EP0059407B1 - Bubble bath with integrated compartments for water overflow and level equalization, water conditioning chambers, and automatic or forced back-washing of the filter means - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a whirlpool, with or without air whirlpool, the tub or pool body is equipped with a bath water circulation system, in which a filter system and a pump is installed.

Swimming pools with bath water overflow channels are known from swimming pool construction. Overlying bath water overflow channels at the swimming pool have compared to normal bath water suction by a surface extractor (skimmer) e.g. according to US Pat. No. 4,233,694 or CH-A 469 164 the advantage that dirt particles are more effectively removed from the water surface during the bath water overflow phase by large-area bath water overflow. Another advantage of the pool overflow channel is that the bathing guest does not swim or sit in a pool recess, but on the water surface, which may be level with the floor.

In most cases, these overflow channels, which are known in swimming pool technology, are arranged on all sides around a swimming pool and have the character of a water channel. Pipe outlets are arranged at various points, which lead via collecting pipes or collecting tanks to overflow water catchment and leveling tanks located elsewhere and from there to separate pump and water regeneration and treatment units (filters, heaters, UV lamps, etc.).

Such a channel surrounding the basin is known, for example, from DE-OS 2406531. However, the embodiment shown there can at best be used in a swimming pool, because there is a fundamentally different task than in the bubble bath according to the invention. The execution shown in CH-A 469164 is also based on a different type of task.

A state-of-the-art bubble bath system is shown in the specialist magazine “Schwimmbad & Sauna”, issue 6/7, June / July 1984 [Fachschriften Verlag Fellbach (Stuttgart)], on page 68.

However, this known and previously described technique has significant disadvantages. On the one hand, such an overflow gutter takes up a considerable space all around the basin, because the overflow gutter arrangement is on the outside of the basin and the space under the gutter can at best be used for a collecting channel. It is extremely difficult to level such a gutter absolutely horizontally. If there is only a slight level deviation, the all-round overflow is no longer possible, and malfunctions can occur, whereby only the creation of an oversized water collecting channel can be helpful.

For the purpose of static protection, the basin and gutter must be supported and underpinned.

The well-known gutter-like overflow gutters are connected via cross-section collecting channels with separately installed overflow water collection and leveling tanks, which have to absorb the total amount of overflow water when displaced by swimmers and / or activation of the aerator and / or pumping system and from which (after) the overflow has been temporarily stored Basin until it overflows again.

This described part of the system, including the functions assigned to it, is very susceptible to faults due to its design and often leads to complaints, especially in the case of cleaning processes, pipe blockages, channel flooding, level differences or incorrect dimensioning of the individual system components.

In known systems, the overflow water reaches a separately installed unit such as a circulation pump, filter, etc. via a further pipe system. All the devices, pipes and units listed require their own installation room. In addition to the general expenditure on materials and installation, the connecting pipelines also take up space and, with their connecting parts, are a considerable source of danger for leaks. Enormous heat loss due to large radiation surfaces and large pipe friction losses, which require high energy consumption, are further disadvantages of the known systems.

In US Pat. No. 4,233,694 it is disclosed that the known whirlpools at most have skimmers and individual units flanged on the outside. CH-A 469164 also discloses this state of the art of skimmer technology for a swimming pool, the attached operating room being attached to the outside of the pool.

Bathing water overflow collecting and storage tanks with level compensation and filtration devices usually consist of plastic or stainless steel tanks, which serve separately to hold a) the overflow water, b) the filter medium. Apart from the high manufacturing costs of these system parts, they are not service-friendly when cleaning or replacing the filter medium. Disassembly and reassembly often cause sealing problems and are very time-consuming, cleaning the collection chambers and overflow containers is often even impossible or at least extremely difficult.

The known heaters, whether electrical or as a heat exchanger, are conventionally located in a housing which is installed in the pipe system. The heating rods or spirals calcify or corrode there invisibly and uncontrollably. The expansion for repair, exchange, reinstallation and sealing is often only possible with a considerable amount of time.

The same applies to all other water treatment or not listed here -Regeneration devices, which were previously installed as individual devices in the pipe system.

The task of the bubble bath device described in the following is to create a simple device which has the known advantages of a pool overflow with downstream collecting pipes, overflow water collecting and storage tanks with level compensation and downstream water treatment and regeneration units, but without the known disadvantages, and it can also be produced cost-effectively as a space-saving unit and can be operated in a service-friendly and particularly economical manner.

This task is solved by a bathing facility according to the claims.

In its most general form, the solution according to the invention has the advantage that it can be prefabricated in the factory by series production, no further space is required for containers, filters and other water treatment devices, pipelines and their assembly are largely superfluous, collecting pipes or containers are not required, overflow water Collecting and storage containers with level compensation, filter medium, heater etc. are easily accessible and can be replaced or cleaned without major assembly work or cleaned themselves.

