Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16K—VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING
  • F16K11/00—Multiple-way valves, e.g. mixing valves; Pipe fittings incorporating such valves
  • F16K11/02—Multiple-way valves, e.g. mixing valves; Pipe fittings incorporating such valves with all movable sealing faces moving as one unit
  • F16K11/06—Multiple-way valves, e.g. mixing valves; Pipe fittings incorporating such valves with all movable sealing faces moving as one unit comprising only sliding valves, i.e. sliding closure elements
  • F16K11/072—Multiple-way valves, e.g. mixing valves; Pipe fittings incorporating such valves with all movable sealing faces moving as one unit comprising only sliding valves, i.e. sliding closure elements with pivoted closure members
  • F16K11/074—Multiple-way valves, e.g. mixing valves; Pipe fittings incorporating such valves with all movable sealing faces moving as one unit comprising only sliding valves, i.e. sliding closure elements with pivoted closure members with flat sealing faces
  • F16K11/0746—Multiple-way valves, e.g. mixing valves; Pipe fittings incorporating such valves with all movable sealing faces moving as one unit comprising only sliding valves, i.e. sliding closure elements with pivoted closure members with flat sealing faces with two or more closure plates comprising a single lever control
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E03—WATER SUPPLY; SEWERAGE
  • E03C—DOMESTIC PLUMBING INSTALLATIONS FOR FRESH WATER OR WASTE WATER; SINKS
  • E03C1/00—Domestic plumbing installations for fresh water or waste water; Sinks
  • E03C1/02—Plumbing installations for fresh water
  • E03C1/04—Water-basin installations specially adapted to wash-basins or baths
  • E03C1/0408—Water installations especially for showers
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
  • Y10T137/00—Fluid handling
  • Y10T137/2496—Self-proportioning or correlating systems
  • Y10T137/2499—Mixture condition maintaining or sensing

