Spray Ring Nozzle Interface for Shower Head Drip Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional shower heads experience leakage or dripping after the water supply is shut off due to residual water pressure, necessitating additional flow control devices to prevent water loss.
Innovation Solution
A nozzle configuration with nozzle pins that utilize surface tension and pressure differentials to restrict water flow, preventing leakage by creating a choke point within the nozzles when the water supply is shut off, eliminating the need for mechanical valves.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If conventional shower heads are used with additional flow control devices to prevent leakage, then water loss is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the flow control function from separate mechanical valves and integrates it directly into the nozzle structure itself. The nozzle design inherently restricts flow through its geometry and internal channels, eliminating the need for external flow control devices while preventing water loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the flow control function with the nozzle structure by integrating flow restriction channels, aerator elements, and pressure-regulating features directly into the nozzle body. This combination allows the nozzle to simultaneously perform water distribution and flow control functions without requiring separate components.
2Loss of energy
If mechanical valves are added to control water flow, then water leakage is prevented, but ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle is designed to automatically regulate its own flow without requiring external mechanical valves or user intervention. The internal flow control mechanisms self-adjust based on water pressure conditions, providing automatic flow control that simplifies operation while preventing leakage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical valve systems with fluid-dynamic flow control mechanisms that use pressure differentials, aerator elements, and nozzle geometry to regulate flow. This substitution eliminates mechanical moving parts and external valves, improving ease of operation while maintaining leak prevention.
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 nozzle configuration effectively prevents water leakage and dripping by leveraging surface tension forces, ensuring nozzles remain sealed until water pressure resumes, simplifying the system and reducing complexity.
Implementation Method 1
The plurality of nozzle pins may be configured to create a choke point with increased contact surface area within the plurality of nozzles. When supply of the water to the ablutionary fitting is shut off, the plurality of nozzle pins may facilitate limiting or restricting flow of water through the nozzles via surface tension forces
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
Provided herein is a leak prevention system for an ablutionary fitting such as a shower head. The leak prevention system includes a nozzle configuration for the ablutionary fitting, the nozzle configuration including a plurality of nozzles configured to dispense water supplied to the ablutionary fitting and a plurality of nozzle pins positioned in the plurality of nozzles. The nozzle pins operate to selectively allow and limit flow of water through the nozzles in response to variations in pressure of the water supplied to the ablutionary fitting. For example, when water is actively being supplied to the ablutionary fitting, the nozzle pins may allow the water to flow through the nozzles. When the water supply is shut off, the nozzle pins may facilitate limiting the flow of water through the nozzles via water surface tension forces that develop between the nozzle pins and the nozzles.