WATER-DRIVEN TRAVERSE-REVERSE MECHANISM FOR WATERWORKS, PARTICULARLY SHOWERS, WATER TONIC-MASSAGE FIXTURES AND THE LIKE

Abstract: A drive apparatus comprising in combination a mechanism of the screw-nut screw type capable of reversing automatically the movement whenever the nut screw reaches a limit stop without stopping and/or reversing the direction of rotation of the screw. More particularly the drive apparatus includes an axially fixed screw (3) rotating only in one direction, and a nut screw (4) moving axially and capable of engaging said screw to which rotating brushes, massaging rolls, a shower head and so on can be secured. Such mechanism has an essentially cylindrical shape and is driven by a water-driven motor (2) preferably provided with demultiplier. In order that the user can vary the excursion of the shift of the nut screw, two adjustable limit stops (8) are provided which are capable of interacting with a control lever (9) for reversing the movement.

Description: Water-driven traverse-reverse mechanis for waterworks , particularly showers , water tonic-massage fixtures and the like The present invention relates to sanitary fixtures and more particularly a drive apparatus to be used in the shower box and/or for the water tonic-massage fixtures for moving automatically sponges or rotating rolls to have a tonic massage and/or to facilitate particularly the washing of body's parts which can be hardly reached such as back. Some Patent Applications in the name of the same Applicant are known and disclose water tonic-massage fixtures and massotherapy apparatus provided with water-driven means wherein the rotatable devices are vertically moved by floatation hydrosystems or gears and racks . Even if such equipments guarantee their operation by water-driven means or by low-voltage electrical devices with the maximum safety for the user, they have a complex construction with large overall dimensions, moreover their installation is difficult. One object of the present invention is to provide a water-driven apparatus that is compact and easy to be installed, and guarantees a regular movement with automatic reversal without stoppage. A second object of the present invention is to provide a drive apparatus for regulating independently upper and lower limit stops, thus allowing the excursion of the movement to be regulated. According to the invention this is accomplished by providing a drive apparatus comprising in combination a water-driven motor, a demultiplier, and a mechanism of the screw-nut screw type capable of reversing automatically the movement whenever the nut screw reaches a limit stop without stopping and/or reversing the direction of rotation of the screw. A better understanding of the invention will result from the following detailed description with reference to some preferred embodiments thereof. In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a schematic view showing how the apparatus according to the invention is installed; Fig 2 is a schematic view of a first embodiment of the invention; Fig. 3 is an axial section of a detail of the apparatus of Fig. 2 in its down stroke position; Fig. 4 is a cross section showing the mesh between screw and nut screw; Fig. 5 shows like Fig. 3 the apparatus in its upstroke position; Fig. 6 is a elevation view of a second embodiment of the invention; Fig. 7 is a partial section of the apparatus of Fig. 6 showing the position of the upper limit stop; Fig. 8 shows the reversal of the mesh between screw and nut screw; Fig. 9 shows the position of the lower limit stop; Fig. 10 is a detail of the device for the automatic locking of the flexible control lever; Fig. 11 is cross section view of the mesh between screw and nut screw of the apparatus of Fig. 6; Fig. 12 is a detail of an axial section of the meshing area; and Fig. 13 is a detail of a limit stop device. With particular reference to Figs. 2 to 5 a first embodiment of the present invention includes a mechanism having an axially fixed screw rotating only in one direction, and a nut screw moving axially within a tube 6 to which rotating brushes, massaging rolls, a shower head, , and so on can be secured. Such mechanism has an essentially cylindrical shape and is driven by a water-driven motor 2 preferably provided with demultiplier. More particularly, the disclosed mechanism includes in combination a screw 3 provided with two separate right-hand, left-hand helical grooves 7, a nut screw 4 coaxial to screw 3, whose toothing is formed of only one tooth or pawl 5 which has an elongated shape and is located radially with respect to the axis of nut screw 4 and is able to rotate about its axis and to engage alternatively one of the two helical grooves, and a water-driven motor 2 which rotates said screw and consequently causes nut screw 4 to shift along its axis . The above-mentioned figures show how said oscillating tooth or pawl 5 is inclined so as to follow the angle of the helical groove in which it is put. Once one of the limit stops such as the upper limit stop (Fig. 3) is reached, inclined pawl 5 reaches the end portion of screw 3 which continues rotating in the same direction. As a result, the chamfered end of pawl 5 contacts the bottom of screw 3, i.e. a