EP3074139B1 - Shower assembly with shower head housing - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a shower assembly comprising a showerhead housing with a fluid inlet and a distributor plate in the showerhead housing, wherein a plurality of separate fluid guide paths are formed between the showerhead housing and the distributor plate and the distributor plate has passage openings from the fluid guide paths.

It is known to design shower heads of sanitary showers in such a way that they can be used to realize a plurality of different jet exit images or jet exit characteristics of a fluid jet which emerges from one or more jet outlet openings of a jet disk terminating the shower head on the outlet side. Thus, different jet patterns for a hard jet, a massage jet and a soft jet can be provided. In a known type of shower head with switching function, a plurality of separate fluid guide paths are formed between the showerhead housing and an internally disposed distributor plate, and by means of a switching valve, supplied fluid can be selectively supplied to one or more of these fluid guide paths. With the fluid guide paths are different groups of jet outlet openings of the jet disk in fluid communication, wherein the fluid passes through passage openings in the distributor plate to a fluid outlet space, which forms one or more separate chambers, and from there via the respectively associated jet outlet openings of the jet disk to the outside.

The publication DE 35 09 602 A1 discloses a shower assembly for a hand shower, wherein the hand shower comprises a housing with a handle and a bell-shaped end portion and a first, inner insert and a second, outer insert, which are used in the bell-shaped housing end part. The housing contains only function-specific, independent of the respective shower function channels and also non-specific connection means. The inner insert contains nonspecific connection means complementary to the connection means of the housing, from which only large-area, function-specific channels emanate. On the outside Use are summarized all water-bearing channels narrow cross-section and possibly other parts in need of maintenance. Thus, a whole set of different, easy to maintain hand showers are provided using the same housing in which different inner inserts can be used. For each inner liner, there is a mating outer liner, with the outer liner having the associated exit-side jet disk.

The invention is based on the technical problem of providing a shower assembly of the type mentioned, with which shower heads of different jet outlet characteristics can be realized very variable and flexible and with relatively little design effort.

The invention solves this problem by providing a shower assembly with the features of claim 1. According to the invention, the shower assembly comprises a plurality of jet discs having on the inside different chamber-forming and / or fluidabsperrende structures and which can be mounted either on the distributor plate of the showerhead housing and each one or have multiple jet outlet openings. This makes it possible, depending on the desired beam outlet characteristic to use a corresponding jet disk and to attach them to the distributor plate, which is located in the showerhead housing. In other words, it is thus possible to provide showerheads with different jet outlet characteristics using a single showerhead housing and a single distributor plate simply by selecting the respective associated jetplate and mounting it on the distributor plate.

The different jet outlet characteristics depending on the jet disk result from the different inside structures of the jet disks, by means of which a water outlet space between distributor plate and mounted jet disk can be subdivided into one or more fluid-separated chambers and / or one or more of the fluid guide paths can be shut off, e.g. can also be realized by shutting off the relevant passage openings of the distributor plate.

In a further development of the invention, a cover plate is provided between the housing and the distributor plate, which together with the distributor plate a cartridge insert forms, which has the fluid guide paths. As a result, the cover plate and the distributor plate can be preassembled as a cartridge insert and the cartridge insert can then be mounted in the shower head housing before the jet disk is then mounted on the distributor plate of the cartridge insert. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the distributor plate is attached directly to the showerhead housing. In this case, the fluid guide paths are formed between the distributor plate and the showerhead housing.

In a further development of the invention, a switching valve for switching between the separate fluid guide paths is provided between the water inlet and the fluid guide paths. This may allow the user to set different jet outlet characteristics for the showerhead with a given, mounted jet disk. In a further embodiment of the invention, the switching valve is at least partially disposed in or on the distributor plate. Thus, the switching valve may be integrated in the distributor plate or in the cartridge insert.

