GB2530413A

GB2530413A - Dryer head

Info

Publication number: GB2530413A
Application number: GB1516187.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Edward Lymn; Justin Lovell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-09-16
Filing date: 2015-09-14
Publication date: 2016-03-23
Also published as: GB201516187D0

Abstract

A dryer head suitable for use with a source of blown air in which the dryer head 1 comprises a hollow duct 2 with an inlet 5, wherein the duct 2 is adapted to fit to a panel 51. A nozzle 18 is located at the end of the duct distal to the inlet, the nozzle being elongate and characterised by a convergent formation of walls 26, 27 towards an outlet of the nozzle. A central divider 19 is located within the nozzle which separates the outlet into two elongate orifices 20, 21, wherein, in use, air exiting the nozzle orifices entrains additional air flowing along the convergent formation towards the outlet. Also defined is a duct (102, Fig 12) to be mounted in a surround of a sanitary ware vessel for a hand wash fluid tap or hand dryer.

Description

DRYER HEAD

The present invention relates to a dryer head, in particular but not exclusively a hand dryer head.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved dryer head.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a dryer head for use with a source of blown air, the dryer head having: Jo * a duct, which is hollow for passage of drying air, has a blown air inlet to the duct and is adapted for fining to a panel, and * a nozzle at the distal end of the duct for directing drying air from the duct, the nozzle being elongate and comprising: * a formation convergent towards an outlet of the nozzle and * a central divider within the nozzle dividing the orifice into two elongate orifices, the arrangement being such that blown air exiting the orifices entrains additional air flowing along the convergent formation towards the outlet.

Normally the dryer will be a hand dryer. The duct can be invert L or J shaped as when the panel is a horizontal surface, such as a surround in which basins are fitted. Alternatively the duct can be straight or at least substantially so, as when the panel is a wall panel beyond basins.

Whilst the length of the nozzle, i.e. its elongate extent, could be aligned with the length of the duct at least at its distal end, it is normally oriented transverse the length of the duct. It may be provided at the terminal end of the duct or alternatively, the duct may be extended beyond the nozzle, in particular to provide a site for a sensor to sense presence of an object to be dryed, in particular a user's hands.

In the preferred embodiment, the nozzle is oriented both transversely of the duct and directed away from the duct. To turn drying air flowing along the duct to the nozzle, the divider preferably has an upstream portion similarly turned and dividing the air stream within the duct. A formation is provided on the duct wall away from the nozzle to turn the air on its side of the divider.

Preferably the divider is wedge shaped to complement the convergence of the S nozzle, with constant width air passages on either side of the divider.

The orifices could be continuous around the ends of the divider, but are preferably discrete from each other.

Conveniently the nozzle is formed as a separate piece, including the convergence and the divider and assembled to the duct.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a duet for a to be mounted in a surround of a sanitary ware vessel for a hand wash fluid tap or dryer, the duct comprising: a body having: * an abutment for abutting the surround and * a threaded inlet tube adapted to extend through the surround for connection to a source of washing or drying fluid, the tube having: * a rotational asymmetry, * a collar which is a sliding fit on the tube, the collar having * a rotational asymmetry complementary with that of the body and * a radial extension via which the collar can be fixed to the side of the surround opposite from the abutment on the body and * a nut engageable on the threaded inlet tube for sandwiching the surround between the abutment and the collar.

In this aspect of the invention, we use "sanitary ware vessel" to mean plumbing fixtures such as washbasins, sinks, baths, etc., for use in washrooms, kitchens, bathrooms etc., to contain water filled into sanitary ware from a tap or the like.

The surround can be integral with the sanitary ware vessel or the vessel can be mounted in a separate surround.

The rotational asymmetry of the body can be an axial groove and the s complementary rotational of the collar can be an inwards projection complementary with the groove.

Where surround is of board, such as laminate worktop, i.e. fibre broad with a laminated, decorative and durable exposed surface, the collar can having a plurality of bores for screws to fix it to the surround against rotation of the body with respect to the surround.

Alternatively where the surround is of board or where it is moulded or otherwise formed, as by milling, it can be provided with a non-circular recess at an aperture for the inlet tube to pass through into which the collar is able to fit in a non-rotational manner. The arrangement provides that with the rotational position of the collar determined by its fit in the recess and the rotational position of the tube being determined by its groove engaging with the projection on the collar, the rotational position of the duct is determined with respect to the position of the sanitary ware vessel.

