Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
  • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
  • B05B1/00—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means
  • B05B1/26—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means with means for mechanically breaking-up or deflecting the jet after discharge, e.g. with fixed deflectors; Breaking-up the discharged liquid or other fluent material by impinging jets
  • B05B1/262—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means with means for mechanically breaking-up or deflecting the jet after discharge, e.g. with fixed deflectors; Breaking-up the discharged liquid or other fluent material by impinging jets with fixed deflectors
  • B05B1/265—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means with means for mechanically breaking-up or deflecting the jet after discharge, e.g. with fixed deflectors; Breaking-up the discharged liquid or other fluent material by impinging jets with fixed deflectors the liquid or other fluent material being symmetrically deflected about the axis of the nozzle
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E03—WATER SUPPLY; SEWERAGE
  • E03C—DOMESTIC PLUMBING INSTALLATIONS FOR FRESH WATER OR WASTE WATER; SINKS
  • E03C1/00—Domestic plumbing installations for fresh water or waste water; Sinks
  • E03C1/02—Plumbing installations for fresh water
  • E03C1/08—Jet regulators or jet guides, e.g. anti-splash devices
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
  • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
  • B05B1/00—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means
  • B05B1/14—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means with multiple outlet openings; with strainers in or outside the outlet opening
  • B05B1/18—Roses; Shower heads
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E03—WATER SUPPLY; SEWERAGE
  • E03C—DOMESTIC PLUMBING INSTALLATIONS FOR FRESH WATER OR WASTE WATER; SINKS
  • E03C1/00—Domestic plumbing installations for fresh water or waste water; Sinks
  • E03C1/02—Plumbing installations for fresh water
  • E03C2001/026—Plumbing installations for fresh water with flow restricting devices
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02A—TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02A20/00—Water conservation; Efficient water supply; Efficient water use
  • Y02A20/40—Protecting water resources

