ITTO20000277A1 - SHOWER HEAD COMPLEX - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

of the Industrial Invention entitled:

SHOWER HEAD COMPLEX

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to groups or assemblies of shower heads and water aerators, and more particularly to groups or assemblies of shower heads having different combinations of continuous and pulsating sprays.

Background of the invention

Numerous shower head assemblies are known in the prior art which act in multifunctional ways. These groups provide fixed spray profiles in combination with massage effects produced by pulsing or swirling the water by the action of the shower head. The individual systems include:

(1) A removable, rotatable mounted selector disc in the selector housing. The selector disc has an inlet end facing the inlet end of the selector casing, and an outlet end opposite the inlet end of the selector disc. The shower head comprises a surface of the selector mounted in the casing of the selector, and a diffusion plate mounted inside the casing of the selector.

(2) A shower head assembly that allows the choice of different shapes of outlet jets, including a series of large diameter jets with a strong presence of bubbles when the water pressure is high, and a series of jets of smaller diameter with strong presence of bubbles when the water pressure is reduced, or a spray instead of the jet with bubbles.

(3) A shower head system powered by a hot water source that produces steam. A selectively controlled diverter is arranged inside the duct, which diverts the water coming from the source away from the shower head and through an outlet in the form of a nebulizer. The shower head comprises a turbine driven by a nozzle. Openings made on a flow direction plate, regulated by a control plate, feed the preset nozzles to change the force of the water distributed. The strength of the water varies according to the number of nozzles that are open.

Such systems have complicated internal components, which must be tightly joined together, are relatively expensive to manufacture, and due to the complexity of the components they often do not act in such a way as to completely prevent leaks during use. outlet of the shower head are often blocked by impurities, causing almost random spray patterns.

It is therefore desirable to have a shower unit which allows to eliminate the drawbacks of the prior art, both economically produced and durable in use, works effectively within a wide range of water pressures, allows the user to choose a regular and continuous spray, an air spray, a pulsating spray, and various combinations thereof, and having sufficient energy to produce better spray characteristics than conventional shower head assemblies.

It is desirable to have a shower head assembly equipped with components that are interchangeable with other assemblies, that the number of components is minimal, that the possibility of being interchangeable allows to reduce the number of spare parts required for repair purposes and that such an assembly permits various combinations of spray patterns, including jet spray, air spray, deflected spray, pulsed jet spray, and pulsed jet spray, while ensuring automatic cleaning characteristics. Summary of the invention

These requirements constitute the object of the preferred embodiments of shower head assemblies according to the present invention. The term "shower head" used up to now indicates any device which is fixed to a liquid supply conduit for a shower, conducted through an inlet pipe, which device forms a spray by modifying the profile of the fluid, and comprises (1) customary shower heads, (2) push-button shower heads and (3) aerator shower heads, low energy consumption.

In a first preferred embodiment of the shower head assembly according to the present invention, five plastic details are used in addition to an annular gasket (O-ring); these details comprise a stator, a rotor, a coupling, a pressure plate and a front plate, with openings being made in the pressure plate and in the front plate, so as to allow the flow to pass through them. Deviating surfaces on the front plate allow for a different set of flow profiles. Rotor rotation depends on the particular spray profile chosen. The stator includes a pair of stop flanges which engage and separate from the rotor. When the rotor is separated and can rotate freely, the passage of flow through the openings causes the rotor to rotate, creating a vortex. When the rotor is free to turn, the assembly formed by the rotor, the stator and the plate under pressure creates a pulsating action.

The spray profiles are formed outside the pressure chamber. The choice of the type of spray is made on more than one plane between the pressure plate and the front plate, and the choice of spray is made with water at atmospheric pressure. The spray profiles are produced by the deflection surfaces arranged on the front plate. Four main spray profiles are obtained: (1) an uninterrupted flow without pulsation, when the rotor is stationary; (2) a pulsed-free deflected flow in which the rotor is still stationary; (3) an uninterrupted pulsating flow in which the rotor turns; and (4) a pulsating diverted flow in which the rotor still turns.

In a second preferred embodiment of the shower head assembly according to the present invention, the assembly has only a pressure plate and a front plate, without the possibility of pulsation. A mechanism for obtaining alignment is preferably incorporated in the pressure plate and in the front plate, since in the absence of correct alignment the water flow becomes random. A retaining mechanism may also be employed. The front plate is identical to the front plate of the first preferred embodiment. Two spray patterns can be obtained: (1) uninterrupted non-pulsating flow; and (2) non-pulsating diverted flow.

The pressure chamber inside the irrigation unit arranged between the stator and the pressure plate must be separated from the spray selection chamber. Unlike conventional shower head assemblies, in which high pressure seals are required to provide the necessary seal, the shower head assembly according to the present invention only requires the seal separation of the pressure chamber from the selection chamber. splash.

Further embodiments comprise shower head assemblies similar to the first and second preferred embodiments, which include an automatic cleaning effect. Six self-cleaning pins are arranged perpendicular to the plane of a spring-wound wire. The circular spring rests within a circular slot formed in the pressure plate. Each of the six holes made in the pressure plate comprises a series of openings arranged around a central opening. The pins rest inside each central opening. When the relative position of the face plate is rotated around the assembly consisting of the springs and the pressure plate, when the spray types are chosen, the edges of the front plate forcefully push the pins to move them back and forth axially at the inside the central openings, giving rise to an automatic cleaning action. The pins move inside the holes due to the rotation of the same front plate of the shower, consequently resulting in an automatic cleaning action.

The advantages of the shower head assembly according to the present invention are manifold. These advantages include the fact that the spray profiles are formed outside the pressure chamber, and a noticeable decrease in the number of component parts, which reduces (looking for parts and the associated assembly time, reduces costs and simplifies The shower head assembly according to the present invention also provides crossed spray profiles, and allows to realize shower head assembly systems which provide different spray profiles with interchangeable component parts. Other profiled and calibrated holes obtained in the front plate allows you to choose from a large number of spray profiles with different spray characteristics Rotating and changing the alignment of the front plate with respect to the pressure plate changes the shapes of the holes and the number of possible selectable spray shapes.

