EP2265380A1

EP2265380A1 - Shower head

Info

Publication number: EP2265380A1
Application number: EP09722271A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ulrich Kinle
Original assignee: Hansgrohe SE
Current assignee: Hansgrohe SE
Priority date: 2008-03-20
Filing date: 2009-03-06
Publication date: 2010-12-29
Anticipated expiration: 2029-03-06
Also published as: WO2009115195A1; CN101990468B; DE102008015967A1; CN101990468A; EP2265380B1

Abstract

A shower head comprises a shower head housing with a water inlet (1) and a jet discharge disc (2), wherein a plurality of jet discharge openings (4) are functionally combined into groups. For each group of jet discharge openings (4) at least one valve closing body is provided, which keeps some of the jet discharge openings of each group open, while keeping the other openings closed. By means of a water-operated drive and a reduction gear, the valve closing bodies are put in motion such that the currently open jet discharge openings are being closed and in return others are opened.

Description

description

shower head

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

A shower head is already known, 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 outlet disc makes an eccentric movement without twisting. The jet exit elements, which are made of elastic material, move on a cone, with all the jet exit 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, which allows for large-scale radiation without additional water consumption strong water jets.

To solve this problem, the invention proposes a shower head with the features of claim 1. Further developments of the invention are the subject of dependent claims. The shower head according to the invention thus contains, in contrast to the prior art, in its jet outlet disc at least two groups of jet outlet openings, which are opened and closed separately by at least one own valve closing body for dispensing effervescent creams. This opening and closing is done by means of the continuously operating valve device. By temporarily switching off groups of jet outlet openings, the flow through the shower is lowered and at the same time the pressure within the shower head is increased. This causes the beams to be strengthened relative to a condition when all the beam outlets are opened simultaneously.

The at least two groups of jet outlet openings thus have at least one closing body which is responsible for this group of jet outlet openings. It can be provided that two valve closing bodies are parts of a common component, so that they can be moved together and simultaneously. Nevertheless, it is also provided here that each of the two parts is responsible for one group of jet outlet openings.

On the other hand, it is also possible for at least two groups of jet outlet openings to each have their own valve closing body, which is also designed as a separate component separate from the other valve closing body. If appropriate, this may facilitate the production of the various parts of such a shower head, in particular if all the valve closing bodies are of identical design and construction.

The type of movement of the valve closing body depends on how the jet outlet openings are formed and arranged. Preferably, it can be provided that at least one valve closing body is rotatably mounted. According to the invention, it can be provided that a common drive is present for all valve closing bodies and thus also for all groups of jet outlet openings. This also leads to the valve closing bodies being mechanically synchronized with each other. In this way, it becomes possible for the user to visibly detect visible spray patterns of the shower so that certain patterns are generated.

In a further development of the invention, it can be provided that a reduction gear is arranged between the drive and the valve device in order to ensure that the spray pattern changes in such a way that a user can recognize it, ie not only the beam pattern but also the pattern of change. In addition, this results in long closing times, which reduces water consumption.

It makes sense, as the invention suggests in a further development that the drive is actuated by the water flowing through the shower, for which purpose in particular a turbine arranged immediately behind the water inlet is provided.

In a further development of the invention, it can be provided that at least one valve closing body rests on the inside of the jet outlet disk and is moved over the inside of the jet outlet disk. He can open and close continuously on the inside ausmündende jet outlet openings.

The geometric arrangement of the jet outlet openings in the jet exit disk can be designed in a further development of the invention so that on the one hand a simple to produce kinematics for their actuation sufficient, but on the other hand, the spray pattern interesting appears. It has been found in showers to be useful to arrange the jet outlet openings on a circle, ie a closed curve. Since the invention provides at least two groups of jet outlet openings, it makes sense to arrange at least two groups of jet outlet openings on a respective circle, it being possible in particular for two circles to run concentrically with one another.

However, it is also possible and is proposed by the invention that two or more circles are arranged next to each other, so neither touch nor overlap. These can have a common center, but can also be arranged arbitrarily.

