Microbubble generation container and water discharging device

The present disclosure provides a microbubble generation container and a water discharging device. The container includes a barrel main body, an excitation member and an elastic member. The barrel main body is provided with a water inlet, a water outlet and a connecting port. The excitation member is movably arranged in the barrel main body, and includes a partition plate and a sealing portion. The partition plate divides an inner space of the barrel main body into a first chamber and a second chamber, and a water passage for communicating the first chamber with the second chamber is arranged on the partition plate. The water passage enables water flowing by to form water droplets and be ejected. The sealing portion opens and closes the connecting port with a motion of the excitation member.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to the technical field of microbubbles, in particular, to a microbubble generation container and a water discharging device.

BACKGROUND

With the improvement of people's living standards, people put forward higher and higher requirements for domestic water, such as bath water and cleaning water for fruits, vegetables and tableware. It is not only required that domestic water should be pollution-free, but also required that the domestic water can have a bactericidal activity, as well as good water quality. For this reason, people have developed microbubble generation containers, which can make water mixed with air and other gases to form microbubble water. When water contains microbubbles, the water can achieve a bactericidal effect, and the water use experience of a user can be improved.

In relevant technologies, when air in the microbubble generation container is used up, that is, after the container is filled with water, it is necessary to press a press end of a drain valve to open a drain port at a bottom of the container to discharge the water in the container. At the same time, a press end of a press valve is connected to a sealing member through a linkage rod, so that when the drain valve is pressed, the linkage sealing member moves far away from an air inlet, so that external gas can enter the container through the air inlet. However, due to its complex structure, the container cannot be repeatedly used before the press end of the drain valve is pressed, resulting in limitations to an application scenario.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure aims to provide a microbubble generation container with a simplified structure, and a water discharging device.

In order to solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the present disclosure adopts the following technical solution:

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the present disclosure provides a microbubble generation container. The microbubble generation container includes a barrel main body, an exciter and an elastic body. The barrel main body is provided with a water inlet, a water outlet, a guide hole and a connecting port. The exciter is movably arranged in the barrel main body, and includes a partition plate, a guide rod, and an annular sealing rib. The partition plate is configured to divide an inner space of the barrel main body into a first chamber and a second chamber, where the water inlet is communicated to the first chamber, the water outlet and the connecting port are both communicated to the second chamber. The partition plate is provided with a water passage for communicating the first chamber with the second chamber, where the water passage enables water flowing by to form water droplets and be ejected. The guide rod extends from a surface, facing the connecting port and the guide hole, of the partition plate, where one end of the guide rod is movably arranged in the guide hole. The sealing rib is protruded from a sidewall of the guide rod, where the sealing rib is configured to open and close the connecting port with a motion of the guide rode. The elastic body is configured to act on the exciter to drive the exciter to move towards the water inlet, so as to remove the sealing rib from the connecting port to open the connecting port. The exciter is driven to move towards the connecting port under an impact force of water entering the first chamber from the water inlet on the partition plate when the impact force overcomes an elastic force of the elastic body, so as to make the sealing rib be able to close the connecting port.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the guide rod is movably arranged in the guide hole in a penetrating manner.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the sealing rib is configured to cooperate with the guide rod to close the connecting port.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the barrel main body further includes a connecting pipe section and a supporting plate. One end of the connecting pipe section is communicated with the second chamber, and the connecting port is formed in the one end of the connecting pipe section. An other end of the connecting pipe section is communicated to the outside of the barrel main body. The supporting plate is connected to the inside of the connecting pipe section and is away from the connecting port. The supporting plate is provided with the guide hole and a plurality of through holes, where the sealing rib is configured to move into the connecting pipe section to close the connecting port, or move out of the connecting pipe section to open the connecting port.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the exciter further includes a sealing ring annularly arranged on an outer circumferential wall of the sealing rib; wherein when the sealing rib moves into the connecting pipe section to close the connecting port, the sealing ring is located between the outer circumferential wall of the sealing rib and the inner circumferential wall of the connecting pipe section to improve the sealing performance.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, one end of the connecting pipe section communicated to the barrel main body extends into the barrel main body, to make a height difference between the connecting port and the water outlet.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the elastic body is a spring; and the spring sleeves the guide rod and is located between the supporting plate and the sealing rib.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, a flow rate of the water inlet is greater than that of the water passage.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, a limiting rib is arranged on one end, close to the water inlet, of an inner circumferential wall of the barrel main body; and the limiting rib is configured to limit the partition plate to move between an end surface of the barrel main body and the limiting rib.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the water passage includes a first passage, a second passage, and a third passage which are communicated in sequence; a plurality of first passages are arranged around the second passage; a flowing cross-sectional area from one end of the second passage communicated to the first passage to one end communicated to the third passage gradually decreases; and a flowing cross-sectional area from one end of the third passage communicated to the second passage to one end away from the second passage gradually increases.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the first passages are slantways arranged.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the microbubble generation container further includes a dissolved air release body arranged in the barrel main body and located at the water outlet; wherein the dissolved air release body is internally provided with a plurality of flow guide passages that are configured for releasing air dissolved in water flowing out of the water outlet, so as to generate microbubble water with extremely small bubbles from the water flowing out of the water outlet.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, each flow guide passage includes a pressurization section, a throat section, and a pressure relief section which are communicated in turn, wherein a flowing cross-sectional area from a water inlet end to a water outlet end of the pressurization section gradually decreases, a flowing cross-sectional area from a water inlet end to a water outlet end of the throat section is roughly equal, a flowing cross-sectional area from a water inlet end to a water outlet end of the pressure relief section gradually increases; the water inlet end of the pressurization section is configured to receive the water flowing out of the water outlet.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a water discharging device includes the microbubble generation container according to any one of the above embodiments, and further includes a dissolved air release body and a water utilization terminal; the dissolved air release body is used for generating microbubble water from water flowing out of the water outlet, so that the water utilization terminal uses the microbubble water; and a water intake of the water inlet is greater than a water discharge of the water utilization terminal.

