DESCRIPTION

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to the field of hydraulic systems, more in details to a cartridge for a diverter of a hydraulic system, still more preferably for a diverter assembly intended to be mounted in a water supply system of the domestic type, such as a shower system or the like.

PRIOR ART

Cartridges for diverters of hydraulic systems are known in the prior art: they are intended to be inserted in the diverter chamber, at least one inlet and several fluid outlets conveying thereto.

The diverter by its nature acts for the selection of the outlets with which the inlet has to be put in fluid communication, therefore by selecting the path followed by the fluid.

One example of these cartridges for a diverter are those installed within showers in homes: here the diverter (equipped with such cartridge) allows to selectively supply the shower head, the hand-held shower or other sprays with which the shower may be provided (e.g. the distributed sprays, so called "total body" or other type).

Usually along the path of the water to the sprays, the diverter is placed downstream of the mixer, that regulates the flow rate and the mixing of hot and cold water.

In the field of cartridges for hydraulic systems it is known to use the so called hydraulic effect for improving tightness and for preventing seals from excessively wearing out.

Cartridges using such effect are for example present, besides diverters, also in mixers.

Further information about the hydraulic effect in cartridges may be found in the US patent US 4,733,694 or in the Italian patent to the Applicant IT1247777 describing a cartridge for a mixer faucet where such effect is used. Shortly, by the hydraulic effect the pressure of the water entering the diverter (or the mixer faucet, depending on the cases) is used for compressing the seals and for generating tightness proportional to the pressure of the supplied water; this allows in short, the friction and the deterioration of seals to be reduced.

It has to be noted, by the way, that hydraulic sealing has not to be confused with other types of sealing, that on the contrary use only a (static) compression of the seals: in the first case, in the absence of a pressure of the fluid the watertightness would not be - practically - provided, while in the second case such watertightness is always guaranteed, even if to the detriment of other factors (wear, force necessary for the actuation).

In the cartridges for a diverter that use such hydraulic effect, according to known solutions, there is provided a supply chamber connected both with the inlet of the water and with the several outlets (two, three or more depending on the cases); a conveyor puts the inlet in direct communication with one of the outlets, while the other outlets may remain in fluid communication with each other.

In the field of cartridges for diverters the Applicant has found some technical drawbacks.

Particularly a quite common drawback is the one related to the fluid backflow in specific operating conditions.

For example, imagine the user desires to switch from the shower head (placed at the ceiling of the shower) to the hand-held shower (placed at a level lower than the shower head). By switching the diverter for putting the water inlet in fluid communication with the direct outlet of the hand-held shower, a backflow of the water indirectly occurs from the duct directed to the shower head to the one directed to the hand-held shower.

In practice, when the diverter is switched putting the water inlet in communication with the hand-held shower, a back pressure in generated that causes the water column contained in the duct directed to the shower case to flow back to the supply chamber and from this one into the duct directed to the hand-held shower. Obviously this is not a desirable effect, since it leads to difficulties in adjusting the flow rate and the temperature of the water (at least in the first moments following the switching between two different outlets).

Another drawback found by the Applicant is that, when supplying an outlet, air is often drawn from the duct (or the ducts, if there are more than two outlets) that is not supplied in that moment.

This leads to gurgling and more in general to a non regular operation.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the object of the present invention to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art. Particularly it is the object of the present invention to provide a cartridge for diverters of the type mentioned above preventing water contained in a supply duct from back flowing upon switching the flow towards another duct.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a cartridge for diverters able to avoid gurgling and malfunctions in use.

Still another object is to provide a cartridge relatively simple and inexpensive to be produced.

These and other objects of the present invention are achieved by a cartridge embodying the characteristics of the annexed claims, which are an integral part of the present description.

The general idea at the base of the present invention is to provide a cartridge where the inlet of the fluid (water) is in communication with one or more outlets at a time, the fluid communication among the remaining outlets (namely the ones not in communication with the fluid inlet) being prevented.

In one embodiment, the invention provides to make a cartridge for a hydraulic effect diverter, comprising a movable distributor provided with at least one inlet and a supply chamber in fluid communication with the inlet. The cartridge further comprises a member for driving the distributor coupled thereto such to transmit a drive motion, and a base provided with at least a plurality of outlet ducts.

