EP2268409B1 - Shower head - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a shower head with a jet discharge disk (2), comprising a plurality of jet discharge openings (3). Individual chambers (8) are formed behind the jet discharge disk within the housing, said chambers being formed by the jet discharge disk and by an intermediate disk arranged at a distance. The individual chambers are hydraulically separated from each other between the jet discharge disk and the intermediate disk by at least almost radially extending ribs. Each chamber comprises an inlet on the side of the intermediate disk that faces the water inlet (1) into the housing. A valve disk is rotatably arranged in the shower head housing and closes and opens during a rotation after each inlet opening into the chambers. Thus, a discharge of water from the jet discharge opening of a chamber takes place suddenly and in a suddenly changing manner at the same time.

Description

The invention relates to a shower head with a shower head housing, a water inlet and a jet exit disc.

There is already known a shower head, in which a turbine is arranged, which leads to a periodic movement of the jet outlet body relative to the showerhead housing ( EP 676241 ). Between the turbine and the jet outlet body, a reduction gear can be arranged.

In another known shower device, the jet exit disc makes an eccentric movement without twisting. The jet outlet elements, which are made of elastic material, move on a cone, with all jet outlet elements remaining parallel to one another ( WO00 / 10720 ).

Also known are massage showers in which jet outlet openings are opened and closed in a very fast sequence. In this case, a pulsating beam is to be created, which should produce a massage effect when hitting the skin.

The invention is based on the object to provide a shower head, in which even with a large-scale radiation without additional water consumption strong water jets are generated.

To solve this problem, the invention proposes a shower head with the features mentioned in claim 1. Further developments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

The shower head according to the invention thus contains two separate chambers from which the water can flow out through the jet outlet openings of the jet disc. These chambers are so separated, it is possible to provide one of the two chambers with water, while the other chamber is not supplied with water. So the water can not flow from one chamber to the other. By the valve means, which can open and close the chambers, it is then possible to supply a chamber separately from another chamber with water. When switching then suddenly occur from all the beam outlet openings of a chamber water jets, or be switched off. It is therefore not one jet outlet opening after the other switched on or off, but always a whole group of jet outlet openings.

By temporarily switching off the jet openings of a chamber, the flow is reduced overall, which simultaneously causes an increase in the internal pressure and thus an amplification of the exiting water jets.

In a further development of the invention it can be provided that the valve device has at least one valve closing body which cooperates with an inlet in at least two, preferably all chambers. In this case, therefore, there is at least one valve closing body, which, however, is then responsible for at least two, but in particular all chambers. This simplifies the construction of the valve device.

It is also possible that the valve device has a plurality of valve closing bodies. Also then it can be provided that at least one valve closing body cooperates with the inlet in all chambers.

Another possibility is that with several valve closing bodies for at least one chamber, a separate valve closing body is present, which does not interact with the other chambers.

In order to promote the mentioned effect of the sudden switching on or switching off of all the jet outlet openings of the chamber, it can be provided in a development that this chamber has only one inlet.

For the drive can be inventively provided that immediately behind the inlet into the shower head housing, a turbine is arranged, which is connected via a gear or directly to the valve closing body.

In a development of the invention, it can be provided that the showerhead housing has a particularly circular jet exit disc, wherein the chambers have the base area of a circular sector. In this way it can be ensured that the entire base area of the jet exit disk is available for openings, and that it becomes possible to use a rotating valve closing body.

In a further development of the invention it can be provided that the inlets are arranged in the chambers along a circular arc.

According to the invention it can be provided that the chambers are bounded on the one hand by the jet exit disc and on the other hand by an intermediate disc. In this way, the housing can be very easy to assemble, especially when both the jet exit disc on its inside and the washer have the same shape, for example, are formed as flat slices According to the invention, it can be provided that at least one valve closing body is formed as a flat washer resting on the side of the intermediate disk facing the water inlet. It can be moved on this disc and interact directly with an inlet opening for the chamber in the washer.

In particular, it may be provided that the closing disc has an edge toothing, which meshes with a ring gear connected to the turbine.

