US3796377A

US3796377A - Combination aerator and shower nozzle

Info

Publication number: US3796377A
Application number: US00258835A
Authority: US
Inventors: Hare H O
Original assignee: FEDERAL INVESTMENT CORP
Current assignee: ROBERTS DORIS R
Priority date: 1972-06-01
Filing date: 1972-06-01
Publication date: 1974-03-12
Anticipated expiration: 1991-03-12

Abstract

A device for mixing air with liquid in a faucet or hose outlet device and dispensing the aerated liquid in a series of fine streams or jets. The unit is primarily designed for use in conjunction with apparatus for injected selected liquids such as detergent or bath oil into a water stream for final turbulent mixing and aerating in the device. The nozzle is adjustable to permit control of the size of the stream openings so that the water jets may be varied in size and force. The nozzle device contains a pair of closely spaced perforated plates on opposite sides of a chamber communicating with the exterior of the device through air admitting apertures. The perforations in the downstream plate are aligned with the perforations in the upstream plate and are larger than those in the upstream plate. As a result, the venturi effect of the water exiting under pressure through the upstream plate perforations and then through the downstream perforations draws air from the air admitting chamber through the perforations in the downstream plate. A mixing chamber is provided just below the downstream plate for developing turbulence and completing the mixing of the air and water before the water reaches the nozzle jet apertures.

Description

United States Patent 91 OHare 14 1 Mar. 12, 1974 COMBINATION AERATOR AND SHOWER NOZZLE [75] Inventor: Harry M. OHare, Anaheim, Calif.

[73] Assignee: Federal Investment Corporation,

Kansas City, Mo.

22 Filed: June 1,1972

21 Appl. No.: 258,835

[52] U.S. Cl. 239/428.5, 239/460, 239/590.3

[51] Int. Cl. E03c U084 [58] Field of Search 239/4285, 590.3, 590.5, 239/460, 425.5, 553.5, 456

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,889,999 6/1959 Tomlinson 239/4285 2,962,224 11/1960 Aghnides 239/4285 3,362,648 1/1968 Aghnides 239/4285 2,998,928 9/1961 Aghnides 239/4285 2,998,933 9/1961 Aghnides 239/4285 2,749,183 6/1956 Fraser 239/460 3,647,145 3/1972 Nelson 239/460 3,633,824 l/l972 Aghnides 239/4285 Primary Examiner--M. Henson Wood, Jr. Assistant Examiner-Michael Y. Mar

57 ABSTRACT A device for mixing air' with liquid in a faucet or hose outlet device and dispensing the aerated liquid in a series of fine streams or jets. The unit is primarily designed for use in conjunction with apparatus for injected selected liquids such as detergent or bath oil into a water stream for final turbulent mixing and aerating in the device. The nozzle is adjustable to permit control of the size of the stream openings so that the water jets may be varied in size and force. The nozzle device contains a pair of closely spaced perforated plates on opposite sides of a chamber communicating with the exterior of the device through air admitting apertures. The perforations in the downstream plate are aligned with the perforations in the upstream plate and are larger than those in the upstream plate. As a result, the venturi effect of the water exiting under pressure through the upstream plate perforations and then through the downstream perforations draws air from the air admitting chamber through the perfora tions in the downstream plate. A mixing chamber is provided just below the downstream plate for developing turbulence and completing the mixing of the air and water before the water reaches the nozzle jet apertures.

25 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures COMBINATION AERATOR AND SHOWER NOZZLE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to liquid aerating devices, and more particularly to such a device for use in a shower nozzle or the like.

2. Description of the Prior Art Various aerating attachments are provided for use at the outlet of sink faucets, principally as anti-splash devices. The more common types employ side inlets for air with a series of screens to break up the water stream as the air is mixed with the water. These are not generally used with shower nozzles, however. Furthermore these units suffer from a buildup of normal sediment so that within a few months of use the aeration function is severely impaired or inoperative and the flow of water may be seriously restricted. Dissasembly of such units for cleaning and removal of the trapped sand and sediment is beyond the skill of the average householder, thus requiring a costly service call by a plumber or the replacement with a new aerator. A unit which does not trap sediment or is simple to clean at any time would definitely help the householder, even though the plumbing business lost some service calls.

Adjustable shower nozzles, on the other hand, are common and are generally preferred so that the force and size of the shower streams may be varied to suit the user. However, these units seldom stand up effectively in use, as apparently their mechanism becomes inoperative from a buildup of calcium carbonate and other mineral deposits carried in solution by the water.

