Title of Invention	"THROUGHFLOW REGULATOR".
Abstract	The invention relates to an insertable component which is embodies as a non-return element and/or as a through-flow regulator and which can be inserted into a gas or liquid line. The insertable component (1) comprises a housing (2) which is comprised of at least two housing parts (3). A housing seal (5) is fitted between the housing parts (3,4). The housing seal is joined as a single piece to an annular membrane (11), which is used as a closing body for the non-return element, and or a regulating or throttle body. The inventive insertable component can comprise a small number of individual parts and is characterized by its compact structure and low production costs. (57) Zusammenfassung: Die Erfundung betrifftein Enibauteil, das als Rückflussinderer und/oder als Durchflussmengenregler ausgebildet und in eine Gas-oder Flüssigkeitsleitung einsetzbar ist. Das Einbauteil (1) weist ein Gehäuseteilen (3,4) ist eine Gehäuseteile-dichtung (5) cingespannt, die an ihrer Innen- und/oder. Aussenseite mit einer als schliesskörper des Rückflussverhinderers dienenden Ringbrame (11) und/oder zumindest einem Regel-oder Drosselkörper einstückig verbunden ist. Das erfindungsgemassăss Einbau-teil kann aus wenigen Einzelteilen zusammengesetzi werden und zcichnet sich durch scinen geringen Herstellungsaufwand und seine kompakte Bauform aus.

Title of Invention

"THROUGHFLOW REGULATOR".

Abstract

The invention relates to an insertable component which is embodies as a non-return element and/or as a through-flow regulator and which can be inserted into a gas or liquid line. The insertable component (1) comprises a housing (2) which is comprised of at least two housing parts (3). A housing seal (5) is fitted between the housing parts (3,4). The housing seal is joined as a single piece to an annular membrane (11), which is used as a closing body for the non-return element, and or a regulating or throttle body. The inventive insertable component can comprise a small number of individual parts and is characterized by its compact structure and low production costs. (57) Zusammenfassung: Die Erfundung betrifftein Enibauteil, das als Rückflussinderer und/oder als Durchflussmengenregler ausgebildet und in eine Gas-oder Flüssigkeitsleitung einsetzbar ist. Das Einbauteil (1) weist ein Gehäuseteilen (3,4) ist eine Gehäuseteile-dichtung (5) cingespannt, die an ihrer Innen- und/oder. Aussenseite mit einer als schliesskörper des Rückflussverhinderers dienenden Ringbrame (11) und/oder zumindest einem Regel-oder Drosselkörper einstückig verbunden ist. Das erfindungsgemassăss Einbau-teil kann aus wenigen Einzelteilen zusammengesetzi werden und zcichnet sich durch scinen geringen Herstellungsaufwand und seine kompakte Bauform aus.

