EP1678381B1

EP1678381B1 - Shower system, and a shower head and a method for cleaning a shower system

Info

Publication number: EP1678381B1
Application number: EP04788502A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Antonius Van Hecke
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-09-15
Filing date: 2004-09-10
Publication date: 2008-09-03
Anticipated expiration: 2024-09-10
Also published as: DE602004016365D1; ES2314456T3; EP1678381A1; NL1024294C2; PT1678381E; ATE407267T1; WO2005026456A1

Abstract

A shower system provided with at least one shower head (1) wherein the shower head (1) is provided with at least one filter tube (2) with a porous wall (4) for separating at least one filtering space (3) from a collecting space (5) such that water supplied to said filtering space (3) is passed substantially bacteria free, in particular Legionella free, via said tube wall (4) to said collecting space (5) at least during use of the shower, while the system is provided with flushing means (8, 9, 10) for flushing said filtering space (3) for the purpose of removing any bacteria that may have accumulated in that space (3).

Description

The invention relates to a shower system provided with at least one shower head.
Such a system is known from the German Offenlegungsschrift DE 101 15 633 . During use, the shower system can be used for showering, while shower water is guided via a shower water supply to the at least one shower head.
The known system is provided with a filter for filtering bacteria from water supplied to the shower head. During normal use of the shower, such bacteria are often fed to the shower head continuously, and comprise, for instance, bacteria which are supplied from an upstream part of the system and/or bacteria which have stuck to the insides of the shower head and the pipe system and which occasionally dislodge.
The filter comprises a number of filter tubes provided with porous tube walls. An advantage of the known system over, for instance, a shower system known from GB 2 267 664 is that, during use of the shower, the filter can continuously prevent a bacteriological contamination by, for instance, Legionella bacteria. Such contamination can be perilous to the health of users of the shower system. A disadvantage of this system known from DE 101 15 633 is that the filter becomes clogged easily which hinders throughflow of shower water. Moreover, in time, at least after a particular period of use, a relatively large amount of bacteria, in particular Legionella bacteria, can accumulate in the filter. According to DE 101 15 633 , clogging of the filter can be prevented by providing the filter as a disposable filter. However, replacing the filter is disadvantageous with respect to associated costs. Moreover, replacing the filter can be dangerous with respect to bacteria present in the filter which may then dislodge.
The present invention contemplates obviating the drawbacks of the known system while maintaining its advantages. In particular, the invention contemplates providing a shower system which is relatively safe in use.
According to the invention, the system is characterized to this end by the features of claim 1.
The shower system provided by the invention comprises at least one shower head. This shower head comprises at least one filter tube with a porous wall for separating at least one filtering space from a collecting space such that water supplied to the filtering space is passed substantially free of bacteria via the tube wall to the collecting space, at least during use of the shower. According to the invention, the system is provided with flushing means for flushing the filtering space for the purpose of removing bacteria which may have accumulated in this space. To this end, the flushing means are provided with a liquid supply and a liquid discharge, an upstream end of the filtering space being coupled to the liquid supply and a downstream end of the filtering space being coupled to the liquid discharge.
The flushing means are well able to prevent bacteria from accumulating in the shower head, at least in the filtering space. As an upstream end of the filtering space is coupled to the liquid supply, and a downstream end of the filtering space is coupled to the liquid discharge, substantially the entire filtering space can be flushed well for the purpose of removing bacteria.
Preferably, the flushing means are designed for flushing the filtering space automatically, preferably regularly, in particular during a particular period of flushing before and/or after use of the shower. For this purpose, the flushing means can be provided with, for instance, regulating means and/or a control. Further, for instance, a timer can be provided for activating and deactivating the flushing means at desired moments. It is preferred that flushing the filtering space is carried out simply with water, which is relatively safe and inexpensive in relation to the use of chemical cleaners.
It is noted that the shower system known from British patent application GB 2 267 664 is provided with only one shower head, which is provided with means for flushing static water, having loose bacteria therein, from the head or from an upstream pipe. Flushing pipes for removing loose Legionella bacteria therefrom is known; however, such flushing does not solve the problem that during showering too, bacteria can dislodge and can cause contamination. For instance, during normal use of the shower head described in GB 2 267 664 , bacteria are still fed to a user, notably bacteria present further upstream in the system and/or which have stuck to the insides of the pipe system and which occasionally dislodge. Moreover, specific flushing of the filtering space, separately from the collecting space, is not known from GB 2 267 664 . According to the present invention, the very use of the filter in combination with flushing the filtering space yields a highly reliable contamination free shower system, which shower system, moreover, is of relatively inexpensive design while use of the filter is safe.
Preferably, the flushing means are provided with a liquid supply and a liquid discharge, an upward end of the filtering space being coupled the liquid supply, and a downstream end of the filtering space being coupled to the liquid discharge. As a result, substantially the entire filtering space can be flushed well and effectively. The liquid supply can comprise, for instance, a water supply of the shower system.
An advantageous embodiment of the invention is characterized by the features of claim 2.
As the liquid supply is separated from the at least one shower water outflow opening, flushing liquid contaminated by bacteria is prevented from leaving the shower head via this outflow opening and from contaminating a surroundings.
Further, the invention provides a shower head characterized by the features of claim 15. During use of the shower, this shower head can supply clean, relatively bacteria free, in particular Legionella free, water. In addition, the shower head can be flushed in simple manner for removing contaminations present in the filtering space from the shower head.
Further, the invention relates to a method for cleaning a shower system, which method is characterized by the features of claim 16. As the filtering space is flushed with liquid, bacteria which may be present in that space can be removed well from the at least one shower head. Therefore, the system can be used safely for a relatively long period of time. Preferably, the filtering space is flushed before and/or after use of the shower.
Further elaborations of the invention are described in the subclaims. Presently, the invention will be clarified with reference to an exemplary embodiment and the Figures. In the Figures:

