Patent Description:
The shower head is a kind of shower device that is commonly used in daily life. When the shower head is used for a long time or in a place with poor water quality, sediment attached to an inner wall of a water outlet hole on a water outlet surface of the shower head. Overtime, the sediment will accumulate and block the water outlet hole, causing the shower head to not work properly. For this reason, there are many shower heads with a descaling function on the market. Generally, a descaling plate with a plurality of descaling needles disposed on a bottom surface of the descaling plate is movably arranged in the shower head, and descaling is driven manually or by flowing water. In the existing descaling products, the descaling plate moves in the axial direction. In order to ensure smooth movement of the descaling plate, a gap of a certain size must be left between the descaling needles and the inner wall of the water outlet hole, otherwise the descaling plate will not move normally because of friction between the descaling needles and the inner wall of the water outlet hole. However, if there is a gap between the descaling needles and the inner wall of the water outlet hole, sediment attached to the inner wall of the water outlet hole cannot be completely removed, which causes the exiting water to be redirected and the purpose of cleaning the sediment cannot be achieved. Chinese utility model <CIT> discloses an automatic descaling shower comprising a shower body, a water outlet cover, and a descaling plate. Chinese patent application publication <CIT> describes an automatic descaling shower head. From <CIT> a shower head is known, which comprises a water supply line, nozzles arranged in a nozzle plate, and nozzle channels extending inside said nozzles. Each nozzle channel produces a jet of water directed toward the user's body. The nozzle for producing an impingement line of the jet of water directed toward the exposed body part is connected to a propulsion device configured as a water motor. The nozzles are arranged such that they can move in relation to the nozzle plate, and the ends of a plurality of nozzles located inside the shower head are displaced in relation to the nozzle plate by the water motor which moves the nozzles together.

The present disclosure provides a self-cleaning water outlet device to solve deficiencies of the existing techniques. During the water discharge process, the needles swing about an axial direction in water outlet holes of a water outlet cover, so that the sediment attached to the inner walls of the water outlet holes is automatically removed.

The present invention relates to a self-cleaning water outlet device as defined in claim <NUM>.

In order to solve the aforementioned technical problems, the present disclosure provides a self-cleaning water outlet device, which comprises a body, a deposit removal needle plate disposed in the body, a water outlet cover comprising a plurality of water outlet holes, and a rotatable member driven to rotate about an axial direction of the rotatable member by flowing water;.

An axial direction of the deposit removal needle plate and an axial direction of the water outlet cover are coaxial. The deposit removal needle plate comprises a plurality of needles, and the deposit removal needle plate is swingably connected to the rotatable member;.

When water flows into the self-cleaning water outlet device, the water drives the rotatable member to rotate, the rotatable member drives each of the plurality of needles to swing about the axial direction of the deposit removal needle plate in a corresponding one of the plurality of water outlet holes, and each of the plurality of needles rubs against sediment deposited on an inner wall of the corresponding one of the plurality of water outlet holes while each of the plurality of needles are swinging to dislodge the sediment.

The body comprises an oblique water body, and the oblique water body comprises a chamber. A first end of the chamber is disposed with a water inlet in an axial direction of the chamber, and a sidewall of the chamber is disposed with a plurality of oblique water outlets arranged along a circumferential direction of the chamber.

The rotatable member is an impeller disposed outside of the sidewall of the chamber, and the water flows into the impeller from the plurality of oblique water outlets. Blades of the impeller are impacted to drive the impeller to rotate by the water.

A first side of the impeller facing the deposit removal needle plate extends downward in the axial direction of the rotatable member to form a cam. A first side of the deposit removal needle plate facing the oblique water body extends upward in the axial direction of deposit removal needle plate to form a connecting member. The cam is disposed in the connecting member, and a sidewall of the cam abuts a sidewall of the connecting member to define a swing connection.

In a preferred embodiment, in the axial direction of the rotatable member, the impeller is disposed with at least one water outlet at a lower end of the impeller. The water flows out from the plurality of oblique water outlets, enters into the impeller, flows out from the at least one water outlet, and then flows to the deposit removal needle plate. The deposit removal needle plate is disposed with at least one overflow hole disposed in the axial direction of the deposit removal needle plate, and the water flows from the at least one overflow hole into the plurality of water outlet holes.

