Water supply module for hydrotherapy device

A water supply module for hydrotherapy, which includes a pump, a water inlet, a micro bubble water outlet, a pressurized water outlet, a relief valve, and a mixer. The water inlet is connected to the pump. The micro bubble water outlet and the pressurized water outlet are connected to an outlet of the pump. The relief valve is installed in between the outlet of the pump and the micro bubble water outlet, and the mixer is installed in between the water inlet and the relief valve. A drain valve is further connected off the bottom of the pump to drain out the residual water from the pump and the piping. The integrated water supply module provides space-saving advantage. Furthermore, by draining the residual water, the water supply module also improves SPA hygiene by reducing the risk of skin diseases and infections.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The instant disclosure relates to a water supply module for hydrotherapy device: in particular, a compact water supply module for hydrotherapy device that is capable of effectively removing residual water from the pump and the piping.

2. Description of the Related Art

As society progresses, people are living under increasing stress. In severe cases, long term stresses can lead to serious illnesses. In response, recreation centers utilizing novel therapeutic devices become popular resorts that help people relieve stress. A popular example of such therapeutic device is the spa hydrotherapy machine, which generates pressurized streams of water to provide massage action for relieving stress.

For hydrotherapy, a micro bubble bathing system is also very important. During the formation of micro bubbles, fine water molecules and negative ions are generated with significant health benefits. In addition, micro bubbles provide visual and sensual relaxation to the spa users both physically and mentally.

However, conventional hydrotherapy machines often require complicated water piping, which occupy precious space and thus fail to meet today's demand for lightweight and compactness. Furthermore, current hydrotherapy units often leave residual water in the pump and the piping system, which poses health risks such as skin diseases or infections to the users.

Based on research and engineering practices, the inventor proposes a design solution to address the above issues.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To meet the demand for compactness, the object of the instant disclosure is to provide a space-saving water supply module for hydrotherapy.

The other objective of the instant disclosure is to provide a water supply module for hydrotherapy that removes residual water from the pump and the piping to improve spa hygiene.

To achieve the above objectives, the water supply module for hydrotherapy of the instant disclosure includes a pump having an outlet; a water inlet connected to the pump; a micro bubble water outlet connected to the outlet of the pump; a pressurized water outlet connected to the outlet of the pump; a relief valve set in between the outlet of the pump and the micro bubble water outlet; and a mixer in between the water inlet and the relief valve.

The instant disclosure provides another water supply module for hydrotherapy, which includes a pump having an outlet; a water inlet connected to the pump; a micro bubble water outlet connected to the outlet of the pump; a relief valve in between the outlet of the pump and the micro bubble water outlet; and a mixer in between the water inlet and the relief valve.

The instant disclosure has the following advantages. The water supply module for hydrotherapy of the instant disclosure integrates the pump, the water inlet, the micro bubble water outlet, the pressurized water outlet, the mixer, and the relief valve without complicated plumbing system. To meet the demand for compactness, the integration occupies less space in offering space-saving advantage.

For the instant disclosure, a drain valve can be further added to the bottom of the pump. A sensor can be installed inside the relief valve or the micro bubble water outlet. When the sensor detects no water inside the hydrotherapy unit, the drain valve is opened accordingly to drain the pump and the plumbing system. By draining out the residual water, the goal is to improve SPA hygiene by protecting the users from skin diseases and infections.

In order to further appreciate the characteristics and technical contents of the instant disclosure, references are hereunder made to the detailed descriptions and appended drawings in connection with the instant disclosure. However, the appended drawings are merely shown for exemplary purposes, rather than being used to restrict the scope of the instant disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Please refer toFIGS. 1 and 2. The instant disclosure provides a water supply module for hydrotherapy. The water supply module comprises a pump1, a water inlet2, a micro bubble water outlet3, a pressurized water outlet4, a mixer5, and a relief valve6. The pump1has a motor unit101, that provides power to drive a pump unit102. The pump1increases the water pressure and discharges the pressurized water through the outlet103of the pump unit102.

