Patent Application
20230009593
This application claims the benefit of and priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202121393305.5, filed Jun. 22, 2021, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.
Various fluid dispensing devices, such as showerheads, can include various discharge modes in which fluid is dispensed from the device in a particular shape, pattern, or other characteristic. In some circumstances, a user may desire a massaging experience while showering. Therefore, there is a need for a massaging fluid dispensing device that produces a substantial water spray area and satisfying massaging effect.
At least one aspect of the present disclosure is directed towards a fluid discharging assembly. The fluid discharging assembly includes a discharging structure having a fluid inlet cavity fluidly coupled to a fluid outlet cavity. The discharging structure includes a driving mechanism rotatably coupled to the fluid inlet cavity. The driving mechanism includes a gear set coupled to a first eccentric shaft and a second eccentric shaft oppositely disposed about a center axis of the gear set. The discharging structure includes a first slider rotatably coupled to the fluid outlet cavity. The first slider is coupled to the first eccentric shaft such that the first slider rotates with the first eccentric shaft. The discharging structure includes a second slider opposing the first slider and rotatably coupled to the fluid outlet cavity. The second slider is coupled to the second eccentric shaft such that the second slider rotates with the second eccentric shaft. The discharging structure includes a first fluid discharging pipe coupled to a through hole of the first slider and a second fluid discharging pipe coupled to a through hole of the second slider. Each of the first and second fluid discharging pipes are rotatably coupled to the discharging structure and penetrate outside the fluid outlet cavity to rotatably expel fluid at two distinct rotations.
At least one aspect of the present disclosure is directed towards a fluid discharging assembly. The fluid discharging assembly includes a rotatable driving mechanism having at least two rotating eccentric shafts oppositely disposed about a center axis of the driving mechanism. The fluid discharging assembly includes a first slider having a first shaft hole coupled to a first of the at least two eccentric shafts and a second slider having a second shaft hole coupled to a second of the at least two eccentric shafts. The first slider includes a first through hole that receives a first fluid discharging pipe and the second slider includes a second through hole that receives a second fluid discharging pipe. The first fluid discharging pipe rotates at a first rotation by a rotation of the first slider and the second fluid discharging pipe rotates at a second rotation by a rotation of the second slider.
At least one aspect of the present disclosure is directed towards a showerhead having a fluid discharging assembly. The fluid discharging assembly includes a rotatable driving mechanism having at least two rotating eccentric shafts oppositely disposed about a center axis of the driving mechanism. The fluid discharging assembly includes a first slider having a first shaft hole coupled to a first of the at least two eccentric shafts and a second slider having a second shaft hole coupled to a second of the at least two eccentric shafts. The first slider includes a first through hole that receives a first fluid discharging pipe and the second slider includes a second through hole that receives a second fluid discharging pipe. The first fluid discharging pipe rotates at a first rotation by a rotation of the first slider and the second fluid discharging pipe rotates at a second rotation by a rotation of the second slider.
Referring generally to the FIGURES, provided herein are fluid outlet assemblies that include various eccentric shafts to cause at least two discharging pipes (e.g., nozzles) to rotate at different rotations to provide a massaging effect.
Referring to
The connector 1, the body 3, and the water outlet panel 9 can be sequentially coupled. For example, the connector 1 and the body 3 can couple to define a water inlet cavity between the connector 1 and the body 3 (e.g., water or other fluid can flow and/or be kept within one or more spaces between the connector 1 and the body 3 when the connector 1 and the body 3 are coupled) and the body 3 can couple to the water outlet panel 9 to define a water outlet flow pathway (e.g., water or other fluid can flow and/or be kept within one or more spaces between the body 3 and the water outlet panel 9). The connector 1 can include an inlet 26 that can couple to a water source to provide fluid to the water inlet cavity. In some embodiments, the connector 1 is rigidly coupled to the body 3 by one or more threads. For example, an inner surface of the connector 1 can include an internal thread and an outer surface of the body 3 can include a corresponding external thread that can receive the internal threads. In some embodiments, the body 3 can rigidly couple to the water outlet panel 9 by one or more fasteners (e.g., screws, bolts, clips, etc.).
