Shower Head Pilot Valve Eliminates Grease Leakage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Shower heads with flow-path switching functions require significant operation force due to grease application, which can leak over time, increasing the force needed and reducing usability.
Innovation Solution
A shower head design incorporating a main valve body with a back pressure chamber and a pilot valve system that controls the opening and closing of the valve, eliminating the need for grease by using water pressure to generate a biasing force, thereby reducing the operation force required for switching flow paths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If grease is applied to enhance slidability of the disc-shaped member, then ease of operation is improved initially, but reliability deteriorates over time as grease leaks out and operation force increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the grease lubrication system from the flow path switching mechanism. By removing the grease application entirely and replacing it with a water pressure-based pilot valve system, the patent solves the problem of grease leakage and increasing operation force over time, while maintaining ease of operation through the hydraulic assistance provided by the pilot valve.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical grease-based lubrication system with a hydraulic water pressure system. The pilot valve uses water pressure to generate biasing force that assists in opening the main valve body, substituting the need for grease lubrication with a water-based hydraulic mechanism that provides consistent operation force without degradation over time.
2Reliability
If a pilot valve system is introduced to eliminate grease, then reliability is improved by removing grease leakage issues, but device complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The pilot valve body serves multiple functions: it controls the pilot hole opening/closing, generates biasing force through water pressure, and assists in opening the main valve body. By making the pilot valve multi-functional, the patent reduces the need for separate grease lubrication systems, seals, and adjustment mechanisms, thereby improving reliability without proportionally increasing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The pilot valve system is self-regulating and uses the existing water pressure from the shower system to generate the necessary biasing force. The water pressure automatically opens the pilot hole when needed, and the biasing force is generated in-situ without requiring external lubrication or complex adjustment mechanisms, allowing the system to maintain itself without additional complexity.
3Ease of operation
If grease is used for lubrication, then ease of operation is improved, but loss of substance occurs as grease gradually leaks out
Solution Approach 1:
The invention completely removes grease from the system by replacing the grease-based lubrication mechanism with a water pressure-based pilot valve system. This extraction eliminates the source of substance loss (grease leakage) while maintaining ease of operation through hydraulic assistance, as the water pressure naturally provides the necessary force without requiring lubricating substances.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses hydraulic principles by utilizing water pressure to generate biasing force in the pilot valve. Instead of relying on grease lubrication, the system employs the hydraulic action of water pressure to assist in opening the main valve body, thereby eliminating grease leakage while maintaining operational ease through water-based hydraulic assistance.
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 provides a stable and significant reduction in operation force for switching flow paths over time without using grease, enhancing user experience and maintaining performance.
Implementation Method 1
a back pressure chamber adjacent to the main valve body on an upstream side of the flow path, configured to contain water supplied from an upstream side of the flow path and to generate a biasing force in a valve-closing direction for closing the main valve body by the supplied water
Implementation Method 2
a pilot hole communicating a downstream side of the flow path with the back pressure chamber
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is a shower head for which a plurality of spout modes can be switched. The shower head includes: a storage chamber configured to store water supplied from a water supply source; a secondary-side flow-path member provided on a spout-surface side with respect to the storage chamber, the secondary-side flow-path member having a plurality of flow paths, each of which corresponds to each of the plurality of spout modes; and a plurality of diaphragm valves, each of which is configured to control a communicated/blocked state between each of the plurality of flow paths and the storage chamber.