JP7699994B2 - Water discharge device - Google Patents

Description

This disclosure relates to a water discharge device.

Patent Document 1 discloses a shower device in which a mixer tap is disposed at the top end of the device body, and the top end of an arm-type shower is rotatably attached to both left and right edges of the device body. The mixer tap is a water faucet that can mix hot water and cold water. In this specification, hot water and cold water are collectively referred to as water. Water is supplied from the mixer tap to the arm-type shower and is discharged from a nozzle.

JP 2015-52357 A

After using the arm shower, any water remaining in the arm shower is discharged from the nozzle. Because the nozzle is located above the bottom of the arm shower, a small amount of water remains in the arm shower. The water in the arm shower cools over time, so cold water comes out of the nozzle the next time you start using it.

This disclosure was made in consideration of the above-mentioned conventional situation, and aims to solve the problem of draining residual water.

The water discharge device disclosed herein includes a body shower with a water discharge section, a water supply passage that supplies water to the water discharge section, and a residual water drain valve that is disposed in the water supply passage at a position below the water discharge section and that opens when the water supply pressure in the water supply passage drops.

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a water discharge device according to a first embodiment; A partially enlarged perspective view showing the internal structure of the water discharge device. Front cross-sectional view of the shower diverter valve with the handle in the initial position A side cross-sectional view of a shower diverter valve with the handle in the initial position. Front cross-sectional view of shower diverter valve with handle in operating position A side cross-sectional view of a shower diverter valve with the handle in the operating position. Partially enlarged cross-sectional view showing the structure of the residual water drain valve A perspective view showing the structure of the taxiway Partially enlarged cross-sectional view showing the structure of the drain FIG. FIG. 1 is a side view showing the center of gravity of the interlocking member when the handle is in the initial position. FIG. 1 is a side view showing the center of gravity of the interlocking member when the handle is in the operating position.

<Embodiment 1>
The water discharger A of the first embodiment of the present disclosure is arranged so that the back surface R of the water discharger A overlaps the wall surface W of the bathroom as shown in FIG. 9, and is used in a state where it is attached to the wall surface W. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the side edge of the water discharger A cut at a right angle to the wall surface W, and shows the structure of the guide path 80 and the drain outlet 83 described later. The direction of the water discharger A is defined in a state where the water discharger A is attached to the wall surface W. The front-rear direction is a direction perpendicular to the wall surface W, and the front F side of the water discharger A (the positive side of the X-axis in FIGS. 1, 2, 4, 6, 8 to 12) is defined as the front, and the back R side of the water discharger A is defined as the rear. The front-rear direction and the depth direction are used synonymously. Regarding the up-down direction, the ceiling side of the bathroom (the positive side of the Z-axis in FIGS. 1 to 12) is defined as the top, and the floor side of the bathroom is defined as the bottom. Regarding the left-right direction, when a user faces the front F of the water discharger A in the bathroom, the right side of the user (the positive side of the Y axis in Figs. 1 to 3, 5, 7, 8, and 10) is defined as the right side, and the left side of the user is defined as the left side. The left-right direction and the width direction are used synonymously.

<Outline of Water Discharge Device A>
As shown in Fig. 1, the water discharge device A includes a device main body 10, one hand shower 15, and a pair of left and right body showers 20. The device main body 10 includes a housing 11, a shower switching valve 30, a handle 52, and a residual water drainage valve 70. The housing 11 is generally rectangular. When viewed from the front F, the shape of the housing 11 is a rectangle whose height in the up-down direction is greater than its width in the left-right direction. The depth dimension of the housing 11 in the front-rear direction is smaller than its width.

As shown in FIG. 2, a water faucet connection part 13 is provided on the bottom surface 12 of the housing 11. The water faucet connection part 13 is located to the left of the center in the left-right direction on the bottom surface 12 of the housing 11. A water supply hose (not shown) extending from a water faucet main body (not shown) is connected to the water faucet connection part 13. The water faucet main body has a water flow rate adjustment function part, a water temperature adjustment function part, a faucet, and a water flow path switching valve. The flow path switching valve switches between a water discharge mode from the faucet and a water discharge mode from the water discharge device A.