Referring to
The water intake base 21 can include a plurality of guiding channels 29 (e.g., protrusions, extensions, ribs, etc.) evenly distributed in a circumferential direction about the mounting shaft 28. The water intake base 21 can include at least one guiding groove 30 (e.g., inclined hole, aperture or other water channel that is disposed at an angle relative to a surface 19 of the water intake base 21) positioned along a side of each guiding channel 29. For example, each guiding groove 30 can include an inclined (e.g., downward angle) water channel such that when water enters the connector 1 from the inlet 26, water is diverted by the guiding channels 29 to flow out through the guiding grooves 30 at an angle. The water can then be expelled towards one or more portions of the eccentric impeller 22. The water intake base 21 can be rigidly coupled to the connector 1 such that the water intake base 21 does not rotate relative to the connector 1.
In some embodiments, the water intake base 21 includes six guiding channels 29 evenly distributed about the surface 19 and the guiding channels 29 can include one or more through holes (e.g., guiding grooves 30) for water flow to pass through between the guiding channels 29. The mounting shaft 28 can be disposed at a center portion (e.g., at an intersection) of the six guiding channels 29 such that the mounting shaft 28 is positioned in a center of the water intake surface 19. This example is for illustrative purposes. The water intake base 21 can include more or less guiding channels 29 and/or guiding grooves 30 (e.g., one, two, three, four, five, etc.). In some embodiments, one guiding groove 30 is positioned on a side surface of each guiding channel 29 proximate an edge of the water intake base 21.
The eccentric impeller 22 can rotatably couple to the fixed base 23 between the fixed base 23 and the water intake base 21. For example, the fixed base 23 can rigidly couple to the water intake base 21 and the impeller 22 can include at least one shaft that penetrates through an aperture of the fixed base 23 such that the impeller 22 can rotate between the water intake base 21 and the fixed base 23. As an example, the mounting shaft 28 can sequentially penetrate through the eccentric impeller 22 and the fixed base 23 such that the fixed base 23 and the water intake base 21 can provide a mounting and rotating space for the eccentric impeller 22 (e.g., the eccentric impeller 22 is capable of rotating around the mounting shaft 28).
In some embodiments, the eccentric impeller 22 can include a central shaft 31 and a plurality of blades 32 evenly distributed in a circumferential direction of the central shaft 31. A first end of the central shaft 31 that faces the water intake base 21 can include or can be a through hole that can couple to the mounting shaft 28. A second end of the central shaft 31 that faces the fixed base 23 can be, can couple to, or can include an eccentric output shaft 33 as shown in
Referring back to
The impeller 22 can rotate responsive to water being discharged from the water intake base 21. For example, water can pass through the angled guiding channels 29 such that water is expelled at an angle relative to an axial direction of the mounting shaft 28 which exerts a force upon the blades 32 of the impeller 22 which causes the eccentric impeller 22 to rotate. With this configuration, the water intake base 21 allows the driving mechanism 2 to be operated without an external force, which can save energy (e.g., as compared to having to use a manual or non-renewable energy source).
As described herein, the mounting shaft 28 can penetrate through the eccentric impeller 22 and the fixed base 23 such that the impeller 22 can rotate relative to the water intake base 21. The mounting shaft 28 can further penetrate through the first gear 25 to rotatably couple the first gear 25 to the water intake base 21. For example, the first gear 25 can include at least one shaft hole 39 to receive a portion of the eccentric output shaft 33 and/or a portion of the mounting shaft 28. In some embodiments, a diameter of the shaft hole 39 of the first gear 25 can be just less than, about equal to, or just greater than a diameter of the eccentric output shaft 33 such that the first gear 25 can rigidly couple to the eccentric output shaft 33 (e.g., such that the first gear 25 can rotate when the eccentric output shaft 33 rotates).
