A water faucet and oral irrigator capable of continuously adjusting the water flow
By designing switching components and sealing limit structures in the water flosser, stepless adjustment and stability of the water flow rate are achieved, solving the problems of nonlinear adjustment and high cost in existing technologies, and providing stable flow control.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- ZHANGZHOU SOLEX SMART HOME CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2025-05-15
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-09
AI Technical Summary
Existing electric and mechanical water flossers cannot achieve stepless adjustment of water flow, and variable frequency water pumps are expensive.
A water flosser with stepless flow rate regulation was designed. By switching the variable cross-section part of the component and cooperating with the operating element, the flow area of the water inlet end of the outlet body is changed, thereby achieving stepless flow rate regulation. Water pressure balance is maintained through the sealing element and the limiting structure to ensure stable flow rate.
It achieves stepless linear variation of water flow rate, with stable and reliable flow regulation, avoiding the high cost of variable frequency pumps, and can maintain stability even at low flow rates.
Smart Images
Figure CN224331059U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This utility model relates to oral care equipment, and more particularly to a water flosser. Background Technology
[0002] A water flosser is an auxiliary tool for cleaning the oral cavity, using pulsating water jets to clean teeth and between teeth. Compared to a regular toothbrush, an electric water flosser is more effective in treating plaque and gingivitis.
[0003] Current electric water flossers typically use a button-based method to adjust water flow. When the user presses the "up" button, the water flow increases; when the user presses the "down" button, the water flow decreases. This method works by sending a signal from the button to a controller, which then sends signals with different duty cycles to the water pump, thereby changing the pump's power and adjusting the water flow. However, this method lacks linearity and cannot achieve stepless adjustment. Furthermore, it requires a variable frequency pump, which increases costs.
[0004] Existing mechanical oral irrigators only have an on / off function and do not have the function of stepless flow rate adjustment. Utility Model Content
[0005] The main technical problem to be solved by this utility model is to provide a water flosser that can steplessly adjust the water flow rate.
[0006] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, this utility model provides a water flosser with stepless adjustment of water flow rate, including: a spindle with a water inlet channel, a water flosser nozzle and a water outlet body detachably connected to the water flosser nozzle, a water flosser nozzle switching component and an operating component that is linked and cooperates with the switching component;
[0007] The inlet end of the water outlet is connected to the outlet end of the inlet channel, and the switching component has a variable cross-section portion; the operating component drives the switching component to move to change the depth of the variable cross-section portion inserted into the water outlet, thereby adjusting the flow area of the inlet end of the water outlet.
[0008] In a preferred embodiment: the switching component includes a switching shaft, and the operating element is used to drive the switching shaft to move axially.
[0009] In a preferred embodiment: the variable cross-section portion extends axially along the switching axis, and the variable cross-section portion has a structure in which the cross-sectional width gradually increases along the direction away from the water outlet.
[0010] In a preferred embodiment: the variable cross-section portion extends radially outward to form a blocking portion on the side away from the water outlet body. When the operating member drives the switching shaft to move axially until the blocking portion fits against the periphery of the water inlet end of the water outlet body, the connection between the water inlet end of the water outlet body and the water outlet end of the water inlet channel is broken.
[0011] In a preferred embodiment: the mandrel, the water outlet and the switching shaft are coaxially arranged, the mandrel has a mounting cavity for mounting the switching shaft, and the water inlet channel is arranged on the outside of the mounting cavity in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction.
[0012] In a preferred embodiment: the mounting cavity is connected to the inlet end and the outlet end of the water inlet channel respectively; the switching shaft is provided with a first seal and a second seal along the axial direction, and the first seal and the second seal are subjected to equal and opposite water pressure from the water inlet channel.
[0013] In a preferred embodiment: the switching shaft extends radially outward to form a limiting portion on the side away from the water outlet, and the inner wall of the mounting cavity extends radially inward to form a limiting mating portion; the limiting portion and the limiting mating portion are used to limit the switching movement stroke of the switching shaft along the axial direction.
