SHOWER JET GENERATING DEVICE

Abstract

A shower jet generating device for a sanitary shower head has a jet disk that delimits a fluid chamber on the outlet side and has at least one jet disk opening. A fluid outlet element is disposed on the at least one jet disk opening and is movable in an axial main direction component, which element includes a movable valve body having a fluid outlet opening issuing from the fluid chamber. The fluid outlet opening is unblocked in an unblocking position of the fluid outlet element and is blocked in a blocking position of the fluid outlet element in response to a fluid pressure in the fluid chamber. The movable valve body cooperates with an unmovable valve seat which unblocks the fluid outlet opening in the unblocking position of the fluid outlet element and blocks it in a blocking position of the fluid outlet element.

Claims

1. A shower jet generating device for a sanitary shower head, comprising: a jet disk including at least one jet disk opening and delimiting a fluid chamber on an outlet side, and a fluid outlet element disposed on the at least one jet disk opening and movable in an axial main direction component, which fluid outlet element includes a movable valve body having a fluid outlet opening issuing from the fluid chamber, which fluid outlet opening is unblocked in an unblocking position of the fluid outlet element and is blocked in a blocking position of the fluid outlet element in response to a fluid pressure in the fluid chamber, wherein the movable valve body cooperates with an unmovable valve seat, which unblocks the fluid outlet opening in the unblocking position of the fluid outlet element and blocks it in the blocking position of the fluid outlet element.

2. The shower jet generating device according to claim 1, wherein the fluid chamber is delimited by one of a partition plate and a housing plate including the unmovable valve seat, wherein said one of the partition plate and housing plate is arranged opposite to the jet disk.

3. The shower jet generating device according to claim 1, wherein the movable valve body abuts on a valve abutment surface of the jet disk in the unblocking position of the fluid outlet element.

4. The shower jet generating device according to claim 1, wherein the fluid outlet element with its fluid outlet opening in its unblocking position and/or in its blocking position extends through the jet disk opening.

5. The shower jet generating device according to claim 1, wherein the valve seat has a valve seat projection which protrudes into the fluid outlet opening when the fluid outlet opening is blocked.

6. The shower jet generating device according to claim 1, wherein the fluid outlet opening has at least one of a dimensionally stable geometry, a circular cylindrical geometry and a conical geometry, independent of fluid pressure.

7. The shower jet generating device according to claim 1, wherein the fluid outlet opening is provided by an outlet nozzle with a nozzle longitudinal axis extending in parallel to a local surface normal to an exterior side of the jet disk.

8. The shower jet generating device according to claim 1, wherein the fluid outlet element includes an elastomeric ring membrane surrounding and supporting the movable valve body.

9. The shower jet generating device according to claim 1, wherein the fluid outlet element has a one-piece design.

10. The shower jet generating device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of jet disk openings and associated fluid outlet elements is provided, and the jet disk includes a one-piece elastomeric plate on which the plurality of fluid outlet elements are disposed.

Description

[0021] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings and are explained in more detail below. In the drawings:

[0022] FIG. 1 shows a sectional view of a detail of a shower jet generating device with a plurality of fluid outlet elements in the blocking position and with plane valve seats,

[0023] FIG. 2 shows the sectional view from FIG. 1 with the fluid outlet elements in the unblocking position,

[0024] FIG. 3 shows a detailed view of an individual fluid outlet element from FIG. 1,

[0025] FIG. 4 shows a detailed view of an individual fluid outlet element from FIG. 2,

[0026] FIG. 5 shows a sectional view, corresponding to FIG. 1, of a variant with profiled valve seats,

[0027] FIG. 6 shows a sectional view, corresponding to FIG. 2, of the variant from FIG. 5,

[0028] FIG. 7 shows a detailed sectional view of an individual fluid outlet element from FIG. 5, and

[0029] FIG. 8 shows a detailed view of an individual fluid outlet element from FIG. 6.

[0030] The shower jet generating device shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 is integrated in a sanitary shower head in order to generate a water shower jet whose jet shape is largely independent of the pressure of the supplied water. The water supplied to the shower head is introduced into a fluid chamber 3 which, on the outlet side, is delimited by a jet disk 1, in this example a multi-part jet disk 1, of the shower jet generating device. The jet disk 1 has a plurality of preferably between ten and two hundred, e.g. thirty, jet disk openings 2 through which the water can be conveyed from the fluid chamber 3 to the outside.

[0031] The multi-part jet disk 1 comprises an elastomeric plate 13, which can be made for example of a silicone material with a Shore hardness of preferably between fifty and seventy, e.g. sixty, and a metal plate 14, wherein the elastomeric plate 13 bears on the metal plate 14 from the fluid chamber side.