In one development of the invention, the distributor plate has, on its outer side, a partition wall structure which encloses the respective passage openings belonging to one of the fluid guide paths as a group. As a result, the fluid supplied via the respective fluid guide path passes through the associated passage openings in the direction of the jet disk or into a corresponding fluid exit chamber between distributor plate and jet disk.

In one development of the invention, the chamber-forming structures of the jet disks include an outer wall seal in the edge region of the jet disk and different inner wall seals. The outer wall seal seals the jet disc mounted on the distributor plate to the outside. The inner wall seals serve for the desired division of the fluid outlet space between distributor plate and jet disk into corresponding fluid outlet chambers. In a further embodiment of the invention, in this case one of the jet disks has only the outer wall seal and no inner wall seal. This has the consequence that the fluid over its entire surface can escape from this jet disk wherever there are in this jet outlet openings. The one or more other jet discs each have an inner wall seal and therefore different jet exit characteristics.

In one development of the invention, the chamber-forming structures of at least one jet disc include a flexible non-return valve inner wall seal. This means that this inner wall seal in the manner of a check valve is flexible in only one direction, whereby the two fluid outlet chambers separated from the inner wall seal come into fluid connection with one another. Depending on the fluid pressure prevailing in one and in the other of the two chambers, the two chambers thus remain fluidly separated from each other or are brought into fluid communication with each other. This can be used in addition to achieving different beam leakage characteristics.

In a further development of the invention, a safety lock is provided with which the respective jet disk can be secured against loosening from the distributor plate. This prevents the jet disc from inadvertently coming off the distributor plate. To change the jet disk, the safety lock can be unlocked.

In a further embodiment, the safety lock comprises a locking pin receptacle on the respective jet disc and a locking pin held on the shower head housing, which can be received dismantling in the locking pin receptacle. This represents a structurally and functionally advantageous realization of the safety lock.

Fig. 1

eine Längsschnittansicht einer z.B. als sanitäre Handbrause verwendbaren Brause mit Brausekopfgehäuse, Kartuscheneinsatz und einer ersten Strahlscheibe,

Fig. 2

eine Draufsicht von unten auf die Brause von Fig. 1,

Fig. 3

eine Draufsicht von unten auf die erste Strahlscheibe,

Fig. 4

eine Längsschnittansicht des Kartuscheneinsatzes und der daran montierten ersten Strahlscheibe der Brause von Fig. 1,

Fig. 5

eine Längsschnittansicht des Kartuscheneinsatzes ohne montierte Strahlscheibe,

Fig. 6

eine Perspektivansicht des Kartuscheneinsatzes von unten,

Fig. 7

eine Draufsicht von unten auf eine alternativ zur ersten an dem Kartuscheneinsatz montierbaren zweiten Strahlscheibe,

Fig. 8

eine Längsschnittansicht entsprechend Fig. 4 mit montierter zweiter statt erster Strahlscheibe,

Fig. 9

eine Draufsicht von unten auf eine dritte Strahlscheibe,

Fig. 10

eine Längsschnittansicht entsprechend Fig. 8 mit am Kartuscheneinsatz montierter dritter statt zweiter Strahlscheibe,

Fig. 11

eine Längsschnittansicht des Brausekopfbereichs einer Variante der Brause von Fig. 1 mit direkt gehäuseseitig montierter Verteilerplatte statt Kartuscheneinsatz und

Fig. 12

eine Ansicht entsprechend Fig. 2 für eine Variante mit Sicherungsverriegelung.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and will be described below. Hereby show:

Fig. 1

a longitudinal sectional view of a suitable example as a sanitary hand shower shower with shower head housing, cartridge insert and a first jet disk,

Fig. 2

a top view from the bottom of the shower of Fig. 1 .

Fig. 3

a top view from below of the first jet disk,

Fig. 4

a longitudinal sectional view of the cartridge insert and mounted thereon the first jet disc of the shower of Fig. 1 .

