JP2011172892A - Water saving fixture for shower - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problems that an air inlet port is clogged up and that water retained in a shower head flows reversely from the air inlet port and leaks when stopping water, when water saving during the use of shower is contrived without exchanging a shower head by effectively reducing the diameter of a water passage between a faucet fitting and the shower head, whereas as a result the reduction of the water passage diameter makes flow speed faster but reduces flow rate to weaken water discharge pressure, with comfortable bodily sensation of shower sacrificed, and whereas as a remedy improvement of the bodily sensation is tried by taking in air from outside and mixing air in the shower discharge water. <P>SOLUTION: Water saving is contrived without degrading a bodily sensation of shower, with a simple structure without taking in air from the outside air. Therefore, for the purpose of increasing flow speed by reducing tube diameter in a tapered water passage and for further increasing flow speed at the same time, a member is incorporated that generates a rotational flow in the running water and that can be installed as a single member between the faucet fitting and the shower head, in the water saving fixture. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to water saving in a shower, and is intended to ensure a comfortable shower experience while saving water in a place with a shower facility, and in particular, water pressure in a hotel, a hot bath facility, a fitness club, etc. is secured to some extent. It is extremely effective in saving water, such as when using showers in bathrooms where the surrounding environment is warm, and when using showers in shower facilities for sweating rather than warming in the summer pool.

  Conventionally, water saving in showers has attempted to secure the shower experience by reducing the hole diameter of the water spray plate of the shower head to reduce the amount of water discharged, and by decreasing the hole diameter to increase the flow rate of water discharged. In the process of saving water, there are products that are specially processed on the water spray plate of the shower head to ensure a considerable degree of shower experience along with saving water. (Patent Document 1) (Patent Document 2) (Patent Document 3)

  In addition, some shower heads of Patent Document 2 incorporate a guide blade for generating a swirling flow in the shower head main body to further increase the flow speed in order to further increase the flow speed. (Patent Document 2)

  There are also products that improve the shower experience by providing holes in the shower head to mix air into water discharge that has been reduced in volume due to water saving. (Patent Literature 4) (Patent Literature 5) (Patent Literature 6)

  However, the above method necessitates replacement of the shower head.

  As a device to save water without replacing the shower head and ensure a shower experience, it is a type that is attached between the faucet bracket and the shower head, has a narrow part to increase the flow velocity, and Patent Document 4, Patent Although there are appliances with an intake port for taking in air as in Reference 5 and Patent Document 6, the intake port for taking in air is clogged or stays in the shower head from the intake port when water stops. There are also inconveniences such as water leaks. (Patent Document 7) (Patent Document 8)

  On the other hand, since the amount of shower water discharged per unit time from the shower naturally decreases when the water is saved, especially when using a hot water shower, it is difficult to warm the body when the environmental temperature of the place of use is low. Therefore, in the bathroom of a general household where there are many bathroom environments that are not equipped with heating facilities, there is a problem that the body does not warm up easily, and as a result, the shower will be used for a long time, so the water saving effect will decrease. It has become. Furthermore, there are many places where water pressure and particularly hot water pressure are low in ordinary households, and there are many places where the shower experience is originally weak. For this reason, there are many issues to be overcome when trying to develop products for general households. Among them, the shower head of Patent Document 3 is devised in the shape of the hole of the watering plate, and there is a problem that the shower head must be replaced, but it can be said that it has succeeded in saving water at low pressure. .

  On the other hand, a place where the bathroom is fully heated, such as a hotel or a bathing facility, a place where the body is warm, such as a heated pool or a fitness club, and there is no need to warm the body, just wash away the body. Even if the amount of water discharged per unit time drops when using the pool in the summer, it is unlikely to become a problem as a shower if the shower experience is secured, and if limited to such facilities, This technology can be used effectively.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-57535 JP 2003-265351 A JP 2003-310468 A JP 2002-119435 A JP 2006-239106 A JP 2008-229516 A JP 2000-166797 A JP 2005-218681 A Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 6-24067.

  Naturally, when water is saved, the amount of hot water discharged per unit time decreases. Then, in the bathroom of a general household where there is often no heating equipment in the space where the shower is used, there is a problem that the body cannot be easily warmed up only by the shower unless it is used for a long time in the cold season.

  In public shower facilities, the design of the faucet body and shower head are often unified, and there are some facilities that are not suitable in terms of design. Therefore, there is a need for a device that can be attached between the faucet fitting and the shower head without replacing the existing shower head, and has a structure that increases the water discharge flow rate in order to save water and maintain the shower experience. .

  In hotels, etc., equipment that has a structure where the cleaned part becomes dirty with water drops remaining in the shower hose or shower head after cleaning the bathroom is avoided. Therefore, if an opening for taking in air is provided, there is a concern that water leaks from the appliance after use, and it is necessary to have a structure in which the experience of using the shower is not easily impaired even if there is no hole for taking in air.

