Wash and shower system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional shower systems use a significant amount of water without effectively utilizing it for cleaning, as most water does not come into contact with the bather's body during a standard shower.
Innovation Solution
A wash and shower system that uses a heated air stream saturated with miniaturized water droplets, allowing for controlled air-to-water ratio and temperature, reducing water usage while maintaining effective cleaning by mixing water droplets with pre-heated air to create a suspension that can be directed efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional shower systems use a large amount of water to ensure effective cleaning, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but water consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state and delivery parameters of water by converting it into a fine mist suspension carried by heated air. This parameter transformation allows water to be distributed more effectively as micro-droplets that can reach the bather's body, maintaining cleaning effectiveness while reducing overall water consumption from 132 liters to potentially much less.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses pneumatic principles by employing heated air as a carrier gas to transport water droplets to the user. The air suspension system creates a fluid dynamic environment where water is dispersed and delivered efficiently, replacing the traditional hydraulic direct-water-spray approach and enabling reduced water usage while maintaining cleaning performance.
2Quantity of substance
If most water is used without touching the bather's body in a standard shower, then water flow volume is high, but water utilization efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms water delivery parameters by converting liquid water into a fine aerosol mist suspension carried by heated air. This parameter change ensures water is delivered in a form that can envelop and contact the bather's body efficiently, dramatically improving water utilization efficiency while reducing the total volume of water required for an effective shower.
3Quantity of substance
If the shower system uses heated air suspension with controlled air-to-water ratio, then water usage is reduced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of water delivery and air heating into a single integrated system. The heated air serves dual purposes: it heats the water droplets during suspension transport and acts as the delivery medium itself. This merging of functions reduces the need for separate heating elements and complex control systems, managing device complexity while achieving reduced water usage.
Solution Approach 2:
The heated air stream performs multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a heating medium, a transport carrier for water droplets, and the delivery mechanism itself. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed in the system, managing complexity while enabling efficient water usage through the air suspension mechanism.
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 system reduces water consumption by allowing a significant quantity of water to be used for cleaning purposes while minimizing overall water usage, enabling users to shower without dripping water at the end and potentially eliminating the need for a towel.
Implementation Method 1
The at least one air heater includes a heat exchanger configured so that the air is heated by hot water from the hot water supply
Implementation Method 2
at least one water fogger nozzle respectively disposed within the at least one hot air outlet to thereby produce a spray of hot air and water suspension
Implementation Method 3
The system provides a warm/hot air flow humidified with miniaturized water droplets to produce a suspension
Implementation Method 4
an air supply blower to produce an air flow
Implementation Method 5
a hot and cold water mixing valve
Data Source
AI summary
A shower system for a shower having a water supply mechanism including a hot water supply and a cold water supply. The system includes: a shower stall; an air heating and delivery mechanism for heating and delivering hot air to the shower stall and including: an air inlet, air piping, an air supply blower to produce an air flow, an air heater, and a hot air outlet. The system further includes: a shower-water piping system including: a hot and cold water mixing valve; and a water fogger nozzle disposed within the hot air outlet to thereby produce a spray of hot air and water suspension; and an air and water temperature and flow controller.