The first gear 25 and the second gear 24 can each include corresponding teeth such that the first gear 25 and the second gear 24 can mesh together. For example, the first gear 25 can be an internal gear and the second gear 24 can be an external gear such that the first gear 25 is located in the second gear 24. The first gear 25 can include one or more through holes for water to flow through the first gear 25. The first gear 25 can be smaller in pitch than the second gear 24 such that the first gear 25 and the second gear 24 can form a decelerating mechanism of the discharging structural assembly 100. When the eccentric impeller 22 rotates around the mounting shaft 28, the first gear 25 and the second gear 24 can form the differential gear deceleration. For example, the first gear 25 and the second gear 24 are coupled to form a transmission to reduce a rotation speed of the output shaft 33 of the eccentric impeller 22. The first gear 25 and the second gear 24 can reduce a rotation speed of the driving mechanism 2 to avoid an excessively rapid rotation speed, such that movement of the water discharging pipes 8 described herein is relatively soft. In some embodiments, the second gear 24 can be housed (e.g., enclosed) within the body 3.
As shown in
In some embodiments, the first eccentric shaft 252 and the second eccentric shaft 251 are sequentially coupled to the first gear 25. In some embodiments, the first slider 4 and the second slider 5 are sequentially coupled to the first gear 25 by the first eccentric shaft 252 and the second eccentric shaft 251, respectively, such that rotation of the first eccentric shaft 252 causes the first slider 4 to move and rotation of the second eccentric shaft 251 causes the second slider 5 to move. For example, the first eccentric shaft 252 can couple to a shaft hole 40 of the first slider 4 to move the first slider 4 in a circular motion and the second eccentric shaft 251 can couple to a shaft hole 41 of the second slider 5 to move the second slider 5 in a circular motion. The first eccentric shaft 252 can rigidly couple to the shaft hole 40 of the first slider 4 such that the off-center circular rotation of the first eccentric shaft 252 causes the first slider 4 to similarly rotate in a circular motion (e.g., slide along a circular or other two-dimensional path that corresponds to the movement of the first eccentric shaft 252 around the center axis of the mounting shaft 28). Similarly, the second eccentric shaft 251 can rigidly couple to the shaft hole 41 of the second slider 5 such that the off-center circular rotation of the second eccentric shaft 251 causes the second slider 5 to similarly rotate in a circular motion (e.g., slide along a circular or other two-dimensional path that corresponds to the movement of the second eccentric shaft 251 around the center axis of the mounting shaft 28). At the same time, the eccentric output shaft 33 of the eccentric impeller 22 can cause the first gear 25 to move within the second gear 24 so that the first slider 4 and the second slider 5 also move simultaneously in a side-to-side (e.g., sliding) motion while moving in a circular motion. For example, the additional rotation of the first gear 25 relative to the second gear 24 can cause the first slider 4 and the second slider 5 to slide in a direction perpendicular to an axial direction of the eccentric output shaft 33.
The first slider 4 can include a frame and a plurality of slider mounting plates 50 evenly distributed along a circumferential direction of the frame. The first slider 4 can include a plurality of (for example, eight) first through holes 42. The frame can include two partition plates 49 oppositely arranged on the frame. The frame can include four slider mounting plates 50 evenly distributed between the two partition plates 49. The four slider mounting plates 50 can be oppositely arranged in pairs and spaced with a gap. Each slider mounting plate 50 can include one through hole 42.
The second slider 5 can include a slider connecting plate 51 and three second slider mounting plates 52 evenly distributed along a longitudinal direction of the slider connecting plate 51. The slider mounting plate 52 can include two through holes 43 oppositely distributed. The second slider 5 can include a plurality of (for example, six) through holes 43.
In some embodiments, the first eccentric shaft 252 and the second eccentric shaft 251 are located at different and/or opposing positions relative to a center axis of the mounting shaft 28 such that the first eccentric shaft 252 and the second eccentric shaft 251 rotate at different (e.g., offset, opposing) rotations. With this configuration, the first slider 4 and the second slider 5 can rotate at offset rotations (e.g., the rotations may not be identical, the rotations can be equal and opposite).
