EP0108272B2 - Bathtub with whirlpool jets - Google Patents

Abstract

1. Bath tub with swirl nozzles (12, 13, 14) built in the walls (1) for the introduction of a water-air mixture and with at least one suction opening (22) arranged in the base region, characterised in that the swirl nozzles (12, 13, 14) are arranged in at least two opposing walls in at least two horizontal planes which are spaced a distance one above the other and that the swirl nozzles (12) of one plane - viewed in the circumferential direction - are spaced with a lateral distance from the next swirl nozzle (13) of the other plane, the swirl nozzles (13) of the lowest horizontal plane being arranged at a distance above the plane of the suction opening (22).

Description

The invention relates to a bathing pool with vortex nozzles installed in the walls for the introduction of a water-air mixture and with at least one suction opening arranged in the floor area in accordance with the features of the preamble of claim 1.

Bathing pools of this type are known under the name "whirlpool", for example from US Pat. No. 4,233,694. The purpose of such bathing basins is to achieve a massage-like effect on the human body due to the strong swirling of the pool filling as a result of the amounts of water introduced via the vortex nozzles. When a water-air mixture is introduced, this massage-like effect is further enhanced by the fact that the air bubbles "exploding" when they hit the body increase the effect on the human body and thereby have a real therapeutic effect. The water is circulated via one or more pumps and introduced via vortex nozzles, which, however, are arranged in a horizontal plane in the wall of the pool. The jets entering the pool fill therefore interfere with each other and the pumps used must be relatively powerful in order to achieve a massage-like effect at all. Similar arrangements are known from US-A-3 374 492 and DE-A-2 105 379 and DE-A-2 703 704 for normal bathtubs.

In the arrangement according to US-A-4019 210, apart from the nozzles arranged in a horizontal plane and directed centrally against one another for introducing the water-air mixture, openings are made in the inner wall of the double-shell basin wall made of film, through which openings a separate inlet is provided water pumped into the intermediate space and serving as a supporting liquid can escape into the basin. This is intended to ensure a constant flow through the intermediate space in order to avoid the development of bacterial foci in this area as far as possible. A noteworthy massage effect, in particular the therapeutic effect of a jet of a water-air mixture striking the body with high flow energy, cannot be achieved by this pure circulation flow.

The invention is based on the object of creating a nozzle arrangement which, on the one hand, achieves an optimal swirling of the pool contents and an improved jet effect with the same pump output.

This task is carried out in a bathing pool in which the vortex nozzles are arranged in at least two opposite walls in at least two horizontal planes which are at a distance from one another and the vertebral nozzles of one plane - viewed in the circumferential direction - are arranged at a lateral distance from the next vertebral nozzle of the other plane, the vortex nozzles the lowest horizontal level are arranged at a distance above the level of the suction opening, solved according to the invention in that vortex nozzles arranged in opposite basin walls are each located approximately opposite one another, but at different height levels.

This results in an asymmetrical nozzle arrangement for each level in the top view of the pool. In a development of the pool wall, a connecting line between the successive vortex nozzles would run approximately in a zigzag shape. This results not only in a swirl rotating about a vertical pelvic axis, but also in each case swirling swirls around horizontal axes, since in particular in the corner region immediately adjacent rays entering the basin interior cannot interfere with one another due to the different height arrangement.

For a bathing pool of the type described above with a stepped pool wall, which divides the pool into a circumferential seat part and a central, lower-lying foot part, it is further provided in an embodiment of the invention that vortex nozzles are arranged offset in two height levels in the wall parts forming the backrest and that vortex nozzles are arranged in the wall of the foot part in a third plane, which are offset with respect to the vortex nozzles of the neighboring plane lying above - seen in the circumferential direction - with lateral spacing. With this arrangement, in particular when a water-air mixture is introduced through these vortex nozzles, not only is there an increase in the swirling of the pool contents as a whole, but moreover the intended massage effect is also achieved in the foot area. In a preferred embodiment, it is provided in this embodiment that a plurality of suction openings are provided in the wall of the foot part, which - as seen in the circumferential direction - are each arranged between two vortex nozzles.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention it is further provided that the vortex nozzles of each horizontal plane are arranged at approximately the same distance from one another.

The invention further relates to a bathing pool according to the previous embodiments with a flood channel which delimits at least part of the pool edge and is covered with a grid. The arrangement of such flood channels is known in principle both for swimming pool pools and for bathing pools of the type described in the introduction. These overflow channels are required in particular if such bathing pools are set up in the public area, so that in principle such bathing pools provided with vortex nozzles must be designed accordingly. With a customary dimension with an edge length of, for example, 2.5 m these bathing pools are made of plastic, for example from deep-drawn acrylic with polyester resin / glass fiber reinforcement on the back. The flood channels required for such bathing pools have so far been designed in such a way that the individual sections have been glued together at the joints and connected to the free edge of the swimming pool by laminating. This requires complex assembly work and harbors the risk that leaks occur at the individual connection points, in particular at joints between the individual sections of the flood channel, which may be difficult to eliminate subsequently.

