Patent Description:
For existing water outlet devices, such as showers, switching and water dividing devices are generally provided in the water outlet devices in order to meet various water outlet modes. At present, ceramic valve cores are substantially used in the market for switching and water dividing, but the ceramic valve cores have relatively high cost and high limitation in appearance, and the installation, maintenance and replacement thereof are very complicated.

The document <CIT> discloses a shunt valve that can automatically reset after water is cut off.

The document <CIT> discloses a valve which has a modular assembly structure and a sealing structure.

The document <CIT> discloses a changeover valve for a fluid pressure apparatus, which has a supply body, a supply passage and an exhaust body with an exhaust passage, and a retainer provided between the supply body and the exhaust body and having a passageway connecting the supply passage with the exhaust passage.

The document <CIT> discloses a rotary valve having several cross-section adjustment links and a rotary gear box. The rotational angle difference is produced between the cross-section adjustment links. The rotary gear box comprises a driven worm having two threads, by which the rotor is axially displaceable to a cross section adjustment links that is coupled with the rotor in the rotatable state.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a water dividing device and a water outlet device which have simple structure, low cost and ability to realize modular installation.

The water dividing device provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a valve body provided with a water inlet, a first water outlet and a second water outlet; a switching mechanism movably provided in the valve body and configured for switching between the water inlet being communicated with the first water outlet and the water inlet being communicated with the second water outlet; a power mechanism at least partially provided in the valve body and including a rotary rod and a pusher cooperated with the rotary rod, wherein one end of the pusher abuts against the switching mechanism, and the other end abuts against the rotary rod; the rotary rod drives the pusher by its own rotating movement to move along a straight line so as to push the switching mechanism to move; the pusher and the rotary rod have opposite ends, one of which is provided with a helical sliding way and the other is provided with an ejection rod, wherein the helical sliding way extends along both a circumferential direction and an axial direction of the pusher, and the ejection rod is capable of sliding along the helical sliding way.

In an exemplary embodiment, the helical sliding way includes a plurality of helical sliding ways symmetrically arranged along the circumferential direction of the pusher, and the ejection rod also includes a plurality of ejection rods symmetrically arranged along the circumferential direction of the rotary rod.

In an exemplary embodiment, one of an outer side wall surface of the pusher and an inner side wall surface of the valve body is provided with a limit groove along the valve body, and the other of the outer side wall surface of the pusher and the inner side wall surface of the valve body is provided with a limit protrusion cooperated with the limit groove to limit rotation of the pusher.

In an exemplary embodiment, the switching mechanism includes a guide rod disposed in the valve body. The guide rod and an inner cavity of the valve body cooperate to form a water inlet flow channel connected with the water inlet, a first water outlet flow channel connected with the first water outlet, and a second water outlet flow channel connected with the second water outlet. The switching mechanism also includes a blocking member sleeved on the guide rod, and the blocking member can block a communication port between the water inlet flow channel and the first water outlet flow channel or a communication port between the water inlet flow channel and the second water outlet flow channel.

In an exemplary embodiment, the pusher and the rotary rod have opposite ends, one of which is provided with a first groove, and the other is provided with a first leading portion extending into the first groove. One of opposite ends of the pusher and the guide rod is provided with a second groove, and the other is provided with a second leading portion extending into the second groove.

In an exemplary embodiment, the water dividing device further includes a water dividing joint for isolating a chamber where the switching mechanism is located and a chamber where the power mechanism is located, and the water dividing joint is sleeved at an end of the guide rod opposite the pusher and radially positions the guide rod.

In an exemplary embodiment, the valve body includes a main body, a first housing cooperated and connected with one end of the main body, and a second housing cooperated and connected with the other end of the main body. One end of the rotary rod extends into the first housing and abuts against the pusher, the other end of the rotary rod extends out of the first housing, and the second housing is provided with a cylinder extending into the main body. The power mechanism also includes a reset element abuts against the other end of the guide rod, and the reset element is installed in the cylinder.