According to the above technical solutions, the present disclosure has the following advantages and beneficial effects:

In the microbubble generation container of the embodiments of the present disclosure, when water enters the first chamber from the water inlet, an impact force of the water on the partition plate can drive the exciter to overcome an elastic force of the elastic body to move, so that the sealing rib closes the connecting port. When the water passes through the water passage, water droplets are formed and enter the second chamber. Due to the formation of the water droplets, a contact area between the water and air in the second chamber can be enlarged, thus improving the air dissolution efficiency. After water and air are mixed, the mixture outwards flows to the water utilization terminal for use through the water outlet.

When water supplying is stopped at the water inlet, the elastic body acts on the exciter, so that the exciter automatically reversely moves to open the connecting port, and the water in the barrel main body can outwards flow through the connecting port. Meanwhile, external air can also enter the barrel main body through the connecting port to fully fill the barrel main body again, so that there is enough air dissolved in the water during next use. According to the container, the impact force of the water flow and the elastic force of the elastic body are ingeniously used, thus automatically opening and closing the connecting port. The structure of the microbubble generation container is simplified, and the microbubble generation container can adapt to more application scenarios.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Although the present disclosure can easily be represented as embodiments in different forms, only some of the specific embodiments are shown in the drawings and will be described in detail in this specification. Meanwhile, it can be understood that this specification should be regarded as an exemplary description of the principle of the present disclosure, rather than being intended to limit the present disclosure to those described here.

Therefore, a feature indicated in this specification will be used to describe one of the features of one embodiment of the present disclosure, rather than implying that each embodiment of the present disclosure must have the described feature. In addition, it should be noted that this specification describes many features. Although some features can be combined to show a possible system design, these features can also be used for other unspecified combinations. Thus, unless otherwise stated, the stated combinations are not intended to limit the present disclosure.

In the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings, direction indications (such as up, down, left, right, front and back) are used to explain that the structures and movements of various elements of the present disclosure are not absolute but relative. When these elements are in the positions shown in the drawings, these descriptions are appropriate. If the descriptions of the positions of these elements change, the indications of these directions change accordingly.

The preferred embodiments of the present disclosure are further described in detail below in combination with the drawings of this specification.

Referring toFIG.1toFIG.5, a microbubble generation container provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a barrel main body1, an exciter2, and an elastic body3.