Full Text	INSERTABLE COMPONENT WHICH CAN BE INSERTED INTO A GAS OR LIQUID LINE The invention relates to an insertable component, which is embodied as a non-return element and which can be inserted into a gas or liquid line, having a housing" with at least one closing body being displaceably arranged inside the housing, that seals a through-flow opening or several through-flow openings of feeder channels in the closed position. The invention also relates to an insertable component, which is embodied as a through-flow regulator and which can be inserted into a gas or liquid line, having a housing with at least one throttle body or regulating body being arranged inside said housing, limiting a regulating gap between itself and a housing wall, with the gap changing depending on pressure. It is commonly known to combine several sanitary components into a single sanitary insertable unit, particularly some that serve various functions. From DE 297 03 335 Ul by the applicant, a backflow preventer has been known, which represents a component of an insertable sanitary unit in addition to comprising an upstream sieve for contaminants and a downstream through-flow regulator. Such sanitary insertable units are inserted for example at the cold water and warm water inlet in thermostat- controlled mixing faucets, in order to prevent, with the help of the non-return unit, the entry of cold water into the warm water pipe and vice versa and in order to ensure an even water flow, using the through-flow regulator, even in varying liquid pressures of the inflowing water. 1 WO2004/083699 PCT/EP2004/002507 The previously known backflow preventer comprises a housing with a cone- shaped valve arranged therein. The cone-shaped valve cooperates with the valve seat, which is molded inside the housing. The cone-shaped valve can be displaced from a closed position into an open position by the pressure of the inflowing water against the returning force of a pressure spring. In an opposite flow, the cone-shaped valve is displaced inside the housing towards the valve seat and the return preventor is closed to prevent any undesired return flow. The through-flow regulator provided in the sanitary insertable unit according to DE 297 03 335 Ul and positioned downstream the above-described through-flow regulator comprises a control core, conically tapering in the through-flow direction, which cooperates with a rubber ring that can be widened depending on water pressure. The previously known sanitary insertable unit and, in particular, the insertable components contained therein are multipart and correspondingly expensive in their production. Due to the fact that the insertable components serving various functions are positioned downstream of one another in the through-flow direction, the insertable sanitary unit of prior art comprises a comparatively large construction length, which can be further extended by additional insertable components added upstream or downstream. Therefore, the object is particularly to provide insertable components of the type mentioned at the outset that can be inserted into gas or liquid lines, which can be produced with comparatively little expense and which are designed simple and compact. 2 WO2004/083699 PCT/EP2004/002507 In the insertable component according to the invention, embodied as a backflow preventer, the solution comprises for the housing to be made from at least two housing parts and being provided with feeder channels in at least one annular area, which open into a housing chamber, and that a housing seal is provided between facing sides of two adjacent housing parts, the housing seal is connected in one piece to an annular membrane, which can be displaced by the flow medium, inside the housing chamber, and forms a closing body. The insertable component according to the invention, embodied as a non- return element, is provided with a housing which is formed by at least two preferably coaxial housing parts. A housing part seal is held between these housing parts, connected in one piece to at least one annular membrane, which can be displaced by the flow medium, inside a housing chamber. When return flow occurs, at least one annular membrane forming a closing body seals the through-flow opening of the feeder channels, which are arranged in at least one annular area inside the housing of the outer housing. However, with a liquid flow, flowing in the normal through-flow direction, the at least one annular membrane is displaced from the closing position into the open position, in which the through-flow openings remain open. The non-return element according to the invention can thus be combined from as little as three parts, namely the two housing parts and the single part combining the annular membrane and the housing seal. The non-return element according to the invention can therefore be produced easily and in a compact size. A particularly simple embodiment of the insertable component embodied as a non-return element provides for the housing seal and the at least one annular membrane, forming the closing body, 3 WO2004/083699 PCT/EP2004/002507 to be embodied as a flat body. In the insertable component according to the invention the housing seal and the at least one annular membrane, forming the closing body, can be embodied as a one-piece flat body and do not require any complicated design. The solution provides for the insertable component embodied as a through- flow regulator according to the invention, that the housing is made from at least two housing parts and that between the facing sides of two adjacent housing parts, a housing seal is provided, which is connected in one piece to the at least one throttle body located inside the housing. The insertable component, embodied as a through-flow regulator, comprises a housing, which is composed of at least two preferably coaxial housing parts. A housing seal is held between these housing parts, connected in one piece to the at least one throttle body located inside the housing. This at least one throttle body limits a control gap between itself and a housing wall, which gap changes depending on pressure. In this way, the insertable component embodied as a through-flow regulator can be composed inexpensively from only three individual components. In order to securely fasten the housing seal and the annular membrane connected thereto and/or the throttle body to the inside of the housing in a simple manner, it is advantageous for the housing parts to be provided with annular flat surfaces, facing one another, between which the housing seal can be mounted. 4 WO2004/083699 PCT/EP2004/002507 In order to further facilitate the production of the insertable components according to the invention it is advantageous for the at least two housing parts to be provided with snap elements for connecting the housing parts, engaging one another in the mounted position. This way, a complicated screw connection, gluing, or welding can be omitted for the assembly of the exterior housing formed by the housing parts. A particularly easy to assembly embodiment according to the invention provides for the snap elements of one of the housing parts to comprise a central opening and for the other housing part to preferably comprise several engaging hook elements. The insertable component according to the invention can be easily disassembled, if necessary, when the hook elements of the one housing component penetrate the other housing component in the assembled position and extend beyond its exterior. A preferred embodiment according to the invention provides for the facial areas clamping the housing seal to be located at the exterior rim of the housing parts. The rim position of the clamping area of the housing seal allows for a comparatively large functional area inside the housing for annular membranes and/or throttle bodies. The small number of parts of the insertable component according to the invention is enhanced even more when the internal surface of the housing part arranged in the flow direction extends beyond the clamping area of the housing seal towards the inside and forms a section of the housing chamber wall, and where one or several feeder channels open, The through openings of these feeder channels can be arranged in several, particularly concentric annular areas of the housing. However, it is particularly advantageous for 5 WO2004/083699 PCT/EP2004/002507 several feeder channels to be arranged on an annular part of the housing, distributed in the circumferential direction, which preferably open immediately adjacent to the clamping area of the region of the annular membrane that forms the housing seal. The insertable component embodied as a non-return element reacts particularly quickly to small return flows when the annular membrane is extended inwardly beyond a region internally adjacent to the housing seal, forming the closing body, and thus forms a separating wall in the open or through-flow position, dividing the housing chamber into two partial annular chambers, and in this position contacts with its free interior annular rim the housing part at the downstream side, when a penetrating and/or through- flow opening follows to the upstream partial annular chamber and when at least one non-return opening opens into the downstream partial chamber. In order to fasten the throttle body in its control position it is advantageous for the throttle body to be fastened in a housing chamber between the upstream and the downstream housing part and for the downstream housing part to comprise a downstream rest and an exterior support and for the upstream housing part to comprise an interior housing wall or a similar rest, forming the limit of the control gap, for the annular throttle body. A particularly advantageous further development according to the invention, which independent protection is claimed, provides for the insertable component according to the invention to be embodied as a non-return element and as a through-flow regulator. 6 WO2004/083699 PCT/EP2004/002507 Here it can be advantageous for the annular membrane to be embodied as a closing body adjacent to the housing seal and to be connected to the throttle body in one piece at its interior end. This further developed embodiment, which can also be made from as little as three individual parts, is embodied both as a non-return element as well as a through-flow regulator. Here, the closing body required for the non-return element and the throttle body required for the through-flow regulator are connected in one piece to the housing seal. Such an embodiment is particularly compact and is characterized in a low construction height, as well. The small number of parts of the insertable component according to the invention is even further enhanced in its high functionality when it is embodied for the insertion into a liquid line and comprises an annular seal at an exterior thereof for sealing the liquid line, and when the annular seal is connected in one piece to the housing seal between the facing sides of the housing component. Here, it is particularly advantageous for the exterior annular seal to be embodied as an O-ring seal or an annular cord seal. In order to fasten the annular seal to the exterior of the housing it is advantageous for an annular groove to be provided on the outside between the two adjacent housing parts for accepting the exterior annular seal and for the annular groove to be formed by a housing recess in one housing part, open towards the separation point of the housing for forming a side wall and the bottom of the groove, and for the interior facing surface of the other housing part to form the second side wall. 7 WO2004/083699 ■ PCT/EP2004/002507 Another preferred embodiment, worth protecting in itself, relates to an insertable component embodied as a through-flow regulator, which can maintain the constant through-flow of fluid under a wide range of pressures, from 0.1 bar to 10 bar, for example. Previous embodiments of sanitary through-flow regulators have their respective strengths in certain pressure zones. For example, through-flow regulators have been known which achieve a characteristic through-flow at very high pressures, however they have problems to stabilize the target line in the medium and strong pressure ranges. The separating line drifts upward or downward or it shows oscillating phenomenon. Other known embodiments of throughflow-regulators, operating very well in medium to high pressure ranges, use an O-ring which counteracts a control profile. However, at very low differential pressures of 0.1 bar, for example, the O-ring does not react to the pressure difference, the through-flow results entirely from the available cross-section. Due to the fact that the O-ring only reacts at a relatively high pressure, the free cross-section cannot be selected too large because otherwise the through-flow becomes too large in the reaction range and an undesired exceeding of the characteristic line occurs. Therefore, through-flow regulators of this type only achieve their respective targeted through-flow at approx. 