Referring back to
In some embodiments, the discharging structural assembly 100 can include a sealing gasket 7 disposed between the fixing plate 6 and the water outlet panel 9. The sealing gasket 7 can include at least two elastic sealing rings 27 (e.g., O-rings or other types of sealing rings) arranged on the sealing gasket 7 such that the elastic sealing rings 27 can each receive a water discharging pipe 8. The elastic sealing rings 27 can elastically seal at least one water discharging pipe 8 to the first slider 4 (e.g., by one or more through holes 42 of the first slider 4) and at least one water discharging pipe 8 to the second slider 5 (e.g., by one or more through holes 43 of the second slider 5). With this configuration, a first subset of the water discharging pipes 8 can rigidly couple to the first slider 4 such that the first subset (e.g., eight) of the water discharging pipes 8 moves responsive to movement of the first slider 4 and a second subset (e.g., six) of the water discharging pipes 8 can rigidly couple to the second slider 5 such that the second subset of the water discharging pipes 8 moves responsive to movement of the second slider 5. Therefore, the first subset of water discharging pipes 8 and the second subset of water discharging pipes 8 can rotate and/or swing at different rotations such that water expelled from each subset provides a swirling, interlacing, and massaging effect. In some embodiments, the water discharging pipes 8 can be evenly distributed relative to the water outlet panel 9. In some embodiments, the water discharging pipes 8 can couple to the water outlet panel 9 at the same axial position (e.g., such that a center point of each water discharging pipe 8 is about equal relative to the water outlet panel 9 in an axial direction).
In some embodiments, the plurality of elastic sealing rings 27 can be evenly distributed on the sealing gasket 7 and each elastic sealing ring 27 can be oppositely arranged relative to the through holes 44, 45 of the fixing plate 6 and the water outlet panel 9 such that each elastic sealing ring 27 seals the water discharging pipes 8 in the through holes 44, 45. In some embodiments, the elastic sealing rings 27 can include one or more elastic materials (e.g., rubber or another elastomer) such that the elastic sealing rings 27 can deform to facilitate sealing the water discharging pipes 8 without affecting normal rotation or swing of the water discharging pipes 8.
Referring to
A first of the water discharging pipes 8 can couple to the first slider 4 and a second of the water discharging pipes 8 can couple to the second slider 5 to receive, direct. and discharge the water flow in the water inlet cavity to an external environment. The different rotations of the water discharging pipes 8 causes at least two distinctly rotating water discharge paths to provide a massaging effect (e.g., swirling, overlapping water flow, multiple superimposed motions).
For example, when in use, water enters through the water inlet cavity between the connector 1 and the body 3 and acts on the driving mechanism 2. The driving mechanism 2 drives the first slider 4 and the second slider 5 to move in a circular motion, and the first slider 4 and the second slider 5 drive the water discharging pipes 8 above the first slider 4 and the second slider 5 to move synchronously. Since the first eccentric shaft 252 and the second eccentric shaft 251 are oppositely arranged, the discharging structural assembly 100 discharges water in periodic rotations. By using the above discharging structural assembly 100, the area for discharging water is increased as compared to a water discharging assembly that provides water in a straight path and/or a non-rotating path.
In the exemplary embodiment shown in
The driving mechanism 2′ can include an eccentric output wheel 25′ and a planetary gear set 24′. The impeller 22′ can couple to the eccentric output wheel 25′ by the mounting shaft 28. For example, the mounting shaft 28 can sequentially penetrate through the through hole of the impeller 22′, a through hole of the supporting plate 23′, and through a through hole of the eccentric output wheel 25′. The impeller 22′ can rotate around the mounting shaft 28.
As shown in
In some embodiments, the eccentric output wheel 25′ can include a central shaft (e.g., a rod, shaft, axis, or axle extending from the output wheel 25′ in a direction away from the inlet 26) and a shaft hole 39′ arranged in a center of the central shaft. The eccentric output wheel 25′ can include a plurality of supporting rods 36′ (e.g., material connecting the shaft hole 39′ to a perimeter of the wheel 25′) evenly distributed between the shaft hole 39′ and the central shaft. The eccentric output wheel 25′ can include through holes for water to pass through arranged between the supporting rods 36′. Each of the supporting rods 36′ that face the supporting plate 23′ can include a supporting shaft 46. A side of the central shaft that faces the body 3 can sequentially include the first eccentric shaft 252′ and a second eccentric shaft 251′, as shown in
The planetary gear set 24′ can include planetary carrier 47 and a plurality of planetary gears 48 evenly distributed in the planetary carrier that are each meshed together. For example, the planetary gear set 24′ can include three planetary gears 48 that are each coupled to a corresponding supporting shaft 46 of the eccentric output wheel 25′. With this configuration, rotation of the planetary gears 48 causes rotation of the eccentric output wheel 25′. The planetary carrier 47 can be disposed in the connector 1. The impeller 22′ can drive the planetary gears 48 to rotate in the planetary carrier 47 and the planetary gears 48 can couple to the eccentric output wheel 25′. The planetary gear set 24′ can be mounted between the impeller 22′ and the eccentric output wheel 25′. The planetary gear set 24′ can facilitate slowing an output speed of the impeller 22′ to avoid an excessively rapid rotation speed. The planetary carrier 47 can include at least one through hole for water to pass.