The barrel main body1extends vertically and is internally hollow, an inner space of which provides a mounting space for the exciter2and the elastic body3, and serves as a space for containing water and/or air.

A top of the barrel main body1is provided with a water inlet121which is communicated to an external water source, so that water can enter the inner space of the barrel main body1from the water inlet121. A bottom of the barrel main body1is provided with a water outlet111and a connecting port112, and the water outlet111is communicated to a water utilization terminal, so as to supply water to the water utilization terminal. The connecting port112connects the inner space of the barrel main body1to the outside, so that the water in the barrel main body1can be discharged to the outside, or external air can enter the inner space of the barrel main body1through the connecting port112.

In some embodiments, the barrel main body1includes a barrel body11and a barrel cover12. The barrel body11extends vertically and is internally hollow. The water outlet111and the connecting port112are arranged at a bottom of the barrel body11, and a top of the barrel body11is provided with an opening. The barrel cover12is covered to the top of the barrel body11and closes the opening in the top of the barrel body11. The water inlet121is arranged on the barrel cover12. The barrel body11and the barrel cover12are detachably connected, so that the mounting of the microbubble generation container is completed by covering the barrel cover12to the top of the barrel body11after the exciter2and the elastic body3in the barrel body11.

Referring toFIG.2andFIG.7, and in combination withFIG.2andFIG.3, in some embodiments, a connection ring113is annularly arranged on an outer circumferential wall of the barrel body11, and an inner diameter of the barrel cover12is greater than an outer diameter of the barrel body11. When the barrel cover12is covered to the barrel body11, the barrel cover can be abutted against the connection ring113to improve the sealing performance of the barrel main body1.

In some embodiments, the outer circumferential wall of the barrel body11is sleeved with a first sealing ring41, and the first sealing ring41is located between the outer circumferential wall of the barrel body11and an inner circumferential wall of the barrel cover12to further improve the sealing performance of the barrel main body1.

Referring mainly toFIG.1, in some embodiments, the outer circumferential wall of the connection ring113of the cylinder body11is annularly provided with a plurality of first lug portions114, and the outer circumferential wall of the barrel cover12is provided with a plurality of second lug portions122. The first lug portions114and the second lug portions122are based on one-to-one correspondence, and the barrel cover12and the barrel body11are detachably connected through a bolt. In other embodiments, the barrel cover12and the cylinder body11can also be connected by welding.

Referring toFIG.6and in combination withFIG.3andFIG.4, in some embodiments, the inner circumferential wall of the barrel body11is provided with a plurality of first reinforcing ribs115which are arranged in a grid shape to improve the structural strength of the barrel body11.

Referring toFIG.7and in combination withFIG.3andFIG.4, in some embodiments, the barrel main body1also includes a connecting pipe section13and a water outlet pipe section14. The connecting pipe section13extends vertically, and the connecting pipe section13is roughly coaxial with the barrel body11. An upper end of the connecting pipe section13is communicated to the inner space of the barrel main body1. An end opening of the upper end of the connecting pipe section is used as the connecting port112, and a lower end of the connecting pipe section13is communicated to the outside of the barrel main body1. The water outlet pipe section14extends vertically, and an upper end of the water outlet pipe section14is communicated to the inner space of the barrel main body1. An end opening of the upper end of the water outlet pipe section is used as a water outlet111, and a lower end of the water outlet pipe section14is communicated to the outside of the barrel main body1to the water utilization terminal.

In some embodiments, the upper end of the connecting pipe section13extends into the barrel body11, which makes a height difference between the connecting port112and the water outlet111. Therefore, when a small amount of water enters the barrel body11, the water will only flow out from the water outlet111, rather than the connecting port112.

In some embodiments, the barrel main body1also includes a supporting plate15. The supporting plate15is connected to the inside of the connecting pipe section13and away from the water outlet111. A guide hole151is arranged on the supporting plate15, and the supporting plate15is also provided with a through hole152. The connecting port112connects the inner space of the barrel main body1to the outside through the through hole152, so that the water in the barrel main body1can be discharged to the outside from the connecting port112and the through hole152, or external air can enter the inner space of the barrel main body1through the through hole152and the connecting port112. A plurality of through holes152can be arranged around the guide hole151. By the arrangement of the plurality of through holes152, the water discharge and the air intake can be increased.