In an exemplary embodiment, a side surface of a portion of the rotary rod extending out of the first housing is provided with a stop pin extending outwardly in a radial direction, the first housing is provided with a limit notch with a predetermined angle along a circumferential direction, and the stop pin can move within the limit notch and cooperate with side walls on both sides of the limit notch for limiting.

In an exemplary embodiment, an outer wall of a portion of the rotary rod located within the first housing is provided with a positioning groove with a predetermined angle along a circumferential direction, an inner wall of the first housing is provided with a protrusion extending into the positioning groove, and the protrusion can move within a circumferential range of the positioning groove.

In an exemplary embodiment, an outer wall of a portion of the rotary rod located within the first housing is also provided with an installation groove, the water dividing device further includes a collision bead assembly provided in the installation groove, and an inner wall of the first housing is provided with a collision groove cooperated with the collision bead assembly to generate a sound.

The water outlet device provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure includes the water dividing device described in any foregoing embodiments.

The water dividing device of the embodiments of the present disclosure converts the rotary motion of the rotary rod into the linear motion of the pusher, thereby realizing the division and conversion of the water flow by the switching mechanism, with simple structure and low cost.

The water dividing device of the embodiments of the present disclosure can be used as an integrated module to directly divide the water flow of the water outlet device, and can effectively form a modular match with convenient installation, maintenance and replacement and low cost.

Other features and advantages of the present disclosure will be set forth in the specification which follows, and in part will be obvious from the specification, or may be learned by implementing the present disclosure. The objects and other advantages of the present disclosure can be realized and obtained by the structures particularly indicated in the specification and drawings.

The accompanying drawings are used to provide a further understanding of the technical schemes of the present disclosure, and constitute a part of the specification. They are used together with the embodiments of the present application to explain the technical schemes of the present disclosure, and do not constitute a restriction on the technical schemes of the present disclosure.

In order to make the purposes, technical schemes and advantages of the present disclosure clearer, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the embodiments in the present application and the features in the embodiments may be combined with each other arbitrarily if there is no conflict.

As shown in <FIG>, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a water dividing device <NUM> including a valve body <NUM> provided with a water inlet A, a first water outlet B and a second water outlet C.

As shown in <FIG>, the valve body <NUM> includes a main body <NUM>, a first housing <NUM> cooperated and connected with one end of the main body <NUM>, and a second housing <NUM> cooperated and connected with the other end of the main body <NUM>.

The main body <NUM> is provided with the water inlet A, the first water outlet B, and the second water outlet C described above. An outer periphery of one end of the main body <NUM> connected with the first housing <NUM> is provided with a plurality of first bayonets <NUM> arranged at intervals, and an outer periphery of one end of the main body <NUM> connected with the second housing <NUM> is provided with a plurality of second bayonets <NUM> arranged at intervals. The water inlet A, the first water outlet B, and the second water outlet C are located between the first bayonets <NUM> and the second bayonets <NUM> along an axial direction of the main body <NUM>. The first housing <NUM> has a through cavity <NUM> penetrated through in a front-back direction. An outer periphery of one end of the first housing <NUM> connected with the main body <NUM> is provided with a plurality of first buckles <NUM> arranged at intervals and cooperated and snapped with the first bayonets <NUM>, and the other end of the first housing <NUM> is provided with a limit notch <NUM> with a predetermined angle along a circumferential direction. An outer periphery of one end of the second housing <NUM> is provided with a plurality of second buckles <NUM> arranged at intervals and cooperated and snapped with the second bayonets <NUM>, and the other end of the second housing <NUM> is provided with a cylinder <NUM> extendable into the main body <NUM>, and the cylinder <NUM> extends into an inner cavity of the main body <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, a switching mechanism <NUM> is provided within the valve body <NUM>. The switching mechanism <NUM> is movably provided in the valve body <NUM> and configured for switching between the water inlet A being communicated with the first water outlet B and the water inlet A being communicated with the second water outlet C.

