CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Application No.
62/716,740, filed August 9, 2018, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by
reference herein.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The present disclosure relates generally to the field of shower plumbing systems. More
specifically, the present disclosure relates to an integral valve damper assembly for noise
reduction in a shower plumbing system.
[0003] Water pressure changes generated by opening or closing a valve in a residential shower
system can be transmitted through water in the system to various components of the system. The
pipes and associated plumbing fixtures can amplify these pressure changes, creating bothersome
background noise. In some high flow rate systems, such as washing machines and dishwashers,
pressure changes can be severe enough to damage the pipes or cause them to collapse
(commonly referred to as “water hammer”).
[0004] In addition, the changes may cause damage if the pipes are allowed to vibrate against
other materials in the wall, such as steel studs. There are various add-on solutions for addressing
the severe water hammer issues in high flow rate systems. These add-on solutions, however,
tend to be too large and over-engineered for use in low flow rate systems, such as residential
shower systems. In addition, the utilization of such solutions may be limited by the need to
position them near an access panel or open location in order to gain access to them for servicing.
SUMMARY
[0005] At least one embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a shower system. The
shower system includes a shower waterway and a fluid control valve. The shower waterway is
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configured to be coupled to a shower device. The fluid control valve is coupled to the shower
waterway and comprises a valve body and a piston. The valve body includes a chamber and a
reservoir. The piston is slidably coupled to the valve body and fluidly separates the chamber
from the reservoir. The chamber includes a compressible gas. The piston is configured to
slidably translate within the valve body to compress the compressible gas in response to a water
pressure change in the shower waterway.
[0006] Another embodiment relates to a shower system. The shower system includes a fluid
control valve configured to be coupled to a shower waterway. The fluid control valve includes a
valve body and a piston. The valve body includes a chamber and a reservoir. The piston is
slidably coupled to the valve body and fluidly separates the chamber from the reservoir. The
chamber includes a compressible gas. The piston is configured to slidably translate within the
valve body to compress the compressible gas in response to a water pressure change in the
shower system.
[0007] Another embodiment relates to a fluid control valve for a shower system. The fluid
control valve includes a valve body and a piston. The valve body includes a chamber and a
reservoir. The piston is slidably coupled to the valve body and fluidly separates the chamber
from the reservoir. The chamber includes a compressible gas. The piston is configured to
slidably translate within the valve body to compress the compressible gas in response to a water
pressure change in the shower system.
[0008] Another embodiment relates to a valve damper assembly that is part of a valve body for a
fluid control valve of a shower system. The valve body includes an internal cavity, which is
separated into a reservoir on a lower end and a chamber containing a compressible gas on an
upper end by a damper, such as a slidable piston. The valve damper assembly is configured such
that when the valve is opened/closed and a pressure change is generated, at least a portion of the
water flow may be diverted into the reservoir, causing the damper to effectively absorb the
pressure change caused by the valve actuation. In this way, the volume of the chamber may be
decreased due to the pressure acting on the piston exceeding the opposite pressure exerted on the
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piston from the compressible gas contained within the chamber. The valve body may also
include an adjustable vent for adjusting the amount of compressible gas in the chamber, so as to
adjust the relative position of the piston.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a valve damper assembly according to an exemplary
embodiment.
[0010] FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of the valve damper assembly of FIG. 1 at a first time,
when the piston is at a first position.
[0011] FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of the valve damper assembly of FIG. 1 at a second
time, when the piston is at a second position.
[0012] FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of the valve damper assembly of FIG. 1 at a third time,
when the piston is at a third position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0013] Prior to turning to the figures, which illustrate the one or more exemplary embodiments
in detail, it should be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the details or
methodology set forth in the description or illustrated in the figures. It should also be understood
that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description only and should not be
regarded as limiting.
