WATER OUTLET DEVICE

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of International Application No. PCT/CN2024/096569, filed on May 31, 2024, which claims priority to Chinese Application No. 202310658741.8, filed on June 5, 2023. The disclosures of the above-mentioned applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to the field of sanitary ware, and in particular to a water outlet device.

BACKGROUND

Existing sanitary water outlet devices, such as multifunctional aerators, faucet pull-out sprayers, and shower heads, often employ structures like rotating housings, push-pull valve cores, or pressing buttons to switch water outlet channels of the devices, thereby generating water sprays in different forms.

For these water outlet devices, a user generally needs to perform an active operation to switch to a desired water outlet state. As a result, after using the water outlet device and before turning it on again next time, the user may forget that the water outlet state the device was switched to during the previous operation. The user cannot determine the water spray pattern to be generated by the device, which may cause water splashing due to the impact between inappropriate water sprays and the usage environment.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure relates to a water outlet device. The water outlet device includes a water-passing member and a water outlet member. The water-passing member is provided with a plurality of jet holes along a circumferential direction, the water outlet member is provided with different water flow channels, and the water-passing member and the water outlet member are rotatably connected. The jet holes are in communication with the different water flow channels through relative rotation between the water-passing member and the water outlet member, the water-passing member is provided with a first limiting portion along an axial direction, and the water outlet member is provided with a first supporting portion along the axial direction. The device further includes a sliding block and an elastic element, where the sliding block includes a second supporting portion and a second limiting portion. The first limiting portion is connected to the second limiting portion of the sliding block, such that the sliding block is only movable relative to the water outlet member along the axial direction of the water outlet member. The elastic element supports the sliding block in the axial direction. The second supporting portion of the sliding block presses against or separates from the first supporting portion in the axial direction, and the sliding block and the water outlet member can rotate relative to each other through the second supporting portion and the first supporting portion, such that the jet holes are in communication with the different water flow channels.

The water outlet device of the present disclosure can be mounted on a kitchen or bathroom faucet for use. After the faucet is turned on, a water flow is ejected toward one water flow channel through the jet holes and is discharged from the water outlet device through the water flow channel, so as to generate a first type of water spray. In addition, the water flow synchronously moves the sliding block toward a water outlet direction in a first mounting through hole along the axial direction, such that the second supporting portion of the sliding block is separated from the first supporting portion of the water outlet member. At the same time, the elastic element is in a state of accumulating resilience force. When the water supply is turned on, rotating the water outlet member can cause another water flow channel to align with the jet holes, such that the water flow is discharged from the water outlet device from the another water flow channel to generate a second type of water spray. In this process, the rotation causes the first supporting portion of the water outlet member to rotate toward the second supporting portion of the sliding block, bringing the first supporting portion closer to or into pressing contact with the second supporting portion. If the water supply is turned off during the generation of the second type of water spray, the elastic element releases the resilience force and returns to its initial state. In this process, the sliding block moves toward a water inlet direction along the axial direction under the action of the elastic element, such that the second supporting portion of the sliding block presses against and pushes the first supporting portion, and the axial movement of the sliding block is converted into the rotation of the water outlet member in the circumferential direction through the pressing of the second supporting portion against the first supporting portion. When the sliding block returns to its initial position in the axial direction, the water outlet member also returns to its initial position in the circumferential direction

