DE8717581U1 - Bathtub with a circulation system for water jets - Google Patents

Description

GM4720a/87 1

Utility model

Applicant: Hugo Lahme GmbH 5828 Ennepetal

rah.ler

The invention relates to a bathtub with a circulation system for water jets, in particular a whirlpool tub, with a drain opening that opens into a drain line, and with a suction opening and with at least one jet nozzle, which are connected to one another via a circulation line having a circulation pump.

In the known bathtubs of this type, a certain amount of residual water remains in the circulation line after the tub has been emptied, so that bacteria can multiply in the residual water, leading to an unpleasant odor or, when the tub is used again, can get into the bath water, where they pose a health hazard. DE-PS 33 39 948 discloses the use of a residual water drain at the lowest point of the circulation pump housing. This largely reduces the amount of residual water left over, but does not completely eliminate it.

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, The invention is based on the object of

To improve the bathtub of the type mentioned above so that the hygiene problems described are safely excluded.

To solve this problem, the invention provides that the suction opening is provided at the bottom of the tub, that the suction opening, the drain line and the circulation line are connected to an electrically controllable multi-way valve, that a fresh water line that can be controlled by a solenoid valve flows into the circulation line, and that a manually switchable time control device is provided, which, when switched on, carries out a flushing cycle by switching on the fresh water supply and appropriately reversing the multi-way valve arrangement. The suction opening is advantageously

r, The invention provides a number of advantages, such as

;! one, it is now possible to use the bathtub together with

"·' Clean circulation system and drain line after use with

Fresh water to flush through. The fresh water

■- via the circulation pump and the jet nozzles into the

f Tub interior, which is simultaneously filled with fresh water

is flushed, and further via the drain opening into the drain line, so that the entire system is freed from dirt"

water is purified and only a certain residue

^! i Fresh water remains at the war.dungs, the

is or remains bacteria-free, wwinn according to a further feature of the invention, the f* fresh water is simultaneously a disinfectant

By using the drain opening as a suction opening, on the one hand

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This ensures that the suction area of the circulation line can now also be completely flushed. On the other hand, there is no longer any need to provide a separate plug or eccentric closure for the drain opening _, as the drain line is shut off by the controllable multi-way valve arrangement. Another advantage is the simple operation by the user, who can initiate the flushing simply by pressing a button, for example, after which the flushing cycle is then automatically controlled and ended by the time control device.

According to a preferred embodiment, in a further development of the invention, the time control device can be switched on by a "drain" button, which gives a command to empty the filled bathtub, after which the time control device first controls the multi-way valve arrangement for a water drain for an emptying time and then automatically carries out the flushing cycle. Since in the bathtub according to the invention the emptying of the bathtub can no longer be initiated by pulling a plug, but only by switching the multi-way valve arrangement, the automatic coupling of the flushing cycle to the emptying process means that the user does not have to carry out a separate operation, which may be forgotten, to initiate the flushing cycle, but that a flushing cycle runs automatically after each emptying process. This is particularly important for bathtubs used by the public, for example hotel bathtubs.

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Particularly for the latter applications, it is advantageous if, according to a further development of the invention, the time control device can also be switched on using a separate manual switch, e.g. a "rinse" button, to carry out only the rinse cycle. The user thus has the option of briefly rinsing the tub before use, so that even a strong need for hygiene can be met.

According to further features of the invention, it can be provided that with the multi-way valve arrangement the drain opening can be connected either only to the drain line "tub drain position", or only to the circulation line "operating position" or to the short-circuited drain line and circulation line "residual water drain position" and that the time control device, when switched on by the "drain" button, switches the multi-way valve arrangement from the operating position to the tub drain position and, after the draining time, initiates the flushing cycle by switching the multi-way valve arrangement to the operating position, opening the fresh water solenoid valve for a flushing time and, at the end of the flushing time, switching the multi-way valve arrangement to the residual water drain position. In this case, the time control device can switch off the circulation pump during the draining time to save electricity and only switch it on again for the flushing time.