0.7 to 1.0 bar. A similar embodiment of this class of through-flow regulators is the elastomer disc, which is supported with its flat bottom on a support profile. A further development according to the invention provides for the housing seal at both sides to be connected in one piece to at least one throttle body each, which throttle body being supported on the inside of the housing in a control gap. Here, it is particularly advantageous for the throttle body 8 WO2004/083699 PCT/EP2004/002507 provided at both sides of the housing seal to react at different differential pressures, and for a first throttle body preferably to react in a low-pressure range and, in contrast thereto, a second throttle body in a high-pressure range. The housing seal in this embodiment according to the invention is therefore connected in one piece at both sides to a throttle body each. The throttle bodies react with different sensitivities and thus they can control the through-flow amount in various pressure ranges such that they complement each other, particularly in the low-pressure and the high-pressure range. While the highly sensitive throttle body already diminishes the free cross- section of the flow of the control gap at a low differential pressure of 0.1 bar, for example, the throttle body reacting to high differential pressure deforms not until a further increased pressure and thus keeps the through-flow constant in the high pressure range. The characteristic line of such a regulator achieves-the targeted through-flow at very low pressures and maintains it at a constant levels up to a high pressure range of approximately 10 bar, for example. It can be useful for the insertable component embodied as a non-return element and/or a through-flow regulator to be provided with at least one throttle body or regulating body designed in a lip-shaped manner. However, it is also possible for the insertable component to additionally or instead comprise a throttle body designed as at least one O-ring. In order for the lip-shaped throttle body to be able to react sensitively to a differential pressure it is useful for at least one lip-shaped throttle body with 9 WO2004/083699 PCT/EP2004/002507 its free lip end region to be aligned preferably diagonally opposite the through-flow direction. In order to abruptly increase the resistance of the throttle body, beginning at a predetermined rate of deformation, one embodiment according to the invention provides for the control movement of at least one lip-shaped throttle body to be limited by a control stop. By arranging this control stop and by providing an appropriate distance of the control stop and the throttle body arranged upstream therefrom the differential pressure can be varied by the design, at which the respective throttle body is to react. Additionally or instead thereof it can also be provided for the throttle bodies, arranged at both sides of the housing seal, to be designed differently, each adjusted to their reactive pressure. For example it is possible, on the one hand, that the housing seal is connected to a lip-shaped throttle body and, on the other hand, to a throttle body embodied as an O-ring. While the comparatively soft, lip-shaped throttle body already reacts to low differential pressures, an appropriately stiff throttle body, embodied as an o-ring, can be characterized by a high reaction pressure, in reference thereto. However, it is also possible for the housing seal to be connected at both sides with lip-shaped or with O-ring shaped throttle bodies, which become active at different pressure ranges based on their design and dimensions. Therefore, another embodiment according to the invention provides for the housing seal to be connected at both sides each with a lip-shaped throttle body. 10 WO2004/083699 PCT/EP2004/002507 The reaction behavior of the through-flow regulator according to the invention can also be influenced such that the throttle body reacting in the low-pressure range is allocated to the interior or exterior control gap, because the throttle body effective in the exterior control gap seals a larger area during its deformation radially outward than the lip of the throttle body located inside the control gap. A further development of the invention provides for the housing seal and the throttle bodies connected thereto to be formed as a multi-component die-cast part and for the throttle bodies to be comprised of various elastomers. In order to enhance an easy reaction of the throttle body of the insertable component embodied as a through-flow regulator and in order to be able to predetermine said through-flow regulator to a fixed maximum amount of flow it is advantageous for the housing wall limiting the control gap to be provided with rib-shaped, grooved, or similarly embodied regulating profiling aligned approximately in the through-flow direction. Additionally embodiments of the invention are described in the sub claims. In the following, the invention and its essential details are explained further with the drawings. Shown are: Fig. 1 an insertable component embodied as a non-return element and as a through-flow regulator, that can be inserted into a gas or liquid line, shown in a longitudinal cross-section, 11 WO2004/083699 PCT/EP2004/002507 Fig. 2 an insertable component embodied only as a non-return element, shown in a longitudinal cross-section, Fig. 3 a downstream facing surface of an insertable component according to Figures 1 or 2, Fig. 4 an insertable component embodied as a through-flow regulator and shown in a longitudinal cross-section, with its two housing parts having a housing seal clamped therebetween, whose parts are each connected in one piece at both sides with a throttle-body, lip-shaped and supported in a control gap, Fig. 5 a through-flow regulator according to Figure 4 in a top view, Fig. 6 a through-flow regulator comparable to Figures 4 and 5, however with the housing seal being connected to a throttle body embodied as an 0- ring in the area of the interior control gap and a lip-shaped throttle body in the area of the exterior control gap, Fig. 7 a through-flow regulator also comparable to the Figures 4 and 5, with its housing seal being connected to two lip-shaped throttle bodies, which react to different differential pressures and have different geometrical shapes for this purpose, and Fig, 8 a through-flow regulator comparable to the one in Figure 6, however with the O-ring shaped throttle body arranged in the area of the exterior control gap and the lip-shaped throttle body in the area of the interior control gap. 12 WO2004/083699 PCT/EP2004/002507 A sanitary insertable component, which can be inserted into a gas or liquid line, is shown in Figures 1 and 2 in different embodiments 1, 10. While the insertable component 10 in Figure 2 is to serve merely as a non-return element, the insertable component 1 in Figure 1 is integrated both as a non- return element as well as a through-flow regulator. The exterior housing 2 of the insertable components 1, 10 is formed from two coaxial housing parts 3, 4, having sides that face one another between which a housing seal 5 is held. The housing parts 3, 4 are connected to one another via snap elements which engage in the mounted position. For this purpose, the downstream housing part 4 is provided with a central opening 6, with 4 hook elements 7, pointing cross-wise away from one another, and engaging the upstream housing part 3, These hook elements 7 extend beyond the downstream exterior face of the housing 2. The insertable component 1, 10, can be inserted into a liquid line. In order to seal the interior circumference of the liquid line, an annular seal 8 is provided, which is connected in one piece to the housing seal 5. This annular seal 8, embodied as an annular cord seal, is held in an annular groove 9, which is provided on the outside between the two housing parts 3, 4 for accepting the annular seal 8. The annular groove 9 is limited by a housing recess, open towards the separating point of the exterior housing 2, at the upstream housing part 3, which housing recess forms a side wall and the groove base. However, the 13 WO2004/083699 PCT/EP2004/002507 interior surface of the other housing part 4 forms the other side wall of the annular groove 9. The two housing parts 3, 4 are provided at their exterior edges with annular surfaces, facing one another, between which the housing seal 5 is clamped. The housing seal 5, at the side facing away from the annular seal 8, is connected in one piece to an annular membrane 11, which can be displaced inside a housing chamber 12 by the flow medium and which is embodied as a closing body of the non-return element. Starting at the upstream surface of the exterior housing 2, several feeder channels 13 lead through the housing part 3, lead with their through openings 14 into the housing chamber 12 at a distance from one another in the circumferential direction. While the annular membrane 11 is displaced by a flow of liquid flowing in the usual through-flow direction Pfl in its open position, it is held in its closing position during a back flow, opposite the through-flow direction Pfl, which seals the downstream mouths of the through openings 14 with the annular membrane 11. The annular membrane 11 of the insertable component 1 shown in Figure 1 is connected in one piece to a throttle body or control body 15 of the through- flow regulator with its interior end, facing away from the seals 5, 8, The throttle body 15; also located in the housing chamber 12 inside the housing of the exterior housing 2, limits a control gap 17 between itself and the housing wall 16, with the gap changing depending on pressure,. The throttle body 15 is embodied in the shape of an O-ring and mounted between the upstream and the downstream housing part 3, 4 inside the housing chamber 12. 14 WO2004/083699 PCT/EP2004/002507 While the downstream housing part 4 forms a downstream rest and an exterior support for the throttle body 15, the upstream housing part 3 is provided with a central housing or control core, tapering in the through-flow direction Pfl, which forms the housing wall 16 serving as a control gap limit for the annular throttle body 15 and having hook elements 7 protruding from the face of its free end.. In the insertable component 10 according to Figure 2, the housing seal 5, connected to the annular seal 8, and the annular membrane 11, adjacent towards the inside and serving as a closing body of the non-return element, are provided as flat bodies. Here, the annular membrane 11 is extended inwardly beyond an area adjacent to the housing seal 5, provided as a closing body, and forms in the open position a separating wall, dividing the housing chamber 12 into two partial annular chambers 19, 20, with not only the through openings 14 of the feeder channels 13 leading into the upstream partial annular chamber 19 but also the downstream openings 21, which remain in the central opening 6 between the hook elements 7. However, several return flow openings 22 open into the downstream partial annular space 20, which guide the return flow into the partial annular space 20 affecting the downstream surface of the exterior housing 2, with the return flow in the closed position pressing the annular membrane 11 against the through openings 14 and/or the rounded or curved interior annular rim 23 against the central housing core 18. The reaction pressure and the reaction behavior of the closing and/or the throttle body can be determined depending on the rubber-elastic characteristics of the material used, for example, the shore-hardness. 15 WO2004/083699 PCT/EP2004/002507 Furthermore, the reaction pressure and the reaction speed, particularly of the function of the non-return element, can be modified by the selection of the radial pre-tension of the annular membrane 11. Various embodiments 100, 101, 102, and 103 of an insertable component provided as a through-flow regulator are shown in Figures 4 through 8. The housing 2 of insertable components 100, 101, 102, and 103, insertable in a gas or liquid line, is also provided with two housing parts 3, 4, which clamp a housing seal 5 between one another. The housing seal 5 is connected in one piece on both sides with one throttle body 15, 15' each. Each of these throttle bodies 15, 15' is supported in a control gap 17, 17', respectively, on the inside of the housing 2. As is discernible from the longitudinal cross-sections in Figures 4, 6, 7, and 8, the housing parts 3, 4 are each provided with at least two concentric annular housing walls 24, 25, and 26 and/or 24', 25', and 26', which are connected to one another via radial connection bars 27 in the form of spokes. The annular walls 24/24', 25/25', and 26/26' are allocated in pairs towards one another, with the two central facial walls 25/25' of said housing parts 3, 4 clamping the housing seal 5 between their facial surfaces facing one another and separating the parallel control gaps 17, 17' from one another. At the sides of the adjacent annular walls 24/25' and/or 26/26', facing the central annular walls 25/25', a control profiling 28, 28' is provided each aligned in a through-flow direction, which is formed here by grooves or bars distributed in the circumferential direction. Here, the throttle bodies 15, 15' can be provided at the housing parts 3, 4 with control profiling 28, 28* embodied differently. 16 WO2004/083699 PCT/EP2004/002507 The throttle bodies 15, 15' provided on both sides of the housing seal 5 react at different differential pressures. While a first throttle body 15 preferably reacts in the low pressure range, a second throttle body 15' reacts in the high pressure range, in contrast thereto, In order to ensure a different reaction of the throttle bodies 15, 15', the throttle bodies 15, 15' are provided with different shapes adjusted to their pressure, for example, as shown in the insertable components 100, 101, 102, and 103. For example, at the housing seal 5 of the insertable components 100, 102 shown in the Figures 4 and 7, one geometrically soft and one oppositely stiff lip are provided as throttle bodies 15, 15', reacting with different sensibility to the differential pressure. The throttle bodies 15, 15' having different stiffnesses control the through-flow amounts in the various pressure ranges and complement one another this way in the low pressure and the high pressure range. For very low differential pressure, for example amounting to 0.1 bar, the geometrically soft lip embodiment, serving as a throttle body 15, contacts the control profiling and begins to reduce the free flow cross-section. The geometrically stiff lip 15' does not deform, which allows the free cross-section of this area to be fully available for the flow of the fluid. By the large geometrical elasticity of the lip embodiment 15, the shape is deformed very rapidly into the control profiling by any rising pressure, i.e. in the range up to 0,4 bar, and ultimately seals the free cross-sections available here. When the pressure further increases, the stiff lip formation, serving as a throttle body 15', deforms as well and thus maintains a constant through-flow in the high pressure range. 