Referring mainly toFIG.3andFIG.4, the exciter2can be arranged in the barrel body11in a manner of moving up and down. The exciter2includes a partition plate21and a sealing rib22. The partition plate21is horizontally arranged. The partition plate21divides the inner space of the barrel body11into a first chamber16located above the partition plate21and a second chamber17located below the partition plate21. The water inlet121is communicated to the first chamber16, and the water outlet111and the connecting port112are communicated to the second chamber17.

Referring toFIG.8, in some embodiments, a top surface of the partition plate21is provided with a second reinforcing rib211. The second reinforcing rib211includes an annular reinforcing ring and a plurality of reinforcing bars annularly connected to the reinforcing ring radially. The structural strength of the partition plate21is improved through the second reinforcing rib211.

The partition plate21is provided with a water passage212for connecting the first chamber16with the second chamber17. The water passage212enables the water flowing by to form water droplets and be ejected, and the formed water droplets can enlarge a contact area between the water and the air, thereby improving the air dissolution efficiency. There may be a plurality of water passages212to improve the efficiency of producing water droplets.

Referring toFIG.8toFIG.10, in some embodiments, there are a plurality of connecting members23on the partition plate21. The size of each connecting member23in a thickness direction of the partition plate21is greater than that of the partition plate21, that is, the connecting member23protrudes from a top surface of the partition plate21and a bottom surface of the partition plate21. The water passage212is arranged in the connecting member23, so that the water passage212can be designed to be longer to improve the effect of forming water droplets.

Referring mainly toFIG.5, in some embodiments, each water passage212includes a first passage2121, a second passage2122, and a third passage2123which are communicated in turn. A water inlet end of the first passage2121is communicated with the first chamber16, and a water outlet end of the first passage2121is communicated with a water inlet end of the second passage2122. There are a plurality of first passages2121arranged around the second passage2122. The water outlet end of the second passage2122is communicated with a water inlet end of the third passage2123, and a flowing cross-sectional area from the water inlet end of the second passage2122to the water outlet end gradually decreases. A water outlet end of the third passage2123is communicated with the second chamber17, and a flowing cross-sectional area from the water inlet end of the third passage2123to the water outlet end gradually increases.

When the water enters the first passage2121, since the first passage2121is small, the flow velocity of the water flow is accelerated, which makes the pressure of air around it low, and the surrounding air will flow around the water flow. The water has surface tension, so that when air enters a water surface, the water surface becomes concave. Because of the formation of the concave shape, the air then enters the water flow to form bubbles.

When the water in the plurality of first passages2121flows into the second passage2122, multiple water flows generate impact and generate vibrations, and then water droplets are generated in the water flow in the second passage2122. In addition, the flowing cross-sectional area from the water inlet end to the water outlet end of the second passage2122gradually decreases, which also accelerates the flowing of the water. In some embodiments, the second passage2122is hemispherical, which is conducive to generating turbulence by the multiple water flows in the hemispherical second passage2122to improve the vibration effect.

When the water in the second passage2122flows into the third passage2123, the flowing cross-sectional area from the water inlet end to the water outlet end of the third passage2123gradually increases. The pressure can be gradually relieved when the water flows through the third passage2123, so that innumerable water droplets in the water flow are formed and diffused, and are dispersed into the second chamber17to enlarge the contact area with the air in the second chamber17and improve the air dissolution efficiency.

In some embodiments, the first passage2121is arranged slantways to further accelerate the flowing of the water in the first passage2121, which is convenient for more air to enter the water flow to generate bubbles, thus improving the vibration effect of the water flow in the second passage2122and increasing the number of water droplets.

Refer toFIG.3andFIG.4, in some embodiments, the uppermost first reinforcing rib115located on the inner circumferential wall of the barrel body11acts as a limiting rib. When the partition plate21moves up and down, the partition plate21is respectively abutted against the barrel cover12and the limiting rib, that is, the limiting rib limits the partition plate21to move between an inner end surface of the barrel main body1and the limiting rib, thus preventing the partition plate21from sinking and ensuring the volume of the second chamber17.

