JPH11104524A - Shower head - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To extremely easily detect abnormality occurred in a water stop valve of a shower head from outside of the shower head. SOLUTION: A shower head 1 is provided with a valve case 34 for housing a ball valve 33 for opening and closing a passage between a primary side water passage 4 and a secondary side water passage 7 inside the shower head 1 body and a pushbutton unit 10 for driving the valve case 34. The pushbutton unit 10 functions as a piston mechanism which is operated by a rise in internal pressure of the primary side water flow passage 4 on water stop to move the valve case 34 in the valve open direction, and also, is linked with the movement of the valve case 34 in the valve open direction, so as to be moved in the antiwater-stop operation direction.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a showerhead for preventing an abnormal increase in pressure in a showerhead.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a shower head having a water stop valve therein, if the water supply pressure is directly applied from a water tap at the time of stopping water, the shower head may be damaged or water leakage may occur. The water supply pressure is reduced, and hot water is led to the shower head. However, if the pressure reducing valve does not function normally due to a failure or the like, the above-described damage and water leakage cannot be prevented. Therefore, conventionally, a shower head provided with a so-called safety device for releasing the internal pressure when the internal pressure at the time of stopping water abnormally increases has been devised. For example, there is one in which the above-described safety device is integrally incorporated into a water stop valve of a shower head. Specifically, the valve body of the water stop valve is housed in a holding body driven by operating means such as an operation button so as to be able to advance and retreat, and the valve body is urged by a spring in a valve seat direction to thereby provide a valve. If the internal pressure in the primary water passage rises abnormally, despite the body being held by the valve-closed bear, the valve retreats and opens to resist the urging force of the spring, stopping the water. A structure is adopted in which a primary water passage and a secondary water passage that are opened and closed by a valve are communicated to release an abnormal increase in internal pressure.

In such a shower head, the phenomenon (water running) that the water leaks from the shower despite the water stopping operation is caused by the above-mentioned safety device or the water stopping operation of the shower. The water shutoff valve itself is in a state where it can be operated normally, such as when it is not securely performed, and when the valve seat or valve is damaged, dust is caught between the valve seat and the valve, etc. There are two cases, such as when the water stop valve itself is not functioning normally, such as when the valve is not completely operated. However, since the above-mentioned safety device operates inside the holding body without giving any change to the operation means such as the operation button, externally, the water stop valve itself remains normal or an abnormality occurs. There was a problem that it was not possible to judge whether the water flow was caused by any of the factors from the outside.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The first aspect of the present invention solves the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art, in which an abnormality occurring in a water stop valve of a shower head can be determined very easily from outside the shower head. The task is to do. Another object of the present invention is to reduce the number of parts by using a button for opening and closing a shower and a piston mechanism in addition to the above-mentioned problem, and to reduce the size of the shower head. Further, in addition to the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 3 prevents waste of hot and cold water and dirt in a bathroom by stopping the pressure relief action when the pipe pressure decreases to a predetermined value. The task is to

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a shower head comprising: a primary water passage and a secondary water passage provided inside a head body; A shower head comprising a water shutoff valve for opening and closing a space, and operating means for driving the water shutoff valve, wherein the water shutoff valve is opened by being activated by an increase in internal pressure of a primary water passage when water is shut off. A piston mechanism for moving the water shutoff valve in the opening direction, and interlocking with the movement of the water shutoff valve in the valve opening direction, the operating means is configured to be changed in the counter water shutoff operation direction. . Here, the operating means for driving the water stop valve means a button or lever for opening / closing the water stop valve and performing operations such as spraying / stopping a shower. By employing such means, an abnormality relating to the water stop valve of the shower head can be perceived by a change in the operation means, and the abnormality of the water stop valve can be determined extremely easily from outside the shower head. For example, when running water is generated from a shower, if the running water is stopped by forcibly forming a valve-closed state by operating the operating means, the closing operation of the operating means is simply insufficient for the flowing water. It can be confirmed that once the running water stops, but if the closed state is not forcibly maintained, if the running water starts again, it can be confirmed that the running water is due to the normal operation of the safety device. If the running water does not stop even when the valve is closed, the running water can be confirmed to be due to imperfect sealing in the closed state. The inspection can be performed without directly viewing the provided safety device.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a shower head according to the first aspect, wherein the operating means includes a valve closing button and a valve opening button,
At least the valve closing button fluctuates in the counter-water operation direction due to the internal pressure applied to the pressure receiving surface, and the operating means is also used as the piston mechanism. In the above-mentioned operating means, in a shower head having a valve closing button and a valve opening button for opening and closing a water shutoff valve, the operating means having the button for opening and closing is configured to also serve as the piston mechanism,
The number of parts of the safety device for releasing pressure can be reduced, and the number of parts can be reduced, so that the shower head itself for accommodating them can be made compact.

