shower equipment

Abstract

To provide a shower device that allows sufficient water to be supplied to water spray holes even though a configuration for injecting water flow radially from a center part is adopted, and the water spray holes are disposed at positions where they do not overlap directly with each injection orbit.SOLUTION: A plurality of water spray holes include a plurality of center side water spray holes disposed in the vicinity of a central injection part and outside water spray holes disposed farther from the central injection part than the center side water spray holes. At least some of the center side water spray holes of the plurality of center side water spray holes are disposed at positions where they do not overlap with the injection orbit by the central injection part. A space for spraying water is provided with a guide wall at a position where at least a portion overlaps with the injection orbit, and closer to the central injection part than the outside water spray holes. The guide wall guides air bubble mixed water injected along the injection orbit in a direction intersecting with the injection orbit.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a shower apparatus, and more particularly to a shower apparatus that mixes air into the discharged water. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, shower devices have been known that utilize the so-called ejector effect to mix air into water and discharge it as aerated water.

[0003] Patent Document 1 by the present applicant discloses a shower apparatus that employs a non-agitation aeration system and suppresses variations in the amount of water discharged from the nozzles.

[0004] Specifically, the shower device comprises a water supply section for supplying water, and an air mixing section for accelerating the water supplied from the water supply section and spraying it radially downstream as an accelerated jet of water. The shower device has a throttling section for accelerating the water before spraying it, and an enlarged-diameter section downstream of the throttling section and an air inlet for sucking in air. The air mixing section mixes the air sucked through the air inlet with the accelerated jet of water to produce aerated water. A spray surface downstream of the air mixing section has spray holes for discharging the aerated water that has flowed in from the air mixing section. The throttling section is arranged in a row in the circumferential direction, and the enlarged-diameter section is arranged in a row at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction and is formed as a single section for each of the throttling sections arranged in a row in the circumferential direction. The space defining the enlarged-diameter sections is flat. The throttling section is formed by providing a plurality of throttling channels, and one air inlet is provided for each of the throttling channels.

[0005] With this shower system, the throttle section is formed in a flat shape, so the accelerated jet also has a flat shape. This makes it easier for the accelerated jet to spread along the spray surface, reducing pressure variations within the shower system. This in turn reduces variations in the water spray from the spray holes and poor dispersion of entrained air, achieving a more uniform shower experience. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6617400 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] The inventors of the present invention have been studying ways to reduce the amount of water remaining inside a shower device, in order to prevent dripping of water remaining inside the device from being mistaken for a malfunction.

[0008] Reducing the volume of the shower's internal flow passages is an effective way to reduce the amount of water remaining inside the shower, but it has been discovered that such a design change can interfere with the even distribution of water to the multiple nozzles.

[0009] Specifically, when water flows are sprayed radially from the center, there are cases where water supply to spray holes that are positioned so as not to directly overlap with each spray trajectory is insufficient.

[0010] The present invention was made based on the above findings, and its object is to provide a shower apparatus that employs a configuration in which water jets radially from a central portion, and that ensures sufficient water supply to the nozzles even when the nozzles are positioned in positions that do not directly overlap with the jet paths. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] The present invention is a shower device comprising: a water supply section for supplying water; a central jet section for accelerating the water supplied from the water supply section, mixing air into the water to turn it into aerated water, and spraying the aerated water around it along a radial spray trajectory; a spray space defined around the central jet section into which the aerated water flows from the central jet section; and a plurality of spray holes provided in one side wall defining the spray space, the plurality of spray holes including a plurality of central spray holes disposed near the central jet section and a plurality of spray holes in front of the central spray holes. and outer spray holes positioned away from the central spray section, wherein at least some of the plurality of central spray holes are positioned so as not to overlap with the spray orbit, and a guide wall is provided within the spray space, the guide wall being positioned so as to overlap at least partially with the spray orbit and being closer to the central spray section than the outer spray holes, and the guide wall is configured to guide the aerated water sprayed along the spray orbit in a direction intersecting the spray orbit.

