EP4316668A1 - Shower fluid pulsing unit, shower head, and shower fluid line - Google Patents

Abstract

2.1. The invention relates to a shower head with a housing body (1) with a fluid inlet part (2) and a fluid outlet part (3) and a quantity control unit (4) arranged in the housing body between the fluid inlet part and the fluid outlet part with a diaphragm element (5) and a fluid pressure-driven opposite the diaphragm element rotatably movable control element (6), the quantity control unit having a passage opening structure (7) which is time-variable by rotating the control element relative to the diaphragm element, the fluid outlet part has an outlet chamber (8) and a plurality of outlet openings (9) which are permanently open and open out of the outlet chamber and lead out of the housing body. to emit a corresponding shower jet.2.2. According to the invention, the passage opening structure forms a fluid connection from the fluid inlet part (2) to the outlet chamber (8) with a passage cross-section that is time-variable by rotating the control element (6) relative to the diaphragm element (5) and is at least partially open in each rotational position of the control element.2.3. Use e.g. for sanitary showers.

Description

The invention relates to an effervescent fluid pulsation unit with a housing body which has a fluid inlet part and a fluid outlet part, and with a quantity control unit arranged in the housing body between the fluid inlet part and the fluid outlet part, which comprises a diaphragm element and a fluid pressure-driven control element which is rotatable relative to the diaphragm element, the quantity control unit being a by rotating the control element relative to the diaphragm element, it has a time-variable passage opening structure and the fluid outlet part has an outlet chamber and a plurality of outlet openings which permanently open out of the outlet chamber and lead out of the housing body for the corresponding delivery of effervescent fluid. Furthermore, the invention relates to a shower head and a shower fluid line which are equipped with such a shower fluid pulsation unit.

Shower heads equipped with such shower fluid pulsating units are used, for example, in the sanitary sector for hand and overhead showers of shower and bath systems, with the outlet openings of the pulsating unit functioning as jet outlet openings of the shower head. By using the control element, which is rotatable relative to the cover element, the characteristics of the dispensing shower fluid, in particular the quantity and typically also the jet characteristics of the shower fluid emerging from the shower head, can be made variable over time, which can be used, for example, to achieve a massage effect.

In the present type of shower fluid pulsating units, when used in a shower head, fluid flowing in in a time-varying amount enters the one or more outlet chambers in order to then emerge via the associated outlet openings from the shower head, more precisely from its jet outlet openings, forming a shower jet.

In conventional shower heads of this type equipped with such a shower fluid pulsation unit, several outlet chambers are typically arranged fluidly in parallel, and the fluid supply is to the respective outlet chamber periodically released or interrupted, preferably for the different exit chambers in a time-staggered manner. A shower head of this type is in the published publication US 2012/0181353 A1 disclosed. In the shower head there, a slotted control disk rotates in front of two openings in a panel. An inner and an outer chamber are formed between the panel and an outer cover. One opening in the panel leads into the inner chamber, the other opening leads into the outer chamber. By rotating the control disc, depending on the rotation position, the slot in the control disc overlaps with one, both or none of the aperture openings, so that fluid can get into the associated chamber behind the aperture.

A similar shower head is in the disclosure document DE 10 2008 015 969 A1 disclosed. Here too, a control disk controls the flow of fluid into two chambers. The control disk alternately closes the opening in one chamber and the opening in the other chamber, so that each chamber can be supplied with water separately from the other. When switching, water jets emerge from all outlet openings of the respective chamber at the same time or are switched off. Other similar shower heads of this type with two or more such chambers, to which the fluid supply is periodically released or shut off, are from the published publications US 3,713,587 A and DE 32 45 756 A1 known.

In a type of shower fluid pulsating units or shower heads that is different from the type of shower fluid pulsating units considered here, the outlet openings through which the shower fluid emerges, for example, forming a shower jet from a shower head, are periodically closed and opened by a rotatable control element in order to generate a temporally and spatially pulsating shower jet . The disclosure document US 2010/0127096 A1 and the patent specification DE 1 027 364 B disclose shower heads of this type, in which a rotating perforated control disk acts as a control element, which periodically closes or releases the outlet openings. The disclosure documents DE 102 31 575 A1 , DE 101 08 326 A1 and DE 40 31 206 A1 and the patent specification US 4,089,471 A disclose further shower heads of this type, in which the jet outlet openings are periodically opened or closed by a rolling body or a sliding body.

