from the adjusting device and hence an axial movement of the piston rod upon the maximum axial movement of the piston rod is possible. Hence, the piston rod may axially move completely free. When the scenery geometry portion or the stop portion functionally interacts with the interaction protrusion of the piston rod, the piston rod experiences an axial force such as to limit the maximum axial movement of the piston rod. Likewise, a maximum flow of fluid from the inlet section of the pressure reducer chamber to the outlet section of the pressure reducer chamber is allowed when the guide portion functionally interacts with the interaction protrusion. Further, a flow of fluid from the inlet section of the pressure reducer chamber to the outlet section of the pressure reducer chamber is limited when the scenery geometry portion functionally interacts with the interaction protrusion and substantially entirely inhibited when the stop portion functionally interacts with the interaction protrusion. Resultantly, the pressure reducer assembly of the present invention provides at the same time the functionality of the conventional pressure reducer and the conventional shut-off valve.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the actuating part is a lever. Further, the interaction protrusion is formed as a stop rib axially extending on an outer surface of the piston rod. The lever may be ergonomically suitable for actuation of the adjusting device. Further, the lever may be easily grabbed by the operator. Further, the lever is simple in construction and simple to actuate even by the operator not skilled in the art. The adjusting device includes a wedge-shaped scenery geometry portion coupled with the lever. The scenery geometry portion may functionally interact with the interaction protrusion. Further, the interaction protrusion functions as the stop rib such that when the stop rib functionally interacts with the wedge-shaped scenery geometry portion of the lever or the actuating part, the maximum axial movement of the piston rod may be inhibited.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the biasing means is a spring element. The spring element is functionally coupled with the piston rod and is configured to allow an axial movement of the piston rod along the central axis. The spring element may initially move from a compressed state to an expanded state when there is no functional interaction between the adjusting part and the interaction protrusion such that the spring element assists in pressure reducing by an axial movement of the piston rod. Further, when the normal working of the pressure reducer assembly is resumed, the spring element may expand and compress due to the pressure differences of the fluid near the outlet section and the inlet section of the pressure reducer assembly. Furthermore, when the operator actuates the actuating part such that the stop portion and the interaction protrusion functionally interact with each other, the spring element is entirely compressed. The spring element may preferably be a compression spring. The compression spring is a standardized component which is cheap and at the same time well approved. Therefore, the pressure reducer assembly may be provided cost-efficient and reliable.

According to a further exemplary embodiment of the invention, the spring element may further be a disc spring, or any other known type of spring commonly used to operate the piston rod. By providing the spring element as a disc spring, the pressure reduce assembly may have a decreased axial extension and a decreased axial receiving space.

According to a further exemplary embodiment of the invention, the spring element may wrap along an outer peripheral surface of the piston rod. In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the biasing means may comprise a plurality of similar spring elements equidistantly positioned adjacent to each other along the outer peripheral surface of the piston rod such that the plurality of spring elements are oriented along the longitudinal direction or along the direction of the central axis of the pressure reducer assembly.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a sealing element is operatively coupled with the piston rod. The sealing element is configured to form a sealing between an inside surface of a fluid outflow device and an outer surface of the piston rod, and in particular the sealing element is a diaphragm. The sealing element may reliably disallow a backflow of fluid past the outlet section of the pressure reducer chamber. Thereby, possible leakages may be eliminated, and the overall efficiency of the pressure reducer assembly may be improved.

By providing the pressure reducer assembly that includes the diaphragm as the sealing element, a compact pressure reducer assembly which requires a small axial mounting area may be providable.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the pressure reducer assembly is configured to generate a constant output pressure of at least <NUM> bar, particularly of at least <NUM> bar, more particularly of substantially <NUM> bar. The constant output pressure may be pre-determined and pre-set during the manufacturing of the pressure reducer assembly according to the application requirements.

The output pressure according to the present invention may be defined as the fluid pressure at the outlet section of the pressure reducer chamber. Further, a supply pressure may be defined as the fluid pressure at the inlet section of the pressure reducer chamber. The pressure reducer assembly functions to reduce the supply pressure to the required output pressure and further maintain the constant output pressure for proper functioning of the system to which it may be mounted.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the pressure reducer assembly includes a valve at the inlet section of the pressure reducer chamber. The valve is configured to selectively allow and disallow a flow of fluid through the pressure reducer assembly. The valve may allow the passage of fluid to the outlet section such as to maintain the constant output pressure of the pressure reducer assembly, when the scenery geometry portion or the guide portion functionally interacts with the interaction protrusion. Alternatively, the valve may disallow the passage of fluid o the outlet section such as to inhibit a fluid flow, when the stop portion functionally interacts with the interaction protrusion. The piston rod may oscillate to momentarily decrease respectively increase the supply of fluid from the inlet section towards the outlet section.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, an irrigation system is provided. The irrigation system includes an above-described pressure reducer assembly. A fluid outflow device is configured to guide an outflow of the fluid from the pressure reducer assembly. The fluid outflow device is particularly a syringe, a shower, a brushing device, a cleaning device, or a drip irrigation component. The pressure reducer assembly is mounted to the fluid outflow device. The fluid outflow device includes a housing with an opening. The adjusting device is fixedly and movably mounted to the housing. The opening includes at least one first rib and the adjusting device includes at least one attachment part configured to mount the adjusting device to the opening, and comprising an end stop such that the first rib and the end stop are configured to interact with each other to limit a movement of the adjusting device relative to the opening. The pressure reducer assembly of the present disclosure may find its application with the irrigation system respectively the fluid outflow device usable for gardening operations. Therefore, a gardening tool may be provided with an increased service life and with which fluid may be spread more evenly. However, the irrigation system respectively the fluid outflow device may be usable for any other industrial or domestic application.

Further, the pressure reducer assembly may be easily, and reliably couplable to the irrigation system respectively the fluid outflow device.

Before discussing the invention with the help of the drawings, the invention will be briefly discussed in general. A pressure reducer assembly may be provided which may be switched on and switched off manually by the actuating part such as button, lever, or the rotary knob. The pressure reducer assembly thus additionally takes over the function of the shut-off valve. Thus, the operator may get two functions such as the pressure reduction function and the shut-off function one integral pressure reducer assembly.