As shown in FIG. 2, a shower connection 14 is provided on the bottom surface 12 of the housing 11. The shower connection 14 is located to the right of the center in the left-right direction on the bottom surface 12 of the housing 11. The upstream end of a shower hose 16 (see FIG. 1) of a hand shower 15 is connected to the shower connection 14. A shower head 17 is connected to the downstream end of the shower hose 16. A head holder 18 for holding the shower head 17 is attached to the wall surface W.

The pair of left and right body showers 20 each have a pair of left and right arms 21 (see FIG. 1), a pair of left and right balancers 26 (see FIG. 2), and a pair of left and right braking mechanisms (not shown). The arm 21 is provided with a plurality of water outlets 22. The plurality of water outlets 22 are spaced apart along the length of the arm 21. A water passage (not shown) is formed within the arm 21, extending from the base end 23 to the tip end 24 of the arm 21. The plurality of water outlets 22 are connected to the water passage.

The base end 23 of the arm 21 is supported at the lower end on the outer surface of the housing 11. The arm 21 can rotate up and down around a left-right imaginary axis 25 that passes through the base end 23 between a storage position shown by imaginary lines in FIG. 1 and a use position shown by solid lines in FIG. 1. In the storage position, the arm 21 is in an upright position with the tip 24 of the arm 21 facing straight up, and is positioned along the outer surface of the housing 11. In the use position, the arm 21 is in a position in which the arm 21 protrudes diagonally upward and forward from the base end 23.

The balancer 26 is made of a torsion spring arranged to surround the virtual axis 25, and applies elastic force in the rotational direction to the arm 21. The elastic rotational force of the balancer 26 reduces the downward moment caused by the weight of the arm 21. When the arm 21 is displaced from the use position to the storage position, the elastic force of the balancer 26 reduces the operating force applied to the arm 21. The braking mechanism has a disc spring. The braking mechanism controls the rotational movement of the arm 21 by frictional resistance caused by the elasticity of the disc spring. The braking force of the braking mechanism can hold the arm 21 at any position between the storage position and the use position.

<Shower switching valve 30>
The shower switching valve 30 is disposed at the lower end of the housing 11 in the up-down direction, and at the center of the housing 11 in the left-right direction. As shown in Fig. 2, a box-shaped bracket 31 is fixed to the upper surface of the bottom plate portion 19 of the housing 11. The shower switching valve 30 is fixed in a state in which it is placed on the upper surface of the bracket 31.

As shown in Figures 3 to 6, the shower switching valve 30 has a cylindrical valve box 32 with an axis oriented in the vertical direction, a valve body 38, and a valve rod 39 that is elongated in the vertical direction. The valve box 32 is constructed by assembling multiple parts. A valve passage 33 extending in the vertical direction is formed inside the valve box 32. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the shower switching valve 30 cut parallel to the wall surface W and viewed from the front F side of the water discharge device A when the handle 52 described later is in the initial position. Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the shower switching valve 30 cut along a vertical plane perpendicular to the wall surface W when the handle 52 is in the initial position. Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the shower switching valve 30 cut parallel to the wall surface W and viewed from the front F side of the water discharge device A when the handle 52 is in the operating position. Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the shower switching valve 30 cut along a vertical plane perpendicular to the wall surface W when the handle 52 is in the operating position.

As shown in Figures 3 and 5, the valve box 32 is formed with an inlet 34 that communicates with the valve passage 33. The downstream end of a shower water supply pipe 35 extending from the faucet connection part 13 is connected to the inlet 34. An upper valve seat 36 located above the inlet 34 and a lower valve seat 37 located below the inlet 34 are provided within the valve passage 33.

The valve body 38 is accommodated in the valve passage 33. The valve body 38 moves up and down between the upper valve seat 36 and the lower valve seat 37. The valve rod 39 moves up and down together with the valve body 38. The lower end of the valve rod 39 extends below the valve box 32. As shown in Figures 4 and 6, a connecting member 40 is fixed to the lower end of the valve rod 39 by a lock nut 41. The connecting member 40 has a connecting hole 42 that penetrates in the front-rear direction. The connecting member 40 functions as a connecting part on the valve body 38 side.

As shown in Figures 3 and 5, the valve box 32 is formed with a hand shower outlet 43 that communicates with the valve passage 33 downstream of the upper valve seat 36. The upstream end of the hand shower pipe 44 is connected to the hand shower outlet 43. The downstream end of the hand shower pipe 44 is connected to the shower connection 14.

