Waterway and flow straightener for a water delivery device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12553455-B2
Application number	US-202318352829-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 14, 2023
Priority date	Aug 8, 2022
Publication date	Feb 17, 2026
Grant date	Feb 17, 2026

Abstract

A waterway for a fluid delivery device includes a body, an inlet passage, a continuous header passage, a connector passage, a chamber, and a plurality of ports. The inlet passage is formed in the body and configured to receive a supply of water. The continuous header passage is formed in the body as a loop with elongated side passages. The connector passage is formed in the body and fluidly interconnects the inlet passage and the elongated side passages. The chamber is formed in the body in spaced relation to the elongated side passages. The plurality of ports is formed in the body and extends between the elongated side passages and the chamber.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A waterway for a fluid delivery device, comprising:
a body; an inlet passage formed in the body and configured to receive a supply of water; a continuous header passage formed in the body as a loop with elongated side passages, the inlet passage arranged above the continuous header passage such that at least a portion of the elongated side passages are positioned underneath the inlet passage; a connector passage formed in the body and fluidly interconnecting the inlet passage and the elongated side passages of the continuous header passage; a chamber formed in the body in spaced relation to the elongated side passages; and a plurality of ports formed in the body and extending between the elongated side passages and the chamber.

2 . The waterway of claim 1 , further comprising a stream straightener comprising a plurality of parallel ribs formed in the body and fluidly communicating with the chamber and configured to discharge a stream of the water from the fluid delivery device.

3 . The waterway of claim 1 , further comprising a stream straightener comprising a plurality of parallel ribs releasably coupled to the body and fluidly communicating with the chamber and configured to discharge a stream of the water from the fluid delivery device.

4 . The waterway of claim 1 , wherein the elongated side passages are two parallel elongated side passages, and further comprising two semicircular end passages at opposite ends of the two parallel elongated side passages.

5 . The waterway of claim 1 , wherein the elongated side passages comprise a first elongated side passage and a second elongated side passage arranged opposite the first elongated side passage, wherein the connector passage comprises a first passage extending between the inlet passage and a central region of the first elongated side passage of the loop, and a second passage extending between the inlet passage and a central region of the second elongated side passage of the loop.

6 . The waterway of claim 1 , wherein the chamber is spaced equidistantly between the elongated side passages.

7 . The waterway of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of ports comprise four elongated ports symmetrically arranged between the elongated side passages and the chamber.

8 . The waterway of claim 1 , wherein the body is 3D printed.

9 . The waterway of claim 1 , wherein the body is machined from brass.

10 . A water delivery device, comprising:
a waterway comprising:
a body;
an inlet passage formed in the body and configured to receive a supply of water;
a continuous header passage formed in the body as a loop with elongated side passages, the inlet passage arranged above the continuous header passage such that at least a portion of the elongated side passages are positioned underneath the inlet passage;
a connector passage formed in the body and fluidly interconnecting the inlet passage and the elongated side passages of the continuous header passage;
a chamber formed in the body in spaced relation to the elongated side passages; and
a plurality of ports formed in the body and extending between the elongated side passages and the chamber; and
a stream straightener.

11 . The water delivery device of claim 10 , wherein the stream straightener comprises a plurality of parallel ribs formed in the body and fluidly communicating with the chamber and configured to discharge a stream of the water from the water delivery device.

12 . The water delivery device of claim 10 , wherein the stream straightener comprises a plurality of parallel ribs releasably coupled to the body and fluidly communicating with the chamber and configured to discharge a stream of the water from the water delivery device.

13 . The water delivery device of claim 10 , wherein the elongated side passages are two parallel elongated side passages, and further comprising two semicircular end passages at opposite ends of the two parallel elongated side passages.

14 . The water delivery device of claim 10 , wherein the elongated side passages comprise a first elongated side passage and a second elongated side passage arranged opposite the first elongated side passage, wherein the connector passage comprises a first passage extending between the inlet passage and a central region of the first elongated side passage of the loop, and a second passage extending between the inlet passage and a central region of the second elongated side passage of the loop.

15 . The water delivery device of claim 10 , wherein the chamber is spaced equidistantly between the elongated side passages.

16 . The water delivery device of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of ports comprise four elongated ports symmetrically arranged between the elongated side passages and the chamber.

17 . The water delivery device of claim 10 , wherein the body is 3D printed.

18 . The water delivery device of claim 10 , wherein the body is machined from brass.

19 . A faucet assembly comprising:
a faucet; a body; a waterway assembly comprising:
a first waterway configured to direct fluid in at least a first flow direction; and
a second waterway in an elongated oval or ellipse configuration having elongated side passages, the first waterway arranged above the second waterway such that at least a portion of the elongated side passages are positioned underneath the first waterway, the second waterway configured to direct fluid in at least a second flow direction and to provide a uniform fluid distribution and pressure within the second waterway; and
a stream straightener coupled to the body and configured to direct fluid flow to create a flow pattern.

20 . The faucet assembly of claim 19 , wherein the stream straightener comprises a plurality of parallel ribs formed in the body and fluidly communicating with a chamber and configured to discharge a stream of water from the faucet.

Assignees

• Kohler Co

Inventors

• Renzelman Brian Douglas
• Stokes Andrew James
• Elorza Joel Aldebaran Salazar
• Clarke Gary

Classifications

• Y10T137/9464

  Faucets and spouts · CPC title

• E03C1/0404

  Constructional or functional features of the spout · CPC title

• B05B1/04

  in flat form, e.g. fan-like, sheet-like · CPC title

• B05B1/3402

  to avoid or reduce turbulence, e.g. with fluid flow straightening means · CPC title

• F15D1/06 Primary

  by influencing the boundary layer · CPC title