In order to understand more fully the operation of the shower head assembly according to the present invention, reference is made to the following detailed description and to the attached drawings, in which the currently preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example. Since the invention can be employed in various forms without departing from the spirit of its most important features, it is readily understood that the drawings are provided for the purpose of illustration and description only, and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. invention.

Detailed description of the drawings

Figure 1 shows a perspective and exploded view of a first preferred embodiment of the shower head assembly according to the present invention, formed by a stator, a rotor, a coupling, an O-ring, a pressure plate and a front plate, fixed inside a shower head handle to be gripped by hand;

Figure 2A shows a perspective and exploded view of the surfaces of the clutch, rotor and stator of the shower head assembly of Figure 1, facing downstream of the flow, and Figure 2B shows an exploded perspective view of the surfaces of the clutch, of the rotor and of the stator according to Figure 2A, facing upstream of the flow;

Figure 3A shows a perspective view of the surface facing upstream of the flow of the clutch of the shower head assembly according to Figure 1, and Figure 3B shows a perspective view of the surface facing downstream of the flow of the clutch according to figure 3A;

Figure 4A shows a perspective view of the surface facing upstream of the pressure plate flow of the shower head assembly according to Figure 1, and Figure 4B shows a perspective view of the surface facing downstream of the pressure plate flow according to Figure 4A;

Figure 5A shows a perspective view of the upstream-facing surface of the flow of the front surface of the shower head assembly according to Figure 1, and Figure 5B shows a perspective view of the surface facing downstream of the flow of the front plate according to figure 5A;

Figure 6 shows an enlarged side view of a section of the assembly formed by the clutch, the pressure plate and the front plate according to Figure 1;

Figure 7A shows an external side view of the hand-gripping shower head assembly according to Figure 1;

Figure 7B shows a front view of the hand-gripping shower head assembly according to Figure 1;

Figure 8A shows a front view of the front plate of the shower head assembly according to Figure 7B, with the position of the base plate comprised between that of the deflected flow and that of the non-deflected flow with respect to the pressure plate; Figure 8B shows a front view of the hand-gripped shower head assembly according to Figure 8A; and Figure 8C shows a rear view of the hand-gripping shower head assembly according to Figure 8A;

figure 9 shows a perspective and exploded view of a second preferred embodiment of the shower head assembly according to the present invention, which comprises a shell, a stator, a rotor, a coupling, an O-ring, a plate under pressure and a front plate;

Figure 10A shows a side view of the shower head assembly according to the present invention, which is used in the fixed shower head assembly according to Figure 9, and Figure 10B shows a side and front view of a section of the shower head assembly. shower head according to Figure 10A;

Figure 11A shows a perspective view of the surface facing downstream of the flow of another preferred embodiment of the front plate of the shower head assembly according to the present invention, the front plate being provided with two possibilities for choosing the type of operation: spray with air and non-deflected spray; Figure 11B shows a perspective view of the upstream facing surface of the front plate of Figure 11A; and Figure 11C shows an enlarged detail view of one of the deflectors of the front plate of the shower head assembly according to Figure 11B;

Figure 12A shows a perspective view of the upstream facing surface of another preferred embodiment of the pressure plate of the shower head assembly according to the present invention, this preferred embodiment being provided for the use of an interchangeable front plate, and the front plate being illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B for a two-part shower head assembly; and Figure 12B shows a perspective view of the surface facing downstream of the flow of the pressure plate of Figure 12A;

Figure 13 shows an exploded perspective view of another preferred embodiment of the shower head assembly according to the present invention, with the shower head assembly according to Figure 1 comprising a self-cleaning ring which cleans the openings inside the pressure plate when the front plate is rotated relative to the pressure plate;

Figure 14 shows an exploded perspective view of another preferred embodiment of the shower head assembly according to the present invention, with the fixed two-part shower head assembly according to Figure 9, and with the self-cleaning ring illustrated in Figure 13;

figure 15 shows an enlarged and partial perspective view of the cooperating union between the self-cleaning ring and the pressure plate of figures 13 and 14; And

Figures 16A, 16B, 16C and 16D show enlarged views of the cooperating union between the front plate and the self-cleaning ring of Figures 13 and 14.

Detailed description of the preferred embodiments

Considering first of all the drawings, Figure 1 illustrates an overall view of the first preferred embodiment of the hand-gripping embodiment of the shower head assembly 10A according to the present invention. Figures 7A, 7B, 8A, 8B and 8C show further views of the hand grip shower head shell, and the enclosure 15A. The shower head assembly 10 according to the present invention comprises a stator 20, a rotor, 30, a coupling 40, an O-ring 50, a pressure plate 60 and a front plate 80.

The high pressure water enters from the rear end of the shower head shell according to the present invention, at a pressure between about 1.4 bar and 5.5 bar, with a maximum flow rate of 9.5 liters per minute at 5.5 bar. The water is pushed through the stator 20 and into the rotor 30, passing through the pressure plate 60, and is delivered through the front plate 80. The rotor 30, the O-ring 50 and the coupling 40 are inserted into the pressure plate 60. The stator 20 is snapped into the pressure plate 60, and the front plate 80 is snapped into the clutch. A shell 15A is used, to be held normally with the hand in a traditional way.

Reference is now made to Figures 2A and 2B, which illustrate the surfaces located downstream and upstream of the flow, respectively of the stator 20, of the rotor 30 and of the coupling 40. The water enters the shower head assembly 10 according to the present invention with a tangential direction through four passages 22 located equidistant to the periphery of the stator 20. This tangential flow generates a vortex in the pressure chamber located inside the shower head assembly, causing the rotor 30 to rotate.