Fig. 5

a longitudinal sectional view of the cartridge insert without mounted jet disk,

Fig. 6

a perspective view of the cartridge insert from below,

Fig. 7

a top view from below of an alternative to the first mounted on the cartridge insert second jet disk,

Fig. 8

a longitudinal sectional view corresponding Fig. 4 with mounted second instead of first jet disk,

Fig. 9

a top view from below of a third jet disk,

Fig. 10

a longitudinal sectional view corresponding Fig. 8 with third instead of second jet disk mounted on the cartridge insert,

Fig. 11

a longitudinal sectional view of the shower head area of a variant of the shower of Fig. 1 with directly on the housing side mounted distributor plate instead of cartridge insert and

Fig. 12

a view accordingly Fig. 2 for a variant with safety lock.

In the Fig. 1 shower shown has a showerhead 1, which includes a showerhead housing 2 and a one-piece handle housing 3 with this. The showerhead housing 2 has a pot-like shape and defines a corresponding shower head 4. The hollow handle housing 3 receives a water supply sleeve, which defines a fluid supply channel 5, which opens into a fluid inlet 6 of the showerhead housing 2. The water guide sleeve terminates at its free end with an external thread 7, to which, for example, a fluid supply line, such as a shower hose, can be coupled.

In the cup-shaped shower head 4, a cartridge insert 8 is accommodated, which comprises a distributor plate 8a and a cartridge cover 8b. Between the distributor plate 8a and the cartridge cover 8b, a plurality of separate fluid guide paths 9a, 9b, 9c are formed in the cartridge insert 8. For this purpose, the distributor plate 8a has from its inside main surface perpendicularly projecting partitions 10, which sit in a fluid-tight manner in receptacles of the cartridge cover 8b, which thus acts as a cover plate.

At the handle-side portion, a change-over valve 11 is integrated into the cartridge insert 8, through which fluid supplied via the inlet 6 can optionally be fed into the various fluid guide paths 9a, 9b, 9c. The switching valve 11 is of a per se known type with a combined axially and rotatably movable valve disc 12 and an axially movable actuating pin 13 which can be actuated by the user via a arranged on the bottom of the showerhead 1 in the transition region between the shower head 4 and handle 3 pushbutton 14 ,

The cartridge insert 8, more precisely at its distributor plate 8a, a jet disk 15 is mounted, which forms the fluid outlet-side conclusion of the shower head 4 as usual. As in particular from the FIGS. 2 and 3 As can be seen, the jet disk 15 has a plurality of beam exit openings 16 distributed over its exit surface. A first part of the jet outlet openings 16 is located in a central region 15a of the jet disk 15, a second part of the jet outlet openings 16 is located in a central annular region 15b of the jet disk 15 radially adjoining the central region 15a and a third, remaining part of the jet outlet openings 16 is located itself in an outer annular region 15c of the jet disk 15.

In the example shown, a bayonet connection is used to fasten the jet disk 15 to the cartridge insert 8 or the distributor plate 8a. By this, the jet disk 15 is held on the one hand in its central region and on the other hand in its peripheral region by means of respective bayonet connection elements. To this end protrudes from the inside of the jet disk 15 in its central region from a bayonet retaining pin 17 which is circumferentially provided in the vicinity of its free end portion with a bayonet track 17a. Correspondingly, the distributor plate 8a has a centric opening and bayonet noses projecting radially inward into this centric opening 18 on. In the peripheral region, the jet disk 15 circumferentially distributed to a plurality of, for example, three or four radially outwardly facing bayonet projections 19, with which cooperate in the peripheral region of the distributor plate 8 a correspondingly formed bayonet scenes 20, in the matching angular distance on one of the jet disk 15 side facing the Distributor plate 8a are formed, as more clearly in Fig. 6 to recognize. This results in a very stable and functionally reliable attachment of the jet disk 15 on the cartridge insert 8. The combined centric and peripheral fixing of the jet disk 15 to the distributor plate 8a is particularly advantageous when using a relatively large-area jet disk and / or at high fluid pressures.