In a preferred embodiment, the self-cleaning water outlet device further comprises a movable member. The movable member is driven by the water and moves in an axial direction of the body. The deposit removal needle plate and the moving member are connected in the axial direction of the body;.

When the water flows into the self-cleaning water outlet device, the water flows to drive the movable member to drive the deposit removal needle plate to move downward in the axial direction of the body, and each of the plurality of needles move into the corresponding one of the plurality of water outlet holes.

In a preferred embodiment, in the axial direction of the chamber, a second end of the chamber away from the water inlet is disposed with a through hole. A first end of the movable member passes through the through hole and abuts the deposit removal needle plate and is linked to the deposit removal needle plate, and a second end of the movable member is disposed in the chamber. When the water flows from the water inlet into the chamber, an impact force generated by the water flowing on the movable member drives the movable member to move downward in the axial direction of the chamber.

In a preferred embodiment, in an axial direction of the cam, the cam is disposed with a locating hole. The movable member is inserted into the connecting member through the locating hole and abuts, in the axial direction of the cam, a bottom end surface of the connecting member.

In a preferred embodiment, a reset member is disposed between the deposit removal needle plate and the water outlet cover. When the deposit removal needle plate moves downward in the axial direction of the deposit removal needle plate, the reset member accumulates an elastic reset force.

In a preferred embodiment, the second end of the movable member is a water storage end. When no water flows into the chamber from the water inlet, the reset member drives the deposit removal needle plate to move upward in the axial direction of the deposit removal needle plate, and the water storage end moves upward, in an axial direction of the movable member, toward the water inlet.

The present disclosure further provides a swinging water outlet device, which comprises a body, a flowing water switchable member disposed in the body, a water outlet cover comprising a plurality of water outlet holes, and a rotatable member driven to rotate about an axial direction of the rotatable member by flowing water;.

An axial direction of the flowing water switchable member and an axial direction of the water outlet cover are coaxial. The flowing water switchable member comprises a plurality of switchable units, and the flowing water switchable member is swingably connected to the rotatable member;.

When water flows into the swinging water outlet device, the water drives the rotatable member to rotate, the rotatable member drives each of the plurality of switchable units to swing about the axial direction of the flowing water switchable member in a corresponding one of the plurality of water outlet holes and a flow direction of the water in each of the plurality of water outlet holes changes due to a swing movement of a corresponding one of the plurality of switchable units.

In a preferred embodiment, the body comprises an oblique water body, and the oblique water body comprises a chamber. In an axial direction of the chamber, a first end of the chamber is disposed with a water inlet, and a sidewall of the chamber is disposed with a plurality of oblique water outlets arranged along a circumferential direction of the chamber.

In a preferred embodiment, the rotatable member is an impeller disposed outside of the sidewall of the chamber, and the water flows into the impeller from the plurality of oblique water outlets. Blades of the impeller are impacted to drive the impeller to rotate by the water.

In a preferred embodiment, a first side of the impeller facing the flowing water switchable member extends downward in the axial direction of the rotatable member to form a cam. A first side of the flowing water switchable member facing the oblique water body extends upward in the axial direction of flowing water switchable member to form a connecting member. The cam is disposed in the connecting member, and a sidewall of the cam abuts a sidewall of the connecting member to define a swing connection.

In a preferred embodiment, in the axial direction of the rotatable member, the impeller is disposed with at least one water outlet at a lower end of the impeller. The water flows out from the plurality of oblique water outlets, enters into the impeller, flows out from the at least one water outlet, and flows to the flowing water switchable member. The flowing water switchable member is disposed with at least one overflow hole disposed in the axial direction of the flowing water switchable member, and the water flows from the at least one overflow hole into the plurality of water outlet holes.

In a preferred embodiment, the swinging water outlet device further comprises a movable member, and the movable member is driven by the water and moves in an axial direction of the body. The flowing water switchable member and the moving member are connected in the axial direction of the body;.

