JP2003290062A - Shower head - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a shower head for injecting water to be injected from sprinkler holes of a sprinkler board straight without using a special structure. <P>SOLUTION: Total opening area of multiple sprinkler holes 10 formed in the sprinkler board 7 is set at 25 mm<SP>2</SP>or less to raise the static water pressure inside of a head part 3, and flow of the water inside of the head part 3 is restricted to eliminate the influence of the water flow inside of the head part 3 to the water to be injected from the sprinkler holes. With this structure, injection water is injected straight to obtain the showering water having comfortableness and good appearance. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a shower room,
The present invention relates to a shower head used in a bathroom, a wash basin, a barber shop, a beauty salon, or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a shower head comprises a shower head body having a grip portion connected to a shower hose and a head portion, and a sprinkler plate attached to the tip of the head portion and having a large number of sprinkler holes. The water or hot water supplied through the shower hose passes through the main body of the shower hose and is divided into a large number of thin water streams by the multiple water spray holes formed in the water spray plate. Is released.
In such a shower head, normally, the grip portion extends vertically, whereas the water spray plate faces the front,
The water flowing from the grip portion to the head portion changes its flow direction in the head portion and is ejected from the water spray holes in front of the head portion. When the direction of the flow changes in the head portion, turbulence of the water flow occurs in the head portion, causing turbulence in the jetting direction of the water jetted from the water spray holes. To further explain, when the direction of the water flow is changed in the head part, a part of the water flow causes a flow along the inner surface of the water spray plate near the inner surface thereof, so that the jet water that is going forward from the water spray hole, A lateral force (dynamic water pressure) acts on the jetting direction, so that the jetting direction is biased to one side with respect to the axial direction of the water spray hole. As a result, there is a problem that the shower water is not evenly spread in the circumferential direction, and a part of the jetted water is largely dislocated in an undesired direction, so that the shower does not have a uniform conical shape.

[0003]

Conventionally, in order to regulate such an injection direction, a plurality of synthetic resin ring bodies are concentrically combined as described in, for example, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 5-26152. A sprinkler plate is known in which a plurality of grooves are provided on the circumferential surface of each ring body to form sprinkler holes in these grooves. In this device, the length of the water spray hole in the axial direction is increased so that the spray direction is guided by the long water spray hole, so that it is less susceptible to the dynamic water pressure in the head portion. However, since such a water sprinkling plate has a structure in which a plurality of ring bodies are combined, the number of parts is increased, a large number of molds are required for molding, and assembly labor is required, resulting in high manufacturing cost. On the other hand, as a means for controlling the jetting direction, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-239295, a water sprinkling plate having a structure in which the shape and the direction of each water sprinkling hole are different has also been proposed. However, also in this case, the die pin for forming each water spray hole becomes complicated, and the structure of the entire molding die becomes complicated, which not only increases the cost but also limits the thickness of the water spray plate. There is a problem in that the length of the water spray hole in the axial direction cannot be increased, and the water jet pressure in the head part is picked up to disturb the jetting direction.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and reduces the influence of dynamic water pressure (turbulence of flow) generated in the head portion, and influences the jetting direction of water jetted from the jet holes. It is intended to provide a shower head that can obtain clean shower water with a small amount.

[0005]