Furthermore, the bathing device according to the invention is individually adaptable, can be set up freely, e.g. on terraces, in the garden, in the basement, hotel rooms etc., ultimately also accessible for health-related purposes.

The term "spatial unit" used here is intended to clarify that, in contrast to the previously known whirlpools, which have separate overflow water collection and storage tanks with level compensation with separately installed water treatment units connected to the tub and basin body via pipes and collecting channels, in the bathing equipment according to the invention The tub body and overflow water collection and storage tank with level compensation etc. form a unit and the water treatment units such as filters, heaters, etc are or can be integrated into the unit and work without gutter collectors and pipe systems and without separate housings for the devices.

The integration and function of the previous individual components is achieved in the bathing device according to the invention by a suitable arrangement of partitions and formation of chambers, which divides the spatial unit into a bathing room and at least one or more operating rooms with functional tasks and appropriate equipment.

Of course, usual additional devices such as e.g. Underwater spotlights, massage jets and air bubble devices are provided.

According to a preferred embodiment, the operating room (s) is (are) arranged outside the tub container, but within the spatial unit. (See e.g. Fig. 1.) It does not matter whether, as will be described in the following, the unit is put together by interposing different hollow bodies or whether the unit consists of a whole piece or assembled pieces. Another simple arrangement of the operating room (s) is that next to the tub container (s) (as illustrated in FIG. 3 as an example). However, it is also easily possible to arrange the operating space (s) within the tub container, for example centrally, or under the tub container. The first three options of arrangement allow direct access to the individual sub-rooms for cleaning purposes.

A further embodiment of the invention consists in forming individual bath cells in the actual tub container by means of optionally removable partition walls, which is particularly advantageous if the bathing device according to the invention serves several and different people, but in particular curative therapeutic purposes.

The invention has proven particularly useful in connection with prefabricated wooden tubs (hot tubs) or prefabricated plastic pools (whirl pools) made of thermoformed acrylic glass or thermoformed PVC or glass fiber-reinforced polyester or prefabricated concrete pools, metal tub or pool bodies, welded or manufactured using the deep-drawing process, which the device according to the invention can be equipped or partially retrofitted.

• Fig. 1 und 4 beispielhafte Seiten-Querschnittansichten,
• Fig. 2, 3 und 5 Draufsichten einer erfindungsgemässen Badeeinrichtung.

Further advantages, features and embodiments of the invention result from the following description of the figures; of which show

• 1 and 4 exemplary side cross-sectional views,
• 2, 3 and 5 top views of a bathing device according to the invention.

1, the bathing device preferably consists of a base plate (1) which carries vertical or laterally inclined walls (2, 3, 102, 103, 302, 303a, 303b). The circumferential line of the base plate and the walls are preferably round, oval or polygonal.

This is how (an) inner (r) (6, 106, 306) and (an) outer (r) (7, 107, 307a, 307b) arise (open) space (s) , the rooms have a common contact wall (3, 103, 303a, 303b). A double-walled version is also conceivable.

The arrangement of the interior can also have an asymmetrical shape or consist of a circular section or partial circle, the vertical walls of the rooms being stir or consist of a common wall.

Another preferred embodiment results from the interposition of different hollow bodies of different shapes.

A further preferred embodiment is obtained by dividing the outer space into at least two subspaces, the inner walls (303a, 303b) of which run in a straight line and the resulting floor areas of the rooms assume a segment-like shape (304a, 304b). The bathing device can also be equipped with only one or more such rooms in a different form, which can be arranged both on the inside and on the outside of the bath room.

The inner space (6, 106, 306) serves as a tub body. The outer room (s) (7, 107, 307a, 307b) serves as an operating room (s), lying within the entire spatial unit.

According to a preferred embodiment, the tub and basin body or operating room walls are arranged in such a way that the overflow water can enter the operating room (s) directly or indirectly via inlets and that the filter medium may be introduced between them can be. (See e.g. Fig. 1 and 2.)

It is possible to arrange and design the tub or pool body or service room (s) walls at almost any number of locations, whether above or below, on the inside or outside of the pool or under entry steps or benches in such a way that the overflow water flows in between them can and between which the filter medium can be introduced, whereby of course any desired mutual relationship between the rooms can be established.

It is only important that the overflow water within the spatial unit enters the operating room (s) and, if necessary, can be fed to the filter medium in at least one direction of flow and that water is cleaned (filtration).

Furthermore, it is possible in the operating room (s) e.g. insert one or more electric heaters or heat exchangers so that direct bath water heating can take place. It is also possible to use a water disinfection device, e.g. to install a UV lamp or electrodes for electrolytic water disinfection, e.g. a direct chemical metering into the operating room (s) takes place in the bath water.