In some embodiments, the outer circumferential wall of the partition plate21is provided with a second sealing ring42, and the second sealing ring42is located between the outer circumferential wall of the partition plate21and the inner circumferential wall of the barrel body11to ensure the sealing performance of the first chamber16and the second chamber17.

The sealing rib22opens and closes the connecting port112along with the motion of the exciter2. When the scaling rib22moves up, the connecting port112is opened, so that the water in the barrel main body1can be discharged to the outside, or external air can enter the inner space of the barrel main body1through the connecting port112. When the sealing rib22moves down, the connecting port112is closed, and the water in the barrel main body1only flows from the water outlet111to the water utilization terminal.

In some embodiments, the exciter2also includes a guide rod24. The guide rod24extends vertically and can be move up and down through the guide hole151arranged on the supporting plate15. The guide rod24and the guide hole151cooperate to guide the motion of the exciter2.

In some embodiments, the sealing rib22is annular, and is annularly connected to the guide rod24. The sealing rib22can move up out of the connecting pipe section13to open the connecting port112. Or, the sealing rib22can move down into the connecting pipe section13to close the connecting port112, and can also close a clearance between the guide rod24and the guide hole151when closing the connecting port112.

In some embodiments, a third sealing ring43is annularly arranged on an outer circumferential wall of the sealing rib22. When the sealing rib22can move down into the connecting pipe section13to close the connecting port112, the third sealing ring43is located between the outer circumferential wall of the sealing rib22and the inner circumferential wall of the connecting pipe section13to improve the sealing performance.

Refer toFIG.2toFIG.4, the elastic body3is arranged in the barrel body11. The elastic body3acts on the exciter2and drives the exciter2to move up to open the connecting port112.

In some embodiments, the elastic body3is a spring which sleeves the guide rod24to limit and guide the deformation of the spring with the guide rod24. The elastic body3is positioned between the support plate15and the scaling rib22to drive the sealing rib22to move up to open the connecting port112.

As shown inFIG.4, when water enters the first chamber16from the water inlet121, an impact force of the water on the partition plate21can drive the exciter2to overcome the elastic force of the elastic body3to move down, so that the sealing rib22closes the connecting port112. The water continues to pass through the water passage212on the partition plate21to form numerous water droplets and enter the second chamber17. After the water and the air are mixed, the mixture is supplied to the water utilization terminal through the water outlet111.

Referring toFIG.3, when the water inlet121stops supplying water, the elastic force of the elastic body3causes the exciter2to automatically move up to open the connecting port112. Thus, the water in the barrel main body1can flow out through the connecting port112, and the external air can also enter the barrel main body1through the connecting port112to fully fill the barrel main body1again, so that there is enough air dissolved in the water during use. According to the container, the impact force of the water flow and the elastic force of the elastic body3are ingeniously used, thus automatically opening and closing the connecting port112. The structure of the microbubble generation container is simplified, and the microbubble generation container can adapt to more application scenarios.

It is worth mentioning that in the process that the impact force of the water on the partition plate21drives the exciter2to move down against the elastic force of the elastic body3, that is, when the connecting port112is not closed, although a small amount of water flows into the second chamber17from the water passage212, the water will flow to the water utilization terminal only from the water outlet111on the basis of the design of a height difference between the connecting port112and the water outlet111, thus avoiding a waste of the water flowing out of the connecting port112.

In some embodiments, a flow rate of the water inlet121is greater than a total flow rate of the plurality of water passages212, which makes a water level in the first chamber16continuously rise to compress the air in the first chamber16. The increase of the pressure of the first chamber16and the impact force of the water drive the exciter2to move down to close the connecting port112.

Referring toFIG.11andFIG.12and in combination withFIG.1, the present disclosure further provides a water discharging device based on the microbubble generation container. The water discharging device includes the microbubble generation container in any of the above embodiments, and further includes a dissolved air release body5and a water utilization terminal.

The dissolved air release body5releases air dissolved in water in the container to form microbubble water with extremely small bubbles for delivery at the water utilization terminal, which greatly improves the cleaning ability.

The water outlet111of the microbubble generation container is used for supplying water to the water utilization terminal, and the water inflow of the water inlet121is greater than the water outflow of the water utilization terminal, which makes a water level in the second chamber17continuously rise to compress the air in the second chamber17, and the pressure of the second chamber17increases to form a high-pressure chamber. The air dissolution efficiency of the air in a high-pressure state is higher than that in a low-pressure state. At this time, more air can be dissolved in the water of the second chamber17and flows to the water utilization terminal from the water outlet111.

