US2779625A - Automatically self-cleaning shower heads - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 29, 1957 J. J. FILLIUNG AUTOMATICALLY SELF-CLEANING SHOWER HEADS Filed Feb. 7, 1956 INVENTOR. JACQUES J F/LL/u/va BY PARKER CARTER ATTORNEYS United tates Patent AUTOMATICALLY SELF-CLEANING SHOWER HEADS Jacques I. Filliung, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Sloan Valve Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application February 7, 1956, Serial No. 563,996

6 Claims. (Cl. 299-59) This invention relates `to shower heads for use in shower baths, and the principal object of the invention is to provide a new and improved shower head which is automatically self-cleaning.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved shower head which automatically flushes out sediment and foreign deposits from the head each time the shower head is used and which instantly discharges all residual water after the supply is shut off, so that there will be no subsequent annoying dribble.

-Further objects of the invention are to provide a new and improved shower head which is simple and durable in construction, is efiicient and reliable in operation, and does not require constant maintenance or servicing.

With the foregoing and other objects in View, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction, operation, and combination of the various elements as will be more fully described and pointed out hereinafter.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. l is a cross-sectional side view of the shower head of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a similar View showing the shower head in operated position with water flowing through the device;

fFig. 3 is a bottom view of the shower head;

Fig 4 is a fragmentary portion of a shower head showing a modification thereof;

Fig. 5 is another modified form of the invention; while Fig. 6 shows a still further modied form of shower head.

A shower head in common use today is the type in which a fixed plate is provided with a plurality of small openings dispersed all over the face of the plate which act as jet discharge passages. This head gives a very satisfactory shower spray and by adjusting the supply valves, any kind of spray discharge may be secured by the bather. There is, however, the disadvantage with this type of shower head that it requires constant maintenance and servicing to keep it operating in a satisfactory manner. This is so because invariably sediment, sand, and other water borne substances become lodged within the shower head and in the jet openings, and eventually block them up, so that the shower head becomes inoperative or useless. Likewise, in localities where hard water is encountered, the jet orifices eventually lime-up due to the calcium deposits building up in them as the water evaporates, and the openings have to be punched out. Furthermore, there is always a long and annoying dribble and drip from this type of shower head after the water is shut off.

The foregoing disadvantages are all avoided by the present invention in which suitable relatively large drain openings are provided in a shower head to completely flush out the interior each time after its use, and in which the drain openings are automatically closed responsive to water ow into the head and opened when the water is shut off. No dripping can occur and since air is admitted to the interior of the head, no lime deposits can Patented Jan. 29, 1957 frice dry up and clog the jet passages. Constant maintenance and servicing therefore is dispensed with.

Referring now particularly to the drawings, Figs. l, 2 and 3, the shower head comprises a cylindrical shaped body or casing 5 connected to a ball joint 6 formed integral with the inlet supply connection 7, which is also provided with a throttle 8 for regulating the flow of water through the shower head. The shower head 5 is swingably supported on the ball joint 6 by the coupling member 9 and a sealing ring 10. The bell-shaped `outlet end of the casing 5 is enclosed by a iiat spray member or disc 11 having an upturned annular flange 12 for threaded engagement with the casing outlet S, as shown. The spray disc 11 is provided with a multiplicity of spray jet discharge orifices or openings 13 dispersed throughout its surface, as clearly seen in Fig. 3. Also arranged in the spray member 11 is a series of drain openings 14 spaced in a circular manner around the outside of the group of spray orifices 13. These drain openings 14 are fewer in number but relatively larger in diameter than the group of spray orifices 13.

A ring-shaped sealing member 15 is clamped between the spray disc 11 and the edge of the casing 5 and serves to prevent leakage outward through the threaded flange 12. The sealing member 15 is provided with a series of openings 16 which are arranged in direct alignment with the drain openings 14 in spray disc 11, and in order to maintain this axial alignment when assembled, a recess in the spray disc 11 and a cooperating small projection 17 on the member 15, are provided as seen in Fig. 3.