[0014] Generally speaking, “water hammer arrestors” are commonly used in high flow rate
plumbing systems, such as washing machines and dishwashers (e.g., flow rates greater than 10
gpm, etc.), to help reduce water hammer (i.e., the noise and vibration that may result from a
water valve closing suddenly, causing pressure changes to be transmitted through the plumbing
system). In such plumbing systems, when a valve is opened/closed, the instantaneous velocity of
water within the system may cause a pressure spike that can create shock waves that transmit
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through the system, causing a thumping noise or a pipe to vibrate. In an effort to absorb this
shock wave, a water hammer arrestor may be installed upstream of the valve (i.e., before the
valve in the system), such that as the valve closes suddenly, the pressure spike may be diverted
to the arrestor to absorb the pressure change, rather than transmitting through the plumbing
system. However, water hammer arrestors are often large in size to sufficiently absorb the
pressure changes that are typically associated with these high flow rate systems. Furthermore,
the bulky size of these devices may result in very limited applications for where the water
hammer arrestor may be installed within the system. In addition, these water hammer arrestors
are typically engineered to handle significant forces that may result from the pressure spikes
normally associated with only high flow rate systems. Thus, there is a need for a smaller scale
device that can reduce or eliminate the noise associated with pressure changes experienced in
low flow rate systems, such as a residential shower system.
[0015] Referring generally to the FIGURES, disclosed herein is an integral valve damper
assembly for use in a residential shower system. The disclosed valve damper assembly is
designed to be integrated into a valve body of a fluid control valve that controls water flow
through the shower system, so as to provide for a more compact design and to allow for easy
access/maintenance, as compared to conventional water hammer arrestors. The valve damper
assembly has a structural configuration that is advantageously designed to address pressure
changes that are typically experienced in low flow rate systems, such as a shower system, which
operate at flow rates of about 2-5 gpm. In addition, the valve damper assembly can,
advantageously, be selectively adjusted to tailor the assembly to a particular application,
depending on the degree of pressure changes experienced by a particular system.
[0016] Referring to FIG. 1, a schematic illustration of a plumbing system 1 (e.g., shower system,
etc.) is shown, according to an exemplary embodiment. The plumbing system 1 is shown to
include a single control valve cartridge 100 (e.g., fluid control valve, shower mixing valve, etc.),
a shower waterway 10, and a valve body 20. The single control valve cartridge 100 is shown to
be coupled to the plumbing system 1 by way of retaining nuts 102, and is configured to
selectively fluidly couple a cold water feed 104 and a hot water feed 106 to the plumbing
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system 1 from a cold water source and a hot water source, respectively. The single control valve
cartridge 100 may be configured to receive an input to selectively change between an open
position, a closed position, or any position therebetween (i.e., partially open or restricted). In an
open position, the single control valve cartridge 100 allows at least a portion of each of the cold
water feed 104 and hot water feed 106 to flow through the single control valve cartridge 100, and
enter the remaining portions of the plumbing system 1. In a closed position, the single control
valve cartridge 100 prevents the cold water feed 104 and hot water feed 106 from entering the
remaining portions of the plumbing system 1. However, once the single control valve cartridge
100 is returned to an open position from a closed position, at least a portion of each of the cold
water feed 104 and hot water feed 106 will again be able to flow through the single control valve
cartridge 100, and enter the remaining portions of the plumbing system 1.
[0017] The shower waterway 10 is shown to include a water inlet 110, a first water outlet 120, a
second water outlet 122, a first lateral waterway 130, and a second lateral waterway 140 fluidly
coupled therebetween. The shower waterway 10 may be generally cylindrical pipes which may
extend from a water source to, for example, a shower device, such as a showerhead or handheld
sprayer. The shower waterway 10 is configured to fluidly receive and contain a water flow 2 that
flows from the cold water feed 104 and/or hot water feed 106, through the single control valve
cartridge 100, to the water inlet 110, then to at least one of the first water outlet 120 or second
water outlet 122. According to an exemplary embodiment, the water flow 2 is has a flow rate in
the range of about 2 gpm to about 5 gpm, as is typical for a residential shower system. The
single control valve cartridge 100 is shown to couple to the water inlet 110, such that the water
flow 2 flows from the single control valve cartridge 100 to the water inlet 110. A first end 131
of the first lateral waterway 130 fluidly couples a lower end 111 of the water inlet 110. A second
end 132 of the first lateral waterway 130 is in fluid communication with and couples a connector
150 at a first side 151 of the connector 150. The connector 150 fluidly couples a first end 141 of
the second lateral waterway 140 at a lower end 154 of the first side 151 of the connector 150, and
fluidly couples an opening 152 at a top side 153 of the connector 150. A second end 142 of the
second lateral waterway 140 fluidly couples to the water outlet 120. In this way, the water flow
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2 may flow from the water inlet 110, through the first lateral waterway 130, connector 150, and
second lateral waterway 140, before exiting the shower waterway 10 through the water outlet
120.
