ELECTRONIC CIRCUIT FOR HEATING AND INDICATING SHOWERS AND THEIR RESPECTIVE OPERATION

Description

/ 8 “ELECTRONIC CIRCUIT FOR HEATING AND INDICATION OF SHOWERS AND THEIR RESPECTIVE OPERATION”. TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[001] This patent application for invention pertains to the field of electronics, specifically for electric showers. The invention consists of an electronic circuit designed to control the water temperature during showering, also incorporating an indicator for a burnt-out heating element. The system uses two visual indicators, represented by lights that show both normal operation and the failure of one of the shower's heating elements. The shower has two heating elements, allowing the equipment to continue functioning even if one of them burns out, until the component is replaced. The color combination of the two lights provides a clear visual alert to the user that one of the heating elements is damaged, signaling the need for repair or replacement. HISTORY OF THE TECHNIQUE

[002] Electric showers emerged as a practical solution for heating water, their invention being attributed to the Brazilian engineer Francisco Canhos Navarro, around 1930. The equipment brought more comfort and convenience to its users.

[003] The electrical equipment developed by Navarro used an instant heating system by means of electrical resistance, eliminating the need to wait for the water to heat up.

[004] Before the advent of electric showers, water was heated on wood-burning stoves or in boilers, making the process more time-consuming and impractical. This was because it required sufficient infrastructure, which was not always available in all homes. Petition 870240108600, dated 12 / 19 / 2024, page 5 / 18 / 8

[005] The electric shower originated in Brazil, where the combination of a warm climate and increasing urbanization made central heating systems less necessary for a large part of the population.

[006] In the decades following its creation, the device became widely used in most Brazilian homes, being continuously improved to meet all the needs of a growing population.

[007] Currently, Brazil is the largest consumer and also one of the main producers of electric showers in the world. The technology continues to evolve, with significant improvements in safety and energy efficiency. State of the Art Analysis

[008] Shower electrical circuits are designed to heat water, providing comfort and convenience to users, especially during the colder seasons of the year. However, one of the limitations in this segment is the lack of a circuit capable of integrating with two heating elements and indicating when one of them is burned out.

[009] Research conducted in specialized databases revealed documents relating to electronic circuits for showers, such as document no. PI 0500754-2 which deals with “IMPROVEMENTS INTRODUCED IN MICROCONTROLLED ELECTRONIC SHOWER WITH REMOTE ACTIVATION”, more particularly it deals with an electronic shower (1), which comprises a heating module (2), installed in the electrical and hydraulic network through a passage pipe (7) and finishing canopy (PLA), said heating module (2) being equipped with a microcontroller (A) present in the electronic circuit (MLA) and a control console module (3), provided with a microcontroller (B) present in the electronic circuit (MLC), said console (3) being installed on the inner wall of the bathing space or shower stall;the heater module (2) is responsible for heating and spreading the water, while the console module (3) is responsible for the functions performed on the heater (2) and others performed on the console itself (3) through programming; Petition 870240108600, dated 12 / 19 / 2024, page 6 / 18 / 8 intelligent; the microcontrollers (A) and (B) communicate through photo-transceivers that use infrared light or other remote means preferably defined by the Cid or binary code with thousands of different combinations, in order to provide user-friendly communication interfaces, allowing the traffic of all heater control data (2) which, through its mechanical and electrical construction in association with the commands performed on the console (3) controls and monitors various bath functions, the main ones being defined by: maximum allowed time, maximum allowed temperature, maximum allowed power and maximum allowed energy, all activated, managed and programmed by digital password of the manager (user), via keyboard (T) and display (D) provided on the console (3) or via pre-recorded voice command;the console (3) of the electronic shower (1) has the possibility of storing data from a certain number of showers, data that can be transferred to a PC microcomputer through an AIS collection device used in the 'residential' type electronic shower version (1R) and through a data collection device and concentrator / repeater device used in the 'hotel' type electronic shower version (1H).

