WO2008038315A1

WO2008038315A1 - Electronically controlled shower head

Info

Publication number: WO2008038315A1
Application number: PCT/IT2006/000694
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alberto Turrini; Gerhard Nikles
Original assignee: Nikles Tec Italia S.R.L.
Priority date: 2006-09-29
Filing date: 2006-09-29
Publication date: 2008-04-03

Abstract

The object of the present invention is an electronically controlled shower head. The shower head comprises at least two water dispensing chambers (14, 16), each provided with its own dispensing nozzles (15, 17), and as many actuating devices (20), each suitable for intercepting the incoming water flow towards a respective dispensing chamber. Such actuating devices are electrically actuable by an electronic control device (22) built in the shower head. Said control device takes the electrical supply from an electrical supply equipment (24) suitable for transforming the mechanical work generated by the incoming water flow into electrical energy useful for powering at least said electronic control device.

Description

DESCRIPTION "Electronically controlled shower head"

[0001] The present invention relates to shower heads capable of dispensing different types of water jets. [0002] Shower heads having different types of dispensing means in a same body so as to dispense as many types of water jets have long been known.

[0003] For example, shower heads are known that are capable of dispensing a rain jet, a ventilated jet, a so-called "massaging" jet, etc.

[0004] In such known shower heads, the different water jets are obtained by directing the incoming water flow only towards the dispensing means capable of producing the desired jet. In order to determine the direction of the water flow, upstream of the dispensing nozzles the shower head is provided with diverting means manually actuable through levers or ring nuts associated to the shower head body. [0005] The object of the present invention, on the other hand, is to propose a shower head suitable for dispensing at least two different types of water jets, wherein such water jets are electronically selectable, preferably in remote mode. [0006] Another object of the invention is to propose a shower head of the type mentioned above, whose electronic control of the water jets takes place without the need of providing the shower head with an electrical battery or connecting it to an electric network.

[0007] Said objects are achieved with a shower head according to claim 1.

[0008] The details and advantages of the shower head according to the present invention will appear more

clearly from the following description of some preferred embodiments thereof, made by way of an indicative non- limiting example with reference to the annexed drawings, wherein:

[0009] figure 1 shows a perspective view of lthe top portion of the shower head;

[0010] figure 2 shows a perspective bottom view of the shower head;

[0011] figure 3 shows a cutaway view of the shower head that also shows the water flow therein;

[0012] figure 4 shows an axial section view of a single actuating device mounted on the shower head; [0013] figures 5, 6 and 7 show three different axial section views of the shower head, each at the level of an actuating device; and

[0014] figure 8 shows a schematic view of a remote control for remotely controlling the shower head. [0015] In said drawings, reference numeral 10 globally denotes an electronically controlled shower head according to the present invention.

[0016] Preferably, shower head 10 exhibits a substantially flat shape, that is, having a cross dimension, that generally coincides with the water dispensing surface, greater than its thickness or height .

[0017] Shower head 10 extends about a main axis X that in the following description shall be considered as substantially vertical for convenience. [0018] Shower head 10 has an inlet 11 for a water flow coming from a water feeding duct. Preferably, said inlet 11 is associated to a spherical joint 12 for the shower head orientation. [0019] In accordance with an embodiment, said inlet 11 extends coaxially to axis X.

[0020] Shower head 10 comprises at least two water dispensing chambers, each chamber being provided with its own water dispensing nozzles . [0021] In accordance with a preferred embodiment, shower head 10 has a first dispensing chamber 14 provided with a first group of dispensing nozzles 15, for example for a rain jet, a second dispensing chamber 16, provided with a second group of dispensing nozzles 17, for example for a ventilated jet, and a third dispensing chamber 18, provided with a third group of nozzles 19, for example for a massaging jet.

