Apparatus for generating and delivering a cascade-like jet of water

Abstract: Apparatus for generating and delivering a cascade-like jet of water. It comprises means (12) for sucking and supplying the water to an outlet opening (16) for said jet. Between said suction and supplying means (12) and said outlet opening (16), there are provided means for accumulating the water consisting of a varied section for conveying the water flow, and means for deflecting the water flow consisting essentially of two portions of the water supply pipe, the axes thereof are inclined with respect to each other.

Description: The present invention relates to an apparatus for generating and delivering a cascade-like jet of water in a sanitary appliance such as a box shower or the like. The application mentioned above is typical of this technological field, but it is obvious that the apparatus according to the present invention may be used extensively, without substantial modifications of its innovative idea, to other sanitary appliances which are not referred to here in detail since they are known in the specific sector. The generation and delivery of a cascade jet is conventionally used in the specific sector of box showers and it is known that this jet essentially consists of a water flow which is made to emerge from a special outlet opening arranged in the top part of the shower box. The jet in question, with regard to its characteristics, is strictly dependent upon the feeding pressure which must be relatively low in order to obtain a jet with a considerable flow delivered essentially in a free-fall manner. Devices for generating/delivering a cascade-type jet are widely known in the art and are generally obtained by providing a pump supplying the water to an outlet opening, this pump generally drawing the water from the box shower itself and therefore using recycled water. In particular WO-A-95 02 737 discloses a circuit for recirculating water in a shower box which includes means for producing a cascade-like jet of water where water accumulating means and means for deflecting the water flow are provided immediately upstream of the outlet opening. The present invention relates in particular, even though not exclusively, to an apparatus of this type since, as will emerge from the detailed description below of an embodiment thereof, the pump sucks water from the bottom of the box shower and recycles it into the outflow opening for the cascade jet. According to a further important feature of the present invention, the apparatus forming the subject thereof provides, between the delivery of the pump and the outlet opening for the cascade jet, means for braking and accumulating the supply water which ensure that its flow has a relatively low pressure values and an essentially high delivery rate that mainly determines whether the delivery of the cascade jet has the desired efficiency. A further feature of the apparatus herein is that of providing, particularly although not exclusively, means for deflecting the water flow which is directed towards the delivery opening. These means also help, together with said accumulating means, to regulate the outflow of the water. The present invention therefore relates to an apparatus for generating and delivering a cascade-like jet of water according to claim 1. The characteristic features as well as the advantages of the apparatus according to the present invention will become clear from the following detailed description of a non-limiting embodiment thereof, given here with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a schematic side view of the apparatus according to the invention; and Figure 2 is a view, on a larger scale, of the detail shown encircled in Figure 1. With particular reference to Figure 1, 10 denotes schematically, since it has not been shown in its entirety, the frame of the box shower in which the end wall is indicated by the reference number 10a, its top wall by 10b and its rear wall by 10c. The apparatus according to the present invention comprises a pump for drawing the water and conveying it to an outlet opening which, in a conventional manner, is arranged outside the shower box; the intake of the pump is connected via a pipe 14, to the inside of the shower box with the usual drain 14a. In the example considered, which is obviously not limiting, the apparatus is of the type recirculating water as indicated further above, but is configured so as to avoid the generation of a violent jet of water, while providing it with a high flowrate. Again, with particular reference to Figure 1, it is possible to see that the supply pump is connected to an outlet opening 16 for the cascade jet via a pipe 18 which, according to the invention, has a suitable form and dimensions as explained in detail hereinbelow. The pipe 18 has, from the bottom upwards, i.e. from the supply pump 12 towards the outlet opening 16, a varying cross-section. As can be seen from the enclosed illustration, the pipe 18 has a first portion 18a, i.e. the bottom portion, which is connected at one end to the pump 12 and at the other end, i.e. the top end, to a second portion 18b, the cross-section thereof is considerably smaller than that of the first portion 18a. The connection between the two portions 18a and 18b, which is obviously sealed, is achieved by means of a connecting element 20 having a cross-section converging upwards so as to connect without interruption the two portions 18a and 18b. Furthermore, it may be noted that the second portion 18b of the pipe 18 is connected, at its top end, to the third portion 18c which has a cross-section considerably larger than that of the middle portion 18b. This cross-section must be of a suitable size such as to cause at the same time slowing down of the speed of the water flow and, through the regulation of the flow immediately upstream of the outflow opening 16, a jet with a considerable flowrate delivered essentially in a free-falling manner. The connection between the portions 18b and 18c is achieved by means of a second connecting element 22 having a cross-section increasing in a continuous manner upwards,which connects without interruption the opposite ends of the two portions 18b and 18c. It is not considered necessary to explainin detail here the ratio existing between the cross-sections of the various portions 18a, 18b and 18c, this dimension obviously being determined in each case by the desired speed and flowrate for the water emerging from the outlet opening 16 and,obviously, also by the delivery of the supply pump 12. Solely by way of a non-limiting example it may be reasonably claimed that the values of the cross-section of the bottom and top end portions 18a and 18c are preferably identical to each other. The function performed by the abovementioned pipe is obvious in that the flowrate of the water will remain unchanged from the inlet to the outlet of this pipe for obvious reasons. The speed and flowrate values of the water,flow will, on the other hand, be variable according to the circumstances so as to generate always a suitable outflow with a relatively low speed and high flowrate. The means for deflecting the water flow mentioned above are incorporated, according to the invention, in the outlet opening and, more precisely, between the upstream portion 16a of the outlet opening 16 and its downstream or exit portion 16b. As can be noted from Figure 2, the longitudinal axes A-A and B-B of the portions 16a and 16b of the outlet opening 16 are inclined with respect to each other, therefore forming a means for deviating the direction of the water flow. In the specific example considered, this deviation has been set for an angle of about 90° but it is obvious that this novel type of deflector could be provided with a different angle between the abovementioned longitudinal axes. The advantages as wellas the characteristic features of the apparatus according to the present invention are obvious from the above description and need not be further considered in detail here. Finally, it is obvious that variations and/or modifications may be made to the apparatus according to the invention, without thereby departing from the scope of protection thereof.

