Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a device for mixing mixable and unmixable liquids and/or for producing emulsions. 
     In particular for household purposes, agents for personal hygiene, beverages made of concentrates, cleaning agents and other liquids which must be mixed intensively, must be obtained readily mixed. In particular the production of cosmetic products can hardly be realized in a household, as homogeneous emulsions must be produced for this purpose. Finished cosmetic products contain a number of chemical substances and emulsifiers which provide for a long durability of the cosmetic. For people with sensitive skin, however, these chemical additives often are not good. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Therefore, it is the object of the present invention to provide a device also usable for household purposes, which can be connected to a pressure-operated fitting and admixes a second liquid to the liquid flowing out of the pressure system, preferably drinking water from the domestic water conduit. 
     This object is solved by a device with a combination of features herein. There is created a device for mixing mixable and unmixable liquids and/or for producing an emulsion, which includes a first connection to a pressure-operated system and a second connection for supplying the liquid to be admixed such that the liquid to be admixed is sucked in by the flow of the pressurized liquid. Particularly designed embodiments of the invention can be taken from the sub-claims following the main claim. 
     The device in accordance with the invention can be useful in the shower or bath tub or on a hand wash basin, in that it admixes oil or concentrates to the shower water or bath water or hand wash water. The device can also be used for producing beverages from juice concentrates and beverage base materials. For this purpose, the device can be connectable to a corresponding fitting. 
     Advantageously, the liquid to be admixed is provided by a container especially provided for this purpose. For easy handling, this container is easily replaceable. 
     In accordance with a particular embodiment of the invention, the thorough mixing of the liquids with each other is effected by a strong turbulent flow in a turbulence chamber provided in accordance with a particular aspect of the invention. 
     For vacuum generation and for mixing the liquids, the turbulence chamber can have tangential inlets. Beside the effective generation of vacuum, this embodiment has the advantage that in the turbulence chamber the liquids are mixed so intensively that no further additional generation of turbulence is necessary for mixing the liquids. 
     To ensure an easy handling during replacement of the containers containing the liquid to be admixed, in particular in a household, one embodiment is particularly advantageous, in which the connecting tube of the container is obliquely introduced into the device for mixing the liquid. As the container is attached to the mixing device in pendulum fashion, a damage of the container or mixing device, in particular when having a shower, is largely prevented. 
     Alternatively, the container can also be fastened via a magnetic lock or other locking or plug-in systems. 
     The device for mixing the liquids can directly be screwed to the corresponding fitting or be connected with the fitting by a supply tube or supply pipe. 
     The container which contains the liquid to be admixed can either be connected directly to the mixing device or be connected with the mixing device via a supply tube. The embodiment with supply tube is advantageous when larger containers with the liquid to be admixed are required or it is not expedient for some other reason to not directly attach the container to the device for mixing the liquids. 
     To ensure a trouble-free operation in particular in the shower, a return valve advantageously is provided in the device for mixing the liquids. 
     It facilitates maintenance work, when the components for vacuum generation and mixing are mounted in a tube which is integrated in the device for mixing liquids transverse to the flow direction. Even in the mounted condition of the mixing device, the corresponding components thus can easily be removed and possibly be cleaned. 
     Beside the use for household purposes, the device for mixing liquids can also be used in the industry for mixing a corresponding liquid. 
     To provide the user having a shower with the possibility of changing between emulsion (which can also be discharged with a reduced flow) and shower water without admixture (also with full flow), it may be expedient to design the mixing device such that the mixing unit can be shut off, so that flow is effected without admixture. Shutting off can be effected mechanically, electromechanically, hydraulically, pneumatically or magnetically. An intermediate stage can also be expedient, so that one part of the pressurized medium is mixed and one part leaves the mixing unit unmixed. 
     This shut-off function can also be expedient for all other fields of use of the mixing device, e.g. on the kitchen fitting, the bath tub fitting, or in other fields of application. 
     In the case of greater back pressures it can occur that the mixing unit constituting a piston valve is pushed out again from the inserted position by the unilaterally acting forces. Such back pressures can occur, for instance, when shower sprinklers with considerably reduced flow are connected to the mixing device. 