17 WO2004/083699 PCT/EP2004/002507 The two variants of these two-step types of through-flow regulators differ from each other in which throttle body 15, 15' is active towards the inside and which one is active towards the outside. In the through-flow regulator 100 shown in Figures 4 and 5, the geometrically stiff and the geometrically soft lip embodiment 15, 15' are connected to one another by the circumferential housing seal 5. The housing seal 5 is fixed in its position by the annular housing walls 25/25' of the upper housing part 3 and the lower housing part 4. The annular housing walls 25, 25' and the housing seal 5 are adjusted to one another such that the control gaps 17, 17', allocated to the throttle bodies 15, 15', are separated from one another in a water-tight manner. For this purpose, one of the annular walls 25, 25' can be provided with a circumferentially raised sealing bar, which is pressed into the housing seal 5. The embodiment of the housing parts 3, 4 in the area of the downstream connection bars 27 determines if any distance remains between the throttle bodies 15, 15' and the downstream connection bars 27 and to what extent, which also serve as control stops. The connection bars 27 serving as control stops and their distance from the throttle bodies 15, 15' influence the control behavior of the insertable components shown here; in the flow of the fluid the lip-shaped throttle bodies 15, 15' deform relatively easy at the beginning, until the bottom of the lip contacts the connection bars 27 of the housing 2. When this state has been reached, the lip-shaped throttle bodies 15, 15' deform to a lesser extent under increasing differential pressure so that the free cross-sections are not closed as fast under high pressure. The interior control profiling 28' is provided at the housing wall formed by the annular walls 26/26'. In contrast thereto, the housing wall formed by the annular walls 19 WO2004/083699 PCT/EP2004/002507 24/24' is provided on its interior wall with the exterior control profiling 28, which forms the respective control profile for the geometrically soft lip embodiment 15 shown in Figure 4, At the interior annular wall 26, 26' of the central housing embodiment, the first housing part 3 engages a central recess 31 of the second downstream housing part 4. In reference to the through-flow regulator 100 shown in Figures 4 and 5, the insertable component 102 differs in Figure 7 merely by the arrangement of its geometrically stiff lip embodiment and its soft one. In the insertable component 101 shown in Figure 7 the geometrically stiff, lip-shaped throttle body 15' is provided on the outside, while the geometrically soft lip-shaped throttle body 15 is arranged on the inside. The lip-shaped throttle body 15', supported in the exterior control gap 17, seals a larger surface during deformation radially outward than the lip-shaped throttle body 15 affecting the interior radius. This way, the arrangement of the lip-shaped throttle body 15, 15' on the inside or the outside affects the reaction behavior of these insertable components. While in Figure 6 the lip-shaped, softer throttle body 15 affects the exterior control gap 17 and the O-ring shaped, stifTer throttle body 15' is located inside the control gap 17T, the O-ring shaped throttle body 15' is arranged in the exterior control gap 17 in the insertable component 103 shown in Figure 8 and the lip-shaped, softer throttle body 15 is arranged in the interior control gap 17', in contrast thereto, The embodiment of the through-flow regulator 100, 101, 102, and 103 shown here and the reaction behavior of these insertable components can be varied and influenced constructively by the geometrical stiffness of the soft and the 20 WO2004/083699 PCT/EP2004/002507 stiff lip embodiment 15, 15', by the elastic characteristics of the material used, by the distance of the throttle bodies 15, 15' on the one hand and the downstream provided control stops, on the other hand, by the dimensions of the control gap 17, 17' remaining between the throttle body and the adjacent housing wall, by the control profiling 28, 28' provided at the adjacent housing wall, and by the arrangement of the sensitively reacting throttle body in the area of the interior and the exterior control gap 17, 17'. The insertable components 1, 10, 100, 101, 102, and 103, as discernible from Figures 1 through 8, can be composed from as little as three parts and are characterized by their simple production, their compact design, as well as their low construction height. 21 WO2004/083699 PCT/EP2004/002507 CLAIMS 1. A insertable component Cl, 10), which is embodied as a non-return element that is insertable into a gas or liquid line, comprising a housing (2) with at least one closing body arranged in an interior of the housing that can be displaced into a closed position to seal a through opening or several through openings (14) of feeder channels (13), characterized in that the housing (2) is comprised of at least two housing parts (3, 4) having the feeder channels in at least one annular area, opening into a housing chamber, and that between facing sides of the two adjacent housing parts (3, 4) a housing seal (5) is provided, which is connected in one piece to at least one annular membrane (11), that can be displaced by a flow medium, the housing seal is located inside the housing chamber (12) and forms the closing body. 2, An insertable component according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing seal (5) and the at least one annular membrane (11), forming the closing body are embodied as flat bodies. 3. An insertable component (1, 100, 101, 102, 103), which is embodied as through-flow regulator that is insertable into a gas or liquid line, comprising a housing (2), with at least one throttle or regulating body (15, 15') being arranged inside said housing, limiting a control gap (17, 17') between the throttle or regulating body and a housing wall (16), with the control gap changing depending on pressure, in particular according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the housing (2) is comprised of at least two housing parts (3, 4) and that between the facing sides of two housing parts (3, 4), a housing seal (5) is provided, which is connected in one piece to the at least one throttle body or regulating body (15, 15') supported inside the housing. 22 WO2004/083699 PCT/EP2004/002507 4. An insertable component according to one of claims 1 through 3, characterized in that the housing components (3, 4) are provided with annular surfaces, facing one another, between which the housing seal (5) is clamped. 5. An insertable component according to one of claims 1 through 4, characterized in that a preferably central housing portion of a first housing part (3) engages a central recess (31) of a second housing part (4.) 6. An insertable component according to one of claims 1 through 5, characterized in that in order to connect the housing parts (3, 4) in the mounting position, engaging snap elements are provided on the at least two housing components (3, 4). 7. An insertable component according to claim 6, characterized in that the snap elements of one of the housing parts (4) is provided with a central opening (6) and the other housing part (3) is preferably provided with several engaging hook elements (7.) 8. An insertable component according to claim 7, characterized in that the hook elements (7) of one of the housing parts (3) engage the other housing part (4) in a mounted position and extend beyond an exterior side thereof. 9. An insertable component according to one of claims 4 through 8, characterized in that surfaces clamping the housing seal (5) are provided at an exterior rim of the housing parts (3, 4.) 23 WO2004/083699 PCT/EP2004/002507 10. An insertable component according to one of claims 4 through 9, characterized in that the interior surface of the housing" part (3), arranged upstream extends inwardly beyond a clamping area of the housing seal (5) and forms a section of the housing chamber wall and that here one feeder channel or several feeder channels open. 11. An insertable component according to claim 10, characterized in that several feeder channels (13) are provided, distributed in a circumferential direction, which preferably open immediately adjacent to the clamping region of the annular membrane (11) forming the housing seal (5). 12. An insertable component according to one of claims 1 through 11, characterized in that the annular membrane is extended inwardly beyond an area, forming the closing body and being adjacent on an inside to the housing seal (5) and thus forming in the open position a separating wall dividing the housing chamber (12) into two partial annular chambers (19, 20), and in this position contacting with a free interior annular rim (23) the downstream housing part (4), that downstream openings (21) and through openings (14) are connected to the downstream partial annular space (19) and that at least one return flow opening (22) opens into the downstream partial annular space (20). 13. An insertable component according to one of claims 3 through 12, characterized in that the throttle body (15) is mounted in a housing chamber (12) between the upstream and the downstream housing part (3, 4) and that the downstream housing part (4) is provided with a downstream rest and an exterior support and the upstream housing 24 WO2004/083699 PCT/EP2004/002507 part (3) is provided with an interior housing wall (16) forming a limit of the control gap or a similar rest for the annular throttle body (15.) 14. An insertable component according to one of claims 1 through 13, characterized in that it is embodied as a non-return element or as a through-flow controller. 15. An insertable component according to claim 14, characterized in that the annular membrane (11) is embodied as a closing body located adjacent to the housing seal (5) and that it is connected in one piece at an interior end thereof to the throttle body (15). 16. An insertable component according to one of claims 1 through 15, characterized in that it is embodied for being inserted into a liquid line and is provided on an outside thereof with an annular seal (8) for sealing it from the liquid line and that the annular seal (8) is connected in one piece to the housing seal (5) located between the facing sides of the housing parts (3, 4). 17. An insertable component according to claim 16, characterized in that the exterior annular seal (8) is embodied as an O-ring seal or an annular cord seal. 18. An insertable component according to one of claims 1 through 17, characterized in that between the two adjacent housing parts (3, 4) on the outside, an annular groove (9) is provided for accepting the exterior annular seal (8) and that the annular groove (9) is formed by a recess in the housing that opens toward a separation point of the housing (2) on the one housing part (3) for forming a side wall and a bottom of the 25 WO2004/083699 PCT/EP2004/002507 groove and by an interior surface of the other housing part (4) for forming the second side wall. 19. An insertable component according to one of claims 3 through 8 and 14, characterized in that the housing seal (5) is connected on both sides to at least one throttle body (15, 15?), which throttle bodies (15, 150 are each supported on the inside of said housing (2) in a control gap (17, 17'). 20, An insertable component according to claim 19, characterized in that the annular housing walls (25, 25') clamping the housing seal (5) on faces therebetween separate the control gaps (17, 17') allocated to the throttle bodies (15, 15J.) 21. An insertable component according to claim 19 or 20, characterized in that the throttle bodies (15, 15') provided on both sides of the housing seal (5) react to different differential pressures and that, on the one hand, a first throttle body (15) reacts preferably in a low pressure range and that, on the other hand, a second throttle body (15*) reacts in a high pressure range. 22, An insertable component according to one of claims 3 through 21, characterized in that the insertable component is provided with at least one lip-shaped throttle body (15, 15'J 23. An insertable component according to one of claims 3 through 22, characterized in that the insertable component is provided with at least one throttle body (15') embodied as an O-ring. 26 WO2004/083699 PCT/EP2004/002507 24. An insertable component according to one of claims 3 through 23, characterized in that at least one lip-shaped throttle body (15, 150 is aligned with a free lip end region (30) thereof preferably extending diagonally opposite a through-flow direction (Pfl.) 25. An insertable component according to one of claims 21 through 24, characterized in that the control motion of at least one lip-shaped throttle body (15, 15') is limited by a control stop. 26. An insertable component according to one of claims 21 through 25, characterized in that at least one lip-shaped throttle body (15,15') comprises a lip section, aligned approximately lateral to the through- flow direction (Pfl), which extends into a free lip end region (30) aligned opposing the through-flow direction (Pfl.) 27. An insertable component according to claim 26, characterized in that the lip section (29), approximately aligned lateral to the through-flow direction (Pfl), cooperates with the control stop. 28. An insertable component according to one of claims 1 through 27, characterized in that at least one of the housing parts (3, 4) comprises at least two preferably approximately concentric annular walls (24, 25, 26; 24', 25', 26') connected via approximately radial connection bars (27). 29. An insertable component according to claim 28, characterized in that at least one connection bar (27) arranged downstream of the throttle body (27) is embodied as a control stop and/or as a throttle body support. 27 WO2004/083699 PCT/EP2 004/002 5 07 30. An insertable component according to one of claims 19 through 29, characterized in that the throttle bodies (15, 15') provided at both sides of the housing seal (5) comprise different designs, each adapted to a different reaction pressure. 31. An insertable component according to claim 30, characterized in that the housing seal (5) is connected, on one side, to a lip-shaped throttle body (15) and, on an other side, to a throttle body (15') embodied as an O-ring. 32. An insertable component according to one of claims 19 through 30, characterized in that a lip-shaped throttle body (15, 15') is connected on each side of the housing seal (5). 33. An insertable component according to one of claims 21 through 32, characterized in that the throttle body (15) reacting in a low pressure range is allocated to an interior or exterior control gap (17, 17'). 34. An insertable component according to one of claims 19 through 33, characterized in that the housing seal (5) and the throttle bodies (15, 15') connected thereto are formed as a multi-component die-cast part and that the throttle bodies (15, 15') are made from different elastomers. 35. An insertable component according to one of claims 3 through 34, characterized in that at least one housing wall (16), limiting a control gap (17, 17'), is provided with a regulating profiling (24; 28, 28') extending approximately in the through-flow direction (Pfl) in the form of ribs, grooves, or the like. 28 The invention relates to an insertable component which is embodies as a non-return element and/or as a through-flow regulator and which can be inserted into a gas or liquid line. The insertable component (1) comprises a housing (2) which is comprised of at least two housing parts (3). A housing seal (5) is fitted between the housing parts (3,4). The housing seal is joined as a single piece to an annular membrane (11), which is used as a closing body for the non-return element, and or a regulating or throttle body. The inventive insertable component can comprise a small number of individual parts and is characterized by its compact structure and low production costs. (57) Zusammenfassung: Die Erfundung betrifftein Enibauteil, das als Rückflussinderer und/oder als Durchflussmengenregler ausgebildet und in eine Gas-oder Flüssigkeitsleitung einsetzbar ist. Das Einbauteil (1) weist ein Gehäuseteilen (3,4) ist eine Gehäuseteile-dichtung (5) cingespannt, die an ihrer Innen- und/oder. Aussenseite mit einer als schliesskörper des Rückflussverhinderers dienenden Ringbrame (11) und/oder zumindest einem Regel-oder Drosselkörper einstückig verbunden ist. Das erfindungsgemassăss Einbau-teil kann aus wenigen Einzelteilen zusammengesetzi werden und zcichnet sich durch scinen geringen Herstellungsaufwand und seine kompakte Bauform aus.