In a further development of the invention can be provided that the closing disc has a peripheral toothing, which is arranged with a arranged on the inside of the shower head housing along the entire circumference toothing.

In particular, it can be provided that the edge toothing of the closing disc is engaged both with the turbine and with the housing-side toothed ring.

According to the invention, it can be provided that the sliding and rotating closing disc does not have its own bearing.

Figur 1

eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Brausekopfs nach der Erfindung;

Figur 2

eine Seitenansicht des Brausekopfs der Figur 1 in vergrößertem Maßstab;

Figur 3

einen Schnitt durch das Brausekopfgehäuse der Figur 1 und 2;

Figur 4

einen Schnitt durch den Wassereinlass längs Linie IV-IV in Figur 3;

Figur 5

einen Querschnitt durch das Brausekopfgehäuse etwa längs Linie V-V in Figur 2;

Figur 6

eine perspektivische Ansicht eines weiteren Brausekopfs;

Figur 7

eine Ansicht des Brausekopfs schräg von oben;

Figur 8

eine schematische aufgebrochene Darstellung der Ventileinrichtung innerhalb des Brausekopfs;

Figur 9

einen Querschnitt durch den Brausekopf der Figuren sechs bis acht;

Figur 10

einen Schnitt parallel zu der Strahlscheibe durch den Brausekopf;

Figur 11

einem der Figur 10 entsprechenden Schnitt bei einer weiteren Ausführungsform;

Figur 12

eine der Figur neun entsprechenden Schnitt durch den Brausekopf der Figur 11;

Figur 13

einen der Figur 12 entsprechenden Schnitt in einer unter- schiedlichen Stellung des Ventils;

Figur 14

einen Querschnitt durch eine weitere Ausführungsform;

Figur 15

einen Schnitt durch den Einlass in den Brausekopf, Figur 14;

Figur 16

einen Querschnitt durch den Brausekopf der Figur 14;

Figur 17

eine Ansicht eines Bauteils mit einem in Schließkörper;

Figur 18

die Ansicht eines Zwischenbodens;

Figur 19

einen Gehäuseteil mit der Strahlscheibe Uhr;

Figur 20

einen der Figur 14 entsprechenden Schnitt durch eine weitere Ausführungsform;

Figur 21

eine der Figur 15 entsprechende Darstellung der Ausführungsform nach Figur 20;

Figur 22

eine der Figur 3 entsprechende Darstellung einer nochmals weiteren Darstellung;

Figur 23

den Schnitt der Figur 22 in einem geänderten Zustand des Brausekopfs..

Further features, details and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the claims and the abstract, the wording of which is incorporated by reference into the content of the description, the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention and with reference to the drawing. Hereby show:

FIG. 1

a perspective view of a shower head according to the invention;

FIG. 2

a side view of the shower head the FIG. 1 on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 3

a section through the shower head housing the FIGS. 1 and 2 ;

FIG. 4

a section through the water inlet along line IV-IV in FIG. 3 ;

FIG. 5

a cross section through the showerhead housing approximately along line VV in FIG. 2 ;

FIG. 6

a perspective view of another shower head;

FIG. 7

a view of the shower head diagonally from above;

FIG. 8

a schematic broken view of the valve device within the shower head;

FIG. 9

a cross section through the shower head of Figures six to eight;

FIG. 10

a section parallel to the jet disk through the shower head;

FIG. 11

one of the FIG. 10 corresponding section in a further embodiment;

FIG. 12

one of the figure nine corresponding section through the shower head of the FIG. 11 ;

FIG. 13

one of the FIG. 12 corresponding section in a sub- different position of the valve;

FIG. 14

a cross section through a further embodiment;

FIG. 15

a section through the inlet in the shower head, FIG. 14 ;

FIG. 16

a cross section through the shower head of FIG. 14 ;

FIG. 17

a view of a component with a closing body;

FIG. 18

the view of a false floor;

FIG. 19

a housing part with the jet disk clock;

FIG. 20

one of the FIG. 14 corresponding section through a further embodiment;

FIG. 21

one of the FIG. 15 corresponding representation of the embodiment according to FIG. 20 ;

FIG. 22

one of the FIG. 3 corresponding representation of yet another illustration;

FIG. 23

the cut of the FIG. 22 in a changed state of the shower head ..