The stator 20 is a flat circular disk. The stator 20 has a hub 21 arranged centrally with a hole 24 arranged in the center to house the stem of the clutch 40 through it. The stator 20 has eight spokes, the spokes 23 being spaced evenly and symmetrically around the stator hub 21. The spokes 23 extend from the stator hub 21 to the periphery of the stator 20. Four passages 22 of the stator are arranged on alternating spokes located on the distal half of each spoke 23. The passages 22 obtained at the periphery of the stator are defined and formed between a raised part in the shape of a flag of the practically flat surface of the stator 20, and the stator 20 has a portion sloping in the rear direction facing the shell 15A. In head contact with two of the opposite peripheral passages 22 of the stator, there is a pair of flanges 26 which normally extend to the plane of the stator 20. The flanges 26 extend from the surface 20A of the stator facing upstream of the flow, and engage in the inner surface of the shell 15A. This fixes the stator 20 with respect to the shell 15, thus preventing any rotation movement of the stator 20 when the pressurized water enters the shower head assembly and penetrates inside the shower head assembly 10 according to the present invention. The stator 20 remains engaged and fixed by the shell during all selectable types of spraying. The stator 20 also comprises a pair of stop ribs 28, which extend from the surface 20A of the stator facing downstream of the flow. The stop ribs 28 serve to engage the rotor 30, and to lock the rotation thereof when the rotor 30 is axially displaced in the direction facing upstream of the flow and towards the stator 20. The ribs 28 of the stator are arranged so such that, when the rotor 30 cannot rotate, the shoes 37 do not obstruct the flow through the peripheral passages 22 of the stator.

The rotor 30 has a circular shape with a hub 32 disposed centrally, and with an opening 33 disposed in the center of the hub 32 of the rotor. The hub 32 of the rotor has a protrusion 35 of generally tubular shape, which protrudes outwards from the rotor 30 and extends towards the stator 20. The tubular protrusion 35 engages inside the hub 25 of the stator. The rotor 30 is preferably provided with twelve blades 34 which extend from the hub 32 of the rotor to the periphery of the rotor, and the positioning of the blades 34 is symmetrical and with uniform distances. The vanes 34 develop according to the axial direction and are arranged in such a way, so that the water that penetrates through the passages 22 of the stator pushes the vanes 34 when the rotor 30 is released from the stator 20, causing its rotation movement. The vanes 34 are arranged substantially in a radial direction, except that they are slightly offset from the center of the rotor, simulating the shape of a spiral. The spiral shape reinforces the rotation. Two arcuate-shaped shoes 37, located opposite each other, extend circumferentially around the periphery of rotor 30, and each shoe 37 joins together four of the blades 34. The other blades 34 are not fixed to each other. .

When the rotor 30 turns, the pressurized water hits the shoes 37, interrupting the flow of water. When the pressurized water does not hit the pads 37, the flow is continuous. The sequence of an interrupted flow and an uninterrupted flow produces the pulsating effect. The two shoes 37 interrupt the flow of water through the shower head assembly 10 according to the present invention, causing the jets emitted to have different speeds, and therefore producing a "massage" effect. The shoes 37 have such a shape that when the rotor 30 engages in the stator 20, while the rotor is stationary, the shoes 37 are not in the path of the water flow, so that all the flow is practically continuous. By increasing or reducing the number of vanes 34 covered by each shoe 37, other pulsation profiles can be generated.

As shown in Figures 3A and 3B, the coupling 40 is formed by an element 42 in the shape of a stem. The graft surface 40A located upstream of the flow has a central portion which forms a central chamber. With a central position, and developed in the direction facing upstream of the flow, is the stem 42. The stem 42 has an internal part 42A of greater thickness, to facilitate the grip with the hub 32 of the rotor, and a thinner external part 42B , to facilitate gripping of the stator with the hub 21. A shoulder 44 is disposed between the inner portion 42A of the stem and the outer portion 42B of the stem. The shoulder 44 prevents axial displacement of the rotor 30. The rotor 30 moves axially with the clutch 40 on the inner part 42A of the stem. The stator 20 is fixed with respect to the shell 15A.

The rotor 30 is housed on the thicker inner part of the stem 42 of the clutch, and the stator 20 is housed on the thinner outer part 42A of the stem 42 of the clutch. In order to minimize the resting surface of the rotor 30 on the coupling 40, an internal passage 31 develops through the rotor 30 and conically tapers inwards, preferably on the edge facing upstream of the flow, which entails a smaller friction surface between the stem 42 of the clutch and the rotor 30.

The external periphery of the graft 40 is defined by a ring 48 which surrounds the central part 45 of the graft. The ring 48 is fixed to the central part 45 of the clutch by means of three radial spokes 46, and the radial spokes 46 of the clutch are regularly spaced with respect to the clutch 40. The inner half of each spoke 46 has a thickness of around approximately equal to three times the thickness of the outer half of each radius 46 of the graft, to improve strength. The graft spokes 46 divide the periphery of the graft into three external parts 47, and each perimeter part 47 extends over an arched sector of about 120 degrees. Each perimeter part 47 has a centrally disposed protuberance 50, the protuberance 50 having an extension less than a 45 ° sector of each perimeter part 47. The protrusions 50 provide elasticity to the coupling 40, and improve the secure grip of the coupling 40 with the pressure plate 60.

In a central position inside the surface 40B located downstream of the flow, there are a cavity 52 and an intermediate chamber 56. Three ribs 54 arranged at equal distance extend in a radial direction towards the outside between an internal tubular wall 53, the which defines the central cavity 52, and an outer tubular wall 55, which surrounds the intermediate chamber 56. The ribs 54 divide the intermediate chamber 56 into three parts, and each part forms an arcuate sector of about 120 degrees. Each of these parts is aligned with the three perimeter parts 47 of the graft 40.

When the clutch 40 has been housed inside the pressure plate 60, the clutch 40 moves axially inside the pressure plate 60 with the front plate 80, and this moves axially as a result of the manual choice of spray profiles. When the clutch 40 is again positioned axially towards the shell 15A, the rotor 30 is forced to engage with the pair of opposite stop ribs 28, located on two opposite blades 34 of the stator 20. This grip blocks the rotor 30 with respect to to the stator 20. When the clutch 40 moves axially downstream with the front plate 80, the rotor 30 also moves axially towards the front plate 80 on the shaft 42 of the clutch, separating the rotor 30 from the stator 20. This produces the passage of water at high pressure between the blades 34 located in the rotor 34, causing the rotation movement.