It can be provided in development of the invention that the valve tilschließkörper two adjacent groups of jet outlet openings are driven in the same direction, or in opposite directions. In particular, when the jet outlet openings are arranged on two concentric circles, it may be particularly effective to let the valve closing bodies work in opposite directions.

In order to make the spray pattern particularly clear, it can be provided according to the invention in a development that at most 1/3 to 1/4 of the jet outlet openings of a group of jet outlet openings are open, ie emit water jets. The circulation of the emerging water jets is thus clearly visible and the saving effect becomes effective.

In a further development, it can be provided that all the open jet outlet openings of a group of jet outlet openings are adjacent to one another.

In development of the invention can be provided that at least a valve closing body is designed as a disc, depending on the arrangement of the jet outlet openings as an annular disc. But the closing body may also have the shape of a circle segment

In order to open the jet outlet openings, the valve-closure element designed as a planar element may have an opening which is closed along its circumference.

The design of the valve closing body as a disc or annular disc makes it possible to give the valve closing body an edge toothing, which can be utilized for driving through the transmission. This makes it possible to keep the number of parts small.

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:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a shower head according to a first embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a section through the shower head of Figure 1;

FIG. 3 shows a cross section through the showerhead of FIGS. 1 and 2;

Figure 4 is a partial section along line IV-IV in Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a shower head according to a second embodiment;

FIG. 6 shows a section through the brewing line corresponding to FIG. sekopf of Figure 5;

FIG. 7 shows a section corresponding to FIG. 3 through the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6;

FIG. 8 shows a section corresponding to FIGS. 2 and 6 in a further embodiment;

Figure 9 is a partial section through the shower head of Figure 8;

FIG. 10 shows a section corresponding to FIGS. 3 and 7 through the embodiment according to FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 shows a component having two valve closing bodies;

FIG. 12 an intermediate bottom;

Figure 13 shows a part of the housing of the embodiment of Figure 8;

FIG. 14 shows a section through a shower head of a further embodiment corresponding to FIG. 8;

Figure 15 is a representation corresponding to Figure 9;

16 shows a section through a shower head of yet another embodiment;

Figure 17 shows the section through the shower head in another position.

Figure 1 shows in perspective obliquely from below a first shower head, whose housing has the shape of a flat cylinder. At the upper rear side in FIG. 1, a water inlet 1 is formed through which the shower water flows into the interior of the housing. On the user-facing underside a jet exit disc 2 is provided, which is formed for example in one piece with the jacket 3 of the housing. There are three groups of jet exit openings 4 in the jet exit disk, these jet exit openings 4 each lying on a closed circle. Even in this view, a user can recognize that there are three groups of jet outlet openings 4.

Figure 2 shows a section through this shower head. The jet exit disc 2 is integrally connected to the jacket 3 of the housing. On the back of the shower head housing is closed with a cover 5, which is just as well as the jet exit disc 2 formed. On the inside of the jet exit disc 2, a bearing pin 6 is integrally formed in the middle, or attached in some other way. On the journal 6, a turbine 7 is rotatably mounted, the hub 8 extends from the inside of the jet exit disc 2 to the inside of the lid 5. In the region resting on the inside of the jet exit disk 2, the hub 8 has an outer toothing 9, which extends approximately over half the height of the interior of the shower head housing. In the present above the teeth 9 area a total of six wings 10 are formed on the hub 8, which are directed radially outward. They reach up to the inside of the lid 5 zoom.

On the outside of the cover 5, the initially mentioned water inlet 1 is formed, which widens in a funnel shape starting from a connecting piece 11. Within this extended area, four oblique passage openings 12 are formed in the cover 5 of the showerhead housing, see also FIG. 4. The openings 12 extend obliquely, namely, when one moves along a circle about the axis of the bearing journal 6 diagonally in the same direction. The outer edges 13 of the wings 10 lie on a cylinder having a radius which is greater than the radius of the circle on which the passage openings 12 lie. The entering through the water inlet 1 in the showerhead housing water therefore passes obliquely to the wings 10 of the turbine 7 and puts them in rotation.

