Whirlpool bath with descaling function

A whirlpool bath with descaling function is provided. The whirlpool bath 1 comprises a bathtub body 10 including a bathtub 11, suction port 20 sucking the water contained in the bathtub 11, first jet nozzles 30 jetting bubble water into the bathtub 11, a circulation pipe 40 including a water supply pipe 41 and a return pipe 42, a pump 50 installed in the circulation pipe 40, a bypass pipe 60 branched from the water supply pipe 41 and connected to the return pipe 42 to directly return the water in the water supply pipe 41 to the pump, and a second jet nozzle 70 mixing air with water passing through the bypass pipe 60 to generate and jet bubble water. The scale of the circulation pipe 40, the pump 50 and the bypass pipe 60 is removed by bubble water generated by the second jet nozzle 70.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a whirlpool bath, and more particularly, to a whirlpool bath capable of inhibiting the generation of scale in pipes through which water circulates and removing scale generated in the pipes.

BACKGROUND ART

As widely known, a whirlpool bath is a bath having a function of jetting water or bubble water at a high pressure into a bathtub.

As the prior art about the whirlpool bath, there is, for example, a whirlpool bath ofFIG. 6disclosed in Korean Utility Patent Laid-Open No 20-2009-0000774.

As illustrated inFIG. 6, the prior whirlpool bath100includes a bathtub body110in which a bathtub111is formed, suction port120sucking the water in the bathtub111, jet nozzles130jetting bubble water into the bathtub111, a circulation pipe140having a water supply pipe141and a return pipe142, and a pump150installed in the circulation pipe140.

The water supply pipe141is connected to the jet nozzles130and supplies water to the jet nozzles130. The return pipe142is connected to the suction port120and returns water in the bathtub111to the pump150. The pump150provides a water pressure for sucking the water in the bathtub111through the suction port120and for jetting bubble water through the jet nozzles130.

Since the whirlpool bath uses a certain amount of water repeatedly and the water is circulated in the circulation pipe140, dirt separated from the human body and components contained in tap water can be adhered to the inner surface of the circulation pipe140, as a result, scale can be easily generated on the inner surface of the circulation pipe140.

The scale of the circulation pipe140partially falls off into the water during the use of the whirlpool bath. The detached scale not only makes the user feel dirty, but also is not good for hygiene, thereby acts as a factor to be reluctant to use the whirlpool bath. For this reason, it is necessary to hygienically manage the piping of whirlpool bath.

One of the typical pipe sanitary management methods is to periodically clean the scale attached to the pipe using a chemical detergent with strong cleaning effect.

As an additional method of hygienic management of the whirlpool bath, there are a method of suppressing the propagation of germs by applying the ozone sterilizing apparatus disclosed in Korean Patent Laid-Open No. 10-2011-0099978 and a method of preventing water from remaining in the whirlpool bath after use disclosed in Korean Patent No. 10-1541875.

However, the washing method of the scale by the detergent has a problem that the washing operation is very difficult. Also, the method of ozone disinfection and the method of removing residual water are merely auxiliary methods and are not a fundamental way to hygienically manage the whirlpool bath.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a whirlpool bath with descaling function, capable of suppressing generation of scale in pipes circulating water in a whirlpool bath and eliminating the scale already generated in the pipes.

A whirlpool bath according to the present invention comprises a bathtub body, suction port, first jet nozzles, a circulation pipe, a pump, a bypass pipe and a second jet nozzle.

Said bathtub body includes bathtub.

Said suction port sucks the water contained in said bathtub.

Said first jet nozzles jet bubble water into said bathtub.

Said circulation pipe includes a water supply pipe and a return pipe.

Said water supply pipe is connected to said first jet nozzles. Said water supply pipe supplies water to said first jet nozzles. Said return pipe is connected to said suction port. Said return pipe returns water in said bathtub to said pump.

Said pump is installed in said circulation pipe. Said pump provides a water pressure for sucking the water in said bathtub through said suction port and for jetting bubble water through said first jet nozzles.

Said bypass pipe is branched from said water supply pipe. Said bypass pipe is connected to said return pipe. Said bypass pipe directly returns the water introduced into said water supply pipe to said pump through said return pipe.

Said second jet nozzle is installed in said bypass pipe. Said second jet nozzle mixes air with water passing through said bypass pipe to generate and jet bubble water.

The scale generated in said circulation pipe, said pump, and said bypass pipe is removed (descaled) by bubble water generated by said second jet nozzle.

Said second jet nozzle may include a bypass pipe connect part, a mixing part, a nozzle part, a Venturi part and an intake part.

Said bypass pipe connect part is connected to said bypass pipe. Said bypass pipe connect part receives water from said bypass pipe.

Said mixing part is formed in the downstream of said bypass pipe connect part, wherein water and air are mixed to generate bubble water.

Said nozzle part is connected to said mixing part. Said nozzle part has a nozzle for jetting bubble water into said the return pipe or said bypass pipe.

Said Venturi part is formed between said bypass pipe connect part and said mixing part.