There is presently on the market a partitioned manifold apparatus for use in place of the customary shower head which provides a battery of individual containers of cleansing agents, lotions, shampoos, rinses and oils for selective dispensing of the same through a shower nozzle. With such apparatus, it becomes important to thoroughly mix the selected solution with the water and also with air prior to release of the water mixture in order to improve the effectiveness of the applied lotion or cleanser. Arrangements in accordance with the present invention have been developed to accomplish these desirable functions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention is described in general in the abstract of the disclosure, to which reference is made. In brief, the invention comprises a particular structure for admitting and mixing air with water by jetting streams of water through a chamber containing air at ambient air pressure and thence into a turbulence inducing enclosed chamber for thorough and final mixing of the air with the water. This chamber also serves effectively to complete the mixing of any liquids which may have been admitted with the water by injection into the water stream shortly prior to its reaching the nozzle of the invention. The lower end of the final mixing chamber is closed by an adjustable plate attached by means of screw threads to the main body of the device. About the periphery of this plate is a series of holes, generally equally spaced about the circumference. These holes extend upwardly through the juncture of the periphery of the plate and the lower end of the bell shaped housing or skirt. As the plate is turned one way or another it is moved, by virtue of its screw thread mounting, in-

wardly or outwardly relative to the nozzle housing, thus decreasing or increasing the aperture size of the individual nozzle jet openings. This permits adjustment of the spray pattern emanating from the nozzle and the degree of sudsing which is provided when a soap or detergent is injected into the water upstream of the nozzle.

In accordance with an aspect of the invention, the degree of upward or inward travel of the plate into the nozzle housing, and thus the extent of closure of the individual nozzle apertures, is limited. This is to prevent the closure of the nozzle aperture to a degree where back pressure may cause interference with the normal operation of the aerator mechanism, thus causing water to flow out of the air inlet apertures.

In another particular arrangement in accordance with the invention, an aerator device is provided for use with a conventional faucet outlet. Preferably this is arranged with a coupling for connecting onto the lip of the faucet and a flexible extension to permit the aerator device to be angled in different directions for directing water flow about the corners of a sink, for example. In this embodiment, the aerator need not include an adjustable nozzle plate, but preferably terminates with a configuration for stabilizing the flow of the aerated water therefrom.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING A better understanding of the present invention from 0 a consideration of the following detailed description,

taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation in partial section of one particular arrangement in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the elements of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the upper element of FIG. 2, shown from the top;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the arrangement shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a particular shower-and-manifold liquid dispensing system in which the arrangement of FIG. 1 may find particular application; and

FIG. 7 is a side elevation of another embodiment of the invention shown partially in section.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The arrangement in accordance with the invention as depicted in FIGS. 1-5 is shown comprising a combination aerator and adjustable shower nozzle 10 having three major components or separate elements 12, I4 and 16. On assembly, the

elements

12 and 14 are affixed together, as by adhesive or plastic welding. The element 16 is threaded into the element 14.

The top element 12 is provided with a plurality of air intake orifices 20 which are generally vertically oriented and communicate between the exterior of the device 10 and the bottom of the element 12. The orifices 20 are disposed about a central opening 22 in the upper portion of the element 12 which is threaded by means of threads 24 in order to permit securing the nozzle 10 onto the threaded end of a faucet or pipe through which water is supplied. At the bottom of the opening 22 is disposed a plate 26 containing a number of perforations or holes 28 generally evenly spaced over the extent of the plate 26.

The middle element 14 is formed with a plate 30 having a number of holes or perforations 32 arranged in a pattern corresponding to the pattern of holes 28 in the plate 26 of the upper element 12. When the

elements

12 and 14 are assembled together, the

plates

26 and 30 are spaced parallel to each other and a preselected dis tance apart with corresponding ones of the

holes

28 and 32 aligned with each other. An air chamber 34, including the space between the

plates

26 and 30, is formed with which'the air inlet orifices 20 communicate and through which water flows under pressure via the

holes

28 and 32. As may be best seen in FIG. 4, the holes 32 in the lower or downstream plate 30 are slightly larger than the holes 28 in the upper or upstream plate 26. Thus the jets of water passing through the

holes

28 and 32 suck air from the air chamber 34 with them through the holes 32.

The middle element 14 contains an interior region 40, the upper part of which presents a threaded portion 42 into which a mating threaded portion 44 of the lower element 16 is engaged upon assembly. The element 16 is molded to form a central knob 46 which has ribs 47 to provide frictional engagement with the fingers in order to permit adjustment of the nozzle stream by a user. Centrally disposed in the lower element 16 is an elongated chamber 48 which extends to the open upper end of the element 16 and downward into the hollowed-out center of the knob 46. An outlet from this chamber 48 is provided by means of exit orifices 50 extending around the periphery of the element 46 adjacent a bottom plate 52. The lower portion of the ele ment 16 comprising the plate 52 and knob 46 is joined to the upper portion by means of bridging portions such as 58.

