Patent Application
20240003126
The invention relates to the field of devices for treating the human body, and in particular to a water conditioning unit for a washing device, and a dispensing unit.
Devices and methods for delivering additives to showerheads for application to the human body are known, for example from EP 2543779 A2, or WO 2007/062536 A1.
US 2019/352889 A1 discloses a washing facility with multiple outlets for dispensing water or a water admixed with a consumable. It is controlled to operate in different operating modes, which can differ in the pressure, flow rate, temperature and whether the consumable is admixed to the water or not.
WO 2012055272 A1 shows a liquid soap delivery device with a liquid suction chamber. Therein, delivery of the soap is driven by hydraulic pressure of water being delivered.
KR 20030008504 A shows a showerhead with control buttons, for controlling delivery of additives through a control and mixing box. The additives are provided by a set of additive containers.
Known systems are usually foreseen for fixed installation in connection with a bathtub or shower or faucet, and are limited in what they can do. There is a need for a water conditioning unit that is versatile and at the same time easy to handle. More generally, there is a need for improvement over existing systems.
It is therefore an object of the invention to create a water conditioning unit and a dispensing unit of the type mentioned initially, which overcomes the disadvantages mentioned above.
The water conditioning unit is for use in a washing device, the water conditioning unit being configured to provide, controlled by a user, water at different flow rates and with different spraying characteristics and with additives admixed to the water, the water conditioning unit including:
In embodiments, the water conditioning unit is configured to provide at least one additive without mixing it with water.
In embodiments, one or more or all of the docking adapters are designed to receive an additive cartridge or capsule. The additive cartridge or capsule can contain the additive in solid form or in a highly viscous form. The additive cartridge or capsule can include an amount of additive required for a single treatment cycle. That is, a treatment cycle for one user in one sitting. The docking adapter can be configured to guide water through the additive cartridge, thereby eroding the additive and carrying it along out of the additive cartridge. The docking adapter can include a slot into which the additive cartridge or capsule is inserted, and then mechanically opened by the docking adapter.
As alternatives to the docking adapters, other additive sources can be present. For example, instead of one or more or all of the docking adapters, a refillable additive container that forms part of the dispensing unit is present.
In embodiments, hydraulic elements guiding and controlling a flow of water between the inlet fitting and the outlet fitting are implemented in a hydraulic assembly, the hydraulic assembly including a total manifold and hydraulic elements, in particular sensors and actuators controlling the flow of water, the total manifold including internal channels guiding the flow of water and carrying the hydraulic elements.
In embodiments, the total manifold functions as a support structure holding and supporting the hydraulic elements.
This makes the water conditioning unit easy to assemble and allows for a compact arrangement of the hydraulic elements. The total manifold can also hold and support electronic elements such as a controller. The total manifold, together with the elements it supports, can be transported and handled as a single, self-supporting unit. The total manifold thus realises the technical functions of the washing device, and can be assembled and tested independently from a housing in which it is to be used, forming the base unit. Variations in the housing can be implemented without affecting the design of the total manifold, as long as the housing provides room to accommodate the total manifold.
In embodiments, the internal channels are arranged inside the total manifold, guiding water and, as the case may be, also additives, between the hydraulic elements.
In embodiments, the total manifold includes a first plate and second plate, attached to one another, with channels guiding the flow of water being arranged between the two plates, and being defined by hollow spaces between the two plates.
In embodiments, a gasket is arranged between the two plates, ensuring water tightness of the channels. In embodiments, the plates are joined by one of ultrasonic welding, laser welding (with at least one of the plates being transparent to the laser light used for welding).
In embodiments, for one or more of the hydraulic elements, the total manifold is shaped to form a functional part of the hydraulic element.
In embodiments, the total manifold is shaped to form at least one valve seat for a hydraulic element that implements a valve function.
In embodiments, the total manifold is shaped to form at least one flow restrictor for restricting a flow rate through one of the internal channels of the total manifold.
In embodiments, the hydraulic assembly has an elongated shape, with a first end and a second end opposed to the first end, the inlet fitting and the outlet fitting both being arranged at the first end.
This allows to connect inlet and outlet hoses to the water conditioning unit adjacently to one another, which is practical in use, while minimising or eliminating the need for additional conduits to and from the hydraulic assembly.
In embodiments, inside the hydraulic assembly, a high-flow water channel controlled by a high-flow valve, constitutes a shortest flow path for the water flowing from the inlet fitting to the outlet fitting, compared to other flow paths from the inlet fitting to the outlet fitting that are implemented in the hydraulic assembly.
