DE7826778U1 - Space-saving, collapsible shower device for use in vehicles used for living and camping purposes - Google Patents

Description

Dr. Helmut Fell
Gabriele Fell

Space-saving, collapsible DuBC device for use in vehicles used for living and camping purposes.

Purpose of the invention is to create a full shower facilities, the _r specifically contributes to the specific requirements of mobile homes and caravans of small and medium size classes, invoice.

Shower facilities are currently almost exclusively used in vehicles in the upper size and price ranges. They consist of cabins that are separate from the rest of the living space and mostly on all sides are sealed against splash water, and systems for hot water brewing.

The known designs have the following disadvantages:

a) The space required by the cabs used is considerable and often not acceptable in small and medium-sized vehicles »

b) The installation must already be taken into account when planning the equipment of the vehicle; retrofitting is usually necessary difficult and expensive.

c) In addition to the mostly existing cold water supply system is one required for hot water, consisting of: Instantaneous water heater or water boiler with energy supply, additional lines, taps, mixer taps, etc.

The technical and financial outlay is considerable and has hitherto prevented these facilities from spreading further. My own experience in the field of mobile home expansion and operation, as well as discussions with owners of such vehicles, made the construction of a full-fledged shower device appear appropriate, which does not have the above-mentioned disadvantages. A shower facility was conceived and constructed, which is described below.
The shower facility consists of the following parts:

a) collapsible, splash-proof cabin according to Fig _o l bzw.Abb.II. Figure I shows the cabin in the unfolded state (state of use): A shower tray (1) made of waterproof and water-resistant material,

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preferably Kunststjofjf'fcfcisi 'AÜsfühliung $ faa.'i: polyester + glass fiber) with a rectangular or square base (exemplary embodiment 60X70 cm) and an edge height of about 5 cm forms the bottom of the shower cubicle. The side walls are made up of a thin Foil (2) made of flexible, tear-resistant, waterproof material, preferably Plastic.

The film (2) is with the upper edge of the edge (3) of the shower tray O) permanently and watertight connected, shower tray) and film (2) constructively form a unit.

On a side wall, formed by the film (2), is located a closable opening (5) for entering the shower cubicle Exemplary embodiment there is a slot in a side wall. The ends of the film (2) overlap here by about 10 cm and thus provide adequate protection against splash water A heat seal can also be used for the opening (5). The upper edge of the film (2) is connected to a frame (/ f). With the help of the frame (if) the whole arrangement on the ceiling of the Vehicle, fixed in a suitable place. For smaller vehicles, which only have standing height in the area of a pop-top roof, the Rahraen (if) is attached to the pop-top roof itself Roof vent in the area of the frame (if) is possible. The height of the side walls formed by the film (2) is chosen so that when the shower tray (1) is on the floor of the vehicle, the film (2) hangs straight up without creases under slight tension. Located on the side of the shower tray (1) facing the vehicle floor At one corner there is a short drainage nozzle (6) which protrudes through a hole in the vehicle floor.

The shower water is pumped through the hose line (7) led to a storage shower head (8) Water leaves the cabin via the nozzle (6) through the vehicle floor either outdoors or in a waste water tank. Instead of one nozzle (6), several can be used, e.g. in each Corner of the shower trayO) one.

In Fig. II the shower cubicle is shown in a folded state Shower trayO) is used for this from the floor of the vehicle Ceiling raised, making sure that the entire film (2) inside the shower tray O). The film (2) folds in the process irregularly and fills the inside of the shower tray (1) The dimensions of the frame (/ *) are chosen so that the shower tray ) can be pushed over the frame ^).

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The Dusciiwanss (Tr) ' nrfrt SciinoljLTerschl "sssa (9) as the ceiling is fastened. In this idle state, the space requirement is reduced to a minimum. The vehicle floor is unchanged, except for the small hole for connection (6) The space freed up by folding the shower cubicle can be used for two purposes. As an alternative to the solution shown, the film (2) can be folded in the manner of a bellows (similar to the bellows of an accordion). For this purpose, it must be made of somewhat thicker and stiffer material. With suitable manufacturing technology Process and materials it also appears possible to manufacture the entire shower cubicle from one piece.

b) Device for heating the shower water with the help of an im Vehicle existing gas heating.

The gas heaters usually installed in mobile homes and caravans Conventional designs can be modified with simple means so that they can also take over the heating of the shower water. A pipe coil is either built directly into the combustion chamber of the heater or with the metal wall of the combustion chamber brought into good thermal contact. Water flowing through this coil is heated when the heating is switched on. Since the heating output of conventional gas heating systems is not sufficient to ensure that the shower water is sufficient in the instantaneous instantaneous water heater operation Intermediate storage in an auxiliary tank is provided for heating.