Definitions

• the present invention relates to an insert which can be inserted in or mounted on different types of water outlet, such as shower heads, water taps, fittings for sink units, hoses for watering or washing, etc.
• various inserts are known for regulating the water flow and filtering the water. As a rule these inserts have the effect of dispersing the water as a spray or collecting dirt in the water.
• Norwegian patent no. 177256 discloses a shower head comprising a mouthpiece with a central, axial, through-going channel for water through-flow, where a rotationally symmetrical deflector element for the water is situated in the vicinity of the outer mouth of the channel, the deflector element being held in place by a stem which with radial clearance projects axially in the channel, while being surrounded by a conical surface which projects in a convergent manner outwards, the mouthpiece delimiting a cavity around and axially outside the deflector element.
• the mouthpiece disclosed in the patent can be regulated axially relative to a holder, for altering the flow conditions.
• the shower head is specially designed internally for mounting the stem and for directing water to the channel.
• shower heads which can provide pulsating showers have been known for some time. These are based on the use of a propeller-like rotor inside the shower head. Such shower heads can usually be adjusted between a normal state for a steady shower and the pulsating shower. Such shower heads are usually designed for high water consumption and normal water pressure, and they are complicated.
• shower heads for low water consumption have been developed with the one-sided aim of achieving the low consumption without taking into account the consequences with regard to effect, comfort and the structure of the water flowing out of the shower head. In most cases this has resulted on the one hand in low water velocities and an unfavourable water structure, and on the other hand designs which may causfe/C ' logging on account of impurities or lime in the water or which are based on the jet/air stream principle.
• 177256 gives low water consumption at normal water pressure, and reduces the shower comfort at low water pressure to a lesser extent than some other "economy showers", in addition to which it can be adjusted between a normal state for showering and a state for pulsating showering ("massage showering"), where the latter state is achieved without any rotating element in the shower head.
• the design of the shower head permits the water in all phases to be emitted in pulses with a frequency of 20 - 40 per second, depending on the pressure.
• the patent discloses a mouthpiece which can be screwed axially relative to the holder for altering the flow conditions.
• the stem moreover is conical and converges towards the deflector element.
• the fact that the surface surrounding the deflector element is substantially conical and converges outwards from the bottom surface of the mouthpiece is important for the course of the water outflow around the deflector element.
• the stem is conical has a direct effect on the water's through-flow cross section at the top of the channel.
• This cross section will be least when the mouthpiece is screwed to a maximum extent into the holder.
• the deflector element is simultaneously at its greatest distance from the channel's mouth. Consequently, most of the throttling will take place at the top of the channel. The result is the above-mentioned relatively large water drops.
• this cross section is at its largest.
• the deflector element is simultaneously at its least distance from the channel. Consequently, most of the throttling will occur at the deflector element. This permits an acceptable water velocity and improved comfort even when the water supplied is at low pressure.
• the stabilisation unit is not adjustable, and the amount of water flowing through the shower head will vary with the water pressure in such a manner that the amount of water increases with increasing pressure.
• the regulator has been mounted at the inlet to the shower head, i.e. where the hose or a supply pipe for fixed shower heads is connected to the shower head.
• a sleeve in which the regulator is mounted and which is inserted as a transition between the hose or the water supply pipe and the shower head.
• the actual regulator has been designed as a ring element with axial openings and a cylindrical or conical portion with axial grooves, in combination with an O-ring which encompasses the grooves and is held in position by a retaining ring, and which acts in such a manner that the O-ring is progressively deformed with increasing water pressure and increasingly penetrates into the grooves in the ring element, causing a reduction in the through-flow area.
• An approximately constant amount of water per unit of time can thereby be achieved at water pressure in the range from about 50 to about 1000 kPa.
• the amount of water will naturally be dependent on the geometry of the regulator, such as the cross section of the grooves and the dimensions of the O-ring, and tests will have to be carried out to find out which geometry gives a desired amount of water per unit of time.
• the regulator at the inlet to a shower head, i.e. at the end of the handle thereon or at the bottom of a wall-mounted shower head means that the regulator will normally be under water when the shower head is not in use. If the water runs away, water will still remain in the holes in the regulator on account of the surface tension of the water. With time, lime in the water will be deposited and gradually block the holes.
• the small holes also reduce the supply of light and oxygen in towards the centre of the shower head, thereby reinforcing the formation of "hard” lime, as opposed to "pulverised” lime which is formed by the supply of light and oxygen and is easily washed off. It is therefore possible that the amount of water per unit of time may be reduced to below what the users find acceptable.
• 177256 and the said regulator which provides a substantially constant amount of water in the event of varying pressure, and which can be adapted for use in many different water outlets, such as showers, water taps, fittings on sink units and hoses for watering, thereby enabling a substantially constant amount of water per unit of time to be achieved and largely avoiding the problems of lime deposits.