In embodiments, the flow through the high-flow water channel does not pass through any elements designed to reduce or limit the flow, except for the high-flow water channel.
In embodiments, inside the hydraulic assembly, an initial spray flow path leads from the inlet fitting to a branching point, where it branches into a spray water channel and an admixing channel, the spray water channel being controlled by a plain water valve and leading to a junction which in turn leads to the outlet fitting, the admixing channel being controlled by a mixer valve and leading to the second end and from there into an admixing section of the admixing channel, the admixing section leading back in the direction of the first end, to the junction.
This allows the admixing section to extend along the length of the elongated hydraulic assembly, which in turn allows to arrange additive containers and associated additive pumps in a space saving arrangement next to one another. In embodiments, the total manifold includes two parallel levels of channels. In embodiments, it includes three levels, or more.
In embodiments, a pressure reducer is arranged to limit a pressure at a branching point, where it branches into a spray water channel and an admixing channel, in particular to a pressure of less than three bar, in particular to a pressure of two bar.
In embodiments, the pressure reducer is one of the hydraulic elements carried by the total manifold.
In embodiments, a flow restrictor is arranged to further limit a flow in the spray water channel, in particular to a flow between one and two litres per minute.
In embodiments, the total manifold further includes a mixing manifold arranged on or being part of the second plate, the mixing manifold including an admixing channel arranged to guide a flow of water from the second end to the first end, with additive inlets, optionally including additive check valves, arranged along the admixing channel for admixing additives to the flow of water.
The additive check valves can be duckbill valves.
In embodiments, a volume of the admixing channel, from the first additive inlet, seen in the direction of flow, to the junction, is less than thirty millilitres, in particular less than twenty millilitres, in particular less than ten millilitres.
This relatively small volume leads to a short delay time between the moment that an additive is delivered to the admixing channel and the time that it is delivered to the junction and then to the showerhead. Conversely, it also leads to a short delay time between the moment in which delivery is stopped and the time at which the additive is flushed from the admixing channel.
In embodiments, the water conditioning unit includes two or more peristaltic pumps arranged in a row, with their axes of rotation at least approximately at a right angle to a direction of the admixing channel, wherein two outermost peristaltic pumps of the row are arranged to turn in opposite directions.
In embodiments, all hydraulic elements guiding and controlling a flow of water between the inlet fitting and the outlet fitting are arranged inside a compact base unit
In embodiments, the base unit is configured for the, one, two or more additive containers to be inserted into and connected to corresponding docking adapters in a vertical direction, in particular in a downward direction.
In embodiments, the base unit is configured for three or more additive containers arranged in a line to be inserted into and connected to corresponding docking adapters in a vertical direction, in particular in a downward direction.
In embodiments, the base unit includes user interface elements including additive selecting elements, in particular one selector button for each docking adapter or additive source, and an additive concentration controller for setting an amount of additive delivered from one or more selected docking adapters or additive sources when the water conditioning unit is in an additive dispensing mode, and optionally dispensing mode selecting elements, and optionally indicator elements, in particular indicator light rings, indicating the one or more selected docking adapter or additive source.
In embodiments, mode indicating elements can be present, indicating that the one or more selected docking adapter or additive source is either in continuous admixing, pulses additive admixing mode or pulsing water admixing mode. A mode can be indicated, for example, by a colour or pattern of brightness variation of an optical indicator.
In embodiments, the user interface is configured to allow for more than one docking adapter or additive source to be selected, and a controller is configured to, for a particular setting of the additive concentration controller
A corresponding method for operating the water conditioning unit includes the steps of:
In embodiments, the selection of two or more docking adapters for operation in an admixing state (which can be continuous, pulsed additive or pulsed water admixing) can result in the mixing of two or more additives that undergo a chemical reaction upon being mixed. The mixing of these additives can be done in the same proportion, that is, each docking delivering the same amount of product per time unit, or the same proportional part of the total amount. The device can be configured to control the amount of each additive delivered for these chemical reactions. The device can be configured to generate a user alert signal indicating that a given total amount of additives has been dispensed.
The dispensing unit is in particular for use in combination with the water conditioning unit of the preceding claims. It includes a showerhead with a spray outlet and a high-flow outlet,
In embodiments, the dispensing unit includes an additive button for selecting an operation mode of the mixer valve and the plain water valve for the water conditioning unit to deliver either water through the spray water channel, or water admixed with additive through the admixing channel.
