APPARATUS FOR GENERATING PULSATIONS IN A FLOWING LIQUID

Abstract: Apparatus for generating pulsations in a flowing liquid including a body (11) which has a first flow path (107) and a second flow path (113). The first and second flow paths (107, 113) each have an inlet end for communication with a liquid supply; and an outlet end. The first and second flow paths (107, 113) communicate at their respective outlet ends with a reaction zone (117) at which liquid streams issuing from the first and second flow paths impinge upon each other. The outlet ends of the first and second flow paths (107, 113) are so positioned in relation to each other that liquid issuing from the first flow path (107) has a component of motion and a direction which is opposite to the direction of liquid issuing from the second flow path. An outlet flow path (119) communicates at one end with the reaction zone (117). A shower rose incorporating such apparatus is also disclosed.

Description: "Apparatus for Generating Pulsations in a Flowing Liquid" THIS INVENTION relates to apparatus for generating pulsa¬ tions in a flowing liquid. In one form the invention resides in apparatus for gener¬ ating pulsations in a flowing liquid comprising: a body having first and second flow paths; the first and second flow paths each having an inlet end for communication with a liquid supply, and an outlet end; the flow paths commun¬ icating at their respective outlet ends with a reaction zone at which liquid streams issuing from the first and second flow paths impinge upon eachother; the relative positions of the outlet ends of the first and second flow paths being such that liquid issuing from the first flow path has a component of motion in a direction which is opposite to the direction of liquid issuing from the second flow path; and an outlet flow path communicating at one end with the reaction zone. The relative positions of the outlet ends of the first and second flow paths are preferably such that liquid issuing from the first flow path has a direction of motion which is substantially opposite to that of liquid issuing from the second flow path. It is further preferred that the first and second flow paths are co-axial. The reaction zone may comprise a chamber defined by a side wall and an end wall at each end of the side wall, there being provided in one end wall a pair of diametrally opposed arcuate slots defining the outlet end of the first flow passage and in the other end wall an annular passage co-axial with the arcuate slots defining the outlet end of the second flow path. The outlet is preferably formed in said other end wall co-axial with the annular passage. The inlet ends of the first and second flow passages preferably communicate with the liquid supply line via an inlet flow path which is adapted for connection to the liquid supply. A baffle may be provided in the inlet flow path for dampening pulsations in liquid on the upstream side of the reaction zone. The apparatus according to the invention may be incorpora¬ ted in a shower rose whereby the spray delivered by the shower rose is of varying pressure. The varying pressure of the spray has a massaging affect on the body of a user when the user is showering. The shower rose may have a plurality of spray nozzles any one of which may be selectively positioned in communica¬ tion with the reaction zone. In this way, the type of spray issuing from the shower rose may be selected by the user. The invention will be better understood by reference to the following descriptions of several specific embodiments thereof. The embodiments are each directed to a shower rose incorporating apparatus according to the invention, and will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a shower rose accord¬ ing to the first embodiment; Fig. 2 is a sectional elevational view of the shower rose of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an elevational view of one end of a carrier member forming part of the shower rose of Fig. 1; / G ?I Fig. 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3, except that the other end of the carrier member is shown; Fig. 6 is an elevational view of an annular member forming part of the shower rose of Fig. 1; Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional elevation of the annular member of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a sectional elevational view of a shower rose according to the second embodiment; and Fig. 9 is a plan view of the shower rose of Fig. 8. The first embodiment, which is shown in Figs. 1 to 7 of the accompanying drawings, is directed to a shower rose comprising a main housing 11 which is coupled to an in¬ ternally threaded connector 13 through, a ball joint 15. The shower rose is adapted for connection to the outlet end of a rigid, liquid supply line (not shown) by means of the connector 13. The main housing 11 includes a socket member 17 which surrounds the ball of the ball joint 15 and which threa- dedly engages an externally threaded formation 18 extend¬ ing from the smaller end 19 of a frusto-conical shell 21. The larger end 23 of the frusto-conical shell is formed with a circumferential flange 25 on which is mounted a carrier member 27. The carrier member 27 comprises an annular plate 29 the outer periphery of which is bonded to the circumferential flange 25 and the inner periphery of which is intergral with one end of a cylindrical mount 31 the other end of which is closed by a base 33. Positioned within the shell 21 and mounted on the inner end of the cylindrical mount 31 is an annular member 34. The annular member 34 comprises a circumferential mounting flange 35 which is received on and bonded to the cylin¬ drical mount 31 and a radial flange 37 integral with the mounting flange 35. The radial flange 37 carries an integral female member 39 which will be described later. A baffle plate 41 is mounted on the annular member 34 to the side thereof opposite the cylindrical mount 31. The baffle plate 41 include a radial flange 43 the outer end of which terminates inwardly