     In accordance with the invention, an additional piston has been created here, which mechanically is firmly connected with the mixing unit and on which the force of the back pressure acts in a direction opposite to the force acting on the mixing unit constituting a piston valve. Thus, the force of the back pressure on the mixing unit is eliminated and the switching position of the switching function is maintained. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       With reference to different embodiments, further features, details and advantages of the invention are explained in detail in the attached drawing, in which: 
         FIG. 1 : shows an embodiment of the mixing device for connection to a fitting; 
         FIG. 2 : shows the embodiment of the mixing device of  FIG. 1  with cutaway casing; 
         FIG. 3 : shows the embodiment of the mixing device of  FIG. 1  as a side view; 
         FIG. 4 : shows the embodiment of the mixing device of  FIG. 1  as a complete sectional view; 
         FIG. 5 : shows an embodiment of the liquid container for use with the mixing devices with oblique supply passage in a side view; 
         FIG. 6 : shows the embodiment of the liquid container of  FIG. 5  in a representation with a view to the vent hole; 
         FIG. 7 : shows the embodiment of the liquid container as a complete sectional view; 
         FIG. 8 : shows the described embodiment of the mixing device and of the liquid container in an insertion position; 
         FIG. 9 : shows the described embodiment of the mixing device with inserted container in accordance with the embodiment; 
         FIG. 10 : shows the described embodiment of the mixing device with inserted container in accordance with the embodiment as a complete sectional view; 
         FIG. 11 : shows an embodiment of the mixing device with a supply tube for supplying the pressurized medium; 
         FIG. 12 : shows an embodiment of the mixing device with a stationary container, which is connected with the mixing device via a supply conduit; 
         FIG. 13 : shows an embodiment of the mixing device with plug-in container in use for a shower; 
         FIG. 14 : shows an embodiment of the mixing device with plug-in container in use for a bath tub fitting; 
         FIG. 15 : shows an embodiment of the mixing device with plug-in container in use for a kitchen fitting; 
         FIG. 16 : shows an embodiment of the mixing device with cutaway casing and cutaway mixing unit with return valve; 
         FIG. 17 : shows another embodiment of the mixing device, in which the supply tube of the container is introduced horizontally; 
         FIG. 18 : shows the embodiment of  FIG. 17  with inserted container; 
         FIG. 19 : shows an embodiment of the mixing device, in which the supply tube of the container is introduced horizontally and the supply tube of the container is fixed on the mixing device by means of a magnet; 
         FIG. 20 : shows the embodiment of  FIG. 19  with inserted and fixed container; 
         FIG. 21 : shows an embodiment of the mixing device to which the container is attached by means of a mechanical fixation; 
         FIG. 22 : shows an embodiment with a mechanical shut-off function; the mixing unit has been removed; 
         FIG. 23 : shows the embodiment of  FIG. 22  with inserted mixing unit; 
         FIG. 24 : shows the embodiment of  FIG. 22  with removed mixing unit as a sectional view; 
         FIG. 25 : shows the embodiment of  FIG. 22  with inserted mixing unit as a sectional view; 
         FIG. 26 : shows an embodiment of the switching function without an opposed piston of the invention with the mixing unit inserted; 
         FIG. 27 : shows an embodiment of the switching function without an opposed piston of the invention with the mixing unit removed; 
         FIG. 28 : shows an embodiment of the switching function with an opposed piston of the invention with the mixing unit inserted; 
         FIG. 29 : shows an embodiment of the switching function with an opposed piston of the invention with the mixing unit removed. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     With reference to the embodiment of  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 4 , essential elements of the mixing device can be explained. The mixing device  1  substantially consists of an inlet for the pressurized medium, here shown as flange with union nut  4 , an outlet for the mixture, here shown as externally threaded pipe socket  5 , and a supply means for the medium to be admixed, here shown as passage  3 . The illustrated embodiment contains a mixing unit  2  designed as turbulence chamber. In the embodiment of the turbulence chamber  10 , the tangential inlets  7  effect the turbulence. In this embodiment, the mixing unit is incorporated in a sleeve  6  at an angle with respect to the axis of the mixing device  1 . This sleeve has inlet bores  8  and outlet bores  9 . The medium to be admixed is introduced into the turbulence chamber via a supply bore  11 . To improve the intensity of the turbulence, a constriction  12  can be provided at the outlet of the turbulence chamber. 
       FIGS. 5 to 7  show an embodiment of the container  20  for the medium to be admixed. This embodiment of the container has a suction tube  24 , through which the liquid can be sucked into the mixing device. In this embodiment, the container can be hung into the mixing device in accordance with the embodiment of  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 4  via a bent tube  21 . Dosing the medium can be effected via a dosing nozzle  22 . For venting purposes, a vent hole  23  can be provided in the bent tube  21 . Such position of the vent hole has the advantage that a protective cap might equally close nozzle and vent hole. 
     In  FIGS. 8 to 10  it is shown how the container from the preceding embodiment can be plugged into the mixing device in accordance with the embodiment ( FIG. 1  to  FIG. 4 ). The bent tube of the container  20  is introduced into the obliquely inclined inlet passage  3  of the mixing device  1 . In this embodiment, the dosing nozzle  22  is positioned centrally with respect to the axis of the turbulence chamber upon insertion. 
       FIG. 11  shows an embodiment, in which the mixing device  1  is not screwed directly to a fitting, in order to supply the pressurized medium, but the pressurized medium is supplied via a supply tube  30 . 
       FIG. 12  shows an embodiment, in which the container with the medium to be admixed is not mounted directly on the mixing device, but the medium to be supplied is supplied from the container  32  to the mixing device  1  via a supply tube or supply pipe  31 . This can be advantageous when the container should be mounted stationarily, the container is too large or too heavy to be attached directly to the mixing device, or the container would disturb directly at the mixing device. 
       FIG. 13  shows how the mixing device  1  can be attached for instance to a shower fitting  40 . In this embodiment, the container  20  with the medium to be admixed is attached directly to the mixing device. In this embodiment, the shower tube  41  is screwed to the outlet of the mixing device. 