Said intake part is formed in communication with said mixing part. Said intake part supplies external air to said mixing part by a negative pressure generated by the action of said Venturi part.

Said second jet nozzle may comprise a check valve installed in said intake part for blocking water from flowing backward through said intake part.

According to the whirlpool bath of the present invention, water flowing into said bypass pipe from said water supply pipe is returned to said pump through said return pipe without passing through said bathtub, and said second jet nozzle generates bubble water by mixing air with water passing through said bypass pipe, and the bubble water jetted by said second jet nozzle passes through said circulation pipe, said pump, and said bypass pipe by jetting the generated bubble water into said return pipe or said bypass pipe, thereby preventing scale from being generated in the pipes and removing the generated scale.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, a whirlpool bath according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. A detailed example given below just exemplarily describe the present invention and does not restrict the present invention.

As illustrated inFIG. 1, the whirlpool bath1according to the present invention comprises a bathtub body10, suction port20, first jet nozzles30, a circulation pipe40and a pump50, like the prior art whirlpool bath.

The bathtub body10includes a bathtub11.

The suction port20sucks the water contained in the bathtub11.

The first jet nozzles30jet bubble water into the bathtub11.

The circulation pipe40includes a water supply pipe41and a return pipe42.

The water supply pipe41is connected to the first jet nozzles30. The water supply pipe41supplies water to the first jet nozzles30. The return pipe42is connected to the suction port20. The return pipe42returns water in the bathtub11to the pump50.

The pump50is installed in the circulation pipe40. The pump50provides a water pressure for sucking the water in the bathtub11through the suction port20and for jetting bubble water through the first jet nozzles30.

In the whirlpool bath1of the present invention, the water contained in the bathtub11is sucked into the suction port20and sends to the pump50through the return pipe42, and the water pumped by the pump50is again jetted into the bathtub11through the first jet nozzles30formed at ends of the water supply pipe41via the water supply pipe41. In the first jet nozzles30, water supplied from the water supply pipe41and air from the outside are mixed to generate bubble water, and the bubble water is jetted into the bathtub11. Although it is preferable to jet the bubble water through the first jet nozzles30, the case where water is jetted is not excluded.

According to a feature of the present invention, the whirlpool bath1includes a bypass pipe60and a second jet nozzle70. That is, the whirlpool bath1of the present invention comprises a descaling device2including the bypass pipe60and the second jet nozzle70.

The bypass pipe60is a pipe branched from the water supply pipe41and it is connected to the return pipe42. The water flowing into the bypass pipe60from the water supply pipe41is returned to the pump50through the return pipe42without passing through the bathtub11.

The second jet nozzle70is a nozzle for generating bubble water by mixing air with water passing through the bypass pipe60. The second jet nozzle70is installed in the bypass pipe. The second jet nozzle70jets the bubble water to the bypass pipe60or the return pipe42.

The bubble water generated by the second jet nozzle70suppresses generation of scale in the return pipe42, the pump50, the water supply pipe41and the bypass pipe60involved in the circulation of the water and piped to the downstream of the second jet nozzle70, and the bubble water removes the scale already generated in the pipes, by the known cleaning action of the bubble water.

Namely, since the bypass pipe60branched from the water supply pipe41is piped to the return pipe42and the second jet nozzle70is provided to the bypass pipe60, high pressure bubble water is jetted into the return pipe42. The bubble water jetted to the return pipe42passes through the return pipe42, the pump50, the water supply pipe41and the bypass pipe60in order, thereby the scale generated in the pipes is cleaned and scale formation in the pipes is suppressed.

The first jet nozzles30are not particularly limited as long as they can mix the air and water supplied through the water supply pipe41to generate bubble water and jet the bubble water into the bathtub11.

As illustrated inFIG. 2andFIG. 3, each of the first jet nozzles30may comprise a water supply pipe connect part31, a mixing part32, a nozzle part33, a Venturi part34and an intake part35.

The water supply pipe connect part31is connected to the water supply pipe41. The water supply pipe connect part31receives water from the water supply pipe41.

The mixing part32is formed in the downstream of the water supply pipe connect part31, wherein water and air are mixed to generate bubble water.

The nozzle part33is connected to the mixing part32. The nozzle part33has a nozzle33afor jetting bubble water into the bathtub11.

The Venturi part34is formed between the water supply pipe connect part31and the mixing part32, and has a narrow diameter.

The intake part35is formed in communication with the mixing part32. The intake part35supplies external air to the mixing part32by a negative pressure generated by the action of the Venturi part34.

When the water supplied from the water supply pipe41flows from the water supply pipe connect part31to the mixing part32via the Venturi part34, a negative pressure is generated by the flow velocity increase in the Venturi part34. Thereby, outside air is introduced into the mixing part32through the intake part35. In the mixing part32, bubble water mixed with water and air is generated, and the bubble water is jetted into the bathtub11though a nozzle33aof the nozzle part33.

A check valve36may be provided in the intake part35to prevent water from flowing backward to the outside through the intake part35. The check valve36applicable to the first jet nozzle30is not limited as long as it is a valve that can prevent water from flowing backward through the intake part35. For example, the check valve36such as a thin film type check valve76applied to the second jet nozzle70described later can be applied.