The valve box 32 is formed with a body shower outlet 45 that communicates with the flow path of the valve passage 33 downstream of the lower valve seat 37. The upstream end of a bent body shower pipe 46 is connected to the body shower outlet 45. As shown in FIG. 2, the upstream end of the body shower pipe 46 is formed by an upper pipe 47 that is U-shaped in plan view. The downstream portion of the body shower pipe 46 is formed by a lower pipe 48 that extends downward from the downstream end of the upper pipe 47.

2 and 7, a branch 49 is provided at the downstream end of the body shower pipe 46. The branch 49 is located below the lower pipe 48 and is disposed at the lower end inside the housing 11. The upstream ends of a pair of left and right branch pipes 50 are connected to the branch 49. One branch pipe 50 extends horizontally to the right from the branch 49. The other branch pipe 50 extends horizontally to the left from the branch 49. The downstream ends of each branch pipe 50 are connected to the base end 23 of each arm 21 and communicate with the upstream end of the water passage in the arm 21. The upstream end of the water passage is located at the lowest end of the water passage regardless of whether the body shower 20 is in the use position or the storage position. The water outlet 22 is disposed at a distance between the upstream end and the downstream end of the water passage.

When the valve body 38 is in contact with the upper valve seat 36, the inlet 34 and the body shower outlet 45 are connected, and water can be supplied from the shower switching valve 30 to the body shower 20. This state is defined as the water supply mode for the body shower 20 in the shower switching valve 30. When the valve body 38 is in contact with the lower valve seat 37, the inlet 34 and the hand shower outlet 43 are connected, and water can be supplied from the shower switching valve 30 to the hand shower 15. This state is defined as the water supply mode for the hand shower 15 in the shower switching valve 30. The valve body 38 moves up and down, and the shower switching valve 30 switches between the water supply mode for the body shower 20 and the water supply mode for the hand shower 15.

<Handle 52>
As shown in Fig. 10, the handle 52 includes a rotating shaft 53, a handle body 54, a support shaft 62, a weight 63, and a connecting bar 64. The rotating shaft 53 is supported by the bracket 31 with its axis facing left and right. The handle 52 can rotate about the rotating shaft 53 between an initial position (see Figs. 3, 4, and 11) and an operating position (see Figs. 5, 6, and 12). The rotation angle between the initial position and the operating position is approximately 45°. The directions in the following description of the handle 52 are based on the state in which the handle 52 is in the initial position.

The handle body 54 is a single part made of synthetic resin and has a base portion 55, one operating portion 56, and a pair of protrusions 59. In a side view of the handle 52, the base portion 55 forms an inverted triangle whose front-to-rear dimension decreases downward. The operating portion 56 has a base portion 57 that protrudes diagonally downward and forward from the base portion 55, and a finger hook portion 58 that extends horizontally forward from the base portion 57. The operating portion 56 has a shape that protrudes forward from the base portion 55 as a whole. Whether the handle 52 is in the initial position or the operating position, the operating portion 56 is located below the bottom surface 12 of the housing 11.

The pair of protrusions 59 protrude upward from the upper surface of the base portion 55 with a gap between them in the left-right direction. At the front end of each of the left and right protrusions 59, a bearing hole 60 is formed that penetrates the protrusions 59 in the left-right direction. The rotating shaft 53 penetrates through both the left and right bearing holes 60. At the rear end of each of the left and right protrusions 59, a support hole 61 is formed that penetrates the protrusions 59 in the left-right direction at approximately the same height as the bearing hole 60. The support shaft 62 penetrates through both the left and right support holes 61. A metal weight 63 is embedded in the upper end of the protrusion, i.e., at a position above the bearing hole 60 and the support hole 61. In the front-rear direction, the weight 63 is located behind the rotating shaft 53. The rotating shaft 53, the support shaft 62, and the weight 63 are located above the operating unit 56.

A long and narrow connecting bar 64 is disposed between the left and right protrusions 59. A pair of through holes 65 are formed at both the front and rear ends of the connecting bar 64, passing through the connecting bar 64 in the left and right direction. The rotating shaft 53 passes through the front through hole 65. The support shaft 62 passes through the rear through hole 65. The connecting bar 64 functions as a connector on the handle 52 side.