In order to solve the above problems, the invention according to claim 1 is a shower head having a water spray plate having a large number of water spray holes in a head portion of a shower head main body. A shower head having a total opening area of water spray holes of 25 mm ² or less is provided. In such a shower head, since the total opening area of the water spray holes is substantially narrowed, the hydrostatic pressure inside the head portion is increased, and the momentum of the water flow flowing from the grip portion to the head portion is suppressed. Disturbance is reduced. For this reason, the flow along the inner surface of the water spray plate (hydrodynamic pressure) is suppressed, and the lateral force acting on the water sprayed from the spray hole is reduced, so that the sprayed water is almost straight along the axis of the spray hole. Will be injected into. As a result, it is possible to reduce the occurrence of partial spread and uneven spray in the shower water to be sprayed, and to obtain clean shower water. Moreover, no special means such as increasing the thickness of the water sprinkler or devising the shape of the holes is required, and the thin water sprinkler can be used to manufacture at low cost.
Note that the smaller the total opening area of the water spray holes, the higher the hydrostatic pressure and the less turbulence in the injection direction, and the smaller the total opening area, the smaller the amount of water flow per unit time and the effect of saving water. If the total opening area is made too small, the amount of water bathed will be small and the usability of the shower will be impaired. Generally, the amount of water flow is 6 from the feeling of using a shower.
Since it is said that about 1 liter / minute to 12 liter / minute is preferable, the total opening area is preferably 10 mm ² or more. A preferred embodiment of the present invention has a total number of sprinkling holes of 125
And the diameter of the water spray holes is 0.25 mm or more.
That is, it is set to 5 mm or less. When reducing the total opening area of water sprinkling holes, it is possible to reduce the number of holes by keeping the size of the holes as it is, or to make the number of holes equal to the conventional one to make the holes thinner. If the amount is reduced, it is not possible to obtain an even spray throughout the body taking a shower, and if the holes are made thinner, the spray pressure becomes higher and pain is felt. On the other hand, if the total number of water spray holes is 125 or more and the diameter of the water spray holes is 0.25 mm or more and 0.5 mm or less, comfortable shower water can be obtained without impairing the usability of the shower. In another aspect, the water spray plate is formed of a thin metal plate, and the water spray holes are opened by photoetching, which facilitates the manufacture of a water spray plate having a large number of small water spray holes. You can

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention applied to a shower head will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 is a side view showing a partial cross section of the shower head, FIG. 2 is a front view of the water spray plate, and FIG. 3 is a partial cross sectional view of the water spray plate. In the figure, reference numeral 1 is a shower head body, which is composed of a grip portion 2 and a head portion 3. The grip portion 2 and the head portion 3 are made of synthetic resin and are detachably connected to each other by means such as screw connection or bayonet connection which are not shown. The grip portion 2 has a hollow cylindrical shape and constitutes a water conduit 4 therein. One end of this water conduit 4 serves as an inlet port 5, and this inlet port 5 is connected to a shower hose (not shown). It has become. As is well known, a shower hose (not shown) is connected to a water tap, a mixing tap, or the like. The head portion 3 connected to the other end of the grip portion 2 also has a hollow shape and has a water supply passage 6 having a relatively large volume therein. The water supply channel 6 is connected to the internal space of the grip 2. A water sprinkling plate 7 is attached to the front end of the head portion 3. The water sprinkling plate 7 is detachably attached to the head portion 3 by a pressing ring 8 and is kept watertight by a sealing material 9 such as rubber.

The water spray plate 7 will be described. The water sprinkling plate 7 of this example is made of a stainless thin plate, and this stainless thin plate is a disk having a plate thickness of 0.4 mm and a diameter of about 50 mm. A large number of water spray holes 10 ... Are formed on the stainless water spray plate 7. Each sprinkling hole 10 has a circular shape with a diameter of 0.25 mm or more and 0.5 mm or less, and in this example, a hole having a diameter of 0.30 mm is formed as described later. The water spray holes 10 are evenly distributed with respect to the center of the water spray plate 7, as shown in FIG. In this example, a plurality of water spray holes 10 are arranged in a ring shape to form a water spray hole array 11 ,.
Are arranged concentrically. The sprinkling hole array near the center has a small number of holes, and the number of holes increases toward the outer circumference.
The total number of these water spray holes 10 is 234. Therefore, in this example, a total of 224 water spray holes 10 having a hole diameter of 0.30 mm are opened, and the total opening area of the water spray holes is 1
It is 5.82 mm ² .

As shown in FIG. 1, the sprinkler plate 7 is formed in a curved or dish shape with its central portion protruding forward, and the water sprayed from the outer sprinkling hole row is slightly forward. It is configured to spread out, that is, when the shower water is viewed from the side, the entire image has a conical shape. Further, in the water sprinkling plate 7, since the water sprinkling holes 10 ... Are small openings and are arranged at a high density as a whole, a great deal of time and labor is required for drilling such as a drill.
Further, the mold processing using a resin complicates the mold and shortens the life of the mold, so that it is manufactured by photoetching using a stainless thin plate.