When the water flows into the swinging water outlet device, the water flows to drive the movable member to drive the flowing water switchable member to move downward in the axial direction of the body, and each of the plurality of switchable units move into the corresponding one of the plurality of water outlet holes.

In a preferred embodiment, in the axial direction of the chamber, a second end of the chamber away from the water inlet is disposed with a through hole. A first end of the movable member passes through the through hole and abuts the flowing water switchable member and is linked to the flowing water switchable member, and a second end of the movable member is disposed in the chamber. When the water flows from the water inlet into the chamber, an impact force generated by the water flowing on the movable member drives the movable member to move downward in the axial direction of the chamber.

In a preferred embodiment, in an axial direction of the cam, the cam is disposed with a locating hole, the movable member is inserted into the connecting member through the locating hole and abuts, in the axial direction of the cam, a bottom end surface of the connecting member.

In a preferred embodiment, a reset member is disposed between the flowing water switchable member and the water outlet cover. When the flowing water switchable member moves downward in the axial direction of the flowing water switchable member, the reset member accumulates an elastic reset force.

In a preferred embodiment, the second end of the movable member is a water storage end. When no water flows into the chamber from the water inlet, the reset member drives the flowing water switchable member to move upward in the axial direction of the flowing water switchable member, and the water storage end moves upward, in an axial direction of the movable member, toward the water inlet.

Compared with existing techniques, the technical solution provided by the present disclosure has the following advantages:.

The present disclosure will be further described below with the combination of the accompanying drawings together with the embodiments.

Referring to <FIG>, a self-cleaning water outlet device in this embodiment is preferably but not limited to a shower head. The shower head comprises a body <NUM>, a deposit removal needle plate <NUM> disposed in the body <NUM>, and a rotatable member <NUM> driven to rotate about an axial direction of the rotatable member <NUM> by flowing water.

An axial direction of the deposit removal needle plate <NUM> and an axial direction of a water outlet cover <NUM> are coaxial. The deposit removal needle plate <NUM> comprises a plurality of needles <NUM>, and the deposit removal needle plate <NUM> is swingably connected to the rotatable member <NUM>.

When water flows into the self-cleaning water outlet device, the water drives the rotatable member <NUM> to rotate, and the rotatable member <NUM> drives each of the plurality of needles <NUM> to swing about the axial direction of the deposit removal needle plate <NUM> in a corresponding one of a plurality of water outlet holes <NUM> of the water outlet cover <NUM>. Each of the plurality of needles <NUM> rubs against sediment deposited on an inner wall of a corresponding one of the plurality of water outlet holes <NUM> during a swinging process. Therefore, the sediment deposited on the inner wall of each of the plurality of water outlet holes <NUM> falls off when a corresponding one of the plurality of needles swing. Compared with the traditional needle moving in an axial direction thereof, when using the deposit removal method disclosed in this embodiment, the sediment deposited to the inner wall of each of the plurality of water outlet hole falls off more thoroughly, and the deposit removal effect is good. Therefore, the disadvantages in the conventional deposit removal method (i.e., that the sediment between the plurality of needles and the inner walls of the plurality of water outlet holes cannot be removed) are solved.

In this embodiment, the body <NUM> is disposed with an oblique water body <NUM>, and the oblique water body <NUM> comprises a chamber <NUM>. In an axial direction of the chamber <NUM>, a first end of the chamber <NUM> is disposed with a water inlet <NUM>. A sidewall of the chamber <NUM> is disposed with a plurality of oblique water outlets <NUM> arranged along a circumferential direction of the chamber <NUM>, so that the water flowing along the axial direction of the chamber <NUM> is converted into the oblique water flowing along an inclined direction by the oblique water body <NUM>.

The rotatable member <NUM> is an impeller disposed outside of the sidewall of the chamber <NUM> of the oblique water body <NUM>. The water flows into the impeller from the plurality of oblique water outlets <NUM>, and blades of the impeller are impacted to drive the impeller to rotate by the water.