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an axial view of a water outlet device according to some embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a perspective sectional view taken along plane A-A of a water outlet device in a water-off state according to some embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a first sectional view of a water outlet device in a water-off state according to some embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a second sectional view of a water outlet device in a water-off state according to some embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a perspective sectional view taken along plane A-A of a water outlet device in a water-on state according to some embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a first sectional view of a water outlet device in a water-on state according to some embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a second sectional view of a water outlet device in a water-on state according to some embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a perspective sectional view taken along plane A-A of a water outlet device in a switching state according to some embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a first exploded view of a water outlet device according to some embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 10 is a second exploded view of a water outlet device according to some embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 11 is a third exploded view of a water outlet device according to some embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 12 is a fourth exploded view of a water outlet device according to some embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view of FIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1 to FIG. 13, a water outlet device includes a water-passing member 10 and a water outlet member 20. The water-passing member 10 is provided with a plurality of jet holes 11 along a circumferential direction, and specifically, a plurality of jet holes 11 are distributed along a circumferential direction of an end face in an axial direction of the water-passing member 10. The water outlet member 20 is provided with different water flow channels, the water-passing member 10 and the water outlet member 20 are rotatably connected, and the jet holes 11 are in communication with the different water flow channels through relative rotation between the water-passing member 10 and the water outlet member 20. The water-passing member 10 is provided with a first mounting through hole 12 along the axial direction, and an inner wall of the first mounting through hole 12 is provided with a first limiting portion 121 along the axial direction; and the water outlet member 20 is provided with a second mounting through hole 21 along the axial direction, and an inner wall of the second mounting through hole 21 is provided with a first supporting portion 211. The device further includes a sliding block 31 and an elastic element 32, where the sliding block 31 includes a second supporting portion 311 and a second limiting portion 312. The sliding block 31 is provided in the first mounting through hole 12 of the water-passing member 10, and the first limiting portion 121 of the first mounting through hole 12 is connected to the second limiting portion 312 of the sliding block 31, such that the sliding block 31 is only movable in the first mounting through hole 12 along the axial direction. The elastic element 32 supports the sliding block 31 in the axial direction, and the water-passing member 10 is mounted in the second mounting through hole 21 of the water outlet member 20 through the first mounting through hole 12. The second supporting portion 311 of the sliding block 31 presses against or separates from the first supporting portion 211 of the second mounting through hole 21 in the axial direction, and the sliding block 31 and the water outlet member 20 can rotate relative to each other through the second supporting portion 311 and the first supporting portion 211, such that the jet holes 11 are in communication with the different water flow channels.

When the faucet is turned off, the jet holes 11 are aligned with one water flow channel, the second supporting portion 311 of the sliding block 31 is fully close to or in pressing contact with the first supporting portion 211 of the water outlet member 20, and the sliding block 31 is in a stable position through the support of the elastic element 32. When the faucet is turned on, the sliding block 31 is subjected to the action of the water pressure. And when the water pressure is larger than the elastic force of the elastic element 32, the sliding block 31 moves toward a water outlet direction in the first mounting through hole 12 along the axial direction, which causes the second supporting portion 311 of the sliding block 31 to separate from the first supporting portion 211 of the water outlet member 20, and the elastic element 32 to be in a state of accumulating resilience force. In addition, a water flow is ejected toward the water flow channel through the jet holes 11 and is discharged from the water outlet device through the water flow channel, so as to generate a first type of water spray. When the water supply is turned on, a user can rotate the water outlet member 20 (at this point, it can be defined that the water outlet member 20 rotates in a first direction) to enable the other water flow channel to align with the jet holes 11, such that the water flow is discharged from the water outlet device through the water flow channel to generate a second type of water spray. In this process, the rotation of the water outlet member 20 can cause the first supporting portion 211 of the water outlet member 20 to also rotate toward the second supporting portion 311 of the sliding block 31, bringing the first supporting portion 211 closer to or into pressing contact with the second supporting portion 311 locally. Moreover, due to the continuous effect of the water pressure, the elastic element 32 continues to remain in a state of accumulating resilience force. If the water supply is turned off during the generation of the second type of water spray, the elastic element 32, no longer constrained by the water pressure, can release the resilience force and return to its initial state. In this process, the sliding block 31 moves toward a water inlet direction along the axial direction under the action of the resilience force, such that the second supporting portion 311 of the sliding block 31 presses against and pushes the first supporting portion 211 to rotate. The axial movement of the sliding block 31 is converted into the rotation of the water outlet member 20 in the circumferential direction through the pressing of the second supporting portion 311 against the first supporting portion 211 (at this point, the water outlet member 20 rotates in a second direction opposite to the first direction). When the sliding block 31 returns to its initial position in the axial direction, the water outlet member 20 also returns to its initial position in the circumferential direction.

It can be understood that, when the water supply is turned off, even if the second supporting portion 311 and the first supporting portion 211 are in their initial positions, and they are fully close to each other or in a contact state, the water outlet member 20 can also be driven to rotate under the action of an external force (in all embodiments, the water outlet member 20 is not locked). However, rotating the water outlet member 20 in this state requires overcoming the supporting force of the elastic element 32, that is, the external force needs to be exerted on the water outlet member 20 to cause the first supporting portion 211 to drive the sliding block 31 to overcome the supporting force of the elastic element 32 to move toward a water outlet end of the first mounting through hole 12. And after the water outlet member 20 rotates to its final position, the external force must be maintained to keep the water outlet member 20 in the switched position. Once the external force is removed, the elastic element 32 will drive the sliding block 31 to return to its original position, so as to drive the water outlet member 20 to return to its initial position. The elastic element 32 in this solution can be a pressure spring or a torsion spring.

