JP2011072635A - Shower device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a shower device which has a structure where the structure of a shower head having an illumination function by the incorporated power generator is made advantageous in strength as far as possible and which can be made compact without imposing a weight load on a power generator. <P>SOLUTION: The shower device 1 includes: a water supply pipe 2; the power generator 3 for generating power by the flow of water to be supplied from the water supply pipe 2; and a water spray portion 4 for spraying the water via the power generator 3. The water supply pipe 2 and the water spray portion 4 are integrally connected by a metallic case body 5 and also the power generator 3 is housed inside the case body 5. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a shower apparatus in which a generator is built in a shower head.

  Conventionally, a generator that effectively uses the water flowing in the shower head is built in the shower head body to generate electricity for lighting or other purposes and illuminate from the vicinity of the water spray surface of the shower head, and lighting for shower use, etc. In addition, there is a shower head structure intended for light play and enjoyment (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Utility Model Registration No. 3143899

  In Patent Document 1, since a power generation member such as a turbine generator, an impeller, and a compressor is housed in the shower head case, the shower head case has a shape for securing a flow path of shower water together with these power generation members. And is structured in size.

  For example, in a conventional shower apparatus, necessary members are accommodated and arranged in a shower head case almost on a bell, a water spray panel is attached to the opening end face of the shower head case, and an illumination unit for irradiating a light beam on the back side of the water spray panel And is configured to irradiate light from the translucent portion of the water spray panel surface of the shower head.

  However, in the illuminated shower head with a built-in generator described in Patent Document 1, the shower head case has a shape structure in which the power generation member, the illumination member, the shower member, and the like are simply incorporated, and the power generation member is a shower head. Since it is fixedly attached to the case integrally and connected to the power generation member, other parts such as a part of the case and a lighting member are integrally arranged, so that the structure against the weight of the power generation member Is inferior in durability and may cause a short circuit in the energizing path due to water leakage from the shower channel, etc., or may cause malfunction due to leakage to the power generation member. May directly impede the function of the generator or reduce the power generation capacity.

  In particular, in an overhead specification shower head structure in which the tip of the shower head is larger in diameter than the shower head main body, the overhead portion protruding from the shower head main body to the periphery is connected to the user's forcible human grip, wall surface, and protruding surface. If an inadvertent load is applied due to an impact, the load is propagated to the generator that is connected to the unit, causing a malfunction of the generator, and cracking or damage to the joint or connected part of the shower head case. There is a fear. On the other hand, if the shower head case has a strong and strong structure so as to be able to withstand such deficiencies, the entire shower head main body becomes large, which is contrary to the compact structure.

  The present invention makes the structure of a shower head case having an illumination function with a built-in generator as advantageous as possible in strength, and in particular, a shower device that does not apply a heavy load to the generator and can be made compact. It is to provide.

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is as described above. Next, means for solving the problem will be described.

  That is, the invention according to claim 1 is a shower apparatus including a water supply pipe, a generator that generates electricity by a flow of water supplied from the water supply pipe, and a watering unit that sprays water through the generator. The water supply pipe and the water sprinkling part are integrally connected via a metal case body, and the generator is housed in the case body.

  In the invention which concerns on Claim 1, since load, such as the dead weight of a watering part, will be applied to a water supply pipe via the case main body which accommodates a generator, it can prevent that a load is applied to a generator.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein a constant flow valve device is interposed between the water supply pipe and the generator.

  In the invention according to claim 2, since the constant flow valve device is interposed between the water supply pipe and the generator, the amount of water supplied to the generator is kept constant. Even if changes, a constant amount of water is always sent to the generator, and the function of the generator can be kept constant.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a check valve for the flow of water from the generator to the water spray plate is provided between the generator and the water spray plate. I decided to install it.

