Patent Publication Number: US-2013248034-A1

Title: Pressing waterway switch mechanism

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a pressing waterway switch mechanism. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The waterway switch mechanism of the bathroom equipment mainly comprises the rotary waterway switch mechanism and the sliding waterway switch mechanism. The rotary waterway switch mechanism at the prior art achieves the switch mainly through the relative rotation between the sector disk and the valve body. a rotary face cover is arranged out of the valve body, and a synchronous and coaxial rotation connection relation is formed between the face cover and the sector disk, and a raised handle is arranged on the face cover, and then the face cover can be rotated with respect to the valve body by operating the raised handle, and then the sector disk can be driven to rotate with respect to the valve body, and then the waterway switch is achieved. The rotary waterway switch mechanism at the prior art is provided with the following defects: 1 the sector disk and the valve body are always relying on each other, providing with large switch force and inconvenient switch; 2 the face cover is connected with the valve body in a rotating manner, providing with complicated structure and large space occupation. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The object of the present invention is to offer a pressing waterway switch mechanism which overcomes the defects of the rotary waterway switch mechanism at the prior art. 
     The technical proposal solving the technical matter in the present invention is: 
     Pressing waterway switch mechanism, comprises: 
     A valve body ( 100 ), provided with an inlet waterway ( 110 ), at least two outlet waterways ( 120 ), a guiding shaft ( 130 ), a guiding slot ( 144 ) of which the guiding direction coincides with the axis of the guiding shaft ( 130 ), a third teeth group ( 145 ) that is around the guiding slot ( 144 ), and inlet ports ( 121 ) of the outlet waterways ( 120 ) can be communicated with the inlet waterway ( 110 ) and be alternatively arranged around the guiding shaft ( 130 ) in a ring array manner; 
     A switch mechanism, comprises: 
     A sector disk ( 210 ), a first teeth group ( 211 ) is arranged at the circle center, and can be sleeved out of the guiding shaft ( 130 ) in a relative sliding and rotating manner, and at least the switch of a plurality of outlet waterways ( 120 ) can be achieved through the relative rotation between the sector disk ( 210 ) and the valve body ( 100 ); 
     A return spring ( 220 ), is sleeved to the guiding shaft ( 130 ) and against the first teeth group ( 211 ); 
     A pressing piece ( 230 ), can be connected to the guiding slot ( 144 ) in a sliding manner, and a second teeth group ( 231 ) is arranged at the end of the pressing piece; 
     Wherein, the first teeth group ( 211 ) can couple with the second teeth group ( 231 ) and the third teeth group ( 145 ), to cause that: the pressing piece ( 230 ) is pressed to move forward, and the first teeth group ( 211 ) and the second teeth group ( 231 ) are coupling with each other, and then the sector disk ( 210 ) slides forward and rotates forward, and energy is stored in the return spring ( 220 ); then energy is released from the return spring ( 220 ), and then the sector disk ( 210 ) slides backward, and the first teeth group ( 211 ) and the third teeth group ( 145 ) are coupling with each other, and then the sector disk ( 210 ) rotates forward, and then the pressing piece ( 230 ) returns. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the sector disk ( 210 ) can seal the inlet ports ( 121 ) in a coupling manner. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the number of the outlet waterways ( 120 ) is two, and the sector disk ( 210 ) can seal an inlet port ( 121 ) alternatively or the sector disk ( 210 ) can be between the two inlet ports ( 121 ). 
     In a preferred embodiment, the switch mechanism also comprises: 
     A button ( 240 ), which is connected to the valve body ( 100 ) in a sliding manner and be against the pressing piece ( 230 ), so that the pressing piece ( 230 ) can be driven to slide when the button ( 240 ) is pressed, a locating rod ( 241 ) is arranged on the button ( 240 ), and a locating slot ( 147 ) is arranged on the valve body ( 100 ), and the locating rod ( 241 ) is connected to the locating slot ( 147 ) in a coupling manner; and 
     A against spring ( 250 ), which is arranged between the button ( 240 ) and the valve body ( 100 ). 
     In a preferred embodiment, the valve body ( 100 ) comprises: 
     A main body ( 140 ), an outlet cavity ( 143 ) is concavely arranged on the top surface of the main body ( 140 ), of which the bottom surface is the switch surface ( 146 ), the outlet waterways ( 120 ) are arranged in the main body ( 140 ), and the inlet ports ( 121 ) are on the switch surface ( 146 ), the guiding slot ( 144 ) penetrates the main body ( 140 ), and the third teeth group ( 145 ) is on the switch surface ( 146 ); 
     An upper cover ( 150 ), which is mounted on the circular surface of the outlet cavity ( 143 ) of the main body ( 140 ), and the inlet waterway ( 110 ) penetrates the upper cover ( 150 ) to introduce water into the outlet cavity ( 110 ) from water source. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the upper cover ( 150 ) comprises a top wall ( 151 ) and a surrounding wall ( 152 ) extended from the periphery of the top wall ( 151 ) downward, and the surrounding wall ( 152 ) is fixed to the outlet cavity ( 143 ) of the main body ( 140 ) hermetically, and the inlet waterway ( 110 ) penetrates the top wall ( 151 ); the guiding shaft ( 130 ) is fixed to the bottom surface of the top wall ( 151 ) of the upper cover ( 150 ). 
