DEVICE FOR DELIVERING A WHIRLWARE JET

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for dispensing a water jet in the form of a vortex, for example for obtaining hand showers, showerheads, body sprays, or other dispensing devices.

[0002] Dispensing devices adapted to generate one or more water jets in the form of a vortex are already known. According to the operating pressure, these water jets may be particularly gentle on the skin or have a massaging effect, such as in the case of body sprays.

[0003] Certain embodiments of the dispensing device use rotating blade members which, when hit by a flow of water, put the flow itself into rotation in order to create the water vortex. Other embodiments provide for the use of rotating nozzles oriented so as to be slanted from one another.

[0004] In any case, all the known embodiments require the use of rotating members and therefore are complex and costly to construct and are more exposed to breakdowns or stops, for example due to the formation of limescale. An example of a dispensing device with rotating elements is disclosed in document CN 203886692 U. An example of a dispensing device with non-rotating mechanism is disclosed in document US 2013 / 221135 A1.

[0005] It is the object of the present invention to suggest a device for dispensing a water jet in the form of a vortex having a particularly simple and compact structure, consisting of a reduced number of components, and thus having increased reliability as compared to the known devices.

[0006] Such an object is achieved by a dispensing device according to claim 1. The dependent claims describe preferred or advantageous embodiments of the dispensing device according to the invention.

[0007] The features and advantages of the dispensing device according to the invention will become apparent in any case from the following description of preferred embodiments thereof, given only by way of non-limiting, indicative example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an axonometric bottom view of a variant of a dispensing device according to the present invention; Figure 2 is an exploded top view of the dispensing device in Figure 1; Figure 3 is an exploded bottom view of the dispensing device in Figure 1; Figure 4 is an axonometric section view of the dispensing device in Figure 1; Figure 5 is a section view of the dispensing device in Figure 1 in use, in which an output vortex is formed with an input low-pressure water jet, the vortex tending to close on itself, forming a balloon; Figure 6 is an axonometric bottom view of a further variant of a dispensing device according to the present invention; Figure 7 is an exploded top view of the dispensing device in Figure 5; Figure 8 is an exploded bottom view of the dispensing device in Figure 5; Figure 9 is a bottom view of an inner component of the dispensing device in Figure 1 and Figure 5, in particular of a swirling plate 102; Figure 10 is a section view of the dispensing device in Figure 1 in use, in which an output vortex is formed with an input high-pressure water jet, the vortex tending to remain open, forming a cone.

[0008] A device for dispensing a water jet in the form of a vortex according to the invention is indicated as a whole in said drawings by reference numeral 1. In particular, as shown in Figure 4, the dispensing device 1 according to the invention emits a water jet in which the vortex defines a shape with a particular aesthetical and dramatic effect, for example a cone (as in Figure 10) or a balloon (as in Figure 5).

[0009] In a general embodiment, device 1 comprises a device body 10 in which a water swirling path 12 is obtained.

[0010] Each swirling path 12 comprises a swirling chamber 14 having an annular cross section.

[0011] The swirling chamber 14 is defined between two opposite side walls 16, 116 which axially extend between a plurality of water inlet ends 18 and an annular water outlet end 20.

[0012] The water inlet ends 18 are circumferentially arranged all about the swirling chamber 14.

[0013] The opposite side walls 16, 116 are concave so that the swirling chamber 14 has a concave cross section with a concavity facing outwards, as clearly shown in Figure 4.

[0014] Moreover, the concave cross section of the swirling chamber 14 has a progressively decreasing diameter, thus from the water inlet ends 18 up to the annular water outlet end 20.

[0015] The longitudinal axis of the dispensing device 1 being defined as X, the inlet ends 18 define a plurality of transverse water inlets, i.e., the inlet ends 18 are arranged transversely. The annular outlet end 20 instead defines an axial water outlet, i.e., the annular outlet end 20 is arranged axially.

[0016] The swirling path 12 further comprises a plurality of chamber supply channels 24 obtained in the device body 10. These chamber supply channels 24 are fluidly connectable to a water feeding conduit and lead to the inlet ends 18 of the swirling chamber 14.

[0017] The chamber supply channels 24 are angled with respect to the swirling chamber 14, i.e., they do not intersect the swirling chamber either frontally or tangentially, rather in inclined manner.

[0018] As seen in Figure 9, the maximum size of the chamber supply channels 24, e.g., the width, is much less than the radial width of the swirling chamber 14. Thereby, the chamber supply channels 24 provide a series of pressurized water inlets to the swirling chamber 14. For example, the width of the chamber supply channel 24 is between 10% and 20% of the radial width of the swirling chamber 14.

[0019] The number of the chamber supply channels 24 is quite high, for example between 20 and 60, preferably between 30 and 50.

[0020] The chamber supply channels 24 are arranged close to one another in a continuous sequence.

[0021] The chamber supply channels 24 are uniformly distributed circumferentially about the swirling chamber 14.

[0022] Moreover, the chamber supply channels 24 are all inclined in the same manner with respect to the swirling chamber 14. Thereby, the chamber supply channels 24 provide a series of water inlets which intersect in the swirling chamber 14.

[0023] The chamber supply channels 24 are obtained so that the rotation directions of the adjacent water flows in the swirling chamber 14 coincide. Thereby, the rotation directions of the adjacent water jets are concordant to form an overall uniform and homogeneous vortex in the swirling chamber 14.

[0024] Advantageously, therefore, the dispensing device 1 internally comprises a water swirling path 12, defined by an annular swirling chamber 14 circumferentially fed by an increased number of inclined, i.e., angled, chamber supply channels 24 having reduced cross section.

