Self-cleaning hydromassage system for bath tubs in general

Abstract: A self-cleaning hydromassage system comprises a circulation pump (5) connected to an intake pipe (4) with relative filter (3) and to a hydraulic circuit (7) with relative hydromassage nozzles (8) and with which piping (9) is associated for mixing atmospheric air with the water flowing to the nozzles. The flow passages to the nozzles (8) and to the filter (3) are intercepted by valve means (80, 30) arranged to isolate the system from the interior of the bath tub (1), after which the system is filled with water mixed with detergent, which is then circulated in close circuit by the pump (5). After this cleaning or wash stage the water mixed with detergent and dirt is discharged directly into the bath tub drain-trap. This cleaning stage can be followed by a system rinse stage, with discharge again through the drain-trap. After cleaning and possible rinsing, the system is re-connected to the interior of the bath tub (1).

Description: This invention relates to a hydromassage system for bath tubs in general, which is able automatically to wash and disinfect all the pipes used during the hydromassage. In bathrooms in general, the installation of bath tubs provided with a hydromassage system is known to be on the increase. Such bath tubs can be used in the normal manner when taking a bath, whereas during hydromassage a part of the water present in the tub is constantly drawn in by a circulation pump and then fed back into the tub through a series of nozzles situated below the water surface. In addition, with said water recirculation circuit there is associated piping by which a certain adjustable quantity of air is mixed with the water directed towards the tub. As various substances such as oil, soap, dust, skin particles and body fat become mixed with the water used for the hydromassage, inconvenient deposits form in the pipes of the hydromassage system and in the passage sections of the pump after a certain period, and increase continuously. Moreover, as time passes said deposits begin to emit bad odours, and a part of them separates to enter into circulation with the hydromassage water, leading to obvious cleaning and hygiene problems. As the hydromassage system is not only built-in but is also sealed, the following procedure has to be followed to keep it sufficiently clean. The bath tub is firstly filled with water and a suitable detergent dissolved in it, then the hydromassage system is operated for a relatively long period (20-30 minutes) and the water is then discharged. After this, the bath tub must be cleaned as it is inevitably left dirty, but before this cleaning it is advisable to operate the system with clean water to remove any detergent remaining in the pipes. It is apparent that such a system leads to excessive waste of both water and electricity, is particularly lengthy and requires the constant presence of a person to carry out these many operations. Cleaning systems are also known, such as the one disclosed in DE-U-8627706, which comprise a pump feeding a cleaning circuit consisting of two parallel tubes, one connected to the suction side of the pump, and the other to the pressure side. The hydromassage nozzles are connected to both the said tubes, to realize parts of a by-pass circuit through which cleaning water and detergent circulate for a desired time. Both the tubes are connected to the closable drain of the bath tube through a suitable valve, in order to empty the cleaning circuit after the cleaning of the nozzles is completed. The above systems do not resolve the problem to clean the hydromassage circuit in a suitable way, because the pipings of the hydromassage circuit intended for feeding the air to the nozzles are not subjected to the circulation of cleaning liquid. Furthermore, the intake pipe of the pump of the hydromassage arrangement opening into the tub is not subjected to the cleaning action. Another drawback of the known devices consists of the difficulty of rinsing, with fresch water, all the pipings and the tub itself. The main object of the present invention is to provide a self-cleaning hydromassage system which obviates the aforesaid within the framework of a simple and rational construction. According to the invention, the proposed system is of the initially described type, but in addition each individual hydromassage nozzle, the intake filter connected to the system pump and also the ports for mixing air with the hydromassage water are provided with valve means arranged to open during hydromassage and to close during system cleaning. A valved by-pass line is also provided by which the hydraulic circuit and the air piping can be connected to the suction side of the circulation pump. By virtue of the aforesaid means, the hydromassage system can be isolated from the corresponding bath tub interior and connected to a convenient source of pressurised water such as the normal water main, so that it can be filled with water mixed with a detergent. This latter is fed in by a pumping unit separate from the circulation pump, this latter feeding said water along the entire system through a closed circuit. After this operation, known hereinafter as cleaning or washing, the water mixed with detergent is directly discharged into the bath tub drain-trap together with the dirt removed from the system. After said wash stage, rinsing can be carried out to remove detergent residues from the system, after which the system is again connected to the interior of the bath tub. The entire aforesaid sequence of operations is under the control of a convenient apparatus such as an electronic device with a card program. All objects of the invention are thus attained. Firstly, the water quantity required for the cleaning is much less than that required in the known art as it is not necessary to fill the bath tub. Secondly, the cleaning is done in a relatively short time, with consequent lesser electricity consumption. In addition the constant presence of a person is no longer necessary as cleaning takes place automatically, during which the bath tub does not become soiled as the water is fed directly to drain. The characteristics and constructional merits of the invention together with its manner of operation will be more apparent from the detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof given hereinafter by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the invention associated with a bath tub of conventional shape. Figure 2 is a view of the preceding figure