Variable flow rate hand showers and showerheads
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current low flow rate showerheads lack effectiveness in rinsing and maintaining warmth, with aftermarket solutions often causing mounting issues due to additional weight and being cumbersome and unsightly.
Innovation Solution
A shower device featuring an elongated hollow waterway with a spray head and valve that allows for variable water flow adjustment through a rotating collar, integrated into the handle, and a magnetic docking system for height adjustment, along with an air induction element to reduce water consumption without compromising cleaning performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If aftermarket adapter devices are used to reduce water flow, then water consumption is reduced, but mounting stability deteriorates due to additional offset weight
Solution Approach 1:
The flow control valve is integrated directly into the hand shower body, merging the flow control function with the shower structure. This eliminates the need for separate aftermarket adapter devices that caused mounting instability, while still enabling water flow reduction from full rate to a trickle through the valve's rotation mechanism.
2Loss of substance
If aftermarket adapter devices are installed to reduce water flow, then water consumption is reduced, but device complexity and aesthetics worsen due to cumbersome appearance
Solution Approach 1:
The flow control valve is integrated directly into the hand shower body, merging the flow control function with the shower structure. This eliminates the need for separate aftermarket adapter devices that caused mounting instability, while still enabling water flow reduction from full rate to a trickle through the valve's rotation mechanism.
3Loss of substance
If low flow rate is used in showerheads, then water consumption is reduced, but rinsing effectiveness and warmth maintenance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The valve provides dynamic, variable flow rate adjustment through rotation, allowing users to select between full flow rate for effective rinsing and reduced flow rate for water conservation. This dynamic control enables the system to adapt between different operational requirements, maintaining rinsing effectiveness when needed while reducing consumption during other phases.
Data Source
AI summary
A shower device includes an elongated hollow waterway, a spray head configured to emit water, and a valve. The elongated hollow waterway extends in a longitudinal direction and has a first end configured to receive water, a second end, and an internal fluid passage extending from the first end to the second end. The second end has a port extending in a radial direction from the internal fluid passage through the waterway. The valve is configured to control a water flow rate from the internal fluid passage of the waterway to the spray head. The valve includes a valve body that surrounds the port and a control member operatively coupled to the valve body and surrounding at least a portion of the valve body. Rotation of the control member and valve body relative to the waterway provides a variable adjustment of the water flow rate to the spray head.