[0022] Shower head 10 is provided with at least two actuating devices 20 (in the embodiment shown they are three) , each suitable for intercepting the incoming water flow towards a respective dispensing chamber 14, 16, 18. [0023] According to the invention, said actuating devices 20 are electrically actuable by an electronic control device 22 built in the shower head. Each actuating device takes the electrical supply from an electrical supply equipment 24 suitable for transforming the mechanical work generated by the incoming water flow into electrical energy useful for powering at least said electronic control device 22. [0024] Advantageously, moreover, said electronic control device 22 is connected to a receiver 26 so as to be controlled by a remote control 28.

[0025] In accordance with an embodiment, the electrical supply equipment 24 comprises an impeller 30 movable in rotation by the water flow going into the shower head, and a dynamo 32 whose rotor 33 is actuated by said impeller 30.

[0026] In one embodiment, impeller 30 transmits the motion to rotor 33 of dynamo 32 through a belt drive 34 and pulleys 35, 35' . [0027] In a variation of embodiment, the impeller transmits the motion to the rotor of the dynamo through a gear drive or toothed wheels .

[0028] According to a further embodiment , the electrical supply equipment 24 further comprises a battery or accumulator, for example rechargeable through the dynamo, which ensures a more immediate start up of the electronic devices .

[0029] In accordance with a preferred embodiment, each actuating device 20 comprises a solenoid valve 40. [0030] More in detail, each solenoid valve 40 comprises a valve body 41 wherein there are obtained peripheral inlet openings 42 of the water and an axial passage 43 for the¹ water outlet towards a respective dispensing chamber. The axial passage 43 is associated to a gate 44 movable between an opening position and a closing positio;ri of said passage 43. Gate 44 is actuated by electromagnet 45 associated to the valve body 41.

[0031] Going back to the electrical supply equipment 24, impeller 30 is advantageously arranged horizontally, that is, it has an axis of rotation 30' substantially parallel to axis X of the shower head. Such arrangement allows limiting the overall height dimensions of the shower head, which can therefore take up a flat shape. [0032] Impeller 30 is seated in a chamber 50 directly in fluid communication with the water inlet 11. [0033] Advantageously, the chamber of impeller 50 directly communicates with inlet 11. In other words, said chamber extends radially from inlet 11. [0034] At the bottom, chamber 50 exhibits at least one outlet 51 towards an intermediate chamber 52 in fluid communication with the actuating devices 20. [0035] In accordance with an embodiment, the intermediate chamber 52 exhibits a flat cylindrical shape, and the chamber of impeller 50 is overlapped to said intermediate chamber 52. According to an embodiment, the intermediate chamber 52 is coaxial to axis X of the shower head. [0036] Advantageously, the actuating devices 20 are arranged so as to cross in height a peripheral portion of the intermediate chamber 52. This allows optimising both the overall height dimensions of the shower head, and the cross extension thereof, which can thus be selected on the basis of the water dispensing surface. [0037] More in detail, body 41 of each actuating device exhibits a coupling portion 41' to a respective seat 53 obtained in a top wall 54 of the intermediate chamber, said seat having water outlets 53' aligned with inlets 42 of the actuating device.

[0038] In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the intermediate chamber 52 is obtained on a support plate 60 that at the top delimits the water dispensing chambers. Said support plate 60 has holes 61 at the axial passages 43 of water outlet from the actuating devices 20. [0039] Going back to the shower head electronic control, there is advantageously provided a printed circuit electronic board 70 on which there are mounted at least the electronic control device 22 of the actuating devices 22 and receiver 26 for remote control 28.

[0040] According to an embodiment, the electronic board 70 exhibits an annular shape and is mounted on an annular peripheral portion 60' of the support plate 60. Such annular peripheral portion 60' extends radially beyond the overlying intermediate chamber 52.