[0012] According to the present invention, the guide wall guides the aerated water sprayed along the spray trajectory in a direction that intersects with the spray trajectory, thereby enabling sufficient water to be supplied to the central watering holes that are located in a position that does not directly overlap with the spray trajectory.

[0013] For example, the guide wall is preferably configured to guide the aerated water sprayed along the spray trajectory in a circumferential direction in an arc shape in a plan view, or to guide the aerated water sprayed along the spray trajectory in a direction perpendicular to the spray trajectory.

[0014] It is also preferable that the guide wall extend radially outward from one of the at least some center-side nozzle holes that is located so as not to overlap with the spray trajectory, thereby more reliably supplying sufficient water to that one center-side nozzle hole.

[0015] Preferably, the guide wall is positioned so as to overlap a width of less than half the width of the spray path, thereby effectively maintaining water supply to the outer spray holes while ensuring sufficient water supply to the central spray holes that are positioned so as not to directly overlap the spray path.

[0016] It is also preferable that the guide wall extends from the bottom surface of the watering space to the ceiling surface, thereby more reliably supplying sufficient water to the central watering holes that are positioned so as not to directly overlap the spray trajectory.

[0017] It is also preferable that the plurality of spray holes and the guide wall are provided by spray packing, which allows the plurality of spray holes and the guide wall to be easily designed and manufactured with a high degree of freedom. [Effects of the Invention]

[0018] According to the present invention, the guide wall guides the aerated water sprayed along the spray trajectory in a direction that intersects with the spray trajectory, thereby allowing sufficient water to be supplied to the central spray hole that is located in a position that does not directly overlap with the spray trajectory. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] 1 is a side view of a shower apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the shower device of FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the shower device of FIG. [Figure 5] 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the principle of a central jetting part of the shower device of FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 6] 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the principle of the central jet of the shower device of FIG. 1. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] Next, a shower apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The shower apparatus 1 of this embodiment is a ceiling-mounted overhead shower apparatus that is embedded in a ceiling. Note that in this specification, "water" includes hot water, a mixture of hot and cold water, and other suitable temperatures.

[0021] (composition) Fig. 1 is a side view of shower device 1 according to the present embodiment, Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of shower device 1 according to the present embodiment, and Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of shower device 1 according to the present embodiment. Furthermore, Fig. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the principle of central jetting unit 6 of shower device 1 according to the present embodiment, and Fig. 6 is a horizontal cross-sectional view showing the principle of central jetting unit 6 of shower device 1 according to the present embodiment.

[0022] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, shower device 1 of this embodiment includes water supply unit 2 that receives water from a water supply pipe (not shown) and supplies the water to spray unit 4 via central spray unit 6.

[0023] The water spray unit 4 has a water spray surface portion 42 on which a plurality of water spray holes 44 are provided at approximately equal intervals. In the central region of the water spray unit 4, a central spray portion 6 is arranged.

[0024] The central injection section 6 accelerates the water supplied from the water supply section 2, mixes air into the water to turn it into aerated water, and then sprays the aerated water around it along a radial injection trajectory (see Figure 6).

[0025] As shown in Figure 2 in particular, sprinkler section 4 has sprinkler space 41, which is defined around central spray section 6 and into which aerated water flows from central spray section 6. A plurality of sprinkler holes 44 are provided in the lower (one side) wall that defines sprinkler space 41.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 2, the plurality of spray holes 44 includes a plurality of central spray holes 71a-71h arranged near the central spray portion 6, and a plurality of outer spray holes 72 arranged farther from the central spray portion 6 than the central spray holes 71a-71h.

[0027] As shown in Figure 2, at least some of the central water spray holes 71a to 71h, in this embodiment six central water spray holes 71a, 71b, 71d, 71e, 71f, and 71h, are located in positions that do not overlap with the radial spray trajectory (Figure 6).