In order to cause the impeller driving the deposit removal needle plate <NUM> to swing, a first side of the impeller facing the deposit removal needle plate <NUM> extends downward in the axial direction of the rotatable member <NUM> to form a cam <NUM>. A first side of the deposit removal needle plate <NUM> facing the oblique water body <NUM> extends upward in an axial direction of deposit removal needle plate <NUM> to form a connecting member <NUM>. The cam <NUM> is inserted into the connecting member <NUM>, and a sidewall of the cam <NUM> abuts a side of a sidewall of the connecting member <NUM>, so that when the impeller rotates, the cam <NUM> rotates in the connecting member <NUM> and an abutting force between the sidewall of the cam <NUM> and the connecting member <NUM> drives the deposit removal needle plate <NUM> to swing.

At the same time, in order to obtain a normal water outflow of the shower head, the water flowing into the impeller also needs to flow out from the plurality of water outlet holes <NUM> of the water outlet cover <NUM>. Therefore, in the axial direction of the rotatable member <NUM>, the impeller comprises with at least one water outlet <NUM> at a lower end. The water flows out from the oblique water outlet <NUM> to enter into the impeller, and then flows out from the at least one water outlet <NUM> to the deposit removal needle plate <NUM>. In the axial direction of the deposit removal needle plate <NUM>, the deposit removal needle plate <NUM> comprises a plurality of overflow holes <NUM>, and the water flows from the plurality of overflow holes <NUM> into the plurality of water outlet holes <NUM> of the water outlet cover <NUM>, thus forming the normal shower water.

At this point, a first purpose of the normal water outflow of the shower head and a second purpose of removing deposits while the water is flowing have been achieved. However, the aforementioned technical solution requires that each of the plurality of needles <NUM> be always located in a corresponding one of the plurality of water outlet holes <NUM>. After the water is shut off, there is residual water in a gap between each of the plurality of needles <NUM> and the corresponding one of the plurality of water outlet holes <NUM>. It is easy to generate bacteria between each of the plurality of needles <NUM> and the corresponding one of the plurality of water outlet holes <NUM> if the residual water is not drained out. Therefore, if the plurality of needles <NUM> can be moved into the plurality of water outlet holes <NUM> to remove deposits during water flows, and the plurality of needles <NUM> can be removed from the plurality of water outlet holes <NUM> after the water is shut off, so that the residual water in the plurality of water outlet holes <NUM> can be completely drained out, the technical solution is more reasonable.

In order to achieve the aforementioned effects, in this embodiment, the body <NUM> further comprises a movable member <NUM>. The movable member <NUM> is driven by the flowing water and moves in an axial direction of the body <NUM>. The deposit removal needle plate <NUM> and the movable member <NUM> are connected in the axial direction of the body <NUM>. When water flows into the shower head, the water flows to drive the movable member <NUM> to drive the deposit removal needle plate <NUM> to move downward in the axial direction of the body <NUM>, so that each of the plurality of needles <NUM> moves into a corresponding one of the plurality of water outlet holes <NUM> of the water outlet cover <NUM>. This causes each of the plurality of needles <NUM> to enter the corresponding one of the plurality of water outlet holes <NUM>, enabling the removal of the deposits when the water flows.

Further, in order to cause each of the plurality of needles <NUM> to be removed from the corresponding one of the plurality of water outlet holes <NUM> when the water is shut off, a reset member <NUM> is disposed between the deposit removal needle plate <NUM> and the water outlet cover <NUM>. When the deposit removal needle plate <NUM> moves downward in the axial direction of the body <NUM>, the reset member <NUM> accumulates an elastic reset force. Therefore, when the water is shut off, the elastic reset force drives the deposit removal needle plate <NUM> to move upward and reset in the axial direction of the body <NUM>.

In order to install the moving member <NUM>, in the axial direction of the chamber <NUM>, a second end of the chamber <NUM> away from the water inlet <NUM> is disposed with a through hole <NUM>. A first end of the movable member <NUM> passes through the through hole <NUM>, abuts the deposit removal needle plate <NUM> is linked to the deposit removal needle plate <NUM>. A second end of the movable member <NUM> is located in the chamber <NUM>. When water flows from the water inlet <NUM> into the chamber <NUM>, the water collides against the movable member <NUM> to drive the movable member <NUM> to move downward in the axial direction of the chamber <NUM>.