The listed devices are functionally appropriate in the operating rooms that protect against contact or accidents, which are easily accessible for service purposes.

If the inner tub body (6, 106, 306) is replaced by continuous water supply, e.g. caused to overflow by a filling process or a pumping system or by water displacement by bathers, the overflow water flows from the tub or pool body (6, 106, 306) via a bath water overflow edge (8, 108, 308a, 308b) directly into the operating room (s).

The tub body (6, 106, 306) forms a spatial unit in the form of the overall tank body with the operating room (s) (7, 107, 307a, 307b).

The intermediate wall between the inner tub body (6, 106, 306) and the outer operating room (s) (7, 107, 307a, 307b) is water-impermeable, it can be single or double-walled.

The floor (1) assigned to the rooms (6,106,306,7,107, 307a, 307b) can be in one part or in several parts.

If the bathing device according to the invention consists of a wooden tub (hot tub), the partition (6, 103, 303a, 303b) is preferably also made of wood.

The intermediate wall (3, 103, 303a, 303b) is fastened to the top floor (1) by screwing with a stop bracket (30).

The bathing device according to the invention shown in FIG. 2 is equipped with a circumferential partition wall (103), the partition wall being able to be held together with barrel hoops, like the tub itself.

If the bathing device according to the invention consists of a plastic or metal pool body, then the pool body can be either together with the partition walls, e.g. in the deep-drawing process in one operation, or by assembling, screwing, flanging, gluing or welding individual molded parts, the required static strength, e.g. can be done by outside reinforcement by glass fiber reinforced polyester. The same applies to a thermoplastic molded pelvis body.

In the case of a concrete basin body, the basin body together with the partition walls can also be manufactured in a single production process, e.g. when using a mold to be poured. It is also possible to assemble prefabricated individual parts. Cymbal bodies made of glass fiber reinforced polyester can also be made from a single piece using a mold, or can be made by assembling, flanging, laminating or gluing.

The overflow water collection and level expansion tank and water treatment chamber (s) are / are preferably covered on the top with a grate or grate (9, 109, 309a, 309b). A cover plate is also conceivable. The grille cover can be arranged in any position between horizontal to vertical.

If a room surrounding wall takes up the outside of the bathing device according to the invention, then this is made higher than the surrounding wall or walls (for example by 10 cm). The Umfas Solution wall protrusion (10, 310a, 310b) serves to avoid splashing and splashing water.

The outside room (s) (7, 107, 307a, 307b) is / are designed in such a way that they serve as an overflow water leveling reservoir and water treatment chamber (s). He / she is / are trained in such a way that he / she absorbs (absorbs) the amount of water displaced from the pool body (6,106,306) by bathers, stores it in whole or in part, in whole or in part feeds it to the water treatment and circulation system or can run off in whole or in part through one or more sewer outlet connections (12, 312).

He / she includes the filter medium and other water treatment devices. The representation according to (50, 350) is a bed of quartz sand. The representation according to (51, 351) is a standing filter cartridge. Other filter media and different filter media can also be used, and the installation of molecular sieves and / or ion exchangers is also possible.

If the overflow water enters the overflow water catchment level compensating tank and water treatment chamber (s), the bottom tank area (s) in which at least one circulation pump suction nozzle (11, 311) is filled will naturally fill first is arranged. Several circulation pump intake manifolds can also be arranged.

1, the bathing device according to the invention preferably consists of two containers (7, 307a, 307b) which form a (6, 306) structural unit with the tub and pool body. Other designs with only one tank or several tanks are also conceivable, with the bath water overflowing over the overflow edge (8, 308a, 308b) also over water channels, which are arranged in places (470), the overflow water catchment level expansion tank ( n) and water treatment chamber (s) is supplied. From Fig. And Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 there is the possibility of covering one or the other chamber in whole or in part by a water channel and / or supplying water to one or the other chamber via a partially arranged water channel (470, 570).

If quartz sand fill (50, 350) is selected as the filter medium, a device (52, 352) with fine-pore openings is installed in the lower chamber part (s) in such a way that the quartz sand is retained but the bathing water is let through in a direction of flow .

If a filter cartridge (51, 351) is selected as the filter medium, then a cartridge holder (53, 353), not shown, is attached in the lower chamber part (s). It can be a screw thread or a bracket holder or the like.

The overflow water collecting and leveling tank and water treatment chamber (s) are preferably connected to one another by pipes (54, 354) and connected to a bath water pumping system. In both of the cases described above, the water flow process is accelerated by the filter medium, by the suction power of the circulation pump (16, 316). A chamber arrangement on the pump pressure side is also conceivable.