[0032] Furthermore, a housing plate 8 of the shower head is arranged lying opposite the jet disk 1 and delimiting the fluid chamber 3. The elastomeric plate 13 in this case is held with its outer edge region between the housing plate 8 and the metal plate 14 so as to seal the fluid chamber 3.

[0033] A plurality of elastomeric ring membranes 12 are formed on the one-piece elastomeric plate 13, each of them surrounding and supporting a movable fluid outlet element 4. The fluid outlet element 4 is thus connected to and held on the elastomeric plate 13 via the elastomeric ring membrane 12. Furthermore, the elastomeric plate 13 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 is configured in one piece with the fluid outlet element 4 and with the elastomeric ring membrane 12. Moreover, the elastomeric plate 13 is placed onto the metal plate 14 in such a way that a movable fluid outlet element 4 is arranged at each jet disk opening 2.

[0034] The respective fluid outlet element 4 has a fluid outlet opening 5, which issues from the fluid chamber 3 and is in the form of an outlet nozzle. The fluid outlet opening 5 or the outlet nozzle has a frustoconical geometry on the inlet side, in the direction from the fluid chamber 3, which frustoconical geometry is adjoined on the outlet side by a circular cylindrical geometry serving as an end portion in which the fluid outlet opening 5 is narrowed to an outlet diameter which, for example, is typically in the range from 0.6 mm to 1.2 mm, in particular from 0.85 mm to 0.95 mm. For the intended use of the shower jet generating device, the fluid outlet opening 5 or outlet nozzle has a dimensionally stable geometry independent of fluid pressure. The axis of symmetry of the fluid outlet opening 5 is a nozzle longitudinal axis 11, which at the same time is an axial main direction component of the movement of the movable fluid outlet element 4. The nozzle longitudinal axis 11 also corresponds to a local surface normal of an exterior side of the jet disk 1 at the site in question.

[0035] Furthermore, the fluid outlet element 4 has a movable valve body 6 on which the fluid outlet opening 5 is arranged, wherein the movable valve body 6 is a rotationally symmetrical element in the manner of a cup spring. The movable valve body 6 is responsible for the movement of the fluid outlet element 4 and therefore also for the movement of the fluid outlet opening 5. As a result of the movement of the valve body 6, the fluid outlet element 4 is switched between a position unblocking the fluid outlet opening 5 and a position blocking the fluid outlet opening 5, wherein the movable valve body 6 cooperates with an unmovable valve seat 7. The cause of this movement is a fluid pressure that prevails in the fluid chamber 3 and that is generated by the supplied water. The fluid pressure acts on the movable valve body 6, and, as soon as a predefined limit pressure of between 0.2 bar and 0.35 bar, in particular between 0.24 bar and 0.26 bar, is exceeded in the fluid chamber, the valve body 6, and with it the fluid outlet element 4, is moved with an axial main direction component by way of the pressure from a blocking position to an unblocking position, in which the valve body 6 unblocks the fluid outlet opening 5. When the fluid pressure drops below the predefined limit pressure, the valve body 6 moves back automatically to its original position in which it blocks the fluid outlet opening 5.

[0036] FIG. 1 shows the blocking position of the movable valve body 6. In this position, the valve body 6 cooperates with the unmovable valve seat 7 such that the valve body 6 lies or presses against the valve seat 7, as a result of which the valve seat 7 blocks the fluid outlet opening 5 in a fluid-tight manner. On account of the movable valve body 6 lying tightly against the unmovable valve seat 7, no water can leave the fluid chamber 3 through the fluid outlet opening 5, and the shower head is thus made safe against dripping.

[0037] The unmovable valve seat 7 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 is designed in one piece with the housing plate 8 of the shower head and has a plane seat surface against which the movable valve body 6 lies. To this end, the unmovable valve seat 7 is formed by a plateau-like projection 15 of the housing plate 8. The distance between the jet disk 1 and the housing plate 8 in this case is preferably at least 2 mm, not counting the plateau 15. This distance can be designated as the height of the fluid chamber 3.

[0038] It will also be seen from FIG. 1 that, in the blocking position of the movable valve body 6, the fluid outlet opening 5 extends through the jet disk opening 2 and, on the outlet side, has a projecting length in relation to the metal plate 14. This projecting length of the fluid outlet opening 5 can be, for example, in the range of 1 mm to 3 mm, e.g. approximately 2 mm. In the unblocking position of the movable valve body 6, which is shown in FIG. 2, the projecting length is preferably between 3 mm and 7 mm, e.g. approximately 5 mm. As a result of the movement of the valve body 6 controlled by the fluid pressure in the fluid chamber 3, the fluid outlet opening 5 thus executes a stroke movement with an axial stroke length of preferably 2 mm to 5 mm, e.g. approximately 3 mm.