[0028] As shown in Figure 2, four guide walls 75b, 75d, 75f, and 75h are provided within the watering space 41, at least a portion of which overlaps with the radial spray trajectory and which are positioned closer to the central spray section 6 than the outer watering holes 72.

[0029] Each of the four guide walls 75b, 75d, 75f, and 75h guides the aerated water sprayed along a radial spray trajectory in a direction intersecting the spray trajectory, as shown in Fig. 2. In this embodiment, each of the four guide walls 75b, 75d, 75f, and 75h guides the aerated water sprayed along the spray trajectory in a circumferential direction in an arc shape in a plan view.

[0030] Also, as shown in Figure 2, in this embodiment, each of the four guide walls 75b, 75d, 75f, and 75h extends radially outward from a corresponding one of the six central spray holes (in this embodiment, each of the central spray holes 71b, 71d, 71f, and 71h) that is located in a position that does not overlap with the spray trajectory.

[0031] Also, as shown in FIG. 2, in this embodiment, each of the four guide walls 75b, 75d, 75f, and 75h overlaps only by a width that is half or less of the original width of the jet trajectory with which it overlaps (it is particularly preferable that they overlap by 30 to 40% of the original width).

[0032] In addition, in this embodiment, each of the four guide walls 75b, 75d, 75f, and 75h extends from the bottom surface of the watering space 41 to the ceiling surface (protruding upward from the upper surface of the watering gasket 46 described later and reaching (adhering tightly to) the lower surface of the watering back portion 48).

[0033] In this embodiment, the plurality of water spray holes 44 and the four guide walls 75b, 75d, 75f, and 75h are provided by a water spray packing 46.

[0034] Referring to Figure 3, in sprinkler unit 4, a flow path is formed by sandwiching sprinkler packing 46 between sprinkler back surface portion 48 and packing support disk 47. Central injection unit 6 is disposed in the central region of sprinkler unit 4. Sprinkler surface portion 42 is attached to packing support disk 47.

[0035] The plurality of sprinkler holes 44 formed in the sprinkler packing 46 are accompanied by a cylindrical downward-hanging protrusion (called a sprinkler nozzle), which penetrates the packing support disc 47 and the sprinkler surface portion 42.

[0036] A vertical wall portion 46w is provided on the outer periphery of the sprinkler packing 46, and the space surrounded by the vertical wall portion 46w, the upper surface of the sprinkler packing 46, and the lower surface of the sprinkler back portion 48 forms the sprinkler space 41.

[0037] In this embodiment, the water spray space 41 has a height of approximately 1 mm and a volume of approximately 55,000 mm in order to reduce the amount of water remaining inside the shower device 1. 3 This is the height (approximately 2 mm) and volume (approximately 110,000 mm) of the corresponding space in a conventional shower device. 3 ), which is significantly reduced compared to

[0038] Water passing through the water supply section 2 and the central injection section 6 is supplied to this water spray space 41 and sprayed from a plurality of water spray holes 44 provided in the water spray packing 46 .

[0039] The packing support disc 47 and the water spray back part 48 are fixed by a screw 45, and the water spray packing 46 is held therebetween.

[0040] A water supply connector 22 for connecting the water supply unit 2 and the water sprinkler unit 4 is pre-connected to the water sprinkler rear part 48. The water supply connector 22 is fixed by screws 24 from the underside (inner side) of the water sprinkler rear part 48.

[0041] Figure 5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the principle of central jetting unit 6 of shower device 1 of this embodiment, and Figure 6 is a transverse cross-sectional view showing the principle of central jetting unit 6 of shower device 1 of this embodiment, but the shape of each element in these figures has been exaggerated for simplicity of illustration (the specific shape differs from that of the actual embodiment). Also, in each figure, arrows indicate the flow of water.

