WO2021023248A1

WO2021023248A1 - Anti-freezing shower faucet and sanitary product including the same

Info

Publication number: WO2021023248A1
Application number: PCT/CN2020/107281
Authority: WO
Inventors: Zhihong Jin
Original assignee: Ems-Chemie (Suzhou) Ltd.
Priority date: 2019-08-06
Filing date: 2020-08-06
Publication date: 2021-02-11

Abstract

An anti-freezing shower faucet uses a water diverter valve (core) (6) to control an upper outlet and a lower outlet. Through the combined action of a sealing rod (4), a transmission device and a water diverter valve (core) (6), three functional positions are provided during the rotation of the water diverter valve (core) (6). When the shower faucet is at the cold and hot water inlets closed functional positions Po. 3, the cold water inlet and the hot water inlet are closed by the sealing rod (4), the upper and lower outlets of the water diverter valve (core) (6) are opened and in communication with each other through an inner passage of the water diverter valve (core) (6), and the water remained in the shower faucet is drained under an action of gravity.

Description

ANTI-FREEZING SHOWER FAUCET AND SANITARY PRODUCT INCLUDING THE SAME

This application claims the priority of a Chinese patent application No. 201910723550.9 filed with the China National Intellectual Property Administration on August 6, 2019, entitled "ANTI-FREEZING SHOWER FAUCET" , the entire content of which is incorporated in this application by reference.

FIELD

The present application relates to the field of sanitary wares, and in particular to an anti-freezing shower faucet and a sanitary product including the same.

BACKGROUND

At present, the shower faucet is a commonly used sanitary product in people’s daily life. The shower faucet not only can provide a stream of water for simple bathing, but also can adjust the quantity and temperature of the water, thereby improving the comfort of bathing. The existing shower faucet is generally made of brass and/or engineering plastic, which is generally not anti-freezing. If the temperature is below -10 degrees Celsius, the shower faucet would typically suffer from cracking due to freezing.

Although there are anti-freezing shower faucets on the market, the actual anti-freezing effect is not good, and the shower faucet is still prone to freeze cracking. Some manufacturers even have to compensate consumers due to the freeze cracking of the shower faucet. As people’s demands become higher and higher, people look forward to a shower faucet capable of withstanding a freezing temperature of -20 degrees Celsius and even -40 degrees Celsius without freeze cracking.

The inventor found that the main reason why the shower faucet is prone to freeze cracking is that there is water left in the shower faucet. At present, a water mixing valve (core) is commonly used in the shower faucet to control an upper outlet and a lower outlet, but the disadvantage of the water mixing valve is that the upper outlet and the lower outlet are closed when the cold water inlet and the hot water inlet are closed, such that the water remained in the shower faucet cannot be drained.

In other fields, such as the solar water heater and the like, in the prior art such as disclosed by the patent of CN102168889A, an anti-freezing switch arranged in the solar water heater is provided. When the anti-freezing is required, a drain switch is turned on, and the water flows back under its own gravity. At this time, an air intake valve is opened to replenish the air to completely drain the water in an upper water pipe. When using water, the pull switch is then turned. However, the structure thereof is complicated. If this burdensome arrangement is used in the shower faucet, the shower faucet will be very inconvenient for use. Besides, there are too many accessories, which is not desirable for commercial sale and mounting of the anti-freezing shower faucet.

Therefore, an anti-freezing shower faucet which can solve the above problems existed in the related technology in the field needs to be provided.

BRIEF SUMMARY

At present, there is no technology that controls the upper outlet and the lower outlet by providing a water diverter valve (core) in the shower faucet. Upon extensive study, the inventor unexpectedly found that, in a case that the water diverter valve (core) is used to control the upper outlet and the lower outlet, the water diverter valve (core) can further be used as a drainage device to drain the water remained in the shower faucet.

That is, in a case that the water diverter valve (core) is turned to a position where the upper outlet is opened and the lower outlet is closed, the shower faucet can be in an upper water supply working mode; in a case that the water diverter valve (core) is turned to a position where the lower outlet is opened and the upper outlet is closed, the shower faucet can be in a lower water supply working mode; and in a case that the water diverter valve (core) is turned to a position between the two positions (for example, a position in the middle of the two positions) , the upper and lower outlets are in communication with each other by an inner passage of the water diverter valve (core) , and the water diverter valve (core) functions to drain the water remained in the shower faucet, thereby effectively preventing the shower faucet from freeze cracking. This cannot be implemented in the conventional technology by using the water mixing valve (core) to control the upper water outlet and the lower water outlet.

Therefore, an anti-freezing shower faucet is provided according to the present application, which includes a hot water inlet pipe, a cold water inlet pipe, an upper outlet and a lower outlet. In the anti-freezing shower faucet, a water diverter valve (core) is used to control the upper outlet and the lower outlet.