The pressure reducer assembly according the present invention may have integrated shutdown mechanism for manual closing of the fluid supply. The pressure reducer assembly according to the present invention may perform two functions such as that of shut-off and the pressure reduction simultaneously. The pressure reducer assembly according to the present invention may be cost-effective compared to separate manual valve and pressure reducer. The pressure reducer assembly according to the present invention may have quantity control features in the form of the actuating part, which may be the rotary knob, lever, or the button. The pressure reducer assembly according to the present invention may be versatile in its usage. The pressure reducer assembly may be useable with a syringe, a shower, a brushing device, a cleaning devices or a drip irrigation component.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the piston rod may be provided with the interaction protrusion. According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the interaction protrusion may be used to induce the axial force onto the piston rod. According to a further exemplary embodiment of the invention, the axial force on the interaction protrusion may be generated by the scenery geometry on the rotary knob or by lever movement. Further, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the piston rod may be equipped with the diaphragm or a radial lip seal. According to a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the piston rod may be radially sealed by an O-ring. According to a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention, there may be the eccentrically arranged scenery geometry portion on the rotary knob or the lever, which depending upon the position of the rotary knob, or the lever may push the piston rod into an O-ring sealing seat. Additionally, when the piston ring may be pushed into the O-ring sealing seat, the valve may be tight and may disallow the flow of fluid through the pressure reducer assembly.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, when the scenery geometry and the stop rib may not be in intervention, the piston rod and the O-ring may not be in the intervention as well. Additionally, the piston rod may move freely in the axial direction. Additionally, the valve may be open and may consistently allow the flow of fluid through the pressure reducer assembly. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the pressure compensation for the piston rod may take place via the opening in the housing of the fluid outflow device.

Other features and aspects of this invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings.

The invention will be described in more detail with reference to the enclosed drawings, wherein:.

The present invention will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which example embodiments of the invention incorporating one or more aspects of the present invention are shown. For example, one or more aspects of the present invention may be utilized in other embodiments and even other types of structures and/or methods.

Certain terminology is used herein for convenience only and is not to be taken as a limitation on the invention. For example, "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "side", "longitudinal", "lateral", "transverse", "upwards", "downwards", "forward", "backward", "sideward", "left," "right," "horizontal," "vertical," "upward", "inner", "outer", "inward", "outward", "top", "bottom", "higher", "above", "below", "central", "middle", "intermediate", "between", "end", "adjacent", "proximate", "near", "distal", "remote", "radial", "circumferential", or the like, merely describe the configuration shown in the Figures. Indeed, the components may be oriented in any direction and the terminology, therefore, should be understood as encompassing such variations unless specified otherwise.

<FIG> illustrates a pressure reducer assembly <NUM> according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The pressure reducer assembly <NUM> is used for adjustably reducing a pressure of a fluid. The fluid is preferably a liquid, and more preferably water as water is the most frequently used fluid for various applications such as watering of lawns, cleaning, firefighting among others. Thus, in the present disclosure, fluid or liquid may interchangeably be used for water and vice versa.

The pressure reducer assembly <NUM> may be mounted in an irrigation system <NUM>. <FIG> and <FIG> illustrate the irrigation system <NUM> that includes a fluid outflow device <NUM> that comprises the pressure reducer assembly <NUM> and that is embodied as a handheld cleaning device <NUM>. The fluid outflow device <NUM> is configured to guide an outflow of the fluid from the pressure reducer assembly <NUM>. The fluid outflow device <NUM> may be used for providing fluid for various industrial and domestic applications such as, but not limited to, cleaning.

The fluid outflow device <NUM> shown in <FIG> and <FIG> is a handheld cleaning device. <FIG> illustrates a cross-sectional side view of the cleaning device that comprises the pressure reducer assembly <NUM>. <FIG> illustrates a zoomed cross-sectional side view of an encircled portion of the cleaning device that comprises the pressure reducer assembly <NUM>.

The fluid outflow device <NUM> includes a housing <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>. The housing <NUM> includes an inlet port <NUM>. The inlet port <NUM> may receive water for operation from a water source (not shown). The inlet port <NUM> may supply water received from the water source to the pressure reducer assembly <NUM>. The housing <NUM> further includes the outlet port <NUM> which is according to the illustrated embodiment formed as a nipple <NUM>. The outlet port <NUM> may receive water from the pressure reducer assembly <NUM> and may guide the water out of the pressure reducer assembly <NUM> for further applications.

As shown in <FIG>, the outlet port <NUM> includes a sealing protrusion <NUM>. Further, the housing <NUM> includes an inside surface <NUM> and an outside surface <NUM>. The inside surface <NUM> is disposed opposite to the outside surface <NUM>. The inside surface <NUM> includes an axial end face <NUM> and a radial end face <NUM>. The axial end face <NUM> axially supports a pressure reducer body <NUM> of the pressure reducer assembly <NUM>. In other words, the axial end face <NUM> provides a seat for the pressure reducer body <NUM>. The pressure reducer body <NUM> is form-fitted or friction fitted with the inside surface <NUM> of the housing <NUM>. The pressure reducer body <NUM> is quickly and ergonomically mounted to the housing <NUM> because its outer diameter is adjusted to an inner diameter of the housing <NUM> of the fluid outflow device <NUM>. In other words, the pressure reducer body <NUM> is mounted, preferably screw-less mounted, into the housing <NUM> of the fluid outflow device <NUM>.

The pressure reducer body <NUM> of the present disclosure is a cylindrical body having a central axis X-X' along a longitudinal or axial direction of the pressure reducer assembly <NUM>. The pressure reducer body <NUM> includes an outer surface <NUM> and an inner surface <NUM>. The outer surface <NUM> is disposed opposite to the inner surface <NUM>.

A sealing ring <NUM> radially seals the outer surface <NUM> of the pressure reducer body <NUM> and the inside surface <NUM> of the housing <NUM>. The sealing ring <NUM> may prevent leakage of water received via the inlet port <NUM>. The sealing ring <NUM> is positioned in a groove in the outer surface <NUM> of the pressure reducer body <NUM>. The sealing ring <NUM> on its radially outer surface contacts the inside surface <NUM> of the housing <NUM>. The sealing ring <NUM> is sandwiched between the outer surface <NUM> of the pressure reducer body <NUM> and the radial end face <NUM> of the housing <NUM>. The sealing ring <NUM> is firmly pressed in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the central axis X-X' by the housing <NUM> and the pressure reducer body <NUM>. The sealing ring <NUM> is radially pressed between the housing <NUM> and the pressure reducer body <NUM> for sealing. The sealing ring <NUM> may prevent leakage of water received from the water source towards the area of the fluid coupling between the pressure reducer body <NUM> and the housing <NUM> and then further to the external environment.