The axial force is controlled by the size of the O-ring 50 which seals the stem 45A of the coupling inside the hole made in the pressure plate 60. The dimensions of this O-ring 50 and the stem are determined by the dimensions necessary to transmit a torque between the front plate 80 and the stem 45A of the clutch.

Figure 4A shows the surface 60 of the pressure plate facing upstream of the flow, and Figure 4B shows the lower surface 60B of the pressure plate facing downstream of the flow. Surface 60A of the pressure plate facing upstream of the flow engages to cooperate with the surface 40B of the coupling facing downstream of the flow, and surface 60B of the pressure plate facing downstream of the flow engages to cooperate with the face plate surface 80A facing upstream of the flow.

The pressure plate 60 includes a central opening 64 to house the external tubular wall 55 of the graft. The wall 65 that defines the central opening 64 on the surface 60a of the pressure plate facing upstream of the flow has an inward and outward ramp. The internal part of the surface 60a of the pressure plate facing upstream of the flow is surrounded by a concentric cylindrical wall 66. The concentric wall 66 surrounds the ring 48 of the graft during gripping.

The opening wall 65 has an upward trend, with three inclined sectors 61a facing upwards, flat sectors 61b on the upper part, sectors 61c with a downward slope, and flat base sectors 61d. The length and inclination of the inclined sectors 61c facing upwards are equal to the length and inclination of the inclined sectors 61c facing downwards. The length of the upper flat sectors 61 b is equal to the length of the flat base sectors 61 d. The ramps 61 in the opening wall 65 separate the opening wall into six equal parts. Since the clutch 40 moves axially and rotates together with the front plate 80, the ramps 61 cooperatively engage with the perimeter parts 47 of the clutch. When the graft 40 is in an advanced position, the graft spokes 46 are aligned with the flat base sectors 61 d, and the ramps 61 engage inside the open perimeter parts 47 of the graft. When the graft 40 moves backwards towards the shell 15A, the ramps 61 are aligned with the spokes 46 of the graft that separate the perimeter parts 47 of the graft.

The middle part of the pressure plate 60 is divided into twelve pie-slice parts. Alternate portions include a series 72 of jet holes 73 which extend through the pressure plate 60. Each series 72 of jet holes 73 has a box shape. The series 72 of holes 73 for the jets are arranged on alternating parts. The openings are arranged in two groups of two, with an upper group aligned and arranged above the lower group. The other alternating parts have no holes for the jets. The external part of the surface 60A of the pressure plate facing upstream of the flow comprises a cavity 68 arranged in the circumferential direction, which is comprised between two annular flanges 67 and 69, to cooperate by engaging in the shell 15A of the shower head, which is gripped by hand.

The hub 62b of the surface 60b of the pressure plate on the side facing downstream of the flow comprises another series of three ramp sections 71 capable of engaging by cooperating with three ramp sections 81 formed on the surface 80a of the front plate facing upstream of the flow. Each of the ramps 71 located on the surface 60b of the pressure plate on the side facing downstream of the flow are out of phase and aligned with the ramps 61 located on the surface 60a of the pressure plate on the side facing upstream of the flow. The upper part 71b of each ramp 61 facing downstream of the flow is aligned with a spacer 61d of the ramp, disposed on the surface 60a of the pressure plate from the side facing upstream of the flow. The ramps 71 located on the surface 60b of the pressure plate on the side facing downstream of the flow have the same shape and configuration as the ramps 81 located on the surface 80a of the front plate on the side facing upstream of the flow, as will be explained below. The hub 62b of the pressure plate 60 and the hub 82 on the surface 80a of the front plate on the side facing upstream of the flow are each divided into six equal parts, which alternate comprising a ramp 71 or 81. The length of the upper and of the ramps of the clutch 40, the pressure plate 60 and the front plate 80 are each dimensioned in such a way that the front plate 80 and the clutch 40 move together freely in the correct axial position, as illustrated in the figures 3B, 4A, 4B and 5A. The relative position of the ramps 71 and 81 moves the front plate 80 axially with respect to the pressure plate 60 during the manual selection of the spray profiles. Furthermore, each ramp 71 and 81 includes a surface 71a and 81a provided with ramps facing upwards, and a surface 71c and 81c provided with ramps facing downwards. The length of each surface 71a and 81a provided with ramps facing upwards is equal and opposite to the inclination of the surfaces 71c and 81c provided with opposite ramps. The surface 60b of the pressure plate on the side facing downstream of the flow further comprises a cylindrical flange for housing the front plate 80.

The central opening 64 of the pressure plate 60 is surrounded by an annular sleeve 68. A plurality of platforms 43 are arranged in an arcuate pattern around the annular sleeve 68. The surface 60a of the pressure plate on the upstream side of the flow comprises a cavity 68 disposed between an external periphery 67 and an internal rib 69, as illustrated in Figure 4A. The cavity 68 allows the pressure plate 60 to be securely attached to the shell 15 of the shower head. The pressure plate 60 comprises a circular lip 70 which extends from the surface 60b of the pressure plate on the side facing downstream of the flow. Lip 70 is concentric with a central passage 63, and encloses the front plate 80.

The front plate 80 has a generally cylindrical shape, with a surface 80a facing upstream of the flow as illustrated in Figure 5A, and a generally flat surface 80b facing downstream of the flow, as illustrated in Figure 5B. The surface 80a of the front plate on the side facing upstream of the flow comprises a central shaft 84 which extends upstream towards the shell 15a of the shower head. The central shaft 84 of the front plate 80 is housed inside the central part of the coupling 40. Around the shaft there is a cylindrical wall provided with three notches 85. Each notch 85 is regularly spaced from the others Θ extends from from the flat surface 80a of the front plate facing upstream of the flow, to the distal end of the cylindrical wall. The notches 85 engage with the graft ribs 54 on the surface 40b facing downstream of the flow.