  In the invention which concerns on Claim 3, when the water pressure stops and water pressure falls, a non-return valve regulates the flow of water and air exchange to a water spray plate between a generator and a water spray plate, and is good at a water spray plate. The water staying in the vacant space on the side and the flow channel of the generator will not be drained from the water spray plate, so the water flow channel of the generator will be filled. Therefore, in the case where a small amount of water remains, the possibility that the calcium content contained in the water precipitates and adheres to the rotating portion of the generator is obstructed.

  The invention according to claim 4 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the case body is rotated and fixed in a predetermined rotation direction with respect to the watering portion. In addition, the generator includes an engaging portion that restricts relative rotation in the circumferential direction along the rotation direction with respect to the case main body.

  In the invention according to claim 4, when the case main body is fixed to the water sprinkling portion, it is possible to prevent the generator from being accompanied by the rotation of the case main body, so that the electric wiring connected to the generator is prevented from being wound. It is possible to protect the connection state of the electrical wiring between the generator and the watering part.

  According to the present invention, since the water supply pipe, the water sprinkling part, and the metal case main body are integrally connected, and the generator is housed in the metal case main body, the power generator includes the water supply pipe, the case main body, and the water sprinkling part. It is not necessary to function as a connecting member. Therefore, in the device structure, the independence of the generator is maintained, and even if an abnormal load such as excess weight is applied to the sprinkler, the load directly affects the generator. This has the effect of preventing the generator from being damaged as much as possible together with improving the structural strength.

It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the shower apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the modification of a shower apparatus.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Reference numeral 1 denotes an overhead shower device.

  The shower device 1 includes a water supply pipe 2, a generator 3 that forms a flow channel inside and generates electricity by the flow of water supplied from the water supply pipe, and a watering unit 4 that sprinkles water via the generator 3. . The water supply pipe 2 and the water sprinkling unit 4 are integrally connected via a metal case body 5 and the generator 3 is housed in the metal case body 5. Further, a constant flow valve device 6 is interposed between the water supply pipe 2 and the generator 3, and a check valve 7 is interposed between the generator 3 and the watering part 4.

  Further, the sprinkling unit 4 is provided with an illumination unit 8 such as an LED around the periphery thereof, and is configured to illuminate with electricity through a harness 26 by electromotive force from the generator 3.

  In the basic structure of the shower apparatus 1, a connection mechanism that integrally connects the case body 5 to the tip of the water supply pipe 2 will be described.

  A cylindrical connecting tube 10 having a flange 9 protruding from the peripheral surface is inserted and fixed in the opening of the tip of the water supply pipe 2, and the flange 9 of the connecting tube 10 protrudes outward from the opening end surface of the water supply pipe 2. I am letting. In addition, a fastening socket 12 having an inverted L-shaped cross section having an engaging casing 11 protruding inward at the upper end is loosely fitted on the outer peripheral surface of the tip of the water supply pipe 2. The main body of the connecting cylinder 10 is in contact with the upper surface of the flange 9 of the cylinder 10 and extends to the tip of the water supply pipe 2.

  The inner side surface of the fastening socket 12 and the outer side surface of the neck portion 13 formed at the upper end of the case body 5 are screwed together via a screw portion 14, and the water supply pipe 2 is connected via the fastening socket 12. The connecting tube 10 at the tip and the neck portion 13 of the case body 5 are integrally connected. Note that the upper end surface of the neck portion 13 is in pressure contact with the lower end surface of the flange 9.

Therefore, when the tightening socket 12 and the neck portion 13 are tightened via the screw portion 14, the engagement housing 11 of the tightening socket 12 and the upper end surface of the neck portion 13 are crimped via the engagement housing 11. In this state, the front end opening of the water supply pipe 2 and the neck portion 13 of the case main body 5 are integrated in a watertight state, and the structure in which the case main body 5 is connected to the water supply pipe 2 is completed.
Moreover, the inside of the connection cylinder 10 forms the upper water supply flow path 15 connected to the constant flow valve device 6 located on the downstream side thereof.

  Next, the case main body 5 connected to the water supply pipe 2 by the above-described connection mechanism will be described.