Fig. 1 shows a schematic drawing of an exemplary embodiment of the invention; and
Fig. 2 shows a schematic cross-section of a part of a shower head of the system represented in Fig. 1.

Unless expressly stated otherwise, in this application, "approximately", "virtually", "substantially" or such terms are understood to conclude at least a value deviating + and - 10% of the given, respective value.
Fig. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a shower system provided with a shower water supply 9 and a shower head 1 coupled to this supply 9. The system is further provided with a liquid discharge 8 coupled to the shower head 1.
The water supply 9 comprises a mixing valve 11 for mixing supplied hot and cold shower water. The shower head 1 is provided with a number of membrane filter tubes 2, one of which is represented in the Figures. The filter tube 2 extends at least through a water collecting space 5 surrounded by the shower head 1. Each filter tube 2 is rolled up in the shower head 1 such that the filter tube is substantially integrated in the shower head 1. The filter tube 2 serves for filtering bacteria from shower water supplied to the shower head 1. At a bottom side, the water collecting space 5 is bound by a plate having a number of shower water outflow openings 6. In the exemplary embodiment, various outflow openings 6 have been represented. However, the shower head 1 can also be provided with only one outflow opening 6. During use, shower water supplied to the shower head 1 flows from these outflow openings 6, which is indicated with arrows B.
Fig. 2 shows the shower head 1 in more detail. The rolled up filter tube 2 is provided with a number of channels 3 extending in longitudinal direction of the tube, together providing a water filtering space. The channels 3 are surrounded by a tube wall 4 of the filter tube 2. An upstream open end of the filter tube 2, at least of the channels 3, comprises a water inlet 13 coupled to the water supply 9. A downstream open end of the filter tube 2, at least of the channels 3, comprises a water outlet 14 coupled to the liquid discharge 8.
The tube wall 4 of the filter tube 2 serves for separating the channels 3 and the collecting space 5 from each other such that water, supplied to the channels 3, can be passed substantially bacteria free, in particular Legionella free, via the tube wall 4 to the collecting space 5, at least during use of the shower. To this end, the tube 4 is of porous design. The passage of water is indicated in Fig. 2 with arrows A.
Preferably, the tube wall 4 of the filter tube 2 is provided with pores having a pore size, at least diameter, in the range of approximately 0.01 - 0.1 µm, more in particular in the range of approximately 0.02 - 0.04 µm. With such dimensions, the filter tube is well capable of filtering substantially all bacteria, among which the Legionella bacteria, from the water.
Preferably, an outside of the filter tube 2 has a total surface of at least approximately 0.1 m², more in particular at least approximately 0.4 m². Preferably, the filter tube is designed for filtering approximately at least approximately 0.3 m³ of water per hour, at a water pressure of supplied shower water of at least approximately 0.1 bar. As a result, showering with the system is relatively comfortable.
The system is further provided with flushing means 8, 10 for flushing the filter channels 3 for the purpose of removing one or more bacteria having accumulated in the channels 3. In the present exemplary embodiment, these flushing means comprise the liquid supply 9 and the liquid discharge 8. The liquid discharge 8 is provided with operable closing means 11 for closing off the liquid discharge 8. These closing means 10 can be designed in different manners and can be, for instance, manually controllable, automatically controllable under the influence of water flowing through the system, in particular through the discharge, a thermostatically operable valve, a manually operable valve, a check valve and/or the like. For instance, a thermostop can be used closing off the discharge 8 under the influence of hot shower water.