Further, as shown in <FIG>, in the mounted state, the pressure reducer body <NUM> is completely enclosed by the housing <NUM>. In other words, the pressure reducer body <NUM> is annularly separated from the external environment by the housing <NUM> of the fluid outflow device <NUM>. The pressure reducer body <NUM> defines at least a part of a pressure reducer chamber <NUM> along the central axis X-X'. The inner surface <NUM> of the pressure reducer body <NUM> defines an annular boundary wall for the pressure reducer chamber <NUM>. The pressure reducer chamber <NUM> includes an inlet section <NUM> and an outlet section <NUM> fluidly coupled with the inlet section <NUM>. The inlet section <NUM> is configured to allow an inflow of the fluid into the pressure reducer chamber <NUM>. The outlet section <NUM> is configured to allow an outflow of the fluid from the pressure reducer chamber <NUM>.

The pressure reducer assembly <NUM> includes a valve <NUM>. The valve <NUM> is disposed at the inlet section <NUM> of the pressure reducer chamber <NUM>. The valve <NUM> is configured to selectively allow and disallow a flow of fluid (particularly water) through the pressure reducer assembly <NUM>. The valve <NUM> selectively allows and disallows passage of water via the inlet section <NUM>. The valve <NUM> selectively allows the passage of water to the outlet section <NUM> such as to support maintaining a constant output pressure of the pressure reducer assembly <NUM> and hence the irrigation system <NUM>.

The valve <NUM> may be coupled to the inlet section <NUM> by any suitable means known in the art. However, in an exemplary embodiment , the valve <NUM> is screwed to the inlet section <NUM>. The screw coupling between the valve <NUM> and the inlet section <NUM> may be established by corresponding threads on the one hand on a body structure of the valve <NUM> and on the other hand on the pressure reducer body <NUM>. Alternatively, the screw coupling may be established by screwing the valve <NUM> to an internal thread of the pressure reducer body <NUM> by simultaneously cutting a thread on the body structure of the valve <NUM>. Both may allow a movement of the valve <NUM> relative to the inlet section <NUM> along the longitudinal direction or the direction of central axis X-X' of the pressure reducer assembly <NUM> for example for adjusting purposes. The screw coupling between the valve <NUM> and the inlet section <NUM> allows for movement of the valve <NUM> relative to the inlet section <NUM> along the direction of the central axis X-X'. The movement of the valve <NUM> along the longitudinal direction of the pressure reducer assembly <NUM> may also help in adjusting the constant output pressure generated by the pressure reducer assembly <NUM>. The valve <NUM> further includes a seal <NUM>. The seal <NUM> may be O-ring or any other type of seal generally available in the related art.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the inlet section <NUM> may include a filter element (not shown) located upstream of the valve <NUM>. The valve <NUM> may be located downstream of the filter element in the direction of water flow. The filter element may be operatively coupled to the inlet section <NUM> such that the filter element filters water received from the water source before it enters the pressure reducer chamber <NUM>. The filter element prevents clogging of the inlet section <NUM> and thereby promotes smooth operations of the pressure reducer assembly <NUM> and the irrigation system <NUM>.

With continuous reference to <FIG>, the pressure reducer assembly <NUM> further includes a biasing means piston rod <NUM>. The piston rod <NUM> is a hollow rod allowing passage of water of which the pressure is to be reduced in the pressure reducer assembly <NUM>. The piston rod <NUM> has a center Y along the central axis X-X'. The piston rod <NUM> connects the inlet section <NUM> with the outlet section <NUM>. The piston rod <NUM> allows a fluid, particularly water, to flow from the inlet section <NUM> towards the outlet section <NUM>. The piston rod <NUM> is located downstream of the valve <NUM>. The seal <NUM> radially seals the piston rod <NUM>. The piston rod <NUM> includes an inner surface <NUM> and an outer surface <NUM>. The inner surface <NUM> is in touch with the water flowing through the piston rod <NUM> whereas the outer surface <NUM> faces the pressure reducer chamber <NUM> and/or the inside surface <NUM> of the housing <NUM>.

A spring element <NUM> is the biasing means of the piston rod <NUM>. The spring element <NUM> is functionally coupled with the piston rod <NUM> and is configured to allow an axial movement of the piston rod <NUM> along the central axis X-X'. The spring element <NUM> may provide enough spring force to operate the piston rod <NUM>. The spring element <NUM> may have length enough to generate strength to operate the piston rod <NUM>. The spring element <NUM> may not have strength more than what is required to operate the piston rod <NUM> as the greater strength of the spring element <NUM> leads to greater installation space of the spring element <NUM> and thus an unnecessary increase in size of the pressure reducer assembly <NUM>. The spring element <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>, is a compression spring.

Further, the piston rod <NUM> may be concentric with the pressure reducer body <NUM> or the pressure reducer chamber <NUM>. It should be emphasized that the piston rod <NUM> may alternatively have any other orientation relative to the earlier defined central axis X-X' in accordance with the operational feasibility of the pressure reducer assembly <NUM>. The piston rod <NUM> of the present disclosure is axially moveable with respect to the pressure reducer body <NUM>. The piston rod <NUM> is configured to oscillate back and forth substantially within the pressure reducer chamber <NUM>. The piston rod <NUM> oscillates to momentarily block the supply of water from the inlet section <NUM> towards the outlet section <NUM>. The back-and-forth motion of the piston rod <NUM> is due to differential force experienced by the piston rod <NUM>. The piston rod <NUM> is forced to exhibit a downward stroke i.e., towards the inlet section <NUM> when the pressure at the outlet section <NUM> is larger than a predefined/preset constant output pressure. In other words, when the pressure at the outlet section <NUM> is more than required for the application for which the pressure reducer assembly <NUM> is intended for use. Further, the piston rod <NUM> exhibits an upward stroke i.e., towards the outlet section <NUM> when the pressure at the outlet section <NUM> is smaller than a predefined/preset constant output pressure. In other words, when the pressure at the outlet section <NUM> is less than the pressure required for the application for which the pressure reducer assembly <NUM> is intended for use.