Further features of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing. The drawing shows:

Fig. i Top view of a whirlpool bath

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Fig. 2 a side view of the bathtub according to Hg. 1,

Fig. 3, 4 and 5 show the multi-way valve arrangement provided in the area of the bathtub drain opening in three different positions and

Fig. 6, 7 and 8 show a three-way valve in three different positions, used instead of the multi-way valve arrangement.

The whirlpool bathtub 1 has a drain opening 2 on its base, which can be connected to a drain line 4 with a siphon 5 via a multi-way valve arrangement 3. An overflow line 6 also flows into the drain line 4. The drain opening 2 can also be connected to the suction line 7 of a circulation line 9 with a circulation pump 8 via the multi-way valve arrangement 3, via which the circulated water is led to massage or jet nozzles 10 arranged on the sides of the tub. The drain opening 2 thus also forms the suction opening of the circulation line 9 when the multi-way valve arrangement 3 is switched accordingly. A suction line controlled by a solenoid valve 11 also flows into the suction line 7. ble fresh water pipe 12, into which a dosing device 13, which has a dosing pump, flows. A pipe separator 14 or another suitable device ensures that no dirty water or disinfectant can enter the public network if the pressure in the public drinking water network fails. An air regulating valve 15 also flows into the circulation line 9 to add air to the massage jets.

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The multi-way valve arrangement 3, the solenoid valve 11, the pump of the dosing device 13 and the circulation pump 8 are switched via a pre-programmable time control device 16, which in turn can be controlled via buttons 17, 18, 19 arranged on the upper edge of the tub to carry out different work sequences. The electrical connecting cables between the parts 3, 11, 13, 8 and the time control device 16 are not shown to simplify the illustration.

As can be seen in particular from the enlarged representations in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, the suction line 7 of the circulation line 9 and the drain line 4 are each forked in the area of the drain opening 2 into branch lines 71, 72 and 41, 42, respectively, whereby the branch lines 41, 71 and the branch lines 42, 72 each merge into one another in a straight line and each have a valve seat 43, 44, 45, 46. The drain opening 2 is connected to the forked branch lines 41, 71 and 42, 72 via branch lines 20, 21 between the valve seats 43, 44 and 45, 46, respectively. The valve seats 43, 44 and 45, 46 are each assigned double valve distributors 23, 24, which sit on a valve rod 27, 28 that can be controlled by an electromagnet 25, 26. The parts 25, 27, 41, 43, 23, 44 and 71, 26, 28, 42, 45, 24, and 72 thus each form an electromagnetic changeover valve 29-30, which together represent the multi-way valve arrangement 3.

Fig. 3 shows the multi-way valve arrangement 3 . r ¹ - "tub drain position" in which the suction line 7 is shut off and the drain opening 2 is connected to the drain line.

Fig. 4 shows the multi-way valve arrangement in the
"Operating position" in which the drain line 4 is shut off and the drain opening 2 is used as a suction opening on
the suction line 7 is connected. Fig. 5 shows the
Valves in a "residual water drainage position", with
which the changeover valves 29, 30 are operated in opposite directions, so that the suction line 7 and the discharge opening 2 are connected via the branch lines 20, 21 to the
Drain line 4 is connected.

In the following description of the mode of operation 1, it is assumed that the multi-way valve arrangement 3 is in the basic position, ie with the electromagnets 25, 26 switched off, in the ready position as shown in Fig. 4. The user can let water run into the tub via a fitting (not shown) and then switch on the circulation pump 8 by pressing the "Whirl" button 17. After the massage bath has ended, the user presses the "Whirl" button 17.

User presses button 18 "Empty" to empty the _t ' Time control device 16 is switched on. This switches, I

- if the user has not already done so by re-entering |

Pressing the "Whirl" button has caused this - the \, Circulation pump 8 switches off. At the same time the timer |

control device for a predetermined emptying time A

the multi-way valve arrangement 3 in the

Tub drain position as per Fig. 3. over the two ■; The water can drain away quickly via branch pipes 41, 42. Towards the end of the emptying time A, the time control ^! switches off.

device 16 the multi-way valve arrangement for a

certain time in the residual water drainage position according to;

Fig. 5, so that the \ Dirty water* can drain The required emptying time k A depends on the water content and the diameter of the

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Drain lines and is different for each tub type, which is why an adjustment option is provided on the time control device 16 so that the manufacturer can set the emptying time A according to existing experience.