The first slider 4′ can include a first mounting shaft hole 40 and a plurality of first through holes 42 evenly distributed along the first mounting shaft hole 40. The second slider 5 can include a second mounting shaft hole 41 and a plurality of second through holes 43 evenly distributed along the second mounting shaft hole 41. The first through holes 42 and the second through holes 43 can each receive the water discharging pipes 8.
The first slider 4′ can include a connecting plate 49′ and four slider mounting plates 50′ evenly distributed along a longitudinal direction of the connecting plate. Two first through holes 42 are oppositely distributed in each slider mounting plate 50′. The first slider 4 can include a plurality of (for example, eight) through holes 42.
In some embodiments, the water discharging pipes 8 coupled in the first through holes 42 and the water discharging pipes 8 coupled in the second through holes 43 can extend in a direction that intersect one another. For example, the first through holes 42 and the second through holes 43 can be offset from one another such that the central axes of the water discharging pipes 8 intersect at least at one point during rotation of the water discharging pipes 8 (e.g., such that the water expelled from the two subsets of water discharging pipes 8 intersects at least at one point during rotation). In some embodiments, all the water discharging pipes 8 coupled in the first through holes 42 can extend at the same angle and all the water discharging pipes 8 coupled in the second through holes 43 can extend at the same angle. With this configuration, the directions of discharging water of the water discharging pipes 8 are different, such that water is discharged to a greater spray area than if water was directed in just a downward direction.
An example use process of the discharging structural assembly 100 is further described hereinafter. In the first embodiment, the water discharging pipes 8, the sealing gasket 7, the fixing plate 6, the second slider 5 and the first slider 4 are sequentially coupled to the water outlet panel 9. The body 3 is covered on the water outlet panel 9 and relatively fixed. The first gear 25, the second gear 24, the fixed base 23, the eccentric impeller 22, and the water intake base 21 are sequentially put into the body 3 and the connector 1 is covered on the body 3 and fixed to complete the assembly 100.
When in use, the connector 1 receives water from the inlet 26 from an external fluid source (e.g., water supply). Water enters through the water inlet 26 of the connector 1 and passes through the guiding grooves 30 of the water intake base 21 to discharge water at an angle which drives the eccentric impeller 22 to rotate. The eccentric impeller 22 rotates to drive the first gear 25 to rotate within the second gear 24. Meanwhile, the first eccentric shaft 252 and the second eccentric shaft 251 respectively drive the first slider 4 and the second slider 5 to move in a circular motion. Since the eccentric impeller 22 acts on the first gear 25, the first slider 4 and the second slider 5 also swing while moving in a circular motion. The first slider 4 and the second slider 5 drive the water discharging pipes 8 above the first slider 4 and the second slider 5 to move synchronously. Since the first eccentric shaft 252 and the second eccentric shaft 251 are oppositely disposed about a center axis of the first gear 25, the first slider 4 and the second slider 5 rotate at different rotations (e.g., at different locations), so that the discharging structural assembly 100 causes the water discharging pipes 8 to rotate and swing periodically and repeatedly as the pipes 8 discharge water.
In the second embodiment, the water discharging pipes 8, the sealing gasket 7, the fixing plate 6, the second slider 5 and the first slider 4 are sequentially coupled to the water outlet panel 9. The body 3 is covered on the water outlet panel 9 and relatively fixed. The eccentric output wheel 25′, the planetary gear set 24′, the supporting plate 23′, the impeller 22′ and the water intake base 21′ are sequentially coupled to the body 3 and the connector 1 is covered on the body 3 and fixed to complete the assembly.
