Handheld Shower Ball Joint Coupling for Hose Rotation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hand shower sets face challenges with mobility and rotation due to unintentional loosening of screw connections under pressure and wear issues at coupling points, limiting their ability to twist relative to the hose line without leaking.
Innovation Solution
A ball joint coupling with an annular groove and ring seal arrangement, allowing the first joint part to pivot radially without axial loads, ensuring secure holding and sealing functions are separate, and the ring seal is subjected only to radial loads, reducing frictional forces and preventing unintentional loosening.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a screw connection is used to connect the hand shower and hose line, then the coupling is simple and easy to manufacture, but the hand shower cannot be twisted relative to the longitudinal axis without unintentional loosening and leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling is divided into two functional parts: a screw connection for secure attachment and a ball joint for rotation. The ball joint consists of a first joint part with a spherical front end area and a second joint part with a joint socket, allowing the hand shower to be twisted relative to the hose line without affecting the screw connection's tightness.
Solution Approach 2:
The ball joint acts as an intermediary mechanism between the screw connection and the hand shower. It mediates the rotation movement, allowing the hand shower to be aligned and twisted while the screw connection remains stationary and secure, preventing unintentional loosening.
2Reliability
If the second joint part is designed as a screw sleeve to ensure tight clamping, then the coupling is secure, but the joint parts cannot rotate easily and may unintentionally loosen
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling is segmented into a screw connection for secure attachment and a ball joint for rotation. The second joint part is designed as a separate component from the screw connection, allowing it to rotate easily within the joint socket without being constrained by the screw threads, thus preventing unintentional loosening during rotation.
Solution Approach 2:
The first joint part has a spherical cap or spherical segment-shaped front end area that fits into the joint socket of the second joint part. This spherical geometry enables smooth rotation and pivoting movements while maintaining secure engagement, allowing easy alignment and twisting without compromising coupling security.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a ball joint is added to allow rotation, then mobility and flexibility are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling is divided into modular components: a screw connection for secure attachment and a ball joint with first and second joint parts for rotation. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, achieving high mobility without requiring a completely complex redesign of the entire coupling system.
Solution Approach 2:
The ball joint serves multiple functions: it allows rotation of the hand shower relative to the hose line, enables easy alignment during installation, and prevents unintentional loosening by decoupling rotation from the screw connection. This multi-functionality achieves high adaptability without proportionally increasing complexity.
4Reliability
If the ring seal is positioned above the equator of the spherical joint head, then axial sealing is provided, but radial and axial frictional forces make mobility difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The spherical front end area and joint socket geometry are optimized to distribute sealing forces evenly during rotation. The spherical shape ensures that the ring seal remains in optimal contact position throughout the rotation range, reducing frictional forces while maintaining effective sealing.
Solution Approach 2:
The position of the ring seal is optimized relative to the spherical joint head geometry. By adjusting the seal's axial position and the spherical surface curvature, the design minimizes frictional forces during rotation while maintaining adequate sealing pressure, thereby improving mobility without compromising sealing reliability.
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 solution enhances mobility and flexibility of the hand shower, allowing it to twist relative to the hose line without loosening the screw connection, while minimizing wear and maintaining pressure independence, ensuring reliable operation and ease of assembly.
Implementation Method 1
a ball joint, which has a first and a second joint part that are articulated connected to one another
Implementation Method 2
the first joint part having a spherical cap or spherical segment-shaped front end area... is pivotably held
Implementation Method 3
an annular seal is provided in this annular groove... the ring seal is subjected only to radial loads, reducing frictional forces
Implementation Method 4
the holding element having a connecting shaft acting on the second joint part
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~5
AI summary
The invention relates to a handheld shower (1) which can be connected to a flexible hose line (3) via a coupling (5). A characteristic feature of the handheld shower according to the invention is that the coupling (5), which is provided for connecting the handheld shower (4) and hose line (3), has a ball-and-socket joint (7). The ball-and-socket joint (7) connected between the handheld shower (4) and the hose line (3) not only increases the mobility and articulation between the handheld shower (4) and the flexible hose line (3), but the ball-and-socket joint (7) also permits the handheld shower (4) to be rotated relative to the hose line (3) without having to be concerned that the screw connection or similar coupling (5) provided between the handheld shower (4) and hose line (3) will become undone.