On the inside of the jet exit disc 2, three bearing pins 15 are further formed in a region between the center and the outer edge, on which discs 16 are rotatably mounted. These discs 16 have an external toothing 17, which are in engagement with the external toothing 9 of the hub 8 of the turbine 7. In a rotation of the hub 8 so the discs 16 are also rotated. The discs 16 are flat on the inside of the jet exit disc 2. The bearing journals 15 are each located at the center of a group of jet outlet openings 4 lying on a circle. Here, the outer circumference, which is provided with the teeth 17, lies outside the circle on which the jet outlet openings 4 lie. As a result, they wind the openings 4 so that no water can pass through them. Each of the discs 16 has a slot 18 whose width corresponds to the diameter of the jet outlet openings 4, and whose distance from the bearing pin 15 and the distance of the jet outlet openings 4 of the bearing pin 15 corresponds. As a result, the slot 18 is congruent with some of the jet outlet openings 4, in the embodiment shown in Figure 3 each with just three such jet outlet openings 4. These three adjacent jet outlet openings 4 are thus opened so that the water can escape through them. All three discs 16 are identical in their size and in the length and arrangement of their slots 18. Each of these discs 16 forms in the illustrated embodiment, a valve closing body which forms a valve in cooperation with the jet outlet openings 4. The operation of the shower head shown in Figure 1 to 4 is the following. Once water enters the interior of the housing, it exits through the openings 4, which are opened by the slots 18 of the three discs 16. The water acts on the blades 10 of the turbine 7 and twists them. As a result, the disks 16 also rotate and gradually release other jet outlet openings 4, while they close the previously opened jet outlet openings 4. As a result, on the outside of the shower head housing, that is, in Figure 1 below, three groups of three water jets, which move in position along the circle on which the jet outlet openings 4 are arranged.

Now to the second embodiment in Figure 5 to 7. Here, the showerhead housing is similarly shaped as in the embodiment of Figure 1 to 4, but the jet outlet openings 4 are arranged in the jet exit disc 2 along two concentric circles. It is not readily apparent to the user that this produces or intends to group the jet outlets into groups. The internal structure of the shower head is similar to the previously discussed embodiment. On a central journal 6, the turbine 7 is mounted with its hub 8. It contains in its directly on the inside of the jet exit disc 2 resting area a ring gear 9 with an external toothing. This sprocket has a larger diameter than in the first embodiment. Above the sprocket 9 again the wings 10 of the turbine 7 are arranged, which are configured and dimensioned in a similar manner as in the previous embodiment. The water inlet 1 is the same as before, so it will not be described again. FIG. 4 also applies to this embodiment.

In the inside of the jet exit disc 2 is immediately adjacent to the inner side 19 of the shell 3 of the housing a circumferential Annular groove 20 formed in the middle of the jet outlet openings 4 extend. Separated by a rib 21, a second annular groove 22 is formed concentrically with respect to this outer annular groove 20 and also coincides with the inner ring which lies along the inner jet outlet openings 4. In each of these annular grooves 20, 22, an annular disc 23, 24 is arranged in each case, which are displaced lying in these annular grooves, that can be rotated. The outer annular disc 23 has an internal toothing 25, while the inner annular disc 24 has an outer, but inwardly directed toothing 26.

On a further bearing pin 27, a gear 28 is mounted, which meshes with the external toothing of the ring gear 9. In the radial extension of the connecting line between the bearing pin 6 for the turbine 7 and the bearing pin 27 for the gear 28, a pinion 29 is mounted directly between the two annular discs 23, 24, both with the gear 28 and with the internal teeth 25 of the outer ring disk 23 is engaged. The gear 28 is additionally engaged with the inwardly directed external toothing 26 of the inner ring disk 24. This means that in a rotation of the turbine, for example in the direction of the arrow indicated in Figure 7, the gear 28 rotates in the reverse direction of rotation; Thus, the pinion 29 is again rotated counterclockwise, so that the outer annular disc 23 is also rotated counterclockwise in the direction of the arrow. Since the gear 28 but also with the toothing 26 is engaged, the inner ring plate 24 moves clockwise.