The water filling of the pool or tub body (6, 306) up to the overflow was previously described. With further filling, the bathing water now floods the filter medium (50, 51, 350, 351) and also other units, not shown, such as heaters, UV radiators etc., which are in the overflow water leveling container (s) and water - processing chamber (s) (7, 107, 307a, 307b) are installed.

If the water level in the container (s) (7, 107, 307a, 307b) increases further, the water level will reach a duct connection piece (12, 312). If it is desired in the bathing device according to the invention that a high water quota per bathing guest is to be discharged into the sewer, the sewer connection piece must be arranged close to the minimum water level (13, 313) required for the circulation pump suction. This applies e.g. at public bathing facilities too. In the case of private facilities, on the other hand, where water storage is important for reasons of cost, the sewer drain pipe should be arranged as high as possible in order to increase the volume of the overflow water catchment level reservoir and water treatment chamber (s) accordingly.

An automatic water level filling device (14, 314) constantly senses the amount of water in / in the overflow water - catchment - leveling tank (s) and water treatment chamber (s) and automatically opens a water level when the water level falls below the minimum (13, 313) Refill device (15, 315), which preferably consists of a solenoid valve with a water inlet pipe (15a, 315a) until the minimum water level is reached again. The water refill device is preferably connected to a fresh water supply line.

Overflow water, which was lost, for example, through drainage into the channel of the bathing facility, or splash water is replaced by this device. If the pumping system is put into operation, the pump (16, 316) sucks the overflow water out of the overflow water catchment level reservoir (s) and water treatment chamber (s) via the pipe connection (54,354). The overflow water flows through the filter medium (50, 51, 350, 351) and is cleaned or heated, processed and regenerated. The pump around the cleaned and treated water through a non-illustrated pipe connection (17, 317) back into the tub and Beckenkör he ^p (6, 306) back focus is the pipe system not described in detail (17, 317) at least via a bath water inlet nozzle (120) in direct connection with the tub and pool body wall (302). As shown in the exemplary embodiment (118), the water-carrying pipe system (17, 317) meets an area of the bathing device in which the overflow water collecting level compensating container (s) and water treatment chamber (s) in front of the bath body (6, 106, 306) is / are arranged, the direct connection to the tub body is led through a bridging pipe (119) through the overflow water - collecting - leveling tank and water treatment chamber (s) and via at least one water inlet nozzle (120) with the Tub and pelvic body connected.

It is also possible to install a manifold in the overflow water collecting level compensation tank (s) and the water treatment chamber (s), from which several water inlet nozzles can be connected, through which the water circuit to the tub or pool body can then also be connected is closed again.

During the water circulation phase, which can be started by switching on the circulation pump, the tub or pool body is always filled with water. Excess water runs off through the sewer connection, the amount of waste water is constantly replaced by the automatic water filling and refilling device. A constant minimum water level in the overflow water collecting level compensation tank (s) and in the water treatment chamber (s) ensures that there is sufficient water for the circulation pump suction.

If bathers leave the bathing facility, the previously displaced amount of water in the tub or pool body is of course missing. The amount of waste water is first drawn off from the storage volume of the overflow water catchment level expansion tank and water treatment chamber (s) by the circulation pump and returned to the tub or pool body via the further pipe system. If the minimum water level in the suction process in the overflow water catchment level reservoir (s) and in the water treatment chamber (s) is undershot, the water refill device opens automatically and replenishes fresh water or the amount of waste water until the tub or basin body again overflows comes and the minimum water level in the container (s) is reached again.

This process can be repeated any number of times.

A plurality of overflow water collecting level compensating tanks and water treatment chambers (307a, 307b) are connected to one another by at least one water-carrying pipeline (54, 354), so that the water level in the overflow water tanks and the chambers can be constantly balanced.

The pipe section (23, 323), which can of course also consist of a double "T", carries a shut-off valve (26, 326) at a fourth connection point, at the continuation (27,327) of which there is another suction line or e.g. a pool cleaning device can be connected.

To ensure that the circulation pump (16, 316), e.g. If the filter medium is too heavily contaminated or the water level in the filter chambers is too low and the supply water is insufficient, the circulation pump is also connected to the main pool area (6, 306) by the suction line (21, 321). The proportionate amount of water from the main pool area and the overflow water catchment level expansion tank (s) and water treatment chamber (s) can be adjusted using regulating valves (24, 25, 324, 325).

The switching via these valves of course also enables separate suction only from the container (s) or only from the pool area, which can be desirable for various reasons.

• a) Quarzsand (50, 350) erfolgt durch Rückspülung von Badewasser mit Ableitung des Filterschmutzes in den Kanal.