A pressure member or piston 20 is arranged for free reciprocating movement within the casing 5 and divides the same into an upper pressure chamber 21 and a lower discharge chamber 22. The piston 20 is made relatively light in weight and cup-shaped and has -a series of water passages 23 extending therethrough. The piston also has a dependent anged portion 24, the edge of which is adapted to slide along the inner walls 25 of the casing` 5 when the piston is moved. The total area of all the water passages 23 in piston 20 is somewhat less than the area of the inlet water supply passage in ball-joint 6 in order that pressure may be built up within pressure chamber 21. The water passages 23, however, have a total area somewhat larger than the total area of' all the spray discharge openings 13 in order that no appreciable back pressure can buil-d up in discharge chamber 22 to impede the movement of piston 20.

In order to buige In order to guide and support the piston 2'0 in its movements, a supporting stem 26 is provided which is threaded at one end into a blind boss 27, formed vaxially in the rear side of spray disc 11. The stem 26 has a head portion on its other end serving as a stop to limit the upward stroke of the piston 20. The piston 20 is normally held in its normal retracted position as shown in Fig. l by a compression spring 28 encircling the supporting stem 26 and extending between the bottom surface of piston 20 and the top side of spray disc 11.

.lt will be noted in Fig. l that when no water is owing through the shower head, the interior of the casing 5 is entirely exposed to the atmosphere, thereby completely drying out the head and eliminating the possibility of formation of lime deposits. In addition, since the drain openings 14 are also normally wide opens, all residual water can instantly drain out of the head and no subsequent dribble takes place. Sediment will be readily iiushed out of the large drain openings 14 rather than become lodged in the relatively smaller spray discharge orifices 13 and any water lodged above the piston 20 passes out through the passages 23 or around the edge portion of `the piston flange 24 if the same is trapped against -the casing walls 25; the sliding iit between ange 24 and the casing walls being loose enough -to prevent sticking of the piston 20.

It is to be particularly noted that the surface ,of ange portion 24 of piston 20 is` of such a width that when it comes in contact with the rubber sealing member 15, as seen in Fig. 2, it completely covers and seals off the drainA openings 16 in the sealing member and therefore the openings 14 in the spray disc 11, so that no leakage can occur through the drain openings when the water is turned on and the shower head in use.

Assume now that water is turned on in the shower head for the bather to shower himself, and with the proper water temperature selected by the control valve usually supplied with the shower head and the rate of ow adjusted by the throttle 8, inlet water dow occurs through the inlet supply connection 7. The water llows into the opening in ball joint connection 6 and the interior of the casing into pressure chamber 21, as illustrated in Fig. 2. As pressure builds up in chamber 21, the piston 20 is immediately forced downward until the flange portion 24 engages the'top of sealing member 15, as shown in Fig. 2, when the movement is stopped.

During the initial movement of the piston 2i), any sediment lodged in the shower head from its previous use is immediately expelled through the drain openings 14. The piston flange 24 makes tight sealing contact with sealing member and completely seals off each of the individual drain openings 14, thereby preventing the water from owing out through these drain openings. This tight seal will prevail regardless of any low or fluctuating water pressures on the piston 2t). Leakage is likewise prevented through the threaded connection between the body S and ange 12 by the Vsealing ring 15. All the water, therefore, ilows into the discharge chamber 22 below the piston 20, after which it passes out of the spray discharge openings 13 in the form of a spray. Since the individual jets are interspersed throughout most of the outer surface of the spray disc 11, complete coverage of the body of the bather is provided throughout the whole cross-sectional area of the spray discharge. As a further result of the movement of piston 20, the restoring spring 2S is compressed storing energy therein.

The movement of the piston 2t) is reliably guided by the engagement of the flange portion 24 with the side walls 2S of the casing 5, as well as by the supporting bolt 25, which extends axially through the piston. This double guiding action precludes the possibility of the piston becoming wedged or4 canted in the casing for any reason.