Following the emptying time A, the control device 16 automatically carries out a flushing cycle by switching the multi-way valve arrangement 3 - to save fresh water - expediently into the "tub drain position" according to Fig. 3, i.e. into a shut-off of the suction line 7, furthermore switching on the fresh water supply together with the metering device 13 via the solenoid valve 11 and switching on the circulation pump 8 so that the circulation line 9, the pump 8 and the inside of the tub are flushed with fresh water, which flows through the drain opening 2 and the drain line 4. Advantageously, shortly before the end of the total flushing time B, the circulation pump 8 is first switched off and the multi-way valve arrangement 3 is briefly switched to the residual water drain position according to Fig. 5 and briefly to the opposite residual water drain position, in which the solenoid valves 25, 26 assume the opposite position to that in Fig. 5, so that the fresh water also thoroughly flushes the suction line-side spaces of the multi-way valve arrangement before the solenoid valve 11 is closed at the end of the flushing time B. After a further residual water drain time C, the energized solenoid valve 25 or 26 is switched off, after which the valve arrangement automatically returns to the operating position according to Fig. 4 and the bathtub is prepared for use again.

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The time control device 16 can also be switched on using another "rinse" button, in which case the time control device 16 only carries out the rinse cycle previously described following the emptying time A. It is therefore possible to rinse the tub and circulation system as a precaution before use.

The changeover valves 29, 30 can alternatively be designed in such a way that in the basic position, i.e. when both electromagnets 25, 26 are switched off, the multi-way valve arrangement 3 is either in the tub drain position according to Fig. 3 or in the residual water drain position according to Fig. 5. In such a case, however, a further button 31, shown in dashed lines, is required, with which the multi-way valve arrangement 3 is switched to the operating position according to Fig. 4 before using the bath.

Fig. 6, 7 and 8 illustrate a modified embodiment in which a three-way valve 32 is provided instead of the multi-way valve arrangement 3. The valve plug is provided with a diametrical through-hole 33 and a lateral hole 34 extending from it at a right angle. Fig. 6 shows the three-way valve in the tub drain position, Fig. 7 in the operating position and Fig. 8 in the residual water drain position. The plug is motor-adjustable and is controlled by the time control device 16 in the same way as the multi-way valve arrangement 3.

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Claims (6)

4720a/87 Protection claims 1. Bathtub with a circulation system for water jets, in particular a whirlpool tub, with a drain opening which opens into a drain line, and with an intake opening and with at least one jet nozzle which are connected to one another via a circulation line having a circulation pump , the intake opening (2) being provided at the bottom of the tub and the circulation line (9) being connected to an electrically controllable multi-way valve arrangement (3), characterized in that the intake opening (2) and the drain line (4) are also connected to the multi-way valve arrangement (3), that a fresh water line (12) which can be controlled by a solenoid valve (11) opens into the circulation line (9), and that a manually switchable time control device (16) is provided for switching on the fresh water supply and reversing the multi-way valve arrangement (3) for a rinsing cycle. 2. Bathtub according to claim 1, characterized in that the suction opening (2) is also the tub drain opening. 3. Bathtub according to claim 2, characterized in that the time control device (16) has a separate manual switch, e.g. "rinse" button (19). 4. Bathtub according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by a dosing device (13) with dosing pump IfMMM Il I If ii ·* I in &igr;* * 1 ItI* > * * f · III« for adding disinfectant to the fresh water line (12), 5. Bathtub according to one of the claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the drain line (4) and the suction line (7) of the circulation line (9) are each forked into branch lines (41 _, 42 or 71, 72) in the area of the drain opening (2) and that the multi-way valve arrangement (3) consists of two switch valves (29, 30) which can also be switched individually and which are each connected to a branch line (41, 42) of the drain line (4), to a branch line (71, 72) of the suction line (7) and to the drain opening (2). 6. Bathtub according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a three-way tap (32) is provided instead of the multi-way valve arrangement (3).