The cleaning of the filter medium at:

• a) Quartz sand (50, 350) is made by backwashing bath water with the filter dirt being drained into the sewer.

For the purpose of water backwashing, valve (24, 324) must be closed and valve (55, 355) set in the direction of backflow.

The water is now sucked in through line (21, 321) and after pump (16, 316) via the return line (56, 356) in the reverse direction of flow into the overflow water catchment level reservoir and water treatment chamber (s), or through the Filter medium pressed. The quartz sand bed is lifted by the water backflow and freed from dirt particles. The amount of reflux water can be regulated by means of the bypass that results between line (56, 356 and 54, 354).

b) Cartridge filter (51, 351) is done by simply removing and washing, if necessary by replacing the cartridge.

Cartridge cleaning is also possible by backwashing.

An electrical safety switch automatically interrupts the backwash process by switching off the pump before backwash water can flood the containers (7, 307a, 307b).

The dirt particles run off during backwashing through the sewer connection (12,312).

The check valve (19, 319) prevents water from flowing back into the overflow water catchment level reservoir and water treatment chamber (s) during the pump downtime.

Of course, it is conceivable, contrary to the illustration in FIG. 1, which shows an embodiment that is open at the top, to design the above-water collecting level compensating tank (s) and water treatment chamber (s) in such a way that it is closed on all sides / are and are connected to the pump pressure side; there a subdivision into an open container area that is open for the water inlet and a closed pressure pump side would be advantageous.

Furthermore, filter medium cleaning is possible by utilizing the height difference between the higher water level in the tub and basin body and the lower water level in the overflow water catchment level compensation tank (s) and water treatment chamber (s).

The pumping system, which works during bathing, because the water pressure generated by the pump at the pool inlet nozzles is used for massage purposes and, of course, because the water pollution brought in by bathers should be immediately filtered out, ensures that the overflow water is constantly sucked out of the container (s) (s) (7, 107, 307a, 307b), so that there is a height difference between the water level of the overflow water catchment level reservoir and the water treatment chamber (s) and the water level of the tub or pool body (6, 306) . Since unwanted water can flow out of the container (s) (7, 307a, 307b) through the sewer drain pipe (12, 312), the height difference is always present.

If the pumping system is switched off after the bathing operation has ended, the described height difference of the water naturally tries to compensate. So far, this has prevented the check valve (19, 319).

If the non-return valve is omitted, the water from the tub or basin body (6, 306) flows through the connecting line (54, 354) in the opposite direction to the flow of the filter medium, rinses out the accumulated dirt particles and flows together with the filter dirt through the duct connection piece ( 12, 312).

After the water level height difference has been compensated by water reflux, the machine comes to a standstill until the bathing facility is put back into operation. The design of the bathing device according to the invention with this backwashing device is almost ideal, because after each bathing operation and use of the system, an automatic filter cleaning by water backwashing and thereby an automatic fresh water refill take place.

A further preferred embodiment of the bathing device according to the invention results from FIGS. 4 and 5 with the advantages and features described below.

In several European countries, e.g. in the FRG, exists for public bathing facilities, e.g. for hotel bathrooms, the requirement that the filter medium consists of quartz sand with a bed height of 1.20 m to ensure adequate water filtration.

The bathing equipment according to the invention in its peculiarity as a whirlpool (hot tub) also falls under this regulation for public facilities.

Fig. 4 now shows a side section, Fig. 5 is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of the bathing device according to the invention, which corresponds to the regulation of a 1.2 m high quartz sand dumping height. In the solution according to the invention, the tub or basin body (406, 506) and overflow water collecting level compensating container and water treatment chamber (s) (407a, 407b, 507a, 507b) are once again in structural unit, one of the chambers (407c) (dashed line) ) e.g. is designed in such a way that the intermediate wall (403c) with the tub or basin body surrounding wall (410, 510) is of the same height and consequently overflow water can only enter chamber (407a, 507a). However, it is also possible to design the bathing device according to the invention in accordance with FIGS. 2 and 4 and to separate the chamber (107) into two subchambers (107a, 107b, 407a, 407b, 507a, 507b) by pulling in partition walls (501a, 501b). to reach, one of the chambers on the top being covered by a water channel (470, 570), which receives the overflow water, but does not allow it to flow into the chamber (107b, 407b, 507b) below, but into the chamber (107a, 407a, 507a) ) initiates.

In the embodiment according to the invention, both chambers (107a, 407a, 507a + 107b, 407b, 507b) are filled with a 60 cm high bed of quartz sand which, when connected in series, adds up to a total dumping height of 1.20 m.

