Patent · US Expired

Pulsating shower head

US4081135A · kind A · utility

134Cited by
5References
8Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJun 11, 1976
Grant dateMar 28, 1978
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 11, 1996

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB05B1/18
  • WIPO fieldChemical engineering
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A shower head is provided capable of producing a pulsating or steady spray. Water entering the shower head passes through a set of inlet orifices into a plenum chamber and drives a turbine-type rotor within the chamber. The rotor has water cutting vanes which alternately open and close one or more water outlets from the chamber. The water then passes from the water outlets to the user for pulsed spray, or is directed to smaller openings for steady spray. In the pulsed spray condition the total water outlet opening area is about four times the area of the inlet orifices to the plenum chamber, resulting in low back pressure, rapid rotation of the rotor and so pulsating spray. In the steady spray the smaller openings have a total area approximating that of the plenum inlet orifices, resulting in a high back pressure within the plenum chamber. This high back pressure causes the chamber to fill with water and serves to slow or stop rotation of the rotor. This reduces the water cutting action of the vanes and so reduces or stops pulsation.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.