When in use, the connector 1 receives water from the inlet 26 from an external fluid source (e.g., water supply). Water enters through the water inlet 26 of the connector 1 and passes through the guiding grooves 30 of the water intake base 21 to discharge water at an angle which drives the eccentric impeller 22′ to rotate. The impeller 22′ rotates to drive the planetary gear set 24′ to rotate which drives the eccentric output wheel 25′ to rotate. Meanwhile, the first eccentric shaft 252′ and the second eccentric shaft 251′ respectively drive the first slider 4′ and the second slider 5 to move in a circular motion. The first slider 4′ and the second slider 5 drive the water discharging pipes 8 respectively coupled to the first slider 4′ and the second slider 5 to synchronously move in a circular motion. Since the first eccentric shaft 252′ and the second eccentric shaft 251′ are oppositely disposed about a center axis of the eccentric output wheel 25′, the first slider 4′ and the second slider 5 rotate at different rotations (e.g., at different locations), so that the discharging structural assembly 100 causes the water discharging pipes 8 to rotate periodically and repeatedly as the pipes 8 discharge water.
To make the objects, the technical solutions, and the advantages of the present disclosure clearer, the present disclosure is further described in detail hereinafter with reference to the specific embodiments and the drawings. Same parts are denoted by same reference numerals. It should be noted that the terms “front”, “back”, “left”, “right”, “up”, and “down” used in the following descriptions refer to the directions in the drawings. The terms “inner” and “outer” used respectively refer to directions facing or far away from a geometric center of a specific part.
Those of ordinary skills in the art should understand that: those described above are only specific embodiments of the application, but are not intended to limit the present disclosure. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions and improvements made in the subject of the present disclosure shall all fall within the scope of protection of the present disclosure.
As utilized herein with respect to numerical ranges, the terms “approximately,” “about,” “substantially,” and similar terms generally mean +/−10% of the disclosed values, unless specified otherwise. As utilized herein with respect to structural features (e.g., to describe shape, size, orientation, direction, relative position, etc.), the terms “approximately,” “about,” “substantially,” and similar terms are meant to cover minor variations in structure that may result from, for example, the manufacturing or assembly process and are intended to have a broad meaning in harmony with the common and accepted usage by those of ordinary skill in the art to which the subject matter of this disclosure pertains. Accordingly, these terms should be interpreted as indicating that insubstantial or inconsequential modifications or alterations of the subject matter described and claimed are considered to be within the scope of the disclosure as recited in the appended claims.
It should be noted that the term “exemplary” and variations thereof, as used herein to describe various embodiments, are intended to indicate that such embodiments are possible examples, representations, or illustrations of possible embodiments (and such terms are not intended to connote that such embodiments are necessarily extraordinary or superlative examples).
The term “coupled” and variations thereof, as used herein, means the joining of two members directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary (e.g., permanent or fixed) or moveable (e.g., removable or releasable). Such joining may be achieved with the two members coupled directly to each other, with the two members coupled to each other using a separate intervening member and any additional intermediate members coupled with one another, or with the two members coupled to each other using an intervening member that is integrally formed as a single unitary body with one of the two members. If “coupled” or variations thereof are modified by an additional term (e.g., directly coupled), the generic definition of “coupled” provided above is modified by the plain language meaning of the additional term (e.g., “directly coupled” means the joining of two members without any separate intervening member), resulting in a narrower definition than the generic definition of “coupled” provided above. Such coupling may be mechanical, electrical, or fluidic.
References herein to the positions of elements (e.g., “top,” “bottom,” “above,” “below”) are merely used to describe the orientation of various elements in the FIGURES. It should be noted that the orientation of various elements may differ according to other exemplary embodiments, and that such variations are intended to be encompassed by the present disclosure.
Although the figures and description may illustrate a specific order of method steps, the order of such steps may differ from what is depicted and described, unless specified differently above. Also, two or more steps may be performed concurrently or with partial concurrence, unless specified differently above.
It is important to note that any element disclosed in one embodiment may be incorporated or utilized with any other embodiment disclosed herein. For example, the eccentric output wheel 25′ of the exemplary embodiment described with reference to
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 202121393305.5 | Jun 2021 | CN | national |