• Regulation of the water outflow, as described in patent no. 177256 may also be achieved.
• the regulator provides a constant amount of water immediately before the water is subjected to a "booster effect" in the form of a pulsation 20 - 40 times per second. This gives a feeling of increased pressure and comfort.
• an insert has been achieved which can be used on different types of water outlet.
• the water outlets must be adapted to suit the insert with regard to securing thereof.
• shower heads may be provided with an opening into which the insert can be introduced, with threads, e.g., being provided into which an end of the insert can be screwed.
• the insert On taps or hose mouthpieces which have external threads on the outlet end, as is fairly normal, the insert may comprise a sleeve portion with corresponding, internal threads. The insert achieves the desired functions with regard to regulation of the water outflow, independently of the rest of the equipment.
• both the elements for providing the desired type of water outflow and the regulator controlling the water flow in the event of increasing water pressure are integrated in the insert.
• the effect is independent of what type of water outlet the insert is used together with, and it will be the producer of the insert who fully determines the effect by the design of the insert's main components.
• the adaptation to different water outlets with regard to mounting in or on these does not influence the effect with regard to water outflow and water consumption.
• the insert can be produced independently of where it has to be mounted, provided only that mounting of the insert is possible or is made possible by the producer of the insert and the producers of the water outlets ensuring that these can be mounted together.
• the water therein will normally run towards the hose or the water supply pipe. Oxygen in the air which enters the water outlet causes lime which is deposited to be of the "pulverised" type which is easily washed off next time it is used.
• the mouthpiece and the stem may be fixed relative to each other, thereby preventing the insert from being regulated with regard to the interaction between the mouthpiece, the stem and the deflector element.
• the stem is conical at least in the portion located furthest from the deflector element, with the result that the surface of the stem converges towards the deflector element, causing the through-flow cross section for the water between the stem and the mouthpiece to be altered due to the fact that the mouthpiece can be moved axially relative to the holder, e.g. by being screwed in a similar manner to that disclosed in patent no. 177256.
• the stem may be moved axially relative to the mouthpiece without being screwed, or the mouthpiece may be immovable, while the stem may be moved or screwed axially relative thereto.
• Fig. 1 illustrates, in side projection on the left of a centre plane and in axial section on the right of the centre plane, an insert according to the invention, specially intended for screwing into shower heads, and with the possibility of regulating the flow of water.
• Fig. 2 illustrates, in side projection on the left of a centre plane and in axial section on the right of the centre plane, an insert according to the invention, specially intended for screwing into shower heads, and with the possibility of regulating the flow of water, but in a different way to that illustrated in fig. 1.
• Fig. 3 illustrates, in side projection on the left of a centre plane and in axial section on the right of the centre plane, an insert according to the invention, specially intended for screwing on to taps and hoses, without the possibility of regulating the flow of water.
• Fig. 4 illustrates, in side projection on the left of a centre plane and in axial section on the right of the centre plane, an insert according to the invention, specially intended for screwing on to taps and hoses, and with the possibility of regulating the flow of water.
• Fig. 5 illustrates how two elements in the insert can be joined.
• the insert illustrated in figs. 1 and 2 is described here partly as a whole.
• the insert comprises a housing 2.
• the housing contains a mouthpiece 1 , which has an internal cavity 9, which is open for water outflow, and which is substantially cylindrical.
• the cavity 9 communicates with a non-illustrated water outlet, to which the insert is assumed to be connected during use, via threads 15 in the illustrated example.
• the threads 15 are located on the housing 2, while in fig. 2 the threads are located on an external muff 17.
• a conical surface 7 is formed axially inside the cavity 9 in the mouthpiece 1.
• the surface 7 is shown provided on the mouthpiece 1 , but it may be located on a ring, which may be of plastic, and may be attached in a press fit, but it is also possible to weld on the ring, e.g. by means of ultrasonic welding when the mouthpiece 1 is also made of plastic.
• the ring may also be screwed into threads.
• the disc 16 may be an integrated part on an end 3' of a stem 3. The disc 16 may be connected to the stem 3 after the stem has been passed through the channel 8.
• the disc 16 is shown provided with substantially axial grooves 1 1 inside the O-ring 21 , on an upper head 10 on the stem 3.
• the head 10 therefore resembles a cogwheel.
• the grooves 1 1 and the O-ring 21 together form a regulator which seeks to maintain a substantially constant water through-flow per unit of time. This is accomplished by the fact that increasing water pressure, which without the regulator would have resulted in an increased amount of water per unit of time, compresses the O-ring 21 partly into the grooves 1 1 , causing the through-flow cross section to decrease. Tests have shown that from and including a certain minimum pressure, a substantially constant amount of water per unit of time can be obtained, or at least that the amount of water does not increase proportionally with the pressure.
• the stem 3 holds a substantially disc or dome- shaped deflector element 6, which on the axial side facing the channel 8 may be provided with a circumferential groove around the end of the stem 3.