Again, each of the two annular discs 23, 24 each have a slot 18 whose width corresponds to the diameter of the Strahlaustrittsöff- 4, and whose radial distance from the center of the arrangement also corresponds to the radial distance of the respective group of jet outlet openings. Also in the embodiment according to FIGS. 5 to 7 are the jet outlet openings opened by a slot 18 adjacent to one another, since there is only one such slot 18 in each annular disk 23, 24.

The operation of this shower head is similar to the previous embodiment, so that the description will not be repeated.

While in the embodiment according to Figure 1 to 4, all three discs 16 are rotated in the same direction of rotation, move in the embodiment of Figure 5 to 7, the two serving as a valve closing body annular discs 23, 24 in opposite directions.

FIGS. 8 to 13 now show a further embodiment of a shower head according to the invention. The shower head, which is initially shown in section in Figure 8, corresponds to the previous embodiments in such a way that it has a flat-cylindrical housing with a jacket 3 and a jet exit disc 2. In the jet exit disc 2, a plurality of jet outlet openings 4 are arranged. On the side facing away from the jet exit disk 2, the housing is closed by a cover 5. On the cover 5 of the water inlet 1 is formed, from which the water enters through the lid 5 in the interior of the housing. In the somewhat thicker lid 5 channels 30 are formed, see Figure 9, which lead from the relatively small diameter water inlet 1 through the lid 5 into the region of the outside of the housing.

On the inside of the jet exit disc 2 and the shell 3 of the housing forming member, an outer step 31 is formed. At a distance from this outer step 31, an annular web 32, which has the same height as the step 31, is formed on the inside of the jet exit disk. Part of the jet outlet openings 4 is in the Space between the annular ridge 32 and the outer wall 3 of the housing disposed while another part of the jet outlet openings 4 is disposed within the annular ridge 32. On the shoulder 31 and the annular web 32, an intermediate bottom 33 is placed, thereby forming a first chamber 34 between the shell 3, the jet disk 2 and the annular web 32 and a second chamber 35 between the annular web 32 and the jet exit disk 2. From each of the two chambers 34, 35 lead jet outlet openings 4 into the open.

The intermediate bottom has an inlet 36 into the outer chamber 34 and an inlet 37 into the inner chamber 35. In the middle, the intermediate bottom 33 on the side facing away from the jet exit disc 2 on a bearing pin 6, on which a component 38 is rotatably mounted. This component has a plurality of radially extending vanes 39, which extend almost to the outside of the housing. The water emerging from the channels 30 strikes the wings 39 and causes this component 38 to rotate. The component 38 has on the underside of its wings 39, two partial annular plates 40, 41 which each extend over about half a circumference. The outer plate 40 is arranged so that its outer edge lies outside the outer edge of the inlet opening 36 and its inner edge lies on a circle within the inner side of the inlet opening 36. This means that this plate 40 can close the inlet 36 into the outer chamber 34.

The same applies to the inner partial annular plate 40, which is correspondingly associated with the inlet 37 into the inner chamber 35.

The inlet openings 36 and 37 extend over a short arc, see FIG. 12, which shows a perspective view of the intermediate bottom 33. The interior view of the jet exit disk 2 with the annular web 32 and the shoulder 31 can be seen in FIG. The showerhead of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 is decided in detail by the showerhead of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 8 to 13. In the cover 5, there is not only the channel 30, which opens inside the housing in the region of the radial outside and serves to drive the rotor. In addition, there are passages 50 which pass vertically through the cover 5 and open directly onto the hub 6 adjacent to the bearing of the rotor. 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 twisted by engaging its outer edge, once in a position where the openings 51 in a closure wall 52 of the water inlet 1 are aligned with the inlets 53 of the channels 30. Then, the shower head operates in the same manner as in the embodiment of Figure 8 to 13. However, the cover 5 can be brought by twisting in a position where the openings 51 in the end wall 52 of the water inlet 1 with the passages 50 in accordance become. In this situation, the rotor is not driven, but the water flows from the currently open opening in the intermediate wall 33 in the respectively associated chamber and from there through the jet outlet openings 4 into the open. In this way, switching can be canceled manually.