The technical problem of the invention is the provision of a shower fluid pulsation unit of the type mentioned at the beginning, which enables an advantageous temporal change in the amount or characteristics of the shower fluid being dispensed with comparatively little effort and high functional reliability, as well as a shower head equipped with it and a shower fluid line equipped with it.

The invention solves this problem by providing a shower fluid pulsation unit with the features of claim 1, a shower head with the features of claim 8 and a shower fluid line with the features of claim 9. Advantageous developments of the invention are specified in the subclaims, the wording of which is hereby incorporated by reference is made part of the description. This includes in particular all embodiments of the invention that result from the combinations of features that are defined by the references in the subclaims.

In the shower fluid pulsation unit according to the invention, the passage opening structure of the quantity control unit forms a fluid connection from the fluid inlet part to the outlet chamber with a passage cross-section that is time-variable by rotating the control element and is at least partially open in each rotational position of the control element. The shower fluid pulsation unit can be used in particular for sanitary purposes.

The rotation of the control element relative to the diaphragm element is to be understood as a relative rotation of the control element relative to the diaphragm element and takes place as an active rotary movement driven by the pressure of the fluid supplied to the shower fluid pulsation unit, for example water. The aperture element can be fixed to the housing or can also rotate, but in such a way that a relative rotation of the control element relative to the aperture element remains. The shower fluid pulsation unit therefore does not need to have any other drive, for example an electric or magnetic drive, for rotating the one or more rotatable components of the quantity control unit.

Both the control element and the diaphragm element can each have a structure with fluid-permeable and fluid-blocking areas, so that these two structures together form the passage opening structure, which is the fluid-permeable Part of the quantity control unit. For this purpose, the panel element and the control element can, for example, each have one or more inner or edge openings, the latter also being understood in a broad sense to mean the case that, for example, the control element is formed as a body, such as a rolling or sliding body only extends over part of the cross section of the quantity control unit that is effectively available for the fluid. In other words, the passage cross section of the passage opening structure denotes the overlap of the fluid-permeable areas of the control element and the diaphragm element and thus the effective cross section through which the fluid can pass through the quantity control unit.

By rotating the control element relative to the diaphragm element, the passage cross section of the passage opening structure changes continuously and periodically over time. The larger the current passage cross section, the more fluid passes through the quantity control unit into the outlet chamber. In this way, the quantity control unit controls the amount of fluid flowing into the outlet chamber by rotating the control element relative to the diaphragm element.

Since the passage cross section is at least partially open in every rotational position of the control element, a certain amount of fluid enters the outlet chamber at any time. During operation of the effervescent fluid pulsating unit, the inflow of fluid into the outlet chamber is therefore never completely interrupted, and fluid continuously emerges from the effervescent fluid pulsating unit, with the amount of emerging fluid varying over time in accordance with the time-changing passage cross section of the passage opening structure.

In this way, the invention advantageously enables a continuous change in the amount of effervescent fluid emerging from the effervescent fluid pulsating unit without completely interrupting the delivery of the effervescent fluid at certain times. The fluid emerges from all outlet openings that open out of the outlet chamber. The effervescent fluid pulsing unit thus enables the effervescent fluid emerging from the effervescent fluid pulsating unit to pulsate synchronously over time and for all associated outlet openings without interrupting the effervescent fluid flow.

In a further development of the invention, all of the shower jet-forming outlet openings of the fluid outlet part open together out of the outlet chamber as a single one exit chamber. The fluid entering the housing body via the fluid inlet part and passing through the passage opening structure of the quantity control unit reaches completely into one outlet chamber. This enables a uniformly distributed exit of the fluid from the shower fluid pulsation unit, preferably over its entire fluid outlet surface, for which purpose in this last-mentioned case the outlet chamber extends essentially over the entire cross section of the fluid outlet part of the shower fluid pulsation unit and the outlet openings essentially over the entire cross section of the fluid outlet part or .are arranged distributed across the exit chamber. Alternatively, the expansion of the outlet chamber or the distribution of the outlet openings can be limited to a lateral portion of the fluid outlet part or the shower fluid pulsation unit.