The arrangement and function of the device is illustrated in Fig «III described;

The vehicle's water supply is in a main tank (dl). An auxiliary tank (12) is dimensioned so that it is the required for the Number of shower rooms can hold the required amount of water of a three-way valve (i3) the water pump can < 14) draw in water either from the main tank (11) or from the auxiliary tank (12) the pressure side of the pump (14) leads once a line (7) to the switchable Shower head (8), another connection via valve (15) and the pipe coil (16) built into the combustion chamber of the gas heater to the auxiliary tank (12). Valve (i7) symbolizes the rest of the water supply of the vehicle. The Pumped if) switches itself on when the pressure drops on its pressure side, i.e. when opening valve (15), valve (17), or the shower head (8), automatically.

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If v / arm is to be showered, dör nxi £ stänk (l2) fill it with an appropriate amount of warm water as follows:

The three-way valve (13) is set so that the pump (i / f) sucks in water from the main tank. Valve (15) is opened and the car heater is switched on. Cold water from the main tank d1) is now heated in the pipe coil (i6) and flows into the auxiliary tank (12). The flow rate per unit of time is selected by adjusting the valve (i5) so that the water has just the right temperature for showering after passing through the pipe coil (i6). If the auxiliary tank (i2) is used as an additional water storage tank for the vehicle and is filled with cold water, this water is heated as follows! Three-way valve (13) is set so that the pump (i ^) water from the auxiliary tank (12) As above, valve (15) is opened and the heating is switched on. The water in the auxiliary tank ( 1 ?.) now circulates through the pipe coil (16) and is heated.

If the auxiliary tank (12) is filled with warm water in this way, or the water located there is sufficiently heated, valve (i5) closed, the heating switched off and pump (iif) via three-way valve (i3) switched to auxiliary tank (i2). is on shower head (8) Warm water is now available.

In the sample device, the heating of 201 water from 15 "C takes on 40 ° C approx. 15 min.

If the pipe coil (16) is installed inside the heating combustion chamber it must be made of very heat-resistant and oxidation-resistant material, as it is in the normal operating mode of the heating runs dry and reaches high temperatures (stainless steel)

The shower facility described offers compared to conventional Facilities have the following advantages:

a) The shower cubicle does not reduce the size of the living space, as it is with When not in use, it will be folded to its minimum size.

b) Installation is simple, retrofitting in existing vehicles anytime possible.

c) If there is a gas heating system and a pressurized water supply with a pump, a hot water supply can be achieved with little effort Additional instantaneous water heaters, gas boilers, mixer taps, etc. are not required.

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d) The weight of the shower equipment is low, the additional load on the vehicle is minimal.

e) The shower facility is inexpensive and can be manufactured with commercially available materials.

The system was set up in the form described and thoroughly tested. She works flawlessly.

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Claims (6)

1) Space-saving, collapsible shower facility for use in vehicles used for living and camping purposes, characterized in that it »consists of a cabin-shaped Arrangement consists of solid floor and foldable walls that form an apritz-watertight unit. 2) shower device according to claim 1, characterized in that that the side walls consist of a film (2) made of flexible, tear-resistant material, preferably plastic, which are when folding the shower facility either irregularly or according to a predetermined type of folding, e.g. after that of a bellows, folds up, and that a side wall has a closable opening for entering the shower facility. 3) shower device according to claim 1 and 2, characterized in that the floor of the cabin is designed as a shower tray, made of waterproof, dimensionally stable material, preferably Plastic, is made and is provided with drainage nozzle (6), which is the used water through holes in the vehicle floor derive. k) Shower device according to claim 1, 2 and 3 »characterized in that the side walls of the cabin are fastened to the ceiling of the vehicle, and that during the process of folding the floor of the shower device is moved in the direction of the vehicle ceiling, the folded film (2) takes up and is attached to the vehicle ceiling by means of quick-release fasteners (9) after the folding is complete. 5) shower device according to claim!, Characterized in that that a simple heat exchanger system, preferably consisting of a pipe coil, to provide warm shower water (16), which is used to heat the combustion chamber directly a conventional caravan heater, which is operated with liquid gas, and in normal operation the developed one Releases heat energy through the combustion chamber wall directly to the air in the vehicle interior. 6) shower> "'inrich £ ung according to claim 1 and 5» characterized in that that a help tank (12) for intermediate storage of the warm Shower'.vassers is used.