• annular gap 4 may be altered by the mouthpiece 1 being screwed axially relative to the stem 3.
• the annular gap 4 may be altered by the mouthpiece 1 being screwed without being moved axially relative to the stem 3.
• the mouthpiece 1 is in threaded connection with the housing 2, which is partly inserted in a muff 17.
• the housing 2 is connected to a holder 24 for the O- ring 21 and the disc 16, and when the mouthpiece 1 is screwed, the housing 2 is displaced axially, moving the head 10, the stem 3 and the deflector element 6 correspondingly.
• the stem 3 has a smaller diameter than the wall defining the channel 8, with the result that the channel 8 forms an annulus between the stem 3 and the wall.
• the axially outer surface 6' on the deflector element 6 is illustrated with a domed shape, but this surface is assumed to have no significant influence on the flow of water.
• the surface 7 forms an annular chamber, which changes shape and size when the mouthpiece 1 is screwed axially relative to the stem 3, and the chamber influences the water in different ways, depending on its shape and size.
• the conical surface 7 does not need to be conical along its entire axial length.
• the surface 7 may be cylindrical or approximately cylindrical on the outside, towards the cavity 9.
• the channel 8 may be essentially cylindrical, but closest to the chamber the channel 8 may have a conical portion 8'.
• the stem 3 is conical, at least in the area located innermost in the channel 8 (closest to the disc 16), with the result that the cross section is largest towards the fixed end 3' of the stem 3. Assuming that the actual channel 8 has a constant cross section in this area, the object is achieved of altering the through-flow cross section for the water innermost in the channel 8 when the mouthpiece 1 is screwed axially relative to the stem 3.
• the channel 8 is formed in an inserted plug 22 (depicted as having a press-fit), with a sealing ring 12 between the plug 22 and the mouthpiece 1.
• the ring 12 prevents pressure drop on account of leakage, as well as preventing water from penetrating into the illustrated cavity between the housing 2 and the mouthpiece 1 and creating unhygienic conditions by allowing water to remain in the cavity for long periods.
• the inserts illustrated in figs. 3 and 4 are described here partly as a whole.
• the inserts are primarily intended for mounting on water outlets which have external threads, such as taps and hoses, and comprise a housing 2, which is illustrated in fig. 3 inserted in a sleeve-shaped portion of the mouthpiece.
• the housing 2 is inserted in a separate sleeve 28, into which a mouthpiece 1 is also partly inserted.
• the mouthpiece 1 has an internal cavity 9, which is open for water outflow, and which is substantially cylindrical.
• Via an axial channel 8 and hole 23 in a disc 16 the cavity 9 communicates with a non-illustrated water outlet, to which the insert is assumed to be connected via internal threads 25.
• the channel 8 is formed in an inserted plug 22 (depicted as having a press-fit), with a sealing ring 14 between the plug 22 and the mouthpiece 1 and a sealing ring 12 between the plug 22 and the mouthpiece 1.
• a conical surface 7 which together with the deflector element 6 forms an annular gap 4 is located in fig. 3 on a separate disc T.
• the insert illustrated in fig. 3 is not adjustable.
• a conical surface 7 which together with the deflector element 6 forms an annular gap 4 is located in fig. 4 on the actual mouthpiece.
• This insert is adjustable as the mouthpiece 1 can be moved axially relative to the sleeve 28.
• a check ring 27 may be fitted on the mouthpiece in a ring groove and slip into one of two ring grooves in the sleeve 28.
• Fig. 4 shows the mouthpiece in the axially outermost position relative to the sleeve 28.
• a head 10 which holds the disc 16 is depicted provided with approximately axial grooves 1 1 inside the O-ring 21.
• the head 10 therefore resembles a cogwheel.
• the grooves 1 1 and the O-ring 21 together form a regulator which attempts to maintain substantially constant water through-flow per unit of time. This is accomplished due to the fact that an increase in water pressure, which without the regulator would have resulted in an increasing amount of water per unit of time, compresses the O- ring 21 partly into the grooves 1 1 , thereby causing a decrease in the through-flow cross section. Tests have shown that from and including a certain minimum pressure a substantially constant amount of water per unit of time can be obtained, or at least that the amount of water does not increase significantly with increasing pressure.
• Fig. 5 illustrates a non-limiting example of how a stem 3 can be joined to a deflector element 6 by one stem having catch arms 26 and the deflector element 6 having corresponding cut-outs.
• the stem 3 and the deflector element 6 may be permanently connected, while the stem 3 may be joined to the head 10, e.g. according to the same principle as that illustrated in fig. 5.
• the head 10, the stem 3 and the deflector element 6 cannot be permanently connected, since the stem 3 has to be able to be passed through the channel 8 or in the plug 22 (figs. 1 , 2 and 4) and in the housing 2 respectively (fig. 3).

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• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Hydrology & Water Resources (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Water Supply & Treatment (AREA)
• Nozzles (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=42356072

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (6)

Citations (4)

• 2009
  • 2009-01-23 RU RU2011135073/05A patent/RU2011135073A/ru unknown
  • 2009-01-23 SG SG2011049376A patent/SG172882A1/en unknown
  • 2009-01-23 EP EP09838943.0A patent/EP2389254A4/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2009-01-23 BR BRPI0924117A patent/BRPI0924117A2/pt not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2009-01-23 AU AU2009338233A patent/AU2009338233A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2009-01-23 WO PCT/NO2009/000028 patent/WO2010085152A1/en active Application Filing

Patent Citations (4)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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