The embodiment shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 differs from the previous embodiments in that the hub 6 formed on the side of the intermediate bottom 33 facing away from the jet disk 2 has a through opening here. 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 pushing 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 40, 41 are lifted from their contact with the inside of the intermediate bottom 33. This means that the rotor still rotates, but it no longer produces any effect. Both chambers are supplied with water, and the water jets exit from all the beam outlet openings 4.

It is possible to combine the embodiments according to FIGS. 14 and 15 on the one hand and according to FIGS. 16 and 17 on the other hand in such a way that the lifting of the rotor is effected, for example, by a twisting of the housing relative to the water inlet 1, wherein at the same time Changing the water flow also the rotation of the rotor is adjusted.

Claims

claims

1. shower head, with

1.1 one of a jet exit disc (2) closed housing,

1.2 a water inlet (1) in the housing,

1.3 at least two groups of jet outlet openings (4) in the jet exit disc (2),

1.4 a valve device for the jet outlet openings (4), the 1.5 for each group of jet outlet openings (4) has at least one own valve closing body, and with

1.6 a common for all closing body drive for actuating the valve devices.

2. Shower head according to claim 1, wherein the valve closing body of at least two groups of jet outlet openings (4) are formed as parts of a common element.

3. Shower head according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the valve closing body of at least two groups of jet outlet openings

(4) are formed as separate elements.

4. Shower head according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one valve closing body is rotatably mounted.

5. Shower head according to one of the preceding claims, with a reduction gear between the drive and the valve device

6. Shower head according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the drive has a preferably immediately behind the water inlet (1) arranged turbine (7).

7. Shower head according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one valve closing body rests on the inside of the jet outlet disc (2) and is movable over this.

8. Shower head according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the jet outlet openings (4) of at least one group of jet outlet openings (4) are arranged along a circle.

9. Shower head according to claim 8, wherein the jet outlet openings (4) of two groups are arranged along each of a circle, wherein one of the two circles is disposed within the other, preferably concentric therewith.

10. Shower head according to claim 8, wherein the jet outlet openings (4) of two groups are each arranged along a circle and the two circles do not overlap.

11. Shower head according to one of claims 4 to 10, wherein the valve tilschließkörper two adjacent groups of jet outlet elements (4) are rotationally driven in opposite directions.

12. Shower head according to one of claims 4 to 11, wherein the valve closing body of two adjacent groups of Strahlaustritts- elements (4) are driven in the same direction.

13. Shower head according to one of the preceding claims, wherein in at least one group of jet outlet openings (4) each have at most a quarter of the openings (4) are opened.

14. Shower head according to one of the preceding claims, wherein in at least one group of jet outlet openings (4) all are open beam openings adjacent.

15. Shower head according to one of the preceding claims, wherein in at least one group of jet outlet openings (4), the half of the opened jet outlet openings (4) facing each other.

16. Shower head according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one valve closing body is formed as a flat element with a circumferentially extending opening (18).

17. Shower head according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one valve closing body is formed as a disc (16).

18. Shower head according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one valve closing body is designed as a ring element (23, 24).

19. Shower head according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one valve closing body has an edge toothing (17, 25, 26).

20. Shower head according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one group of jet outlet openings (4) in a chamber (34, 35) is arranged and the said group of jet outlet openings (4) associated valve closing body with an inlet (36, 37) in the Chamber (34, 35) cooperates.

21. Shower head according to claim 22, wherein the chamber (34, 35) is formed between the jet disc (2) and a parallel to this extending intermediate bottom (33).

22. Shower head according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the valve device is designed such that the drive for actuating the valve device can be stopped by manual intervention or rendered ineffective.