The in FIG. 1 illustrated shower head includes a flat-cylindrical housing having on its side facing away from the user a water inlet 1 for connection to a water pipe, a hose or the like. On the opposite side, the housing is bounded by a jet exit disc 2, which in the illustrated Example is formed as a flat circular disc. In the jet exit disc a plurality of jet outlet openings 3 is arranged, from which water flows out during operation of the shower. Between the inlet 1 and the jet outlet disc 2, a jacket four is formed, which lies in the example shown on a cylinder jacket surface.

FIG. 2 shows on an enlarged scale a side view of such a shower head. The water inlet 1 widens immediately behind its junction, top in FIG. 1 so that it has a larger inner diameter when entering the showerhead housing.

FIG. 3 shows a section through the showerhead housing in a plane parallel to the view of FIG. 2 , In the example shown, the jet exit disc 2 is integral with the jacket 4 of the showerhead housing. This could also be solved differently. On the back of the water inlet 1 facing the shower is closed by a cover 5.

Behind the jet exit disc 2, an intermediate disc 6 is arranged, which is formed as a flat disc and thus parallel to the inside of the jet exit disc 2 extends. This washer 6 has a raised edge 7, which rests with its outside on the inside of the shell 4.

Between the jet exit disc 2 and the washer 6 individual chambers 8 are formed. They extend from a point 9 adjacent to the center of the cross section of the housing to the inside of the outer wall 4. The individual chambers are separated by ribs 10, on which rests the washer 6. In FIG. 3 on the right, the section is laid through a chamber 8, while to the left of the center line, the section passes through a rib 10. From each chamber 8, of which FIG. 3 only one shows lead several jet outlets 3 into the open. The intermediate wall 6 has for each chamber 8 a single inlet opening 11, which in section the FIG. 3 can also be seen.

While the washer 6 is formed flat on its side facing the jet exit disc 2, so that it rests on the surface of the ribs 10 completely and thus sealingly, it contains on its side facing the water inlet 1 in the middle of a journal 12. On the journal 12, the hub 13 of a turbine is supported. The hub 13 is set between the washer 6 and the cover 5 in the axial direction with little play so that they can not move. The hub 13 has an outer toothing 14 in the region of its portion facing the intermediate disk 6. In the area above the external teeth 14, the hub integrally formed includes a plurality of wings 15, which thus form together with the hub 13, the turbine wheel. The outer edges 16 of the wings 15 lie on a circle having a radius which corresponds approximately to the radius of a cross section through the widened part of the water inlet 1.

In order to set the turbine in rotation, four openings 17 are arranged in the lid 5 within the area where the water inlet 1 is connected to the lid 5. These openings are inclined; namely, if one follows the arrangement of the openings 17, all in the same direction obliquely. This is on the FIG. 4 refer to a section through the extended part of the water inlet along line IV-IV in FIG. 3 shows. If one follows the individual openings 17 in the counterclockwise direction, the openings are all inclined in the same direction, so that the water jet emerging from the openings 17 below the cover 5 impinges on all the wings 15 in the same direction. This means that the water entering through the openings 17 causes the turbine to rotate.

Reference is now made to the figure five, which shows a broken section along line V-V in Figure two. In the left half of the section through the chambers 8 is placed in the right half of the intersection between the washer 6 and the lid is five. It thus shows a plan view of the intermediate disk 6 with the inlet openings 11.

