A shower head with anti-fouling and self-cleaning functions

Abstract

The application discloses a shower head with scale prevention and self-cleaning functions. The shower head comprises a water outlet shell, a water inlet assembly and a containing cavity formed between the water outlet shell and the water inlet assembly, which are buckled together; a rotating turbine and a fiber panel which can move up and down relative to the water outlet shell are arranged in the containing cavity, the fiber panel is located at the proximal end of the water outlet shell, and the rotating turbine is located at the distal end of the water outlet shell; the bottom of the fiber panel is provided with scale removal fibers with a wetting gradient, the scale removal fibers are inserted into the water outlet hole of the water outlet shell downward in the water outlet state to remove the scale in the water outlet hole, the scale removal fibers are moved upward to be separated from the water outlet hole in the water stop state, and the liquid in the water outlet hole is directed to be discharged. In the water stop state, the residual liquid in the water outlet hole can be directed to be poured back into the containing cavity, and in the water outlet state, the shear force caused by the water flow impact on the rotating turbine drives the scale removal fibers to impact and rub the water outlet hole, so that the scale prevention and removal double functions are realized.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of bathroom fixtures. More specifically, it relates to a shower head with anti-scaling and self-cleaning functions. Background Technology

[0002] Tap water is the most commonly used water source, containing a large number of mineral ions that easily form scale on equipment surfaces after flowing through it. The main components of scale are carbonates (such as CaCO3 and MgCO3), sulfates (CaSO4), and phosphates (Ca3(PO4)2). Due to the low thermal conductivity of scale (0.2-3 W / m·K), scale deposition reduces the heat transfer efficiency of equipment, leading to increased energy consumption. Statistics show that annual energy losses due to heat exchanger scaling alone exceed 2% of the world's total energy production. Furthermore, scaling can cause pipe blockages, and even boiler explosions and other safety accidents.

[0003] Currently, descaling methods mainly include physical and chemical methods. Physical methods refer to the use of external energy sources such as magnetic fields, electric fields, and ultrasound for physical removal, which requires the introduction of external energy, resulting in energy waste and low efficiency. Chemical methods rely on descaling agents or acids, which can pollute the environment and corrode equipment. Both physical and chemical methods have certain limitations; therefore, the development of advanced anti-scaling interface materials is particularly important.

[0004] Scale buildup is a common sight on showerheads used in daily life. During water supply, the increased temperature accelerates the precipitation of mineral crystals. After the water supply is turned off, residual water in the showerhead holes evaporates, and dissolved mineral ions crystallize on the surface of the holes. Over time, the accumulation of mineral scale on the surface of the showerhead can clog the water outlets, causing poor water flow and affecting the showering experience. Current showerhead descaling methods mainly include three types: manual cleaning, hand-wiping cleaning, and automatic cleaning. Manual cleaning showerheads involve removing the showerhead's mesh or other scale-absorbing components, cleaning them with a descaling agent and a brush, and then reinstalling them. However, this type of manual descaling showerhead has problems such as difficulty in disassembly, frequent disassembly leading to leaks, and wear and tear on parts, resulting in a limited lifespan and not providing long-term scale resistance. Hand-wiping showerheads use raised rubber water outlets; the rubber material is soft to the touch and does not easily accumulate scale. When scale buildup occurs, gently wiping the rubber granules breaks up and removes the scale. However, these manual descaling showerheads are often installed in high positions, making them difficult to operate. If not cleaned promptly, they are more prone to clogging the water outlets. Furthermore, automatic descaling showerheads typically employ a special structure (such as descaling needles). When using descaling needles, the water flow pattern is changed, and the needles extend from inside the water outlets, using mechanical compression combined with increased water pressure to clean the deposited scale from the outlets. Traditional automatic descaling showerheads often use springs to mechanically compress or control the descaling needles' entry and exit from the water outlets under water pressure. These needles are mostly cylindrical, not only lacking variety in design, but their large, flat sidewalls also provide excellent adhesion sites for scale. These cleaning methods can inhibit or remove scale deposits to some extent. However, these methods have limited effectiveness and are far from achieving long-term descaling.