  Because it is used in a facility used by an unspecified number of people, it is hard to break and requires a simple instrument structure.

  If the amount of water discharged from the hot water shower per unit time is reduced due to water saving, in the bathrooms of ordinary households where there is often no heating equipment in the shower space, the body will be lost if the shower is not used for a long time in the winter. There is a problem that it is difficult to warm up. However, functional restrictions are basically eliminated by planning for installation in general households, and water saving is realized while reducing the amount of water discharged while greatly reducing the amount of water discharged. In addition, it is possible to plan a device that can be mounted between the faucet fitting and the shower head.

  In public shower facilities, the design of the faucet body and shower head are often unified, and there are some facilities that are not suitable in terms of design. Therefore, an instrument that can be attached between the faucet fitting and the shower head is made without replacing the existing shower head.

  In order to increase the flow rate as well as water saving without providing an opening for taking in air etc. to enhance the shower experience, the water channel is narrowed in a tapered shape so that the diameter decreases from the inlet side to the outlet side. In order to further increase the flow velocity, a disk-shaped plate is provided with a plurality of twisted holes, and a member for causing a swirl flow in which a twist is added to the water flow is incorporated.

  By installing between the shower head and the shower hose, the water saving effect appeared by attaching this member, and the reduction rate of the shower feeling was less than the water saving rate, as compared with the single shower head alone. As a result of the experience test, when the water saving rate was 30%, the decrease in the shower experience was 5% to 10%. Although this result also changed depending on the type of shower head, water saving was achieved in general, and even more limited, but even when attached to a commercially available water saving shower head, further water saving effect was obtained.

  The flow rate can be reduced only with a tapered flow channel, and the flow velocity can be increased with water saving. However, by incorporating a member for causing swirling flow, the flow velocity can be further increased. It is possible to reduce the decrease in the experience.

  By changing the ratio of the diameter of the inlet side and the outlet side of the tapered flow channel having a large inlet side and a small outlet side, and the taper angle, the water saving rate and the flow velocity can be changed.

  By changing the total area of the diameters of the openings of the twisted holes and the twist angle of the holes, which are opened in the disk-shaped plate member for causing the swirling flow, the flow velocity and the twist angle of the water flow are changed. Can do. In the experiment with the prototype, the shape of the disk-shaped plate was 13.5 mm in diameter, but this was because the diameter of the water / hot water supply pipe was 15A, and the size is not limited. Further, the twisted water channel opened in the disk-shaped plate may be tapered so that the diameter decreases from the inlet side toward the outlet side.

  By changing the hole diameter and taper length of the tapered flow channel, the hole diameter of the plate causing the swirling flow and the twist angle of the hole according to the water supply / hot water supply pressure of the facility where this equipment is used, It can also be adjusted to a water-saving device that is optimal for facility showers.

  This apparatus may be attached to the shower head alone, or may be a shower head that is built in and integrated with the handle portion of the shower head.

FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional perspective view showing a state in which the appliance is combined between a shower head and a shower hose. FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the instrument. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the instrument. FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the instrument. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a disk-like plate having a plurality of twisted hole openings with a twist angle of 15 degrees from the inlet side to the outlet side. FIG. 6 is a plan view of a disk-like plate having a plurality of twisted hole openings with a twist angle of 15 degrees from the inlet side to the outlet side. FIG. 7 is a side view of a disk-like plate having a plurality of twisted hole openings with a twist angle of 15 degrees from the inlet side to the outlet side. FIG. 8 is a partial detail view of a disk-like plate having a plurality of twisted hole openings with a twist angle of 15 degrees from the inlet side to the outlet side. FIG. 9 is a partial cross-sectional perspective view depicting the partial cross-sectional perspective view of FIG. 1 while changing the viewing angle of the instrument. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a fitting that is attached between the shower hose and the shower head by reversing the threading positions of the male screw and female screw of the connecting screw at both ends of the appliance shown in FIG. It is side surface sectional drawing of the instrument changed so that it might be attached between shower hoses.

1: Tapered flow channel 2: Disc-shaped plate with a plurality of twisted hole openings 3a: Female screw 3b: Male screw 4: O-ring packing

Claims (2)

  It is a device attached in the middle of the shower head and faucet fitting, has a water passage inside, and narrowed the inner diameter in a tapered shape to increase the flow velocity as it proceeds from the water flow inlet to the outlet in the water flow, A shower water-saving device, wherein a so-called funnel-shaped water passage portion is formed, and a plate having a plurality of twisted opening holes for swirling an inflowing water flow is incorporated in the inlet portion.   A shower head integrated with the appliance of claim 1.

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