JPH0251673A - Water channel switching device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To restrict the speed of a push button to stabilize the position of a switching plate by arranging a ring-shaped elastic body compressed by depressing the push button between the push button and a body-housing in a water channel-switching device permitting the switching plate to rotate by the push button. CONSTITUTION:A flow dividing plate 3 having different water channels 31, 32 is attached to a body housing 1 of a shower head with a hose-connection port 11. A switching plate 4 having a connecting port 41 is arranged in the rear of the flow dividing plate 3. The switching plate 4 is connected to a push button 2 and rotated in interlock with the pressing operation of the push button 2. The switching plate 4 is also lifted from the flow dividing plate 3 during its rotation by a cam 34 formed on the flow dividing plate 3. A ring-shaped elastic body 85 is attached on a shaft 20 of the push button 2 and compressed between a hold-down metal fitting 81 and the body housing when the push button 2 is depressed. The depressing speed of the push button 2 is, as a result, restricted to stabilize the position of the switching plate 4.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to a channel switching device used for switching between stationary water and shower water.

[Conventional technology]

Many of this type of waterway switching devices are equipped with a valve that switches in conjunction with the rotation of a dial or lever, but in this case, it is difficult to switch with one hand, making it difficult to operate. be. For this reason, a system has been proposed in which the water channel can be switched with one touch by pressing a push button.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

In the case of this push button type, the water channel is switched by rotating the switching plate using a ratchet mechanism, etc., but in the conventional type, the rotation angle of the switching plate in response to the pushing operation of the push button is This changes depending on the strength of the pushbutton, which can cause the switching plate to shift in position, so it is necessary to adjust the force with which the pushbutton is pressed. Also, although it is possible to switch by pressing the push button,
It cannot be said that the operability is excellent, and furthermore, there is a problem in that dirt tends to accumulate between the push button and the main body housing. The present invention has been made in view of these points, and its objects are to provide a waterway switching device that can perform accurate switching operations using a push button, a waterway switching device that has excellent push button operability, To provide a water channel switching device that allows easy cleaning around a push button.

[Means to solve the problem]