Further, a shower head according to the invention of claim 3 is characterized in that, in the shower head of claim 1 or 2, the water stop valve is urged in a valve closing direction. . In the shower head according to claim 1 or 2, the pressure is released by adopting a piston mechanism for moving the water stop valve in the valve opening direction by the internal pressure. The water stop valve is closed against the internal pressure when the internal pressure drops to a certain value, and the water stop valve is seated when the internal pressure returns to the normal value. And watering of the shower can be automatically stopped.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG.
In the shower head 1 of the invention described in 3 or 3, a safety device 3 for releasing internal pressure is provided in the primary side water passage 4. The safety device 3 includes a switching arm 30 that accommodates a ball valve 33 as a water stop valve that opens and closes between the primary water passage 4 and the secondary water passage 7, and an operating means that also has a function as a piston mechanism. The push button unit 10 includes a valve-closing button 21 and a valve-opening button 20 which are separately provided. Further, as means for biasing the switching arm 30 in the valve-closing direction, the valve-closing button 21 and A torsion spring 50 is provided for urging the valve-opening button 20 to approach the button-opening button 20.

The push button unit 10 is provided so as to penetrate the shower head 1 so as to cross the shower head 1. The push button unit 10 is mounted on the shower head 1 with the valve closing button 21 protruding on one side and the valve opening side button 20 protruding on the other. . Then, by pressing down the valve-opening button 20 or the valve-closing button 21, it is possible to switch between watering and stopping the shower. The valve opening side button 20 is provided in a substantially cylindrical shape, and the valve opening side button 20 is provided with a larger diameter than the valve closing side button 21.
On both sides, a hole 5 for a valve-closing side button and a hole 6 for a valve-opening side having a larger diameter than this are respectively formed.
The valve closing button 21 and the valve opening button 20
Are inserted through the U packing 22.

The valve closing button 21 is in contact with the first flange 13 for winding the torsion spring 50 and the valve opening button 20 from the inner end thereof in order from the outside. And a second flange portion 14 for moving the. The first flange 13 and the second flange 1
4, a locking circumferential groove 16 is formed in which the locking piece 31 provided on the switching arm 30 is locked. Further, an insertion portion 15 is provided at the tip inside the valve-closing button 21 so as to be freely inserted into an insertion hole 17 formed at the tip of the valve-opening button 20. On the other hand, a torsion spring 50 is sequentially provided from the inside to the tip inside the valve opening side button 20.
And a third flange portion 18 that comes into contact with the second flange portion 14 of the above-described valve-closing button, and a diameter larger than the hole 6 for the valve-opening button and the button 20 for the valve-opening side. A stopper 19 is provided which abuts on the inner wall of the water channel 4 to restrict the valve-opening button 20 from projecting beyond a certain amount. Further, the stopper 19 is provided on the valve-opening button 20 at a position where the secondary-side water passage 7 is closed by the switching arm 30. As described above, the insertion hole 17 is formed at the tip of the valve-opening button 20.

Next, one end of the torsion spring 50 is wound around the outside of the first flange portion 13 of the valve closing button 21, and the other side end thereof is outside the third flange portion 18 of the valve opening button 20. And urges the valve-closing side button 21 and the valve-opening side button 20 in the direction of approaching each other.

Next, the switching arm 30 is swingably provided in the shower head 1 with the support portion 32 as a fulcrum, and a ball valve 33 is provided at the tip thereof. A locking piece 31 is provided substantially near the center of the switching arm 30, and a locking groove 1 provided on the valve closing button 21 for moving the switching arm 30 by moving the valve closing button 21.
6. A valve case 34 for accommodating the above-mentioned ball valve 33 is provided near the tip of the switching arm 30. A spring 36, which is held by the bottom 35 and biases the ball valve 33 toward the tip of the switching arm 30, is provided in the valve case 34.

An opening 9 in which a seat packing 8 is provided is provided in the secondary water passage 7 inside the shower head 1 from the tip of the switching arm 30, and a valve opening button is provided beside the opening 9. When the ball valve 33 is moved by pushing the valve 20, the curved receiving surface 40 is recessed so that the ball valve 33 fits in and is held at that position.