The central part of the flat surface 80a of the front plate facing upstream of the flow comprises three ramps 81, as has already been described, for engaging by cooperating with the ramps 71 located on the surface 60b of the pressure plate facing downstream of the flow.

The outer portion of the downstream face plate surface 80a includes twelve passages 92 all having the same size and shape, and each passage 92 is symmetrically spaced relative to the central stem along a common circumference. Six of the passages, 92a, are hollow and have no obstructions for undirected flow. The alternative passages 92b are divided into four equal quadrants by means of a pair of crossed parts 93. The outer periphery of the surface 80a of the front plate facing upstream of the flow is formed by a cylindrical flange 88 for fixing inside the plate in pressure 60. The downstream face plate surface 80b includes bubble-shaped convex deflection surfaces 98 which cover passages 92b. A deflected flow occurs when the bubble-shaped convex deflection surfaces 98 are aligned with the 72 series of jet holes formed in the pressure plate 60. Undirected flow occurs when the outlet passages 92a without deflection are aligned with the series of holes for the jets obtained in the pressure plate 60. A selector 99 for the spray profile extends radially towards the outside and then towards the rear starting from the periphery of the front plate 80. The selector 99 of the spray profile allows to firmly grasp the front plate 80 in order to reposition it with respect to the shell 15 for the choice of the spray profile. Since the contact of the jet striking the front plate 80 only occurs through the surfaces 98 of the bubble-shaped deflector, the front plate 80 only needs to be fixed to the stem 42 of the clutch with a snap fit made with a reduced force. .

The distance 81 d between each ramp and the adjacent one is sufficient to allow the ramps located on opposite surfaces to engage with each other during the selection of the spray profiles. The ramps allow: (a) the front plate 80 and the clutch 40 to move axially with respect to the pressure plate 60, and further (b) the rotor 30 to move axially with respect to the stator 20, engaging and separating alternately from the rotor 30. According to the incoming jet being projected alternately through the surfaces 98 of the bubble-shaped deflector and the deviation-free passages 92a of the front plate 80, and the rotor 30 engages and separates alternatively, four different profiles can be obtained of spray.

The pressure chamber is the area between the surface 60a of the pressure plate facing the flow and the shell 15a. The spray selection chamber is arranged between the surface 60b of the pressure plate facing downstream of the flow, and the surface 80a of the front plate facing upstream of the flow. The water enters the stator 20 at a pressure of between 0.8 and 1.2 bar, and exits the rotor 30 at a pressure of between 0.5 and 1 bar, and then the water leaves the plate under pressure 60 at atmospheric pressure. The coupling 40 acts as an adapter, so as to engage in the pressure chamber cooperating with the spray selection chamber. LO-ring 50 is arranged on the surface 40b of the coupling facing downstream of the flow, forming a seal between the pressure chamber and the spray selection chamber.

The pressure plate 60 is fixed to the shell and does not move either axially or rotationally with respect to the shell. Similarly, the stator 20 engages with the pressure plate 60 and does not move either axially or rotationally with respect to the shell. The front plate 80 is rotated relative to the shell during the manual selection of the spray profiles. During the rotation of the front plate 80 with respect to the pressure plate 60 for the selection of the spray profile, the front plate 80 moves inwards and outwards in an axial direction; a complete turn includes six positions facing inwards and six positions facing outwards. The front plate 80 moves axially with alternating selections of positions, and the profiles become A, A, B, B, A, A, B, B, A, A, B and B for each complete revolution. The series of holes formed in the pressure plate 60 are aligned with the surfaces of the bubble-shaped deflector, or with the passages arranged between the surfaces of the bubble-shaped deflector, so as to form a large number of spray profiles.

The preferred embodiment of the shower head assembly according to the present invention, as illustrated in Figures 1 to 8, comprises two positions with pulsating operation and two positions with non-pulsating operation. Since the front plate 80 is radially divided into twelve equal parts, the spray selection profile is repeated three times during one full revolution of the front plate 80.

When the spray profile selector 99 is rotated in order to choose a spray profile, the axial position of the rotor 30 moves forward and backward with respect to the stator 20, in the manner described above.

When the perimeter parts 47 of the coupling are aligned with the ramps 61 of the pressure plate, the ramps 61 engage in the perimeter areas 47, moving the coupling 40 forward with respect to the pressure plate 60, and moving the rotor 30 forward with respect to the stator 20. Forward movement of the rotor 30 with respect to the stator 20 removes the connection of the rotor 20 with the stator stop ribs 28. When the holes 73 for the jets made in the pressure plate 60 are aligned with the passages without deviation 92a made in the front plate 80, the jets of water continue to follow a straight and restricted flow profile (not deflected). By continuing the rotation of the front plate 80 relative to the shell 15, the surfaces 98 of the bubble-shaped deflector are brought into alignment with the holes 73 for the jets. This time, the water jets are diverted to a wider spray pattern. During the rotation of the rotor 30, the pressurized water entering through the peripheral passages 22 of the stator is stopped by antagonist shoes 37 of the outlet holes 73 of the jets from the plate 60. The rotation of the rotor 30 allows to obtain a type of jet deflected and pulsating, and a type of non-deflected and pulsating jet.

For operation in non-pulsating conditions, the front plate 80 is rotated again. The ramps 61 located on the surface 60a of the pressure plate facing upstream of the flow move to align with the spokes 46 of the coupling. This involves the rearward movement of the clutch 40, bringing the rotor 30 into contact with the stop ribs 28 of the stator. Such a connection blocks the rotor 30, allowing the jets of water to exit the shower head assembly 10 according to the present invention, with a continuous and uninterrupted spray profile. When the holes 73 for the jets formed in the pressure plate 60 are aligned with the passages without deviation 92a formed in the front plate 80, the jets of water continue to follow a straight and narrow flow profile without deviation. By continuing the rotation of the front plate 80 relative to the shell 15, the surfaces 98 of the bubble-shaped deflector are brought into alignment with the holes 73 for the jets. This time, the water jets have a relatively constant speed and are deflected to form a wider spray profile. Once again, the correct alignment is ensured by means of the retaining effect of the coupling 40 (which is snap coupled to the front plate 80) in the pressure plate 60.

