Shower Switching Device Dual Drive Elements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shower systems require multiple button presses or excessive force to achieve a large angle of rotation of the gear wheel, limiting user convenience and efficiency in switching between outlet openings.
Innovation Solution
The shower system incorporates two drive elements, one for forward movement and another driven by a spring for return movement, allowing the gear wheel to rotate twice as much with a single actuation, reducing the required force and increasing the angle of rotation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single drive element is used to drive the gear, then the device complexity is reduced, but the angle of rotation of the gear is limited and requires multiple button presses
Solution Approach 1:
The drive mechanism is segmented into two separate drive elements (first drive element and second drive element) that operate at different phases of the actuation cycle. The first drive element engages with the gear during forward movement while the second drive element engages during return movement, allowing the gear to rotate through a larger total angle without increasing the complexity of individual components.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes periodic action by engaging different drive elements at different phases of the actuation cycle. The first drive element operates during the forward stroke while the second drive element operates during the return stroke, effectively doubling the gear rotation angle per complete actuation cycle without requiring multiple separate button presses.
2Force
If the gear diameter is increased to reduce required force, then the force required to actuate the button is reduced, but the device complexity and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs a dynamic drive mechanism where two drive elements are selectively engaged at different phases of operation. This dynamic approach allows the use of a smaller gear diameter while still achieving the required torque multiplication, as the spring element provides additional force during the return stroke without requiring a permanently larger gear structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring element is pre-loaded to store energy that assists in driving the gear during the return movement. This preliminary energy storage allows the system to reduce the actuation force required from the user while maintaining an compact gear size, as the spring contributes additional force during part of the cycle.
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
This configuration enables a larger angle of rotation with less force applied, enhancing user convenience and efficiency in switching between outlet openings, while maintaining an unchanged overall system configuration.
Implementation Method 1
The preload is generated, in particular, by a spring element
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The present invention relates to a shower head with a shower head and a spray disc, which has at least two separately controllable groups of outlet openings, and with a switching device (1) for switching between the two groups of outlet openings, wherein the switching device (1) comprises an actuation (2), at least one drive element (3, 4) movable by means of the actuation (2), a gear (5) rotatably driven by the at least one drive element (3, 4) in exactly one direction of rotation, and an actuating element (6) non-rotatably connected to the gear (5), wherein the actuating element (6) establishes or blocks a flow connection between an inlet (7) and at least one of the groups of outlet openings depending on its rotational position, characterized in that a first drive element (3) and a second drive element (4) are designed and arranged such thatthat the first drive element (3) drives the gear (5) in the direction of rotation during a forward movement caused by actuating the actuating device (2), and the second drive element (4) drives the gear (5) in the direction of rotation during a return movement caused by preload.