JPH0452134B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a shower device used in bathrooms, shower rooms, etc. that drives the shower nozzle up and down. This technology is intended to increase the efficiency and facilitate maintenance and inspection.

[Prior Art] Recently, shower devices have been recognized as having features such as ease of preparation for bathing, water saving, and energy saving, and have been defined as a convenient means of bathing. On the other hand, as social needs for health promotion have increased, attention has been focused on the skin irritation and thermal stimulation effects caused by the spray pressure of showers. In other words, a stimulating hot bath increases blood flow, activates various functions such as the circulatory system, respiratory system, and autonomic nervous system, and is effective for relaxing the mind and body, recovering from fatigue, and beautifying. has been recognized.

In order to increase these effects, it is necessary to take measures such as changing the temperature and water pressure of the jet water to maintain the stimulating effect of the jet water as long as possible.

To this end, attempts have been made to move the shower head itself up and down and back and forth in order to spray hot water over a wide area of the body with as little amount as possible, and as a conventional example, a drive system using a hydraulic cylinder has been adopted.

This system, as shown in Figure 5,
The direction of the water flow sent into the hydraulic cylinder 7 is reversed by passing it through the switching valve 1, so that it can continuously move up and down. That is, the shower nozzle 2 is driven up and down by fixing the elevating body 10 to the wire 16 connected to the piston 14 in the hydraulic cylinder 7, and attaching the shower nozzle 2 to the elevating body 10.

At the upper limit position and lower limit position of the shower nozzle 2, a switching mechanism such as a rack gear is moved against the gravity as the shower nozzle 2 moves, and the switching mechanism moves the reverse switching spring mechanism. The switching valve is actuated against the spring force to reverse the switching spring mechanism beyond its dead line to switch the switching valve.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Therefore, when the shower nozzle 2 is raised and lowered, the spring force of the reverse switching spring mechanism 4 and the gravity of the switching mechanism section 3 are correlated, and the switching operation is performed smoothly. The elevator was difficult to lift, causing an imbalance in lifting and lowering, resulting in the following problems.

a When the switching valve 1 is switched in the direction in which the weight of the switching mechanism is applied, the impact at the time of reverse switching is accelerated, and the reverse noise is large, causing discomfort.

b On the other hand, when switching in a direction that reduces the weight of the switching mechanism, the spring force of the reversing switching spring mechanism 4 decreases and the reversing switching force is reduced, impairing sufficient switching and impairing the reliability of the automatic reversing operation. Problems such as chipping may occur.

c Therefore, if the spring force of the reversal switching spring mechanism is strengthened in consideration of the case described in item b above, the condition described in item a above will be exacerbated, and abnormal vibrations will easily cause the screw part to loosen and the drive part to rattle, resulting in poor durability. Sexuality is impaired.

d) The opening degree of the switching valve is different when the shower nozzle is raised and lowered, resulting in, for example, a difference in the amount of water supplied to the hydraulic cylinder, and unevenness in the lifting speed of the shower nozzle.

The present invention has been made in view of these problems, and its purpose is to smoothly raise and lower the shower nozzle, to make the raising and lowering speeds approximately equal and stable, and to improve durability and drive performance. It is an object of the present invention to provide a shower device with improved reliability and easy maintenance and inspection.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The shower device of the present invention includes a shower nozzle 2 that is driven up and down by pressure liquid from a switching valve 1, and a shower nozzle 2 that is moved up and down at an upper limit position and a lower limit position of the shower nozzle 2. The shower device is equipped with a switching mechanism part 3 that is driven and moved by the switching mechanism, and a reversing switching spring mechanism 4 that is driven by the switching mechanism part 3 and reverses beyond the dead line L to switch the switching valve 1. The present invention is characterized in that it includes a damping spring means 5 having a spring force substantially corresponding to the gravity of the switching mechanism section 3, and a buffering means 6 that buffers the switching spring force of the reversing switching spring mechanism 4.

[Function] In this way, the braking spring means 5 which has a spring force approximately corresponding to the gravity of the switching mechanism section 3 and the buffering means 6 which buffers the switching spring force of the reversing switching spring mechanism 4.
By having the brake spring means 5, the gravity of the switching mechanism section 3 is offset, and hysteresis when the shower nozzle 2 is raised and lowered due to the spring force of the reversing switching spring mechanism 4 is eliminated. The switching force based on the spring force of the reversing switching spring mechanism 4 is alleviated by the buffering means 6, which buffers the switching spring force of the switching spring mechanism 4, thereby allowing the switching of the switching valve 1 to be performed smoothly and accurately without producing noise. This has been done to improve the reliability of operation and the durability of switching parts, etc.