surface perpendicular to the axis of the screw itself, thus causing the tooth or pawl to rotate to a horizontal position. The constant rotation of screw 3 causes the initial portion of the groove having a helical profile 7 opposite to the other portion to contact said pawl 5 which is then forced to incline in the opposite direction so as to follow the helical profile of the downward groove . Once the lower limit stop is reached, the same movements are repeated so that tooth or pawl 5 is caused to rotate and to engage the upward groove. It is self-evident that, as already disclosed, nut screw 4 axially integral with pawl 5 moves upwards or downwards between the two upper and lower limit stops, and screw 3 is rotated by motor 2 always in the same direction. It should be appreciated that the invention provides a particularly advantageous combination of elements. Actually, water-driven motor 2 provided with demultiplier is affected by an almost negligible pressure loss so that the user of the present invention does not sense any difference even in water- driven sanitary fixtures where the pressure is not high such as domestic fixtures and particularly in flats located at high floors. A second embodiment shown in Figs. 6-13 further provides the regulation of the upper and lower limit stops. In this case, the user may vary the position of each limit stop at will and independently so as to adapt the mechanism to his own particular requirements . In this second embodiment, the device includes two limit stops 8 adjustable in height and capable of interacting with a motion reversing control lever 9 which rotates the already-described pawl 5 so that the latter reverses its inclination and engages the opposite groove. Accordingly, also the motion of nut screw 4 is reversed. Figs. 7, 8 and 9 show that, according to a peculiar feature of the present invention, the two helical grooves 7 of screw 3 are chamfered at the crossing of upward and downward grooves. More particularly, the corners provided with tips directed upwards or downwards are chamfered in order to facilitate the rotation of pawl 5 controlled by lever 9. A second peculiar feature of the invention is that control lever 9 is provided, at the contact area with limit stops 8, with a flexible end portion which allows the lever and then pawl 5 to be shortly shifted in the vertical direction after the limit stop is reached. Such feature is very important because it avoids breaks and/or stoppages that could be caused by a rigid control lever 9 in case one limit stop engages such lever when pawl 5 integral therewith is at a position within groove 7 that does not correspond to a crossing of upward and downward grooves. Advantageously, in order to avoid that during the stroke between the two limit stops pawl 5 assumes by chance a horizontal position or a not correct inclination, thus causing the stoppage of mechanism 1, control lever 9 is provided with an automatic locking device 10 able to keep pawl 5 in the correct inclination in engagement with any groove 7 until control lever 9 is driven by any limit stop 8. Said automatic locking device 10 is preferably of the type provided with a locked ball 11 which is depressed by a suitable spring into a suitable hemispheric seat 12 formed at the two upward and downward positions. Therefore, when lever 9 is driven, the ball leaves its seat to reach the opposite seat where it remains until the lever is driven again. It should be appreciated that the presence of such automatic locking device causes lever 9 to exert a determined force which is necessary to overcome the resistance due to the thrust of the spring urging ball 11 so that pawl 5 can be rotated for reversing the movement. Thus, pawl 5 is always rotated in a very fast manner so that stoppages of the device are advantageously avoided. As an advantage, the peculiar combination of elements featured by the present invention fully avoids electrical discharges that could take place in case of an electrical control. Another advantage is due to the fact that the water drive does not need any pressurization device or plant which would be necessary in case of oil-driven or pneumatic mechanisms. Still another advantage of the invention is its applicability to showers and tonic-massage fixtures without reduction of the water pressure and without dripping of mixed water supplied by the motor to the shower, sponges and so on. All of these advantages makes the invention applicable to any existing plumbing without the need of modifications and/or building works. It is only requested to connect the device to the shower coupling to put it perfectly in operation. It should be noted that the invention can also be applied to gardening, for example, to provide water- driven mechanism for the water sprayers that could be self-moving according to an automatic back-and-forth movement, e.g. watering a garden all over its length by a water-driven mechanism mounted on wheels. The present invention is described and illustrated according to some preferred embodiment thereof, however, it should be understood that those skilled in the art could make modifications and/or equivalent replacements without departing from the scope of the present industrial invention.

