Shower jet generating device having an overpressure valve

Abstract

A shower jet generating device for a shower head, illustratively for a sanitary shower head, including a shower jet disk delimiting a fluid chamber on an outlet side and including at least one jet outlet opening leading out of the fluid chamber and at least one overpressure valve opening, and comprising at least one overpressure valve disposed on the overpressure valve opening. The overpressure valve illustratively includes an overpressure outlet opening leading out of the fluid chamber, an immobile valve seat and a valve body capable of movement controlled by a fluid pressure in the fluid chamber and interacting with the valve seat, which valve body, in a normal pressure position, rests against the valve seat, thereby closing the overpressure outlet opening, and, in an overpressure position, is lifted off the valve seat, thereby exposing the overpressure outlet opening.

Claims

1. A shower jet generating device for a shower head comprising: a shower jet disk delimiting a fluid chamber on an outlet side and including at least one jet outlet opening leading out of the fluid chamber and at least one overpressure valve opening; and at least one overpressure valve disposed on the overpressure valve opening, the at least one overpressure valve including an overpressure outlet opening leading out of the fluid chamber, an immobile valve seat and a valve body capable of movement controlled by a fluid pressure in the fluid chamber and interacting with the valve seat, the valve body, in a normal pressure position, resting against the valve seat, thereby closing the overpressure outlet opening, and, in an overpressure position, is lifted off the valve seat, thereby exposing the overpressure outlet opening; wherein the valve body is formed as a valve membrane body made of an elastic material, which valve membrane body comprises a cylindrical central portion extending into the overpressure valve opening and a deformably flap-movable boundary portion surrounding the central portion, wherein the valve membrane body moves with its central portion within the overpressure valve opening between the normal pressure position and the overpressure position by the deforming flap movement of the boundary portion, with a main directional component perpendicular to the shower jet disk.

2. The shower jet generating device according to claim 1, wherein the fluid chamber, on its side facing away from the shower jet disk, is delimited by a chamber bottom plate including the valve seat.

3. The shower jet generating device according to claim 1, wherein the central portion of the valve membrane body is hollow and cylindrical and comprises the overpressure outlet opening, and the overpressure outlet opening leads out of the valve membrane body on its side facing away from the valve seat.

4. The shower jet generating device according to claim 1, wherein the central portion of the valve membrane body is hollow and cylindrical and comprises the overpressure outlet opening, and the overpressure outlet opening leads into the valve membrane body on its side facing towards the valve seat.

5. The shower jet generating device according to claim 4, wherein the valve seat comprises a shut-off contour engaging in an input region of the overpressure outlet opening in the valve membrane body, in the normal pressure position of the valve membrane body.

6. The shower jet generating device according to claim 4, wherein an input region of the overpressure outlet opening in the valve membrane body comprises a frustoconical outer contour, in the normal pressure position of the valve membrane body, and the valve seat comprises a corresponding frustoconical inner contour.

7. The shower jet generating device according to claim 5, wherein the shut-off contour is formed by a hemispherical or conical shut-off projection.

8. The shower jet generating device according to claim 1, wherein the valve seat comprises the overpressure outlet opening, and the overpressure outlet opening leads into the valve seat on its side facing towards the valve membrane body.

9. The shower jet generating device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one jet outlet opening is formed by a jet outlet nipple which is formed from the elastic material integral with the valve membrane body.

10. The shower jet generating device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one jet outlet opening is formed by a jet outlet nipple made of an elastic material, which nipple has a hollow cylindrical central portion extending into a nipple outlet opening of the jet disk and a deformably flap-movable boundary portion surrounding the central portion, wherein the jet outlet nipple moves with its central portion within the nipple outlet opening between a zero pressure position and a normal pressure position by the deforming flap movement of its boundary portion, with a main directional component perpendicular to the shower jet disk.