taken from above. Figures 3 and 4 are two opposing views taken respectively in the directions III and IV of Figure 1. It should be firstly noted that the type, shape and dimensions of the hydromassage bath tub shown in the accompanying figures must in no way be considered a limitative factor as the characteristic elements of the invention are well suitable for use in hydromassage systems and bath tubs in general. In the figures the bath tub is indicated overall by the reference numeral 1, the reference numeral 2 (see Figure 2) indicating the corresponding drain hole. The taps of the tub 1 are not shown as they can vary, and their use is known. As can be seen in the figure, there is associated with the bath tub 1 a hydromassage system comprising an intake filter 3 (see Figure 2) positioned in proximity to the bottom of the tub 1 (see Figure 1), and from which there extends an intake pipe 4 connected to an electrically driven circulation pump 5. The delivery side of this latter is connected by a connection piece 6 to a hydraulic circuit of annular shape which surrounds the tub 1 and is connected to a series of hydromassage nozzles 8 fixed in known manner to the lateral surface of the tub 1. In usual manner, said nozzles can be orientated and adjusted as required. In addition, below said circuit 7 there is disposed piping 9 connected to the interior of the tub 1 through a series of suction ports 10, which are two in number in the case illustrated (see Figure 2). Said ports 10 are disposed in proximity to the upper edge of the tub 1, their purpose being to firstly draw atmospheric air into the piping 9 to enable it to then mix with the water delivered by the nozzles 8. The connections between the piping 9 and the nozzles 8 are not shown as these are well known to experts of the art. It should also be noted that the passage cross-section of said ports 10 can be adjusted as required, and possibly completely closed, there being provided for operating the described hydromassage system a pushbutton 11 preferably of pneumatic type which controls the starting/stopping of the pump 5. The operation of the described hydromassage system will not be described as it is well known and easily understood from the aforegoing description. According to the invention, to allow automatic washing of said system, there is associated with each individual nozzle 8 a valve 80 disposed immediately upstream of its delivery mouth. Said valves are preferably of pneumatic type, a valve of the same type, indicated by 30 in Figure 2, being positioned immediately behind the filter 3. In addition, a by-pass line 40 is connected to the upstream end of the intake pipe 4 immediately behind the valve 30, and extends to the opposite end of the tub 1 where it is connected to the circuit 7 and to the piping 9 respectively by way of a pneumatic valve 41 (see Figure 4) which is kept closed during the hydromassage. There is also provided a discharge pipe 50 shown in Figures 1 and 3, in which a solenoid valve 51 is connected. Said pipe 50 connects the downstream end of the intake pipe 4 to the drain-trap situated below the hole 2 (Figures 1, 2, 3). In addition a hose 60 for connection to the water main and provided with a solenoid valve 61 is connected to the delivery connection piece of the pump 5. To the same connection piece 6 there is connected a small tube indicated by 62 in Figure 2, which branches from a pumping unit 63 dipping into a reservoir (not shown) for containing a suitable detergent liquid. Finally, the reference numeral 64 (Figure 2) indicates a luminous pushbutton for commencing the system wash cycle, the operating sequence of which is controlled by an apparatus 65 (Figures 1, 3) using an electronic card program. Again, with reference to Figure 1 it will be noted that the circuit 7 is connected to the drain pipe 50 through a vent tube 70 with which a solenoid valve 71 is associated. The automatic wash cycle for the hydromassage system takes place as follows. After manually closing the ports 10, the user pushes the pushbutton 64 by which the valves 30 and 80 are made to close, and the system is isolated from the interior of the bath tub 1. After this, the valves 61, 71 and 41 open automatically so that the system becomes connected to the water main through the valve 61 while the air present in the system discharges to the drain trap through the valve 71. A certain time after the preceding operation, the pumping unit 63 operates to feed a metered quantity of detergent into the circuit 7. A suitable pressure sensor, not shown as it is of known type, senses when the system has been filled with water and feeds a signal to the apparatus 65 which then closes the valves 61 and 71 and stops the unit 63. At this point the pump 5 operates for a period of between 5 and 10 minutes, depending on the size of the system, and the water mixed with detergent circulates through a closed path defined by the pipes 40 and 4, the pump 5, the circuit 7 and the piping 9. The letters C and D indicate the directions of the two water streams, ie the intake and delivery streams respectively. On termination of the wash or cleaning stage the pump 5 stops, the valve 51 opens and all the liquid passes to drain. The valve 51 then closes and the rinse stage commences to remove detergent and dirt residues from the system. Said rinse involves opening the valves 41, 61 and 71 to fill the system with clean water and discharge the air to the drain trap, stopping the detergent pumping unit 63, operating the pump 5 for between 2 and 5 minutes after closing the valves 61 and 71, and then opening the valve 51 to discharge the rinse water. After this, the valves 51 and 41 close and the valves 30 and 80 open, so that the bath tub is again ready for a hydromassage cycle or a normal bath. In the former case the user merely has to open the ports 10 and adjust them as required. The merits and advantages of the invention are apparent from the aforegoing description and from an examination of the accompanying figures. The invention is not limited to the single embodiment illustrated and described, but covers all technical equivalents of the aforesaid means and their combinations if implemented within the context of the following claims. For example, rearwardly situated valves preferably of pneumatic type can be associated with the suction ports 10 to close simultaneously with the closure of the valves 80 and 30 when the system commences an automatic wash/cleaning cycle. Moreover, the valves 51, 61 and 71 can also be pneumatic.

