# US 2012/0073043 A1 · Showerhead for emergency fixture > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2012/0073043 A1 - Document ID: US20120073043A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/310,396 - Filed: 2011-12-02 - Published: 2012-03-29 - Earliest claimed: 2008-06-25 - Assignees: Bradley Fixtures Corporation - Inventors: Jeffery S. Jaworski; Timothy E. Perrin; Kevin B. Kline - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20120073043A1 ## CPC - B05B 1/18: Roses; Shower heads - B05B 1/1886: {the linear movement of the controlling member being converted into a rotational movement of the controlled element} - B05B 1/1892: {located in or on the handle} - B05B 1/3421: {with channels emerging substantially tangentially in the swirl chamber} - B05B 1/3468: {with means for controlling the flow of liquid entering or leaving the swirl chamber (B05B1/3452 takes precedence)} - B05B 1/3478: {the liquid flowing at least two different courses before reaching the swirl chamber} - B05B: SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES (spray-mixers with nozzles B01F25/72; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces by spraying B05D) ## Abstract An apparatus for controlling a flow of fluid in an emergency fixture includes a body; and a control element at least partially located in the body and configured to impart rotation into the fluid flow. The control element includes a first substantially cylindrical member defining a first outlet portion, the first outlet portion configured to guide a first portion of the fluid flow out of the control element as an axial flow; a second substantially cylindrical member coupled to the first member; and a plurality of radially extending members extending between the first member and the second member, each of the plurality of members comprising a deflection surface angled relative to a second portion of flow and configured to cause rotation of the second portion of flow. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for controlling a flow of fluid in an emergency fixture, the apparatus comprising: a body; a control element at least partially located in the body and configured to impart rotation into the fluid flow, the control element comprising: a first substantially cylindrical member defining a first outlet portion, the first outlet portion configured to guide a first portion of the fluid flow out of the control element as an axial flow; a second substantially cylindrical member coupled to the first member; and a plurality of radially extending members extending between the first member and the second member, each of the plurality of members comprising a deflection surface angled relative to a second portion of flow and configured to cause rotation of the second portion of flow. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of radially extending members each have a helical configuration. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first member defines a tapered bore, the bore expanding from a minimum at an inlet to a maximum at an exit. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the bore is tapered such that the cross-section of the bore expands from a minimum at the inlet opening to a maximum at the exit. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the first and second members define an annular opening through which the second portion of flow exits the control element; and wherein the exit of the bore is located downstream from the annular opening. ### Claim 6 An apparatus for controlling a flow of fluid in an emergency fixture, the apparatus comprising: a body; a control element disposed at least partially within the body; the control element comprising: a first body configured to provide an axial flow to a first portion of fluid; a second body coupled to the first body via a plurality of flow guide elements, each flow guide element extending along an exterior surface of the first body in a substantially helical fashion and configured to impart a rotation to a second portion of fluid. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the second portion of fluid flows to the exterior of the first body; ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the plurality of flow guide elements are substantially evenly spaced about the exterior of the first body. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6, wherein each of the flow guide elements is tapered along the length of the first body. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6, wherein each of the flow guide elements is generally L-shaped. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first portion of fluid exits the first body downstream from where the second portion of fluid exits the second body. ### Claim 12 An apparatus for controlling a flow of fluid, the apparatus comprising: a body; a control element located at least partially within the body and configured to impart a rotation to the flow of fluid, the control element comprising: an upper member; and a lower member coupled to the upper member via a plurality of flow control elements, each flow control element comprising a curved deflection surface; wherein the lower member is configured to receive a first portion of the fluid from the upper member and direct the first portion of the fluid out a first outlet in an axial flow manner; and wherein the plurality of flow control elements are configured to receive a second portion of the fluid from the upper member via a second outlet and impart a rotation to the second portion of the fluid as the second portion of the fluid flows between the lower member and the body. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the plurality of flow control elements form channels extending along the exterior of the lower member. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the plurality of flow control elements extend along the exterior of the lower member in a helical fashion. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the plurality of flow control elements are substantially evenly spaced about the periphery of the lower element. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first outlet is positioned downstream from the second outlet. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the lower member is tapered such that the exterior of the lower member narrows in a direction away from the upper member. ### Claim 18 A fixture for delivering a flow of fluid, the fixture comprising: a valve; a shower head coupled to the valve and comprising a body and a flow control element, the flow control element comprising: an upper generally tubular member; a lower tapered member provided downstream from the upper member and coupled to the upper member via a plurality of flow directing elements; each flow directing element comprising: an upper portion extending between the upper member and the lower member; and an elongated lower portion extending from the upper portion and along the outside surface of the lower member, the elongated lower portion having at least one curved surface. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The fixture of claim 18, wherein the plurality of flow directing elements extend in a helical fashion along the lower member. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The fixture of claim 18, wherein the upper member comprises an annular bottom surface, and wherein the upper portion of each flow directing element is coupled to the bottom surface. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The fixture of claim 18, wherein the upper and lower portions of each flow directing element form an L-shape.