In a further development of the invention, the shower fluid pulsating unit has a disk-shaped inflow element with an inflow opening structure, which is designed to direct inflowing fluid towards the control element in a rotationally driving manner. For this purpose, the inflow opening structure can be formed by channels which lead through or past the inflow element. The channels are, for example, set at an angle to a longitudinal axis of the housing body, so that they extend at least partially in the circumferential direction of the housing. The longitudinal axis of the housing body is defined in such a way that it runs parallel to a main flow direction of the fluid through the housing body or to a main flow direction of the shower fluid emerging from the shower fluid pulsation unit. As a result, the fluid flowing through the channels, after exiting the inflow element, hits the control element with a rotational direction component and causes the desired rotational movement of the same. This represents an advantageously simple construction for rotating the control element.

In a further development of the invention, the control element is a disk with at least one inner or edge control opening, a rolling body, a sliding body or a combination thereof. The control openings of the disk can be formed, for example, by round or differently shaped holes or openings, such as bores. It is also conceivable that the openings are formed by a circular section or circular sector, by a circular section or circular segment, by a circular ring or by a circular ring section. If a rolling body or a sliding body is used as a control element this defines the passage opening structure of the quantity control unit by partially covering the openings in the aperture element.

In a further development of the invention, the control element is a control disk which is arranged such that it can rotate about an axis of rotation and has a rotor blade structure which can be pressurized with fluid. Due to the rotor blade structure, the control element can be set in rotation directly by applying the fluid pressure, without the need for additional components. The axis of rotation can, for example, run parallel, in particular coaxially, to the longitudinal axis of the housing body. This enables a simple structure or a simple design in which the rotor blade structure is an integral part of the control element.

In an alternative development of the invention, the control element is a control disk, and the quantity control unit has a rotatably arranged rotor element with a rotor blade structure which can be pressurized with fluid and which is rotatably coupled to the control disk. In this version, the control disk can be designed and manufactured to the needs of the passage opening structure of the quantity control unit, regardless of the rotor blade structure.

In one embodiment of the invention, the shower fluid pulsation unit has a cycloid gear, through which the control disk is rotationally coupled to the rotor element. For this purpose, the cycloid gear can, for example, comprise an eccentric coupling, which couples the control disk with the rotor element, and a rolling coupling, which includes a rolling ring contour that is fixed on the housing side and a peripheral contour of the control disk that rolls on this in a positive and/or frictional manner. By means of the eccentric coupling, the control disk is caused to perform an eccentric rotational movement by the rotary movement of the rotor element, in which the control disk rolls with its circumferential contour on the rolling ring contour by means of the rolling coupling.

The shower fluid pulsation unit equipped with this cycloid gear has manufacturing and functional advantages. Through the cycloid gear, the rotation of the control disk can be coupled to the rotation of the rotor element with relatively little manufacturing effort to achieve a desired reduction and reversal of the direction of rotation, so that the control disk has a speed relative to the rotational speed of the rotor element can achieve a significantly lower rotational speed. If necessary, the cycloid gear can be made very compact and only requires a few moving components.

The shower head according to the invention is equipped with the shower fluid pulsation unit according to the invention, the outlet openings of the shower fluid pulsation unit simultaneously forming the jet outlet openings of the shower head, through which the shower head emits a corresponding shower jet. In this way, the shower fluid pulsation unit can directly make the jet characteristics of the shower head variable over time. The shower head can be used, for example, for a hand shower, an overhead shower, a side shower or a kitchen pull-out shower.

The shower fluid line according to the invention is equipped with the shower fluid pulsation unit according to the invention, the quantity control unit of which is arranged in the pipeline at a distance from a fluid outlet-side line end of a pipeline of the shower fluid line, for example inserted therein as an insert component. In the usual way, the pipeline can be a rigid pipeline or a flexible pipeline, in particular a flexible hose line. The shower fluid line can, for example, serve as a shower hose or shower handle pipe to supply shower fluid to a shower head, in particular a sanitary shower head, which is set up for installation in a hand shower, an overhead shower, a side shower or a kitchen shower. During operation, the quantity control unit of the shower fluid pulsating unit outputs pulsating shower fluid in the shower fluid line. The fluid continues to flow through the fluid line in an amount that varies over time to its end on the fluid outlet side, which can, for example, open into a shower head or another sanitary outlet fitting or be formed by the shower head or the outlet fitting. The quantity pulsation of the fluid flow caused by the quantity control unit continues through the shower fluid line, so that the shower/fluid jet emerging from the end of the fluid line or from the shower head or the outlet fitting pulsates accordingly with respect to the amount of fluid emerging.