In embodiments, the dispensing unit includes a flow selector for selecting an operation mode of the high-flow valve and the mixer valve or plain water valve, as the case may be, for the water conditioning unit
In embodiments, the flow selector is configured to operate a diverter to guide a flow of water from the hose
The subject matter of the invention will be explained in more detail in the following text with reference to preferred exemplary embodiments which are illustrated in the attached drawings, which schematically show:
The reference symbols used in the drawings, and their meanings, are listed in summary form in the list of reference symbols. In principle, identical parts are provided with the same reference symbols in the figures.
The plain water valve 20 can be controlled to create pulses of water by opening and closing the plain water valve 20 repeatedly at regular intervals, for example with a frequency between 0.5 Hz and 10 Hz, in particular between 1 Hz and 15 Hz, in particular between 3 Hz and 10 Hz. Such pulsed delivery of water can be used to implement a pulsed water admixing mode, as described further below.
The plain water valve 20 can be a proportional valve. That means that it can be controlled to be kept in an opened state in which it is open to less than a maximum degree of opening. In its opened state it can be open to a degree between ten or twenty and a hundred percent of a maximum degree of opening.
The flow path including the combination of the following elements: inlet one-way valve 13 and gear pump 14, the pressure sensor 15, the temperature sensor 31, and the flow meter 16, shall be called initial spray flow path 222. One or more of these elements can be omitted from the initial spray flow path 222.
In the admixing channel 22, the flow passes through a flow restrictor or pressure reducer 221 into an admixing section where it is joined by one or more additive flows. The flow restrictor or pressure reducer 221 reduces the flow, or further reduces the flow if the pressure reducer at location 18′ is present. Each of the additive flows is delivered by an associated peristaltic pump 26 from an associated additive container 25 into the admixing channel 22 through an associated additive check valve 27. The additive check valve 27 can be a duck bill valve. In embodiments, the additive check valve 27 is not present. Following the admixing section, the flow—now optionally including one or more additives, depending on operation of the peristaltic pumps 26—passes through a a mixture check valve 29, which can be a duck bill valve, into a junction 30. At the junction 30, the admixing channel 22 reunites with the spray water channel 23 and the high-flow water channel 24, forming a reunited flow.
The spray water channel 23 is separate from the admixing channel 22 in order to allow to quickly switch between water with and without additives. Another reason is that the flow rate in the two channels and the flow rates for dispensing spray water or water with an additive can be set to be different. For this purpose, if the pressure reducer at location 18′ is not present, then a spray water flow restrictor or pressure reducer 18 is present in the spray water channel, in addition to the flow restrictor 221 in the admixing channel 22. Alternatively, if the pressure reducer at location 18′ is present, then a spray water flow restrictor or pressure reducer 18 in the spray water channel can be omitted, and the difference in flow rates is determined by the flow restrictor or pressure reducer 221 in the admixing channel 22. Furthermore, if the pressure reducer at location 18′ is present, then the high-flow water channel 24 should branch off from the initial spray flow path 222 before this pressure reducer.
The reunited flow optionally passes along an outlet temperature sensor (not illustrated, placed at location 31′) to an outlet fitting 32. From the outlet fitting 32, the flow passes through an optional outlet filter 28 and is guided by a hose 33 to a showerhead 34.
The volume of the admixing channel 22 is relatively small, so that a delay time between starting and stopping an additive pump and delivery of the additive by the showerhead 34 is kept short. In particular, a time for flushing an additive from the admixing channel 22 after stopping the corresponding pump is kept short. For example, the volume of the admixing channel 22 is less than thirty millilitres, in particular less than twenty millilitres, in particular less than ten millilitres.
In contrast the volume of the spray water channel 23 can be between thirty and sixty millilitres, in particular between forty and fifty millilitres. The volume of the high-flow water channel 24 can be between ten and thirty millilitres, in particular between fifteen and twenty-five millilitres.
The elements between the inlet fitting 11 and outlet fitting 32 constitute a water conditioning unit 2. The hose 33 and showerhead 34 form a dispensing unit 3.
The water conditioning unit 2 includes a controller 100 arranged to read sensor values, to read the state from user input elements (described below), to control actuators such as the valves and pumps in accordance with such sensor or user inputs, and to display information to the user. The controller 100 can further be configured to communicate with an external computer system. Communication can include sending operating data to the external computer system and receiving operating parameters, including user and client preferences, from the external system. Operating data can include measurements made by sensors of the device, information on user actions, usage of additives, device status data, error messages etc. Such data can be used for improving operation of the washing device itself or a fleet of devices, for ordering replacement containers for additives, scheduling maintenance, etc. The external computer can be operated by a manufacturer and/or supplier of additives, or by a user. In the latter case, the external computer can be a handheld computing device, and can implement a user interface or dashboard displaying information from the washing device 10 and allowing to control the washing device 10.
