Baths – closets – sinks – and spittoons – Tubs – Means for agitating or circulating water in a tub
Patent
1990-11-09
1994-08-09
Recla, Henry J.
Baths, closets, sinks, and spittoons
Tubs
Means for agitating or circulating water in a tub
45411, 2394285, A61H 3302
Patent
active
053353765
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a whirlpool bathtub having devices for generating water or air jets which are supplied to the tub interior from a plurality of positions on the tub wall and/or the tub floor an individual, drivable device for generating the water and/or air jet is assigned to each one of these positions, which are positioned on the tub wall or the tub floor or are built into the tub wall or the tub floor and which can be charged with drive energy from the outside of the tub. Each position has a nozzle housing with a pump wheel chamber and pump wheel which, in one direction of rotation, aspirates water from the tub interior through aspirating openings in a cover which closes off the nozzle housing towards the tub interior and supplies it from the pump wheel chamber to at least one conduit in the cover which terminates in at least one discharge opening directed into the tub interior.
2. Description of Prior Art
A whirlpool bathtub of this type is known from German Patent DE-PS 38 00 400. Water is delivered to the device in the form of a pump, which is used to aspirate air and in this way results in a water bubble massage.
A whirlpool bathtub is known from DE-OS 37 16 683 where the device provided at each position aspirates water and returns it to the tub interior as a water jet. This whirlpool bathtub is used for water jet massage. The known whirlpool bathtubs with devices provided for each position function in different modes of operation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the object of the invention to provide a whirlpool bathtub of the previously mentioned type which, supplied with uniform devices, can be used optionally for water jet massage or air bubble massage.
This object is attained in accordance with this invention by a device which can be driven in both directions of rotation. The nozzle housing has an impeller chamber with an impeller facing the tub interior. The impeller aspirates water from the tub interior through the aspirating openings in the opposite direction of rotation from the pump wheel and supplies it to the tub interior through a central outlet opening in the cover in the form of a water jet.
Because of the use of both directions of rotation of the device, it is possible optionally to realize two modes of operation with the whirlpool bathtub. In one mode of operation the impeller wheel is rotated and generates a water jet for the water jet massage, while in the other mode of operation the pump wheel delivers water which is used to aspirate air and in this way results in an air bubble massage. The choice is made solely by the selection of the appropriate direction of rotation of the device.
In a preferred embodiment of this invention the device is driven by an electric motor, the direction of rotation of which can be reversed. The choice of mode is particularly simple and can be made by means of electrical switching commands.
In accordance with one embodiment of this invention the structural design of the device is such that the pump wheel and the impeller are disposed, fixed against relative rotation, one immediately behind the other on a drive shaft of the electric motor. In this arrangement the impeller, rotatable in the same direction as the pump wheel, assists the function of the pump wheel.
Improved water jet massage by the water jet in accordance with one embodiment of this invention is attained with aspirating openings distributed in a circle over the circumference of the impeller chamber. The aspirating openings are cut into the cover in the form of radially oriented slits and the outlet openings are formed by a retaining ring which is disposed in a centered opening of the cover having a sleeve-shaped jet guidance leading to the impeller chamber. Then the water jet issues from the impeller chamber in a directed manner.
The air bubble massage with the jet composed of water and air is achieved by an air conduit which terminates in the area of the outlet opening. The air conduit is connected to ambient air through ai
REFERENCES:
patent: 4520514 (1985-06-01), Johnson
patent: 4853987 (1989-08-01), Jaworski
patent: 5031255 (1991-07-01), Hilger et al.
Fetsuga Robert M.
Recla Henry J.
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