DK2268408T3

DK2268408T3 - showerhead

Info

Publication number: DK2268408T3
Application number: DK09721205.4T
Authority: DK
Inventors: Ulrich Kinle
Original assignee: Hansgrohe Se
Priority date: 2008-03-20
Filing date: 2009-03-19
Publication date: 2017-06-06
Also published as: ES2623603T3; CN102006941B; PT2268408T; EP2268408A1; DE102008015970A1; PL2268408T3; EP2268408B1; WO2009115325A1; CN102006941A

Description

The invention relates to a shower head according to the preamble to Claim 1. A suchlike shower head is previously disclosed in DE 30 03 784 Al. The shower head concerned has a single rotatable jet outlet element in the form of a nozzle having a plurality of nozzle orifices retained centrally on a one-piece shower head housing.

Already familiar from EP 0 676 241 Al is a shower head, arranged in which is a turbine, which results in a periodic movement of the jet outlet body in relation to the shower head housing. A reduction gear can be arranged between the turbine and the jet outlet body.

In a shower system that is already familiar from WO 00/10720 Al, the jet outlet disc performs an eccentric movement, but without rotating. The jet outlet elements consisting of sleeves made of an elastic material in this case move on a taper, with the result that all the jet outlet elements remain parallel to one another.

Also familiar are massage showers, in which jet outlet orifices are opened and closed in a very rapid sequence. The intention is to create a pulsating jet, with the aim of producing a massage effect upon touching the skin.

Familiar from EP 0 563 595 Al, furthermore, is a rotating nozzle for a high-pressure cleaning apparatus that is not suitable as a shower head, which rotating nozzle has two rotatably mounted jet outlet elements and a water-powered drive device in a housing, wherein a reduction gear is arranged between the drive and the jet outlet elements.

The invention has as its object to make available a shower head of the kind mentioned by way of introduction, which is intended to produce a moving jet pattern with a clearly identifiable pattern of movement and, compared with the above-mentioned prior art, permits the realization of variable jet patterns and is capable of being manufactured with comparatively low effort and expense.

In order to accomplish this object, the invention proposes a shower head having the features mentioned in Claim 1. Further developments of the invention are the subject-matter of dependent claims.

The shower head proposed by the invention contains a shower head housing, into which a water inlet leads. The shower head is terminated on the side intended for use by a jet outlet surface, which is formed by a jet base of the housing. Present in the shower head housing is at least one jet outlet element, which dispenses the spraying water from the jet outlet surface. The jet outlet element is rotatably mounted in the housing. It is caused to rotate by a drive device, which is driven by the flowing water. A reduction gear is arranged between the drive and the jet outlet element, so that the jet outlet element accordingly rotates relatively slowly. The jet pattern, which the jet outlet element emits, changes in such a way that the user is able to perceive it clearly. No pulsating jet should be produced, therefore, but rather a jet which changes in its direction or in its course, in which this change can also be perceived visually by the user.

The at least one jet outlet element can be arranged in the shower head housing in such a way that it is not considered as being a perceivable part especially in terms of its function. In particular, it does not need to protrude noticeably from the shower head housing, since the visual effect to be perceived by the user is intended to make itself noticeable by the jet pattern alone. A worm drive serves as a reduction gear, which is intended to ensure that the jet outlet elements rotate relatively slowly. This makes it possible for the worm of this worm drive to be operatively connected directly to a jet outlet element, for example by engaging in a toothed rim of the jet outlet element. A housing upper part is placed on an inner surface of the jet base, which leaves free a water-conducting cavity and secures against the axial displacement of the at least one jet outlet element.

In a further development of the invention, provision can be made for the jet outlet element to have at least one passage, which is arranged eccentrically and/or obliquely with respect to the axis of rotation of the rotatably mounted jet outlet element. In the case of a passage that is arranged purely eccentrically but parallel with respect to the axis of rotation, the jet emerging through this passage changes its positions, yet remains substantially parallel to itself at all times. In the case of an oblique course, the jet also changes its direction. In the case of a combination of an eccentric and oblique course, the jet changes both.

In a further development of the invention, provision can be made for the shower head housing to have a plurality of jet outlet elements, of which preferably all are driven by the drive device. It would also be conceivable to arrange a plurality of jet outlet elements, of which one is fixed, for example, whereas the others are driven.

Just as there can be a plurality of rotatable jet outlet elements, in a further development the shower head according to the invention can also have a plurality of passages in at least one jet outlet element, which passages are arranged eccentrically and/or obliquely to the axis of rotation.

In the case of a plurality of passages extending obliquely to the axis of rotation in a jet outlet element, in a further development provision can be made for these to extend parallel to one another.

In a further development of the invention, provision can be made, given that a plurality of jet outlet elements are present, for the axes of rotation thereof to extend parallel to one another.

It is likewise possible, however, and lies within the scope of the invention, given a plurality of jet outlet elements, for the axes of rotation of at least two jet outlet elements not to extend parallel to one another, but rather to form an angle other than 0° with one another. The angle in this case can be a very small angle.