The opening / closing operation of the shower will now be described. When the valve closing button 21 is pushed in, the second flange 14 is brought into contact with the third flange 18 of the valve opening button 20 and the valve opening button 20 is pressed. And the valve closing button 21 moves until the stopper 19 of the valve opening button 20 contacts the inner wall of the shower head 1. At this time, the valve opening side button 20 protrudes from the shower head 1 surface. The locking piece 3 locked in the locking circumferential groove 16 of the valve closing button 21
1, the switching arm 30 is held so that the ball valve 33 is positioned in the opening 9, and the ball valve 33 is pressed against the seat packing 8 by the spring 36, thereby closing the secondary water passage 7 (FIG. 1 (see solid line).) At this time, the tip of the ball valve 33 is attached to the seat packing 8.
The push button unit 10 does not move to the valve opening side unless the valve opening side button 20 is pressed with a predetermined force or more, so that the shower can be continuously stopped.

On the other hand, when the valve opening side button 20 is pushed in the opposite direction, the valve closing side button 21 is moved in a state where the third flange portion 18 is in contact with the second flange portion 14 of the valve closing side button 21. . At this time, contrary to the above, the valve closing button 21 projects from the surface of the shower head 1. Then, with the movement of the switching arm 30, the ball valve 33 moves from the opening 9 toward the curved receiving surface 40, and the secondary water passage 7 is opened (see the dashed line in FIG. 1). At this time, the ball valve 33 is held by the curved receiving surface 40,
Unless the valve closing button 21 is pressed with a predetermined force or more, the push button unit 10 does not move to the valve closing side, and watering of the shower can be continued.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described. When the shower is stopped, the primary water passage 4 from the pressure reducing valve 70 through the shower hose 42 to the shower head 1.
When the internal pressure of the primary water passage 4 rises above a certain level due to the hot water introduced into the valve, the valve opening button 20 and the valve closing button 21
However, the valve-opening button 12 is restricted by the stopper 19 and cannot protrude any more, so that only the valve-closing button 21 moves to the valve-opening side against the urging force of the torsion spring 50. At this time, the valve closing button 21 projects from the valve closed position to the valve opened position. When the switching arm 30 moves to the valve opening side with the movement of the valve closing button 21, the ball valve 33 moves slightly to the valve opening side, the secondary water passage 7 is opened, and the hot and cold water flows into the shower spout 41. The shower head 1 and the shower hose 42
Can be reduced (see the two-dot chain line in FIG. 1). Therefore, in this case, the valve opening side button 20
The valve 21 and the valve closing button 21 both protrude from the surface of the shower head 1.

When the internal pressure falls below a certain level, the torsion spring 50 pulls the valve-opening button 20 inward, and accordingly the switching arm 30 also moves to the valve-closing side, and the ball valve 33 moves to the secondary side. The water passage 7 is closed and hot water is stopped. At this time, if the ball valve 33 moves to the position of the curved receiving surface 40, even if the internal pressure decreases, the ball valve 3
3 is held on the curved receiving surface 40, and the shower remains in a sprinkling state. Therefore, by adjusting the torsion spring 50 and the spring 36, the ball valve 3 when the internal pressure rises is increased.
3 movement, ie, the valve closing button 21 and the valve opening button 2
0 is provided so as not to unnecessarily increase the amount of outward opening.

Since the pressure relief structure 1 of the shower is configured as described above, the internal pressure can be automatically reduced when the internal pressure in the shower head 1 increases, thereby preventing the shower head 1 and the like from being damaged. it can. Then, when running water is generated from the shower, pressing the valve closing button 21 stops the flowing water.
If the valve-opening button 20 further protrudes when the first button 1 is pushed in, it can be confirmed that the water is flowing as a result of the insufficient pushing-in operation of the valve-closing button 21, while the valve-opening button 20 is pressed. If both the valve closing button 21 and the valve-closing button 21 protrude from the surface of the shower head 1, it can be confirmed that both buttons 20 and 21 protrude from the shower head 1 due to abnormal internal pressure, and that the safety device 3 operates normally, and that water flows. . Further, when the valve closing button 21 is forcibly pushed, the flowing water is stopped. However, when the valve closing button 21 is not pushed in the valve closing state, the valve closing button 21 projects again and the flowing water starts, which may cause an abnormality. It can be confirmed from the internal pressure that the safety device 3 is working normally. In any of the above cases, the flowing water is stopped when the valve closing button 21 is forcibly pressed, but if the flowing water is not stopped even if the valve closing button 21 is pressed in the first place, dust is generated. It can be confirmed that the sealing property in the valve closed state such as pinching is not perfect and the safety device 3 is not functioning normally.