Fig. 4 shows a detail of the cartridge insert 8 with the jet disk 15 mounted on its distributor plate 8a. Fig. 5 shows in longitudinal section the cartridge insert 8 with the distributor plate 8a and the cover plate 8b and the integrated switching valve 11, here without the actuating pin 13 and the push button 14th Fig. 6 shows the cartridge insert 8 from below without the mounted jet disk. In this view, passage openings 21 can be seen which are provided for each of the fluid guide paths in the distributor plate 8a, in order to forward the fluid from the respective fluid guide path into the outlet space between distribution plate 8a and jet disk 15.

On its outer side facing the mounted jet disk 15, the distributor plate 8a has a dividing wall structure 22, which in the example shown comprises two coaxial annular dividing walls 22a, 22b. These subdivide the outlet side of the distributor plate 8a into a centric zone, a middle annular zone and an outer annular zone corresponding to the corresponding areas 15a, 15b, 15c of the jet disk or their three groups of jet outlet openings.

The partition wall structure 22 of the distributor plate 8 a cooperates with a chamber-forming structure 23, which is formed on the facing inside of the jet disk 15. This chamber-forming structure 23 can be realized, for example, by a pad or insert made of elastic sealing material on the inside of the jet disk and forms a jet-disk-specific exit chamber structure 24 from the fluid outlet space between distributor plate 8a and jet disk 15. In the example shown, this exit chamber structure contains three fluid-separated exit chambers the mentioned three jet disk areas, ie the central area 15a, the middle ring area 15b and the outer ring area 15c. The outlet chambers are kept separate from each other by a corresponding inner wall sealing the chamber-forming structure 23 from each other. In the example shown, the chamber-forming structure 23 includes a flexible check valve-inner wall seal in the form of sealing lips or sealing webs 25, which create elastically biased against corresponding portions of the distribution plate-partition wall structure 22. This has the consequence that each two adjacent outlet chambers of the outlet chamber structure 24 remain fluidly separated from each other depending on the fluid pressures prevailing in them or come into fluid communication, so that the fluid exits optionally either from two chambers or only one of the adjacent chambers via the associated jet outlet openings 16 , which leads to correspondingly different beam exit characteristics or beam patterns.

In addition, the chamber-forming structure 23 of the jet disk 15 comprises an outer wall seal 26 in the edge region of the jet disk 15 in order to seal the jet disk 15 or the radially outermost of the outlet chambers radially outwards.

Characteristically, instead of the jet disk 15 of FIG Fig. 3 If desired, other blasting disks can be mounted on the cartridge insert 8 or the distributor plate 8a. The FIGS. 7 and 8 show this with the example of a jet disk 15 'with a different arrangement of the jet outlet openings 16. Specifically, this jet disk 15' with respect to the jet disk 15 of Fig. 3 a larger central region 15'a, a larger outer annular region 15'c and a narrower central annular region 15'b. In addition, the jet disk 15 'has a modified chamber-forming structure 23' with an inner wall seal without sections with check valve effect, but with a similar outer wall seal. By changing the individual jet disk areas or jet disk zones 15'a, 15'b, 15'c and the elimination of the check valve effect of the inner wall sealing of the chamber-forming structure 23 'results in the use of the jet disk 15' other jet images than when using the jet disk 15 of Fig. 3 , The jet disk 15 'can in the same way by the above to the embodiment of Fig. 1 to 6 explained bayonet connection to the distributor plate 8a are mounted.

The FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate another jet disk 15 ", which can be mounted instead of the jet disk 15 or the jet disk 15 'on the distributor plate 8a of the cartridge insert 8 through the illustrated bayonet connection Fig. 9 has a rounded square or rectangular shape instead of the circular basic shape of the jet discs 15 and 15 '. In its inside chamber-forming structure 23, it substantially corresponds to that of the lens 3 in the embodiment of FIG Fig. 1 to 6 The jet disk 15 "also essentially corresponds to the jet disk 15 in its pattern of the jet outlet openings 16. It goes without saying that, alternatively, the jet disk 15" may comprise any other pattern of jet outlet openings and / or may have different inner wall seal to provide other spray patterns if desired.