When the water through the shower head is shut off at the control valve, the pressure on the piston is relieved and .due to the stored up energy in spring 2S, it is immediately retracted and restored to its uppermost position, as shown in Fig. l. This action opens the drain openings 14, permitting all of the water within the shower head to immediately drain out of the head. Since the shower head is customarily supported at an angle in the tub or shower stall, as shown, the bottom-most drain holes 14 serve as drain openings and any large foreign particles in the head carried along by the water will immediately be hushed out through these openings. At the same time air is admitted to the uppermost drain openings 14 to further assist in equalizing pressures in the head to lrelease any entrapped water. Additional water remaining above the piston 2i), in chamber 21, drains out through the water passages 23, and should any be trapped around the iiange portion 24, this will escape due to the loose fit between the ange and the piston walls 25.

A further result of the retraction 0f the piston is the creation of a suction effect on the rear side of the spray openings 13 by the piston, which tends to suck inward any residual water remaining in the spray openings, so that it can run out of the drain openings 14 and not remain as byv capillary action within the spray openings 13,

i where it could dry up, eventually depositing any lime carried along by the water and clogging the spray openings.

Referring now particularly to Fig. 4, `a slight modcation is disclosed in which the blocking off of the drain openinvs is performed in a slightly different manner. The casing 5 is provided with an undercut portion 30, at its outlet end, which is closed by the spray disc 11 having groups of spray discharge openings 13 surrounded by the drain openings 14. In addition, the spray disc 11 has a portion 31 arranged between the circular row of drain openings 14 and the first row of spray openings 13, which portion 31 is contacted by the rubber ring 32, molded in the edge of downwardly projecting ange 24, formed in piston 2d. Upon downward movement of the piston 20, the rubber ring 32 will contact the rear portion 31 of the spray disc and completely block off drain openings 14 from the water ilow and cause it to issue only from the spray discharge openings 13. Upon cessation of waterdow, 'thc piston Ztl retracts, permitting complete drainage of the interior of the shower head casing through the drain openings 14 in the manner heretofore described and pointed out in connection with Fig. 1.

Referring now particularly to the modification illustrated in Fig. 5, the drain openings here are arranged in the side of the casing 5 rather than in the bottom of the spray disc. The spray disc 11 is recessed in a ledge 39, formed on the outlet end of casing 5, and is supported by the head of supporting screw 40, which in turn is threaded into a bridge member 41 arranged across the inlet end of the casing 5 and which bridge member is provided with ,a series of water passageways 42. This supporting screw 40 securely holds the spray disc 11 in position, and in order to prevent leakage outwardly from the shower head, the sealing member 15 is clamped between the disc and the edge of the shower head, as shown. The lower end portion of casing 5 is provided with a series of drain openings 43, extending outwardly from the interior of the casing and at right angles to the spray discharge openings 13. lt is clear that when water ows into the casing and piston 2t) is projected downward against the tension of spring 2S, the flange portion 24 makes contact with the sealing member 15, thereby completely blocking the drain openings 43 from egress of the water from the interior of the shower head, while permitting full flow through the spray openings 13. Upon Vcessation of water iiow, the piston 20 retracts, opening up the interior of the shower head to permit complete drainage through the drain openings 43. Atmospheric pressure likewise enters the openings 43, as well as spray openings 13, completely draining out the interior of the head to preclude the formation of lime deposits when the water dries up.

In the modification shown in Fig. 6, the construction and operation generally is the same as that illustrated in the preferred modification, Fig. l, with the exception that the supporting stem 45 is arranged with a threaded nut 46 on top of the piston 20, and has a knurled head portion 47 on its other end on the bottom of spray disc 11. This arrangement enables the piston 20 to be manually moved up or downwardly by grasping the head 47 to free the piston in the unlikely event it might become jammed or tilted for some reason.

While only a preferred and several modified forms of the invention have been illustrated, it will be obvious that many minor variations of these forms of the invention may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention .and the same therefore is not to be limited to the precise disclosures but only to the extent of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. In an automatically self-cleaning shower head, a

openings arranged around the edge portion of said disc and surrounding said spray discharge orifices, and automatic means responsive to water fiow into said casing for completely closing ofi only said drain openings from water fiow and for opening them when water flow ceases, said spray discharge oritices remaining open during the closing and opening of said drain openings by said automatic means.