A sealing element in turn comprising at least one tubular portion to effect hydraulic seal adapted to generate a watertight sealing against said base in consequence of a pressure of a fluid supplied into the supply chamber, said tubular portion being housed in the supply chamber.

The sealing element also comprises a shutter portion integral with the tubular portion, and it is coupled with the distributor so as to be displaceable together with the latter between at least two positions :

- a first working position wherein the at least one tubular portion connects the supply chamber with at least a first outlet duct ,

- a closed position wherein the tubular portion is intercepted by the base and the shutter portion interrupts fluid communication between the outlet ducts.

In a preferred embodiment, in the closed position, all the outlet ducts are intercepted by the shutter portion.

According to an advantageous characteristic, the sealing element is movable in a plurality of working positions, at least equal to the number of outlet ducts of the base, and in a plurality of closed positions, at least equal to the number of working positions minus one.

According to another advantageous characteristic, when passing between two subsequent working positions, the sealing element passes by a closed position. Thus it is possible to have a diverter with multiple outlets, avoiding the drawbacks mentioned above.

In a compact and strong embodiment, the cartridge comprises an outer case housing: part of the actuating member, the movable distributor, the sealing element; the case is closed watertight by the base and provided with feed holes in continuous fluid communication with the inlet of the movable distributor.

According to another advantageous characteristic the distributor rotates and the drive motion of the actuating member is a rotary motion around an axis of rotation; during a passage between the working positions the tubular portion and the shutter portion follow a circumferential trajectory having center in the axis of rotation.

This arrangement allows a compact cartridge to be made, with parts moving only so as to rotate due to an analogous control exerted by a user.

It has to be noted that in case of a control exerted by a servomotor (for example controlled by the user through a remote control push-button panel) this arrangement is particularly useful, since it is sufficient to couple the shaft of the servomotor with the member actuating the distributor.

According to another advantageous characteristic the shutter portion comprises at least one lobe which projects radially from the tubular portion.

This particular arrangement causes the lobes to be housed in a simple manner between the bottom of the distributor and the base, promoting to improve the hydraulic seal when they are in the position intercepting an outlet duct, in the second working positon.

In an advantageous embodiment, the lobes are in a number equal to the number of the outlet ducts. Thus it is possible to intercept all the ducts, regardless of their number.

According to an advantageous characteristic there is provided a preloading elastic element acting on the sealing element and adapted to force it watertight against the base: since the operating principle of this sealing element is the hydraulic effect (dependent from the supply pressure) it is possible, by the preloading, to obtain an optimal sealing also in combination with low supply flow rates (and pressures).

In a variant the shutter portion is comprised within the tubular one, with advantages for the assembling simplicity.

Preferably for an optimal sealing and for a relatively simple and compact arrangement, the preloading elastic element is a helical spring housed in the chamber and it extends between the inner walls of the tubular portion of the sealing element and an annular abutment edge of the distributor facing the chamber.

Further advantageous characteristics are the subject matter of the annexed claims, which are an integral part of the present description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described below with reference to non-limiting examples, provided by way of example and not as a limitation in the annexed drawings. These drawings show different aspects and embodiments of the present invention and, where appropriate, reference numerals showing like structures, components, materials and/ or elements in different figures are denoted by like reference numerals.

Figure 1 is an overall exploded view of the cartridge of the invention;

Figure 2 is a partial exploded view of the cartridge of the previous figure;

Figures 3-6 are different sections of the cartridge of the previous figures, in the assembled condition;

Figures 7-9 are plan views of details of the cartridge of the previous figures in different working positions,

Figures 10-12 are a base variant of the details of the cartridge of the previous figures, in working positions equal to those of figures 7-9;

Figure 13 is another variant of a detail of the cartridge of the previous figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative forms, some preferred embodiments are shown in the drawings and will be described here below in details.

It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific embodiment disclosed, but, on the contrary, the intention of the invention is to cover all modifications, alternative forms and equivalents falling within the scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

The use of "for example", "etc", "or" indicate non-exclusive alternatives without limitation unless otherwise defined.

