WO1998002250A1

WO1998002250A1 - Aerating arrangement primarily for a shower head

Info

Publication number: WO1998002250A1
Application number: PCT/GB1997/001896
Authority: WO
Inventors: Christopher Samwell
Original assignee: Newteam Limited
Priority date: 1996-07-17
Filing date: 1997-07-15
Publication date: 1998-01-22
Also published as: GB9614979D0

Abstract

The aerating arrangement provides a water supply passageway member preferably in the form of an insert (2) received in the hollow handle (10) of a shower head (1). The bore (26) of the insert (2) is of forwardly increasing taper form and receives water directed into it by a nozzle (23) to provided a Venturi action. The resulting water flow velocity draws in air from inlets (27) for entrainment and diffusion with the water which issues from the spray head (11, 12) in substantially droplet form to provide a 'rain' effect. The insert (2) is shown having a fluid tight fit in the handle (10) and an annular space (21) communicates the air inlets (27) with an air inlet opening (17) in the handle (10). The opening (17) can be partially or fully closed by hand application to vary or stop the aeration, or by a closure member or ring (3) rotatble about the handle (10) and having an opening (37) movable into and out of register with the opening (17).

Description

Title - Aerating arrangement primarily for a shower head

The object of this invention is to provide a simple and effective aerating aπ-angement primarily in or for a shower head (especially in the form of a handset) but capable of use for other similar aerating purposes.

In the case of a shower head or handset the latter may be basically of single mode form or have a multi-mode action and a particular object of the invention is to enable a new mode having an aerated shower spray to be obtained of droplet form simulating natural rain.

According to this invention an aerating arrangement in or for a shower head or for other similar purposes is characterised by water supply passageway means having at least one air inlet thereto, the bore of the passageway means being formed whereby the velocity of the water flow draws in air from said inlet for entrainment and diffusion with the water flow so that the resulting aerated water spray issues in substantially droplet form from the shower head.

For effective action the passageway means preferably includes a taper or Venturi bore portion for obtaining a suitable velocity of water flow for said entrainment and diffusion of air therewith. Water supply may be directed by a nozzle into the passageway bore.

The aerating arrangement may be provided as an insert in or for a shower head such as in a handle of the latter.

Closure means is also preferably provided for selectively closing or varying the air inlet so that normal spray or aerated spray operation of the shower head can be obtained or whereby the aerated water spray from the latter can be varied. Additionally or alternatively the air inlet may include a non-return valve to prevent or minimise leakage therefrom or to enable the shower head to operate in an automatic manner as a single mode head for aerated water spray. Practical advantages in these and other respects will be apparent from the following description.

In the accompanying drawings the aerating arrangement is shown provided by way of example in a basically single mode type of shower handset in which:-

Figures 1 and 2 are axial plane sectional views respectively showing the arrangement in the aerated spray and non- aerated or normal spray modes.

Modifications of the arrangement are later described.

The handset 1 is shown consisting of the usual tubular handle 10 and actual showerhead 1 1 , the latter having a removable perforated face plate 12 for issue of the water spray. In this example the shower head 11 and face plate 12 are of simple single mode form but may be of a more developed multi-mode construction, e.g. incorporating an adjustable cartridge for obtaining alternative spray forms such as a "champagne" foam effect or a fine spray massaging action. Cleaning pin means may be also included for the face plate perforations 120. Thus a range of multiple functions can be provided.

For the purpose of this invention the handle 10 receives a tubular insert 2 with a fluidtight push fit by means of sealing rings 20. The rear end of the insert 2 is threaded at 28 for connection to a water supply hose. Alternatively, the rear end of the handle 10 may be similarly threaded for such connection. The insert 2 includes a rear water supply bore 22 directly communicating co-axially with a nozzle 23 of smaller bore 24 which bore is of forwardly reducing taper form. The water supply is axially directed by the nozzle 23 into a further larger bore portion 25 of the insert 2 having a forwardly increasing tapered bore 26 commencing a short distance beyond the nozzle 23.

Thus the arrangement of the nozzle 23 and tapered bore 26 has a Venturi action for obtaining a suitable water flow velocity which causes air to be drawn into the water flow through air inlet openings 27 shown diametrically opposed adjacent to the nozzle 23 and a short distance to the rear of its forward outlet end. The air inlets 27 communicate with an annular space 21 between the exterior of the insert 2 and the internal wall of the tubular handle 10, in which latter an outer air inlet opening 17 is provided communicating with the inlets 27 via the annular space 21.

Air drawn in through the inlets 17, 27 becomes entrained and diffused with the water flow through the taper bore 26 and the interrupting action of the air is such that the water issues from the spray plate perforations 120 in droplet form closely simulating natural rain. Practical tests have established that such action is most effectively obtained in providing a novel and appealing showering effect. As described below the rain effect can also be adjusted to suit individual requirements.