Fig. 1

eine perspektivische Explosionsdarstellung eines Brausekopfes mit Brausefluidpulsiereinheit mit einer Mengensteuereinheit mit Steuerscheibe und integraler Rotorflügelstruktur,

Fig. 2

eine Draufsicht von unten auf den Brausekopf von Fig. 1,

Fig. 3

eine Schnittansicht längs einer Linie III-III in Fig. 2,

Fig. 4

eine perspektivische Explosionsdarstellung der Mengensteuereinheit von Fig. 1,

Fig. 5

eine Draufsicht auf die Mengensteuereinheit von Fig. 4 in einer Stellung mit maximalem Durchlassquerschnitt,

Fig. 6

die Draufsicht von Fig. 5 in einer Stellung der Mengensteuereinheit mit minimalem Durchlassquerschnitt,

Fig. 7

eine perspektivische Explosionsdarstellung eines Brausekopfes mit Brausefluidpulsiereinheit mit einer Mengensteuereinheit mit Steuerscheibe und separater Rotorflügelstruktur und mit Zykloidgetriebe,

Fig. 8

die Ansicht von Fig. 3 für den Brausekopf von Fig. 7,

Fig. 9

eine perspektivische Explosionsdarstellung der Mengensteuereinheit von Fig. 7,

Fig. 10

eine Draufsicht auf ein Blendenelement der Mengensteuereinheit von Fig. 9,

Fig. 11

eine Draufsicht auf die Mengensteuereinheit von Fig. 9 in einer Stellung mit minimalem Durchlassquerschnitt,

Fig. 12

die Draufsicht von Fig. 11 in einer Stellung der Mengensteuereinheit mit maximalem Durchlassquerschnitt,

Fig. 13

die Draufsicht von Fig. 11 in einer Stellung der Mengensteuereinheit mit mittlerem Durchlassquerschnitt und

Fig. 14

eine Schnittansicht eines eintrittsseitigen Teils einer Brausefluidleitung mit Brausefluidpulsiereinheit.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings. These and further embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below. Show here:

Fig. 1

a perspective exploded view of a shower head with shower fluid pulsation unit with a quantity control unit with control disk and integral rotor blade structure,

Fig. 2

a top view from below of the shower head Fig. 1 ,

Fig. 3

a sectional view along a line III-III in Fig. 2 ,

Fig. 4

a perspective exploded view of the quantity control unit Fig. 1 ,

Fig. 5

a top view of the quantity control unit Fig. 4 in a position with maximum passage cross section,

Fig. 6

the top view of Fig. 5 in a position of the quantity control unit with a minimum passage cross section,

Fig. 7

a perspective exploded view of a shower head with shower fluid pulsation unit with a quantity control unit with control disk and separate rotor blade structure and with cycloid gear,

Fig. 8

the view of Fig. 3 for the shower head from Fig. 7 ,

Fig. 9

a perspective exploded view of the quantity control unit Fig. 7 ,

Fig. 10

a top view of a panel element of the quantity control unit Fig. 9 ,

Fig. 11

a top view of the quantity control unit Fig. 9 in a position with a minimum passage cross section,

Fig. 12

the top view of Fig. 11 in a position of the quantity control unit with maximum passage cross section,

Fig. 13

the top view of Fig. 11 in a position of the quantity control unit with a medium flow cross section and

Fig. 14

a sectional view of an inlet-side part of a shower fluid line with shower fluid pulsation unit.

