IE86428B1

IE86428B1 - Ablutionary fittings and installations

Info

Publication number: IE86428B1
Application number: IE20110003A
Authority: IE
Inventors: David Harvey; Leyton James Iddon; Sean Patrick Conway
Original assignee: Kohler Mira Ltd
Priority date: 2010-01-07
Filing date: 2011-01-06
Publication date: 2014-08-27
Also published as: GB2476804A; GB2476804B; GB201000210D0; IE20110003A1

Abstract

A showerhead in the form of a handset 1 is provided with an internal diffuser 17 operable to inject a gas or a mixture of gases as a stream of fine bubbles into a water stream upstream of a spray head 5 prior to discharge from the handset 1. adding the gas or mixture of gases to the water stream within the handset 1 has the effect of volumizing the water which increases both the perceived flow rate and spray force without altering the actual flow rate. The handset 1 has particular application to showers employing an instantaneous electric water heater as the source of temperature controlled water. <Figure 1>

Description

INSTANTANEOUS WATER HEATERS The present invention relates to instantaneous water heaters and has particular, but not exclusive, application to instantaneous electric showers. instantaneous electric showers operate to heat an incoming supply of cold water, typically mains cold water, flowing through a heater tank containing one or more electric heating elements. For a given power input, it is necessary to control the flow rate of the incoming water to be heated by the heater tank to produce the required temperature rise above the temperature of the incoming water supply in order to achieve a comfortable showering temperature. During winter when the temperature of the incoming water supply is at its minimum, the required flow rate for a comfortable temperature shower may well be towards the lower limit of consumer acceptability even when the maximum power input to the heater tank is selected.

It is known to employ a venturi type device housed within a shower handset to create a pressure drop across an orifice having an adjacent opening to atmosphere so that air is drawn into the water stream. Such devices reduce the water flow rate producing a saving in water consumption whilst, still creating the impression of an acceptable spray force. Such devices cannot be employed in instantaneous electric shower installations as the reduction in flow rate that the venturi device imparts could prevent the user selecting a comfortable showering temperature and risk the possibility of scalding for the user.

The present invention has been made from a consideration of the foregoing, A desired aim of the invention is to improve the perceived flow rate and spray force, as delivered by a shower, in particular an instantaneous electric shower.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided an 5 instantaneous water heater having a casing, an inlet connectable to a supply of cold water, an outlet connected to a showerhead by a hose, a heater tank between the inlet and the outlet for heating water as it flows through the heater tank, and a pump mounted within the casing, the pump providing a source of pressurised air connected to a tube configured to add the pressurised air into a stream of water within the showerhead prior to discharge from the showerhead.

This invention supplements lhe lower volume of water typically delivered at low flow rates by adding pressurised air into the water stream prior to discharge from the showerhead. More especially, the introduction of pressurised air into the water stream, has the effect of volumizing the water and increasing both the perceived flow rate and force of the shower spray.

Unlike the known venturi devices, adding pressurised air to the water stream does not reduce the actual wrafer How rate. As a result, the invention may have particular benefit in enhancing the perceived performance of electric showers employing an instantaneous water heater without affecting the few rates required to achieve the required water temperature, The showerhead may be fixed, for example a wall or ceiling mounted shower rose. Alternatively, the showerhead may be movable, for example a handset mounted on a riser rail.

Preferably, ibe pressurised air is added to the water stream within the showerhead upstream of a spray head having one or more nozzles through which the water is discharged.

Preferably, the pressurised air is added to the water stream by a diffuser operable to inject the air as a stream of fine bubbles. 'l'he tube may be routed internally of the water supply to the showerhead. For example, where the showerhead is connected to a source of temperature controlled water by a flexible hose and/or by pipc(s), the tube may extend within the hose and/or pipc(s).

This arrangement has application both for new shower installations and for existing shower installations (retro-fit) where the tube may be fed through any existing hose and/or pipe(s).

Alternatively, a tube connecting the diffuser to the remote source may be routed externally of the water supply to the showerhead. The tube may extend alongside a flexible hose and/or pipe(s) supplying water to the 2d shower head or may be arranged separately therefrom.

Preferably, the pump is an electric pump. The pump may be activated manually when required, Alternatively, the pump may be activated automatically in response to water flow rate. For example, a flow rate sensor may be arranged to monitor the water flow' rate to or within the showerhead such that the pump is activated at or below a pre-determined flow rate and is deactivated above the pre-determined flow rate.

The pump may be operable to deliver pressurised air at a constant or fixed rate. Alternatively, the pump may be operable to deliver air at a variable flow rate.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a shower installation comprising an electric shower employing an instantaneous water heater according to the first aspect ofthe invention.

The invention will now be described in more detail by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals are used to indicate corresponding parts and wherein: FIGURE 1 is a part sectional view of a shower handset embodying the invention; and FIGURE 2 is a part sectional view of a shower handset not according to the invention.

Figure I shows a shower handset 1 comprising a hollow body 3 having a 20 spray head 5 at one end and a spigot 7 at the other end for connecting the handset 1 to a water supply (not shown).

The spigot 7 is connected to a coupling 9 at one end of a flexible hose [ 1 by mating screw threads for releasabiy connecting the handset 1 to the hose 11 although other means for providing a releasable connection may be employed. A coupling (not shown) at the other end of the hose 11 is connected, preferably releasabiy, to a source (not shown) of temperature controlled water for delivery to the handset 1, The spray head 5 has a plurality of nozzles 13 in a spray plate 15 through which water is discharged to create a spray pattern for showering. The spray head 5 may be a detachable cartridge and may be adjustable to select different sets or combinations of nozzles 13 to produce different spray patterns and/or spray forces.