The central element 14 is provided with a plurality of slots 54 for defining exit streams of the aerated water when the unit is assembled and in use. By virtue of the configuration of the device, these slots are oriented generally longitudinally and angled slightly outward relative to the axis of the device 10. The slots 54 could, if desired, be positioned about the periphery of the plate 52 with the interior of the skirt portion 56 of the middle element 14 then being smooth and devoid of slots.

FIG. 6 depicts one preferred application of the device of FIGS. l-S. The system of FIG. 6 is shown comprising a partitioned manifold 60 having a plurality of bottles 62 and control knobs 64. A pipe or tubing 66 communicates between the manifold 60 and a handle and coupling member 68 to which the nozzle 10 is affixed. Such a system is designed to be mounted in a home shower enclosure in place of the conventional gooseneck plumbing outlet. Thus, in operation, water flows through the manifold 60, the tubing 66, handle portion 68 and thence out the nozzle 10. As controlled by the user, knobs 64 are selectively activated to permit mixing of the contents of one or another of the bottles 62 with water flowing through the manifold 60. The bottles 62 are designed to contain various fluids utilized in bathing and cleansing, such as liquid soaps, detergents, shampoos, rinses, bath oils and the like. The desired effect of injecting small portions of such liquids into the shower stream is enhanced by thorough aerating and mixing of the liquids with the water and with the air introduced by the aeration process. A device 10 of the invention is ideally suited to accomplish this purpose. In addition to selectively controlling the knobs 64 to provide the desired intermixture of contents of the bottles 62 with water from the mains for mixing in the device 10, the user may adjust the shower streams emitting from the nozzle 10 by turning the knob 46 in the attached lower member 16 (FIG. 2) to move the member 16 inwardly or outwardly relative to the central member 14. In this manner, the cross-sectional extent of the slots 54 is varied so as to change the character of the shower streams between coarse and fine as desired. During such use of the device 10, water containing minute portions of the selected contents of the bottles 62 passes through the

holes

28 and 32 of

theplates

26 and 30 as already described, sucking air from the chamber 34 into the mixing chamber 48. Because of the configuration of the mixing chamber 48 with its blind lower end and horizontally directed outlet passages 50, the water, the injected liquid such as soap or shampoo from the bottles 62, and air are turbulently intermixed and circulated around until the entire solution is thoroughly mixed and aerated as it passes to ultimate release through the shower stream slots 54.

Although the fineness of the shower stream may be controlled by rotating the lower element 16 relative to the middle element 14 by means of the knob 46, it will be understood that a problem may be encountered if the slots 54 are closed off to such an extent that back pressure develops to block the admission of the water streams through the holes 32. In such a case, the water would back up and flow out through the air inlet orifices 20, and the intended operation of the device 10 would be disabled. Such a circumstance is precluded in accordance with an aspect of the present invention by limiting the extent to which the lower element 16 may be threaded up into the middle element 14. This is accomplished by means of protruding shoulders 70 which engage and abut against the portion 72 at the upper end of the central region 40 of the middle element 14. Once the surfaces of the

portions

70 and 72 abut against each other, the inward translation of the lower member 16 into the center member 14 is stopped, thus preventing further closure of the slots 54 to the point where water would back up and overflow out through the air admitting orifices 20.

A second embodiment in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 7, in which corresponding parts have been assigned like reference numerals. In FIG. 7, an aerator spray device is shown coupled to a faucet 1 12 by means of a coupling 1 l4 and a flexible tubing section 116. In such an arrangement, the device 110 can be angled in different directions about a sink to clean all the corners of the sink, for example. In the arrangement of FIG. 7, the upper portion of the device 110 is essentially identical to the upper portion of the device v10 of FIGS. l-5, including the upper element 12 and the upper portion of the middle element 14. Thus, the device 110 includes the air chamber 34 with air admitting orifices 20, the

plates

26 and 30 with

respective apertures

28 and 32, and it also has a central mixing chamber 118. At the lower end of the chamber 118 is located a plate 120 with a plurality of openings 122 therein. The plate 120 is optional, and serves to define a plurality of exit streams which may be preferred by some users. If, however, a single, large, merged stream is desired, the plate 120 may be omitted. Mixing within the chamber 118 is then effected by virtue of the necked-down exit portion as at 124. In either case, effective mixing of air and water is accomplished within the mixing chamber 118 by virtue of the arrangement of

plates

26 and 30 and the air-admitting effect realized by virtue of the

holes

28 and 32, and the air-admitting chamber 34, enhanced by the recirculating effect induced by the limited exit area of the plate 120.