The second jet nozzle70is substantially the same as the first jet nozzle30in that air is mixed with water to generate and jet bubble water.

As illustrated inFIG. 1, the first jet nozzles30are provided at the ends of the water supply pipe41so as to jet the bubble water into the bathtub11. In contrast, the second jet nozzle70is provided to the bypass pipe60, and the bubble water of the second jet nozzle70is supplied to the return pipe42, and the bubble water passes the return pipe42, the pump50, the water supply pipe41and the bypass pipe60, as a result, scale formation in the pipes is suppressed and the scale already formed in the pipes is cleaned and removed.

The second jet nozzle70is not particularly limited as long as it is a structure capable of mixing air with water passing through the bypass pipe60to generate bubble water and jet it.

Since the scale removing action of the bubble water jetted by the second jet nozzle70occurs at a position downstream of the point where the second jet nozzle70is installed, preferably, the bypass pipe60is connected to the return pipe42at a location adjacent to the suction port20as possible.

The installation position of the second jet nozzle70in the bypass pipe60is not particularly limited as long as it can supply the bubble water to the return pipe42.

In the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 1andFIG. 5, the bypass pipe60is connected to the return pipe42adjacent to the suction port20and the second jet nozzle70is disposed at the downstream end of the bypass pipe60, thereby bubble water is directly jetted to the return pipe42. As another example, the second jet nozzle70may be provided at the intermediate point of the bypass pipe60, then the bubble water is jetted into the bypass pipe60and the jetted bubble water flows through the return pipe42via the bypass pipe60.

As illustrated inFIG. 4andFIG. 5, the second jet nozzle70may comprise a bypass pipe connect part71, a mixing part72, a nozzle part73, a Venturi part74and an intake part75.

The bypass pipe connect part71is connected to the bypass pipe60. The bypass pipe connect part71receives water from the bypass pipe60.

The mixing part72is formed in the downstream of the bypass pipe connect part71, wherein water and air are mixed to generate bubble water.

The nozzle part73is connected to the mixing part72. The nozzle part73has a nozzle73afor jetting bubble water into the return pipe42or the bypass pipe60.

The Venturi part74is formed between the bypass pipe connect part71and the mixing part72, and it has a narrow diameter.

The intake part75is formed in communication with the mixing part72. The intake part75supplies external air to the mixing part72by a negative pressure generated by the action of the Venturi part74.

In the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 5, for example, a T-shaped member42ais applied in the return pipe42, and the T-shaped member42aand the nozzle part73are connected by a known connecting member such as a union joint73b.

According to the second jet nozzle70, when the water supplied from the water supply pipe41flows from the bypass pipe connect part71to the mixing part72via the Venturi part74, a negative pressure is generated by the flow velocity increase in the Venturi part74s, thereby, outside air is introduced into the mixing part72through the intake part75. In the mixing part72, bubble water mixed with water and air is generated, and the bubble water is jetted into the return pipe42or the bypass pipe60.

The water jetted into the return pipe42by the second jet nozzle70passes the return pipe42, the pump50, the water supply pipe41and the bypass pipe60in order, thereby the scale generated in the pipes is cleaned and scale formation in the pipes is suppressed.

A check valve76may be provided in the intake part75to prevent water from flowing backward to the outside through the intake part75.

As illustrated inFIG. 5, the intake part75may be formed with a valve mounting groove75acommunicating with the mixing part72through an intake path75b.

A check valve76may include a valve chamber77and a thin plate valve78. The check valve76may be mounted on the valve mounting groove75a.

The valve chamber77is tightly fitted to the valve mounting groove75a. The valve chamber77includes an insert hole77aand air paths77b. The insert hole77ais formed at the center and the air paths77bare formed around the insert hole77a. The air paths77ballow the mixing part72to communicate with the outside via the intake passage75b.

The thin plate valve78may include an insert rod part78aand a flexible thin plate part78b. The insert rod part78ais inserted and fixed to the insert hole77a. The flexible thin plate part78bis formed at the lower end of the insert rod part78ato selectively cover the air path77b.

According to the action of the check valve76as described above, the inflow of air into the mixing part72from the outside through the air path77bis allowed by the fact that the thin plate part78bof the thin plate valve78is displaced downward and that the air path77bis opened (dotted line inFIG. 5), whereas the backward flow of water from the mixing part72through the air path77bis blocked by the close contact of the thin plate part78band the closure of the air path77b(solid line inFIG. 5).

Therefore, the air is supplied to the mixing part72through the check valve76by the negative pressure generated in the Venturi part74, but the water in the mixing part72cannot flow backward to the outside due to the action of the check valve76.

As illustrated inFIG. 1, the bypass pipe60may be provided with an on-off valve61which can be operated by a control panel (not shown). By selectively opening and closing the flow of water through the bypass pipe60by the on-off valve61, the operation of the descaling function can be selectively stopped when it is desired not to use it.

Reference numeral80inFIG. 1is a drain port for terminating the use of the whirlpool bath1and draining water.