[0014] In a preferred embodiment: the sum of the water pressure from the inlet channel on the limiting part and the blocking part is 0.
[0015] In a preferred embodiment: the switching assembly further includes a push plate, which is fixedly connected to the switching shaft and the operating element respectively.
[0016] In a preferred embodiment, the device further includes a housing with a clearance opening along its thickness direction, through which the operating member passes and is fixedly connected to a mounting hole on the push plate.
[0017] In a preferred embodiment: the push plate has an arc surface that fits against the inner wall of the housing, and stepped surfaces disposed on both sides of the arc surface along the width direction, and the inner wall of the housing extends out to abut against the stepped surfaces.
[0018] In a preferred embodiment: the push plate is provided with a second guide rail on the side facing the mandrel, and the mandrel has ribs extending into the guide rail.
[0019] In a preferred embodiment: the switching shaft has a constricted portion that tapers inward along the radial direction, the push plate has a retaining strip that engages with the constricted portion; the spindle has a clearance channel through which the retaining strip passes.
[0020] In a preferred embodiment: the operating element is a push button, which drives the push plate to move the switching shaft axially.
[0021] This utility model also provides a faucet, including a water flosser with stepless adjustment of water flow as described above, wherein the faucet's water outlet pipe is connected to the water inlet channel of the water flosser.
[0022] Compared with the prior art, the technical solution of this utility model has the following beneficial effects:
[0023] 1. This utility model provides a water flosser with stepless adjustment of water flow rate. The switching component has a variable cross-section section. An operating element drives the switching component to change the depth of the variable cross-section section inserted into the water outlet body, thereby adjusting the flow area at the inlet end of the water outlet body. Thus, by adjusting the flow area at the inlet end, the water flow rate of the water flosser can be changed; a smaller flow area results in a smaller water flow rate. Furthermore, since the cross-section of the variable cross-section section changes linearly, the water flow rate can be infinitely varied.
[0024] 2. This utility model provides a water flosser with stepless adjustment of water flow rate. The switching shaft is in a state of water pressure balance, so when the user does not apply external force to the operating parts, the switching shaft can stop at any position, ensuring that the switching shaft will not move and cause the water flow rate adjustment to fail after the user adjusts to a suitable flow rate. Furthermore, the switching shaft has a long stroke, allowing it to remain in that position even at low flow rates, achieving stepless adjustment at low flow rates. Attached Figure Description
[0025] Figure 1 This is an exploded view of the oral irrigator in a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0026] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of the water inlet of the water outlet being closed in a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0027] Figure 3 This is a three-dimensional sectional view of the water inlet of the water outlet being closed in a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0028] Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional view showing the direction of movement of the switching shaft in a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0029] Figure 5 This is a cross-sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention when the water flow rate of the water outlet is at its maximum.
[0030] Figure 6 This is a three-dimensional sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention when the water flow rate of the water outlet is at its maximum.
[0031] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the installation of the push plate in a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0032] Figure 8This is a schematic diagram showing the push plate installed at another angle in a preferred embodiment of this utility model;
[0033] Figure 9 This is a perspective view of the push plate in a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0034] Figure 10 for Figure 5 A magnified view of a portion of the image;
[0035] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the faucet in a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation
[0036] To make the technical solution and features of this utility model clearer, the following detailed description of this utility model is provided in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific examples. It should be understood that these examples are only for illustrating this utility model and are not intended to limit the scope of this utility model. After reading this utility model, any modifications of this utility model by those skilled in the art in various equivalent forms fall within the scope defined by the appended claims.
[0037] refer to Figures 1-10 This embodiment provides a water flosser with stepless adjustment of water flow rate, including: a spindle 1 with a water inlet channel 11, a water flosser 2, a water outlet body 3 detachably connected to the water flosser 2, a switching component 4, and an operating component 5 that is linked and cooperates with the switching component 4; in this embodiment, the operating component 5 is a push button.