[0042] Water that reaches the central injection section 6 via the water supply connection section 22 passes through a plurality of water passage openings 68 that open in the radial direction, and is then forced into the throttle section 8, which has six throttle passages 82a, 82b, and 82c that are evenly spaced around the circumference and each of which has three parallel throttle passages 82a, 82b, and 82c. Each of the throttle passages 82a, 82b, and 82c has a smaller cross-sectional area than the previous passages, and the water is accelerated and ejected.

[0043] On the other hand, an expanded diameter section 84 is formed downstream of each of the throttle channels 82a, 82b, and 82c, and negative pressure is generated when the accelerated water suddenly enters a large space. An air inlet 86 is connected to the expanded diameter section 84, and the generated negative pressure causes air to be mixed into the water flow through the air inlet 86.

[0044] The air inlet 86 is connected below it to an air introduction passage 87. The air introduction passage 87 is further connected to an air intake port 88. A float ball 89, which functions as a check valve, is provided in the air introduction passage 87. The float ball 89 is sucked up by the negative pressure generated in the expanded diameter portion 84 when water is passing through, opening the air intake port 88. At this time, the air intake port 88 and the air introduction port 86 are connected, and air is drawn in. On the other hand, when the water is stopped, the float ball 89 falls downward due to gravity, blocking the air intake port 88. As a result, even if the communication between the air intake port 88 and the air introduction port 86 is blocked and water enters the air introduction passage 87, the water is prevented from leaking out of the air intake port 88.

[0045] In each throttling section 8, the jets accelerated in the three throttling passages 82a, 82b, and 82c join together in a single expanded diameter section 84 common to them, forming a jet along a flat radial spray trajectory that is supplied into the watering space 41.

[0046] (Action and effect) According to the shower apparatus 1 of this embodiment, the four guide walls 75b, 75d, 75f, and 75h guide the aerated water sprayed along the spray path in a direction intersecting the spray path, specifically, in a circumferential direction in an arc-like shape in a plan view. This ensures sufficient water supply to the four center spray holes 71b, 71d, 71f, and 71h, which are positioned so as not to directly overlap the spray path. This ensures smooth water spraying from these center spray holes 71b, 71d, 71f, and 71h, significantly reducing the frequency of water shortages during spraying and achieving a pleasant shower experience. Because center spray holes 71a and 71e are not on the spray path and do not experience an extremely high force from the inner periphery to the outer periphery, aerated water that reaches the outermost periphery can return from the outer periphery to the inner periphery, ensuring smooth water spraying.

[0047] Furthermore, according to shower apparatus 1 of this embodiment, each of four guide walls 75b, 75d, 75f, and 75h extends radially outward from a corresponding one of the six center-side spray holes (in this embodiment, each of center-side spray holes 71b, 71d, 71f, and 71h) that is located so as not to overlap with the spray trajectory. This more reliably ensures that sufficient water is supplied to that one center-side spray hole.

[0048] Furthermore, in shower apparatus 1 of this embodiment, each of four guide walls 75b, 75d, 75f, and 75h overlaps the corresponding jet path by less than half the original width of the corresponding guide wall. This allows for an effective water supply to outer spray holes 72 while still providing a sufficient water supply to central spray holes that are positioned so that they do not directly overlap the jet path.

[0049] Furthermore, according to shower apparatus 1 of this embodiment, each of four guide walls 75b, 75d, 75f, and 75h extends from the bottom surface to the ceiling surface of spray space 41. This ensures that sufficient water is supplied to central spray holes that are positioned so as not to directly overlap the spray trajectory.

[0050] Furthermore, according to shower apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, multiple spray holes 44 and four guide walls 75b, 75d, 75f, and 75h are provided by spray gasket 46. This allows multiple spray holes 44 and guide walls 75b, 75d, 75f, and 75h to be designed and manufactured easily and with a high degree of freedom.