[0005] Surface treatment technology is a commonly used anti-scaling strategy, with advantages such as simple preparation, high efficiency, environmental friendliness, and long service life. As a novel surface treatment technology, liquid-directed transport surfaces show potential application prospects in self-cleaning coatings, novel microfluidic devices, and drainage facilities. Through surface treatment, residual water can be discharged, avoiding the crystallization and precipitation of mineral ions on the surface, thus solving the problem of scale deposition at its root. Jiang et al. demonstrated that cacti utilize a conical structure to regulate surface wettability, directionally transporting water from the tip to the tail, achieving directional water transport and efficient collection (Nat. Commun., 3(2014) 1247–1252). Dong et al. demonstrated that the apex of Alocasia leaves enhances drainage on the leaves through a curvature control mechanism, leading to an increased drainage rate and reduced liquid residue (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 117(2020) 1890–1894).

[0006] Therefore, it is necessary to develop a shower head that can achieve both anti-scaling and self-cleaning functions, which is essential for preventing and removing scale from shower heads. Summary of the Invention

[0007] To address the aforementioned problems, the present invention aims to provide a shower head with anti-scaling and self-cleaning functions.

[0008] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0009] This invention discloses a shower head with anti-scaling and self-cleaning functions. The shower head includes a water outlet shell, a water inlet assembly, and a receiving cavity formed between the water outlet shell and the water inlet assembly that are interlocked together.

[0010] The cavity contains a rotary turbine and a fiber panel that can move up and down relative to the water outlet housing. The fiber panel is located at the proximal end of the water outlet housing, and the rotary turbine is located at the distal end of the water outlet housing.

[0011] The bottom of the fiber panel is provided with descaling fibers with a wettability gradient. When water is flowing, the descaling fibers are inserted downward into the water outlet hole of the water outlet housing to remove the scale in the water outlet hole. When water is stopped, the descaling fibers move upward and detach from the water outlet hole to directionally guide the liquid in the water outlet hole.

[0012] Furthermore, the surface of the descaling fiber is treated with hydrophobic fluorosilane and / or hydrophilic plasma to form a hydrophobic region near the water outlet and a hydrophilic region away from the water outlet.

[0013] Furthermore, the shape of the descaling fiber includes columnar, inverted conical, dumbbell-shaped, or lotus root-shaped; and the shape of its cross-section includes triangular, quadrilateral, pentagonal, or hexagonal.

[0014] Furthermore, the material of the descaling fiber is selected from one or more of cotton thread, nylon, copper wire, or stainless steel wire.

[0015] Furthermore, the number of descaling fibers corresponding to each water outlet hole is 1 or 2.

[0016] Furthermore, the length of the descaling fiber is not less than the length of the water outlet hole, and the diameter of the descaling fiber is not greater than the diameter of the water outlet hole.

[0017] Furthermore, the material of the water outlet is selected from one or more of glass, acrylic, silicone, or stainless steel.

[0018] Furthermore, a reset spring is installed between the water outlet shell and the fiber panel.

[0019] Furthermore, the water inlet assembly includes a water inlet housing, a ball head, and a fixing seat communicating with the ball head, the fixing seat being fixed to the water inlet housing via a threaded connection.

[0020] Furthermore, the fiber panel is perforated.

[0021] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows:

[0022] This invention introduces descaling fibers treated with hydrophobic fluorosilane and / or hydrophilic plasma into the existing shower head structure. This allows the shower head to actively prevent scale buildup when the water flow is interrupted, directing residual liquid in the outlet holes from the outlet end to the inlet end. Simultaneously, the water flow acts as a driving force, rotating a turbine within the shower head to provide shear force to the descaling fibers on the fiber panel, causing them to impact and rub against the inner wall of the outlet holes, thus achieving self-cleaning of scale deposits inside. This combination of active and passive descaling gives the shower head long-term, highly effective anti-scale properties. After one month of use, the scale-preventing and self-cleaning shower head provided by this invention has more than 60 times less scale buildup on the outlet hole surface compared to similar shower heads, thus extending the shower head's lifespan. Attached Figure Description

[0023] The specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0024] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional exploded view of the shower head designed in this invention.

[0025] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the shower head designed in this invention discharging residual liquid when the water supply is stopped.

[0026] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the scale deposited by the impact and friction of the shower head designed in this invention when water is sprayed out.

[0027] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the descaling fiber shape of the shower head designed in this invention.

[0028] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the fiber panel of the shower head designed in this invention.