Preferably, the anti-freezing shower faucet further includes a switch for controlling a cold water inlet and a hot water inlet. When the switch for controlling the cold water inlet and the hot water inlet closes the cold water inlet and the hot water inlet, the water diverter valve (core) keeps the upper and lower outlets in an open state, and the upper and lower outlets are in communication with each other through an inner passage of the water diverter valve (core) .

Preferably, the switch for controlling the cold water inlet and the hot water inlet is a sealing rod.

Preferably, the anti-freezing shower faucet further includes a transmission device. The water diverter valve (core) drives the transmission device to rotate, and the transmission device accordingly drives the sealing rod to rotate. Three function positions are provided during the rotation of the water diverter valve (core) : an upper outlet activated functional position Po. 1, a lower outlet activated functional position Po. 2, and a cold and hot water inlets closed functional position Po. 3.

Preferably, the transmission device is a rotary transmission device or an electromagnetic transmission device.

Preferably, the rotation is a rotation at any angle between 0 degree and 180 degrees, such as 10 degrees, 20 degrees, 30 degrees, 40 degrees, 50 degrees, 60 degrees, 70 degrees, 80 degrees, 90 degrees, 100 degrees, 110 degrees, 120 degrees, 130 degrees, 140 degrees, 150 degrees, 160 degrees, 170 degrees and 180 degrees. The present application is not limited hereto. Other rotation angles such as 270 degrees and 360 degrees may also be acceptable in the present application.

Preferably, at the upper outlet activated functional position Po. 1, the water diverter valve (core) rotates the sealing rod to open the cold water inlet and the hot water inlet through the transmission device, the lower outlet is closed, and the upper outlet is opened. The cold water and the hot water enter through the cold water inlet and the hot water inlet respectively, and the water flows through the upper outlet after passing through a thermoregulation device.

Preferably, at the lower outlet activated functional position Po. 2, the water diverter valve (core) rotates the sealing rod to open the cold water inlet and the hot water inlet through the transmission device, the upper outlet is closed, and the lower outlet is opened. The cold water and the hot water enter through the cold water inlet and the hot water inlet respectively, and the water flows through the lower outlet after passing through the thermoregulation device.

Preferably, at the cold and hot water inlets closed functional position Po. 3, the water diverter valve (core) rotates the sealing rod to close the cold water inlet and the hot water inlet through the transmission device, and the upper and lower outlets are both in an opened state and in communication with each other through the inner passage of the water diverter valve (core) . The water remained in the shower faucet can be drained under an action of gravity.

Preferably, the transmission device is located on one side of the sealing rod.

Preferably, the rotary transmission device is a transmission gear.

Preferably, the main body of the shower faucet is made of plastic or copper.

Preferably, the thermoregulation device is a thermostatic valve (core) , a water mixing valve (core) or another water diverter valve (core) .

Preferably, the sealing rod includes two O-shaped sealing rings.

Preferably, a distance between the hot water inlet pipe and the cold water inlet pipe is greater than 100mm and less than 300mm.

Preferably, the distance between the hot water inlet pipe and the cold water inlet pipe is 150mm.

Preferably, the hot water inlet pipe and the cold water inlet pipe are connected with a wall, and a distance between the main body and the wall is greater than 30mm and less than 100mm.

Preferably, the distance between the main body and the wall is 60mm.

A usage of the aforementioned anti-freezing shower faucet for anti-freezing is further provided according to the present application.

The anti-freezing shower faucet in the present application has a simple structure and can easily realize the draining of the residual water, thereby realizing the anti-freezing effect. Moreover, the shower faucet in the present application has a wide range of applications. If the main body is made of plastic, the cost is lower and the commercial value is enhanced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings described herein are only for illustration, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present application in any way. The drawings are not drawn to scale, and some features may be scaled up or down to show details of a particular member.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a shower faucet according to an embodiment of the present application;

Figure 2 is a front view of the shower faucet according to the embodiment of the present application;

Figure 3-1 is a top view a of the shower faucet according to the embodiment of the present application;

Figure 3-2 is a top view b of the shower faucet according to the embodiment of the present application;

Figure 4 is a schematic view of a sealing rod according to the embodiment of the present application;

Figure 5 is a schematic view of a plastic main body according to the embodiment of the present application;

Figure 6 shows positions of the sealing rod and a water diverter valve (core) corresponding to functional positions Po. 1, Po. 2 and Po. 3 according to the embodiment of the present application;

Figure 7 is a working principle diagram of the functional position Po. 3 according to the embodiment of the present application;

Figure 8 is a working principle diagram of the functional position Po. 2 according to the embodiment of the present application;

Figure 9 is a working principle diagram of the functional position Po. 1 according to the embodiment of the present application;

Figure 10 is a schematic view showing the installation of the shower faucet according to the embodiment of the present application; and

Figure 11 is a schematic view showing the test connection of the shower faucet according to the embodiment of the present application.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The terminology used herein is for describing particular embodiments and is not intended to limit the present application. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the singular forms used herein are intended to include the plural forms. It will be appreciated that, the term “include” specifically refers to a certain feature, field, integer, step, action, element and/or ingredient, and does not exclude the existence or addition of another feature, field, integer, step, action, element, ingredient and/or combination thereof.