[0041] According to a preferred embodiment , the shower head further comprises at least one lighting soutrce 74 associated to at least one water dispensing chamber. Such lighting source can for example consist of a IiED. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, four /LEDs 74 of different colour extend from the first dispensing chamber 14. [0042] LEDs 74 are electrically connected to an electronic control device 76 that takes the electrical supply from the electrical supply equipment 24. Also such electronic control device 76 of the LEDs is mounted on the electronic board 70 and is connected to receiver 26. [0043] Remote control 28 is therefore provided with at least one group of buttons 28a for selecting the actuating devices and thus the type of water jet and a group of buttons 28b for selecting the colour. [0044] It should be noted that the actuating devices 20 are selectable individually and preferably, alternately so that only one type of jet may be dispensed. [0045] Advantageously, moreover, one of the actuating devices 20 can be of the normally open type, that is, such as to allow the water passage in the lack of electrical current .

[0046] Finally, a button 28c may be provided on remote control 28 for commanding the control device 22 for closing all the actuating devices 20. In this way, the water dispensing from shower head 10 is prevented in favour, for example, of a hand shower.

Claims

1. Electronically controlled shower head comprising: a water flow inlet; at least a first and a second water dispensing chamber, each chamber being provided with its own water dispensing nozzles;

I at least two actuating devices, each suitable for intercepting the incoming water flow towards a respective dispensing chamber; the shower head being characterised in tnat said actuating devices are electrically actuable by an electronic control device built in the shower head and in that it comprises an electrical supply equipment suitable for transforming the mechanical work generated by the incoming water flow into electrical /energy useful for powering at least said electronic control device.

2. Shower head according to claim 1, wherein said electronic control device is connected to a receiver so as to be controlled by a remote control.

3. Shower head according to claim' 1 or 2, wherein said electrical equipment comprises an impeller movable in rotation by the water flow going into the shower head, and a dynamo whose rotor is actuated by said impeller.

4. Shower head according to claim 3 , wherein the impeller transmits the motion to the rotor of the dynamo through a pulley and belt drive.

5. Shower head according to claim 3, wherein the impeller transmits the motion to the rotor of the dynamo through a toothed wheel drive.

6. Shower head according to any one of the previous claims, wherein each actuating device comprises a solenoid valve .

7. Shower head according to claim 6 , wherein each solenoid valve comprises a body wherein there are obtained peripheral water inlet openings and an axial passage for the water outlet towards a respective dispensing chamber, said axial passage being associated to a gate movable between an opening position and a closing position of said passage by an electromagnet associated to said valve body.

8. Shower head according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the impeller has an axis of rotation substantially parallel to the main axis of the shower head.

9. Shower head according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the impeller is seated in a chamber directly in fluid communication with the water inlet.

10. Shower head according to claim 9, wherein the impeller chamber extends radially relative to the water inlet .

11. Shower head according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the impeller chamber has an outlet towards an intermediate chamber in fluid communication with the actuating devices.

12. Shower head according to claim 11, wherein said intermediate chamber exhibits a flat cylindrical shape, the impeller chamber being overlapped to said intermediate chamber.

13. Shower head according to claim 12, wherein the actuating devices cross in height a peripheral portion of said intermediate chamber.

14. Shower head according to claim 13 , wherein the boαy of each actuating device exhibits a coupling portion to a respective seat obtained in a top wall of the intermediate chamber, said seat exhibiting water outlets aligned with the inlets of the actuating device.

15. Shower head according to any one of claims lϊ to 14, wherein the intermediate chamber is obtained on,_/a support plate that at the top delimits the water /dispensing chambers .

16. Shower head according to claim 15, Iwherein said support plate exhibits holes at the axial passages of water outlet from the actuating devices.

17. Shower head according to any one /of the previous claims, comprising a printed circuit electronic board on which there are mounted at least the electronic control device of the actuating devices and the receiver for the remote control.

18. Shower head according to claims 15 and 17, wherein the electronic board exhibits an annular shape and is mounted on an annular peripheral portion of the support plate.

19. Shower head according to any one of the previous claims, comprising at least one lighting source associated to at least one water dispensing chamber, said lighting source being electrically connected to its own electronic control device that takes the supply from the electrical supply equipment.