The switching mechanism <NUM> includes a guide rod <NUM> provided in the valve body <NUM>, and the guide rod <NUM> cooperates with the inner cavity of the valve body <NUM> to form a water inlet flow channel A1 connected with the water inlet A, a first water outlet flow channel B1 connected with the first water outlet B, and a second water outlet flow channel C1 connected with the second water outlet C.

The switching mechanism <NUM> also includes a blocking member <NUM> sleeved on the guide rod <NUM>. The blocking member <NUM> is capable of blocking a communication port a between the water inlet flow channel A1 and the first water outlet flow channel B1 or a communication port b between the water inlet flow channel A1 and the second water outlet flow channel C1.

As shown in <FIG>, when the guide rod <NUM> is in a first position, the blocking member <NUM> blocks the communication port b between the water inlet flow channel A1 and the second water outlet flow channel C1, and the water inlet flow channel A1 and the second water outlet flow channel C1 are disconnected. At this point, the communication port a between the water inlet flow channel A1 and the first water outlet flow channel B1 is in an open state, and the water inlet flow channel A1 is communicated with the first water outlet flow channel B1, so that the water flows into the water inlet A and flows out of the first water outlet B. The direction of the water flow is the direction pointed by the arrow in <FIG>.

As shown in <FIG>, when the guide rod <NUM> is in a second position, the blocking member <NUM> blocks the communication port a between the water inlet flow channel A1 and the first water outlet flow channel B1, and the water inlet flow channel A1 and the first water outlet flow channel B1 are disconnected. At this point, the communication port b between the water inlet flow channel A1 and the second water outlet flow channel C1 is in an open state, and the water inlet flow channel A1 is communicated with the second water outlet flow channel C1, so that the water flows into the water inlet A and flows out of the second water outlet C. The direction of the water flow is the direction pointed by the arrow in <FIG>.

As shown in <FIG>, the water dividing device <NUM> further includes a power mechanism <NUM> at least partially provided in the valve body <NUM>. The power mechanism <NUM> includes a rotary rod <NUM> and a pusher <NUM> cooperated with the rotary rod <NUM>. One end of the pusher <NUM> abuts against the switching mechanism <NUM>, and the other end abuts against the rotary rod <NUM>. The rotary rod <NUM> drives the pusher <NUM> by its own rotary motion to push the switching mechanism <NUM> to move along a straight line and switch positions.

As shown in <FIG>, one end of the rotary rod <NUM> extends into the first housing <NUM> and abuts against the pusher <NUM>, and the other end extends out of the first housing <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, a stop pin <NUM> extending outwardly along a radial direction is provided on a side surface of a portion of the rotary rod <NUM> extending out of the first housing <NUM>, and the stop pin <NUM> cooperates with the limit notch <NUM> in the first housing <NUM>. The stop pin <NUM> can move within the limit notch <NUM> and cooperate with the side walls on both sides of the limit notch <NUM> for limiting, so as to realize a limitation for the rotation angle of the rotary rod <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, a protrusion <NUM> is provided along the circumferential direction on an outer wall of a portion of the rotary rod <NUM> located in the first housing <NUM>, and a positioning groove (not shown) with a predetermined angle is provided on an inner wall of the first housing <NUM>. The protrusion <NUM> extends into the positioning groove and can move within a circumferential range of the positioning groove, thereby realizing another limitation for the rotation angle of the rotary rod <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, an installation groove <NUM> is also provided on the outer wall of the portion of the rotary rod <NUM> located in the first housing <NUM>. The water dividing device <NUM> further includes a collision bead assembly <NUM> provided in the installation groove <NUM>. The inner wall of the first housing <NUM> is provided with a collision groove (not numbered) cooperated with the collision bead assembly <NUM> to generate a sound, so that when the rotary rod <NUM> rotates to a predetermined position, the collision bead assembly <NUM> generates a collision sound, thereby improving the user's hand feeling in operation.

The embodiments of the present disclosure convert the rotary motion of the rotary rod <NUM> into the linear motion of the pusher <NUM>, thereby realizing the division and conversion of the water flow by the switching mechanism <NUM>, with simple structure, low cost and ability of being modular.