It should be noted that the dissolved air release body5can be arranged in the barrel main body1of the microbubble generation container and located at the water outlet111. The dissolved air release body5can also be arranged in a connection pipeline between the microbubble generation container and the water utilization terminal. The dissolved air release body5can also be arranged in the water utilization terminal, which is not limited here.

In some embodiments, the dissolved air release body5is internally provided with a plurality of flow guide passages51. Each flow guide passage51includes a pressurization section511, a throat section512, and a pressure relief section513which are communicated in turn. A flowing cross-sectional area from a water inlet end to a water outlet end of the pressurization section511gradually decreases. A flowing cross-sectional area from a water inlet end to a water outlet end of the throat section512is roughly equal. A flowing cross-sectional area from a water inlet end to a water outlet end of the pressure relief section513gradually increases.

Water mixed with air is delivered to the dissolved air release body5, so that the water is pressurized through the pressurization section511, and the pressure reaches the maximum at the throat section512. The water then flows into the pressure relief section513. At this time, the water pressure decreases, and the air dissolved in the water is released, thus forming microbubble water with extremely small bubbles used in the water utilization terminal to improve the cleaning ability.

It should be noted that since the flowing cross-sectional area of the flow guide passage51in the dissolved air release body5is smaller than that of the water inlet121, the water inflow of the water inlet121is greater than the water outflow of the water outlet111. When the water level in the barrel main body1rises to compress the air in the barrel main body1, high pressures are generated in the first chamber16and the second chamber17. The high pressure generated in the first chamber16can cooperate with the impact force of the water entering the first chamber16from the water inlet121to jointly promote the exciter2to move. The high pressure generated in the second chamber17can improve the air dissolution efficiency. In some other embodiments, the flowing cross-sectional area of the water outlet111can also be smaller than that of the water inlet121, so that the water inflow of the water inlet121is greater than the water outflow of the water outlet111, and high pressures are generated in the first chamber16and the second chamber17.

Based on the design that simplifies the structure of the microbubble generation container, the microbubble generation container can be used in more scenarios. For example, the water utilization terminal can be a washbasin faucet, a kitchen faucet, a shower head, a top sprayer, etc., and the microbubble water can flow out of the water utilization terminal for use through the microbubble generation container and the dissolved air release body5.

Based on the above technical solutions, the embodiments of the present disclosure at least have the following advantages and beneficial effects.

In the microbubble generation container of the embodiments of the present disclosure, when water enters the first chamber16from the water inlet121, an impact force of the water on the partition plate21is greater than the elastic force of the elastic body3and can drive the exciter2to overcome an elastic force of the elastic body3to move, so that the sealing rib22closes the connecting port112. When the water passes through the water passage212, water droplets are formed and enter the second chamber17. The formation of the water droplets can enlarge the contact area between the water and air in the second chamber17, thereby improving the air dissolution efficiency. After the water is mixed with the air, the mixture flows out from the water outlet111to the water utilization terminal for use.

When water supplying is stopped at the water inlet121, the elastic body3acts on the exciter2, so that the exciter2automatically reversely moves to open the connecting port112, and the water in the barrel main body1can outwards flow through the connecting port112. Meanwhile, external air can also enter the barrel main body1through the connecting port112to fully fill the barrel main body1again, so that there is enough air dissolved in the water during next use. According to the container, the impact force of the water flow and the clastic force of the clastic body3are ingeniously used, thus automatically opening and closing the connecting port112. The structure of the microbubble generation container is simplified, and the microbubble generation container can adapt to more application scenarios.

Although the present disclosure has been described with reference to a few typical embodiments, it should be understood that the terms used are illustrative and exemplary rather than restrictive. Since the present disclosure can be implemented in various forms without departing from the spirit or essence of the present disclosure, it should be understood that the above-mentioned embodiments are not limited to any of the foregoing details, but should be interpreted broadly within the spirit and scope defined by the appended claims. Therefore, all changes and modifications falling within the scope of the claims or their equivalents shall be covered by the appended claims.