The operation of the shower head having such a structure will be described. When the shower head body 1 is connected to the shower hose and the water tap is opened, tap water (or hot water) passes through the shower hose and the shower head body 1
This water is supplied to the water supply passage 6 of the head portion 3 from the inlet 5 at the lower end of the grip portion 2 through the water guide passage 4. The water in the water supply channel 6 is sprayed as shower water from the water spray holes 10 of the water spray plate 7. Then, in the water supply passage 6 of the head portion 3, the water flowing from the grip portion 2 collides with the front wall of the head portion 3 and changes its direction of flow, as indicated by an arrow A. The changed water flow causes a flow along the inner surface of the water spray plate 7, as indicated by an arrow B. As shown in FIG. 3, the flow along the inner surface of the water spray plate 7 gives a lateral force to the water flow to be jetted from the water spray hole 10 in the direction along the axis of the hole,
For this reason, the jetted water is not correctly jetted straight in the axial direction, but is directed in a direction deviated from the axial line, as indicated by a broken line arrow C. As a result, there is a problem that a shower pattern that partially spreads to one side is generated for the shower water that wants to spread into a uniform cone. For this problem,
In this example, the total opening area of the water spray holes 10 ... Is 15.82 mm.
^Since it is set to ² , the amount of water passing through the sprinkler plate 7 is regulated.
That is, the conventional water spray plate has a hole diameter of 1.0 mm to 0.
It is about 8 mm, the number of holes is 60 to 80, and the total opening area is 30.14 mm ² to 62.8 mm.
It was about ² . On the other hand, in this example, since the total opening area of the water spray holes 10 ... Is reduced to about 1/2 to 1/4 of the conventional one, the water pressure (hydrostatic pressure) in the water supply passage 6 of the head portion 3 becomes high. When the internal pressure of the head portion 3 increases, the momentum of water flowing from the grip portion 2 into the head portion 3 is suppressed, and the arrow B
Momentum of the flow along the inner surface of the water spray plate 7 (dynamic pressure)
Also becomes weaker. Therefore, the force acting in a direction different from the axial direction with respect to the jetted water jetted out from the water spray holes 10 ... Is suppressed, and the jetted water flies almost straight.

As a result, the spray pattern of the shower water spreads in a substantially uniform cone, so that the spray pattern hits the desired position of the human body correctly and the appearance of the spray is improved. Further, since the sprayed water is sprayed straight from the spray holes 10, the spray plate 7 can be formed of a single plate, and the plate thickness for guiding the spray is not required. Compared to a water sprinkling plate in which the bodies are concentrically connected, the number of parts is smaller, the assembly work is less, and the material cost is lower, so the cost is lower. Further, since the sprayed water is sprayed straight, the shape of the water spray hole 10 may be a straight hole, and since no special device is required for the shape of the hole, troublesome equipment such as mold molding is not required. For this reason, in this embodiment, the water sprinkling plate 7 was made of a stainless steel plate and could be manufactured by photoetching. Further, if the water spray plate 7 is made of a photo-etched product, a large number of water spray holes 10 ... With a small opening diameter can be formed at high density. If the water spray plate is made of synthetic resin and it is attempted to form holes having the same hole diameter and the same density, it is necessary to precisely form small needle-like protrusions on the molding die. Since it is difficult and the needle-like projections are easily broken, it is advantageous to manufacture by photoetching.

When the internal pressure of the head portion 3 is increased by reducing the total opening area of the sprinkler plate as described above,
The momentum of water sprayed from each spray hole 10 ...
In this example, since a total of 224 water sprinkling holes 10 are opened, the momentum of the sprayed water sprayed from each hole is weakened, resulting in a soft stimulus when applied to the head or skin. Further, when the total opening area is reduced, water is saved and the amount of water flow is reduced. However, by opening a total of 224 water sprinkling holes 10, it is possible to save water but to secure a necessary minimum amount of water.
And even if the number of holes increases, the diameter of the water spray holes 10 is 0.3 mm.
The total opening area can be narrowed after making the size small, which also saves water.