The case body 5 includes an upper head case 16 and a lower head case 17.
The upper head case 16 is a substantially cylindrical case having a lower end opening made of metal such as brass or stainless steel, and a metal neck portion 13 is integrally protruded with a small diameter on the upper portion thereof. A constant flow valve device 6 is interposed between the water supply pipe 2 and the generator 3.

  The constant flow valve device 6 is disposed on the upstream side of the generator 3 and regulates the amount of water flowing into the generator 3. That is, when there is a change in the water pressure or the like due to a change in the water pressure or the like, the rotation of the impeller (not shown) of the generator 3 on the downstream side changes abruptly, resulting in non-uniform power generation, May increase and may cause problems in use. Accordingly, the constant flow valve device 6 can always supply water from the water supply pipe 2 to the generator 3 at a constant flow rate.

  The lower head case 17 is configured such that a male screw is engraved on the outer peripheral surface of the upper end, and a female screw engraved on the inner surface of the lower end opening of the upper head case 16 is screwed to be coupled to the lower end of the upper head case 16. Yes. However, in addition to the screw thread structure, as shown in FIG. 1, the upper end outer peripheral surface of the lower head case 17 is in a loose fitting state in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the lower end opening of the upper head case 16, Screws 19 are screwed into the lower head case 17 from the outer peripheral surface, and both head cases 16 and 17 can be integrally fixed via the screws 19.

  An opening 20 into which the lower side of the generator 3 can be inserted is formed at the center of the inner bottom surface of the lower head case 17, and the water spraying portion 4 is integrated with a bolt 30 on the outer bottom surface of the lower head case 17. It is connected to.

  That is, the upper surface of the water sprinkling part 4 is brought into contact with the outer bottom surface of the lower head case 17 and integrally connected with the bolt 30, so that the generator 3 protruding from the opening 20 of the lower head case 17 to the water sprinkling part 4. It is comprised so that water supply may be performed from the lower part side.

  Next, the generator 3 housed in the case body 5 will be described.

  The generator 3 is disposed between the water supply pipe 2 and the water sprinkling unit 4. The upper side of the generator 3 is configured to be in close contact with the inside of the neck portion 13 of the case body 5 via an O-ring. The lower side of the generator 3 is configured to be mountable on a pedestal 29a disposed in the center of the bottom surface of the case body 5. When the generator 3 is mounted on the pedestal 29a, the generator 3 A part of the lower side protrudes from the opening 20 of the case body 5.

  Further, the upper side of the generator 3 communicates with the upper water supply flow path 15 in the connecting cylinder 10 of the water supply pipe 2 to form a flow path, and is used for the illumination unit 8 using the flowing water flowing in the flow path. To generate electricity.

  An O-ring that can absorb errors in the axial direction of the generator 3 is disposed between the generator 3 and the head cases 16 and 17. This is because the generator 3 has directivity in the circumferential direction, and the generator 3 cannot be screwed and fixed directly to the sprinkler 4 or the like.

  On the outer peripheral surface on the lower side of the generator 3, an engaging portion 33 that engages with the lower head case 17 is projected. Then, by arranging the generator 3 in the lower head case 17 so that the engaging portion 33 is engaged with the pedestal 29a, when assembling the shower device 1 as described later, the upper head case 16 is It is possible to prevent the generator 3 from co-rotating when screwed to the lower head case 17.

  The upper head case 16 is preferably screwed directly into the sprinkler 4 or the like in order to prevent the eccentricity of the O-ring 22 interposed between the generator 3 and the upper head case 16. When the screw is directly screwed into 4 or the like, a rotational force is generated in the generator 3 by the frictional resistance generated through the O-ring 22 or the like between the generator 3 and the upper head case 16, and the generator 3 is moved to the upper head case 16. This is because the harness 26 may rotate together with the harness 26 and may be disconnected.