During normal use of the shower, the closing means 10 of the discharge 8 are closed, so that no discharge of liquid is possible via the outlet 14 of the shower head 1. Shower water can then be fed via the water supply 9 and the inlet 13 to the channels 3 of the filter tube 2 extending through the shower head 1. Under the influence of the water pressure, the supplied water then flows from the filter channels 3 through the porous tube wall 4 into the collecting chamber 5 and, via the outflow openings 6, to a surroundings, which is represented in Fig. 2 with arrows A and B. The tube wall 4 then filters the bacteria from the shower water. Thus, the bacteria and any other contaminations remain behind in the filter channels 3 of the shower head 1 and/or shower water supply 9. As these filter means 4 are present at least in the shower head 1, being the last, most downstream location of the shower system where the shower water is present, a relatively safe shower system is obtained.
For the purpose of cleaning the membrane tube 2, the closing means 10 of the flushing water discharge 8 are opened. As a result, water supplied via the supply 9 flows via the inlet 13 through the channels 3 to the outlet 14, which leads to a thorough flushing of the channels 3. Bacteria present in the filter channels 3 can then be removed therefrom in a proper and safe manner. Thereupon, the flushing water flows into the discharge 8 and is discharged via a drain 12 into a sewer, reservoir or the like. After a particular period of flushing, the discharge 8 is closed again by means of the closing means 10.
Flushing the filter channels 3 can be carried out, for instance, at a desired moment, in particular before or after a shower bath. Starting and ending the flushing operation can be regulated in a simple manner via the closing means 10. Preferably, the flushing is carried automatically, so that in a simple manner a self-cleaning filter is obtained.
It is self-evident that the invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiment described. It is clear to the skilled person that various modifications are possible within the framework of the invention as set forth in the following claims.
For instance, the filter tube 2 can be designed in various manners, in various shapes and of various materials. For instance, the filter tube 2 can be provided with one or more channels 3.
Depending on the dimensions of the liquid discharge in relation to the design of the filter wall, the supplied flushing water can, for instance, be completely or partially discharged via the liquid discharge. In the latter case, a part of the flushing liquid can flow via the filter wall to the collecting space, the filter wall preventing the bacteria from reaching the collecting space. Furthermore, the shower outflow openings and/or collecting space can, for instance, be closable for preventing such flow of flushing liquid via the filter tube wall.
Further, the liquid supply 9 and the liquid discharge 8 can be provided and designed in various manners.
For instance, the liquid supply and/or discharge can be entirely or partly integrated in a wall, ceiling and/or shower rod. Further, the liquid discharge 8 can for instance be included wholly or partly with the shower water supply 9 in one housing. The supply 9 and the discharge 8 can for instance be provided in one hose or the like.
In addition, the filtering space 3 can for instance be surrounded by the filter tube 2, while the collecting space 5 is located outside the filter tube 2. On the other hand, the collecting space can for instance be surrounded by the filter tube while the filtering space is located outside the filter tube.
Further, flushing the filter tube 2 can for instance be done before, during and/or after use of the shower.
In addition, the flushing liquid can for instance comprise water and/or a different liquid. Moreover, the system can be provided with, for instance, various liquid supplies, for instance one for shower water and one for flushing water.
The shower head 1 can be designed in different manners. The shower head 1 can comprise one or more shower water outflow openings 6. The outflow openings 6 can each be formed in a different manner. In addition, the shower head 1 can for instance be provided with a drop former to prevent the water collected in the water collecting space 5 from atomizing, and promote drop formation. Such a drop former can for instance comprise a conical body disposed in the water collecting space 5. Such a shower head with conical body is known per se from practice.
Further, the shower water supply 9 itself can for instance be provided with filtering means, in particular with membrane filter tubes for filtering bacteria from supplied water.
In addition, each filter tube 2 can be substantially integrated in the shower head 1 or also, for instance, extend partly in the liquid supply 9, which is indicated in Fig. 1 with reference numeral 2'.

