Mist generation structure

Abstract

The objective is to provide a mist generation structure that can reduce pressure loss in the water flow. [Solution] The shower head 1 of this disclosure comprises a plate-shaped member 2 oriented so that its plate surface is perpendicular to the water flow F, and the plate-shaped member 2 includes a spiral channel 21 that penetrates the plate-shaped member 2 in the thickness direction and has less than one turn. Multiple channels 21 are formed in the plate-shaped member 2, and all channels 21 contained in one plate-shaped member 2 are formed in a spiral shape that rotates in the same direction. The plate-shaped member 2 and the spray plate 4 function as a mist generating structure.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a mist generating structure.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a technology of a shower head having a structure for generating mist water has been proposed. For example, Patent Document 1 introduces an invention of a shower head including a spray guide having a spiral groove and a mist hole communicated with the spray guide. Patent Document 2 introduces an invention of a shower head including a mist guide formed in a conical spiral and a mist throttle hole.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, according to the mist generating structures (spray guide, mist guide) of Patent Documents 1 and 2, since a spiral shape with multiple turns is used, the flow path of the water flow becomes long, the pressure loss of the water flow increases, and there is a problem that the flow rate of the mist water decreases.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a mist generating structure capable of reducing the pressure loss of the water flow.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, the mist generating structure of the present disclosure includes a plate-like member oriented such that the plate surface is perpendicular to the water flow, and the plate-like member includes a spiral flow path that penetrates the plate-like member in the thickness direction and is less than one turn. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the mist generation structure of this disclosure, since the flow path is formed in a spiral shape with less than one rotation, the flow path of the water can be shortened, and the pressure loss of the water flow can be reduced. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a front view of a shower head showing one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of the showerhead along line AA. [Figure 3] Figure 1 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the showerhead along line BB. [Figure 4] (a) Front view, (b) Rear view, and (c) Perspective view of a plate-shaped member supported by a support. [Figure 5] (a) Front view, (b) Rear view, and (c) Perspective view of the plate-shaped member. [Figure 6] (a) a side view of the plate-shaped member supported by the support, (b) a cross-sectional view along line AA, and (c) an end view along line AA showing how the plate-shaped member is attached to the watering plate. [Figure 7] This is an explanatory diagram illustrating the operation of the mist generation structure. [Figure 8] This is a schematic diagram showing the relationship between the rotation direction of the flow path and the spray state of the mist water. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment of this disclosure applied to a shower head will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the spray plate side will be referred to as the front, and the shower head body side as the back.

[0010] As shown in Figures 1-3, the shower head 1 comprises a plate-shaped member 2, a support part 3 that supports the plate-shaped member 2, and a spray plate 4. The plate-shaped member 2 and the spray plate 4 function as a mist generating structure. The thickness of the plate-shaped member 2 is about 1 mm. The thickness of the spray plate 4 is about 1-2 mm.

[0011] As shown in Figure 4, the plate-shaped members 2 are arranged in a ring shape. In this arrangement, adjacent plate-shaped members 2 are arranged such that the rotation directions of the flow channels 21 formed in each plate-shaped member 2 are opposite to each other (see Figure 8(b)).

[0012] The support section 3 has plate-shaped members 2 arranged in a single or double or more concentric circle pattern. When arranged in a double or more concentric circle pattern, the support section 3 arranges the plate-shaped members 2 of the inner ring and the plate-shaped members 2 of the outer ring alternately. By arranging them in this way, a distance can be secured between the plate-shaped members 2 arranged in the inner ring and the plate-shaped members 2 arranged in the outer ring, thereby reducing interference between the sprayed mist water.

[0013] The plate-shaped member 2 and the support part 3 are integrally molded. The materials for the support part 3 and the plate-shaped member 2 can be selected from resin materials such as ABS resin, polyacetal (POM), and polyamide (PA), or metal materials such as brass and stainless steel. Because the support part 3 and the plate-shaped member 3 are integrally molded, the work of attaching each individually molded plate-shaped member 3 to the support part 3 is eliminated, significantly improving the workability when assembling the shower head 1.

[0014] As shown in Figure 5, the plate-shaped member 2 is formed in a circular shape. The plate-shaped member 2 also has a spiral channel 21 that penetrates the plate-shaped member 2 in the thickness direction and has a rotation of less than one turn. The channel can be configured to have, for example, 1 / 12 to 1 / 6 of a turn. This configuration reduces pressure loss (resistance) when generating mist water. In addition, by making the channel 21 less than one turn, the thickness of the plate-shaped member 2 can be reduced, making the entire mist generation structure more space-saving. The width of the channel 21 is about 0.6 to 0.8 mm, more preferably about 0.7 mm. The inclination of the channel 21 with respect to the plate surface can be 30 to 60 degrees.

[0015] The flow path 21 includes an inlet 22 that opens on the upstream side of the flow path 21 and an outlet 23 that opens on the downstream side of the flow path 21. In the spiral flow path 21, the outlet 23 is arranged at a different phase less than one rotation from the inlet 22. The water flow F flowing in from the inlet 22 is stirred by centrifugal force while advancing through the spiral flow path 21, granulated, and becomes a swirling flow T of mist water, which flows out from the outlet 23. The phase difference θ between the inlet 22 and the outlet 23 can be about 30 to 60 degrees.

[0016] The flow path 21 is formed in an arc-shaped oblong cross-section. The inlet 22 and the outlet 23 are formed in the same shape (arc-shaped oblong) and the same area as the cross-section of the flow path 21. By forming the flow path 21 in an arc-shaped oblong shape, a larger amount of water flow F can be taken in and a larger amount of mist water can be generated than when the flow path 21 is formed in a perfect circle.

