Shower head for a water tap

Description

[0001] This description refers to a water faucet particularly suitable for kitchen applications. Recently, hygiene requirements for water faucets have steadily increased. At the same time, there is a growing need to provide users with multiple spray patterns, allowing them to choose from different water delivery options (e.g., varying spray intensities). For example, a powerful, high-intensity spray can be used to clean dishes, while a gentler spray can be used for washing vegetables or similar tasks.

[0002] Furthermore, the ability to save water is becoming increasingly important in all applications. This is particularly true for kitchen faucets. US 5 201 468 A, EP 3 733 296 A2 and US 9 657 466 B2 disclose shower heads representing the state of the art.

[0003] Based on this, a particularly advantageous new shower head will be described, with which both the selection of a desired spray pattern and the realization of water savings are possible in a complementary way.

[0004] These problems are solved with a shower head according to the features of claim 1. Further advantageous embodiments of the shower head, as well as a particularly advantageous water fitting with such a shower head, are specified in the dependent claims, to which, however, the invention is not limited. The invention is further explained with reference to the figures and the corresponding description.

[0005] This describes a shower head for a kitchen water tap having a water outlet formed by a plurality of outlet openings, wherein the outlet openings branch off from an annular channel, wherein at least one rotating element is arranged in the annular channel such that it rotates along the annular channel when water emerges from the outlet, wherein the rotating element, as it rotates in the annular channel, briefly covers each individual outlet opening, so that an inflow of water to the respective outlet opening is interrupted, thus causing a pulsation of water emerging from the outlet openings of the outlet.

[0006] It is particularly advantageous if at least one deflecting surface is arranged on the at least one rotating element, which causes a deflection of water in the annular channel in a circumferential direction along the annular channel in order to generate an impulse which supports a circular motion of the at least one rotating element in the annular channel.

[0007] The described shower head can produce a pulsating spray. A pulsating spray can offer significantly improved cleaning performance compared to non-pulsating sprays. This is because the pulsation causes the momentum of the water exiting the shower head to change regularly. This often results in improved removal of dirt and grime by the water.

[0008] The pulsation of the exiting water is achieved by the first rotating element in the annular channel repeatedly and regularly closing the individual outlet openings. The flow of water exiting each outlet opening is briefly interrupted. In this way, pulsation can be achieved using simple mechanical means. In particular, no active activation and deactivation of individual outlet openings is required to create a pulsating jet.

[0009] The annular channel rotates 360° around the outlet of the shower head. The rotating element can perform a complete rotation indefinitely within the annular channel. Therefore, once the production element is accelerated to the desired speed, only a very small impulse is required to maintain the rotation of the element within the annular channel.

[0010] The outlet openings of the shower head are preferably arranged evenly distributed along the annular channel. Preferably, there are between 10 and 100 outlet openings along the annular channel (for example, between 15 and 35 outlet openings; in a particularly preferred embodiment, for example, exactly 20 outlet openings). The exact number of outlet openings is not significant for the functionality of the shower head described here.

[0011] Simultaneously, it can also be ensured that some outlet openings are always open, or that a fixed number of outlet openings (for example, 20 outlet openings) are always closed, with a maximum of three openings closed at any one time. The total amount of water flowing from the shower head is therefore continuous. This has many advantages, as it avoids pressure fluctuations within the shower head and in the water supply system. The shower head described here thus provides water with a unique spray pattern, particularly suitable for kitchen faucets.

[0012] According to the invention, an annular channel in the shower head is formed by a guide insert, which forms the guide (the annular channel) as a half-shell. Preferably, an outlet cap is placed on this guide insert, forming the other half-shell of the guide (the annular channel). The outlet cap is removable. This allows the annular guide and the rotating element to be cleaned by removing the outlet cap.

[0013] Furthermore, it is advantageous if at least one deflection is provided at an inlet for water in the annular channel, which causes a deflection of water in the annular channel in a circumferential direction along the annular channel in order to generate an impulse which supports a circular motion of the at least one rotating element in the annular channel.

[0014] The inlet is preferably an opening through which water supplied by the shower head enters the annular channel before exiting the annular channel with the spray pattern at the outlet openings. In preferred embodiments, there are multiple inlets, preferably evenly distributed around the circumference of the shower head along the annular channel. A deflection of the water upon entering the annular channel at the inlet means, in particular, that the water does not enter the annular channel in a perpendicular direction (perpendicular here especially to a plane formed or defined by the annular channel). Most preferably, the water enters the annular channel such that at least one component of the incoming water flow is along a circumferential direction of the annular channel.This can be achieved, for example, by using inclined surfaces whose direction has a component in the circumferential direction.