For reverting to the normal spray mode, a closure is provided and is shown in the form of a ring 3 rotatable about the handle 10 and over the air inlet 17. The ring has an air inlet opening 37 which can be moved into and out of register with the inlet 17 by a partial turn of the ring 3. Rotation of the latter may be limited to a sufficient extent for such opening and closing action.

The extent to which the inlet 17 is opened or closed can also be varied to in turn vary the rate of air entrainment in the water flow and hence vary the rain effect spray .

The ring 3 is shown located against axial movement in a reduced diameter part 15 of the handle 10 and against a retaining flange 29 of the insert 2. The ring 3 also has a fluidtight action by means of a sealing ring 31 recessed in an annular groove 13 in the handle 10 about the inlets 17, 37 at the interface between the ring 3 and the handle 10. Under most operating conditions the air flow through the inlets 37, 17, 27 is such as to prevent or largely minimise leakage of water back from the inlets during rain effect operation but, if necessary, a nonreturn valve (not

can be provided such as a ball acting internally against the inlet 17 or 27, which ball ma)' be spring loaded. Any other suitable form of non-return valve may be employed to permit air induction through the inlets but inhibit water leakage therefrom. In an alternative arrangement the closure or ring 3 can be omitted and only a non-return valve provided as necessary so that the handset 1 then only operates in a single rain effect mode in an automatic manner. However, particularly where the handset 1 is hand held in use as distinct from a mounted position, the holding hand can always be used to also close the inlet 17 for obtaining reversion to a normal non-aerated spray mode, as and when required.

The insert 2 enables the aerating arrangement to be conveniently provided in a handset 1 especially an existing design of handset e.g. for converting the latter to provide the rain effect mode. However, if desired, the arrangement can be incorporated in the structure of the handset. The insert 2 or incorporated arrangement may be at any suitable location in the handset 1 such as in or adjacent to the actual shower head 1 1.

Claims

1. An aerating arrangement in or for a shower head or for other similar purposes is characterised by water supply passageway means (2) having at least one air inlet (27) thereto, the bore (26) of the passageway means (2) being formed whereby the velocity of the water flow draws in air from said inlet or inlets (27) for entrainment and diffusion with the water flow so that the resulting aerating water spray issues in substantially droplet form from the shower head or the like (1,11).

2. An aerating arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the bore (26) of the passageway means (2) is of tapered or Venturi form for obtaining a suitable velocity of water flow for said entrainment and diffusion of air therewith from said air inlet or inlets (27).

3. An aerating arrangement according to claim 1 or 2 wherein a nozzle (23) is provided in the passageway means (2) for directing water supply into the bore (26)

4. An aerating arrangement according to claims 2 and 3 wherein the nozzle (23) extends adjacent the air inlet or inlets (27) for directing water supply into the tapered or Venturi form bore (26) which latter is of forwardly increasing taper form in a direction from the nozzle (23) in order to provide a Venturi or like action for obtaining a suitable water flow velocity through the bore (26) and said entrainment and diffusion of air therewith from said air inlet or inlets (27).

5. An aerating arrangement according to any of the preceding claims wherein the water supply passageway means (2) is in the form of an insert (2) in or for a shower head (1) such as in or for a hollow handle (10) of the latter.

6. An aerating arrangement according to claim 5 wherein, in position of use of the water supply passageway insert (2) in a shower head (1) or in a hollow handle (10) thereof, the air inlet or inlets (27) of the insert (2) communicate with an outer air inlet opening (17) in the shower head (1) or hollow handle (10).

7. An aerating arrangement according to claim 6 wherein the water supply passageway insert (2) is received in use in a fluid tight manner in the shower head (1) or in the hollow handle (10) thereof, space (21) between the insert (2) and the interior of the shower head (1 ) or handle (10) providing communication between the air inlet or inlets (27) and the outer air inlet opening (17).

8. An aerating arrangement according to any of the preceding claims wherein air supply to the said air inlet or inlets (27) of the water supply passageway means or insert (2) can be varied or closed off for varying or stopping air entrainment in the water supply in obtaining partial or full reversion to a normal or non-aerated water spray mode from the shower head or the like (1,11).

9. An aerating arrangement according to claim 6 or 7 and claim 8 wherein the air inlet opening (17) in the shower head (1) or in the hollow handle (10) thereof can be partially or fully closed by hand application against it and/or by an exterior closure member thereto operable on the shower head (1) or on the handle (10).

10. An aerating arrangement according to claim 9 wherein the closure member consists of a ring (3) rotatable about the shower head handle (10) and having an opening (37) which can be moved into and out of full or partial register with the air inlet opening (17) by a partial turn of the ring (3).