Full Text

INSERTABLE COMPONENT WHICH CAN BE INSERTED INTO A
GAS OR LIQUID LINE
The invention relates to an insertable component, which is embodied as a
non-return element and which can be inserted into a gas or liquid line,
having a housing" with at least one closing body being displaceably arranged
inside the housing, that seals a through-flow opening or several through-flow
openings of feeder channels in the closed position.
The invention also relates to an insertable component, which is embodied as
a through-flow regulator and which can be inserted into a gas or liquid line,
having a housing with at least one throttle body or regulating body being
arranged inside said housing, limiting a regulating gap between itself and a
housing wall, with the gap changing depending on pressure.
It is commonly known to combine several sanitary components into a single
sanitary insertable unit, particularly some that serve various functions.
From DE 297 03 335 Ul by the applicant, a backflow preventer has been
known, which represents a component of an insertable sanitary unit in
addition to comprising an upstream sieve for contaminants and a
downstream through-flow regulator. Such sanitary insertable units are
inserted for example at the cold water and warm water inlet in thermostat-
controlled mixing faucets, in order to prevent, with the help of the non-return
unit, the entry of cold water into the warm water pipe and vice versa and in
order to ensure an even water flow, using the through-flow regulator, even in
varying liquid pressures of the inflowing water.
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WO2004/083699 PCT/EP2004/002507
The previously known backflow preventer comprises a housing with a cone-
shaped valve arranged therein. The cone-shaped valve cooperates with the
valve seat, which is molded inside the housing. The cone-shaped valve can be
displaced from a closed position into an open position by the pressure of the
inflowing water against the returning force of a pressure spring. In an
opposite flow, the cone-shaped valve is displaced inside the housing towards
the valve seat and the return preventor is closed to prevent any undesired
return flow.
The through-flow regulator provided in the sanitary insertable unit according
to DE 297 03 335 Ul and positioned downstream the above-described
through-flow regulator comprises a control core, conically tapering in the
through-flow direction, which cooperates with a rubber ring that can be
widened depending on water pressure.
The previously known sanitary insertable unit and, in particular, the
insertable components contained therein are multipart and correspondingly
expensive in their production. Due to the fact that the insertable components
serving various functions are positioned downstream of one another in the
through-flow direction, the insertable sanitary unit of prior art comprises a
comparatively large construction length, which can be further extended by
additional insertable components added upstream or downstream.
Therefore, the object is particularly to provide insertable components of the
type mentioned at the outset that can be inserted into gas or liquid lines,
which can be produced with comparatively little expense and which are
designed simple and compact.
2

WO2004/083699 PCT/EP2004/002507
In the insertable component according to the invention, embodied as a
backflow preventer, the solution comprises for the housing to be made from at
least two housing parts and being provided with feeder channels in at least
one annular area, which open into a housing chamber, and that a housing
seal is provided between facing sides of two adjacent housing parts, the
housing seal is connected in one piece to an annular membrane, which can be
displaced by the flow medium, inside the housing chamber, and forms a
closing body.
The insertable component according to the invention, embodied as a non-
return element, is provided with a housing which is formed by at least two
preferably coaxial housing parts. A housing part seal is held between these
housing parts, connected in one piece to at least one annular membrane,
which can be displaced by the flow medium, inside a housing chamber. When
return flow occurs, at least one annular membrane forming a closing body
seals the through-flow opening of the feeder channels, which are arranged in
at least one annular area inside the housing of the outer housing. However,
with a liquid flow, flowing in the normal through-flow direction, the at least
one annular membrane is displaced from the closing position into the open
position, in which the through-flow openings remain open. The non-return
element according to the invention can thus be combined from as little as
three parts, namely the two housing parts and the single part combining the
annular membrane and the housing seal. The non-return element according
to the invention can therefore be produced easily and in a compact size.
A particularly simple embodiment of the insertable component embodied as a
non-return element provides for the housing seal and the at least one annular
membrane, forming the closing body,
3

WO2004/083699 PCT/EP2004/002507
to be embodied as a flat body. In the insertable component according to the
invention the housing seal and the at least one annular membrane, forming
the closing body, can be embodied as a one-piece flat body and do not require
any complicated design.
The solution provides for the insertable component embodied as a through-
flow regulator according to the invention, that the housing is made from at
least two housing parts and that between the facing sides of two adjacent
housing parts, a housing seal is provided, which is connected in one piece to
the at least one throttle body located inside the housing.
The insertable component, embodied as a through-flow regulator, comprises a
housing, which is composed of at least two preferably coaxial housing parts.
A housing seal is held between these housing parts, connected in one piece to
the at least one throttle body located inside the housing. This at least one
throttle body limits a control gap between itself and a housing wall, which
gap changes depending on pressure. In this way, the insertable component
embodied as a through-flow regulator can be composed inexpensively from
only three individual components.
In order to securely fasten the housing seal and the annular membrane
connected thereto and/or the throttle body to the inside of the housing in a
simple manner, it is advantageous for the housing parts to be provided with
annular flat surfaces, facing one another, between which the housing seal can
be mounted.
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WO2004/083699 PCT/EP2004/002507
In order to further facilitate the production of the insertable components
according to the invention it is advantageous for the at least two housing
parts to be provided with snap elements for connecting the housing parts,
engaging one another in the mounted position. This way, a complicated
screw connection, gluing, or welding can be omitted for the assembly of the
exterior housing formed by the housing parts.
A particularly easy to assembly embodiment according to the invention
provides for the snap elements of one of the housing parts to comprise a
central opening and for the other housing part to preferably comprise several
engaging hook elements.
The insertable component according to the invention can be easily
disassembled, if necessary, when the hook elements of the one housing
component penetrate the other housing component in the assembled position
and extend beyond its exterior.
A preferred embodiment according to the invention provides for the facial
areas clamping the housing seal to be located at the exterior rim of the
housing parts. The rim position of the clamping area of the housing seal
allows for a comparatively large functional area inside the housing for
annular membranes and/or throttle bodies.
The small number of parts of the insertable component according to the
invention is enhanced even more when the internal surface of the housing
part arranged in the flow direction extends beyond the clamping area of the
housing seal towards the inside and forms a section of the housing chamber
wall, and where one or several feeder channels open, The through openings
of these feeder channels can be arranged in several, particularly concentric
annular areas of the housing. However, it is particularly advantageous for
5

WO2004/083699 PCT/EP2004/002507
several feeder channels to be arranged on an annular part of the housing,
distributed in the circumferential direction, which preferably open
immediately adjacent to the clamping area of the region of the annular
membrane that forms the housing seal.
The insertable component embodied as a non-return element reacts
particularly quickly to small return flows when the annular membrane is
extended inwardly beyond a region internally adjacent to the housing seal,
forming the closing body, and thus forms a separating wall in the open or
through-flow position, dividing the housing chamber into two partial annular
chambers, and in this position contacts with its free interior annular rim the
housing part at the downstream side, when a penetrating and/or through-
flow opening follows to the upstream partial annular chamber and when at
least one non-return opening opens into the downstream partial chamber.
In order to fasten the throttle body in its control position it is advantageous
for the throttle body to be fastened in a housing chamber between the
upstream and the downstream housing part and for the downstream housing
part to comprise a downstream rest and an exterior support and for the
upstream housing part to comprise an interior housing wall or a similar rest,
forming the limit of the control gap, for the annular throttle body.
A particularly advantageous further development according to the invention,
which independent protection is claimed, provides for the insertable
component according to the invention to be embodied as a non-return element
and as a through-flow regulator.
6

WO2004/083699 PCT/EP2004/002507
Here it can be advantageous for the annular membrane to be embodied as a
closing body adjacent to the housing seal and to be connected to the throttle
body in one piece at its interior end. This further developed embodiment,
which can also be made from as little as three individual parts, is embodied
both as a non-return element as well as a through-flow regulator. Here, the
closing body required for the non-return element and the throttle body
required for the through-flow regulator are connected in one piece to the
housing seal. Such an embodiment is particularly compact and is
characterized in a low construction height, as well.
The small number of parts of the insertable component according to the
invention is even further enhanced in its high functionality when it is
embodied for the insertion into a liquid line and comprises an annular seal at
an exterior thereof for sealing the liquid line, and when the annular seal is
connected in one piece to the housing seal between the facing sides of the
housing component.
Here, it is particularly advantageous for the exterior annular seal to be
embodied as an O-ring seal or an annular cord seal.
In order to fasten the annular seal to the exterior of the housing it is
advantageous for an annular groove to be provided on the outside between
the two adjacent housing parts for accepting the exterior annular seal and for
the annular groove to be formed by a housing recess in one housing part,
open towards the separation point of the housing for forming a side wall and
the bottom of the groove, and for the interior facing surface of the other
housing part to form the second side wall.
7