     In a preferred embodiment, the sector disk ( 210 ) is in the outlet cavity ( 143 ) of the main body ( 140 ), the return spring ( 220 ) is against between the top wall ( 151 ) and the sector disk ( 210 ). 
     In a preferred embodiment, a mounting groove ( 141 ) is concavely arranged on the bottom of the main body ( 140 ), and a axial locating slot ( 142 ) is arranged on the internal revolution surface of the mounting groove ( 141 ); the button ( 240 ) is connected to the mounting groove ( 141 ) in a coupling and sliding manner, and a guiding embossment ( 242 ) is arranged out of the button ( 240 ), and the embossment ( 242 ) is connected to the locating slot ( 142 ) in a coupling manner. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the against spring ( 250 ) is against between the bottom surface of the mounting groove ( 141 ) and the button ( 240 ). 
     In a preferred embodiment, the outlet ports ( 122 ) of the outlet waterways ( 120 ) are radially ahead outward. 
     Compared with the technical proposal at the prior, the benefits of the present invention are: 
     1 the pressing piece, the return spring, the sector disk, and the valve body are cooperated to form an automatic-ball-pen-type mechanism, and the pressing piece is pressed to slide forward, and then the sector disk slides forward and rotates forward, and energy is stored in the return spring; when the pressing is loosen, energy is released from the return spring, and then the sector disk slides backward and rotates forward, it overcomes the defects at the prior art and generates the following effects: a, during the switch process, the sector disk is separated from the switch surface of the valve body with no friction, labor saving and convenient switch operation; b, the rotation of the sector disk is driven through pressing with convenient switch operation, simple structure and low space occupation; c, it is easy to design the hermetic structure; d, the sector disk is used without the area that is affected by water pressure during operation process, and then the operation force is reduced; 
     2 the sector disk can be chosen to seal one inlet port or the sector disk can be between the two inlet ports, not only it can achieve the switch of the two outlet waterways, but also that water can come out of the two outlet waterways simultaneously; 
     3 the valve body comprises a main body and a top cover with reasonable arrangement, low manufacturing cost and easy assembly; 
     4 the switch mechanism also comprises a button and a against spring for user&#39;s easy pressing; 
     5 the sector disk is in the outlet cavity of the main body, and the button is connected to the mounting groove in a sliding and coupling manner with reasonable arrangement and low space occupation. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       With the following description of the drawings and specific embodiments, the invention shall be further described in details. 
         FIG. 1  shows the solid general abridged view of the mechanism in a preferred embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  shows the solid exploded view of the mechanism in a preferred embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  shows the solid assembly view of the main body, the pressing piece and the sector disk of the mechanism in a preferred embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  shows the half sectional view of the mechanism in a preferred embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  shows the solid half sectional view of the mechanism in a preferred embodiment, and water comes out of both the outlet waterways at this moment; 
         FIG. 6  shows the sectional view of  FIG. 5  A-A, and water comes out of both the outlet waterways at this moment; 
         FIG. 7  shows the sectional view of  FIG. 5  A-A, and water comes out of the first outlet waterways at this moment; 
         FIG. 8  shows the sectional view of  FIG. 5  A-A, and water comes out of the second outlet waterways at this moment. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     According to  FIGS. 1 to 8 , the pressing waterway switch mechanism comprises a valve body  100  and a switch mechanism. 
     The valve body  100  comprises a main body  140 , an upper cover  150 , a connector  160 , a connector nut  170 , a gasket  180  and a seal ring  190 . 
     An outlet cavity  143  is concavely arranged on the top surface of the main body  140 , of which the bottom surface is the switch surface  146 . The upper cover  150  comprises a top wall  151  and a surrounding wall  152  extended from the periphery of the top wall  151 . The surrounding wall  150  and the outlet cavity  143  are hermetically fixed together, so that the main body  140  and the upper cover are hermetically fixed together. A mounting groove  141  is concavely arranged on the bottom surface of the main body  140 , and a axial locating slot  142  is arranged on the internal revolution surface of the mounting groove  141 . A guiding slot  144  penetrating the bottom surface of the outlet cavity  143  and the bottom surface of the mounting groove  141  is also arranged at the main body  140 , and the guiding direction of the guiding slot  144  is coincided with the axis of guiding shaft  130 . A third teeth group  145  is arranged at the main body  140 , and the third teeth group  145  is around the guiding slot  144  and at the switch surface  146 . A locating slot  147  is concavely arranged at the switch surface  146  of the main body  140  of the valve body  100 . 
     Two outlet waterways  120  are arranged in the main body  140 , the inlet ports  121  of the two outlet waterways  120  are ahead upward and on the switch surface  146 , and are alternately arranged around the guiding shaft  130  in a ring array manner, the outlet of the two inlet ports  121  are radially ahead outward. An inlet waterway  110  is arranged on the top wall  151  in a penetrating manner to guide water into the outlet cavity  143 , so that the inlet ports  121  of the outlet waterways  120  can be communicated with the inlet waterway  110 . In the present embodiment, the upper cover  150  is communicated with water source through the connector  160 , the connector nut  170 , the gasket  180  and the seal ring  190 . 