Further, according to the present invention, water in the outlet section <NUM> is prevented from leaking back to the pressure reducer chamber <NUM> by a sealing element <NUM> operatively coupled with the piston rod <NUM>. The sealing element <NUM> is configured to form a sealing a between the inside surface <NUM> of the fluid outflow device <NUM> and the outer surface <NUM> of the piston rod <NUM>. The sealing element <NUM> disallows a backflow of water past the outlet section <NUM>, thereby eliminating any possible leakage and improving the overall efficiency of the pressure reducer assembly <NUM> installed in the fluid outflow device <NUM>.

Further, as shown in <FIG>, the sealing element <NUM> is a diaphragm <NUM>. By providing the pressure reducer assembly <NUM> that includes the diaphragm <NUM> as the sealing element <NUM>, a compact pressure reducer assembly <NUM> which requires a small axial mounting area may be providable. For the purpose of the present disclosure, the sealing element <NUM> is now interchangeably written as the diaphragm <NUM>. The diaphragm <NUM> communicates an excess water pressure at the outlet section <NUM> to the piston rod <NUM> for downward stroke of the piston rod <NUM>.

The diaphragm <NUM> allows the sealing between the inside surface <NUM> of the fluid outflow device <NUM> and the outer surface <NUM> of the piston rod <NUM>. The multiple usage or application of the diaphragm <NUM> means no separate sealing elements such as O-rings are required for the sealing. The diaphragm <NUM> provides an axial sealing between the outer surface <NUM> of the piston rod <NUM> and the radial sealing protrusion <NUM> of the outlet port <NUM>.

As may be seen in <FIG>, a radial outer part of the diaphragm <NUM> is axially sealed by clamping it between an axial outlet end face <NUM> of the pressure reducer body <NUM> and the radial sealing protrusion <NUM> of the outlet port <NUM>. Thereby, the diaphragm <NUM> is securely held in place. In other words, an outer periphery of the diaphragm <NUM> is pressed or sandwiched by the pressure reducer body <NUM> and the nipple <NUM>. Furthermore, an inner periphery of the diaphragm <NUM> is supported or sandwiched by a plurality of annular protrusions 132A, 132B formed on the outer surface <NUM> of the piston rod <NUM>. The diaphragm <NUM> is well supported and stable against pressure differences in the pressure reducer chamber <NUM>. The diaphragm <NUM> is prevented from any slippage or misplacement in the pressure reducer assembly <NUM> by virtue of the piston rod <NUM>, the pressure reducer body <NUM>, the housing <NUM> and the nipple <NUM>.

Referring to the differential force experienced by the piston rod <NUM>. The force experienced by the piston rod <NUM> is caused by the spring element <NUM> and the sealing element <NUM> operatively coupled with the piston rod <NUM> in the pressure reducer chamber <NUM>. The direction of motion of the piston rod <NUM> at any particular time instant is governed by the direction of net force generated upon the piston rod <NUM> by the spring force caused by the spring element <NUM> and the fluid pressure force on the sealing element<NUM>. For example, the piston rod <NUM> moves in upstream direction (as shown in <FIG>) when the net force is in upstream direction due to higher amount of force generated by the fluid acting on the surface of the sealing element <NUM> relative to the spring force, particularly the restoring force, generated by the spring element <NUM>. The upstream direction may be defined as the direction which is opposite to the direction of flow of water.

The constant output pressure generated by the pressure reducer assembly <NUM> may be adjusted by varying an initial distance or an initial gap between the piston rod <NUM>, the valve <NUM> and the seal <NUM> during the manufacturing of the pressure reducer assembly <NUM> or just before mounting the pressure reducer assembly <NUM> to the housing <NUM> of the fluid outflow device <NUM>. For example, the constant output pressure may be pre-determined and preset during the manufacturing of the pressure reducer assembly <NUM> according to the application requirements of the fluid outflow device <NUM> to which the pressure reducer assembly <NUM> is mounted. The pressure reducer assembly <NUM> is configured to generate a constant output pressure of at least <NUM> bar, particularly of at least <NUM> bar, more particularly of substantially <NUM> bar. Some applications may demand the constant output pressure of <NUM> bar while other applications such as drip heads and spray nozzles used for gardening operations may demand the constant output pressure of <NUM> bar.

Accordingly, the stiffness of the used spring element <NUM> is chosen dependent on the desired constant output pressure. Particularly, using a spring element <NUM> having a hard spring stiffness may result in a constant high output pressure, e.g., <NUM> bar. On the other hand, using a spring element <NUM> having a soft spring stiffness may result in a constant low output pressure, e.g., <NUM> bar. By increasing the initial distance or the initial gap between the piston rod <NUM>, the valve <NUM> and the seal <NUM> a constant output pressure of <NUM> bar may be generated, while by comparatively reducing it, a constant output pressure of <NUM> bar may be generated.

Further, as shown in <FIG>, the pressure reducer assembly <NUM> includes the pressure reducer body <NUM> which further includes the pressure reducer chamber <NUM>. The pressure reducer chamber <NUM> requires a pressure compensation feature to ensure unrestricted mobility of the piston rod <NUM>. The pressure compensation feature is provided by an opening <NUM> (as shown in <FIG>) provided with the housing <NUM>. The opening <NUM> allows release of air pressure generated in the pressure reducer chamber <NUM> when the piston rod <NUM> moves in an upstream direction seen in a flow direction of the fluid through the pressure reducer assembly <NUM>. The opening <NUM> allows air to flow out of the pressure reducer chamber <NUM> when the piston rod <NUM> moves in the upstream direction (as shown in <FIG>). Conversely, the opening <NUM> allows suction of surrounding air (external to the pressure reducer assembly <NUM>) when the piston rod <NUM> moves in a downstream direction seen in a flow direction of the fluid through the pressure reducer assembly <NUM> (as shown in <FIG>). However, the sealing element <NUM> may prevent ingress of air in the outlet section <NUM>, thereby preventing mixing of air drawn-in from the opening <NUM>, with water.

