Shower Flow Restrictor Web Structure for Low-Noise Throttling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flow restrictors in sanitary showers fail to effectively reduce noise and flow, often amplifying disturbing flow noises and structure-borne noise due to their design.
Innovation Solution
A flow restrictor with a throttle body formed by non-parallel web planes that intersect at angles, creating multiple fluid deflections and optimizing noise reduction and flow throttling, manufactured from one-piece or stacked elements with specific web and gap dimensions for enhanced noise/flow-restricting effects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional flow restrictors are used to reduce flow, then flow rate is reduced, but noise is amplified
Solution Approach 1:
The restrictor body is segmented into multiple planes of webs arranged in an axial direction, with each plane consisting of multiple parallel webs spaced apart to create gaps. This segmentation allows the flow to be progressively restricted through multiple stages while dispersing noise generation across multiple interfaces rather than concentrating it at a single restriction point.
Solution Approach 2:
The webs of directly consecutive planes are arranged non-parallel to each other, creating asymmetric flow paths that force multiple fluid deflections. This asymmetric arrangement optimizes both flow restriction and noise attenuation by preventing symmetric flow patterns that would generate coherent noise, while still achieving the desired flow rate reduction.
2Ease of operation
If flow restrictors are used to regulate water flow, then flow control is achieved, but structure-borne sound is amplified
Solution Approach 1:
The noise reduction mechanism extends into the axial dimension by arranging multiple planes of webs in sequence along the flow direction. This multi-planar arrangement creates progressive flow deflection in multiple dimensions, which dissipates energy and reduces structure-borne sound while maintaining effective flow control through the cumulative restriction effect.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional restrictor designs are used, then manufacturing is simple, but noise attenuation is ineffective
Solution Approach 1:
The restrictor body can be manufactured as a single integrated component using additive manufacturing or injection molding, maintaining manufacturing simplicity. The segmented web structure is built-in rather than assembled, reducing production complexity while achieving superior noise attenuation through the multi-plane web configuration that forces multiple fluid deflections.
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
Significantly reduces noise and flow rate by deflecting fluid flow, allowing for adjustable noise and flow regulation without excessive noise generation, even when used with conventional volume regulators.
Implementation Method 1
The non-parallel rows of ribs, arranged one behind the other in the direction of flow in several planes and forcing multiple fluid deflections, counteract excessively high flow velocities of the fluid passing through.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a flow restrictor (11) and to a sanitary shower head that can be equipped with a flow restrictor. The flow restrictor contains a restrictor body (12) which is formed from a plurality of web planes (121, 122, ...) which follow one another in an axial direction (AR) and fill a passage cross-section of the restrictor body perpendicular to the axial direction, with each web plane consisting of a plurality of webs (13) running parallel and perpendicular to the axial direction, which are spaced apart from one another leaving spaces (14) between the webs, and wherein the webs of two directly consecutive web planes do not run parallel to one another.