When the handle 52 rotates from the initial position to the operating position, the operating part 56 changes from a form in which it protrudes forward from the base part 55 to a form in which it protrudes downward. The connecting bar 64 moves upward about the rotation shaft 53 and changes to a form in which it protrudes diagonally upward and rearward from the rotation shaft 53. The weight 63 changes in the front-rear direction to a position closer to the rotation shaft 53 than the initial position.

The handle 52 and the lower end of the valve rod 39 are connected via the connecting member 40 and the connecting bar 64. In the connected state, the connecting bar 64 passes through the connecting hole 42 of the connecting member 40 in the front-rear direction. The upper surface of the connecting bar 64 abuts against the upper surface of the connecting hole 42, and the connecting bar 64 supports the connecting member 40 from below. The connecting member 40 and the connecting bar 64 can be displaced relative to each other in the up-down direction, as well as in the front-rear direction. The weight of the valve body 38, the valve rod 39, and the connecting member 40 is supported by the handle 52 via the connecting bar 64. The part where the connecting member 40 and the connecting bar 64 abut is rearward of the rotation axis 53.

The interlocking member 66 is made up of the valve body 38, the valve rod 39, the connecting member 40, and the handle 52. When the shower switching valve 30 switches between a water supply mode to the body shower 20 and a water supply mode to the hand shower 15, the interlocking member 66 moves as a unit. The unitary movement of the interlocking member 66 refers to the movement of the handle 52 displacing relative to the valve body 38, the valve rod 39, and the connecting member 40 while the interlocking member 66 remains connected. When the interlocking member 66 moves as a unit, the handle 52 rotates around the rotation axis 53 as a fulcrum, and the valve body 38, the valve rod 39, and the connecting member 40 move in the vertical direction.

When the handle 52 rotates from the initial position to the operating position, the valve body 38 rises and abuts against the upper valve seat 36, and the lower valve seat 37 is opened, so that the shower switching valve 30 switches from a water supply mode to the hand shower 15 to a water supply mode to the body shower 20. When the handle 52 rotates from the operating position to the initial position, the valve body 38 falls and abuts against the lower valve seat 37, and the upper valve seat 36 is opened, so that the shower switching valve 30 switches from a water supply mode to the body shower 20 to a water supply mode to the hand shower 15.

As shown in FIG. 11, when the handle 52 is in the initial position, the center of gravity G1 of the interlocking member 66 is located at approximately the same height as the rotation shaft 53 in the vertical direction. The center of gravity G1 of the interlocking member 66 in the initial position is located between the rotation shaft 53 and the axis 67 of the valve body 38 and the valve rod 39 in the front-rear direction. As shown in FIG. 12, when the handle 52 is in the operating position, the center of gravity G1 of the interlocking member 66 is located higher in the vertical direction than the rotation shaft 53 and the center of gravity G1 in the initial position. The center of gravity G1 of the interlocking member 66 in the operating position is located rearward in the front-rear direction from the center of gravity G1 in the initial position, i.e., rearward from the axis 67 of the valve body 38 and the valve rod 39.

Whether the handle 52 is in a position between the initial position and the operating position, the center of gravity G1 of the interlocking member 66 is located behind the rotation shaft 53. Due to the moment (i.e., rotational torque) caused by the weight of the interlocking member 66, a rotational force is always acting on the handle 52 in a direction that displaces the operating part 56 upward, i.e., in a direction from the operating position to the initial position.

<Residual Water Discharge Valve 70 and Guideway 80>
The residual water drain valve 70 is a normally open on-off valve for draining water remaining in the water supply passage 68 for supplying water to the body shower 20 after use of the body shower 20. The water supply passage 68 is made up of the body shower outlet 45 of the shower switching valve 30, the body shower piping 46, the branch piping 50, and a water passage in the arm 21. The branch section 49 and the branch piping 50 are disposed at the lowest position in the water supply passage 68. The residual water drain valve 70 is attached to the branch section 49 and communicates with the lower end of the branch section 49.