A chamber of three is also possible, open or closed chambers being used, which can be arranged on the pump pressure or suction side or in combination. The water overflowing in chamber (107a, 407a, 507a) penetrates the filter medium (450a, 550a) in the way already described, is sucked in by the circulation pump (460) and into the chamber (107b,) via the pipe connection (461, 561) 407b, 507b) and distributed over the filter medium (450b) via a distributor device (462, 562).

The water pre-filtered in chamber (107a, 407a, 507a) penetrates the filter medium (450b) in the above-described way, is sucked in by the circulation pump (463) and via the pipeline (464,564) in the above-described way back into the tub or basin body (406 , 506).

The circulation pumps (460, 463) are connected to the tub or pool body main space (106, 406, 506) via change-over and regulating valves (464, 465) and to the overflow water catchment level reservoir (466, 467). n) and water treatment chamber (s) (107a, 107b, 407a, 407b, 507a, 507b) in connection. Proportional or quantitative water regulation is possible via them.

The circulation pump (460) is designed to be somewhat smaller in performance than the circulation pump (463) because the latter has to overcome the greater resistance and is dimensioned for the water pressure at the pool inlet nozzles bend is. The performance of both pumps depends on the size of the bathing facility and the associated amount of circulating water that has to be filtered. The pump output also depends on the number of desired Bekken inlet nozzles, which are used for massage purposes, which is why a certain water pressure must be available. If the chamber (407b, 507b) is designed as a pressure chamber, the pump (463) can be omitted.

A check valve (468a, 468b) prevents water backflow into the chambers (107a, 107b, 407a, 407b, 507a, 507b) during the pump downtime.

• a) bei Wegfall der Rückschlagventile (468a, 468b) durch Wasser-Höhenniveauausgleich, wie bereits früher beschrieben.
• b) durch Betätigen der Umlaufpumpe (460) nach Umschaltung des Ventiles (469) in Richtung «Sperren der Leitung» (461) und «Öffnen der Leitungen» (471 a, 471 b) sowie Umschalten des Ventiles (467) in Richtung «Sperren».

The backwashing and cleaning of the filter medium can preferably be carried out as follows:

• a) if the check valves (468a, 468b) are omitted by leveling out the water level, as described earlier.
• b) by operating the circulation pump (460) after switching the valve (469) in the direction of «blocking the line» (461) and «opening the lines» (471 a, 471 b) and switching the valve (467) in the direction of «blocking ».

In both of the cases described above, the reflux water penetrates the filter medium (450a, 450b, 550a, 550b), washes out dirt particles and runs through one or more sewer connections (412a, 412b, 512a, 512b).

The channel connection piece (s) is / are preferably designed in the form of a funnel (472a, 472b, 572a, 572b) for the purpose of larger water absorption.

Of course, it is also possible to use filter media other than quartz sand. Flat filter mats with a low overall height also prove to be particularly favorable because backwashing with level compensation in the lower chamber area results in a more effective water pressure for filter cleaning.

The diversity of the application examples shown shows that the bathing device according to the invention can also be created by combining individual features and equipment, the respective requirements placed on the bathing device determining the respective combination of features. The combination of features according to the invention can also be put together from a design point of view.

In a further preferred exemplary embodiment, the overflow water is collected by an all-round or at least partially all-round overflow water guide channel and introduced into the overflow water collecting and leveling tank and water treatment chamber (s). The water channel can be in one piece or in several parts or e.g. be designed with the water flow direction to the right or to the left. (Fig. 3)

With this embodiment, it is possible to let the overflow water overflow over an enlarged overflow water edge (8, 108, 308a, b) without the overflow water catchment level reservoir and water treatment chamber (s) being enlarged, that is to say all-round, as in FIG Fig. 2, created.

The all-round overflow edge (8, 108, 308a, b) has the further advantage over the interrupted overflow that e.g. the dirt particles floating on the water surface are removed more intensively and cannot deposit on the upper part of the tub or pool body wall, where the water overflow is interrupted.

In a further preferred exemplary embodiment, at least one intermediate floor (601 a, 601 b) is / are drawn into the overflow water catchment and water treatment tank (s) (607a, 607b).

The intermediate floor (s) is / are designed so that the filter medium (650) e.g. Quartz sand is lying, the filter medium is retained, but bath water is let through. For this purpose the intermediate floor (s) (601a, 601b) can consist of a sieve part or e.g. be equipped with bodies similar to a watering can (602).

In this preferred arrangement, there is (are) under the intermediate floor (s) (601a, 601b) (one) cavity (s) (603a, 603b) which serve / serve as a water collecting space (s).

This arrangement of the intermediate floor or floors results in better water passage, so that larger amounts of water can be sucked in by the circulation pump (616).

Of course, the intermediate floor or floors can also be arranged obliquely to vertically, wherein he / she can also be designed as an intermediate wall / walls.