It has already been mentioned that the intermediate disc 6 abuts with its edge on the inside of the outer wall 4. This wall now contains at the same height as the external teeth 14 of the hub 13 an inwardly directed sprocket 18, which extends over the entire circumference of this wall 7. Between the ring gear 14 of the hub 13 and the inner ring gear 18 of the wall 7, a valve closing member 19 is arranged in the form of a flat circular disc 20 in the illustrated embodiment. This valve closing disc 20 has a ring gear 21 along its circumference. This ring gear 21 meshes with both the inwardly directed ring gear 18 and with the ring gear 14 of the hub 13. Upon rotation of the hub 13, caused by the flowing water, thus also the valve closing disc 20 is rotated so that it on the internal teeth 18th rolls. In the in FIG. 5 In the position shown, it closes the inlet opening 11 of one chamber, while leaving the remaining inlet openings 11 of the other chambers 8 open. Through the left open inlet openings 11, the water flows into the chambers 8 and from there through the jet outlet openings 3 into the open. In the FIG. 5 shown valve closure plate 20 closes in the course of a cycle, that is a complete revolution, successively the inlet openings 11 to each chamber eighth

It is possible that in such an arrangement more than one valve closing disc 20 is present, for example two or three.

In order to change the duration of the closing of the inlet openings 11 to a certain extent, it is possible to approach these inlet openings 11 closer to the hub 13 or closer to the outside.

The ribs 10 between the individual chambers extend radially outwardly from a center of the circular arrangement, so that the chambers formed between them are formed in the shape of a sector of a circle. There are jet outlet openings over the entire surface of the jet outlet disc 2, so that all jet outlet openings 3 can be supplied with water.

The FIGS. 6 and 7 show in a perspective view a shower head once obliquely from below and even diagonally from above. The shape of the shower head is the same as in the previous embodiment, but the jet outlet openings are also optically combined into groups of jet outlet openings 3 in the jet disk 2. The inlet again takes place from above, that is to say from the top side opposite the jet exit disk 2. Here is a water inlet 1 is present, in the interior of three slots 23 are provided, through which the water flows into the interior of the shower head. In the interior of the shower head, a turbine 24 is arranged immediately behind the three slots 23, which is driven by the water flowing into the shower head. The turbine drives via a detent gear 25 a diametrically extending through the housing axis 26 at. The axis 26 is mounted at its two ends in the housing of the shower head. It has two valve closing bodies in the form of discs 27. These discs 27 extend over approximately a three-quarter arc, so have a gap. The gaps of both disks 27 are arranged at different locations along the circumference. The axis 26 with the valve closing bodies 27 is arranged in a valve space 28 into which leads approximately in the middle of the inlet for the water. In the parts in which the discs 27 are arranged, the valve chamber 28 has a cylindrical shape and abut the peripheral surfaces of the valve discs 27 on the wall. From the valve space 28 valve openings 30 lead to a group of jet outlet openings 3. The discs 27 have a thickness which is greater than the diameter of the valve openings 30. The discs 27 are arranged in the axial direction on the axis 26 at the locations at which the valve openings 30 lead to the chambers 31 containing the jet outlet openings 3. This one is best in FIG. 10 detect. If, by rotating the axle 26, the valve disks 27 rotate, they cover the valve openings 30 over part of their circumference, whereas where the gaps are present, the inlet into the opening 30 and thus into the chambers 31 is opened.

By means of a push button 32, the axis 26 can be adjusted or even move. This stepless displacement then affects all chambers.

In the illustrated embodiment, the discs 27 are formed as flat discs, so that the opening operation and the closing operation through the gap in the disc 27 is achieved. It is also conceivable to allow the disks to run obliquely to the axis, so that the contact surface between the periphery of the disks and the wall of the valve chamber 28 moves back and forth in the axial direction.

While in the embodiment according to FIG. 6 to FIG. 10 the water inlet is made from the side of the lid 5 ago, shows FIG. 11 one of the FIG. 10 corresponding section, in which the drive of the axis 26 takes place from the side, ie from the axial direction of the axis. Here, a turbine 24 is also arranged behind an inlet, wherein between the turbine 24 and the axis 26 rotated by it, a reduction gear 25 is arranged. Moreover, this facility works in similar to the previous one.

FIG. 12 shows a section where two lying on opposite sides of the axis 26 chambers 31 are supplied with water, while in the position of FIG. 13 only the right chamber 31 is supplied with water.