Although not otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by those skilled in the art. Terms defined in the dictionary should be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with the relevant technical literature and the content disclosed in this application, and should not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense.

The embodiments of the present application are described in detail with reference to the drawings below, so that those skilled in the art can easily embody the present application. The present application can be embodied in various ways and is not limited to the following embodiments.

The basic structure of the shower faucet according to an embodiment of the present application is described below with reference to Figures 1 to 11.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, an anti-freezing shower faucet includes a hot water inlet pipe 2, a cold water inlet pipe 3, a sealing rod 4, a transmission gear 5 and a water diverter valve (core) 6, an upper outlet and a lower outlet. The hot water inlet pipe and the cold water inlet pipe are connected with the wall. By providing the sealing rod 4, the transmission gear 5 and the water diverter valve (core) 6, which are related to each other in the shower faucet, the problem of water being left in the shower faucet can be solved.

As shown in Figure 3-1, in the anti-freezing shower faucet, the sealing rod 4 is connected with the transmission gear 5, the water diverter valve (core) 6 is configured to control the opening and closing of the upper outlet and the lower outlet, the transmission gear 5 is configured to drive the water diverter valve (core) 6 to rotate, and the transmission gear 5 is further configured to drive the sealing rod 4 to rotate. The shower faucet further includes a thermostatic valve (core) 7.

As shown in Figure 3-2 and Figure 5, the shower faucet has a plastic main body 8. The cost can be reduced and the anti-freezing performance of the shower faucet can be maintained at a high level by choosing an appropriate main body material.

As shown in Figure 4, the sealing rod 4 includes two O-shaped rings corresponding to a hot water inlet and a cold water inlet respectively. One end of the sealing rod 4 is connected to the transmission device, and another end thereof is connected to the thermostatic valve (core) 7. With this arrangement, the opening and closing of the sealing rod 4 can be adjusted by the rotation of the transmission device, thereby affecting the opening and closing of the hot water inlet and the cold water inlet.

As shown in Figure 6, three functional positions are provided during 180° rotation of the water diverter valve (core) : an upper outlet activated functional position Po. 1, a lower outlet activated functional position Po. 2, and a cold and hot water inlets closed functional position Po. 3.

As shown in Figure 7, a working principle of the anti-freezing shower faucet at the functional position Po. 3 is as follows: the sealing rod 4 is rotated to a position where the cold water inlet and the hot water inlet are closed, the cold water and the hot water cannot enter the thermostatic valve (core) 7, the water diverter valve (core) 6 enables the upper and lower outlets to be in an opened state, and the water remained in the shower faucet can be drained under an action of gravity. Thereby, the anti-freezing of the shower faucet is achieved in a case that the main body structure thereof is made of plastic or copper. Specifically, the water remained in the cold water pipe and the hot water pipe and the water remained in the upper outlet will be drained from the lower outlet through an inner passage under the action of gravity. The dotted arrows in the figure indicate the direction of the internal water flow.

As shown in Figure 8, a working principle of the anti-freezing shower faucet at the functional position Po. 2 is as follows: the sealing rod is rotated to a position where the cold water inlet and the hot water inlet are opened, the upper water outlet is closed, the lower water outlet is opened, and after the cold water inlet and the hot water inlet are opened, the water flows through the lower water outlet after the hot water and the cold water pass through the thermostatic valve (core) 7. Specifically, the cold water in the cold water pipe and the hot water in the hot water pipe are mixed in the thermostatic valve (core) 7 and are conveyed to the lower water outlet through the inner passage, so that the shower faucet is in a lower water supply mode. The dotted arrows in the figure indicate the direction of the internal water flow.

As shown in Figure 9, a working principle of the anti-freezing shower faucet at the functional position Po. 1 is as follows: the sealing rod is rotated to a position where the cold water inlet and the hot water inlet are opened, the lower water outlet is closed, the upper water outlet is opened, and after the cold water inlet and the hot water inlet are opened, the water flows through the upper water outlet after the hot water and the cold water pass through the thermostatic valve (core) 7. Specifically, the cold water in the cold water pipe and the hot water in the hot water pipe are mixed in the thermostatic valve (core) 7 and are conveyed to the upper water outlet through the inner passage, so that the shower faucet is in an upper water supply mode. The dotted arrows in the figure indicate the direction of the internal water flow.