[0039] In the example shown, the respective fluid outlet element 4 or its valve body 6 has a monostable configuration, i.e. a configuration such that the fluid outlet element 4 or its valve body 6 has precisely one stable position, which in the present case is given by the blocking position according to FIG. 1. When a fluid pressure prevails in the fluid chamber, the fluid outlet element 4 or its valve body 6 is moved forward from this position, by the stroke length, to the unblocking position according to FIG. 2 when and as soon as the fluid pressure exceeds an associated limit pressure value of, for example, 0.25 bar to 0.35 bar. In the unblocking position, the valve body 6 no longer lies against the unmovable valve seat 7, and the water is able to leave the fluid chamber 3 by way of the respective fluid outlet opening 5 in order to form the desired shower jet. When the fluid pressure drops below the limit value again or decreases to zero, for example when the supply of water is turned off, the fluid outlet element 4 or its valve body 6 returns automatically to the blocking position under the effect of an elastic restoring force, such that water is reliably prevented from dripping from the fluid outlet opening 5.

[0040] FIGS. 3 and 4 show enlarged details of one of the fluid outlet elements 4, and of its environment, in the blocking position and the unblocking position, respectively. As will be seen more clearly from these figures, the jet disk opening 2, on which the depicted fluid outlet opening 4 is arranged, is designed in this example as a countersunk bore in the metal plate 14, wherein the countersink has a geometry, in particular a valve abutment surface 9, which supports the movable valve body 6 in the unblocking position and limits its movement. So as not to damage the movable valve body 6, the countersink of the countersunk bore is preferably shaped in such a way that it has no sharp angles.

[0041] FIGS. 5 to 8 show a variant of the shower jet generating device from FIGS. 1 to 4, wherein, to give a better understanding, like reference signs have been used for identical and functionally equivalent elements and, in this respect, reference can also be made to what has been said above in relation to the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4, in which case it is essentially only the differences that will be discussed hereinbelow. In this case, the differences lie specifically in the design of the unmovable valve seat 7.

[0042] In the variant in FIGS. 5 to 8, the unmovable valve seat 7 has a valve seat projection 10 which protrudes into the fluid outlet opening 5 when the fluid outlet opening 5 is blocked and does not protrude into the fluid outlet opening 5 when the fluid outlet opening 5 is unblocked. It is thus possible to counteract lime deposits at the fluid outlet opening 5, since these deposits are detached from the fluid outlet opening 5 by the valve seat projection 10 as the fluid outlet element 4 moves between the unblocking position and the blocking position.

[0043] Moreover, the unmovable valve seat 7 in the variant in FIGS. 5 to 8 has a configuration that is adapted in shape to that of the movable valve body 6. For this purpose, the unmovable valve seat 7 has an annular depression or recess in the form of a negative configuration of the movable valve body 6 lying on it in the blocking position. This increases the contact surface between the movable valve body 6 and the unmovable valve seat 7 in the blocking position, compared to the plane seat surface in the variant in FIGS. 1 to 4, and contributes to a centring of the position of the valve body 6 pressing against the valve seat 7 in the blocking position. This increased contact surface and the centred position of the valve body 6 advantageously support the secure sealing of the fluid outlet opening 5.

[0044] In a variant of the shower jet generating device that is in accordance with the invention but is not shown, the unmovable valve seat 7 is designed in the form of a preferably frustoconical stopper which closes the fluid outlet opening 5 in the blocking position. The stopper-shaped unmovable valve seat 7 in this case protrudes into the fluid outlet opening 5.

[0045] In a variant of the shower jet generating device that is in accordance with the invention but is not shown, a partition plate, instead of the depicted housing plate 8, has the unmovable valve seat. This partition plate is preferably integrated in a shower head and has the effect of delimiting the fluid chamber on the side thereof lying opposite the jet disk.

[0046] As is made clear by the exemplary embodiments shown and explained above, the invention makes available a shower jet generating device which reliably prevents undesired dripping and which is relatively easy to produce and operationally reliable. Furthermore, the outlet cross section of the fluid outlet opening is largely uninfluenced by the fluid pressure in the fluid chamber. The invention can be used in particular in sanitary engineering, but also in other applications in which there is a need to be able to generate a shower jet that is operationally reliable and does not cause drips.