The pressure reducer assembly <NUM> in addition to the pressure reduction of the water flowing from the inlet section <NUM> to the outlet section <NUM> is advantageously capable of functioning as a shut-off valve. Hence, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the piston rod <NUM> of the pressure reducer assembly <NUM> includes an interaction protrusion <NUM>. The pressure reducer assembly <NUM> further includes an adjusting device <NUM>. The adjusting device <NUM> is positioned eccentrically to the central axis X-X'. The eccentric positioning of the adjusting device <NUM> relative to the central axis X-X' may allow proper functioning of the components such as the piston rod <NUM> and others in the pressure reducer chamber <NUM> to accurately reduce the pressure of the fluid flowing through the pressure reducer chamber <NUM> while still providing an add-on functionality of the shut-off valve in addition to the conventional pressure reduction function.

Further, the pressure reducer assembly of <FIG> is similar in construction or design to the pressure reducer assembly of <FIG>. Further, <FIG> and <FIG> illustrates the adjusting device <NUM> eccentrically positioned to the central axis X-X' along an axis Z-Z' which may be substantially perpendicular to the central axis X-X'. The adjusting device <NUM> includes an actuating part <NUM> and an adjusting part <NUM>. The actuating part <NUM> and the adjusting part <NUM> are functionally coupled to each other such that any movement in the actuating part <NUM> translates into the movement in the adjusting part <NUM>. The adjusting part <NUM> is configured to functionally interact with the interaction protrusion <NUM> such that a maximum axial movement of the piston rod <NUM> is adjustable by actuating the actuating part <NUM>, particularly by manually actuating the actuating part <NUM>. Further, an amount of an actuation of the actuating part <NUM> is directly linked to an amount of a maximum axial movement of the piston rod <NUM>. In other words, the maximum axial movement of the piston rod <NUM> may be directly proportional to the amount of actuation of the actuating part <NUM>. For example, complete actuation of the actuating part <NUM> may lead to maximum axial movement of the piston rod <NUM> and no actuation of the actuating part <NUM> may lead to no axial movement of the piston rod <NUM>.

<FIG> shows the piston rod <NUM> with maximum axial movement whereas <FIG> shows the piston rod <NUM> with no axial movement. The position of the maximum axial movement of the piston rod <NUM> is denoted by "P1". Further, the position of the piston rod <NUM> with no axial movement is denoted by "P2". When the piston rod <NUM> is in position "P2", flow of water from the inlet section <NUM> to the outlet section <NUM> is inhibited. Further, when the piston rod <NUM> is in position "P1", water flows from the inlet section <NUM> to the outlet section <NUM>. Additionally, water flows from the inlet section <NUM> to the outlet section <NUM> when the piston rod <NUM> is in any position between the position "P1" and the position"P2" which is different from the position "P2".

As illustrated in <FIG>, the actuating part <NUM> is a rotary knob <NUM>. The rotary knob <NUM> may be ergonomically suitable for actuation of the adjusting device <NUM>. Further, the rotary knob <NUM> may be easily grabbed by the operator. Further, the rotary knob <NUM> is simple in construction and simple to actuate even by the operator not skilled in the art.

Further, as illustrated in <FIG>, the interaction protrusion <NUM> is formed as a radially extending protrusion extending from the outer surface <NUM> of the piston rod <NUM>. The interaction protrusion <NUM> extends in particular about at least half of a circumference of the piston rod <NUM>, further in particular about substantially an entire circumference of the piston rod <NUM>. If a portion of the interaction protrusion <NUM> wears out or damages during operation of the pressure reducer assembly <NUM>, the piston rod <NUM> may simply be rotated to functionally recruit other portions of the interaction protrusion <NUM> for interaction with the adjusting part <NUM> which were earlier not in any sort of interaction with the adjusting part. This may potentially avert recurrent maintenance and overhauling of the pressure reducer assembly <NUM>.

With continuous reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, the adjusting part <NUM> includes a scenery geometry portion <NUM>. The scenery geometry portion <NUM> is configured such that, when the scenery geometry portion <NUM> is functionally interacting with the interaction protrusion <NUM>, the scenery geometry portion <NUM> is in contact with the interaction protrusion <NUM> such that an axial force is introducible from the scenery geometry portion <NUM> on the interaction protrusion <NUM>, and the maximum axial movement of the piston rod <NUM> is adjustable. The scenery geometry portion <NUM> may be a portion of the adjusting part <NUM> that may actually functionally interact with the interaction protrusion <NUM> for axial force transfer between the adjusting device <NUM> and the piston rod <NUM>.

The scenery geometry portion <NUM> may functionally interact with the interaction protrusion <NUM> upon actuation of the actuating part <NUM> of the adjusting device <NUM>. When the scenery geometry portion <NUM> functionally interacts with the interaction protrusion <NUM>, the piston rod <NUM> moves to position "P2". The scenery geometry portion <NUM> is located below the actuating part <NUM> of the adjusting device <NUM> such that the scenery geometry portion <NUM> and the actuating part <NUM> of the adjusting device <NUM> may be functionally coupled with each other. In other words, any movement in the actuating part <NUM> may be translated to the movement in the scenery geometry portion <NUM>.

The adjusting part <NUM> further includes a stop portion <NUM>. The stop portion <NUM> is configured such that, when the stop portion <NUM> is functionally interacting with the interaction protrusion <NUM>, the stop portion <NUM> is in contact with the interaction protrusion <NUM> such that the axial force is introducible from the stop portion <NUM> on the interaction protrusion <NUM>, and the maximum axial movement of the piston rod <NUM> is substantially inhibited.

Additionally, the adjusting part <NUM> comprises at least two, preferably four (as illustrated in <FIG>), bearing ribs <NUM>. Each of the bearing ribs <NUM> extend along a main extension of the adjusting part <NUM> and parallel to the axis Z-Z'. The four bearing ribs <NUM> are arranged with a spacing of substantially <NUM>° between two adjacent bearing ribs <NUM>. Hence, the four bearing ribs <NUM> are evenly spaced from each other. The bearing ribs <NUM> are configured and are used for concentric bearing of the adjusting device <NUM> in the opening <NUM>.

With continuous reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, the adjusting part <NUM> further includes a guide portion <NUM>. The guide portion <NUM> is configured such that, when the guide portion <NUM> is functionally interacting with the interaction protrusion <NUM>, a contact between the adjusting part <NUM> and the interaction protrusion <NUM> is disengaged, and the piston rod <NUM> is substantially contact-free axially movable relative to the guide portion <NUM>.

The guide portion <NUM> may comprise two sub guide portions <NUM> arranged uniformly spaced by <NUM>° from each other on the adjusting device <NUM> to allow a free axial movement of the piston rod <NUM>. The two sub guide portions <NUM> may be cubical or cuboidal in shape.