As shown in FIG. 7, the residual water drain valve 70 is constructed by assembling a housing 71 whose axis is oriented in the vertical direction, a valve body 76, and a compression coil spring 77. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the residual water drain valve 70 cut parallel to the wall surface W and viewed from the front F side of the water discharge device A. The housing 71 is a single part having a cylindrical portion 72 whose axis is oriented in the vertical direction, a lid portion 73 located below the cylindrical portion 72, and a pair of connecting portions 74 that connect the lower end of the cylindrical portion 72 and the lid portion 73. A valve seat 75 is formed on the inner circumference of the cylindrical portion 72. The valve seat 75 is located at a position lower than the lowest position in the water supply passage 68.

The valve body 76 moves up and down within the cylindrical portion 72. When the valve body 76 comes into contact with the valve seat 75, the residual water drain valve 70 is closed. When the valve body 76 moves upward and separates from the valve seat 75, the residual water drain valve 70 opens. The valve body 76 is biased upward, i.e., in the valve opening direction, by a compression coil spring 77 located at the lower end of the cylindrical portion 72. The upper surface of the valve body 76 faces the water supply passage 68, which supplies water to the body shower 20. When water is supplied into the water supply passage 68, the water supply pressure in the water supply passage 68 acts on the valve body 76.

A drain hole 78 is formed below the valve seat 75, connecting the internal space of the cylindrical portion 72 with the space below the cylindrical portion 72. The drain hole 78 opens to face a guide path 80 provided on the upper surface of the bottom plate portion 19 of the housing 11. A removable opening 81 that passes vertically through the bottom plate portion 19 is formed in the guide path 80 in the area below the residual water drain valve 70. The removable opening 81 is closed by the lid portion 73 of the residual water drain valve 70.

7 to 9, the guideway 80 is a groove-shaped area partitioned by a partition wall 82 formed on the upper surface of the bottom plate 19. As shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the bottom plate 19 is formed with a pair of left and right drainage ports 83 that open to the bottom surface 12 of the housing 11. The guideway 80 has an inclined surface 84 that gradually decreases from a position directly below the drainage hole 78 to the drainage ports 83. The pair of drainage ports 83 are arranged at both left and right ends of the housing 11 in the left-right direction. The pair of drainage ports 83 are formed by cutting out the edge of the bottom plate 19 on the back surface R side in the front-rear direction, and open to the back surface R of the housing 11. In a plan view of the bottom plate 19 from above, the opening area and opening shape of the drainage port 83 are set so that water does not block the drainage port 83 due to surface tension. Ribs 85 that protrude downward from the bottom surface 12 of the housing 11 in a wall-like manner are formed on both left and right edges and the front edge of the opening of the drainage port 83.

<Use of the water discharge device A>
In the water stop state where water is not supplied to the shower switching valve 30, water supply pressure does not act on the valve body 38, so the handle 52 is held in the initial position by a moment (rotational force) acting on the handle 52 due to the weight of the interlocking member 66. The moment is a force that generates a rotational torque in a direction that raises the operating part 56 around the rotation axis 53. Even if the handle 52 is rotated from the initial position to the operating position, the handle 52 returns to the initial position. The shower switching valve 30 is held in the water supply mode to the hand shower 15. Since water supply pressure does not act on the valve body 76 of the residual water drain valve 70, the valve body 76 is separated from the valve seat 75 by the bias of the compression coil spring 77, and the residual water drain valve 70 is held in the open state.

When using the body shower 20 from a stopped water supply state, the handle 52 is left in the initial position and water supply from the faucet body to the shower switching valve 30 begins. The water supplied to the shower switching valve 30 passes through the hand shower piping 44 and the shower hose 16 and is then discharged from the shower head 17. The user can adjust the water temperature and flow rate while avoiding the water from the shower head 17 from splashing on the user's body.

After adjusting the water temperature and flow rate, while maintaining the water discharge state from the hand shower 15, press down the operating part 56 of the handle 52 to rotate the handle 52 from the initial position to the operating position. When the handle 52 is rotated to the operating position, the shower switching valve 30 switches to a water supply mode to the body shower 20, and water is discharged from the water discharge part 22 of the body shower 20 through the water supply passage 68. In the water stop state, the residual water in the water supply passage 68 to the body shower 20 is discharged by the residual water drain valve 70 as described below, so when water supply to the body shower 20 starts, the residual water is not discharged from the water discharge part 22.