The threaded inlet tube can be integral with the body. Alternatively, it can be a separate threaded and grooved tube, which itself can be engaged in a threaded bore of the body at the abutment, normally with thread lock compound such as sold under the registered trade mark LOCTITE.

To help understanding of the invention, a specific embodiment thereof will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a dryer head of the invention in combination with a dryer blower; Figure 2 is a side view of the dryer head; Figure 3 is a front view of the dryer head; Figure 4 is a rear view of the dryer head; Figure 5 is an underneath view of the dryer head; Figure 6 is an oblique underneath view of the dryer head; Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6 with an inlet tube and a nozzle both removed; Figure 8 is a cross-sectional side view through the dryer head duct and a basin surround to which it is fitted; Figure 9 is a perspective view of a nozzle flow divider; Figure 10 is a perspective view of a nozzle piece; Figure 11 is a perspective view of the inlet tube, collar and nut; Figure 12 is perspective view of another tap of the invention mounted in a surround of a partially shown washbasin; Figure 13 is an underneath perspective view of the tap of Figure 12 and surround portion in which it is mounted; Figure 14 is a similar view of the surround only showing its recess for a IS clamping collar; and Figure 15 is a similar view, on a larger scale, of the complementarily shaped clamping collar.

Referring to Figures ito 11 of the drawings, a hands dryer head I has a duct 2 which is generally invert L shaped, with a proximal end 3 having an abutment 4. An inlet 5 to a hollow interior of the duct or body 2 has an internal thread 6 into which a threaded tube 7 is engaged with thread locking compound, whereby the duct and the tube are unified.

Towards the distal end, the external profile of the duct is generally rectangular, albeit with a polished, rounded externally contour. Internally the duct is of similar shape. Close to its actual end 11, the lower face 12 has an opening 14 to the end 15 of the hollow interior 16. The opening is machined to receive a nozzle piece 17. This has a nozzle 18 divided by a divider 19 into two outlets 20,21. The end is machined with a quarter turn face 22. The top side of the divider has a complementary shape.

The face 22 turns air flowing along the top of the hollow interior 16 out through the outlet 20 Air flowing along the bottom of the hollow interior is turned by the divider out through the outlet 21. For effective division of the air flow to the two outlets, the divide has a tongue 23 extending into the hollow interior 16. The tongue blends with the portion of the divider defining the two outlets 20,2 1 with a right angle with rounded contours to give the passages 24,25 divided by it a smooth contour. At the outlets 20,21, the divider tapers downwardly and the two passages 24,25 converge towards each other. The outer sides of the passages at the outlets are formed by short convergent walls 26,27. The outlets and the walls extend transversely of the duct.

Thus air exiting the nozzle does so as a narrowjet having length in the width-wise direction of the duct. The actual orifices 28,29 are spaced from the bottom wall of the duct by the length of the convergent walls. This arrangement allows the air exiting the orifices to entrain air from the outsides of the walls 26,27, whereby the total air flow away from the nozzle and available for drying hands held below the nozzle exceeds that flowing in the duct.

Beyond the nozzle, a sensor 31 is provided to switch on a blower 32 for blowing air to the dryer head.

For fixing the dryer head to a basin surround 51, the proximal end of the duct has the abutment surface 4 at a closed end 53 of the duct. The closed end has a threaded bore 6 in which is threaded the tube 7, having an external thread 56. The tube is secured in threaded engagement by means of thread locking compound. The tube has an axial external groove 57, not extending into the threaded bore 6.

The duct 2 and tube 55 are of metal, although they could be of plastics material.

A collar moulding 58 of polymeric material is a sliding fit on the tube and has an internal projection 59 sized to fit in the groove 57. A flange 60 radiates from the collar hand is provided with screw holes 61 for screws 62 to hold the collar from rotating. A nut 63 is provided on the tube below the collar and 0-rings 64,65 are provided in grooves in the opposed faces of the abutment 52 and the collar.

For installation of the dryer head, a bore 66 is made in the basin surround where the dryer is to be installed. The tube is passed into it and the 0-ring 63 comes to bear on the top of the surround. The dryer duct is turned to position the nozzle as required; the collar 58 is pushed up the tube from below the surround with its projection engaged in the groove. The nut is preliminarily tightened. The position of the duct is adjusted if necessary and then the screws 62 are fitted through the flange of the collar. This fixes the rotary position of the tube and the duct. The nut can then be tightened for assured fixture of the dryer head.

Connection of a source of drying air to the bottom end of the tube 55 will be within the ability of the skilled reader and will not be described.

The invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the above described embodiment. For instance, the grooved, threaded tube, the collar with its inwards projection and external fixture flange and the securement nut can be used with other fittings, in particular with taps fitted through basin surrounds.