11. The shower jet generating device according to claim 1, wherein the shower jet disk comprises at least two overpressure valve openings, each provided with a respective overpressure valve, wherein the overpressure valves respond to different overpressure values of the fluid pressure in the fluid chamber.

12. The shower jet generating device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one overpressure valve is capable of multilevel response to at least two different overpressure values of the fluid pressure in the fluid chamber, wherein the valve membrane body moves, at a first overpressure value, to a first overpressure position partially exposing the overpressure outlet opening with a first opening cross-section and, at a second overpressure value that is greater than the first overpressure value, to a second overpressure position exposing the overpressure outlet opening with a second opening cross-section that is greater than the first one.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Advantageous embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings. These and further advantageous embodiments of the invention are described in greater detail below. In the drawings:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a segment of a shower jet generating device for a shower head;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a section through the shower jet generating device along a line II-II in FIG. 1 in a normal pressure state;

(4) FIG. 3 shows the view from FIG. 2 in an overpressure state;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a view corresponding to FIG. 2 of a variant having a spherical shut-off projection on a valve seat in a zero pressure state;

(6) FIG. 5 shows the view from FIG. 3 of the variant in FIG. 4;

(7) FIG. 6 shows the view from FIG. 4 of a variant having a conical shut-off projection on the valve seat;

(8) FIG. 7 shows the view from FIG. 3 of the variant in FIG. 6;

(9) FIG. 8 shows the view from FIG. 4 of a variant having a frustoconical inner contour on the valve seat and spring preloading element; and

(10) FIG. 9 shows the view from FIG. 4 of a variant having an overpressure outlet opening disposed in the valve seat.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(11) The embodiments of the invention described herein are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to precise forms disclosed. Rather, the embodiments selected for description have been chosen to enable one skilled in the art to practice the invention.

(12) The shower jet generating device illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3 comprises a shower jet disk 1 delimiting a fluid chamber 2 on an outlet side and including at least one jet outlet opening 3 leading out of the fluid chamber 2 and at least one overpressure valve opening 4. The shower jet generating device furthermore comprises at least one overpressure valve 5 disposed on the overpressure valve opening 4.

(13) The overpressure valve 5 includes an overpressure outlet opening 6 leading out of the fluid chamber 2, an immobile valve seat 7 and a valve body, which is formed as a valve membrane body 8 made of an elastic material. The valve membrane body 8 interacts with the valve seat 7 and is capable of movement controlled by a fluid pressure in the fluid chamber 2. More specifically, the valve body 8 can be moved between a normal pressure position V.sub.N shown in FIG. 2 and an overpressure position V.sub.U shown in FIG. 3. In the normal pressure position V.sub.N, the valve membrane body 8 rests against the valve seat 7 in such a way that the overpressure outlet opening 6 is closed. In the overpressure position V.sub.U, the valve body 8 is lifted off the valve seat 7, and the overpressure outlet opening 6 is exposed.

(14) The valve membrane body 8 comprises a cylindrical central portion 8a extending into the overpressure valve opening 4 and a deformably flap-movable boundary portion 8b surrounding the central portion 9a. The valve membrane body 8 moves with its central portion 8a within the overpressure valve opening 4 of the jet disk 1 between the normal pressure position V.sub.N and the overpressure position V.sub.U by the deforming flap movement of its boundary portion 8b, with a main directional component perpendicular to the shower jet disk 1. In other words, the central portion 8a moves substantially in translation in the overpressure valve opening 4 with a direction of movement B.sub.R, which encloses an angle α between 45° and 90° with a disk plane or outside surface of the jet disk 1, the angle being 90° in the example shown. In the example shown, the overpressure position V.sub.U of the valve membrane body 8 is defined by the fact that it comes into contact by means of the boundary portion 8b with an associated inner region of the jet disk 1.