Accordingly, the present invention provides a flow divider plate having a plurality of types of openings connected to different water channels, a switching plate that is rotationally driven to selectively open the plurality of types of openings of the flow divider plate, and a push button.
A feeding mechanism is provided that rotates the switching grate in one direction in conjunction with the pushing operation of the push button, and a switching mechanism is provided between the flow divider plate and a switching plate that is in contact with one side of the flow divider plate in conjunction with the rotation of the switching plate. In a channel switching device that is equipped with a cam that lifts the plate from the flow divider plate, a return spring for returning the push button is placed between the push button and the main body housing that supports it, and the spring is compressed between the two when the push button is pressed. The first feature is in the channel switching device in which a ring-shaped elastic body is disposed, and the direction in which the push button is operated is orthogonal to the direction in which water is discharged from the water discharge port, and the flow dividing plate and The second feature of the channel switching device is that a push button is disposed on the end face of the main housing housing the switching plate, and furthermore, the push button is slidable and connected to the feeding mechanism, and also extends through the main housing. The third feature is the waterway switching device which is detachably attached to the sliding shaft. [Function] According to the present invention, when the water channel is switched by pushing the push button and rotating the switching plate, the ring-shaped elastic body compressed between the push button and the main body housing controls the movement of the push button appropriately. According to the second feature, the push button can be operated with the hand holding the main body housing, and the third feature is that the push button can be operated by removing the push button. You can clean the area around the push button. [Example] The present invention will be described in detail below based on an example in which the present invention is incorporated into the illustrated shower head. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the main body housing 1 of this shower head has a head cover 17 attached to the upper front surface, a push button 2 provided on the upper end surface, and a connection port 11 with a hose 91 at the lower end. The head cover 17 has a water outlet 18 with a rectifying wire mesh arranged in its center, and a shower water outlet 19 consisting of many small holes around its periphery. 9 in Figure 6 is a holder. It is. A flow dividing plate 3 is clamped and fixed between the main body housing 1 and the head cover 17. As shown in FIG. 3, this flow dividing plate 3 has an opening 31 continuous to the center side of the front surface and an opening 32 continuous to the peripheral side of the front surface.
A plurality of cams, three in the illustrated example, are formed alternately at equal pitches, and a shaft hole 33 is provided at the center of the back side, and a plurality of cams 34 are protruded to surround the shaft hole 33. 71, 72, and 73 in the figure 0 are the main body housing 1
between the main body housing 1 and the head cover 1
7 and between the flow dividing plate 3 and the head cover 17 for waterproofing. One end is supported by the shaft hole 33 of the flow dividing plate 3, and the other end is a shaft hole 15 of the partition plate 13 provided in the main body housing 1.
The switching plate 4 is located on the back side of the zero flow diverter plate 3, and the switching plate 4 and the feed plate 5 are both freely rotatably and slidably attached to the shaft 6 supported by the shaft 6.
has a plurality of communicating ports 41, in the illustrated example, three communicating ports 41 corresponding to the number of openings 31, 32 of the flow dividing plate 3, at equal pitches, and a plurality of communication ports 41 are provided on the surface on the side of the flow dividing plate 3. A cam 44 is arranged in an annular shape, and a plurality of engaging pawls 42 are also arranged in an annular shape on the other side. The feed plate 5 located on the back side of the switching plate 4 has a plurality of feed pawls 52 on its surface on the switching plate 4 side, which together with the engaging pawl 42 of the switching plate 41 constitute a ratchet mechanism.
, and is urged toward the switching plate 4 by a spring 60 disposed between the partition plate 13 and the partition plate 13 . and,
A bin 51 is provided protruding from the back surface of the feed plate 5. The push button 2 is detachably attached to one end of a sliding shaft 20 which is attached to the main body housing 1 so as to be slidable in the axial direction. 1 In the figure, 80 is a spring pin press-fitted into one end of the sliding shaft 20. It's a bottle like this. Push button 2 is this bottle 8
The cylindrical portion 2a provided with a slit through which 0 is inserted is the sliding shaft 20.
It is attached to the sliding shaft 20 by being elastically locked to the slide shaft 20. The sliding shaft 20 is waterproofed at the penetrating portion of the main body housing 1 by the seal packing 21, and at the same time,
Seal packing 21 is welded and fixed to main body housing 1.
The bottle 80 is biased in one direction by a return spring 22 placed between the presser metal fitting 81 that covers the bottle 80 and the bottle 80, and its axial movement is guided by passing through the partition plate 13. A cam plate 23 located within the main body housing 1 and surrounded by the partition plate 13 is fixed. As shown in FIG. 2, this cam plate 23 has a horizontally long elongated hole 24, and a bottle 51 protruding from the feed plate is inserted into a circle provided in the partition plate 13. It is inserted into the long hole 24 through the arc-shaped long hole 14 . In this shower head, when the push button 2 is pushed in, the cam plate 23 moves downward together with the sliding shaft 20.