The figures show various exemplary embodiments of the shower fluid pulsation unit according to the invention, which includes a housing body 1 with a fluid inlet part 2 and a fluid outlet part 3. The Fig. 1 to 13 show the use of the shower fluid pulsation unit according to the invention in a shower head according to the invention, which can be used in particular as a sanitary shower head, in which case the housing body 1 simultaneously functions as a housing body for the shower fluid pulsation unit and for the shower head. With the fluid inlet part 2, the shower head can be connected to a shower fluid supply, for example a shower hose, in order to supply a fluid, typically water, which passes through the fluid inlet part 2 into the shower fluid pulsating unit or the shower head. The Fig. 14 shows the use of the shower fluid pulsation unit according to the invention in a shower fluid line according to the invention, in which case the shower fluid pulsation unit is arranged at a distance from a fluid outlet end of the shower fluid line at a fluid inlet end of the shower fluid line, for example inserted as an insert component into this line end.

The effervescent fluid pulsating unit according to the invention further comprises a quantity control unit 4 arranged in the housing body 1 between the fluid inlet part 2 and the fluid outlet part 3 with a diaphragm element 5 and a fluid pressure-driven control element 6 which is rotatable relative to the diaphragm element 5. The control element 6 is preferably arranged in front of the diaphragm element 5 in the fluid flow direction and is in The examples shown are surrounded by this on the circumference. In alternative embodiments, the control element 6 can be arranged behind the diaphragm element 5 in the fluid flow direction. In the exemplary embodiments shown, the diaphragm element 5 has a hollow cylindrical shape, which is closed on one end by a perforated diaphragm disk or diaphragm plate. Alternatively, the diaphragm element 5 can, for example, only have the diaphragm disk without surrounding the control element 6 on the circumference.

The quantity control unit 4 has a passage opening structure 7 that is time-variable by rotating the control element 6 relative to the aperture element 5. In the exemplary embodiment Fig. 1 to 6 the passage opening structure 7 is formed by a circular section-shaped control opening 12a in a circular disc-shaped part of the control element 6 on the one hand and several round aperture holes or aperture openings 5a or bores in the aperture element 5, more precisely in the disc of the aperture element 5 that closes on the front, on the other hand. The circular section-shaped control opening 12a can extend over an arbitrarily predeterminable circumferential angle, for example in the range between approximately 135° and approximately 225°. In the exemplary embodiment Fig. 7 to 13 the passage opening structure 7 is formed by three bean-shaped, elongated hole-like slot openings 12b arranged equidistantly in the circumferential direction as control openings in the control element 6 on the one hand and three slot openings 5b which are largely bean-shaped and arranged equidistantly in the circumferential direction as aperture openings in the aperture element 5 on the other hand. In further alternative embodiments, the control element 6 and/or the aperture element 5 can also have more or fewer openings and/or openings with a different shape. In particular, the openings in the control element 6 and the openings in the shutter element 5 in the embodiment shown in FIGS Fig. 7 to 13 is shown, do not have the same or a similar shape as shown, and/or are not present in the same number and/or are not in the same arrangement.

The fluid outlet part 3 has an outlet chamber 8 and a plurality of outlet openings 9 which permanently open out of the outlet chamber 8 and lead out of the housing body 1 for the corresponding delivery of effervescent fluid. In the exemplary embodiments shown, the fluid outlet part 3 is arranged on the edge in contact with the diaphragm element 5 and forms the outlet chamber 8 by a convex shape of its inside that is curved away from the diaphragm element 5 in the fluid flow direction, as in particular in the Fig. 1 , 3 , 7 and 8 to recognize. In alternative embodiments, the outlet chamber 8 can also be formed by a distance between the fluid outlet part 3 and the diaphragm element 5 or the control element 6. In alternative embodiments, the fluid outlet part 3 can have a plurality of outlet openings which do not open out of the single outlet chamber 8 and from which, for example, fluid flows out, which is not passed through the quantity control unit 4 but bypasses it. Multiple exit chambers 8 are also possible are all fed with fluid from the quantity control unit 4 and from which, during operation, fluid flows out in a time-varying amount via the associated outlet openings without interruption or synchronously.