(15) In corresponding embodiments, as in the example shown, the central portion 8a of the valve membrane body 8 is hollow cylindrical and comprises the overpressure outlet opening 6. The overpressure outlet opening 6 leads out of the valve membrane body 8 on its side facing away from the valve seat 7. The direction of movement B.sub.R of the central portion 8a is illustratively parallel to a longitudinal central axis L.sub.V of the central part 8a. In corresponding embodiments, the central portion 8a and/or the boundary portion 8b of the valve membrane body 8 is/are rotationally symmetrical with respect to this longitudinal central axis L.sub.V. In alternative embodiments, the central portion of the valve membrane body is a solid cylinder, i.e. not hollow, and the overpressure outlet opening 6 is implemented in some other way.

(16) In corresponding embodiments, as in the illustrative embodiment shown, the central portion 8a of the valve membrane body 8 is hollow cylindrical and comprises the overpressure outlet opening 6, and the overpressure outlet opening 6 leads into the valve membrane body 8 on its side facing the valve seat 7 by means of an inlet region 6a. In this case, the overpressure outlet opening 6 can simply be closed by the valve seat 7 resting against this inlet region 6a of the valve membrane body 8.

(17) In corresponding embodiments, the fluid chamber 2, on its side facing away from the shower jet disk 1, is delimited by a chamber bottom plate 10 including the valve seat 7. The valve seat 7 is formed by a surface region of the chamber bottom plate 10 which faces the valve membrane body 8. In alternative embodiments, the fluid chamber 2 is delimited on the inside, i.e. on its side facing away from the shower jet disk 1, by some other conventional structure. In this case, the valve seat 7 is formed by some other conventional valve seat structure.

(18) The jet outlet opening 3 of the shower jet disk 1 is used to provide the shower jet desired for the normal operation of the shower jet generating device. In the example shown, the jet outlet opening 3 of the jet disk 1 is formed by a jet outlet nipple 9 made of an elastic material, which nipple, like the valve membrane body 8, has a cylindrical central portion 9a and a deformably flap-movable boundary portion 9b surrounding the central portion. By virtue of the deforming flap movement of its boundary portion 9b, the jet outlet nipple 9 moves with its central portion 9a within a nipple outlet opening 13 of the jet disk 1 between a zero pressure position N.sub.Z, indicated in dashed lines in FIG. 2, and a normal pressure nipple position N.sub.N, illustrated by solid lines in FIG. 2, with a main directional component perpendicular to the shower jet disk 1. In its normal pressure position N.sub.N, the jet outlet nipple 9 is supported by means of its boundary portion 9b against an associated inner region of the jet disk 1. In particular, the jet outlet nipple 9 can be formed as a fluid outlet element, as described in the above mentioned earlier German Patent Application 10 2016 219 551. In alternative embodiments, the jet outlet opening is formed directly by the jet disk, e.g. as a hole passing through the disk, or it is formed by a jet outlet nipple formed in some other way, which is immobile or moves in some other way.

(19) In the example shown, the central portion 9a of the jet outlet nipple 9 is hollow cylindrical and, on the outlet side, i.e. towards the front or downwards in FIG. 2, ends in a pot shape with a bottom, into which the jet outlet opening 3 is introduced, wherein a plurality of jet outlet openings 3 is illustratively provided in the bottom, as is apparent from FIG. 1, in which one central and five further jet outlet openings 3 surrounding the latter are shown. In corresponding embodiments, the side wall of the central portion 9a and/or the boundary portion 9b of the jet outlet nipple 9 is/are rotationally symmetrical with respect to a longitudinal central axis L.sub.N, which, for its part, is parallel to the extension and retraction movement of the jet outlet nipple 9. In particular, the jet outlet nipple 9 can be formed as a jet outlet element of the kind described in the above mentioned earlier German Patent Application 10 2016 225 987 for the shower jet outlet device in that document, the contents of which are herewith incorporated by reference into the present application and to which reference can be made for further details in relation to a jet outlet element of this kind. In particular, the jet outlet openings 3 in the bottom of the central portion 9a of the jet outlet nipple 9 can be fine jet openings.

