Showerhead engine assembly

• US 6,715,699 B1
• Filed: 03/03/2000
• Issued: 04/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Delta Faucet Company (Masco Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Masco Corporation
• Inventors: Genosar, Amir, Petrovic, John E., Lev, Moty, Greenberg, Ilan
• Primary Examiner(s): KIM, CHRISTOPHER S
• Application Number:
  US09/518,668
• Time in Patent Office: 1,495 Days
• Field of Search: 239/380-383, 239/390-394, 239/443-447
• US Class Current: 239/394
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/1645 the outlets being rotated during selection
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/185 characterised by their outlet element; Mounting arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 15/5225 the cleaning element being located upstream of the discharge opening or being actuated upstream therefrom
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 3/04 driven by the liquid or other fluent material discharged, e.g. the liquid actuating a motor before passing to the outlet B05B3/023 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 3/049 comprising mechanical means for preventing a rotor from rotating despite being submerged in a streaming fluid

Abstract

The showerhead engine assemblies provide different combinations and variations of continuous, deflected, pulsating sprays, and aeration spray patterns including those that are adjustable enabling wide variations in the degree of aeration of the water passing through the showerhead, enabling wide variation of the characteristics of the water spray patterns. The spray patterns include a nondeflected, nonpulsating spray pattern; a deflected nonpulsating spray pattern; a nondeflected, pulsating spray pattern; and a deflected, pulsating spray pattern, while enabling the engine assembly to be self-cleaning. For pulsating spray modes, the showerhead engine assembly includes but five plastic parts and an O-ring seal; the parts being a stator, a spinner, an engager, a pressure plate, and a faceplate, openings beings disposed in the pressure plate and faceplate to enable fluid flow therefrom. Deflecting surfaces on the faceplate enable a variety of different flow patterns. Spinner rotation starts or stops depending upon the position of the spinner relative to the stator, since the stator includes a pair of stop flanges that engage and disengage with the spinner. When the spinner is disengaged and free to rotate, water flow through passages in the spinner cause spinner rotation, creating a vortex and pulsating spray patterns. The series of showerhead engine assemblies include component parts that are interchangeable, the number of component parts being minimal, the interchangeability reducing the number of spare parts necessary to repair the series of showerhead engine assemblies.

Claims

1. A showerhead assembly comprising:

a housing shell;

a stator directing water against a spinner, said spinner selectively rotatable about an axis;

an engager movable along said axis for selectively engaging said spinner;

a pressure plate fixed to said housing comprising a plurality of fluid outlets;

a face plate fixed to said engager and axially moveable with said engager, said face plate rotatable about said axis for selection of a desired spray pattern; and

said pressure plate comprises several ramped portions cooperating with a surface of said engager and said face plate for moving said engager and said face plate axially.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said ramped portions are disposed radially within said pressure plate.

3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein said pressure plate includes a first side corresponding to said faceplate and a second side corresponding to said engager, said first and second sides including said ramped portions.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said face plate includes a plurality of non-deflecting openings and a plurality of deflecting openings.

5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said spinner rotates about said axis to intermittently block flow through said pressure plate creating a pulsating water stream through said pressure plate.

6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said pressure plate includes a plurality of jet orifice clusters disposed radially about said axis.

7. The assembly of claim 6, wherein each of said jet orifice clusters comprises four jet orifices.

8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said engager includes an outer circumference including at least one nub corresponding with an inner surface of said pressure plate for positively locating said engager relative to said pressure plate.

9. The assembly of claim 8, wherein said positive location between said nub and said inner surface corresponds to alignment of an opening within said face plate with said pressure plate.

10. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said spinner comprises a hub supported on a stem of said engager, said spinner including a plurality of arms extending radially outward from said hub.

11. The assembly of claim 10 including a pad spanning radially across at least two of said plurality of arms, said pads interrupt water flow to create a pulsating effect.

12. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said stator is a flat disc having a plurality of passages disposed about an outer circumference of said stator.

13. The assembly of claim 12, wherein said stator includes at least a central hub receiving said stan of said engager.

14. The assembly of claim 12, wherein said stator includes at least one stopping rib for contacting and stopping rotation of said spinner.