Showerhead engine assembly

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.