In some embodiments, two sets of water flow channels are provided. Inlets of the two sets of water flow channels are provided on a water inlet side of the water outlet member 20, with the inlets of the first set of water flow channels 23 and the inlets of the second set of water flow channels 24 being arranged in a staggered manner. Outlets of the two sets of water flow channels are provided on a water outlet side of the water outlet member 20, with the outlets of the first set of water flow channels 23 being surrounded by the outlets of the second set of water flow channels 24. This arrangement can implement water outlet of inner and outer rings, that is, the outlets of the first water flow channel 23 generate concentrated water sprays with a relatively large water outlet area at the water outlet member 20. The concentrated water sprays can be sprinkling water formed by aerated water, transparent water, mist water, bladed-shaped water, or multiple tiny water columns. The outlets of the second water flow channel 24 generate annular water sprays with a relatively small water outlet area formed around an axis of the water outlet member 20. The annular water sprays formed around the axis can be sprinkling water formed by conventional sprinkling water and multiple tiny water columns. In addition, the annular water sprays can also be high-pressure water.

In some embodiments, a top surface of the sliding block 31 is exposed to an opening of one end of the first mounting through hole 12 toward the water inlet side. In this way, the top surface of the sliding block 31 can be used to bear all water pressure after the water supply is turned on, thereby overcoming the elastic force of the elastic element 32 to cause the sliding block 31 to smoothly move toward the water outlet direction in the first mounting through hole 12 in the axial direction. And the second supporting portion 311 of the sliding block 31 separates from the first supporting portion 211 on the water outlet member 20, ensuring that the water outlet member 20 can rotate freely and maintain its position after rotation.

In some embodiments, the device further includes a water outlet panel connected to a water outlet end of the water outlet member 20. The elastic element 32 is sandwiched between the sliding block 31 and the water outlet panel, so as to ensure that the two can maintain stability of relative positions without an external force (the external force herein includes water pressure and manual force applied when rotating the water outlet member 20), that is, the sliding block 31 is in a position far away from the water outlet end of the first mounting through hole 12 in the first mounting through hole 12, and the second supporting portion 311 presses against the first supporting portion 211.

In some embodiments, a sealing member 33 is provided between the sliding block 31 and the first mounting through hole 12, so as to prevent the water flow from overflowing between the sliding block 31 and the first mounting through hole 12 after the water supply is turned on, resulting in deformation or dripping of the final output water sprays. The sealing member 33 can be an O-shaped sealing ring, or more preferably, a Y-shaped sealing ring.

In some embodiments, at least one of the first supporting portion 211 and the second supporting portion 311 is a prismatoid. Optionally, at least one of the first supporting portion 211 and the second supporting portion 311 is a wedge or a cuboid. To implement that the sliding block 31 can drive the water outlet member 20 to rotate in the circumferential direction while axially moving in the first mounting through hole 12, the supporting portions the design of design of a prismatoid, a wedge, or a cuboid, such that a wedge-shaped mechanism can be formed between the first supporting portion 211 and the second supporting portion 311 to convert a linear movement into a rotational movement. That is, the first supporting portion 211 is on a side close to the water inlet direction, the second supporting portion 311 is on a side close to the water outlet direction, and the second supporting portion 311 supports the first supporting portion 211, such that the axial movement of the sliding block 31 is converted into the circumferential rotation of the water outlet member 20. This design has the highest transmission efficiency, and is simple in structure and high in reliability.

In some embodiments, the first limiting portion 121 and the second limiting portion 312 engage with each other. Specifically, a groove cooperates with a protrusion. Any one of the two limiting portions can be configured as a groove, and the other is set as a protrusion. This arrangement ensures that the sliding block 31 can move strictly along the axial direction, and that the sliding block 31 can accurately drive the water outlet member 20 to rotate rather than rotating itself. The high transmission efficiency can improve the product reliability.

In some embodiments, a notch 122 is provided in a side wall of the first mounting through hole 12, and the first supporting portion 211 extends into the first mounting through hole 12 through the notch 122, which ensures that the first supporting portion 211 and the second supporting portion 311 can be more easily aligned and come into contact and press against each other in a working state.

