Microbubble Shower Head Using Swirl Flow Without a Spray Plate

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing shower heads without a water spray plate fail to generate micro bubbles effectively from tap water, leading to inadequate shower feeling and ease of use, as they often require external air intake and pressurization, and are prone to injury or damage due to their design.

Innovation Solution

A shower head design featuring a micro bubble generator with a tornado plate and pressing plate, integrated into a body with a cap, which generates micro bubbles from tap water without external air intake, using a micro bubble generation path with a narrowing and expanding cone shape to increase flow speed and create cavitation, ensuring the device is easy to hold and assemble.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a water spray plate is removed to simplify structure, then ease of manufacture is improved, but shower feeling quality deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure simplificationVSAvoidshower feeling quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the physical parameters of water flow by creating a narrowing water passage that increases flow speed, transforming the water discharge characteristics to achieve spray effect without a spray plate

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses hydraulic principles by narrowing the water passage to increase flow speed and generate spray discharge, utilizing fluid dynamics to replace the traditional spray plate structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

2Device complexity

If micro bubbles are generated without external air intake to simplify structure, then device complexity is reduced, but micro bubble generation effectiveness deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair intake structureVSAvoidmicro bubble generation
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The micro bubble generator uses the kinetic energy of the flowing water itself to generate micro bubbles, without requiring external air intake systems. The water flow creates cavitation and micro bubbles through the narrowing passage design

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses hydraulic energy of the water flow to generate micro bubbles through cavitation in the narrowing passage, converting kinetic energy into bubble formation without external air supply

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

3Speed

If flow speed is increased through narrowed passage to generate spray, then shower feeling is improved, but water pressure loss increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater flow speedVSAvoidwater pressure
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses a dynamically designed narrowing passage that gradually decreases in size to optimize flow acceleration while minimizing energy loss, creating spray discharge efficiently

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Ease of manufacture

If a tubular object without spray plate is used, then ease of manufacture is improved, but safety deteriorates due to injury risk

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoidinjury risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention divides the head unit into multiple components (body, bottom plate, pressing plate, cap) that can be assembled to create a safer structure with integrated spray generation, separating the spray generation function from a traditional spray plate

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 shower head effectively generates micro bubbles from tap water, providing a desirable shower feeling without a water spray plate, reducing maintenance needs and preventing injury or damage, while maintaining a strong shower experience even at low water pressure.

Implementation Method 1

a tornado plate positioned between the bottom plate and the micro bubble generator and including an eccentric hole configured to achieve an increased flow speed by swirling the tap water

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Implementation Method 2

a micro bubble generator placed on the bottom plate and including a micro bubble generating path formed inside

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCavitation: Cavitation

Implementation Method 3

a flow path through which tap water flows, and is held by a hand; a bottom plate fixed inside the head unit and including a drilled hole at a central part

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVenturi effect: Venturi Effect

Data Source

PatentEP3189757B1Shower head with which shower sensations can be obtained without providing water sprinkling plate
Publication Date: 2018.05.16 MICRO BUB
  • EP3189757B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3189757B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3189757B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

[Problem] To provide a shower head capable of providing a shower feeling without a water spray plate, and configured to effectively generate micro bubbles, provide a shower feeling, and easy to hold. [Solution] A shower head capable of providing a shower feeling without a water spray plate, the shower head including: a body that includes a head unit having one end connected with a hose through which tap water flows and including an opening formed at the other end, includes a flow path through which tap water flows, and is held by a hand; a bottom plate fixed inside the head unit and including a drilled hole at a central part; a micro bubble generator placed on the bottom plate and including a micro bubble generating path formed inside; a tornado plate positioned between the bottom plate and the micro bubble generator and including an eccentric hole configured to achieve an increased flow speed by swirling the tap water; a pressing plate housing the micro bubble generator and fixed inside the head unit together with the bottom plate; and a tubular cap fitted to the opening of the head unit and housing the micro bubble generator inside.