Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02715925 2013-03-11
AIR INTAKE MODULE OF WATER FEEDING APPARATUS
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a water saving technology of a
water feeding apparatus, and more particularly to an air intake module of
a water feeding apparatus capable of saving water, increasing pressure,
and preventing back pressure leakage and clogging.
2. Related Art
Conventional shower heads are usually provided for users to take a
shower, and some of shower heads are provided with a water flow
switching mechanism, thereby changing the intensity of the water flow
and the size of water splashes from the shower heads, and even
producing a massaging effect in use by producing a rushing water flow
through the design of intermittent water supply.
However, with global warming and climate changes, water
resources become more and more precious, and many countries enacts
regulations for water use mostly in the environmental protection spirit of
reducing water consumption to save water. Thus, manufacturers of water
feeding apparatuses are all devoted to creating low-flow and
high-pressure water feeding apparatuses, so as to design a water
CA 02715925 2013-03-11
feeding apparatus that reduces water consumption to save cost without
affecting users' feeling of taking a shower.
A structure is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,416,171, entitled
" VACUUM VENTURI APPARATUS AND METHOD" , in which first and
second openings are disposed in a plug and the second opening is
connected to the first opening, a diameter of the second opening is larger
than that of the first opening, a third opening is disposed radially outward
from the first opening, the first opening is connected to a water inlet end,
the diameter of the first opening is smaller than that of the water inlet end,
and the second opening is connected to a water outlet end. With the
differences between the diameters of the water inlet end, the first
opening, and the second opening, a Venturi Effect occurs when a water
flow passes through the first opening, so as to draw air from the third
opening, and the water flow is mixed with the air, thereby raising the
water output pressure and reducing water consumption, so as to achieve
the efficacy of water saving.
The use of the above vacuum venturi apparatus alone may not
cause any problem. However, a current water feeding apparatus (for
example, a shower head) is usually provided with a water flow switching
mechanism in a front part, and when a user switches the water flow
switching mechanism in use, a back pressure of a water flow is produced
inside the shower head, which increases the pressure of the water flow
2
CA 02715925 2013-03-11
inside the shower head, and thus causes the problem that the water flow
is ejected from the third opening of the vacuum venturi apparatus.
Furthermore, when impurities such as water scale exist in the
shower head, the back water flow may push the impurities such as the
water scale to the third opening, which clogs the third opening, so the
vacuum venturi apparatus loses efficacy.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is directed to an air intake module of a water feeding
apparatus, in which by disposing a valve at a joint between an air intake
hole, a water inlet channel, and a water outlet channel of a body, a valve
plate of the valve can open when the water feeding apparatus supplies
water and can close the air intake hole in a back pressure state, so as to
achieve the efficacy of saving water, increasing pressure, and preventing
back pressure leakage and clogging.
The invention is further directed to an air intake module of a water
feeding apparatus, in which the valve is made of soft rubber or silica gel,
so that the valve plate can slightly change with variation of a pressure
difference, so as to reduce a noise generated when air is sucked in
through the air intake hole, thus achieving the efficacy of improving the
use comfort.
3
CA 02715925 2013-03-11
In order to achieve this, the invention provides an air intake module
of a water feeding apparatus, which comprises a body and a valve. The
body has a water inlet channel, a water outlet channel, and at least one
air intake hole running through each other. The water inlet channel and
the water outlet channel run through each other axially, a joint between
the water inlet channel and the water outlet channel has the smallest
cross-section in the water inlet channel and the water outlet channel, and
the air intake hole runs through the body outward from the joint between
the water inlet channel and the water outlet channel. The valve is
disposed at the joint between the water inlet channel and the water outlet
channel, the valve has a valve plate, and the valve plate has flexibility to
open when the water feeding apparatus supplies water and close the air
intake hole in a back pressure state.
Since the cross-section of the water inlet channel is larger than that
of the water outlet channel, and the air intake hole runs through the body
outward from the joint between the water inlet channel and the water
outlet channel, when a water flow passes through the joint between the
water inlet channel and the water outlet channel, a phenomenon of a
high flow rate and a low pressure occurs due to the change of a
cross-sectional area, so that the valve plate of the valve is forced open
by an outside atmospheric pressure, and outside air is sucked in through
the air intake hole and mixed with the water flow, thus achieving the
4
CA 02715925 2013-03-11
efficacy of saving water and increasing pressure; and when the pressure
of the water flow is larger than the outside atmospheric pressure, the
valve plate is forced to close the air intake hole, so as to avoid reflux and
leakage of the water flow from the air intake hole, and prevent impurities
such as water scale from entering the air intake hole to avoid the
problem that the air intake hole is clogged.