In some embodiments, a first limiting plate 13 is provided on the water-passing member 10, and a second limiting plate 22 is provided on the water outlet member 20. The first limiting plate 13 and the second limiting plate 22 have an overlapping movement path in the circumferential direction, and the first limiting plate 13 can press against or separate from the second limiting plate 22 through the relative rotation between the water-passing member 10 and the water outlet member 20. The two limiting plates are provided to limit a rotatable angle of the water outlet member 20 relative to the water-passing member 10. The angle is designed such that when the two limiting plates are in a mutually pressing state, projections of the plurality of jet holes 11 on the water-passing member 10 fall within the inlets of the different water flow channels provided on the water outlet member 20. This ensures that, at different rotation limit positions of the water-passing component 10 and the water outlet component 20, the water flows ejected from the jet holes 11 can enter the water flow channels opposite to the ejected water flows at the moment, ultimately allowing the water flows to flow out to the outside through the water flow channels.

In some embodiments, a boss 14 is provided on an outer side of a hole wall of the first mounting through hole 12 of the water-passing member 10, and the water outlet member 20 presses against the boss 14 through a bottom side of a hole wall of the second mounting through hole 21 to be connected to the water-passing member 10. This structure is relatively simple and reliable, ensuring that the water outlet member 20 can hang on the water-passing member 10 and rotate to switch communication between the jet holes 11 and the different water flow channels on the water outlet member 20.

In some embodiments, the sliding block 31 is of an integral structure.

In some embodiments, the sliding block 31 is of a split structure. When the sliding block 31 is of the split structure, the sliding block 31 includes a pressure-bearing member 313 and a sliding member 314. The second supporting portion 311 and the second limiting portion 312 are provided on the sliding member 314. The pressure-bearing member 313 is mounted on the sliding member 314, a pressure-bearing end face of the pressure-bearing member 313 is located at a water inlet end of the water-passing member 10, and the sliding member 314 is located near the water outlet end of the first mounting through hole 12 of the water-passing member 10. The elastic element 32 presses against the sliding member 314. The foregoing split structure is easy to assemble. During specific installation, the water-passing member 10 is first mounted on the water outlet member 20, then the pressure-bearing member 313 is mounted in the first mounting through hole 12 from one side of the water-passing member 10, and the sliding member 314 is mounted in the first mounting through hole 12 from one side of the water outlet member 20. When the sliding member 314 is mounted, it is necessary to ensure that the second supporting portion 311 is aligned with the first supporting portion 211 and that the sliding member 314 engages with the pressure-bearing member 313. The pressure-bearing member 313 is configured to bear the pressure of the water flow, and its water-receiving face should be as large as possible. If the pressure-bearing member 313 is flush with the first mounting through hole 12 when at its highest position, an area of the water-receiving face of the pressure-bearing member 313 is set to be as close to a hole area of the first mounting through hole 12 as possible. If the pressure-bearing member 313 is higher than the first mounting through hole 12 when at its lowest position, a radius of the water-receiving face of the pressure-bearing member 313 is set to be as close to a distance from a center of the water-passing member 10 to the jet holes 11 as possible.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 13, in at least one embodiment of the disclosure:

A water outlet device, which can be mounted on a faucet as an aerator, includes a water-passing member 10 and a water outlet member 20. The water-passing member is provided with a plurality of jet holes 11 along a circumferential direction and a first mounting through hole 12 along an axial direction. One side of the first mounting through hole 12 extends toward a water outlet direction, and the other side extending toward a water inlet direction is provided with an opening. An inner wall of the first mounting through hole 12 is provided with a first limiting portion 121 that extends in a raised shape along the axial direction. An outer wall of the water-passing member 10 is provided with a boss 14 that extends in a radial direction. The water outlet member 20 is provided with different water flow channels. A center of the water outlet member 20 is provided with a second mounting through hole 21 along the axial direction. Inlets of the different water flow channels surround the second mounting through hole 21. A hole wall of the second mounting through hole 21 is provided with a first supporting portion 211. The water outlet member 20 presses against the boss 14 on an outer wall of the first mounting through hole 12 of the water-passing member 10 through a water outlet end of the second mounting through hole 21, and is relatively rotatably connected to the water-passing member 10. The jet holes 11 are in communication with the different water flow channels through relative rotation of the water-passing member 10 and the water outlet member 20. The number of the jet holes 11 is half of the total number of the inlets of all the water flow channels.