The sensors shown in the embodiment of
In embodiments, water flow into the water conditioning unit 2 is controlled by the faucet 1. In particular the temperature of the flow can be controlled by the faucet being a mixing faucet. In this way the washing device 10 can be combined with existing haircare installations, replacing an existing showerhead. Users operating the washing device 10 can keep their habit of controlling the temperature by means of the faucet 1. With regard to water flow, the faucet can be fully opened, with the flow being controlled by the mixer valve 19, plain water valve 20 and high-flow valve 21.
The hydraulic assembly 50 can be manufactured from one or more parts by injection moulding or additive manufacturing.
In the embodiment presented here, the hydraulic assembly 50 includes a total manifold 57 which in turn includes a base manifold 55 connected to a mixing manifold 56. The base manifold 55 in turn includes a first plate 51 and second plate 52. In one of these plates, channels 54 are formed by recesses in the plate. The channels 54 run in parallel to a plane, called channel plane. A gasket 53 can be arranged to ensure water tightness between the two plates in regions where the channels 54 are located. The channels in the base manifold 55 implement the channels of the spray water channel 23 and leading into it, and of the high-flow water channel 24. In the embodiment presented here, the high-flow water channel 24 branches off from the initial spray flow path 222 prior to measurement elements, as shown by the dashed line in Figure faucet 1.
The admixing channel 22 is implemented in the mixing manifold 56. The mixing manifold 56 implements a second level of internal channels, in a plane that is parallel to the channels 54 in the base manifold 55.
A space saving arrangement of the hydraulic elements can be achieved by the total manifold 57 having an elongated shape, extending from a first end 61 in a first half section 63 to a second end 62 in a second half section 64 of the total manifold 57, and arranging the hydraulic elements in the following manner:
It is understood that the expressions “the first end” and “the second end” are understood to denote a region at the respective end. Such a region can include one fifth or one seventh or one tenth of the length of the hydraulic assembly.
Furthermore, the admixing channel 22 can be arranged in a plane different from the channel plane in which the other channels lie. In the embodiment shown, the admixing channel 22 is arranged in the mixing manifold 56, the mixing manifold 56 being attached to the second plate 52. Part of the admixing channel 22 runs approximately parallel to the spray water channel 23, at a distance in the direction normal to the channel plane.
The hydraulic elements are attached to the total manifold 57. In more detail: the peristaltic pumps 26 are attached to the mixing manifold 56, and the other elements to one side of the base manifold 55, such as the first plate 51.
In order to achieve a space-saving arrangement of the peristaltic pumps 26, the outermost two peristaltic pumps 26, in a row of two, three or more pumps, are arranged to turn in opposite directions. This allows to locate the respective inlets of the two outermost peristaltic pumps 26 at the outer periphery or end of the row of pumps, which in turn allows to arrange the corresponding additive pipes 261 at the outer periphery of the row as well.
In embodiments, two or more pumps are present, and respective additive pipes 261 supplying the pumps are arranged at an outer end of the row of pumps, each outside the inlet of the respective pump. In embodiments in which a third pump is present, its respective additive pipe 261 can be arranged to lie between the inlet and the outlet of the third pump.
The flow restrictor 221 can be formed as part of the total manifold 57. In embodiments, not illustrated in detail, the total manifold 57 is shaped to form at least one part of a filter carrier for a hydraulic element that implements a filter function.
The spray outlet 37 thus generates a fine spray of water, optionally including an additive. This allows to apply the additive and perform effective wetting and rinsing operations using relatively little water.
For situations in which a high flow of water is required, the high-flow outlet 38 is arranged to dispense water at a significantly higher flow rate than the spray outlet 37. The high-flow outlet 38 includes a ring-like outlet opening surrounding an outlet opening of the spray outlet 37.
In embodiments, the washing device 10 is configured, in a spray state, to have a flow rate through the spray outlet 37, without additives, of between two and three litres per minute, in particular 2.5 litres/minute+/−20%. This flow rate can be controlled by the pressure reducer 18. This flow passes through the spray water channel 23.
In embodiments, the washing device 10 is configured, in an admixing state, to have a flow rate through the spray outlet 37, with additives, of between one and two litres per minute, in particular 1.5 litres/minute+/−20%. This flow rate can be controlled by the flow restrictor 221. This flow passes through the admixing channel admixing channel 22.