WO2004/083699 ■ PCT/EP2004/002507
Another preferred embodiment, worth protecting in itself, relates to an
insertable component embodied as a through-flow regulator, which can
maintain the constant through-flow of fluid under a wide range of pressures,
from 0.1 bar to 10 bar, for example.
Previous embodiments of sanitary through-flow regulators have their
respective strengths in certain pressure zones. For example, through-flow
regulators have been known which achieve a characteristic through-flow at
very high pressures, however they have problems to stabilize the target line
in the medium and strong pressure ranges. The separating line drifts
upward or downward or it shows oscillating phenomenon. Other known
embodiments of throughflow-regulators, operating very well in medium to
high pressure ranges, use an O-ring which counteracts a control profile.
However, at very low differential pressures of 0.1 bar, for example, the O-ring
does not react to the pressure difference, the through-flow results entirely
from the available cross-section. Due to the fact that the O-ring only reacts
at a relatively high pressure, the free cross-section cannot be selected too
large because otherwise the through-flow becomes too large in the reaction
range and an undesired exceeding of the characteristic line occurs.
Therefore, through-flow regulators of this type only achieve their respective
targeted through-flow at approx. 0.7 to 1.0 bar. A similar embodiment of this
class of through-flow regulators is the elastomer disc, which is supported
with its flat bottom on a support profile.
A further development according to the invention provides for the housing
seal at both sides to be connected in one piece to at least one throttle body
each, which throttle body being supported on the inside of the housing in a
control gap. Here, it is particularly advantageous for the throttle body
8

WO2004/083699 PCT/EP2004/002507
provided at both sides of the housing seal to react at different differential
pressures, and for a first throttle body preferably to react in a low-pressure
range and, in contrast thereto, a second throttle body in a high-pressure
range.
The housing seal in this embodiment according to the invention is therefore
connected in one piece at both sides to a throttle body each. The throttle
bodies react with different sensitivities and thus they can control the
through-flow amount in various pressure ranges such that they complement
each other, particularly in the low-pressure and the high-pressure range.
While the highly sensitive throttle body already diminishes the free cross-
section of the flow of the control gap at a low differential pressure of 0.1 bar,
for example, the throttle body reacting to high differential pressure deforms
not until a further increased pressure and thus keeps the through-flow
constant in the high pressure range. The characteristic line of such a
regulator achieves-the targeted through-flow at very low pressures and
maintains it at a constant levels up to a high pressure range of approximately
10 bar, for example.
It can be useful for the insertable component embodied as a non-return
element and/or a through-flow regulator to be provided with at least one
throttle body or regulating body designed in a lip-shaped manner. However,
it is also possible for the insertable component to additionally or instead
comprise a throttle body designed as at least one O-ring.
In order for the lip-shaped throttle body to be able to react sensitively to a
differential pressure it is useful for at least one lip-shaped throttle body with
9

WO2004/083699 PCT/EP2004/002507
its free lip end region to be aligned preferably diagonally opposite the
through-flow direction.
In order to abruptly increase the resistance of the throttle body, beginning at
a predetermined rate of deformation, one embodiment according to the
invention provides for the control movement of at least one lip-shaped
throttle body to be limited by a control stop.
By arranging this control stop and by providing an appropriate distance of
the control stop and the throttle body arranged upstream therefrom the
differential pressure can be varied by the design, at which the respective
throttle body is to react. Additionally or instead thereof it can also be
provided for the throttle bodies, arranged at both sides of the housing seal, to
be designed differently, each adjusted to their reactive pressure.
For example it is possible, on the one hand, that the housing seal is connected
to a lip-shaped throttle body and, on the other hand, to a throttle body
embodied as an O-ring. While the comparatively soft, lip-shaped throttle
body already reacts to low differential pressures, an appropriately stiff
throttle body, embodied as an o-ring, can be characterized by a high reaction
pressure, in reference thereto. However, it is also possible for the housing
seal to be connected at both sides with lip-shaped or with O-ring shaped
throttle bodies, which become active at different pressure ranges based on
their design and dimensions.
Therefore, another embodiment according to the invention provides for the
housing seal to be connected at both sides each with a lip-shaped throttle
body.
10

WO2004/083699 PCT/EP2004/002507
The reaction behavior of the through-flow regulator according to the
invention can also be influenced such that the throttle body reacting in the
low-pressure range is allocated to the interior or exterior control gap, because
the throttle body effective in the exterior control gap seals a larger area
during its deformation radially outward than the lip of the throttle body
located inside the control gap.
A further development of the invention provides for the housing seal and the
throttle bodies connected thereto to be formed as a multi-component die-cast
part and for the throttle bodies to be comprised of various elastomers.
In order to enhance an easy reaction of the throttle body of the insertable
component embodied as a through-flow regulator and in order to be able to
predetermine said through-flow regulator to a fixed maximum amount of flow
it is advantageous for the housing wall limiting the control gap to be provided
with rib-shaped, grooved, or similarly embodied regulating profiling aligned
approximately in the through-flow direction.
Additionally embodiments of the invention are described in the sub claims.
In the following, the invention and its essential details are explained further
with the drawings.
Shown are:
Fig. 1 an insertable component embodied as a non-return element and as a
through-flow regulator, that can be inserted into a gas or liquid line,
shown in a longitudinal cross-section,
11

WO2004/083699 PCT/EP2004/002507
Fig. 2 an insertable component embodied only as a non-return element,
shown in a longitudinal cross-section,
Fig. 3 a downstream facing surface of an insertable component according to
Figures 1 or 2,
Fig. 4 an insertable component embodied as a through-flow regulator and
shown in a longitudinal cross-section, with its two housing parts
having a housing seal clamped therebetween, whose parts are each
connected in one piece at both sides with a throttle-body, lip-shaped
and supported in a control gap,
Fig. 5 a through-flow regulator according to Figure 4 in a top view,
Fig. 6 a through-flow regulator comparable to Figures 4 and 5, however with
the housing seal being connected to a throttle body embodied as an 0-
ring in the area of the interior control gap and a lip-shaped throttle
body in the area of the exterior control gap,
Fig. 7 a through-flow regulator also comparable to the Figures 4 and 5, with
its housing seal being connected to two lip-shaped throttle bodies,
which react to different differential pressures and have different
geometrical shapes for this purpose, and
Fig, 8 a through-flow regulator comparable to the one in Figure 6, however
with the O-ring shaped throttle body arranged in the area of the
exterior control gap and the lip-shaped throttle body in the area of the
interior control gap.
12

WO2004/083699 PCT/EP2004/002507
A sanitary insertable component, which can be inserted into a gas or liquid
line, is shown in Figures 1 and 2 in different embodiments 1, 10. While the
insertable component 10 in Figure 2 is to serve merely as a non-return
element, the insertable component 1 in Figure 1 is integrated both as a non-
return element as well as a through-flow regulator.
The exterior housing 2 of the insertable components 1, 10 is formed from two
coaxial housing parts 3, 4, having sides that face one another between which
a housing seal 5 is held. The housing parts 3, 4 are connected to one another
via snap elements which engage in the mounted position. For this purpose,
the downstream housing part 4 is provided with a central opening 6, with 4
hook elements 7, pointing cross-wise away from one another, and engaging
the upstream housing part 3, These hook elements 7 extend beyond the
downstream exterior face of the housing 2.
The insertable component 1, 10, can be inserted into a liquid line. In order to
seal the interior circumference of the liquid line, an annular seal 8 is
provided, which is connected in one piece to the housing seal 5. This annular
seal 8, embodied as an annular cord seal, is held in an annular groove 9,
which is provided on the outside between the two housing parts 3, 4 for
accepting the annular seal 8.
The annular groove 9 is limited by a housing recess, open towards the
separating point of the exterior housing 2, at the upstream housing part 3,
which housing recess forms a side wall and the groove base. However, the
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WO2004/083699 PCT/EP2004/002507
interior surface of the other housing part 4 forms the other side wall of the
annular groove 9.
The two housing parts 3, 4 are provided at their exterior edges with annular
surfaces, facing one another, between which the housing seal 5 is clamped.
The housing seal 5, at the side facing away from the annular seal 8, is
connected in one piece to an annular membrane 11, which can be displaced
inside a housing chamber 12 by the flow medium and which is embodied as a
closing body of the non-return element.
Starting at the upstream surface of the exterior housing 2, several feeder
channels 13 lead through the housing part 3, lead with their through
openings 14 into the housing chamber 12 at a distance from one another in
the circumferential direction. While the annular membrane 11 is displaced
by a flow of liquid flowing in the usual through-flow direction Pfl in its open
position, it is held in its closing position during a back flow, opposite the
through-flow direction Pfl, which seals the downstream mouths of the
through openings 14 with the annular membrane 11.
The annular membrane 11 of the insertable component 1 shown in Figure 1
is connected in one piece to a throttle body or control body 15 of the through-
flow regulator with its interior end, facing away from the seals 5, 8, The
throttle body 15; also located in the housing chamber 12 inside the housing of
the exterior housing 2, limits a control gap 17 between itself and the housing
wall 16, with the gap changing depending on pressure,. The throttle body 15
is embodied in the shape of an O-ring and mounted between the upstream
and the downstream housing part 3, 4 inside the housing chamber 12.
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WO2004/083699 PCT/EP2004/002507
While the downstream housing part 4 forms a downstream rest and an
exterior support for the throttle body 15, the upstream housing part 3 is
provided with a central housing or control core, tapering in the through-flow
direction Pfl, which forms the housing wall 16 serving as a control gap limit
for the annular throttle body 15 and having hook elements 7 protruding from
the face of its free end..
In the insertable component 10 according to Figure 2, the housing seal 5,
connected to the annular seal 8, and the annular membrane 11, adjacent
towards the inside and serving as a closing body of the non-return element,
are provided as flat bodies. Here, the annular membrane 11 is extended
inwardly beyond an area adjacent to the housing seal 5, provided as a closing
body, and forms in the open position a separating wall, dividing the housing
chamber 12 into two partial annular chambers 19, 20, with not only the
through openings 14 of the feeder channels 13 leading into the upstream
partial annular chamber 19 but also the downstream openings 21, which
remain in the central opening 6 between the hook elements 7. However,
several return flow openings 22 open into the downstream partial annular
space 20, which guide the return flow into the partial annular space 20
affecting the downstream surface of the exterior housing 2, with the return
flow in the closed position pressing the annular membrane 11 against the
through openings 14 and/or the rounded or curved interior annular rim 23
against the central housing core 18.
The reaction pressure and the reaction behavior of the closing and/or the
throttle body can be determined depending on the rubber-elastic
characteristics of the material used, for example, the shore-hardness.
15