[0025] Therefore, as shown in Figure 9, the idea at the basis of the present invention is the one of introducing a plurality of pressurized water flows into a swirling chamber 14 according to a direction which is inclined with respect to such a chamber so that each water flow meets with the preceding water flow in the swirling chamber 14 and is pushed thereby in a circular direction to form a single pressurized water flow which, guided by the side walls 16, 116, forms an output fast vortex from the swirling chamber. The cross section of the annular outlet end 20 is selected so that the rotation of the water flow is maintained. The output vortex is thus provided with an increased rotation speed so much so as to expand, once it has passed the annular outlet end 20, to form a balloon figure, as shown in Figure 4.

[0026] Moreover, in an embodiment, each chamber supply channel 44 is delimited by parallel side walls.

[0027] In an embodiment, the swirling chamber 14 extends about the longitudinal axis X of the dispensing device 1.

[0028] In an embodiment shown in the drawings, the chamber supply channels 24 are obtained in the thickness of a swirling plate 102 of the device body 10.

[0029] Moreover, in the embodiment shown, the chamber supply channels 24 are fed by an upper distribution chamber 30 communicating with the water feeding conduit and, for example, obtained in the thickness of the swirling plate 102 as well.

[0030] For example, the device body 10 comprises an upper closing cap 104 overlapping a lower closing cap 103. The swirling plate 102 is arranged between the upper closing cap 104 and the lower closing cap 103.

[0031] A water inlet passageway 106 open onto the central distribution chamber 30 and connectable to a water feeding conduit is defined between the upper closing cap 104 and the swirling plate 102.

[0032] The swirling chamber 14 is defined between the swirling plate 102 and lower closing cap 103. Therefore, the swirling chamber 14 is defined between the side wall 16, belonging to the swirling plate 102, and the side wall 116, belonging to the lower closing cap 103.

[0033] The swirling plate 102 thus comprises a discoid body having upper spacers 5 protruding at the top to keep a free space between the upper closing cap 104 and the swirling plate 102.

[0034] The swirling plate 102 comprises an annular peripheral wall 6 protruding at the bottom from the discoid body, in the thickness of which the chamber supply channels 24 are obtained.

[0035] The swirling plate 102 comprises an annular central wall 7 protruding at the bottom from the discoid body, which is the side wall 16 of the swirling chamber 14.

[0036] The swirling plate 102 comprises radial spacers 8 protruding laterally from the annular peripheral wall 6 to keep a free space between the upper closing cap 104 and / or from the lower closing cap 103 and the swirling plate 102.

[0037] In the example in Figures 1 to 5, the water inlet passageway 106 is connectable to a water feeding conduit by means of a threaded connection 107.

[0038] In the example in Figures 6 to 8, the water inlet passageway 106 is connectable to a hand shower.

[0039] In the example in Figures 1 to 5, the upper closing cap 104 and the lower closing cap 103 are mechanically connected, for example by means of screws inserted in specific connection holes 9.

[0040] In the example in Figures 6 to 8, the upper closing cap 104 and the lower closing cap 103 are fastened to each other, for example by means of welding or gluing.

[0041] Innovatively, a dispensing device according to the present invention has a particularly simple and compact structure and consists of a reduced number of fixed components, i.e., not rotating, and therefore is more reliable than the known devices.

[0042] Advantageously, the dispensing device 1 according to the present invention internally comprises a water swirling path 12 defined by an annular swirling chamber 14 circumferentially fed by an increased number of inclined chamber supply channels 24 having reduced cross section, capable of generating an output swirling water jet which defines a shape with a particular aesthetical and dramatic effect, for example a cone or a balloon.

Claims

1. A device (1) for dispensing a water jet in the form of a vortex, comprising a device body (10) in which at least one water swirling path (12) comprising a swirling chamber (14) is obtained; wherein said swirling chamber (14) is defined between two opposite side walls (16, 116) which axially extend between a plurality of water inlet ends (18) which are arranged circumferentially about the swirling chamber (14), and a water outlet end (20); wherein said swirling path (12) comprises a plurality of chamber supply channels (24) which are angled with respect to the swirling chamber (14), each channel being fluidly connectable to a water feeding conduit and leading into an inlet end (18) of the swirling chamber (14); characterized in that said opposite side walls (16, 116) are concave so that the swirling chamber (14) has a concave cross section with a concavity facing outwards.

2. A dispensing device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the chamber supply channels (24) are identically inclined so as to provide a series of converging inlets to form an overall uniform vortex in the swirling chamber (14).

3. A dispensing device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the width of the chamber supply channels (24) is between 10% and 20% of the radial width of the swirling chamber (14).

4. A dispensing device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the number of the chamber supply channels (24) is between 20 and 60, preferably between 30 and 50.

5. A dispensing device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the inlet ends (18) are transversely arranged with respect to the swirling chamber (14) and the outlet end (20) is axially arranged with respect to the swirling chamber (14).

6. A dispensing device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the swirling chamber (14) has a decreasing cross section towards the water outlet end (20) .

7. A dispensing device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a swirling plate (102) arranged between an upper closing cap (104) and a lower closing cap (103), wherein the swirling plate (102) is a discoid body provided with a peripheral wall (6), in the thickness of which the chamber supply channels (24) are obtained.

8. A dispensing device (1) according to claim 7, wherein the swirling chamber (14) is defined between the swirling plate (102) and the lower closing cap (103).

9. A dispensing device (1) according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the swirling plate (102) comprises a central wall (7) which forms one of the side walls (16) of the swirling chamber (14).

10. A dispensing device (1) according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the lower closing cap (103) comprises a central wall which forms one of the side walls (116) of the swirling chamber (14).