The number of seals used in the shower irrigation assembly according to the present invention is independent of the number of spray profiles. Fewer seals result in fewer sealing surfaces. The pressure ranges used in the shower head assembly according to the present invention are particular, in that the pressure of the flow of water leaving the pressure plate 60 is practically atmospheric.

With reference now to Figure 9, an overall view of a second preferred embodiment of the shower head assembly 10b according to the present invention is illustrated. The shower head group 10b is a fixed unit mounted on a shell 15b. the shower head assembly comprises a stator 20, a rotor 30, a coupling 40, an O-ring 50, a pressure plate 60 and a front plate 80, all identical to the stator 20, the rotor 30, the coupling 40 , to the O-ring 50, to the pressure plate 60 and to the front plate 80 of the first preferred embodiment of the shower head assembly according to Figure 1. The shell 15b is practically the same as any traditional shell used for a group of fixed head. Figure 10A shows a side view of the shell and casing of the shower head of Figure 9, and Figure 10B shows a front sectional view of the shower head assembly according to Figure 10A.

The shell 15b is part of the permanent fastener which is welded to the pressure plate 60, and the shell 15b is fixed directly to the water connection device on the stationary unit shown in Figure 9. A bushing is screw fastened to the shell 15b. The shell further includes cross rods which divide the shower spray into equal quadrants (not shown). An attempt is made to avoid any welding in positions other than that of the main weld. In some cases, different materials are used, such as ABS or Acetal, in order to limit the surface to be welded. Alternatively, the rotor 30, the clutch 40 and the stator 20 are mounted on the pressure plate 60 and the shower head assembly according to the present invention is then welded to the shell. Then the front plate 80 is pushed onto the clutch 40 and this is firmly seated against the stator 20.

Figures 11A and 11B illustrate the downstream and upstream facing surfaces, respectively, of an alternative embodiment of a front plate 180 for use with the shower head assembly according to the present invention. This illustrated front plate 180 provides an aerated spray and an undirected spray. When used with a rotor and stator, pulsating modes of operation can also be selected. This front plate 180 is compatible with the pressure plate 60, the coupling 40, the rotor 30 and the stator 20, as well as with the shell of figure 1. The aerated flow has a pressure close to the atmospheric one. The passages 192b for the aerated flow are alternated with the passages 192a without deviation, and comprise an inlet head 196 arranged centrally and positioned on the surface 80a of the front plate facing upstream of the flow. As illustrated in Figure 11C, each inlet head 196 is surrounded by eight spokes 197 which extend radially from it. The inlet heads 196 and spokes 197 are incorporated in the flow passage 192b, and the spokes 197 do not rotate. The inlet head 196 has a dome shape. The water jets passing through the pressure plate 60 strike the inlet heads 196, breaking the water jets and drawing air into the flow passages 192b. The surface tension forces are sufficient to deflect the path of the water jets, so that they do not leave the inlet head 196, and remain adherent to the inlet head 196 of the upper surface. When adhering to a surface, the jets of water tend to remain adherent due to the forces of surface tension (Coanda effect). This occurs when a jet of water hits the convex surface of the inlet head 196, producing internal pressure forces which effectively drag the jets of water to the surface. The inlet heads 196 may be employed with the bubble-shaped surfaces 98 of the baffle in order to form a diverted and aerated flow. The inlet heads 196 may also be employed with the rotor 30 and the stator 20, in order to provide types of spray with a massage effect.

These jets of water are re-directed by the impact of the jets on different deflection surfaces disposed within the front plate 80. These deflection surfaces are positioned within alternating openings formed in the front plate 80. A detailed exploded view of a surface of a vented flap is shown in FIG. 11C. The air jets pass through an opening and are not deflected or hit a series of deflector surfaces and are redirected, consequently producing more different and less directed spray profiles. The choice of the spray profile is made by rotating the front plate 80 with respect to the pressure plate 60. The front plate 80 is "locked" and pressure-coupled on the coupling 40. The rotation of this assembly implies that the open hole or the surfaces of the deflector are aligned with the holes 73 for the jets.

Figures 12A and 12B illustrate another preferred embodiment of a pressure plate 260 for the shower head assembly according to the present invention. In this embodiment, the hub portion of the pressure plate 260 has been modified, eliminating the characteristics of the ramps 61 and 71, and including a central boss for housing the boss 84 of the front plate. This pressure plate 260 is compatible with the front plate 80 of FIG. 5 to form a two-part assembly. Since connection to the coupling is not required, it is not necessary to have a pressure seal, and ΙΌ-ring 50 can be eliminated. The assembly provides only two types of use: (1) non-deflected and non-pulsating spray ; and (2) deflected, non-pulsating spray. The choice of spray is made once again by rotating the front plate 80 with respect to the pressure plate 260. This allows the front plates and the pressure plates to be interchangeable with similar components in other assemblies, reducing the number of spare parts to be kept. in stock. A retaining member can be arranged between the front plate 80 and the pressure plate 260.

With reference now to figures 13, 14, 15, 16A, 16B, 16C and 16D, a new self-cleaning shower head assembly is illustrated. Figure 13 shows an overall view of a preferred embodiment with the shower head assembly of Figure 1, which includes a self-cleaning ring 110 which cleans the openings within the pressure plate 60 when the front plate 80 is rotated with respect to the previous one. Similarly, Figure 14 shows an overall view of the same self-cleaning ring 110 illustrated in Figure 13 with the shower head assembly according to Figure 9.