[0029] The components include: 1. Water outlet housing; 2. Fiber panel; 3. Rotary turbine; 4. Water inlet assembly; 11. Water outlet hole; 21. Descaling fiber; 22. Return spring; 31. Fan blade; 41. Water inlet housing; 42. Thread; 43. Fixing base; and 44. Ball head. Detailed Implementation

[0030] To more clearly illustrate the present invention, the following description, in conjunction with preferred embodiments and accompanying drawings, further clarifies the invention. Those skilled in the art should understand that the specific description below is illustrative rather than restrictive and should not be construed as limiting the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0031] See Figure 1The present invention discloses a shower head with anti-scaling and self-cleaning functions. The shower head includes a water outlet shell 1, a water inlet component 4, and a receiving cavity formed between the water outlet shell 1 and the water inlet component 4 that are interlocked together.

[0032] The cavity contains a rotary turbine 3 and a fiber panel 2 that can move up and down relative to the water outlet housing 1. The fiber panel 2 is located at the near end of the water outlet housing 1, and the rotary turbine 3 is located at the far end of the water outlet housing 1.

[0033] The bottom of the fiber panel 2 is provided with descaling fibers 21 having a wettability gradient. When the water is flowing, the descaling fibers 21 are inserted downward into the water outlet hole 11 of the water outlet housing 1 to remove the scale in the water outlet hole 11. When the water is stopped, the descaling fibers 21 move upward and detach from the water outlet hole 11 to directionally guide the liquid in the water outlet hole 11.

[0034] The surface of the descaling fiber 21 selected in this invention is treated with hydrophobic fluorosilane and / or hydrophilic plasma. That is, hydrophobic fluorosilane and hydrophilic plasma treatments can be used simultaneously to treat the descaling fiber 21. One end fixed to the fiber panel 2 undergoes hydrophilic plasma treatment, while the end away from the fiber panel 2 undergoes hydrophobic fluorosilane treatment, forming a hydrophilic and hydrophobic region with a wettability gradient. Alternatively, one of these reagents can be used for treatment. By controlling the treatment time, temperature, and reagent concentration, a descaling fiber with a wettability gradient can also be formed. Furthermore, regarding the selection of the shape of the descaling fiber 21... Figure 4 Inspired by the water-collecting properties of cactus spines and the drainage properties of taro leaves, and employing the concept of synergistic biomimicry, a descaling fiber 21 with directional water transport capability was designed. Its shape can be columnar, inverted conical, dumbbell-shaped, or lotus root-like. Viewed from the side, the sidewall of the descaling fiber 21 can be flat or concave, and its cross-sectional shape can be triangular, quadrilateral, pentagonal, or hexagonal. After optimizing the surface and shape of the descaling fiber 21, when water supply is stopped, the residual liquid in the outlet hole 11 will move directionally along the root of the descaling fiber 21, allowing the residual liquid to be discharged and preventing scale formation.

[0035] Furthermore, the material of the descaling fiber 21 is selected from one or more of cotton thread, nylon, copper wire or stainless steel wire.

[0036] Furthermore, the number of descaling fibers 21 corresponding to each water outlet hole is 1 or 2.

[0037] Furthermore, the length of the descaling fiber 21 should be equal to or slightly longer than the length of the water outlet 11, and the diameter of the descaling fiber 21 should not be greater than the diameter of the water outlet 11.

[0038] Furthermore, the material of the water outlet 11 is selected from one or more of glass, acrylic, silicone, or stainless steel. Of course, in order to further improve the directional movement effect of the liquid, the inner wall of the water outlet 11 can be treated with hydrophobic / hydrophilic coatings, which, combined with the wettability gradient of the descaling fiber 21, can effectively improve the removal ability of residual liquid.

[0039] In one specific embodiment, the present invention incorporates a rotating turbine 3 in its structural design. The rotating turbine 3 has multiple sets of fan blades 31, which can prevent water from flowing directly out of the outlet hole 11 due to gravity. When the direction of water flow is fixed, the oscillation ability of the descaling fibers 21 in the outlet hole 33 decreases, and they cannot effectively rub the scale adhering to the inner wall of the outlet hole 11, thus reducing their descaling ability. However, with the presence of the rotating turbine 3, the direction of water flow becomes uncertain, and the degree of turbulence of the water flow is increased, which increases the shear force on the descaling fibers 21 and makes the oscillation amplitude larger, which is beneficial for removing the scale adhering to the inner wall of the outlet hole 11.