Further, the adjusting device <NUM> comprises the adjusting part <NUM> and the actuating part <NUM>. The adjusting part <NUM> comprises the guide portion <NUM>, the scenery geometry portion <NUM> and the stop portion <NUM>, wherein the scenery geometry portion <NUM> extends between the stop portion <NUM> and the guide portion <NUM>. The guide portion <NUM>, the scenery geometry portion <NUM>, and the stop portion <NUM> may be arranged in such a manner that they alternatively functionally interact with the interaction protrusion <NUM> of the piston rod <NUM>. When the guide portion <NUM> functionally interacts with the interaction protrusion <NUM> of the piston rod <NUM>, then the piston rod <NUM> does not experience any axial force from the adjusting device <NUM> and hence the maximum axial movement of the piston rod <NUM> is completely free until its end defined by constraints of the construction of the pressure reducer assembly <NUM>. However, when the scenery geometry portion <NUM> functionally interacts with the interaction protrusion <NUM> of the piston rod <NUM>, then the piston rod <NUM> experiences the axial force such as to adjust the maximum axial movement of the piston rod <NUM> to a desired value in-between a zero maximum axial movement and a completely free maximum axial movement until its end defined by constraints of the construction of the pressure reducer assembly <NUM>.

Because of its arrangement on the adjusting part <NUM>, , the scenery geometry portion <NUM> lags behind the guide portion <NUM> in the upstream direction of the fluid flow when the guide portion <NUM> functionally interacts with the pressure reducer body <NUM> (as shown in <FIG>). Thus, the piston rod <NUM> does not encounter any axial force that may inhibit the free axial movement of the piston rod <NUM>.

Further, as illustrated in <FIG>, the flow of fluid from the inlet section <NUM> of the pressure reducer chamber <NUM> to the outlet section <NUM> of the pressure reducer chamber <NUM> is allowed when the guide portion <NUM> functionally interacts with the interaction protrusion <NUM>. Further, a flow of fluid from the inlet section <NUM> of the pressure reducer chamber <NUM> to the outlet section <NUM> of the pressure reducer chamber <NUM> is allowed when the scenery geometry portion <NUM> functionally interacts with the interaction protrusion <NUM>. In contrast, as illustrated in <FIG>, a flow of fluid from the inlet section <NUM> of the pressure reducer chamber <NUM> to the outlet section <NUM> of the pressure reducer chamber <NUM> is disallowed respectively inhibited when the stop portion <NUM> functionally interacts with the interaction protrusion <NUM>. Resultantly, the pressure reducer assembly <NUM> of the present invention provides the functionality of the conventional pressure reducer and the conventional shut-off valve.

<FIG> illustrates a side perspective view of the housing <NUM> and the adjusting device <NUM> in a disassembled state. The housing <NUM> includes the opening <NUM>. The opening <NUM> is a cylindrical opening. The adjusting device <NUM> is fixedly and movably mounted to the housing <NUM>. The adjusting device <NUM> is rotatably mounted to the housing <NUM>. The adjusting part <NUM> of the adjusting device <NUM> that includes the scenery geometry portion <NUM>, the guide portion <NUM> and the stop portion <NUM> is completely enclosed by the opening <NUM> in an assembled state. The adjusting part <NUM> is not visible to the operator when the adjusting device <NUM> is mounted to the housing <NUM>.

The opening <NUM> includes two first ribs <NUM> and the adjusting device <NUM> includes two attachment parts <NUM>, wherein the attachment parts <NUM> are configured to mount the adjusting device <NUM> to the opening <NUM>, and wherein each of the two attachment parts <NUM> comprises an end stop <NUM>. The first rib <NUM> and the end stop <NUM> are configured to interact with each other to limit a rotational movement of the adjusting device <NUM> relative to the opening <NUM>. The two first ribs <NUM> are spaced apart from each other by <NUM>°. The two attachment parts <NUM> are positioned opposite to each other. In other words, the two attachment parts <NUM> are arranged on two different sides of the axis Z-Z'.

The at least one first rib <NUM> radially project from the outer surface of the opening <NUM>. Further, the at least one first rib <NUM> extend along the length of the opening <NUM> along a direction parallel to the axis Z-Z'. The at least one attachment part <NUM> and the at least one stop end <NUM> extends in a downward direction from the outer periphery <NUM> of the adjusting device <NUM>. The at least one attachment part <NUM> and the at least one end stop <NUM> extend along the axis Z-Z'. The at least one attachment part <NUM> is an hook-shaped part with a seating protrusion <NUM> at the lower end which is the end spaced apart from the outer periphery <NUM>, and the respective end stop <NUM> at each of two circular end faces.

When the adjusting device <NUM> is mounted to the housing <NUM> and the fluid outflow device <NUM>, the seating protrusion <NUM> geometrically interact with an outer housing of the fluid outflow device <NUM> such that the adjusting device is movably fixed to the outer housing of the fluid outflow device <NUM>.

Further, the interaction of the end stops <NUM> and the two first ribs <NUM> allows that each of the two attachment parts <NUM> rotates between two first ribs <NUM>. Further, the interaction between the two first ribs <NUM> and the end stops <NUM> allow a <NUM>° turn of the rotary knob <NUM> which corresponds to a movement between a completely open position and a completely closed position of the pressure reducer assembly <NUM>.

Further, the opening <NUM> comprises an engaging section <NUM> which extends in the circumferential direction between the two attachment parts <NUM>. The engaging section <NUM> comprises a plurality of protrusions and indentions which are formed adjacent to each other. The plurality of protrusions and indentations are formed in a substantial zigzag shape and each extend parallel to the axis Z-Z'. The engaging section <NUM> is configured to interact with a latch nose <NUM> (shown in <FIG> and <FIG>) to ensure an angular position of the adjusting device <NUM> relative to the opening <NUM>. Alternatively, ensuring the angular position of the adjusting device <NUM> relative to the opening <NUM> and therefore the housing <NUM> may be performed by using an O-ring instead of the engaging section <NUM> and the latch nose <NUM>.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the fluid outflow device <NUM> shown in <FIG> and <FIG> is a shower. The shower <NUM> mounts the pressure reducer assembly <NUM>. The pressure reducer assembly <NUM> is mounted in the shower of the irrigation system <NUM>. The pressure reducer assembly <NUM> mounted in the shower and shown in <FIG> and <FIG> also includes a similar pressure reducer chamber <NUM> and the associated components as with the pressure reducer assembly <NUM> mounted in the cleaning device as shown in <FIG> and <FIG> along the central axis X-X'. However, contrary to the diaphragm <NUM> as the sealing element <NUM> shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the pressure reducer assembly <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG> includes the radial lip <NUM> as the sealing element <NUM>. Further, the shower includes a nipple <NUM> that functions as the inlet port <NUM>. Further, the nipple <NUM> includes an O-ring <NUM> for fluid tight coupling with a water connection such as a hose (not shown in <FIG> and <FIG>). The nipple <NUM> is threadedly engaged to the inside surface <NUM> of the shower respectively the fluid outflow device <NUM>.