However, the feed plate 5, which engages the bottle 51 in the elongated hole 24, is rotated in one direction. This rotation of the feed plate 5 is transmitted to the switching plate 4 via the ratchet mechanism, and the switching plate 4 also rotates in the same direction by one pitch to switch the openings 31 and 32 with which the communication port 41 communicates. When the communication port 41 coincides with the opening 31, water is discharged from the water outlet 18, and when the communication port 41 coincides with the opening 32, water is discharged from the shower water discharge port 19. When the switching plate 4 is rotated, the flow dividing plate 3
Due to the engagement of the cam 34 provided on the switching plate 4 with the cam 44 of the switching plate 4, the switching plate 4 is lifted from the flow dividing plate 3, and the rubber bead 45 attached to the surface of the switching plate 4 on the flow dividing plate 3 side moves into the flow dividing plate. While separated from 3,
The rotation for one pitch is performed. That is, the cams 34, 44 here constitute a ratchet mechanism that engages only in one direction, similar to the one composed of the engaging claw 42 and the feeding claw 52, but the engaging claw 42 and the feeding claw 52 constitute a ratchet mechanism that engages only in one direction. Since it constitutes a ratchet mechanism in the opposite direction to the ratchet mechanism using the pawl 52, when the feed plate 4 rotates the switching plate 4,
The cam 44 of the switching plate 4 and the cam 34 of the flow dividing plate 3 are
The mutual inclined surfaces are in sliding contact, and the switching plate 4 is moved from the flow dividing plate 3 to the switching plate 4.
When it has gone up the slope, the feed plate 5 and the switching plate 4 are moved toward the flow dividing plate 3 by the urging force of the spring 60, and the switching plate 4 comes into contact with the flow dividing plate 3 again. When the user releases his or her finger from the push button 2, the sliding shaft 20 and the push button 2° are returned to their original positions under the force of the return spring 22, and the feed plate 5, which engages the pin 51 with the cam plate 23, also rotates in the opposite direction. The rotation of the feed plate 5 in this direction is simply caused by the sliding contact between the inclined surfaces of the feed pawl 52 and the engaging pawl 42, causing the feed plate 5 to rotate while being lifted from the switching plate 4, and the switching plate 4 is rotated by its cam 44. Cam 34 of flow divider plate 3
Because of the engagement with the flow divider plate 3, it does not rotate and does not float off the flow dividing plate 3. When switching the water channel by rotating the switching plate 4, since no sliding friction occurs between the switching plate 4 and the flow dividing plate 3, less operating force is required to operate the push button 2, and the rubber bead Since no excessive load is applied to the rubber bead 45, the life of the rubber bead 45 is extended. Furthermore, even if foreign matter enters the contact surface between the switching plate 4 and the flow dividing plate 3, the foreign matter will be washed away from the contact surface by the water flow when the switching plate 4 floats from the flow dividing plate 3. There is no damage to the seal surface. In addition, in the shower head shown here, the push button 2 is arranged at the upper end of the main body housing 1 where the water discharge ports 18 and 19 are formed on the front surface of the upper part, so even when operated with the right hand,
The switch can be operated in the same manner when operated with the left hand, and as shown in FIGS. 7(a) and 7(b), the switching operation can be performed with one hand. Further, as shown in FIG. 8(c) and FIG. 8, the push button 2 can be easily pressed even when it is attached to a washstand. In addition, by making the push button 2 detachable from the sliding shaft 20, even if soap scum or the like accumulates between the push button 2 and the main body housing 1, it can be easily cleaned by removing the push button 2. can. Moreover, the ratchet feeding mechanism that rotates the switching plate 4 in one direction in conjunction with the pushing operation of the push button 2 would normally cause the switching plate 4 to become misaligned depending on the speed at which the push button 2 is pushed due to its play. I will let you, but
Here, a ring-shaped elastic body 85 that is compressed between the push button 2 and the main body housing 1 when the push button 2 is pushed in is disposed on the outer periphery of the sliding shaft 20, so that when the push button 2 is pushed in, the ring-shaped elastic body 85 is arranged on the outer periphery of the sliding shaft 20. The speed is suppressed by the ring-shaped elastic body 85, and therefore, the switching plate 4 can always be rotated to an accurate position without misalignment. The ring-shaped elastic body 85 is compressed by the tapered surface at the tip of the cylindrical portion 2a of the push button 2, as shown in FIG. 6, so that an appropriate load is applied. By the way, when the head cover 17 is attached to the main body housing 1 by screw connection as shown in FIG. Therefore, it is susceptible to inward stress. For this reason, when high-temperature water is passed through, the molded product also shrinks, causing the threaded portion to shrink inward, making the connection at the threaded portion shallower, and preventing the risk of the head cover 17 coming off. have. The rib 117a, which protrudes from the inner surface of the head cover 17 and is located inside the threaded portion of the main body housing 1, suppresses the inward contraction of the threaded portion and prevents the head cover 17 from coming off. be.