The FIGS. 14 to 19 show a further embodiment of a shower head according to the invention. The average in FIG. 14 illustrated shower head corresponds to the embodiment of the FIGS. 1 to 5 in such a way that it has a flat-cylindrical housing with a jacket 4 and a jet exit disk 2. In the jet exit disc 2, a plurality of jet outlet openings 3 are arranged. On the side facing away from the jet exit disk 2, the housing is closed by a cover 5. On the lid 5, the water inlet 1 is attached, from which the water enters through the lid 5 in the interior of the housing. In the here somewhat thicker cover 5 channels 40 are formed, which lead from the relatively small diameter water inlet 1 through the cover 5 into the region of the outside of the housing.

On the inside of the jet outlet disc 2 and the shell 3 of the housing forming member, an edge step 41 is formed: at a distance from this edge step 41, an annular web 42 is formed on the inside of the jet exit disc, which has the same height as the step 41. A part of the jet outlet openings 4 is arranged in the space between the annular web 42 and the outer wall 3 of the housing, while another part of the jet outlet openings 4 is arranged within the annular web 42. On the shoulder 41 and the annular web 42, an intermediate bottom 43 is placed, thereby forming a first chamber 44 between the shell 3, the jet disc 2 and the annular web 42 and a second chamber 45 between the annular web 42 and the jet exit disc 2 forms. From each of the two chambers 44, 45 lead jet outlet openings 3 into the open.

The intermediate bottom 43 has an inlet 46 into the outer chamber 44 and an inlet 47 into the inner chamber 45. In the middle, the intermediate bottom 43 on the side facing away from the jet exit disc 2 on a bearing pin 6, on which a component 48 is rotatably mounted. This component 48 has a plurality of radially extending vanes 49, which extend almost to the outside of the housing. The water leaving the channels 40 hits the wings 49 and causes this component 48 to rotate. The component 48 has on the underside of its wings 49, two partial annular plates 50, 51, each extending over about half a circumference. The outer plate 50 is arranged so that its outer edge lies outside the outer edge of the inlet opening 46 and its inner edge lies on a circle within the inner side of the inlet opening 46. This means that this plate 50 can close the inlet 46 into the outer chamber 44. The same applies to the inner partial annular plate 51, which is correspondingly associated with the inlet 47 into the inner chamber 45.

The inlet openings 46 and 47 into the chambers 44, 45 extend over a short arc, see FIG. 18 , which shows a perspective view of the intermediate bottom 43. The interior view of the jet exit disc 2 with the annular web 42 and the shoulder 41 is in FIG. 19 to see.

The shower head in the FIGS. 20 and 21 illustrated embodiment decides in a particular of the shower head of in FIGS. 14 to 19 illustrated embodiment. In the cover 5, there is not only the channel 40, which opens inside the housing in the region of the radial outside and serves to drive the rotor. In addition, there are passages passing vertically through the lid 5 50, which open directly to the storage of the rotor on the hub 6. The lid 5 is rotatably arranged opposite to the water inlet 1, for which purpose an inwardly directed rib engages in an outer groove of the water inlet 1. Of course, seals are provided, which are not shown. The showerhead housing can be rotated by engaging its outer edge, once in a position where the openings 51 in a terminal wall 52 of the water inlet 1 are aligned with the inlets 53 of the channels 40. Then, the shower head operates in the same manner as in the embodiment FIGS. 14 to 19 , However, the cover 5 can be brought by twisting in a position where the openings 51 are made in the end wall 52 of the water inlet 1 with the passages 50 in accordance. In this situation, the rotor is not driven, but the water flows from the currently open opening in the intermediate wall 43 in the respectively associated chamber and from there through the jet outlet openings 3 into the open. In this way, switching can be canceled manually.

The in the FIGS. 22 and 23 illustrated embodiment differs from the previous embodiments in that the hub 6 remote from the jet disc 2 side of the intermediate bottom 43 formed here has a through opening. The jet disk 2 also has an opening aligned with the hub 6. This opening is formed in a hub 61. Through the mutually aligned openings engages a thrust element 62 which contains a handle knob 63 on the outside of the jet disk 2. The thrust element 62 engages with its inner end in the bearing 64 of the rotor. By inserting the handle knob 63, the rotor can be raised so that the partial ring plates 50,51 are lifted from their contact with the inside of the intermediate bottom 43. This means that the rotor still rotates, but it no longer produces any effect. Both chambers are supplied with water, and the jets of water emerge from all Beam outlet three out.

