Tangential Oscillating Massage Engine for Showerheads
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pulsating showerheads have large and cumbersome engines that require thick showerhead form factors, making them less aesthetically pleasing and difficult to maintain, as the entire unit often needs to be replaced if a component fails.
Innovation Solution
A showerhead design featuring a tangentially fed pulsed spray engine with a turbine and shutter mechanism, allowing for a compact size and easy assembly/disassembly, where the engine can be removed and replaced without damaging the rest of the showerhead, enabling different water dispensing modes through a cam and nozzle arrangement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a conventional pulsating showerhead engine is used, then the pulsating spray function is achieved, but the engine becomes large and cumbersome requiring a thick showerhead form factor
Solution Approach 1:
The showerhead is divided into separate modular components: a removable engine assembly containing the turbine and shutter mechanism, and a separate housing assembly. This segmentation allows the engine to be compact while maintaining functionality, as only the necessary components are included in the engine module rather than requiring the entire showerhead to be large.
Solution Approach 2:
The engine assembly is nested within the showerhead housing, with the turbine and shutter mechanism compactly arranged inside the flow directing housing. The engine can be fully contained within the housing volume, achieving a compact form factor while maintaining the pulsating spray function.
2Ease of operation
If a conventional pulsating showerhead engine is used, then the pulsating spray function is achieved, but the showerhead becomes difficult to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The engine assembly is designed as a separate, removable module that can be easily detached from the showerhead housing. This segmentation enables users to access, clean, and replace the engine components without disassembling the entire showerhead, significantly improving maintenance ease.
Solution Approach 2:
The engine assembly can be completely extracted from the showerhead housing as a separate unit. This extraction capability allows for easy removal and replacement of the engine, enabling users to maintain or replace only the problematic component rather than the entire showerhead.
3Ease of operation
If a conventional pulsating showerhead engine is used, then the pulsating spray function is achieved, but the entire unit must be replaced if a component fails
Solution Approach 1:
The showerhead is segmented into a reusable housing assembly and a replaceable engine assembly. If a component fails, only the engine assembly needs to be replaced, not the entire showerhead. This reduces waste and cost by preserving the expensive housing and other components.
Solution Approach 2:
The engine assembly can be extracted and replaced as a separate unit. This extraction capability enables selective replacement of only the failed component, avoiding the need to discard and replace the entire showerhead when a single component malfunctions.
4Volume of moving object
If a compact engine design is used, then the showerhead form factor is reduced, but the engine complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flow directing housing, turbine assembly, and shutter mechanism are merged into a single integrated engine module. This merging allows the components to work together in a compact arrangement, reducing the overall engine size while the modular nature keeps the complexity manageable through standardized interfaces.
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 provides a compact, aesthetically pleasing, and cost-effective pulsating showerhead that allows for easy maintenance and replacement of components, offering various water dispensing modes while reducing waste and preserving expensive parts.
Implementation Method 1
a turbine positioned within the flow directing housing, wherein the turbine includes a plurality of blades
Implementation Method 2
a cam coupled to the turbine; and a shutter coupled to the cam. As the turbine rotates, the cam causes the shutter to alternatingly connect and disconnect
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a showerhead that outputs a pulsating or massaging spray. The showerhead may include an engine including a flow directing housing, a turbine, and a shutter to create the pulsating or intermittent spray. The flow directing housing may have a plurality of flow directing apertures defined around its perimeter, allowing for water to tangentially flow into the engine, rotating the turbine. As the turbine rotates, the shutter moves back and forth creating the pulsating spray.