2. In an automatically self-cleaning shower head, a casing having a fixed spray disc provided with a plurality of spray discharge orifices dispersed throughout its surface and a plurality of drain openings larger than said spray discharge orices arranged around the edge portion of said disc and surrounding said spray discharge orifices, and automatic means in said casing responsive to water flow into said casing for completely closing said drain openings to cause all water flow to take place only through said spray discharge orifices, and for opening said drain openings when water flow ceases for causing all residual water in said casing to drain out of said larger drain openings.

3. In an automatically self-cleaning shower head, a casing having a Water supply inlet and an outlet, a circular spray member arranged across said outlet having a plurality of spray discharge orifices extending therethrough, said spray member also having a plurality of drain openings extending therethrough and arranged adjacent the periphery of said spray member and encircling said spray discharge orifices, a movable piston in said casing having water passage openings therein and movable in response to water fiow through said casing, a skirt portion on said piston adapted to completely close said drain openings when said piston is moved to direct all Water iiow through said spray orifices to produce a spray discharge therefrom, means for restoring said piston when water flow ceases, said piston skirt portion thereby opening said drain openings to permit complete drainage of residual water in said casing and enable air to enter the same and dry out said casing.

4. in an automatically self-cleaning shower head, a casing having a water supply inlet and an outlet, a circular spray member arranged across said outlet having a plurality of spray discharge orifices extending therethrough, said spray member also having a plurality of drain openings therethrough arranged adjacent said spray discharge orifices, a movable piston in said casing having water passages therein and movable responsive to water flow through said casing, a skirt portion on said piston adapted to completely block ofi said drain openings when said piston is moved and to force all water fiow to take place through said spray orifices only to produce a spray discharge therefrom, sealing means around said drain openings engaged by said piston skirt portion to insure complete closing of said drain openings, means for restoring said piston when water flow ceases, whereby said skirt portion opens said drain openings to permit draining the interior of said casing, said piston upon restoring also having a suction effect upon the rear of said spray member to cause residual water remaining in said spray orifices to be drawn into the interior of said casing and to be drained out through said drain openings.

5. In an automatically self-cleaning shower head, a casing having a water supply inlet and an outlet, a spray disc arranged across said casing outlet having a plurality of spray discharge orifices therein, said spray disc also having a plurality of drain openings therein which are larger than said spray discharge orifices, a supporting stern extending axially of said casing and attached to said spray disc, a movable piston in said casing having Water passages therein and having means movable responsive to water flow into said shower head for completely closing off only said drain openings, and causing all water flow to take place through said spray discharge orifices only, sealing means on said spray disc around each of said drain openings and engaged by said piston movable means for insuring complete closure of said drain openings, said supporting stem extending axially through said piston and guiding the piston in its movement, and a spring encircling said supporting stem and arranged between said spray disc and said piston for restoring said piston after water flow has ceased and said piston means has uncovered said drain openings, said supporting stem having a head portion for limiting the restoring movement of said piston.

6. In an automatically self-cleaning shower head, a casing having a water supply inlet and an outlet, a spray disc arranged across said casing outlet having a plurality of spray discharge orifices dispersed throughout its surface, said spray disc also having a plurality of separate drain openings therein which are larger than said spray discharge orifices, a supporting stem extending axially of said casing for removably supporting said spray disc on said casing outlet, a movable piston in said casing having water passages therein and a skirt portion slidable along said casing walls, said supporting stem extending axially through said piston for guiding the same, said piston movable responsive to water fiow into said casing for causing said skirt portion to completely close said drain openings and cause all water ow to take place through said spray discharge orifices only, a spring surrounding said supporting stem and extending between said piston and said spray disc for restoring said piston and opening said drain openings when water flow stops, and sealing means on said spray disc adjacent said drain opening engaged by said piston skirt portion for preventing leakage from said drain openings when water is passing through said spray discharge orifices.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,727,784 Hansen Dec. 20, 1955

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