The passage opening structure 7 forms a fluid connection from the fluid inlet part 2 to the outlet chamber 8 with a passage cross-section that is time-variable by rotating the control element 6 relative to the diaphragm element 5 and is at least partially open in each rotational position of the control element 6. In the 5 and 6 the quantity control unit 4 according to the embodiment there is shown in a position with a maximum or minimum passage cross section. The passage cross section is given by the overlapping area of the circular cut-out control opening 12a in the control element 6 on the one hand and the aperture openings 5a in the aperture element 5 or in the disc of the aperture element 5 that closes on the front side on the other hand. In the Fig. 11 and 12 the quantity control unit 4 according to the embodiment there is also shown in a position with a maximum or minimum passage cross section. In this case, the passage cross section is given by the overlapping area of the bean-shaped slot openings 12b, 5b in the control element 6 on the one hand and in the diaphragm element 5 on the other hand.

In the examples of Fig. 1 to 13 the housing body 1 of the shower head is designed in two parts with a housing base body 1a and a closing ring 1b, which is screwed with an internal thread onto an external thread of the housing base body 1a and holds the quantity control unit 4 with the control element 6 and the diaphragm element 5 in the housing base body 1a, as shown in the Fig. 1 , 3 , 7 and 8 to recognize.

During operation, the shower fluid used is supplied via the fluid inlet part 2 into the housing body 1 of the shower fluid pulsation unit or the shower head and flows through the passage cross-section formed by the passage opening structure 7 of the quantity control unit 4 depending on the position of the control element 6 relative to the diaphragm element 5 to the outlet chamber 8 and then emerges from this and from the housing body 1 through the outlet openings 9 of the fluid outlet part 3.

In advantageous embodiments, all of the shower jet-forming outlet openings 9 of the fluid outlet part 3 open out together from the outlet chamber 8 as a single outlet chamber 8, as realized in the examples shown and, for example, in the Fig. 3 and 8th visible. The outlet chamber 8 extends essentially over the entire cross section of the fluid outlet part 3 of the shower fluid pulsation unit, and the outlet openings 9 are arranged distributed essentially over the entire cross section of the fluid outlet part 2 or the outlet chamber 8. Alternatively, the outlet chamber 8 can also extend only over a portion of the cross section of the fluid outlet part 3, for example only over a central portion or only over an annular portion. In further alternative embodiments, the outlet openings 9 are arranged distributed only over a partial area of the cross section of the outlet chamber 8.

In advantageous embodiments, the shower fluid pulsating unit, as in the examples shown, has a disk-shaped inflow element 10 with an inflow opening structure 11, which is designed to direct inflowing fluid towards the control element 6 in a rotationally driving manner. Preferably, the disk-shaped inflow element 10 is arranged in front of the control element 6 and the diaphragm element 5 in the fluid flow direction, as shown. In the examples shown, the inflow opening structure 11 contains a plurality of inflow openings spaced apart and equidistant along a circular line in the circumferential direction, with opening edge surfaces running obliquely to the axial direction with a circumferential direction component for the purpose of flow conduction.

In advantageous embodiments, the control element 6 is a disk with at least one inner or edge control opening, a rolling body, a sliding body or a combination thereof. In the examples shown, the control element 6 is a disk, in the exemplary embodiment the Fig. 1 to 6 the circular section-shaped opening 12a already mentioned above acts as a control opening on the edge and in the exemplary embodiment Fig. 7 to 13 the above-mentioned bean-shaped slot openings 12b function as internal control openings 12. The overlap of the fluid-permeable region of the control element 6, ie the one or more control openings 12a, 12b, on the one hand, and the aperture openings 5a, 5b in the aperture element 5, on the other hand, forms the passage opening structure 7.

In advantageous embodiments, the control element 6 is a control disk 14 which is rotatably arranged about an axis of rotation 13 and has a rotor blade structure 15 which can be pressurized with fluid, as in the example of Fig. 1 to 6 realized. In the example shown, the control disk 14 has the rotor blade structure 15 on its side facing the fluid inlet part 2. In a central area of the control disk 14, the rotor blade structure 15 forms a hub with a cylindrical, axial recess 25, in which a cylindrical bearing pin 24 is received, which protrudes from the inflow disk 10, as the sectional view in Fig. 3 shows. In addition, the control disk 14 is rotatably mounted on its side facing away from the fluid inlet part 2 with a bearing pin 26 in a recess 27 in the diaphragm element 5. The control disk 14 is thus mounted so that it can rotate axially on both sides about the axis of rotation 13. This enables the control disk 14 to rotate with little play and to run smoothly and smoothly. The axis of rotation 13 can in particular coincide with a longitudinal center axis of the housing body 1 or be offset parallel to it. In alternative embodiments, the control disk 14 can, for example, only be mounted on one of the two end faces. It is also possible that the control disk 14 has no axial bearing and is only mounted on the circumference, for example on an inner side of the hollow cylindrical part of the diaphragm element 5 or on an inner side of the housing body 1.