[0018] The plumbing system 1 is shown to include a valve body 20 that is at least partially
received within the opening 152 at the top side 153 of the connector 150. It should be noted that
only the valve body 20 is depicted in the FIGURES for ease of reference, but it should be
appreciated that the valve body 20 forms part of a conventional fluid control valve for a shower
that includes additional internal components that a conventional fluid control valve for a shower
would include (e.g., seals, internal valving, etc.). The fluid control valve including the valve
body 20 may control a flow of water through the system (e.g., flow rate, etc.). As shown in
FIG. 1, the valve body 20 may have a generally cylindrical shape and is shown to be oriented in
a vertical orientation. However, it should be appreciated that the valve body 20 may have other
shapes besides cylindrical, and may be positioned in any other suitable orientation. The outer
perimeter of the valve body 20 may couple to and abut an inner perimeter of the opening 152 of
the connector 150. The valve body 20 further includes a flange 210 which extends radially
outward from the outer perimeter of the valve body 20. A lower surface of the flange 210
couples to and abuts the top side 153 of the opening 152 of the connector 150, such that the
flange 210 is configured to help position the valve body 20 within the connector 150.
[0019] Still referring to FIG. 1, the valve body 20 has an internal cavity 200 which has a
generally cylindrical shape. The internal cavity 200 of the valve body 20 is shown to include a
chamber 230 at an upper end and a reservoir 240 at a lower end, which are separated by a piston
220. The piston 220 may include one or more seals (e.g., O-ring seals, etc.) for fluidly
separating the chamber 230 from the reservoir 240, but also allowing for slidable movement of
the piston 220 within the internal cavity 200. The chamber 230 may be filled with a
compressible gas 3 (e.g., air, etc.). The reservoir 240 is in fluid communication with the shower
waterway 10, such that water may flow from the shower waterway 10 to the reservoir 240 to
engage the piston 220. The piston 220 is configured to slidably translate within the internal
cavity 200 along a direction indicated generally by arrow “A” in response to a water pressure
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change in the shower waterway 10, the details of which are discussed in the paragraphs that
follow.
[0020] The valve body 20 further includes a vent 250 and a vent screw 260 disposed at a top side
of the valve body 20. The vent 250 is configured to selectively fluidly couple the chamber 230
to the external environment. In other words, the vent 250 may allow the compressible gas 3
within the chamber 230 of the valve body 20 to selectively exit the chamber 230 to adjust the
pressure within the chamber 230. The vent screw 260 is coupled to the vent 250 and is
configured to allow a user to selectively adjust (e.g., loosen or tighten, etc.) the vent screw 260 as
a means of controlling the amount of compressible gas 3 within the chamber 230. In effect, the
amount of compressible gas 3 within the chamber 230 directly relates to the positioning of the
piston 220 within the valve body 20. For example, if a user adjusts the vent screw 260 to allow
the vent 250 to open, compressible gas 3 may be permitted to exit the chamber 230, resulting in
less compressible gas 3 within the chamber 230. When a force is applied to the lower side of the
piston 220 (e.g., due to a water pressure change within the system), the piston 220 may translate
upward within the internal cavity 200, causing the volume of the reservoir 240 to increase and
the volume of the chamber 230 to decrease. The amount of compressible gas 3 within the
chamber 230 at least partially dictates how far upward the piston 220 is able to translate (i.e.,
how much the volume of the chamber 230 may be reduced and how much the volume of the
reservoir 240 may increase). In this way, if a user selectively adjusts the vent screw 260, the
user may adjust the positioning and responsiveness of the piston 220, depending on a particular
application.