Six self-cleaning pins 103 are arranged perpendicularly to the plane of the ring 105 formed with a spring wire. The holes 173 for the jets now include a main central opening 173a with four minor openings 173b that intersect the central opening 173a (see Figure 16D). Each pin 103 of the ring 105 in spring wire is positioned within a central opening 173a. The pin 103 is used to move inside the holes 65 due to the rotation of the front surface 80 of the shower, with a consequent cleaning action.

When the relative position of the front plate 80 is rotated around the spring and shell assembly at the time of the choice of spray types, the edges of the front plate 80 forcibly push the pins 103 moving them back and forth in an axial inward direction. of the holes 173 for the jets. Both the hole 173 for the casting and the pin 103 have a tapered profile, and the upward movement of the pin 103 within the hole 173 for the casting results in the inner edge of each of the holes 173 for the casting being opened and traversed. from the stream.

Figure 15 shows an exploded view of the cooperating connection between the self-cleaning ring in spring wire and the pressure plate 60 of figures 13 and 14; and figures 16A, 16B, 16C and 16D show the exploded views of the cooperating connection between the front plate 80 and the self-cleaning ring of figures 13 and 14.

Although the self-cleaning embodiments have only been illustrated with the preferred embodiments of Figure 1 and Figure 9, one skilled in the art is able to readily recognize that these self-cleaning principles can be readily applied to all other embodiments. reproduced in the various figures. In addition to being applicable to hand-held or stationary shower heads, the principles of the present invention can also be applied to other types of showers, nozzles and sprayers, including those for garden sprinklers, dental showers and systems. of spray used in production and process control.

It is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations of the shower head assembly according to the present invention will be clear to one skilled in the art, based on the description made. It is to be understood that the scope of the present invention is determined by both the appended claims and the text of the preceding description, and that all alternatives, modifications and variations which may be equivalent from the point of view of joint cooperation are understood to be included in the spirit and in the scope of these claims.

Claims (32)