In alternative advantageous embodiments, the control element 6 is a control disk 14', and the quantity control unit 4 has a rotatably arranged rotor element 16 with a rotor blade structure 15' that can be pressurized with fluid, which is rotatably coupled to the control disk 14', as in the exemplary embodiment Fig. 7 to 13 realized. In the example shown, the rotor element 16 has a bearing pin 28 on one end face, which is accommodated in a corresponding axial recess 29 in the diaphragm element 5, and a hub recess 31 on the other end face, into which a bearing pin 30 protruding from the inflow element 10 engages. The rotor element 16 is therefore similar to the rotor blade structure 15 and the control disk 14 in the example Fig. 1 to 6 axially rotatable on both sides about an axis of rotation 13 ', which in turn can be, for example, a longitudinal center axis of the housing body 1. The control disk 14 'is rotatably coupled to the rotor element 16, so that it rotates synchronously or in an increased or reduced manner with the rotor element 16. In an alternative Execution, the rotor element 16 can only be rotatably mounted on one side with a hub and pin or only on the circumference without a hub and pin.

In advantageous embodiments, the shower fluid pulsating unit has a cycloid gear 17, through which the control disk 14' is rotationally coupled to the rotor element 16, as in the exemplary embodiment Fig. 7 to 13 realized. In this example, the cycloid gear 17 includes a fixed rolling ring contour 22 on the aperture element 5 and a circumferential contour 23 on the control disk 14', which rolls on the rolling ring contour. In alternative embodiments, for example, the housing body 1 or the inside of the housing body 1 or the inflow element 10, if present, can have the rolling ring contour 22. Furthermore, in this example, the cycloid gear 17 includes an eccentric pin 20 projecting from the rotor element 16 and an eccentric bore 21 in the control disk 14' receiving the eccentric pin 20. Through this eccentric coupling, the rotor element 16 drives the rolling, reduced rotational movement of the control disk 14 '. In the example shown, the eccentric pin 20 is formed together with the bearing pin 28 by a corresponding two-stage extension of the rotor element 16, the bearing pin 28 protruding from the eccentric pin 20 centrally to the axis of rotation 13 '.

In advantageous applications, the shower fluid pulsation unit according to the invention is part of a corresponding shower head according to the invention, as in the exemplary embodiments of Fig. 1 to 13 the case is. The shower head designs shown can in particular be part of an associated sanitary hand shower. A housing body of the shower head preferably simultaneously forms the housing body 1 of the shower fluid pulsating unit, and the outlet openings 9 of the shower fluid pulsing unit form jet outlet openings of the shower head, through which the shower head emits a corresponding shower jet. The effervescent fluid pulsating unit thus releases supplied effervescent fluid via the jet outlet openings as a shower jet with a pulsating, ie periodically time-changing, amount of fluid and thereby generates a periodically variable amount of shower jet characteristic. As an alternative to the hand shower mentioned, the shower head can also be, for example, part of an overhead shower, a side shower or a kitchen pull-out shower, in which in this case the shower fluid pulsation unit is installed.