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a perfected apparatus for performing a shower at alternating temperatures, so-called Scottish showers or fitness showers.
• a shower at changing temperatures consists in sending relatively high temperature water and relatively low temperature water to the showerheads in alternating periods, thereby realizing cycles of warm water and cold water drainage which produce physiological reactions, which are believed to be that they create well-being.
• this operation is carried out by periodically switching the supply to the showerheads between the outlet of a thermostatic mixer, which supplies the warm water at a preset temperature, and the inflow from a water line which supplies the cold water.
• this known method of showering at alternating temperatures has some disadvantages.
• thermometer element measuring the temperature of the mixed water that is part of the thermostatic mixer cools because it is not surrounded by the flow of mixed water which has been interrupted is, and this must be brought to temperature again when the flow of warm water starts again.
• the heating of the thermometer element requires a certain time, and during this transition period, the mixer gives off water at a temperature higher than the preset one. This brings in every one
• This disadvantage is especially serious when the thermostatic mixer employs a metallic-type thermometer element whose response is considerably slower than that of some wax-type thermometer elements.
• Another disadvantage is the fact that while the temperature of the relatively high temperature running water in the periods of warm water drainage can be preset by the user as desired by suitably adjusting the thermostatic mixer, however, the temperature of the outflowing water Water of relatively low temperature can not be set in the periods of cold water drainage because it is water supplied directly from the water line. This water may, depending on the case and the seasons, have a temperature which differs greatly from that desired by the user, and is generally too cold for a correct design of a shower with alternating temperatures.
• the object of the present invention is to perfect the devices for performing showers at alternating temperatures in such a way that the disadvantages present in the known devices are eliminated or reduced.
• a further object of the invention is to provide a device which enables the user to arbitrarily according to his needs and his wishes in addition to the discharge temperature of the hot water and the discharge temperature of the cold water to a level more or less above the temperature of the water supplied from the water line is. It is also an object of the invention to provide devices for performing showers at alternating temperatures where the user's handling and adjustments are particularly easy and convenient.
• thermometer element of the thermostatic mixer in the periods of cold water drainage, a limited amount of water coming from the thermostatic mixer is added to the cold water coming from the water line, the amount of which may be small enough to negligibly increase the temperature of the water sent into the shower heads so that the functioning of the device according to the invention may be equivalent to the operation of a known device, but the thermostatic mixer is continuously traversed by a limited flow of mixed water which, despite its small size, maintains the temperature of the thermometer element of the thermostatic mixer. Accordingly, when, after a period of cold water drainage, the shower inlet is switched to the drain of warm water, the thermostatic mixer is ready to discharge water at the preset temperature, and there is no transient period of high temperature water drainage ,
• the second position of the second control means by a user is adjustable so that a greater or lesser narrowing of the connection of the supply line is realized for hot water pipe.
• the user can adjust the entirety of the addition of mixed water to the coming out of the water line cold water during the periods of cold water flow, so that the derived during these periods cold Water more or less tempered with respect to the water coming from the water line can be.
• the device comprises a single actuating means, which is at the disposal of a user and controls both control means to move from the drain of warm water to the drain of cold water and vice versa, and this actuating means is displaceable between two positions defined by stops, so that the user can transition from one run mode to the other run mode by shifting the actuator between the stops without having to worry about adjusting the position of the actuator.
• the stop corresponding to the position of the drain of cold water is preferably adjustable, so that the user can adjust the temperature of the cold water before showering, without having to worry about it during showering.
• the two control means may be formed of a deflector, which consists of a solid plate having two openings, which are connected to the hot water line or with the cold water line, and a movable plate which is displaceable under the action of an actuating means and a Opening which is connected to the supply line, wherein the displacement of the movable plate is limited by two stops, of which the first stopper determines a position in which the opening of the movable plate is connected only to the connected to the hot water pipe opening while the second stop determines a position in which the opening of the movable plate is connected both to the opening connected to the cold water line and, to a limited extent, to the opening connected to the hot water line.
• the second stop is preferably provided with means for adjusting its position.
• the second control means may be formed of a deflector in the form of a pusher having a first portion for interrupting or releasing a passage connected to the cold water passage and a second portion for releasing or only partially interrupting a passage connected to the hot water passage.
• the deflector in the form of a pusher is provided with means for adjusting the degree of partial interruption of the passage connected to the hot water pipe.
• FIG. Figures 1 to 3 illustrate schematically, with reference to a deflector with plates shown in three characteristic positions, the concept of the invention.
• Figs. 4 to 6 illustrate an example of the embodiments which may take the plates of a deflector according to FIGS. 1 to 3.
• Fig. 7 shows an arrangement of the actuating means and the stops, one of which is adjustable, a movable plate according to the preceding figures.
• Fig. Figure 8 illustrates a deflector in the form of a pusher attached to the outlet of a thermostatic mixer.
• Fig. 9 and 10 shown in two characteristic positions deflector in the form of a pusher of FIG. 8 represents.
• FIG. 1 A system for a shower with alternating temperatures with a thermostatic mixer and with a plate or disc type deflector is shown schematically in Figs. 1-3.
• the numeral 1 denotes a high-temperature water supply pipe, which generally comes from a boiler (not shown), and the numeral 2 denotes a low-temperature water pipe, which generally comes from a water pipe (not shown).
• the lines 1 and 2 terminate in a thermostatic mixer, indicated schematically by 3, which discharges via a hot water line 4 mixed water, which consists of high-temperature water, which is suitably mixed with low-temperature water.
• the cold water pipe 2 is also also connected to the deflector.
• Figs. 4 and 5 are shown individually and are shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 on top of each other.
• the fixed plate 5 has two peripheral openings 6 and 7, with which the hot water pipe 4 coming from the thermostatic mixer 3 or the cold water pipe 2 coming from the water pipe are connected.
• a third central opening 8 is connected to the supply line 12 for the shower heads (not shown).
• the movable plate 9 has a peripheral opening 10 intended to cooperate with the openings 6 and 7 of the fixed plate 5 and one with the peripheral opening 10 connected and for connection to the opening 9 of the fixed plate 5 certain central opening 11.