The use of "including" means "including, but not limited to," unless otherwise defined.

With reference to the annexed figures, they show an example of a cartridge for a hydraulic effect diverter, denoted as a whole by the reference numeral 1.

Moreover the term "interception of a duct" means - here and in the claims below - that the port of the duct is closed or, equivalently, that its orifice is plugged.

It is noted from figs. 1, 2 and 4, 5 that the cartridge 1 comprises a movable distributor 2 provided with at least one inlet 21 and a supply chamber 22 in fluid communication with the inlet 21.

In the example shown the distributor 2 is a substantially cylindrical and single body (for example made of plastic or metal) where a channel is obtained that at one end has the inlet 21 and at the opposite end has the supply chamber 22.

According to the teachings of the invention, the movable distributor 2 optionally comprises also a blind chamber 26, made as a volume obtained in the body, with only one open port.

It has to be noted that the supply chamber 22 and the blind chamber 26 are provided with open ports at the same face of the distributor 2, particularly the face intended, in use, to face the base 4, to which further reference is made below.

One of the edges of the distributor 2 then has one annular sealing lip 29 (fig.2, 4). The cartridge 1 then comprises an actuating member 3 for driving the distributor 2 coupled thereto for transmitting a drive motion.

It has to be noted now that in the specificity of the non-limitative example shown and described here, the drive motion is a rotation, therefore the symmetries of the (cylindrical and circular) parts are related to such aspect, however it is possible to make changes if a linear drive motion is selected.

The actuating member 3 in this example is a shaped shaft with a free engagement spline end 31 and one free coupling end 32 (the opposite one) shaped for coupling with the distributor 2.

Such coupling preferably is of the mechanical type, for example with an engagement spline (not shown); details on such coupling however are not mentioned here since available for the person skilled in the art and not necessary for understanding the invention.

It has to be noted that the actuating shaft of the member 3 in this embodiment rotates around its X axis (fig.3). The cartridge 1 then comprises a base 4 comprising a plurality of outlet ducts; in the shown example there are two outlet ducts (41, 42) connectable to the same number of hydraulic circuits (e.g. a circuit going towards a shower head and another one going towards a hand-held shower) such to supply them.

Generally speaking, in other embodiments there are provided three, four or more ducts.

With reference again to the example of figure 1-9, the base 4, in the shown embodiment, has a substantially circular plan shape, for the reasons set forth above and related to the actuation of the cartridge.

Then grooves (in the example circumferential ones) are obtained in the base 4 for the seals necessary for the sealing.

The cartridge 1 further comprises a sealing element 5 partially housed in the supply chamber 22.

The sealing element 5 in turn comprises a tubular portion 53 to effect hydraulic seal housed within the chamber 22 and a shutter portion 51, 52 integral with the tubular portion 53.

Even in this case it has to be noted now that, while in the example only one tubular portion 53 is shown, in other variants there are provided two, three or more of them. When the sealing element 5 is mounted, the tubular portion 53 is housed in the chamber 22 and its end faced towards the base 4 is intended to ensure tightness against the latter, such to avoid leakages.

The tightness, according to what defined in the documents mentioned above, is of the hydraulic effect type: such effect is guaranteed by the pressure of the water supplied into the cartridge and more precisely in the chamber 22, that acts on the inner walls of the tubular portion 53 pushing it against the base 4, such that an increase in the pressure leads to an increase of the compression of the tubular portion 53 and therefore, finally, of the tightness accomplished by it.

To this end, the inner walls of the tubular portion 53 - at least for a portion - are as a frustum of cone converging towards the outlet port of the chamber 22 where the tubular portion 53 is housed.

To this end, optionally, the cartridge 1 comprises a preloading elastic member 8 acting on the sealing element 5 and intended to force it watertight against the base 4; in the example of the annexed figures the preloading elastic member 8 is a helical spring housed in the chamber 22, between the inner walls of the tubular portion 53 of the sealing element 5 and an annular abutment edge 24 of the distributor 2 facing the chamber 22.

The provision of the elastic member 8 is optional, meaning that, by suitably dimensioning the tubular portion 53 it is possible to obtain a sufficient hydraulic effect even in presence of low flow rates/ supply pressures.