(20) As is conventional, a plurality of jet outlet nipples 9 or jet outlet openings 3 is illustratively provided in a regular distribution over the entire surface of the jet disk 1 or over partial areas, e.g. at various radii, as can be seen in the segment in FIG. 1. In corresponding embodiments, a plurality of overpressure valves 5 is furthermore provided as required, e.g. distributed over the jet disk surface instead of a respective jet outlet opening or of a jet outlet nipple or at intermediate positions of the regular distribution of the jet outlet openings or jet outlet nipples.

(21) When the fluid supply is switched off and the fluid chamber 2 is unpressurized, the shower jet generating device is in a zero pressure state, in which the jet outlet nipple 9 occupies its retracted or folded-in zero pressure position N.sub.Z. The overpressure valve 5 is in its normal pressure position V.sub.N. When the fluid supply is open or activated and the shower jet generating device is in a normal pressure state, i.e. is operating in the intended, trouble-free manner without the occurrence of an overpressure, the fluid chamber 2 is supplied with fluid F.sub.N at normal operating pressure D.sub.N. As a result, the central portion 9a of the jet outlet nipple 9 moves forwards out of the zero pressure position N.sub.Z into its normal nipple pressure position N.sub.N through the nipple outlet opening 13 of the jet disk 1 and, during this process, the bottom and/or the side wall of the jet outlet nipple may optionally be convexly deformed, preventing lime scale and dirt deposits on the jet outlet nipple 9 or enabling such deposits to flake off more easily. The overpressure valve 5 remains in its normal pressure position V.sub.N and holds its overpressure outlet opening 6 closed. The fluid F.sub.N thus emerges in the forward direction exclusively from the jet outlet opening or openings 3 and forms the desired shower jet.

(22) When the fluid chamber 2 is depressurized again, e.g. by switching off the upstream fluid supply, the jet outlet nipple 9 moves back automatically into its zero pressure position N.sub.Z. For this purpose, it is embodied with a corresponding elastic restoring action, especially by means of its boundary portion 9b.

(23) When particle and/or lime scale deposits on the jet outlet nipple or nipples 9 or on the jet outlet opening or openings 3 or some other fault causes the fluid pressure in the fluid chamber 2 to rise beyond the level of the normal pressure D.sub.N, up to an overpressure value D.sub.U, for which the corresponding response threshold of the overpressure valve 5 is designed, the overpressure valve 5 opens, the valve membrane body 8 rising from the valve seat 7 and moving into its overpressure position V.sub.U. This exposes the overpressure outlet opening 6, with the result that fluid F.sub.U under overpressure in the fluid chamber 2 can then additionally emerge forwards out of the fluid chamber 2 via the overpressure outlet opening 6. By means of suitable dimensioning of the outlet cross-section of the overpressure outlet opening 6, it is possible to ensure that the fluid pressure in the fluid chamber 2 is reduced with appropriate rapidity. In the embodiment with the jet outlet nipple or nipples 9, these are in the extended normal pressure position N.sub.N in the case of overpressure as well, ensuring that something of the overpressure fluid F.sub.U can emerge from the nipples too, as long as they are not blocked.

(24) Thus, the fluid F.sub.U under overpressure can emerge forwards from the shower jet disk 1 via the overpressure valve 5, as shown, for example, in the same way as the fluid F.sub.N emerging from the jet outlet opening 3 in normal operation. As soon as the overpressure in the fluid chamber 2 has been dissipated and the fluid pressure once again reaches the normal pressure level of the normal pressure D.sub.N, the valve membrane body 8 moves back automatically into its normal pressure position V.sub.N. For this purpose, it is embodied with a corresponding elastic restoring action, especially by means of its boundary portion 8b. Here, the valve seat 7 serves as a limiting stop, i.e. it defines the normal pressure position V.sub.N of the valve membrane body 8.