When water is being discharged from the body shower 20, the valve body 38 of the shower switching valve 30 is held in contact with the upper valve seat 36 by the upward water supply pressure. Even if the operating part 56 is released, the handle 52 is held in the operating position and the shower switching valve 30 is held in water supply mode to the body shower 20. In the residual water drain valve 70 provided in the middle of the water supply line 68, the water supply pressure acts on the upper surface of the valve body 76, so the residual water drain valve 70 is kept in a closed state. The water in the water supply line 68 is supplied to the body shower 20 without leaking from the residual water drain valve 70 to the guide line 80.

When the water discharge from the body shower 20 is finished, the faucet body is operated to stop the water supply to the shower switching valve 30. When the water supply to the shower switching valve 30 is stopped, the water supply pressure in the water supply passage 68 from the shower switching valve 30 to the water discharge section 22 and the water supply pressure in the residual water drain valve 70 decrease. In the residual water drain valve 70, the valve body 76 is separated from the valve seat 75 by the bias of the compression coil spring 77, and the residual water drain valve 70 opens. Water in the water supply passage 68 is discharged from the opened residual water drain valve 70 to the guide passage 80. In the shower switching valve 30, the valve body 38 descends due to the weight of the interlocking member 66, and the water supply mode is switched from the water supply mode to the body shower 20 to the water supply mode to the hand shower 15. As the valve body 38 descends, the handle 52 returns from the operating position to the initial position.

When using the hand shower 15 after using the body shower 20, the operating part 56 is pushed up and the handle 52 is rotated from the operating position to the initial position. As the handle 52 rotates, the shower switch valve 30 switches to a water supply mode to the hand shower 15, and water is discharged from the hand shower 15. In the water supply line 68 and the residual water drain valve 70 that run from the shower switch valve 30 to the body shower 20, the water supply pressure drops, so the residual water drain valve 70 opens and the residual water in the water supply line 68 is drained from the drain hole 78 into the guide line 80.

The residual water discharged into the taxiway 80 flows toward both left and right drainage outlets 83 due to the inclination of the taxiway 80. The residual water falls from the drainage outlets 83. A wall-like rib 85 protrudes downward from the opening edge of the drainage outlet 83, so the residual water flows from the upper surface (inclined surface 84) of the taxiway 80 along the inner surface of the rib 85 and falls from the lower edge of the rib 85. The residual water does not flow around to the bottom surface 12 of the housing 11.

<Effects of the water discharge device A of the first embodiment>
The water discharge device A includes a body shower 20 having a water discharge portion 22, a water supply passage 68 that supplies water to the water discharge portion 22, and a residual water drain valve 70. The body shower 20 is shaped like an arm 21, and is rotatably supported on the housing 11 of the device main body 10. The residual water drain valve 70 is disposed in the water supply passage 68 at a position lower than the water discharge portion 22. The residual water drain valve 70 opens when the water supply pressure in the water supply passage 68 drops.

When the water discharge from the water discharge part 22 of the body shower 20 is completed and the water supply pressure in the water supply passage 68 drops, the residual water drain valve 70 opens and the residual water in the water supply passage 68 is drained. The residual water drain valve 70 is located below the water discharge part 22, so the water between the water discharge part 22 and the residual water drain valve 70 can be drained.

The water discharge device A includes a hand shower 15 with a flexible shower hose 16, and a shower switching valve 30. The shower switching valve 30 switches between a water supply mode to the body shower 20 and a water supply mode to the hand shower 15. The water supply passage 68 is a flow path from the shower switching valve 30 to the water discharge section 22. The residual water drain valve 70 is disposed at the lowest position of the water supply passage 68. All residual water in the water supply passage 68 between the shower switching valve 30 and the water discharge section 22 can be drained.

A pair of body showers 20 are supported on both the left and right outer edges of the housing 11. The residual water drain valve 70 is disposed inside the housing 11 that supports the body shower 20. The residual water drain valve 70 is not exposed to the outside of the housing 11, which provides a good design. Only one residual water drain valve 70 is required.

The water supply passage 68 has two branch pipes 50 that are individually connected to a pair of body showers 20. One residual water drain valve 70 is disposed at the junction of the two branch pipes 50. With this configuration, the residual water in the two branch pipes 50 can be efficiently drained.

The water discharge device A includes a housing 11 that houses a residual water drain valve 70, and a drain port 83 that opens on the bottom surface 12 of the housing 11 near the outer edge of the housing 11. The residual water discharged from the residual water drain valve 70 falls from near the outer edge of the housing 11. This prevents the residual water from falling into the faucet body that is located in the center of the width of the housing 11, or into a washbasin that is placed in the center of the width of the housing 11.

