Shower Assembly with Nested Decoupled Water Flow Paths
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional shower arrangements require increased installation effort and space due to the need for two separate mixed water flow paths to facilitate different shower head jet types, complicating the installation process.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of two completely decoupled mixed water flow paths, where one is an inner hose within the shower arm and the other is an annular channel between the hose and the shower arm, with a hose securing element like a pipe elbow or sleeve-shaped end piece to securely position the inner hose during assembly and disassembly, allowing for different shower head jet types without increasing installation complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If two separate mixed water flow paths are implemented for different shower head jet types, then shower functionality is improved, but installation effort and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements nesting by placing the first mixed water flow path (inner hose) inside the second mixed water flow path (shower arm). The inner hose is positioned within the hollow cross-section of the shower arm, creating a nested configuration where one flow path is contained within another. This resolves the technical contradiction by enabling multiple shower head jet types through dual flow paths while maintaining compact installation space and reducing installation complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If two separate mixed water flow paths are implemented for different shower head jet types, then shower functionality is improved, but installation space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements nesting by placing the first mixed water flow path (inner hose) inside the second mixed water flow path (shower arm). The inner hose is positioned within the hollow cross-section of the shower arm, creating a nested configuration where one flow path is contained within another. This resolves the technical contradiction by enabling multiple shower head jet types through dual flow paths while maintaining compact installation space and reducing installation complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the hollow cross-sectional space of the shower arm (a three-dimensional space) to route the inner hose. By using the internal volume of the shower arm structure, the patent accommodates the second flow path without increasing the external dimensions of the shower arm, thereby reducing installation space requirements while maintaining shower functionality.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a shower arrangement with a shower rail (3) that is vertical in its installed position and transitions at its upper end into a shower arm (5), which terminates at its free end in a shower head (7). The shower head (7) can be connected to a shower fitting (9) via an internal water channel within the shower arm (5) and the shower rail (3). The temperature and/or quantity of the mixed water supplied to the shower head (7) can be adjusted by means of the shower fitting. The internal water channel has at least two mixed water flow paths (I, II) that are completely decoupled from each other between the shower fitting (9) and the water outlet of the shower head (7). The first mixed water flow path (I) is designed as an internal hose (21) that extends within the shower arm (5) and the shower rail (3) to the shower head (7).The second mixed water flow path (II) is designed as an annular channel (23) between the inner hose (21) and the shower arm (5) or shower rail (3) up to the shower head (7). The shower head (7) has a horizontal connection to the shower arm (5) in the operating state, with a subsequent pipe bend (47), maintaining both flow paths (I, II) up to the vertical outlet-side end of the pipe bend.