In an axial direction of the cam <NUM>, the cam <NUM> comprises a locating hole <NUM>. The movable member <NUM> is inserted into the connecting member <NUM> through the locating hole <NUM> and, in the axial direction of the cam <NUM>, abuts a bottom end surface of the connecting member <NUM>.

In this embodiment, in order to further optimize an efficiency of deposit removing, the second end of the movable member <NUM> disposed in the chamber <NUM> is a water storage end <NUM>. When no water flows into the chamber <NUM> from the water inlet <NUM>, the reset member <NUM> drives the deposit removal needle plate <NUM> to move upward in the axial direction of the deposit removal needle plate <NUM>, so that the water storage end <NUM> moves upward to the water inlet <NUM> in the axial direction of the moving member <NUM>.

The purpose of the aforementioned assembly is that the water storage end <NUM> has a certain water storage function when the water flows. Only when the water pressure reaches a certain value does the moving member <NUM> move downward in the axial direction of the moving member <NUM> to completely open the water inlet <NUM>. This allows the water flow rate entering into the chamber <NUM> to be relatively fast, and an initial rotation speed of the impeller to be relatively fast. Therefore, a swinging speed of the plurality of needles <NUM> is also increased, and a friction between the plurality of needles <NUM> and the inner walls of the plurality of water outlet holes <NUM> is increased, so that a strength of deposit removing is increased.

A self-cleaning water outlet device of Embodiment <NUM> differs from Embodiment <NUM> in that the deposit removal needle plate <NUM> is a flowing water switchable member, and the flowing water switchable member comprises a plurality of switchable units. A direction of the flowing water in the plurality of water outlet holes <NUM> is changed in accordance with a swing movement of the plurality of switchable units during a swinging process. The self-cleaning water outlet device can form a large particle water spray pattern in which the water droplets are cone-shaped, a distribution of the water spray pattern is more uniform, a coverage is large, a pulse effect is achieved, and a shower experience is excellent.

Claim 1:
A self-cleaning water outlet device, comprising:
a body (<NUM>),
a deposit removal needle plate (<NUM>) disposed in the body (<NUM>),
a water outlet cover (<NUM>) comprising a plurality of water outlet holes (<NUM>), and
a rotatable member (<NUM>) driven to rotate about an axial direction of the rotatable member (<NUM>) by flowing water, wherein:
an axial direction of the deposit removal needle plate (<NUM>) and an axial direction of the water outlet cover (<NUM>) are coaxial,
the deposit removal needle plate (<NUM>) comprises a plurality of needles (<NUM>),
wherein
the deposit removal needle plate (<NUM>) is swingably connected to the rotatable member (<NUM>), and
when water flows into the self-cleaning water outlet device:
the water drives the rotatable member (<NUM>) to rotate,
the rotatable member (<NUM>) drives each of the plurality of needles (<NUM>) to swing about the axial direction of the deposit removal needle plate (<NUM>) in a corresponding one of the plurality of water outlet holes (<NUM>), and
each of the plurality of needles (<NUM>) rubs against sediment deposited on an inner wall of the corresponding one of the plurality of water outlet holes (<NUM>) while each of the plurality of needles (<NUM>) are swinging to dislodge the sediment,
wherein the body (<NUM>) comprises an oblique water body (<NUM>),
the oblique water body (<NUM>) comprises a chamber (<NUM>),
in an axial direction of the chamber (<NUM>), a first end of the chamber (<NUM>) is disposed with a water inlet (<NUM>), and
a sidewall of the chamber (<NUM>) is disposed with a plurality of oblique water outlets (<NUM>) arranged along a circumferential direction of the chamber (<NUM>), and
wherein the rotatable member (<NUM>) is an impeller disposed outside of the sidewall of the chamber (<NUM>),
the water flows into the impeller from the plurality of oblique water outlets (<NUM>), and
blades of the impeller are impacted to drive the impeller to rotate by the water.