The pressure reducer assembly <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG> in addition to the pressure reduction of the water is further advantageously capable of functioning as a shut-off valve. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the piston rod <NUM> of the pressure reducer assembly <NUM> includes the interaction protrusion <NUM>. The pressure reducer assembly <NUM> further includes the adjusting device <NUM>. The adjusting device <NUM> is positioned eccentrically to the central axis X-X'. The eccentric positioning of the adjusting device <NUM> relative to the central axis X-X' may allow proper functioning of the components such as the piston rod <NUM> and others in the pressure reducer chamber <NUM> to accurately reduce the pressure of the fluid flowing through the pressure reducer assembly <NUM> while still providing an add-on functionality of the shut-off valve in addition to the conventional pressure reduction function.

The adjusting device <NUM> includes the actuating part <NUM> and the adjusting part <NUM>. The actuating part <NUM> and the adjusting part <NUM> are functionally coupled to each other such that any movement in the actuating part <NUM> translates into a movement in the adjusting part <NUM>. The adjusting part <NUM> is configured to functionally interact with the interaction protrusion <NUM> such that the maximum axial movement of the piston rod <NUM> is adjustable by actuating the actuating part <NUM>, particularly by manually actuating the actuating part <NUM>. Further, the amount of the actuation of the actuating part <NUM> is directly linked to the amount of the maximum axial movement of the piston rod <NUM>. In other words, the maximum axial movement of the piston rod <NUM> may be directly proportional to the amount of actuation of the actuating part <NUM>. For example, complete actuation of the actuating part <NUM>, particularly by a90° turn, may lead to completely free axial movement of the piston rod <NUM> and no actuation of the actuating part <NUM> may lead to an inhibited axial movement of the piston rod <NUM>.

<FIG> shows the piston rod <NUM> with maximum axial movement limited by an interaction of the scenery geometry portion <NUM> with the interaction protrusion <NUM>. This is denoted as position "P3" in the following. <FIG> shows the piston rod <NUM> in position "P2", wherein the interaction protrusion <NUM> functionally interacts with the stop portion <NUM> such that no axial movement of the piston rod <NUM> is possible. In other words, such that the axial movement of the piston rod <NUM> is inhibited. When the piston rod <NUM> is in position "P2", a flow of water through the pressure reducer chamber <NUM> is substantially entirely inhibited. Further, when the piston rod <NUM> is in position "P3", a flow of water through the pressure reducer chamber <NUM> is allowed.

Further, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the actuating part <NUM> is a lever <NUM>. The lever <NUM> may be ergonomically suitable for actuation of the adjusting device <NUM>. Further, the lever <NUM> may be easily grabbed by the operator. Further, the lever <NUM> is simple in construction and simple to actuate even by the operator not skilled in the art.

Further, the interaction protrusion <NUM> is formed as a stop rib <NUM> axially extending on the outer surface <NUM> of the piston rod <NUM>. The adjusting device <NUM> includes a wedge-shaped scenery geometry portion <NUM> coupled with/formed on the lever <NUM>. The scenery geometry portion <NUM> may functionally interact with the interaction protrusion <NUM> such that when the stop rib <NUM> functionally interacts with the scenery geometry portion <NUM> of the lever <NUM>, the maximum axial movement of the piston rod <NUM> is individually adjustable.

The scenery geometry portion <NUM> is part of the adjusting part <NUM> of the adjusting device <NUM>. The adjusting part <NUM> further includes the stop portion <NUM> as well as the guide portion <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the scenery geometry portion <NUM> extends between the stop portion <NUM> and the guide portion <NUM>. The stop portion <NUM> is configured such that, when the stop portion <NUM> is functionally interacting with the interaction protrusion <NUM>, the stop portion <NUM> is in contact with the interaction protrusion <NUM> such that the axial force is introducible from the stop portion <NUM> on the interaction protrusion <NUM>, and the maximum axial movement of the piston rod <NUM> is substantially inhibited.

Further, the adjusting part <NUM> further includes the guide portion <NUM>. The guide portion <NUM> is configured such that, when the guide portion <NUM> is functionally interacting with the interaction protrusion <NUM>, contact between the adjusting part <NUM> and the interaction protrusion <NUM> is disengaged, and the piston rod <NUM> is substantially contact-free axially movable relative to the guide portion <NUM>.

Further, a flow of fluid through the pressure reducer chamber <NUM> is allowed when the guide portion <NUM> or the scenery geometry portion <NUM> functionally interacts with the interaction protrusion <NUM>. Further, a flow of fluid through the pressure reducer chamber <NUM> is disallowed or inhibited when the stop portion <NUM> functionally interacts with the interaction protrusion <NUM>. Resultantly, the pressure reducer assembly <NUM> of the present invention provides at the same time in one assembly the functionality of a pressure reducer and a shut-off valve.

During operation, the operator of the fluid application assembly <NUM> presses the lever <NUM> or rotates the rotary knob <NUM> from a switched off position of the pressure reducer assembly <NUM>, also referred to as position "P2", to a plurality of switched-on positions of the pressure reducer assembly <NUM>, also referred to as position "P1" and position "P3". In the switched-off position "P2", the pressure reduction and the water flow features are stopped. In the plurality of switched-on positions, particularly position "P1" and position "P3", the pressure reduction feature is on and a water flow through the pressure reducer chamber <NUM> is also allowed. The spring element <NUM> may initially move from a compressed state, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, to a more expanded state as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>. Further, during operation of the pressure reducer assembly <NUM>, the spring element <NUM> may expand and compress due to the already discussed differential pressure in the pressure reducer chamber <NUM> and the water flow is momentarily decreased and increased from time to time. Furthermore, when the operator actuates the actuating part <NUM>, <NUM> such that the scenery geometry portion <NUM> and the interaction protrusion <NUM> functionally interact with each other, the spring element <NUM> may not extend to its maximum extension.