[0021] In operation, the plumbing system 1 may experience a sudden disruption of flow (e.g., a
fast open or close at the water outlet 120), which may create a water pressure change (generally
illustrated as a sinusoidal line segment along the flow path 2). The pressure changes will be
carried through the valve and associated plumbing, and may generate noise and potential system
damage. A valve damper (e.g., the valve body 20 having an internal cavity 200 with a piston
220, a chamber 230 having compressible gas 3, and a reservoir 240) as part of the fluid control
valve for the system is located near the source of the pressure disruption at the valve, and may
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effectively dampen the pressure changes at that location. In other words, the piston 220 may act
as a shock absorber, and as the water flow 2 is disrupted (e.g., due to operation of the fluid
control valve defined by valve body 20), the water flow 2 may be diverted up into the reservoir
240 such that the piston 220 may absorb the pressure changes of the water flow 2 by translating
upwards to compress the compressible gas 3 within the chamber 230. This shock absorption by
the piston 220 may result in a reduction or elimination of the noise and/or vibrations caused by
the flow disruption. In addition, the vent screw 260 allows for potential reset or adjustment of
the piston 220.
[0022] Referring now to FIG. 2, a schematic illustration of the plumbing system 1 at a first time,
when the piston 220 is in a first position is shown. When the single control valve cartridge 100
is closed, the water flow 2 will be prevented from flowing through the single control valve
cartridge 100 to the remainder of the plumbing system 1. Instead, the water flow 2 that is
already in the plumbing system 1 will flow from the water inlet 110, through the first lateral
waterway 130 towards the connector 150. The water will flow through the connector 150,
through the second lateral waterway 140, and finally exit the plumbing system 1 through the
water outlet 120. During this time, the piston 220 may remain in a first, resting position, where
the downward force exerted on the piston from the compressible gas 3 within the chamber 230 is
equal to the upward force exerted on the piston 220. In other words, both the chamber 230 and
the reservoir 240 may be at atmospheric pressure, such that atmospheric pressure is exerted on
both sides of the piston 220, resulting in the piston 220 remaining in a first, resting position.
[0023] Referring now to FIG. 3, the single control valve cartridge 100 may be in an open
position, such that water flows from the cold water feed 104 and the hot water feed 106, mixes
within the single control valve cartridge 100, and enters the remainder of the plumbing system 1.
As at least a portion of the water flow 2 is diverted into the reservoir 240 of the valve body 20,
the pressure spike from the water flow 2 against the piston 220 may cause the piston 220 to
compress the compressible gas 3 within the chamber 230 of the valve body 20. In other words,
the downward force exerted on the piston 220 by the compressible gas 3 may be less than the
upward force on the piston 220 by the water flow 2, causing the piston 220 to translate upward,
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thus reducing the volume of the chamber 230 and increasing the volume of the reservoir 240 as
the reservoir 240 accumulates at least a portion of the water flow 2. As the piston 220 is
translated upward, the piston may be in a second, compressed position.
[0024] Referring now to FIG. 4, immediately after the single control valve cartridge 100 is
switched to a closed position (i.e., such that water is not flowing through the single control valve
cartridge 100 and into the remainder of the plumbing system 1, the resulting pressure change of
the water flow 2 will likely cause the piston 220 to overshoot the first, resting position (i.e., such
that the piston 220 will move to a third position, where the volume of the reservoir 240 is
momentarily smaller than the volume of the reservoir 240 in a first position, while the volume of
the chamber 230 is momentarily greater than the volume of the chamber 230 in a first position).
Once the pressure change is effectively absorbed (i.e., the water flow 2 was at least partially
diverted into the reservoir 240, forcing the piston 220 to translate upwards to a second,
compressed position and downwards to the third position), the piston 220 may again return to a
first position. In other words, immediately after the single control valve cartridge 100 is closed,
the water flow 2 may enter the reservoir 240 and force the piston 220 upward, but once the
compressible gas 3 within the chamber 230 reacts to force the piston 220 downward to the third
position, the water flow 2 is able to displace, and the upward force on the piston 220 from the
water flow 2 may cause the piston to translate back towards a first, resting position, thus again
decreasing the volume within the reservoir 240 and increasing the volume within the chamber
230. In addition, the vent screw 260 is configured to be tightened or loosened by a user, to allow
a user to selectively adjust the position of the piston 220 within the valve body 20. For example,
the user may adjust the vent screw 260 (which in turn adjusts the opening of the vent 250
between the chamber 230 and outside environment) to reset the resting position of the piston to a
third position. As shown in FIG. 4, when the vent screw 260 is adjusted to have the piston 220
translate to a position lower than an initial position (i.e., translating to a position where the
volume of the reservoir 240 is less than the volume of the reservoir 240 before the vent screw
260 was adjusted), the downward force exerted on the piston 220 by the compressible gas 3 may
exceed the upward force on the piston 220 by the water flow 2 within the reservoir 240, causing
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the piston 220 to have a new resting position, where the volume within the chamber 230 has
increased and the volume within the reservoir 240 has decreased.