In this embodiment, two sets of water flow channels are provided. The inlets of the two sets of water flow channels are provided in a water inlet side of the water outlet member 20, and each set of water flow channels has eight inlets. The inlets of the first set of water flow channels 23 and the inlets of the second set of water flow channels 24 are arranged in a staggered manner. Outlets of the two sets of water flow channels are provided in a water outlet side of the water outlet member 20, and the outlets of the first set of water flow channel 23 are surrounded by the outlets of the second set of water flow channels 24. This arrangement can implement water outlet of inner and outer rings, that is, the outlets of the first water flow channel 23 generate concentrated water sprays with a relatively large water outlet area at the water outlet member 20, and the outlets of the second water flow channel 24 generate annular water sprays with a relatively small water outlet area formed around the center at the water outlet member 20. The concentrated water sprays are aerated water, and the annular water sprays around the center are sprinkling water formed by multiple tiny water columns.

An outer side wall of the water-passing member 10 is provided with a first limiting plate 13, and an outer side wall of the water outlet member 20 is provided with a second limiting plate 22. There is a rotation space in the circumferential direction between the first limiting plate 13 and the second limiting plate 22, and the first limiting plate 13 and the second limiting plate 22 have an overlapping movement path in the circumferential direction. The first limiting plate 13 presses against or separates from the second limiting plate 22 through the relative rotation between the water-passing member 10 and the water outlet member 20. When the first limiting plate 13 and the second limiting plate 22 are in a pressing state, the jet holes 11 are precisely aligned with the inlets of the different water flow channels.

The first mounting through hole 12 of the water-passing member 10 is provided with a sliding block 31 and an elastic element 32 arranged sequentially along the water outlet direction, and the elastic element 32 is provided in the first water flow channel 23 and supports the sliding block 31. A top surface of the sliding block 31 is exposed outside a water inlet end of the first mounting through hole 12, and a sealing member 33 is provided between the sliding block 31 and the first mounting through hole 12. In addition, a notch 122 is provided in a side wall of the first mounting through hole 12, and the first supporting portion 211 extends into the first mounting through hole 12 radially through the notch 122.

The sliding block 31 is of the split structure, and includes a pressure-bearing member 313 and a sliding member 314. The second supporting portion 311 and the second limiting portion 312 are provided on the sliding member 314. The pressure-bearing member 313 is mounted on the sliding member 314, a pressure-bearing end face of the pressure-bearing member 313 is located at a water inlet end of the water-passing member 10, and the sliding member 314 is located near a water outlet end of the first mounting through hole 12 of the water-passing member 10. The elastic element 32 presses against the sliding member 314. The pressure-bearing member 313 is flush with the first mounting through hole 12 when at its highest position. An area of the pressure-bearing end face of the pressure-bearing member 313 is smaller than a hole area of the first mounting through hole 12.

After the sliding block 31 is mounted in the first mounting through hole 12, the second limiting portion 312 engages with the first limiting portion 121 of the first mounting through hole 12 in the axial direction through a groove-and-protrusion fitting structure, so as to ensure that the sliding block 31 is only movable in the axial direction without rotating circumferentially relative to the water-passing member 10. In addition, a bottom end of a side wall of the pressure-bearing member 313 can press against a top end of the first limiting portion 121 when the sliding block 31 is at its lowest position in the first mounting through hole 12, so as to ensure that the sliding block 31 cannot fall from the first mounting through hole 12. At the same time, the first supporting portion 211 of the water outlet member 20 supports the second supporting portion 311 of the sliding block 31, the first supporting portion 211 and the second supporting portion 311 are both wedges, and the first supporting portion 211 and the second supporting portion 311 constitute a wedge-shaped transmission mechanism. The first supporting portion 211 and the second supporting portion 311 can relatively move in the circumferential and axial directions of the water outlet member 20 along an inclined surface of the wedge. Specifically, the inclined surface of the wedge of the first supporting portion 211 faces the water outlet direction, and the inclined surface of the second supporting portion 311 faces the water inlet direction. When the sliding block 31 is not subjected to the water pressure and the water outlet member 20 is not subjected to an external force, the elastic element 32 can support the sliding block 31 such that the second supporting portion 31 of the sliding block 31 always presses against the first supporting portion 211. Under the action of the wedge-shaped transmission structure, through the external force, the sliding block 31 can drive the water outlet member 20 to move in the circumferential direction when moving along the axial direction, or the water outlet member 20 can drive the sliding block 31 to move along the axial direction when rotating in the circumferential direction.

The above are only the embodiments of the present disclosure and are not intended to limit the protection scope of the present disclosure, and any equivalent transformations based on the specification and the drawings of the present disclosure, which are directly or indirectly applied in related technical fields, shall similarly fall within the scope of patent protection of the present disclosure.