[010] Document No. PI 8905688-4, which deals with an “ELECTRONIC CIRCUIT IN A SHOWER CONTROLLED BY REMOTE CONTROL”, an invention patent for an electro-electronic circuit in a shower controlled by remote control, consists of an electro-electronic circuit comprising an infrared light emitting remote control electronic circuit (1), connected to an infrared light receiving electronic circuit (2), which is connected to an actuator / cadencer electronic circuit (3), which in turn is connected to a power control electro-electronic circuit (4), the power dissipation control electro-electronic circuit being located in a box (6) installed in the upper part of the interior of the cylindrical body (5) or other shape of a shower, whereby the circuit described by means of wires (7) is connected to the electrical network, and by means of other wires (8) is connected to an electrical resistance,and through other wires (8) it is connected to an electrical resistance (9) responsible for heat dissipation, said resistance (9) having a low ohmic value in the range of 1.36 ohms per meter, the electro-electronic circuit also being connected to an electronic sensor, Petition 870240108600, dated 12 / 19 / 2024, page. 7 / 18 / 8 (3-G) water presence indicator, which, in the presence of water, activates the circuit, which supplies electrical energy to the resistance (9), consequently causing heat exchange with the circulating water, evidenced on the external and lower part of the shower body (5) ten LEDs (3-E) or light-emitting diodes that indicate the activated power level and form a scale of moving luminous dot, corresponding to ten gradations of water temperature, which are controlled by a wireless infrared light-emitting remote control, whose box (10) is fixed near the water supply valve handle for the shower, allowing the selection of the desired temperature gradation by activating the said remote control, and the activation and deactivation of the shower is done manually by means of the aforementioned handle, noting that near the LEDs (3-E) there is a transparent protector (11) against infrared light,which has a phototranslator (2-A) installed inside it.

[011] Document No. PI 0002332-9, which deals with an “IMPROVEMENTS INTRODUCED IN ELECTRIC SHOWERS WITH ELECTRONIC TEMPERATURE CONTROL CIRCUITS”, this patent deals with improvements introduced in an electric shower with an electronic temperature control circuit, presenting full safety against electric shocks and having a high flow rate even at points of reduced gauge pressure, and can also receive an internal pressurizer, by simply adding two new components.The novelty consists of a shower formed by a base (1), the device being connected to the wall connection by means of a flexible tube (2) connected to the axial tubular projection (3) of the piece that forms the inlet chamber (4), which receives a circular cover (5) fixed by self-tapping screws (6), said chamber having a cavity (10) with a progressive narrowing, which conducts the fluid to the threaded projection (11) that penetrates a metal nipple (12) that interconnects the inlet chambers (4) and heating chamber (14), this nipple being traversed by a screw (16) interconnected to the external ground wire (17) of the device, while the heating chamber (14), of cylindrical shape with horizontal axis, exhibits two opposing hollow projections, the first (19) receiving the nipple (12) and the second (20) forming the outlet tube, traversed by the. Petition 870240108600, dated 12 / 19 / 2024, p. 8 / 18 / 8 tubular extension (21) of the diverter (22), which extends to near the upper limit of the chamber (14) and exhibits a curved tubular element (25), the assembly being enclosed by a decorative and protective cover (26) which exhibits a circular cutout surrounding the button (27) of the temperature adjustment potentiometer, the device being able to be transformed into the model with a pressurizer by replacing the cover (5) with the assembly that integrates the motor (28), the shaft and the rotor (29) of the pump, with the chamber (4) serving as a volute, the device also receiving a switch (30) with a circular body, fitted into a cutout (32) obtained by pressing a location of the mask (33) integral with the cover 26 which has a thinning that allows the removal of a circular fragment (34), this switch having a pair of terminals (35) that receive the two-wire connectors (36) (37),derived from the pump and one of the poles connected to one of the terminals connected to the building's electrical network.

[012] In searches carried out in databases, it was possible to identify numerous solutions aimed at controlling the temperature of electric showers, whether remotely or in person, combined with a sequence of electrical equipment that performs their functions, however, in no document was the use and visual indication found, regarding the burning and operation of the equipment, considering its inventive act in relation to the prior art found in the state of the art.

[013] Thus, it is a fact that the documents cited in the paragraphs above, despite belonging to the same field of application, do not present any of the characteristics of the object now improved, thus guaranteeing that it meets the legal requirements for patentability. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[014] Taking into account all the problems that have been presented in the state of the art, the inventor, who has notorious knowledge of the sector, created and developed the aforementioned “ELECTRONIC HEATING AND INDICATION CIRCUIT FOR SHOWERS AND ITS RESPECTIVE OPERATION”, which aims to carry out the Petition 870240108600, dated 12 / 19 / 2024, page 9 / 18 / 8 control of water temperature during showering and indicate the operation and burnout of one of the electric shower's heating elements.

[015] The objective of the present invention is to present the electronic circuit of the system which has a central component responsible for regulating the power supplied to the heating element, working in conjunction with a potentiometer that adjusts the water temperature. This component has characteristics that ensure greater resistance to humidity.