[0015] According to the invention, the at least one rotating element can be a sphere. A sphere as a rotating element has many advantages because a sphere is less likely to stick in the annular channel than a more complex component. Furthermore, manufacturing tolerances are particularly easy to maintain with a sphere.

[0016] According to the invention, the at least one rotating element can be a slide element adapted to the curvature of the annular channel.

[0017] A sliding element used as a mutation element has the advantage of providing particularly precise guidance within the annular channel. Due to the shape of the sliding element, the cross-section of the annular channel is preferentially filled completely over a specific angular segment of the channel. This allows for complete closure of the outlet openings.

[0018] Furthermore, it is advantageous if the at least one rotating element is a ring element which is rotatably arranged in the annular channel.

[0019] A rotating element designed as a ring offers particular advantages because it allows for exceptionally precise control of the element's movement. The ring element preferably fills the annular channel completely on all sides. A special cover area is preferably provided on the ring element, located only within a specific angular segment of the ring element, and is designed to conceal the outlet openings. The size of the cover area, or the angular segment it covers, is precisely calibrated to achieve the desired pulsation. This ensures that the exact number of outlet openings required is concealed. Additionally, the rotating element designed as a ring preferably incorporates deflection surfaces that redirect the water flow within the annular channel.If such deflection surfaces are incorporated into the rotating element, it may no longer be necessary to provide additional deflections at the water inlets into the annular channel. With such deflection surfaces on the rotating element, even when water flows into the annular channel in a vertical direction, a momentum can be generated that supports the rotation of the rotating element.

[0020] Particularly advantageous is the shower head having an additional outlet which is arranged in a central area surrounded by the outlet with the outlet openings and with which a mousseur jet can be provided.

[0021] Also described here is a shower head having a diverting device with which either a first water-conducting connection from a water inlet to the outlet with the annular channel and the outlet openings or a second water-conducting connection from the water inlet to the further outlet within the annular channel can be established to provide a mousseur jet.

[0022] Preferably, the shower head has a switch with which the diverter can be changed.

[0023] The invention and its technical context are explained in more detail below with reference to the figures. The figures show preferred embodiments, to which the invention is not limited. It should be noted that the figures, and in particular the size relationships shown in the figures, are only schematic. They show: Fig. 1: a described shower head, Fig. 2: an outlet cap of a described shower head, Fig. 3: a guide insert of a described shower head, Fig. 4: a cross-section through the in Fig. 3 illustrated track insertion Fig. 5; an alternative track insertion to Fig. 3 in a top view, Fig. 6: a first type of rotational element, Fig. 7: a second type of rotational element, and Fig. 8: a third type of rotational element.

[0024] Fig. 1Figure 1 shows a described shower head 1, which has a water inlet 17 to which, for example, a hose (not shown here) can be connected to supply the shower head with water. The water flows along a first water-conducting connection 16 from the water inlet 17 to an outlet 2, where the water is provided to the user in the form of a spray pattern. The outlet 2 is formed by a plurality of outlet channels 3, from which individual jets emerge. The spray pattern provided at the outlet 2 can also be referred to as a "shower jet". The outlet channels 3 of the outlet 2 branch off from an annular channel 4. The annular channel 4 forms a path in which at least one rotating element 5 can rotate.Means are provided to support a circular motion of the rotating element 5 in the annular channel 4, which have already been described earlier and will be described in more detail below in connection with the further figures.

[0025] Preferably, in addition to outlet 2, there is a further outlet 13, which is arranged in a central area 14 within or surrounded by the annular channel 4. This further outlet 13 is supplied with water via a second water-conducting connection 18 from the water inlet 17 to the further outlet 13. Water is supplied to the further outlet 13 in a mousseur jet. Preferably, the shower head 1 has a diverter 15 designed as a valve, with which either the first water-conducting connection 16 to outlet 2 or the second water-conducting connection 18 to the further outlet 13 can be opened. The diverter 15 is preferably actuated by a switch 22.

[0026] The Fig. 2 shows an outlet cap 20 of a described shower head 1. Fig. 3Figure 1 shows a guide insert 21 of a described shower head 1. The outlet cap 20 and the guide insert 21 together form the annular channel 4 in which the (not shown here) rotating element 5 can rotate in the circumferential direction 7. Both the outlet cap 20 and the guide insert 21 are also available in Fig. 1 shown. The actual outlet 2 is formed by the outlet openings 3 in the outlet cap 20. The (here free) central area 14 is also visible, in which, according to the shower head 1 Fig. 1 , then the further outlet 13 is arranged for the aerator jet. In Fig. 3 Inlets 8 can be seen through which water can enter the ring-shaped channel 4.