[0038] The inlet end 31 of the water outlet 3 is connected to the outlet end 111 of the inlet channel 11. Water flowing out through the inlet channel 11 can enter the water outlet 3 and then flow out through the flushing nozzle 2. The switching component 4 has a variable cross-section portion 41. The operating component 5 drives the switching component 4 to move to change the depth at which the variable cross-section portion 41 is inserted into the water outlet 3, thereby adjusting the flow area of the inlet end 31 of the water outlet 3. In other words, this variable cross-section portion 41 acts as a sealing component, which can block part of the inlet end 31 of the water outlet 3, thereby reducing the flow area of the inlet end 31 of the water outlet 3. Furthermore, since the cross-sectional area of the variable cross-section portion 41 is continuously changing, as long as the depth at which the variable cross-section portion 41 is inserted into the water outlet 3 is changed, the cross-sectional area used to block the inlet end 31 of the water outlet 3 also changes accordingly, and the flow area of the inlet end 31 can change with the position of the variable cross-section portion 41. Furthermore, the cross-sectional area of the variable cross-section portion 41 changes gradually, therefore the flow area of the inlet end 31 of the water outlet 3 also changes gradually. Thus, by adjusting the flow area of the inlet end 31, the water flow rate of the flushing nozzle 2 can be changed; a smaller flow area results in a smaller flow rate, and vice versa. In this embodiment, the variable cross-section portion 41 is a linearly changing cross-section, specifically a conical shape.
[0039] In this embodiment, the switching component 4 includes a switching shaft 42, and the operating element 5 is used to drive the switching shaft 42 to move axially. Thus, by coaxially arranging the mandrel 1, the outlet body 3, and the switching shaft 42, with a portion of the switching shaft 42 installed within the mandrel 1, the operating element 5 can drive the switching shaft 42 to move axially, controlling whether the switching shaft 42 inserts into or moves away from the outlet body 3. Correspondingly, the variable cross-section portion extends axially along the switching shaft 42, and the variable cross-section portion 41 has a structure where the cross-sectional width gradually increases along the direction away from the outlet body 3. When the switching shaft 42 moves axially towards insertion into the outlet body 3, the flow area of the inlet end 31 of the outlet body 3 gradually decreases. When the switching shaft 42 moves away from the outlet body 3, the flow area of the inlet end 31 of the outlet body 3 gradually increases.
[0040] Furthermore, the variable cross-section portion 41 extends radially outward to form a blocking portion 43 on the side away from the water outlet body 3. When the operating member 5 drives the switching shaft 42 to move axially until the blocking portion 43 is in contact with the periphery of the water inlet end 31 of the water outlet body 3, the connection between the water inlet end 31 of the water outlet body 3 and the water outlet end 111 of the water inlet channel 11 is disconnected. This allows the water outlet body 3 to be completely closed, thereby stopping the water flow of the flushing faucet 2, i.e., the water flow rate is zero, further increasing the range of flow rate adjustment. In this embodiment, the water inlet end 31 of the water outlet body 3 has a structure with a gradually narrowing opening along the direction of water flow, and the blocking portion 43 also has a structure with a gradually narrowing width along the direction of water flow. This allows the blocking portion 43 to be inserted into the water inlet end 31 of the water outlet body 3 and to fit against the side wall of the water inlet end 31, thereby closing the connection between the water inlet end 31 of the water outlet body 3 and the water outlet end 111 of the water inlet channel 11.