[0040] (See Figure 3 )

[0041] Furthermore, a reset spring 22 is provided between the water outlet housing 1 and the fiber panel 2 to guide the fiber panel 2 to reset.

[0042] Furthermore, the water inlet assembly 4 includes a water inlet housing 41, a ball head 44, and a fixing seat 43 communicating with the ball head 44. The fixing seat 43 is fixed to the water inlet housing 41 by a thread 42.

[0043] Furthermore, the fiber panel 2 is perforated.

[0044] The following examples will be used to further illustrate this point.

[0045] Example 1

[0046] (1) The stainless steel wire is processed into a prism shape with a circumscribed circle diameter of 0.5 mm and a descaling fiber length of 5 mm.

[0047] (2) The shape of the prism is adjusted and processed into triangular prism, quadrangular prism, hexagonal prism and cylinder to obtain descaling fibers of various shapes. The outer circle diameter of each shape is 0.5mm.

[0048] (3) According to the curvature of the shower head water outlet surface, stainless steel curved surfaces with the same curvature are processed. The front end of the descaling fiber prepared in step (2) is welded and integrated onto the fiber panel to form a descaling fiber array. Triangular prism fiber panel, quadrangular prism fiber panel, hexagonal prism fiber panel and cylindrical fiber panel are obtained respectively. The arrangement of descaling fibers on each fiber panel is the same as the arrangement of shower head water outlet holes.

[0049] (4) Select a commercially available rotary turbine and combine it with the obtained fiber panel to obtain a long-lasting descaling system;

[0050] (5) Install the high-efficiency descaling system prepared in step (4) into the shower head to obtain an active descaling shower head.

[0051] To test the anti-scaling performance of the aforementioned smart showerhead, specifically, after one month of use following installation, scanning electron microscopy was used to observe the water outlet holes and descaling fibers. It was found that almost no scale crystals adhered to the surface. Quantitative analysis of calcium using atomic emission spectroscopy revealed that the calcium content on both the water outlet hole surface and the descaling fiber surface was less than 2.5 mg / cm³. 2 This proves that the high-efficiency anti-scaling shower head has a good anti-scaling effect.

[0052] Example 2

[0053] (1) The stainless steel wire is processed into an inverted cone shape, with the outer diameter of the inlet end of the inverted cone being 0.5 mm, the outer diameter of the outlet end being 0.2 mm, and the length of the descaling fiber being 5 mm.

[0054] (2) The shape of the inverted pyramid is adjusted, and the prism shape is processed into an inverted triangular pyramid, an inverted square pyramid, an inverted hexagonal pyramid, and an inverted circular pyramid to obtain descaling fibers of various shapes. The diameter of the circumscribed circle at the water inlet of each shape is 0.5 mm, and the diameter at the water outlet is 0.2 mm.

[0055] (3) According to the curvature of the shower head water outlet surface, stainless steel curved surfaces with the same curvature are processed. The front end of the descaling fiber prepared in step (2) is welded and integrated onto the fiber panel to form a fiber panel. Inverted triangular pyramid fiber panel, inverted square pyramid fiber panel, inverted hexagonal pyramid fiber panel, and inverted conical fiber panel are obtained respectively. The arrangement of the descaling fiber on each fiber panel is the same as the arrangement of the shower head water outlet holes.

[0056] (4) Select a commercially available rotary turbine and combine it with the obtained fiber panel to obtain a long-lasting descaling system;

[0057] (5) Install the high-efficiency descaling system prepared in step (4) into the shower head to obtain an active descaling shower head.

[0058] To test the anti-scaling performance of the aforementioned smart showerhead, specifically, after one month of use following installation, scanning electron microscopy was used to observe the water outlet holes and descaling fibers. It was found that almost no scale crystals adhered to the surface. Quantitative analysis of calcium using atomic emission spectroscopy revealed that the calcium content on both the water outlet hole surface and the descaling fiber surface was less than 2.8 mg / cm³. 2 This proves that the high-efficiency anti-scaling shower head has a good anti-scaling effect.

[0059] Example 3

[0060] (1) The stainless steel wire is processed into a cone shape, with the outer diameter of the inlet end of the cone being 0.2 mm, the outer diameter of the outlet end being 0.5 mm, and the length of the descaling fiber being 5 mm.