[0025] The valve damper assembly of the present disclosure is intended to reduce noise in low
flow systems, such as shower plumbing systems. The valve damper assembly of the present
disclosure may beneficially be more compact than other potential solutions, and can be
integrated directly into the shower valve body. The integration of the valve damper assembly
into the valve body beneficially may allow for easy access to and maintenance of the valve
damper assembly.
[0026] According to other exemplary embodiments, a bladder or diaphragm may be utilized
instead of a piston 220 as a damper. However, it should be appreciated that the valve damper
assembly may operate in substantially the same manner. For example, the piston 220 may be
substituted with an elastic diaphragm. The diaphragm may be configured to elastically deform to
absorb a pressure change within the system. Alternatively, in some embodiments, a bladder may
be used instead of a piston 220 or a diaphragm. The bladder may be located in the valve body 20
where the chamber 230 having compressible gas 3 and the piston 220 are located. The bladder
may be an elastically deformable member which may contain a liquid, gas, or other compressible
means. The bladder may be configured to deform or compress to absorb a pressure change
within the system.
[0027] As utilized herein, the terms “approximately,” “about,” “substantially”, and similar terms
are intended to have a broad meaning in harmony with the common and accepted usage by those
of ordinary skill in the art to which the subject matter of this disclosure pertains. It should be
understood by those of skill in the art who review this disclosure that these terms are intended to
allow a description of certain features described and claimed without restricting the scope of
these features to the precise numerical ranges provided. Accordingly, these terms should be
interpreted as indicating that insubstantial or inconsequential modifications or alterations of the
subject matter described and claimed are considered to be within the scope of the disclosure as
recited in the appended claims.
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[0028] It should be noted that the term “exemplary” and variations thereof, as used herein to
describe various embodiments, are intended to indicate that such embodiments are possible
examples, representations, and/or illustrations of possible embodiments (and such terms are not
intended to connote that such embodiments are necessarily extraordinary or superlative
examples).
[0029] The term “coupled,” as used herein, means the joining of two members directly or
indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary (e.g., permanent or fixed) or moveable
(e.g., removable or releasable). Such joining may be achieved with the two members coupled to
each other, with the two members coupled with a separate intervening member and any
additional intermediate members coupled with one another, or with the two members coupled
together with an intervening member that is integrally formed as a single unitary body with one
of the two members. Such members may be coupled mechanically, electrically, and/or fluidly.
[0030] The term “or,” as used herein, is used in its inclusive sense (and not in its exclusive
sense) so that when used to connect a list of elements, the term “or” means one, some, or all of
the elements in the list. Conjunctive language such as the phrase “at least one of X, Y, and Z,”
unless specifically stated otherwise, is understood to convey that an element may be either X, Y,
Z; X and Y; X and Z; Y and Z; or X, Y, and Z (i.e., any combination of X, Y, and Z). Thus, such
conjunctive language is not generally intended to imply that certain embodiments require at least
one of X, at least one of Y, and at least one of Z to each be present, unless otherwise indicated.
[0031] References herein to the positions of elements (e.g., “top,” “bottom,” “above,” “below,”
etc.) are merely used to describe the orientation of various elements in the FIGURES. It should
be noted that the orientation of various elements may differ according to other exemplary
embodiments, and that such variations are intended to be encompassed by the present disclosure.
[0032] It is important to note that the construction and arrangement of the valve damper
assembly as shown in the various exemplary embodiments is illustrative only. Although only a
few embodiments have been described in detail in this disclosure, those skilled in the art who
review this disclosure will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible (e.g.,
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variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values
of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without
materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter described
herein. For example, the position of elements may be reversed or otherwise varied, and the
nature or number of discrete elements or positions may be altered or varied. Any element
disclosed in one embodiment may be incorporated or utilized with any other embodiment
disclosed herein. Although one example of an element that can be incorporated or utilized in
another embodiment has been described above, it should be appreciated that other elements of
the various embodiments may be incorporated or utilized with any of the other embodiments
disclosed herein.
