Kitchen Shower Head With Pulsating Spray and Continuous Flow

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing water faucets lack the ability to provide multiple spray patterns and efficient water savings, particularly in kitchen applications, while maintaining consistent water flow and hygiene standards.

Innovation Solution

A shower head with a rotating element in an annular channel that intermittently covers outlet openings, creating a pulsating spray pattern, and includes features like deflecting surfaces and a diverter for multiple water flow options.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a rotating element is added to create pulsating spray, then cleaning performance is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning performanceVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The rotating element is driven by the water flow itself through deflecting surfaces, eliminating the need for external motors or power sources. The water jet automatically activates and drives the rotation mechanism, making the system self-powered and avoiding additional complex components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses hydraulic principles by employing water flow as the driving force for the rotating element. The deflecting surfaces redirect the water jet to generate rotational motion, utilizing fluid dynamics to achieve the pulsating spray effect without mechanical motors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

2Productivity

If outlet openings are intermittently covered to create pulsation, then cleaning performance is improved, but water flow continuity may be affected

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning performanceVSAvoidwater flow continuity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The rotating element periodically covers and uncovers the outlet openings, creating a pulsating spray pattern. This periodic action alternates between blocking and allowing water flow, generating the desired pulsating effect that enhances cleaning performance through varying water momentum.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system maintains continuous water flow through the shower head by ensuring that while individual outlet openings are intermittently covered, the overall water supply remains uninterrupted. The rotating element's continuous motion ensures that water continuously exits through available openings, preventing pressure fluctuations and maintaining flow continuity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple spray patterns are provided, then user versatility is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespray pattern optionsVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The rotating element serves multiple functions: it drives the pulsating spray mechanism, provides the pulsating motion itself, and can be adjusted to create different spray patterns. This single component performs what would traditionally require multiple separate mechanisms, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The pulsating spray enhances cleaning performance by regularly changing water momentum, ensures continuous water flow without pressure fluctuations, and allows for efficient water use with multiple flow options.

Implementation Method 1

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

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMomentum: Conservation of Momentum

Implementation Method 2

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

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectImpulse: Impact Force

Data Source

PatentEP4059614B1Shower head for a water fitting
Publication Date: 2026.01.07 GROHE AG
  • EP4059614B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4059614B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP4059614B1 patent drawingFigure 6~8

AI summary

Shower head (1) for a kitchen water tap having 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) such that it rotates along the annular channel (4) when water exits the outlet (2), wherein the rotating element (5), as it rotates in the annular channel (4), briefly covers each individual outlet opening (3) so that an inflow of water to the respective outlet opening (3) is interrupted, thus causing a pulsation of water exiting the outlet openings (3) of the outlet (2).