However such elastic member 8 may be useful in certain arrangements, when an optimal sealing is desired to be guaranteed also under operating conditions when there are low flow rates/ supply pressures.

With reference again to the sealing element 5, it comprises the shutter portion 51, 52 that in the shown example comprises two lobes that project radially from the tubular portion 53.

Preferably the sealing element 5 is monolithic, for example made of plastic material, still more preferably it is made of nitrile rubber, or NBR, with hardness of at least 90 Shore.

This is necessary because even the shutter portion 51, 52 (and its variants that will be disclosed below) generate a watertightness against the base 4 on the basis of the hydraulic effect described above: the force that generates the sealing (generated by the pressure of the liquid), is transmitted from the tubular portion 53 to the shutter portion 51, 52; therefore it is possible to say that also the shutter portion 51, 52 has a hydraulic seal effect.

The lobes preferably are in a number equal to the number of the outlet ducts, therefore, in the example there are two lobes 51, 52 that are arranged, with respect to the tubular portion, about at 90° from each other; the effects of such arrangement will be more clear soon. The lobes 51 ,52 are intended, each one, to intercept, by closing (watertight manner, with hydraulic effect against the base 4) a corresponding outlet duct 41, 42, depending on the position taken by the sealing element 5 with respect to the base 4 due to the distributor 2 being driven that is moved in turn by the member 3.

That is to say, the sealing element 5, generally speaking, is a body, preferably a single and rigid body, wherein there is provided the tubular portion 53 (intended to put in fluid communication the ducts 41 ,42 with the supply chamber 22) and a shutter portion 51, 52 that in the examples extends from the tubular portion 53 and it has such an arrangement (shapes and dimensions) that when the sealing element 5 is in the closed position (e.g. figs. 7 and 10) the shutter portion extends till covering the open port of the ducts 41, 42 intercepting the latter in a watertight manner, by means of the water pressure.

The sealing element 5 is coupled with the distributor 2 such to be movable together with this latter; in the shown example when the distributor 2 rotates, it causes also the sealing element 5 to rotate around the same axis X: further reference thereto will be made below when describing the operation of the cartridge 1.

Turning again to the cartridge 1, it further comprises an outer case 6 housing: a part of the actuating member 3, the movable distributor 2, the sealing element 5.

The case 6 is closed watertight by the base 4 that therefore is its bottom part.

On the side wall of the case 6 there are the feed holes 61 that are in a continuous fluid communication with the inlet 21 of the movable distributor 2. The term "continuous fluid communication" means that, even in presence of movements, such as rotations, of the distributor 2 within the case 6 (that on the contrary remains still), the fluid communication is never interrupted between the feed holes 61 and the inlet 21.

Even in this case, like above, the case 6 has a substantially cylindrical shape, for the same reasons related to the rotational operation, no further reference is made thereto. The coupling between the case 6 and the parts contained therein is, shortly, the following: the case 6 and the base 4 are coupled in a fixed manner (the second one is fitted in the first one) by interposing seals and are integral also during the rotation. That is to say, the case 6 and the base 4, once assembled, behave like a single body. The case 6 keeps the drive member 3 of the distributor 2 from being removed, leaving it free to rotate for exerting the movement to the distributor 2 itself.

This latter is housed in the case 6, in the volume between the end 32 of the actuating member 3 and the base 4; the distributor 2 however is free to move (in the example to rotate) inside the case 6 therefore causing also the sealing element 5 to rotate and particularly by placing in different positions (corresponding to different working conditions or positions) both the tubular portion 53 and the shutter portion (the lobes in the example) 51, 52.

As it can be noted, with reference to figures 7-9, the sealing element 5 is movable between at least two positions.

A working position (figs.8,9) is the one where the tubular portion 53 connects the supply chamber 22 with one of the outlet ducts (the duct 42 in fig.8 and the duct 41 in fig.9) and the remaining outlet ducts are contemporaneously facing and in fluid communication with the blind chamber 26.

In the absence of the blind chamber 26, more in general, the remaining outlet ducts not connected with the chamber 2 are intercepted by the distributor 2 itself.