As shown in <FIG>, the pusher <NUM> and the rotary rod <NUM> have opposite ends, one of which is provided with a helical sliding way <NUM>, and the other is provided with an ejection rod <NUM>. The helical sliding way <NUM> extends in both the circumferential direction and the axial direction of the pusher <NUM>. The ejection rod <NUM> is provided at one end of the rotary rod <NUM> opposite the pusher <NUM>, and the ejection rod <NUM> can slide along the helical sliding way <NUM>. The cooperated motion of the helical sliding way <NUM> and the rotary rod <NUM> can convert the rotational movement of the rotary rod <NUM> into the linear movement of the pusher <NUM>. In this embodiment, the helical sliding way <NUM> is provided at an end of the pusher <NUM>, and the ejection rod <NUM> is provided at an end of the rotary rod <NUM>. In this embodiment, the helical sliding way <NUM> includes a plurality of helical sliding ways arranged symmetrically along the circumferential direction of the pusher <NUM>, and the ejection rod <NUM> also includes a plurality of ejection rods arranged symmetrically along the circumferential direction of the rotary rod <NUM>, so that the rotary rod <NUM> can smoothly push the pusher <NUM> and the power mechanism <NUM> can move smoothly.

One of the outer side wall surface of the pusher <NUM> and the inner side wall surface of the valve body <NUM> is provided with a limit groove <NUM> extending along the axial direction of the valve body <NUM>, and the other of the outer side wall surface of the pusher <NUM> and the inner side wall surface of the valve body <NUM> is provided with a limit protrusion <NUM> cooperated with the limit groove <NUM> (see <FIG>). By the cooperation of the limit groove <NUM> and the limit protrusion <NUM>, the pusher <NUM> can only move in the axial direction, and the pusher <NUM> is prevented from rotating together with the rotary rod <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, one of the opposite ends of the pusher <NUM> and the rotary rod <NUM> is provided with a first groove <NUM>, and the other of the opposite ends of the pusher <NUM> and the rotary rod <NUM> is provided with a first leading portion <NUM> extending into the first groove <NUM>. In this embodiment, the pusher <NUM> is provided with the first groove <NUM>, and the rotary rod <NUM> is provided with the first leading portion <NUM>, so that the rotary rod <NUM> can be positioned for smooth movement.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, one of the opposite ends of the pusher <NUM> and the guide rod <NUM> is provided with a second groove <NUM>, and the other of the opposite ends of the pusher <NUM> and the guide rod <NUM> is provided with a second leading portion <NUM> extending into the second groove <NUM>. In this embodiment, the pusher <NUM> is provided with the second groove <NUM>, and the guide rod <NUM> is provided with the second leading portion <NUM>, so that the guide rod <NUM> can be positioned for smooth movement.

As shown in <FIG>, the power mechanism <NUM> further includes a reset element <NUM> abutting against one end of the guide rod <NUM> facing away from the pusher <NUM>, and the reset element <NUM> is installed and positioned within the cylinder <NUM>. The reset element <NUM> can push the guide rod <NUM> back to an initial position when the rotary rod <NUM> returns to the initial position.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the water dividing device <NUM> also includes a water dividing joint <NUM> for isolating the chamber where the switching mechanism <NUM> is located and the chamber where the power mechanism <NUM> is located. The water dividing joint <NUM> is sleeved at one end of the guide rod <NUM> opposite the pusher <NUM>, and positions the guide rod <NUM> in the radial direction. The water dividing joint <NUM> can seal the power mechanism <NUM> and constrain the flow of water towards the first housing <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, in the initial position, the rotary rod <NUM> is positioned on one side of the limit notch <NUM>, and the reset element <NUM> abuts against the guide rod <NUM> to prevent the guide rod <NUM> from moving under the action of water flow. The blocking member <NUM> blocks the communication port b between the water inlet flow channel A1 and the second water outlet flow channel C1, the water inlet flow channel A1 and the second water outlet flow channel C1 are disconnected, the communication port a between the water inlet flow channel A1 and the first water outlet flow channel B1 is in an open state, the water inlet flow channel A1 is communicated with the first water outlet flow channel B1, and water flows into the water inlet A and flows out of the first water outlet B.