It is also understood that other, not shown, jet discs, not shown here, can be mounted on the cartridge insert 8 or the distributor plate 8a, if necessary, without having to modify the cartridge insert 8 including the distributor plate 8a. It is only necessary that the respective jet disc has the holding means suitable for the distributor plate 8a, in this case bayonet holding means, in alternative embodiments other conventional holding means such as screw connection means or clip connection means. The chamber-forming inside structure of the respective jet disc then determines, in cooperation with the partition wall structure of the distributor plate, the respective exit chamber structure and thus the jet image or jet achievable with the jet disc, optionally switchable between different jet images when using the changeover valve. In non-illustrated embodiments of the invention, a cartridge insert is used without integrated switching valve.

Fig. 11 shows an embodiment in which a single intermediate plate 27 acts as a distributor plate, which is fixed directly to the showerhead housing 2, so that the fluid guide paths 9a, 9b, 9c between this distributor plate 27 and the showerhead housing 2 are formed. The distributor plate 27 is in the example shown largely identical to that in the embodiments of Fig. 1 to 10 in the cartridge insert 8 used distributor plate 8a. The switching valve 11 is integrated on the distributor plate 27 and received in a receptacle of the showerhead housing 2. At the distributor plate 27 is in the example of Fig. 11 the jet disk 15 of the Fig. 1 to 3 assembled. Optionally, instead of this in turn any other jet disk with matching holding means may be mounted, such as the jet disk 15 'of Fig. 7 or the jet disk 15 "of Fig. 9 ,

Fig. 12 illustrates a shower, the one of the Fig. 1 to 6 with the modification corresponds to that it is equipped with a safety lock. The securing lock comprises a locking pin receptacle 30 in a correspondingly modified jet disk 15 and a locking pin 31 engaging in the locking pin receptacle 30, the locking pin receptacle 30 being realized in the example shown as a through opening in the pushbutton 14 of the blast disk 15.

Preferably, the locking pin 31 is located in an actuating pin receptacle for the actuating pin 13 of the switching valve 11. In this case, the locking pin 31 may simultaneously act as the associated valve actuating pin 13 or be arranged in the axial extension of the same. The actuating pin receptacle can, for example, a in Fig. 6 to be recognized receiving opening 32 on the underside of the cartridge insert 8 and the distributor plate 8a include.

For mounting the respective jet disk 15, the locking pin 31 is inserted into the actuating pin receptacle and pushed back. Subsequently, the jet disk 15 is attached to the cartridge insert 8 and the distributor plate 8a and rotated to effect the bayonet connection. As soon as the locking pin receptacle 30 is aligned with the pushed-back locking pin 31 during this assembly rotational movement, it can engage in the locking pin receptacle and thereby secure the jet disc 15 against turning back and thus against detachment from the cartridge insert 8 or from the distributor plate 8a. For this purpose, it may be provided that the locking pin 31 automatically snaps into the locking pin receptacle 30 as soon as it is flush with it. Alternatively it can be provided that the locking pin 31 is held by a releasable retaining mechanism during the jet disk assembly in the pushed-back position and moved forward after assembly, for example using a tool by releasing the retaining mechanism and thus moved into the locking pin receptacle 30 inside becomes. The tool can engage the locking pin 31 through the locking pin receptacle 30.

For disassembling the jet disk 15 from the cartridge insert 8 or from the distributor plate 8a, the locking pin 31 is e.g. pushed back by means of a suitable tool in its locking pin receptacle 30 releasing position and held in this pushed-back position by means of the said retaining mechanism. Then, the bayonet connection can be achieved by turning back the jet disk 15 relative to the cartridge insert 8 or the distributor plate 8a, thereby removing the jet disk 15 from the shower head.