With reference for example to fig. 8 it has to be noted that the duct 42 is in fluid communication with the tubular portion 53 of the sealing element 5 and therefore it is connected to the supply chamber 22 and supplied by the fluid entering the inlet 21 and coming from the holes 61.

At the same time the other duct 41 is not intercepted by the shutter portion 51, 52 that is placed in a remote position with respect to the port of the duct 41, but it is open, particularly, by observing the overall arrangement of the cartridge 1, it is open towards the blind chamber 26 and therefore not only it is not supplied, but it avoids back flowing to the cartridge 1 of the fluid contained in the hydraulic circuit to which it is connected.

The same is valid when the duct 41 is intercepted by the distributor 2, when the blind chamber 26 is missing. By presuming the duct 41 to be connected to the hydraulic circuit of the shower head the column of water contained in such circuit is prevented from being emptied.

At the same time this prevents air from entering through the duct 41, thus avoiding malfunctions and gurgling of the cartridge 1.

Likewise, the same thing can be valid with reference to fig.9.

The closed position is the one shown in fig.7, where the tubular portion 53 is intercepted by the base 4 and the outlet ducts 41, 42 are both intercepted by the shutter portion 51, 52.

Therefore in this closed position there is no passage of the fluid (e.g. water) between the two outlet ducts 41, 42 since at least one (in the embodiment both of them) are sealed watertight by the shutter portion 51, 52 and therefore they are not in fluid communication with each other.

It is clear how the same advantage may be obtained also by closing only one duct 41, 42 (if there are two of them - as in the example) since also in this manner the fluid communication is prevented - likewise- between the ducts 41,42; such simplified solution will be disclosed below with reference to figs. 10-12.

More generally, according to the teachings provided herein, it is necessary in the closed position that the shutter portion 51,52 is able to stop the fluid communication between the ducts 41, 42.

This is accomplished by giving the shutter portion 51, 52 such an arrangement that - when the sealing element 5 is in the closed position - it extends till covering and closing the opened port (and facing the distributor) of the ducts 41, 42.

The watertightness is guaranteed by the hydraulic effect set forth above, by means of which the shutter portion 51, 52 pushes against the base 4, biased by the fluid pressure, closing in a substantially watertight manner the duct 41, 42.

More generally it has to be noted about this matter, that if the outlet ducts are in a number greater than two, it will be sufficient, for obtaining such advantage, to close all of them minus one.

Moreover it has to be noted that also in the absence of fluid supplying to the tubular portion 53, the fluid communication between the outlet ducts 41, 42 is prevented or anyway limited.

With reference again to the example, it has to be noted that advantageously in order to pass from one working position (fig.8) to another working position (fig.9) it is necessary to pass by a closed position (fig.7).

Preferably in the case of several outlet ducts, the sealing element 5 is movable:

- in a plurality of said working positions, said plurality being at least equal to the number of outlet ducts of the base,

- in a plurality of closed positions, equal at least to the number of working positions minus one,

wherein preferably during the passage between two working positions the sealing element 5 passes by a closed position.

In the light of the above, it would be also possible to have only one lobe closing only one duct 41 or 42, leaving the other duct free from the shutter, as in the example of figures 10-12; this is sufficient, in the closed position of fig.10, to stop the fluid communication between the ducts 41 and 42.

As it is noted, in the shown example, the distributor 2 rotates around the axis of rotation X, and when passing through the several working positions the tubular portion 53 and the shutter one 51, 52 follow a circumferential trajectory having center in the axis of rotation X.

In the condition of figure 8, one of the two ducts (in this case the duct 42) is put in communication with the inlet 61 through the tubular element 53, while the other duct (in this case 41) is open, but it is not supplied.

When passing from the position of figure 8 to the position of figure 9, the shutter portion closes both the ducts till in position of figure 7 the two lobes 51 and 52 completely close the passage port of such ducts.

By continuing the rotation, the passage port of one of the outlet ducts (in this case 42) is opened by the movement of the corresponding lobe. The tubular portion faces, during this movement, the base 4, therefore the water entering from the inlet 61 cannot go out from the cartridge yet, till, in the condition of figure 9, the situation is reversed with respect to the initial one of fig.8: the duct 41 is put in communication with the inlet 61 by the tubular element 53 placed above it, while the duct 42 is not supplied since it faces the blind seat 26.