Further, since the push button unit 10 is used as a piston mechanism, the number of parts can be reduced and the shower head 1 can be made compact. Further, when the inside of the shower head 1 returns to the normal internal pressure, the watering of the shower can be automatically stopped, and waste of hot water and dirt in the bathroom can be prevented.

Next, a shower head 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment, the valve-opening side button 62 and the valve-closing side button 61 constituting the push button unit 60 as the piston mechanism in the above-described embodiment are provided integrally. In the following, description of the same parts as those in the first embodiment will be omitted. In the shower head 2, the valve-opening button 62 and the valve-closing button 61 that constitute the push button unit 60 are provided.
Are provided integrally, and the valve closing button 61 is provided in a substantially cylindrical shape having a larger diameter than the valve opening button 62. In the vicinity of the center of the push button unit 60, a flange 63 provided from the valve closing button 61 and the valve opening button 6 are provided.
A circumferential groove 16 for locking is provided by a stopper 64 provided at the position 2. The stopper 64 is provided in the push button unit 60 at a position where the secondary water passage 7 is closed by the switching arm 30.

Since the present embodiment is configured as described above, when the internal pressure of the shower head 2 increases, the pressure receiving area of the valve closing side button 61 is larger than that of the valve opening side button 62, so that the inside of the shower head 2 The received pressure is stronger on the valve-closing side button 61, and the valve-closing side button 61 protrudes outside the shower head 2, whereby the switching arm 30 moves to the valve opening side, and the secondary water passage 7 is opened ( (See the two-dot chain line in FIG. 3.) Therefore, when the internal pressure in the shower head 2 is increased, the internal pressure can be automatically reduced. When the shower head 2 is flowing water, for example, the valve closing state is forcibly operated by operating the valve closing button 61. When the flowing water is stopped by forming the above, it can be confirmed that the closing operation of the valve closing button 61 is simply insufficient for the flowing water. Then, once the flowing water stops, but if the valve closing state is not forcibly maintained, if the flowing water starts again, it can be confirmed that the flowing water is due to the normal operation of the safety device 3, and further, by operating the valve closing button 61. If the flowing water does not stop even if the closed state is forcibly formed, based on the operation of the valve closing button 61, for example, it can be confirmed that the flowing water is due to the imperfect sealing property of the closed state. The operation state of the safety device 3 provided inside the shower head 2 can be checked very easily from the outside without directly looking at the safety device 3, and damage to the shower head 2 and the like can be prevented. Further, since the push button unit 10 is used as a piston mechanism, the number of parts can be reduced, and the shower head 2 can be made compact.

[0022]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, an abnormality occurring in the water shutoff valve of the shower head can be determined very easily from outside the shower head. According to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the above-described effects, the number of parts can be reduced by using the shower opening / closing button and the piston mechanism, and the showerhead can be made more compact. According to the third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the above-described effects, when the pipe pressure decreases to a predetermined value, the pressure relief action is stopped, and waste of hot and cold water and dirt in a bathroom can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway front side view of a shower head using a shower pressure relief structure according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial cutaway view on the right side of the shower head of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a partial front sectional view of a shower head using a pressure relief structure for a shower according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 2; shower head, 3: safety device, 4; primary-side water passage, 5; hole for valve-closed button, 6; hole for valve-opened button,
7; secondary water passage, 8; sheet packing, 9; opening,
10; push button unit, 13; first flange, 1
4; second flange portion, 15; insertion portion, 16;
7; insertion hole, 18; third flange, 19; stopper, 2
0; valve opening side button, 21; valve closing side button, 22; U packing, 30; switching arm, 31; locking piece, 32; support section, 33; ball valve, 34; valve case, 35;
6; spring, 40; curved receiving surface, 41; shower spout, 42; shower hose, 50; torsion spring, 60; push button unit, 61; valve closing side button, 62; valve opening side button, 63; , 64; stopper, 70; pressure reducing valve.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A shower head comprising: a water stop valve for opening and closing a primary water passage and a secondary water passage inside a head body; and operating means for driving the water stop valve. A piston mechanism that operates in response to a rise in the internal pressure of the primary water passage when water is stopped and moves the water stop valve in the valve opening direction,
A shower head, characterized in that the operating means is moved in the counter-water-stopping operation direction in conjunction with the movement of the water-stop valve in the valve opening direction. 2. The operating means includes a valve closing button and a valve opening button, and at least the valve closing button fluctuates in a counter-water-returning operation direction due to an internal pressure applied to a pressure receiving surface thereof. The shower head according to claim 1, wherein the shower head is also used as the piston mechanism. 3. The shower head according to claim 1, wherein the water stop valve is urged in a valve closing direction.