In the shower assembly according to the invention, one of the respectively on the distributor plate mountable jet discs in a manner not shown may be one whose chamber-forming structure includes only an outer wall seal without further Innenwandabdichtungsstrukturen. In this case, the supplied fluid exits over a large area through all existing in this jet disc jet outlet openings. In non-illustrated embodiments of the invention, at least one of the jet disks has a fluid-blocking structure on the inside, by means of which one or more of the fluid-guidance paths or their associated passage openings in the distributor plate can be shut off, whereby specific, different jet images can also be achieved by using the different jet disks ,

As the illustrated and illustrated embodiments make clear, the invention provides a shower assembly which, using a single showerhead housing with a single associated distributor plate, allows showerheads with different jet patterns to be provided by providing a plurality of jet disks, which can optionally be mounted on the distributor plate and provide the respective other spray patterns by means of chamber-forming and / or fluid-blocking structures. The shower assembly according to the invention can be used in particular for the provision of sanitary hand and overhead shower but also other shower systems.

Claims (11)

1. A shower assembly group, comprising:

   - a shower head housing (2) including a fluid inlet (6) into the shower head housing and

   - a distributor plate (8a) in the shower head housing, wherein a plurality of separate fluid conduit paths (9a, 9b, 9c) is provided and the distributor plate has passage openings diverting from the fluid conduit paths,

   characterized by

   - a plurality of jet disks which are provided with different chamber-forming and/or fluid shut-off structures (23) on an internal side and are selectively optionally attachable to the distributor plate and comprise one or more jet outlet openings (16), respectively,

   - wherein by the chamber-forming structure (23) of a respective attached jet disk, a jet disk-specific outlet chamber structure (24) is formed between the distributor plate and the jet disk, with the passage openings ending into the outlet chamber structure, and/or wherein by the fluid shut-off structure of a respective attached jet disk, a jet disk-specific fluid shut-off structure is formed between the distributor plate and the jet disk, to shut off at least one of the fluid conduit paths (9a, 9b, 9c).
2. The shower assembly group according to claim 1, further characterized in that a cover plate (8b) is provided between the shower head housing (2) and the distributor plate (8a), wherein the cover plate together with the distributor plate constitutes a cartridge insert (8) which includes the fluid conduit paths.
3. The shower assembly group according to claim 1, further characterized in that the distributor plate is fixed directly on the shower head housing, and the fluid conduit paths are formed between the distributor plate and the shower head housing.
4. The shower assembly group according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further characterized in that between the water inlet and the fluid conduit paths a switch-over valve (11) for switching over between the separate fluid conduit paths is provided.
5. The shower assembly group according to claim 4, further characterized in that the switch-over valve is arranged at least partially in or on the distributor plate.
6. The shower assembly group according to any one of the claims 1 to 5, further characterized in that the distributor plate has a partition wall structure on its exterior side, which partition wall structure encloses as a group the passage openings which are associated to a respective one of the fluid conduit paths.
7. The shower assembly group according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further characterized in that the chamber-forming structures of the jet disks include an exterior wall sealing (26) in a boundary area of the jet disk and different interior wall sealings (25).
8. The shower assembly group according to claim 7, further characterized in that one of the jet disks includes only the exterior wall sealing and no interior wall sealing.
9. The shower assembly group according to any one of claims 1 to 8, further characterized in that the chamber-forming structures of at least one jet disk include a flexible check valve interior wall sealing.
10. The shower assembly group according to any one of claims 1 to 9, further characterized by a security locking feature (30, 31) for securing against disengagement of the respective jet disk from the distributor plate.
11. The shower assembly group according to claim 10, further characterized in that the security locking feature comprises a locking pin receptacle (30) on the respective jet disk and a locking pin (31) which is held on the shower head housing and insertable into the locking pin receptacle for securing against disassembly.

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