WO2004/083699 PCT/EP2004/002507
Furthermore, the reaction pressure and the reaction speed, particularly of
the function of the non-return element, can be modified by the selection of the
radial pre-tension of the annular membrane 11.
Various embodiments 100, 101, 102, and 103 of an insertable component
provided as a through-flow regulator are shown in Figures 4 through 8. The
housing 2 of insertable components 100, 101, 102, and 103, insertable in a gas
or liquid line, is also provided with two housing parts 3, 4, which clamp a
housing seal 5 between one another. The housing seal 5 is connected in one
piece on both sides with one throttle body 15, 15' each. Each of these throttle
bodies 15, 15' is supported in a control gap 17, 17', respectively, on the inside
of the housing 2.
As is discernible from the longitudinal cross-sections in Figures 4, 6, 7, and 8,
the housing parts 3, 4 are each provided with at least two concentric annular
housing walls 24, 25, and 26 and/or 24', 25', and 26', which are connected to
one another via radial connection bars 27 in the form of spokes. The annular
walls 24/24', 25/25', and 26/26' are allocated in pairs towards one another,
with the two central facial walls 25/25' of said housing parts 3, 4 clamping
the housing seal 5 between their facial surfaces facing one another and
separating the parallel control gaps 17, 17' from one another.
At the sides of the adjacent annular walls 24/25' and/or 26/26', facing the
central annular walls 25/25', a control profiling 28, 28' is provided each
aligned in a through-flow direction, which is formed here by grooves or bars
distributed in the circumferential direction. Here, the throttle bodies 15, 15'
can be provided at the housing parts 3, 4 with control profiling 28, 28*
embodied differently.
16

WO2004/083699 PCT/EP2004/002507
The throttle bodies 15, 15' provided on both sides of the housing seal 5 react
at different differential pressures. While a first throttle body 15 preferably
reacts in the low pressure range, a second throttle body 15' reacts in the high
pressure range, in contrast thereto, In order to ensure a different reaction of
the throttle bodies 15, 15', the throttle bodies 15, 15' are provided with
different shapes adjusted to their pressure, for example, as shown in the
insertable components 100, 101, 102, and 103.
For example, at the housing seal 5 of the insertable components 100, 102
shown in the Figures 4 and 7, one geometrically soft and one oppositely stiff
lip are provided as throttle bodies 15, 15', reacting with different sensibility
to the differential pressure. The throttle bodies 15, 15' having different
stiffnesses control the through-flow amounts in the various pressure ranges
and complement one another this way in the low pressure and the high
pressure range.
For very low differential pressure, for example amounting to 0.1 bar, the
geometrically soft lip embodiment, serving as a throttle body 15, contacts the
control profiling and begins to reduce the free flow cross-section. The
geometrically stiff lip 15' does not deform, which allows the free cross-section
of this area to be fully available for the flow of the fluid. By the large
geometrical elasticity of the lip embodiment 15, the shape is deformed very
rapidly into the control profiling by any rising pressure, i.e. in the range up to
0,4 bar, and ultimately seals the free cross-sections available here. When the
pressure further increases, the stiff lip formation, serving as a throttle body
15', deforms as well and thus maintains a constant through-flow in the high
pressure range.
17

WO2004/083699 PCT/EP2004/002507
The two variants of these two-step types of through-flow regulators differ
from each other in which throttle body 15, 15' is active towards the inside and
which one is active towards the outside.
In the through-flow regulator 100 shown in Figures 4 and 5, the
geometrically stiff and the geometrically soft lip embodiment 15, 15' are
connected to one another by the circumferential housing seal 5. The housing
seal 5 is fixed in its position by the annular housing walls 25/25' of the upper
housing part 3 and the lower housing part 4. The annular housing walls 25,
25' and the housing seal 5 are adjusted to one another such that the control
gaps 17, 17', allocated to the throttle bodies 15, 15', are separated from one
another in a water-tight manner. For this purpose, one of the annular walls
25, 25' can be provided with a circumferentially raised sealing bar, which is
pressed into the housing seal 5. The embodiment of the housing parts 3, 4 in
the area of the downstream connection bars 27 determines if any distance
remains between the throttle bodies 15, 15' and the downstream connection
bars 27 and to what extent, which also serve as control stops.
The connection bars 27 serving as control stops and their distance from the
throttle bodies 15, 15' influence the control behavior of the insertable
components shown here; in the flow of the fluid the lip-shaped throttle bodies
15, 15' deform relatively easy at the beginning, until the bottom of the lip
contacts the connection bars 27 of the housing 2. When this state has been
reached, the lip-shaped throttle bodies 15, 15' deform to a lesser extent under
increasing differential pressure so that the free cross-sections are not closed
as fast under high pressure. The interior control profiling 28' is provided at
the housing wall formed by the annular walls 26/26'. In contrast thereto, the
housing wall formed by the annular walls
19

WO2004/083699 PCT/EP2004/002507
24/24' is provided on its interior wall with the exterior control profiling 28,
which forms the respective control profile for the geometrically soft lip
embodiment 15 shown in Figure 4,
At the interior annular wall 26, 26' of the central housing embodiment, the
first housing part 3 engages a central recess 31 of the second downstream
housing part 4.
In reference to the through-flow regulator 100 shown in Figures 4 and 5, the
insertable component 102 differs in Figure 7 merely by the arrangement of
its geometrically stiff lip embodiment and its soft one. In the insertable
component 101 shown in Figure 7 the geometrically stiff, lip-shaped throttle
body 15' is provided on the outside, while the geometrically soft lip-shaped
throttle body 15 is arranged on the inside. The lip-shaped throttle body 15',
supported in the exterior control gap 17, seals a larger surface during
deformation radially outward than the lip-shaped throttle body 15 affecting
the interior radius. This way, the arrangement of the lip-shaped throttle
body 15, 15' on the inside or the outside affects the reaction behavior of these
insertable components.
While in Figure 6 the lip-shaped, softer throttle body 15 affects the exterior
control gap 17 and the O-ring shaped, stifTer throttle body 15' is located
inside the control gap 17T, the O-ring shaped throttle body 15' is arranged in
the exterior control gap 17 in the insertable component 103 shown in Figure
8 and the lip-shaped, softer throttle body 15 is arranged in the interior
control gap 17', in contrast thereto,
The embodiment of the through-flow regulator 100, 101, 102, and 103 shown
here and the reaction behavior of these insertable components can be varied
and influenced constructively by the geometrical stiffness of the soft and the
20

WO2004/083699 PCT/EP2004/002507
stiff lip embodiment 15, 15', by the elastic characteristics of the material
used, by the distance of the throttle bodies 15, 15' on the one hand and the
downstream provided control stops, on the other hand, by the dimensions of
the control gap 17, 17' remaining between the throttle body and the adjacent
housing wall, by the control profiling 28, 28' provided at the adjacent housing
wall, and by the arrangement of the sensitively reacting throttle body in the
area of the interior and the exterior control gap 17, 17'.
The insertable components 1, 10, 100, 101, 102, and 103, as discernible from
Figures 1 through 8, can be composed from as little as three parts and are
characterized by their simple production, their compact design, as well as
their low construction height.
21

WO2004/083699 PCT/EP2004/002507
CLAIMS
1. A insertable component Cl, 10), which is embodied as a non-return
element that is insertable into a gas or liquid line, comprising a
housing (2) with at least one closing body arranged in an interior of the
housing that can be displaced into a closed position to seal a through
opening or several through openings (14) of feeder channels (13),
characterized in that the housing (2) is comprised of at least two
housing parts (3, 4) having the feeder channels in at least one annular
area, opening into a housing chamber, and that between facing sides of
the two adjacent housing parts (3, 4) a housing seal (5) is provided,
which is connected in one piece to at least one annular membrane (11),
that can be displaced by a flow medium, the housing seal is located
inside the housing chamber (12) and forms the closing body.
2, An insertable component according to claim 1, characterized in that
the housing seal (5) and the at least one annular membrane (11),
forming the closing body are embodied as flat bodies.
3. An insertable component (1, 100, 101, 102, 103), which is embodied as
through-flow regulator that is insertable into a gas or liquid line,
comprising a housing (2), with at least one throttle or regulating body
(15, 15') being arranged inside said housing, limiting a control gap (17,
17') between the throttle or regulating body and a housing wall (16),
with the control gap changing depending on pressure, in particular
according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the housing (2) is
comprised of at least two housing parts (3, 4) and that between the
facing sides of two housing parts (3, 4), a housing seal (5) is provided,
which is connected in one piece to the at least one throttle body or
regulating body (15, 15') supported inside the housing.
22

WO2004/083699 PCT/EP2004/002507
4. An insertable component according to one of claims 1 through 3,
characterized in that the housing components (3, 4) are provided with
annular surfaces, facing one another, between which the housing seal
(5) is clamped.
5. An insertable component according to one of claims 1 through 4,
characterized in that a preferably central housing portion of a first
housing part (3) engages a central recess (31) of a second housing part
(4.)
6. An insertable component according to one of claims 1 through 5,
characterized in that in order to connect the housing parts (3, 4) in the
mounting position, engaging snap elements are provided on the at
least two housing components (3, 4).