[016] The resistors convert energy into heat, heating the water that passes through the shower. In addition, the system incorporates two LEDs to provide the user with a clear indication of operation or failure. If one of the resistors burns out, a change occurs in the toroid's field, resulting in a voltage in the circuit that activates the second LED. This signaling allows the user to clearly identify the shower's status, ensuring safety and practicality. DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[017] To complement the present description in order to obtain a better understanding of the characteristics of the present invention and in accordance with a preferred practical embodiment thereof, a set of drawings is attached to the description, where, in an exemplary, though not limiting, manner, its operation is represented: Fig. 1 illustrates a previous image of the present electronic circuit and its control components; Fig. 2 shows a top perspective view of the present LED display; Fig. 3 shows a top perspective view of the present toroid support; Fig. 4 presents an exploded bottom perspective image, highlighting the main components; Fig. 5 shows a previous image of the current applied components. Petition 870240108600, dated 12 / 19 / 2024, p. 10 / 18 / 8 in the shower; and Fig. 6 illustrates a bottom perspective view detailing the component parts of the circuit for the indication function. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[018] With reference to the illustrated drawings, the present invention patent refers to “ELECTRONIC HEATING AND INDICATION CIRCUIT FOR SHOWERS AND THEIR RESPECTIVE OPERATION”, more precisely an electro-electronic circuit (1) used to control the water temperature, and indicate the operation of the shower (2), as well as the burning of one of the heating resistors (7).

[019] According to the present invention, the central component of the circuit is a semiconductor electronic device, the TRIAC (3) model BTA40, acting as an alternating current controller, regulating the power supplied to the heating resistor (7). For temperature adjustment, a carbon potentiometer model CA14 H4 is used, which has greater resistance to humidity. The heating resistor (7) converts electrical energy into heat, heating the water that passes through the shower (2).

[020] The circuit (1) also incorporates a visual indication system for resistance burnout (7), using two LED lights (4), indicated by the light display (6), composed of two fixing rods (8), and cutouts (9) in the lower region for light passage. One of the lights (4) remains continuously lit while the shower (2) is on, as it is directly connected to the main power supply. This serves as an indication that the shower (2) is in operation.

[021] The second light (4), in turn, is powered by a toroid (5) and is connected to the two wires of the heating element (7), housed in the support (10) with fixing tabs (12) and holes (11) for the passage of the wires. Under normal conditions, when both elements (7) are functioning correctly, this Petition 870240108600, dated 12 / 19 / 2024, page 11 / 18 / 8 lighting (4) remains off. However, if one of the resistors (7) burns out, an imbalance occurs in the magnetic field of the toroid (5), generating a voltage in the circuit (1) that turns on the second lighting (4).

[022] When this happens, the combination of colors between the two creates a clear visual signal for the user, alerting that one of the shower's (2) resistances (7) is damaged, allowing its identification and maintenance in a practical way.

[023] It is understood that when the present invention is put into practice, modifications may be introduced with regard to certain details of construction and form, without departing from the fundamental principles that are clearly substantiated in the claims, it being understood that the terminology used was not intended to be limiting. Petition 870240108600, dated 12 / 19 / 2024, page 12 / 18

Claims

CLAIMS 1) “ELECTRONIC HEATING AND INDICATION CIRCUIT FOR SHOWERS”, conceives an electronic circuit (1), controlling the temperature and indicating the operation of the shower (2), as well as the burning of one of the resistors, through the LED lighting (4); being composed of the triac semiconductor device (3), potentiometer, diode, capacitor, resistors (7), among others; characterized by having the first lighting (4) connected to the main power supply, and the toroid (5) powering the second lighting (4); having the lighting (4) alerting through the lighting display (6); having the display (6) composed of rods (8) fixing to the shower (2) and cutouts (9) in the lower region, allowing the passage of light; having the toroid (5) housed in the support (10), having fixing tabs (12) and holes (11) for the wires to pass through. 2) “OPERATION”, according to claim 1; characterized by incorporating a visual indication system for resistance burnout (7), using LED lights (4); having one of the lights (4) remain lit while the shower (2) is on, indicating its operation; having the second light (4) off; causing an imbalance in the magnetic field of the toroid (5), in case of burnout, generating a voltage in the circuit (1), lighting the second light (4). Petition 870240108600, dated 12 / 19 / 2024, page 13 / 18

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