The water inlet2is connected to the pump unit102on one end, and the other end is connected to the water source by a suction line201(shown inFIG. 3). Via the water inlet2, the pump unit102draws water from a hydrotherapy unit100, such as a bathtub, into the water supply module.

The micro bubble water outlet3and the pressurized water outlet4are connected to the outlet103of the pump unit102. The micro bubble water outlet3is connected to the outlet103of the pump unit102by a first discharge line301. A micro bubble cut-off valve7can be installed to the first discharge line301. The micro bubble cut-off valve7is a solenoid valve used for controlling the flow at the micro bubble water outlet3. The micro bubble water outlet3is connected to the hydrotherapy unit100by a micro bubble water discharge line302(shown inFIG. 3). The micro bubble water discharge line302discharges micro bubble water into the hydrotherapy unit100. Furthermore, a pressure gauge14can be installed at the end of the first discharge line301to indicate the line pressure.

The pressurized water outlet4is connected to the outlet103of the pump unit102by a second discharge line401. A SPA cut-off valve8can be installed to the second discharge line401. The SPA cut-off valve8is a solenoid valve used to control the flow at the pressurized water outlet4. The pressurized water outlet4is connected to the hydrotherapy unit100by a SPA discharge line402(shown inFIG. 3), where water jets spurt into the hydrotherapy unit100to provide massage action.

For mixing air and water, the mixer5is structured similar to a Venturi tube. The mixer5is placed in between the water inlet2and the relief valve6. A first tubing501is used to pipe the mixer5to the water inlet2for transporting needed water into the mixer5. A first regulating valve9is installed in between the water inlet2and the first tubing501. The first regulating valve9is used to control the water flow from the water inlet2through the first tubing501and to the mixer5. At the mixer5outlet, aerated water is discharged. On the outlet side, the mixer5is piped to the relief valve6with a second regulating valve10installed in between. A second tubing502connects off the side of the mixer5to the control valve11. For mixing air with water, the control valve11is a solenoid valve for controlling air intake into the mixer5. The control valve11is used to open or close the supply of micro bubbles.

The relief valve6is placed in between the outlet103of the pump unit102and the micro-bubble water outlet3. The relief valve6is connected to the outlet103of the pump unit102through the first discharge line301. The relief valve6is also connected in between the second regulating valve10and the micro-bubble water outlet3. Functionally, the relief valve6is used to control the pressure in the water supply module. From upstream, pressurized and aerated water enters the relief valve6from the pump unit102and the mixer5. When passing through the relief valve6, turbulence causes the aerated water to form super-fine water bubbles, or micro-bubbles.

A drain valve12is further connected to the bottom of the pump unit102. The drain valve12is a solenoid valve for draining residual water from the pump unit102and the piping. The drain valve12is electrically connected to a sensor13inside the relief valve6or the micro-bubble water outlet3. When the sensor13detects no water inside the hydrotherapy unit100, such as a bathtub, the drain valve12is opened to drain out residual water from the pump unit102and the piping.

The water supply module for hydrotherapy of the instant disclosure integrates the pump unit102, the water inlet2, the micro-bubble water outlet3, the pressurized water outlet4, the mixer5, and the relief valve6without complicated plumbing system. For light weight and compactness, the integration occupies less space in offering space-saving advantage.

Furthermore, the drain valve12is located off the bottom of the pump unit102. The drain valve12is electrically connected to the sensor13inside the relief valve6or the micro-bubble water outlet3. When the sensor13detects no water inside the hydrotherapy unit100, such as a bathtub, the drain valve12is opened to drain out residual water from the pump unit102and the piping. By draining out residual water, SPA hygiene is improved by reducing the spread of skin diseases and infections.

In another embodiment of the instant disclosure, the pressurized water outlet4is excluded from the water supply module. The pump unit102, the water inlet2, the micro-bubble water outlet3, the mixer5, and the relief valve6are integrated in forming a water supply module, which provides solely micro-bubble water to the hydrotherapy unit100.