of the inner wall of the shell 21 so as to define an annular space 45 between said inner wall and the baffle plate. Mounted on and formed integral with the base 33 which form part of the carrier member 27, is a socket 51 which ex¬ tends into the spaced defined within the cylindrical mount 31 and which is co-axial with the mount. The bore 53 of the socket 51 is screw-threaded to receive a retaining screw 55. A nozzle housing 61 is disposed adjacent the outer end of the shell 21 and includes a central spigot 63 which is received in the annular region 65 defined between the side wall of the cylindrical mount 31 and the socket 51. The central spigot 63 includes a cylindrical side wall 67 and an inturned lip 69 at the inner end of the side wall. The internal diameter of the cylindrical side wall 67 is greater than the external diameter of the socket 51 so as to define an annular space 70 between the side wall 67 and socket 51. Received within the annular space 70 and located against the inturned lip 69 is a washer 71. The washer 71 is keyed to the socket 51, the purpose of which will become apparent later. One end of a helical compres¬ sion spring 73 is also received in the annular space 70 and butts against the washer 71. The other end of the spring bears against a retaining washer 75 which encircles the retaining * screw 55 and bears against the head thereof. A front wall 77 extends somewhat radially from the outer end of the central spigot 63 and terminates with rearward- ly extending lip 79. The lip 79 is formed with a shoulder 81 against which the r-e≤r "Wall 83 of the nozzle housing locates. The rear wall 83 is formed with a central open¬ ing 85 which receives the central spigot 63. The inner region of the rear wall 83 bears against a shoulder 87 formed on the central spigot 63. The front wall 77 of the nozzle housing carries four nozzles 91. Each nozzle 91 includes a water inlet aperture 95 formed in the rear wall 83 and a spray outlet aperture 97. In the illustrated arrangement, two nozzles 91a are formed integral with the nozzle housing 61, and the other two nozzles 91b consist of nozzle inserts 92 received in nozzle receiving chambers formed in the nozzle housing 61. Mounted on and integral with the annular member 33 is the female member 39 comprising a frusto-conical side wall 103 and an end wall 105 at the smaller end of the frusto-coni¬ cal side wall. A pair of diametrically opposed arcuate slots 107 are formed in the end wall 105 of the female member and are centered about the central axis of the frusto-conical side wall of the female member. Mounted on and formed integral with the carrier member 27 is a male member 109 which is received in the female member 39. The male member 109 has a frusto-conical side wall 111 of smaller size than the corresponding side wall of the female member so as to define an annular passage 113 between the side wall of the male and female members. The free end 115 of the male member 109 is spaced from the end wall 105 of the female member 101 and a reaction zone 117 is defined therebetween. A central passage 119 is formed in the. male member 109 and extends between the reaction zone 117 and the outer face 121 of the carrier member 27. The nozzle housing 61 is rotatable relative to the carrier member 27 and any one of the inlet aperture 95 of any one nozzle may be moved into register with the passage 119, whereby water passing along the passage 119 may enter the respective nozzle through the inlet aperture 95. The interface between the carrier member 27 and the inner wall 83 of the nozzle housing is provided with a liquid seal 125 around the passage 119. In the illustrated arrange¬ ment, the seal 125 is in the form of a pair of 0-rings 127 located in a recess 129 formed in the outer face 121 of the carrier member 27. Because the washer 71 is keyed to the socket 51, the re¬ taining screw 55 does not loosen on rotation of the nozzle housing 61 in the direction corresponding to unthreading of the screw 55 from the socket 51. At the same radial distance from the centre of the carrier member as the passage 119, but angularly spaced from that passage, is a further water passage 131 formed in the annular plate 29 of the carrier member. The inlet aper¬ ture 95 of any one of the nozzles may be moved into regis¬ ter with the further water passage 131. However, the angular spacing between the passages 119 and 131 is such that either one of the passages 119 and 131 is closed off by the rear wall 83 when one of the inlet apertures 95 formed in the rear wall 83 is in register with the other passage. That is to say, when one of the inlet apertures 95 is in register with the passage 119, the passage 131 is closed against fluid flow therealong, and vice versa. A liquid seal (not shown) is also provided around the pas¬ sage 131 at the interface between the carrier member 27 and the rear wall 83 of the nozzle housing. The seal is in the form of a pair of O-ring received in a recess formed in the outer face 121 of the carrier member 27 in the region surrounding the passage 131. An inlet passage 135 is formed in the main housing 11 and is adapted to deliver water from a liquid line to which the shower rose is connected to the region 137 within the frusto conical shell 21. When one of the inlet apertures 95 is in register with the passage 119, water entering the region 137 passes through the annular passage 45 and divides into two flow streams both of which enter the reaction zone 117. One liquid stream enters the reaction zone 117 through the pair of arcuate slots 107 formed in the wall 105 of the female member. The other liquid stream flows through the open end of the female member 39 and then enters the reaction zone 117 along the annular passage 113 defined between the female member 39 and male member 109. Because of this, the liquid streams enter the reaction zone in substantial opposite direction and impinge upon each other and thereby generate pulsating pressure waves in the water. The effect is in accordance with the known physical phenomenon