As shown in <FIG>, the rotary rod <NUM> is rotated to one side of the limit notch <NUM>. During the rotation, the rotary rod <NUM> drives the pusher <NUM> to move in a direction toward the guide rod <NUM> and push the guide rod <NUM> to move along a straight line, so that the blocking member <NUM> moves away from the communication port b, the water inlet flow channel A1 is communicated with the second water outlet flow channel C1, and water is discharged from the second water outlet C. The blocking member <NUM> is at the communication port a and blocks the communication port a, so that the water inlet flow channel A1 and the first water outlet flow channel B1 are disconnected.

As shown in <FIG>, upon assembling the water dividing device <NUM> of the embodiments of the present disclosure, the first housing <NUM> and the power mechanism <NUM> can be assembled into a first assembly, and the second housing <NUM>, the main body <NUM>, the water dividing mechanism <NUM> can be assembled into a second assembly, respectively, and then the first assembly and the second assembly can be assembled.

As shown in <FIG>, an embodiment of the present disclosure also provides a water outlet device <NUM> including an outer housing 200a, and the water dividing device <NUM> of any embodiments of the present disclosure installed in the outer housing 200a, water can be led in or out of the water dividing device <NUM> through a plurality of water inlet joints and water outlet joints 200b. The water outlet device can be connected with faucet, shower and the like. The water dividing device <NUM> can distribute the outflow water of the water outlet device <NUM>.

The water dividing device <NUM> of the embodiments of the present disclosure can be used as an integrated module to directly divide the water flow of the water outlet device <NUM>, and can effectively form a modular match, with convenient installation, maintenance and replacement and low cost.

In the description of the present disclosure, it should be noted that the orientation or position relationships indicated by the terms "upper", "lower", "one side", "the other side", "one end", "the other end", "side", "relative", "four corners", "periphery", "square structure" and the like are based on the orientation or position relationships shown in the drawings, which are only for convenience of describing the embodiments of the present disclosure and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the structure referred has the specific orientation, or is constructed and operated in the specific orientation, and thus cannot be interpreted as a limitation on the embodiments of the present disclosure.

In the description of the embodiments of the present disclosure, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "connection", "direct connection", "indirect connection", "fixed connection", "installation" and "assembly" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, they may be a fixed connection, detachable connection or integrated connection. The terms "installation", "connection" and "fixed connection" may be direct connection, or indirect connection through an intermediary, or may be an internal communication between two elements. For those of ordinary skills in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present disclosure can be understood according to specific situations.

Claim 1:
A water dividing device (<NUM>), comprising:
a valve body (<NUM>) provided with a water inlet (A), a first water outlet (B) and a second water outlet (C);
a switching mechanism (<NUM>) movably provided in the valve body (<NUM>) and configured for switching between the water inlet (A) being communicated with the first water outlet (B) and the water inlet (A) being communicated with the second water outlet (C);
a power mechanism (<NUM>) at least partially provided in the valve body (<NUM>) and comprising a rotary rod (<NUM>) and a pusher (<NUM>) cooperated with the rotary rod (<NUM>), wherein one end of the pusher (<NUM>) abuts against the switching mechanism (<NUM>), and the other end of the pusher (<NUM>) abuts against the rotary rod (<NUM>); the rotary rod (<NUM>) drives the pusher (<NUM>) by its own rotating movement to move along a straight line so as to push the switching mechanism (<NUM>) to move;
characterized in that the pusher (<NUM>) and the rotary rod (<NUM>) have opposite ends, one of which is provided with a helical sliding way (<NUM>), the other is provided with an ejection rod (<NUM>), and the helical sliding way (<NUM>) extends along both a circumferential direction and a axial direction of the pusher (<NUM>), and the ejection rod (<NUM>) is capable of sliding along the helical sliding way (<NUM>).