7.
An insertable component according to claim 6, characterized in that
the snap elements of one of the housing parts (4) is provided with a
central opening (6) and the other housing part (3) is preferably
provided with several engaging hook elements (7.)
8. An insertable component according to claim 7, characterized in that
the hook elements (7) of one of the housing parts (3) engage the other
housing part (4) in a mounted position and extend beyond an exterior
side thereof.
9. An insertable component according to one of claims 4 through 8,
characterized in that surfaces clamping the housing seal (5) are
provided at an exterior rim of the housing parts (3, 4.)
23

WO2004/083699 PCT/EP2004/002507
10. An insertable component according to one of claims 4 through 9,
characterized in that the interior surface of the housing" part (3),
arranged upstream extends inwardly beyond a clamping area of the
housing seal (5) and forms a section of the housing chamber wall and
that here one feeder channel or several feeder channels open.
11. An insertable component according to claim 10, characterized in that
several feeder channels (13) are provided, distributed in a
circumferential direction, which preferably open immediately adjacent
to the clamping region of the annular membrane (11) forming the
housing seal (5).
12. An insertable component according to one of claims 1 through 11,
characterized in that the annular membrane is extended inwardly
beyond an area, forming the closing body and being adjacent on an
inside to the housing seal (5) and thus forming in the open position a
separating wall dividing the housing chamber (12) into two partial
annular chambers (19, 20), and in this position contacting with a free
interior annular rim (23) the downstream housing part (4), that
downstream openings (21) and through openings (14) are connected to
the downstream partial annular space (19) and that at least one return
flow opening (22) opens into the downstream partial annular space
(20).
13. An insertable component according to one of claims 3 through 12,
characterized in that the throttle body (15) is mounted in a housing
chamber (12) between the upstream and the downstream housing part
(3, 4) and that the downstream housing part (4) is provided with a
downstream rest and an exterior support and the upstream housing
24

WO2004/083699 PCT/EP2004/002507
part (3) is provided with an interior housing wall (16) forming a limit
of the control gap or a similar rest for the annular throttle body (15.)
14. An insertable component according to one of claims 1 through 13,
characterized in that it is embodied as a non-return element or as a
through-flow controller.
15. An insertable component according to claim 14, characterized in that
the annular membrane (11) is embodied as a closing body located
adjacent to the housing seal (5) and that it is connected in one piece at
an interior end thereof to the throttle body (15).

16. An insertable component according to one of claims 1 through 15,
characterized in that it is embodied for being inserted into a liquid line
and is provided on an outside thereof with an annular seal (8) for
sealing it from the liquid line and that the annular seal (8) is
connected in one piece to the housing seal (5) located between the
facing sides of the housing parts (3, 4).
17. An insertable component according to claim 16, characterized in that
the exterior annular seal (8) is embodied as an O-ring seal or an
annular cord seal.
18. An insertable component according to one of claims 1 through 17,
characterized in that between the two adjacent housing parts (3, 4) on
the outside, an annular groove (9) is provided for accepting the exterior
annular seal (8) and that the annular groove (9) is formed by a recess
in the housing that opens toward a separation point of the housing (2)
on the one housing part (3) for forming a side wall and a bottom of the
25

WO2004/083699 PCT/EP2004/002507
groove and by an interior surface of the other housing part (4) for
forming the second side wall.
19. An insertable component according to one of claims 3 through 8 and
14, characterized in that the housing seal (5) is connected on both sides
to at least one throttle body (15, 15?), which throttle bodies (15, 150 are
each supported on the inside of said housing (2) in a control gap (17,
17').
20, An insertable component according to claim 19, characterized in that
the annular housing walls (25, 25') clamping the housing seal (5) on
faces therebetween separate the control gaps (17, 17') allocated to the
throttle bodies (15, 15J.)
21. An insertable component according to claim 19 or 20, characterized in
that the throttle bodies (15, 15') provided on both sides of the housing
seal (5) react to different differential pressures and that, on the one
hand, a first throttle body (15) reacts preferably in a low pressure
range and that, on the other hand, a second throttle body (15*) reacts in
a high pressure range.
22, An insertable component according to one of claims 3 through 21,
characterized in that the insertable component is provided with at
least one lip-shaped throttle body (15, 15'J
23. An insertable component according to one of claims 3 through 22,
characterized in that the insertable component is provided with at
least one throttle body (15') embodied as an O-ring.
26

WO2004/083699 PCT/EP2004/002507
24. An insertable component according to one of claims 3 through 23,
characterized in that at least one lip-shaped throttle body (15, 150 is
aligned with a free lip end region (30) thereof preferably extending
diagonally opposite a through-flow direction (Pfl.)
25. An insertable component according to one of claims 21 through 24,
characterized in that the control motion of at least one lip-shaped
throttle body (15, 15') is limited by a control stop.
26. An insertable component according to one of claims 21 through 25,
characterized in that at least one lip-shaped throttle body (15,15')
comprises a lip section, aligned approximately lateral to the through-
flow direction (Pfl), which extends into a free lip end region (30)
aligned opposing the through-flow direction (Pfl.)
27. An insertable component according to claim 26, characterized in that
the lip section (29), approximately aligned lateral to the through-flow
direction (Pfl), cooperates with the control stop.
28. An insertable component according to one of claims 1 through 27,
characterized in that at least one of the housing parts (3, 4) comprises
at least two preferably approximately concentric annular walls (24, 25,
26; 24', 25', 26') connected via approximately radial connection bars
(27).
29. An insertable component according to claim 28, characterized in that
at least one connection bar (27) arranged downstream of the throttle
body (27) is embodied as a control stop and/or as a throttle body
support.
27

WO2004/083699 PCT/EP2 004/002 5 07
30. An insertable component according to one of claims 19 through 29,
characterized in that the throttle bodies (15, 15') provided at both sides
of the housing seal (5) comprise different designs, each adapted to a
different reaction pressure.
31. An insertable component according to claim 30, characterized in that
the housing seal (5) is connected, on one side, to a lip-shaped throttle
body (15) and, on an other side, to a throttle body (15') embodied as an
O-ring.
32. An insertable component according to one of claims 19 through 30,
characterized in that a lip-shaped throttle body (15, 15') is connected
on each side of the housing seal (5).
33. An insertable component according to one of claims 21 through 32,
characterized in that the throttle body (15) reacting in a low pressure
range is allocated to an interior or exterior control gap (17, 17').
34. An insertable component according to one of claims 19 through 33,
characterized in that the housing seal (5) and the throttle bodies (15,
15') connected thereto are formed as a multi-component die-cast part
and that the throttle bodies (15, 15') are made from different
elastomers.
35. An insertable component according to one of claims 3 through 34,
characterized in that at least one housing wall (16), limiting a control
gap (17, 17'), is provided with a regulating profiling (24; 28, 28')
extending approximately in the through-flow direction (Pfl) in the
form of ribs, grooves, or the like.
28

The invention relates to an insertable component which is embodies as a non-return element and/or as a through-flow regulator and which can be inserted into a gas or liquid line. The insertable component (1) comprises a housing (2) which is comprised of at least two housing parts (3). A housing seal (5) is fitted between the housing parts (3,4). The housing seal is joined as a single piece to an annular membrane (11), which is used as a closing body for the non-return element, and or a regulating or throttle body. The inventive insertable component can comprise a small number of individual parts and is characterized by its compact structure and low production costs.

(57) Zusammenfassung: Die Erfundung betrifftein Enibauteil, das als Rückflussinderer und/oder
als Durchflussmengenregler ausgebildet und in eine Gas-oder Flüssigkeitsleitung einsetzbar ist. Das Einbauteil (1) weist ein Gehäuseteilen (3,4) ist eine Gehäuseteile-dichtung (5) cingespannt, die an ihrer Innen- und/oder. Aussenseite mit einer als schliesskörper des Rückflussverhinderers dienenden
Ringbrame (11) und/oder zumindest einem Regel-oder Drosselkörper einstückig verbunden ist. Das erfindungsgemassăss Einbau-teil kann aus wenigen Einzelteilen zusammengesetzi werden und zcichnet sich durch scinen geringen Herstellungsaufwand und seine kompakte Bauform aus.

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Patent Number

216060

Indian Patent Application Number

01757/KOLNP/2005

PG Journal Number

10/2008

Publication Date

07-Mar-2008

Grant Date

06-Mar-2008

Date of Filing

05-Sep-2005

Name of Patentee

NEOPERL GMBH

Applicant Address

KLOSTERRUNSSTRASSE 11, 79379, MULLHEIM, GERMANY

Inventors:

#	Inventor's Name	Inventor's Address
1	HART KEITH	ROSE COTTAGE, MARLBANK ROAD, WELLAND, WORCESTERSHIRE WR13 6NE, GREAT BRITAIN.

PCT International Classification Number

F16K 15/14

PCT International Application Number

PCT/EP2004/002507

PCT International Filing date

2004-03-11

PCT Conventions:

#	PCT Application Number	Date of Convention	Priority Country
1	103 11 501.3	2003-03-15	Germany