As shown in Figures 10 and 11, the installation of the anti-freezing shower faucet is the same as the installation of a general shower faucet, which can meet the installation requirement of the conventional shower faucet. A distance between the hot water inlet pipe and the cold water inlet pipe is greater than 100mm and less than 300mm. Preferably, the distance is 150mm. A distance between the plastic main body or the copper main body and the wall is greater than 30mm and less than 100mm. Preferably, the distance is 60mm. Hot water and cold water enter through the water inlets connected to the wall 1. The internal O-shaped rings can control the entry of the hot water and the cold water by the cooperation of the sealing rod 4, the transmission device and the water diverter valve (core) 6. The water diverter valve (core) 6 can control the opening and closing and the communication of the upper and lower water outlets, which thereby easily realizes the use mode and the residual water draining mode of the shower faucet.

Although various embodiments of the present application have been described in detail herein, it will be appreciated that, the present application is not limited to the specific embodiments described and illustrated in detail herein, and other variations and modifications may be implemented by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present application. All these variations and modifications shall fall into the scope of the present application.

Claims

An anti-freezing shower faucet, comprising a hot water inlet pipe, a cold water inlet pipe, an upper outlet, a lower outlet, and a switch configured to control a cold water inlet and a hot water inlet,

wherein a water diverter valve (core) is configured to control the upper outlet and the lower outlet;

when the switch for controlling the cold water inlet and the hot water inlet closes the cold water inlet and the hot water inlet, the water diverter valve (core) keeps the upper and lower outlets in an open state, and the upper and lower outlets are in communication with each other through an inner passage of the water diverter valve (core) .
The anti-freezing shower faucet according to claim 1, wherein the switch for controlling the cold water inlet and the hot water inlet is a sealing rod.
The anti-freezing shower faucet according to claim 2, further comprising a transmission device, wherein,

the water diverter valve (core) is configured to drive the transmission device to rotate, and the transmission device accordingly is configured to drive the sealing rod to rotate; and

three functional positions are provided during rotation of the water diverter valve (core) : an upper outlet activated functional position Po. 1, a lower outlet activated functional position Po.2, and a cold and hot water inlets closed functional position Po. 3.
The anti-freezing shower faucet according to claim 3, wherein the transmission device is a rotary transmission device or an electromagnetic transmission device.
The anti-freezing shower faucet according to claim 3, wherein the rotation is a rotation at any angle between 0 degree and 180 degrees.
The anti-freezing shower faucet according to claim 3, wherein, at the upper outlet activated functional position Po. 1, the water diverter valve (core) rotates the sealing rod to open the cold water inlet and the hot water inlet through the transmission device, the lower outlet is closed, the upper outlet is opened, cold water and hot water enter through the cold water inlet and the hot water inlet respectively, and the water flows through the upper outlet after passing through a thermoregulation device.
The anti-freezing shower faucet according to claim 3, wherein, at the lower outlet activated functional position Po. 2, the water diverter valve (core) rotates the sealing rod to open the cold water inlet and the hot water inlet through the transmission device, the upper outlet is closed, the lower outlet is opened, cold water and hot water enter through the cold water inlet and the hot water inlet respectively, and the water flows through the lower outlet after passing through a thermoregulation device.
The anti-freezing shower faucet according to claim 3, wherein, at the cold and hot water inlets closed functional position Po. 3, the water diverter valve (core) rotates the sealing rod to close the cold water inlet and the hot water inlet through the transmission device, the upper and lower outlets are both in an opened state and in communication with each other through the inner passage of the water diverter valve (core) , and the water remained in the shower faucet is drained under an action of gravity.
The anti-freezing shower faucet according to claim 3, wherein the transmission device is located on one side of the sealing rod.
The anti-freezing shower faucet according to claim 4, the rotary transmission device is a transmission gear.
The anti-freezing shower faucet according to claim 1, the main body of the shower faucet is made of plastic or copper.
The anti-freezing shower faucet according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the thermoregulation device is a thermostatic valve (core) , a water mixing valve (core) or a water diverter valve (core) .
The anti-freezing shower faucet according to claim 2, wherein the sealing rod comprises two O-shaped sealing rings.
The anti-freezing shower faucet according to claim 1, wherein a distance between the hot water inlet pipe and the cold water inlet pipe is greater than 100mm and less than 300mm.
The anti-freezing shower faucet according to claim 14, wherein the distance between the hot water inlet pipe and the cold water inlet pipe is 150mm.
The anti-freezing shower faucet according to claim 11, wherein the hot water inlet pipe and the cold water inlet pipe are connected with a wall, and a distance between the main body and the wall is greater than 30mm and less than 100mm.
The anti-freezing shower faucet according to claim 16, wherein the distance between the main body and the wall is 60mm.
Use of the anti-freezing shower faucet according to anyone of claims 1 to 17 for antifreeze.
A sanitary product including the anti-freezing shower faucet according to anyone of claims 1 to 17.