(25) In corresponding embodiments, the jet outlet nipple 9 and the valve membrane body 8 are formed integrally from the same elastic material, as in the example shown. In particular, they can be part of an integral jet mat 15 made of elastic material, which rests against the inside of the jet disk 1. As an alternative, they can be formed integrally as a twinned group. In further alternative embodiments, the jet outlet nipple 9 and the valve membrane body 8 are each formed as independent components made of the same elastic material or of different elastic materials. The different response behavior for the jet outlet nipple 9, on the one hand, which extends already at normal pressure D.sub.N in the fluid chamber 2, and the valve membrane body 8, on the other hand, which extends only when there is an overpressure D.sub.U in the fluid chamber 2, can be achieved in a simple manner by appropriately differing embodiment of the respective flexible boundary portion 9a or 9b. For this purpose, the boundary portion 9b of the jet outlet nipple 9 is made more flexible than the boundary portion 8b of the valve membrane body 8.

(26) In corresponding embodiments, the shower jet disk 1 has at least two overpressure valve openings 4, at each of which an overpressure valve 5 is arranged. In the case of an overpressure, the fluid F.sub.U can thereby be discharged at each of several points from the fluid chamber 2 via a respective overpressure valve 5. In corresponding embodiments, the overpressure valves 5 can be completely identical in terms of construction and operation or, alternatively, can differ in their response behavior in that they respond to different overpressure values of the fluid pressure in the fluid chamber 2. Thus, for example, at least one first overpressure valve 5 can respond at a first overpressure value and at least one second overpressure valve 5 can respond at a second overpressure value, higher than the first, i.e. can expose its overpressure outlet opening 6. The differing response behavior can be achieved by means of correspondingly different configuration of the boundary portion 8b of the respective valve membrane body 8 in respect of its elastic bending behavior, for example.

(27) In corresponding embodiments, the overpressure valve 5 is capable of multilevel response to at least two different overpressure values of the fluid pressure in the fluid chamber 2. In this case, the valve membrane body 8 moves, at a first overpressure value, to a first overpressure position partially exposing the overpressure outlet opening 6 with a first opening cross-section, in which it is raised only slightly from the valve seat 7 for example, and, at a second overpressure value that is greater than the first overpressure value, to a second overpressure position exposing the overpressure outlet opening 6 with a second opening cross-section that is greater than the first one, which can be the position V.sub.U shown in FIG. 3, for example, in which it is supported against the inside of the jet disk 1. In this case, the boundary portion 8a of the valve membrane body 8 is illustratively designed in such a way that it provides a stable intermediate position of the elastic flap movement of the valve membrane body 8 for the first overpressure position.

(28) In corresponding embodiments, the valve seat 7 has a shut-off contour 11, which engages in the inlet region 6a of the overpressure outlet opening 6 in the normal pressure position V.sub.N of the valve membrane body 8. In a corresponding embodiment, the shut-off contour 11 is formed by a hemispherical shut-off projection 11a, as in the illustrative embodiment in FIGS. 4 and 5. In this case, FIG. 4 illustrates the zero pressure state with an unpressurized fluid chamber 2, in which the valve membrane body 8 is in its normal pressure position V.sub.N and the jet outlet nipple 9 is in its zero pressure position N.sub.Z, while FIG. 5 illustrates the overpressure state, in which the valve membrane body 8 is in its overpressure position V.sub.U and the jet outlet nipple 9 is in its normal pressure position N.sub.N.

(29) In an alternative embodiment, the shut-off contour 11 is formed by a conical shut-off projection 11b, as in the illustrative embodiment in FIGS. 6 and 7. Once again, FIG. 6 here illustrates the initial state of the shower jet generating device, in which it is free from fluid pressure, and FIG. 7 illustrates the overpressure state. By means of these and further possible, alternative shut-off contours of the valve seat 7, the sealing behavior of the valve seat 7 relative to the overpressure outlet opening 6 can be supported. In the embodiments that have the chamber bottom plate 10 having the valve seat 7, the shut-off contour 11 can be formed integrally with the chamber bottom plate 10 or as a separate projection from the same material as or a different material from the chamber bottom plate 10.