In an alternative advantageous application, the shower fluid pulsation unit according to the invention is installed in a corresponding shower fluid line according to the invention, with its quantity control unit 4 being inserted into the end of the shower fluid line, as in the exemplary embodiment Fig. 14 the case is. In this example shown, the shower fluid line is part of a hand shower, in particular a hand shower handle, wherein in Fig. 14 only a fluid inlet-side section of a flexible or rigid pipe 19 of the shower fluid line with a fluid inlet-side line end 32 is shown. At a line end, not shown, on the fluid outlet side, the pipe 19 can, for example, open into a shower head of any conventional design with which the hand shower is equipped. In the example shown, the pipeline 19 is accommodated in a handle housing body 33; alternatively, the pipeline 19 can simultaneously function as a handle housing body. The quantity control unit 4 is, as in Fig. 14 can be seen, arranged on the fluid inlet side line end 32 and consequently at a distance from the fluid outlet side line end of the pipeline 19 on the pipeline 19 and its structure can, for example, be that of the shower fluid pulsation unit of the exemplary embodiment Fig. 1 to 6 , alternatively that of the shower fluid pulsation unit of the exemplary embodiment Fig. 7 to 13 , are equivalent to. In this case, the pipeline 19 provides the housing body 1 of the shower fluid pulsation unit, into which the components of the quantity control unit 4 are inserted as an insert component. The adjoining cavity section of the pipeline 19 functions as the outlet chamber 8 of the shower fluid pulsation unit, from which the outlet openings of the shower fluid pulsation unit open in a manner not shown, for example in the form of jet outlet openings of a shower head at the fluid outlet end of the pipeline 19.

In this example, the fluid supplied to the pipeline 19 is released by the shower fluid pulsating unit as a fluid flow with a correspondingly pulsating, i.e. periodically varying, amount of fluid, and this volume-pulsating fluid flow passes through the shower fluid line, for example, to the mentioned shower head arranged at the end, via which it then forms a shower jet Jet outlet openings emerge as a pulsating shower jet.

In alternative embodiments, the shower fluid line can also be part of a pipe outlet of a sanitary outlet fitting. In such versions the effervescent fluid occurs, like Water, pulsating directly from the pipe outlet as a corresponding shower jet or fluid jet.

As the exemplary embodiments shown and the other exemplary embodiments explained above make clear, the invention provides a shower fluid pulsation unit which enables an advantageous temporal change in the shower jet characteristics with comparatively little effort and high functional reliability. The shower fluid pulsation unit can be advantageously used for shower heads and shower fluid lines equipped with it, particularly in sanitary applications.

Claims (9)

Shower fluid pulsation unit, in particular for a sanitary shower head or a sanitary shower fluid line - a housing body (1) with a fluid inlet part (2) and a fluid outlet part (3) and - a quantity control unit (4) arranged in the housing body between the fluid inlet part and the fluid outlet part with a diaphragm element (5) and a fluid pressure-driven control element (6) which is rotatable relative to the diaphragm element, wherein - the quantity control unit has a passage opening structure (7) which is time-variable by rotating the control element relative to the diaphragm element, - the fluid outlet part has an outlet chamber (8) and a plurality of outlet openings (9) which permanently open out of the outlet chamber and lead out of the housing body for the corresponding delivery of effervescent fluid and - the passage opening structure forms a fluid connection from the fluid inlet part to the outlet chamber with a passage cross-section that is time-variable by rotating the control element relative to the diaphragm element and is at least partially open in each rotational position of the control element. Shower fluid pulsation unit according to one of the preceding claims, wherein all shower fluid-dispensing outlet openings of the fluid outlet part open out together from the exit chamber as a single exit chamber. Shower fluid pulsation unit according to one of the preceding claims, wherein it has a disk-shaped inflow element (10) with an inflow opening structure (11) which is designed to direct inflowing fluid in a rotationally driving manner towards the control element. Shower fluid pulsation unit according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control element is a disk with at least one inner or edge control opening (12a, 12b), a rolling body, a sliding body or a combination thereof. Shower fluid pulsation unit according to claim 4, wherein the control element is a control disk (14) which is rotatably arranged about an axis of rotation (13) and has a rotor blade structure (15) which can be pressurized with fluid. Shower fluid pulsation unit according to claim 4, wherein the control element is a control disk (14`) and the quantity control unit has a rotatably arranged rotor element (16) with a rotor blade structure (15`) which can be pressurized with fluid and which is rotatably coupled to the control disk. Shower fluid pulsation unit according to claim 6, wherein the shower fluid pulsation unit has a cycloid gear (17) through which the control disk is rotationally coupled to the rotor element. Shower head with a shower fluid pulsation unit according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the outlet openings of the shower fluid pulsation unit form jet outlet openings of the shower head, through which the shower head emits a corresponding shower jet. Shower fluid line with a pipe (19) and a shower fluid pulsation unit according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the quantity control unit is arranged in the pipe at a distance from a line end of the pipe on the fluid outlet side.

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