Claims: Claims 1. Water-driven traverse-reverse apparatus, particularly for showers, water tonic-massage fixtures and the like, characterized in that it is driven by a water-driven motor (2) and is provided with means for automatically reversing the movement. 2. Water-driven apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that there is provided a mechanism including in combination an axially fixed screw (3) rotating only in one direction, and a nut screw (4) moving axially and meshing with said screw and to which rotating brushes, massaging rolls, a shower head and so on can be secured, said mechanism having an essentially cylindrical shape and being driven by a water-driven motor (2) provided with demultiplier. 3. Water-driven apparatus according to the preceding claims, characterized in that said screw (3) is provided with two separate right-hand, left-hand helical grooves (7), and that said nut screw (4) coaxial to screw (3) has a toothing formed of only one tooth or pawl (5) which has an elongated shape and is located radially with respect to the axis of nut screw (4) and is able to rotate about its axis and to engage alternatively one of the two helical grooves (7) , the rotation of said screw (3) causing pawl (5) to shift and then nut screw (4) to move along its axis. 4. Water-driven apparatus according to the preceding claims, characterized in that when said oscillating tooth or pawl (5) reaches a limit stop, it assumes the inclination of helical groove (7) in which it is put. 5. Water-driven apparatus according to the preceding claims, characterized in that once tooth or pawl (5) reaches one of the limit stops of screw (3), a chamfered end of pawl (5) contacts the bottom of screw (3) , thus causing the tooth or pawl (5) to rotate to a horizontal position, whereupon the initial portion of the groove having a helical profile (7) opposite to the other portion gets in touch with said pawl (5) which is then forced to further rotate and to incline in the opposite direction so as to follow the helical profile of said groove with opposite profile. 6. Water-driven apparatus according to claims 1 to 4, characterized in that two upper and lower limit stops (8) adjustable in height are provided in order that the user can vary the excursion of the shift of the nut screw, said limit stops (8) being capable of interacting with a lever (9) which controls pawl (5) for reversing the movement and rotates said pawls (5) so that it reverses its inclination and engages the opposite groove so as to reverse the motion of nut screw (4) . 7. Water-driven apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that the corners of the two helical grooves (7) of screw (3) are chamfered at the crossing of upward and downward grooves in order to facilitate the rotation of pawl (5) controlled by lever (9). 8. Water-driven apparatus according to claims 6 and 7, characterized in that in order to avoid breaks and/or stoppages when any limit stop engages said lever (9), while pawl (5) integral therewith is at a position within groove (7) that does not correspond to a crossing of upward and downward grooves, control lever (9) is provided with a flexible end portion which allows the lever and then pawl (5) to be shortly shifted in the vertical direction after the limit stop is reached. 9. Water-driven apparatus according to claims 6 to 8, characterized in that in order to avoid that during the stroke between the two limit stops pawl (5) assumes by chance a horizontal position or a not correct inclination, thus causing stoppages, control lever (9) is provided with an automatic locking device (10) able to keep pawl (5) in the correct inclination in engagement with any groove (7) until control lever (9) is driven by any limit stop (8) . 10. Water-driven apparatus according to claims 6 to 9, characterized in that said automatic locking device (10) is preferably of the type provided with a locked ball (11) which is depressed by a suitable spring into a suitable seat (12) formed at the two upward and downward positions. 11. Water-driven apparatus according to claims 6 to 10, characterized in that after the mixed water leaves motor (2) , it is supplied to the shower, sponges and so on without any reduction of the water pressure and without dripping of mixed water. 12. Water-driven apparatus according to the preceding claims, characterized in that it can also be applied to gardening to provide water-driven mechanism for supplying the water sprayers which could be self- moving according to an automatic back-and-forth movement transmitted to wheels.

Inventors: DE SIMONE FIORENTINO, DE SIMONE, FIORENTINO
Applicants: SIMONE FIORENTINO DE, DE SIMONE, FIORENTINO
Application year: 1999
Main classification: E03C1
IPC codes: A47K3, A61H7, A61H9, A61H37, B05B1, B05B3, E03C1