Pull-out hose guidance device with guide weight roller and sanitary shower

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing pull-out hose guide devices lack effective mechanisms to prevent guide weight rollers from moving undesirably during maintenance, cleaning, or when the hose guide box is tilted, leading to potential damage or interference.

Innovation Solution

A roller blocking device that can hold guide weight rollers in position between inward and outward end positions, using a blocking bracket coupled to the roller axis and a pivoting lever or rotatable threaded control rod to secure the rollers, preventing them from moving beyond a predetermined position.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If guide weight rollers are allowed to move freely during hose extension and retraction, then the hose can be pulled out and retracted smoothly, but the rollers may fall out or move excessively when the hose guide box is tilted or during maintenance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehose extension and retractionVSAvoidroller position stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The blocking bracket is designed to be movable between a blocking position and a release position. During normal operation, the bracket is in the release position allowing free roller movement. During maintenance or tilting, the bracket moves to the blocking position to secure the rollers. This dynamic switching resolves the contradiction between free movement during operation and position stability during maintenance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The pivoting lever acts as an intermediary mechanism that controls the blocking bracket. When the lever is pivoted to the blocking position, it activates the blocking bracket to secure the rollers. When pivoted to the release position, it allows the bracket to move away and permit free roller movement. This intermediary control mechanism enables safe switching between operational and maintenance states.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If a blocking mechanism is added to prevent roller movement during maintenance, then roller position stability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveroller position stabilityVSAvoidblocking mechanism structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The blocking mechanism is designed to be self-actuating through gravity and simple pivot motion. When the hose guide box is tilted or during maintenance, the blocking bracket automatically moves to the blocking position without requiring external power or complex control systems. The pivoting lever provides simple manual control, eliminating the need for motors, sensors, or complex electronic controls.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The blocking mechanism is segmented into independent functional components: the pivoting lever for control input, the blocking bracket for actual roller securing, and the connection elements between them. This segmentation allows each component to be simple and focused on a single function, reducing overall complexity while achieving reliable roller positioning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If the blocking bracket is positioned to fully secure the rollers, then roller position stability is maximized, but the hose cannot be extended or retracted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveroller position stabilityVSAvoidhose extension and retraction
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The blocking bracket dynamically switches between two states: blocking position for maintenance security and release position for operational freedom. The pivoting lever enables easy transition between these states. During hose extension and retraction, the bracket is in the release position allowing complete roller movement freedom. During maintenance or tilting, the bracket moves to the blocking position to secure the rollers, thus resolving the contradiction between security and operational freedom.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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

Prevents guide weight rollers from falling out or moving excessively, ensuring they remain in place during maintenance, cleaning, and when the hose guide box is tilted, thereby reducing damage and maintaining operational stability.

Implementation Method 1

The guide weight roller, with its roller pivot axis, is translationally movable in a hose bend direction: outwards as the hose bend length decreases and inwards as the hose bend length increases

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Implementation Method 2

A roller blocking device that can hold guide weight rollers in position between inward and outward end positions, using a blocking bracket coupled to the roller axis and a pivoting lever or rotatable threaded control rod to secure the rollers

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical constraint: Mechanical Force

Data Source

PatentEP3517694B1Pull-out hose guidance device with guide weight roller and sanitary shower
Publication Date: 2021.04.14 HANS GROHE GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3517694B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3517694B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6
  • EP3517694B1 patent drawingFigure 7~8

AI summary

2.1. The invention relates to a pull-out hose guide device for guiding a pull-out hose with at least one hose bend of variable length, wherein the pull-out hose guide device comprises a hose guide box (1) which is configured to receive the hose bend in a position sagging inwards in a rotationally secure manner, and a guide weight roller arrangement (6) with at least one guide weight roller (6a) which can be inserted into a bend reversal area of ​​the hose bend so as to be rotatable about a roller pivot axis (DR), wherein the guide weight roller with its roller pivot axis is translationally movable in a hose bend length direction (LS) outwards from the box as the hose bend length decreases and inwards as the hose bend length increases, and to a sanitary shower head equipped with such a pull-out hose guide device. 2.2.According to the invention, the pull-out hose guide device has a roller locking device (8) which, in a roller release state, releases the guide weight roller (6a) in its translational movement and, in a roller locking state, locks the guide weight roller against further movement at least in an outward direction (BA) beyond a roller locking position (RB), wherein the roller locking position is spaced inward from an outward end position (EA) of the guide weight roller, which corresponds to a minimum hose arc length. 2.3. Use e.g. for bathtub hand showers and kitchen sink showers.