[0061] (2) The shape of the pyramid is adjusted, and the prism shape is processed into triangular pyramid, quadrangular pyramid, hexagonal pyramid and cone to obtain descaling fibers of various shapes. The diameter of the outer circle of the water inlet end of each shape is 0.2mm and the diameter of the water outlet end is 0.5mm.

[0062] (3) Stainless steel curved surfaces with the same curvature are processed according to the curvature of the shower head water outlet. The front end of the prepared descaling fiber is welded and integrated onto the fiber panel to form a descaling fiber array. Triangular pyramid fiber panel, quadrangular pyramid fiber panel, hexagonal pyramid fiber panel and conical fiber panel are obtained respectively. The arrangement of descaling fibers on each fiber panel is the same as the arrangement of shower head water outlet holes.

[0063] (4) Select a commercially available rotary turbine and combine it with the obtained fiber panel to obtain a long-lasting descaling system;

[0064] (5) Install the high-efficiency descaling system prepared in step (4) into the shower head to obtain an active descaling shower head.

[0065] To test the anti-scaling performance of the above-mentioned shower head, specifically, after the shower head was installed and used for one month, scanning electron microscopy was used to observe the water outlet holes and descaling fibers. It was found that almost no scale crystals adhered to the surface. Quantitative analysis of calcium elemental content using atomic emission spectroscopy revealed that the calcium content on the surface of both the water outlet holes and the descaling fiber surface was less than 1.7 mg / cm³. 2 This proves that the high-efficiency anti-scaling shower head has a good anti-scaling effect.

[0066] Comparative Example 1

[0067] A control test was conducted using the same type of showerhead, and its anti-scaling performance was tested after one month of use under the same frequency of use. The results showed that the control showerhead had a large amount of scale buildup (189 mg / cm³). 2 The scale buildup on the smart showerhead's nozzles and descaling fiber surface is extremely small (less than 3 mg / cm³). 2 ); Scale buildup is reduced by 63 times.

[0068] Obviously, the above embodiments of the present invention are merely examples for clearly illustrating the present invention, and are not intended to limit the implementation of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other variations or modifications can be made based on the above description. It is impossible to exhaustively list all the implementation methods here. All obvious variations or modifications derived from the technical solutions of the present invention are still within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A shower head with anti-scaling and self-cleaning functions, characterized in that, The shower head includes a water outlet housing, a water inlet assembly, and a receiving cavity formed between the water outlet housing and the water inlet assembly that are interlocked together. The cavity contains a rotary turbine and a fiber panel that can move up and down relative to the water outlet housing. The fiber panel is located at the proximal end of the water outlet housing, and the rotary turbine is located at the distal end of the water outlet housing. The bottom of the fiber panel is provided with descaling fibers with a wettability gradient. When water is flowing out, the descaling fibers are inserted downward into the water outlet hole of the water outlet housing to remove the scale in the water outlet hole. When water is stopped, the descaling fibers move upward and detach from the water outlet hole to directionally guide the liquid in the water outlet hole. The surface of the descaling fiber is treated with hydrophobic fluorosilane and / or hydrophilic plasma to form a hydrophobic region near the water outlet and a hydrophilic region away from the water outlet.

2. The shower head according to claim 1, characterized in that, The descaling fibers are in the shape of columnar, inverted cone, dumbbell, or lotus root; their cross-sectional shape includes triangular, quadrilateral, pentagonal, or hexagonal.

3. The shower head according to claim 1, characterized in that, The descaling fiber is made of one or more of the following materials: cotton thread, nylon, copper wire, or stainless steel wire.

4. The shower head according to claim 1, characterized in that, The number of descaling fibers corresponding to each water outlet hole is 1 or 2.

5. The shower head according to claim 1, characterized in that, The length of the descaling fiber is not less than the length of the water outlet hole, and the diameter of the descaling fiber is not greater than the diameter of the water outlet hole.

6. The shower head according to claim 1, characterized in that, The material of the water outlet is selected from one or more of glass, acrylic, silicone or stainless steel.

7. The shower head according to claim 1, characterized in that, A reset spring is installed between the water outlet shell and the fiber panel.

8. The shower head according to claim 1, characterized in that, The water inlet assembly includes a water inlet housing, a ball head, and a fixed base communicating with the ball head. The fixed base is fixed to the water inlet housing via a threaded connection.

9. The shower head according to claim 1, characterized in that, The fiber panel is perforated.

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