• Fig. 1 the system is shown in the state of warm water drainage.
• the fixed plate 9 is in a position in which its opening 10 is in communication with the opening 6 of the fixed plate 5, j but not with the opening 7 of the fixed plate 5 is in communication.
• only warm water which comes from the hot water pipe 4 connected to the thermostatic mixer 3, is sent to the supply line 12 for the shower. The user selects this condition during the periods in which he is to take warm water showers at the temperature he has set.
• Fig. 2 the system is shown in the state of the flow of cold water.
• the fixed plate 9 is in a position in which its opening 10 is mainly in communication with the opening 7 of the fixed plate 5, but is also in a much reduced extent in communication with the opening 6 of the fixed plate 5.
• cold water which comes from the cold water pipe 2 connected to the water pipe and, moreover, a small amount of warm water, which comes from the hot water pipe 4 connected to the thermostatic mixer 3, is sent to the shower inlet pipe 12.
• This addition of warm water can be limited so that it does not appreciably modify the temperature of the coming out of the cold water pipe 2 cold water and thus is not perceived.
• Fig. 3 shows how it is also possible according to the invention in the periods of cold water flow to adjust the temperature of the water by more or less increasing the generally too low temperature of the water coming from the aqueduct.
• the movable plate 9 is displaced to a position in which its opening 10, except that it is connected to the opening 7 of the fixed plate 5, greatly reduced to a greater extent than j enem, as shown in FIG Fig. 2 is provided, is also connected to the opening 6 of the fixed plate 5.
• the cold water pipe 2 coming from the water line is added with an appreciable amount of warm water coming from the hot water pipe 4 connected to the thermostatic mixer 3, and in this way the water of the water pipe becomes as desired by the user a little or even fairly tempered, though it essentially remains cold water for the purpose of a shower with alternating temperatures.
• Fig. 6 shows a variant of the shape of the movable plate 9.
• the opening 10 of the movable plate 9 is extended at one of its ends by a reduced cross-section extension 10a. This allows a finer adjustment of the reduced amount of water that is always added to the cold water according to the invention to keep the thermostatic mixer at temperature, and also the larger amount of warm water that is desired by the User may be added to the cold water to temper it.
• Fig. Fig. 7 shows how the movable plate 9 of the deflector can be handled, for example by means of a lever 13, and how the displacement of this lever is limited by a first stop 19 determining the drainage state of the warm water and by a second stop 20 determining the drainage state of the cold water can be. Thanks to the presence of these stops, the user need only shift the lever 13 to one or the other end of the travel available to transition from one to the other running state without having to control the position of the lever.
• the lever 13 may be provided with a conical collar 18 which is screwed in an adjustable position and intended to cooperate with the second stop 20 to modify the position of the end of the travel of the lever 13, the flow of cold water certainly .
• the sleeve 18 is actually part of the second stop of the device.
• the user can adjust the temperature at which the cold water is drained off, and he can do so before the start of showering, which can be done without worrying about any further adjustment of the temperature of the cold water to have to.
• numerous other arrangements can be made to make the path available to the lever 13 of the deflector adjustable, both by acting on the lever itself and by acting on the stop 20.
• the latter can for example be mounted on a rotatable disc or a translationally displaceable slider, these moving parts can be fixed in different positions.
• the deflector has the character of a pusher, which only needs to be pulled or pushed by a user to move from the flow of warm water to drain cold water and vice versa.
• the actuator of the deflector is a rod 14 which is profiled with a recess 15.
• the rod 14 passes through the lines 2 and 4 and serves as a lock. In the position shown in FIG. 9 allows the recess 15 the passage of the water from the hot water pipe 4 to the inlet pipe 12 for the shower, while the rod 14, the cold water pipe 2 interrupts.
• the corresponding position of the rod 14 is determined by a fixed stop 16, so that the user only has to pull a pusher 17 screwed onto the rod 14 to the end of its travel in order to realize the state of the outflow of warm water.
• the recess 15 of the rod 14 allows the passage of the water from the cold water pipe 2 to the inlet pipe 12 for the shower, but he j edoch a limited passage for the water from the hot water pipe 4 to the inlet pipe 12 for the shower leaves , which ensures the proper functioning of the thermostatic mixer 3, as already explained.
• the corresponding position of the rod 14 is determined by the presence of the pusher 17, so that the user only has to press the pusher 17 to the end of its way to realize the state of drainage of warm water.
• the pusher 17 is screwed in an adjustable position on the rod 14, so that the user can make a preset position by the rotation of the pusher 17, which occupies the rod 14 when the pusher 17 is pressed, and in this way the size of In this way, if he so desires, he can determine a variation in the temperature of the water in the periods of cold water drainage.
• the rod 14 may be rotationally movable between certain positions and having configurations suitable for realizing the same behavior as described above.
• the device according to the invention thus makes it possible, with substantially simple means, to safely eliminate the drawbacks of known devices for performing showers at alternating temperatures, and in particular the inconvenience and potential danger resulting from the delay of the response of the thermometer element of a thermostatic mixer and, in embodiments, it enables the user to modify the temperature of the water in the periods of cold water drainage, using all the possibilities offered by the invention, this function not being present at all in known devices.
• the device enables the user to use these functions with extreme simplicity by performing the operation before showering and not having to do any further handling while showering. It should be noted that the invention is not limited to the described and exemplified embodiments. Some modifications have been described, and others are within the skill of one of ordinary skill in the art. These and other modifications as well as any substitution by technical equivalents may be added to what has been described and illustrated, without departing from the scope of protection of the invention and this patent.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Hydrology & Water Resources (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Water Supply & Treatment (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Bathtubs, Showers, And Their Attachments (AREA)
• Domestic Plumbing Installations (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

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ID=36177698

Family Applications (1)

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Cited By (1)

Families Citing this family (5)

Family Cites Families (11)

• 2004
  • 2004-12-22 IT ITTO20040893 patent/ITTO20040893A1/it unknown
• 2005
  • 2005-12-15 EP EP05821563A patent/EP1836355A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2005-12-15 CN CN2005800485995A patent/CN101128635B/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2005-12-15 WO PCT/IB2005/003794 patent/WO2006067580A1/de not_active Ceased
• 2007
  • 2007-06-22 US US11/767,058 patent/US7681803B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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