An Improved Douche Apparatus.
Year: 1897

page_text: An Improved Douche Apparatus.
I, HEINRICH SCHMIDT, of 8, Bei der Johanneskirche, Altona, in the Empire of
Germany, Doctor of Medicine, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
This invention has for its object an alternating douche apparatus, that is to
say a device for enabling douches of different temperatures to follow one another
in suitable succession and in a simple manner in such a way that the discharge of
the water takes place from the same pipe or nozzle.
With reference to the accompanying drawing, A is a suitable shaped
body or casing on which two hose connections or nozzles B and C and
also an attachment nozzle or pipe 1) are arranged. Two hosepipes from the
water supply are connected with the nozzles B and C in such a way that one pipe,
for instance the one attached to B, leads to the warm water vessel, and the one
attached to C to the cold water vessel. The nozzle D serves for allowing the jet of
water to emerge either directly or by the intermediary of a hose-pipe or a suitable
attachment. In the casing or box A a hollow spindle E is revolubly mounted, and
serves as a tap being provided for this purpose with a suitably shaped knob or
handle on its outer end. This hollow spindle has three openings F G H; the two
openings FG correspond to the opening of the passages or hose nozzles B C
whilst the third opening H connects freely with the vessel A. These three open-
ings are arranged in different positions as regards one another, and the object and
mode of working of this arrangement may be ascertained from the following.
In the position shown in the figure, the opening F coincides with the mouth of
the passage of the pipe nozzle B, whilst the passage to the pipe nozzle C is closed
by the hollow spindle E. In this case therefore water from the pipe B can pass
into the hollow spindle E, and as the opening H freely opens into the casing, the
stream of water passes out of B into the casing A and thus is freely discharged
through the nozzle D. By a suitable rotation of the hollow spindle E, the nozzle B
may be closed whilst the opening G of the hollow spindle is caused to coincide with
the opening of the nozzle C, so that in this fresh position the passage B is closed
whilst the jet of water can freely flow from the passage C into the hollow spindle E
and thus through the opening H into the receptacle A, and finally can freely
emerge from the same through the nozzle D. By a further rotation_both_pas-
sages B and C may be closed so that in this position of the spindle E both the
water supply passages are shut off.
In the form of construction just described the water passes from the water supply
passages first into the intermediate vessel A, and accordingly there is always a
gradual alteration of temperature attained during the change. If this alteration
of temperature is to be as far as possible a sudden one, this intermediate vessel may
be omitted and the body A then have the form shown in dotted lines, so that the jet of
water in this case is discharged in the shortest way and thus the change of tem-
perature is as far as possible a sudden one.

page_text: The douche apparatus hereinbefore described serves both for general
bathing or hydropathic and also for special therapeutic objects, and in
each case
it may be suitably shaped to correspond with the desired
object. When it is a question of pipes of larger dimensions and
greater water pressure, in place of the tube attachments B and C
any suitable tube attachments or connections by means of screw couplings or the
like may be employed, whilst in place of the nozzle Da rose nozzle or jet may be
employed and finally connected directly or by means of a further piece of pipe
with any attachment suitable for the desired therapeutic object.
Dated this 11th day of October 1897
1, HEINRICH SCHMIDT, of S, Bei der Johanneskirche, Altona, in the Empire of
Germany, Doctor of Medicine, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
This invention has for its object an alternating douche apparatus, that is to
say a device for enabling douches of different temperatures to follow one another
in suitable succession and in a simple manner in such a way that the discharge of
the water takes place from the same pipe or nozzle.
With reference to the drawing accompanying the Provisional Specification. A is
a suitable shaped body or casing on which two hose connections or nozzles B and C
and also an attachment nozzle or pipe D are arranged. Two hosepipes from the
water supply are connected with the nozzles B and C in such a way that one pipe,
for instance the one attached to B, leads to the warm water vessel, and the one
attached to C to the cold water vessel. The nozzle D serves for allowing the jet of
water to emerge either directly or by the intermediary of a hose-pipe or a suitable
attachment. In the casing or box A a hollow spindle or cock plug E
is revolubly nounted, and serves 09 a tap, being provided for this
purpose with
a suitably shaped knob or handle on its outer end.
This hollow spindle has three openings F⚫G H: the two open-
ings FG correspond to the opening of the passages or hose nozzles 11 C,
whilst the third opening H connects freely with the vessel A. These three open-
ings are arranged in different positions as regards one another, and the object and
mode of working of this arrangement may lie ascertained from the following.
In the position shown in the figure, the opening F coincides with the mouth of
the passage of the pipe nozzle B, whilst the passage to the pipe nozzle C is closed
by the hollow spindle E. In this case therefore water from the pipe 1 can pass
into the hollow spindle E, and as the opening II freely opens into the casing, the
stream of water passes out of B into the casing A and thus is freely discharged
through the nozzlo D. By a suitable rotation of the hollow spindle E, the nozzle B
may be closed, whilst the opening 0 of the hollow spindle is caused to coincide with
the opening of the nozzle C. so that in this fresh position the passage B is closed,
whilst the jet of water can freely flow from the passage into the hollow spindle E
and thus through the opening If into the receptacle A. and finally can freely
emerge from the same through the nozzle D. By a further rotation both pas-
sages B and C may be closed so that in this position of the spindle E both the
water supply passages are shut off.

page_text: In the form of construction just described the water passes from the water supply
passages first into the intermediate vessel A, and accordingly there is always a
gradual alteration of temperature attained during the change. If this alteration
of temperature is to be as far as possible a sudden one, this intermediate vessel may
be omitted and the body A then have the form shown in dotted lines so that the jet of
water in this case is discharged in the shortest way and thus the change of tem-
perature is as far as possible a sudden one.
A modification of the above arrangement is shown in the drawings accompanying
this Complete Specification, in which Figure 1 is a longitudinal section, whilst
Figures 2&3 show sections of the tap in two positions. The apparatus is arranged
as follows: two nozzles b & c are arranged on a suitably shaped tap body a. On
the under side of this body there is a discharge opening which is provided with
a suitable nozzle or extension f for the discharge of the liquid at anytime, warm
water for instance being admitted through the passage b and cold water through
the passage c.
If therefore the cock plug i which in this case is provided with a
T-shaped passage be brought into the position shown in Figure 2, warm water
will flow through the passage b and through that of the plug and then pass through
the passage d to the exit. If on the other hand, the cock plug be brought into the
position shown in Figure 3 cold water will pass through the plug i as indicated by
the arrow into the passage d and thus to the exit. Thus douches or baths of
various temperatures may be obtained at any time by adjusting the tap plug i and
this is effected merely by turning the same.
The douche apparatus herein before described serves both for general
bathing or hydropathic and also for special therapeutic objects, and in
each case it may be suitably shaped to correspond with the desired
object. When it is a question of pipes of larger dimensions and
greater water pressure, in place of the tube attachments B and C
any suitable tube attachments or connections by means of screw couplings or the
like may be employed, whilst in place of the nozzle D a rose nozzle or jet may be
employed and finally connected directly or by means of a further piece of pipe
with any attachment suitable for the desired therapeutic object.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
An alternating or variable douche apparatus for giving douches or baths vary.
ing in heat, characterized by the arrangement of a body or casing having three
passages and a valve or cock plug provided with a T-shaped passage or the like
adapted to be brought into communication with one or other of the said passages
in such a way that warm or cold douches or baths may be delivered alternately
through the exit passage, substantially as herein before set forth.
1
1000
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co..
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.