[0041] To install the switching shaft 42, the spindle 1 has a mounting cavity 12 for mounting the switching shaft 42, and the water inlet channel 11 is arranged on the outside of the mounting cavity 12 in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction. Since the switching shaft 42 needs to be inserted into the water outlet 3, the upper end of the switching shaft 42 needs to extend out of the mounting cavity 12. In this way, the water flowing out of the water inlet channel 11 will not only flow into the water outlet 3, but also enter the mounting cavity 12, causing the switching shaft 42 to move under the action of water pressure. Thus, even if the user adjusts the required water flow rate, once the external force on the push button is removed, the switching shaft 42 will still move under the action of water pressure, causing the water flow rate to change again, resulting in instability or even failure of the water flow rate adjustment function. To address this issue, the mounting cavity 12 is connected to the inlet end 112 and the outlet end 111 of the water inlet channel 11, respectively. The switching shaft 42 is axially provided with a first seal 421 and a second seal 422, wherein the first seal 421 is subjected to water pressure from the outlet end 111 of the water inlet channel 11, and the second seal 422 is subjected to water pressure from the inlet end 112 of the water inlet channel 11. Therefore, the water pressure on the first seal 421 and the second seal 422 from the water inlet channel 11 is equal in magnitude and opposite in direction. Furthermore, the switching shaft 42 includes a switching shaft body 423 and a locking sleeve 424 connected to the side of the switching shaft body 423 away from the outlet body 3; the locking sleeve 424 and the switching shaft body 423 are connected by threads. The locking sleeve 424 extends radially outward with a limiting portion 4241 on the side away from the water outlet body 3, and the inner wall of the mounting cavity 12 extends radially inward with a limiting engagement portion 121; the limiting portion 4241 and the limiting engagement portion 121 are used to limit the axial switching movement of the switching shaft 42. That is, when the switching shaft 42 moves to the point where the limiting portion 4241 and the limiting engagement portion 121 are engaged, the switching shaft 42 can no longer move in the direction of insertion into the water outlet body 3. (Reference) Figure 10 The lower end face of the locking sleeve 424 is subjected to an upward water pressure F1, while the upper end face 431 of the sealing part 43 is subjected to a downward water pressure F3, and the lower end face 432 is subjected to an upward water pressure F2. Since most of the water flow is through the inlet channel 11 to the outlet 111, the downward water pressure F3 on the upper end face 431 of the sealing part 43 is relatively large. A small portion of the water flow is through the inlet channel 11 to the locking sleeve 424. By setting it up, F3 = F1 + F2, thus balancing the water pressure in this part. Therefore, through the above settings, the entire switching shaft 42 can be kept in a state of water pressure balance. In this way, when the user does not apply external force to the operating component 5, the switching shaft 42 can stop at any position, ensuring that after the user adjusts to a suitable water flow rate, the switching shaft 42 will not move and cause the water flow rate adjustment to fail.
[0042] To ensure that the push button and the switching shaft 42 move in tandem, the switching assembly 4 further includes a push plate 44, which is fixedly connected to both the switching shaft 42 and the operating element 5. This allows the push button to drive the switching shaft 42 to move axially together.
[0043] Meanwhile, to prevent the push plate 44 from shifting during movement and interfering with the internal structure of the water flosser, thus hindering its movement, the outer shell 6 of the water flosser in this embodiment has a clearance opening 61 along its thickness direction. The operating member 5 passes through the clearance opening 61 and is fixedly connected to the mounting hole 441 on the push plate 44. The push plate 44 has an arc surface 442 that fits against the inner wall of the outer shell 6, and stepped surfaces 443 on both sides of the arc surface 442 along its width direction. The inner wall of the outer shell 6 extends out a first guide rail 62 that abuts against the stepped surfaces 443. The push plate 44 has a second guide rail 444 on the side facing the spindle 1, and the spindle 1 has ribs 13 extending into the guide rails. In this way, the first guide rail 62 and the second guide rail 444 guide the movement direction of the push plate 44, preventing it from shifting.
[0044] To fix the push plate 44 and the switching shaft 42, the switching shaft 42 has a contraction part 425 that contracts radially inward, and the push plate 44 has two locking strips 446 that engage with the contraction part 425; the spindle 1 has a clearance channel for the locking strips 445 to pass through, and after the locking strips 446 pass through the clearance channel, they are inserted into both sides of the contraction part 425, thereby achieving a fixed connection with the contraction part 425.
[0045] refer to Figure 11 This embodiment also provides a faucet 8, which includes a water flosser 7 with stepless adjustment of water flow as described above, and the water outlet pipe 81 of the faucet 8 is connected to the water inlet channel 11 of the water flosser 7.
[0046] The above is only one specific embodiment of the present utility model, but the design concept of the present utility model is not limited thereto. Any non-substantial modifications made to the present utility model using this concept shall be deemed as an infringement of the protection scope of the present utility model.