that pulsating pressure waves are generated when opposing co-axial liquid streams impinge upon eachother. The pressure waves are transmitted through the water leaving the reaction zone 117 via the passage 119. From the passage 119, the water passes through the inlet aper¬ ture 95 in register with it and enters the respective nozzle 91 from where it is sprayed through the outlet aperture 97. The pulsations which are present in the water as a result of the pressure waves are transmitted to the spray and thus the spray is delivered at varying pressure. The varying pressure of the spray has a mas¬ saging effect on the body of a user showering in the spray. The baffle plate 41 serves to dampen pulsations in the water on the upstream side of the reaction zone. The nozzles 91 are arranged to produce various types of sprays. In one arrangement, for example, the nozzles 91 may produce course, medium, fine and mist spray patterns respectively. By rotating the nozzle housing 61 to bring the appropriate nozzle 91 into alignment with the passage 119, the user is able to select any one of the available spray patterns. By rotating the nozzle housing 61 so as to bring one of the nozzles into alignment with the pas¬ sage 131 in the carrier member 27, the user, if he so desires, is able to select a spray which does not have pulsations. In this mode of operation, the passage 119 is closed-off by the rear wall 83 of the nozzle housing 61. From the foregoing, it is evident that the shower rose of the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 to 7 of the drawings has eight flow types available, four of which are pulsat¬ ing and four of which are conventional. The second embodiment, which is illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9 of the accompanying drawings, is also directed to a shower rose; however, rather than being connectable a rigid, liquid supply line, it is adapted to be connected to a flexible, liquid supply line and is intended to be used as a hand-held device. The shower rose of this embodiment is somewhat similar to the shower rose of the first embodiment and the same reference numbers are used for equivalent parts. In this embodiment, the nozzle housing 61 is fixed relative to the main housing 11 (in¬ stead of being rotatable as was the case with the first embodiment), and the carrier member 27 is rotatable. Rotation of the carrier member 27 is effected by means of a control handle 141 to which the carrier member is oper- atively coupled. Formed integral with the main housing 11 is an elongated handle 143 by means of which a user may hold the shower rose. The free end of the handle 143 is adapted for connection to the flexible liquid supply line and the inlet passage 135 includes a flow passage 145 formed in the handle. It should be appreciated that the scope of the invention is not limited to the scope of the two embodiments des¬ cribed. It should be further appreciated that the in¬ vention is not limited in application to a shower rose.

Claims: THE CLAIMS defining the invention are as follows:- 1. Apparatus for generating pulsations in a flowing li¬ quid comprising: a body having first and second flow paths; the first and second flow paths each having an in¬ let end for communication with a liquid supply, and an outlet end; the flow paths communicating at their respec¬ tive outlet ends with a reaction zone at which liquid streams issuing from the first and second flow paths impinge upon eachother; the relative positions of the outlet ends of the first and second flow paths being such that liquid issuing from the first flow path has a com¬ ponent of motion in a direction which is opposite to the direction of liquid issuing from the second flow path; and an outlet flow path communicating at one end with the reaction zone. 2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the relative positions of the outlet ends of the first and second flow paths are such that liquid issuing from the first flow path has a direction of motion which is substantially opposite to that of liquid issuing from the second flow path. 3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the outlet ends of the first and second flow paths are co-axial. 4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the reaction zone comprises a chamber defined by a side wall and an end wall at each end of the side wall, and wherein there is provided in one end wall a pair of diametrically opposed arcuate slots defining the outlet end of the first flow path, and in the other end wall an annular passage co-axial with the arcuate slots defining the outlet end of the second flow path. 5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein the outlet flow path is formed in said other end wall co-axial with the annular passage. 6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 or 5 wherein the side ■ wall of the chamber is frusto-conical, the annular passage being located at the larger end of the chamber. 7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 or 5 wherein the side wall of the chamber is cylindrical. 8. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the inlet ends of the first and second flow passages communicate with the liquid supply via an inlet flow path which is adapted for connection to the liquid supply. 9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein a baffle is provided in the inlet flow path for dampening pulsations in liquid on the upstream side of the reaction zone. 10. Apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 11. A shower rose including an apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims. 12. A shower rose as claimed in claim 11 having a plur¬ ality of spray nozzles, and means for effecting liquid communication between a selected one of the plurality of spray nozzles and the outlet path. 13. A shower rose substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Inventors: SWIATEK JAN, SWIATEK, JAN
Applicants: MEDEPE PTY LTD, MEDEPE PTY. LTD.
Application year: 1984
Main classification: B05B1
IPC codes: B05B1