The admixing state can be implemented as one of the following substates or admixing modes, or the washing device 10 can be configured, for at least one of the additives, to switch between two or more of the following admixing modes:
In embodiments, the washing device 10 is configured, in a high-flow state, to have a flow rate through the high-flow outlet 38 of between five and nine litres per minute, depending on the water pressure at the inlet fitting 11. In particular this flow rate can be, for an inlet pressure of
Operation of the showerhead 34 is controlled by means of an additive button 35 and a flow selector 36. Both are control elements for setting operation modes of the water conditioning unit 2 through electrical signal lines, and are typically are arranged on the showerhead 34. In other embodiments, one or both are arranged on a sink or treatment chair, on a base unit 75, or in a foot pedal.
The additive button 35 controls operation of the valves in the water conditioning unit 2 to open the mixer valve 19 and close the plain water valve 20 when the additive button 35 is activated to be in an “admixing” position. The opposite valve position is set in a “plain water” position. Typically, this is the default position in which the additive button 35 is not activated.
The flow selector 36 controls operation of the valves in the water conditioning unit 2 to open the high-flow valve 21 and close the mixer valve 19 and plain water valve 20 when the flow selector 36 is activated to be in a “high-flow” position. The high-flow valve 21 is closed in a “normal flow” or “spray” position. Typically, this is the default position in which the flow selector 36 is not activated.
As the valves in the water conditioning unit 2 are operated to switching between the high-flow water channel 24 and the other two channels, the showerhead 34 switches between spray outlet 37 and high-flow outlet 38. This can be done by the flow selector 36 mechanically or electrically actuating a diverter 39 that diverts the flow from the hose 33 to either the spray outlet 37 or the high-flow outlet 38, depending on the state of the flow selector 36.
In embodiments, the flow selector 36 controls the valves of the water conditioning unit 2 by a dedicated signal line, e.g. carrying an electrical signal. In this case, a sensor such as a Hall sensor can be arranged to detect the position of the flow selector 36. In other embodiments, the flow selector 36 indirectly controls the valves in that a change in pressure or flow caused by the flow being diverted to the high-flow outlet 38 is detected by a corresponding sensor in the water conditioning unit 2.
In summary, the washing device 10 can be in the following operating states:
In other embodiments, the high-flow water channel 24 does not join the flow from the spray water channel 23 and admixing channel 22, but is guided through a second hose, running in parallel to the hose 33, to the showerhead 34 and the high-flow outlet 38.
If the admixing state has more than one admixing mode, switching between these modes can be done with a corresponding mode selector or admixing mode selecting element, operated by a user. For example, the mode selector is arranged on the base unit 75. A corresponding user interaction can include the user selecting the admixing mode by operating the mode selector. This causes the base unit 75, when the admixing state is entered, typically by the user operating the additive button 35, to perform the admixing according to the selected admixing mode. In other embodiments, the mode selector is arranged on the showerhead 34, and/or it is combined with the additive button 35. Regardless of the placement od the mode selector, the selected mode can be indicated by a corresponding mode indicator element on the base unit 75 or on the showerhead 34, for example by a visual or optical indicator.
In embodiments, the washing device 10 is configured to perform a method including multiple phases for dispensing additives at different times as part of a procedure chosen by user. A possible procedure is:
The elements of the water conditioning unit 2 are arranged in a single unit, for example in a compact base unit 75 to which additive containers 25 are coupled.
A user interface 70 to the controller 100 for operating the hydraulic assembly 50 include selector buttons 71 and an additive concentration controller 72. Each selector button 71 is associated with one additive container 25. Pressing a selector button 71 selects the associated additive container 25 for delivery of additive when the additive button 35 of the dispensing unit 3 is operated. When this happens, the amount of additive delivered by the peristaltic pump 26 per time unit is set according to a setting of the additive concentration controller 72. Selection of a particular additive container 25 can be indicated by an indicator light located near a coupling to the additive container 25. In particular the indicator light can be an indicator light ring 73 running around a base of such a coupling. The light can indicate selection of the corresponding additive container 25 by lighting up. Specific operating conditions can be indicated by flashing the light and/or by changing its colour. Such operating conditions can be, for example, delivery of the additive being in progress, no additive having been selected, or an empty additive container 25. Such operating conditions are each associated with an additive and/or an additive container 25.
The embodiments shown so far show three additive containers 25 and a corresponding number of peristaltic pumps 26. In other embodiments, a single one, or two additive containers 25 are present, or four, or more than four additive containers 25. The hydraulic assembly 50 can be adapted accordingly.
While the invention has been described in present preferred embodiments of the invention, it is distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto, but may be otherwise variously embodied and practised within the scope of the claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01477/20 | Nov 2020 | CH | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2021/082266 | 11/19/2021 | WO |