From EP-A-0 059 407 a pool for a whirlpool is known which is provided with an outer body which surrounds the pool wall at a distance and projects beyond the pool edge so that suction and filter fittings can be arranged in the intermediate space. From the pool, water can pass into the gap through the pool edge. Since pumps and pipelines have to be arranged outside anyway, this represents a considerable reduction in the pool volume.

The invention further relates to an embodiment of such a bathing pool, which allows a much simpler installation option, with the guarantee being given that the fully assembled flood channel is in any case leakproof.

This embodiment is characterized according to the invention in that the flood channel is composed of tub-shaped sections and fastened to the pool edge, that the individual sections are connected to one another at the end and that each section is provided with a drain opening that can be connected to the drain system. The connection of the individual sections with each other as well as the connection of the sections with the tub body can be done with the help of mechanical means, for example by screws, clamps or the like, since each section is sealed by the trough-shaped design and no special attention is paid to this during assembly got to. Another advantage is that the shape of the individual sections can be adapted to a construction grid, so that almost any pelvic contours can be produced with only a few basic shapes. The fact that this construction requires a separate drain opening for each section represents an additional advantage, since this increases the overall swallowability of the flood channel and thus ensures that the floor surfaces adjacent to the bathing pool are not flooded.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the sections on the mutually facing end faces have an apron which runs at a distance from the channel wall and via which the sections can each be fastened to one another by means of connecting means. With the help of this shape, it is possible to firmly connect the sections together, for example by screwing, the joint being able to be sealed from the outside with a putty after the finished assembly. In a further embodiment of the invention it is provided that the sections on the side facing the basin have a horizontally oriented wall part which extends below the edge of the basin and which is provided with means for fastening the section to the basin edge. In a preferred embodiment it is provided that the edge of the pool has a reinforcement on its underside with which the sections of the flood channel can be connected. This makes it possible, for example in the case of a reinforcement made of metal, to provide these with threaded holes, to provide the horizontally oriented edge part of the sections of the flood channel with corresponding through-holes and thus to screw the flood channel firmly to the bathing pool from below. Here too, the gap between the flood channel and the edge of the pool is subsequently sealed in the usual way with a putty.

Since both the joints between the end faces of the individual sections of the flood channel and the joint between the flood channel and the pool edge can be subjected to a visual inspection at any time and, if necessary, improved, this considerably simplifies the installation and maintenance of a bathing pool equipped in this way in comparison with a bathing pool with glued or laminated overflow channel.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention it is provided that the sections of the flood channel are formed by deep drawing from acrylic. This results in absolutely sealed parts which, depending on the load, can additionally be provided with a polyester resin / glass fiber reinforcement.

• Fig. 1 perspektivisch und im Schnitt ein Badebecken mit Überflutungsrinne
• Fig. 2 eine Aufsicht auf das Becken gemaß Fig. 1
• Fig. 3 einen Längsschnitt gemäß der Linie 111-111 in Fig. 2.

The invention is explained in more detail with reference to schematic drawings of an exemplary embodiment. Show it:

• Fig. 1 in perspective and in section a swimming pool with flood channel
• 2 is a top view of the pool according to FIG. 1
• 3 shows a longitudinal section along the line 111-111 in FIG. 2nd

As the perspective view in FIG. 1 and the top view according to FIG. 2 show, the embodiment shown has an essentially square plan with chamfered corners. However, the cross-sectional shape can be of any design, for example round, exactly square or even rectangular floor plans are also possible. The bathing pool shown has a stepped pool wall 1, which divides the pool into a circumferential seat part 2 and a central foot part 3. In a corner, an entry level 4 is formed in the pool wall by appropriate shaping, the appearances 5 and 6 of the staircase formed in this way by a corresponding covering or a corresponding profile is designed to be non-slip. The pool edge 7 is delimited on its outside by a flood channel 8, which completely surrounds the pool edge in the illustrated embodiment. The flood channel 8 is covered by a grille 9 which can be removed for cleaning purposes.

The wall part 10 forming the backrest and the corresponding wall part 11 of the central foot part 3 are now provided with a plurality of swirl nozzles 12, 13 and 14. As can be seen from Fig. 1, but in particular from the top view according to Fig. 2, the nozzles are arranged in the region of the wall part 10 forming the backrest in two spaced-apart horizontal planes, i.e. the nozzles 12 lie in an upper plane, while the nozzles 13 lie in a further horizontal plane lying at a distance below. The nozzles in the individual levels are now arranged in such a way that - seen in the circumferential direction - one nozzle 12 of the upper level follows one nozzle 13 of the level below, so that overall there is an approximately zigzag course of an imaginary connecting line of the successive vortex nozzles. Here, the nozzle arrangement is also made in accordance with the supervision

Fig. 2 shows that on opposite wall parts each a vortex nozzle 12 of the upper horizontal plane is opposite a nozzle 13 of the horizontal plane below. Correspondingly, the nozzles of the lowest horizontal plane, which are arranged in the wall part 11 of the foot part - are again offset in relation to the nozzles 13 of the horizontal plane above - seen in the peripheral direction. With an arrangement of the vortex nozzles in three levels, this results in turn - based on the development of the pelvic wall - in a zigzag shape of an imaginary connection line between the vortex nozzles of the lower horizontal level via the vortex nozzles of the middle horizontal level and the vortex nozzles of the upper horizontal level. This arrangement of nozzles results in a large-scale vortex formation within the pool filling, with a particularly strong vortex formation also in the central pool area due to the arrangement of vortex nozzles in the foot part of the bathing pool, which is particularly important for larger pool dimensions. The individual jets of a water-air mixture emerging from the vortex nozzles mutually support one another due to the specified arrangement of the vortex nozzles in relation to the vortex formation.