To protect against dry running or water shortage or water shortage of the pump (616) and for water volume regulation as well as for the water backflow of the filter medium, the partition walls (604a, 605b) are / are provided with an opening (605a, 605b) adjustable in flow rate.

Through this opening or openings, it is possible to supply water to the circulation pump (616) directly from the bathing room (1) without the need for a separate pipe. This opening / openings can also be used to set how much water should pass through the filter medium as overflow water or which amount of water should be drawn off directly from the pool floor space.

With this arrangement it is of course also possible to forcibly backwash or backwash the filter medium with the aid of the circulation pump and a changeover valve.

In a further preferred exemplary embodiment, each overflow water collecting and water treatment container (701a, 701b) is white at least assigned its own circulation pump (716a, 716b).

The pumps can be arranged directly on the pool wall (702a) or connected via a longer or shorter pipe connection (702b). Here, too, it is possible to forcibly backflush the filter medium by using the circulation pump or to drain the bathing water into a sewer using a changeover valve (717).

It is of course also possible to use at least one submersible submersible pump (802a, 802b) in the intermediate floor (s) (801a, 801b), the pump impeller (s) (803a, 803b) in the / the water collection space (s) (804a, 804b) protrudes / protrudes, sucks off water there and feeds it back into the bathing room (1) via at least one inlet nozzle. A pump impeller alone can also be arranged in the water collecting space (s), while the pump motor can be arranged outside.

For certain reasons, it may be necessary that the circulation pump should not draw any bath water directly from the bath room (1) and that the total quantity of circulation water should flow through the filter medium. However, since the water levels in the bathing room (1) and in the overflow water collecting and water treatment chambers balance each other out during the pump downtime, it could be desirable if water from the lower bathing area area was also supplied to the container (s) in addition to the overflow water could be. This would have the advantage that, in the case of almost suctioned-off containers, bathing water can already take place in a second way into the containers before the water overflows into the containers.

• Die Zwischenwand/-wände (3, 303a, 303b, 103), welche die Überlaufwasser-Auffang- und Was- seraufbereitungskammer(n) bildet/-en, erhalten eine Wanddurchführung mit einem Standrohranschluss, welcher in den/die Behälter bzw. Kammer(n) hineinragt.

The following solution is proposed:

• The partition wall (s) (3, 303a, 303b, 103), which form the overflow water collection and water treatment chamber (s), are provided with a wall bushing with a standpipe connection, which goes into the container or chamber ( n) protrudes.

The static height of the water column acting in the bathroom always causes water to drain through the standpipe when the water level in the tanks is lower than in the bathroom.

In this way, water can be extracted from the floor area of the bathroom (1) and passed directly over the filter medium.

The height of the standpipe determines from which water level the water exchange can take place.

In Fig. 3 is exemplified how a simple arrangement of the overflow water collection and water treatment chambers can be done next to the tub body, the overflow edge (8, 308a, 308b), as described on page 16, lines 1-17, by a Overflow channel is extended.

The overflow channel (330) can be in one part or in several parts, it can completely or partially enclose the tub and basin body.

The overflow water entering the channel (s) is fed to one or more operating rooms.

In this exemplary embodiment as well, it is of course possible to connect the individual operating rooms side by side or one behind the other, an open or closed chamber design also being possible, as described above.

The gutter itself can also e.g. be inserted as a removable part or have a rigid connection with the tub and basin bodies and / or with the operating room (s).

Claims (22)

1. A bubble bath with or without aeration device having a tub or basin equipped with a water circulation system incorporating a filtering unit and pump, characterised in that one or more overflow and collecting tanks open, closed or alternately open and closed at the top and provided with water level equalising means are arranged within the body of the basin so as to form therewith a single structural unit arranged and serving as the bathing area and service area(s), the said structural unit containing at least one partition wall (3, 103) delimiting or dividing off the bathing area (6, 106, 306) and the service area(s) (7, 107, 307a, 307b), the upper edge (8,108,308a, 308b) of one such partition wall being designed to form the overflow rim of the bathing area, a large part of whose periphery it encloses, while the space (7,107, 307a, 307b) between the outer wall (2,102, 302) and inner wall (3, 103, 303a, 303b) constituting the service area(s) accommodates:

a) An overflow and collecting tank open, closed or alternately open and closed at the top and provided with water level equalising means,

b) An overflow and collecting tank open, closed or alternately open and closed at the top with water level equalising means and filter chamber,

c) A filter chamber open, closed or alternately open and closed,

d) An overflow and collecting tank with water level equalising means followed by at least one filter chamber so as to combine arrangements a) and c),

e) An overflow and collecting tank with water level equalising means and filter chamber as in b) with at leasttwo successive compartments;

f) A filter chamber as in c) with at least two successive compartments;

g) An overflow and collecting tank with water level equalising means and at least one further overflow and collecting tank and filter chamber arranged in succession so as to combine arrangements a) and b);

h) A service area or service areas variously equipped with parallel, series or individual connections.