<FIG> illustrates a perspective view of a adjusting device <NUM>. The adjusting device <NUM> comprises four bearing ribs <NUM> of which three are shown in <FIG>, two guide portions <NUM> spaced apart from each other by <NUM>°, two stop portions <NUM> spaced apart from each other by <NUM>° and spaced apart from the two guide portions <NUM> by <NUM>°, and four scenery geometry portions <NUM> each extending between a guide portion <NUM> and an adjacent stop portion <NUM>. Two of the four bearing ribs <NUM> are each formed in extension of a respective one of the two guide portions <NUM> and the other two bearing ribs <NUM> are each formed in extension of a respective one of the two stop portions <NUM>.

The stop portion <NUM> comprises a stop width <NUM> which is configured to ensure that when the stop portion <NUM> is functionally interacting with the interaction protrusion <NUM>, an axial movement of the piston rod <NUM> is inhibited. Further, the guide portion <NUM> comprises a guide width <NUM> which is configured to ensure that, when the guide portion <NUM> is functionally interacting with the interaction protrusion <NUM>, the piston rod <NUM> may completely freely axially move with respect to the adjusting device <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the guide width <NUM> is smaller than the stop width <NUM>. The guide width <NUM> corresponds to the length between the axis Z-Z' and an outer surface of the guide portion <NUM>. The stop width <NUM> corresponds to the length between the axis Z-Z' and the stop portion <NUM>.

Further, the adjusting device <NUM> comprises two latch noses <NUM>. Each of the two latch noses <NUM> is formed on an inner surface of the respective one of the two attachment parts <NUM>. The latch nose <NUM> is configured to engage with one of the indentions of the engaging section <NUM> (shown in <FIG>) for fixing an angular position of the adjusting device <NUM> relative to the housing <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a further cross-sectional side view of a pressure reducer assembly <NUM> during mounting to a housing <NUM>, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present enclosure. During mounting of the pressure reducer assembly <NUM> to the housing <NUM>, the piston rod <NUM> is inserted in a direction of fluid flow, hence towards the outlet section <NUM> of the pressure reducer chamber <NUM> until an axial end <NUM> of the piston rod <NUM> abuts against an axial end stop structure <NUM>. The axial end stop structure <NUM> is formed and configured to determine an axial position of the piston rod <NUM>. Further, in the determined axial position, the adjusting device <NUM> may be inserted into the opening <NUM>, wherein the interaction protrusion <NUM> is in an axial position such that the guide portion <NUM> may pass the interaction protrusion <NUM> without interaction with the interaction protrusion <NUM> (shown in <FIG> by the dashed line) during a movement in a direction parallel to the axis Z-Z' (shown in <FIG> by the downward pointing arrow). In contrast, as illustrated in <FIG>, when the stop portion <NUM> functionally interacts with the interaction protrusion <NUM>, the axial end <NUM> of the piston rod <NUM> is not in contact with the axial end stop structure <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a side view of a pressure reducer assembly <NUM> mounted to a housing <NUM> in a position in which the guide potion <NUM> functionally interacts with the interaction protrusion <NUM> and therefore, the piston rod <NUM> may freely axially move.

<FIG> illustrates the pressure reducer assembly <NUM> mounted to the housing <NUM> of <FIG> in a cross-section along A-A. Each of the two first ribs <NUM> is in contact with a respective one of the two end stops <NUM>. Thereby, a further rotational movement in the circumferential direction of the adjusting device <NUM> is inhibited. Further, the two latch noses <NUM> each engage with a respective indention of one of the engaging sections <NUM>. Thereby, the angular position of the adjusting device <NUM> relative to the housing <NUM> is defined and is kept also during using the fluid outflow device <NUM>.

Therefore, the pressure reducer assembly <NUM> has a cost-efficient design, which is at the same time less error-prone due to less complex parts. Further, there is provision for quantity control via the rotary knob <NUM> or lever <NUM>. Further, the pressure reducer assembly <NUM> has versatile applications for example in showers and cleaning devices.

Thus, the present disclosure provides an improved pressure reducer assembly <NUM> that may be cost-effective, reliable, and simple in design. The pressure reducer assembly <NUM> includes the adjusting device <NUM> that may functionally interact with the piston rod <NUM> to advantageously adjust the maximum axial movement of the piston rod <NUM>. The pressure reducer assembly <NUM> may at the same time reduce the pressure of the inlet fluid as well as function as a shut-off valve. The adjusting device <NUM> based on its rotation or linear movement may either allow or disallow the movement of the fluid through the pressure reducer assembly <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A pressure reducer assembly (<NUM>) for adjustably reducing a pressure of a fluid, preferably a liquid, more preferably water, comprising:
a pressure reducer body (<NUM>) defining at least a part of a pressure reducer chamber (<NUM>) along a central axis (X-X'), wherein the pressure reducer chamber (<NUM>) comprises an inlet section (<NUM>) and an outlet section (<NUM>) fluidly coupled with the inlet section (<NUM>), wherein the inlet section (<NUM>) is configured to allow an inflow of the fluid into the pressure reducer chamber (<NUM>), and wherein the outlet section (<NUM>) is configured to allow an outflow of the fluid from the pressure reducer chamber (<NUM>),
a biasing means piston rod (<NUM>) having a center (Y) along the central axis (X-X'), connecting the inlet section (<NUM>) with the outlet section (<NUM>), and being axially moveable with respect to the pressure reducer body (<NUM>),
characterized in that:
the piston rod (<NUM>) comprises an interaction protrusion (<NUM>),
the pressure reducer assembly (<NUM>) further comprises an adjusting device (<NUM>) comprising an actuating part (<NUM>, <NUM>) and an adjusting part (<NUM>),
wherein the adjusting part (<NUM>) is configured to functionally interact with the interaction protrusion (<NUM>) such that a maximum axial movement of the piston rod (<NUM>) is adjustable by actuating the actuating part (<NUM>), particularly by manually actuating the actuating part (<NUM>).