By virtue of these arrangements in accordance with the present invention, an improved, effective aerating and mixing device is provided for use in controlling the exit flow of water to a user. Such an arrangement is particularly useful in particular applications where, in addition to the desired aeration, turbulent mixing of an injected liquid is desired, particularly where the effectiveness of the injected liquid is enhanced by the ingestion of air to form bubbles therein. One particular arrangcment incorporates such a structural configuration with an adjustable exit stream structure to provide an adjustable shower nozzle. The aerating portion of the arrangement provides improved operation over those aerators conventionally used on faucet outlets, because its structure is configured to avoid problems encountered with the presently known structures. The channels for water flow through the device are such that there is very little entrapment of sand and sediment in contradistinction to the problems encountered with the presently known devices.

ln one particular embodiment of the invention corresponding to FIGS. 1-5 of the drawing, the holes 28 in the upper plate 26 are approximately one-sixteenth inch in diameter and the holes 32 in the lower plate 30 are approximately seven sixty-fourths inch in diameter. .thifiwesl msmtth snas zisb the

plates

26 and 30 is approximately .025 inchf The efiirresrfiia ture is formed from plastic and the design is particularly configured to permit ease of molding and fabrication, as well as removal for occasional cleaning, should such be needed. Should there be any problem with sediment build up in any of the devices in accordance with the invention, the configuration of the device is such that the device may be very readily grasped by one hand and easily unscrewed from the pipe or tubing to which it is coupled. Thereafter, the region above the plate 26 may very easily be cleaned of any sediment or trapped sand. Contrary to the configuration of structures presently employed as faucet aerators, there is no need to disassemble the device of the invention per se. Although there have been described above specific arrangements of a combination aerator and shower nozzle in accordance with the invention for the purpose of illustrating the manner in which the invention may be used to advantage, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited thereto. Accordingly, any and all modifications, variations or equivalent arrangements which may occur to those skilled in the art should be considered to be within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is: 1. Apparatus for providing an aerated stream of water from water mains comprising:

first means including a first apertured plate arranged for coupling to a water inlet pipe; second means connected to said first means and defining a second apertured plate spaced generally parallel and adjacent but apart from said first apertured plate, the apertures of said second plate being slightly larger than the apertures of said first plate and aligned therewith, said first and second plates being juxtaposed to direct the flow of water substantially parallel to the axisof the apparatus;

means defining an air chamber communicating with the space between the first and second plates and including a plurality of air admitting orifices extending longitudinally between the air chamber and the outer surface of the apparatus; and

a mixing chamber located between the second plate and the apparatus outlet for developing turbulent mixing of the air and water within the apparatus.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 further including means adjacent the outlet for defining a plurality of fine water jets in the outlet stream.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein the last-mentioned means comprise means for adjusting the cross-sectional area of the jet defining means.

4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein said adjusting means comprises first and second threaded members having threaded engaging portions with means for limiting the extent of travel of one member into the other.

5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein the travel limiting means is arranged to prevent water back-up from the jet defining means forcing water out the air admitting orifices.

6. Apparatus for intermixing air and liquid and ejecting the aerated mixture in a series of jets comprising:

a housing defining a pathway for liquid through said apparatus;

a first plate positioned generally transversely across said path and having a plurality of openings therein to permit the flow of liquid in individual streams therethrough;

a second plate adjacent but spaced apart from the first plate and generally parallel thereto, the second plate having a plurality of openings larger than the openings in the first plate and respectively aligned with corresponding ones of said first plate openings, said first and second plates being juxtaposed to direct the individual streams substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing;

an air chamber extending between the first and second plates;

means communicating between the air chamber and the exterior of the housing for admitting air from the outside to the air chamber; and

means downstream of the first and second plates for intermixing the liquid and admitted air prior to the release of the aerated liquid from the apparatus.

7. Apparatus in accordance with claim 6 wherein the apparatus housing is generally cylindrically formed about a central longitudinal axis and wherein the air admitting means comprise a plurality of slots spaced about the axis and aligned generally co-directionally with the longitudinal axis.

8. Apparatus in accordance with claim 6 wherein the openings of the first and second plates are generally round holes spaced in a symmetrical pattern, wherein the openings of the second plate correspond in number and position to the openings in the first plate, and wherein each opening in the second plate is at least 50 percent larger in diameter than the opening in the first plate.

9. Apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein the openings in the second plate are of like dimension, wherein the openings in the first plate are of like dimension and wherein the diameter of the second plate openings is approximately 75 percent larger than the diameter of the first plate openings.

10. Apparatus in accordance with claim 9 wherein the spacing between the first and second plates is less than the diameter of the openings in the first plate.

11. Apparatus in accordance with claim 10 wherein the spacing between the first and second plates is less than the difference between the diameters of the first plate openings and the second plate openings.

12. Apparatus in accordance with claim 6 wherein the housing is segmented for ease of assembly into at least two elements, the first element containing the first plate;

the second element containing the second plate;

the first and second elements having mating surfaces for engagement with each other such as to establish the spacing between the first and second plates upon assembly.

13. Apparatus in accordance with claim 6 further including means for controlling the configuration of the aerated mixture exiting from the apparatus.

14. Apparatus in accordance with claim 13 wherein said last-mentioned means includes means for establishing a plurality of individual jets exiting from the apparatus.

15. Apparatus in accordance with claim 14 further including means for adjusting the size of said jets.

16. Apparatus in accordance with claim 15 wherein the jet establishing means comprises a plurality of slots extending generally longitudinally of the housing and spaced about the periphery of the housing.

17. Apparatus in accordance with claim 16 wherein said adjusting means includes a threaded member threadably engaging the apparatus housing and means for varying the degree of engagement of the threaded member in the housing.

18. Apparatus in accordance with claim 17 wherein last-mentioned means is arranged to decrease the size of the jets exiting from the apparatus as the member is threaded into the housing.

19. Apparatus in accordance with claim 18 further including means for limiting the extent of inward travel of the member into the housing at a predetermined point in order to prevent closure of the exit openings to an extent causing water to back up and flow out through the air admitting openings.

20. Apparatus in accordance with claim 17 wherein the means for varying the degree of engagement of the member in the housing includes a centrally located ridged knob mounted on said member along the longitudinal axis of the housing.

21. Apparatus in accordance with claim 20 wherein said knob includes a hollowed out central portion for developing a re-entrant fluid flow in the intermixing means.

22. Apparatus in accordance with claim 17 wherein said member comprises an upper threaded portion and a lower plate portion, said upper and lower portions being at least partially hollowed out to form a reentrant mixing chamber for aerated liquids.

Claims

1. Apparatus for providing an aerated stream of water from water mains comprising: first means including a first apertured plate arranged for coupling to a water inlet pipe; second means connected to said first means and defining a second apertured plate spaced generally parallel and adjacent but apart from said first apertured plate, the apertures of said second plate being slightly larger than the apertures of said first plate and aligned therewith, said first and second plates being juxtaposed to direct the flow of water substantially parallel to the axis of the apparatus; means defining an air chamber communicating with the space between the first and second plates and including a plurality of air admitting orifices extending longitudinally between the air chamber and the outer surface of the apparatus; and a mixing chamber located between the second plate and the apparatus outlet for developing turbulent mixing of the air and water within the apparatus.

6. Apparatus for intermixing air and liquid and ejecting the aerated mixture in a series of jets comprising: a housing defining a pathway for liquid through said apparatus; a first plate positioned generally transversely across said path and having a plurality of openings therein to permit the flow of liquid in individual streams therethrough; a second plate adjacent but spaced apart from the first plate and generally parallel thereto, the second plate having a plurality of openings larger than the openings in the first plate and respectively aligned with corresponding ones of said first plate openings, said first and second plates being juxtaposed to direct the individual streams substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing; an air chamber extending between the first and second plates; means communicating between the air chamber and the exterior of the housing for admitting air from the outside to the air chamber; and means downstream of the first and second plates for intermixing the liquid and admitted air prior to the release of the aerated liquid from the apparatus.

12. Apparatus in accordance with claim 6 wherein the housing is segmented for ease of assembly into at least two elements, the first element containing the first plate; the second element containing the second plate; the first and second elements having mating surfaces for engagement with each other such as to establish the spacing between the first and second plates upon assembly.

22. Apparatus in accordance with claim 17 wherein said member comprises an upper threaded portion and a lower plate portion, said upper and lower portions being at least partially hollowed out to form a re-entrant mixing chamber for aerated liquids.

23. Apparatus in accordance with claim 22 wherein said member further includes at least one bridging section connecting the upper and lower portions.

24. Apparatus in accordance with claim 23 wherein said bridging section defines passages communicating between the mixing chamber and the exit slots.

25. Apparatus in accordance with claim 22 wherein said lower portion comprises a plate extending substantially across the housing at the lower end thereof, the plate having an outer peripheral surface such as to provide a closure wall for the slots spaced about the housing.