Claims

A shower system provided with at least one shower head (1), wherein the shower head (1) is provided with at least one filter tube (2) with a porous wall (4) for separating at least one filtering space (3) from a collecting space (5) such that water, supplied to said filtering space (3), is passed substantially bacteria free, in particular Legionella free, via said tube wall (4) to said collecting space (5), at least during use of the shower, the system being provided with flushing means (8, 9, 10) for flushing said filtering space (3) for the purpose of removing bacteria that may have accumulated in that space (3), said flushing means being provided with a liquid supply (9) and a liquid discharge (8), while an upstream end (13) of the filtering space is coupled to the liquid supply (9) and a downstream end (14) of the filtering space (3) is coupled to the liquid discharge (8).
A shower system according to claim 1, wherein said shower head (1) is provided with at least one shower water outflow opening (6) which is coupled to said collecting space (5), while said liquid discharge (8) is separated from said outflow opening (6).
A system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said liquid discharge (8) is provided with operable closing means (10) for closing off said discharge (8).
A system according to claim 3, wherein said closing means (10) of the liquid discharge (8) are manually operable.
A system according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the closing means (10) of the liquid discharge (8) are designed to close automatically under the influence of liquid flowing through the system, in particular via the discharge (8).
A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said filtering space (3) comprises an inner tube space surrounded by said at least one filter tube (2) while an upstream end of the filter tube (2) is coupled to the liquid supply (9), a downstream end (14) of the filter tube (2) being coupled to the liquid discharge (8).
A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one filter tube (2) is provided with at least one liquid channel (3) which extends in longitudinal direction of the tube and is surrounded by said porous tube wall.
A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one filter tube (2) is at least partly, in particular substantially, integrated in the shower head (1).
A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one filter tube (2) is at least partly, in particular substantially, rolled up in the shower head (1).
A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said tube wall (4) of the at least one filter tube (2) is provided with pores having a pore size, at least diameter, in the range of approximately 0.01 - 0.1 µm, more in particular in the range of approximately 0.02 - 0.04 µm.
A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein an outside of said at least one filter tube (2) has a total surface of at least approximately 0.1 m², more in particular at least approximately 0.4 m².
A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one filter tube (2) is designed for filtering at least approximately 0.3 m³ per hour at a water pressure of supplied shower water of at least approximately 0.1 bar.
A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the flushing means (8, 9, 10) are designed for automatically flushing the filtering space during a particular flushing period.
A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said filter tube (2) also partly extends in said liquid supply (9).
A shower head of a system according to any one of the preceding claims.
A method for cleaning a shower system, which shower system is provided with at least one shower head (1), the shower head (1) being provided with at least one filter tube (2) with a porous wall (4) for separating a filtering space (3) and a collecting space (5) from each other such that water supplied to the filtering space is passed substantially bacteria free, in particular Legionella free, via said tube wall (4) to the collecting space (5), at least during use of the shower, while said filtering space (3) is flushed with liquid, in particular before and/or after use of the shower, the liquid being supplied via a supply (9) to an upstream end of the filtering space (3) and being discharged via a discharge (8) of a downstream end of the filtering space (3) for the purpose of flushing the filtering space (3).
A method according to claim 16, wherein said liquid discharge (8) is opened and closed for flushing or not flushing said filtering space (3).