This guarantees, in the example, that the chamber 22 cannot be never put in communication contemporaneously with two outlet ducts.

In other embodiments, on the contrary, it is provided that, in certain working positions, contemporaneously two (or more) ducts are supplied: however the situation is like what described up to now.

From the description set forth above it is clear how the described cartridge allows the objects above to be achieved.

Therefore it is clear, for a person skilled in the art, that it is possible to make changes and variants to the solution described with reference to figures 1 to 9, without for this reason departing from the teaching of the present patent and from the scope of protection as defined in the annexed claims.

A first example of one of such variants is briefly shown in figures 10-12.

The main difference with respect to the solution described above is the different arrangement of the sealing element, here denoted by the reference 5', that comprises, in addition to the tubular portion 53 to effect a hydraulic seal described above, a shutter portion 52' that has only one lobe radially projecting from the tubular portion 53.

In this manner also a different behavior of the cartridge of the invention is obtained when it is in the closed position, corresponding to figure 10.

In this position, the tubular portion 53 is intercepted by the base 4 and only one of the outlet ducts (the duct 42) is intercepted by the shutter portion 52' while the other one is closed by the distributor 2, the other lobe being not provided.

However, also in this case, in the closed position, the fluid communication between the two outlet ducts is interrupted.

The operation, in the other positions, besides is equal to that of the sealing element 5 described above and therefore no further reference is made thereto.

Also in such arrangement, simpler than the previous one, the cartridge achieves the above objects, especially when it is installed in conditions where only one of the ducts (in the case the duct 42) is the one subjected more easily to a back-pressure with a fluid back-flow.

For example such situation takes place when the duct 42 is the one connected to the shower head and the duct 41 is connected to a normal faucet of a bathtub or to handheld shower or the like.

Therefore also in the base arrangement just described, the cartridge of the invention achieves the objects set forth above, although in combination with specific implementations; besides this base, or simplified arrangement of the invention is more easy to be manufactured and with lower costs, since a part (the lobe 51 of the sealing element 5) is completely omitted.

Still another alternative embodiment of the sealing element is the one shown in figure 13, where only the sealing element is shown, denoted by the reference numeral 5".

In this variant 5" the shutter portion 51", 52" has no lobes, but it is as one piece; it is possible to imagine the two lobes of the element 5 to be connected with each other. Another difference is that, while in the solution described in figures 1-9 the chamber 22 containing the tubular portion 53 and the shutter portion 51, 52 is outside the chamber 22, in this variant also the shutter portion 51", 52" is housed in the chamber 22.

In this way it has to be noted the presence of the single perimetral wall 90", that delimits and defines the tubular portion 53 and also the shutter portion 51", 52" that therefore is comprised (meaning it is contained) within the tubular portion 53 itself. Also in this case the operation is like the one described with reference to fig.1-9 therefore no further reference is made thereto.

Moreover it is clear to the person skilled in the art how it is possible to provide more than two outlet ducts and therefore more working positions and the same number of lobes.

Still, instead of the rotational drive it would be possible to change the cartridge by providing a linear drive, with a slider that drives a slide and the like.

Still the blind chamber 26 may be simply made by the space generated between the distributor 2 and the base 4, without the need of providing it to be obtained in the body of the distributor 2 itself.

In this case, more generally, it can be observed that in the working positions the ducts that are not in communication with the chamber 22 are intercepted by the distributor 2 itself.

Still, in another embodiment, the lobes 51 and 52 can be provided, preferably on their faces facing the distributor, with stiffening ribs, such to give them a higher stiffness (necessary to use the hydraulic seal effect) even when selecting a material not having, intrinsically, a high stiffness.

Finally, in other embodiments not shown, it would be possible to provide several tubular elements 53 that, in the different working positions, are put in communication with the outlets (for example with three, four or more outlet ducts). Even in this evolved variants, however, the operation and the implementation are like what described up to now, therefore no further reference is made thereto.