     The switch mechanism comprises a sector disk  210 , a return spring  220 , a pressing piece  230 , a button  240  and a against spring  250 . 
     The sector disk  210  is located in the outlet cavity  143  of the main body  140 , and a first teeth group  211  is arranged at the circle center of the sector disk  210 , and the first teeth group  211  is sleeved out of the guiding shaft  130  in a relative sliding and rotating manner, and then the switch of a plurality of outlet waterways  120  can be at least achieved through the relative rotation between the sector disk  210  and the valve body  100 . In the present embodiment, the sector disk  210  can seal the inlet ports  121  in a coupling manner, and can couple between the two inlet ports  121 , namely water can be switched to come out of the first outlet waterway, the second outlet waterway or the first and second outlet waterways simultaneously. 
     The return spring  220  is sleeved to the guiding shaft  130  and against between the top wall  151  and the sector disk  210 . 
     The pressing piece is connected to the guiding slot  144  of the valve body  100  in a sliding manner, and a second teeth group  231  is arranged at the first end of the pressing piece  230 , and it is better that a seal mechanism is arranged during sliding process. 
     In the present embodiment, the first teeth group  211  can couple with the second teeth group  231  and the third teeth group  140 , to cause that: the pressing piece  230  is pressed to move forward, and then the sector disk  210  slides forward, and the first teeth group  211  and the second teeth group  231  are coupling with each other, and then the sector disk  210  rotates forward, and energy is stored in the return spring  220 ; then energy is released from the return spring  220 , and then the sector disk  210  slides backward, and the first teeth group  211  and the third teeth group  145  are coupling with each other, and then the sector disk  210  rotates forward, and then the pressing piece  230  returns. The teeth groups can employ the following structure, but not limited, such as the raised teeth in ring array, the tooth face of the raised teeth is provided with inclined cambered surface ahead the same direction (clockwise or anticlockwise), for example, the height of the tooth face is different according to different teeth in turns. 
     A guiding embossment  242  is arranged out of the button  240 , and the button  240  is coupling with the mounting groove  141  that is connected to the valve body  100  in a sliding manner, and the embossment  242  is connected to the locating slot  142  in a coupling manner. a locating rod  241  is convexly arranged on the top surface of the button  240 , and the locating rod  241  is connected to the locating slot  147  in a coupling manner. 
     The against spring  250  is arranged in the mounting groove  141  of the valve body, and is against between the bottom surfaced of the mounting groove  141  and the button  240 . 
     The switch process of the waterway mechanism in the present embodiment can be described as follows: 
     According to  FIG. 5 and 6 , the sector disk  210  is relying on the switch surface of the valve body  100 , and is between the two inlet ports  121 , water passes through the inlet waterway  110 , the outlet cavity  143 , the two inlet ports  121  and the two outlet waterways  120 , and then water comes out of the two outlet waterways simultaneously. 
     The user presses the button  240 , and the button  240  is against the second end of the pressing piece  230  to move the pressing piece  230  forward (in the present embodiment, the upward movement is shown in  FIG. 5 , namely leaves the switch surface), and then the sector disk  210  slides forward (in the present embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 6 , the forward direction of the sector disk is clockwise), under the cooperation of the first teeth group  211  and the second teeth group  231 , the sector disk  210  is rotated forward at 45 degrees, and energy is stored in the return spring  220  and then the against spring  250 ; 
     The user looses the button  240 , energy is released from the return spring  220 , and then the sector disk  210  slides backward, and under the cooperation of the first teeth group  211  and the third teeth group  145 , the sector disk  210  is rotated forward at  45  degrees, and the sector disk  210  is covering the inlet ports  121  of the second outlet waterway hermetically at this moment, and then the pressing piece  230  returns, and water source is communicated with the inlet waterway  110  the outlet cavity  143  and a inlet port  121  of the first outlet waterway at this moment, and then water comes out of the first outlet waterway  120  (as shown in  FIG. 7 ). And at the same time, energy is released from the against spring  250 , and the button returns. 
     According to the pattern above, water can be switched to come out of the first outlet waterway, the second outlet waterway or the first and second waterways simultaneously. 
     The invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments mentioned above; therefore it cannot limit the reference implementation of the invention. It is obvious to a person skilled in the art that structural modification and changes can be carried out without leaving the scope of the claims hereinafter and the description above. 
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
     The pressing waterway switch mechanism in the present embodiment, an automatic-ball-pen-type mechanism is composed of the pressing piece, the return spring, the sector disk and the valve body, and the pressing piece is pressed to slide forward, and then the sector disk slides and rotates forward, and then energy is stored in the return spring, when the pressing is loosen, energy is released from the return spring, and then the sector disk slides backward and rotates forward; the structure is simple, and the switch operation is convenient, so that it is provided with good industrial applicability.