Turning now to Figures l2to 15,atap 101 hasaduct 102 withathreaded securement tube 107. This has an external groove 157 and passes through the basin surround 151 at a bore 166. Beneath the surround, the bore opens into a shaped recess 171,just has two distinct, opposite extensions 172. A collar 158 is a sliding fit on the tube and has an internal projection 159 sized to fit in the groove 157. It has two lugs 173 shaped complementarily to the recess extensions 172 so as to irrotationally engage in it. It is slightly oversize, with a slit 174, whereby it can be inserted from below and stay engaged in the recess pending screwing of a nut 163 up the tube for fixing of the components in their position with the tap extending over the partially shown washbasin 175.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A dryer head for use with a source of blown air, the dryer head having: * a duct, which is hollow for passage of drying air, has a blown air inlet to the duct and is adapted for fitting to a panel, and * a nozzle at the distal end of the duct for directing drying air from the duct, the nozzle being elongate and comprising: * a formation convergent towards an outlet of the nozzle and * a central divider within the nozzle dividing the orifice into two elongate orifices, the arrangement being such that blown air exiting the orifices entrains additional air flowing along the convergent formation towards the outlet.
2. A dryer head as claimed in claim 1, wherein the duct is invert L shaped or invert J shaped or at least substantially straight.
3. A dryer head as claimed in claim I or claim 2, wherein the elongate extent of the nozzle is aligned with the length of the duct at least at its distal end.
4. A dryer head as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the elongate extent of the nozzle is oriented transverse the length of the duct at least at its distal end.
5. A dryer head as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the nozzle is at the terminal end of the duct.
6. A dryer head as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the duct is extended beyond the nozzle to provide a site for a sensor of presence of an object to be dryed.
7. A dryer head as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the nozzle is oriented both transversely of the duct and directed away from the duct.
8. A dryer head as claimed in claim 7, wherein, to turn drying air flowing along the duct to the nozzle, the divider has a similarly turned, upstream portion, dividing the air stream within the duct.
9. A dryer head as claimed in claim 8, includng a formation provided on the duct wall away from the nozzle to turn the air on its side of the divider.
10. A dryer head as claimed in any precedng claim, wherein the divider is wedge shaped to complement the convergence of the nozzle, with substantially constant width air passages on either side of the divider.
11. A dryer head as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the orifices are continuous around the ends of the divider.
12. A dryer head as claimed in any one of claims ito 10, wherein the orifices are discrete from each other.
13. A dryer head as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the nozzle is formed as a separate piece, including the convergence and the divider, and assembled to the duct.
14, A duct to be mounted in a surround of a sanitary ware vessel for a hand wash fluid tap or dryer, the duct comprising: * a body having: * an abutment for abutting the surround and * a threaded inlet tube adapted to extend through the surround for connection to a source of washing or drying fluid, the tube having: a rotational asymmetry, * a collar which is a sliding fit on the tube, the collar having * a rotational asymmetry complementary with that of the body and * a radial extension via which the collar can be fixed to the side of the surround opposite from the abutment on the body and * a nut engageable on the threaded inlet tube for sandwiching the surround between the abutment and the collar.
15. A duct as claimed in claim 14, wherein the rotational asymmetry of the body is be an axial groove and the complementary rotational of the collar is an inwards projection complementary with the groove.
16. A duct as claimed in claim 14 or claim 15, wherein, at the radial extension, the collar has a plurality of bores for screws to fix it to the surround against rotation of the body with respect to the surround, where the surround is of board.
17. A duct as claimed in claim 14 or claim 15, wherein, at the radial extension, the collar is shaped for non-rotatonal engagement with a non-circular recess moulded or formed at an aperture in the surround for the inlet tube to pass through, the arrangement providing that the rotational position of the duct is determined with respect to the position of the sanitary ware vessel.
18. A duct as claimed in any one of claims 14 to claim 17, wherein the threaded inlet tube is integral with the body.
19. A duct as claimed in any one of claims 14 to claim 17, wherein the threaded inlet tube is a separate threaded and grooved tube, engageable in a threaded bore of the body at the abutment.
20. A sanitary ware vessel or a surround therefor having a non-circular recess complementary to the shaped collar of the duet of claim 17.
21. A dryer head for use with a source of blown air substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures ito 11 of the accompanying drawings.
22. A duct to be mounted in a surround of a sanitary ware vessel for a hand wash fluid tap or dryer substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 12 to 15 of the accompanying drawings.