In the illustrated embodiment, which is intended for use in public areas, the flood channel 8 is made up of individual sections, for example four sections 8 'encompassing the corners. Each section 8 'of the flood channel is trough-shaped made of acrylic, so that the end faces 15 of the individual sections are completed. The individual sections 8 'have on the outside a skirt 17 which runs at a distance from the channel wall 16 and which also extends over the region of the end faces 15. At the end, the individual sections 8 'are now firmly connected with their abutting aprons by means of fastening screws, clamps or the like, the joint 18 between two sections being closed during assembly and / or subsequently with, for example, a permanently elastic sealing cement, as in the partial section according to FIG. 3 shown.

A reinforcement 19, for example in the form of a flat iron, is connected to the underside of the pool edge 7. This reinforcement is preferably laminated into the polyester resin / glass fiber reinforcement attached to the outside of the acrylic body which is deep-drawn from acrylic. The reinforcement 19 has threaded holes at corresponding intervals, which are assigned corresponding through holes in the horizontal edge part 20 of the overflow channel which engages under the pool edge 7, so that the individual sections of the flood channel 8 can be firmly screwed to the pool edge 7.

The pool can be illuminated via an underwater spotlight 21 arranged in the vertical wall area of stage 4.

Via a line system, not shown, outside the basin, one or more pumps are connected to the vortex nozzles 12, 13 and 14 on the one hand and to the suction openings 22 arranged here in the foot part 3, so that the water for generating the vortex jets is circulated through the basin via an intermediate one Collection container, a filter device and possibly a heating device can be performed.

Each section 8 'of the flood channel 8 is provided with a separate drain opening 23 and connected to a ring line, not shown, which in turn is connected to the collecting container.

The basin can be completely emptied via a central emptying opening 24.

Claims (9)

1. Bath tub with swirl nozzles (12,13,14) built in the walls (1) for the introduction of a water-air mixture and with at least one suction opening (22) arranged in the base region, wherein the swirl nozzles (12, 13, 14) are arranged in at least two opposing walls in at least two horizontal planes which are spaced in a distance one above the other and wherein the swirl nozzles (12) of one plane-viewed in the circumferential direction- are spaced with a lateral distance from the next swirl nozzle (13) of the other plane, the swirl nozzles (13) of the lowest horizontal plane being arranged at a distance above the plane of the suction opening (22), characterised in that swirl nozzles (12, 13) arranged in walls lying opposite each other, are arranged in each case lying approximately opposite each other, but at different height levels.

2. Bath tub according to Claim 1, with a stepped bath wall which subdivides the bath tub into a circumambient seat part (2) and a central, deeper, foot part (3), characterised in that swirl nozzles (12, 13) are arranged staggered with respect to each other at two height levels in the parts of the wall forming the back rest (10) and that there are arranged in a third plane in the wall of the foot part (3) swirl nozzles (14) which are staggered a lateral distance with regard to the swirl nozzles (13) of the adjacent plane lying above-viewed in the circumferential direction.

3. Bath tub according to one of Claims 1 or 2, characterised in that in the wall (11) of the foot part (3) suction openings (22) - viewed in the circumferential direction - are arranged in each case between two swirl nozzles (14) in this region.

4. Bath tub according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the swirl nozzles (12, 13, 14) of each horizontal plane are arranged approximately at the same distance from each other.

5. Bath tub according to one of Claims 1 to 4, with an overflow channel (8), bounding at least a part of the bath rim (7) and covered by a grating (9), characterised in that the overflow channel (8) is composed of trough-shaped parts (8') and is attached to the bath rim (7), that the parts (8') are connected with each other on theirfront sides and that each part (8') is formed with an outlet opening (23) which can be connected to the outlet system.

6. Bath tub according to Claim 5, characterised in that at least on the front sides (15) facing each other, the parts (8') have externally an apron (17) running at a distance from the channel wall, via which apron the parts (8') are attached to each other in each case via connection means.

7. Bath tub according to Claim 5 or 6, characterised in that the parts (8') on the side facing the bath tub have a horizontally aligned rim part (20) which reaches to below the bath rim (7) and which is provided with means for the attachment of the part (8') to the bath rim.

8. Bath tub according to Claim 5, 6, or 7, characterised in that the bath rim (7) has a reinforcement (20) with which the parts (8') of the overflow channel can be connected.

9. Bath tub according to one of Claims 6 to 8, characterised in that the parts (8') are formed from acrylic by deep drawing.

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