Rotating Showerhead Impeller for Expanded Spray Coverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional showerheads often fail to provide an effective spray pattern and aesthetically pleasing design, requiring significant repositioning and lacking sufficient spray coverage due to water flow and pressure limitations.
Innovation Solution
A showerhead design featuring a rotating impeller and outer body with multiple fluid outlets, supported by a flow adaptor and hydro-generator, which creates a converging and diverging spray pattern by channeling water through angled passageways and ribs, allowing for improved coverage even with reduced water flow and pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If conventional showerheads are used, then the structure is simple, but the spray coverage is insufficient and effective spray pattern is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The showerhead incorporates a rotating outer body with multiple fluid outlets that spin around a central axis, transforming the static spray pattern into a dynamic one. This rotation allows the spray coverage area to expand significantly over time as different outlets pass through various angular positions, effectively increasing the covered area without proportionally increasing structural complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The showerhead divides the spray function into multiple segments: an inner body with fixed outlets, an outer body with rotating outlets, and multiple fluid channels. This segmentation allows each component to contribute differently to the overall spray pattern, with the rotating outer body segments providing expanding coverage while the inner body provides consistent central spray
2Area of stationary object
If water flow and pressure are reduced, then energy consumption decreases, but spray coverage becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The rotating outer body creates a time-dependent spray pattern where water is distributed across a progressively larger area as rotation occurs. Even with reduced water flow quantity, the effective coverage area expands because the same water volume is distributed over time and space through the rotating outlets, achieving broader coverage with less water
Solution Approach 2:
The invention adds the temporal dimension to the spray pattern through rotation. Instead of static spatial distribution, the rotating outlets create a dynamic spatial-temporal pattern where spray coverage evolves over time, effectively covering a larger area with the same water quantity by utilizing the time dimension
3Area of stationary object
If the showerhead rotates, then spray coverage improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rotating outer body is fluidly coupled to the inner body through integrated fluid channels, merging the rotation function with the water delivery system. This integration allows the rotation to be driven by water flow itself rather than requiring a separate motor or actuator, reducing mechanical complexity while achieving expanded spray coverage
Solution Approach 2:
The water flow itself drives the rotation of the outer body through the fluid coupling between the inner and outer bodies. The system uses its own operating medium (water) to power the rotating mechanism, eliminating the need for external motors or power sources and reducing overall device complexity
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 showerhead achieves enhanced spray coverage and aesthetically pleasing design through its rotating components, ensuring consistent water distribution and optional integration of a hydro-generator for powering lights or additional features like temperature monitoring.
Implementation Method 1
an impeller fluidly coupled to the flow adaptor and having a plurality of ribs
Implementation Method 2
contacting an impeller with the rotating water, and rotating an outer body by the impeller
Implementation Method 3
A hydro-generator is fluidly coupled to the inlet fluid channel
Implementation Method 4
The outer body has a plurality of first fluid outlets and sprays water out of the plurality of first fluid outlets such that the resulting shower spray pattern converges and subsequently diverges
Data Source
AI summary
A showerhead including an inlet fluid channel, a flow adaptor, an impeller, and an outer body having a plurality of first outlets. The outer body is rotatably supported such that the first outlets rotate about the inlet fluid channel.