  A check valve 7 is interposed on the lower side of the generator 3. That is, the check valve 7 is interposed between the generator 3 and the water sprinkling unit 4, and the water fed from the check valve 7 reaches the water sprinkling unit 4 below and is fed as shower water.

  That is, the check valve 7 is opened by the water supply pressure reaching the lower side of the generator 3, and when the shower is stopped and the water is stopped, the urging force of the check valve 7 acts. The valve is configured to close.

It is desirable that the check valve 7 is disposed as close as possible on the upstream side of the sprinkler 4.
The check valve 7 functions as follows.

  That is, when the water staying in each place from the water supply pipe 2 to the sprinkler 4, particularly in the water supply passage in the generator 3, drops from the sprinkler 4 due to air mixing even after the water has stopped, finally the water flow passage 28 in the generator. There is no stagnation of water inside, and instead, calcium may precipitate in the water flow channel 28 and solidify, which may interfere with driving members such as impellers. If the water supply is completely stopped by the check valve 7 on the upstream side, water leakage or dripping from the sprinkling unit 4 is eliminated, and the water flow path 28 of the generator 3 can be filled with water, and the above inconvenience is eliminated. become.

  The check valve 7 may be provided on the upstream side of the generator 3. In this case, a check valve integrated type constant flow valve device can be adopted as the constant flow valve device 6. By adopting such a configuration, it is not necessary to provide a space for disposing the check valve 7 on the downstream side of the generator 3, so that the shower device 1 can be configured in a compact manner.

  Next, the watering part 4 is demonstrated.

  The water sprinkling part 4 is formed in a disc shape, and is formed by vertically superposing a cover body 23 and a water sprinkling hole panel 25 provided with a large number of water sprinkling holes 24 on the lower surface. In the figure, reference numeral 27 denotes a female screw cylinder standing on the periphery of the water spray hole panel 25 in order to superimpose the cover body 23 and the water spray hole panel 25 having a large number of water spray holes 24 on the lower surface in an integrated manner.

  The cover body 23 of the water sprinkling part 4 is formed with a raised joint at the center to form a joint convex part 29, and the joint convex part 29 is integrally connected to the outer bottom surface of the lower head case 17 with a bolt 30. A water sprinkling unit 4 is connected to 5.

  In addition, the lower side of the generator 3 partially protrudes from the opening 20 of the lower head case 17, and is embedded in the pedestal 29 a in the joint convex portion 29, and enters the shower water supply path 31 extending from the joint convex portion 29 to the water spray hole panel 25. It is communicated. Therefore, the running water that rotates the impeller of the generator 3 and reaches the lower side of the generator 3 is sent from there to the sprinkling holes 24 of the sprinkler 4 to be sprinkled.

  An illuminating unit 8 such as an LED is disposed inside the periphery of the watering unit 4, and the watering unit 4 is made of a light-transmitting material, so that the current from the generator 3 can be used to supply the watering unit 4. The periphery can be illuminated. In the figure, reference numeral 26 denotes a harness connecting the generator 3 and the illumination unit 8.

  The shower apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is configured as described above. When the shower apparatus 1 is assembled, first, the connecting pipe 10 and the fastening socket 12 are attached to the tip of the water supply pipe 2 to supply the water supply pipe. 2. Prepare to connect case body 5 to 2.

  On the other hand, when connecting the case body 5 and the water sprinkling part 4, the joint convex part 29 of the water sprinkling part 4 is continuously provided on the bottom surface of the lower head case 17, and the lower head case 17 and the water sprinkling part 4 are integrally provided. Structure.

  Next, the generator 3 is disposed in the lower head case 17 so that the lower side of the generator 3 that is an integrated unit protrudes downward from the opening 20 of the lower head case 17, and the tip portion of the generator 3 is a water spray portion. It is set as the embedded state in the pedestal 29 a disposed on the four joint convex portions 29. Here, since the generator 3 is attached so that the engaging portion 33 formed on the outer peripheral surface on the lower side thereof engages with the base 29a, the relative rotation of the generator 3 with respect to the water spraying portion 4 is restricted.