(30) In corresponding embodiments, the inlet region 6a of the overpressure outlet opening 6 can have a frustoconical outer contour 12 in the normal pressure position V.sub.N of the valve membrane body 8, and the valve seat 7 has a correspondingly frustoconical inner contour 14, as shown in FIG. 8 for an illustrative embodiment of this kind. In embodiments with the chamber bottom plate 10, the valve seat 7 having this frustoconical inner contour 14 can once again be formed integrally with the chamber bottom plate 10 or, as an alternative, can be disposed as a separate component on the chamber bottom plate 10. This valve seat configuration too can promote the sealing behavior of the overpressure valve 5. If required, this valve seat type can additionally be provided with the shut-off contour 11 engaging in the inlet region 6a of the overpressure outlet opening 6.

(31) In corresponding embodiments, a spring-elastic element 16 is provided, which preloads the valve membrane body 8 against the valve seat in the direction of its normal pressure position V.sub.N, as shown in dashed lines as an option by way of example in the embodiment in FIG. 8. A spring-elastic element 16 of this kind can accordingly also be provided in the other embodiments shown and embodiments mentioned in addition. The spring-elastic element 16 can be a helical compression spring, for example, as shown, or, alternatively, some other spring, such as a spiral compression spring or a helical or spiral tension spring. By means of the choice of an appropriate spring constant for the spring-elastic element 16, in addition to the design of the elastic behavior of the valve membrane body 8 and, in particular, of the annular portion 8b thereof, the overpressure response threshold for the overpressure valve 5 can be adjusted or controlled in the desired manner.

(32) In corresponding embodiments, the valve seat 7 has the overpressure outlet opening 6, which, in this case, leads into the valve seat 7 on its side facing the valve membrane body 8. FIG. 9 illustrates an illustrative embodiment relating to this. In this case, the valve membrane body 8 is of closed design and, in the normal pressure position V.sub.N shown, comes to rest by its illustrative annular boundary portion 8b against the valve seat 7 in such a way that the overpressure outlet opening 6 is surrounded in an annularly closed manner by the boundary portion 8b and is thereby separated from the fluid chamber 2. As a result, the overpressure outlet opening 6 remains closed in normal operation, and the fluid emerges forwards from the shower jet disk 1 exclusively via the jet outlet opening or openings 3.

(33) In the case of overpressure, the valve membrane body 8 in this embodiment once again assumes its overpressure position V.sub.U and thereby exposes the connection from the overpressure outlet opening 6 to the fluid chamber 2. As a result, fluid under overpressure in the fluid chamber 2 can be discharged rearwards, i.e. away from the jet disk 1, through the overpressure outlet opening 6 of the valve seat 7, and not through the shower jet disk 1, as in the illustrative embodiments in FIGS. 2 to 8. The fluid discharged via the overpressure outlet opening 6 can be carried further in a desired manner on the rear side of the shower jet generating device, e.g. on the rear side of the chamber bottom plate 10. This variant embodiment is advantageous specifically for applications in which the emergence of fluid under overpressure towards the front from the shower jet disk 1 is not desired.

(34) As the illustrative embodiments shown and the further illustrative embodiments mentioned above make clear, the invention makes available a shower jet generating device with a particularly advantageous overpressure valve implementation. In particular, the shower jet generating device can be used to advantage for sanitary shower heads, e.g. in sanitary overhead showers, hand-held showers or lateral jet showers as well as extendable shower heads for kitchens, but also for non-sanitary shower heads, wherever there is a need to make available overpressure protection for a shower head.

(35) Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments, variations and modifications exist within the spirit and scope of the invention as described and defined in the following claims.