It has already been mentioned that, given a plurality of jet outlet elements, these are driven jointly. It is now possible according to the invention, in a further development, for provision to be made for at least two of a plurality of jet outlet elements to be driven rotationally in the same direction.

It is also possible, however, for jet outlet elements to be driven rotationally in the opposite direction.

In a further development of the invention, provision can be made for at least two, and preferably all the jet outlet elements, to be driven at the same circumferential speed.

It is likewise possible for the jet outlet elements to be driven at a different circumferential speed.

It has proven to be particularly advisable if, given a plurality of jet outlet elements, all the jet outlet elements have the same size and/or configuration.

It is possible, furthermore, for the worm to be connected directly to a turbine, which belongs to the drive device.

In a further development of the invention, provision can be made for the water inlet to take place laterally into the shower head housing, in particular transversely with respect to the axis of rotation of the jet outlet element. Provision can be made in this case for the turbine to be arranged in this lateral water inlet. The use of a lateral inlet makes it possible also to configure the shower head as a hand shower. The inlet can then take place in the usual manner through the handle. In the case of a head shower, however, the lateral inlet can result in the shower head housing being of relatively flat configuration, in which case the lateral inlet can also serve for the attachment of the shower head housing.

Further characterizing features, details and advantages of the invention can be appreciated from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention and on the basis of the drawing, where:

Figure 1 depicts the perspective view of a simplified representation of a shower head according to the invention;

Figure 2 depicts a section through the inlet into the shower head housing; Figure 3 depicts a horizontal section in a first embodiment;

Figure 4 depicts a section along the line IV-IV in Figure 3;

Figure 5 depicts a section corresponding to Figure 3 in a further embodiment;

Figure 6 depicts a section corresponding to Figures 3 and 5 in yet another embodiment;

Figure 7 depicts schematically a section corresponding to Figure 4 in a further embodiment.

Figure 1 depicts a shower head according to the invention in a perspective representation. The shower head includes a shower head housing 1, configured as a cylinder in the represented example. Positioned radially with respect to the cylinder axis on the shower head housing 1 is an inlet housing 2, which has the connection for a water pipe, a hose or the like in a free end surface 3. The end surface of the shower head housing 1 shown in Figure 1 forms the jet outlet surface 4 facing towards the user. Four openings 5 are arranged in this jet outlet surface 4, through which respectively one jet outlet element 6 can be seen. Each of these jet outlet elements 6 has a plurality of jet outlet orifices 7, which are illustrated only schematically here.

Figure 2 depicts a cross section through the inlet housing 2. Formed in the inlet housing 2 is an annular space 8, inside which an inner housing 9 is arranged. The water flowing into the inlet housing 2 initially arrives in this annular space 8. A turbine 10 with individual blades 11 is rotatably mounted in the inner housing 9. In the represented example, three inlet orifices 12 lead obliquely into the interior of the inner housing 9 from the annular space 8, so that the water flowing from the annular space 8 through the inlet orifices 12 makes contact with the blades 11 and as a result sets the turbine 10 in rotation.

The blades 11 of the turbine 10 are moulded on a shaft 13, which extends transversely through the shower head housing 1 and is mounted in the shower head at its opposite end 14. This can be seen in the sectioned view in Figure 3, to which reference is made below. The shaft 13 is configured as a worm of a worm drive. It passes through a cavity 15 in the shower head. As already mentioned, a plurality of jet outlet elements 6 are arranged in the shower head, and, to be precise, rotatably. The nature of the mounting is explained in more detail below. The jet outlet elements on their end facing into the interior of the shower head housing 1 have a toothed rim 16, which are in engagement with the worm of the shaft. The water driving the turbine 10 arrives in the interior of the shower head housing 1 through a base of the inner housing 9 and from there is released into the open air through the orifices 7 of the jet outlet elements 6. It can already be appreciated from Figure 3 that the orifices extend obliquely through the jet outlet elements 6. As a result of the engagement of the toothed rims 16 in the worm of the shaft 13, both of the jet outlet elements depicted underneath the worm in Figure 3 rotate in the same direction, and likewise the jet outlet elements 6 depicted above the worm. However, the upper jet outlet elements rotate in the opposite direction of rotation to the lower jet outlet elements 6. The shaft 13 is mounted not only at its end 14 facing away from the rotor 10, but also between the rotor and the worm section in a front bearing 17.

Now to Figure 4. The shower head housing has a jet base 18, which is of relatively thick configuration, forming the jet outlet surface 4. For each jet outlet element 6, this jet base 18 contains a plain cylindrical bearing bore 19, which ensures that the jet outlet element 6 is rotatably mounted. Placed on the inner surface 20 of the jet base 18 is an upper part 21, which leaves free a waterconducting cavity 22, but limits or prevents the upward displacement of a jet outlet element 6. The jet outlet elements 6 are thus mounted rotatably, although axially immovably, in the housing.

The jet outlet elements are likewise of relatively thick configuration, whereby the toothed rim 16 is arranged at its end facing into the interior and a free space 23 is formed inside the toothed rim. This free space 23 serves to guide the water. The orifices 7, from which the water emerges, are the orifices of passages 24 which are of rectilinear configuration and, as a result, impart a specific direction to the water. As can be appreciated from Figure 4, the passages in the case of the embodiment that is represented here extend both eccentrically and obliquely to the axis of rotation of the jet outlet elements 6.