       FIG. 14  shows how the mixing device  1  can be attached for instance to a bath tub fitting  50 . In this embodiment, the container  20  with the medium to be admixed is attached directly to the mixing device. In this embodiment, a jet former or air bubbler  51  can be screwed to the outlet of the mixing device. 
       FIG. 15  shows how the mixing device  1  can be attached for instance to a fitting of a kitchen sink  60 . In this embodiment, the container  20  with the medium to be admixed is attached directly to the mixing device. In this embodiment, a jet former or air bubbler  61  can be screwed to the outlet of the mixing device. 
       FIG. 16  shows an embodiment of a mixing device with a return valve. The casing of the mixing device  1  and the mixing unit  2  here are shown in a cutaway view. Due to the pressure of the valve spring  81 , a valve ball  80  closes the return path to the supply passage  3 . In this embodiment, a mixing unit  2  with turbulence chamber  10  and tangential inlets  7  is shown. 
       FIG. 17  shows an embodiment of the mixing device  90 , in which the tube  95  of the container is horizontally introduced into the supply passage  94  of the mixing unit  93 . The mixing unit  93  here is mounted horizontally in the mixing device  90 . The supply of the pressurized medium here is effected via a flange with union nut  91 . In this embodiment, the outlet  92  is provided with an external thread. 
     In  FIG. 18 , the tube  95  of the container  96  is introduced into the mixing device  90  from the embodiment of  FIG. 17 . 
       FIG. 19  shows an embodiment of the mixing device  90 , in which the tube  95  of the container likewise is horizontally introduced into the supply passage  94  of the mixing unit  93 . To achieve a better connection between container  96  and mixing device  90 , a permanent magnet  100  is provided in this embodiment. The mixing unit  93  likewise is mounted horizontally in the mixing device  90 . The supply of the pressurized medium here is effected via a flange with union nut  91 . In this embodiment, the outlet  92  is provided with an external thread. 
     In  FIG. 20 , the tube  95  of the container  96  is introduced into the mixing device  90  from the embodiment of  FIG. 19 . In this embodiment, the magnet  100  secures the connection. 
       FIG. 21  shows an embodiment, in which the container  104  is connected with the mixing device  101  via a mechanical lock  106 - 107 . In this embodiment, the mixing device includes a suction hole  105 , through which the medium to be admixed is sucked from the container  104  into the mixing device  101 , after locking has been effected (arrow). The supply of the pressurized medium here is effected via a flange with union nut  102 . In this embodiment, the outlet  103  is provided with an external thread. 
       FIGS. 22 to 25  show an embodiment, in which a switching function is integrated, by means of which the mixing function can be shut off. In this embodiment, the mixing unit  203  of the mixing device  200  can be shut on and off by push-pull actuation. When the mixing unit is removed in this embodiment ( FIG. 22  and FIG.  24 —arrow), the medium flowing in under pressure through the supply conduit  201  can pass the bores  207  and  208  without flowing through the mixing chamber  205 . The medium leaves the outlet  202  unmixed. When the mixing unit  203  is inserted ( FIG. 23  and FIG.  25 —arrow), the medium flowing in under pressure through the supply conduit  201  must flow through the mixing chamber  205 . The medium flows through the bore  207  into the mixing chamber  205 . The second medium thereby is supplied through the supply conduit  204 . Through the outlet bore  206  of the mixing chamber  205 , the mixture flows through the bore  208  into the outlet  202 . 
     A check valve  209  prevents the pressurized medium from flowing out through the supply conduit  204 , when the mixing unit is shut off. 
       FIG. 26  shows an embodiment without an opposed piston of the invention, in which the mixing unit  251  constituting a piston valve is inserted into the mixing device  250 . Due to the incoming pressure  252 , a back pressure  253  can be generated, as a result of which a force  254  acts on the mixing unit  251 , so that the mixing unit is pushed out of the mixing device  250  due to its piston function. 
       FIG. 27  shows an embodiment without an opposed piston of the invention, in which the mixing unit  251  constituting a piston valve was urged into the end position in the mixing device  250  by the force  254 . 
       FIG. 28  shows an embodiment with the opposed piston of the invention, in which the mixing unit  251  constituting a piston valve is inserted into the mixing device  250 . Due to the additional piston  256 , the force  258  produced by the pressure  252  and the back pressure  253  acts in opposite directions, so that the mixing unit  251  equipped with a piston function remains in the set position. In this embodiment, an additional vent hole  257  is provided, so that no pneumatic pressures are produced by the additional piston. 
       FIG. 29  shows an embodiment with the opposed piston of the invention, in which the mixing unit  251  constituting a piston valve is withdrawn from the mixing device  250  into the end position. Here, the resulting force  258  likewise acts in opposite directions due to the additional piston  256 , so that the mixing unit  251  equipped with a piston function remains in the set position here as well. In this embodiment, there is likewise provided an additional vent hole  257 , so that no pneumatic pressures are produced by the additional piston.

Technology Category: 7