The body shower 20 is attached to the outer edge of the housing 11. The position where the residual water discharged from the residual water drain valve 70 falls and the position where the residual water discharged from the water outlet 22 falls are close to each other. Compared to when the positions where the residual water falls are dispersed, the falling state of the residual water is less noticeable.

The water discharge device A is equipped with a housing 11 that houses a residual water drain valve 70. The housing 11 is fixed with the back surface R of the housing 11 overlapping against the wall surface W of the bathroom. A drain port 83 that opens to the back surface R of the housing 11 is formed on the bottom surface 12 of the housing 11. Because the position where the residual water falls is close to the wall surface W, the falling state of the residual water is not noticeable.

The bottom plate portion 19 of the housing 11 is provided with a guide path 80 that guides the residual water discharged from the residual water discharge valve 70 to the drain outlet 83 by means of an inclined surface 84. The residual water discharged from the residual water discharge valve 70 can be reliably discharged from the drain outlet 83. The bottom surface 12 of the housing 11 has a rib 85 that protrudes downward from the opening edge of the drain outlet 83. The rib 85 can prevent the residual water from flowing from the opening edge of the drain outlet 83 to the bottom surface 12 of the housing 11. The residual water falls reliably.

The drain outlet 83 is an opening that opens only a portion of the bottom surface 12 of the housing 11 in the width direction of the housing 11. The drain outlet 83 is an opening that opens only a portion of the bottom surface 12 of the housing 11 in the depth direction of the housing 11. Since the location where the remaining water falls is limited to a narrow range, the falling state of the remaining water is less noticeable.

The water discharge device A of this embodiment 1 includes a hand shower 15 having a flexible shower hose 16, a body shower 20 in the form of an arm 21 supported rotatably, a shower switching valve 30, and a handle 52. The shower switching valve 30 has a valve body 38 that can move up and down. The shower switching valve 30 switches between a water supply mode to the hand shower 15 and a water supply mode to the body shower 20. The valve body 38 in the water supply mode to the body shower 20 is located higher than the valve body 38 in the water supply mode to the hand shower 15. The handle 52 is connected to the valve body 38 via a valve rod 39. The handle 52 can be switched between an initial position for switching the shower switching valve 30 to the water supply mode to the hand shower 15 and an operating position for switching the shower switching valve 30 to the water supply mode to the body shower 20.

When water is supplied to the shower switching valve 30 and the handle 52 is in the operating position, the water supply pressure acting on the valve body 38 keeps the shower switching valve 30 in the water supply mode to the body shower 20. When the water supply to the shower switching valve 30 stops, the handle 52 returns to its initial position due to the weight of the interlocking member 66 including the valve body 38, valve rod 39, and handle 52. When the water supply to the body shower 20 is stopped after use, the handle 52 returns from the operating position to its initial position due to the weight of the interlocking member 66, and the shower switching valve 30 switches to the water supply mode to the hand shower 15. There is no need to operate the handle 52 to return from the water supply mode to the body shower 20 to the water supply mode to the hand shower 15.

When the handle 52 is in the operating position and water is being supplied to the shower switching valve 30, the downward force acting on the valve body 38 due to the weight of the interlocking member 66 is smaller than the upward force acting on the valve body 38 due to the water supply pressure. With this configuration, water can be supplied to the body shower 20 using only the water supply pressure without using an external force such as a spring force to push up the valve body 38.

The water discharge device A comprises a device body 10 that houses the shower switching valve 30 therein, and a horizontal rotation shaft 53 that rotatably supports a handle 52. The handle 52 has an operating part 56 that is located below the device body 10. When the handle 52 is in the initial position, the operating part 56 protrudes horizontally toward the front F of the device body 10. With this configuration, it is easy to visually determine that the handle 52 has returned to the initial position.

When the handle 52 is in the initial position, the connecting member 40 and connecting bar 64, which are the connecting parts between the valve stem 39 and the handle 52, are located on the opposite side of the rotation shaft 53 from the operating part 56 in the horizontal direction, i.e., behind the rotation shaft 53. When the handle 52 is in the use position, the operating part 56 protrudes diagonally downward. The only manual operation of the handle 52 required when using the body shower 20 from a water-stopped state is to rotate the handle 52 from the initial position to the operating position. This operation is an operation of pushing down the operating part 56, which protrudes horizontally forward, so it is easier to operate than when pushing up the operating part 56.