Figure 5 depicts an embodiment, in which five jet outlet elements are mounted in the jet base 18 in a similar manner to that in the embodiment according to Figures 3 and 4. The shaft 13 connected to the rotor 10 in this case is of rather shorter configuration and also has a rather shorter worm section 25. The shaft 13 is mounted directly at 17 at the point of entry into the shower head housing 1. The worm section 25 of the shaft 13 is in engagement only with the toothed rim 16 of a first jet outlet element 6. The rotor 10 thus initially drives only the toothed rim 16 of a first jet outlet element 6 via the worm 25. This toothed rim 16 meshes with an intermediate toothed wheel 26, which then engages in the toothed rim 16 of the following jet outlet element 6. This continues for all the jet outlet elements 6. The arrangement of the intermediate gear wheels 26 ensures that all the jet outlet elements 6 rotate in the same direction of rotation.

An arrangement as represented in Figure 6 is obtained by omitting the intermediate gear wheels 26. In this case, too, the worm 25 of the shaft 13 connected to the rotor 10 meshes only with the toothed rim 16 of a first jet outlet element 6. This toothed rim 16 then engages directly in the toothed rim 16 of the adjacent jet outlet element 6, which then continues for all the jet outlet elements 6 in turn. In the embodiment represented in Figure 6, the adjacent jet outlet elements 6 thus rotate respectively in the opposite direction of rotation.

Combinations of these arrangements are also possible, of course, in particular jet outlet elements that are directly in connection with one another and jet outlet elements with intermediate gear wheels 26.

In the case of the section in Figure 4, it should be mentioned that the bearing bores 19 for all the jet outlet elements 6 are configured here as plain cylindrical bores with parallel axes. It is also possible, however, for these bearing bores not to extend parallel to one another, but rather to form an angle other than zero with one another. This is represented schematically in Figure 7. The bearing bores 29 for the jet outlet elements 6 form an angle here, so that the axes of the bearing bores 29 move closer together in the jet direction of the shower. The bearing bores are thus arranged to converge in the jet direction. This is very easily achieved in the case of the drive being provided by a worm, as can also be appreciated from Figure 7. But also in the case of the drive being provided by gear wheels, such an arrangement is possible. A shower head housing contains a plurality of jet outlet elements, in each case with a plurality of obliquely extending passages forming jet orifices. The jet outlet elements are rotatably mounted in the housing and are displaced by a water-powered rotor in a single slow rotation by means of a reduction gear. Because of the oblique course of the passages, the jets emerging from the shower head therefore perform specific movements, which are visually perceivable to the user of the shower. The jet outlet elements can all be rotationally driven in the same direction or alternately in different directions.

Claims

1. A shower head with - a shower head housing (1) with a beam bottom (18), - a water inlet to the shower head housing (1), - a beam outlet surface (4) formed by the beam floor, which terminates the housing (1), - at least one - a water-driven drive device in the housing (1); and - a reduction gear provided with a screw (25) between the drive device and the at least one jet outlet element (6), characterized by - an upper part (21) arranged on an inner surface (20) of the beam bottom (18), which holds a water-carrying cavity (22) and provides a protection against axial displacement of the at least one radiating outlet element (6).

The shower head of claim 1, wherein the jet outlet member (6) is provided with at least one passageway (24) located eccentrically and / or obliquely with respect to the axis of rotation of the pivotally mounted jet outlet member (6).

The shower head according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one jet outlet element (6) is provided with more than one passage (24), wherein in particular several, especially all, passages (24) extend obliquely to the axis of rotation, and / or more , especially all, passages (24) run parallel to each other.

The shower head according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the axes of rotation of at least two beam outlet elements (6) extend parallel to each other, and / or the axes of rotation of at least two beam outlet elements (6) form an angle deviating from 0 degrees.

The shower head according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein out of several jet outlet elements (6), at least two are actuated by rotation in the same direction, and / or at least two, preferably all the jet outlet elements (6) are operated at the same peripheral speed, and / or at least two , preferably all beam outlet elements (6) are operated at different peripheral speeds.

A shower head according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein in the case of multiple beam outlet elements (6) all beam outlet elements (6) have the same size and / or configuration.

The shower head according to one of the preceding claims, wherein out of several beam outlet elements (6), at least two, preferably two adjacent beam outlet elements (6) are actuated by rotation in different directions.

A shower head according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the reduction gear screw (25) is in effective communication with at least one jet outlet element (6).

The shower head according to one of the preceding claims, wherein each beam outlet element (6) is provided with a dental ring (16).

A shower head according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the water inlet to the shower head housing (1) takes place on the side, in particular across the axis of rotation of the at least one jet outlet element (6).

A shower head according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the drive device is provided with a turbine (10) located in the water inlet.

The shower head according to claim 11, wherein the turbine (10) is connected to a shaft (13) provided with the worm (25).