[0033] Other substitutions, modifications, changes and omissions may also be made in the
design, operating conditions and arrangement of the various exemplary embodiments without
departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, any element disclosed in one
embodiment may be incorporated or utilized with any other embodiment disclosed herein. Also,
for example, the order or sequence of any process or method steps may be varied or resequenced
according to alternative embodiments. Any means-plus-function clause is intended to
cover the structures described herein as performing the recited function and not only structural
equivalents but also equivalent structures. Other substitutions, modifications, changes and
omissions may be made in the design, operating configuration, and arrangement of the preferred
and other exemplary embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

WE CLAIM:
1. A shower system comprising:
a shower waterway configured to be coupled to a shower device; and
a fluid control valve coupled to the shower waterway, wherein the fluid control
valve comprise5 s:
a valve body including a chamber and a reservoir; and
a piston slidably coupled to the valve body, wherein the piston fluidly
separates the chamber from the reservoir, and wherein the chamber includes a
compressible gas; and
10 wherein the piston is configured to slidably translate within the valve body to
compress the compressible gas in response to a water pressure change in the shower waterway.
2. The shower system of claim 1, wherein the valve body includes a vent configured
to control an amount of compressible gas in the chamber.
3. The shower system of claim 2, wherein the vent includes a vent screw configured
to be selectively adjusted to control the amount of compressible gas in the chamber.
4. The shower system of claim 1, wherein the piston is configured to slidably
translate within the valve body based on a water flow rate in a range of about 2 gpm to about 5
gpm.
5. The shower system of claim 1, wherein the reservoir is in fluid communication
with the shower waterway, such that water may flow from the shower waterway into the
reservoir to engage the piston.
6. The shower system of claim 1, wherein the valve body includes a flange
extending radially outwardly from a perimeter of the valve body for coupling the valve body to
the shower waterway.
7. The shower system of claim 1, wherein the fluid control valve is configured to
control a flow of water through the shower system.
8. A shower system comprising:
a fluid control valve configured to be coupled to a shower waterway, wherein the
fluid control valve compr5 ises:
a valve body including a chamber and a reservoir; and
a piston slidably coupled to the valve body, wherein the piston fluidly
separates the chamber from the reservoir, and wherein the chamber includes a
compressible gas; and
wherein the piston is configured to slidably translate within the valve body to
compress the compressible gas in response to a water pressure change in the shower system.
9. The shower system of claim 8, wherein the valve body includes a vent configured
to control an amount of compressible gas in the chamber.
10. The shower system of claim 9, wherein the vent includes a vent screw configured
to be selectively adjusted to control the amount of compressible gas in the chamber.
11. The shower system of claim 8, wherein the piston is configured to slidably
translate within the valve body based on a water flow rate in a range of about 2 gpm to about 5
gpm.
12. The shower system of claim 8, wherein the reservoir is configured to be in fluid
communication with the shower waterway, such that water may flow from the shower waterway
into the reservoir to engage the piston.
13. The shower system of claim 8, wherein the valve body includes a flange
extending radially outwardly from a perimeter of the valve body for coupling the valve body to
the shower waterway.
14. The shower system of claim 8, wherein the fluid control valve is configured to
control a flow of water through the shower system.
15. A fluid control valve for a shower system, the fluid control valve comprising:
a valve body including a chamber and a reservoir; and
a piston slidably coupled to the valve body, wherein the piston fluidly separa5 tes
the chamber from the reservoir;
wherein the chamber includes a compressible gas; and
wherein the piston is configured to slidably translate within the valve body to
compress the compressible gas in response to a water pressure change in the shower system.
16. The fluid control valve of claim 15, wherein the valve body includes a vent
configured to control an amount of compressible gas in the chamber.
17. The fluid control valve of claim 16, wherein the vent includes a vent screw
configured to be selectively adjusted to control the amount of compressible gas in the chamber.
18. The fluid control valve of claim 15, wherein the piston is configured to slidably
translate within the valve body based on a water flow rate in a range of about 2 gpm to about 5
gpm.
19. The fluid control valve of claim 15, wherein the reservoir is configured to be in
fluid communication with a shower waterway, such that water may flow from the shower
waterway into the reservoir to engage the piston.
20. The fluid control valve of claim 15, wherein the valve body includes a flange
extending radially outwardly from a perimeter of the valve body for coupling the valve body to a
shower waterway.