CLAIMS 1. Shower head assembly comprising a rotor, a stator, a coupling, a pressure plate and a front plate, the shower head assembly allowing to fix the housing of a shower head, characterized in that it includes: means for generating a non-pulsating and non-deflected spray profile when the rotor is in a fixed position and the orientation of the front plate with respect to the pressure plate is in a first position; means for generating a non-pulsating and deflected spray profile when the rotor is in a fixed position and the orientation of the front plate with respect to the pressure plate is in a second position; means for generating a pulsating, non-deflected spray pattern as the rotor rotates and the orientation of the front plate relative to the pressure plate is in a third position; And a means to generate a pulsating and deflected spray profile when the rotor rotates and the orientation of the front plate with respect to the pressure plate is in a fourth position. 2 . Shower head assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises a ring element which has a plurality of pins extending from it in an axial direction, and each pin extends through an outlet for the water, carrying out a self-cleaning action when the front plate is rotated with respect to the plate under pressure. 3. Shower head assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the shower head assembly comprises less than ten components. 4. Shower head assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that it also comprises a pressure chamber arranged upstream of the pressure plate, and the choice of the diverted or non-diverted flow is carried out downstream of the pressure chamber, with the pressure of the fluid substantially at the level of the atmospheric one. 5. Shower head assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a rotor, a stator, a coupling element and a pressure plate, the coupling element being arranged in the pressure chamber located upstream of the pressure plate, and that the clutch assembly moves in an axial direction during the choice of the spray profile, the shower head assembly being further characterized in that the axial movement of the clutch member in a first position produces the cooperative coupling between stator and the rotor, so as to prevent the rotor rotation movement with respect to the stator, and the subsequent axial movement of the coupling element in a second position allows the rotor to rotate freely with respect to the stator, with the consequence of having profiles of spray buttons. 6. Shower head assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that it further comprises a plurality of gaskets for the purpose of cooperatively connecting the pressure chamber with the spray selection chamber, and at least one of said plurality of gaskets is arranged between the pressure chamber and the chamber for the choice of sprays, and the number of seals is independent of the number of spray profiles. 7. Shower head assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that it further comprises a ring element provided with a plurality of pins which extend from it in the axial direction, and each pin extends through an outlet for the water to which it provides a self-cleaning action when the front plate is rotated with respect to the pressure plate. 8. Shower head assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that the choice of the diverted or non-diverted flow is made downstream of the pressure chamber with respect to the flow, when the pressure of the fluid is substantially equal to the atmospheric one. 9. Shower head assembly characterized in that it comprises: a pressure plate provided with a plurality of groups of holes arranged therein; a front plate which can rotate relative to the pressure plate, such rotation being used to select from a plurality of spray profiles; and a ring element provided with a plurality of pins extending therefrom in an axial direction, each pin having an inwardly tapered profile distal to the ring element, each pin developing through a hole formed in one of the series of holes, and the manual movement of the front plate with respect to the plate under pressure by forcibly pushing the pins deeper into the hole, this manual intervention therefore expelling the debris from the internal part of the series of holes. 10. Shower head assembly according to claim 9, characterized in that a pin expels debris from more than one of the holes. 1 1. Shower head assembly according to claim 9, characterized in that it further comprises a pressure chamber arranged upstream of the pressure plate, and that the choice of the diverted or non-diverted flow is carried out downstream of the pressure chamber, when the pressure of the fluid is approximately equal to the atmospheric one. 12. Shower head assembly characterized in that it comprises a pressure plate, that the shower head assembly permits the choice of one of a plurality of spray profiles, and that the shower head assembly comprises: a pressure chamber arranged upstream of the pressure plate; a chamber for selecting the spray arranged downstream of the pressure plate; And means for cooperatively connecting the plenum chamber with the spray selection chamber, which connecting means comprises a plurality of gaskets, and at least one of the plurality of gaskets is disposed between the plenum chamber and the chamber for choice of spray, the number of seals being independent of the number of spray profiles. 13. Shower head assembly according to claim 12, characterized in that it further comprises a plurality of gaskets for cooperatively connecting the pressure chamber with the spray selection chamber, and at least one of the plurality of gaskets is arranged between the chamber under pressure and the chamber for the choice of the spray, the number of seals being independent of the number of spray profiles. 14. Shower head assembly according to claim 12, characterized in that it further comprises a ring element provided with a plurality of pins extending from it in an axial direction, each pin extending through a water outlet and producing a self-cleaning action when the front plate is rotated relative to the pressure plate. 15. Front plate to be used in a shower head assembly, which plate comprises a first plurality of openings which allow the choice of a first spray profile and a second plurality of openings which allow the choice of a second spray profile, the plate front being compatible with a first shower head assembly which provides a plurality of spray profiles and does not have pulsating spray profiles; the front plate also being compatible with a second shower head assembly which provides a plurality of spray profiles, including at least one pulsating spray profile. 16. Shower head assembly characterized in that it comprises a rotor, a pressure plate, a front plate, a means for cooperatively connecting the rotor with the pressure plate, a pressure chamber located upstream of the pressure plate with respect to the flow, a means for generating a non-deflected, non-pulsating spray profile when the rotor is in a fixed position and the orientation of a face plate relative to a pressure plate is in a first position, and a means for generating a profile of deflected and non-pulsating spray when the rotor is in a fixed position and the orientation of the front plate with respect to a pressure plate is in a second position, the choice of the spray profile being made with the pressure of the fluid which is at N 'approximately at the level of atmospheric pressure. 17. Shower head assembly according to claim 16, characterized in that it comprises a ring element provided with a plurality of pins extending from it in an axial direction, each pin extending through a water outlet and producing a self-cleaning action when the front plate is rotated relative to the pressure plate. 18. Shower head assembly characterized in that it comprises a plate under pressure and further comprises: a pressure chamber arranged upstream of the pressure plate; a chamber for selecting the spray comprising a front plate arranged downstream of the pressure plate, the pressure of the fluid from the downstream part being less than 0.35 bar; And means for cooperatively connecting the plenum chamber with the spray selection chamber, which connecting means comprises a plurality of gaskets disposed between the plenum chamber and the spray selection chamber, the number of gaskets being independent of the number of spray profiles. 19. Shower head assembly according to claim 18, characterized in that it further comprises a ring element provided with a plurality of pins which extend from it in an axial direction, each pin developing through a water outlet and producing a self-cleaning action when the front plate is rotated relative to the pressure plate. 20. Shower head assembly according to claim 18, characterized in that it comprises a pressure chamber arranged upstream of the pressure plate, and the choice of the diverted or non-diverted flow is carried out downstream of the pressure chamber. 21. Shower head assembly characterized in that it comprises a plate under pressure and further comprises: a pressure chamber arranged upstream of a pressure plate; a chamber for selecting the spray comprising a front plate arranged downstream of the pressure plate, the pressure of the fluid from the downstream part being less than 0.35 bar; means for cooperatively connecting the pressure chamber with the spray selection chamber, which connection means comprises a seal such as to allow the selection of the spray at a pressure substantially equal to the atmospheric pressure; And a spring arranged inside the pressure chamber, which spring comprises a plurality of pins arranged perpendicular to the plane of the spring, the diameter of the pins being less than the diameter of the holes, and the pins being able to be positioned inside the holes in the plate under pressure when choosing the spray. 22. Shower head assembly according to claim 21, characterized in that it further comprises a ring element provided with a plurality of pins extending from it in an axial direction, each pin extending through a water outlet and producing a self-cleaning action when the front plate is rotated relative to the pressure plate. 23. Shower head assembly according to claim 21, characterized in that it comprises a pressure chamber arranged upstream of the pressure plate, and the choice of the diverted or non-diverted flow is carried out downstream of the pressure chamber. 24. Shower head assembly characterized in that it comprises a rotor, a pressure plate, a front plate, the rotor being disposed with respect to a shaft and rotating about the axis of the shaft, and the shower head assembly further comprising: means for generating a non-deflected and non-pulsating spray profile and a deflected non-pulsating spray profile, when the rotor is in a fixed position and the orientation of the front plate with respect to the pressure plate is suitably aligned; And means for generating a pulsating and deflected spray profile and a pulsating, non-deflected spray profile, when the rotor rotates and the orientation of the front plate relative to the pressure plate is suitably aligned, the rotor comprising a centrally positioned passage through it and a lip disposed inside the passage, the lip being retained with the possibility of rotation around the shaft and providing a minimum support surface in order to favor rotation. 25. Shower head assembly according to claim 24, characterized in that it further comprises a ring element provided with a plurality of pins which extend from it in an axial direction, each pin developing through a water outlet and producing a self-cleaning action when the front plate is rotated relative to the pressure plate. 26. Shower head assembly according to claim 24, characterized in that it also comprises a pressure chamber arranged upstream of the pressure plate, and the choice of the diverted or non-diverted flow is carried out downstream of the pressure chamber, with the fluid which it is at a pressure approximately equal to that of the atmosphere. 27. Shower head assembly characterized in that it comprises a front plate and a pressure plate which provides a vented type of operation when the front plate is in a first pivotal alignment with respect to the pressure plate, a type of operation with a jet spray when the face plate is in a second rotational alignment with respect to the pressure plate, a pulsating type of operation when the face plate is in a third rotational alignment with respect to the pressure plate, and a spray type of operation pulsating jet when (the front plate is in a fourth rotational alignment with respect to the pressure plate. 28. Shower head assembly according to claim 27, characterized in that it also comprises a self-cleaning action of the openings for the flow of water obtained in the pressure plate. 29. Shower head assembly according to claim 27, characterized in that it further comprises a ring element provided with a plurality of pins which extend from it in an axial direction, each pin developing through a water outlet and producing a self-cleaning action when the front plate is rotated relative to the pressure plate. 30. Shower head assembly according to claim 27, characterized in that it comprises less than ten components. 31. Shower head assembly according to claim 27, characterized in that it comprises a self-cleaning means. 32. Double head assembly according to claim 18, characterized in that it comprises interchangeable front plates, one of said front plates providing at least one mode of operation with deflected spray, and the other of said front surfaces providing at least one mode of operation with not deflected spray.