[Examples] Examples of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the shower device S includes a piston 1 in a vertical hydraulic cylinder 7.
4 are arranged vertically so that they can be raised and lowered freely, and rollers 15, 15'
A wire 16 wound around the piston 14 is tightly connected to the piston 14, a slider 17 as an elevating body 10 is connected to the wire 16, and a shower nozzle 2 is fixed to the slider 17.

On the other hand, pressurized water for driving the shower nozzle 2 up and down is supplied from port A of the four-way valve 13 serving as the switching valve 1 through the fan hole 13a of the four-way valve 13, and then via port B to the upper pressurizing chamber 18 of the hydraulic cylinder 7. is pumped to
After the piston 8 is lowered, it returns to the port C of the four-way valve 13, passes through the fan hole 13b of the four-way valve 13, and drains from port D. In such a flow of pressure water, the slider 17 rises,
Raise the shower nozzle 2. Then, the shower nozzle 2 rises and comes into contact with the height adjustment clamp 19, actuating the switching mechanism 3 and switching the four-way valve 13, so that the pressure water from the port A flows through the fan hole 13a whose position has been changed due to the switching. It is then sent under pressure to the lower pressurizing chamber 21 of the hydraulic cylinder 7 via port C, and after raising the piston 8, returns to port B, passes through the fan hole 13b whose position has been changed, and is transferred to port D.
The water is drained from the water. As the piston 8 rises, the slider 17 descends, and the shower nozzle 2 also descends. Repeat this operation below.

The switching mechanism section 3 for reversing switching includes a slide rod 22 held so as to be slidable;
The reversal switching spring mechanism 4 meshes with the rack gear 23 and is connected to the four-way valve 13. pinion gear 2
4. A reversing spring shaft 27 which is inserted into the reversing spring bearing 29 so as to be able to protrude and retract freely, and which is inserted through the reversing spring 26 and is biased to project against the reversing spring bearing 29; It is composed of a connecting pin 28 and the like that connects the reversing spring shaft 27 to the pinion gear 24 so that the reversing spring shaft 27 is reversed by the elastic restoring force of the compressed reversing spring 26 when it crosses a dead line L connecting the centers of the reversing spring shaft 27 and the pinion gear 24. When the shower nozzle 2 rises and comes into contact with the upper height adjustment clamp 19, the slide rod 22 fixed thereto is lifted up, the pinion gear 24 meshed with the rack gear 23 is rotated, and the reversing spring 26 is rotated.
The inverted spring shaft 27 is inverted while compressing the inverted spring bearing 2.
9 side and swings to the right in FIG. The pinion gear 24 is protruded larger and the pinion gear 24 is reversed, and the four-way valve 13 is reversely switched.
The positions relative to B, C, and D are changed so that the pressure water flow path can be switched. 1 and 3, when the reversing spring 26 moves from the right side to the left side in the figures, that is, when the rack gear 23 moves downward, the total load (weight) of the rack gear 23, slide rod 22, and height adjustment clamp 19 ) Wo is added, and the reversal spring 26 is burdened with reversal by an amount equivalent to the above load. In order to solve this problem, a brake spring 45 as a brake spring means 5 is inserted into the lower part of the rack gear 23, and the restoring force of the brake spring 45 is arranged to share the burden of gravity based on the load Wo. A compression spring is used as the brake spring 45, and is set so that the load Wo is offset by the restoring force of the brake spring 45 when the reversal spring shaft 27 crosses the dead line L. 4
If the restoring force of the brake spring 45 at position _B is W 1 and the restoring force of the brake spring 45 at position B is W ₂ , then the resistance of the brake spring on the rack gear 23 side at positions A and B is W ₁ −Wo=Wo−W ₂
Set the spring constant so that Reversing spring shaft 2
7 is connected to the pinion gear 24 with a crank structure in which a connecting pin 28 is connected, and the other end is inserted into and removed from a reversing spring bearing 29, and the reversing spring bearing 29 rotates to the valve cover 32 of the switching valve 1. It can be installed freely. A buffer spring 46 as a buffer spring means 6 is provided at the open end of the reverse spring shaft 27 on the reverse spring bearing 29 side, and the pinion gear 24 is rotated too much due to the residual restoring force of the reverse spring 26 and the switching valve 1
This function also prevents over-rotation of the switching operation and shock by cushioning the impact when reversing. As a result of the above operation, when the shower nozzle 2 moves up and down, the switching valve 1 operates equally in both the up and down directions, without causing hysteresis, and provides continuous smooth drive with less noise and impact. can be obtained.