[0017] The plate-like member 2 includes a plurality of flow paths 21. All the flow paths 21 included in one plate-like member 2 are formed in a spiral shape that rotates in the same direction. The mist water flowing out from the plurality of flow paths 21 merges inside the mist hole 41, and the swirling flow T is strengthened by the synergistic effect. Therefore, even when the rotation speed of the flow path 21 is less than one rotation, a swirling flow T with the same strength as when the rotation speed is one rotation or more can be obtained.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 6, the sprinkler plate 4 includes mist holes 41 for spraying mist water. The mist holes 41 are arranged in one or more concentric circles centered on the central portion of the sprinkler plate 4 and at positions facing the plate-like member 2.

[0019] The mist hole 41 has a housing portion 42 for housing the plate-like member 2. The housing portion 42 has an engaging portion 42a that engages with the outer peripheral portion of the plate-like member 2. As shown in FIG. 6(c), when the plate-like member 2 is housed in the housing portion 42, the engaging portion 42a engages with the outer edge of the plate-like member 2, and the plate-like member 2 is oriented such that the plate surface of the plate-like member 2 is perpendicular to the water flow F.

[0020] As shown in Figure 7, the mist hole 41 comprises a constricted section 45 with a hole diameter smaller than the surrounding area, and hemispherical shell-shaped curved surfaces 43 and 44 that narrow towards the constricted section 45. The swirling flow T of mist water flowing out from the outlet 23 is pressurized as it passes through the upstream curved surface 43 and is collected at the constricted section 45, and then sprayed over an appropriate area via the downstream curved surface 44. The maximum cross-sectional area of ​​the mist hole 41 is 10-12 mm². 2 The cross-sectional area of ​​the aperture section 45 is 0.28~1.2 mm². 2 It can be done this way.

[0021] Next, the operation of the showerhead 1 configured as described above will be explained with reference to Figures 7 and 8.

[0022] As shown in Figure 7(a), the water flow F that flows into the inlet 22 of the plate-shaped member 2 is atomized while flowing in a spiral shape, becoming a swirling flow T of mist water, which flows out from the outlet 23. As shown in Figure 7(b), the swirling flow T of mist water that flows out from the outlet 23 flows into the mist holes 41. The swirling flow T of mist water that flows into the mist holes 41 swirls along the upstream curved surface 43 and is collected at the constricted section 45. At this time, as it approaches the constricted section 45, the diameter of the swirling flow T is reduced, and high-pressure mist water is generated. The high-pressure mist water that has passed through the constricted section 45 is sprayed while swirling along the downstream curved surface 44.

[0023] Figure 8 shows the relationship between the rotation direction of the flow path 21 of the plate-shaped member 2 and the spray state of the mist water.

[0024] Figure 8(a) shows an example in which adjacent plate-shaped members 2 are arranged such that the rotation directions of the flow channels 21 formed in each plate-shaped member 2 are the same. In this case, the adjacent plate-shaped members 2 generate a swirling flow T of mist water with the same rotation direction. As a result, interference occurs in the intermediate region M between the plate-shaped members 2 in opposite directions, which weakens the swirling flow T or causes turbulence in the swirling flow T.

[0025] On the other hand, in this disclosure, as shown in Figure 8(b), adjacent plate-shaped members 2 are arranged such that the rotation directions of the flow channels 21 formed in each plate-shaped member 2 are opposite to each other. In this case, adjacent plate-shaped members 2 generate a swirling flow T of mist water with opposite rotation directions. As a result, forward interference occurs in the intermediate region M between the plate-shaped members 2, strengthening the swirling flow T and suppressing turbulence in the swirling flow T. Therefore, in this disclosure, it is possible to efficiently spray mist water and suppress turbulence in the mist water.

[0026] With the shower head 1 configured as described above, the flow path 21 is formed in a spiral shape with less than one rotation, thus shortening the flow path 21 of the water flow F and reducing the pressure loss of the water flow F. Furthermore, because the flow path 21 is formed in a spiral shape with less than one rotation, the plate-shaped member 2 can be made thinner, enabling space saving.

[0027] This disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above, and it is possible to implement the invention by appropriately changing the shape and configuration of each part without departing from the spirit of this disclosure. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0028] 1 shower head 2 Plate-shaped member 3 Support part 4. Sprinkler plate 21 Flow channels 22 Inlet 23 Outlet 41 Mist holes 42 Housing section (a: engagement section) 43. Curved surface (upstream side) 44 Curved surface (downstream side) 45 Aperture section M middle area F water flow T swirl flow

Claims

1. A mist generating structure that generates mist water, It comprises a plate-shaped member oriented so that its surface is perpendicular to the water flow, A mist generating structure in which the plate-like member includes a spiral channel that penetrates the plate-like member in the thickness direction and has less than one rotation.

2. The plate-shaped member includes a plurality of the flow channels, The mist generating structure according to claim 1, wherein all of the flow channels contained in one of the plate-shaped members are formed in a spiral shape that rotates in the same direction.

3. The mist generating structure according to claim 1, wherein the outlet of the flow path is arranged in a different phase from the inlet of the flow path.

4. The plate-shaped member is provided with a support portion, The mist generating structure according to claim 1, wherein the plate-like member and the support portion are integrally molded.

5. The plate-like members comprise a plurality of the aforementioned plate-like members, Multiple plate-like members are arranged in an annular shape. The mist generating structure according to claim 1, wherein adjacent plate-shaped members are arranged such that the rotation directions of the flow channels formed in each plate-shaped member are in opposite directions to each other.

6. Equipped with a spray plate, The spray plate includes mist holes for spraying the mist water generated by the mist generating structure, A mist generating structure in which the mist holes include a housing portion for housing the plate-shaped member.

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