It is possible to use the embodiments according to the FIGS. 20 and 21 on the one hand and after FIGS. 22 and 23 on the other hand to combine in such a way that the lifting of the rotor is effected for example by a rotation of the housing relative to the water inlet 1, wherein at the same time by changing the water flow and the rotation of the rotor is adjusted.

Claims (15)

1. Shower head, with

   1.1 a housing that is closed off by an outlet disc (2),

   1.2 a water inlet (1) in the housing,

   1.3 at least two separate water-carrying chambers (8) in the housing,

   1.4 from which each chamber (8) is connected to a group of jet outlet openings (3) of the outlet disc (2),

   1.5 a valve device between the inlet (1) into the shower head housing and the chambers (8),

   1.6 which is configured to open and close at least two chambers (8), and with

   1.7 a drive unit to operate the valve device cyclically.
2. Shower head according to Claim 1, in which the valve device incorporates at least one valve closing body (19) that operates together with an inlet (11) in at least two, and favourably in every chamber (8), wherein, if there are multiple valve closing bodies (19), at least one valve closing body (19) of the valve device operates together with the inlet (11) in each chamber (8).
3. Shower head according to one of the foregoing claims, in which, with multiple valve closing bodies, all the valve closing bodies of the valve device operate together with the inlets (11) into all the chambers (8).
4. Shower head according to Claim 1 or 2, in which, with multiple valve closing bodies, at least one valve closing body of the valve device operates together with the inlet (11) into only one chamber (8).
5. Shower head according to one of the foregoing claims, in which each chamber (8) only has a single inlet (11).
6. Shower head according to one of the foregoing claims, in which the drive device incorporates a turbine located immediately behind the inlet (1) into the shower head housing.
7. Shower head according to one of the foregoing claims, in which the shower head housing is cylindrical, and the chambers (8) have a base in the form of a sector of a circle.
8. Shower head according to one of the foregoing claims in which the inlets (11) into the chambers (8) are positioned along a circular arc.
9. Shower head according to one of the foregoing claims, in which the chambers (8) are bounded on one side by the outlet disc (2) and on the other side by an intermediate disc (6), and where at least one valve closing body is formed as a disc (20) lying flat against the side of the intermediate disc (6) that faces the water inlet (1), incorporating in particular teeth (24) around the edge that engage with a sprocket wheel (14) that is connected to the turbine or with teeth (18) located along the full circumference of the inside of the shower head housing.
10. Shower head according to Claim 9, in which the closing disc (20) does not have any bearings.
11. Shower head according to one of the foregoing claims with a manually operated adjusting device for changing the assignment between a valve closing body of the valve device and the chambers (31), whereby the adjusting device may be operated in such a way that the valve device is configured to keep all the jet outlet openings continuously open and/or where the adjusting device operates on a common axis for moving them.
12. Shower head according to one of the foregoing claims, with a valve compartment (28) in which the valve closing bodies (27) are located and from which the valve opening (30) leads to the chambers (31) that contain the jet outlet openings (3), wherein in particular the valve compartment (28) is cylindrical in form and the valve closing bodies are configured as disks (27) which lie along at least part of their circumference against the walls of the valve compartment (28) and which may be driven to rotate about a common axis (26).
13. Shower head according to Claim 12, in which at least one valve closing body is configured as a disc (27) positioned at right angles to an axis of rotation, and/or at least one disc (27) features an opening or an interruption in the area of its circumference.
14. Shower head according to one of the foregoing claims in which at least one group of jet outlet openings (3) is arranged in a chamber (44, 45), and the valve closing body associated with this group of jet outlet openings (3) operates together with an inlet (46, 47) into the chamber (44, 45), whereby in particular the chamber (44, 45) is formed between the outlet disc (2) and an intermediate floor (43) that is positioned in parallel to it.
15. Shower head according to one of the foregoing claims in which the drive for cyclically operating the valve device is configured in such a way that it can be stopped or have its function inactivated by a manual action.

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