2. A bubble bath as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that the tub or basin (6, 106, 306) and overflow and collecting tank(s) (7, 107, 307a, 307b) are formed by placing hollow vessels of varying sizes and of the same or different shapes one within the other.

3. A bubble bath as claimed in one of the foregoing claims, characterised in that the overflow rim (8, 108, 308a, 308b) is so designed that water overflowing from the bathing area (6, 106, 306) is able to pass over the rim itself or an extension thereof and directly or indirectly into the service area(s) (7, 107, 307a, 307b) below.

4. A bubble bath as claimed in one of the foregoing claims, characterised in that the service area (7, 107, 307a, 307b) at least partly encloses the bathing area (6,106, 306).

5. A bubble bath as claimed in one of the foregoing claims, characterised in that at least one service area is provided with water conditioning means (50, 51, 350, 351, 52, 352, 53, 353).

6. A bubble bath as claimed in one of the foregoing claims, characterised in that the tub or basin (6, 106, 306) and the service area(s) (7, 107, 307a, 307b) are integral.

7. A bubble bath as claimed in one of the foregoing claims, characterised in that the tub or basin (6, 106, 306) and the service area(s) (7, 107, 307a, 307b) are composed of elements assembled to form a structural unit.

8. A bubble bath as claimed in one of the foregoing claims, characterised in that at least one service area (7,107, 307a, 307b) has an intermediate floor in the form of a sieve (601 a, 601 b) or other device which retains the filter material (50, 51,350,351) while allowing the bath water to pass through.

9. A bubble bath as claimed in one of the foregoing claims, characterised in that the service area(s) (7, 107, 307a, 307b) extends below the floor of the tub or basin (6, 106, 306) and/or a bench formed integrally therewith.

10. A bubble bath as claimed in one of the foregoing claims, characterised in that the outer wall (2, 102, 302) of the service area(s) (7, 107, 307a, 307b) is higher than the partition (3, 103, 303a, 303b) separating the bathing area (6, 106, 306) from the service area(s) and higher than the bathing area.

11. A bubble bath as claimed in one of the foregoing claims, characterised in that the overflow rim (8,108,308a, 308b) has a gutter (330, 470) that extends round at least part of the bath perimeter and via which water from the bath may be conducted to the service area(s).

12. A bubble bath as claimed in one of the foregoing claims, characterised in that the service area or areas (7, 107, 307a, 307b) are covered at the top by a grid or in such manner as to allow longitudinal gaps (9, 109, 309a, 309b) through which water from the bath is able to flow down into the service area(s) below.

13. A bubble bath as claimed in one of the foregoing claims, characterised in that a backflow of water through the filter may be achieved using both the difference in water levels in the bathing area (6, 106, 306) and the service area(s) (7,107,307a, 307b) and the circulating pump.

14. A bubble bath as claimed in one of the foregoing claims, characterised in that the bathing area (6, 106, 306) and at least one service area (7, 107, 307a, 307b) are connected by at least one aperture (605a, 605b) which preferably allows the rate of water flow through it to be regulated.

15. A bubble bath as claimed in one of the foregoing claims, characterised in that each service area (7, 107, 307a, 307b) is provided with at least one circulating pump (16, 316, 460, 463, 616, 716a, 716b, 802a, 802b).

16. A bubble bath as claimed in one of the foregoing claims, characterised in that the tub or basin (6,106, 306) has at least one water inlet nozzle, preferably a massage nozzle (120).

17. A bubble bath as claimed in one of the foregoing claims, characterised in that pipes conveying water to the inlet/massage nozzle(s) pass through the service area(s) (7,107, 307a, 307b).

18. A bubble bath as claimed in one of the foregoing claims, characterised in that the tub or basin (6, 106, 306) is equipped with an aeration system.

19. A bubble bath as claimed in one of the foregoing claims, characterised in that at least one circulating pump (802a, 802b), preferably a submersible pump, is provided for each service area (7,107,307a, 307b).

20. A bubble bath as claimed in one of the foregoing claims, characterised in that at least one waste outlet (12,312,412a, 512a, 512b) is provided for each service area (7, 107, 307a, 307b).

21. A bubble bath as claimed in one of the foregoing claims, characterised in that a water level sensing and regulating device (14, 314) is provided in at least one service area (7, 107, 307a, 307b).

22. A bubble bath as claimed in one of the foregoing claims, characterised in that the structural unit is divided into a number of separate bathing areas.

Images