[0051] (Variation) In the above embodiment, the guide walls 75b, 75d, 75f, and 75h are configured to guide the aerated water sprayed along the spray trajectory in the circumferential direction in an arc-like shape in plan view. Alternatively, the guide walls may be configured to guide the aerated water sprayed along the spray trajectory in a direction perpendicular to the spray trajectory (straight line direction). [Explanation of symbols]

[0052] 1. Shower equipment 2 Water supply section 4. Watering section 6 Central injection part 8. Constriction section 22 Water supply connection 24 screws 41 Watering space 42 Watering surface 44 Sprinkler holes 45 screws 46 Watering packing 46w standing wall section 47 Packing support disc 48 Watering rear part 68 Water opening 71a Central sprinkler hole 71b Central sprinkler hole 71c Central sprinkler hole 71d Central sprinkler hole 71e Central sprinkler hole 71f Central sprinkler hole 71g Central watering hole 71h Central sprinkler hole 72 Outside water sprinkling hole 75b Guidance wall 75d Guidance wall 75f Guidance wall 75h guidance wall 82a Restricted flow channel 82b Restricted channel 82c Restricted channel 84 Expanded diameter part 86 Air intake 87 Air intake passage 88 Air intake 89 Floating Ball

Claims

1. A shower apparatus comprising: a water supply unit for supplying water; a central injection unit that accelerates the water supplied from the water supply unit, mixes air into the water to form aerated water, and injects the aerated water along a radial injection trajectory toward the periphery; a watering space partitioned around the central spray portion and into which the aerated water flows from the central spray portion; A plurality of sprinkler holes provided in one side wall that defines the sprinkler space; Equipped with The plurality of water spray holes are a plurality of central spray holes arranged in the vicinity of the central spray portion; outer spray holes arranged farther from the central spray portion than the central spray holes; It has At least some of the center-side spray holes are located at positions that do not overlap with the spray trajectory, A guide wall is provided in the water spray space, at least a portion of which overlaps with the spray trajectory and which is positioned closer to the central spray portion than the outer water spray holes, the guide wall guides the aerated water sprayed along the spray trajectory in a direction intersecting the spray trajectory, The guide wall guides the aerated water jetted along the jet trajectory in a circumferential direction in an arc shape in a plan view. A shower device characterized by:

2. The guide wall extends from a position overlapping with the spray trajectory to a radially outer side of one of the at least some central spray holes that is not overlapping with the spray trajectory. The shower device according to claim 1 .

3. A shower apparatus comprising: a water supply unit for supplying water; a central injection unit that accelerates the water supplied from the water supply unit, mixes air into the water to form aerated water, and injects the aerated water along a radial injection trajectory toward the periphery; a watering space partitioned around the central spray portion and into which the aerated water flows from the central spray portion; A plurality of sprinkler holes provided in one side wall that defines the sprinkler space; Equipped with The plurality of water spray holes are a plurality of central spray holes arranged in the vicinity of the central spray portion; outer spray holes arranged farther from the central spray portion than the central spray holes; It has At least some of the center-side spray holes are located at positions that do not overlap with the spray trajectory, A guide wall is provided in the water spray space, at least a portion of which overlaps with the spray trajectory and which is positioned closer to the central spray portion than the outer water spray holes, the guide wall guides the aerated water sprayed along the spray trajectory in a direction intersecting the spray trajectory, The guide wall is positioned so as to overlap with a width equal to or less than half the width of the jet orbit. A shower device characterized by:

4. The guide wall guides the aerated water jetted along the jet trajectory in a circumferential direction in an arc shape in a plan view.

4. The shower device according to claim 3.

5. The guide wall is configured to guide the aerated water jetted along the jet trajectory in a direction perpendicular to the jet trajectory.

4. The shower device according to claim 3.

6. The guide wall extends from the bottom surface of the watering space to the ceiling surface.

6. The shower device according to claim 1, wherein the nozzle is a nozzle.

7. The plurality of water spray holes and the guide wall are provided by a water spray packing.

7. The shower device according to claim 6.

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