[0027] In Fig. 4A cross-section through the track insert is shown according to section AA depicted in Fig. 3d. An inlet 8 is shown as an example. It can be seen that the inlet 8 is displaced by a deflection 9 relative to a perpendicular direction 24 (normal to the circumferential direction 7). This directs water into the annular channel 4 in such a way that a flow and momentum are generated there, which drive the rotating body 5 and cause it to rotate, so that the outlet openings 3 are opened according to Fig. 2 They are each briefly obscured, creating a pulsating beam.

[0028] The Fig. 5 shows another alternative railway deployment 21 to Fig. 4 in a top view. This track insert 21 has inlets 8 with a multitude of deflection surfaces 6 to create a flow in the annular channel 4.

[0029] The Figs. 6, 7 and 8Figure 1 shows different types of rotating elements 5 that can circulate in the annular channel 4 of the shower head 1. Fig. 6 A sphere 10 is shown, which forms a first type of rotational element 5. In Fig. 7 A slide element 11 is shown, which forms a second type of rotation element 5 and which has a curvature 23 adapted to the shape of the annular channel 4. Fig. 8A ring element 12 is shown as a rotational element 5 according to a third type. Such a ring element 12 preferably also has a curvature adapted to the annular channel 4. It is rotatably arranged in the annular channel 4 and can be directly designed with a plurality of deflection surfaces 6, which cause a deflection of water flowing through the annular channel 4 to the outlet openings 3 and thus support an angular momentum of the ring element 12. The ring element 12 as a rotational element 5 also has a covering area 19 which, during the rotation of the ring element 12, always covers the individual outlet openings 3 for a short time interval, so that the supply of water to these outlet openings 3 is interrupted, resulting in a pulsating jet provided at the outlet 2. Reference symbol list

[0030] 1 Shower head 2 Outlet 3 Outlet opening 4 Ring-shaped channel 5 Rotating element 6 Deflection surface 7 Circumferential direction 8 Inlet 9 Deflection 10 Ball 11 Slide element 12 Ring element 13 Additional outlet 14 Central area 15 Diverter 16 First water-conducting connection 17 Water inlet 18 Second water-conducting connection 19 Cover area 20 Outlet cap 21 Track insert 22 Switch 23 Curve 24 Vertical direction

Claims

1. A shower head (1) for a kitchen water faucet, comprising an outlet (2) for water which is formed by a plurality of outlet openings (3), wherein the outlet openings (3) branch off from an annular channel (4), wherein at least one rotating element (5) is arranged in the annular channel (4) in such a manner that it rotates along the annular channel (4) when water runs out of the outlet (2), wherein the rotating element (5) covers each individual outlet opening (3) in each case for a short time as it rotates in the annular channel (4) so that an inflow of water to the respective outlet opening (3) is interrupted, so that a pulsation of water running out of the outlet openings (3) of the outlet (2) is effected, characterised in that the annular channel (4) in the shower head is formed by a conduit insert which forms the annular channel (4) as a half-shell and a removable outlet cap is placed on the conduit insert, which outlet cap forms the other half-shell of the annular channel, wherein the at least one rotating element (5) is a ball (10), and / or wherein the at least one rotating element (5) is a slide element (11) adapted to the curvature of the annular channel (4).

2. The shower head (1) according to claim 1, wherein at least one deflection surface (6) is arranged on the at least one rotating element (5), which deflection surface effects a deflection of water in the annular channel (4) in a circumferential direction (7) along the annular channel (4) in order to generate an impulse which supports a rotational movement of the at least one rotating element (5) in the annular channel (4).

3. The shower head (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one deflection (9) is provided at an inlet (8) for water into the annular channel (4), which effects a deflection (9) of water in the annular channel (4) in a circumferential direction (7) along the annular channel (4) in order to generate an impulse which supports a rotational movement of the at least one rotating element (5) in the annular channel (4).

4. The shower head (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one rotational element (5) is an annular element (12) which is rotatably arranged in the annular channel (4).

5. The shower head (1) according to claim 1, comprising a further outlet (13) which is arranged in a central region (14) surrounded by the outlet (2) having the outlet openings (3) and with which a mousseur jet can be provided.

6. The shower head (1) according to claim 5, comprising a switching means (15) with which a first water-conducting connection (16) from a water inlet (17) to the outlet (2) with the annular channel (4) and the outlet openings (3), or a second water-conducting connection (18) from the water inlet (17) to the further outlet (13) within the annular channel (4) can be optionally established for providing a mousseur jet.