<Other embodiments>
The present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above and illustrated in the drawings, and for example, the following embodiments are also included within the technical scope of the present disclosure.

(1) The residual water drain valve may be two residual water drain valves arranged inside a pair of body showers, one residual water drain valve arranged inside one of the body showers, or multiple residual water drain valves arranged inside the housing and inside the body shower.

(2) A residual water drain valve may be provided midway along one of the two branch pipes, or a residual water drain valve may be provided on each of the two branch pipes.

(3) The location of the drain outlet in the width direction of the housing may be the center of the housing in the width direction, or it may be between the center and the outer edge in the width direction.

(4) The location of the drain outlet in the front-to-rear direction of the housing may be closer to the front than to the back of the housing.

(5) It is okay to have just one body shower.

(6) The residual water drain valve may be positioned at a position higher than the lowest position in the water supply line.

(7) The drain opening may be open across the entire width of the housing.

(8) The body shower may be attached to the housing at a location other than the outer edge of the housing.

(9) The drain opening edge may not have a rib.

A...water discharge device, R...back of housing, W...wall, 11...housing, 12...bottom of housing, 15...hand shower, 16...shower hose, 20...body shower, 22...water discharge section, 30...shower switching valve, 50...branch pipe, 68...water supply line, 70...residual water drain valve, 80...guide line, 83...drain, 84...inclined surface, 85...rib

Claims (12)

A body shower having an arm with a water outlet provided thereon;
A hand shower having a flexible shower hose;
a shower switching valve for switching between a mode in which water is discharged from the body shower and a mode in which water is discharged from the hand shower;
A water supply passage that is a flow path from the shower switching valve to the water outlet and supplies water to the water outlet;
a residual water discharge valve that is disposed in the water supply passage at a position lower than the water discharge portion and opens when the water supply pressure in the water supply passage decreases;
the arm is rotatable in the vertical direction about a virtual axis passing through a base end of the arm between a storage position in which the arm is in an upright position with a tip end of the arm facing upward and a use position in which the arm is in an upright position with a tip end of the arm facing upward and protruding obliquely upward from the base end,
A water discharge device in which the residual water discharge valve is disposed at the lowest position in the water supply passage . A body shower having a water outlet;
A water supply channel for supplying water to the water discharge portion;
A residual water discharge valve is disposed in the water supply passage at a position lower than the water discharge portion and opens when the water supply pressure in the water supply passage decreases;
A housing that rotatably supports the body shower;
A drain outlet is formed on the bottom surface of the housing and opens to the rear surface of the housing,
the body shower is attached to an outer edge of the housing;
The housing is a water discharge device that is fixed with the back surface thereof overlapping the wall surface of a bathroom . The water discharge device according to claim 1 , further comprising a housing for rotatably supporting the body shower . The water supply passage has two branch pipes each of which is connected to a pair of the body showers,
The water discharge device according to any one of claims 2 to 3, wherein one of the residual water discharge valves is disposed at a joining position of the two branch pipes . The water discharge device according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the residual water drain valve is disposed either inside the housing or inside the body shower . The pair of body showers are supported on both left and right outer edge portions of the housing,
The water discharge device according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the residual water discharge valve is disposed inside the housing . The water discharge device according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the body shower is attached to an outer edge portion of the housing . The water discharge device according to claim 2 , wherein the housing accommodates the residual water discharge valve . The water discharge device according to claim 8, further comprising a drain outlet that opens in the bottom surface of the housing near an outer edge of the housing . The water discharge device according to any one of claims 2 to 9, wherein a guide path is provided on a bottom plate portion of the housing, which guides the residual water discharged from the residual water discharge valve to a drain outlet by means of an inclined surface . A water discharge device as described in any one of claims 9 and 10, wherein the drain outlet is open only in a portion of the bottom surface of the housing in the width direction of the housing and only in a portion of the bottom surface of the housing in the depth direction of the housing. The water discharge device according to claim 11, wherein the bottom surface of the housing has a rib protruding downward from an opening edge of the drain outlet .

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