Claims: Apparatus for generating and delivering a cascade-type jet of water in a sanitary appliance such as a box shower or the like, comprising : means (12) for sucking the water from said appliance, means (18) for conveying water, means for accumulating water, means for deflecting the associated flow, an outlet opening (16) for said jet characterized in that the means (18) for conveying water from said sucking means (12) to said outlet opening (16) also are the means for accumulating water and consist of three portions (18a, 18b, 18c) arranged in series of a substantially vertical pipe adapted to realize a converging/diverging flow of water, and the said means for deflecting the associated flow are positioned downstream of the said means (18) for conveying and accumulating water. Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized In that the lowermost portion (18a) of said means (18) for accumulating and conveying water is connected to the intermediate portion (18b) thereof , which is of a smaller cross-section, by a connection element (20) having a converging cross-section in the upward direction and in that the uppermost portion (18c) of said means (18) for accumulating and conveying water is connected to the intermediate portion (18b) thereof, which is of a smaller cross-section, by a connection element (20) having a diverging cross-section in the upward direction. Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that the cross section of the uppermost portion (18c) of said means (18) for accumulating and conveying water which is connected to the outlet opening (16) has a size such as to generate a jet of water with a relatively low speed and at the same time with a high flowrate. Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized In that the said means for deflecting the associated flow consist of a first upstream portion (16a) and a second downstream portion (16b) of the outlet opening (16) having their axis (A-A, B-B) which are inclined with respect to each other. Apparatus according to Claim 4, characterized in that the axis (A-A, B-B) of the said portions (16a, 16b) of the outlet opening (16) are inclined at an angle of about 90°.

Inventors: FURLAN LIVIO, IANNI CARMELO, FURLAN, LIVIO, IANNI, CARMELO
Applicants: JACUZZI EUROP, JACUZZI EUROPE SPA
Application year: 1999
Main classification: B05B1
IPC codes: B05B1, B05B9