As shown in FIG. 3, the switching valve 1 has a switching valve main body 3.
3. It is composed of a valve body 31, a valve cover 32, a valve shaft 35, etc., and the valve body 31 and switching valve body 33 are arranged on the back side of the valve cover 32, and the other parts are a pinion gear 24, a reversing crank 47, and a reversing crank 47. Drive parts such as the spring shaft 27, reversing spring bearing 29, rack gear 23, reversing spring 26, brake spring 45, and buffer spring 46 are connected to the valve lid 32.
By arranging it on the front side, it forms an integrated structure that allows for easy inspection and parts replacement. A valve shaft 35 that rotatably holds the valve body 31 is sealed with O-rings 36 and 37. In this way, the structure is such that the driving parts are held in the switching valve body 33 and the valve cover 32, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 3c, the valve cover 32 is held between guide rails 44 formed symmetrically by extrusion molding of aluminum. Guide rail 4
4 and 44 hold the elevating body 10 so as to be movable up and down. This prevents the switching valve body 33 from warping or deforming due to the restoring force of the reversing spring 26.
The reliability and durability of reverse switching during long-term use can be improved, and inspection, adjustment, assembly, and replacement of parts can be facilitated.

[Effects of the Invention] In short, the present invention includes a braking spring means having a spring force approximately corresponding to the gravity of the switching mechanism section, and a buffering means for buffering the switching spring force of the reversing switching spring mechanism. This cancels out the gravity of the switching mechanism, eliminates hysteresis when the shower nozzle goes up and down due to the spring force of the reversing switching spring mechanism, and furthermore, the buffering means that buffers the switching spring force of the reversing switching spring mechanism The switching force based on the spring force is alleviated, thereby switching the switching valve smoothly and accurately without producing noise, increasing the reliability of operation and improving the durability of switching parts, etc. It has the advantage of being able to

In addition, since the reversing switching spring mechanism and the switching mechanism necessary for switching the switching valve are connected to the surface side of the valve cover of the switching valve, the members necessary for switching the switching valve are concentrated on the valve cover, and the assembly is easy. This has the advantage that maintenance can be easily performed all at once.

Further, since the side part of the valve cover of the switching valve is sandwiched between the guide grooves of the pair of left and right guide rails that hold the elevating body for elevating and lowering the shower nozzle so as to be able to move up and down,
This has the advantage of preventing the switching valve from warping or deforming due to the spring force of the reversing switching spring mechanism, and improving the reliability and durability of reversing switching during long-term use.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figures 1a, b, and c are schematic diagrams of the entire system according to an embodiment of the present invention, an inverted front view and an overall perspective view of the switching valve, and Figures 2a and b are the same switching mechanism and reverse switching spring. A partially cutaway front view showing the mechanism;
Side view, Figures 3a, b, and c are longitudinal sectional views, front views, and plan sectional views of the same switching valve portion as above, and Figures 4a, b, and c.
5a and b are a plan sectional view showing the relationship between the guide rail and the guide rail fixing base, a plan sectional view showing the relationship between the guide rail and the slider, and a plan sectional view of the attachment part of the height adjustment clamp. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram and a perspective view of a conventional example, in which 1 is a switching valve, 2 is a shower nozzle, 3 is a switching mechanism, 4 is a reverse switching spring mechanism, 5 is a braking means, and 6 is a buffer spring means.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A shower nozzle that is driven up and down by pressure fluid from a switching valve, a switching mechanism that is switched and moved as the shower nozzle moves between the upper and lower limit positions of the shower nozzle, and A shower device comprising a reversing switching spring mechanism that is driven by a switching mechanism and reverses beyond the dead line to switch the switching valve, the brake spring means having a spring force approximately corresponding to the gravity of the switching mechanism. and a buffer means for buffering the switching spring force of the reversing switching spring mechanism. 2. A shower nozzle that is driven up and down by pressure fluid from a switching valve, a switching mechanism that is switched and moved as the shower nozzle moves between the upper and lower limit positions of the shower nozzle, and this switching mechanism. The shower device is equipped with a reversing switching spring mechanism that is driven and reverses beyond the dead line to switch the switching valve, and the reversing switching spring mechanism and the switching mechanism part necessary for switching the switching valve are installed on the valve cover of the switching valve. A shower device characterized in that it is connected to a surface side. 3. A shower nozzle that is driven up and down by pressure fluid from a switching valve, a switching mechanism that is switched and moved as the shower nozzle moves between the upper and lower limits of the shower nozzle, and this switching mechanism that The shower device is equipped with a reversing switching spring mechanism that is driven and reversed beyond the dead line to switch the switching valve, and the shower device is equipped with a guide groove of a pair of left and right guide rails that holds an elevating body that moves the shower nozzle up and down so that it can move up and down. A shower device characterized in that the valve cover of a switching valve is sandwiched between sides.