According to the present invention, the total opening area of the water spray holes is 25 mm.
^{When it is 2} or less, it is effective to spray the sprayed water almost straight. The results of testing this will be described.
In the test, as shown in FIG. 4, the shower plate was directed downward, and the shower water was sprayed directly downward from the spray plate, and the spreading pattern of the shower water on the spray surface at a position 60 cm apart was examined. The spread dimension from the center of the pattern to the front side (grip side) is defined as a, and the spread dimension on the front side is defined as b. As shown in FIG. 3 described above, when the flow in the B direction is large in the head portion 3, the dimension of a tends to be large, and the dimension of b tends to be small (a> b) as compared with this. If a / b is a deviation and the deviation approaches 1, it means that the jet water is being ejected straight. Table 1 below
Shows the results of measuring the deviation (a / b) for each flow rate (liter / minute) for various shower heads.

[0013]

[Table 1]

From the measurement results shown in Table 1, it is understood that the deviation of the injection pattern decreases as the total opening area decreases, that is, the a dimension and the b dimension tend to approach each other in any flow rate range. Further, Comparative Examples 1 to 3 are cases of conventional existing shower heads, and in these conventional cases, the deviation (a / b) is 1.8 to 1.2, and the deviation of injection is uneven. large. On the other hand, in the case of the above-mentioned embodiment, the opening area is 1/4 to 1/2 of the conventional one.
The deviation (a / b) is 1.0
It is 5 or less. Therefore, it can be seen that the water jetted from the jet holes 10 is flying almost straight.

By reducing the total opening area, the head portion 3
Even if the hydrostatic pressure in the inside is increased, it is difficult to completely eliminate the influence of the flow, and although the flow in the direction of the arrow B is largely suppressed, it is inevitable that it is slightly affected. Ideally, the deviation (a / b) of the injection pattern is 1.0.
If it is less than 2, the discomfort during use of the shower is reduced, and it is judged that the appearance and the injection pattern as viewed from the side of the shower are within the allowable range, so the deviation (a / b) is 1.
If it is less than 2, it passes. Modifications 1 to 6 observe deviations when the total opening area is changed by changing the size and the number of water spray holes. These examples are cases where the total opening area is relatively reduced, and in the case of the modification 2 in which the total opening area is large, the total opening area is 24.93≈25.
mm ² and the maximum deviation (a / b) of the injection pattern is 1.15. Therefore, the total opening area is 25 mm ²
If the following is done, the deviation (a / b) of the injection pattern will be 1.2.
It is possible to reduce the amount of the shower water to be less than 100%, and to reduce the uneven injection of shower water and the injection in a locally undesired direction, and to improve the uncomfortable feeling and the appearance during use. Further, in the modified example 6, the total opening area is
This is an example of 10.74 mm ^{2. In} this case, the injection pattern is extremely excellent, but the total opening area of the water spray holes tends to be too narrow, and therefore a flow rate of 12 liters / minute cannot be secured. . In such a case, the shower water loses momentum when the original water pressure on the faucet side is low, so the total opening area is preferably 10 mm ² or more. Although the water spray plate is formed by photo-etching in the above embodiment, the present invention may be applied to a case where the water spray plate is molded with a synthetic resin.

[0016]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the total opening area of the water spray holes is reduced, the hydrostatic pressure in the head portion is increased, and the undesired flow of water in the head portion can be suppressed. , The water spray from the sprinkler holes can be sprayed almost straight. For this reason, it is necessary to increase the thickness of the water sprinkling plate to increase the length of the hole, devise the shape of the hole, and combine multiple annular bodies in a concentric manner, as in the past. It is possible to spray clean shower water with a simple structure that is not necessary and has excellent usability.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a shower head showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a water spray plate showing a pattern of water spray holes of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a part of a water spray plate for explaining a jet direction of jet water.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a measurement test of an injection pattern.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Shower head body 2 ... grip 3 ... Head 4 ... Headrace 6 ... Water supply channel 7. Sprinkler plate 10 ... Sprinkling hole 11 ... Sprinkling hole row

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A shower head body having a grip part having one end connected to a shower hose and a head part connected to the other end of the grip part; and a sprinkler provided on the head part and having a large number of sprinkling holes. A shower head including a plate, wherein the total opening area of the water spray holes is 25 mm ² or less. 2. The diameter of the water spray holes is 0.25 mm or more and 0.5 mm or less, and the total number of these water spray holes is 125.
The showerhead according to claim 1, wherein the number of the showerheads is one or more. 3. The shower head according to claim 2, wherein the water spray plate has water spray holes formed by photo-etching a thin metal plate.