【Effect of the invention】

As described above, in the present invention, a feeding mechanism is provided that rotates the switching plate in one direction in conjunction with the pushing operation of the push button, and the switching plate is provided between the flow dividing plate and the switching plate that is in contact with one side of the flow dividing plate. Since it is equipped with a cam that lifts the switching plate from the flow divider plate in conjunction with rotation, when switching the waterway by pressing the push button and rotating the switch plate, the switch plate is lifted from the flow divider plate and the switch plate There is no sliding resistance between the flow divider plate and the flow channel plate, which allows smooth switching operation using the push button.Furthermore, the channel can be switched by pushing the push button and rotating the switching plate. When switching, the ring-shaped elastic body compressed between the push button and the main body housing suppresses the movement of the push button to an appropriate speed, so the position of the switching plate is always stable.
This allows accurate waterway switching. According to the second feature, the push button can be operated with the hand holding the main body housing, making it easy to operate with one hand, and providing excellent operability. , the area around the push button can be easily cleaned by removing the push button.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of one embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along line X-X in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the same, Fig. 4 is a perspective view, and Fig. 5. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the same push button part as above.
Figures (a) and (b) are cross-sectional views of the same as above, and Figure 7 (a) and (b)
(c) is an explanatory diagram showing the usage state, and FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the state installed on the washstand, in which 1 is the main body housing, 2 is the push button, 3 is the flow divider plate, 4 is the switching plate, 5 31 and 32 are openings, 34 is a cam, 41 is a communication port, 42 is a related pawl, 44 is a cam, and 52 is a feeding pawl. Agent Patent Attorney Ishi 1) Chief 71N2 Figure 3 Figure 4 1!7 Figure z8z

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) A flow divider plate having multiple types of openings connected to different water channels, a switching plate that is rotationally driven to selectively open the multiple types of openings in the flow divider plate, a push button, and a push button that is linked to the pushing operation of the push button. and a feeding mechanism that rotates the switching plate in one direction, and is provided between the flow dividing plate and the switching plate in contact with one side of the flow dividing plate, and lifts the switching plate from the flow dividing plate in conjunction with the rotation of the switching plate. In a channel switching device equipped with a cam, a return spring for returning the push button is disposed between the push button and the main housing that supports it, and a ring-shaped elastic body is compressed between the two when the push button is pressed. A waterway switching device that is equipped with (2) A flow divider plate having multiple types of openings connected to different water channels, a switching plate that is rotationally driven to selectively open the multiple types of openings in the flow divider plate, a push button, and a push button that is linked to the pushing operation of the push button. and a feeding mechanism that rotates the switching plate in one direction, and is provided between the flow dividing plate and the switching plate in contact with one side of the flow dividing plate, and lifts the switching plate from the flow dividing plate in conjunction with the rotation of the switching plate. In a channel switching device equipped with a cam, the operating direction of the push button is perpendicular to the direction of water discharge from the water discharge port, and the push button is disposed on the end face of the main body housing containing the flow divider plate and the switching plate. Waterway switching device. (3) A flow divider plate having multiple types of openings connected to different water channels, a switching plate that is rotatably driven to selectively open the multiple types of openings in the flow divider plate, a push button, and a push button that is linked to the pushing operation of the push button. and a feeding mechanism that rotates the switching plate in one direction, and is provided between the flow dividing plate and the switching plate in contact with one side of the flow dividing plate, and lifts the switching plate from the flow dividing plate in conjunction with the rotation of the switching plate. A water channel switching device provided with a cam, in which a push button is slidable and connected to a feeding mechanism, and is detachably attached to a sliding shaft passing through a main body housing.