Claims: A self-cleaning hydromassage arrangement for bath tubs in general, comprising a hydraulic circuit (7) for the passage of the hydromassage water towards a series of delivery nozzles (8) disposed on the lateral surface of the bath tub (1), and piping (9) with respective suction ports (10) for the passage of atmospheric air to be mixed with the water delivered by said nozzles, said circuit (7) being fed by a pump (5), and being connected, through a tube and a respective valve, to the water main, a pipe (50) being provided, intercepted by a valve (51), for connecting the drain trap of the bath tub (1) to the intake pipe (4) of said pump (5), characterised by the intake pipe (4) of said pump (5), which opens into said tub by way of at least one filter (3), said circuit (7) comprising valve means (80, 30) to shut off the flow passage to said at least one filter (3) and to said nozzles (8), a by-pass line (40) with respective valve (41) which connects said intake pipe (4) to said hydraulic circuit (7) and air piping (9), there being provided a programmed cycle apparatus (65) arranged to control the automatic cleaning of the arrangement in accordance with at least one operating mode in which water mixed with detergent is fed through said tube (60) and into the arrangement which is kept separated from the interior of the bath tub by closing said valve means (80, 30) and ports (10), and is circulated therethrough in closed circuit by opening said valve (41), and is then directly discharged into the drain-trap of the bath tub (1). An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, characterised by comprising a pumping unit (63) the suction side of which is connected to a reservoir containing a detergent substance, and the delivery side of which is connected to said hydraulic circuit (7), said pumping unit being controlled by said apparatus (65) such as to be temporarily operated during the feed of water into the system, in accordance with said at least one operating mode. An arrangement as claimed in the preceding claims, characterised by comprising a vent tube (70) intercepted by a valve (71) and connecting said hydraulic circuit (7) to said discharge pipe (50), into which it opens downstream of the corresponding valve (51). An arrangement as claimed in the preceding claims, characterised by comprising a pressure sensor associated with said hydraulic circuit (7) and arranged to sense when the system has been filled and to simultaneously feed a signal for closing said valves (61) and (71) and stopping said pumping unit (63). An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said by-pass line (40) opens into a point of said intake pipe (4) which is situated immediately downstream of the valve means (30) associated with said filter (3). An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that valve means controlled by said apparatus (65) are associated with each individual port (10) of said piping (9). An arrangement as claimed in the preceding claims, characterised in that the valve means (80), (30) associated with said nozzles (8), with said at last one filter (3) and with said ports (10) are disposed immediately to their rear. An arrangement as claimed in the preceding claims, characterised in that said valve means (80, 30) and said valves (61), (51), (41), (71) consist of pneumatically operated valve units. An arrangement as claimed in the preceding claims, characterised in that said programmed cycle apparatus (65) is arranged to implement a system rinse stage following the cleaning stage, and in which clean water is circulated in closed circuit through the system after its isolation from the interior of the bath tub (1), and is then discharged to the drain-trap through said pipe (50).

Inventors: GANDINI LUIGI, GANDINI, LUIGI
Applicants: IDEAL STANDARD SPA, IDEAL STANDARD S.P.A.
Application year: 1989
Main classification: A61H33
IPC codes: A61H33, A61H23, A47L25, A47K3