Showerhead Turbine Pulsating Nozzle Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing showerhead designs fail to provide a sufficiently powerful, directed, or pleasing massage mode and often have small faceplates resulting in a limited spray pattern.
Innovation Solution
A showerhead design incorporating a turbine mechanism that alternates between drenching and pulsating modes by blocking and unblocking nozzles with rotating blades, creating a massaging effect through intermittent water flow, and featuring multiple flow channels and nozzle configurations for varied water distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a shower head uses a small faceplate design, then the device complexity is reduced, but the spray pattern coverage area is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The shower head faceplate is divided into multiple spray zones with different nozzle configurations. The faceplate includes a central spray area, intermediate spray areas, and peripheral spray areas, each with nozzles oriented at different angles and patterns. This segmentation allows a relatively small faceplate to provide comprehensive coverage by directing water streams in multiple directions simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the faceplate have locally optimized nozzle arrangements to provide varied spray characteristics. The central area has nozzles oriented for direct forward spray, intermediate areas have nozzles at angled orientations for broader coverage, and peripheral areas have nozzles positioned to reach edge zones. This local quality variation maximizes spray pattern effectiveness within the constraints of faceplate size.
2Productivity
If a shower head provides continuous water flow, then the drenching effect is improved, but the massaging effect is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The shower head incorporates pulsating nozzles that alternate between water flow and no-flow periods. These pulsating nozzles receive water through channels that include flow interruptors or movable elements that periodically block and release water flow. This periodic action creates a massaging effect by delivering rhythmic pulses of water pressure to the user's body, while non-pulsating nozzles provide continuous drenching flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The nozzle array is segmented into different functional groups: pulsating nozzles that provide intermittent massaging flow, and continuous-flow nozzles that provide steady drenching coverage. This segmentation allows both massaging and drenching effects to occur simultaneously from different parts of the shower head, satisfying both requirements at the same time.
3Ease of operation
If a shower head uses multiple flow channels and turbines, then the pulsating spray mode is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shower head uses water pressure itself to drive the pulsating mechanism. Flow channels are configured to direct water pressure against movable elements or turbines, which automatically open and close flow paths in response to pressure variations. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for external motors or complex control systems, achieving pulsating spray through the inherent dynamics of water flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The pulsating mechanism utilizes hydraulic principles where water pressure and flow dynamics directly control the operation of flow interruptors and turbines. The design employs pressure-driven movable elements that respond to variations in water flow, creating the pulsating effect through fluid-mechanical interaction rather than mechanical actuation systems.
4Force
If a shower head provides directed water streams, then the massage effectiveness is improved, but the spray pattern coverage is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle orientations and angles are asymmetrically distributed across the faceplate rather than uniformly arranged. Certain nozzles are positioned and angled to project water streams at specific trajectories that maximize coverage of different body zones. This asymmetric arrangement allows directed high-force streams to be strategically positioned for massaging effect while collectively providing broad coverage through varied projection angles.
Solution Approach 2:
The shower head utilizes three-dimensional nozzle orientations, with nozzles angled in multiple directions including upward, downward, lateral, and forward projections. This dimensional variation in spray direction allows water streams to cover a larger spatial volume and broader body surface area while maintaining concentrated directed flow for massaging effect. The multi-dimensional arrangement transforms a two-dimensional faceplate into a three-dimensional spray distribution system.
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 design achieves a massaging effect similar to natural rainfall by alternating between continuous and intermittent water flow, enhancing user experience with both drenching and pulsating modes.
Implementation Method 1
Water flowing into a flow channel housing a turbine typically impacts one or more blades of the turbine, causing the turbine to rotate or spin in the channel.
Implementation Method 2
As the turbine spins, this shield temporarily blocks flow holes defined in the appropriate flow channel, such blockage momentarily interrupts water flow to the nozzles ultimate fed by the channel, creating a pulsating spray mode from those nozzles.
Data Source
AI summary
An improved shower head having multiple modes of operation. The shower head may include a first turbine and turbine, each disposed within a unique flow channel. The first and second turbines may interrupt water flow through their respective flow channels, thereby providing at least one pulsating water spray emanating from the shower head. The shower head may include a third flow channel having no turbine disposed therein, such that water flowing through the third flow channel is not interrupted and thus emitted from the shower head as a drenching spray.