According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided an air
intake module of a water feeding apparatus, comprising: a body, having
a water inlet channel, a water outlet channel, an accommodation portion
between the water inlet channel and the water outlet channel, and an air
intake hole, wherein the water inlet channel and the water outlet channel
run axially; a first plug, positioned within the accommodation portion, with
a first plug opening, wherein the first plug opening has a large opening
end and a small opening end, and the large opening end connects to the
water inlet channel; a second plug, positioned within the accommodation
portion, with a second plug opening, a third plug opening, a conical
portion, and an air intake chamber, wherein the second plug is adjacent
to the first plug, the second plug opening is corresponding to the small
opening end of the first plug opening, and the third plug opening is
corresponding to the air intake hole, the air intake chamber is connected
to a joint between the small opening end and the second opening, and
the third plug opening connects to the air intake hole and the air intake
5
CA 02715925 2013-03-11
chamber; a valve, disposed in the third plug opening, including a first
protruding portion and a second protruding portion, wherein the first
protruding portion, functioning as a valve plate, is opened when the
water feeding apparatus supplies water and, is closed when the air
intake hole in a back pressure state; wherein the small opening end has
a smallest cross-section comparing to the second opening, the water
inlet channel, and the water outlet channel, the accommodating portion
has a cone recess, and the second plug has a clamping block
corresponding to the cone recess, so that when the second plug is
disposed in the accommodating portion, the clamping block is embedded
in the cone recess.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention will become more fully understood from the
detailed description given herein below for illustration only, and thus are
not limitative of the present invention, and wherein:
FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional structural view of an air intake
module according to a first embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional structural view of the air
intake module in an air intake state according to the invention;
6
CA 02715925 2013-03-11
FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional structural view of the air
intake module in a back pressure state with a valve plate closed
according to the invention; and
FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional structural view of an air intake
module according to a second embodiment of the invention
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
First, FIGS. 1 to 3 are structural views of preferred embodiments of
the invention. FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional structural view of an
air intake module according to the invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic
cross-sectional structural view of the air intake module in an air intake
state according to the invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional
structural view of the air intake module in a back pressure state with a
valve plate closed according to the invention.
An air intake module 1 according to the invention may be mounted
on a water feeding apparatus such as a shower head and a handheld
shower head. The air intake module 1 includes a body 10, a plug 2, and
a valve 3. The body 10 has a water inlet channel 11, a water outlet
channel 12, and at least one air intake hole 13 running through each
other. The water inlet channel 11 and the water outlet channel 12 run
through the body 10 axially, a joint between the water inlet channel 11
and the water outlet channel 12 has the smallest cross-section in the
water inlet channel 11 and the water outlet channel 12, and the air intake
7
CA 02715925 2013-03-11
hole 13 runs through the body 10 outward from the joint between the
water inlet channel 11 and the water outlet channel 12.
In this embodiment, the body 10 is provided with four equally
spaced air intake holes 13, and each air intake hole 13 extends radially
and runs through the body 10 outward from the joint between the water
inlet channel 11 and the water outlet channel 12.
The body 10 has an accommodating portion 14 at the joint between
the water inlet channel 11 and the water outlet channel 12. The plug 2 is
disposed in the accommodating portion 14, and is formed of a first plug
21 and a second plug 22. The first plug 21 is adjacent to the water inlet
channel 11, and has a first opening 211 corresponding to the water inlet
channel 11, while the second plug 22 is adjacent to the water outlet
channel 12, and has a second opening 221 corresponding to the water
outlet channel 12. Further, the second plug 22 has an air intake chamber
222 at an end adjacent to the first plug 21, and the air intake chamber
222 is in communication with the first opening 211 and the second
opening 221. The first opening 211 has, for example, a cone shape, and
has a small-diameter end 211A at an end adjacent to the air intake
chamber 222 and the second opening 221, and a large-diameter end
211B is formed at an end of the first opening 211 opposite to the
small-diameter end 211A. The large-diameter end 211B is in
communication with the water inlet channel 11, a diameter of the
8
CA 02715925 2013-03-11
small-diameter end 211A is smaller than that of the second opening 221,
so that the joint between the water inlet channel 11 and the water outlet
channel 12 has the smallest cross-section in the water inlet channel 11
and the water outlet channel 12, and the second opening 221 has a
conical portion 221A at an end adjacent to the small-diameter end 211A
of the first opening 211.
The second plug 22 has a third opening 223 respectively
corresponding to each air intake hole 13, and each third opening 223
passes through the second plug 22 and is in communication with the air
intake chamber 222 through the air intake hole 13.
The first plug 21 has a convex portion 212 corresponding to the air
intake chamber 222, the convex portion 212 has a groove 213 for
embedding the valve 3, and the valve 3 is made of flexible material (for
example, rubber or silica gel). In this embodiment, the air intake chamber
222, the convex portion 212, and the groove 213 may be all circular but
is not limited to, while the valve 3 is, for example, annular, and the valve
3 has an annular valve plate 31 extending obliquely from an outer rim
thereof, so that a cross-section of the valve 3 slightly has a V shape, and
the valve plate 31 can expand outward due to flexibility of the material
and press against the air intake chamber 222 to close the third openings
223 and the air intake holes 13, or the valve plate 31 expands inward so
9
CA 02715925 2013-03-11
that the air intake chamber 222 is in communication with the third
openings 223 and the air intake holes 13.