The source of temperature controlled water may be an instantaneous water heater having an inlet connected fo a supply of cold water and an outlet connected to the hose I 1, Such water heaters arc well known and employ a heater tank (not shown) between the inlet and outlet that heats the water to a desired temperature for showering.

The heater tank typically has one or more electric heating elements for heating the water as it flows through the tank and control means is provided for selecting the power input to the heater tank and/or the water flow rate through the heater tank to achieve the desired outlet water temperature, for a given power input to the heater tank, the temperature of tbe water delivered to the hose is increased by reducing the (low- rate and reduced by increasing the flow rate if the temperature of tbe supply is constant. In practice, the temperature of the supply can vary significantly between summer and winter with the result that, for a given power input, the flow rate to achieve the same outlet water temperature in winter is normally considerably lower than in summer.

Reducing the flow rate can affect the spray force and/or the spray pattern that is produced and may result in poor or unacceptable performance. Increasing the power input to the heater tank that can be selected may reduce the problem but there are limits on the number and power of electric heating elements that can safely be employed.

Jn accordance with the present invention, a diffuser 17 is provided within 5 the hollow body 3 of the handset I for adding a pressurised gas or mixture of gases such as air into the water stream upstream of the spray head 5, The diffuser 17 is connected Lo a source (not shown) of the gas or mixture of gases by a flexible tube 19. The source of pressurised gas or mixture of gases may be a pump, for example an electric air pump where air is added to the water stream in the handset.

In use, adding a pressurised gas or mixture of gases to the water stream within the handset has the effect of volumizing the water which increases both the perceived flow rate and spray force. This can enhance the perceived shower performance especially when using an instantaneous water heater to heat the water at the lower flow rates required so that tlie desired water temperature can be achieved in winter. The addition of the air does not alter the water flow rate and therefore does not affect the operation of the shower when the water source is an instantaneous electric water heater.

The pump may be combined with the source of temperature controlled water or it may be provided separately. For example, where the source of temperature controlled water is an instantaneous water heater, the pump may be mounted within the casing housing the other parts of the water heater and the tube 19 may conveniently extend from the handset 1 internally within the flexible hose 11 to the water healer for connection to the pump. It will be understood however that the tube 19 may be arranged externally of the hose 11.

The pump may be switched on and off by the user as desired. In this way, the effect of diffusing air into the water stream may be operated independently of the controls for selecting temperature and/or Cow rale of the water discharged from the handset 1. In this arrangement, means may be provided to prevent the pump being activated if there is no flow' of water or an insufficient flow of water.

Alternatively the pump may be switched on an off automatically in response to water flow rate. In this way, the effect of diffusing air into the water stream may be operated in combination w'ith the controls for selecting water temperature and/or flow rate of the water discharged from the handsel. For example, the pump may be activated to add air to the water stream when the detected flow rate falls to or below a pre15 determined value for the selected water temperature and de-activated if the detected flow rate rises above the pre-determined value.

The pump may be operable to add air to the water stream ar a fixed or constant rate. Alternatively, the pump may be operable to add air to the water stream at a variable rate. The variable rate may comprise a scries of discrete flow' rates betw'een which the pump can be switched or an infinitely variable flow rate between upper and lower limits.

Referring now to Figure 2, an alternative handset not according to the invention is shown in which the diffuser 17 is connected to a pump 21 mounted on the handset 1. Operation of the pump may be controlled manually or automatically as described for the previous embodiment.

Claims

1. , An instantaneous water heater having a casing, an inlet connectable to a supply of cold water, an outlet connected to a showerhead by a hose, a heater tank between the inlet and the outlet for heating water as it flows 5 through the heater tank, and a pump mounted within the casing, the pump providing a source of pressurised air connected to a tube configured to add the pressurised air into a stream of water within the showerhead prior to discharge from the showerhead. 10

2. An instantaneous water heater according to claim 1 wherein the showerhead comprises a handset.

3. A instantaneous water heater according to any preceding claim wherein the pressurised air is added to the water stream within the 15 showerhead upstream of a spray head having one or more nozzles through which the water is discharged.

4. An instantaneous water heater according to any preceding claim wherein, the pressurised air is added to the water stream by a diffuser 20 operable lo inject the air as a stream of fine bubbles.

5. An instantaneous water heater according to any preceding claim wherein, the tube is routed internally of the hose, 25

6. An instantaneous water heater according to any of claims 1 to 4 wherein, the tube is routed externally of the hose.

7. , An instantaneous water heater according to claim 6 wherein, the tube extends alongside the hose.

8. An instantaneous water heater according to any preceding claim wherein the pump is an electric pump.

9. An instantaneous water healer according to any preceding claim 5 wherein, the pump is activated manually when required,

10. An instantaneous water heater according to any of claims 1 to 8 wherein, the pump is activated automatically in response to water flow rate,

11. An instantaneous water heater according to claim 10 wherein, a flow rate sensor is arranged to monitor the water flow rate to or within the showerhead such that the pump is activated at or below a pre-determined flow rate and is de-activated above the pre-determined flow rate.

12. An instantaneous water heater according to any preceding claim wherein, the pump is operable to deliver pressurised air at a constant or fixed rate. 20

13. An instantaneous water heater according to any of claims 1 to 11 wherein, the pump is operable to deliver pressurised air at a variable flow rate.

14. An instantaneous water heater substantially as hereinbefore 25 described with reference to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.

15. A shower installation comprising an electric shower employing an instantaneous water healer according to any preceding claim to heat the water supplied to the showerhead,