Claims
1. A dental flosser with stepless adjustable water flow rate, characterized in that... include: A spindle with an inlet channel, a rinsing nozzle and an outlet body detachably connected to the rinsing nozzle, a switching assembly and an operating component that is linked and cooperates with the switching assembly; The inlet end of the water outlet is connected to the outlet end of the inlet channel, and the switching component has a variable cross-section portion; the operating component drives the switching component to move to change the depth of the variable cross-section portion inserted into the water outlet, thereby adjusting the flow area of the inlet end of the water outlet.
2. The water flosser with stepless adjustable water flow rate according to claim 1, characterized in that: The switching component includes a switching shaft, and the operating element is used to drive the switching shaft to move along the axial direction.
3. A dental flosser with stepless adjustable water flow rate according to claim 2, characterized in that: The variable cross-section portion extends axially along the switching axis, and the variable cross-section portion has a structure in which the cross-sectional width gradually increases along the direction away from the water outlet.
4. A dental flosser with stepless adjustable water flow rate according to claim 3, characterized in that: The variable cross-section portion extends radially outward to form a blocking portion on the side away from the water outlet. When the operating component drives the switching shaft to move axially until the blocking portion fits against the periphery of the water inlet end of the water outlet, the connection between the water inlet end of the water outlet and the water outlet end of the water inlet channel is broken.
5. A dental flosser with stepless adjustable water flow rate according to claim 2, characterized in that: The mandrel, water outlet, and switching shaft are coaxially arranged. The mandrel has a mounting cavity for mounting the switching shaft, and the water inlet channel is arranged on the outside of the mounting cavity in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction.
6. A dental flosser with stepless adjustable water flow rate according to claim 5, characterized in that: The mounting cavity is connected to the inlet end and outlet end of the water inlet channel respectively; the switching shaft is provided with a first seal and a second seal along the axial direction, and the first seal and the second seal are subjected to equal and opposite water pressure from the water inlet channel.
7. A dental flosser with stepless adjustable water flow rate according to claim 6, characterized in that: The switching shaft extends radially outward from the side away from the water outlet to form a limiting part, and the inner wall of the mounting cavity extends radially inward to form a limiting fitting part; the limiting part and the limiting fitting part are used to limit the switching movement stroke of the switching shaft along the axial direction.
8. A dental flosser with stepless adjustable water flow rate according to claim 7, characterized in that: The sum of the water pressure from the inlet channel on the limiting part and the blocking part is 0.
9. A dental flosser with stepless adjustable water flow rate according to any one of claims 2-8, characterized in that: The switching assembly also includes a push plate, which is fixedly connected to the switching shaft and the operating component respectively.
10. A dental flosser with stepless adjustable water flow rate according to claim 9, characterized in that: It also includes a housing, which has a clearance opening along its thickness direction, through which the operating member passes and is fixedly connected to a mounting hole on the push plate.
11. A dental flosser with stepless adjustable water flow rate according to claim 10, characterized in that: The push plate has an arc surface that fits against the inner wall of the housing, and stepped surfaces disposed on both sides of the arc surface along the width direction. The inner wall of the housing extends out to abut against the stepped surfaces.
12. A dental flosser with stepless adjustable water flow rate according to claim 9, characterized in that: The push plate has a second guide rail on the side facing the mandrel, and the mandrel has ribs extending into the guide rail.
13. A dental flosser with stepless adjustable water flow rate according to claim 9, characterized in that: The switching shaft has a constriction portion that tapers inward along the radial direction, and the push plate has a locking strip that engages with the constriction portion; the spindle has a clearance channel through which the locking strip passes.
14. A dental flosser with stepless adjustable water flow rate according to claim 9, characterized in that: The operating component is a push button, which drives the push plate, thereby causing the switching shaft to move axially.
15. A faucet comprising a water flosser with stepless adjustable water flow rate as described in any one of claims 1-14, wherein the faucet's outlet pipe is connected to the water inlet channel of the water flosser.