  Next, the upper head case 16 is covered from above on the lower head case 17 on which the generator 3 is placed, so that the cases 16 and 17 are integrally connected, and the generator 3 placed on the lower head case 17 is placed on the upper portion. It is assumed that the casing is covered with the head case 16. At this time, the upper side of the generator 3 is disposed in the neck portion 13 of the lower head case 17 with the O-ring 22 interposed therebetween. To do. Further, as described above, the relative rotation of the upper head case 16 with respect to the water sprinkling part 4 is restricted. Therefore, when the upper head case 16 is screwed into the lower head case 17, the upper head case 16 and the generator via the O-ring 22 are used. Co-rotation with 3 is prevented.

  In this state, although the generator 3 is housed in the case main body 5, the contact structure between the upper side of the generator 3 and the neck portion 13 of the case main body 5 and the lower side of the generator 3 and the pedestal 29a. The generator 3 is accommodated in the case body 5 without a direct connection structure with other members.

  Thus, with the generator 3 as a unit stored in the case body 5, the upper neck portion 13 of the case body 5 is connected to the connecting cylinder 10 integrated with the water supply pipe 2 via the fastening socket 12. To do. In this way, the installation of the shower device 1 is completed.

  Therefore, in the structure of the shower device 1, the load due to the weight of the overhead sprinkler 4 or the load that is inadvertently applied to the sprinkler 4 is only propagated to the water supply pipe 2 through the metal case body 5. Thus, the generator 3 in the case body 5 is not directly applied. Furthermore, even if an impact is applied to the metal case body 5 from the outside, the case body 5 has strength as a metal and does not transmit an impact load to the inner generator 3, so the structure is made compact. However, the internal generator 3 can be sufficiently protected.

  Although the present invention has been described with reference to the present embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 2, a skirt-shaped shade body 32 made of a light-transmitting or light-guiding material can be connected to the periphery of the watering hole panel 25 of the watering part 4.

  With this configuration, the light from the illumination unit 8 is emitted at the periphery of the water spray hole panel 25, and the light propagates through the shade body 32 and is also emitted from the free end face of the shade body 32, thereby decorating the light. Both the effect and the lighting effect can be improved.

  In addition to the case where the shower device 1 is installed by protruding from a wall in the bathroom, the water sprinkling portion 4 is arranged substantially flush with the ceiling surface, and the water supply pipe 2 and the generator 3 are built in the ceiling. A configuration in which the case body 5 is arranged is also possible.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Shower apparatus 2 Water supply pipe 3 Generator 4 Water sprinkling part 5 Case main body 6 Constant flow valve apparatus 7 Check valve 8 Illumination part 9 Flange 10 Connecting cylinder 11 Enclosure 12 Tightening socket 13 Case body neck part 14 Screw part DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 15 Upper water supply flow path 16 Upper head case 17 Lower head case 19 Screw 20 Opening part 22 O-ring 23 Cover body 24 Water spray hole 25 Water spray hole panel 26 Harness 27 Female screw cylinder 28 Water flow path 29 Joint convex part 29a Base 30 Bolt 31 Shower feed Waterway 32 Shade body 33 Engagement part

Claims (4)

In a shower apparatus comprising a water supply pipe, a generator that generates electricity by the flow of water supplied from the water supply pipe, and a watering unit that sprays water through the generator,
The water supply pipe and the water sprinkling part are integrally connected by a metal case main body, and the generator is accommodated in the case main body.   The shower apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a constant flow valve device is interposed between the water supply pipe and the generator.   The shower apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a check valve for water flow from the generator to the watering plate is interposed between the generator and the watering plate. The case body is fixed by being rotated in a predetermined rotation direction with respect to the watering portion,
The shower device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the generator includes an engaging portion that restricts relative rotation in the circumferential direction along the rotation direction with respect to the case main body.

Images