The accommodating portion 14 of the body 10 has a recess 141,
and the second plug 22 has a clamping block 224 corresponding to the
recess 141, so that when the second plug 22 is disposed in the
accommodating portion 14, the clamping block 224 is embedded in the
recess 141 for positioning the second plug 22.
In addition, in order to maintain air-tightness between the plug 2
and the accommodating portion 14, the first plug 21 has a first annular
groove 214 on an outer rim, and a first 0-ring 215 is embedded in the
first annular groove 214, so as to maintain air-tightness between the first
plug 21 and the accommodating portion 14, and the second plug 22 has
a second annular groove 225 on an outer rim, and a second 0-ring 226
is embedded in the second annular groove 225, so as to maintain
air-tightness between the second plug 22 and the accommodating
portion 14.
FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional structural view of the air
intake module in an air intake state according to the invention. When the
air intake module 1 according to the invention is mounted on a water
feeding apparatus in the form of a shower head, an end of the body 10
having the water inlet channel 11 may be connected to a water inlet pipe
CA 02715925 2013-03-11
4 (represented only by a dashed line in the figure), and an end of the
body 10 having the water outlet channel 12 may be connected to the
shower head 5 (represented only by a dashed line in FIG. 2).
When water supply is turned on, a water flow enters the water inlet
channel 11 through the water inlet pipe 4, passes through the
large-diameter end 211B of the first opening 211 and then the
small-diameter end 211A of the first opening 211, then passes through
the air intake chamber 222 and the second opening 221, and finally is
output to the shower head 5 through the water outlet channel 12. Since
the small-diameter end 211A of the first opening 211 is the part having
the smallest diameter and cross-section in the water flow path, based on
the Venturi tube principle, when the water flow passes through the
small-diameter end 211A, the phenomenon of a high flow rate and a low
pressure occurs due to the change of the cross-sectional area. Thus, the
air intake chamber 222 forms a low-pressure region, and when an
atmospheric pressure outside the body 10 is larger than a pressure of
the air intake chamber 222, the outside atmospheric pressure forces the
valve plate 31 of the valve 3 to open inward, that is, in the state as
shown in FIG. 2, which causes outside air to enter the air intake chamber
222 through the air intake holes 13 and the third openings 223 to be
mixed with the water flow, so as to increase the water output pressure
and reduce water flow, thus achieving the efficacy of saving water.
11
CA 02715925 2013-03-11
According to the result of practical measurement of the inventor,
averagely 10% of water can be saved by using the air intake module
according to the present invention.
Next, FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional structural view of the air
intake module in a back pressure state with the valve plate closed. When
a user switches a water flow in the use of the shower head, a back
pressure of the water flow is generated inside the shower head, and
when the back pressure transfers back to the air intake chamber 222 in
an opposite direction, the back pressure pushes the valve plate 31 of the
valve 3 outward, so that the valve plate 31 presses against the air intake
chamber 222 to close a path from the air intake chamber 222 to each of
the third openings 223, so that the third openings 223 and the air intake
holes 13 are all closed, and the water flow will not be ejected from the air
intake holes 13, thereby avoiding the problem of back pressure leakage.
Furthermore, the design in which the valve plate 31 automatically
closes the path from the air intake chamber 222 to each of the third
openings 223 during the back pressure can also prevent impurities such
as water scale from entering the third openings or the air intake holes, so
as to prevent the problem of clogging.
In addition, when the valve uses soft rubber or silica gel, the extent
to which the valve plate is opened inward slightly changes with a
12
CA 02715925 2013-03-11
pressure difference between the pressure of the air intake chamber and
the atmospheric pressure, so as to reduce the noise generated when air
is sucked in through the air intake hole, thus achieving the efficacy of
improving the use comfort.
Finally, FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional structural view
according to a second embodiment of the invention. The first plug 61 has
a plurality of first openings 611 corresponding to the water inlet channel
71, and a sum of areas of small-diameter ends 611A of the first openings
611 adjacent to the second plug 62 is smaller than that of second
openings 621 of the second plug 62, so that a joint between the water
inlet channel 71 and the water outlet channel 72 has the smallest
cross-section in the water inlet channel 71 and the water outlet channel
72, which can also achieve the same efficacy as that in the first
embodiment.
Of course, in addition to being assembled to a water inlet pipe and
a shower head, the air intake module according to the invention can also
be directly assembled inside a water feeding apparatus such as a
shower head, and the same efficacy as that in the first embodiment is
achieved.
The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same
may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a
13
CA 02715925 2013-03-11
departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such
modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended
to be included within the scope of the following claims.
14
